As I particularly value reviews, before I leave you with the chapter I am here to answer sayianhund's questions/criticisms.
The case scenario you mention, where Harry is a master of death with phoenix tears and basilisk venom flowing through his veins and he is therefore practically immortal and indestructible seems rather unrealistic to me.
Although it is true that Harry came into contact with both substances, it makes more sense to me that the phoenix tears were only the cure for the basilisk venom, and that's all, certainly not that there was some sort of spontaneous reaction whereby these two opposing substances fought each other to remain in some sort of cosmic balance throughout Harry's life and stay within it.
Then, Harry is yes the master of death, but in my opinion this makes him only the owner of three legendary artifacts, and not immortality made into a person... Or at least that's true for me, and for the context of my story.
I hope I have satisfied you with my explanations and that you will, in any case, continue reading.
I leave you with the chapter.
In the lonely night of a dark wood, silence reigned supreme. The only thing audible, if one had paid the necessary attention, would have been the hooting of an owl, firmly harpooned with its long talons on a long arched branch, while its bright yellow eyes obliterated the darkness around it and its black and white feathers were caressed by the chilly summer air. With his imperturbable and majestic appearance, he was the absolute and undisturbed master of that place.
Suddenly, however, something forced the animal to awaken from its tranquillity. A violent rustling of footsteps growing faster and faster, coming from afar, but inexorably closer every second.
Without the poor animal being able to see it, that thing passed at an inhuman speed near the tree on whose branch the owl was perched, causing it to swing dangerously.
Turning his head almost one hundred and eighty degrees, the owl's yellowish, probing eyes rested indignantly in the distance on whatever had disturbed him.
A human form, but one whose behaviour was anything but, was attacking the neck of a large adult deer. The animal lay bleeding and dying on the ground, while the humanoid harpooned its neck with his sharp teeth, feeding on the blood that would soon stop flowing in the animal's veins.
When he was satisfied with his meal, the figure stood up. Turning, a pair of emerald eyes lit up the dark night, replacing those of the owl, who had fled in a hurry at the sight of such a predator of the night. A grisly, satisfied smile hovered over Harry's bloodied lips as he licked the last remains of his prey off his teeth.
Taking one last look around him, he resumed running, faster than the blink of an eye, undisturbed and master of the night once more.
"You know you can't go on like this."
Harry was quietly running his pale fingers over the books in the ancient, Black's family dark library in Grimmauld Place, when a familiar voice abruptly interrupted the flow of his thoughts.
"I have no idea what you're talking about," the boy replied in a decidedly annoyed voice, without even turning towards his interlocutor. He knew perfectly well to whom that voice belonged, and he knew that recommendation by heart at this point.
"Don't play dumb with me, Harry," Remus Lupin's voice insisted firmly as he approached the boy, watching him as he rested one shoulder on a shelf in the bookcase.
Still resolutely ignoring him, Harry kept running two fingers over the books until he found one that obviously satisfied him. He gave a smug sigh and pulled it out of the bookcase, then showed it to Lupin, as if to explain the lack of answers to the questions he was asking.
"Dark Creatures and How to Recognize Them, by Blackwood. Just what I was looking for," the boy explained with genuine interest, nodding and tapping the front of the book. He passed Lupin undisturbed and walked out of the room.
However, when he felt a hand rest on his shoulder at the edge of the door, he turned so quickly that every bone in his body creaked in unison, screaming. A shadow of weariness and worry settled over Lupin's face.
"How much longer can you go on like this?" asked Lupin wearily, slowly removing his hand from the boy's shoulder.
"What do you want me to say, Remus," Harry said blatantly opposed to discussing the topic. "Just because my ideal type of day doesn't mirror yours, I don't think it's worth worrying about so much."
"Your ideal type of day, as you called it," the man grunted in response, annoyed, "Is to stay locked up in here all day reading books about vampires. And since you don't sleep at night, for obvious reasons, to appease your hunger you go hunting in the woods."
"I don't see what's wrong with that," Harry said, shrugging. "I mean, poor deer, fawns and squirrels... But imagine doing it with humans."
Lupin shot him a dirty look. "Be serious. This has been going on for two months. Every-single-day," Lupin punctuated each word in frustration. "Don't you think being with Ron and Hermione once in a while would be good for you?"
"Oh, but we're together a lot. They visit me. Or at least they used to. Now only Ron comes when he can," Harry explained, calm.
