Hey Guys! Sorry for the late update! Please forgive me! I promise I'll be posting the next chapter this Sunday as planned :-D

I'd love to hear feedback on how you think the story is going, and what parts you like/dislike. So please review!

WARNING, boring disclaimer: No money made for me. Nope. I also don't own anything to do with Harry Potter. Writing this story is entirely for my own enjoyment, and very little else.

Beta'd by: Bombadilo Baby. She may be a terrible speller, but she is a woman of many talents. She is the Guru, Advisor and Chick-Who-Stops-Me-From-Rambling ;D thank you for putting up with me! (like seriously, thank you)

A Vibrant Weekend to You All!

-G

Chapter 29 – Whispers in the Dark

His exams were finally over. Harry let out a long winded sigh of relief, thanking Merlin as he was dismissed from the classroom. Harry was pretty sure that their group study sessions were the only reason he hadn't failed that Astronomy exam. He liked wandering at night, and had been found (by many of the Slytherins) not asleep in his bed during the wee hours of the morning. But his nocturnal habits most certainly did not include memorising star names.

. . . . except Draco. But he was a person, not an actual star, so that didn't count.

Harry walked over to his group of friends still waiting outside the classroom, stretching his cramped hand and upper back from long hours hunched over a desk writing. He yelped in surprise when a blonde head suddenly thumped against his shoulder, almost toppling him over.

"Morgana, I can't wait for holidays." Draco groaned, eyes shut as he unconsciously leant the majority of his weight against Harry's smaller frame. Harry's legs wobbled as he struggled to remain upright. He poked his friend in frustrated amusement, with a hefty dose of fatigue.

"Oi!" Harry jostled his shoulder but failed to dislodge his friend. "Get off! You'll push me down the stairs!" he said, gesturing to the flight of stairs from the Astronomy tower, which they still had to trek down. Why did they have to hold the exam way up here?

Draco moaned, burrowing his head of pale hair further into Harry's shoulder for a moment before grudgingly straightening with a sigh. Harry muffled a laugh at his friends pouting face.

"What's taking him so long?" Draco questioned. The question was followed with a jaw cracking yawn as he peered owlishly back at the door. Honestly, the only reason Draco was so tired was because he'd insisted on late night study sessions for the last month.

Daphne rolled her eyes skyward. "They let us out alphabetically, Draco. Blaise's last name is Zabini."

Draco muttered petulantly to himself under his breath.

"Nice to know you care, Draco." Blaise's drawling voice came from behind them.

Draco huffed. "We waited didn't we?" he retorted, somewhat lazily.

Unanimously the group started making their way slowly down the stairs. Pansy turned to Daphne with worried eyes. "You haven't seen my Fantastic Beasts book have you?" She asked, a slightly distressed tone to her voice. "I've looked for it everywhere, and the trains arriving tomorrow!"

Daphne's forehead creased delicately as she thought, carefully descending the stairs. "I don't think so." She replied hesitantly. "But have you check in your extendable handbag yet? Didn't you take it with us down to the lake a few weeks ago?" she asked, trying to remember.

Pansy perked up marginally in hope. "I thought I had, but maybe I should check again?" she replied.

Draco turned to Harry, walking beside him as he asked. "Speaking of the train? What's this I hear about you not being on it?" He asked, his voice a mix between sulking and curious.

Harry beamed, not at all disheartened by his recent departure plans. "Dad said that we'd be leaving from here, straight to our new house!" he told Draco, unable to keep the excitement off his face as he all but bounced on his feet.

Draco pouted, scowling at the staircase they were on as though it deigned to move out from under them. "Still can't believe you'd rather stay there, then with me at the Manor. Our Summer holidays could have been awesome!" his voice was higher as he whined.

Harry's smile hesitated, though his chest was oddly warm as his friends disappointment. He hurried to tell Draco the good news "Dad was telling me this morning that he'd organised with Lucius to leave the Floo connection between our houses. Apparently we've got a lake just down the hill from our house. You could all come over for a swimming!" he exclaimed, eyes shining like bright green grass as he looked around the group.

Greg beamed. "Nice! We should camp over! We've got an extendible tent that barely gets used."

Pansy's eyes light with unholy glee. "I could search for Streelers!"

Vince blinked slowly as he registered that statement, then turned hesitantly to face their friend. "Err. . . Pans, aren't they, you know . . . poisonous?" he replied cautiously.

Pansy, as usual, was undeterred "But they're so pretty! Their shells change colour!" her smile was disturbingly misty.

Daphne rolled her eyes, muffling a snort. She smiled at their friend in exasperated amusement. "You just want one of those huge snails because Newt Scammander wrote about them in his book." She teased, lips twitching.

Pansy blushed bright red. "O-of course not!" she stuttered. "They're just really amazing! Did you know he discovered that the slime can be used to ward off a Venomous Tentacula? And at full size they can be as big as a crup?!" she told them excitedly.

Draco looked over in abject horror. "Why on earth would you want a giant deadly snail that kills plants?" He demanded. They had wards around their garden for the express purpose of warding off such creatures, along with several other introduced species.

