Oh, No Latin scholars out there? Ah, well. Edo Edi Essum Animum roughly mean To Devour the Soul or Soul Eater. Fama Aeris mean Air Talk (kinda, I didn't decline it so it wouldn't really translate quite like that). I didn't want to ruin the effect by telling you what they meant right there. I wanted you to think the worst…Lol.
Not light and humorous yet, dark-ish. Here is what all you Wormtail-Haters have been waiting for.
Wow! So many reviews already? I'm flattered and touched!
So thanks to: TheWatcherandReader, hottstuffjr247, peachie1st, MidnightsRose, AkiretheGoddess, MarauderGirl101, The Gryffindor Drummer, Tinkerbellstar (who's uni?), Queen Asinoe, carsonsheir, okicantthinkofastupidpenname, mystical bekk, kagsir, SlytherinBeauty, CJ, Dee, ItalianGirl, xAngelxOfxMusicx, Azkaban-convict, and every one else who reviewed the last chapter of S-G Marauders.
SAXandCLARINETgrl – Oops. I didn't realize I had forgotten to say that. Oops? Heh. Thanks!
VeryFirstMarauderGirl (Alex) – Hey, Thanks! And, don't worry about Poor Remmy, he'll be in good hands by the next full moon…Actually…well, never mind, it's a surprise. LOL, you'll see what I mean very soon! Thanks!
iluvdeath – Sorry, yea you're right. That was a little bit of me, seeping in there. I hate it when adults talk down to teenagers, so I kinda over-exaggerated it and Harry started saying thing he wouldn't normally. But it wasn't that he was exploiting his fame or trying to get anyone to pity him, it was more like he was trying to prove a point. He wanted Jack to see that just because Harry is a teen, and Jack is an Auror and an adult doesn't mean Harry is inferior of less intelligent. See what I mean? I wanted the guy to understand that he was stupid and he knew what he was taking about. It's kinda like the whole 'Except-me-for-my-talents-not-my-name' thing. Thanks!
Meg – sorry to disappoint, but no Draco and Ginny will not be getting together. I just can't imagine the two dating, sorry. Ginny will be getting a boyfriend and Draco will be…well you'll see. What are you confused about, maybe I can explain it, if I won't give away too much? Thanks!
Moony's-Wolf – Nope not two, Just me! Frankie! Avery isn't working on this one, though we will be writing a Fic/parody together sometime soon. Lol, but for this it's just me. Thanks!
Professor Rose – I already used some of them pranks and a tweaked some and used those, but yes. I will be taking any donated pranks and using them if I can. Thanks!
Last Chapter…
Climbing down to the apartment once the reached Harry's room, the four flopped down into the two armchairs and on the couch. Harry sat, his back pressed against the arm of the couch, his legs stretched out. Hermione sat in the V of his legs, her back against his chest. She sighed and leaned back. "I love you guys." She murmured, sleepily.
Draco looked up sharply, but smiled softly, a rare occurrence. "We love you too, Hermione."
Ron seemed surprised but actually grinned at Draco, who had bowed his head and faint brush coloring his cheeks. Harry smiled at the antics of his friends. Tomorrow was going to be a very busy day, so he leaned back. Tonight, he was going to rest if he could.
Chapter 2 – Interrogations, Searches, and Crying
The following day proved Harry right. It was believably hectic for the four. They were questions by the Portly Auror and the Gangly Auror, from the night before. About ten minutes before the end of Hermione's interrogation, Mad-Eye Moody and Tonks showed up to take them for a brief meeting with Dumbledore.
"Wotcha, Harry!" Tonks called brightly as she stumbled out of the newly opened fireplace in the Durselys living room. Harry smile at her and waved, but turned back to Gangly Auror, who was eagerly asking him what You-Know-Who looks like.
"I really don't think you want to know what Voldemort (everyone but Draco and Hermione flinched) looks like, Sir." Harry replied politely.
"But how will I know if I ever see him?" The man asked, pleadingly.
Harry shook his head and shuddered. "You'll know. Believe me, you'll know."
Hermione stood and came over to kiss him lightly on the cheek in comfort. Draco smiled reassuringly and Ron said, "I think we've all finished answering all the questions relating to the attack. Are we free to go now?"
