A/N: Wow. I've gotten a lot of questions and complaints about the last chapter. I'll try and explain as best I can.
1- Reasoning behind the Firebolt: I thought it unreasonable for Sirius Black, a wanted man, to access his fortune which should have been frozen due to his incarceration. He was convicted of murder and sentenced. I don't think he'd have access to all his wealth. I am not sure how Rowling justifies the Order using Sirius' home as their headquarters. I know Sirius' mother didn't die until he was already in prison, so he couldn't have deeded it over before his incarceration. In any case, I needed a catalyst for Harry to forgive and make-up with Snape and Lupin.
2- As for Snape and Lupin not having enough money to afford the Firebolt, that leads me into my next explanation. I am pretending that Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince never existed. In my story, Tobias Snape was a wizard as well as Eileen Prince. I just can't see Severus as anything else except a pureblood. I'm sorry. That in turn makes him wealthy.
He has purchased out-right the hidden house where Harry spent the summer. He also inherited Snape Castle in the village of Snape. Yes, this is a real castle and a real village in England. I was tickled when I found out and had to give Severus possession of the castle and make it his family home. It just seemed so right!
He doesn't go to Snape castle or village very often. Bad memories are there because he was abused by his father. Plus both Dumbledore and Voldemort know where it is and could find him there. As for Spinner's End, I am undecided if he will own that as well. Probably not, though. In any case, he can definitely afford the Firebolt in my story.
3- Mistakes with Lupin: I have been informed that Lupin was missing from Hogwarts during Christmas holidays due to his lycanthropy curse. I apologize for missing that detail, but I can't go back and change what happened without destroying everything I have planned. I need it to stay the same. If it helps at all, pretend he was weak and sick, but stayed at Hogwarts because he was so distraught over fighting with Harry.
I would also hope that now that Snape and Lupin are at least working together for Harry, Snape would be offering more than just the Wolfsbane Potion. Maybe giving him pain-killers or healing potions as well. I will try not to make similar mistakes in the future. Forgive me.
4- Harry's inability to love: Some feel that Harry is capable of loving and gave Hermione and Ron as the examples. It is true that Harry cares for, likes, and enjoys them as friends, but he does not hold a deeper love for them. The deeper kind of love is the kind that marks people as your "family". It is a permanent bond, very difficult to be broken.
When you have a best-friend and love them so much they become your "brother" or "sister", or the way you feel toward a lover and they become your "family", or the way some people feel toward their close blood-family, that is the deep love that Harry cannot feel or express. And he does not feel quite that deeply for Ron or Hermione. That's not to say he doesn't like them. They are still important to him.
5- Why doesn't Harry switch to other alters in front of Ron and Hermione? Ummmm… he does. Silas and Gabriel went to classes for him for a whole week and have come Out at other times as well. For example when Ron and Gabriel went to the Chamber of Secrets to save Ginny. And when Hermione, Ron, and Gabriel went to protect the Sorcerer's Stone. Basically they just don't notice that he's different. Hermione did get suspicious once, but diagnosed Harry as having Bi-polar… Remember?
Love and War
It was almost noon and Harry found himself walking upstairs to his dorm room. He felt dread begin to twist his stomach. Why was he here? What had happened? Why was he blacking out so often? He ran the rest of the way and grabbed his journal. Before he could write anything, Ron came into the room with a scowl.
"Harry! What's going on? Why'd you ignore me like that?" The redhead demanded. He had been playing Exploding Snap by himself in the common room when Harry had walked by ignoring him. He wasn't too pleased with Harry leaving him that morning either. He had stayed at Hogwarts for him, after all, and he was spending most of his time by himself and horribly bored.
"Oh… I'm sorry." Harry said quickly, clutching his journal to his chest. "I didn't see you. Ummm… I was thinking of something else."
"Like what?" Ron came forward looking suspicious. "Are you alright?"
"I'm fine, Ron, really." Harry assured him. "I just had to get this book… I… ummm… have an essay to write for Snape as part of my detention and I completely forgot about it and… I thought I'd hurry and do it. We only have a week of break left."
"Oh. Want some help, mate?" He asked, reaching for the book.
