Harry Potter and the Library of Templar
by The Black Quill
Chapter Two:
Silver Guard Number Forty-Eight
Harry was lying on the bottom of a bunk bed, one of the many that lined the rectangular marble room. They were made of a green metal, with numerous initials carved into the poles. The boy was currently throwing a dog tag into the air and catching it. There was no one else in the room, though Harry did not seem to care. As such, no one was around to hear when the tag fell to the floor with a ringing chink.
Sighing, Harry rolled over to pick it up. Instead of returning to his former position, Harry replaced the tag on a chain around his neck. Pushing himself off of the bed, he stood in a fighting stance, lazily running through a pattern. As he went, his moves become sharper, more anger behind them. Finally, a good hour later, Harry collapsed to the ground.
Kilarati and Atonics had come by a few hours ago, to tell him that he was now sixteen. Harry had had little cause to rejoice, sporting a black eye and sprained wrist. It was for this reason that he was alone in the bunk house and not with the rest of his roommates, training.
Harry, sick of himself and the room, went through the door into an entry hall. There was a door across the half-circle room and a set of plain double doors in the center, leading to the girls' bunks and the dining hall respectively. Harry made for the large black-marble doors that were across from the dining hall. Behind them was a long hall way, with doors heavily coated with symbols and magic along both sides. Another set of double doors lay at the end of the long hall.
Going through the third door on the right, Harry smiled slightly.
Harry did not reemerge from behind the door until a few minutes before supper was to be served. He quickly entered the hall and took his spot at his table. A light-haired man with pointed ears and a large build clapped his hands and sat. The rest of the hall soon followed.
"Where were you, Haru?" questioned the bright-eyed boy at his left. "We can't eat until we're all here."
"I know, Sumarr," Harry said calmly. "I've been here just as long as you."
"But you're a human," taunted a dark-skinned boy across from Harry.
"Oh shove it, Mimiru. I can still whip your Elvin butt at swords work." Harry promptly began downing rum cakes.
"So can I, Human," sneered a boy from down the table. Numerous elves around Harry rolled their eyes.
"Honestly, no one cares that Haru's human besides you, Jikno," Nix, a beautiful female elf with long blond locks, griped from Harry's right. Jinko, the elf in question, glared at Nix.
"You should care. Haru isn't even his real name. Why should a human be blessed with an Elvin name? Why should he be allowed to be among us elves and train under our customs? No humans deserve such an honor." Harry pretended to tune out Jinko's tirade, but his grip was tightening on his fork. An anger churned inside of him.
"Besides," Jinko continued, "Human over here, what makes him so different from any others of his kind. I mean, sure, he's got magic, but there are other human wizards. There's nothing special about a skinny, messy-haired freak." The serpent stirred inside Harry. His anger was replaced quickly by alarm. It had been a long time since he had felt Voldemort inside of him.
"Your lack of an expansive vocabulary astounds me, you whelp," Nix said breezily. Harry smiled slightly, his friend's voice calming him.
"And I'll bet Haru here is mighty special," Mimiru said, face calm and impassive, but his dark eyes glittering dangerously. Harry snorted, taking a sip of his baribou tea.
"Even the human knows he isn't worthy," Jinko said, smirking at Harry.
"Don't listen to him Haru," said a mildly good-tempered elf across the table from Harry. Well, as good-tempered as warrior elves come. "Jinko only came because he tormented some people so much that they got angry. He had no where else to go." Jinko snarled at Riyajin.
"Thanks, Riya," Harry said.
"What is your human name?" asked Sumarr with interest slightly muffled by the bread in his mouth.
"Harry Potter," he replied, a bit uncertain if revealing his name was a good idea.
"Harry," Nix repeated. She thought for a minute, repeating his name again and again. It sounded odd in her Elvish accent, but then, Harry supposed, a few months ago, his Elvish had sounded odd with his English accent. It would take them all time. "Zemar i'yu. I like it."
This was why Harry liked Nix so much. She was decisive, in a way that Hermione wasn't. If Harry were to draw Nix a human parallel he would probably choose Tonks, though Nix had a grace Tonks did not and Tonks was much wittier. There had been a month when Harry and Nix had been more than friends. Harry decided that Dean was right, and that kissing really was amazing. Especially with an elf as experienced as Nix.
Mimiru was quite reminisce of the Weasley twins, though more serious about learning. Sumarr was unlike anyone Harry knew of. His sarcasm was easily lost. His mind was quite brilliant, though his slightly spiked shell was quick to discourage friendship. There was a darker edge to him. Only Sumarr, once he deemed you alright, was fiercely loyal. You never insulted a friend of his and expected to awaken the next day.
Harry had found, to his utter dismay and annoyance, that Jinko was a lot like Draco Malfoy. And Harry was quickly learning how Hermione must have felt all of the time. Jinko would compare Harry's to the elves constantly, pointing out Harry's human flaws. Snide comments would be uttered constantly.
