A/N: Special thanks to Julie, Bubblypop, Mummsy, Danaluv, Saphire Starlet, Padawan Jan-AQ, and Molly Morrison for their kind reviews. You guys made my day!
Next chapter will hopefully be up tomorrow : )
Harry's mind felt like a crowded room, so full with voices it was impossible to concentrate on just a single one. Tearing up the front walk to the Burrow, he was barely aware of anything expect the buzzing in his head.
He burst through the kitchen door, breathless from the run. Hermione was standing at the counter, deftly peeling carrots, chopping up radishes, and stirring a bubbling mixture on the stove with a few well placed spells. She let out a small shout of surprise when Harry bounded in, pushing the door open with such force it slammed against the wall with a violent thud. The roses were still clutched in his sweaty palms, and he was finding it harder and harder to breath.
"Harry!" She shouted, though there was little anger in her voice. "Are you trying to scare me half..."
"Mrs. Lloyd...Snape...cemetery..."
Was all Harry managed to get out, waving the flowers at her as if they alone would explain what had just happened. The flurried activity in the kitchen came to halt as she lowered her wand, and took a few hesitant steps in his direction.
"Harry calm down." She demanded. "I can barely understand you."
Harry took a deep breath, well aware that he was letting his anger and shock get the better of him. After a few more gulps of cool air, his head seemed to clear enough to at least get his point across.
"Mrs. Lloyd says that she's seen Snape in the cemetery, at my parent's graves." Harry said, his chest tightening with every word. "We think he left these."
He thrust the wilting flowers forward for Hermione to examine. She gingerly took them from him, staring down at them almost as if she expected them to attack her.
"I know it sounds insane." Harry said in a small voice. "You must think I've finally snapped."
"No, its not that." Hermione replied, her words coming out slow and deliberate. "Just tell me everything that happened."
Harry recounted the entire incident, his heart racing in his chest, while Hermione sank down onto a kitchen chair and listened. Every so often she would nod to let him know she was following, but other than that she made no movement or sound.
"Well?" He said breathlessly, after he had finished.
Hermione stood up again, looking both agitated and confused. Harry knew on instinct that there must be a hundred questions swirling through her mind, and it was only a matter of finding the right one to ask.
"Are you sure that Mrs. Lloyd is a dependable witness?" Hermione asked at last. "Every time she sees me she calls me Henrietta, and she thinks the Minister of Magic is still Dorista Flenblatt, and she went out of office well before our parents were even born..."
"I know." Harry said sharply.
He was angry partly because he had been hoping Hermione wouldn't accuse Mrs. Lloyd of being senile, but he was also angry because he knew it could be true.
"I'm positive she knows what she's talking about." He insisted harshly, trying to ignore Hermione's concerned expression. "And if you're not going to help me find Snape I'll just have to do it alone."
Hermione sighed loudly, glaring at him as if to tell him he really ought to know better. He knew she expected him to feel guilty or sheepish at least, and that was making him even more upset.
"Honestly." Hermione said, followed by a puff of breath. "I am trying to help you. I'm just going about it a little more rationally, that's all."
"I brought down Voldemort without your help, remember." Harry hissed, this new tidal wave of emotions washing over him. "In fact, I'd rather that you kept out of it!"
"You're the one that came to me!" Hermione shouted back.
She rarely lost her temper, and Harry knew he must have really upset her. Though at the moment, he didn't care very much. He wasn't sure what reaction he had expected from Hermione, but with so many doubts plaguing his own mind, the didn't want to be faced with her's as well.
"Where's Ron?" Harry demanded, staring at her like a petulant child.
"He isn't here." She hissed back. "And he's just going to say the same thing to you anyway..."
Perhaps it was the reminder of Snape, and all that he had done to destroy Harry's world. Maybe it was the shock of finally having a clue to where Snape might be, but feeling powerless to act on it. Whatever it was, something was nudging Harry towards the brink of a breakdown.
"Shut up!" He shouted at Hermione, grabbing for the nearest blunt object.
It happened to be an empty ceramic bowl, which he picked up and launched at her head. Hermione ducked just in time, and the bowl shattered against the wall above the sink. Hermione lifted her head, wearing an expression of shock and hurt.
"Harry..." She began, but Harry wasn't about to stay put and listen.
He pushed past her, and out into the garden. Once again he felt breathless, and now guilty as well. He knew he shouldn't have lost his temper, but he felt like he was trapped in a landslide, and everything was coming down on him all at once.
