A/N: Hello! It's your unreliable author finally making an update!
Everyone: cheers
Me: I know, I know. I stink.
Gilthas: Like old cheese.
Me: Yeah right! Like anyone would leave cheese long enough for it to stink!
Gilthas: Actually, some cheese stinks without it being old.
Me: Good point. In that case, I stink like normal cheese.
Gilthas: Yep.
Me: Okay...nobody wants to read this anyway, so chapter now!
Chapter 4: Magic
Harry headed back in the direction of his hotel, his mind spinning furiously. He was taking too many risks. He was allowing his eagerness to see his—dead! He had to remember they were dead!—friends cloud his judgment and he was making mistakes. It would not happen again.
Suddenly he felt a pulsing in his pocket. He froze, his wand in his hand before he knew he had reached for it. Carefully, very carefully he reached into his pocket.
His fingers touched something small and smooth. The next second something had latched onto his hand, wrapping tightly around it like a vine.
He yelled in surprise and pulled his hand out of his pocket. The ropes came with it and as he struggled against them, they grew before his very eyes and tightened around his hand, moving up his arm like lightning!
It was rather awkward shooting a spell at one hand with his other hand, but he was a fighter and he had been in worse situations. Unfortunately, the spell had no affect on the ropes and instead made them tighten and move faster, winding their way across his chest and around his neck. They worked down his other arm and pushed the circulation out of his hand, making him drop his wand.
The ropes tightened considerable and Harry felt himself being strangled. Closing his eyes and concentrating at that moment took all the self- discipline he possessed, but he did and suddenly the ropes caught fire and fell writhing to the ground.
Breathing in deep, calming breaths, Harry knelt to the ground and looked more closely at the ropes, careful not to touch them lest they latch on again.
They were not ropes at all but vines. Devil's Snare, by the looks of it. He shook his head in amazement as the fire burnt the last vine into nothing, leaving a small glowing ball. Harry's eyes narrowed. The talisman glowed red as though angry. Why had it attacked him? Surely the pulse had set it off, but if that was so, what had caused the pulse?
Cautiously, and careful not to make the same mistake twice, Harry prodded the talisman with his wand. Nothing happened. He then picked it up lightly with two fingers. Its glow intensified and he was forced to look away lest he be blinded by it. It dimmed as quickly as it had glowed however and Harry studied it closely.
It had not changed physically, but Harry sensed something else was different, a presence that was not there before. Shaking his head at the small object, he dropped it carefully into his pocket. It made a small click as it hit the Remembrall holding Lucius Malfoy's memory safely within.
Suddenly he looked around. He was still standing in a street, though at the moment it was devoid of any living soul save himself. Yet, who knew who could have been watching the whole time? Perhaps the person who had activated the talisman was still there, watching...
Harry felt unseen eyes on his back and whirled around, scooping his wand from the ground in one fluid movement. There was no one. Shaking his head at his own stupidity, he shoved his wand into his pocket and started off down the street. He was letting his paranoia get the better of him. There was no one on the street. If there had been, he would have sensed them long ago. Only two people alive had ever masked their signature from him. One was Dumbledore, the other was Voldemort. Neither was alive in this dimension nor his own. The only people strong enough to do so now were himself and his younger self and he doubted whether his younger self would be spying on him this late in the afternoon. From what he'd seen, the only thing that boy would be doing around this time was sleeping.
He knew that he should go find a hotel, perhaps even do some research on the talisman he had in his pocket, but he had never been one for in depth studying. He would find someone else to do it.
Closing his eyes, he waved his hand idly and appeared the next second in front of starting-to-be familiar house. He froze instantly. Wards covered the house, quite strong now that he was checking for them (which he did automatically wherever he went). Closing his eyes, he moved his hand slowly in front of him, the air rippling under his hand as he touched the outer bounds of the invisible wards.
Bringing his wand out with his other hand, he traced a small circle in the ward. Had his eyes been open, he would have seen a small, golden trail follow his wand. Slipping his wand back into his pocket, he opened his eyes, very slowly.
He had not activated the wards yet, but they were suddenly...on edge, were the only words that could describe it. They sensed he was there and were just daring him to activate them.
Slowly, very slowly, he put his fingers on the inside edge of the golden ring. And slowly he began to push the circle apart, it molding under his fingers to only open the way his pulled. He pulled from the sides and then from top to bottom, trying to make it as big as he could without activating the wards.
