Finding Medusa's hubby

After leaving Number four Medusa headed for the park a few minutes away from the house. Once she reached the park she knew a bush where the death fangs were ordered to watch for any sign of Harry. The border of the blood protection extended to the fence of the park and Voldemort hoped that one day Harry would be in the park but so far to his utter dismay his wish has been left null and void or just plainly ignored. Well so he thought…

Medusa slid up to the bush and hissed. I come as Medusa once Nagini show yourself! A rattling was playing in the bush and three snakes came out a Death fang, a boa constrictor and a snake that was supposed to be extinct. Upon seeing the other snake Medusa dove for it fangs barred. What happened next shocked Medusa to no end? The other snake lowered itself to the ground and did not jerk even after she bit deep into the scales. The snake did not even hiss in return for the violation incurred because of the fangs spreading venom into him. He knew he would not die of the poison but it would be very painful even for him

The first one to utter anything was the constrictor. Please release him, he is with me.

After seeing no compliance from Medusa the constrictor simply said Release him, NOW. Medusa did as told even if she had more stature than him because of Harry but he was the king after all.

What are you doing here? Medusa asked with as much venom as possible. The other snake looked at her and then at the king and studied the grass. I was pleaded your case with Harry and now I plead his case with you. He made a lot of mistakes, less than you but still a lot. He was not required to do what you usually did but refused. He was punished like you can imagine… Medusa visibly winced as the crucatious curse was bad on anything and if inflicted by the most powerful evil wizard to walk the earth did not make it easier. …you were almost the true last of your specie. He came to me not only with a promise but with the Death fangs as well as they have abandoned Voldemort. We need to speak to Harry so that we can have some direction. The other snake slid up to Medusa and mumbled an apology HE was going to come after you after he could not find a decent pet. I then came out of hiding to forestall such an action. Once you were with Harry the king informed me, I received word and started defying the monster. Please forgive me I know it was foolish but it felt like the right thing to do. Medusa looked at her partner and knew that he did it not for do it because of selfishness, having the power of Voldemort behind you but only to protect her. As he told it to the king she knew it was impossible to lie to him.

Medusa nodded and slid into his coils together they coiled up. Sorry for doubting you. Please forgive me. Medusa asked sincerely looking her partner in the eyes. There is nothing to forgive I did it at my own accord and I was warned and I knew what you went through. I was stupid. He said this bowing his head again. The two stayed like that until the king interrupted them. I believe you two will have a lot of time to catch-up once we can get Harry to accept him. The king said motioning her companion as he had no name anymore. And hopefully get Harry to name him.

With that the four left for number four.

When Harry entered the trunk the first thing he noticed was that there was four snakes waiting for him. The first was Medusa then one that look like her, smaller but the same. He had two large holes punched into him. I can only guess and then there was another he recognised as a death fang once again thanks to some death eaters memory.

Seeing a memory playing in front of him Harry walked across to the snake with the holes. Spreading his hand across the holes Harry muttered an incantation not even bothering with a wand as the magic was a gift. His hand was masked with a visible blue aura like glove. Feeling the hurt where the primary problem was some cartilage further only internal organs Harry went through the process of healing them one by one. When only the skin was left Harry dropped to his knees holding his head.

Sorry the first time I actually try it. It takes quite a lot from you. A thoughtful frown came over his face and then he continued. I can see that you have a lot to say but we must first find a new place to stay. Once there I will explain everything. They all nodded acceptance. Any ideas? Harry added after a moment not giving anyone a chance to talk. This time they were the thoughtful ones.

After a few moments the king was the first one to ask a question. What was the place you said Voldemort once tried to visit but couldn't? A gasp escaped the mouths of both Medusa and her partner

The lost palace of the Griffins. Harry even with the memories had never heard of it.

Explain. Harry simply commanded.

The three snakes looked from the one to the other before the king nodded.

The death fang was the one to answer after a moment's silence. Before the fall of Voldemort the first time we happened upon a castle in the forbidden forest. Well I happened upon it. No one else could see it.

Why no one understood but to me it was there. The castle did not touch the ground it was built on a mountain floating in the air. It had massive parapets and in general it was huge. But that was not the problem. Usually when you happen upon a castle humans live there but this one was occupied by griffins.

Anyway Voldemort knew it existed but he could not see it. I said nothing fearing the wrath of that monster. Before we left I looked up and saw a massive griffin flying towards us and specifically Voldemort. I hissed a warning and he spun around. To say he was surprised to see the griffin is an understatement. He immediately apparated away is leaving the rest to fend for ourselves. I am the only one to live after the encounter but Voldemort jut thought me another of the death fangs.

At this point Harry was clearly hooked of visiting the castle even if he would not be able to make it a home but seeing a griffin was high on his list of to do's. Well where is it? Harry asked not even bothering to hide his eagerness. The king was about to argue but Harry quieted him with a look. You don't have to come if you do not want to. Harry added.