"No! I mean… Snape said he'd take a thousand points if I had help." Harry said in a rush. He felt a blush rise in his cheeks. He hated lying to his friends, but couldn't tell them about his condition. And he felt guilty for making Snape seem worse than he was. It wasn't fair to the man and he already owed him so much.
"Slimy git!" Ron growled, face going red again with anger.
"Yeah, so… I'll just go work on this then." Harry eased around his friend and made his way out of Gryffindor Tower. He figured he should go to the library, but Hermione might be there and she'd be harder to fool. So he made his way onto the school grounds instead. Without really thinking about it, he made his way to the Quidditch pitch and climbed up onto the bleachers.
Silas, did you figure out what's happening? Harry wrote.
Yes. His alter wrote shortly.
Harry blinked at the page when nothing more happened. Is it really bad?
No, Harry. Gabriel intervened. Silas is just being a spoiled brat.
I am not. Silas answered sharply, the pen almost digging into the paper. Then Harry's arm relaxed and the normal elegant scrawl returned. I am concerned for you. It seems that you've grown very close to the professors, but you don't know how to deal with that. So Rose deals with it for you.
I don't understand. Harry frowned deeply.
Exactly. Gabriel wrote. You don't understand love. So Rose takes over.
Harry stared at the page. His whole mind seemed to have stopped working as he stared down at the four letter word. Slowly, he began to take it in. Love. He respected his teachers, trusted them, and liked them even. They were his friends, kind of. But love them? He had heard Remus say that he loved him, but had never really thought about it. Never felt he should say it back. It just slid around him and into background chatter. It wasn't what was important. All that mattered was that Remus and Snape were there for him.
He stared out over the pitch blindly. What was he suppose to do? How was he going to get through this when he couldn't even talk to Snape or Remus anymore? He was alone again. But before he could fall under to escape his fear and hopelessness, he realized that he wasn't really alone. He opened his journal. He didn't care what they talked about. He just had to know someone was there with him. Talking with his alters wasn't the same as being with his teachers or his friends, but it was enough to ease the clinching in his chest.
Does Remus know about us?
Unfortunately. Silas remarked.
Come on. Gabriel wrote back. He was going to have to find out sooner or later. And I think he can help us more than Snape can.
Harry noticed there was no argument from Silas. What's wrong, Sy? What happened?
Sy? Silas wrote in a long drawling hand.
Sorry. Harry wrote quickly.
It's fine. Silas relented.
I think it's cute! Gabriel wrote and Harry could almost hear his laughter.
Then you won't mind me calling you Gabe? Silas wrote and there was noticeable silence on Gabriel's part.
So what happened? Harry asked again, trying to draw the conversation back on track.
I know you forgive them. And I can understand their reasoning, but I can't trust that they won't withhold important information again. Silas explained.
I think we've made it clear we won't be pushed around any longer. Gabriel argued. They wouldn't do it again.
We don't need them. Silas persisted. We can look after Harry by ourselves.
But we do need their help. Harry offered. Don't we? Who else is going to help me understand Rose and merge with her?
Exactly. Gabriel agreed. Harry needs to merge with more of us. He's vulnerable like this. Think of the dementors.
I am aware. Silas finally answered. But the professors have gotten emotionally involved. It will cloud their judgment. We should find someone else to help.
Who? Gabriel demanded. And Snape would never allow any emotion to cloud his judgment. He barely has emotions as it is.
Then why didn't he tell us about Dad and Black. Silas pointed out in a lazy scrawl.
Good point. Harry agreed. But who else can help us? I don't want to tell anyone else. And I do trust them.
So it's agreed. Continue with Snape and now Remus. Gabriel wrote in a jaunty hand. It was obvious he felt he won the argument.
How will we prevent Rose from coming Out? Harry asked.
Silas will think of something. Gabriel assured.
There was no answer. Sy? Harry wrote tentatively.
I'll think about it. The Slytherin alter wrote.