Riyajin had taken particular offense to Jinko's attitude towards the resident human. Sumarr, Riyajin's second cousin, had confided to Harry that her great-uncle had left the Elvin Realm to live with humans, having fallen in love with one. This had been after the days when the doorway between the two worlds was regulated by the wizards. But he had been half Dwarf Elf, which have the power to become invisible for short durations of time. This was also why Riyajin was shorter than the rest by about an inch, being ¼ Dwarf Elf. Harry had found it amusing that the elves though of someone 5' 6'' as a 'Dwarf,'seeing as that was the average height of a Dwarf Elf.
Harry zipped his bag shut with a grim look upon his face. He ran his fingers of the tags around his neck before leaving the bunks. He fell into step with Nix and Riyajin, who had just come form the female bunks. Together, they found Sumarr and Mimiru talking quietly with Kimpari. The female elf gracefully left eh conversation and moved to find her present suitor, Linamirr.
"You're the first human to complete the training, Haru," Mimiru said, sounding proud.
"He's the only human who's been asked, you barbaric mountain elf," Sumarr said with a snort. Harry ignored the merchant's son, turning to chat with Nix.
In quick time, the trainees in the room were gathered and put into a line. They marched to the end of the hallway, bags and bows slung on their shoulders, swords and daggers in their belts, spears and staffs in their hands. Harry's heart thudded painfully as they opened the grand doors. Light spilled into the hall, and they began their proud walk from the building.
It was strange, Harry mused, that only a month had passed in this place. Their training had gone on much longer. He had thought it would never end. He had little time to speculate on this as they dropped their gear and took their stations. It was time that they show the watchers what they had learned.
The High Elf sat in an elegant chair in the front of what looked like a pasture. Two heralds stood on each side, between the High Elf and the Lord and Lady Elf to his left, the High Fighter and High Magician to his right. Looking at them made Harry's palms sweat. In hopes of calming his nerves, Harry ran through Elvish etiquette in his head.
"We present to you," began Captain Amutai, "the new Silver Guards. Before they apply to the Royal Guard Force, they have been brought to show you their skills, High Elf Yitariyu."
"Let the exhibition begin, Captain Amutai," the High Elf said with a nod. The captain bowed, his eyes dancing with slight malice.
"First, the horse trials." Captain Amutai moved to the platform with the other high-ranking elves as the heralds began their introductions. Harry waited with a restless mind, performing most of his trials on auto-pilot, knowing he should have paid attention. But no one expected the human to do well anyways. Best not to disappoint them.
"The sword trials, my liege," Amutai rose to announce. The herald in red walked to the center of the ring.
"Lord and Lady Elf, you come to see greatness, and here you shall see it!" he cried, arms flinging out. "High Fighter Kilarati for you will be astounded with this elf's abilities. From the shores of Ir'ettep, Son of the Fisher Jutarilyo and the Cook Kimitar, I bring you the amazing, the astounding, Ki Jinkonian Uteletep, Silver Guard number 24." Harry sighed as Jinko strolled onto the field, his tags catching in Rai's light.
The herald in blue now stood. "You all are drawn here today, to see the greatest of all the Silver Guards. The human! For he has journeyed from the mystic land of Little Whining to show you a true fight. The strong and gallant Silver Guard number 48, Son of the Unspeakable James and the Cryptologist Lillyan, the brave Ki Harry 'Haru' Potter."
Taking a deep breath Harry jumped over the fence and walked briskly to the center of the ring. Jinko smirked at him, and then bowed slightly. Harry, eyes focused on his opponent's hair, bowed as well. Slowly they rose and locked swords. After a five count, they swung apart gracefully, circling once before taking their preferred starting stances. A ripple of magic went through the ring, Captain Amutai's signal to begin.
Harry waited patiently, knowing that Jinko would strike first. Soon, the elf did so. Easily Harry blocked. Jinko continued his attack, the paces speeding up with each blow. Harry responded with blocks, letting Jinko fall into a rhythm. Carefully watching his opponent's stance, Harry found his opening and struck.
The blunt practice blade struck Jinko with force, sending him to the ground. Harry moved to attack again as the elf rolled back to a crouch. Now Harry delivered the blows, leaving Jinko to block. Wary not to fall into a pattern, Harry kept on his assault, working to tire out his fellow Silver Guard.
Jikno suddenly dropped to a sweep kick, hoping to make Harry fall to the ground. Harry jumped, just barely missing the kick. He responded with a foot in the back as Jinko tried to turn back around. Flipping over the elf on the ground, Harry pointed his blade at Jinko's throat. The other's own sword lay on the ground next to his hand.
"The winner if Silver Guard 48, by kill point and disarm." Harry sheathed his sword and bowed politely to Jinko, before exiting the rink, ready to watch his friends.
Dusk had fallen as the sword trials ended. Harry waited patiently for Kilarati and Atonics. The exhibition would continue the next day, with Harry's favorite events: daggers and unarmed combat, in which his size was immensely helpful. His guardian elves were soon able to break away from their friends and accompanied him to their tents.
"So, Haru, how does it feel to be a member of the Silver Guard?" asked Kilarati. Harry shrugged as he started some tea over the fire outside the two tents.
"I dunno. But I wish you'd just call me-" Harry was cut short as two small form darted out of Kilarati's tent.
"Harry!" cried one. The two young elves jumped on him, causing him to fall back in the dirt. Harry laughed, pushing the twins off.
