Tonks was staring, wide-eyed, at the new student, her face paling slightly.
"Tonks?" Harry whispered, nudging her. "Tonks! What's wrong? Do you know her?"
All he got in response was a slow nod.
"She will be a sixth year and has already been Sorted into Slytherin House. I wish for you all to show Miss Bellatrix Lestrange the same curtosy you would show any of your other fellow students." Finished the headmaster.
Bellatrix looked more than happy to escape the eyes of the school staring at her, walking swiftly to the Slytherin table and sitting down near one end, where she was promptly met by Draco Malfoy. Bellatrix's eyes lit up as he spoke to her.
FLASH.
"Find me funny, do you! I think I'm going to have to whip you back into shape! You never used to be so rebellious! You took your beatings like a man!" Vernon growled, stalking towards Harry and Tonks.
Before he could get there - before he got anywhere near Harry - he was halted. It was to be expected, of course. No one in the house would get to them. No one would hurt Tonks again. No one would hurt HIM again. Anger swelled deep in Harry's chest and, as he threw his head back and screamed, Number Four, Privet Drive exploded.
FLASH.
The chain binding Harry's ankles to one another shattered into dozens of smaller fragments. At the same moment, the enchanted handcuffs also shot off. As he brought his arms around, Harry hissed out a disarming spell in Parseltongue. This caught the guards that were flanking him, sending them flying backwards and kicking their wands high into the air. Harry grabbed both as they fell back down.
The room was still. Even Dumbledore looked like he was on the edge of getting to his feet and reacting, if the situation called for it.
Harry took a step forward, twirling the wands between his fingers as he moved. "I don't know what madness has taken control of what little brain you ever had, Fudge... But in case you hadn't noticed, I'm on the same side as you people are. And I will not be prosecuted because without me, all of you are going to die slow, painful, and horrifying deaths. Do you understand that?"
FLASH.
"Where'd you end up?"
"Effing Brazil, if you'll believe it."
"Brazil!"
"Yeah, I didn't quite get it, either. I guess we didn't really think about where I would end up."
Rolling her eyes once more, Pansy muttered, "Good job, O Wise and Powerful Potter."
"Shut up." Said Harry, scowling.
FLASH!
oOoOoOoOoOoOo
The last thing Harry remembered feeling was the excruciating pain flowing through his right leg. Whatever type of poison the basilisk was laced with, it was some mighty potent stuff. Of course, there was the nice, warm feeling just before he had blacked out... but he had naturally assumed it was due to the onset of death. Harry had no real experience with dying, so he couldn't be sure of what the afterlife really was. But one thing was most certainly true - the afterlife sure as hell shouldn't smell of vanilla. On the up side, that giant shadow in his dreams - most likely the basilisk, now that he thought about it - wasn't around anymore.
"Dammiiiit."
This single, groaned word seemed to serve as a starter pistol. The sheer amount of voices, noise, and movement that erupted around him caused him to wince in pain. Didn't they all realize that the very last thing a guy who had almost died needed was much rejoicing? Especially when he was right beaten up.
"I would take points for language," Squeaked a familiar voice, "but I think, given the circumstances, I can allow it."
"Thanks." Muttered Harry. With a deep sigh, he opened his eyes partially. As he had expected, he was once again in the hospital wing. Or at least, that's where he assumed he was. Everything was so blurry without his glasses on. Reaching over to the annoyingly-familiar spot on the nearby table where they always got placed, Harry slipped them on. "Gang's all here, then, huh?"
"Almost." Said Solieyu, who was leaning against the railing at the foot of the bed. "Tonks is off eating and the twins are making sure she does. And, of course, our dear Professor Lockhart couldn't join us today."
Chuckling darkly, Harry shook his head. "Tried to warn the big idiot. Thought me and Riddle were conspiring against him or somethin'."
During the silence that followed, Harry allowed his eyes to better adjust to the thankfully low light and take note of those who were around. Professor Flitwick was on a chair to his left. Dumbledore was down by Solieyu. Luna Lovegood was also down by Solieyu, clinging to his left arm, much to the older boy's general annoyance. To his right was a trio of empty chairs. Harry assumed Tonks and the twins had been sitting there.