The Portly Auror blushed faintly and cleared his throat. "Yes, Yes, of course. So sorry to take so much of you time, Mr. Potter, Mr. Weasley, Miss Granger, Mr. Malfoy." He nodded to each in turn. "But you understand, it was policy. If it were up to me I wouldn't have thought to bother."
Harry sighed and shook his head. "No, it's completely alright. In fact, I'm glad you did interview us. If you hadn't, I would have been worried that you weren't doing your job properly. Just because I'm…well who I am, doesn't mean I'm incapable of wrongdoings…not that I would kill someone, but still. You wouldn't know that."
The two Aurors looked at him in surprise. Draco snorted. "Saint Potter. God, must you always be the selfless, modest, self-sacrificing one?"
Harry grinned. "It's what I'm here for!"
Everyone, but the two Aurors, laughed. The two men, still looking a little stunned, stood and said their goodbyes and departed to through Floo.
Mad-Eye turned to the remaining assemblage and said, "Well, come on! Dumbledore wants a word and Lupin is worried sick about you all."
They quickly Floo'd to Dumbledore's office. Harry was the last one through and, as usual, ended up flying out and ramming into someone. Draco, the poor victim, was knocked to the floor. He landed on top of Harry with a grunt.
Harry grinned up at the blonde through his broken glasses. "You want me that badly, huh?"
Draco looked at him blankly for a second, then twitched and leapt to his feet. Harry smirked as he, too, stood. Hermione smiled at Draco's bright red face and carefully took Harry's glasses off his nose and fixed them.
Ron looked back and forth between the two and rolled his eyes. "I don't even want to know what you said to him to make him go that particular shade of red."
Draco looked affronted. He pulled a small mirror out of his pocket and examined himself. He cringed. Glaring at his mirror, his face quickly went back to its usual pale white.
Tonks laughed. "I wish I could change the color of my face that fast. I can't and I'm a metamorphmagus."
A throat was cleared behind them and they all turned. Remus was slumped in a chair, dozing, and Dumbledore sat behind his desk smiling at them all.
Harry smiled and went to poke the werewolf awake. He groggily opened his eyes and focused on Harry. He blinked and jumped up, rapping the raven-haired teen in a tight hug. "I was worried about you. All of you." He said, unnecessarily.
Harry smiled up at him. "You worry way to much, Moony. Come on let's sit. You look tired."
Remus smiled ruefully. "I am tired. Last night was the last of the Moon and it was the first time in a few years that I transformed without a potion."
Harry nodded. "Wasn't the last time...?"
"When I almost killed you three and Snape and Sirius? Yes, that would be it."
"You wouldn't have killed us, Moony. Stop beating yourself. You can't help what happens when you're transformed. Now," Harry turned to the headmaster. "What did you want us for, Sir?"
Dumbledore, who had been smiling and his eyes twinkling, became somber. His eyes dulled. "I thought you might want to know why Mr. Diggory was killed. Please, sit."
They sat. He continued, "According to Mrs. Diggory, around three weeks ago Amos Diggory started vanishing for hours at a time, with no word to anyone about where he went. These times correspond with Death Eater meetings. According to a spy with whom I was only recently in contact with, Mr. Diggory joined the Death Eaters in order to get revenge on Harry for, as he believe, the death of his son."
Harry started from his chair. "I didn't kill Cedric! You know that Professor!"
"Yes. Harry, I know. We all know that you didn't kill Cedric nor did you want him to die. This is just what Mr. Diggory believed. According to his widow, He was always jealous of Gryffindors and James in particular and therefore, Harry who looks so much like his father. When Cedric died, he blamed Harry. Joining the Death Eaters was the worst move he ever made. They knew, apparently, that he wasn't loyal to their lord. He tried to back out of a raid of some kind and what you saw was the result. They left him on your doorstep because of his vendetta against you, Harry. Now, I have some rather frustrating news."
They all groaned. "What happened, Albus?" Remus asked anxious.
"Oh nothing bad, my dear friend. We're just having trouble getting to Peter."
Harry sneered. "Pettigrew? What's so hard about finding him?"
"Well, since the Aurors weren't the ones to receive the information of his whereabouts from the secret keeper. They have been unable to get into the house in Godric's Hollow."
"I'll go with them. In fact, I'll go alone." Harry offered.
Hermione leapt to her feet and, in a very Mrs. Weasley-ish way, brandished her finger at him. "Harry James Daemon Potter! If you even think about doing that, I will personally hex off an important part of your anatomy! And don't think I can't!"