"It's nice to see you too, Mitra, Liara." The girls smiled at him. "You realize it's only been a few days for you since you've seen me last." Mitra rolled her eyes as her sister put her hands on her hips.
"It's been months for you, dung-brain," Liara said in exasperation. "You needed a nice welcome back."
"Of course," Harry said obligingly, smiling as he returned to the tea.
"Mitra, Liara, would you two go find Lord Riyu'lin and tell him that your father and I will be bringing Harry with us to dinner?" Kilarati asked, smiling charmingly at her nieces.
"We know you just want to talk about things without us, Var Kilarati," Mitra said, skipping along and pulling a scowling Liara with her.
"How well they understand things," Atonics said with a smile. He sat down upon a rock, leaning his black staff across his knees. Kilarati snorted.
"We know they got that from Aeo'Marr." The two siblings began bickering. Harry shook his head, pouring the tea into five cups.
"Here," he said, interrupting their taunts. The two gave half-bows in thanks. "Diumaj."
"Harry," Atonics said seriously. Harry nodded at him, quickly constructing silence wards while Atonics put up alarms. "We have finally figured out why that portal opened." Harry felt his stomach drop.
"And if I choose not to know?" Harry asked. Kilarati avoided his eyes.
"You must know," Atonics whispered. Harry braced himself, giving the elves before him a nod in response to the offered small flask. Pouring a good amount of the whisky into his tea, Harry downed the cup, whipping his mouth.
It was midnight. There was silence all around Harry. He hugged Atonics and Kilarati tightly. Nix, Mimiru, Sumarr, and Riyajin were next. The girls each placed a kiss on his cheek, whipping unabashed tears from their eyes. Harry smiled softly.
"No need to be so upset. You're only a portal away. We'll see each other again," Atonics told the teenagers in front of him.
"Atonics, they're good friends. And they haven't been apart for more than a day since they met," Kilarati snapped. Harry tuned the older twins out, prying Liara and Mitra off of his legs so he was able to say good-bye.
"You two'll have to make sure that Kilara and Atonics don't kill each other. Can you do that for me?" The girls nodded, eyes full of tears. "Don't cry. I promise to bring you to Hogwarts soon, alright? Besides, you guys have your tenth birthday tomorrow. Your first decade! And there's a present for each of you in the house."
"Of course there is," Sumarr muttered. Nix elbowed him, which led to his scowling darkly at her. The others paid them no mind.
"You'll give Jinko hell for me, right?" Mimiru grinned wickedly.
"On your bidding," he said, bowing for good measure. Harry rolled his eyes.
"I suppose its up to you then, to watch Mimiru, Riyajin. Nix is going to have her hands full with Sumarr," Harry said, face quite serious. Riyajin smiled softly, eyes twinkling.
"Of course." She, too, bowed.
Harry nodded and moved towards the portal, scooping up his packs on the way. He paused, grasping the silver frame. "I'll miss you all." Without turning and without waiting for a response, Harry walked through the portal.
It was midnight in Little Whining and there was no one about. No one to see the portal that appeared in the broken park or the teenage boy that emerged from it minutes later. Harry glanced around, pleased to find that the town was the same as ever. For only those unusual people up to no good would be about at this time of night.
He withdrew something from his bag. Only it appeared to be nothing. As he pulled this invisible object around himself, he, too, vanished. Harry shuddered as he looked down. He could just barely make out his legs through the magic. He felt as if he were doused in water, which, of course, was the concept of the Elvish cloak.
It was not long before he was at the back door of number four. He removed a visible object from his bag this time. It was clearly a set of lock picks. Muttering about the insanity of underage wizarding laws, Harry made quick work of the lock. Knowing that the Order (let alone the Ministry) was bound to have guards watching and protecting the house, he looked around for a distraction.
It was as he did this that he felt the hairs on the back of his neck prickle. He turned, trying to spot someone. Looking down, he found the eyes of a speckled grey cat. Cursing in Elvish (which Kilarati would have boxed him for), Harry watched in desperation as the cat scurried away. Atonics had warned him that the cloak would not work on felines and owls. They were able to see through the water façade.
Harry had no time to find a solution to his new predicament as a soft crack announced the arrival of a wizard. Turning silently, Harry saw that it was Tonks. Her eyes were alert. Harry had never seen her look quite so dangerous. Her body was a bit thinner than he remembered, she appeared fatigued. It had only been seven weeks.
"Who's there?" she whispered harshly. "I'm an Auror low on sleep, you do not want to mess with me. Harry Potter isn't here. What the hell do you want?" Harry stayed silent and made no movement, careful to keep a steady breathing pattern. His palms were sweaty and his breathing became hitched as she moved closer.
Tonks eyes the area he was standing in wearily. Raising her wand, she glared about two inched from where Harry was. "Accio, invisibility cloak!"
Harry smiled. His cloak was a concealing cloak. Since Tonks was expecting a silvery wizard's invisibility cloak, the concealing cloak would not come to her. But Harry watched in amusement as his father's cloak zoomed down from his bedroom window. Tonks truly was powerful.