"Well," Harry continued, seeing that no one apparently wanted to strike up a conversation. "How long have I been out this time? Anyone wanna fill me in on what's been goin' on?"
"I believe I can answer those questions, if I may." Said Dumbledore, smiling pleasantly. "You have 'been out' for a mere sixteen hours, during which, I might add, Miss Tonks has refused to leave your side." Waiting a moment just for awkwardness' sake, (or so Harry figured) the headmaster continued, "And as for what has been happening during those hours... Not much."
"Not much?" Harry echoed, cocking an eyebrow.
"Indeed." Said Dumbledore, eyes twinkling. "The victims of the basilisk were revived before you even finished your fight with the creature. Fawkes was kind enough to make a second trip into the Chamber of Secrets to retrieve you - a bit of very good timing, I should say - and I have had discussions with the appropriate places in regards to Gilderoy's death."
"You don't sound too sad to be rid of him, either." Harry noted.
"I have no idea what you mean, Harry." Said Dumbledore. "Gilderoy Lockhart was a fine man and a fine teacher."
"Yeah, and I haven't had to fight things that wanted me dead two years in a row." Harry replied, his voice laced with sarcasm.
"Have you, now?" Dumbledore said, stroking at his beard. "I must say, you have done a wonderful job at keeping our school safe, then."
Shaking his head at just how odd Dumbledore was acting, Harry closed his eyes again. After a moment, Dumbledore spoke once more, telling the crowd that Harry needed to rest a bit longer, else Madam Pomfrey would have both of their heads.
oOoOoOoOoOoOo
Harry wasn't sure when he woke up next. The last thing he remembered was telling those gathered what he had been doing down in the Chamber. He must have fallen asleep, curse all the stupid potions Madam Pomfrey insisted on forcing down his gullet. It was dark out now, and the hospital wing's lights had been turned down low. Harry didn't really mind resting so much. In fact, it felt rather nice to not have a single thing to worry about. He figured it wouldn't last, since he did have to return to Number Four that summer... but that was still a ways off, thankfully.
"Hi." Came a quiet voice from his right.
Smiling, Harry tilted his head to the side. "Hi yourself. Are you alright?"
Tonks nodded, moving from her chair to the edge of the bed. "I am now. Can't believe I was gone when you finally woke up the first time..."
"You should probably be resting, too. What'd that idiot do to you, anyway?" Harry asked.
"I was clearing rubble away and then next thing I know, I hear him hiss in my ear that it was a mistake to ever try to control him. Stuff went black immediately after." Tonks said, frowning. "Leon related the rest of what happened to me, though..."
"Good... I don't want to remember what happened down there..." Harry said, frowning. "My leg still stings... Dumbledore told me Fawkes cried on the wound and it just sort of...healed up. Must have somehow dealt with the poison in me, too..."
"M'Glad you're okay." Tonks murmured. "Been worried 'boutcha."
Noticing that she was gripping at the bedsheets rather forcefully, Harry reached out and placed a hand over one of hers. "Relax. Everything's fine now. I'm alive,
you're alive, Ginny's alive...the people who were petrified were all restored. and now we don't have to deal with that twit in Defense."
"Still..." Tonks said. "You don't get to scare me like that anymore."
"Scare you? How'd you think I felt when I saw Lockhart float you into the Chamber? I'm glad the idiot died. It's only as much as he deserved. He lied, cheated, and faked his way to the top, then almost got you killed... if the basilisk hadn't, I probably would've given it a shot."
"No killing in the name of your best friend." Tonks said, poking Harry's arm.
"Aww, why not?"
"As sweet as it would be to have you defending my honor, I won't have you becoming a murderer for it." Tonks said.
Sniffing melodramatically, Harry replied, "Oh, very well. If I mustn't, then."
"Seriously... I'm glad you're alright, Harry..." Tonks said, voice quiet once more. "Fred and George barely got me to eat anything... I tried, but I kept thinking about you in here. Madam Pomfrey couldn't find anything wrong with you, aside from the awful leg wound..."
