Chapter 2

Nobody Believes

Harry was lying in a soft bed covered in blankets that seemed to be suffocating him. Well at least that meant he wasn't dead. He didn't open his eyes for a few minutes just to work out if anything hurt.

"Do you think he did that?" He heard Ron's voice and he stiffened. He wanted to hear this conversation.

"I don't know." That was Hermione. "I mean we knew he was pretty beat up about Sirius but I didn't think he was a… well suicidal that's all." She was whispering.

"I know it's so weird, Harry isn't like this." Ron whispered back and Harry decided to intervene here. They thought he had tried to kill himself and he had to set this straight.

"I didn't try to kill myself." He whispered and opened his eyes.

Hermione gasped and Ron moved closer to the bed in his chair.

"Harry…are you okay?" Ron asked worry and weariness was plain on his face.

"I'm fine" He said as he struggled to set up in bed. But when he put his wrists to the bed to push up he cried out in pain. His wrists pulsed with pain and he stared down at them in shock.

Ron and Hermione quickly helped him sit up and he sat back still studying his bandaged wrists.

He glanced up at Ron and Hermione both looking apprehensive and nervous. Hermione though looked quite determined as well

"Harry you cut your wrists." She said quietly.

"No I didn't someone else did. Look it was probably Voldemort…" both of them flinched t the name. "…and he took over my body and made me do it." Harry was getting anxious now, they had to believe him. He wasn't suicidal.

So he proceeded to tell them all that happened just missing out his nightmare and making it sound like a normal nightmare not so real and frightening. Not real.

"I'm going to get Dumbledore." Said Ron and he stood to go but Harry stopped him.

"Ron you do believe me…right." He asked studying Ron's weary eyes.

"I don't know what to believe Harry." Ron turned and left the room closing the door quietly behind him.

Hermione and Harry sat silently. Hermione was studying him and Harry didn't meet her eyes instead staring at the floor and wandering on his thoughts. Harry was glad for the silence he didn't think he could handle a know-it-all speech from Hermione right now.

Harry began studying the room and suddenly found himself unable to breathe. He wasn't… was he? No they wouldn't bring him here.

"Where am I?" He asked Hermione trying to sound normal and not as though he was about to have a panic attack.

"Well Harry…" She looked frightened and Harry knew where he was.

He leapt up ignoring the pain in his arm and shouted at Hermione. "Why the HELL did they bring me here. This is the place I last want to be!"

"Harry look it's safer for you here." She said calmly although she looked anything but it.

"Safer are you kidding me." He began pacing up and down. As soon as Dumbledore comes I am out of here he thought.

The door burst open and in came Madam Pomfrey followed by Dumbledore, Lupin and Mr and Mrs Weasley.

Harry breathed a sigh of relief.

"What are you doing out of bed young man. You have lost a lot of blood I'm surprised you're even awake." Madam Pomfrey instantly began fussing but Harry stopped her.

"Stop" he almost shouted and then turned to the rest if them. "I don't want to be here." He said in a calm voice that he didn't think he possessed.

"Harry its safer for you here." Dumbledore said calmly but without the same twinkle in his eye. Harry noticed that one of his arms was black and dead looking; he ignored it though his curiosity wasn't satisfied.

"NO I don't want to be here. Sirius was a prisoner here and… and I just… no." He couldn't think of anything else to say. Tears were already burning in his eyes and he couldn't trust his voice anymore.

Dumbledore stared deeply into his eyes and Harry met them. Dumbledore's expression was of pain and caring. Obviously Harry's speech had affected him.

"He can stay with us." Piped up Mrs Weasley and Harry's heart rose in warmth for her.

"No" Harry's heart sank. "It's too far from Headquarters." Dumbledore said quietly not taking his eyes of Harry.

"He can stay with me then. I'm only around the corner. And you've already put plenty of charms on it Albus." Lupin spoke quietly and calmly. Harry looked over to Lupin. Their eyes met and Harry sent a silent thank you look.

"That will do fine but Harry." Harry met Dumbledore's eyes again. "You must let Madam Pomfrey look after you."

Harry nodded solemnly and the rest of them left the room.

Madam Pomfrey instantly began fussing over him passing him potions to drink; all of them were disgusting of course. She unwrapped and rewrapped his bandages muttering the whole time of how she wished her patients would just let them be taken care of and how Harry was probably the worst of them all.

