To Bedlam and Partway Back

NOTE: WARNINGS FOR SLASH

Rating: M

A big thank you to Notsoinnocentfangirl and Shenmi Meiren for pointing out some really obvious mistakes in the previous chapter! Epic plot hole that I can't plug (o:

Disclaimer: I own none of these characters

Chapter Five

By Saturday both Harry and Hermione wanted to hang themselves.

"Trelawney's a joke," he moaned, and tried to drown himself in his mug of Butterbeer. Herbie yanked the tankard away before Harry could ruin it by flavouring it with his hair.

"Honestly," Hermione huffed. She was more cross than resigned about the whole affair, but seemed at least willing to commiserate with her fellow Third-Year. "I don't understand what Dumbledore was thinking when he employed the woman. Calling her 'batty' would be a compliment!"

The other Hufflepuffs sitting around them burst into laughter. None of their yearmates had chosen that as an elective, as it was a rather open secret in the Hufflepuff Common Room that Hogwarts Divination was a load of tripe. For most of the Pureblood families, they had their own methods of Divination which they passed down through the generations. For the Muggleborns and the Muggle-raised Halfbloods, they could usually find a couple of housemates willing to teach them, although most of them had too much common sense to put much stock in such an uncertain art. Cedric himself was a rather talented amateur astrologist.

"You should just drop it," Zacharias Smith suggested as Cedric mused over the events of the past week. He had decided that his and Harry's relationship had progressed quite far enough for the moment- after all, he'd ended up one-half of a Bonded pair by the end of their first night!- and that maybe they should take things slowly. Rather than pulling the younger boy into a corner and snogging the life out of him like he wanted to, he was going to get to know him, properly court him, propose, and then invoke a marriage bond a decade or so down the road. A group outing rather than a 'first date' would at least take his mind off the temptation to snog the living daylights out of the boy.

Cedric knew that was still a bit much to lay on any thirteen-year-old whose circumstances had changed rather suddenly, let alone this one, but he'd seen Mercury rise into Aries through the hell of Tuesday night, giving him strength to face what he knew would be difficult times ahead: the first eight hours after their Pledge without Harry had been pure agony.

And then on Thursday, two days after Harry and Hermione had been adopted, he'd looked into the sky again to see Mercury opposing Saturn in Libra. He knew it would eventually come to rest opposite Pluto in Capricorn. It had only impressed into him that he was doing the right thing, that fate had decided that the narrow perceptions surrounding the myth of the Boy-Who-Lived, smothering the real child beneath, had to be smashed apart. It was a matter of life or death, and Cedric was sincerely hoping his influence would make it the former, not the latter.

When he'd mentioned all of this to Herbie, the brunet had laughed and smacked him over the head.

"But if I drop it," Harry whined, "I won't have an elective. I can't not have an elective."

Ernie leaned on the back of his hand, and exchanged looks with Hannah and Susan. "Talking about electives, Po- Harry," he stumbled over the name, still slightly unused to treating Harry as anything other than a yearmate, "what in the world are you and Hermione still doing in Care of Magical Creatures?"

Harry and Hermione glanced at each other uncomprehendingly. "What do you mean by that?" Harry asked slowly.

Ernie sighed and Hannah leant forward to take over the thread, since the hot-headed blond was famous for losing his temper at absolutely nothing at all. It was a miracle and a half that he wasn't in Gryffindor.

"It's an elective this year, Harry, Hermione, surely you knew that."

Again the two adoptees looked at each other in confusion. "Yes, we do," Hermione said. "What about it?"

Hannah looked aghast. "You mean you'll actually chose to take the class?"

They were both thoroughly confused now. "…yes?"

Hannah and Ernie looked as if the mere thought had boggled them. "But why?" Hannah asked, horrified. "I've heard the other Houses speak about it- what do you actually learn in it?"

"I'll have you know we learn a great deal from it," Hermione rebutted as her bushy brown hair ruffled itself into a state. Herbie was staring at the mass in awe, like it was a whole other creature sitting atop the Third-Year's head.

Hannah quailed slightly under the brunette's glare, but Susan was hardly intimidated. After all, she'd grown up with an aunt who was one of the most notable heads the Department of Magical Law Enforcement ever had. Hermione didn't seem to notice how Harry bit his lip and glanced away guiltily. Cedric, though, caught the motion, and laid his hand on top of Harry's on the table, and the younger boy smiled gratefully at him.

"Oh?" Susan said archly. "What, then?"