"I was just tired, I think... I haven't slept well lately. I've been having these weird dreams lately... some of it's seemed entirely too real to me." Harry said.
"Good weird dreams or bad weird dreams?" Tonks asked.
"Mostly nightmares... though there have been a few good moments." Harry said, his eyes locking with Tonks'.
"...Harry?" Tonks asked, feeling her cheeks warm up as Harry continued to gaze up at her.
Sitting up, Harry smiled tiredly. "I'm sorry for worrying you. Seems I've done that a lot this year, huh?"
Nibbling on her lower lip, Tonks shrugged. "S'okay. You always seem to come through fine in the end. Like you said, you're the hero, right? Heroes always end up fine."
"Does that make you my damsel in distress?" Harry asked, raising his eyebrows. "Princess Nymmy?"
"Oi oi..." Tonks muttered, shaking her head. "None of that now."
"But it's cute." Harry argued, grinning.
"It most certainly is NOT cute." Tonks grumbled. "I really wish mum would've named me something normal."
"Who wants normal?" Harry asked, giving Tonks' hand a soft squeeze. "I like things different."
Blushing, Tonks looked off. "Yeah, well... how would you feel if your parents had named you... I dunno... Archibald or somethin'?"
"I'd go by Archie and hex anyone who called me by my full name." Harry said. "But yooou... do not like people even shortening your first name like that."
Scowling, Tonks muttered, "What're my options? Nymmy or Dora? Both sound silly."
"Well... Dora might, but you don't look like a 'Dora' to me. You're definitely a 'Nymmy,' though." Harry said, smiling crookedly now.
"Shut up. Ooh, I wish you had a longer name so I could shorted it to something silly and annoy you..." Tonks said, frustrated.
"It isn't that annoying, is it?" Harry asked.
"Is." Tonks mumbled.
"And yet I seem to be the only person other than your mum who can get away with calling you that." Harry observed. "You've cursed anyone else who's tried. Even Leon had to dodge a shot the one time he tried it. Got a soft spot for me using it, Nymmy?"
Whining quietly, Tonks smacked Harry on the arm. "No! No, of course I don't. Don't have the slightest clue whatcha mean." She said, mumbling it all very quickly under her breath.
"I think you do." Said Harry. "Especially since you're blushing right now."
"Not blushing." Tonks said, turning her head away.
Harry moved his hand from Tonks' then. And, before she could look back to see why, she found herself with two arms wrapped around her midsection, tugging her back against Harry's body. Eyes growing wide, she only barely registered Harry resting his head over onto her right shoulder. Eyes closed, Harry whispered, "You want to know the last thing I thought about before I blacked out down in the Chamber?"
"What?" Tonks asked, finding herself very short on breath for some reason.
"You." Harry murmured. "All I could think about was how sorry I was for not being able to make it out alive... And how I'd never get to be this close to you again. Most of all, though, I was angry with myself for never telling you the one thing that mattered most."
"You don't have to." Tonks whispered, her throat feeling tight all of a sudden. "I already know."
"That doesn't change the fact that I never got to tell you. I tried before we went down there... but I just couldn't spit it out..." Harry said.
Leaning back against Harry a little more, Tonks asked, "And I told you I felt the same way, remember? Why... why are you acting so weird, Harry?"
"Love does that to a guy, I guess." Harry said, chuckling weakly. "Sorry... it's just... down there, blacking out, with nothing but a giant snake for company, thinking I was going to die... lotta weird things went through my head."
"No melodrama for you. Bad Harry!" Tonks said, feeling more relaxed now. Turning slightly, she gave Harry the evil eye. "You're alive, I'm alive, you saved the day again, and we're probably going to have a dirty great party for you once you get out of here. We have all summer to figure out how to say things properly."
Blinking, Harry nodded. "I suppose you're right. Do I still get to call you Nymmy?"
"Only if you want another bruise on your arm." Tonks stated, blandly.
"It's worth it." Harry said, leaning in and kissing Tonks on the cheek quickly.
Flushing again, Tonks swatted Harry on the arm again. "And stop making me turn red and feel all giggly!"
