The Seers Truth: Beyond the Darkness
By Lady Lestrange
Disclaimer: The Harry Potter characters and previous situations belong to JK Rowlings. No infringement is meant or implied. No money is made from this Fanfic. Thanks JK
Special thanks to my beta, ennui de mort who always does such a good job helping to make these chapters better than I could make them alone. Thanks ennui!
Chapter 17
Harry the Hero
Lauren was sitting with Millicent in the Slytherin Common Room while Millicent painted her fingernails with fire red nail polish that Lauren had bought from the Weasley twins. "I still can't believe I have my fingernails back. It is so nice to have fingernails," she sighed.
"What happened at the Snow Castle?" asked Lauren. "I mean, Alvin was never the strong silent type. He won't talk about any of it. He's so distant, lately. Going off by himself into the Forbidden Forest—I'm worried—"
"Is that where his is now?" asked Millicent.
Lauren nodded."You could always come to the Snow Castle next time we're called and see for yourself what's happening," said Millicent.
Lauren shook her head.
"Alvin's ok," said Millicent in an offhand way. "He's probably going into the Forbidden Forest to work with the dementors, or else he's got a portkey back to the Snow Castle. No one's allowed on the forth floor so Alvin can play with the dementors."
"Play?" said Lauren
"Some spell," Millicent said dismissively. "Oh dear. I got my cuticle. I have to do this one over." She removed the nail polish from her ring finger and began again.
They looked up as Pritch came into the room carrying a small parcel. "Hey Pritch," called Millicent. "You still look a little pale. Are you going to class tomorrow?"
"Yeah," said Pritch. "His venom wasn't much worse than the Dark Mark. I count myself lucky. I mean, there wasn't much else I could do, was there?" He opened the box, pulled out a list of cities and frowned at it. He sighed and pushed the box away.
"What's the matter?" asked Millicent.
"I can't do these portkeys," he said in disgust. "I've never been to these places. I have to floo to them first." He sighed and rubbed his hand over the swollen snake bite marks on his shoulder and upper arm.
"Oh, too bad," said Millicent without much sympathy.
"He—bit you?" asked Lauren shivering with disgust as she eyed the yellowish bruises that showed at the top of his robe.
"A ferret is a match for a snake," said Millicent as she did a drying spell on her nails.
"Ha!" Pritch spat. "You and Gavin are both stupid. We couldn't beat him to the rat. As soon as he entered the contest, it was over."
"But he gave Gavin points for daring," said Millicent.
"Only after the Crucio," said Pritch. "And only because you sunk your delicate little claws into the hawk and dragged him off."
"Well, He told Wormtail too many times all he had to do was transform into a wizard while he was in my mouth. I had visions of the Dark Lord, as a wizard, in Gavin's talons, while Gavin was trying to pluck Wormtail from his mouth." Millicent curled her lip in distaste.
"I don't know Millicent. I think the Dark Lord was giving him time to think what he was doing. If he had let go of the snake, he might not have ended in the dungeons."
"You're boyfriend is in the dungeons?" said Lauren appalled.
"Yeah, but he's ok," said Millicent examining her nails. "And he isn't my boyfriend. I wish they made this polish in peach," she said waving her fingernails, and shooting flames across the room. "Red is so vulgar, don't you think?"
"Merlin!" snapped Pritch. "You reminded me of Ethan for a moment there with the flying fire."
"It's just a joke, not real fire," said Millicent. "Courtesy of the Weasley twins."
"Ah, yes," said Pritch. "All hail the Weasley twins, their innovations and their wonderful potions."
Lauren sniggered. "I have a good notion to tell them what that potion is being used for. I'll bet they'd shut off your supply."
"Bite your tongue," said Pritch.
"She'd rather bite Alvin," said Millicent, examining her fingernails.
"Millicent," said Lauren. "You have a fixation with biting, you know that?" She shook her head. "Your—this Gavin—isn't really in His dungeons, is he? What happened?"
"I told you," said Millicent. "The Dark Lord was in his Animagus form and Gavin was a hawk. Snakes are natural prey of hawks. I guess he just sort of lost his head."
"No," said Pritch dryly. "He lost his talons, and his wings, but I think he still has his head."
"Oh," said Lauren. "That isn't funny, Pritch."
"I know," said Pritch. "I was there. I know it wasn't funny. It made me wish we left the bunny alone."