When the portal was big enough to fit a 4 foot person, he stopped. Flexing his fingers to stretch out the stiffness that had begun to sink in with his slow moving of the portal, he took a step back. The next second he was running and leapt through the portal, making himself small enough to fit through with no problem. He landed on the other side and froze, checking for more wards. There were none. Doubtlessly he believed no one could get through that barrier. Well, he was far from no one.
Now that he was on the inside, he had no reason to be cautious. The ward did not keep people in, just out.
Hurriedly he squished the golden circle back to its original size and then, like peeling off a sticker, removed it. It vanished in his hand.
Silently, he made his way up the walk and placed his ear to the door. Nothing.
Just as quietly he pushed open the door and stepped inside.
The lights were on, which told Harry instantly that he was not alone in the house. Remus Lupin did not seem the sort to forget about turning the lights off.
He crept through the house, peaking into rooms. Empty. Empty. There.
A person was lying on the bed. Harry saw instantly who it was, easily distinguishable by the loud snoring and the messy black hair. So that was who had left the lights on.
Harry reached into his pocket and pulled out the talisman. This time, it did not react to his touch. Looking at it closely and seeing nothing that would make him look like an idiot for not instantly knowing how it worked, he put it back in his pocket and moved toward the bed, no longer concerned with being quiet.
"Sirius."
The man did not move. He did not seem to hear.
"Sirius Black." Harry said it slightly louder this time. Still, Sirius just lay there.
"Sirius!" Harry said, louder still.
"It's not going to work," said a voice behind Harry. Harry spun around, his wand at the throat of the newest arrival before his heart could beat a second time. Scowling, he replaced his wand in his pocket with a jerk.
"Damn werewolf abilities," Harry muttered. The corners of Remus's mouth twitched.
"What's wrong with him?" Harry asked, changing to a safer subject.
"Nothing," Remus said, as though he wasn't sure if Harry was being serious. "He's out like a light, is all. He does that a lot lately."
"Fun," Harry said sarcastically. "I need you to do something for me."
Remus raised his eyebrows. "And what makes you think I will do something for you when you refused to do something for me?"
"Because you told me to stay and wait when my time would have been better spent taking action," Harry said coldly. "I did what I had to do. Now you must do the same." Remus opened his mouth to respond but before he could get the first word out, Harry had produced the talisman from inside his pocket. "I am unsure the powers of this," he said.
Remus took the small, round ball from Harry's hand and froze, his eyes on Harry's arm where his robes had dropped back to reveal his lower arm. Harry's expression did not change.
"What happened?" Remus asked.
There were burns on Harry's arm, a long jagged line wrapping around it as the vines had done when he touched the talisman. Apparently he had severely burned his arm in his attempt to free himself of the vines and automatically tuned it out. He frowned as he looked at the burns. "I didn't notice those."
Remus looked at him, a tad disbelieving.
Harry shrugged and dropped his arm, letting the robe fall over the burns. "It was that," he explained, nodding to talisman in Remus's hand. The werewolf suddenly looked much more wary of it. "Devil's Snare, I believe. I had to burn it to get it off me."
"Where did you find it?" Remus asked, looking at it closely.
"Getting Sirius out of the curtain," Harry said. "Young Malfoy had it."
"Draco?" Remus asked disbelievingly. "But he wouldn't be old enough!"
"Different time Draco," Harry said. "Came in after me. Same bloody idiot that sent me back in time in the first place."
"I see," Remus said thoughtfully. "And what triggered it to send the Devil's Snare after you?"
"I—" Suddenly Harry stopped, looking thoughtful. "I touched it and it sent the plant, but before that it gave off a sort of...pulse. That's why I reached in my pocket in the first place."
"I see," Remus said. He put the talisman in his pocket. "I will see what I can do."
"Right," Harry said. "Then I will take my leave."
"One more question," Remus said as Harry turned to go. "How did you get past the wards?"
A smile reached Harry's lips. "Magic."
Harry decided next to go look for the Death Eaters. It wasn't hard for him to believe that Draco Malfoy would turn evil. It was only a matter of time. So all he had to do was find him...and Harry already had a lead.
He stuck to the shadows as he made his way down the deserted London street, careful to make sure there was no chance he would be seen. He had done this for over ten years. It was almost second nature.
