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Chapter 8
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Harry's POV
My wand is in my hand. I'm ready to apparate. Away - away from Lupin and the inevitable interrogation afterwards. But I stay my hand. I need to find a map.
"I'm… I'm…" I begin, but I'm at a loss what to say. What to tell him? Everything Dumbledore told me to keep secret?
But all of a sudden there's no need to think of an answer, because I can feel the familiar sensation of someone intruding in my thoughts. I raise my wand, and for a moment it looks like Lupin thinks I'm aiming a spell at him - until I yell Protego! with all my might, and the sensation is gone. The force of the shield impacting so quickly and forcefully against my wand propels me back against the wall - near the stairs.
And feeling guilty, confused and determined, I sprint down them as fast as I can. Lupin looks surprised for a moment before dashing down after me. But he's not looking so good, and I'm in perfect condition. I'm a fast runner.
In my haste I knock Tonks over. I can vaguely hear her call after me, but I lose focus on her words as I run into the drawing room, shutting the door silently after me. I know they'll be searching the doors down here, so I duck behind a chair and whip out my invisibility cloak from my pocket. Ever since I did a runner at the Weasley's, I've kept it handy.
The door opens and Lupin looks around, followed by Tonks. He's staring right at the spot I am, brow furrowed. Thankfully, he turns around back to the curtains, staring suspiciously. "Harry…" He mutters. Almost pleadingly. I think he knows I'm in here; after all, he has some knowledge of my invisibility cloak. After all - it used to be my dad's. I can just hope that he thinks I probably don't have it with me.
"I don't think he's here, Remus…" Says Tonks from the doorway. She's stopped looking around. "What the hell is he doing here anyway? I thought he was at Hogwarts?"
"Well, no one knew," begins Professor Lupin conversationally. Yep. He definitely knows I'm here. "Keeps getting away from the people following him. Anyway, I think you're right. Let's look somewhere else."
He said that far too loudly for my liking.
Almost cowering behind the sofa until I'm sure they're gone, I tip-toe across the floor to the cabinet and pull open one of the drawers. There are so many pieces of parchment here, it's hard to tell which one is of the place I need. I sort through them endlessly. A pile of scrolls and maps lie on the floor beneath my feet; who cares if anyone finds the mess? They already know I'm here, so it'll be no surprise that they can see where I am.
Suddenly, my eye catches a ink-blotted piece of parchment dotted all over with spidery, flowing handwriting. There are so many notes here, a lot in some kind of different language, but I can pick out something through them: Godric's Hollow. And I know the route. It's complicated, but through the reams of different addresses I can see just where I'm headed. I look more closely at the parchment. There are only specific addresses. Could this be a map of people from the Order of The Phoenix? Yes. That matches. Each address has been written by a different hand - so that must be each of the Secret Keepers. I look in interest. There's a date in the right hand corner, some sixteen years previously. This must have been written a year after Voldemort was supposedly killed. A year after I obtained my scar.
My interest doesn't last for long, though. I stuff the map in my pocket, turn from the drawing room with my cloak still on, and open the door. I sneak out. Tonks and Lupin aren't looking: I don't know where they are. Silently, I move down the corridor and attempt to exit number 12, Grimmauld Place.
No success. I try desperately to turn the handle but to no avail. Then I turn round, and Lupin is staring straight at me, as though he can see through my guise. His hand reaches out - grasps the material, and the cloak slides off.
"Harry?"
I turn my head to the floor. "Yes, Professor…?"
Lupin shakes his head. "Why are you here, Harry? We've been in an uproar. No one knew where you were - not even Ron and Hermione, as I know from a good supply of Veritaserum - you could've been dead, Harry. I thought you were brighter than that. I'm… disappointed."
I've always liked Lupin, but that's out of order. I'm doing this for Dumbledore! For the whole world. No one else knows what to do - but the minute someone finds out, they're picked on from all sides, and pried for knowledge. I erupt.
"Why? What have I done? So, I'm out of Hogwarts. Big deal. I have better things to do now. Fred and George did the same but oh, no - when they did it it was 'Oh, cool, they've stopped attending Hogwarts and set up a joke shop. Fine by me', -- but the minute I try, it's a completely different matter. I'm doing this because of what Dumbledore told me last year. I'm trying to finish this, for everyone. And as for not telling anyone? Well, what was communicated between him and me, was between him and me. He didn't want anyone else to know."
Lupin looks at me questioningly. "Minerva said something of the sort last year. But what was passed between you could be vital, Harry. And… you're not alone in this. You have friends. You have the Order -- we're here to help, not to hinder."
I take a deep breath. "Well, I'm sorry. I want… I mean, I'd like to be on my own now, thanks."
Lupin looks at the parchment in the pocket of my jeans curiously. Then he sighs. "As your former teacher, Harry," he sighs, "I feel I must go with you for this. I'm not sure Molly would approve if I let you wander off like this. She'll be hysterical. And, well, otherwise… I'm going to have to inform Hogwarts."
I set my jaw stubbornly. "You weren't here for me any of the other times I met Voldemort face to face, sir," I say quietly, "and I want to be alone."
Before he has time to respond I take my wand out again, and Apparition test or not, I pop out of existence to him, and into the busy streets of London.
I take the map out of my back pocket, and study it. I'm going to have to catch a few buses and then walk a good way, but I'm prepared to do that. This is important to me. We're not talking about me doing things for other people this time. This is… this is for me.
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Note from Author: Please review that! Tell me if it could have been better. See what happens at Godric's Hollow next chapter featuring Harry. Or WILL you? Sorry. Must stop saying that.
OR SHOULD I?