"What bunny?" asked Lauren.
"Beatrice," said Pritch.
"Beatrice! Is she alright?"
"Don't know," said Pritch. "We stole her from Wormtail and then we lost her. The Master was pretty mad at us, but he let us live. He killed Wormtail and Shaul."
"You know, I agree with you Pritch," said Millicent, applying a second coat of nail polish. "There was no way I was going to catch that rat once He joined us as the snake Animagus. I wanted to make a good showing, but I wouldn't have caught Wormtail. Of course, if he had just been watching, I would have beaten you."
"No, you wouldn't," said Pritch. "Ferrets are definitely faster than cats."
"We could transfigure someone into a rat and see," said Millicent screwing the lid back onto the polish.
"No, you couldn't," said Lauren, drawing her wand and glaring at Millicent. She turned to Pritch. "Was Alvin involved in any of this?" she asked.
"No," said Pritch. "He didn't have anything to do with Beatrice's escape."
"But he had to do with Beatrice's capture," said Lauren. "He told me so."
Millicent shook her head. "He would have caught that stupid bunny no matter what anyone did. What I can't understand is why she didn't transform back to a witch instead of letting him Crucio her in the first place. Stupid Gryfindors."
"Yeah, stupid," echoed Pritch.
"So come with us next time He calls," said Millicent. "Are you coming with us?"
Lauren shook her head no.
Millicent shrugged. "It's only a matter of time you know."
Later, at supper, Dumbledore stood and addressed the school with the sonorous charm. He gestured to Beatrice Ellis who, still in bunny form, was resting on McGonagall's lap.
"Today, we have back with us a member of our school that we had thought was lost. Through the heroic efforts of Harry Potter, we have Beatrice Ellis here with us today."
Applause began at the Gryffindor table as the students turned to look at Harry and carried sporadically through the other tables. Harry wanted nothing so much as to Disapparate. He could have done so, since the internal wards were still down, but he thought it would be rude to leave when Dumbledore was praising him.
He didn't deserve the accolades. What had he done? Hid in a closet. Made a portkey and brought back a bunny. It was luck and Draco that really saved Beatrice. Without Draco's help, he wouldn't have even gotten to the Snow Castle, much less back. It still bothered him that he couldn't save Samara and Ginny.
"The medi-witches at St. Mungo's tell us," continued Dumbledore, "that Beatrice has the most chance of returning to her witch state if she is exposed to her regular routine, so I am going to ask that you all treat her as you would if she were well and in her witch form."
Harry looked at the tiny bunny held in McGonagall's lap. Even though Dumbledore considered the expedition a success, how could he feel good when Beatrice was still a bunny?
"This prophecy," continued Dumbledore, "says that it is Harry Potter who will finally rid the world of the Dark Lord." Harry glanced at the Hufflepuff table. They were looking at him with varying degrees of horror and hero worship.
"We must be resolute," Dumbledore said. "The time for action is finally here."
Harry noticed that about half of the Ravenclaws were listening intently, the other half were hiding behind books. Most of the Slytherins looked bored or disgusted. Warrington was making gagging noises while Crabbe and Goyle edged him on. Malfoy scowled at him and when their eyes caught, Harry looked away embarrassed because Malfoy should have been receiving the accolades too, but Dumbledore didn't know about Malfoy's part in the rescue. Even if he did, Malfoy's association with the Dark Lord would not allow him to receive the praise.
As Dumbledore droned on, practically telling all of the Slytherins that he wanted to take back the Prophecy Child and defeat Voldemort before the Prophecy Child became too powerful and was a threat on the side of Voldemort. Eventually, Harry tuned Dumbledore out, instead, watching the Slytherin table with something more than interest. The way Dumbledore was going on, it was a wonder the Slytherins weren't taking notes to return to the Dark Lord. The Gryffindors' plans for your downfall. Here you are Sir, all we have to do is wait for the Gryffindors to show up.
Gosh, he thought, he was getting as cynical as some of the Slytherins. It must be from being around Malfoy so much this last week.
Although Harry had thought it rude to leave before Dumbledore finished speaking, he left moments after Dumbledore sat down. Supper has seemed particularly tasteless.
Harry walked out into the foyer and stopped. "Cho," he breathed.