Hermione opened her mouth to harangue the blond, and then closed her mouth with a loud clack. Susan settled back smugly in her seat.

"Well, flobberworms aren't exactly…" Hermione began, flustered, but the Hufflepuffs had the upper hand now, and they knew it. Finally Hermione relented with a sigh, and her hair even seemed to shrink in on itself with defeat. "In the end, we've probably learnt more about magical creatures from Professor Lupin-" her eyes widened at the slip and her hand flew to her mouth.

"Professor Lupin?" Zacharias asked curiously. "You mean with all the kappas and hinkypunks he brings to class?"

"Oh- yes! Of course!" Hermione exclaimed much too loudly. "That's exactly what I meant!"

Ernie, Hannah, and Susan all rolled their eyes at each other. "Hermione, you're possibly the worst liar I've ever seen, even worse than Justin over there," Ernie deadpanned, jerking his thumb over his shoulder at the russet-haired Muggleborn sitting with Megan Jones.

"Hey, I heard that!" Justin said, throwing a bread roll at the blond, who barely managed to duck in time. The girls burst into giggles.

Herbie leant back in his chair and smiled. He raised one hand casually, signalling Madam Rosmerta for another Butterbeer. "So what did you mean, then, Hermione?" he quipped. Cedric shot his friend a warning look. "Other than, besides the fact that he's a werewolf."

Hermione's jaw dropped. Harry looked stunned. Zacharias, Hannah, and Susan all looked startled, but not half as surprised as the two adoptees.

"Oh, so we were right then?" Susan said loftily. Then she smirked and held out a hand to Ernie. "Pay up, Macmillian. Haven't you learnt yet not to bet with a Bones?" she jibed playfully. Ernie scowled and muttered under his breath as he scrounged in his pockets for the right amount of coins.

"We bet on whether Dumbledore would be as stupid to let employ a werewolf in a castle full of children," she explained to the rest of the group. "I, obviously, thought he was."

She rolled her eyes as she collected five galleons from Ernie. She'd plainly inherited her aunt's dislike for the headmaster. Amelia had once said that Dumbledore had too many fingers in too many pies, and it was only a matter of time before he began to lose a few. Susan had never doubted her aunt's words, and it seemed like the exodus from Dumbledore's territories had already begun, the impetus being Harry and Hermione's adoption into Hufflepuff.

"Why didn't you say anything? Students have a right to know the danger they're in!" Hermione hissed, leaning forward over the table so they wouldn't be overheard.

Zacharias laughed and held up his hands in defeat. "Oh, don't look at me, I was terrified- for about ten minutes. Then Hannah hexed me to make me sit down and think things through."

"What do you mean?" Harry asked curiously. "How'd you know?"

"Harry," Hannah explained patiently, "every child who's been magically raised knows exactly what the identifying symptoms of lycanthropy are and how to identify them, and Professor Lupin's exhibited every single one of them. And obviously he's a very different type of werewolf than the ones you usually hear about: I think he's honestly terrified of his own shadow."

"He cast a Patronus on the Hogwarts Express!" Hermione burst out in defence of the ragged man.

Ernie raised his eyebrows and let out a low whistle. "That's a fancy trick," he said. He glanced hesitantly at Herbie. "That spell isn't even N.E.W.T. level, is it?"

Herbie regarded the younger 'Puff coldly, but answered anyway. "No, it is not," he said, voice icy.

Hermione frowned. "Herbie, why would Ernie ask you about N.E.W.T.s? You're only in Fifth-Year; you won't be sitting for another two years. If anything you should be worried about your O.W.L.s."

"He's just begun early revision," Cedric interrupted hastily. Hermione looked at him uncertainly, and then glanced over at Herbie. The expression on the usually sunny Hufflepuff's face was frigid.

"I have a twin brother in Gryffindor," Herbie informed her stiffly. "He's in his seventh year."

Hermione's frown only deepened. "But that's not possible, not if he's your twin-"

"He's in Gryffindor," Herbie repeated flatly.

"But-" For once Harry seemed to have caught on faster than his friend, and hurriedly leant over and whispered in her ear. He didn't know the details, per se, but if Herbie's brother was in Gryffindor, he'd probably done something really stupid and either blamed Herbie for it, or caused Herbie to be knocked out and miss two years of school, or a combination of the two. It was just such a painfully typical Gryffindor thing to do.

Hermione immediately flushed with embarrassment. "I'm sorry," she said in a small voice.