Draco, Ron, and Harry stared at her, eyes wide with horror. Remus and Mad-Eye chuckled softly.
Dumbledore smiled. "Going alone won't be necessary, Harry. You do have to go, but you will be taking a full squad of trained Aurors with you. They will be assembled as soon as you wish to leave."
"Now." Harry said, standing.
"Harry! No! You can't g—" Remus began in earnest.
Harry looked him in the eyes. "I need to do this, Remus. Soon. Now is as good a time as any. Carpe Diem, Moony."
Looking resigned and defeated, the werewolf slumped back in his chair. Hermione sat back down heavily; her eyes wet with unshed tears. Ron just raised an eyebrow and said, "If you get hurt, mate, I'll get Ginny to hex you with one of her famous Bat-Bogey Hexes. I promise."
Harry smiled. "Sure, Ron. I will be fine."
Dumbledore turned to Tonks. "Nymphadora, will you please alert the squad?" She winced at the name, but nodded and stood. In moments, she disappeared through the Floo. "Harry, I would like Remus to apparate you to Godric's Hollow. You have your wand, I presume?"
Harry nodded.
"Good. Remus?" The sandy-haired man stood. "Be careful, both of you! Remus, you are not to enter that building. I don't care what happens. Do Not Enter The House!"
"Why?" He asked, disgust and indignation evident.
"Peter has done more to you and Sirius then you want to admit. Though it would be justified in your mind, I don't want one of my teachers to go to jail for murder."
Remus sneered, but nodded.
"Off with you then. The Auror team should be there already. Remus, if you feel the need to enter the house, come back here."
Remus scowled as Harry linked arms with him. Harry smiled warmly and waved goodbye.
Apparating was the oddest feeling Harry had ever had the pleasure of experiencing. It felt like his entire body was being squeezed through a very small tube. When they popped out the other end, Harry staggered. Remus grabbed his arm to keep him from falling. "Sorry, Claws. I should have warned you."
Harry straightened. "S'okay. Remus…I have the feeling—"
"I'll go back, Harry." Remus said with a bitter, but rueful smile. With a pop, he was gone again.
Harry sighed. Poor Remus, He has every right to be here. Harry's thoughts trailed off to the person in the House and he turned to look at his childhood home. His parent's house. He felt tears sting his eyes. Blinking rapidly, he looked away from the house to the yard. Clean, kept, and flourishing. His mother must have put charms on it.
A series of loud pops brought him out of his reverie. He turned to look at the newly arrived Aurors. Tonks was there, as were the two men who had interviewed him that morning. In the very back of the group, stood the Annoying Auror, Jack. Harry felt his lip curl in disgust. He turned to Tonks. "Tonks, Who's in charge of our merry band?"
"Well, Harry. You are." She smiled goofily at him.
He arched a brow. "What?"
"Madame Bones and Dumbledore both wanted you to be in charge. Didn't anyone tell you?"
Harry snorted, "People don't usually tell me anything of importance. No, no one told me. Well, this should be interesting." He looked at the house for a minute. "Jack."
The annoying man in the back came forward very slowly, his fear evident. He stopped a few feet from Harry. Harry turned toward him, his lips pursed, and Jack the Ever-Annoying cringed. Tonks raised an eyebrow. "Harry, what's wrong with him?"
Before Harry could answer, however, Jack the Ever-Annoying jumped in. "He tried to kill me!"
Tonks turned to him, "I believe I was addressing Harry, not you and Harry would never kill anyone…except, maybe, a Death Eater."
Harry sighed. "He was one of the Aurors that showed up last night. He…insulted me and I might have lost control of my magic, a little." His next comment was directed at the man. "I wouldn't waste my time on you. Leave, now!"
The man sneered. "I was sent here. I won't take orders from a child."
Harry smirked. "Child, am I? Then why did you get the hell out when I snarled at you last night? Now, get the fuck out of my sight."
"Harry! Language!"
"Sorry, Tonks."
Jack the Ever-Annoying did not move. Harry took a deep calming breath and looked him straight in the eye. He brought a hand up, curled into a fist, and flung it out. Channeling all f his annoyance and anger at the man through it, he conjure a small ball of heat-free blue flame. The man stumbled back and hurriedly Disapparated. Feeling slightly more normal now that his anger had dissipated, Harry shook his head. "Good thing Remus left. He'd kill me. Anyway…um…I've never done something like this before. What happens now?"
