Disclaimer: Harry- (You have to wait till next chapter to read the next part of this disclaimer. Hah..seee I'm starting a new trend...cliffhanger disclaimers!)
Hello. Hmph this week has been rather annoying on , hasn't it? I can't tell who reviewed because it doesn't send me the review immediately. It's way behind track at the moment and I hope they catch up, like SOON. 'Cause it's annoying lol. As I've said previously...soo...to the thank-you's?
daddysgirl101989: Haha. Having a beard would be interesting for like 2 seconds then I'd want it off me! I'm sad to say Ginny is dead in this story. I'm glad you got it. : ) Anywhoo..thanks for reviewing! (P.S. Are you kidding? I love all the reviews I get!)
hpchick13: Hey, thanks. Yeah it's too bad Ginny had to be dead. Yeah Ron's alive but he's under gone some unexpected changes. I love mysteries too. Anywhoo thank you for the review!
PinkyTheSnowman: Yup, it was Ginny. LOL. I know I felt bad killing girl but-hey-everybody can't be alive. Ooo yess...the sequel. I'll get started on that. Hah...no worries I'll have it out soon. And to answer your last question...I'm not sure whether I'll make it Harry/Luna or not. Prolly though. I can't think of anyone else and it's definitely not going to be Hermione. She'll have another guy to worry about. (NOT DRACO) Oh and thanks for your review!
FutureGoddess: I'm not a crazy H/G supporter myself actually. I haven't read lots of AU-ish fics but I'd hate it if Harry was perfect. He couldn't possibly be. Anyways thank you for reviewing. Lots of love.
horseloverforever: Thanks-to-youu!
dancerrdw: Thanks again! : )
QueEnfullofDrama: Oooh I see lol. I'm glad you liked His Hermione even though you didn't review the last chapters! I didn't mind! Hah...anywho nice to hear from you again and thanks for reviewing.
QueenWeasel: Yeah she did die. It's sad I know...but best to get it out of the way. Anywhoo...I thought of the Snorkack thing last-last minute so I'm glad you liked it. Btw thanks for your review!
Tristic: Thanks. Haha I'm glad the 'he' thingy didn't bother you much. Thanks again!
Merykey-7: LOL...Erm...I'm sorry. I don't like to kill but it makes for good plot at times! But actually the pairings are R/Hr and H/? probably L I think. Still not sure though! It could change! I'm glad the dragon thing was cool. Anywhoo I'm glad you reviewed and hope you had a cool trip!
silver-pensieve: Thanks for the support. And nope Ron's not dead.
'Curiousity killed the cat, but for a while I was a suspect'-Steven Wright
"We can't do that to him!" Hermione protested, wildly.
"Yes, we very well can, Miss Granger," Professor McGonagall said without even blinking.
"We should tell him everything, he needs to know," Hermione said, still disobeying the obvious wishes of the head council of the DA.
"What use would it be, Hermione?" Lupin said, speaking up for the first time throughout the whole meeting, "We tell him everything and he'll fall to pieces. To learn every single thing-especially in the case of a tragic like as Harry's would cause any person to go crazy with grief."
Hermione opened her mouth but shut it again promptly. This was still un-called for.
"So, what do we say when he asks questions?" Hermione demanded, "Because he will ask questions."
"You're a smart girl, Hermione. Can't you think of anything?" Draco sneered more than said.
Hermione lowered herself into her seat and stuck up her nose, "I do not lie to my best friend."
"I'm afraid Miss Granger," Professor McGonagall started, "That you may very well have to."
"What're they talking about?" Harry questioned, quietly.
"What're who talking about?" Padma inquired, her voice sharp as a razor.
"The rest of them-like Hermione," Harry explained.
He felt queasy talking to Padma. She was like a strict nanny. Or perhaps that wasn't the reason he was scared of her. Perhaps it was because she was so overwhelming. So confident in what she did. And here he was, lost in what seemed to him another world.
"It's really none of your business, is it?" Padma said, shooting him a look out of the corner of her eye while brewing some kind of potion.
Harry didn't comment, "Where's Luna?"
He hadn't seen her all day. Yet he knew she was here because when Hermione had dropped by she'd spoken of her. He'd much rather of her taking care of him. She wasn't scary.
"You feel more comfortable with her, don't you?" Padma asked and Harry could see a smile playing on her face.
"Wah-? No, of course not. I think you're both nice enough," Harry said, trying to get himself out of a sticky predicament.
Padma laughed sourly, "You don't have to lie to protect my feelings. They've been hurt many times before."
Harry blanched and suddenly felt this was something he should understand on some level. Padma's words caused strange emotions to flow through him. Sadness and-he gulped-guilt.
"What happened?" Harry implored, hoping it wasn't to intruding to ask.
Luckily Padma didn't look any more mad and just stared hard at her potion for quite some time. Harry felt his face heat up and regretted ever asking such a question at all. It was obviously personal.