Daphne ignored Draco's comment for now (though she completely agreed), still staring at her friend. "Yes. Because you told us just last week." She reminded Pansy, laughing.

Pansy huffed, nose tilting up daintily in the air. "How could you not want a beautiful colour-changing snail?" she said in a rhetoric manner.

Blaise and Vince shared sceptical glance.

"Easily" Draco muttered under his breath.

Harry nudged his friends side, signalling him to be quiet before he drew Pansy into a full blown rant on the wonders of poisonous magical snails. Draco rolled his eyes but wisely complied. After all, Pansy could go on forever about the injustice of magical creatures once she got started. They all blamed Newt Scammanders widely popular book.

Satisfied, Harry peered behind them to Greg, going back to their original conversation. "I think that's a brilliant idea! You guys should definitely come over the holidays!" he exclaimed eagerly. He could hardly believe that he'd actually made friends since coming here to Hogwarts, since he'd never had any before, but you'd have to pry them away from him now. His forehead creased momentarily as he thought about his Dad's likely reaction when he asked for a bunch of other kids to stay over, but was pretty sure he would be allowed. . . so long as they stayed away from his Potions Laboratory.

Daphne's eyes lit up, and her mouth curled in a devilish smile, making everyone look at her warily. "And I've got the perfect ingredients at home to bewitch our campfire." She hummed.

And yep, Harry still wasn't used to that. Most days Daphne would seem like the most level headed person in their group. And then she'd get that glint in her eyes and suddenly whatever she was suggesting would be Weasley twin worthy (it was probably why they got along so well). In truth Greg and Vince were probably the most sensible out of the whole lot of them, and even they had their moments.

All in all, Harry figured his friends were all a little crazy. . . he was okay with that. He'd had more than enough of 'normal' living with the Dursley's.

Still, being somewhat sensible, he still took a moment to peer at Daphne suspiciously. "Nothing that's gonna get me grounded for life or – or like - injured, yeah?" he confirmed, lips twisting hesitantly.

Daphne flipped the fringe of her neatly coiffed hair. "Please. I have some tact." She replied haughtily.

Harry wondered if she was taking into account that his Dad was Severus Snape, but shrugged agreeably anyway.

Vince turned to Daphne, idly asking. "Hey don't you have a little sister? You should bring her along too, she's going to be starting Hogwarts soon yeah?" he proposed idly.

Everyone turned, waiting with interest for her reply. They were currently paused at one of the landings, waiting for a slowly shifting staircase to make their way over.

Daphne pursed her lips thoughtfully, though a hopeful smile was spreading across her face almost immediately. "You guys don't mind? It would be awesome if she could come too." She checked, eyes darting around the group.

Everyone nodded in agreement, though Harry was interested to note that Draco seemed oddly reluctant for a moment. Harry vaguely remembered seeing Daphne's younger sister at the Malfoy Yule Ball, but couldn't think why Draco would be opposed to her hanging around with them.

"Ohh!" Pansy exclaimed excitedly, eyes wide. "Think she'll be in Slytherin?" she wondered.

Blaise contemplated the question before shrugging. "That or Ravenclaw if I had to guess. No one in the Greengrass family would ever make Hufflepuff, they'd eat them alive." He said, stepping onto the next flight of stairs.

Daphne scowled, hands on her hips as she trailed after him. "And just why do you think we're not good enough for Hufflepuff? We could be brilliant in any house." she insisted.

The group fell conspicuously silent as suddenly no one daring to meet Daphne's gaze.

"Hey!" she exclaimed, scowling at the lot of them. "We would be!"

Harry shifted closer to Draco as Daphne went on to argue heatedly with Blaise. Harry nudged him in the side to draw his attention. Draco peered down at his friend questioningly.

"Why don't you want Astoria to come?" Harry asked quietly, not wanting to offend anyone with his question.

Harry was surprised to see the immediate flush of pink at the tips of Draco's ears. His friends eyes flickered away before he seemed to consciously drag them back to Harry. "No reason." He mumbled, face bright with embarrassment, then went on to mumble something about friends little sisters and his parents.

Harry's head tilted to the side, a frown creased between his eyebrow. "What?" he asked bewildered even further by Draco's illegible reply. His friend's ears turned a brighter red but didn't seem able to legibly explain through his mortification. Harry paused hesitantly before shaking his head, silently accepting the response. Draco obviously didn't want to tell him. The blonde wilted in relief as the matter was dropped, but Harry felt a weight of disappointment settle in his chest.

He forcibly shoved it aside. Just because they were friends didn't mean that Draco had to tell him everything. At least that was what Harry tried to convince himself.

They were halfway down to the Dungeons when he heard footsteps on the stones, followed by his name being called after them.

"Harry!"

Harry paused, Draco automatically stopping beside him, as he looked around for the source of his name.

Sirius came bounding down a side-hall to meet the group, a blinding smile across his face.

"How're ya going, pup?" he asked.