Harry froze and sorted out his thoughts. He wasn't going to hide in the shadows when he got back to his own time. He would always walk where people could see him. He would be finished hiding. As soon as he got back.
He did not want to think about the reluctant feeling he had just felt in the pit of his stomach.
Harry stopped in front of an old department store. The dummies in the window did not move, but Harry knew what he was required to do in order to enter. Still, he had never followed the rules before and he wanted his presence kept a secret.
Pulling out his wand again, Harry tapped the glass three times, looking over his shoulder to make sure no one had entered the street. Nothing appeared to happen to the glass, but Harry took a step toward it anyway and stepped inside St. Mungo's Hospital for Magical Maladies and Injuries. There was no one there and Harry was quite sure that if he had asked the dummies' permission to enter, they would have told him it was closed. And they would have recorded the confrontation. Harry's work involved being invisible.
He made his way up the stairs to the fourth floor and stopped, looking around considering at each door when he reached it. He pulled the Remembrall out of his pocket and tapped it with his wand. It glowed once and then began moving in one direction as though pulled by and invisible force. It stopped outside a door.
Harry turned the Remembrall with a sharp twist of his wrist and, as if the string that was pulling it broke, it stopped its tugging. Harry carefully placed it back in his pocket.
He opened the door.
Everything was white in the room: the hangings, the carpet, the ceiling... He blinked as it assaulted his eyes. The place was illuminated by a faint glow. Apparently a night light. Harry resisted the urge to roll his eyes.
He pulled back the curtain of the first bed and found what he was looking for. A man lay there with freakishly blonde hair with something of a bleached quality to it. Lucius Malfoy.
"Long time, no see," Harry muttered under his breath. His only problem was that Malfoy was alone in the room. Apparently five years was long enough time to stop wanting to see your father everyday.
Harry poked the man harshly with his wand.
He woke up with a start and looked at Harry without recognition. "Why hello there!" said the man in such a happy way that Harry stared. He supposed memory loss must do that to a person. "Have you come to see me?"
"I have," Harry said, finding it hard not to keep the cold quality out of his voice. "I want a few questions answered."
Lucius sighed. "So you've come back, have you? Well that's a pity. I'm afraid that I don't know much more than I did the last time you people came. If you want to see my nurse, I can call her—"
"I'm here to see you," Harry said harshly. Lucius looked taken aback and a little hurt. Harry would have laughed if he did not think it might harm his quest for answers. "Tell me, has your son been in to see you lately?"
Lucius's face split in a wide grin. "He has indeed! You do mean Draco, don't you? He comes about this time of night as well. He says it hurts his eyes. And I can believe it! Have you seen them? They're very gray. I suppose that has something to do with his reactions to the light. He got very upset when a nurse came in to give me a snack and turned on the light. He—"
"Does he talk to you?" Harry cut in. Given half a chance, this man would continue rambling for hours.
Lucius nodded, beaming. "Tell me all about his work and how he's going to kill the person who..." suddenly he frowned, thinking. "Who did this to me, I think is what he says. He always mutters the last part under his breath. So maybe he's not so sure of it and doesn't want to not do it if he says he will." Lucius shrugged with another smile. "He's a little odd sometimes, but he's the only one who comes in to see me." Suddenly his smile became quite delighted. "Until you that is! Are you going to come see me more often?"
"If there's any chance I can prevent it," Harry said coldly, "I would never lay eyes on you again."
Lucius's smile did not fade. "That's what the other people who came in here at the beginning said as well. My nurse told me that it means they like me."
Harry had to try very hard not to roll his eyes. "Who were those people? What did they ask you? When did they come and see you?"
Lucius frowned, thinking hard. "It was a long time ago. I haven't seen them in a very long time. They asked me questions about this person that I have never heard of! They seemed to think I would know him." He sighed. "Some people just don't listen when you tell them you don't."
"Were they asking about Voldemort?" Harry asked.
Lucius smiled widely again. Harry didn't think he could ever get used to that. "I think that sounds like the name! He must be a really popular fellow if you all know him so well!"
"Really popular," Harry said sarcastically. "Back to the point of my being here. What else does Draco talk to you about?"
"Oh all sorts of things," Lucius said, gesturing dramatically. "He really seems to hate some person named Harry..." he frowned slightly. "Dunno why. Every time I ask he just gives me this look...like a 'don't ask me those kind of questions' look."