Harry ignored her knowing that there would be no point in arguing with her. She was too plain bossy and annoying.

As Madam Pomfrey left so came in Lupin carrying some clothes. "Here put these on. We leave in a minute."

He turned to leave. "Ha Professor Lupin" Lupin turned around. "Thanks."

Lupin smiled and quietly said. "Harry its Remus to you okay." He shut the door quietly behind him and Harry instantly began changing.

When he finished he looked down on himself to see he was wearing one of Dudley's old black t-shirts that was four sizes to big for him and dark blue jeans which thankfully wasn't Dudley's.

He turned around and picked up the last potion on the table. It was an energy one so that he could at least make the walk to Lupin's without collapsing.

He looked around him sighing not looking forward to the uncomfortable good-byes or the uncomfortable greetings of next time he would see everyone. But at least he wouldn't have to be here, stuck in Sirius' final prison. Everywhere he would have gone, Harry knew he would have been filled with memories of Sirius' depressing time here.

Harry sighed before making his way to the door and coming face to face with…

Kreacher.

Harry almost stopped breathing. Rage stronger then he had ever felt filled him and almost blocked his vision. It was almost as bad as it had been against Bellatrix. Just as strong and ready to kill.

Kreacher smiled sickly up at Harry. "Hello masters Godson."

Harry stood as still as possible using every ounce of energy and restraint to not throw himself onto Kreacher. His breathing became shallow and bated and silence filled the hallway.

"Remus" He called softly as Kreacher still smiling sweetly up at him moved closer. He wanted to pummel the disgusting face and bruise it. He wanted Kreacher to feel pain, as much pain as Harry had been put through.

"You believed me sir." Kreacher whispered and Harry's eyes widened. "You believed me and so my master was killed." Kreacher cackled and began walking away.

All restraint that Harry had been focusing on broke and he was soon chasing after Kreacher all exhaustion forgotten. A vase crashed as he hit it running by and soon the picture of Sirius' dear old mum was screeching. But Harry didn't care he wanted to get Kreacher and hurt him, kill him.

Kreacher was running as fast as his short legs would allow him but they were no match for Harry who had practice from running away from Voldemort and his Death Eaters.

He reached out for Kreacher and grabbed the house elves old sweater and was about to pull back his fist to strike the first blow of what he hoped would be many…

Arms were wrapped around his middle and pulled him away. He was lifted into the air kicking and yelling still with a murderous rage in him.

"Ha Ha Harry stop it." Harry turned his head to see it was Hagrid who had to restrain him.

He was quickly put down again and Harry looked around to see that Kreacher had run off when he had the chance.

"You should have let me have him." He spat at Hagrid.

Hagrid looked surprised at Harry's behaviour but retorted with a smile on his face. "And what let you have all the fun."

Harry's hard expression immediately softened. And he instantaneously smiled up at Hagrid who drew him into a suffocating and rib breaking hug.

"I heard what happened" said Hagrid eyes pointing to the bandages on Harry's wrists.

"I didn't do it." Harry quickly replied quietly hoping that maybe Hagrid would believe him. Maybe someone would believe him.

"I never said you did Harry. Its just that someone else can't make you do something like this." Hagrid replied with earnest in his dark eyes.

"I know Hagrid it's just that… I mean do you really think that I would just give up and kill myself." Harry spoke carefully choosing his words and watching Hagrid.

"Well now that you mention it, no I don't think you would. But Harry people do strange things when they lose someone. I would know." Hagrid's eyes were full of tears. Even for his intimidating size and looks Hagrid was really a softy.

That's what Harry loved about Hagrid, that and because Hagrid was his first ever friend.

"Come on before they send out a search party for ya."

"God they would wouldn't they."

They slowly set off for they living room and Harry began to wonder how he hadn't seen how big it was or how far he had run.

They arrived at the living room and so far fortunately for Harry it had been deserted.

They entered the room to find Remus talking earnestly to Dumbledore, Ron and Hermione were playing a game of chess which Harry could see from here that Ron was winning. Mind you he could have known with his eyes closed.

Mrs Weasley was serving everyone triangular sandwiches for afternoon tea and Mr Weasley sat in an armchair reading the Daily Prophet. Professor McGonagall and Snape were having a quiet debate about something, Harry thought, that was probably nothing and they just liked to get at each other for anything.

