Hello, all! My first HP fic but not my first fanfic. Please review.
Constructive criticism welcome. Other chapters will come along as they are
finished. I'm a slow writer.
Lisa :o)
Disclaimer: In no way is this to infringe on any copywrite held by J.K. Rowling, Bloomsbury, Scholastic, Warner Brothers or any other entity. This is purely for the enjoyment of the fans.
The Value of Friendship By LisaRosa
"Hey, four-eyes!"
Harry turned toward the 'noise' he heard coming from the ground below the tree. "What do you want, Duddykins?" He just loved provoking his cousin.
"Watch it, Potter!" Dudley threw a rock up into the tree which Harry caught easily and threw back at the fat-boy who ducked.
"What the bloody hell do you want, Dudley?!" Harry yelled down at him. He wasn't in the mood to deal with the idiot that was his cousin.
"You're to get in the house! There are some of your freaks there!" Dudley took off in a direction that would take him away from said home. He wanted nothing to do with them apparently. This made Harry chuckle as he climbed down.
As he made his way back to his aunt and uncle's house, neighbors stared at him. To them he was the disturbed nephew of the Dursley's and thus not to be trusted. He didn't care though. Nothing they thought of him meant anything to him. He cared about little anymore, except his adopted family, his real family which included a group of wizards known as the Order of the Phoenix. He wondered why they were there. He had only been out of school for a couple weeks and it wasn't even his birthday yet.
Harry began to walk up the sidewalk to number four Privet Drive when he suddenly noticed the wizards standing at the door. There was Lupin, Moody, Tonks and Mr. Weasley. The two he hadn't expected was there too. Ron and Hermione ran up to him.
"Harry!" Hermione grabbed him in a hug while Ron grabbed his shoulder.
"What are all of you doing here? I thought it wouldn't be until much later before I would see any of you!" He grinned at the adult wizards standing around him now.
"We decided to come get you early this time," Lupin replied, smiling at him. "Dumbledore thought it best."
At the mention of Dumbledore, Harry's smile vanished. "He thought it best." he said under his breath, sarcastically. "So, where are we going this time? Grimauld Place?"
"The Burrow, mate." Ron grinned at him. Harry couldn't have been happier. He was relieved that they were not going back to Grimauld Place. He couldn't stand to go there now that Sirius. no, he couldn't think of that.
"It's good to see all of you. Just let me get my trunk and other things." He was off into the house and up the stairs before his uncle could even yell at him for having his 'family' wait in the front yard.
****
"Remus, how does he seem to you?" Mr. Weasley asked, watching the boy go into the house.
"Angry, lonely, sad, but what else can we expect?" Remus turned to glance around the neighborhood. "I wish he didn't have to return here. Sirius didn't want him to be here."
"You know it's for his own protection, Remus," Moody reminded him from where he stood next to Tonks.
"He's stronger than you think, Professor." Hermione laid a hand on Remus' arm.
"I know, but he's never had to deal with the death of one he considers." he started to say, but couldn't finish as Harry came out with his trunk.
"How are we getting there?" Harry asked looking around. In one hand he had his trunk and Firebolt. In the other he carried Hedwig's empty cage. He had sent the owl on ahead to the Burrow.
"Ministry car." Arthur smiled, patting his honorary son on the shoulder as he led the way to the limousine now parked in front of the house.
"Wow." Harry, Ron and Hermione's mouths dropped open at the sight.
"Isn't that a little too obvious who's going to be in it?" Tonks spoke up this time.
"No more inconspicuous than the Knight Bus," Mr. Weasley answered her. "Works on the same principle." The Ministry driver got out of the car and opened the door for the group who climbed in. Before the car left, Harry glanced out the window to stare at the Dursley's house. He had a feeling. just a feeling that he would not see it again.
****
Through the remaining weeks of the summer holiday Harry still felt empty, even though he was surrounded by friends and those that he considered family. The Burrow was quiet now that the Weasleys had all settled down for the night. Harry, at that moment, was looking out of the window in Ron's room, into the dark of night. His friend was snoring softly in the other twin bed. Harry couldn't believe he was finally at the Weasley's after a very long month at his aunt and uncle's home. His only living relatives had made the month as miserable as they could while he was there despite the warnings of members of the Order. There was no changing the Dursley's. Harry had refrained from writing that he was being mistreated to any of the Order so as to not to be a burden on his remaining 'real' family.
"Harry?" asked a sleepy voice from across the room. "What are you doing up? Everything all right?"
"Yes, I'm fine." Harry moved from the window to his bed, crawling back under the covers. Mr. Weasley, from what Ron had said, brought back a bed that had been collecting dust at the ministry to put in Ron's room for Harry's visit to their home. "The ghoul in the attic decided I was sleeping too soundly," Harry lied, giving his friend a slight smile.
"I can't understand why Dad lets that thing stay up there," Ron said in the middle of a yawn. "What time is it?"
Harry looked at the old clock and read the time in the faint moonlight. "Five in the morning."
"Just about time to get up. Mum's an earlier riser and thinks we should be too." Ron stretched as he sat up.
"You're not getting out of bed now, are you?" Harry took off his glasses and set them on the bedside table.
"No, just going downstairs to get a drink of water. I'll be right back." Ron shuffled out of the room, leaving Harry alone for the moment.
When the ghoul in the attic suddenly banged on the ceiling of the room, Harry looked up and said, "Oh, sod off." It wasn't long after, the Boy-Who- Lived fell into an uneasy sleep.
****
Ron returned to the room a moment later, carrying a glass of water, along with one for Harry in case he was thirsty, too. Not surprising, his friend was sound asleep. Ron shook his head, and put the full glass on the bedside table next to Harry's spectacles before returning to his own bed. Turning on his side to face Harry, Ron took a good look at his best friend. When Harry had first arrived, he appeared to be too skinny and exhausted. Denying that anything was wrong, Harry just said the Dursley's had kept him busy doing chores around the house. Ron knew it was more than that, and felt a pang of sadness as he thought of Harry's godfather, Sirius who had died two months before. Since Harry's arrival, Ron's friend had regained as much of his cheer as could be expected and, with Mrs. Weasley's help, had regained some of the lost weight. Ron let his eyes drift close as sleep finally overtook him.
****
Harry was not sure whether what he was seeing was real or just a dream. He was in the hospital wing of Hogwarts, and hearing the moans and cries of other students in the beds around him. He turned his head to one side to find Hermione in a chair beside his bed.
"Hermione.?" Harry tried to gain her attention, but his voice was non- existent so he settled for trying to reach out but found his arms unwilling to move. Finally, when he was about to give up, Hermione turned toward him, giving him an exhausted smile.
"Harry? You're going to be all right." She touched his cheek, giving him a chaste kiss on the forehead. When she pulled away, Harry noticed that her eyes were red and puffy, tears still on her cheeks. "I just wish she was here to see you." Hermione's eyes turned to the bed beside him. When Harry looked as well, he was horrified to see Madam Pomfrey pull a sheet over Ginny's head.
"No!!!"
****
Harry awoke screaming loud enough for the dead to hear. The scream turned into a hoarse cry before stopping all together when he realized he was in Ron's room and safe. He turned his head to find Ron staring at him with wide eyes.
"You all right, Harry?" the red head asked before getting out of bed to sit down on the edge of Harry's bed.
All Harry could do was nod because he was too out breath from the fright of the dream. At that moment, Mrs. Weasley came through the door followed by Hermione and Ginny.
"Harry, dear, what's wrong?" Molly stood before her son and his friend, already dressed for the day while Hermione and Ginny were still in their dressing gowns.
"I'm sorry, Mrs. Weasley, I didn't mean to wake anyone." he answered, finally catching his breath. "It was just a nightmare."
"Do you want to talk about it?" she asked kindly, knowing how horrible Harry's dreams could be. especially after Sirius' death.
"No." he slowly shook his head, glancing over at Hermione and Ginny, both of whom had worried expressions on their faces.
"Well, all right, if you're sure." Harry nodded. "It's time to wake up anyway. We have to be at King's Cross early so we're not late for the train."
****
The train ride to Hogwarts was not as uneventful as Harry, Hermione, Ron and Ginny could have hoped. As per his usual, Draco Malfoy made an appearance.
"Thought you could get away from me that easily, did you, Potter?" Draco sneered, his cronies, Crabb and Goyle, standing on each side of him. "They should be giving that Lestrange woman a medal for killing that murdering godfather of yours."
Ron was up out of his seat, angry and ready for a fight when Hermione and Harry grabbed him back. "Ron, he's not worth it!" Harry said loudly to his friend to get his attention, even though he really wanted to let his friend do what he wanted and join in as well. Ron backed down, but continued to glare at the Slytherins. "Draco, get out of here!"
"Oh, I'm so scared!" Draco mocked, laughing all the while. Ron tried to reach for him again but his friend kept a tight hold on his robes, or at least until part of it ripped. Ron took advantage of this and slugged Draco hard on the nose. The Slytherin howled in pain, gripping his broken nose. "I won't forget this, Weasley!" Draco left with his companions, clutching at his nose.