Tonks smiled and her bright pink hair sparkled merrily in the sun. "Well, you go in when you want and take whom ever you want with you. We are at your disposal."
His eyes widened. "Well…um…I guess...maybe you should be in charge, Tonks."
She grinned widely. "Nope. Not aloud." The Aurors all chuckled. "However, you might want to have some people search the grounds and maybe take one or two people into the house with you leaving the rest to guard the entrance."
"Good idea! Um…" Harry looked around at the assembled group. Chewing his lip, he picked out three to search the ground four for guard duty and he decided that Tonks and Gangly Auror would accompany him.
Taking a deep breath, the raven-haired teen led the group to the front door. He opened it hesitantly. Creeping in silently he motioned for the Aurors to wait. He walked cautiously into the house. He sneered at the filth that had built up from years of neglect, just one more thing Wormtail would be made to answer for. "Peter?" Harry called in the best imitation of his father voice he could. He'd listened to Remus' and Sirius' memories of James just incase he ever need to imitate it. "Wormtail, where are you, old friend?"
A creak sounded overhead. He looked sharply and saw ghost of movement through the floorboards. A disgusted sneer slipped onto his face. He made his silent way up stairs, the shadow of memories brushing his mind. He pushed them away; this was not the time to let his walls down, to let the dam break. His eyes hard, he stopped at the second door. Standing completely still, He called, "Pete? Are you in there? Why are you hiding from me, Pete? I thought we were friends."
Harry heard a choked sob. "Why did you do it, Pete? What did Lily and I ever do to you to make you hate us?"
"I never hated you, James! Never!" A soft, broken voice half-whispered from the other side of the door.
"Then why'd you do it, Wormtail? You sold us to Voldemort. You kill us. You scarred Harry. You locked Padfoot in Azkaban. You brought Voldemort back. You killed every person who died at the hands of the Death Eaters. If it wasn't for you, none of those people would be dead." Harry called in James's voice. His tone was strong and calm and he knew his words carried down stairs. Suddenly he reverted to his own voice. "Why did you do it, Peter?" He flung the door open and stepped in.
Wormtail's eyes widened in horror. His rat-like face contorted with insanity. "James! I didn't mean…I never wanted it to be like this. All I wanted was Lucius. But he wouldn't…unless I took the Mark. I…I had to James, you must understand!"
"But I don't, Wormtail. You weren't a true Marauder. Sirius and Remus would never have sold Lily and James's lives for a fuck you some Slytherin bastard." Harry's eyes were flashing in anger and hate. He vaguely heard to sets of footsteps on the stairs. "You make me sick, Pettigrew. You aren't even worthy of breathing. In so many ways, you are worse then that slimy, snake creature you grovel to. At least, he says outright what he is. But, you? No, you hide behind those who you know are strong enough to protect you. You have to many sick faces. I hope you rot in Hell for all eternity!"
"James! No, Prongs, please understand! There isn't anyone more powerful the Dark Lord. He—"
"Bullshit!" Harry exploded. The rat man cringed away. "You're even afraid to call him by the name he's fashioned for himself! Voldemort is not all-powerful! He's a sick, half-creature. He isn't even human. He doesn't even have a complete soul, for god's sake! Albus Dumbledore is ten times more powerful then that sorry excuse for an existence. Tom Riddle isn't even pureblood. He wanted to kill all those who aren't pureblood? Well, then he'd have to kill himself! His father was a Muggle!"
Wormtail decided at that moment to launch himself at Harry, madness shinning in his eyes. Tonks stepped forward from the doorway and stunned him. "Harry?" she said, uncertainly, a question in her voice.
Harry gave a bitter laugh. "I'm fine, Tonks. What is going to happen to him now?" Harry snarled, looking at the heap on the floor.
"We'll give him to the Dementors. And they can give him a little hello kiss."
