A.N. I'm beginning to get really fond of my story, which just started as a series of scribbles on my computer. Hope you guys enjoy it too. Would be glad to hear your thoughts.

Chapter 6

Galen stirred. He had fallen asleep early at night after his head had been throbbing painfully, but was troubled by a restless sense of danger even though no images came to him. Then he felt a presence close to him and opened his eyes.

A black robed man was standing over him. Through the dark serpentine helm, two evil red eyes glared balefully down. Galen lay motionless for an instant, and then with a sudden, snake-like quickness, the dark figure drew his wand and raised it to curse Galen.

He sat up, striking his head on the wall next to his bed with almost enough force to knock himself unconscious. His vision swam and darkened for a moment as he shouted and fumbled for his wand.

Hands grabbed him and Ron cried, "What is it?"

Neville said, "It's a nightmare, Galen. Get out of it."

Galen blinked the tears out of his eyes and saw Ron, whose bed was nearest to him, kneeling above him. Neville was standing nearby. A darting glance around the room showed that the other three occupants were still fast asleep.

Galen crawled out from his bed and looked around. Then he looked at the closed entrance door and pulled it open. "I could have sworn…" he muttered, putting his hand on his forehead. It was burning. His scar, hidden skillfully by the Healers of New Numenor, throbbed painfully and he rubbed it.

"Get back to sleep if you can," said Ron.

"No," said Galen, rubbing his sore head. "I'll take a walk. I'll be back shortly. Don't wait up for me."

Ron didn't argue as he had a Quidditch match the next day and quickly returned to his bed while Galen retreated to the Common Room, wrestling with the dream, for it had been vivid and intense. He was troubled by the sensation he'd received when he first saw those crimson eyes. For the briefest instant it had felt as if it belonged to him.

It was only when he had left the Common Room did he notice Neville following him. He looked at the boy questioningly.

"You shouldn't be alone," the boy said. "Not after being scared so badly."

"Thanks, but you don't have to. I'm walking to the dungeons."

"To the Slytherins? Why?" Neville asked in surprise.

"Uncle Severus might have a dreamless sleep potion handy. I need to talk to him about some things as well."

"I'll go with you until you reach his quarters. See Galen, I'm not against Slytherins in general, but there are some nasty people in Slytherin. And Gryffindors look after their own."

Galen nodded gratefully. His head was still hurting terribly and he could do with some company. As they walked to the dungeons, Galen asked Neville about his fear of Severus Snape.

"You know, he told me you could have been a really good healer with your skills in Herbology, had you chosen to take Potions for NEWTs."

"He did?" Neville asked in surprise. The usually quiet and shy boy's fear of the Potions Master was legendary around the school, and for him to know that the dour man actually complimented him - the Gryffindor squib, like that was beyond comprehension.

Nodding, Galen knocked on the door as Neville bade him goodbye and returned to the Gryffindor Dorms.

"Galen!" Snape called out in surprise on opening the door. He knew Galen well enough to realize that he wouldn't be bothering anyone at the middle of the night for no reason. Seeing the bump on the youth's head, he opened the door and allowed him in. "What's wrong?"

Galen motioned for silence and walked in. He waited for Snape to shut the door.

"Tea?"

"Please." Taking a seat by the fire, Galen took a deep breath before speaking what was on his mind. "I think I saw Voldemort."

"What?" Snape shouted and the kettle dropped from his hands. "What do you mean?"

"In a dream. Black robes, serpent helm and crimson eyes. How many others do we know that would fit this description?"

Snape paled. He slowly took a seat next to the boy and spoke slowly, "Only last week did the Dark Lord acquire a helm like that. How is this possible?"

Galen sighed. "You might remember that a few months ago I was temporarily lost in that terrible fog that had come around Hogwarts."

"Yes?"

"Firenze the Centaur came to find me. He knew my identity."

Snape nodded, not at all surprised. "Which identity do you speak of?"

"Both. He knew me as a Telcontar and as a Potter."

"Centaurs are as wise as they are mysterious, but I don't see where this is headed towards?"

Galen sighed again. "I am getting there. He knew me as a Potter, but that wasn't all. He called me something else as well…" Galen stopped to take a long sip of his tea. "He called me the Boy Who Lived."

Snape froze for an instant before shaking his head slowly. He drank the remainder of his tea quietly, and the two of them remained sitting in silence. As the fire cackled angrily, Snape turned his head to the flames and said, "I had my suspicions." He looked up to see Galen stare at him curiously.