In the middle of the forest there is a circle surrounded by a dozen trees… The circle of life? Harry asked interrupting the snake. …yes continued the snake I know of it. Well lets get there already. We will have to go outside the trunk and then apparate there. Somewhat reluctantly the snakes nodded agreement. They exited the trunk and Harry shrunk it to fit in his pocket. What about Dobby and Winky? Medusa asked. Harry smiled and said They will find us. Medusa merged with Harry and the other two snakes wrapped themselves around Harry rather tightly. I have not tried this with passenger yet so please be patient. Harry said with a frown in concentration.

Puff… was al that was heard as all disappeared.

Number 12…

"Professor is Harry supposed to go somewhere now?" Fred asked indicating the grandfather clock that changed to travelling from unknown. Everyone looked up at the clock and saw the hand. "It was not on home before it went there either." He added matter of factly sweeping his hand before him. Surprise flushed over the face of the headmaster as he looked up at the clock. They activated the cams and saw that indeed the house was empty. Picking an enchanted paper he scribbled a note to Mad Eye Moody who was on guard at number 4.

The message simply read:

Alastor,

Are you taking Harry anywhere now?

Albus

Outside number 4…

Moody felt a vibration in his pocket. Reaching for the offending paper he rolled his magical eye to check if there was anything he missed.

He read the message and understanding dawned on his face. He rushed into the garden flat and found to his surprise nothing. He grabbed a quill from a nearby table and wrote a reply.

Albus here is no one! Even his trunk is gone!

Number 12…

Once the message was sent they knew it would only be a moment before they would have a reply.

Albus sat and did something that irritated the life out of him. Tapping his fingers on the table everyone else could see the irritation that this man felt at the moment.

Removing his glasses he wiped a bit of perspiration from his face that was gathering to form sweat. He got up and walked to the clock. Opening the door he found a parchment connected to it. He said an incantation and made a duplicate of the parchment.

HE returned to his chair and started looking at the parchment. What he saw did not make sense. He passed the parchment to his deputy and asked her to read it.

Minerva who was not surprised of the request took the parchment and started reading aloud:

Today followed by the date and the time:

Home – trunk

Travelling

trunk

Surprised

Surprised

Confused

Utterly confused

Travelling

Baffled

Travelling

Park

Travelling

Home trunk

Confused

Travelling

Confused

Travelling

School-Stone Gargoyle

Confused

Daring

Travelling

Ministry of magic – unknown

Sad

Understanding

Devastated

Defeated

Fearful

Defeated

Contempt

Defeated

Mystified

Defeated

Surprised

Hopeful

Negative

Defeated

Glum

Defeated

Surprised

Bewildered

Sorrow

Sad

Hope

Frightened

Happy

Hopeful

Resolved

Defeated

Travelling

Home – trunk

Hopeful

Sad

Sarcastic

Terrified

Lost

Apologetic

Surprised

Endangered

Mortal peril

Intense pain

Understanding

Perceptive

Determined

Defeated

Intense pain

Intense pain

Travelling

Home

Intense pain

Loathing

Severe pain

Resolute

Severe pain

Severe pain

Sorrow

Intense pain

Crushed

Caring

Wishful

Intense pain

Soothing

Travelling

Asleep

Happy

Eating

Happy

Frustrated

Decisive

Travelling

Number 12

Surprised

Befuddled

Thoughtful

Troubled

Disappointed - betrayed

Unhappy - betrayed

Mad

Furious

Enraged

Unknown

Unknown

Unknown

Unknown

Unknown

Unknown

Travelling

Gringotts

Travelling

Home – trunk

Surprised

Travelling

Number12

Overjoyed

Thoughtful

Travelling

Home – trunk

Surprised

Confused

Sympathetic

Enterprising

Tired

Bone tired

Attentive

Hate

Conclusive

Travelling – home

Travelling

As she finished the clock hand changed again "Forbidden forest".

Mortal Peril.

Moody came haphazardly through the front door and hastened to the side of Albus. "I have tried all manner of tracking charms but he is gone. The wards cannot even help me." Albus nodded thoughtfully before continuing. "Why would he leave and what is the meaning of this?" He asked waving his hand at the parchment held by Minerva.

"Albus how did he travel, he cannot apparate?" Minerva said. "And it is impossible to apparate too school." Hermoine gave her two cents.

"And what is with all the unknowns?" The twins added together.

"I do not know!" the all mighty Albus Dumbledore exclaimed.

"It is only Potter that can come up with new definitions for what is accepted as normal for the rest of us." Snape added acidulously but he was ignored by the group as a whole.

A vile voice from the entrance called. "O, I can answer that for you! Oh even better why don't you ask him he left a new portrait of himself. You might just be surprised at what he has to say to you!" The venom was visibly dripping of her tongue.