"I know this," Harry said. "Do you know where he stays when he doesn't come to see you?"
Lucius frowned thoughtfully. "Well, no he doesn't. I've never asked. Why do you need to know?"
"I have something to give him," Harry said, with a rather crooked grin. Lucius's face burst into a smile. "Well that's nice of you! You seem to be a nice person, so I'll tell you something he told me not to tell anyone."
Harry looked at him, making sure his face didn't show the relief he was feeling inside at not having to have wasted his time all night.
"He told me why he wasn't going to be here tonight. He said he's going to visit an old friend. I'm telling you, you see, because I think maybe you can give Draco his present there, since I don't know where he normally stays."
"And who is this old friend?" Harry asked, his features showing nothing. He noticed this with a pang at that moment, his automatically neutral features. It seemed so easy to slip back...
His thoughts were broken by Malfoy's next words. "Lupis, I think. Remun Lupis."
A/N: Bum Bum Ba!!!! Okay, responses.
grand admiral chelli: Well right now, it looks as though bashing Death Eaters will have to wait and bashing Remus is about to begin. Poor Remus! I liked Remus too. Oh well. He was good until he died. Nah, I'm just joking. Maybe. Mwahahahahahahahahaha!
saramagic: Oh New York was great! We went to see a Broadway show and everything. Oh, and if you do decide to go to New York, you will need to stop by a restaurant called 'Jekle and Hyde' you know, like the book? It's really amazing. I don't remember the exact address though. You can ask someone and I'm sure they'll know where it's at. There's also a place called 'Serendipity' where they serve the biggest ice cream sundaes you've ever seen. That might be harder to find. But I mean, they're giant! There were five of us there and we bought 4. Well, 3 plus a frozen hot chocolate. They were good!!! I bought a T-shirt. So if you see someone walking around randomly wearing a black and white picture of a ice cream sundae with the restaurant name on it, ask if they know Gilthas!!! ...yeah. But I won't be in New York at that time. You can pretend to see me though and start talking randomly to thin air. I doubt the people in New York will even notice. Anyway, I've got to keep writing because my sister wants the computer. Gr... I blow my nose at her. Monty Python...hehe...crazy French people...
Night-Owl123: Yay!!!
A.M.bookworm247: Yeah. I did the back in time thing already with Back to Back Then, but I couldn't resist doing it again!
eruve tinwen: extremely long and pointless reviews are the best kind! And that was as pointless as an unsharpened pencil, as my friend always says. Green eyes in the movie!!???! I didn't notice. I thought it was pretty funny. One thing I really didn't like about the first two was that the director never added the funny lines when the funny lines came up! This one added those lines and made up some more! Did you notice that they never mentioned the secret keeper business? That just blows my mind! If there was no secret keeper, why would they blame Sirius? Why couldn't Remus have done it? And how did Sirius know it was Peter? It just makes no sense! grumbles something about how they should me the director Still don't get the biscuit thing? No, we don't call cookies biscuits. We call cookies cookies. Think sausage biscuit except with bacon egg and cheese instead of sausage. Does that help?
mashimaromadness: High school rocks! I just finished my Freshman year. So rejoice! Middle school/junior high is over! There is much rejoicing and we get to make fun of the small children who still have to go! laughs and points Anyway, happiness all round!
Adamand: starts running faster pauses Did you just tell me to mush? blinks Anyway, here's next chapter! :)
A/N: Okay! That's done. Now, go back and count the number of reviews. That's right. Seven. That's 7 in numeral form. Next time, I'm not updating until I get at least 10! At least! Not fair for poor author! And Remus is about to get seriously injured! Surely someone has comments on that!
Gilthas: You would think!
Me: No, do you think? I've found that using too much brain makes me hungry.
Gilthas: Eating makes you hungry.
Me: Granted. Oh well. I shall leave you with this, Monty Python fans!
French guy: You British pig dogs!
King Arthur: British? Well what are you then?
French guy: I am French! Can't you tell by my OUTRAGOUS accent!
King Arthur: What are the French doing in Britain?
French guy: Mind your own business!
Me: Not sure what comes after that, but next time, I'll quote the coconut scene! (A ten ounce bird can't carry a one pound coconut!) I love Monty Python...