"What? You don't like when I do that? You've kissed me too, y'know." Harry pointed out. "In fact, didn't you kiss me first?"
"That's entirely beside the point." Tonks sniffed. "And it's different with me. I'm a girl. I get to flirt."
"And I don't?" Harry asked.
"No. No you don't. Only I may flirt." Tonks said in her most pompous voice.
"Whatever you say, Nymmy." Harry said, turning his head to yawn.
"Still tired?" Tonks asked. "S'pretty late, y'know. You should get back to sleep."
"Much as I don't want to, I think you're right." Harry said, sighing. Slipping his arms from around Tonks, he flopped back and frowned. "I've done well, not having my glasses on all this time."
"You have." Tonks agreed. "That embrace of yours could've ended up with us both being horribly embarassed. And you with a bloody nose."
Snorting, Harry shook his head. "Hey, I'm not entirely blind. I could still make out when you blushed, after all."
"Oh, go back to sleep already and quit tormenting me." Tonks said, sticking her tongue out.
"If you insist. But only if you go get something to eat and get a good night's sleep, too. You've had your moment with me now, so your stomach should feel more up to it." Harry said.
"It's a deal." Tonks said. And, as she got up to leave, she leaned over and gave Harry a kiss just below his scar. "Sweet dreams."
"That isn't fair." Harry yawned. "But you too, Nymmy."
"You're pressin' your luck on the 'Nymmys,' Potter." Tonks said, grinning as she stepped away from the bed. "Now go to sleep!"
"Yes yes, I'm going, I'm going." Harry said, rolling over onto his right side and curling up slightly. "And tell them that if they're gonna have a party in my honor, that I want one of those cakes like your mum made that one time."
oOoOoOoOoOoOo
"So she's still there, wolfing down food, huh?" Harry asked, chuckling.
"Mmhmm." Came Solieyu's reply. "Ever since you woke up, her appetite's back in full force. Apparently, it's trying to make up for lost time."
"Wish I could be down there. Dumbledore picked an odd time to call me to his office." Harry muttered.
"Probably just wants to go over everything again on his own, make sure you're really okay. You should put more trust in him, Harry." Solieyu said. "He wouldn't do anything to harm you."
"Save for knowingly sending me back to the hellhole I grew up in." Harry said, scowling. "Sorry, but it's hard to really find respect for a guy who can't work out how to ward one of my friend's houses."
"Blood magic can't be transferred." Solieyu said, shrugging. "And I doubt any wards the headmaster could create would be quite as potent."
"On that note," Harry said, trying to steer the topic away from his home life. "You seem to be doing better."
"Yes, well... I've taken that horrible potion again and everything is seemingly back to normal." Solieyu replied.
"Except now you have a Ron-ish tagalong sometimes?" Harry asked, raising an eyebrow.
"Shut up."
oOoOoOoOoOoOo
"You wanted to see me, sir?"
Dumbledore smiled, nodding as Harry entered. Offering him the chair opposite his, as well as offering a small dish of candy, the headmaster replied, "Indeed I did. Come, sit down. Care for a shebert lemon? Perhaps a toadstool taffy?"
"Anything to get the taste of all those potions out of my mouth." Harry said, taking what seemed to be an ordinary peppermint from the bowl. After a few seconds, he added, "Normal candy?"
"Most of it." Said Dumbledore. "Sometimes a candy is simply a candy. Now, on to business... Are you doing alright?"
"Well as can be expected, considering." Harry said. "I'm not as tired anymore, but aside from that... I dunno. I'm just glad everything's over with, sir."
"As am I, Harry. As am I. Now then, I believe I have something for you here." Dumbledore said, lifting up some papers on his desk and grabbing an envelope, which he extended towards Harry. As the boy took it, he continued, "This is from Molly and Arthur Weasley. They came by during one of your, if you'll pardon the term, sleeping spells to check on Ginny and Fred. While Molly almost insisted to wake you up to, undoubtably, crush you in one of her patented embraces... I somehow managed to convince her to let you sleep. Instead, I suggested writing a letter of thanks to you, which they took to heart."