"Ron, you do realize that if Snape hears about this, you'll end up with detention even before the feast," Harry reminded him, sitting back down in his seat next to Ginny, who had been silent, but fearful, through the whole ordeal. Hermione muttered a quick repair charm on Ron's robes.
"Did you notice something strange about Malfoy?" Ron asked as he rubbed his hand, shaking it every so often.
"Strange?" Harry asked, glancing over at his friend again.
"Yeah, he didn't have his prefect badge on." Ron rubbed his knuckles, trying to ease the ache there. "I wondered why he wasn't at the meeting."
Harry raised an eyebrow at this. "I wondered where he was." Harry absent mindedly rubbed the badge pinned to his robes. Dumbledore, despite Harry tearing up his office last year, decided to make Harry a prefect after he had earned his ten O.W.L's which included potions and all the other requirements he would need to become an Auror. It was unprecedented to have two male prefects plus a female prefect in one House, but in this case an exception was made.
"From what I've heard, he lost it after he tried to attack you on the train last year." Hermione pulled out her new Advanced Arithmancy book and started to read.
Harry just shrugged and glanced over at Ginny who shrugged as well before picking up Crookshanks to pet him. The cat purred in contentment, his eyes half closing.
Harry smiled watching her for a moment before picking up his new quidditch book, Successful Seekers and their Secrets. It had been a birthday present from Hermione. It wasn't long before his eyes drifted over the top of the book to glance at Ginny, to watch her pet the cat again and relaxed in the seat. Her back was to the compartment wall next to her and her feet up on the seat, touching Harry's leg. They had grown comfortable together recently and even started having long conversations. He found that he liked spending time with her. Before he realized it, he found Ginny's eyes meeting his.
"What's wrong, Harry?" she asked softly, not wanting to disturb her brother who was now sleeping. "You were staring at me."
"Nothing, just thinking how much you've changed in the last couple of years," he answered with a small smile.
"For the better, I hope." She grinned back before moving closer to him. "So, what are you reading?"
The book was just a comfortable diversion for the both of them, but before he realized it, they were both talking excitedly about quidditch and other exciting things that would be happening at Hogwarts that year. They talked about the Christmas Dance coming up that year. Their letters had stated that they bring dress robes again, which thrilled Ginny to no end from what Harry could tell. For his part, he hoped he would not have to dance.
"Come on, Harry, dancing is fun!" Ginny laughed softly, touching his arm and before Harry knew it, he took hold of her hand in his.
"Only if you're the one I'm dancing with," he commented before realizing what he said.
"Are you asking me to the dance?" Ginny asked quietly, her eyes full of hope.
"Yes, I'm asking." Harry felt his face grow warm. He glanced over at Ron and Hermione, seeing the latter smile over at them and the former starting to snore.
"Then I accept." She grinned, sitting a little closer to him.
Harry glanced down at his book again, still feeling a little too warm and grateful that Ron was a sound sleeper.
****
They arrived in Hogsmead in record time. All of the older students were ushered to the carriages while the First-Years were lead to the boats by Hagrid. The night was cool but comfortable, unlike previous years.
"I can't wait to get up to the castle," Ron muttered as he climbed into a carriage next to Hermione.
"You're always hungry, Ron," Harry joked with his friend as he climbed in as well to sit in the empty seat across from them. Ginny had decided to go in the carriage containing her friends from her Year.
"Yeah, and who's the one that had a sandwich, two cauldron cakes and three chocolate frogs on the way here?" Ron laughed.
"Okay, so I was hungry." Harry grinned back, throwing one of the empty frog wrappers he had in his pocket at his best friend.
"Boys." Hermione shook her head and rolled her eyes before returning to face the window.
****
The feast was the same as usual, only now, a new teacher once again sat at the teachers' table.
"Who is that?" Hermione gestured toward the head table at the stranger.
"I don't know." Harry turned to look in the direction of the table and saw a woman in her late thirties, maybe, her hair pulled back in a very long, black braid that hung over her left shoulder. Her robes were black as well; a silver star like pendent hung around her neck on a silver chain. A passing thought went through Harry's mind that she could have been a statue for all he knew.
"Where did they dig her up from? A grave yard?" Ron commented as he waited for the sorting ceremony to finish. Hermione elbowed him in the ribs. "Ow, Hermione!"
"Shhhh!" Hermione gave him a reproving glance. The woman was now staring at them. A small smile graced her lips before turning her attention to the proceedings.
Once the ceremony was done, Dumbledore stood and smiled. "I have only two words for all of you; Tuck in!" He clapped his hands and the feast appeared on the table, much to Harry and Ron's relief. Both of them were ravenous.
"I wonder what her name is." Hermione stared at the new teacher, taking a drink of her pumpkin juice.
"As long as she's not like Snape, Moody or Lockhart, that's all I care," Ron said before stuffing a piece of chicken in his mouth. Harry was wondering the same thing as he stared as well.
Before too long, the students' stomachs were full and Dumbledore stood to speak once again. But before he could say a thing, a loud coughing sound could be heard from the Slytherin table. "Madame Pomfrey, could you please see to that student?" the headmaster asked the woman sitting at one corner of the table. The nurse hurried down to the Slytherin table to help a very ill looking Draco from the room. Harry, Ron and Hermione glanced at one another, remembering the train ride there.
"As I started to say, I have a few announcements." He cleared his throat and continued on. "First Years please note that the forest next to the grounds is strictly forbidden to all students. Also, please note that Mr. Filch's list of banned items has grown considerably this year. If any of you have any questions as to what items are banned, please request a copy of the list from Mr. Filch." He nodded in the direction of the back of the room where the caretaker was standing with Mrs. Norris, his cat. "As Professor Sinistra has decided to retire to enjoy her grandchildren, I would also like to introduce your new Astronomy teacher, Amanda Andrews." He gestured to the woman at the table that Harry and Ron had wondered about earlier. "Also, I am happy to announce that I have hired a new Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher. He is a man known to most of you and I can find no other man that is more than qualified for the job. But before I call him into the room, I must ask you to keep an open mind. The man I am about to bring out is a known werewolf, but precautions have been taken to ensure the safety of everyone here."
Harry's eyes grew wide and turned to his best friends who stared back at him with smiles and happiness. "It can't be. He would have said something." Harry whispered to Ron and Hermione.
"May I introduce and welcome back, Professor Remus Lupin." The headmaster and the rest of the staff clapped, though the latter was too stunned for it to be any louder than a tapping noise. Harry, Ron and Hermione were clapping in earnest though. Harry could only grin as he saw his mentor walk through the doors of the Great Hall, wearing much better robes than he had last time he seen him, and wearing an expression that could have brighten a rainy day.
Before going up to the head table, Remus gave Harry a gentle squeeze to the shoulder and a smile. He was back in his element. Harry couldn't have been happier for his old teacher.
"Please give him your full support." Dumbledore gave the students a fond smile.
After settling down to eat, Harry was staring sadly at the table, particularly the chicken on his plate that he hadn't eaten, remembering.
"Harry, what is it?" Ron asked, turning to his best friend.
"Just remembering," Harry answered.
"Sirius?" Ginny put a hand on his arm in sympathy.
"Yeah. Ron, Hermione and I took food up to him once when he was hiding in a cave above Hogsmead." The corners of his mouth moved upward slightly.
Hermione glanced at Ron then back at Harry. "Snuffles would have loved this feast. Remember how he would gesture with a chicken leg when he was talking?" She held up a half eaten chicken leg and pointed it at Harry.
He knew she was trying to make him smile and it worked somewhat, but it came out sad.
Hermione sighed and gave her friend a one-armed hug. "We're here for you, Harry."
"Thanks." He returned the hug.
"I hope whatever Malfoy has isn't contagious," Ginny commented, turning to look back at the most despised House in the school.
"His father has been in Azkaban for awhile now. I wonder if he and his mother still have all the money his father had." Ron frowned.
"Yes, they would have. It's in the Ministry law." Hermione took a drink of her pumpkin juice.
It was not long before the feast was ended and the students and teachers headed for their beds. Harry was about to follow his fellow students before Remus called out to him.
"Harry, could I see you for a moment?" Professor Lupin called out to him as he walked along the student tables to where Harry stood.
"Yes, sir." The young wizard stood where he was so that Lupin could catch up to him.
"Are you all right?" the professor asked, once again placing a hand on Harry's shoulder.
"Yes, I'm fine, just tired," he lied. How could he tell him about the gaping void inside him or the nightmares he had nearly every night of his godfather dying?
"If ever you need to talk, I'm here," Remus offered in a soft voice full of sympathy.
"I know, thanks." Harry gave his teacher a small smile before turning to leave.
***
Remus Lupin was worried about his young charge. Sirius had left guardianship of Harry to Lupin upon his death. His Last Will and Testament had been one of the things that Sirius had done while in number 12 Grimauld Place. Half of what was in his vault at Gringotts had went to Remus and the other half to Harry as well as any personal affects he had left. The house had gone to Dumbledore for the Order.