He waited for a few moments, and when Hermione didn't come outside after him, he walked down front path again. A second later he was gone, only a loud pop of air and a sudden breeze reminding the world that he ever been there at all.
---
Harry leaned up against the cracked headstone, struggling to stay awake. It was colder than he expected, and he had nothing but a sweatshirt and his invisibility cloak to protect him from the night air. Back in his cottage he had a warm fire burning in the hearth, and the promise of sleep seemed so inviting he could barely resist, but Harry was determined. If Snape should ever make the mistake of coming back here, and Harry wasn't going to let him get away again.
He stared up at the sky, craning his next so he might stay under the safety of his cloak. The moon was nearly full, shining beautifully like a bright silver orb. It made Harry think of Lupin, who would have been at the Burrow tonight. He should have never lost his temper, if only so he could have stayed and spoken to Remus. He would have been able to tell Harry what to do, or at least give him some advice.
In the distance a dog let out a mournful howl, and Harry sunk deeper into his cloak, shivering. He felt so stupid, sitting here in the dark, waiting for someone that would probably never come. Even if Snape did show, Harry didn't have the slightest idea of what he would do. He wasn't going to kill him, though the thought was tempting. He would have to injure or immobilize him, and then what? Bring him to the ministry? Yes, Harry supposed that was the only logical thing to do.
Harry took in a sharp breath as he heard a soft pop, a sound so small he nearly missed it. He struggled to his feet, his wand at the ready. It had to be Snape, who else would be here in the middle of the night? His heart was beating so violently it hurt, and for the first time in what felt like ages, Harry was truly frightened.
His throat went dry when he heard a second, much louder crack of air. A line of pine trees blocked his view of the road, but he knew two people must be there. At least he had the advantage, because they wouldn't be expecting him. They wouldn't even see him.
His feet crunching on the dead leaves underfoot, Harry inched forward as nimbly as he knew how. It Snape wasn't alone, this meant Harry was going to have to strike early and strong. Catch them off guard, and then bring them down.
He lifted his wand, positioning himself so the moment they walked into the graveyard, he would be ready. A moment passed, one that felt as long as an eternity, before two shadows were visible in the moonlight.
Harry lowered his wand at once, because the bushy-haired silhouette that emerged was unmistakable. With a defeated yet relieved sigh, he slipped out of his invisibility cloak, and approached his friends.
Ginny was standing beside Hermione, and odd glimmer sparkling in her eye as Harry approached. Neither girl looked surprised to see him, though they both had a careworn look about them that suggested they had been looking for him for quite some time.
"Hey." Harry said awkwardly, feeling immensely foolish.
He was glad it was dark, because he was sure his cheeks were burning bright red. The knowledge that Ginny had been looking for him only made them redder.
"Hi." Ginny responded, more brightly than he had expected.
Hermione reminded silent, and even in the faint moonlight Harry could tell she had been crying. He felt so guilty that the emotion seemed to suck all the air from his lungs, and he looked away from her and stared at a spot on the ground instead.
"We were really worried about you." Hermione said, her voice cracking. "I've been trying to floo you all night, and we searched your entire house..."
"We bothered that old neighbor of yours." Ginny piped in, though in a much calmer voice. "She was the one that mentioned that you might be up here."
"Which I should have thought of earlier." Hermione continued. "Honestly Harry, were you out here waiting for him? Are you that certain that he was here?"
Harry was torn between being pleased that Ginny had been looking for him, and feeling foolish for being found out in the middle of night in a graveyard like some sort of an idiot. The latter was obviously Hermione's opinion, because she was looking at Harry like he had gone mad.
"Yeah, I know its dumb." Harry confessed. "I was just about to leave and go to bed, but I'm not about to let this die. Tomorrow I'd like to come up with a plan, with your help. If that's alright with you."
Hermione's expression softened, while Ginny nodded enthusiastically at once.
"Of course we'll help you." Hermione said. "We want to see Snape in Azkaban just as badly as you do.
"Even if we didn't, we would still help you." Ginny added in.
Feeling both touched and exhausted, Harry followed Hermione and Ginny down the road home. No one seemed to want to talk, and Harry was content to stare at Ginny's face in the moonlight whenever he was sure she wasn't looking. They parted at his front door, both promising to come back first thing in the morning.
That night Harry dreamed of Ginny bathed in moonlight, and didn't think of Snape at all.