Disclaimer: I know I'm wonderful smirks but not so wonderful that Harry belongs to me...

Chapter Two Seers and Criminals

Ron grabbed Harry's sleeve glancing about the room as if Rita Skeeter was spying on them. He bounded out of the room, with Harry in toe, narrowly missing Tonks. "Hey… watch it…!"
"Sorry!"

But Ron didn't even stop. He continued up the stairs with great leaps taking two at a time. He pulled Harry roughly into the room they were to share and slammed the door behind them.

"Ron! What's up with you?" Harry asked in amusement.

Ron wasn't listening he had his ear pressed against the door apparently listening. Harry took a step forward to listen over Ron's shoulder, but Ron chose that moment to whip around to face Harry and they bumped heads painfully.

"Owe…!" Harry rubbed his forehead. "That hurt Ron…!" But Ron was staring fixedly at his friend's scar.

Used to having people stare at him, but not Ron Harry turned around on the spot. "What?" Harry cried in frustration.
"Your scar," Ron said, his jaw almost dropping to the carpet.
"Yes I have a scar. It's in the shape of a lightening bolt in case you haven't notice in the last five years of our friendship," Harry replied sarcastically.
Ron shook himself. "No… not that…"
"Then what?" Harry almost screamed.
"The strangest thing." Ron grinned. "For a moment I thought your scar flashed green…like your eyes."
Harry rolled his eyes. "The next thing they're going to say is that you are mad Ron – like me!"
Ron shook his head and looked somewhat sheepish. "I was so sure of what I saw… too much cheese. That's what mum will say…"

Harry slumped onto the nearest bed. "So why have you charged me all the way up here?"
Ron lost all his mirth. "Hermione didn't tell you about the powers within the amulet by any chance?"
"NNooo…"

Ron sighed heavily, "You see mate; she doesn't know everything!" Harry smiled thinly, which Ron returned with a triumphant smirk.

"The amulet is suppose to awaken dormant powers in the one who possesses it," Ron explained.
Harry shivered. He remembered what had happened last time when he had accidentally awoke power in an uncontrolled fashion. He had been stuck bedridden for over a week!

"Slytherin wouldn't put me in a dangerous situation…" Harry said to himself. "He just wouldn't."

Harry snapped his head back up to look at Ron. "So what powers does the amulet have and are they good or bad?"
"The amulet awakens the power from the possessor… and good or bad… can you honestly believe anything good could come from old snake tongue?"

"I am a parseltongue – but I am not bad…"
"Yeah but…"
"No buts you haven't meet Salazar Slytherin how can you judge him so harshly…."
"History says that…"
"Then history is lying, Ron, I'm telling you that…" As an act of defiance Harry took the pendant out and put it around his neck.

Ron glanced up stubbornly and crossed his arms. He opened his mouth to say something, but Hermione chose that moment to pop her head through the door. "Dinner is ready… and we have an unexpected visitor. Mrs Weasley says best manners…"

Harry tucked in the pendant under his jumper, not wanting to draw any unwanted attention to the gift that Salazar Slytherin had bestowed upon him. He passed Ron and exited the room.

Ron followed shaking his head. "Is this the same Salazar Slytherin that put a dirty great big Basilisk in the castle…?"

Harry heard this comment but was tired of arguing with Ron. Clearly he could not convince his friend of Salazar Slytherin's benevolence. He followed Hermoine down the kitchen.

Some of the order were already waiting including the Weasley (except Percy), Kingsley, Tonks, Lupin and… Snape.

Snape watched Harry as he entered slowly and sat opposite uncertainly. His dark eyes poured over Harry's frame he then frowned.

"So you're alive after all…" Snape sneered and then stared blankly at his plate.

Snape's terrible memories came flooding into Harry's mind. He himself knew the pain of being bullied. And for some reason he felt extremely guilty.

"Professor…" Snape looked up from his plate in disbelief at being addressed by Harry. Harry looked up the whole kitchen was watching.

"Yes, Potter…" Snape leered, "My dinner is getting cold."

Harry took a deep breath. "I just wanted to tell you, how very sorry I am… as to the meaning behind my words…" (Harry daren't glance at Remus Lupin or Ron or Hermione) "…or where I get my motivation from I will leave that for you to interpret… I have known the same pain…"

There it had been said. Harry turned to his plate, wishing he could block out Snape's reply from his ears.

Harry needed of worried about a curt reply from Snape. The Hogwarts professor sniffed loudly and returned to his meal, although his eyes narrowed and rarely left Harry throughout the meal.

Harry was lying in bed that night, staring up at the ceiling. He brought the pendant out from his shirt and the silver gleamed in the moonlight. Glancing over to Ron Harry smiled; what would Ron know about the man who gave him this?

For a fleeting instant Harry saw an old bearded man who was sitting at a small wooden desk. His joints were obviously aching from age, but he scribbled something in a large leather bound book. He sighed and lent back on his chair and Harry saw the words…

'This diary will be buried with me…inside its pages shall be the little gold coin. Forever close to my heart, so even in death I will remember.'

The scene suddenly changed and Harry saw a black clad figure walking briskly in a dark alleyway. Tonks was following close behind… she was gaining on them…her wand was held steadfastly in front, ready to defend herself.

She didn't see the figure follower her… Harry heard the death curse being uttered. And Tonks fell lifeless to the ground…

"Noooo!" Harry sat up breathing heavily.

"Eh?" Ron said sleepily from his side of the room.
"Nothing," Harry said quickly, rubbing his hands through his thick black hair, "It was... nothing."

But was it nothing? What did Harry see? Last time he thought he saw something, his godfather ended up dead. Doubt gnawed at his guts. Could he risk not telling someone? He immediately knew the answer.

Harry threw his bed covers off and went to the door. "Where are you going?"
"To get a drink of water…" Harry lied quickly, "Go back to sleep..."

Harry watched his friend burrow under his blankets and thought he immediately heard snores.

As soon as he closed the door softly behind him Harry raced down the stairs, and smacked straight into Mundungus, who looked suspiciously merry.
" 'arry… good ta see ya!"
"Where's Tonks?" Harry snapped.
"Out a tailin' some servant of you-know-who." Mundungus tapped his finger on his nose and gave a loud hiccough.
Harry stomach plummeted.
"Where's Dumbledore?"
Mundungus shrugged. "Out…"
"McGonagall?"
"I dunno…"
"Lupin…?"
Another useless shrug.
"Snape…?"
Harry was met with a blank stare.

"Look Dung I think – I know Tonks is in trouble…" And Harry blurted out was he saw. But Dung looked sceptical. Mundungus might not be the most reliable member of the order… but he was all Harry had.

"Look Dung, you can make up for last year if you just go and find Tonks and get her out of trouble. If I am wrong well…I am wrong…" Harry promised, desperate that someone (even Dung) should find Tonks.

Mundungus brightened. "Sure thin' I'll just go now…"

Harry only hoped Mundungus would get there in time to save Tonks and wandered back aimlessly to bed.

"You took your time," Ron complained, from under his blankets as Harry entered the darkened room. Then he rolled over lazily and said, "Long drink of water, eh mate?"