"Exactly, Harry. You never get out of here, it's just them coming to see you because there's no way to meet you anywhere else now. And now that Hermione-"
"I doubt it was her who told you to come here and give me this monologue," the boy suddenly interrupted him.
"What could you possibly know about what's going on outside of here?" taunted Lupin. "Maybe she might have done it. Maybe she's worried about you," he speculated bluntly.
Something seemed to change in Harry's eyes and bearing. He almost seemed to go from predator-vampire mode to... human. It often happened when the girl was mentioned.
With a snort, Harry stared Lupin straight in the eye.
"You... You have no idea what she asked me to do. I... I can't. It's too dangerous."
"Oh, I know perfectly well what she asked you. She is an extremely polite girl, so she apologised to me for not being able to come... And she felt obliged to briefly mention why."
Harry looked back at him menacingly, and for a moment Remus was afraid that he had returned to his previous state of apathy. But when the boy continued to stare into his eyes, Lupin almost breathed a sigh of relief. Perhaps he was on the right track.
"Then you know perfectly well why I'm pissed off," grunted Harry in frustration, flinging the book he'd been holding in his hand up to that point to the ground. A shameful amount of dust rose into the air, and the wood cracked dangerously.
"We've already talked about it. And you know I wouldn't tell you if I didn't think so," Lupin explained for the umpteenth time, unfazed by the boy's anger. "The only change there's been in you is the arrogance and malevolent air you give off when you're hungry."
"Apart from the fact that I'm pale and cold as death… Good thing I thought of anaemia as an excuse... But as if that wasn't enough, I have this gaudy mobster ring on my finger," the boy said with mock happiness, lifting his hand to show the incriminating jewel. Then, suddenly, Harry burst out laughing.
"What?" asked Lupin, thinking Harry had gone mad. Nevertheless, he found himself with a small smile on his lips. It had been two weeks since he had last seen the boy smile.
"Did I ever tell you about the time Hermione almost killed me?" asked Harry between laughs, shaking his head, still in disbelief now.
Lupin assumed the disturbing air of an undertaker.
"I'm still here, so there's no point in making that face," Harry explained, patting Lupin reassuringly. Perhaps a little too hard, because it almost knocked him over. "Ah, sorry, my fault," he said guiltily, wandering back with his mind to that day...
Ron and Hermione had come to visit him in Grimmauld Place. It was the first time they had both been there since the war had ended.
Ron had been busy with his family helping Fred through the tough period of convalescence. Fortunately, the Weasley twin would get away with losing only one hand. George had already given him a name based on a Muggle story he'd heard from Hermione... "Captain Hook".
Hermione had been searching for her parents. When she had found them and undone the spell, for a moment she didn't know if she was more terrified that this would work or not. Her parents' eyes, however, lit up. There was a whole week of hysterical crying and furious arguing, but if possible, the Granger family bond came back stronger than before, representative of the love that bound them together.
Harry hadn't wasted a second and had moved to Grimmauld Place. With the excuse of having to process the end of the war and the beginning of his new life, he had researched as much as he could about vampires, to rightly understand what his weaknesses and strengths were, and what myths and realities existed about such dark creatures. The Black's ancient library was essential in this respect.
"Harry, what are you doing here all day by yourself?" asked Hermione looking extremely worried.
"Yeah, mate. Don't you ever get bored?" nodded Ron, adding his consideration to Hermione's.
"If I told you that I simply don't feel like doing anything, would you believe it?" tried to explain Harry, shrugging.
"Yes." "No."
Needless to say, Hermione and Ron immediately glared at each other upon hearing their respective answers, and began to argue about how they could entertain Harry and get him out of there. Harry meanwhile, was enjoying the show amidst his and Ron's laughter, and Hermione's indignation.
"Anyway, let me tell you mate, what a cool ring! Where did you get it?" asked Ron curiously, approaching Harry.
For some time, Harry had been casting a disillusionment charm on the ring, so that it would be not visible and not arouse too much suspicion, since he had never been so vain... But, knowing himself, he was sure that sooner or later he would forget or lose it; therefore, it was better to solve the problem at once.
"I saw it one day in Diagon Alley... I immediately liked it, so... I got it..." said Harry in a whisper, noticing Hermione's eyes staring at his jewel, inquiringly.