"Virginia Weasley!" Her mother exclaimed.

"O, mother! Stick a foot in it. After all you did for him and what he returned, saving my life as number one, look at what you are doing to him! And you!" she stuck a finger in Ron and Hermione's direction. "You betrayed him. After all the times you have done that you have done it again! You call yourself friends" The two in question visibly shrank into themselves as the tirade was directed at them.

She gave Severus and Remus a withering look next. "You do not even stand up for him. You should be ashamed."

Tilting her head to one side she measured up one standard headmaster. She simply glared at him judging what she knew and did not. "Of you I will not even speak." She said in a soft voice. "I would appreciate it if none if you try to speak to me again. I do not expect anything from you. Do not try to even suggest anything to me. You are all a bunch of liars and deceivers."

After all he has gone through you still do this to him." She looked at the assembled and slightly shook her head. "Do not try to support me. I will ask Harry's elves to bring my food and lock me in. Right now I feel nothing but condescension for any of you. Do not disturb me." With a last look around she turned and left.

Everyone sat in shock at what just happened. A door slammed and brought them out of their reverie.

"Professor, how did she speak and hear through the bubble?"

Albus frowned and did something with his wand. Softly muttering an incantation he shook his head. "That Miss Granger is something that I would like to know as well. That bubble is minister level and is impregnable." After a look at the parchment and the doorway he added "Should be." The reason for the frown on his face was not left for imagination.

"Albus care to explain?" Moody said in a gruff voice. As he turned his head he saw the images. "O you have gone and done it now. No wonder I was not invited." Shaking his head he asked. "What is the story of a portrait?"

"That we need to see as well, if you will all join me." Albus said.

As a group they made their way to see if Ginny will tell them more. As the group got to the portrait where Miss Black used to lodge the drapes opened at their own accord.

"Not again." Someone exclaimed.

"O, I am only starting my dear." Harry answered in a sincere, calm and calculated voice.

Slowly the group assembled themselves around the portrait. Dobby appeared and to add insult to injury resized the hall and placed barstools and they did not look comfortable at all. In his bearing you could see that he was not happy.

"Thank you Dobby." Harry said as the elf was done.

"Now where was I? Oh yes." Harry started but was interrupted by the headmaster.

"Harry…" but Harry continued as if he did not hear.

"Friendship, what is friendship?" Harry said as he looked at his best friends. "I see friendship as something just short of marriage. If you made a mistake I was willing to pay for it as well and I have as you have. Before you there were no other friends because of the good house that he…" Here he indicated Albus "…placed me in. I did not have that luxury as my cousin would insure that. As most of you know what he looks like I guess you can use your imagination as to how he did that." He stopped for a moment to let it sink in.

"As you can imagine I held your friendship sacred. Do you know what your betrayal did to me? Do you know what it felt like? It is now an emptiness that you cannot imagine. I have thought and tried to rationalize it but as I am but merely a liability I am sorry to say that as that is my status it does not fit into the whole of 'friendship' as I view them." The last part he added softly and with a sense of defeat that was clearly visible. "I am sorry but we are friends no more."

Turning to the Weasley mother he continued.

"I trusted your tirade of us not joining the order and it just proved to be a charade.

How long ago did they join?" No one said a word.

"I guess it was last year then. Wouldn't want a liability as part of the Order, now would we?" He gave his friends a look.

Turning to Remus he simply said. "I miss my godfather terribly and I actually hoped you would fill his place. It seems I was mistaken. I think it is time you learn to make a stand. You are a werewolf for crying out loud. But you cannot even stand up for yourself." Remus bowed his head to his chest speechless.

Harry wiped at his face.

Staring venomously at the headmaster he continued. "

The one with the power to vanquish the Dark Lord approaches… born to those who

have thrice defied him, born as the seventh month dies and the Dark Lord will mark him as his equal, but he will have

power the Dark Lord knows not and either must die at the hand of the other for neither can live while the other survives the one with the power to vanquish the Dark Lord will be born as the seventh month dies …'

Albus gaped shocked at what Harry had said to the assembly.

Seeing the blank stares from the others Harry continued. "That would be the part that you do not know. So tell me professor. Is there something else that your tool needs to know or would you rather leave him locked up and not only his home under observation but himself as well. I for some reason would think it better to sharpen your tool but you would not consider it that way.

I believe that I would still need the Occlumency training after all that has happened. But no, we reward betrayal with more betrayal, of the worst kind." As the portrait said this Severus flew up from his chair and pointed his wand at the portrait. "Potter you will tell us where you are so that you can be collected and dealt with accordingly."

Harry looked at the man with disregard and simply said "I don't think so."