One side of Herbie's mouth twitched upward. "Forget it," he proclaimed magnanimously.

Susan decided to take it to herself to get the previous conversation back on track. "Auntie says that only three out of ten Aurors are able to cast a Patronus."

"So Lupin's got to be pretty powerful, then?" Zacharias quipped.

Cedric shook his head. "That isn't how a Patronus works," he explained. "To cast a Patronus, you need not only power, but a veritable treasure trove of happy memories. It's a spell based on good feelings." Then he frowned. "I wouldn't have thought a werewolf would have that many. Perhaps-" he cut himself off, and then looked meaningfully at Harry.

It took the younger boy a little longer to make the connection, but his emerald eyes grew wide, and his mouth popped open in a silent 'o'. With his eyes open that large, framed by thick black lashes, Cedric felt their colour was absolutely gorgeous. He'd already known that previously, but now that his glasses had been disposed of after the Opticus Potion had arrived, they looked even more vibrant.

Cedric was a little regretful about that, as he wished he could keep Harry's eyes all for himself. But the look of absolute delight on Harry's face had been more than worth it.

Then he realised just what exactly he was thinking, and had to repress a sigh. Herbie was absolutely right. He was so whipped, and Harry didn't even know the effect he was having on him.

The boy looked up at him pleadingly, and Cedric frowned, knowing that he wanted to discuss it without everyone else present. He glanced to Herbie on his right, but discovered that the Keeper had already caught on, and was grinning. "Get on with ye, bloody lovebirds," he said gruffly. Harry turned pink, but grinned at the older boy gratefully. Hermione looked a little confused, but glad that Cedric and her friend were going to spend some time together. The other 'Puffs jeered at them good-naturedly, and Harry bounced a bread roll off Ernie's head before Cedric could take his hand, and lead him out of the Three Broomsticks.

"You think the memories that Lupin uses to fuel his Patronus are those with my parents- and Sirius Black?" Harry asked, as soon as they were someplace private. Unfortunately, the only place they could find was the abandoned Shrieking Shack, which Cedric had been a bit leery of, but Harry was rather an enthusiast for these sort of things, and had quickly pulled the blond in after him. They'd found a couch in one of the rooms that was still standing, and a quick 'Reparo' and 'Scourgify' later they sank into the couch together, Harry almost in Cedric's lap. Cedric's arms curled about his small waist without even quite thinking about it.

Cedric nodded. "If they were as good friends as Professor Sprout said they were, then yeah, that's what I think. Even I've heard of the Marauders; after all these years I think the halls still remember them, or at least the trouble they created. I think Fred and George Weasley are trying to live up to their fame."

Harry frowned adorably. "The Maruaders…were pranksters?"

Cedric laughed, and brushed a hand through Harry's wild locks. "Yeah, they were. They must've made a good cause for laughter." Harry sighed in contentment at the simple motion and pressed eagerly into it.

"Harry…" Brilliant green eyes looked drowsily up at him, and Cedric bit his lip. He nearly blushed when those eyes fell almost naturally to look at his abused lip. Leaning forward a little hesitantly, Harry pressed his lips against Cedric's.

Cedric moaned at the sweet taste of Butterbeer against his lips. He swiped his tongue out at Harry's mouth, and the boy gasped, surprised, letting Cedric slide his tongue into his open mouth. He gently coaxed Harry's tongue to move against his own, but then pulled back before it could go any further. Harry's eyes were looking glassily up at him.

Cedric smiled at the blank expression on Harry's face, and tangled his hand in Harry's hair again. "I'm sorry if we're moving too fast," he whispered, tapping the boy's nose with his free hand, causing him to make a face. "But I couldn't quite help myself."

The boy looked at him without guile, and then smiled shyly. "I don't think I quite mind," he whispered back impishly. "Self-service and all."

Cedric's grey eyes warmed at his words, but he still hesitated. "You know I'm serious about this, right? Harry, I'd never do any of this if I didn't mean it."

To his immense sadness, Harry didn't answer at first. The look in his eyes went distant, and he seemed to be looking straight through him. "I'm not quite sure I fully understand everything," he said slowly, "and I still don't understand why." Then he met Cedric's eyes with a tiny smile. "But I trust you," he said firmly, his hands rising to rest on the older boy's chest, just above his heart. "I trust you," he repeated again, the smile widening just a touch. He pressed back against Cedric, raising his face.