Just as he said, "You know what? Forget the questio-
She began, "I had a sister once. She was my twin actually. Her name was Parvati-a dozen memories of a bubbly, dark-haired girl flashed through Harry's mind-and she was one of my best friends. She died about ten years ago at the age of eighteen."
Harry felt not a lump in his throat but almost more like a web of sticky-ness hold his voice captive. He couldn't think of anything to say. It seemed a bit late for, "Oh my god! No!" and "I'm sorry" just made him feel guiltier. Yet how could he have done anything?
In the end he got out a lame, "Ohh..."
Padma didn't speak again and only busied herself with the potion. Harry sat and picked at loose threads on his shirt. He wondered how long he'd worn it. It was blue yet it was gray. An odd color inbetween that was indescribible. And his pants were comfy enough. A definite slate shade. He stopped thinking of colors and continued to ponder over how often he might've changed his clothes had he been out cold for ten years.
Suddenly he blushed and flickered his eyes towards Padma before looking down at his blanket once again. Fortunately for him she hadn't noticed this odd behaviour and still seemed lost in her own thoughts. Yet Harry still felt the heat spread to his neck just at the thought of-of-
Had Padma and Luna possibly be responsible for changing his clothes every so often?
Of course it would make sense. They were the two people who he saw the most. Yet-just the thought-
'Then don't think about it!' his mind scolded him. Harry shook his head slightly and looked up to see if Padma had just noticed all this. But she was still staring intently at the potion, watching it got from pink to red.
It was then that after observing almost everything in the room Harry realized he was bored. He'd been wake almost two entire days now and he'd spend all his time in this one single room. It was cozy and yet he longed to discover what was outside of it. Since he'd seen and heard distinctly many people in the house he guessed it must he rather large. Exploring it would he interesting and maybe if he was lucky he'd be let out of it. He'd looked out the window yesterday and it had looked a little dreary outside but he could live with that. Who knows he might've been wrong. Luna had pulled the curtains back quickly.
"Padma," Harry said, mustering courage, "Can I-go for a stroll around the house?"
"Huh? Uh, yeah. Go ahead," she replied in a slightly dazed tone.
Harry noted that on normal circumstances he probably wouldn't have been allowed but this time he was awfully lucky. He scrambled out of bed, ignoring the fact that he was so obviously wearing pajamas and reached for the doorknob...
"Harry!" Padma called. He flinched. Maybe she'd changed her mind? "Stay away from the meeting!"
He grinned, nodded and was out the door before she could ban any more places. The hallway was not what he'd expected. It was dark and personally he had to admit gloomy and uninviting. Something about it reaked evil. Why would everyone stay here? But something inside Harry told him he'd been here before. Walked these same steps as a different person.
Harry noticed all the windows had curtains drawn over them. He chose to leave this floor to itself and went on to the next. He realized, as he tripped along, that his legs felt like jelly. Well, afterall he hadn't walked in ten years. They quivered by his each step. He fought the feeling and walked faster. Finally he reached what he guessed was the second floor.
He heard voices from below. Loud, happy voices and he realized he wasn't ready to socialize openly just yet. Instead he decided to explore this particular floor. It was just as black as the rest of the house but he noticed a window across the hall. It was so large that he supposed pushing back it's curtain would light the whole room. He walked across the hall, getting hang of his legs and pulled back the heavy, purply, velvet curtains. And then he wished he hadn't. Heads-house-elf heads were strung on the wall on plaques. Harry stumbled over his feet in attempt to get away from one right beside his own head and yelped in terror.
What the bloody hell was going on? What was he doing in the house of a dark wizard?
Harry heard stomps as people rushed up the stairs. In an instant three wizards and one witch stood across from him on the hall foyer. They all looked very young. Twenty at the most. They stared at Harry suspiciously for a second before one of them pushed past him.
"Crud, mate! You had us all in a twist! Why'd you scream?" a sandy brown-haired wizard implored, "And why in the world did you open the curtains?"
He pulled the drapes together and turned around.
"Who're you anyway?" he asked, his voice suddenly getting suspicious.
Harry, whose voice had left him till now, said, "I'm er-Harry."
"Harry?" the witch piped up, her voice sounding excited, "Harry Potter?"
Harry rubbed his arm, "Erm-yeah. I guess so."
The witch gasps and the two of the wizards let out low whistles.
"No way!" the sandy haired wizard exclaimed, "I'd heard the rumor...but I didn't know you were really back, sir."
Harry felt a bit squirmish when he heard the word, 'sir'. It made him feel more respected, more important than he was really was.
"Just Harry is fine, thanks," he said, edgy.
"Right-right. I'm Darryl," he said, coming forward and shaking Harry's hand. The rest-who turned out to be Mona, Herbert and Lear-followed suit.
They kept saying odd things like-
"Welcome back."
"Thank god for your return."
"Wait till I tell Mum."