Blinking, Harry opened the envelope and read the letter it held. "It's certainly long, isn't it?" He said, goggling at how much Mrs. Weasley had managed to write out.
"So it would seem." Said Dumbledore. "Beyond that, though, Harry..."
Looking up, Harry saw that the headmaster had set Riddle's diary on his desk. "How did you...?"
"Fawkes brought it when he went back to pick you up." Said Dumbledore. "I thought it better for me to keep it somewhere safe, rather than having it lay, unguarded, in the Chamber of Secrets."
"Do you think it's safe now, sir?" Harry asked, picking it up and flipping through its destroyed pages after removing the ink and blood-stained basilisk fang that still pierced through it.
"As safe as can be expected." Dumbledore said. "I'm not entirely sure what to do with the fang. I'm sure Severus could get some use out of it. As you can imagine, basilisk fangs are very rare, Harry. Their use in potions is rather vast, as well. They sell for quite a high price."
Feeling as if the headmaster wasn't just blowing wind his way, Harry glanced up. "I see. Would you mind terribly if I kept this one? A memento, of sorts. Stuff like this helps keep me in check sometimes." He said, making sure not to be so truthful as to state that he had a small shard of the Philosopher's Stone wrapped up at the bottom of his trunk.
"As you wish, Harry. Now then, as to my next--" Dumbledore began. But he was cut off as the door to his office suddenly came bursting open. Lucius Malfoy, looking quite irritated, stormed in. Directly at his heels was a house elf that looked all too familiar to Harry.
"Dumbledore, I demand to know the meaning of this!" Malfoy roared, slamming his hands down on Dumbledore's desk. "I am a very busy man and have little time to come running up to your school without having a perfectly good REASON! So help me, if--!"
This time, it was Malfoy cut off by Dumbledore. Holding Riddle's diary out to the man, he said, "I simply wanted to return this to you, Lucius, no need to get riled up."
Looking slightly unnerved, but doing an admirable job of hiding it, Malfoy crossed his arms. "I've no idea what you mean. I've never seen that book before in my life. Is this all you've called me for?"
"Oh? It was my understanding that this book has been in your possession for quite some time now. Has it not? Well, you must forgive an old man for being incorrect, then..." Said Dumbledore, setting the book back on his desk. "I would, however, like to say one thing, in addition. It would be wise of you, Lucius, to keep any other of Lord Voldemort's old possessions to yourself."
Narrowing his eyes, Lucius Malfoy turned abruptly, kicking Dobby halfway across the room as he did so. "Come. We're leaving."
After they had left the room, Harry turned back to Dumbledore. "So Malfoy's the one who got the diary into the school?"
"It would seem that way." Said Dumbledore. "Talking to Molly and Arthur, I've been told a bit of a scuffle broke out in Diagon Alley between the latter and Lucius Malfoy. I would assume that it was around then that he slipped the diary into young Ginny's other school supplies. I doubt anyone took much notice of it."
"I still wish I knew where Mr. Weasley got that toilet seat from..." Harry said, remembering the image of Arthur Weasley braining Lucius Malfoy with a toilet seat.
Chuckling quietly, Dumbledore continued, "Unfortunately, as we cannot prove for a fact that the diary once belonged to Lucius, we cannot do anything about it."
"...Actually, I think we can do something. It isn't much, but it'd be amusing, nonetheless." Harry began, a plan formulating in his mind. "Would you mind terribly if I took the fang and the diary, sir?"
oOoOoOoOoOoOo
A few days later, Harry found himself standing outside the Potions classrooms, a large, filled sack at his feet. He was tired, he was quite filthy, and he was really, really hungry. Not to mention dreading what he was about to try and pull off.
Knocking, he heard Snape's voice call for him to enter. Harry did so, opening the door with one hand and hefting the sack over up with the other.
"...Potter. What have you been doing, frolicking in the mud?" Snape asked, turning his nose up at Harry's appearance.
"Actually," Harry began, walking across the room and lifting the sack up to set it on the man's desk. "I have something for you."
Making another face as Harry placed the dirty bag on his desk, on top of several papers he had been working on, Snape replied, "I am certain I have no desire to take anything from you, Potter."