"Ahh Harry here we are. Come sit down, Remus and I were just discussing your travel arrangements." The twinkle in Dumbledore's eye was back.

From the look on Remus' annoyed face Harry had the feeling it had nothing to do with that and his interfering and curiosity genes kicked in. (Both from his father.) Though he knew he wouldn't get anything from them today.

The room around him suddenly went quiet as everyone realized he was there. Harry almost felt he was a walking death bed from the deathly silence that stayed that way as he walked over and sat next to Remus.

The noise around him slowly rose to its normal level and a bit more as Mr Weasley was joined by Hagrid.

"How are you feeling Harry?" Dumbledore asked.

"Fine." Harry answered shortly and without meeting Dumbledore's twinkling blue eyes.

"Good, good. Remus and I were actually discussing something other then transport."

"Albus." Remus' voice was full of warning. Harry turned and looked at Remus with a puzzled expression. Maybe he was going to find out today after all.

"Harry" he turned and looked back at Dumbledore. "Sirius' has left his house, all his belongings and his money to you."

Harry gasped. He had definitely not been expecting that. He didn't need it anyway; his parents had left him enough money to last him till he finished school and to buy a house with probably too.

And why would he want this house anyway. It had been Sirius' prison and it only served as bad memories for Harry.

"I don't want the house" Harry said quickly just to clear the air.

"Okay but we were hoping that maybe you could lend it to us for use in the Order?" Dumbledore asked pleasantly.

"Yeah sure have it." Harry said his mind on other things. Did that mean he had ownership of Kreacher, because if it did Harry could think of plenty of things of the top of his head he wanted Kreacher to do.

Realizing that Dumbledore and Remus would probably be looking at the funny far away smile on his face he quickly added. "Does this mean that I um own Kreacher?"

Dumbledore's face looked grim for a second but answered. "Yes you do, but Harry I would advise you to order him to never leave this house."

Harry nodded and silence filled the room. Harry suddenly realized that everyone had been listening in on the conversation and when he turned around everyone pretended to be doing something else.

Remus suddenly stood up beside him and said "Come on Harry we better get going before it gets too late."

Harry stood and followed him into the hallway. Dumbledore, Ron and Hermione followed them and they crowded into the hall trying to be as quiet as possible.

"Guys can I talk to you for a sec?" Harry asked Ron and Hermione and pointed to the kitchen. They followed him and he left Remus casting scary looks at Dumbledore.

"I just want to clear the air before I leave okay." They looked at him funnily.

"Harry we believe you." Hermione said quietly.

Harry did a double take at her. "You…you do." He stuttered his heart rose in his throat and he felt stupid as tears filled his eyes. He was being so pathetic.

"Thank god I was starting to think no one would." He beamed at them both and they beamed back.

"So I'll see you guys later ah."

"Yeah sure Harry, we'll send you owls and maybe even visit." Ron said who, fortunately for Harry, hadn't seen the tears or maybe just ignored them for Harry's sake.

"Yeah well as soon as they think I'm sane and not severely depressed they'll let me come back." Ron and Hermione didn't smile at him this time.

"I was only joking." He said quickly.

"Yeah well hopefully we can be back together before our OWLS come then we can share our results in person." Hermione said happily but Ron and Harry just rolled their eyes with each other.

"Okay Harry we'll see ya then mate. We have to go back so I can thrash Hermione at chess." Ron said and Hermione followed suit but with yet another bone breaking hug.

"See ya guys." He said quietly depression suddenly dropping its blankets on him, it had lifted slightly but now it was back.

Harry sighed as Hermione and Ron argued back to the living room, he wondered if he could be as innocent or normal as they were.

Of course not whispered a part of his mind Harry Potter draws trouble to him and trouble his drawn to him.

Harry shook his head and walked back into the hall to a waiting Remus and Dumbledore. He smiled up at them though the smile never touched his eyes.

"I'm ready now," he said with a sigh and pretended to not notice their shared worried looks. Instead Harry walked outside his head bent forward against the rain and to hide from Dumbledore and Remus.

"Bye Harry." Dumbledore's twinkle seemed to be gone and Harry's good-bye was half a wave before turning back and walking down the path past the growing weeds.

He almost began to wish he had died. Almost.