Gilthas:...clearly.
Everyone: cheers
Me: I know, I know. I stink.
Gilthas: Like old cheese.
Me: Yeah right! Like anyone would leave cheese long enough for it to stink!
Gilthas: Actually, some cheese stinks without it being old.
Me: Good point. In that case, I stink like normal cheese.
Gilthas: Yep.
Me: Okay...nobody wants to read this anyway, so chapter now!
Chapter 4: Magic
Harry headed back in the direction of his hotel, his mind spinning furiously. He was taking too many risks. He was allowing his eagerness to see his—dead! He had to remember they were dead!—friends cloud his judgment and he was making mistakes. It would not happen again.
Suddenly he felt a pulsing in his pocket. He froze, his wand in his hand before he knew he had reached for it. Carefully, very carefully he reached into his pocket.
His fingers touched something small and smooth. The next second something had latched onto his hand, wrapping tightly around it like a vine.
He yelled in surprise and pulled his hand out of his pocket. The ropes came with it and as he struggled against them, they grew before his very eyes and tightened around his hand, moving up his arm like lightning!
It was rather awkward shooting a spell at one hand with his other hand, but he was a fighter and he had been in worse situations. Unfortunately, the spell had no affect on the ropes and instead made them tighten and move faster, winding their way across his chest and around his neck. They worked down his other arm and pushed the circulation out of his hand, making him drop his wand.
The ropes tightened considerable and Harry felt himself being strangled. Closing his eyes and concentrating at that moment took all the self- discipline he possessed, but he did and suddenly the ropes caught fire and fell writhing to the ground.
Breathing in deep, calming breaths, Harry knelt to the ground and looked more closely at the ropes, careful not to touch them lest they latch on again.
They were not ropes at all but vines. Devil's Snare, by the looks of it. He shook his head in amazement as the fire burnt the last vine into nothing, leaving a small glowing ball. Harry's eyes narrowed. The talisman glowed red as though angry. Why had it attacked him? Surely the pulse had set it off, but if that was so, what had caused the pulse?
Cautiously, and careful not to make the same mistake twice, Harry prodded the talisman with his wand. Nothing happened. He then picked it up lightly with two fingers. Its glow intensified and he was forced to look away lest he be blinded by it. It dimmed as quickly as it had glowed however and Harry studied it closely.
It had not changed physically, but Harry sensed something else was different, a presence that was not there before. Shaking his head at the small object, he dropped it carefully into his pocket. It made a small click as it hit the Remembrall holding Lucius Malfoy's memory safely within.
Suddenly he looked around. He was still standing in a street, though at the moment it was devoid of any living soul save himself. Yet, who knew who could have been watching the whole time? Perhaps the person who had activated the talisman was still there, watching...
Harry felt unseen eyes on his back and whirled around, scooping his wand from the ground in one fluid movement. There was no one. Shaking his head at his own stupidity, he shoved his wand into his pocket and started off down the street. He was letting his paranoia get the better of him. There was no one on the street. If there had been, he would have sensed them long ago. Only two people alive had ever masked their signature from him. One was Dumbledore, the other was Voldemort. Neither was alive in this dimension nor his own. The only people strong enough to do so now were himself and his younger self and he doubted whether his younger self would be spying on him this late in the afternoon. From what he'd seen, the only thing that boy would be doing around this time was sleeping.
He knew that he should go find a hotel, perhaps even do some research on the talisman he had in his pocket, but he had never been one for in depth studying. He would find someone else to do it.
Closing his eyes, he waved his hand idly and appeared the next second in front of starting-to-be familiar house. He froze instantly. Wards covered the house, quite strong now that he was checking for them (which he did automatically wherever he went). Closing his eyes, he moved his hand slowly in front of him, the air rippling under his hand as he touched the outer bounds of the invisible wards.
Bringing his wand out with his other hand, he traced a small circle in the ward. Had his eyes been open, he would have seen a small, golden trail follow his wand. Slipping his wand back into his pocket, he opened his eyes, very slowly.
He had not activated the wards yet, but they were suddenly...on edge, were the only words that could describe it. They sensed he was there and were just daring him to activate them.
Slowly, very slowly, he put his fingers on the inside edge of the golden ring. And slowly he began to push the circle apart, it molding under his fingers to only open the way his pulled. He pulled from the sides and then from top to bottom, trying to make it as big as he could without activating the wards.
