Chapter 19
Unbearable
"I well not take any excuses for not doing the homework..." McGonagall said, as the class gathered their stuff.
"Yes professor" Hermione answered, as she scribbled a note in her book.
They headed towards potions next. "I hope he won't give us any homework" Ron said, as they waited for Snape to arrive, "we already have homework for McGonagall...and we have our homework that we should've done in the weekend".
"Well, you shouldn't have left it undone...I told you to do it" Hermione said. Ron was going to say something in defense, but Snape came to them and opened the door.
"We'll do it early today" Harry said to Ron, but Ron didn't have anything to say.
"Everyone open your books on page 78 and read the instructions on how to brew a sleeping potion" the class started to pull out their books and started work.
"I think that I will do it right" Harry said, "the instructions are clear and right this time"
"They are always clear and right" Hermione said, frowning.
"Yeah...well" Harry pulled his cauldron towards him and started work.
After half an hour of brewing and stirring, he finally got the potion ready, and Snape didn't see it yet, he was too busy shouting at someone else for breaking a cauldron.
"Done" Harry looked at the potion, and Hermione peered inside. "Hey Harry...you actually did it this time" she said, smiling at him. "Yeah I did"
Snape heard the source of talking and he came towards them. "What's going on?"
He peered inside Harry's cauldron and there was a blank expression on his face.
Harry felt good for not doing something wrong this time, and everything was alright, Snape can't take points from Gryffindor.
"well..." he started, but was interrupted by a nock on the door."Enter"
The door swung open, and (to Harry's shock) came Iris. "Hello professor Snape..."
She entered the class, Hermione and Ron looked at Harry, puzzled.
"I'm sorry to interrupt your lesson, but I have a permission to take Mr. Harry Potter to the headmaster" she said, holding a piece of parchment in her hand. "Oh..." Snape looked shocked too.
"Well...let me see that" he took the parchment from her and read it.
After a whole minute, he said, "well, you may go Mr. Potter"
Harry got up quickly and headed after Iris, outside the classroom.
When he closed the door, Iris said, "Harry, I...I don't know...I really didn't know what to do" she said, and Harry was shocked more when he saw tears coming down her cheeks.
"What's going on? Iris are you ok? Is everything alright?"
She covered her face and spoke, "I'm really sorry, I wanted to report this to you as soon as possible, but...but I didn't know what to say" she was sobbing, and her hand became wet.
"Slow down...what is it? Tell me" he said, holding her arms and putting them down, so he could see her face.
"I...I had a letter" she said, between the tears, "I...I had a letter from...someone"
"What? A letter?" Harry was confused, "what letter?"
"I...don't know...but I...I think that I...well, the thing is...I...when we were talking in the hospital...someone must've heard us" she said, and then covered her face once more.
"What?" Harry was so shocked, "what do you mean...when?"
"I...we were talking about...about Dumbledore"
Harry tired to remember, and then it hit him. "Oh no...You mean they knew something..."
"Yes...I don't know them...but they sent me a...a black mail"
Harry looked at her wide eyed, "give it to me" he said, extending his hand.
She entered her shaking hand into her pocket and pulled out a piece of parchment.'
"Here..." Harry took the letter and started to read it.
Dear Iris,
I know that you don't know me, but I know you.
I saw you talking to Harry potter in the hospital wing, and I heard all that you said.
I want you to keep this letter between me and you, and I want you to do something for me.
I know that you might run to someone, thinking that he'll be the hero and help you,
But if you were scared enough about that information I have, you'll know what's best for you.
Anyway, here's what I want:
I know that you're from Durmstrang, so, I want you to go to the yard of your school.
When you're there tomorrow, you'll meet someone, he will guide you to someone.
Don't be scared, the information stays hidden as long as you will do what I ask you.
Just go there and everything will be done.
And remember, you're doing it because you want to keep it a secret.
Don't forget...