"A bit too flashy for my taste. It... gives you an air of mystery though..." said Hermione blushing slightly.
Ron looked at her confused. Then he turned to Harry, suddenly pleased. "Cool, mate! I'm going to buy it too, so girls will think I'm mysterious..." said Ron, with the firm belief that he had found the key to increasing his sex appeal.
"It would just make you look like an idiot, Ronald."
Needless to say, Hermione's sarcastic comment made Harry laugh and Ron blush with indignation, with the latter promptly picking a fight with the girl again.
Harry then, hesitantly, let Ron try on the ring, but his fingers were so big he had to wear it on his little finger.
"I'm sure I'll need a bigger one..." said Ron babbling, displeased that the ring didn't fit him.
Meanwhile, Hermione was scanning the place with curiosity and a hint of annoyance at the neglect of it.
She was looking at the dust and anything that could be put away. Her ingenious brain wouldn't stop turning for a single second.
"Harry, at least open the curtains! It looks like a bat lives in here..." the girl said, rushing to the nearest window and grabbing both curtains in a sinuous motion, ready to open them wide.
Needless to say, if he could have, Harry would have paled even more.
In such a hurry that he nearly tore Ron's finger off, he could swear he felt his body go up in flames at the exact moment he was putting the ring back on as he was hit by daylight.
As Ron pranced around holding his finger in pain, Harry quickly approached Hermione.
"I don't like keeping it open, it gives me the idea that people can see me... You know what I mean?"
Hermione arched an eyebrow questioningly. "You know they can't see you, right? There's a Fidelius on this place, Harry..." she explained incredulously.
"Indeed, I said it gives me the idea, not that it actually does..." tried to explain Harry, smiling nervously and scratching his head.
"As you wish..." said Hermione unconvinced, but closed the curtains as per her friend's wishes.
Lupin chuckled slightly. "Apparently our Hermione unintentionally almost made you spontaneously combust..."
"Yeah-Yeah, you're laughing now because you weren't there. If it weren't for the fact that I'm immortal, I'd swear I'd lost at least ten years of my life," Harry said with extreme seriousness, but soon found himself laughing too.
When they had both finished laughing, there was a few moments of silence.
"I meant what I said earlier, Harry," Lupin said, trying to keep the conversation going. "I see no reason why you can't go."
Harry found himself lowering his eyes because, in his heart, he knew perfectly well that he wanted to. "I let her down, Remus. I saw it in her eyes," the boy found himself spilling the beans, without even realising it. "I was still unaware of whether or not I could control myself. I had to stall and she took it badly..."
"Harry? Harry!"
"Wh-What is it, Hermione?" said the boy, waking up from his stupor.
"I'm sorry, were you sleeping?" the girl asked a little apologetically, looking guilty.
"No, really, don't worry about it," Harry reassured her with a warm smile. "Did you want to tell me something?"
Only Hermione had come to see him that day and they had decided together to have a Star Wars marathon.
"Y-Yeah, actually..." blushed Hermione slightly, looking away.
Harry didn't pay much attention to it anymore. "What?"
"You see... My parents are planning a family dinner with my grandparents... They live out of town and are of a certain age, so some organisation is needed," the girl explained. "Let's just say... They'd... behappytomeetyou," she huffed.
"Um, I... I didn't understand a word," chuckled Harry, taking a strong pat on the back from the girl.
"Rude!" she scolded him with mock offense, but she was laughing too. "So... They'd all be curious and glad to meet you," Hermione made sure to punctuate each word well this time. "I was wondering if you too... Would you like to come and have dinner with us, say in two or three weeks?"
Harry was momentarily speechless. Hermione took this as a negative sign.
"I mean, I understand if you don't want to or don't care but I..."
"Stop, just a moment, Hermione," the boy soothed her, who could almost see the wheels of her brain going up in smoke as she reasoned about what to do. "I was just a bit surprised, that's all," Harry explained. "Why would they want to meet the person who almost got you killed in a war?"
"Harry, you know perfectly well that I don't see it that way," she pronounced firmly and with extreme conviction, taking on a wrinkled look. "I am capable of making my own decisions, and I decided that I would stand by you."
"And for that, I cannot thank you enough," he interrupted, smiling at her.
Hermione blushed and mumbled a thank you. "Anyway, my parents think it's a bit thanks to you too that I survived, so they asked me about you and to invite you to dinner..." the girl explained with growing embarrassment.
