AN: Thanks TenniStar514, for being my devoted (and only) reviewer! I really appreciate it!
Disclaimer: I don't own any of these characters.
Harry opened his eyes. He was still lying on his bed, but instead of bright sunshine streaming through his window, there was now a silvery moonlight. Shadows seemed to dance along the walls. He looked out the window, shivering for some reason.
Then he remembered what had happened, and what Dumbledore had said. He was still so confused! Thoughts and worried flooded his mind. What would they do now? Would they let Voldemort destroy the world? Would they kill him?
His stomach growled, as he had not eaten anything since the previous day. Harry decided to go downstairs to see if there were any leftovers from dinner.
Quietly walking down the stairs and through the hallway, he noticed a small sliver of light through the crack of the kitchen door, and a murmur of voices. Straining to hear, he could make out Dumbledore's voice. So he was still there! Harry wanted to talk more. He hesitated in front of the door. What if they were talking about something important? He didn't want to interrupt. He had decided to come back later, then he heard his name mentioned.
"How can we protect Harry, Professor?" It was Sirius. Harry peered through the crack. His godfather looked dead tired. His eyes were bloodshot, with huge dark circles hanging underneath, and his hair was matted andunwashed. Yet,sitting across from Dumbldore, his voice was still determined and pressing.
"The best we can do right now is to not say anything," the headmaster replied. "We can't let this leak through to the ministry. Who knows what they would do to get rid of Voldemort."
"Right." Sirius was silent for a few moments. "But…now Voldemort won't hurt him, right? And his Death Eaters won't either? But what about physical harm? You said spells and magic-"
"It's a very complicated matter," The headmaster sighed. "You see- imagine right now a bond- such as a beam of light- connecting Voldemort and Harry. Magic spells can travel through the light, so if it hits one of them, it can effect the other end. Physical harm, however, cannot travel between them."
"So Voldemort can still kill Harry with physical means?"
"No. Even though physical harm cannot travel through the bond, death from whatever cause will. You see, if one of them were to disappear from their end, there would be an empty spot. The other person's soul would split into two to complete the bond, thus killing them."
"Do you think the Dark Lord knows this?" Sirius inquired.
"I'm sure if he doesn't already, he will soon. He is a very powerful wizard, Sirius," Dumbledore said. "That explains why Harry felt the effects of the spell more than Voldemort. Voldemort is so powerful, he has a number of defenses builtwithin him to resist spells. Your spell must have been quite powerful and determinedto penetrate them."
"Then it must have hurt Harry even more," Sirius said softly, head down. "I hope he is still not in pain."
Dumbledore, though still looking at Sirius, said quietly, "Harry, you can come in now."
Harry stood at the door, shocked. How could he have known? Well, he is Dumbledore. He slowly opened the door and trod in. "I'm sorry- I was going to-"
Dumbledore nodded in understanding, then gestured towards Sirius, who still had his head down in shame. "Ah hem…I'll be right back," the old man winked at Harry as he left the room.
Harry patted his godfather awkwardly on the back. "I already told you, it's fine! You didn't know what would happen, Sirius! You were only trying to protect me! Besides, I'm fine now! It doesn't even hurt anymore!"
Sirius raised his head wearily. "You are supposed to still be in bed."
Harry sighed impatiently. "I feel fine, now-"
"You have to promise me you will be careful at Hogwarts," Sirius suddenly grabbed Harry into a big hug. "Promise me-"
Harry remembered that they would leave for Hogwarts in three days. "I promise…you have to promise too, Sirius…" his voice was muffled by the thick sweater.
Sirius looked up, surprised. "Promise what?"
That dream…it was so vivid…so real. "Promise that you will be careful too! And you won't put yourself in danger."
Sirius laughed, shaking his head. "Always worried about others…you remind me so much of James sometimes!" Then his expression grew solemn. "I can't promise that, Harry…I'll do whatever it takes to keep you safe."
The boy sniffled, and his godfather held him tighter in a fatherly embrace. "Don't worry…I'll always be there for you…that I can promise…"
Little did they know someone else was watching this touching scene. Two beady red eyes narrowed at the exchange, and then scampered from behind the chair to the hole in the wall, knowing his master would love to hear the information he now knew.
