Title: Harry Potter and the Summer's Secret
Author: Japhu
Pairing: HPSS
Rating: R
Disclaimer: I own nothing of Harry Potter and his world and don't make any money with it.
Summary: For one week in summer Harry disappears without trace. When he comes back he claims to have no memory. But something happened and it changed him. It remains to be seen if for the better or the worse. (will be HPSS)
Category: action/adventure/angst
Feedback: highly appreciated
Chapter 10 - Questions Asked
Harry closed his eyes. He did not want to think about magic; he did not want to see it surging and reaching towards him. The more people stepped through the barrier the more he had to fight the magic buzzing through him, and every minute it got harder. He stood dazed, trying almost in vain to control the overflow, when he heard a heartfelt cry coming from the direction of the entrance.
"Harry!" Before Harry knew what happened, he had an arm full of Hermione all around him. It was an instant his body grew rigid. He returned her hug hesitatingly, brainwashed under a rapid gunfire of questions. It seemed they had finally seen him.
"Harry, what happened?"
"What do you mean?" Harry asked back, a look of confusion on his face. They could not already know about his run-in with Snape and the Red Robes, could they? The Potions Master had not seemed too fond of their meeting. He would not go around and tell how he had saved the Boy-Who-Lived's life once again.
"Are you alright? We were worried sick! Why didn't you write?" Harry's heart quieted down. She was speaking about his summer. It took the load off his mind. He did not want to tell anyone of the Red Robes – Snape knowing was bad enough.
Harry would have said something, if it were not for his lack of breath due to Hermione's overwhelming clutch; and from near vicinity her magical aura seemed all the more breathtaking and taxing. The color was – well, Harry could not say. He could not possibly pinpoint one color; for one he tried not to look, and for the other Hermione was surrounded by a rainbow of bright, lazily swirling magic. Her strength appeared to be quite a bit above average – no surprise there – but it was a lot more than Harry would have thought. She did not really need the library visits at all.
Harry had to force himself not to stare at her. He had never seen anyone with so much colors – not that he had seen much at all. He wondered what it meant but found himself getting restless in her embrace. At least he had not flinched back when she had descended on him. Harry sighed. Apparently she did not plan to let him go anytime soon, so he patted her comfortingly on her still frizzy haired head and waited for her to come to her senses and back down from her emotional high. He really did not know how to handle people as open as she was in distress. Harry had to grow accustomed to displays of emotions again at first.
Harry felt himself growing restless amidst so much magic. Short of patience he could also feel Hermione's magic reaching out to him; and it gave him goose bumps. Hermione did not know she did it. Everyone he had met until now did things like these unconsciously as far as Harry had observed – except the strange wizards of course. His lips pressed together, Harry tensed his muscles to gently push her back when his rescue came.
"Let him go, Hermione!" Harry turned his head to see Ron coming forward with a big happy grin on his freckled face, shifting the piles of books to get a better hold of them. Ron had had his growth spurt this summer and towered nearly a head taller next to him. Relieved to have gotten help, Harry took a step back and breathed deeply.
"Thanks, Ron. I thought I'd die for lack of oxygen." Harry said lightly and tried not to look too closely at his friend, whose energy blended him in a brilliant blue light with a bit of white flickering at the edges. Harry did not know much about the meaning of the different colors of magical auras, which represented to some degree the inner strength of a wizard's energy core. He certainly knew though – with help of some of Tom's background knowledge – that it was significant in some ways. Any shade of blue indicated exceptional strength and power; the white color left Harry clueless. It had taken Harry by surprise when he had first seen Ron; and it still gave him shudders, because Ron was totally oblivious to what he should be able to do – or be. Ron should not have so many problems in doing simple spells like they were taught in school. Hell, he should not have problems in school at all.
"Yeah mate, I thought so, too." Totally blind to his friend's apprehension, Ron grinned widely. Both of them ignored Hermione's expression of hurt dignity.
"But she's right, you know." Ron looked his best friend up and down solemnly, as if to prove to himself that Harry really was all right. Then Harry found himself in a bone crushing hug again, unable to breath and open mouthed; the books simply shoved back into Hermione's arms. Harry closed his eyes tightly and suppressed his magic as much as he could, because Ron's played wild.