When the portal was big enough to fit a 4 foot person, he stopped. Flexing his fingers to stretch out the stiffness that had begun to sink in with his slow moving of the portal, he took a step back. The next second he was running and leapt through the portal, making himself small enough to fit through with no problem. He landed on the other side and froze, checking for more wards. There were none. Doubtlessly he believed no one could get through that barrier. Well, he was far from no one.
Now that he was on the inside, he had no reason to be cautious. The ward did not keep people in, just out.
Hurriedly he squished the golden circle back to its original size and then, like peeling off a sticker, removed it. It vanished in his hand.
Silently, he made his way up the walk and placed his ear to the door. Nothing.
Just as quietly he pushed open the door and stepped inside.
The lights were on, which told Harry instantly that he was not alone in the house. Remus Lupin did not seem the sort to forget about turning the lights off.
He crept through the house, peaking into rooms. Empty. Empty. There.
A person was lying on the bed. Harry saw instantly who it was, easily distinguishable by the loud snoring and the messy black hair. So that was who had left the lights on.
Harry reached into his pocket and pulled out the talisman. This time, it did not react to his touch. Looking at it closely and seeing nothing that would make him look like an idiot for not instantly knowing how it worked, he put it back in his pocket and moved toward the bed, no longer concerned with being quiet.
"Sirius."
The man did not move. He did not seem to hear.
"Sirius Black." Harry said it slightly louder this time. Still, Sirius just lay there.
"Sirius!" Harry said, louder still.
"It's not going to work," said a voice behind Harry. Harry spun around, his wand at the throat of the newest arrival before his heart could beat a second time. Scowling, he replaced his wand in his pocket with a jerk.
"Damn werewolf abilities," Harry muttered. The corners of Remus's mouth twitched.
"What's wrong with him?" Harry asked, changing to a safer subject.
"Nothing," Remus said, as though he wasn't sure if Harry was being serious. "He's out like a light, is all. He does that a lot lately."
"Fun," Harry said sarcastically. "I need you to do something for me."
Remus raised his eyebrows. "And what makes you think I will do something for you when you refused to do something for me?"
"Because you told me to stay and wait when my time would have been better spent taking action," Harry said coldly. "I did what I had to do. Now you must do the same." Remus opened his mouth to respond but before he could get the first word out, Harry had produced the talisman from inside his pocket. "I am unsure the powers of this," he said.
Remus took the small, round ball from Harry's hand and froze, his eyes on Harry's arm where his robes had dropped back to reveal his lower arm. Harry's expression did not change.
"What happened?" Remus asked.
There were burns on Harry's arm, a long jagged line wrapping around it as the vines had done when he touched the talisman. Apparently he had severely burned his arm in his attempt to free himself of the vines and automatically tuned it out. He frowned as he looked at the burns. "I didn't notice those."
Remus looked at him, a tad disbelieving.
Harry shrugged and dropped his arm, letting the robe fall over the burns. "It was that," he explained, nodding to talisman in Remus's hand. The werewolf suddenly looked much more wary of it. "Devil's Snare, I believe. I had to burn it to get it off me."
"Where did you find it?" Remus asked, looking at it closely.
"Getting Sirius out of the curtain," Harry said. "Young Malfoy had it."
"Draco?" Remus asked disbelievingly. "But he wouldn't be old enough!"
"Different time Draco," Harry said. "Came in after me. Same bloody idiot that sent me back in time in the first place."
"I see," Remus said thoughtfully. "And what triggered it to send the Devil's Snare after you?"
"I—" Suddenly Harry stopped, looking thoughtful. "I touched it and it sent the plant, but before that it gave off a sort of...pulse. That's why I reached in my pocket in the first place."
"I see," Remus said. He put the talisman in his pocket. "I will see what I can do."
"Right," Harry said. "Then I will take my leave."
"One more question," Remus said as Harry turned to go. "How did you get past the wards?"
A smile reached Harry's lips. "Magic."
Harry decided next to go look for the Death Eaters. It wasn't hard for him to believe that Draco Malfoy would turn evil. It was only a matter of time. So all he had to do was find him...and Harry already had a lead.
He stuck to the shadows as he made his way down the deserted London street, careful to make sure there was no chance he would be seen. He had done this for over ten years. It was almost second nature.
