Disclaimer: See Prologue.
A/N: I'm back! Mexico was awesome. We had a very good experience. Not to mention the German Adonis we met at the House of Immigrants. Now, about the story. Someone mentioned that the Fidelius Charm would hold no matter who the owner was, but that can't be true. Why would Dumbledore worry, if that were the case, in HBP about Bellatrix showing up at Headquarters because the blood magic on Grimmauld Place didn't recognize Harry as the owner? Also, about word about the attack traveling quickly and the rumor of it being headquarters, well, it was in London and people were bound to notice the Dark Mark. Not too much of a stretch for someone to guess at why that particular house was attacked when the family it belonged to was a bunch of dark wizards who followed Voldemort. A rumor only takes one person to start.
The Chosen Eight
Chapter Fourteen
Connecting
Harry sat in his room and just stared at the wall. He was at Alabaster Castle. As soon as he had heard about Sirius, Remus, and the Weasleys, he had to get away. He had to be alone. This was his fault! He should have known something like this could happen! He should have stopped the attack!
"Don't beat yourself up over this, Harry," the calming voice of Godric Gryffindor said from a nearby portrait. "You could not have known about his. You are not a Seer, and even if you had revealed yourself, it wouldn't have made any difference."
"I could reveal myself now and save them."
"You know that you can't do that yet. You could die if you face Voldemort without the others," Godric gently reminded him.
"I have to do something! I can't just sit here and do nothing!" Harry replied vehemently. "Sirius and Remus… Mr. And Mrs. Weasley… Bill and Charlie… they are my family. They care for me, Harry, not because I'm famous, but because of who I am. The thought of them being captured by Voldemort…"
"I know, Harry, and I didn't say that you couldn't do anything. I merely want to advise you to be discreet about it, and wait until you are not alone. You will need some help."
"I know," came the forlorn reply. "But— "
Whatever he was about to say was interrupted by an insistent tap, tap at the window. Harry let the owl in and looked at it and its letter suspiciously.
"I don't recognize the owl or the handwriting," he said, cautiously approaching both.
"Well, you don't have to worry about it containing any malevolent curse or the like," Godric replied, peering down at them in curiosity.
Harry looked at him in confusion. "Why not?"
Godric looked at him. "My boy, hasn't anyone ever explained to you the very complex magic that protects this residence and its occupants? Suffice to say that anybody or anything wishing you harm would be forcefully repelled from this property before even getting near the house. When your subconscious completely connects to this place you will understand."
Harry nodded before turning back to the owl. He untied the letter and the owl flew off. He opened the letter and was a little surprised to learn who it was from.
Harry-
I know we've had our differences in the past, and I know you are probably shocked that I'm writing to you, hell, I'm shocked that I'm writing you. I've been in contact with Sirius for the past couple of months. I needed someone to turn to and I figured he would understand if anybody would. Don't expect me to list my reasons for you, but I will not end up like my father, bowing down to a power-crazed, self-styled 'lord', nor my mother, having my whole life devoured by an idiotic cause that, if it were to win, would have us all either die out or go crazy with all the in-breeding. No, I want to cut my ties with the Dark Lord's followers.
Now, you're probably wondering why I am writing you, of all people. Well, Sirius told me to go to either you or Remus Lupin if he himself was not available. You can obviously see why I can't go to the latter. Besides, Sirius wanted us to make peace. As much as I hate to admit it, I need your help.
-Draco
Harry didn't know what to think, but after his training with Godric, he had learned to keep an open mind. However, he wasn't fool enough to go in to this sort of meeting blind. He finally decided to have Draco meet him at the small Muggle town on the very outskirts of the Gyffindor property. It was close enough to Alabastor Castle to be protected by its wards, yet far enough away so that the house itself could not be seen. Therefore, if Draco was not sincere, he would not be able to make it to the meeting point.
He wrote out his reply detailing the whereabouts and time of the proposed meeting and sent it off with Hedwig. He would know by tomorrow if Draco would prove to be an ally or an enemy.
'One more of either couldn't really hurt,' Harry mused.
OoooOoooOoooO
Susan sighed as she walked down the Diagon Alley alone. This was the first time she had to shop for school supplies without her aunt. It was strange to think of her aunt without the painful grief that had overwhelmed her the days following her death. But she had done her mourning and moved on. Anybody observing her stages of sorrow would think that she had moved on far too quickly, but they didn't know she had been gone a year in just one night.
She still didn't enjoy shopping alone, though, and was relieved to see a familiar face.
"Neville!" she called out to the boy. He smiled as she approached.
"Hello, Susan," he said. "Shopping alone?"
She smiled softly. "Yeah, you?"
"Yeah, I managed to convince Gran that I would be alright by myself. Would you care to join me?" he asked, hopefully.
She smiled brightly at him. "I would be glad to."
He grinned in return.
OoooOoooOoooO
"How does you feel, Sirius? Are you comfortable? Crucio!" the cruel voice of Bellatrix said.
Sirius's screams echoed in the small cell and he strained at the shackles that restrained him to the wall. Remus looked on helplessly as he watched from his place on the opposite wall.
"You are going about this entirely the wrong way, Bellatrix," the oily voice of Severus Snape said from the doorway. "You would get information much faster if you were to focus on Lupin. Black is very protective of him, and although Lupin is equally protective of him, he had much more restraint than your cousin. Allow me to demonstate. Crucio!"
Remus fought hard not to scream but in the end could not stop himself. The hate behind Snape's spell was just too strong.
"Stop! Please!" Sirius pleaded.
"Tell us the prophesy and I'll lift the curse!" Snape demanded.
Sirius looked at Remus thrashing under more pain than twenty transformations combined. He knew that even Remus couldn't last very long under such pain. He struggled with his wanting to protect Harry and needing to save Remus. In the end, Remus won out as he was the one in immediate danger.
"Fine, I'll tell you, just please, lift the spell," he said in defeat. 'Forgive me, Harry, but I can't lose Remus too.'
Tbc…
Hope ya'll enjoyed! Nice long chapter (by my standards) to make up for the time that I left ya'll!