"It's good to have you back, mate," his friend said in a deeper voice than Harry was accustomed to. "Mom's gone crazy with worry." Harry swallowed. He was glad his hands were still hidden in his pockets, for they were balled to white knuckled fists. He really had some difficulties bearing things like too much magic – and hugs, even from his best friends. Harry furrowed his brows. He would figure out their energy levels later, but for now he had to be the Gryffindor they remembered. When Ron let go of him a moment later, taking back the books with an apologetic expression, Harry sized them up skeptically.
"What is it with you two?" Harry asked, as he watched them questioningly. "It's not that bad at the Dursleys." Ron seemed to want to say something, but Hermione shook her head, took Harry's wrist with surprising strength and pulled the reluctant boy behind her with a deep frown.
"We have to do some serious talking, Harry Potter," she admonished and tightened her grip, as if afraid he would disappear on her.
"But Hermione—" Harry tried to throw in a few words of confusion.
"Not here. Wait until we're alone!" Her tone was clip and reminded remotely of their head of house, and Harry's head jerked around. He suddenly remembered the other teacher still lurking around. It was astonishing that both his friends had acted so open, but of course – Harry snorted. Snape was literally lurking. The Potions Master had positioned himself in a shadowed niche. His friends had not seen him. It figured. Snape did those things probably on instinct, observing everything, Harry could tell. His eyes gleamed. Well, Hermione's emphatic demeanor obviously had put Snape to flight. Harry would be sure to remind the bastard in school of this small fact when he was going on about his father. After all, Harry could not just take an insult as the good, little Gryffindor he was.
"Professor Snape? May I go, sir?" Harry asked politely and startled his friends when he turned his attention to the shadows. The redhead let out a yelp when Snape stepped out of his hideout with an ugly sneer in place.
"I'm sure I'm quite safe now, as…" Harry grimaced, "the new DADA teacher is guarding the station." He would tell Ron and Hermione later what ordeal they would possibly have to go through in future DADA lessons.
When Snape started lecturing Harry tuned him out. He simply let it roll by and did not hear one word the Potions Master had to say. He looked up at scowling man with glinting eyes. He knew that he egged him on even more – and enjoyed it immensely, as he was sure that if he had not said anything he would surely have gotten a lesson about appropriate behavior to one's elders. This way Harry got to listen to Snape ranting about why he should care where Harry went, and if he thought himself special to think everything had to involve him in one way or another. What did he wonder? Whatever Harry did, it could not possibly be right and would not get anything but scorn from the Potions Master. Hell if he cared. Without another word Harry turned his back to the man, dismissing him from his mind with a lingering look, which clearly indicated how much Harry gave on the man's opinion – and Snape was still ranting. Minutes later Harry could still feel the incredulous and angry eyes boring into his back.
"Did you see his look, when you just turned on him?" His friend clearly approved Harry's less than polite behavior, and it took a while for Ron to calm down. They were already halfway to the train before Ron was able to speak a whole sentence without laughing.
"Why was Snape with you?" His look had changed to disgust.
"Well," Harry grinned innocently and shrugged, "I stumbled over him or he over me, as you'd like."
"Snape? And he didn't skin you?"
"Skin me?" Harry raised a brow.
"You're such a child, Ron!" Hermione threw in. "Did you get your books?" She led their talk away from their antics to the more important facts.
"You were shopping with him?" Ron made a gagging noise. He appeared personally affronted, but Harry chose to ignore him – as hard as it was with his magic bouncing around – knowing his temper and his quickness to judge.
"Actually, no," he said calmly, "McGonagall has them already. We just walked around a while till it was time to come here."
"Walked around!" Ron scoffed and shifted the books to get a hand free to fish a Bertie Bot's out of his trouser pocket and pop it into his mouth. "How was he 'walking around'?"
"Well." Harry took the question serious. "He was… bearable, I guess. For Snape, at least." He looked thoughtful for a moment.
"Actually he didn't say anything about my father or… Sirius," Harry inwardly sighed in relief for not having stuttered at the name, just a slight hesitation, "just mentioned once in a while what an idiot I am. So he was, on Snape-scale, really nice." Harry grinned and winked at his friend when Hermione disapprovingly looked at him.
"What's greasy git doing here at all? Can't he wait till Potions to take points or what?"
"Oh, Ron, it's obvious." Hermione shook her head. "He's to guard the train in case You-Know-Who decides to attack."
"Ah." Ron paled and stopped munching for a moment. "But he's a Death Eater."
"No, Ron, but that's probably the reason, why he's not the only teacher patrolling the train."
"Yeah? How's that?"
"Because if You-Know-Who would summon him and required him to attack, Snape could always say he had to stay in his role."
