STAND BY ME

Chapter 2

Heroes

Harry and Remus headed down for some food when Remus saw where Mrs Black had hung.

"Harry, have you any idea what happened to Mrs Black?"

"She fell off the wall."

"Well it looks like that permanent sticking charm is not as permanent as it was meant to be."

"Suppose so," answered Harry dully

When they entered the kitchen the headmaster was not there. Harry thought he would cook something quick and easy before he had to go. "Is anyone staying for dinner?" he asked, breaking an egg.

"Yes I think they said there would be five people staying."

"Do you want to go get them? I'm making omelette with cheese, tomatoes and ham." Harry happily informed Remus. "None of them are vegetarian are they?"

Remus smiled. "No Harry. Do you want any help?"

"No thanks Moony. No offence but I don't want to torture anyone to your cooking."

Remus pretended to be hurt. "I'm offended!" he said placing one hand over his heart as if wounded. Harry's only response was to laugh.

"How long will it be till it's ready?"

Harry looked thoughtful for a moment then said. "About ten minutes they will want to be quick if they want them warm."

Remus left the kitchen to go and round up the Order members.

Five minutes later a woman that Harry had never seen before entered the room. "Smells nice," she said with a smile. She had dazzling blue eyes that stood out sharply from black hair which she wore in ringlets. Large hoop earrings decorated her ears and she was wearing brown trousers and a cream coloured top.

"Thanks. Not to be rude or anything but who are you?"

"My name is Ethel Torbet. I'm going to be the new Defence Against the Dark Arts teacher, but don't tell anyone that I told you because I'm not supposed to tell you kids, so keep it quiet. Oh I'm so excited, a little nerves too but still excited." Harry just stared as the woman rattled of her speech very quickly hardly stopping for breath.

"Before you ask, I'm in the Order. I knew your mum and dad; I went to school with them. Great people. I miss them. I'll have to tell you about them some time. Moony might help."

"How'd you know his nickname?" He asked her.

"Everyone knew about the marauders in my time. 'The Pranksters Extraordinaire'." She said with a reminiscent look on her face.

Harry placed a plate in front of her. "Thanks."

"I'm sorry," Harry apologised. "I didn't introduce myself."

"It doesn't matter Harry I know who you are."

Harry smiled and went back to his cooking.

A few minutes later Harry was just finishing off the last omelette when a sudden wave of anger and hatred washed over him. He turned to see Snape standing at the door, a glass in his hand, cold black eyes bared into his emerald green ones, a small smirk on his face. Behind him stood Remus, his face a mask. Harry was also picking up his feelings. Although Remus tolerated the man, there was no love lost between the pair. He also felt a strong wave of dislike coming from Ethel. They were not his emotions that he was feeling. As he looked into the eyes of his teacher, the feelings tripled as he felt the emotions of all three.

Snape was about to walk over to the sink to place his glass in it, when Harry completely lost it. He walked towards Snape, green eyes flaming gripping the handle of the spatula in his hand tightly waving it threateningly. The glass in his hand shattered along with the ones on the table.

"YOU EVIL, CANIVING, CONCETED, UGRATEFUL BASTARD." Harry yelled at Snape unable to control the new emotions. Harry would have leaped at him if it had not been for Remus and Ethel. He strained to break free, "HAVE YOU ANY IDEA WHAT I HAVE BEEN THROUGH?" He screamed still struggling to break free.

Snape looked shocked. Never as a teacher at Hogwarts had a student dared to speak to him like that in school or out.

"YOU STAND THERE LIKE…"

"Harry James Potter, what is the meaning of this?" It was Minerva McGonagall. Harry felt new anger and shock but a new emotion as well, concern.

"I…I…" Then his knees gave way. His knees collided with the hard stone floor as all the emotions left him. He was in shock and he had no clue as to what had just happened. He had been happily making omelette one minute and then next he had completely flipped. Remus still had a hand on Harry's shoulder afraid of what the boy might do if he was released.

Dumbledore entered the room.

Harry looked up at Snape and found he could not look him in the eye. He had never felt so angry in his entire life than he had done in the last five minutes, not even when he had tried to cast an unforgivable on Belatrix Lastrange.

"I'm sorry" he whispered feeling ashamed of himself. He hadn't meant to say those things he didn't know what had come over him.

"Come on Harry," Remus said offering him his hand. Harry looked up into his face what he saw there did nothing to ease Harry. Remus wore a look of shock and what looked like fascination. He gratefully took the offered hand. He looked around at the other faces in the room they all wore similar expressions of shock and awe.

"What happened here?" enquired Dumbledore.

"I…" Harry couldn't find the words to describe what had happened.

"This behaviour is very out of character for you Harry." McGonagall stated.