"Professor Lupin, it's time we all went to bed," said a voice behind him. Lupin, startled, jumped and turned to find Amanda Andrews behind him.
"Professor Andrews, you scared the life out of me!" He put a hand to his chest, breathing hard.
"Sorry, but Dumbledore asked me to see you to your rooms to make sure you get the rest you need. The full moon is in a few days." She gave him a sympathetic smile.
"I'm surprised you know how to get around here already." Remus followed her out of the great hall.
"It's been awhile since school but I do remember." They reached the stairs and climbed to the next floor which held the teachers' quarters.
"What year did you finish?" He grinned at her.
"The same year as you. Good night, Remus." She turned to a blank wall on the opposite side of him and uttered a word he could not hear. A door appeared and she disappeared into the rooms beyond before it disappeared again.
"Same year? But." he started to say but then shrugged before turning to his own hidden door.
****
As always, the year started off with a bang, literally. Neville had just nearly blown up the DA room which was also known as the Room of Requirement. Harry and the rest of the students were covered in the dust from the table.
"Umm. Neville, I think you were supposed to just move the table, not blow it up." Harry put a hand on his classmate's shoulder.
"I'm sorry, Harry, I guess I just concentrated too much or something," Neville said as he turned to find a broom leaning against the wall next to him.
"I'm not Snape, Neville," Harry said, thinking all the while that he was thankful he wasn't anywhere near related to the potions master. "I'm not going humiliate you. You just need to remember that this is just practice."
"I know. I just wish." the boy sighed and shook his head.
"You wish what?" Harry waited for Neville to finish the thought, though he had a good idea what he was about to say. Everyone else in the room was preparing to leave since the meeting was essentially over.
"I wish I could have been more like my parents. Even my Gran wishes I was more like my parents." Neville finished cleaning up the dust then set the broom down to look at Harry with a downtrodden expression. "They were both so brave."
"You are too, Neville. I couldn't have made it out of the Department of Mysteries if it hadn't been for you and the rest." Harry swallowed hard, trying not to remember that night.
"No, I wasn't. If I had been, then Bellatrix wouldn't have -"
"Don't mention her name to me!" Harry suddenly flew off in a rage, knocking over row of sneakoscopes on a top shelf.
"Oh God. Harry, I'm sorry, I didn't mean." Neville backed away from him, with an expression of terror on his face. This is what brought Harry up short, suddenly realizing what he had done.
"I'm the one who should be sorry, Neville. I didn't mean to do that." Harry rubbed at his face, trying to block out the sight of his classmate nearly huddling in the corner near the door. "It's just the woman -"
"Killed your Godfather," Ron finished for him as he stepped back into the room.
"I thought you left?" Harry's head snapped up in surprise. "You didn't just hear me -"
"Nearly singe the hair off of Neville?" Ron put a hand on his should. "Yeah, I did. Neville, could you leave us?"
"Yeah, sure. It's okay, Harry." Neville placed a hand on Harry's shoulder as well before leaving.
Harry breathed a sigh of relief after the door was closed. "I can't believe I did that. Neville didn't deserve the brunt of my anger."
"No, he didn't. I thought you were past all that? At least the anger part anyway." Ron pulled over a couple of chairs from the wall. Both boys sat down; Harry leaning forward to put his head in his hands.
"I thought I was too. I guess the thought of that woman still out there while Sirius is." Harry's tried to swallow the lump in his throat. He fought the tears trying to escape.
"I miss him too, so does Hermione. You can talk to us, you know?" Ron sighed, looking down at his hands.
Suddenly, it didn't matter anymore that Ron was sitting beside him. It didn't matter that he could hear footsteps out in the hall then the door open. It didn't matter that someone was kneeling in front of him, taking his hands away from his face. Through his watery eyes, he saw Ginny's tear- stained face. She enveloped him in her arms as he finally broke down and sobbed.
****
It was a long time before Harry dried his eyes. Ginny let him sit back in the chair. Ron was still there, worry in his blue eyes. 'It's about time he finally let go,' Ron thought as he put a hand on Harry's shoulder once more, hoping to comfort his friend. "You all right, mate?" Ron asked, not in the least embarrassed by his friend's show of emotions.
"Yes, I'm fine." Harry's expression changed to one of embarrassment when he saw whose shoulder he had cried on. "Oh, Ginny. I'm sorry, I didn't mean to -"
"It's quite all right, Harry." She gave him an affectionate smile before putting an arm around his shoulders. "I'm glad to be here for you."
Ron could have kissed his sister at that point. Even though he was still a little uncomfortable at the thought of Ginny dating his best friend, he couldn't think of anyone better for her. All the signs were there, he just needed to nudge the both of them in the right direction.
"We should head back to the common room. Hermione is probably getting worried." Harry chuckled.
"Worried is an understatement. You should see her lately around Harry." Ron realized at that moment that he may have put his foot in his mouth. He turned to his friend to apologize.
"Ron, don't worry about it. You're right, Hermione has been hovering a bit, but. I really don't mind." Harry stared straight ahead down the hall.
Ron raised an eyebrow. "You don't mind---?"
"Yeah, it just means that my family cares." A smile grew on his face.
"Yes, we do." Ginny grinned as both she and Ron put their arms around Harry's shoulders as they walked back to the Gryffindor common room.
****
It was days later, in his Defense Against the Dark Arts class that Harry was starting to feel in any way 'normal'. At least he had not had a dream in a very long time, which pleased him to no end. He kept watching the door to Lupin's office above the classroom for the professor to make his appearance.
"I hope nothing is wrong," Hermione said as she was also staring in the same direction as her friend.
"We haven't heard anything, so maybe he just having trouble adjusting to being a teacher again," Ron said softly to her. Harry couldn't help but hope Ron was right. Just then, the door opened and in walked their teacher, a little out of breath but smiling.
"Sorry I'm late. Overslept." He gave Harry and his friends a smile before sitting down behind the desk to do roll call. When he finished, Remus put the parchment away and glanced around the room again. "Welcome, all of you, to your first N.E.W.T Advanced Defense Against the Dark Arts Class. First of all, I would like to appoint an assistant. Harry? Could you come up here please?"
Harry stood with trepidation, but moved forward to join his teacher. He gave the professor the 'I'm not sure what you're thinking here' look. Remus just ignored it and continued on.
"Since Harry was so proficient in teaching a few of you the defensive spells you needed to pass your O.W.L's last year in your Defense club, I thought it would be appropriate for him to continue." Remus stopped there, looking at Harry now. "What would you say to helping me with this class, Harry?"
Harry felt his stomach do a slow tumble before answering. He raised his eyes to meet those of his fellow classmates then his friends. Hermione was beaming at him and Ron was grinning like the proverbial cat that ate the canary. Somehow they had known that Lupin was going to do this. Harry sighed then laughed softly before answering, "Yes, I'd like that. Does this mean I don't have to do homework for you?" he joked with his teacher.
"Sorry, can't extend that privilege there. You'll be doing the same homework, I'm afraid." Remus laughed softly before giving Harry a gentle shove back to his seat. Harry grinned back before taking his seat again. "Now, just to make sure I know what you have covered to date, please kindly take out your wands and show me your Expelliarmus spell. Neville, you first."
The rest of the class went on as normal with Harry helping out where he could. It felt so natural to him to be showing others the spells he had learned so well from Lupin and, to his chagrin, the imposter Moody. When class was over, Lupin pulled him aside before he could leave.
"Harry, thank you for accepting to be my assistant. How are you doing so far?" Lupin was studying him closely.
"All right, I guess." Harry looked down at his feet, knowing what Lupin was referring to. It was still somewhat hard to think of his godfather.
"You know you can come to me with anything, right?" Remus put a hand on his shoulder. "I know I'm not your godfather, but I like to think I'm at least a friend."
Harry quickly raised his eyes again. "Yes, you are. You were my dad and Sirius' friend, so that makes you my friend too, I guess."
"Yes, it does, but I'm not just your friend because of your father and Sirius. When I first taught you in your third year, I couldn't have been prouder than if you were my own son." Remus smiled and reached to ruffle Harry's hair. Harry grinned and ducked his head. "Just remember that I'm here for you."
"Thanks, Professor." Harry walked out of the classroom, feeling better than when he had went in.
****
"Where's Malfoy?" Ron looked around the Potions classroom. "I haven't seen him for a few days now."
"I don't know and really I don't care." Harry continued to stir his cauldron, watching it turn from black to a silver white.
Ron shrugged and turned to concentrate on his own potion. It wasn't long before they heard their teacher, Severus Snape, return to the room. He had been gone for a few minutes after giving them their assignment.
"Your potions should be finished and ready to hand in. Please do so now and return to you common rooms. Your Heads of House will speak to you there." Harry quickly raised his head from his cauldron to look at Snape. The man's face was contorted in a barely held back rage.
"What's going on?" Hermione said softly to Harry as she bottled her potion.