"That's not a good enough one, Hermione. Voldemort wouldn't care whether Snape was found out or not if it got me to his hands."
"Well, there's that. But they do have some reason."
"Possibly."
"Yes, and now that this is settled and out of the way I have some other questions, Harry." Hermione urged, her expression closed.
"I will gladly help you, if I can." Harry looked at her, standing straight to give himself an official look – and tensed when Hermione took hold of his wrist again. Harry sighed and looked back to Ron to see his friend rolling his eyes at her. They followed her without further ado. Hermione in boss mode was not easy to bear. It was better to let her rant, so that she could get whatever it was out of her system. Then they could talk with her like normal people.
Hermione pulled him through the whole train until they reached their compartment at the end, and Harry let her sit him down opposite her. He watched Ron closing the door, aware of Hermione's never wandering intense eyes on his face. Harry felt uncomfortable under her scrutiny, but smiled innocently frowning nevertheless until Ron had made himself at home.
"So?" Harry looked from one to the other, as if he did not know what they were getting upset about.
"Harry…!" Now that she had her friend where she had wanted him in the first place, she did not seem too sure anymore how to approach the subject, or if to proceed at all. Harry followed her glance to Ron, who shrugged but remained silent, still munching absently on one or two heavily crushed and halfway melted Bertie Bot's.
"Harry," she started anew, "where were you gone to? Nobody could find you."
"I don't know what you mean?" Harry looked troubled. He glanced up at the concerned faces of his friends. He did not feel good lying to them, but it could not be helped.
"I was at the Dursleys'. I wrote to you that Dumbledore didn't want me to stay with Ron." He turned to his friend and Ron grimaced, but nodded confirming.
"Yeah, you did. Two weeks before your birthday." His blue eyes narrowed. "It was the last anyone heard of you."
"The day before your birthday Lupin went to fetch you for your surprise party." Hermione said softly, her eyes slightly glazed.
"You weren't there, Harry." she whispered, tears in her eyes, and Harry just stared at her. He did not like people crying.
"Of course I was there." he said defensively and looked stunned after a moment. "Wasn't I?" Harry frowned at his friends.
"You are joking, right?" Harry's back straightened, when both of his friends shook their heads.
"No, Harry. Sorry. That's not a joke. We wouldn't jest about something like that."
"No," Hermione explained, her voice low, as if she tried talking to a dangerous but not very bright animal. "Professor Dumbledore questioned your uncle and aunt." Harry's frown deepened.
"And?" He changed position nervously, when Ron and Hermione exchanged a knowing glance. "Did he use a truth serum?" Now he was genuinely interested for the first time.
"Yes." Hermione nodded vigorously. "Of course."
"Which was it? A potion or a spell? Veritaserum?"
"No, not Veritaserum. It was a spell, I think. I heard Lupin mention it to Mr. Weasley." Her forehead wrinkled in thought. "Nonerra Obcuro."
"What's Nonra Abcuro?" Ron asked, munching happily on a chocolate frog, he had pulled out of his jacket with a dozen others few minutes ago, all the while looking like a three year old after a visit from Santa Claus. Wrinkling his nose, Harry looked away. Despite his hunger he was not able to eat anything. The Apparating with Snape and the magic made him feel dizzy, and Harry did not want to vomit to his friends' feet.
"Nonerra Obcuro." Hermione corrected, stretching every syllable.
"It makes you tell the truth and takes down your inhibition to talk freely. One only has to ask a few questions and you'll spill everything remotely connected with it. You'd tell your deepest secrets." She shrugged. "Of course it will have to be the right questions." She looked thoughtful, probably scanning down pages of books in her mind. "It works quite similar to the Obiscere potion. The only drawback to the spell is the short time it is effective. Every person reacts differently. You have to look closely or you ask questions to someone who isn't under the spell anymore."
Harry knew potion and spell quite well. Tom had a vast knowledge about many things; pity Harry had already buried most of them deep in his subconsciousness. None could take this much foreign thought into the mind without cracking at one point. Harry would need time to work through everything, though, once and again something would emerge on its own when he needed it. He blinked, called to attention.
"Then why didn't they use Veritaserum?" Ron frowned at Harry, who merely shrugged his shoulders as if completely clueless. It would not do any good to know things he had not had any clue about just a few weeks ago.
"It's forbidden." Hermione lectured. "Its use is only allowed when you have evidence for crime. And I mean real evidence." Harry snorted.