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Harry finished reading it, and turned to look at her. "I'm sorry" she said.
"That's ok" he said, holding her tight. "I will never let them come near you"
"But you heard what they said, if we didn't obey them, they will reveal the secret"
"That doesn't matter...I think I know who this person might be"
"Really...well, I think I know...or at least I almost saw someone in the hospital wing that time" she said, remembering.
"Yeah, well...I guess I'll wait for him to get out of the lesson so we could talk about this" Harry said.
"What? Get out of the lesson?" Iris looked puzzled.
"Yes...the person that sent you this letter is inside...and I'll be waiting for him"
"Are you sure?"
"Yes...I'm definitely sure" he said.
After another half an hour, the class was out, Harry hid with Iris behind the wall, as everyone started heading for their next lesson. "There he is" Harry whispered, pointing at Malloy. "That one?" she said, frowning.
Malloy walked passed them alone and headed to their common room.
Harry waited for the corridor to be empty and then he pulled out his wand.
"Petrefecus Totales" he whispered, and Malfoy fell, face down, not moving.
"Come" Harry took Iris's hand and led her to him.
"You" Harry said, stopping and turning Malfoy with his foot, "how dare you?"
Malfoy couldn't move, so Iris didn't see any expression on his face.
"This pathetic letter you sent...do you think that I won't notice?...do you think that I'll be so stupid like you not to know the sender?"
"Well...what do we do now?" Iris asked, looking down at Malfoy.
"I don't really know...we can't let him go, he'll do something else...but what to do"
Then Iris had an idea. "Hey...I got it" she dragged Harry by his hand to the corner and whispered in his ears.
"at Durmstrang, they taught us how to wash the brain from a specific information or event...and I thought that...we...maybe..." she sounded excited. "I think that's a great idea" Harry said, smiling at her.
"Thanks" she said, and then she sat on the floor next to Malfoy and pulled out her wand.
She took a deep breath and said, "Scorgenia".
Nothing happened at first, but then, Malfoy started to move, and he got up on his feet.
"Why is he moving?" Harry asked Iris, "Well, this spell also takes the effect of another spell...so"
"What's going on?" Malfoy said, frowning.
"Nothing..." Iris said, "you just walked into me, and you fell...so...that's it" she smiled.
Malfoy looked at Harry and said, "You...potter...what did you do?" he asked.
"Nothing, I was just walking passed you...when you walked into her...as she said really"
Malfoy was going for his wand, but then seemed to think better of it, instead, he walked pass them, and continued his way towards the common room.
"All I have to say is...well done Iris" Harry said, looking proudly at his sister.
"Oh...that was nothing" she said, laughing.
"Yeah right" they went towards the next lesson (Harry had Defense against the dark arts class) and Iris will go when it ends.
"How did you come here?" Harry asked her, frowning.
"Well, I used the Floo network, and into Dumbledore's office" she said.
"And he was ok with that?" Harry said.
"Yeah...will actually he wasn't in the office at the time...so"
"Yeah"
They entered the class, and Harry saw that professor Deacon has already began the lesson.
"Oh Harry...and...Iris?" he said, frowning at them.
Harry sat down on his seat as Deacon led his daughter into the office.
"What happened?" Hermione asked, frowning.
"Nothing" Harry said, "she just wanted to talk to me about something that's all"
Iris sat next to Harry the whole lesson, they learned a new spell to make the enemy trip and fall on the ground hard.
When the lesson finished, Harry took Iris to the great hall again, and they ate a lot, and talked a lot.
After all this, Harry smiled at Iris, and she smiled back.
Then, to Harry's surprise, her smile faded.
"What's wrong?" Harry asked her, as they headed back to the common room with Ron and Hermione behind them.
"I...Harry, I've been thinking a lot about this...and..." she stopped.
"What? What are you talking about?" Harry was confused.
"I've been thinking a lot about what has been happening in the last couple of weeks, and I..."
"What?...there's nothing happening" Harry said.
