IMPORTANT PLEASE READ!

A/N- SORRY! I know this took forever to get up. I really am sorry. I meant to last night, but accidentally updated a chapter to a different story I haven't even posted yet. I got a bunch of reviews like "What the heck is happening?" So sorry for the confusion. So here is chapter 9, enjoy. Please review.

Thanks to:

Ryu Meijin, Bright one, ilo star, Asaak, R.K.Binx, Hypern, Noelia, LadyProngs, Shania Maxwell, QueenNarca, DestinyEntwinements, Kaimei Jaganshi, Emma, fudgebaby, Choke.On.This, famin, sinsoftheflesh98, Jujube15, Nicki L, Elektra107 and to Fragonknight- Sorry this took so long to get up. Viper-vegeta: Hope you like it; I've had writers block and my muse left me. Oh well, enjoy chap 9!

To Scott, thanks for everything! ML AB

Warning- I do not own HP! This is a slash fanfic, so if you don't like it leave now.

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Chapter 9 Hitchhiking Parasites From Uranus

A dark figure crept quickly out of number 12 Grimmauld place. Sticking to the shadows it made its way down the lane, heading towards London. As it crested a particularly tall hill it was suddenly gone, leaving nothing behind but a very confused Hermione Granger. 'What are you up to Ronald Weasley?' Hermione shook her head and turning, went back the way she came.

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Harry rolled over and smacked his forehead into the corner of the fire place. Cursing, he sat up and rubbed angrily at his temple. Harry froze when he heard a moan from behind him. He smiled when he turned and came face to face with a sleeping, slightly rumpled Draco Malfoy. Shaking his head, Harry stood and looked down at the chess board and the pieces that had some how rolled away and up under the furniture. Stepping over Draco Harry walked towards the kitchen, deciding it was about time to make his own coffee, but on his way through the foyer he bumped into air. There was a loud squeak and then a swishing sound. Harry was puzzled for a moment before reaching out a hand and tugging his invisibility cloak off of Hermione shoulders.

"Hello Mione. You're up early." Hermione nodded.

"As are you, Harry. Id there something you need?"

"No, no. I think I might go to Diagone Alley later today. I need to buy some things." Hermione smiled.

"Great Harry! While you're out there's a few things I need. But please be home by 7:00."

"Why seven?" Hermione shrugged.

"You do want to eat dinner with the rest of us don't you?" Harry smiled.

"Yes, of course. Now, why don't you make a list for me while I try my hand at coffee making?"

"It's really not that hard you know. It's just coffee."

"Yes well, Aunt Petunia and Vernon always had tea in the morning so I never really got the chance to try to make coffee." Hermione rolled her eyes

"This should be interesting."

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Harry walked out of Olivander's. He'd made a slight pit stop after he had finished shopping to see if the old man still runs the place. Of course he did, and he didn't look a day older. Shrugging the bags higher up on his shoulders, Harry pushed the door to "Every day Wizardry" open and walked around the shelves over to the fire place. Taking a handful of floo powder he threw it into the flames and stepped in. When he stumbled out he hastily dusted off his robes, not even bothering to look up. So you can imagine how surprised he was when two large hands grabbed him from behind.

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A figure stalked down the tunnel, listening to the dripping of the pipes and thinking about how late he would be, not really caring. At the end of the tunnel was a small room. The figure pushed the door open slowly and smiled at the bleeding old man, hanging by his hands from shackles. The dripping noise was stronger here, more pronounced. The figure raised his hands and pulled the hood of his robe back revealing his face. The old man, semi awake saw this and frowned.

"I didn't believe them when they told me." The mans voice was weak and strained. "Never would I have believed Ronald Weasley would become a Death Eater."

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Harry yelped loudly as Remus picked him up off the floor in a tight hug.

"Oh god, Harry. Harry." Remus just repeated it over and over. Harry turned in hid embrace and hugged back.

"It's okay Remus. I'm okay." Remus nodded and stepped back far enough for Harry to see that there were others in the room as well. Mr. and Mrs. Weasley smiled tearfully at him and Fred and George waved. Ginny beamed and the short brunette holding on to her arm blushed prettily before waving. Draco sat on the couch, just watching. Then Mrs. Weasley threw herself at Harry and grasping him tightly to her bosom sobbed loudly. Draco shook his head.

"We know, mate. We know." Fred intoned quietly from Draco's right. "But it's not like we can strangle her or anything, she's our mom." Draco nodded.

"Want me to do it for you?"

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Hermione hummed happily to herself as she fixed some sandwiches for everyone to eat. She jumped when her arm was taken roughly by a hand and she was turned to face Remus Lupin.

"What were you thinking you silly girl? God what have you done?"

"Remus I don't understand. What are talking about?" Remus looked Hermione in the eye.

"I can smell it on him, Hermione. I can smell it. A hitchhiker, a parasite I don't know which one, but its here, close to Harry."

"Remus you're not making any sense! Please just tell me what I did wrong."

"You brought him back." Hermione shook her head, confused.

"But Remus, surely you're not made about that! I brought Harry back from the brink of death!"

"Yes! Yes you did, but what else came with him?"

"Nothing! Nothing I swear it! I've been watching for any signs. Harry has none. He did not come back possessed!"

"No, not possessed. A hitchhiker, it must be."

"What are you talking about?"

"Where Harry was, mentally, there are things, the things of nightmares. When someone is brought back from there, sometimes if they have a parasite they become possessed by one of those monsters from the nightmare realm. Or as in Harry's case, you get a hitchhiker. A creature that clung to Harry's subconscious, until he woke up. When Harry awoke the creature began to feed off of Harry's energy until it was strong enough to manifest a physical form. Now I don't know what we're going to do."

"But if this is true, and Harry did have a hitchhiker, surely it would have run by now."

"That's not the way these things work Hermione. The creature is part of Harry's nightmare. It cannot leave until Harry is dead, when it will be set free to roam the earth."

"So all we have to do is keep Harry safe. Easier said then done."

"The creature must be getting help from somewhere. How else would it be able to maintain its strength at such a great distance from Harry?"

"Help? What do you mean help?"

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A/N- Review! Sorry once again this took so long. How do you like it? Please review and tell me. REVIEW! And sorry this one is short, I'll make up for it next chapter, I promise. ML