"That would hardly bother Dumbledore. He never cared for ministry laws before." Hermione just looked at him and otherwise ignored Harry's impetuous remark completely.
"The Dursleys said you disappeared a week ago. Nobody knew where you had gone to. Apparently your uncle's words were 'Good riddance' or some such nonsense. Lupin was furious. They were searching. And then they thought…, well, they thought Who-Know-Who had found a way to get you – that he had kidnapped you – but Snape couldn't say; he didn't know anything."
"Voldemort?" Harry scrutinized his shoes and did not see his friends flinch.
"Where were you, Harry?" Hermione's voice had taken a desperate edge, tears swam in her eyes.
"I… I don't know." Clearly confused, Harry seemed to shrink in his seat. "I thought… I thought I was at the Dursleys'." Harry glanced at Ron, who looked lost and as confused as he was.
"I can't remember not being there… or… or being with Voldemort." Hermione leapt forward and clasped her arms around him. Tears were now streaming freely down her face and onto his clothes. Not knowing what else to do, Harry simply held her and awkwardly stroked her head.
"Yeah." Ron cleared his throat, his eyes on Hermione. "If… if You-Know-Who had gotten Harry, he wouldn't be here now, would he?"
"Thanks, mate." Harry said dryly and Ron raised his eyes to his and grimaced when Hermione only sobbed louder.
"I mean, there was nearly no activity," Ron was fast to explain, "no Muggle raids, no Dark Marks. They have taken a curiously low profile. Nobody knows where Voldemort is." Ron rambled rapidly. "That's what I wanted to say."
"Have they?" Harry, cut off from the Wizarding world for the whole summer, took the news with curious interest, hugging his now quietly crying friend without thought for her predicament.
"Yeah," nodded Ron. "They thought, that – perhaps – they were hiding with you," the red haired boy swallowed, "torturing you, you know. Everyone was searching, but nobody could find you – and then, suddenly, you were back."
"We… we wanted to… to get you." Hiccuping, Hermione emerged from Harry's robes, red eyed and clearly embaressed of her outburst. "But… Dumb-Dumb… the headmaster said not to. That you were… were s-s-saaaafe!" She wailed the last word as if he was dead, not sitting right next to her. The boys flinched.
"Hermione!" Harry couldn't fathom, what was the matter with her. She had never been a screamer. "Why are you crying? I am safe at the Dursleys, because of the blood protection. You know that."
"B-but you… w-were g-gone." Her body shook with dry sobs.
"Look Hermione. I'm fine, really. Nothing happened." He looked at Ron, but it seemed as if his friend just wanted to change place with Hermione. Harry hoped to hell that Ron would refrain himself from crying – long enough for him to get away, at least. With a sigh Harry leaned back. He hoped their train ride would start rather soon than late.
"I'm still not sure, what I should believe." Harry said. "I mean, if you are all right in your assumption and Voldemort really did kidnap me… Why did he let me go?" He shook his head. "I don't believe this. Maybe they just didn't see me. I spend a lot of time in… in the cupboard."
"What?" Ron bellowed and Hermione sat straight, her eyes nearly glowing – tears forgotten.
"Well, they weren't to fond of Moody's threats, you know." Harry seemed embarrassed.
"What?" Ron bellowed again, and Harry winced when his eardrums vibrated painfully.
"Please, Ron." He held his ears with both hands. "You don't have to shout."
"They locked you in a cupboard?" Ron was still shouting. "How could they do that? I'll hex them, I swear, Harry!"
"You have to tell Dumbledore, Harry." Hermione interrupted quietly with a sad undertone. Harry grunted, his eyes hard and cold.
"No, Hermione. I don't think so, and I don't want you or Ron to tell him – or anyone else – either." For a moment they just looked at him and Harry thought he had to take care of them in other ways, but then they nodded – not happily, but nevertheless approvingly. The mood was depressed after that and their silence not a comforting one.
Harry sighed and took hold of his trunk. He had to do his homework before tomorrow's first lesson. He still had to memorize five pages of potions and to write an essay in Herbology. It had not been easy with Tom in his head and Harry had had too much fun – for once – t o pass the summer's time with boring school work.
Yawning, Harry hooked Hermione with a well aimed remark about some dreadful weeding and fence painting and locked up trunks together with books and homework assignments. This would easily distract Hermione from the Dursleys and Harry's less than average summer.
Ron grinned with a knowing look to Hermione and bit off the head of another frog.