"Right then. Keiko, you really can be a pain." The fluffy cat meowed indignantly. "Don't give me the wounded Kneazle act." Tonks quickly apparated away. Keiko, the cat, turned her gaze back to Harry and cocked her head. He smiled sweetly before pulling an Elvish firework from his pocket.
"Right then," he whispered. "You'd better turn away Keiko. You won't like this." And with that, Harry hurled the firecracker, watching it land in the neighbor's yard, gong off in a silent shower of blinding gold and blue sparks.
A crack once again sounded. This time it was a Ministry wizard, closely followed by Tonks. Harry watched as they crept to the other yard. Not about to miss his chance, Harry darted through the door, quietly opening and closing it. Careful to lock it again, Harry moved to the stairs. Avoiding the creaking step, he moved up to his room.
Wary of Order members camping out there (he wouldn't put it past them), Harry slowly peeked inside. His stuff was piled on top of his bed. The loose floor board was askew, thanks to Tonks's summoning charm. But the cloak now lay on the floor, apart from the rest, so Harry was confident they hadn't found it.
Smiling, Harry pulled off the concealing cloak and picked up the invisibility cloak. Pulling his bags off, Harry opened one leather sack to reveal a rather small trunk. He placed the two cloaks inside and locked it. Tracing a rune on the cover, it shrunk and Harry set it in his school trunk.
Opening the other two bags, Harry shuffled through the clothes until he located a green shirt that looked relatively normal. The pants inside were mainly all old-fashioned, as was Elvish style. But there were three pairs of jeans shoved in the bottom of one, which Harry pulled out. Selecting the black pair, he put them on along with the green shirt, throwing the training clothes he'd been wearing back into the bag.
Placing them in his trunk next, Harry concealed the two beneath his other clothes and books, making sure you could not see them or the shrunken trunk. Satisfied, Harry sat on his floor, leaning against the wall under his window, slightly sideways on his mattress.
He awoke from a three hour doze rather abruptly. Shaking his head (it was only four thirty in the morning), Harry stood and stretched. He made his way silently into the kitchen downstairs. Opening the fridge, Harry selected a bottle of milk and poured himself a tall glass. He missed cow's milk. He proceeded to cut up a cantaloupe and mix together pancake batter.
It was around six when the Dursleys finally came down the stairs, having heard movement in the kitchen. Harry had long since given up caution. He was on his fourth glass of milk and had eaten two cantaloupes. There was a heaping plate of bacon in the oven, along with towering piles of blueberry, plain, and chocolate chip pancakes on three different plates.
"Potter!" Uncle Vernon was the first to speak to Harry, after the family had gaped at him for a good five minutes.
"I woke up early," Harry gave him a charming smile. "I figured I should make us all breakfast." Dudley, it seemed, was not about to refuse the offer of such appealing food. Pity, Harry thought, were I an imposter trying to poison them, my job would be only too easy. As it is…
"Where the ruddy hell had you been boy?" growled Vernon. Harry gave him a puzzled stare.
"I was in my room, of course. Honestly Uncle Vernon, are you feeling quite right? You all appear to have seen a ghost for the first time. I mean really, Nearly-Headless Nick hasn't been wandering from the castle, has he?" Harry found delight in the scandalized look his uncle gave him. Aunt Petunia settled for a withering glare.
"You have been gone all summer," Aunt Petunia said tightly. "And your friends have been poking around as well. What have you done now?" Once again, Harry made quite the perplexed face.
"I thought I must have slept a few extra days, I feel a bit disoriented. But I haven't been asleep all summer, have I? Did I miss the train to school? What am I supposed to do?" Harry sounded in a right panic now.
"Asleep! What is the meaning of this," Aunt Petunia screeched. "Where have you been?" Harry blinked, face contorted in annoyance and bewilderment.
"How on earth am I supposed to know?" snapped Harry, glaring at his aunt. "I just woke up this morning a bit early. And you're telling me that I've been gone all summer! I don't what you expect me to do. I've got to go send a letter to school, so I can get back there for the rest of the term."
"Don't be stupid, boy," Uncle Vernon said, blocking Harry's exit. "You haven't missed the train to your blasted school. You still have five days of break left."
"Oh," was all Harry said. He turned back to the oven and pulled the bacon out.
"You mean to tell us," Uncle Vernon said heatedly, apparently deciding their discussion was not over, despite Harry's obvious disinterest. "That you have no idea where you've been for the past six weeks?" Harry rolled his eyes, setting the food on the table.
"That's what I've been saying." He picked up a few pieces of bacon, munching on them as the Dursleys simply stared at him. "You going to eat any of this? Because I'll feed whatever I don't eat to Hedwig. And I suppose Pig'll want some when he shows up."
"You'll need to tell your friends that you're back," Aunt Petunia said hesitantly.
"Well, I suppose that they'll be wanting to put a guard back on me," Harry admitted. He seemed to be deep in thought. "I'll go check and see if there's any work Mrs. Figg needs done, after breakfast."
Harry didn't wait until the Dursleys had finished. He left as soon as he was full, getting rather uncomfortable with his family's unnerving gazes. A bit apprehensive, and not quite sure that he was entirely sane to be doing this, Harry walked out onto the walkway, casually heading to Mrs. Figg's.