Harry froze and sorted out his thoughts. He wasn't going to hide in the shadows when he got back to his own time. He would always walk where people could see him. He would be finished hiding. As soon as he got back.
He did not want to think about the reluctant feeling he had just felt in the pit of his stomach.
Harry stopped in front of an old department store. The dummies in the window did not move, but Harry knew what he was required to do in order to enter. Still, he had never followed the rules before and he wanted his presence kept a secret.
Pulling out his wand again, Harry tapped the glass three times, looking over his shoulder to make sure no one had entered the street. Nothing appeared to happen to the glass, but Harry took a step toward it anyway and stepped inside St. Mungo's Hospital for Magical Maladies and Injuries. There was no one there and Harry was quite sure that if he had asked the dummies' permission to enter, they would have told him it was closed. And they would have recorded the confrontation. Harry's work involved being invisible.
He made his way up the stairs to the fourth floor and stopped, looking around considering at each door when he reached it. He pulled the Remembrall out of his pocket and tapped it with his wand. It glowed once and then began moving in one direction as though pulled by and invisible force. It stopped outside a door.
Harry turned the Remembrall with a sharp twist of his wrist and, as if the string that was pulling it broke, it stopped its tugging. Harry carefully placed it back in his pocket.
He opened the door.
Everything was white in the room: the hangings, the carpet, the ceiling... He blinked as it assaulted his eyes. The place was illuminated by a faint glow. Apparently a night light. Harry resisted the urge to roll his eyes.
He pulled back the curtain of the first bed and found what he was looking for. A man lay there with freakishly blonde hair with something of a bleached quality to it. Lucius Malfoy.
"Long time, no see," Harry muttered under his breath. His only problem was that Malfoy was alone in the room. Apparently five years was long enough time to stop wanting to see your father everyday.
Harry poked the man harshly with his wand.
He woke up with a start and looked at Harry without recognition. "Why hello there!" said the man in such a happy way that Harry stared. He supposed memory loss must do that to a person. "Have you come to see me?"
"I have," Harry said, finding it hard not to keep the cold quality out of his voice. "I want a few questions answered."
Lucius sighed. "So you've come back, have you? Well that's a pity. I'm afraid that I don't know much more than I did the last time you people came. If you want to see my nurse, I can call her—"
"I'm here to see you," Harry said harshly. Lucius looked taken aback and a little hurt. Harry would have laughed if he did not think it might harm his quest for answers. "Tell me, has your son been in to see you lately?"
Lucius's face split in a wide grin. "He has indeed! You do mean Draco, don't you? He comes about this time of night as well. He says it hurts his eyes. And I can believe it! Have you seen them? They're very gray. I suppose that has something to do with his reactions to the light. He got very upset when a nurse came in to give me a snack and turned on the light. He—"
"Does he talk to you?" Harry cut in. Given half a chance, this man would continue rambling for hours.
Lucius nodded, beaming. "Tell me all about his work and how he's going to kill the person who..." suddenly he frowned, thinking. "Who did this to me, I think is what he says. He always mutters the last part under his breath. So maybe he's not so sure of it and doesn't want to not do it if he says he will." Lucius shrugged with another smile. "He's a little odd sometimes, but he's the only one who comes in to see me." Suddenly his smile became quite delighted. "Until you that is! Are you going to come see me more often?"
"If there's any chance I can prevent it," Harry said coldly, "I would never lay eyes on you again."
Lucius's smile did not fade. "That's what the other people who came in here at the beginning said as well. My nurse told me that it means they like me."
Harry had to try very hard not to roll his eyes. "Who were those people? What did they ask you? When did they come and see you?"
Lucius frowned, thinking hard. "It was a long time ago. I haven't seen them in a very long time. They asked me questions about this person that I have never heard of! They seemed to think I would know him." He sighed. "Some people just don't listen when you tell them you don't."
"Were they asking about Voldemort?" Harry asked.
Lucius smiled widely again. Harry didn't think he could ever get used to that. "I think that sounds like the name! He must be a really popular fellow if you all know him so well!"
"Really popular," Harry said sarcastically. "Back to the point of my being here. What else does Draco talk to you about?"
"Oh all sorts of things," Lucius said, gesturing dramatically. "He really seems to hate some person named Harry..." he frowned slightly. "Dunno why. Every time I ask he just gives me this look...like a 'don't ask me those kind of questions' look."