"Hi Harry." She came over to him and caught his hand. "I was just telling my friends how exciting it is to be your girlfriend and after the Headmaster Dumbledore's speech. Well, you must be proud," she finished.
Harry nodded, and after a moment of silence, Cho's friends started to disperse leaving the two of them standing alone in the foyer. Harry had never felt a more awkward moment. Even when he had asked Cho to the Yule Ball, he had planned something to say. He was completely tongue tied. Why was it that he never felt this awkward with Hermione or Ginny for that matter? Thoughts of Ginny made him remember how she blushed and stuttered in his presence. In fairness he now realized how awful it was for Ginny to climb over these silences in first year.
"Knut for your thoughts," Cho said and Harry, who never thought of being anything but truthful, said, "I was thinking of Ginny."
"Oh—" Cho's face darkened momentarily, but she put on a tight smile and continued to gaze at Harry.
"I meant—Samara and Ginny are still out there—with Voldemort," explained Harry.
"Of course," said Cho. The silence stretched before them. "Well, I have homework," she said at last.
"Me too," said Harry, and then continued, rescuing the conversation from the dark pit of silence into which they had sunk. "Want to meet me in the library?" The words were barely out of his mouth when he regretted them. The reason they were studying in the library was to make themselves accessible to the Slytherins. The last thing he needed to do was to try to explain to Cho Chang why he had to go with Draco. He found himself hoping that she would say no.
"Sure. I'll come," she said. "Half an hour?"
"Ok," Harry agreed and went up to the Gryffindor tower to get his books.
Ron listened intently and commented in all the right spots, while Harry recounted his woes with Cho.
"She's terribly pretty," said Harry.
"Awesome," agreed Ron.
"And she's smart."
Ron shrugged.
"And very nice."
"So what's the problem?" asked Ron.
Harry sighed. "I just don't think it's fair to agree to date her when I know I don't love her. I mean—I like her, but—" Harry looked away.
Ron studied his friend with narrowed eyes. "You think she's hot."
"Yes," said Harry, patently avoiding his friend's eyes.
"So don't think of her as a girlfriend," said Ron. "Think of her as a snogging partner."
"What!" Harry looked at his friend and took in the mirth in his twinkling eyes. He felt a blush color his face.
"You have kissed her, right?" asked Ron.
"Well," said Harry uncomfortably. "No."
Ron frowned at him. "Harry, you have kissed a girl before haven't you?"
"Oh yeah," said Harry quickly, thinking he was absolutely not going to tell Ron that it was Ginny he had kissed.
"So why haven't you kissed her?" persisted Ron.
"Actually? It seemed—premature."
Ron held his head and sighed. "Look, it's not like she has claimed her undying love for you either," said Ron. "I mean, if you don't at least try to kiss her, and –erm other things, she's going to think you don't like her. It makes girls feel good to think you can't keep your hands off of them."
He couldn't quite reconcile what Ron was saying with Ron's relationship with Hermione. It was not a thought he wanted to dwell on. "Are you sure?" Harry asked in a strangled whisper, the color rising in his cheeks. "I mean, I—respect her—"
Ron rolled his eyes. "Fred says that women only start talking about respect when they really don't like you. He should know, I think Angelina is about number fifteen. Anyway, yours is a unique situation. Don't make it more than it is. Cho just wants to prove something to Hermione about her bravery. Consider it a good trade, Harry. You get snogging rights. She gets to be brave."
"Ron!" scolded Hermione from the doorway. "Is that what you think? Snogging rights indeed!"
"I didn't know you were there, Hermione," said Ron.
"Obviously," she said, eyes flashing.
"Anyway, I wasn't talking about you and me. I was talking about Cho."
"That's no way to make a woman like you, Harry." said Hermione.
She pulled out a piece of parchment and began to make a list, speaking as she wrote,
"Be thoughtful.
Candy
Flowers," she wrote.
"You can pick them yourself," she said, "so it doesn't have to be expensive. It's the thoughtfulness that counts."
She frowned, nibbling the end of the quill. "Jewelry," she said, " but only if you're serious, romantic dinner, Hogsmeade, Madam Puddlefoot's—"
"No Astronomy Tower?" questioned Ron, looking over her shoulder.
"No," said Hermione. "It's positively crass."
"As I remember," began Ron, but Hermione glared at him.
"And too crowded," she said sharply.