He heard a choking sound on his right, just before he felt himself in a tight grip. Immediately, Harry began struggling against the arms that held him, until he realized that he was being hugged, not attacked. Relaxing only slightly, Harry cleared his throat.
When his supposed attacker backed away, Harry was able to see that it was Remus Lupin. "Er, hello, Professor Lupin," Harry said awkwardly. Lupin hadn't shaved in at least two days. His eyes had dark circles around them, and his clothes were wrinkled. He appeared even thinner than normal, more like when Harry had first met him on the Hogwarts Express in his third year, back before he had had a job.
"Where have you been, Harry?" Lupin asked, his voice scratched with emotion. "Merlin, I was afraid I'd lost you too." And suddenly Harry felt like he would hurl. Lupin had lost Sirius just as Harry had. Then Harry, Lupin's last link to his best friends, had vanished for over six weeks.
"I don't know," Harry said. His throat felt clogged, his stomach twisting with guilt. "I'm really sorry if I've been a bother-"
"Goodness, Harry, I'm just so glad you're all right." And Lupin looked it. He kept running his slightly shaking hand through his hair, and his eyes seemed to shine with relief. "Come on, we'll go up to your room." Harry winced.
"Don't you have to alert Dumbledore or something," Harry asked. Lupin nodded.
"I can do it from your room," he insisted. Something seemed a bit off to Harry, though he wasn't sure what. Forcefully, Lupin steered Harry back to the house. "Mrs. Figg's cats, Lucy and Pepper had kittens while you were gone." Harry gave Lupin a strange look.
"Umm, Mrs. Figg doesn't have cats name Lucy and Pepper," he said cautiously, unsure as to if Lupin had gone mad. Lupin looked at him, confused. "She's got a Luigi and, uh, Piper…." Lupin scratched his head, then smiled.
"Of course," he said. "How silly of me. I haven't been getting a lot of sleep the last few weeks." They opened the door and started in. Unfortunately, Uncle Vernon had decided that it was time to leave for work and was just entering the hallway.
He stopped dead in his tracks, his face going a fascinating shade of red, outrage clear on his face. "Who are you?" Vernon asked in a dead whisper, as if he thought the neighbors had surveillance in the house. This, of course, was entirely plausible, in Harry's opinion.
"Uncle Vernon, this is Prof-" But Lupin cut Harry off.
"I'm Remus Lupin, one of James and Lily's best friends." Harry rubbed his slightly sweating palms on his pants. Uncle Vernon said nothing, only glared at Harry.
"Pleasure," he ground out, pushing past the wizard and walking out of the door. Harry stared after him until Lupin tugged on his arm, pulling Harry towards the stairs. Shaking his head and giving his former professor an odd look, Harry led Lupin up to his room.
Sinking onto his mattress, Harry grabbed some Berttie Bott's Every Flavor Beans. "Want some?" he offered to Lupin. Politely, the older man declined.
"I've been wondering, Harry," Lupin said, sitting next to him. "Why do you keep all of these broken toys? Every one of them is useless. Except the books, which appear to be untouched. Severus was quite a headache when Dumbledore brought him over." Harry snorted at the thought.
"They aren't mine," Harry said casually, biting into the corner of a off-green colored bean. He made a face, throwing the bean into the rubbish bin. "I think that was elephant pie." Lupin grinned.
"I had one of those once," he reminisced. "And what do you mean, they're your cousins?"
Harry shrugged. "Just what I said. This used to be Dudley's second bedroom, where he put all of his broken toys. I never bothered doing anything with them. I'm only here for the summers. Usually less, since I get to visit Ron, or I get myself in trouble."
"Then where did you used to sleep?" Lupin asked, thoroughly perplexed. Harry shifted uncomfortably.
"In my cupboard," Harry mumbled. Lupin's brow furrowed.
"What was that?"
"In my cupboard," Harry said, slightly louder. For some reason, everyone seemed appalled when they found out that little bit of information.
"Your cupboard," Lupin said carefully. Harry nodded, popping a cherry ice bean into his mouth. "You have a cupboard? Where?"
"Under the stairs. Look, I really think you should tell Dumbledore I'm back. In case, you know, people are looking or something." Harry had definitely had enough conversation about his cupboard.
Lupin shook his head. "Oh yes, of course. Sorry, I'd forgotten about alerting Albus after you passed the test."
"What test?" asked Harry, confused. Lupin smiled at him.
"About Mrs. Figg's cats, the way you acted around your uncle, and your response about the toys."
"You guys knew about the toys?" Harry asked, amazed.
"No," Lupin shook his head as he moved to Harry's desk. "But you answered without hesitation. Like yourself. There was an imposter, someone who claimed to be you, about three weeks ago. We could tell right away, of course. It was just some Ministry kid, who had overheard his father and mother talking about office matters, when he should have been in bed. He'd used his father's wand. Only ten years old, and he managed a pretty good bit of magic. Thought he'd like to try being famous. I believe he's grounded until he starts Hogwarts next year."
Harry, wondering why anyone would pretend to be him, smiled slightly, shaking his head. Lupin pulled out a parchment from his robes and, using Harry's quill, quickly wrote a message on it. Pulling out his wand, Lupin tapped it, murmuring an incantation too low for Harry to catch.