"I don't know." Harry labeled his vial then walked to the professor's desk, giving Snape a quick look which was met by the man's usual loathing. Harry set his vial on the desk away from Snape.
"Potter, stop dawdling, clean up your things and get out of my sight!" Snape yelled at his student.
Harry quickly cleaned his cauldron, put his books back in his bag and headed out of the room as fast as he could. "What the bloody hell is wrong with him?" he asked his friends as they walked to their common rooms.
"The more important question to ask is what is going on that McGonagall needs to talk to us in the common room?"
"It could be anything." Ron shrugged as they reached the portrait hole. "Dumbledore's Army!" he said to the Fat Lady who then swung open to reveal the Gryffindor common room. Professor McGonagall was waiting for them.
"Please sit down." She indicated the free chairs. Other students on the room had their attention completely on their teacher. "I'm afraid I have sad news for everyone. Today a student has died. Even though she was a member of Slytherin House, her death is still of great concern to the school. Pansy Parkinson had fallen ill at the beginning of the term along with Draco Malfoy, who is also gravely ill. As a precaution, we are asking all students to visit the Hospital Wing to be examined by Madam Pomfrey. These examinations will start today with the first group listed on the board." She gestured toward the message board in the room and the piece of parchment with the student's names listed on it. "This will continue throughout the day and tomorrow until everyone has been examined. Please note the time and day of your exam. If you begin to fall ill before that time, please see the nurse immediately. Class schedules will continue as normal until further notice." She turned to leave the room but Harry quickly caught her up.
"Professor, can I talk to you in private?" he whispered.
"Yes, this way, Potter." She led him out of the common room to her own office not far away. Once there, she sat behind her desk, giving Harry a searching glance. "What is it that you need to tell me, Harry?"
"I had this dream." he started to say, and then saw McGonagall's eyebrow rise. "No, not one from Voldemort, but I think I'm Seeing things." He quickly told her of the dream he had over the summer of everyone falling ill, but left out the part where he had woken to find Ginny Weasley dead.
"You Saw this happen? Why did you not say anything before?" McGonagall shook her head before putting it in her hands.
"Because I thought it was just a nightmare. I'm sorry." He hung his head for a moment before looking back up at his teacher.
"It's quite all right, Potter. You had no idea, but this is the first time you've actually had a Seer's vision?"
"Yes, I think so." Harry tried to think back over the summer.
McGonagall gave him a sympathetic look. "With everything else you've had to endure in the last year, I was hoping this was not going to happen."
"What do you mean?" Harry gave her quizzical expression.
"Your father had a touch of Seer's blood in his family, Harry," she answered, leaning forward on the desk to lean her chin on her folded hands. "In fact, it wasn't until he was your age that it manifested. He wasn't a strong Seer but enough that it made him a valuable asset to the Order."
"What did he See?" Harry was curious now. He craved stories of his parents.
"Only a few things here and there like the movements of Death Eaters and the like. It was never too far into the future." She now looked worried. "Please, whatever you do, do not mention your Vision to anyone. It would only serve to panic the students."
"Yes, Professor," he answered shakily.
"You may return to your common room," she started to say but then stood to walk around her desk to lay a hand on Harry's shoulder. "But before you go, I would like to caution you. I know you and your friends, like all my Gryffindors, try to brave out illness, but this is too risky. If you find that someone is ill, please urge them to go to the hospital wing. This includes you as well." The concerned maternal tone in her voice made Harry smile slightly.
"I will, Professor. Thanks." He turned to go.
****
Two days later another student had fallen ill; this time it was a Ravenclaw; Hanna Abbot. Harry sat staring at his plate of food during dinner, stunned. Dumbledore continued to speak to the students.
"As a result of this illness, the school has been quarantined by the Ministry and the healers of St. Mungo's. They are still trying to find a cure, and urge everyone to remain calm." Dumbledore let his eyes meet Harry's for a moment before turning away. "Once you have finished eating, I ask all of you to return to your dormitories and go to bed early. The more rested you are, the better you are able to fight off the illness, whatever it is. Good Night." Dumbledore sat back down, looking older than he ever had before to Harry's eyes.
"The teachers are very worried," Ginny observed, watching as some of the adults stood to leave. "I wonder if they're informing our parents."
"I received a letter from Mum yesterday," Ron answered, walking down the corridor with his friend and sister. "She's worried about us."
Harry felt his stomach do a slow roll at the thought of his Vision of Ginny dying from the disease. 'I can't let that happen, there's got to be something to this if even the doctors at St. Mungo's can't even cure it,' Harry thought to himself.
"Harry?" Ginny touched his should, glancing at him in concern.
"I'm fine," Harry answered, finally turning to his friends. "Do you think this illness could have anything to do with Voldemort?" He saw Ron grimace at the name.
"But how would he?" Ginny had the expression on her face that said she was trying to think of the problem logically just as Hermione would. He wished she had not opted to skip dinner to study that evening.
"I don't know, maybe through the food we ate at the feast at the beginning of the year?" Ron suggested, shrugging.
"No, that would be too obvious and besides the house-elves are the ones that cook the dinner. None of them would have done it," Harry put in his thoughts on the matter.
"What about Malfoy? He started to get sick at the Welcoming feast." Ron leaned up against the wall next to the Gryffindor Portrait of the Fat Lady.
"But why would Voldemort poison someone who could possibly be a spy in the school?" Ginny questioned, trying to show all sides to the argument.
"What if he took his father's place in Voldemort's group? After all Malfoy's father is in Azkaban and from what I've heard, the aurors have strict orders to kill anyone who tries to escape," Ron said. This information startled Harry as his eyebrows went up into his hairline.
Harry started to say something in return, but was interrupted by the portrait hole opening. From the Gryffindor common room came Dean Thomas and Seamus Finnegan carrying out a very ill looking Hermione Granger.
****
"What happened?!" Ron quickly replaced Seamus on Hermione's right side while Harry replaced Dean.
"She was standing up from the table she was studying at then just collapsed," Dean tried to explain as the four hurried quickly to the hospital wing.
"I'm just tired." Hermione protested in a hoarse voice. Ron, without realizing he was doing it, placed his cheek on Hermione's.
"You're burning up. We're taking you to Madame Pomfrey and you're not talking us out of it," he quickly stated when he saw her start to protest again.
"Do you think it's the same thing Parkinson had?" Harry asked in worry as they hurried as fast as Hermione could down the corridor to the hospital wing.
Ron's face lost all color before picking up Hermione in his arms to nearly run to the infirmary. Harry stopped and turned toward Seamus and Dean.
"Why don't you two go back to the common room and let everyone know what's happened," Harry asked his fellow Gryffindors. "When we know how bad she is, one of us will come and tell you." Both of the boys nodded and turned back to their common room.
Harry sprinted down the hall to follow Ron and Hermione, praying that his friend was going to be fine.
****
Ron burst through the door to the hospital wing, all the while being careful of the girl in his arms. "Madame Pomfrey! Madame Pomfrey, hurry!"
"What is it, child!" The nurse rushed out of her office.
"Hermione is sick." He lay Hermione down on one of the beds. "She's burning up." Ron stepped away to let the nurse examine his friend. "She lost consciousness on the way here." His throat went dry when he remembered the panic he felt when Hermione went limp in his arms.
"Is anyone else sick in your House?" the nurse asked as she quickly prepared a cooling potion.
"None that I know of," Ron answered as he sat on the next bed. Just then he heard the door open again and turned to see who it was. Harry walked up to him to sit next to his friends.
"How is she?" Harry asked Madame Pomfrey shakily once he saw Hermione's sheet white face.
"I won't know until I examine her completely," the nurse replied as she started to pull the curtains around the bed. "You two go back to your dormitory. There is nothing you can do for her tonight." "Can't we stay?" Ron pleaded with her.
Madame Pomfrey turned her eyes to the two, staring at them as if judging what her answer would be. He eyes soften and Ron thought for a moment that she was going to allow them to stay. "I understand how worried you are for your friend, but unless both of you returned to your dormitories and get some rest, you'll both be in the beds next to her. If you value your friend and want to be here for her, I suggest you both rest in your beds."
Ron's heart fell into his stomach, but he knew the nurse was right. "You'll let us know if."
"Yes, I will. Now, both of you go on to bed." Madame Pomfrey pulled the curtains around Hermione's bed.
"Come on, Ron." Harry helped his friend up. Ron felt his feet drag as he turned to glance at the curtain hiding Hermione. Would this be the last time he saw her. He never stopped once to examine the feeling that if Hermione did not make it, he world would crumble.
****
Harry lay in bed that night, unable to sleep. What if Hermione died? He had lost so much of family already and Hermione was a part of that family he had built around him in the last six years. He turned on his side and clutched a pillow to him. 'This isn't fair," he thought to himself. 'She's the smartest girl I know and Ron likes her.' Harry had known Ron liked Hermione much more than a friend since fourth year. Why would he be jealous of Victor Krum otherwise? Harry sighed and tried to return to sleep, emptying his mind of all emotions as he did. Occlumency was not the easiest thing to learn but he was learning with the help of Dumbledore. He finally felt himself drift off to sleep.