"Hey, I could show you how to make the little niche in the wall spell," began Ron.
"I know how," said Harry. "Hermione showed me."
"Wha—Hermione?"
"It was completely innocent," interjected Hermione. "It was when the girls got taken. We were hiding from Death Eaters."
"Oh."
"Hey, I know, Harry!" said Ron. "She wants to be brave. Take her to the Chamber of Secrets."
"What?"
"Well, if I had that big brass bed at my disposal, I sure wouldn't be messing around with a niche in the wall."
"Ron!" said Hermione red faced.
He shrugged, muttering, "You only live once, and in your case, Harry—"
The slap of Hermione's hand connecting with Ron's cheek reverberated through the common room. Several first and second years sniggered as the red welts stood out in Ron's cheek.
"Hermione," began Ron, "I didn't mean you—"
"Don't Hermione, me," she snapped, "and go to the library without me. I can't stand the sight of you, Ron Weasley, you immature little—oh—"
She turned and rushed up the stairs.
"Hermione!" called Harry. "Wait. What about Draco?:
Harry clapped his hand over his mouth as the first and second years began whispering furiously.
"Good one, Harry," said Ron sarcastically. "Bloody brilliant."
"I didn't upset Hermione," Harry said in his own defense. "You did."
"She'll come around," sighed Ron. "You go to the library without me. It will give you some time alone with Cho."
"What are you going to do?" asked Harry.
"Go to the owlery and compose a particularly groveling note," said Ron. "It beats apologizing in person."
Actually, the study time in the library went rather well. Harry finished all of this homework in record time and Cho unwittingly supplied some new fodder for divination.
When the library closed, Harry offered to walk Cho back to her dorm. They paused in the foyer near the entrance to the Ravenclaw common room. People were walking to and fro. Various couples were kissing goodnight, oblivious to onlookers scowls of disapproval or envy.
"Snogging rights," thought Harry, taking his courage in his hands, he put down his books on a hall table and brushed the hair back from Cho's face. She really was beautiful. He told her so, and watched her dark lashes flutter downwards, lying across her cheek. He took her books from her hands and laid them on the corner table beside his own.
Then he stepped in to her, brushing her lips with his own. He meant it to be a simple chaste kiss. After all, neither of them really fancied the other, but some how what began as a simple brush of the lips moved well beyond that.
Perhaps it was when Cho leaned her body against his. Perhaps it was her soft sighing against his mouth. Perhaps it was the insistent pressure of her tongue seeking entrance to his mouth. Whatever it was, regardless to the fact that neither he nor Cho really had any love for one another, his body thought otherwise. When she shifted, whether accidentally or on purpose, so that her left leg was wedged between his, he found himself asking her if she wanted to see the Chamber of Secrets.
"It's a myth," she said.
But he corrected her, telling her about the stone statue of Salazar and the carved basilisks and saving Ginny Weasley in second year. The thought of Ginny Weasley calmed his ardor like a bucket of ice water.
"So is Ginny the only one who has seen this Chamber besides you?" asked Cho innocently.
"Oh no," said Harry. "Ron has and Hermione—"
"Hermione," breathed Cho. "I'll come." She lifted her chin a little. "How about tomorrow after supper?"
"Ok," said Harry, resisting the urge to say, It's a date. It seemed entirely too surreal to consider a trip to the Chamber of Secrets as a date.
"Tomorrow, then," he repeated, and he brushed her lips again with a soft kiss.
Cho jerked away suddenly. "Oh, Harry," said Cho. "I almost forgot, we have a huge History of Magic test on Friday. I can't believe I forgot!" She blushed. "Could we postpone this little trip until next week, Harry?"
"—er. Sure."
"I mean, schoolwork has to come first doesn't it?"
"I guess so," said Harry.
"I can prove I'm brave anytime," she whispered. "Right Harry?"
"Yes," said Harry, thinking this was exactly why she was sorting into Ravenclaw instead of Gryffindor. "Do you want to study with me tomorrow?"
"Oh yes," said Cho, "But—" she grinned at him. "We really have to get more studying done tomorrow."
"Ok," Harry agreed, taking Cho back into his arms and for a few minutes, studying was the last thing on either of their minds.
After she entered Ravenclaw Common Room, he stood for a moment collecting himself. That when rather well, he thought, blowing out his breath as he pulled his robe around himself and headed for Gryffindor Tower. He was surpremely thankful for his robes when a cool voice stopped him in his tracks.