"When the Dark Lord returned, he seemed really angry over something… not because Dumbledore's phoenix came to rescue Daniel Potter from his clutches… no, he kept looking at his own limbs… they were scaly and green, and he screamed in fury… he was more a serpent than a human. Something had gone terribly wrong with the ritual… but no one knew why…"

"Because he had the wrong Potter," Galen finished wryly. "How ironic!"

"We must keep this secret!" Snape suddenly hissed and taking his wand out, cast several privacy charms around his room. "No one must know. Not even the Headmaster."

"Do you not trust Dumbledore?" Galen asked curiously.

"I trust Dumbledore to do what it takes to win this war. He has been cultivating a relationship with Daniel for this very reason… No! He will work with the best of intentions, but I fear what his interfering might bode for you. He may have my oath to never do anything against him, but the House of Telcontar has my love and true allegiance."

"Ginny knows," Galen said suddenly.

"Ginny Weasley? How?"

"She overheard Firenze talking to me. But I trust her with my life. She will tell no one. I don't think she even paid attention to anything after my name."

"Galen, you don't understand," Snape sighed with great worry. "Do you know what Legilimency is?"

-----

"So why exactly do I have to let Snape into my mind?" Ginny asked in a confused voice.

Galen sighed. He waited for Rosmerta to leave the butterbeer and get out of hearing range. He then said, "Uncle Severus is afraid that someone else will read our minds and find out about me being… you know."

"And why is that a bad thing?" Ginny asked curiously. "I mean, if you are truly the Boy Who Lived, then the world should acknowledge you as such. It might even bring Danny down a few pegs."

Galen sighed again. "Ginny, I really don't care about all that. Danny can climb as high as the moon, if he wants. I have other responsibilities. Do you remember the other name I was called by Firenze?"

"Prince Elroy something."

"Elerin Telcontar," Galen corrected. "There is an island realm… hidden from the sight of other humans and beings of this planet. It is called New Numenor, and it is the most beautiful and wonderful place you can ever imagine. There are fields of deep green grass that never lose their luster, forests that shine with gold-leafed silver-trunk trees, and mountains capped in snow. Eagles fly unhindered and myriad of magical creatures live with men. It is the shining land where no beast or being ever feels grief or sorrow. And in the courtyard at the open roof of the palace, is a single white tree - the White Tree of Numenor. There rules my father - King Isildur the Third with Lady Amaryllis, and that is where I belong. Not here."

"Can you take me there?" Ginny asked breathlessly. Galen's description of his homeland had greatly affected her. Without realizing, she had moved closer to him and was leaning against his side, with his arm draped around her. It was as if she could picture the hidden island in her mind, and she longed to visit the place.

Galen smiled and kissed her head. "I would like that very much."

"Mmm," the redhead moaned and tilted her head up. The sight of her pink lips was more than what Galen could handle and he kissed her gently. It was an innocent kiss, but their first real one. And then they became more assertive.

Galen took hold of her shoulder with one hand, and the back of her head with his other. Reaching for her lips again, he felt Ginny gently parting it and pushing her tongue forward. And he complied.

After snogging to their heart's content, they returned to the Castle holding each other's hand. Both had mammoth smiles plastered on their faces, and none who saw them could fail to comprehend the reason behind it.

But the first person to accost them was also the last person Galen wanted to see at that moment. Lily Potter smiled at the radiant teenagers and invited them to her office for a cup of tea.

Seeing Galen's expression suddenly darkening, Ginny tightened her grip on his, and whispered, "I'm with you." Then they both entered the office.

Lily poured three cups of tea and offered one each to her guests, before taking a sip of her own. In a serious expression, she said, "There is something I have wanted to talk to both of you about for some time now. I have noticed you appear rather uncomfortable in my presence. And I don't see it as a coincidence that the two students most distant to me are also a couple. Is there anything you wish to talk to me about?"

Ginny noticed Galen paling at her words, and took control of the situation. "It is my fault, Professor."

Both Lily and Galen turned to Ginny in amazement. Clearly, Lily had expected Galen to be the one with a problem as Ginny had always been okay with her earlier. But before either could voice their surprise, Ginny continued.

"I was feeling lonely and sad one day, as I often did since I overheard you talking to mum once. Galen was with me, and I told him what was worrying me. Perhaps I shouldn't have as it wasn't my secret, but I needed to talk to someone. I told him about Harry Potter."

Her words left the other occupants speechless completely. Lily, because she had no idea that Ginny even knew who Harry Potter was, and Galen, because of how easily Ginny understood his emotions and handled the situation so easily. And she didn't even have to lie.

"I see," Lily said after several minutes of silence had elapsed. "That is an adequate reason to despise anyone."