Harry nodded. Finally, his anger subsided and he looked around the room with haunted eyes. "This was my mother's library." He said quietly, pain obvious in his voice. He looked over the half-decayed, half-destroyed shelves, the desk that was black with ash and smashed, the remains of armchairs and the chair the once matched the desk. His gaze fell on a shatter picture frame that lay, half hidden, under a broken book. He stooped and picked it up. His mother, father, Sirius, Remus, and a woman he didn't recognize leaned on one another laughing merrily. Lily was the first to notice him gazing at the photo. She waved happily and poked her husband, who turned and gave Harry the thumbs-up. Harry swallowed, hard and slipped the picture into his pocket. "I have to get out of here. Now!" He said quietly and swept out.
The Gangly Auror turned to Tonks with a raised eyebrow. She smiled sadly. "This is his parents' house. They were killed here."
The man looked shocked. They quickly left. Tonks instructed the Portly Auror as to what to do with Wormtail and quickly Apparated Harry back to Dumbledore's office.
When they appeared, Hermione leapt to her feet. Harry dropped into the nearest chair and put his head in his hands. He was shacking badly. The brown-haired girl dropped down next to him and put her arms around him. She pulled him to her and murmured, "It's okay, Harry. You're fine, now. It's okay to cry, Harry. It's not a weakness."
He tore himself away from her and stood. Looking down at her with tortured eyes, he said brokenly, "Yes it is. I don't cry. I never have."
She gasped. "You can't mean you never cried. Everyone cries once in a while."
Harry's eyes hardened. "Once. The first and last time I ever cried, I was beaten for my efforts. I never cry." He turned on his heel and left the room. They sat there in a stunned silence, before Hermione and Draco both followed him out.
They found him sitting on the edge of the Lake, looking out over its dark water. He looked ethereal, sitting with the darkness of the lake mirrored in his forest eyes. His flyaway black hair rustling in the soft breeze, the cloud-cover casting shadows over his skin.
Draco stopped Hermione with a hand on her arm. He shook his head.
"Potter?" He said softly, coming up next to Harry and sitting. "You okay?"
"Draco? Have you ever cried?" Harry asked quietly, sounding lost, yet powerful. He gazed off into middle-distance.
"Yes," Draco answered quietly, not wanting to admit it, but knowing he had to for Harry. "Yes, I have cried and I was also beaten for my efforts. My father wanted nothing less then perfection."
Harry looked at him, then. "But you still cried? How? I…I can't, won't."
Draco's face softened. "Harry, you're afraid to cry. Afraid that everyone will think you're weak. Harry you have more right then anyone to cry. You have been through to much to keep it bottled up inside."
Harry nodded, his head dropping onto his bent knees. Hermione sat down on his others side and gently placed an arm around his shoulders. His body shook with the force of his sobs. Draco moved closer and put a comforting hand on the arm that held his knees. Ron, who had apparently followed them out, came up to sit in front of Harry.
For a long time, they just sat there as Harry cried. Then, he pulled the photograph out of his pocket and handed it to Hermione. She looked at it and her eyes filled with tears. "Oh, Harry! I'm so sorry; I should have been with you. I—"
"No! Hermione, I never want you going to that house, or anywhere near Wormtail. Ever! Promise me?" Harry swung to face her.
Startled, she nodded. "I promise, Harry."
She rubbed at smudge from the broken frame. It was beautiful, tragic, like a bittersweet memory. The happy faces of the people behind the shattered glass seemed to shine, a beacon of hope in a desolate wilderness of despair, hate, and anger. Hermione silently handed the broken photo to Ron, who then passed it to Draco.
The blonde Slytherin examined it. He ran his thumb over the back and froze. There was a scrap of paper just poking out of the backing. He opened it slowly and extracted the paper. "Harry? Here."
He handed it to Harry who unfolded it. It was a note, written in beautifully elegant script. He read it aloud, "Harry, We both love you so much and whatever you choose to do we will be proud, but if you do find this note and we are dead, know that we love you and that you can do anything you set your mind to. If you ever find the Record Book, there are pages missing. Don't trust anyone whose names are written in the back, because we aren't sure who removed them. Take care. Lily, James."
Harry had fresh tears slipping down his face. "They died, not knowing which of their friends to trust." Harry's face changed suddenly. His eyes hardened and he wiped away the tears. Standing, he walked determinedly back up to the headmaster's office, the others trailing confusedly behind. He opened the door and entered the office relieved to see his godfather and Remus were there. "Professor Dumbledore, have they administered the Kiss, yet?"
The old man shook his head. "No, Harry. Not yet."
"I want to watch."
This is a bit of a cliffie, but it just felt right to stop there and it was getting to long