"Oh Harry, don't lie to yourself again...what do you call the thing that happened just this morning?"
"Well, everything beside that was fine" he said.
"No Harry...everything beside that was not safe...it was scary...we found a solution for Malfoy's problem, but we..."
Harry was feeling angry now...there's nothing wrong, why does it has to be wrong.
"Is everything alright?" Ron asked them, as he and Hermione both stopped.
"Yeah" iris said, faking a smile, "I just need a small talk with Harry" she said, "oh that's ok" Hermione took Ron's hand and they both entered the common room.
Iris took Harry's hand and led him down. "Where are we going?" Harry asked.
"An empty class...I want to talk to you in a safe place".
They walked until she stopped at the third floor. "Here" she said, entering an empty classroom.
"What is it?" Harry asked, as she closed the door.
"We can't go on like that" she suddenly said.
"What?" Harry said, his face looking blank.
"I said...we can't go on like that" she sat on one of the chairs.
"We're living in a lie" she continued.
"What?...a lie? But this is not a lie...this is true" Harry said, not getting her point.
"this is real...I know...but we're not living this...the fact that we are separated from each other...and I can't come every time I need something...I have to travel all the way from there, just talk to you, or say hi"
"But I thought that we were using the ring to communicate?" Harry said.
"Forget about the ring...this is not what I'm talking about" she said, and then she pulled the ring off her finger very hard, and slammed it on the table next to her.
"You can take it off" Harry said.
"yes...I was the one who made the ring get stuck in your hands...I knew that as soon as you hear that I'm your sister, you'll take it off, and I'll never talk to you again"
Harry wanted to say something, but he couldn't, what she said was true.
"But that doesn't matter...I just can't take it anymore"
"Take what?" Harry asked.
"This...the situation that we're having here...we are hiding from everyone...we are hiding from...everything"
Harry was shocked. "I thought that that didn't matter for you?" he said.
"well...I thought that it's going to be easy and fun to meat my brother and to know him very well...but my whole life has changed in those weeks, I can't take the change...I was just fine before..."
Harry didn't know what to say, "Well, if you think that your life is hell with me, then just say it"
He walked to the door, wanting to leave. "No...Stop" she held his hand and turned him.
"Please don't walk away from me...I don't want to feel guilty for hurting you...please?" she said.
Harry was so angry at what she said, but she looked so disparate and begging him, so he sat on a chair.
"Thank you Harry" she said, sitting next to him.
"Well...I just want to know the end of your speech" he said.
"I just want you to understand that I can't live like that...you are here...and I'm there, this is not possible"
She stopped and then continued.
"I just want you to know that I thought about this a lot, and I made my decision" Harry looked at her quickly.
"What do you mean?" he asked
"I...I want you to know that you are...you are welcomed at my house any time" she said, tears coming down her cheeks.
"What?"
"I just want you to know that...I will always be here...I will always be your sister"
She wiped her tears, "and even if I wasn't here...I'll be in your heart...right?" she said.
"but...you can't go...you can't just leave and not come back again...you're the one who told me not to hide from the truth and to give chances...I gave you your chance...and you took it...you can't go" he said, not believing.
"Harry...please...don't remind me of that...I just want to make sure that you'll be fine after I go"
"But...I'll never be fine...do you know that all those years I didn't really had a real sister...I had friends sure, yeah...but I never had a family...or a member of a family, whom I can relate to...you gave me the joy I missed since...years ago"
Iris couldn't look into Harry's eyes.
"How will you expect me to go on with my life after this"
"You'll go on" she said.
"What makes you so sure?"
"I know Harry...I just...know"
Harry didn't have anymore to say, he couldn't find a single reason, that he could change her choice.
"Don't you see...Voldemort almost knew about us...if he did...then I won't be sitting here"
"But...but...you can't" Harry can't imagine himself going on and forgetting that he had a sister.
"It's impossible...I can't let you go"