Lisa :o)
Disclaimer: In no way is this to infringe on any copywrite held by J.K. Rowling, Bloomsbury, Scholastic, Warner Brothers or any other entity. This is purely for the enjoyment of the fans.
The Value of Friendship By LisaRosa
"Hey, four-eyes!"
Harry turned toward the 'noise' he heard coming from the ground below the tree. "What do you want, Duddykins?" He just loved provoking his cousin.
"Watch it, Potter!" Dudley threw a rock up into the tree which Harry caught easily and threw back at the fat-boy who ducked.
"What the bloody hell do you want, Dudley?!" Harry yelled down at him. He wasn't in the mood to deal with the idiot that was his cousin.
"You're to get in the house! There are some of your freaks there!" Dudley took off in a direction that would take him away from said home. He wanted nothing to do with them apparently. This made Harry chuckle as he climbed down.
As he made his way back to his aunt and uncle's house, neighbors stared at him. To them he was the disturbed nephew of the Dursley's and thus not to be trusted. He didn't care though. Nothing they thought of him meant anything to him. He cared about little anymore, except his adopted family, his real family which included a group of wizards known as the Order of the Phoenix. He wondered why they were there. He had only been out of school for a couple weeks and it wasn't even his birthday yet.
Harry began to walk up the sidewalk to number four Privet Drive when he suddenly noticed the wizards standing at the door. There was Lupin, Moody, Tonks and Mr. Weasley. The two he hadn't expected was there too. Ron and Hermione ran up to him.
"Harry!" Hermione grabbed him in a hug while Ron grabbed his shoulder.
"What are all of you doing here? I thought it wouldn't be until much later before I would see any of you!" He grinned at the adult wizards standing around him now.
"We decided to come get you early this time," Lupin replied, smiling at him. "Dumbledore thought it best."
At the mention of Dumbledore, Harry's smile vanished. "He thought it best." he said under his breath, sarcastically. "So, where are we going this time? Grimauld Place?"
"The Burrow, mate." Ron grinned at him. Harry couldn't have been happier. He was relieved that they were not going back to Grimauld Place. He couldn't stand to go there now that Sirius. no, he couldn't think of that.
"It's good to see all of you. Just let me get my trunk and other things." He was off into the house and up the stairs before his uncle could even yell at him for having his 'family' wait in the front yard.
****
"Remus, how does he seem to you?" Mr. Weasley asked, watching the boy go into the house.
"Angry, lonely, sad, but what else can we expect?" Remus turned to glance around the neighborhood. "I wish he didn't have to return here. Sirius didn't want him to be here."
"You know it's for his own protection, Remus," Moody reminded him from where he stood next to Tonks.
"He's stronger than you think, Professor." Hermione laid a hand on Remus' arm.
"I know, but he's never had to deal with the death of one he considers." he started to say, but couldn't finish as Harry came out with his trunk.
"How are we getting there?" Harry asked looking around. In one hand he had his trunk and Firebolt. In the other he carried Hedwig's empty cage. He had sent the owl on ahead to the Burrow.
"Ministry car." Arthur smiled, patting his honorary son on the shoulder as he led the way to the limousine now parked in front of the house.
"Wow." Harry, Ron and Hermione's mouths dropped open at the sight.
"Isn't that a little too obvious who's going to be in it?" Tonks spoke up this time.
"No more inconspicuous than the Knight Bus," Mr. Weasley answered her. "Works on the same principle." The Ministry driver got out of the car and opened the door for the group who climbed in. Before the car left, Harry glanced out the window to stare at the Dursley's house. He had a feeling. just a feeling that he would not see it again.
****
Through the remaining weeks of the summer holiday Harry still felt empty, even though he was surrounded by friends and those that he considered family. The Burrow was quiet now that the Weasleys had all settled down for the night. Harry, at that moment, was looking out of the window in Ron's room, into the dark of night. His friend was snoring softly in the other twin bed. Harry couldn't believe he was finally at the Weasley's after a very long month at his aunt and uncle's home. His only living relatives had made the month as miserable as they could while he was there despite the warnings of members of the Order. There was no changing the Dursley's. Harry had refrained from writing that he was being mistreated to any of the Order so as to not to be a burden on his remaining 'real' family.
"Harry?" asked a sleepy voice from across the room. "What are you doing up? Everything all right?"
"Yes, I'm fine." Harry moved from the window to his bed, crawling back under the covers. Mr. Weasley, from what Ron had said, brought back a bed that had been collecting dust at the ministry to put in Ron's room for Harry's visit to their home. "The ghoul in the attic decided I was sleeping too soundly," Harry lied, giving his friend a slight smile.
"I can't understand why Dad lets that thing stay up there," Ron said in the middle of a yawn. "What time is it?"
Harry looked at the old clock and read the time in the faint moonlight. "Five in the morning."
"Just about time to get up. Mum's an earlier riser and thinks we should be too." Ron stretched as he sat up.
"You're not getting out of bed now, are you?" Harry took off his glasses and set them on the bedside table.
"No, just going downstairs to get a drink of water. I'll be right back." Ron shuffled out of the room, leaving Harry alone for the moment.
When the ghoul in the attic suddenly banged on the ceiling of the room, Harry looked up and said, "Oh, sod off." It wasn't long after, the Boy-Who- Lived fell into an uneasy sleep.
****
Ron returned to the room a moment later, carrying a glass of water, along with one for Harry in case he was thirsty, too. Not surprising, his friend was sound asleep. Ron shook his head, and put the full glass on the bedside table next to Harry's spectacles before returning to his own bed. Turning on his side to face Harry, Ron took a good look at his best friend. When Harry had first arrived, he appeared to be too skinny and exhausted. Denying that anything was wrong, Harry just said the Dursley's had kept him busy doing chores around the house. Ron knew it was more than that, and felt a pang of sadness as he thought of Harry's godfather, Sirius who had died two months before. Since Harry's arrival, Ron's friend had regained as much of his cheer as could be expected and, with Mrs. Weasley's help, had regained some of the lost weight. Ron let his eyes drift close as sleep finally overtook him.
****
Harry was not sure whether what he was seeing was real or just a dream. He was in the hospital wing of Hogwarts, and hearing the moans and cries of other students in the beds around him. He turned his head to one side to find Hermione in a chair beside his bed.
"Hermione.?" Harry tried to gain her attention, but his voice was non- existent so he settled for trying to reach out but found his arms unwilling to move. Finally, when he was about to give up, Hermione turned toward him, giving him an exhausted smile.
"Harry? You're going to be all right." She touched his cheek, giving him a chaste kiss on the forehead. When she pulled away, Harry noticed that her eyes were red and puffy, tears still on her cheeks. "I just wish she was here to see you." Hermione's eyes turned to the bed beside him. When Harry looked as well, he was horrified to see Madam Pomfrey pull a sheet over Ginny's head.
"No!!!"
****
Harry awoke screaming loud enough for the dead to hear. The scream turned into a hoarse cry before stopping all together when he realized he was in Ron's room and safe. He turned his head to find Ron staring at him with wide eyes.
"You all right, Harry?" the red head asked before getting out of bed to sit down on the edge of Harry's bed.
All Harry could do was nod because he was too out breath from the fright of the dream. At that moment, Mrs. Weasley came through the door followed by Hermione and Ginny.
"Harry, dear, what's wrong?" Molly stood before her son and his friend, already dressed for the day while Hermione and Ginny were still in their dressing gowns.
"I'm sorry, Mrs. Weasley, I didn't mean to wake anyone." he answered, finally catching his breath. "It was just a nightmare."
"Do you want to talk about it?" she asked kindly, knowing how horrible Harry's dreams could be. especially after Sirius' death.
"No." he slowly shook his head, glancing over at Hermione and Ginny, both of whom had worried expressions on their faces.
"Well, all right, if you're sure." Harry nodded. "It's time to wake up anyway. We have to be at King's Cross early so we're not late for the train."
****
The train ride to Hogwarts was not as uneventful as Harry, Hermione, Ron and Ginny could have hoped. As per his usual, Draco Malfoy made an appearance.
"Thought you could get away from me that easily, did you, Potter?" Draco sneered, his cronies, Crabb and Goyle, standing on each side of him. "They should be giving that Lestrange woman a medal for killing that murdering godfather of yours."
Ron was up out of his seat, angry and ready for a fight when Hermione and Harry grabbed him back. "Ron, he's not worth it!" Harry said loudly to his friend to get his attention, even though he really wanted to let his friend do what he wanted and join in as well. Ron backed down, but continued to glare at the Slytherins. "Draco, get out of here!"
"Oh, I'm so scared!" Draco mocked, laughing all the while. Ron tried to reach for him again but his friend kept a tight hold on his robes, or at least until part of it ripped. Ron took advantage of this and slugged Draco hard on the nose. The Slytherin howled in pain, gripping his broken nose. "I won't forget this, Weasley!" Draco left with his companions, clutching at his nose.