Cedric caught him by the chin, stilled the movement just for a moment. "Thank you," he whispered, brushing his lips first to Harry's forehead, then his nose; his cheeks, his chin, before finally descending onto his lips.

This time they kept their kisses light, with only tentative touches of tongue. At the end of it, Cedric swept him into a bone-crushing hug. "Do you even know how special you are?" he marvelled at the younger boy.

To his surprise, Harry turned away at this. His jaw was clenched, and his hands fisted. "I don't want to be special," he told Cedric tightly. "I've always been 'special'- a freak in the Muggle world, and now this bl-bloody Boy-Who-Lived." He scowked as he stumbled over the curse, telling the older 'Puff that he wasn't quite in the habit of using profanities as he would like to seem. Although that made Cedric smile, it was the first part of his sentence that caught his attention.

"Freak?" he repeated ominously.

Harry looked startled at that, and Cedric suddenly knew that he hadn't meant to let that slip. He immediately curled up on himself, and blurted, "I'm sorry, I know you don't want anything to do with me anymore, I'm sorry-"

"Merlin, Harry, what are you talking about!" Cedric exclaimed, gently sweeping the boy into another tight hug. When he didn't respond, Cedric felt a twinge of fear. "Harry, please don't think I was angry with you- or anything of the sort. I meant what I said, Harry, that you should never have had to go through any of this."

He pulled back far enough so that he could look the smaller boy in the eye, although Harry was resolutely staring at the ground. Cedric carefully took his chin and lifted it. "I was angry at them, Harry," he explained. "I could never be angry at you."

Whatever Harry might have said to that was interrupted by some rustling from somewhere deep inside the house. Harry tensed up in Cedric's lap. "Wasn't this place supposed to be deserted?" he asked, frowning.

Cedric gently put Harry aside, and drew his wand. "It's not supposed to be- it is."

A high-pitched whine reached their ears, and they both turned, Harry fumbling to draw his wand. Cedric gaped.

It was the largest dog he'd ever seen, its gnarled, shaggy coat a deep pitch-black that he was sure was an absolute bitch in the summer heat. Its massive shoulders were nearly level with his hips, and as it panted, mouth open, Cedric could see every last one of its ivory fangs, inch-long and sharply tipped.

"Harry, stand back," he ordered when he heard the boy shuffle behind him. Of course, Harry had to ignore him, and moved to where he was standing nearly level with Cedric and maybe just a bit behind. The dog whined. Harry hadn't once taken its eyes of it.

"I've seen you before," he intoned solemnly. He wasn't even holding his wand anymore. "You were watching me- at Privet Drive."

The dog whined again, and- Cedric couldn't believe it- nodded.

Harry's face split into a smile, and he beckoned the huge creature forward.

"Harry, I don't think this is a good idea-" his words fell on deaf ears as the dog padded calmly forward and sat back on its haunches in front of them, rumbling deep in its chest as the boy began to scratch its dirty ears. Harry glanced up at Cedric with a half-smile that bespoke of the remnants of his discomfort.

"I blew up my aunt over the summer," he explained, "and when I ran away, I saw this big fellow hiding out in the alley behind Magnolia Crescent." He turned his attention back to the dog. "What were you doing there, eh?"

The dog whined, and licked its chops nervously, its heavy head swinging from side to side in agitation. It whined again, looking up at Harry pleadingly, and gave the boy's fingers one last lick. Then it backed away a couple of steps- and unfolded into the form of a tall, gaunt man with a riot of tangled black curls, and haunted grey eyes. The robes he was wearing would've been rich, once, but dirt and time had consumed them. He held up his empty hands, showing that he was clearly unarmed. His grey eyes flickered to Cedric's, and then back to Harry's. There was the same pleading in them, and his tongue flicked out and licked at his cracked lips much in the way the dog had.

"An unregistered animagus," Cedric whispered.

Harry's emerald eyes were huge. "Sirius…Black?"

I know Zacharias is a right duffer in canon, but that's mostly in the later books. I'm thinking he's still salvageable since he's young (o: And I know that Hagrid starts right off the bat with the Hippogriffs, but I've rearranged that schedule as well, so Harry doesn't have to be concerned with Buckbeak's trial on top of everything else. I did say I was shaking up canon, including removing the 'Puffs from Divination and CoMC. I've made up Herbie's brother; he'll show eventually (o:

And I know that was a terrible place to leave you, but ohwells. Bite me (o; Till next week, dears. Cheers.