Ginny shook her head. "You don't understand. We don't despise you. At least I don't," Ginny continued, looking at Galen with an odd look as if trying to send across a message, "but Galen has personally met Harry, and your treatment of your son has hurt him more than it ever could to me."

"What!" Lily rounded on Galen with a desperate look in her eyes from which tears were freely flowing. "My Harry? He is still alive? Where is he? How is he? Is he safe?"

Before Galen could reply, Ginny yelled, "Can you honestly call him 'your Harry' any longer, Professor? Haven't you lost that right?"

Her words only made the older woman cry even more. She averted her gaze from the accusing eyes of the younger girl, and turned to Galen pleadingly. "Please… I beg you… please… if you truly know anything about him, please tell me… I beg you as a mother."

"As a mother?" Galen said quietly. "Then why did you let him hurt so bad that he ran away the first chance he got?" But then he recalled his brother's dilemma, Is there any crime that can deny a mother's right to care for her child?

When Lily Potter was unable to answer him, overcome by hysteria, he sighed. "He is safe, and he is happy. He was adopted by a caring family."

"Thank Heavens!" Lily exclaimed. "Can you… can you take me… no… I don't deserve… does he… does he remember?"

"He tried hard to forget," Galen said emotionlessly. "He didn't have much he wanted to remember. But he couldn't forget his little sister."

"Anthea! So that's why she is so happy since you came… why she is so warm to you," Lily said softly. "You told her of Harry."

"Harry sent a message for her," he said slowly, grateful that Ginny was rubbing his wrist gently.

"That's it? He sent a message only for Anthea, none for me," Lily asked in disappointment. She rested her head on the table, rocking silently.

Galen could almost hear her heart break and sighed. "He didn't know what to expect of you. He didn't think anything would change after he left… that you would remain as you were… all he knew was that Athea was the only Potter who ever thought about him."

"I have been a horrible mother… a horrible person," Lily cried.

"Why?" Ginny asked. She had been quiet for a long time, affording silent comfort to Galen, but she couldn't remain so any longer. "Why? What wrong had he done? What did Harry do, Professor?"

Wiping her tears, Lily looked back with blank, lifeless eyes. "That is what I have asked myself a million times since… and I never managed to satisfy myself with an answer… the fact is, he did nothing wrong… he was just a child, a dear loveable child, who looked after his baby sister so sweetly… it was us… it was I who was wrong…"

"That doesn't answer my question," Ginny said. "There must have been something that made you stop treating him the way you did his brother."

Lily continued looking emotionlessly at them. It was as if she had used all her tears. "It all happened so fast… You Know Who… Danny being the Boy Who Lived… Harry a Parselmouth… I suppose I allowed myself to be blinded by the prejudices prevalent in the magical world…"

"No!" Ginny hissed with glinting eyes. "You blamed a child for something he had no control over?"

"I did, and I have regretted it every day of my life since Harry's disappearance."

"Then I have nothing more to say to you," Ginny tried getting up, but Galen held her back tightly. He didn't want her to leave him alone then. Feeling his distress, Ginny's anger vanished and she sank down on her chair.

"Ginny didn't mean that, Professor," he said.

Lily shook her head dispassionately. "I have judged myself so many times and ended with a far worse result that your words hardly cause any pain." She gave a thin smile to Galen. "Thank you for bringing me news of my son, despite him not wanting to have anything to do with me anymore. I cannot express my gratitude in words, and I understand if you'd not want to see me in private anymore. I'll understand if you despise me."

"I don't despise you," Galen said softly, feeling Ginny's thumb rub the back of his hand. "And I don't think Harry despises you. But I don't think he misses you either. He has a family that he loves, and that loves him back. He who was once Harry Potter no longer exists, he has found a different place for himself, and he would want you to move on as well."

"His eyes were just like mine… and like yours," Lily remarked distantly, and Galen wasn't sure if she even heard his words. But he was seized by an instant of panic. He didn't want his past identity to be revealed. He was no longer a Potter.

"That is one reason why we were drawn together," he said thoughtfully, getting up from my seat. "He had your eyes, and I have my amme's." As he proceeded to leave the office with Ginny, he glanced back, "He will forgive you, of that I'm sure, but do not look for him."

He walked without paying any attention to where he was going, and Ginny led him outside once again. There was still a few hours of daylight remaining and she knew how relaxing flying was for both of them.

"I am sorry if I revealed some things you wished to keep secret, Galen," Ginny said in a low voice, as she chose a couple of brooms from the shed.

"Don't be. You have suffered as much, if not more, than I have. You had every right to do and say as you did," he said seriously. Reaching for her, he enveloped Ginny in a hug. "You are so warm… so perfect." Reaching down, he found her lips again, and the brooms remained forgotten.