"Ron, you do realize that if Snape hears about this, you'll end up with detention even before the feast," Harry reminded him, sitting back down in his seat next to Ginny, who had been silent, but fearful, through the whole ordeal. Hermione muttered a quick repair charm on Ron's robes.
"Did you notice something strange about Malfoy?" Ron asked as he rubbed his hand, shaking it every so often.
"Strange?" Harry asked, glancing over at his friend again.
"Yeah, he didn't have his prefect badge on." Ron rubbed his knuckles, trying to ease the ache there. "I wondered why he wasn't at the meeting."
Harry raised an eyebrow at this. "I wondered where he was." Harry absent mindedly rubbed the badge pinned to his robes. Dumbledore, despite Harry tearing up his office last year, decided to make Harry a prefect after he had earned his ten O.W.L's which included potions and all the other requirements he would need to become an Auror. It was unprecedented to have two male prefects plus a female prefect in one House, but in this case an exception was made.
"From what I've heard, he lost it after he tried to attack you on the train last year." Hermione pulled out her new Advanced Arithmancy book and started to read.
Harry just shrugged and glanced over at Ginny who shrugged as well before picking up Crookshanks to pet him. The cat purred in contentment, his eyes half closing.
Harry smiled watching her for a moment before picking up his new quidditch book, Successful Seekers and their Secrets. It had been a birthday present from Hermione. It wasn't long before his eyes drifted over the top of the book to glance at Ginny, to watch her pet the cat again and relaxed in the seat. Her back was to the compartment wall next to her and her feet up on the seat, touching Harry's leg. They had grown comfortable together recently and even started having long conversations. He found that he liked spending time with her. Before he realized it, he found Ginny's eyes meeting his.
"What's wrong, Harry?" she asked softly, not wanting to disturb her brother who was now sleeping. "You were staring at me."
"Nothing, just thinking how much you've changed in the last couple of years," he answered with a small smile.
"For the better, I hope." She grinned back before moving closer to him. "So, what are you reading?"
The book was just a comfortable diversion for the both of them, but before he realized it, they were both talking excitedly about quidditch and other exciting things that would be happening at Hogwarts that year. They talked about the Christmas Dance coming up that year. Their letters had stated that they bring dress robes again, which thrilled Ginny to no end from what Harry could tell. For his part, he hoped he would not have to dance.
"Come on, Harry, dancing is fun!" Ginny laughed softly, touching his arm and before Harry knew it, he took hold of her hand in his.
"Only if you're the one I'm dancing with," he commented before realizing what he said.
"Are you asking me to the dance?" Ginny asked quietly, her eyes full of hope.
"Yes, I'm asking." Harry felt his face grow warm. He glanced over at Ron and Hermione, seeing the latter smile over at them and the former starting to snore.
"Then I accept." She grinned, sitting a little closer to him.
Harry glanced down at his book again, still feeling a little too warm and grateful that Ron was a sound sleeper.
****
They arrived in Hogsmead in record time. All of the older students were ushered to the carriages while the First-Years were lead to the boats by Hagrid. The night was cool but comfortable, unlike previous years.
"I can't wait to get up to the castle," Ron muttered as he climbed into a carriage next to Hermione.
"You're always hungry, Ron," Harry joked with his friend as he climbed in as well to sit in the empty seat across from them. Ginny had decided to go in the carriage containing her friends from her Year.
"Yeah, and who's the one that had a sandwich, two cauldron cakes and three chocolate frogs on the way here?" Ron laughed.
"Okay, so I was hungry." Harry grinned back, throwing one of the empty frog wrappers he had in his pocket at his best friend.
"Boys." Hermione shook her head and rolled her eyes before returning to face the window.
****
The feast was the same as usual, only now, a new teacher once again sat at the teachers' table.
"Who is that?" Hermione gestured toward the head table at the stranger.
"I don't know." Harry turned to look in the direction of the table and saw a woman in her late thirties, maybe, her hair pulled back in a very long, black braid that hung over her left shoulder. Her robes were black as well; a silver star like pendent hung around her neck on a silver chain. A passing thought went through Harry's mind that she could have been a statue for all he knew.
"Where did they dig her up from? A grave yard?" Ron commented as he waited for the sorting ceremony to finish. Hermione elbowed him in the ribs. "Ow, Hermione!"
"Shhhh!" Hermione gave him a reproving glance. The woman was now staring at them. A small smile graced her lips before turning her attention to the proceedings.
Once the ceremony was done, Dumbledore stood and smiled. "I have only two words for all of you; Tuck in!" He clapped his hands and the feast appeared on the table, much to Harry and Ron's relief. Both of them were ravenous.
"I wonder what her name is." Hermione stared at the new teacher, taking a drink of her pumpkin juice.
"As long as she's not like Snape, Moody or Lockhart, that's all I care," Ron said before stuffing a piece of chicken in his mouth. Harry was wondering the same thing as he stared as well.
Before too long, the students' stomachs were full and Dumbledore stood to speak once again. But before he could say a thing, a loud coughing sound could be heard from the Slytherin table. "Madame Pomfrey, could you please see to that student?" the headmaster asked the woman sitting at one corner of the table. The nurse hurried down to the Slytherin table to help a very ill looking Draco from the room. Harry, Ron and Hermione glanced at one another, remembering the train ride there.
"As I started to say, I have a few announcements." He cleared his throat and continued on. "First Years please note that the forest next to the grounds is strictly forbidden to all students. Also, please note that Mr. Filch's list of banned items has grown considerably this year. If any of you have any questions as to what items are banned, please request a copy of the list from Mr. Filch." He nodded in the direction of the back of the room where the caretaker was standing with Mrs. Norris, his cat. "As Professor Sinistra has decided to retire to enjoy her grandchildren, I would also like to introduce your new Astronomy teacher, Amanda Andrews." He gestured to the woman at the table that Harry and Ron had wondered about earlier. "Also, I am happy to announce that I have hired a new Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher. He is a man known to most of you and I can find no other man that is more than qualified for the job. But before I call him into the room, I must ask you to keep an open mind. The man I am about to bring out is a known werewolf, but precautions have been taken to ensure the safety of everyone here."
Harry's eyes grew wide and turned to his best friends who stared back at him with smiles and happiness. "It can't be. He would have said something." Harry whispered to Ron and Hermione.
"May I introduce and welcome back, Professor Remus Lupin." The headmaster and the rest of the staff clapped, though the latter was too stunned for it to be any louder than a tapping noise. Harry, Ron and Hermione were clapping in earnest though. Harry could only grin as he saw his mentor walk through the doors of the Great Hall, wearing much better robes than he had last time he seen him, and wearing an expression that could have brighten a rainy day.
Before going up to the head table, Remus gave Harry a gentle squeeze to the shoulder and a smile. He was back in his element. Harry couldn't have been happier for his old teacher.
"Please give him your full support." Dumbledore gave the students a fond smile.
After settling down to eat, Harry was staring sadly at the table, particularly the chicken on his plate that he hadn't eaten, remembering.
"Harry, what is it?" Ron asked, turning to his best friend.
"Just remembering," Harry answered.
"Sirius?" Ginny put a hand on his arm in sympathy.
"Yeah. Ron, Hermione and I took food up to him once when he was hiding in a cave above Hogsmead." The corners of his mouth moved upward slightly.
Hermione glanced at Ron then back at Harry. "Snuffles would have loved this feast. Remember how he would gesture with a chicken leg when he was talking?" She held up a half eaten chicken leg and pointed it at Harry.
He knew she was trying to make him smile and it worked somewhat, but it came out sad.
Hermione sighed and gave her friend a one-armed hug. "We're here for you, Harry."
"Thanks." He returned the hug.
"I hope whatever Malfoy has isn't contagious," Ginny commented, turning to look back at the most despised House in the school.
"His father has been in Azkaban for awhile now. I wonder if he and his mother still have all the money his father had." Ron frowned.
"Yes, they would have. It's in the Ministry law." Hermione took a drink of her pumpkin juice.
It was not long before the feast was ended and the students and teachers headed for their beds. Harry was about to follow his fellow students before Remus called out to him.
"Harry, could I see you for a moment?" Professor Lupin called out to him as he walked along the student tables to where Harry stood.
"Yes, sir." The young wizard stood where he was so that Lupin could catch up to him.
"Are you all right?" the professor asked, once again placing a hand on Harry's shoulder.
"Yes, I'm fine, just tired," he lied. How could he tell him about the gaping void inside him or the nightmares he had nearly every night of his godfather dying?
"If ever you need to talk, I'm here," Remus offered in a soft voice full of sympathy.
"I know, thanks." Harry gave his teacher a small smile before turning to leave.
***
Remus Lupin was worried about his young charge. Sirius had left guardianship of Harry to Lupin upon his death. His Last Will and Testament had been one of the things that Sirius had done while in number 12 Grimauld Place. Half of what was in his vault at Gringotts had went to Remus and the other half to Harry as well as any personal affects he had left. The house had gone to Dumbledore for the Order.