"Potter, a word—"
He turned, looking into the accusing black eyes of Severus Snape. It wasn't after curfew yet. How long had he been lurking there? wondered Harry angrily. What was the miserable bat doing out of his dungeon anyway?
Snape's lip curled into a sneer. "Last I heard, I was permitted to venture from my dungeon," said Snape coldly, and Harry blanched. "Since you seem to have a penchant for protecting Longbottom, I thought I would warn you, Potter."
"Warn me?"
"Yes. Your Invisibility Cloak only cloaks your physical form, not your thoughts—or his."
"Why are you doing this?" asked Harry, thinking that Snape did nothing out of the kindness of his heart. There had to be a trick.
"No trick," said Snape. "Just exercising my guardianship of the boy-who-lived," snarled Snape, "and trying to keep it that way," Snape muttered. "Though Merlin knows why."
"And you came up here—followed me?"
"I did not follow you, Potter," sneered Snape. "I didn't even plan on warning you about Longbottom, until you--"
"What did you come for then?" interrupted Harry sharply, expecting house points to be taken for his cheek, but Snape just looked at him with those unfathomable dark eyes.
"I came to tell you—Wormtail is dead."
Harry frowned, wondering why Snape thought it important to tell him of Wormtail's demise. It wasn't like he would miss the rat—he had left him go in third year and had regretted that action several times since then. He certainly didn't want to kill Wormtail himself, but he wouldn't lose any sleep over the loss either.
"So—" Harry spat unfeelingly.
"So," growled Snape. "He was—" Snape paused and then continued with cold precision. "There is no body to show the Ministry, and, without a body, your godfather will remain a criminal indefinitely."
"His silver hand?" asked Harry.
"Recalled by the Dark Lord," said Snape. "So you see, Potter, it appears that we are stuck with each other."
"You don't have to have anything to do with me," said Harry. "I prefer it that way—"
"On the contrary," said Snape in a low tone. "You are my responsibility, and I take my responsibilities very seriously. Your preferences, Potter, have nothing to do with it." Turning swiftly he glided silently into the shadows, reminding Harry uncomfortably of a dementor.
Harry breathed again, and as he climbed the stairs to Gryffindor Tower, he thought about what Snape had said. Exercising his guardianship, my ass, thought Harry. Snape had another motive, and although Harry had often thought Snape knew about his Invisibility Cloak, he had never mentioned it. Harry paused, wondering how he could know, and then he thought, perhaps Dumbledore told him—or Draco? Yes, Draco asking for help in repairing the piece he had.
Harry had reached the fat lady when another thought struck him. Snape had said he had a penchant for protecting Longbottom. When did he ever see Harry protecting Neville? Harry wondered. Did he know that he, Harry, was with Neville the entire time Snape was breaking the memory charm? Why wouldn't Snape tell him that before? It seemed like Snape would relish the chance to take house points and embarrass the Gryffindor. Why did Snape tell him now? More importantly, how did he know? His thoughts. Snape could sense his thoughts when he was angry or emotional, and that meant Voldemort could too. And Snape knew about their planned excursion to the Snow Castle. Maybe Draco and Lauren got caught following him.
Harry ran his hand through his already messy hair and entered the Gryffindor Common room in a daze of thought.
"You don't look like you were studying," accused Hermione.
"Don't worry about it, Mate," said Ron with a wry grin, "Neither were we."
"Is something wrong, Harry?" Hermione asked with a frown.
"Wormtail is dead," said Harry.
Hermione slapped the Witch Weekly down on the table, narrowly missing Ron's pumpkin juice. "The Ministry can't ignore this anymore. It's ludicrous!"
"Wha—" said Ron around a mouth full of egg.
"Look at this," Hermione demanded and both Harry and Ron leaned in to read the newspaper over her shoulder. "More Gingotts money missing even though Dakon Garr is dead. The Dark Mark over Muggle areas. Muggle bombs set by wizard's portkeys—"
"Hermione, your parents are safe," said Ron. "Dumbledore—"
"This isn't about my parents," said Hermione hotly. "It's about the war. It's about all of the Muggles and all of the wizarding world too. It's about Voldemort."
The entire table stared at her as she spat the hated name.
"I didn't know you said his name," said Ron softly.