Grinning crookedly, Harry said, "I think you should at least look inside before you say that."
Standing, Snape looked almost ready to chase Harry from his office for a moment, having drawn his wand and all. But then, he simply aimed at the bag. A flick of his wrist later and it had opened, revealing the contents. Snape blinked, leaning in and inspecting better. "...And I should assume the headmaster put you up to this?" He finally said.
"Not really." Harry said. "I mean, he gave me the idea, but I went and got the dumb things on my own. Well, Fawkes helped... I mean, I dunno how I would've gotten out again if he hadn't, but..."
"Stop your rambling, Potter!" Snape growled. "I get the point. Now the question stands as to why you would go back into the Chamber of Secrets, presumably with only a phoenix as your guardian, just to procure a sack full of basilisk fangs."
Shrugging, Harry replied, "Given that I attacked you instead of Vold--"
"Don't say his name!" Snape hissed.
"VOLDEMORT..." Harry finished, glaring up at the man. "...last year, I thought it was the least I could do. Professor Dumbledore said basilisk fangs were pretty rare and had a good number of uses in potions. Call it a peace offering. Or at least an apology."
Picking up a fang and inspecting it for awhile, Snape said, "The poison seems to be there. I take it you didn't return to the headmaster's office, at least, before coming here?"
"Not really. I had Fawkes drop me off outside. Dunno where he went after that. Probably back to Dumbledore's office." Harry shrugged. "I just wanted to drop the fangs off and go take a shower."
"Then go." Said Snape, using his wand to close and lift the bag up. Heading for his storeroom, he added, "And do not think this changes anything between us."
Nodding, Harry turned to leave. "Didn't expect it to, sir." He said. "Just figured I should let you know that I really am sorry to have chosen the wrong man last year."
oOoOoOoOoOoOo
One shower later, and Harry was making his way down to the Great Hall for dinner. He had told Tonks and Solieyu of his plans earlier in the day, so he assumed they had already gone down. He still felt tired, but the shower had done much to put some life back into him. Only now his stomach was threatening to up and leave if it didn't get some food in it soon.
Just as he headed through the doors leading into the Great Hall, however, something flew at him. Letting out a surprised cry, Harry threw himself to one side. A painful THUMP came from where he had been standing. Turning, he saw Dobby the house elf laying on the ground, groaning and rubbing at his nose.
The headmaster, who, Harry just noticed, had been standing nearby, smiled. "It looks as if your plan has had its desired effects, Harry."
"You're free, then?" Harry asked, turning to Dobby, who was getting to his feet again.
"Oh, yes, sir!" Dobby squeaked, looking up at Harry through his large eyes.
"He insisted on coming here to wait for you." Explained Dumbledore. "He has been telling me of your bravery ever since he arrived, you know."
"Wonderful." Harry groaned. "Look, Dobby... don't say that kinda stuff, alright? It's embarassing."
Nodding vigorously, Dobby agreed.
"So, what's to become of him now?" Asked Harry.
"I have agreed to hire Dobby on as a free elf. He will have no loyalties to me, of course..." Said Dumbledore. "But he seems very eager to start."
Dobby seemed unable of proper coversation by then, using his ears to wipe at his eyes and sniffling out how both Harry and Dumbledore were great men. Harry simply rolled his eyes and, as Dumbledore led Dobby out of the Great Hall to show him to the kitchens, Harry slipped over to his usual spot at the Ravenclaw table.
"Now what was that all about?" Tonks asked.
"It's a long and complicated story involving a lot of luck." Harry said, shaking his head slowly. "The short version is that I sent Riddle's diary to Malfoy, wrapped in a dirty, old sock. It was a long shot, but it looks like it worked."
"And you're alright with that thing being free?" Tonks asked, raising an eyebrow. "You do remember that he's the reason you wound up so bloodied last summer. And why you got a leg de-boned."
"I know."
"...Well, alright. If you say so." Tonks said. "Oi, look at Malfoy. He looks happy, doesn't he?"