"Professor Lupin, it's time we all went to bed," said a voice behind him. Lupin, startled, jumped and turned to find Amanda Andrews behind him.
"Professor Andrews, you scared the life out of me!" He put a hand to his chest, breathing hard.
"Sorry, but Dumbledore asked me to see you to your rooms to make sure you get the rest you need. The full moon is in a few days." She gave him a sympathetic smile.
"I'm surprised you know how to get around here already." Remus followed her out of the great hall.
"It's been awhile since school but I do remember." They reached the stairs and climbed to the next floor which held the teachers' quarters.
"What year did you finish?" He grinned at her.
"The same year as you. Good night, Remus." She turned to a blank wall on the opposite side of him and uttered a word he could not hear. A door appeared and she disappeared into the rooms beyond before it disappeared again.
"Same year? But." he started to say but then shrugged before turning to his own hidden door.
****
As always, the year started off with a bang, literally. Neville had just nearly blown up the DA room which was also known as the Room of Requirement. Harry and the rest of the students were covered in the dust from the table.
"Umm. Neville, I think you were supposed to just move the table, not blow it up." Harry put a hand on his classmate's shoulder.
"I'm sorry, Harry, I guess I just concentrated too much or something," Neville said as he turned to find a broom leaning against the wall next to him.
"I'm not Snape, Neville," Harry said, thinking all the while that he was thankful he wasn't anywhere near related to the potions master. "I'm not going humiliate you. You just need to remember that this is just practice."
"I know. I just wish." the boy sighed and shook his head.
"You wish what?" Harry waited for Neville to finish the thought, though he had a good idea what he was about to say. Everyone else in the room was preparing to leave since the meeting was essentially over.
"I wish I could have been more like my parents. Even my Gran wishes I was more like my parents." Neville finished cleaning up the dust then set the broom down to look at Harry with a downtrodden expression. "They were both so brave."
"You are too, Neville. I couldn't have made it out of the Department of Mysteries if it hadn't been for you and the rest." Harry swallowed hard, trying not to remember that night.
"No, I wasn't. If I had been, then Bellatrix wouldn't have -"
"Don't mention her name to me!" Harry suddenly flew off in a rage, knocking over row of sneakoscopes on a top shelf.
"Oh God. Harry, I'm sorry, I didn't mean." Neville backed away from him, with an expression of terror on his face. This is what brought Harry up short, suddenly realizing what he had done.
"I'm the one who should be sorry, Neville. I didn't mean to do that." Harry rubbed at his face, trying to block out the sight of his classmate nearly huddling in the corner near the door. "It's just the woman -"
"Killed your Godfather," Ron finished for him as he stepped back into the room.
"I thought you left?" Harry's head snapped up in surprise. "You didn't just hear me -"
"Nearly singe the hair off of Neville?" Ron put a hand on his should. "Yeah, I did. Neville, could you leave us?"
"Yeah, sure. It's okay, Harry." Neville placed a hand on Harry's shoulder as well before leaving.
Harry breathed a sigh of relief after the door was closed. "I can't believe I did that. Neville didn't deserve the brunt of my anger."
"No, he didn't. I thought you were past all that? At least the anger part anyway." Ron pulled over a couple of chairs from the wall. Both boys sat down; Harry leaning forward to put his head in his hands.
"I thought I was too. I guess the thought of that woman still out there while Sirius is." Harry's tried to swallow the lump in his throat. He fought the tears trying to escape.
"I miss him too, so does Hermione. You can talk to us, you know?" Ron sighed, looking down at his hands.
Suddenly, it didn't matter anymore that Ron was sitting beside him. It didn't matter that he could hear footsteps out in the hall then the door open. It didn't matter that someone was kneeling in front of him, taking his hands away from his face. Through his watery eyes, he saw Ginny's tear- stained face. She enveloped him in her arms as he finally broke down and sobbed.
****
It was a long time before Harry dried his eyes. Ginny let him sit back in the chair. Ron was still there, worry in his blue eyes. 'It's about time he finally let go,' Ron thought as he put a hand on Harry's shoulder once more, hoping to comfort his friend. "You all right, mate?" Ron asked, not in the least embarrassed by his friend's show of emotions.
"Yes, I'm fine." Harry's expression changed to one of embarrassment when he saw whose shoulder he had cried on. "Oh, Ginny. I'm sorry, I didn't mean to -"
"It's quite all right, Harry." She gave him an affectionate smile before putting an arm around his shoulders. "I'm glad to be here for you."
Ron could have kissed his sister at that point. Even though he was still a little uncomfortable at the thought of Ginny dating his best friend, he couldn't think of anyone better for her. All the signs were there, he just needed to nudge the both of them in the right direction.
"We should head back to the common room. Hermione is probably getting worried." Harry chuckled.
"Worried is an understatement. You should see her lately around Harry." Ron realized at that moment that he may have put his foot in his mouth. He turned to his friend to apologize.
"Ron, don't worry about it. You're right, Hermione has been hovering a bit, but. I really don't mind." Harry stared straight ahead down the hall.
Ron raised an eyebrow. "You don't mind---?"
"Yeah, it just means that my family cares." A smile grew on his face.
"Yes, we do." Ginny grinned as both she and Ron put their arms around Harry's shoulders as they walked back to the Gryffindor common room.
****
It was days later, in his Defense Against the Dark Arts class that Harry was starting to feel in any way 'normal'. At least he had not had a dream in a very long time, which pleased him to no end. He kept watching the door to Lupin's office above the classroom for the professor to make his appearance.
"I hope nothing is wrong," Hermione said as she was also staring in the same direction as her friend.
"We haven't heard anything, so maybe he just having trouble adjusting to being a teacher again," Ron said softly to her. Harry couldn't help but hope Ron was right. Just then, the door opened and in walked their teacher, a little out of breath but smiling.
"Sorry I'm late. Overslept." He gave Harry and his friends a smile before sitting down behind the desk to do roll call. When he finished, Remus put the parchment away and glanced around the room again. "Welcome, all of you, to your first N.E.W.T Advanced Defense Against the Dark Arts Class. First of all, I would like to appoint an assistant. Harry? Could you come up here please?"
Harry stood with trepidation, but moved forward to join his teacher. He gave the professor the 'I'm not sure what you're thinking here' look. Remus just ignored it and continued on.
"Since Harry was so proficient in teaching a few of you the defensive spells you needed to pass your O.W.L's last year in your Defense club, I thought it would be appropriate for him to continue." Remus stopped there, looking at Harry now. "What would you say to helping me with this class, Harry?"
Harry felt his stomach do a slow tumble before answering. He raised his eyes to meet those of his fellow classmates then his friends. Hermione was beaming at him and Ron was grinning like the proverbial cat that ate the canary. Somehow they had known that Lupin was going to do this. Harry sighed then laughed softly before answering, "Yes, I'd like that. Does this mean I don't have to do homework for you?" he joked with his teacher.
"Sorry, can't extend that privilege there. You'll be doing the same homework, I'm afraid." Remus laughed softly before giving Harry a gentle shove back to his seat. Harry grinned back before taking his seat again. "Now, just to make sure I know what you have covered to date, please kindly take out your wands and show me your Expelliarmus spell. Neville, you first."
The rest of the class went on as normal with Harry helping out where he could. It felt so natural to him to be showing others the spells he had learned so well from Lupin and, to his chagrin, the imposter Moody. When class was over, Lupin pulled him aside before he could leave.
"Harry, thank you for accepting to be my assistant. How are you doing so far?" Lupin was studying him closely.
"All right, I guess." Harry looked down at his feet, knowing what Lupin was referring to. It was still somewhat hard to think of his godfather.
"You know you can come to me with anything, right?" Remus put a hand on his shoulder. "I know I'm not your godfather, but I like to think I'm at least a friend."
Harry quickly raised his eyes again. "Yes, you are. You were my dad and Sirius' friend, so that makes you my friend too, I guess."
"Yes, it does, but I'm not just your friend because of your father and Sirius. When I first taught you in your third year, I couldn't have been prouder than if you were my own son." Remus smiled and reached to ruffle Harry's hair. Harry grinned and ducked his head. "Just remember that I'm here for you."
"Thanks, Professor." Harry walked out of the classroom, feeling better than when he had went in.
****
"Where's Malfoy?" Ron looked around the Potions classroom. "I haven't seen him for a few days now."
"I don't know and really I don't care." Harry continued to stir his cauldron, watching it turn from black to a silver white.
Ron shrugged and turned to concentrate on his own potion. It wasn't long before they heard their teacher, Severus Snape, return to the room. He had been gone for a few minutes after giving them their assignment.
"Your potions should be finished and ready to hand in. Please do so now and return to you common rooms. Your Heads of House will speak to you there." Harry quickly raised his head from his cauldron to look at Snape. The man's face was contorted in a barely held back rage.
"What's going on?" Hermione said softly to Harry as she bottled her potion.
"I don't know." Harry labeled his vial then walked to the professor's desk, giving Snape a quick look which was met by the man's usual loathing. Harry set his vial on the desk away from Snape.