"And Ron?" asked Harry curiously.
"You see, Harry... You remember that... There... Ron and I..."
"That you kissed during the battle at Hog..."
"Yesexactlythat!" hastened Hermione to nod, almost pulling her own head off. "See, we've realised that, I mean, we're just not right for each other, we fight all the time!" exclaimed Hermione, who seemed to get angry at the very thought, making Harry laugh. "We've decided to stay friends of course... But I've told my parents about it too and... Let's just say that Ron isn't exactly seen eye to eye with my parents..."
Harry laughed so hard this time that he almost fell off the couch. Hermione began to hit him on the back, furious, but she couldn't budge him an inch, so soon she gave up and began to laugh until she cried.
When they had calmed down, Hermione spoke again. "So what do you say Harry? Shall I tell my parents you'll be there?" the girl asked hopefully.
Harry was about to answer in the affirmative absolutely, when a thought made him interrupt abruptly.
What if he had hurt them?
His eyes widened conspicuously at such a horrible thought.
Hermione was one of the most important people in his life. Perhaps... the most important. He was extremely proud that her family wanted to meet him, but... how was he going to do that because of his condition?
Hermione's parents would probably have cooked. What if someone had accidentally cut themselves and lost control?
What if he'd hurt her?
"I can't."
Hermione lost her sweet, wonderful smile. Her eyes darkened and she stared at Harry for an indefinite time, trying to find some clue that might justify such a response. But the boy kept his head down, his eyes fixed on the ground.
"Why?"
That question hurt Harry more than a rant. He would have preferred a thousand times over that Hermione had gone berserk on him and started yelling or throwing things at him... Instead, she had simply asked why he had given that answer, in her feeble little voice and Harry was sure... full of pain.
"I can't Hermione, alright?" hurried Harry, getting up and distancing himself from Hermione. Her proximity was putting a strain on him, he just wanted to apologise and tell her that it would be wonderful to go with her. "Your parents don't know everything that happened to you, what happened to us, what I did," Harry said, harshly. "Do they know who they're inviting into their home? Do they know I'm a murderer?"
Hermione jumped up, her moist eyes promising tears. "My parents know, Harry! They don't know everything of course, and I had to explain it to them so they would understand, but they do, and they want to meet you anyway! You're the victim of a war, Harry, not the perpetrator."
"Oh yeah? Do they also know about the Mudblood inscription that was done to you with a cursed dagger? Who the fuck was it that got you reduced to screaming at the top of your lungs while asking to die?" yelled Harry, clenching his fists so hard that his bones began to creak.
"It wasn't your fault! We did what we could, we were... We're kids..." tried to explain Hermione, as a tear streaked down her face.
Harry thought he felt sick, but he had to, he couldn't put her at risk in any way. Not her.
"You want to take me to meet your family with pride, but I wouldn't be proud to have me as a dinner guest. And in this way moreover... Almost as if I were..." Harry couldn't find the right words.
"What Harry, what?" asked Hermione on the verge of despair.
"As if I were your boyfriend, and you were introducing me to your parents," the boy voiced his thoughts.
Silence fell, and Hermione looked at him with her eyes widening, bewildered.
"I thought..." the girl said weakly.
"So I can't Hermione," he interrupted her. "Because when you look at me so proudly and want to introduce me to your family, I don't know why the fuck you're doing this... And I just think the only reason you're doing it… is because you feel sorry for me."
A resounding pop echoed throughout the house as Hermione's hand collided with Harry's cheek.
Dumbfounded, Harry turned slowly towards the girl, expecting to find a face streaked with tears.
What he found in front of him astonished him to say the least.
Hermione's face was red with anger, and although she still had traces of the tears that had streaked down her face, she now looked more like a wounded lioness who was defending herself with all her might.
"Don't you dare, Harry."
Hermione spoke in a voice so dry and brutal that the boy almost had trouble recognising her.
"How dare you say I'm doing this out of pity and that I'm not proud of you!" she continued irately, clenching her hands tightly into fists. "I'll have my reasons if I want to introduce you or not, and I assure you that not everything it's about you. My parents know everything, and they're not prejudiced in any way towards you. Indeed, they would be overjoyed to meet you," Hermione explained, stepping back to get away from Harry, who was listening open-mouthed. "So excuse me, but I just don't want to be with you right now."