"All done. I told him I'd interrogate you; get all the information I could." Lupin winked, and Harry couldn't help but smile. "Now then, a medical check is in order, I think. The Ministry will be coming eventually. They only have guards here at night, the lazy wankers."
Standing obligingly, Harry waited patiently as Lupin did an immediate check. Finding Harry had a bruise on his shin, Lupin searched his sleeves for bruise balm. ("Charmed to hold a great deal of things, Harry, for when you showed up. You may have been a pile of blood.") After this, Lupin declared him in perfect health.
"Better than before, actually," Lupin said interestedly. "You look like you've been eating decent, maybe working out." Harry blushed and squirmed under Lupin's gaze. Shaking his head, Lupin turned to gaze out the window. "We really were worried. I thought Death Eaters had gotten you. I made Severus go bonkers he had to tell me so many times that Voldemort was furious at your disappearance."
Harry sighed, laying out across his mattress. Lupin ran his fingers absently over the sill of the open window. Leaning out, he took a deep breath, waving at what Harry suspected a passerby on the street. Turning to face Harry, Lupin leaned on the sill, scrutinizing Harry again.
"So, you don't remember anything." Harry shook his head. As Lupin had checked his health, Harry had told him that he felt like he had slept a few days in a row, but didn't know where he'd been.
Once again, Lupin turned out of the window. Leaning so far over, Harry was afraid he may fall, Lupin peered down, sniffing at the air. "What is it?" asked Harry.
"I could have sworn I smelt blood there for a minute," Lupin said, confused. Harry shrugged. "What is this?" Lupin's hand was still outside, running along the outside wall of the house. Harry watched as Lupin felt the two sides, then the top. "Harry, there's a series of holes along this window."
Harry scratched his head, as if trying to remember why there would be. "Oh," he said. Lupin looked at him, questioning. "There used to be bars on the window." Lupin blinked.
"Why?" Harry shrugged in response.
"You want something to eat? I'll bet that there's still some breakfast. I made a lot," Harry said. Without waiting for an answer, Harry left the room and made for the kitchen.
Dudley had left, and though Harry expected that Aunt Petunia would have also been gone, leaving the dishes for Harry, she still stood there, slowly washing a plate. Looking up as he entered, Petunia focused her gaze on her task again.
"Oh, hi, Aunt Petunia. Um, just came to get more breakfast." Harry piled a few pieces of bacon and some of each pancakes onto a plate.
"Harry," Lupin said softly from the doorway. Turning with a bit of apprehension, Harry looked at Lupin. "Set it down." Doing as asked, Harry put the plate on the table. "Hello, Petunia."
Harry's aunt had frozen in her chore. "Remus," she acknowledged, not looking up.
"How have you been?" Lupin asked. Harry decided he really didn't like being out of the loop.
"Did you come to talk to Aunt Petunia and Uncle Vernon after I vanished?" asked Harry, looking at Lupin.
"No," Aunt Petunia said softly. That, Harry supposed, made sense. Uncle Vernon would have known who he was.
"So, when, exactly, did you meet? I mean, obviously you saw each other at King's Cross, but…."
"I went to visit Lily," Remus said, still watching Aunt Petunia, a thoughtful look on his face. "Before seventh year. Petunia was visiting her parents. It was, what, three months to the wedding, Petunia?"
Aunt Petunia nodded, setting the plate down in the sink and finally turning around. "Vernon was at a conference in Italy."
"Ah, yes, now I remember. That's why Lily insisted I wait to visit," Lupin agreed. "James was furious she wouldn't let him come."
"Is there something you wanted, Remus?" Aunt Petunia asked, her voice flat. Lupin surveyed her.
"Where's your linen closet?" he asked. Aunt Petunia started. Harry moved closer to Lupin.
"Under the stairs, but-" Lupin didn't wait. He turned and walked to the small cupboard, eyeing the lock on it with interest. Harry winced from the doorway.
"A lock on your linens, Petunia? A bit paranoid?" Lupin opened the door, standing back so all three could see the empty space. "There's nothing in here, but a broom and dustpan."
"I tried to tell you," Aunt Petunia said, mouth so thin that Harry was eerily reminded of Professor McGonagall. "We keep the linens in the bathroom." Lupin nodded.
"Well then, I'll just be finishing up with Harry. The Ministry should be here soon. Wouldn't want to intrude upon their time." Lupin smiled at Petunia, who had turned rather pale.
"The Ministry of Magic?" she asked, terrified. Lupin nodded.
"Of course. Harry's a very important person. They'll want to know what's happened. Albus already sent them word," Lupin said. Aunt Petunia back into the kitchen. Lupin gestured for Harry to come closer.
"What?" asked Harry, feeling nervous for some odd reason.
"Your cupboard?" Harry nodded.
Walking inside, he ducked down. Thinking now of how his aunt and uncle could have possibly thought that he'd be able t live in there forever, Harry examined the walls. Finding what he had searched for, Harry smiled. There, ever so small, in place so hard to see, was a child's doodle. Three stick figures, one a woman, on a man, and one a boy. "Mum and Dad," Harry said softly, grinning.
