Chapter 3 - Hedwig and the Scar

Harry was unable to speak for a moment. He was puzzled by their behaviour. He wondered what was so unnerving about his seemingly innocent query.

"Hey, where are your things?" asked Billy when he noticed he did not bring anything with him.

"Oh, I left it at the van. I'll get them." said Harry hastily. He immediately ran to the van and returned his muggle traveller's bag to its normal size. He looked up to the sky and wondered where Hedwig was at the moment. He needed to send a letter to his friends so that they won't be worried. Also, he needed to send Hedwig to people who could take care of him while he was away but the owl was nowhere to be found. Sighing heavily, he made his way back to the apartment.

"What the hell do you think you're doing? What if he finds out?" whispered Matt angrily.

Harry nervously pressed his ears to the door. 'Are they talking about me?' he thought.

"Chill out, dude! He won't find out and if he does, so what? No one would believe him anyway." replied Billy calmly.

"That kid is trouble, I tell you." argued Matt in a hushed tone as if he did not want anyone else to hear their conversation.

"No more trouble that we're already in right now. Besides, what are you so worried about? We could always do you-know-what in case you're right." said Chuck in the same hushed whisper.

Harry became even more puzzled than before if that was possible. What trouble could they be in right now? Drugs? Syndicate? Theft? Murder? But they did not seem like bad people who would resort to those ludicrous activities for any reason.

"Fine. Just don't leave your stuff lying around for everyone to see and make sure he's not here during the delivery time - or better yet, cancel our subscription to be on the safe side." agreed Matt through clenched teeth.

'Delivery?' Harry decided it was now the time for him to make a discreet entrance.

"Err--excuse me. Where could I put my things?"

"Just put it there for now. We're going to make some space in our closet tomorrow." said Billy, smiling gently at him.

Dumbledore was pacing his office worriedly. His usual 'don't worry-everything-is-under-control demeanor was gone. He had just heard from Lupin and Tonks about Harry's disappearance and he was not taking the news very well.

"Remus, are you quite sure there has not been any attack at the restaurant?" he asked Lupin once more.

"Yes, professor. We already questioned the Dursleys and they reiterated in a rather antagonistic manner that there had been no untoward incident there. Also, they said that Harry had his wand with him and we all know he would have put a good fight if anyone tried to abduct him from inside the bathroom." said Lupin with the same concerned tone.

"Then that could only mean one thing." stated the Headmaster with an even more weary expression.

"And what is that, Professor?" asked Tonks softly.

"It meant that Harry left of his own accord." he declared grimly. "I have a feeling that what happened last year was too much for him. It just never occurred to me that he would choose to run away from all these."

"R-run away?" croaked Tonks in disbelief. "But that is very dangerous!"

"So what are we to do now? We can't just let him do that." said Lupin in panic. "He's quite unprotected!"

"No, I'm going to send our best spy to find out where he is and we'll see if we can persuade him to come back." replied the Headmaster calmly but the customary twinkle in his eyes was gone and there was no humor in his voice.

"NOOOOOO!!! NEVER!!!" yelled Jeric deafeningly, startling his housemates away from their peaceful slumber. "I WOULD NEVER BOW DOWN TO YOU!!!"

Billy violently shook his shoulder to wake him up. "That's the spirit, boy. But could you please make your point in a less hysterical manner?"

"H-huh?"

"Whew! Do you always have nightmares?" asked Billy concernedly. "That's twice in a day already."

"Umm - no, not always. Only when I'm feeling very vulnerable." Jeric admitted grudgingly. He really had to polish his Occlumency skill if he wanted to keep his pretense.

"Mind telling us about them? Maybe we could help." said a very sleepy Chuck. Then his gaze suddenly fell on his forehead. "Hey, what's that on your head?"

"A scar." replied Jeric without elaborating. Must his scar be an issue again?

Billy stared strangely at his scar too. "Where the hell did you get that?"

"Car accident. It killed both of my parents and I got this." He decided to feed them the lie that was forced on him when he was still young.

"Oh, okay. I thought it was something else." said Billy dismissively then he glanced at Chuck's direction. Both men sighed with relief at his reply.

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Severus stared at the Headmaster with utmost incredulity.

"You want ME to tail Potter?!?" he said in a shocked voice.

"Yes, Severus. You're the most efficient spy in the Order and I trust you would be able to find him before Voldemort does." replied the Headmaster evenly.

Snape was flattered by his words of confidence but he was not to be swayed that easily. "It's absurd! Why don't you assign that particular task to Lupin, Professor? I'm very much certain that he would make a better job of it than I can."

"I agree but Lupin won't be that objective in his search since he's personally attached to the boy whereas you, being on a less friendly terms with Harry -- " Snape snorted at that. " -- would be very professional in your approach -- "

"B-but, professor, you know how I feel about the boy. How do you know I won't just hex him to oblivion when I find him?" Snape argued his case vehemently. There was no way that he would risk his life for that arrogant and irreverent brat who never missed an opportunity to make a fool of himself on countless occasions.

"You won't." said Dumbledore in his most calm voice.

"What if he attacks me instead? You know the boy has no qualms in breaking the rules just like his insufferable git of a father!"

"You're being ridiculous, Severus. Harry would never do that."

"Oh, no? What about the time when he hexed me to help his even more insufferable godfather? What about the time when he broke into my office to get some ingredients for his own personal enjoyment? What about the --- ?"

"Ahh, Severus. It has all been explained, remember? Listen, I'm not just doing this for Harry's sake...It's for our world ---"

"NO! Please, not me. Anything else but that." pleaded Snape which was so uncharateristic of him.

But Dumbledore continued as if he had not heard his ranting. "--and there's another reason why I chose you for that mission. Who do you think would Voldemort assign to look for the boy?"

"Me?" Snape pointed one finger to himself, his face contorted with disgust at where the discussion was heading.

"Yes, you, Severus. You are one of Voldemort's most trusted servant. One of his most cunning spies. Of course, he could choose Bellatrix but she is too impulsive. And Lucius still has to recuperate from his last encounter with Harry. So that only leaves you."

Snape looked at the Headmaster as the comprehension dawned on him. Suddenly, his respect for the old man's wisdom was amplified a thousand times. Of course, Voldemort would choose him to look for Potter and then he would be in a position to feed him false information and be available to protect the boy when he finds him. Unfortunately, that thought did not exactly make him jump up and down with exultation.

"All right, I shall do it, professor. But that's only because I have so much regard for you." he sighed heavily and conceded. He would never win anyway but he still did not feel comfortable with the task.

The headmaster gave him a smile that did not quite reach his eyes. "I appreciate your help, Severus. I assume you could set aside your personal grudge against the boy?"

"I will work on it, professor."

"Very well. You may go now."