Harry knew he wouldn't get anymore than that. So he shut his journal and headed back inside. Ron was glad to see him, but still somewhat sulky. They played Exploding Snap and chess until dinner and the redhead was much more cheerful. So much so, that he didn't bait or tease Hermione when she came to sit with them.
xXxXxXx
Harry had fallen asleep and Silas came Out with a frown. He sat up and went to Harry's school bag. Carefully he wrote a letter addressed to both Professors Lupin and Snape. If it were up to him, he would ditch both, but Harry and Gabriel were adamant. A smirk slowly curled his lips as he walked to the Owlery to mail the letter. He may be capitulating with Harry's wishes, but he would not help them anymore than he had to. Oh, no. When things fell apart because the two professors betrayed them again, he would not hold any of the blame.
xXxXxXx
Harry woke the next morning in a tangle of sheets. He sat up panting, sweat coating his skin. He had dreamed Lockhart was back. He had snuck into Harry's bed and was touching him. Touching him and whispering how much he loved him. Harry began to shake and he hurried from the bed. The sun was just coming up and was casting shadows all over the room. He ran passed the darkness where anything could be lurking and into the showers.
He turned the lights on as high as they would go and scrubbed until his skin felt raw. His shoulders shook and tears mingled with the water that drenched his face. Why wasn't this stopping? Why was he still having bad dreams? He wanted more than anything to go and talk to Snape. He felt safe there, watched over and protected. Nothing bad could happen to him when Snape was there. But he couldn't. And remembering why only made him tremble more.
It was stupid. He knew it was. Lockhart had never said he loved him. Not once. The only thing he had said was that Harry was beautiful and good. So why would he dream that? And why would it make him feel sick to his stomach that he may love Snape and Remus. Confused and sick, Harry sank to his knees.
xXxXxXx
"What's happening?" Gabriel asked as he looked around the soul room. The ground was shaking very slightly under their feet and the area where Kit's door had once been, was cracking.
"Kit's door disappeared, but we could still see were the outline was." Silas explained neutrally. "Harry isn't completely healed. He accepted Kit as a part of himself, but that acceptance is still fragile. It is possible for him to reject her again."
"That can't be good." Gabriel frowned.
"Of course it's not." Silas sneered, but that crumpled into an expression of worry. "I have no idea what would happen to Harry if he split back into Kit and forgot all of her memories for a second time. It would weaken all of us, I think. Look. The cracks are spreading."
"Forget this!" Gabriel yelled and pushed hard.
His bedroom door slammed outward and he disappeared. Harry formed silently on the couch. He was unconscious, sleeping as he always did in the soul room, but for the first time he was restless; whimpering and tossing in his sleep. Boy was screaming in his cupboard. His cries had been getting steadily worse and now were a wail.
Silas lifted Harry's head and sat, placing it gently in his lap. Very tenderly, he ran his hand through the smaller boy's hair. Harry relaxed and stilled, but Silas didn't stop his movement. He lowered his head so his straight, chin-length hair curtained his face. Harry was hurting and they needed help. But how he hated it.
xXxXxXx
"Come in!" Severus called and was unsurprised when Gabriel strode in.
"Did you get Silas' letter?" He demanded, getting straight to the point.
"I did." Severus nodded. "You and Silas will try and hold Rose at bay and Harry should be fine as long as Lupin and I remain neutral and not instigate feelings of… love."
"Right." Gabriel nodded once. "We need you to fix this quickly. Harry is falling apart and causing some damage in here." He said as he lifted his hand to tap at his temple.
"What has happened?" Severus asked and came around his desk.
"He's been having dreams about Lockhart. They come at the tail end of the night when the half-vial of Dreamless Sleep wears off. On top of thinking he's lost you and Remus, he's become really unstable."
"I see." Severus frowned.
"I had to come Out to keep him from splitting away from Kit again. Silas says that would be very bad for all of us."
"I would assume so." Severus drawled. "Can Harry come back now? I will assure him that he has not lost anything."
"Be careful." Gabriel warned. "Pledging your support will cause Rose to react."
"I understand." Severus glared hotly.
Gabriel glared back, but allowed his face to relax. Harry slumped and then opened his eyes. He looked around in confusion. Already his breath was quickening. Severus was careful not to touch him, but bent a bit to catch the boy's eyes. Harry looked at him and Severs showed his most serious teacher face.