Coming back out and shutting the door, he saw Lupin giving him a strange look. Before Harry could ask him what was wrong, there was a sharp rap on the door.
"Ministry," Harry muttered. "Anyone else would've rung the bloody bell." Lupin snorted, following Harry to the door. Slightly apprehensive, Harry pulled open the door.
"Hello." Harry felt like running repeatedly into a wall. A shiver was dripping down his back. Doing his best to shake it off, Harry stood back.
"Hello, Mr. Diggory," Harry mumbled. "Have you met Professor Lupin before?"
"Not personally, but I've heard a lot about you, Mr. Lupin," Mr. Diggory said, eyes dancing.
"Call me Remus, please," Lupin said smiling. He glanced at Harry as well, as though trying to tell him, without actually doing so, that he, too, was free to use his first name.
"And you may call me Amos, of course," Mr. Diggory said. "And between you and me, Suzana did get what she deserved." Lupin went slightly red, while Mr. Diggory smiled even wider. Curious, Harry almost asked them, but another of the people at the door cleared their throats. "Now then, Remus, Mr. Potter, these are my colleagues, Amunet Alba and Gregos Poole. Madame Bones I believe you are familiar with."
Harry nodded to each, rather uncomfortable under Alba's intent gaze. Poole, however, seemed more interested in Lupin. "Remus Lupin I presume?" he asked, smiling.
"It's been a while Poole," Lupin said, eyeing the man in front of him.
"Not so long, Remus," Poole said. "Remus and I go back quite a ways, don't we?" Lupin shook his head in amusement.
"You were quite the promising Gryffindor," Remus said. "One could not be too careful with you. Us Marauders couldn't be out done."
"Of course you could," Madame Bones said seriously. "You just got lucky." Lupin bestowed a bow on Bones, causing her to smile fondly. "We have business to attend to, however."
Lupin immediately turned serious. "Why don't we let Harry lead you to his room?"
The others followed Harry up the stairs. When they reached the landing, however, Dudley was standing there, looking petrified. His eyes were huge, making him look larger than ever.
"Move Dudley," Harry said softly. Too soft, he knew, for anyone but Remus to hear. But Dudley was staring in fear at the wizards and witches before him.
"Hello, lad," Madame Bones said smiling kindly. Mr. Diggory and Poole looked interested in Dudley, while Alba looked annoyed. "I'm Madame Bones. You must be Harry's cousin." Dudley nodded, unable to speak.
"This is Dudley," Harry said softer than he'd intended to.
"This is Ms. Alba and Mr. Poole," Mr. Diggory introduced. "And I am Mr. Diggory." Recognition flickered in Dudley's eyes.
"Diggory?" Dudley finally choked out. Harry quickly got a feeling of dread.
"Dud was just going to find Piers and the rest of his gang, weren't you?" Harry asked hurriedly. Dudley was still gazing at Mr. Diggory, as if something were just on the tip of his tongue, only he couldn't quite get it.
"Diggory… who…" Dudley looked so thoughtful that the others seemed worried.
"You don't know anyone named Diggory, Dudley," Harry said firmly.
"Wait a minute," Dudley said, looking between Harry and Mr. Diggory. God no, Harry pleaded. "You, last year in your sleep…."
"Yes, Dudley, I slept. Bye then, lovely catching you before you left. Give Polkiss my love." Harry quickly moved to his room before Dudley could say anything else. Thoroughly confused, the others followed.
Pleased to have narrowly avoided disaster, Harry smiled as he held open his door for his company, if you could call it that. Lupin gave him a look that clearly said he would be questioning Harry about the encounter later. Shrugging it off for the moment, Harry shut the door.
Looking around sheepishly, Harry realized he didn't have anywhere for people to sit. "I'm, er, sorry. I never really have company, especially not up here." Mr. Diggory, holding a smashed model plane raised an eyebrow.
"Clearly," he said, smiling at Harry, though it seemed a little forced. Harry flushed.
"It used to be Dudley's room," he mumbled. "Where he kept his broken toys. I'm only here for the summer."
"Yes, you never come home on the holidays," Madame Bones said, eyeing him as though he were a particularly odd cross-bred magical creature.
"I like Hogwarts," was all Harry said.
"Any reason your bed frame is missing?" asked Alba. This time, Harry didn't blush.
"I like being close to the floor, in case I fall off," Harry said easily.
"And at Hogwarts?" asked Poole.
"He has his bed spelled," Lupin said, calmly. Harry smiled at him as the others weren't looking.
"Right, well, we're here for a purpose, aren't we?" Mr. Diggory said.
"Mr. Potter," Madame Bones said. "Where, exactly, have you been the last six weeks or so? Hmmm?" Harry squirmed.
"I'm not quite sure, to be exact, ma'am," Harry mumbled.
"Do you know who you were with?" asked Alba, conjuring a few chairs. Lupin sat next to Harry, politely declining a chair in favor of the mattress.
"I woke up this morning on my floor. My bed had my stuff on it, by the way. I figure you all must have gone through it for clues. Anyways, I felt like I had been asleep for a few days. I thought maybe I had been. After last year and all. I mean the last time I was here, in my mind, was yesterday, to me being the day after school let out," Harry said.