Turning, Harry saw Draco Malfoy glaring daggers at him. The mental image of Lucius writing an angst-filled letter to his son popped into Harry's mind, causing him to snort. When Tonks and Solieyu tried to pry just what was so funny out of him, he only replied that he would tell them later.
"So," Solieyu began, after they had moved on to a different topic, "What will you do if Dobby shows up at your relatives' house again this summer?"
"Well," Harry said, pausing to think as he took a sip of pumpkin juice, "I guess hexing him's out of the question. Don't want to get into trouble with the Ministry. ...I guess I could take off running."
"Ooh, ooh, run towards our house!" Tonks said, bouncing.
"I was planning to do that, anyway." Harry said, glancing aside at Tonks and grinning. "You're all that keeps me sane during the summer. Hey, Leon, why don't you stop by this time? We can have some fun together. Maybe we can go over to your place for dinner some night?"
"I think my mother would like that." Solieyu said, smiling. "She's been wanting to meet the both of you, you know."
"Oh yeah? Well, that's that, then. Now then, providing Dobby doesn't show up, what's the plan for getting me out of Number Four this time?" Harry asked.
And with that, the trio went about constructing their summer plans.
oOoOoOoOoOoOo
Author's Notes: Ehee... Last dream flashing, I promise. Well, maybe not. One or two might slip into future books. I write ahead a lot. Sometimes the ideas I choose not to include make it into these dreams. Like Bellatrix getting age regressed so she's just a little older than my version of Tonks. Now wouldn't THAT make for some interesting moments? But after talking it out with a few people, I realized how many holes I'd hafta try filling up because of it. If there's anything I hate, it's filling plotholes caused by my changes. So no teenaged Bella for you!
And then there's the shackled Harry on trial bit from book 7. No idea why he's even there anymore, but the idea's been shelved. I blame my wanting to write a badass Dark Harry. That's why Exploding Number Four is up there, too. That one was from Order. I'm still not saying what that last one's from. Because it just might still be canon. Ufufu. In fact, if you go back and check the other dream flashes from previous chapters (6 and 11) you might be able to put a couple of them together. I haven't put the whole on-trial bit in yet, since it's too long, but you can work out the general order of things.
So! On to business. I know the fangs-for-Snape thing has been done in a fair number of fanfics. While it may be silly of me to include a similar moment in mine, I feel my Harry isn't stupid and pigheaded enough to not see a possible way to ease up Snape's hatred towards him. And Dobby came back for a bit! While I argued with myself for awhile on whether or not to have Harry actually rescue the house elf from the Malfoys in my rewrite, I finally decided that, despite the chaos Dobby caused him, Harry's not an asshole just yet. That'll take puberty and some hard knocks. THEN he can be a jerkass all he wants.
Anyone catch on that, when Leon was talking to the Weasleys in the previous chapter, looked over his shoulder and nodded, it was because he had been over with Luna? Well, he was. And here we see the aftereffects of that moment - Luna continuing to toddle around after him. I'm not saying whether I'll have them hook up in the end, but you gotta admit, it'd be an interesting ship to sail.
I took a different direction with a few things this chapter, which means I'll have to slightly revise the final chapter. And rest assured, 18 WILL be the final chapter. Then I'll probably have to take awhile off to make an ATTEMPT at a chapter guide for Prisoner Returns. I never stick to the things, so I'd better just do them in 5-chapter bursts. That shouldn't cause me to get in any trouble I'd have to work my way out of.
And finally, aww, lookit the awkward Honks moment! Rest assured, I plan to do something amusing involving Andromeda walking in on them kissing at SOME point in the story. I'm just not sure what. I'm also not sure whether to include the first half of summer in the last chapter of this book. I think I'll refrain from it, so the next chapter might be more an epilogue to the book than anything else, since I JUST got an idea for how to start Prisoner on a different note. And now I'm gonna go off to jot it down so I don't forget!
On a post-edit note, I apologize for any random-ass typos that made it through. I'm really not feeling good tonight, which is also why this update is as LATE as it was. Meant to get it up this afternoon, but I started feeling like hell warmed over earlier. So... yeah. Formatted with only a light glancing-at. Enjoy! The end is near!