"Breathe." Harry obeyed and began to take deeper breaths. Severus nodded and began to talk calmly, utterly neutral. "As you can see, Silas has worked out a way for us to communicate again. It is recommended that we spend only a short time together. Same with Remus."
"Yes, sir." Harry managed.
"Take as seat." Severus ordered and went to his own behind his desk, putting ample space between them. He had never thought in a million years that he'd be in a situation where it would be difficult to prevent feelings of care and love. He shook his head and decided to start with more familiar ground. "You are having dreams of Lockhart?"
"Y-yes." Harry nodded. "I don't know why."
Severus just barely caught himself before saying the boy's name. That would definitely crack the neutral façade he was maintaining and neither of them could afford that. "You have come to accept and understand Kit, but that doesn't mean you have done either about the situation."
"So what do I do to make them stop?" Harry asked tearfully as he wrapped his arms around his thin chest. "I just want to stop dreaming of it. I don't want to think about it."
"You don't want to remember it." Severus finished for him harshly. Harry flinched and lowered his eyes. "Desist in such thinking immediately. You cannot run from your problems. It will only make them worse. Do you want to hand Lockhart more power over you?"
"No." Harry whispered, still looking away.
"Then you will face what he did to you. You will overcome it." Severus said a little more gently.
"How?" Harry lifted his wet eyes.
Severus felt his chest tighten at the pain there. Thankfully his expression didn't change. "I had believed this would become necessary. I think you need to confront Lockhart. Tell him to his face that he cannot hurt you anymore. That you will not let him and you are stronger than you were. Maybe even come forward with what happened so that he is punished for what he did."
"But, sir!" Harry protested, eyes wide in panic.
"Harry." Severus said sternly. "I know it will be hard. I never said it would not. But you want to get better and this is the only way. Besides, if you look past your fear and hurt, you will agree that it will feel good to say such things to the man who hurt you. And…" He hesitated. He couldn't say he would be at Harry's side the whole time. That would provoke Rose. Hmmm… "I know I will enjoy watching you put Lockhart in his place."
Harry relaxed a bit and the panic dimmed as a small smile brushed his lips. He remembered how much Snape had hated Lockhart without knowing what that man had done. He could picture a smug and gleeful Potions Master standing to the side as he watched a two inch tall Lockhart get scolded by a thirteen year old boy. But the humorous cartoon in his head didn't last long. Harry didn't believe he could do it. He wasn't brave enough. He never wanted to see the man again.
"I have found out that there were others victimized by Lockhart." Severus spoke carefully. Harry's head snapped up and stared at him. "It might be in their best interest to confront Lockhart as well."
"I'd… I'd feel… better… about seeing… him… if someone were with me… to… confront him." Harry admitted haltingly. Knowing someone else hurt by Lockhart would be with him, someone who would know exactly what he was feeling, made the idea just barely tolerable. But first he'd have to tell someone else what happened. Could he do that?
"Let me talk to him first. He doesn't know I know and he might not like me telling you who he is. I need Lupin's help. As you know, my reputation isn't one for comfort. I will tell Lupin what Lockhart is guilty of, but if you prefer I will leave your name out of it for as long as I can."
Harry sat silently, thinking it over. He knew Snape was right. Whoever Lockhart had hurt wouldn't react well to the terrifying Potions Master cornering them. Remus could really help, but Harry didn't want Remus to know that he was hurt as well. The silence stretched. Finally, Severus broke it.
"Harry. He will not think any differently of you. As I do not think any differently of you. It wasn't your fault. You are not to blame." He said with careful neutrality.
"I don't want his pity." Harry finally admitted.
Severus smirked, "I assure you he won't pity you. He has a… particularly protective side for people he cares about. He will feel like ripping Lockhart to pieces. Pity wouldn't cross his mind until much later."
"You mean because he's a werewolf?" Harry asked.
"He told you?" Severus was surprised. Lupin was always so damn secretive of his disease and for good reason. "It doesn't bother you?"
"Why should it?" Harry asked tiredly. "He's still Remus to me. And, anyway, you're potion makes him better, right?"