"I know this," Harry said. "Do you know where he stays when he doesn't come to see you?"
Lucius frowned thoughtfully. "Well, no he doesn't. I've never asked. Why do you need to know?"
"I have something to give him," Harry said, with a rather crooked grin. Lucius's face burst into a smile. "Well that's nice of you! You seem to be a nice person, so I'll tell you something he told me not to tell anyone."
Harry looked at him, making sure his face didn't show the relief he was feeling inside at not having to have wasted his time all night.
"He told me why he wasn't going to be here tonight. He said he's going to visit an old friend. I'm telling you, you see, because I think maybe you can give Draco his present there, since I don't know where he normally stays."
"And who is this old friend?" Harry asked, his features showing nothing. He noticed this with a pang at that moment, his automatically neutral features. It seemed so easy to slip back...
His thoughts were broken by Malfoy's next words. "Lupis, I think. Remun Lupis."
A/N: Bum Bum Ba!!!! Okay, responses.
grand admiral chelli: Well right now, it looks as though bashing Death Eaters will have to wait and bashing Remus is about to begin. Poor Remus! I liked Remus too. Oh well. He was good until he died. Nah, I'm just joking. Maybe. Mwahahahahahahahahaha!
saramagic: Oh New York was great! We went to see a Broadway show and everything. Oh, and if you do decide to go to New York, you will need to stop by a restaurant called 'Jekle and Hyde' you know, like the book? It's really amazing. I don't remember the exact address though. You can ask someone and I'm sure they'll know where it's at. There's also a place called 'Serendipity' where they serve the biggest ice cream sundaes you've ever seen. That might be harder to find. But I mean, they're giant! There were five of us there and we bought 4. Well, 3 plus a frozen hot chocolate. They were good!!! I bought a T-shirt. So if you see someone walking around randomly wearing a black and white picture of a ice cream sundae with the restaurant name on it, ask if they know Gilthas!!! ...yeah. But I won't be in New York at that time. You can pretend to see me though and start talking randomly to thin air. I doubt the people in New York will even notice. Anyway, I've got to keep writing because my sister wants the computer. Gr... I blow my nose at her. Monty Python...hehe...crazy French people...
Night-Owl123: Yay!!!
A.M.bookworm247: Yeah. I did the back in time thing already with Back to Back Then, but I couldn't resist doing it again!
eruve tinwen: extremely long and pointless reviews are the best kind! And that was as pointless as an unsharpened pencil, as my friend always says. Green eyes in the movie!!???! I didn't notice. I thought it was pretty funny. One thing I really didn't like about the first two was that the director never added the funny lines when the funny lines came up! This one added those lines and made up some more! Did you notice that they never mentioned the secret keeper business? That just blows my mind! If there was no secret keeper, why would they blame Sirius? Why couldn't Remus have done it? And how did Sirius know it was Peter? It just makes no sense! grumbles something about how they should me the director Still don't get the biscuit thing? No, we don't call cookies biscuits. We call cookies cookies. Think sausage biscuit except with bacon egg and cheese instead of sausage. Does that help?
mashimaromadness: High school rocks! I just finished my Freshman year. So rejoice! Middle school/junior high is over! There is much rejoicing and we get to make fun of the small children who still have to go! laughs and points Anyway, happiness all round!
Adamand: starts running faster pauses Did you just tell me to mush? blinks Anyway, here's next chapter! :)
A/N: Okay! That's done. Now, go back and count the number of reviews. That's right. Seven. That's 7 in numeral form. Next time, I'm not updating until I get at least 10! At least! Not fair for poor author! And Remus is about to get seriously injured! Surely someone has comments on that!
Gilthas: You would think!
Me: No, do you think? I've found that using too much brain makes me hungry.
Gilthas: Eating makes you hungry.
Me: Granted. Oh well. I shall leave you with this, Monty Python fans!
French guy: You British pig dogs!
King Arthur: British? Well what are you then?
French guy: I am French! Can't you tell by my OUTRAGOUS accent!
King Arthur: What are the French doing in Britain?
French guy: Mind your own business!
Me: Not sure what comes after that, but next time, I'll quote the coconut scene! (A ten ounce bird can't carry a one pound coconut!) I love Monty Python...
Gilthas:...clearly.