Hermione turned and walked briskly towards the door. Once she had closed it behind her, Harry could feel her disapparating.
"You really did it big, didn't you Harry?" said Lupin, trying to defuse the tension that had built up.
Harry merely nodded. "I want to go, Remus. But I'm sure... that she won't want me there again. I really fucked up, with her to boot."
"Harry, let this old marauder do you a favour. Go to her. Tomorrow. I know she'll be at Hogwarts visiting Minerva. Make it right, I know you can. I know you want to," Remus concluded, placing both hands on his shoulders and staring him straight in the eye.
"Thank you," Harry said simply, feeling there was no need to add anything else.
He'd been disapparated in Hogsmeade for half an hour. On Remus' advice, he had run two errands so that he could apologise to Hermione in a way that was 'appropriate and proportionate to the damage created', as he put it. Before long she would be out of McGonagall's office, and he would have to be out there, ready, in the hope that she would be magnanimous enough to forgive him for being such a... Prick.
When, as he walked towards to the castle, he realised he was slightly late, Harry looked around to make sure no one was around and abused a bit of vampiric speed to make sure he was on time.
Stepping through the entrance to the castle, he noticed Hermione and McGonagall talking as they made their way towards him. Evidently they had already finished with the business they needed to talk about. Harry continued towards them.
"I'm glad you're well, Hermione, I can't wait for you to finish your studies next year," said the now headmistress McGonagall, with a slight smile on her sharp lips.
"I'm happy too, professor. And I see that thanks to your masterly guidance everything is working perfectly here," Hermione smiled, looking around contentedly.
"I thank you for the compliment... But please, call me Minerva. I'd say we've been through enough for you to do that," McGonagall said with a slightly arched eyebrow.
Hermione nodded a little hesitantly, and both women turned to continue on their way, but found their way blocked by Harry.
Four pairs of eyes widened in amazement and surprise, though for decidedly different reasons.
"Mr Potter, I didn't expect to find you here," McGonagall said, taken aback. "Don't get me wrong, you're always welcome here," she added briefly, as if to justify herself.
"Professor, glad to see you again, really," Harry said with a friendly wave of his head, happy to see one of his mentors again. "Anyway, I apologise, but I'm not here for you today," the boy explained, shifting his gaze to Hermione, who had been absolutely petrified.
The girl seemed to suddenly recover from a Full Body-Bind Curse and turned to face the headmistress, ignoring Harry completely. "Prof... Minerva," she said with slight embarrassment at hearing the name come out of her mouth, "Thank you for your time, it has been a real pleasure."
"You're welcome, Hermione, anytime," McGonagall said, her eyes now a slit, resting on Harry menacingly.
Hermione lifted her gaze and passed Harry without giving him the slightest attention.
The boy, genuinely frightened by the headmistress' murderous gaze, took courage and turned around. "Hermione," he said firmly and without revealing the anxiety he was feeling at the time.
The girl stopped her walk, freezing, but did not turn to look at the boy. "Harry. What... honour."
Harry braced himself and tried to resist the sharp words, weighing that deep down... No, that definitely, he deserved that treatment.
"Can we talk?" the boy asked, still speaking in a clear and concise voice, but with sincerity.
Hermione seemed to think about it for a moment. "We don't have anything to talk about. You've made everything very clear, it seems to me," she explained, resetting Harry's hopes and starting to walk again.
At that point, the boy mustered all the courage in his body, realising that he wasn't going anywhere. "Hermione!" shouted Harry, approaching her quickly.
Hermione turned around like a fury, unsheathing her wand, ready to tackle him again as she had done that day in Grimmauld Place. "Don't you dare yell at me! Ha-"
She stopped suddenly. Harry, though he had called out to her with a frustrated shout, was standing in front of her, and his gaze was proud but let his blatant and deep regret shine through perfectly. What struck Hermione, however, was what the boy had in his hands.
Harry held in one hand a bouquet of bright red roses -gathered with a green ribbon- so beautiful that Hermione could swear she could smell their fresh scent even from afar. In his other hand the boy held a small white rectangular box with a light gold frame.
"I've been incredibly stupid and unfair to you," Harry began, his voice clear and cavernous. "I've said some terrible things that I didn't mean, just because I was afraid of coming across as... unfit."
Harry was staring into Hermione's hazel eyes without blinking, and she was reciprocating, curious and amazed, but paying as much attention as she was able.