Harry shuffled somewhat awkwardly. The blonde stood protectively close to Harry. "Alright." He replied. "We just finished out last exam." He added. He still felt uncomfortable around his other Godfather. He knew logically that all the man wanted was to befriend (or support him?), but Harry still remembered the expression on Sirius' face when he learnt Dad had blood adopted him. It had been horror.

And whilst his Dad might not have said anything outright, Harry could swear he saw affection (and a strange combination of relief and shock) in his father's black eyes every time Harry chose Severus over Black.

"Good job!" Sirius exclaimed, stepping forward to ruffle Harry's hair. Harry, only seeing the limb approaching, automatically flinched away. Sirius' arm paused, before he carefully retracted his palm.

Grey eyes seemed impossibly sad for a moment before the man tried to recollected himself. "I've got a present for you in my office, to celebrate the end of your first year at Hogwarts." He beamed down at Harry, though the smile seemed less bright. "Come on, I want to see your face when you unwrap it!" he said, face illuminated by a beam of light from the tall glass windows.

Harry, embarrassed at his unconscious reaction, and feeling slightly guilty for ruining his Godfather's happiness, found himself nodding in agreement.

Harry glanced at Draco, who had been watching them both during the exchange carefully, along with the rest of his friends.

"I'll catch up with you guys in a moment?" Harry said, the words almost coming out as a question.

Draco nodded hesitantly, unwilling to leave Harry showed any sign of wanting his company. "Yeah. . . alright. See you soon, Harry." He replied, glancing towards Sirius as though he wanted to say something before he was nudged by Blaise. Reluctantly, Draco nodded to Harry in goodbye, grey eyes fixed on his friend.

Harry walked closer to Sirius as they turned in mildly awkward silence away from the group, making their way down the hall towards Sirius' office.

Sirius' brow was creased, his silver grey eyes unusually sombre when he peered down at his Godson. After a moment the man spoke. "Sorry." he said, voice rougher than usual.

Harry's eyes slickered up in surprise.

Sirius frowned as he went on "I know how you were treated at your Aunt and Uncle's. And I'm sorry. . . It was my fault." Sirius said hauntingly, sounding as though he had a lump in his throat. Harry was alarmed to see a sheen of tears being blinked away in the older man's eyes.

Harry didn't know what to say. He hardly knew himself any of the details of his life prior to the Dursley's. The only thing he could remember about his parents was their deaths.

A guilt ridden Sirius continued "I left you there alone. Went out on some stupid goose chase. Imprisoned when I should have been looking out for my Godson." one tear had actually slipped from the haggard man's eyes. Harry didn't think he'd even seen an adult cry before.

Sirius shook his head, and Harry was oddly reminded of a dog shaking away water. "I know what it's like. Being around crappy adults." Sirius admitted, eyes straight ahead now and shuttered. " 'M lousy at advice, but I got an alright pair of ears if you need them."

Harry almost tripped over his feet as he stumbled in surprise. However, by the time he realised that Sirius was waiting for a reply the moment had passed.

Harry followed Sirius through his office door, automatically peering around in curiosity at the semi-emptied room.

"Be back in a mo'" Sirius told him, disappearing through one of the storage cupboard doors.

Harry stood in silence, feeling oddly guilty about his behaviour around Sirius suddenly. He found himself unable to stop wondering why had his parents chosen this man as his Godfather.

A rattling hiss suddenly drew his attention, and his head turned automatically towards the sound. Was it. . . ?

Harry paused to listen more carefully.

It was! It was the voice again! In the walls!

Happy to put the matter of his Godfather aside for the moment, his green eyes lit up with curiosity as he crept closer to where the sound seemed to be coming from. As he approached he had to veer slightly to the side since the sound was moving along as well, in a different direction. As he drew closer finally the words because more distinct.

"Good. Tttthey'rrre leeeeaving. Aaalmossst tiiime. Thhhee ssstonne wi–"

Harry's eyes widened in recognition and surprise. "Ssstone?" he repeated, unaware that he had replied in parseltongue.

The hissing suddenly stopped, along with the odd rasping sound. Harry frowned, stepping forward to press his ear against the wall, trying to hear better. Harry jumped in fright as an old bronze grate, that he hadn't noticed before, suddenly rattled over to his left.

Glancing around, as though afraid to get caught snooping into strange sounds by his Godfather, Harry crept quietly over.

The grate was eerily still and silent (along with the walls) as Harry, every so slowly, hunkered down to peer tentatively through the grate.

Harry bit his lip. "Heello?" Harry called out hesitantly, edging closer, trying to see through the darkness beyond the grate. The stone floor was cold on his knees.

". . . Harry?" he heard Sirius call, an odd note in his voice as he hurried back into the room.

Harry looked away from the grate towards Sirius, about to ask if any of the creature's they'd been studying in Defence class had escaped, when suddenly the floor lurched out from under him. Crying out in alarm, Harry's arms shot either side in an attempt to find a solid surface. Anything to hold onto. He found nothing.

"Harry!" he heard Sirius call. It was the last thing he heard as he suddenly tumbled into darkness.

Harry screamed.