Severus chose not to answer that or state his opinion, "Do you want to tell him or wait until he figures it out? I need him to help the other student."
"Can… Can maybe… Can you tell him after he helps the student and gets them ready to face Lockhart with me?" Harry fidgeted, practically tearing a hole in his shirt. "I don't think I could tell him."
"Alright." Severus said reluctantly. "But you will be there when I tell him. You have to face this, Harry. You have to be stronger than the past."
"Yes, sir." Harry slumped in his chair feeling exhausted, petulant, and frightened.
"Why don't you play for a little while?" He offered and cleared the room. "I have things to do, so when you are done just go ahead and leave. I'll clean up later."
"Thank you, sir." Harry mumbled before sitting down at his instrument. He was really glad he wouldn't have to say goodbye to his professor. He knew that would have been awkward.
xXxXxXx
"Lupin. Come to my office immediately." Severus called through the floo. It was nearly night and Harry had just left.
"What is it, Severus? Is Harry alright?" Remus asked as he stepped through the fire.
He looked tired and there was an air of illness about him. Severus looked him over with a professional eye and was pleased to see some improvement due to the rest the werewolf was getting and his potions. He was glad the full moon had passed. He wasn't lying to Harry when he had said he needed Lupin's help.
"Harry is fine. It is another student I am concerned about." Severus snapped and went to stand by his desk. "I have just found out that Lockhart has a record of child molestation. I began carefully looking for evidence that any student here was victimized and have found one. I cannot go and offer comfort or counsel. You will go in my stead."
"My god Severus." Remus sat heavily in a student's desk. "How did you find this out?"
"That isn't important." Severus glared at the wolf. "I've already contacted the boy's family. They are expecting you, but have no idea why you are really coming. They think you merely need a place to stay while your quarters are being repaired. Make up your own story on how they were damaged in the first place."
"Of course I'll help, but what about Harry?" Remus asked, feeling distinctly like he was in waters too deep. "And what does the Headmaster know?"
"He knows nothing yet. You will tell him you will be gone this week to better recover from the moon. He does not know about Lockhart or the student. You will not tell him until the student feels ready to come forward. Here is a book that deals with sexual abuse and recovering from it. Read it carefully."
"Why me?" Remus asked softly.
"You are empathetic to pain, having dealt with every kind there is for a very long time." Severus answered neutrally. "You are perfect for this role. But most importantly, despite any feelings of dislike I hold for you, I know you can be trusted. You proved that with Harry… Silas believes we can be with Harry only as long as we're not overly caring, drawing out Rose in the process. Do you really feel you can act neutral around him? It is best you give him a few days to come to terms with Rose and all she stands for. Give him time to steady."
"If you think it is best." Remus conceded. He was not stupid. He knew Severus knew more about psychology than he. Harry was in good hands and Remus refused to hinder the teen's recovery in any way.
"Go get ready. You leave first thing in the morning."
xXxXxXx
The week passed and Harry avoided Snape for most of it. He spent his time with Hermione doing homework or goofing off with Ron. It felt good to push everything to the side for a while and just be a kid. They had snowball fights and made themselves sick eating too much candy.
He only saw Snape twice and spent most of that time playing his piano. It made him feel much better, and if he were honest with himself, so did talking to Snape about what he was dreaming and feeling. Snape had a talent at putting his fears in perspective and making him believe he was strong enough to beat them.
Soon enough Monday, January third, arrived and with it the rest of Hogwart's students. Remus had returned the day before, but Harry had only been able to say hi to him briefly. The Tower was full of noise and life as everyone talked about their holidays. Oliver almost had an aneurism when he learned Harry got a Firebolt, but had it taken away.
Oliver was more fanatical than ever about Quidditch and had scheduled them to practice every day of the week until their next game. If they didn't win it, they would be out of the running for the Quidditch Cup. Snape decided that their sessions should be cut to once every weekend and Harry was very relieved. He had no idea how he was going to do homework as it was.
He had been worried he wasn't going to see Remus very much due to his packed schedule, but was pleasantly surprised when the professor reminded him of his promise to teach the charm that defeats dementors. So twice a week, Harry snuck into the Defense room during lunch to practice the Patronus charm. It was very difficult, but they struggled through.