"I don't. I didn't. I do now," she spat.
"Well good, Hermione. That's good," said Harry. "More people should say his name and maybe it would inspire less fear."
"It wouldn't do the Muggles any good, would it?" demanded Hermione.
"No, but—" began Harry, and then he just stopped. "No," he said. "I'm sorry."
"What do you have to be sorry for?" snapped Hermione. "You've done your best. You've done everything you could."
Harry looked at her. She sounded strangely like Rowenna Ravenclaw for a moment, and he frowned. "I should have killed him. I could have done it when he possessed Quirrel, I think. He was weak then."
"You were a first year," said Hermione. "We're all lucky we came out of that alive.
"We're lucky we came out of a lot of things alive," agreed Ron.
"And the next time—" said Harry. "Someone won't come out alive."
His friends lapsed into silence as Harry tried to come to terms with what they all knew was written in the prophecy. He closed his eyes, remembering the insubstantial body of Tom Riddle melting into the diary and then the blood on the Chamber floor. Maybe it wasn't blood. It was only ink, and Tom wasn't real, but he had killed him with the basilisk fang. He remembered Ginny in his arms.
"Soon," said Harry and his resolute green eyes met Hermione's across the table. "Any day now. Any moment, we go and get the girls." He had to force himself to be calm. All this planning was so foreign to him. It was unnerving. In the past, he had just seen the need for him to act and did what had to be done. Now, waiting and thinking was making him nauseous. He wondered if he would be able to kill Voldemort. He felt his heart beating in his throat. Or if he would die.
"Not much time," repeated Ron, but Hermione was dragging him to his feet unmindful of the food still on his breakfast plate.
"Right," growled Hermione. "Two minutes. That's how long you have to get to Divination. Move!"
"I hate Wednesdays," muttered Ron with a shiver. "Trelawney first thing in the morning. It's indecent."
"Don't worry, Hermione. We're not missing anything new," said Harry.
"Just the latest prediction of our deaths," said Ron, his face breaking into a smile.
ANSWERS TO REVIEWERS;
WHAT? YOU DIDN'T REVIEW? GET TO IT!
15 REVIEWS TO THE NEXT CHAPTER
Ennui deMorte: Yep. Evil. That's me.
Akiel: And you should feel the curcio burning your skin. Where have you been? You must review on a regular basis. Imperio! I know, Samara will get better, I promise. Remember she is the prophecy child. All houses. Now, which house would keep her safest in Volde's lair? You noticed she is a little Hufflepuff, did you? Can't be helped I wanted to keep her alive. Think about how she treated Snape who only took house points. She can't do that to Volde, now can she? So, different house. Now, did you enjoy Harry in this chapter?
Christina: I love your long reviews. They inspire me. This line of yours, is very important. Today I think everyone learned something: Lady Lestrange is not afraid of killing off semi-main characters. And now you know, yes, he is dead dead. Glad you like Gavin. I'm sure you were sad to learn he's in Volde's dungeon. I haven't written when he's gettingout…
Cara the Mord Sith: Well, very true, no happiness in the last chapter, but I hope I made you smile this time. Didn't like my catch Wormtail game? Well, you know Volemort is the big evil bad guy. I was tired of having readers say they liked him. I think I finally got the last of them to say. Yep. Volde's evil. Promise Ginny is a survivor, but how she survives may surprise you.
Jager. Glad you liked
Trillium: You wrote: This chapter has cured me of liking Voldemort. Really. Again?
XMuted-FaithX I have to laugh. I got all these reviews saying how evil and sick Volde was in this chapter and you say Voldemort was hilarious. Ew. Voldemort's going to eat Wormtail. Eck! He eats people! He eats his Death Eaters. Ugh...how digusting. Now that's more the reaction I was looking for. Love your long reviews. Thanks. They tell me what I am doing right and what I could do better.
Harpy: Here's the good guys for you. And more good guy stuff is coming.
Silverfox1: I really wanted to read what you had in the first review that fanfic ate. Sigh. I know they have done that to me too. I almost always hit control c and copy the stuff before I send it, then I have it on a clipboard if fanfic kicks me off.
Kemenran: More is coming. In fact, the best is yet to come.
==
(A/N: ok I know the title was a little tongue in cheek, but stay with me. More heroics is one the way. –LL)
Did you review yet?