Harry was starting to blush and get nervous but he tried to keep his cool. Yet he kept cautious on the account of the house-elves' heads still creeping him out. But no one else seemed to mind it.
Then suddenly a door opened at the door right behind Harry and closest to the window. He peered into the room and noticed it was almost darker than the hall. He shivered and backed away from it. But he was not about to escape. A large wizard came out of the shadows. He had skin as dark as the night and blended in well with the surroundings.
"You four-scram," he grumbled towards the younger four of the group. They did not protest and left immediately as if they'd been burned.
Harry breathed in deeply. Suddenly the idea of exploration without anybody else seemed a bad one. This wizard looked dangerous. He studied Harry and to his great surprise-bowed. Harry was thrown so far off track that he bowed slightly in return.
"Mr. Potter, the Secret Keeper wishes to see you," he said, and nodded deeply.
Harry had no clue who the Secret Keeper was but entered the room nonetheless. Then again he had a feeling that even if he'd attempted to run away the big wizard would've caught him up and dragged him back. He stepped him and felt as if he were walking on water. It was so out of place. He couldn't even see his hand in front of his face.
"Light the candles, Edmund," a voice said, solemnly.
Harry was shocked to hear it and jumped slightly. When the candles were lit, Harry had to blink a few times from the blinding light. He'd forgotten that Wizard candles were as bright as Muggle bulbs. After one last blink he noticed there were two other wizards in the room. One of them was actually a witch with a pretty face and dark hair. The second was a small, plump wizard with mousy hair who sat on a chair in the corner.
"Hello, Harry," he said, turning towards him, "Come closer. Let me see your face."
Harry gingerly made his way past a bed and went closer to the plump wizard. He looked almost dank and very pale. His eyes searched Harry's face for a long time. He felt as if they were devouring him bit by bit.
"Did Edmund scare you?" he questioned, teasingly.
"No," Harry lied, flatly.
"Let me introduce you two anyway," he continued, "That's Edmund-he said gesturing towards the big wizard-Lee and that's Cho Chang-he said pointing to the lovely witch. Harry stared at her and for some reason, blushed-. They're my body guards-"Escorts!" Cho exclaimed-escorts. Whatever. And I, myself, am Neville Longbottom."
Neville Longbottom.
An ocean of memories flowed through Harry's mind and he tried to save as many of them as he could for later. At the end all that really sunk in was that he owed Neville more than he could ever repay.
"Neville...," Harry murmured.
"Remembering?" Neville joked, "I hear you've forgotten almost everything."
Harry smiled, "Yes."
"So, are they still keeping you in the same place? The room on the fourth floor with the pink wallpaper?" Neville asked.
"Yeah. Have you been there?" Harry answered with a question.
"No. I've never been anywhere in this house except the first floor and this room," Neville laughed, sullenly.
"Then you must've not been here for long," Harry said in a joking tone.
Neville's face darkened, "Actually I've been here for over nine years."
Harry immediately stiffened after realizing Neville had gotten sour.
But, eventually, he smiled, "It's the life of a Secret Keeper for the DA."
Cho smiled, sadly, and Edmund sniffed.
"What do you mean?" Harry implored, "What's a Secret Keeper? What's the DA?"
Neville laughed loudly, "I've forgotten that you've forgotten. A Secret Keeper is a part of the Fidelius Charm."
He paused. Perhaps waiting for Harry to comment on something but he didn't.
"The Fidelius Charm is a powerful spell cast on a location or address so that it is untraceable. Like this house. And the only way you can ever figure out the address is if the Secret Keeper tells you," Neville continued, "I am that Secret Keeper."
Harry still didn't speak. What was he to say?
"And the DA stands for Dumbledore's Army. Which is a group comprised of all the people you see in this house," Neville clarified.
Harry was happy to find out about the DA but swept past that and inquired, "So just 'cause you're the Secret Keeper means you can't go outside of this house anymore?"
"The house?" Neville said, incredulously, "Try the room."
Harry gaped at him a bit, "But-that's-
"I'm over it. I was six years ago. I realize the cause is more important," Neville said, proudly.
"What's the cause?" Harry asked, curiously. Fast answers are what he needed right now.
At that moment the door banged open and Padma and Luna marched in.
"Harry! Thank goodness you're here!" Padma breathed.
Harry barely had time to open his mouth before she pulled him out of the room, ranting wildly about how she couldn't find him anywhere all the while. Luna stayed behind and shut the door gently.
"Good afternoon, Neville," Luna greeted, "How're you?"
"Good, you?" Neville responded.
"Peachy keen," Luna said, "But I must ask something of you."
Neville arched an eyebrow, "Anything to do with my last visitor?"
"Yes-did you tell him anything-important?" Luna asked, sounding shaky for once.
"No...,"
Luna smiled, "Good. Just watch your step. He's a smart wizard. One word and he'll figure everything out."
Author's Note: Grr...sometimes my parents bug me. Anywhoo I hope you like this chapter : )
xoxo
winky-wink