At first, Remus had him practice just saying the charm and thinking happy thoughts. By the second week, he was able to cast his Patronus perfectly. It was a stag; Remus had looked shocked and sad when he had seen it. Harry was shocked to learn that the stag had been his father's favorite animal. After that, Harry practiced against a boggart. It didn't affect him as strongly as a real dementor and he had his Patronus to further insolate his mind from the damaging effects, but Remus still cut the practices to once a week afraid of making him ill.
Time went really quickly. He didn't have a spare second to rest and was working himself so hard he was too tired to have nightmares. He never asked Remus who he was helping, never asked Snape when they were going to confront Lockhart. Rose hadn't come Out again, as he spent less time with his two teachers. Even when he was with them everything was done with a professional air so he felt no conflict.
He wrote a lot in his journal that month, but only once or twice to Silas and Gabriel. Both of those times he had been asking them for their advice about Hermione. She was beginning to look ill, she was working too hard. But his alters weren't very helpful. Silas said leave her to it; it was her own decisions that led her to this point. While Gabriel said he should tell her that she was hurting herself and that she should do less. Ron was worried as well, but whenever they tried to talk to her about it, she'd snap at them or burst into tears. Eventually Harry decided maybe Silas had the right of it and left her alone.
xXxXxXx
It was now February eighth and in just two days Gryffindor was scheduled to play Ravenclaw. The whole team was on edge because the Ravenclaw team had lost to Slytherin, and if Gryffindor won against them as well, they would still have a chance at the Cup. Losing meant losing everything. On top of that, Harry still didn't have a broom.
He had taken to pestering both Remus and Snape whenever he could, and had been doing so for a week, but all they would tell him was that the Firebolt was fine and he'd have it back soon. They weren't lying because he got it back that day. Professor McGonagall found him on his way up to the common room and she was smiling at him.
"Well, we've done everything we could think of, and there doesn't seem to be anything wrong with it at all. You've got a very good friend somewhere, Potter."
Harry stared at his Firebolt and felt himself swell with happiness. He was getting it back? He reached for it and she gave it to him without hesitation. It felt just as powerful and warm in his hand as it had the first time he had held it. He began to grin. Yes. He did have very good friends. He felt his chest swelling and clenched his hand around the broom. No. He couldn't switch to Rose now. Not in front of McGonagall.
"I daresay you'll need to get the feel of it before Saturday's match, won't you?" His Head of House said, ignorant to his internal struggle. "And Potter – do try and win, won't you?"
"Yes, ma'am." Harry said and hurried passed her. He focused on the broom, trying to ignore thoughts of Snape and Remus.
He didn't think it was going to work until he stepped passed the portrait and his whole House descended on him. They effectively captured his attention and the moment passed. Everyone wanted to touch or even ride the Firebolt. Harry indulged as many as he could, but was determined to be the first to fly it. He couldn't wait till practice the next day.
Finally, Harry was released and he and Ron went upstairs. He had just shrunk his broom and carefully stowed it in his trunk when he heard Ron scream. He held up his sheets and Harry went cold at seeing the dark red stains. It was blood.
"Scabbers!" Ron yelled. "He's DEAD! LOOK!"
Harry stared at the bloody ginger hairs that undoubtedly belonged to Crookshanks. It looked like the cat had finally won the war that was between them. Ron stormed downstairs, Harry on his heals. He yelled at Hermione, thrusting the bloody sheet into her face. She argued that he didn't know for sure it was Crookshanks. The rage on Ron's face and the stubbornness on Hermione's told Harry that this was probably the end of the friendship between the two.
xXxXxXx
For the first time since he had joined the team, the players weren't the first ones down in the Great Hall early Saturday morning. Everyone had come to see the Firebolt up close. Oliver laid it on the table and tilted it so that its gold engraved name faced up. People from every House came over to stare at it and sometimes run a revenant finger over its smooth handle.
Even Malfoy came up. The blonde had been oddly quiet lately. Harry knew Silas had said something to him, but didn't know exactly what. Whenever he asked, Silas would say nothing or answer vaguely. So he was really curious about what the blonde would say. He was disappointed when it was the normal insults.