"Potter, stop dawdling, clean up your things and get out of my sight!" Snape yelled at his student.
Harry quickly cleaned his cauldron, put his books back in his bag and headed out of the room as fast as he could. "What the bloody hell is wrong with him?" he asked his friends as they walked to their common rooms.
"The more important question to ask is what is going on that McGonagall needs to talk to us in the common room?"
"It could be anything." Ron shrugged as they reached the portrait hole. "Dumbledore's Army!" he said to the Fat Lady who then swung open to reveal the Gryffindor common room. Professor McGonagall was waiting for them.
"Please sit down." She indicated the free chairs. Other students on the room had their attention completely on their teacher. "I'm afraid I have sad news for everyone. Today a student has died. Even though she was a member of Slytherin House, her death is still of great concern to the school. Pansy Parkinson had fallen ill at the beginning of the term along with Draco Malfoy, who is also gravely ill. As a precaution, we are asking all students to visit the Hospital Wing to be examined by Madam Pomfrey. These examinations will start today with the first group listed on the board." She gestured toward the message board in the room and the piece of parchment with the student's names listed on it. "This will continue throughout the day and tomorrow until everyone has been examined. Please note the time and day of your exam. If you begin to fall ill before that time, please see the nurse immediately. Class schedules will continue as normal until further notice." She turned to leave the room but Harry quickly caught her up.
"Professor, can I talk to you in private?" he whispered.
"Yes, this way, Potter." She led him out of the common room to her own office not far away. Once there, she sat behind her desk, giving Harry a searching glance. "What is it that you need to tell me, Harry?"
"I had this dream." he started to say, and then saw McGonagall's eyebrow rise. "No, not one from Voldemort, but I think I'm Seeing things." He quickly told her of the dream he had over the summer of everyone falling ill, but left out the part where he had woken to find Ginny Weasley dead.
"You Saw this happen? Why did you not say anything before?" McGonagall shook her head before putting it in her hands.
"Because I thought it was just a nightmare. I'm sorry." He hung his head for a moment before looking back up at his teacher.
"It's quite all right, Potter. You had no idea, but this is the first time you've actually had a Seer's vision?"
"Yes, I think so." Harry tried to think back over the summer.
McGonagall gave him a sympathetic look. "With everything else you've had to endure in the last year, I was hoping this was not going to happen."
"What do you mean?" Harry gave her quizzical expression.
"Your father had a touch of Seer's blood in his family, Harry," she answered, leaning forward on the desk to lean her chin on her folded hands. "In fact, it wasn't until he was your age that it manifested. He wasn't a strong Seer but enough that it made him a valuable asset to the Order."
"What did he See?" Harry was curious now. He craved stories of his parents.
"Only a few things here and there like the movements of Death Eaters and the like. It was never too far into the future." She now looked worried. "Please, whatever you do, do not mention your Vision to anyone. It would only serve to panic the students."
"Yes, Professor," he answered shakily.
"You may return to your common room," she started to say but then stood to walk around her desk to lay a hand on Harry's shoulder. "But before you go, I would like to caution you. I know you and your friends, like all my Gryffindors, try to brave out illness, but this is too risky. If you find that someone is ill, please urge them to go to the hospital wing. This includes you as well." The concerned maternal tone in her voice made Harry smile slightly.
"I will, Professor. Thanks." He turned to go.
****
Two days later another student had fallen ill; this time it was a Ravenclaw; Hanna Abbot. Harry sat staring at his plate of food during dinner, stunned. Dumbledore continued to speak to the students.
"As a result of this illness, the school has been quarantined by the Ministry and the healers of St. Mungo's. They are still trying to find a cure, and urge everyone to remain calm." Dumbledore let his eyes meet Harry's for a moment before turning away. "Once you have finished eating, I ask all of you to return to your dormitories and go to bed early. The more rested you are, the better you are able to fight off the illness, whatever it is. Good Night." Dumbledore sat back down, looking older than he ever had before to Harry's eyes.
"The teachers are very worried," Ginny observed, watching as some of the adults stood to leave. "I wonder if they're informing our parents."
"I received a letter from Mum yesterday," Ron answered, walking down the corridor with his friend and sister. "She's worried about us."
Harry felt his stomach do a slow roll at the thought of his Vision of Ginny dying from the disease. 'I can't let that happen, there's got to be something to this if even the doctors at St. Mungo's can't even cure it,' Harry thought to himself.
"Harry?" Ginny touched his should, glancing at him in concern.
"I'm fine," Harry answered, finally turning to his friends. "Do you think this illness could have anything to do with Voldemort?" He saw Ron grimace at the name.
"But how would he?" Ginny had the expression on her face that said she was trying to think of the problem logically just as Hermione would. He wished she had not opted to skip dinner to study that evening.
"I don't know, maybe through the food we ate at the feast at the beginning of the year?" Ron suggested, shrugging.
"No, that would be too obvious and besides the house-elves are the ones that cook the dinner. None of them would have done it," Harry put in his thoughts on the matter.
"What about Malfoy? He started to get sick at the Welcoming feast." Ron leaned up against the wall next to the Gryffindor Portrait of the Fat Lady.
"But why would Voldemort poison someone who could possibly be a spy in the school?" Ginny questioned, trying to show all sides to the argument.
"What if he took his father's place in Voldemort's group? After all Malfoy's father is in Azkaban and from what I've heard, the aurors have strict orders to kill anyone who tries to escape," Ron said. This information startled Harry as his eyebrows went up into his hairline.
Harry started to say something in return, but was interrupted by the portrait hole opening. From the Gryffindor common room came Dean Thomas and Seamus Finnegan carrying out a very ill looking Hermione Granger.
****
"What happened?!" Ron quickly replaced Seamus on Hermione's right side while Harry replaced Dean.
"She was standing up from the table she was studying at then just collapsed," Dean tried to explain as the four hurried quickly to the hospital wing.
"I'm just tired." Hermione protested in a hoarse voice. Ron, without realizing he was doing it, placed his cheek on Hermione's.
"You're burning up. We're taking you to Madame Pomfrey and you're not talking us out of it," he quickly stated when he saw her start to protest again.
"Do you think it's the same thing Parkinson had?" Harry asked in worry as they hurried as fast as Hermione could down the corridor to the hospital wing.
Ron's face lost all color before picking up Hermione in his arms to nearly run to the infirmary. Harry stopped and turned toward Seamus and Dean.
"Why don't you two go back to the common room and let everyone know what's happened," Harry asked his fellow Gryffindors. "When we know how bad she is, one of us will come and tell you." Both of the boys nodded and turned back to their common room.
Harry sprinted down the hall to follow Ron and Hermione, praying that his friend was going to be fine.
****
Ron burst through the door to the hospital wing, all the while being careful of the girl in his arms. "Madame Pomfrey! Madame Pomfrey, hurry!"
"What is it, child!" The nurse rushed out of her office.
"Hermione is sick." He lay Hermione down on one of the beds. "She's burning up." Ron stepped away to let the nurse examine his friend. "She lost consciousness on the way here." His throat went dry when he remembered the panic he felt when Hermione went limp in his arms.
"Is anyone else sick in your House?" the nurse asked as she quickly prepared a cooling potion.
"None that I know of," Ron answered as he sat on the next bed. Just then he heard the door open again and turned to see who it was. Harry walked up to him to sit next to his friends.
"How is she?" Harry asked Madame Pomfrey shakily once he saw Hermione's sheet white face.
"I won't know until I examine her completely," the nurse replied as she started to pull the curtains around the bed. "You two go back to your dormitory. There is nothing you can do for her tonight." "Can't we stay?" Ron pleaded with her.
Madame Pomfrey turned her eyes to the two, staring at them as if judging what her answer would be. He eyes soften and Ron thought for a moment that she was going to allow them to stay. "I understand how worried you are for your friend, but unless both of you returned to your dormitories and get some rest, you'll both be in the beds next to her. If you value your friend and want to be here for her, I suggest you both rest in your beds."
Ron's heart fell into his stomach, but he knew the nurse was right. "You'll let us know if."
"Yes, I will. Now, both of you go on to bed." Madame Pomfrey pulled the curtains around Hermione's bed.
"Come on, Ron." Harry helped his friend up. Ron felt his feet drag as he turned to glance at the curtain hiding Hermione. Would this be the last time he saw her. He never stopped once to examine the feeling that if Hermione did not make it, he world would crumble.
****
Harry lay in bed that night, unable to sleep. What if Hermione died? He had lost so much of family already and Hermione was a part of that family he had built around him in the last six years. He turned on his side and clutched a pillow to him. 'This isn't fair," he thought to himself. 'She's the smartest girl I know and Ron likes her.' Harry had known Ron liked Hermione much more than a friend since fourth year. Why would he be jealous of Victor Krum otherwise? Harry sighed and tried to return to sleep, emptying his mind of all emotions as he did. Occlumency was not the easiest thing to learn but he was learning with the help of Dumbledore. He finally felt himself drift off to sleep.