"Legilimence" Snape shouted at the portrait. As soon as the spell connected Harry started laughing. Snape stood dumbfounded as he knew that Harry and the portrait were connected. The only thing he saw was a black mist that started surrounding him.

"So Severus you want to test my untaught abilities that you so miserably failed at."

"Let me show you all something. Let me show you what it is like to be the-boy-who-lived."

At that the colour of the orange spell changed to a sickly green and Snape fell on his knees.

The portrait suddenly started showing the live of Harry Potter and only the parts that they did not want to see.

They saw him from the moment he was placed on the steps of the Dursley's, the cupboard, the clothing the abuse the work everything.

Tediously they saw all the events at the Dursley's as time went by some of even the sturdier people of the group started holding their breath while others did not bide by common decency as they cried openly. They saw the trials and tribulations at school including the meeting with Aragog, Quirel, Crouch, Voldemort and a lot of others. They saw every fight that he had to endure and that included the death of Cedric and Sirius.

Then a suddenly as it started it stopped.

The connection with Snape broke and he labouredly got on his feet.

"So Snape, do you still think I am just some glorified hero that was always pampered. One would assume that you would be able to say that you are the only one in the group that needs to suffer the wrath of Tom but after the last time I guess that you cannot claim that anymore. Guess I am a lot less like my parents." Turning to the assembled grouped he continued to Albus.

"So professor what would you have. Lock me up back in the cupboard and put a spell on me, proofed quite safe if I could say it myself. I mean after all it worked for ten years. For some reason I can see what Tom went through as well, can you imagine that here I am defending the one that wants to kill me above all else and yet we compare beyond a shadow of a doubt."

"Oh, my dearests godmother." Harry continued as his eyes came to rest on Minerva. "Guess you failed me as well, I am very sorry I was not the godson you hoped to have, I can only hope to become what you want me to." The blood left her face and she stared back at him unable to say anything.

Before Harry could continue in his calm and collected voice Ginny interrupted him. "Harry I think that is quite enough." Turning to her he saw the tear streaks tainting her face.

"I am sorry. I did not see you were here." The apology was directed as he stared into her eyes.

Ginny looked at the assembled group and back at him raising an eyebrow.

"I am sorry for the way I treated you all as well. I had no right to that even though I thought I had." Sighing to himself he went on. "I guess some pain never leaves and new ones can cut severely. I wish no more contact from any of you at this point."

Harry nodded to Ginny and the portrait went rigid and lifeless again.

A chorus of "Harry" ensued but the portrait just turned to them and said "You hurt him now he is gone." After that the portrait went rigid again.

It was a very subdued group that remained there. Only one redhead left to entertain herself with a few books she found.

"Albus why did you not tell us the full prophecy?" someone asked.

Albus sagged into the chair he just re-transfigured. "First of all what he told you is the full prophecy and second I have my reasons and now those same reasons are null and void." This he said as he wiped his eyes under the glasses.

"And what might those reasons be." Ms. Weasley asked softly.

"Well if I was to tell you fifteen years ago that our only hope resided on a mere baby what would you have done?" Albus answered. "But it is Harry." Some one said.

"Well yes of course it is Harry but at the time did Harry have what he so graciously showed us under his belt whittle-stick? No, no he did not. Besides it is done and there is nothing else to be done about it, Severus, mind telling us what he was referring to?"

"belt whittle-stick" is like figter pilots draws the planes they downed on their planes, simple example but that's the drift of it.

Severus nodded "I was hoping to discuss it with you in private but alas so much has gone on I do not see the point." With a sweeping glance he took in the group before he continued.

Last night I was at a meeting with you-know-who. I was put under the Crucatious and for some reason it just stopped. When I looked up Potter was standing there. I started for him but he just touched me so that some of the curse would hit me.

I guess this was to keep me at bay because a small part of it struck me again. Miss Weasley was there in the same capacity as he but I do not recall that she was in any form of pain. Potter though felt anything that I felt that much I could see.

Albus paled at the revelation of his potions master. A general outbreak occurred and everyone started speaking at the same time. They were ignored as the player only then realized what his queen is going through.

"It cannot be." Minerva exclaimed. "Albus there must be some other explanation." Minerva said.

Putting his arms around her he simply stated. "It is true. And no there are no other explanations." Everyone was suffocated in silence and the gravity of the situation covered all.

"Best we can do is continuing as we are. Dung please use some contacts and see if you can find Harry. I do not know if we will be able to find him but we must try."

A soft chime rang and Ron who sat the closest to the side of the hall looked at the cock to see the clock hand move on. Harry was at home.

He relayed this information to the rest and they made their way back to the room. However no matter where they looked there was no indication that there was any change as Harry and his trunk was nowhere to be seen.

"He found a new home." Albus clarified the confusion. The clock hand changed to Unknown and remained there. They did not know that the hand would remain there until the clock would be no more.