"Sure you can handle that broom, Potter? Shame it doesn't come with a parachute along with all its other features- in case you get too near a dementor." He sneered.
Harry opened his mouth to answer when he felt himself unexpectedly blacking out. Silas blinked a few times, but quickly got his bearings. He ignored the headache building between his temples and smiled coldly at the blonde. He was very satisfied to see a flicker of doubt in the Slytherin Prince's grey eyes.
"Pity you can't attach an extra arm to yours, Draco." Silas drawled, purposely savoring the blonde's name. "Then it could catch the Snitch for you."
Silas retreated with a smirk and Harry came back to find the Gryffindor table roaring with laughter and several people pounding on his back. Malfoy was gone and he had a horrible headache. He nodded vaguely to everyone's applause and approval, blushing in embarrassment and anger at being forcibly removed.
xXxXxXx
"You know what we have to do." Oliver said as they got ready to play. "If we lose this match, we're out of the running. Just – just fly like you did in practice yesterday, and we'll be okay!"
They walked out onto the pitch to a roar of applause. Harry eyed their seeker, Cho Chang. She was the only girl on the team and he had seen her fly before. She was good, but he was on a Firebolt. Both teams kicked off. The game started off fast and maintained the breakneck pace. Goals were scored on both sides, but Gryffindor maintained its lead.
It quickly became apparent that Cho wasn't looking for the Snitch herself. She was trailing him, sticking to him like glue. He tried to get away from her, speeding off, but she always caught up and maneuvered him by cutting in front or flying too closely. Several times he saw the Snitch, only to loose it again because of Cho.
Fed up, Harry grit his teeth and went into a very steep and fast dive. She followed thinking he saw the little golden ball. He pulled up, inches from the ground and shot back up into the air like a bullet. Triumph and joy boiled in his blood and right at that moment he saw it. The Snitch glittered high above the pitch on the Ravenclaw end. Cho was still several dozen feet below him and he sped toward it like a shooting star. Cho was hot on his tail, but had no chance of catching up.
Suddenly, he heard her scream and looked back to see her pointed toward the ground. He looked and saw three dementors looking up at him. He didn't stop to think, but reached into his robes for his wand. Trembling slightly with adrenaline and fear, he shouted "Expecto Patronum!"
The silver stag leapt from his wand and he whipped his head forward again, trusting it to protect him as he searched for the Snitch. He was only a foot away from it and it was desperately trying to disappear, swerving every which way. Harry followed it. Cho was now level with him, having gained ground when he had been distracted with the dementors. But he put on a burst of speed and his fingers alone curled around victory.
The next several minutes were a confused blur. Everyone was shouting and screaming and he was being crushed in hug after hug. He was laughing harder than he had in a long time and he hugged everyone back joyfully. When he heard Remus praise his Patronus, he spun and leapt into the man's arms.
"I did it!" He yelled in the man's ear. "The dementors didn't affect me at all! I didn't feel a thing!"
"That's because they weren't dementors." Remus laughed and tugged him from the celebrating crowd. There on the ground were three boys from the Slytherin Quidditch team struggling to get free from their robes. "You gave them quite the fright."
Harry grinned as Flint, Montague, and Warrington glared up at him. He gave a saucy wave and allowed himself to be guided by his team up to the Tower and the huge party that waited there. And what a party. Fred and George brought piles of candy and even came up with bottles of butterbeer. Everyone laughed and goofed off and played games that had everyone acting silly or bestowing kisses. The only Gryffindor who didn't participate was Hermione, who insisted she had work to do quite hysterically. Harry quickly backed off and returned to the party.
xXxXxXx
"AAAAAAAAAAAA RRRRRRRRRRRR GGGGGGGGGGGG HHHHHHHHHHHH!"
Harry sat bolt upright as he was ripped from his dreams by a horrible scream. At first he thought the yell was from his dreams, but then he heard Ron scream again. He flung his curtains open at the same time as the rest of the boys to find Ron staring in terror at his shredded curtains. Harry hurried to his side.