He sighed "Everyone sit down, get something to eat and I will try to explain." Harry ordered as he picked up the spatula that had fallen to the floor when he had hit his knee of the ground. The spatula's handle was now misshapen, as Harry had gripped the handle so hard. He put it in the sink and collected new glasses to replace the ones that had broken, while the rest of the people in the room collected the broken glass and Snape had his hand healed. They could have just repaired the broken ones but all the glass had mixed together and was all shattered into tiny peaces that they would never be able to find all the bits.

Once everyone had been served Harry tried to think of how to start the story. He was saved by Ethel.

"We were sitting talking and getting introduced when Severus showed up with Remus. Harry had his back to us and was doing the cooking when he suddenly tensed up from what I saw." She smiled encouragingly at the boy.

"I knew they had come in. I felt him, them I don't know, their emotions maybe. Anger, dislike, pain, then concern." He looked at professor McGonagall with a frown as he said this. "I sort of picked up on it and acted on it. I couldn't stop myself." There was silence when Harry finished speaking.

"Has anything like this ever happened before, Harry?"

"Yes, once earlier today. It was like when I pick up on Voldemort's emotions only a lot more potent. His emotions don't usually control me; I just know how he feels at times."

"Very well, Harry." Said Dumbledore placing down his cutlery having finished his meal.

"But what does it mean, Professor."

"I will try to explain it to you on the way back to Privet Drive, but it could be a puzzle for another day. Do you have everything you need Harry."

"Yes professor,"

"Very well, we shall take our leave of these fine people. Will you accompany us Remus?"

"I would be glad to."

Harry stood and started making has way out of the door.

"Mr Potter" Harry turned "Apology accepted." Stated Professor Snape. Harry nodded his head in acknowledgment turned and left.

Outside in the hallway Harry was told they were not going directly to Privet drive, they had another stop they had to make.

"Everyone take a hold of this" said Dumbledore holding up what looked like a normal, digital muggle watch. "When the time on it is exactly three we will depart."

Harry watched with a bit of trepidation taking hold of the strap. Dumbledore held the face and Remus held the buckle.

Harry watched the time they would go in three…. Two….One... Harry felt a sharp tug against his navel and they were gone.

The three wizards landed at the end of a muggle street. There was nothing out of the ordinary, the houses all had tidy, little well kept gardens, there were birds singing in the trees and every so often a car would drive by with the occupants heading to do whatever business they had in mind. He turned to ask where he was and what they were doing there when his eyes caught on what the name of the street was.

Godric's Hollow.

Harry stared in disbelief.

"Come Harry."

Harry followed Dumbledore down the street till they came to an empty ruined house. They walked inside. Harry could not understand why they were here but he had a feeling he was going to find out. The house felt familiar but Harry could not tell why unless…

"This house belonged to your parents," whispered Remus in his ear.

Harry nodded that made sense.

Dumbledore made his way over to a cupboard in the kitchen.

He placed the watch against the side of the cupboard with its buttons facing out.

"This is a key to the Potter estate, I was very lucky to get the chance to borrow this. When I told the goblins in Gringots why I wished to have it they were more than happy to help. They seem to have taken a liking to you for some reason, Harry." While he had been speaking Dumbledore had set the watch to read 0:00. 'That's not possible' Harry thought to himself 'but I suppose you never know with magic.'

"Right, I want you both to stand inside the lines you can see on the floor." Harry looked down. Lightly traced on the floor there was light blue lines. They seemed to glow and Harry could sense the magic coming from it.

Harry and Remus did as they were told and stepped forward.

"You will learn more about this in the future but for now we must go."

In three… two… one. And they were gone.

As Harry watched he saw that the room faded and in its place there appeared a meadow, at the edge of a large forest or what Harry thought was a meadow. Until he looked up and saw the headstones.

"The Potters had their own graveyard. It has been around for hundreds of years."

He bit back tears as he walked towards the first gravestone.

Lily Potter

1960 -1981

Love of her son outweighed her love of life

On the stone there was a picture of a fox. It had been carefully crafted so that every detail was perfect. It reminded Harry of something but could not for the life of him remember what it was. He ran his hand over the image and then over the lettering.

He went to the next one

James Potter

1960 -1981

Died as he lived; protecting those he loved

This stone had the carving of a stag on it carved with the same amount of detail. He ran his hand over the image the same way he had done with his mothers.

A sudden sense of peace washed over him and he saw his mother and father playing on a swing in mid autumn. They were happy. Tears were now freely flowing down his cheeks and he made no attempt to wipe them away for once not ashamed for appearing weak.

He felt a hand on his shoulder.