"You were kind and thoughtful, as always besides, and you offered to introduce me to your family with pride, as if I was something more... Than just a friend," Harry could swear he could see Hermione shaking slightly as he spoke. "And I have been an idiot, prick, dickhead..."
"Mr Potter! I think you've made your point!" intervened McGonagall, indignant at such language.
The boy turned momentarily to look behind him; he had completely forgotten that they were not alone. "Oh. Yes, yes, you're right professor," Harry added quickly, while, to his extreme happiness, he could see out of the corner of his eye Hermione trying to hold back her laughter at the headmistress' comment.
"Basically I'm here to say I'm extremely sorry," Harry resumed his speech. "And these," he explained, referring with a nod to his gifts, obviously for her, "are not to buy your forgiveness, but are merely a gift to thank you for your cordial invitation to your home... That is, if you still want me."
After he had finished speaking, Harry stood still without moving a single muscle and... Well, he couldn't hold his breath, so he stood still, but stiff as a post, waiting for Hermione's answer.
She lowered her head for a few seconds, then raised her eyes again, and Harry read the furious look he had seen the day he had made the mess. Hermione cautiously and slowly approached him, until she was a step away.
"Prick."
Harry had a stunned look on his face, to say the least. "W-what?" he asked in a huff, not understanding what was going on.
"I particularly liked the part where you said you were a prick, dickhead..."
"Hermione!" intervened McGonagall again, extremely astonished that a model student like Hermione could copy such foul language.
"Sorry, Minerva, but I assure you, it was needed," Hermione said, laughing slightly. Then she went back to staring at Harry... And rushed to hug him. "Of course I still want you, Harry... But you have to promise me that never again..."
"Never. I swear to you. I accept that you're proud of me, but... You'll never be as proud as I am of you," Harry said in a whisper.
Hermione pulled away slightly to look into his eyes, and Harry noticed that her cheeks were red with embarrassment and her eyes were moist. The girl was soon back to crushing him in her arms.
When they had finished hugging, Hermione began to hop around contentedly. "Are these really for me?" she asked, referring to the roses. "They're beautiful! And what's in here?"
"Here, take it," said Harry, opening the little white box and handing it to her.
Inside was a beautiful white gold necklace with two pendants, two H's of precious stones, one of emeralds and the other of topazes, made to represent the two of them.
Hermione was speechless to say the least. "Harry, I can't... I..." she tried to mumble, trying to hand the box back to him.
"Yes, you can. Please, it's the least I can do," Harry said with conviction, pushing the necklace towards her again.
"Oh, Harry, thankyou-thankyou!" Hermione hugged him again, this time placing a kiss on his cheek. The girl left him stunned and took both of his presents. "I'm going to go put the roses in a vase at home right now and show my mum the necklace! I'll contact you about dinner Harry, see ya!" the girl said hurriedly, running off.
"Yes... I... I'll see you, Hermione," babbled the boy, overwhelmed by the rapid succession of events.
"Mr. Potter, may I have a word?"
Harry, once he had recovered, turned to the headmistress, who was staring at him with an air of... curiosity. "Yes, of course, professor."
"I'm going to be straight with you, Mr Potter," McGonagall said with her renowned straightforwardness. "It is clear that Miss Granger dotes and cares for you very much. Try not to hurt her again and be a gentleman or you'll have to deal with me too. And you know how much you want to keep seeing me in a good mood, don't you?"
Harry couldn't help but scratch his head, giving a nervous smile. "You say very well, professor. Don't worry... It won't happen again, she... She's the most important person in my life," Harry confessed, finding himself surprised that he had finaly vocalized this thought out loud.
McGonagall's gaze definitely softened. "Good. That's all, you may go."
"Goodbye, professor. Take care," Harry said, starting to walk outwards.
"Oh, Harry?"
Harry's emerald eyes widened as he heard the headmistress call his name, but he turned anyway, waiting for an explanation.
He found a worried, but firm and confident look that was meant to convey confidence. "Be careful," she simply said.
At first Harry did not understand this further recommendation, but then he did.
She knows...
Remus.
The boy clenched his jaw slightly and nodded, returning her gaze with confidence and a little hardness.
"Your secret is safe with me," McGonagall reassured him. "Go, now."
Harry didn't let her tell him twice, turned on his heel and ran towards the village of Hogsmeade, where he disapparated.