"Black! He was here! Sirius Black was just here! He had a knife and he cut up my curtains and was going to stab me and…!"
"Let's go downstairs." Harry urged, thinking it would be a good idea to get help, and dragged his shaking friend from the bed.
The four boys scrambled downstairs where several other Gryffindors were gathered, having been woken by Ron's screams. McGonagall stormed in looking livid. She thought they were still having a party, but Ron was in tears and this quickly got her attention. Seamus and Dean spoke at the same time, telling her about Black.
"Nonsense, how could he possibly have gotten through the portrait hole?"
"Ask him!" Ron yelled, his tears gone. But the finger he pointed toward the entrance was shaking. "Ask him if he saw Black!"
McGonagall glared at the redhead, but did turn and step outside. She left the painting open so that the others could hear how ridiculous this was. The students crowded close to hear their every word. "Sir Cadogan, did you just let a man enter Gryffindor Tower?"
"Certainly, good lady!" The crazy knight who had replaced the Fat Lady answered.
There was a long moment of stunned silence inside and outside before McGonagall recovered, "You – you did? But – but the password!"
"He had 'em!" The knight said proudly. "Had the whole week's, my lady! Read 'em off a little piece of paper!"
"Which person," she said, her voice shaking and her face white as chalk as she stared at everyone gathered in the common room, "which abysmally foolish person wrote down this week's passwords and left them lying around?"
A shaking Neville Longbottom slowly raised his hand into the air. McGonagall glared so horribly she rivaled Snape before turning and storming from the room. The portrait slammed shut and they could all hear her ordering the knight not to open the door until she herself allowed him to. They were all locked inside while the castle was being searched.
Everyone began chattering nervously. The only ones silent were Harry and Neville. Harry was worried and Neville looked to be in shock of some kind. Ron was mobbed by people wanting to know what had happened and Hermione was discussing how Black could have gotten past the dementors with Dean.
xXxXxXx
They didn't find Black that night. He had escaped them again. The whole school interrogated the Gryffindors as they walked the halls and the Great Hall was a mass of curious and frightened kids. It took Dumbledore sending everyone back to their House table to return order. But everyone lost it again when the Howler from Neville's grandmother arrived. The chubby boy bolted from the room, almost falling twice, but they all could still hear the awful tirade when it erupted in the Entrance Hall.
xXxXxXx
Harry woke that night from a sound sleep. He tossed in his bed and then sat up with a sigh. He opened his curtains, but could see nothing that had woken him. Then his eyes fell on Neville's bed. The curtains were open. The bed was empty. Harry bit his lip and crawled to the end of his bed where his trunk sat. As quietly as he could, he opened the lid and dug around for the map the twins gave him. He whispered the activating words and waited for the map to come to life. He sighed with relief when he found Neville's ink figure in the boy's bathroom.
He lay back down and closed his eyes. But sleep wouldn't come. Something was bothering him. After tossing for several minutes, Harry began his breathing exercise. A memory from dinner rose slowly in his mind. He remembered glancing over at Neville to see him staring at his food blankly. His skin was pale and his eyes were rimmed with red as if he had been crying. But now that he thought about it, Neville's eyes didn't look upset. They looked empty and dead.
Feeling dread, Harry crept from his bed and tiptoed to the bathroom. He carefully pushed open the door. The lights were off. Frowning, he called for his classmate, but no one answered. Now Harry was sure something was wrong and his heart beat rapidly in his chest. He whispered the lights on and gasped. Neville lay on his side in the middle of the floor, blood pooling out around him.
"Silas!" Harry invoked and fell away from the horrifying sight.
Silas strode forward and casually rolled the boy onto his back. He found the two slashed wrists and held them close together with one hand. His other hand held their wand and he began to chant. White light emanated from the tip of the wand and slowly snaked around the damaged wrists. Neville stared at him, barely conscious. His skin was cold. Two minutes passed and Silas broke out in a sweat. Then the magic disappeared and he dropped Neville's hands. The boy blinked up at him and Silas sneered as he wiped his forehead tiredly.
"Stupid boy." He said harshly. "Death is never an option."
Chapter end.