Madame Bones looked thoughtful.
"Harry, who is your godfather?" asked Poole. Lupin stiffened at Harry's side.
"Sirius Black," Harry said, slightly confused. "What does that have to do with anything?"
"The Ministry holds the theory that you were kidnapped by Sirius Black," Lupin said through gritted teeth. "This, however, as you know, is not a possibility."
Harry looked at the Ministry officials in his room. A little over a year ago, before Voldemort's rebirth, Harry would have thought this impossible. Even afterwards it would be absurd. Here, on Privet Drive, was Harry's first life. The time he spent with wizards was a second life. It used to be completely separate from the Dursleys. Suddenly his worlds were crashing together with full force.
"Sirius Black couldn't have kidnapped me," Harry whispered. The Ministry workers looked uncomfortable.
"Mr. Potter," Poole said, "Minister Fudge has told us of your personal views on Black, but that does not mean we can rule out that possibility. It is the most logical theory."
"If, as you say, Sirius were Voldemort's servant," Harry purposefully ignored the flinches of Poole and Alba, "and Sirius had kidnapped me, I obviously would have been given to Voldemort. And then I would be dead. Besides which, Fudge didn't believe me about Voldemort, now did he. And which one of us was right? Why on earth would I defend Sirius if he had sold my parents to Voldemort?" Harry's hands were clutching his sheets. He wasn't sure whether he should tell them of Sirius's death, but as Lupin said nothing, Harry chose to remain silent.
Madame Bones had a rather knowing twinkle in her eyes, while Mr. Diggory seemed impassive. Poole and Alba looked a bit unsure.
"Right, well," Mr. Diggory said after a few moments of silence. "How did you come to be at the Ministry last spring?" Harry swallowed hard.
"What does any of this have to do with my summer?" Harry had certainly not been prepared for this. "Or are you just trying to get me sent to the psych ward at St. Mungo's?"
"Harry," Lupin berated quietly.
"Mr. Potter, the Ministry has a lot of time to cover with you," Poole said. "After the, uh, the Third Task." Mr. Diggory flinched, though Harry stared impassively at Poole. "We did not believe in your story of events. A s such, the Ministry is low on information concerning you. We have a year to catch up on." Harry snorted.
"I'm not exactly old chums with the Ministry," Harry said coldly. Poole rubbed his forehead.
"Answer the question, Mr. Potter," Alba said gently but sternly.
"This." Harry tapped his scar.
"How does that help us?" asked Alba sharply. Harry shrugged.
"It's the only answer I can give you. Unless you're talking about our mode of transportation," Harry added thoughtfully.
"And your mode of transportation?" asked Mr. Diggory.
"The Hogwarts thestral," Harry said quietly. "I could see them, and we learned about them in Care of Magical Creatures. Though I'm sure Umbridge told you about that lesson, as she was there. Luna and Neville, they could see them as well. Hermione, Ron, and Ginny were riding on air, to their own appearances. They really were quite helpful. You know, the Ministry should probably try to compensate Hogwarts for Umbridge and her little episodes last year. Especially Hagrid and Trewlawny. That toad really was horrid to them."
"Let's focus, shall we?" Madame Bones said, eyebrows raised. But Harry could have sworn she winked at him. Suddenly she let out a shriek.
"What?" asked Harry quickly, pulling his wand from his pocket.
"Goodness, sorry to have startled you. I could have sworn I saw a cockroach or a beetle or something," Madame Bones said, hand on her heart.
"Not likely in this house. Just don't mention anything to Aunt Petunia. She'll tuen me into her personal exterminator," Harry said. Alba cleared her throat.
"I thought we were going to focus?"
The day went on like this, Harry carefully answering questions about the last year at school. He was sure that Mr. Diggory's trip to the lavatory during the questions about the DA was so that he could laugh. Harry refused to say anything, simply stating we wasn't about to be hit by Hermione's hexed parchment. Lupin looked impressed, obviously having not heard that bit of the story before.
It was around four when a door slamming signaled Uncle Vernon's return from work. "Boy!" Harry sighed heavily. "Potter, get down here!"
"Just a moment please," Harry said politely. He strode quickly to the door, hurrying down the steps. "Yes, Uncle Vernon?"
"Have you gotten rid of that blasted friend of yours? When are they coming to take you to those red heads?"
"Actually, Uncle Vernon-" But Harry was cut short with the clearing of Madame Bones's throat.
"Mr. Dursley, I'm Madame Bones, head of Magical Law Enforcement at the Ministry of Magic," she said formally.
"What's the boy done this time?" asked Vernon, shooting a glare at Harry. Harry said nothing.
"I thought you may like to know that he will be receiving a special acknowledgement, along with five of his friends, for their outstanding bravery in defending the entire world against the Dark Lord. You should be very proud," Madame Bones said. She grasped Harry's shoulder. "But, unfortunately, we still have a few questions for him."
"We?" Uncle Vernon choked.
"Yes. I'm here with Amos Diggory, of my department, as well as with Gregos Poole, an Unspeakable, and Amunet Alba, who is an Auror. We'll only be about an hour more." Madame Bones carefully steered Harry back to his room, leaving Uncle Vernon standing there sputtering.