"They would not have wanted you to live in the past. You must look to the future, there is so much for to see and to be and to do. Do not let go of your love for them if it helps hold on to their memory and that love and don't ever let go but let the pain go. They loved you so much, as much as you love them, if they didn't do you think they would have died for you. Hold them in your heart and be proud of them." said Remus

"They will always be there for you in your memories. Love is power, don't ever forget it. Do not let revenge consume you Harry I know you are hurting more than I can ever imagine but that is not the way to avenge them," continued Dumbledore

Harry turned to his two companions with appreciation in his eyes they had not had to do this for him but they had and he was very grateful.

Dumbledore continued "The watch by which we travelled here by is a permanent portkey. It is set to always come here, when activated, when the time reaches 0:00. If you so desired, it can carry a maximum of seven people, if you ever want to bring anyone else here. Call it an early birthday present if you like.

"Do not worry about protection. This is where your mother was laid to rest, her protection that runs though your blood also resides here in this earth you cannot be harmed and it is also sacred ground where wizards are not permitted to do any harm to one another. You are and will always be protected on this graveyard soil from any magic which wished to do you harm. This is also ancient magic to allow the dead to rest in peace."

They stayed in the Potter graveyard for about an hour with Remus and Dumbledore telling Harry stories of his parents. Harry sometimes got flashes of what they were describing and also of other people whom he thought were the rest of his family. He marvelled at the peace he felt in this place but deep down he knew however much he wanted to, he could not stay here. He had a job to do and he could not turn his back on it.

It was a week after he had been to see his parents and now Harry stood at a memorial in Sirius' name. Harry could not get the image out of his head of how Sirius had died. The only thing he knew for sure was he, Harry, was going to kill Voldemort and anyone who got in his way.

Harry was snapped out of his musings when a hand was placed on his shoulder.

"Harry, stop blaming yourself!"

It was Remus Lupin. Harry fell into the embrace of his old professor. He was the last remaining link that Harry had to his father. Together they offered what support they could. Once everyone was assembled Dumbledore got up to speak;

"Sirius Black was a good and loyal friend. He died doing what he loved he was not a man to be locked up in one place but was out to enjoy life and to have fun. He died a hero's death to save the ones he loved dear and will be remembered for his noble actions. He will be sorely missed."

Next it was Harry's turn. When he had been asked to speak at the memorial service, he had not been sure whether he wanted to but he knew he needed to. It would get a lot off his chest. The pain would always be there, he knew but this would help. It was what Sirius would have wanted.

"Over the holidays I was doing some reading and I found this quote; 'some people come into our lives and quickly go. Some stay for awhile and leave footprints on our hearts. And we are never, ever the same.'

"Although I did not know Sirius very long he became the closest thing to a father I have ever known. He was kind and protective. Would hold me when I cried; make me laugh when I was feeling sad. He died to save my life and the life of my friends. I love him as son loves a father and I know he is near. I like to think that he is watching and still protecting me. He will always live on in my heart and the hearts of those who loved him. Please, do not let his sacrifice be forgotten."

Harry sat down and Remus stood up.

"How much more difficult is it for those of us left behind?

We will go on, we will survive but how could you have left us alone to walk in this land.

Walk that distant path brave and true,

hear me when I call. Be there when I fall.

I know the body to be gone but the spirit survives through all.

Big struggles, Big heart, Big head.

I will never, ever be the same from what you gave me through our friendship.

You are gone but not forgotten

But I know that in my place you would feel the same, my true and loyal friend.

Requiescat in Pace noble friend."

Harry looked up he had tears in his eyes. He saw Hermione and Ron. Hermione stood with fresh tears on her face. Next to her stood Ron. His face was blank but he too was obviously hurting. They had know Sirius as well as Harry had.

In that moment, Harry suddenly, realised how hard this was for his friends. They must feel as bad as he did. They had followed him; they had been through as much as he had. Of course they did not have the weight of the prophecy on their shoulders, but they had always been there for him. He would not have blamed them if they never wanted to speak to him again but that had not happened. Instead they continued to show the unwavering loyalty they had since their first year, they would be there for him to the very end not matter what it cost them.

They are my family too, he thought as he moved to his seat. He had to protect them; they were all he had left.

The wake followed the memorial service; it took place at Grimmauld Place. It was a very sober occasion. People talked quietly in the corners. He worked his way through the room nodding his head gratefully at the kind words that were spoken about his guardian. He finally found his way to the side of Lupin.

"You OK Harry?"

"No but I will be."

Lupin gave Harry a one armed hug.

"I will be." He repeated

At the end of the evening there was a fire works display which Harry thought was fitting and he thought Sirius would have enjoyed it.

Then it was time for Harry to go back to Privet Drive.

I woild just like to say thjank you to wuzu13 for reviewing. If not one has reviewed I don't think I would have continued writing this especialy with HBP coming out.

I have no excuse for not updating I know it had been a month or more (One day come on.)

I was thinking of making this into a time travel story but I am not sure. I want to know what you would think if I did that, would you still read it?