The Other Sky

Chapter 7: It Hurls Its Barbed Syllables

A/N-Disclaimer: Ah, I'm back. Sorry it took so long, I had to rewrite it twice because it wasn't how I wanted it. I am still not completely confident, but here it is regardless. I still don't own anything. The title is from Emily Dickinson's, There is a Word. Here's chapter 6…

Well, I was an idiot. I couldn't reverse it, though. I had invite Hermione to tea tomorrow. There was no going back anymore. I supposed, no matter how today's meeting with Kingsley went, I wouldn't want to stick around here. I would tell Hermione exactly what she wanted to hear then tell her I was going on a little vacation. Hopefully, she would understand.

I actually felt proud of how convincing my 'self-angst' was conveyed. She would no doubt believe every word and feel sorry for me. This time, though, I would use the pity to my advantage. I realized that, perhaps, the plan would work.

*O0o-o0O*

Everyone had been staring. That hadn't just been me being dramatic. If I had been upset about what happened just a few days ago in Diagon Alley, this had been ten times worse. The worst thing was that I couldn't walk away like a few days ago. No, I had to sit there and pretend like I didn't care. I couldn't even stare back because I thought if I made eye contact with anyone here, they would try to approach me.

I thought it couldn't have gotten any worse. Of course, that had to be the moment Kingsley walked in and began walking in my direction. That was when the other people in the tea shop not only stared but began a small murmur of conversation. I keep my eyes on Kingsley as he walks to the table.

I didn't bother standing up when he reached my table. I just offered him a small smile and my hand to shake. He shook my hand and sat down.

"Harry, have you been waiting long?" he asked me. I suddenly snapped out of a reverie I hadn't realized I had slipped into.

I shook my head. "No not long, Kingsley." My use of his first name apparently had been too much for the people in the tea shop; another murmur broke out. I dared one fleeting glance around us and sighed. "I'm sorry I asked you to come to such a public place."

"It's alright." He offered me a smile.

I return it but pull out my wand nevertheless. I cast a charm that would make our conversation sound as if we were talking about something as trivial as the weather. He gave me a slightly puzzled look but doesn't say a word. "I hope that was alright. I know I asked for this tea to catch up, but there is something a bit more serious that I would like to ask you. May I?" He looked even more confused but ne nods nonetheless. We both sit up a bit straighter, but, just as I am opening my mouth to speak, the waitress walks over to us.

"Anything I can get you, Minister? Or, would you like refill on your coffee, Mr. Potter?" she looked hopeful, probably excited to serve the Minister on top of the Boy-Who-Lived. I shook my head and looked at my coffee that I hadn't touched, feeling very annoyed with the girl.

Kingsley, on the other hand, put on a charming smile and spoke in his calming tone. "A cup of Darjeeling would do fine." She smiles and walks away. Kingsley turned back to me and nodded once, "Continue."

I sighed once again and ran my hand through my hair. "Yesterday, as everything in my home was happening; I realized I should probably take your advice and do something with my life." This was where my deception would begin. "I realized how truly out of it have been these past two years since the war. Yesterday, when you came to my house, I made a decision." I met his eyes directly. "I am not asking of this as a favor for a friend. I am asking as I believe I am qualified. I want to join the Unspeakables, and soon. I want to start moving forward and this is my first step." I realized my first sentenced sounds almost like something he had said to me a few days before.

He looked shocked for a moment. I had almost been expecting a 'no' when he suddenly smiled a bit. "Harry, the process is not easy. I am glad you have decided and I'll see what I can do. I'll tell you one thing, the next training session for three months, starts in three days. That means that even if you are accepted, you might have to wait three months. And I'm sorry to say that it is if you are accepted. Most wizards in the program are recruited. After I have told you this, are you sure you would like to continue with this course." The look in his eyes didn't tell me his opinion one way or the other.

I took a deep breath; ready to prove to him how serious I had been about the choice. "Kingsley, as I said, I'm not asking this of a friend. I am asking of the Minister. If I do fail, I want the chance to try." I leaned a bit further, making sure I had his full attention. "I am completely serious. And I want to do this soon. I understand if there is absolutely no way, but I have already lost too much time. I want to do this as soon as possible, even if it is three days from now." I kept eye contact for a moment more to get my point across then leaned back.

Almost as soon as I leaned back, the waitress returned back, leaving Kingsley's tea, and scurrying away again. I guessed she could feel the tension.

He looked at me for a second longer. "Alright, I'll see what I can do, Harry. There is only one thing; I am not directly associated with the Unspeakables. They obviously report to me, but I have even more control and access to the Aurors. The Unspeakables are even secretive towards me. There are reasons their department is the Department of Mysteries." I gave him a look that urged him to continue, in a sarcastic way. He raised his hands in defense. "I will do what I can, though." He gave me a small smile.

I returned it with a bright one. "Anyways, how have you been, Kingsley?"

*O0o-o0O*

I returned home around half three and felt strangely drained. As I headed to my kitchen, I realized that something felt off in my home. Without a second thought, I raced to the third floor, where I knew my unease originated from.

I ended up in front of the door of the room. It had been left slightly ajar, probably since the Unspeakables had passed through. I opened the door and felt a pang of irrational disappointment as I gazed into the now empty room. I knew it had been foolish to hope that they had left something behind.

Despite my knowledge of the room being empty, something propelled my feet forward. As I pass the center of the room, I almost felt an invisible barrier shatter, as if the preexisting ward had still been there. The part of my brain that had probably been fit to be an Unspeakable chimed in that it was probably because of how long the ward had been in place. I could have even been here centuries.

I let that thought slip away as I examined the half of the room that had been a mystery to me before. At first glance, it was obvious that the second half had been more volatile, maybe to the point that the wards were necessary. There had been scorch marks on the ground and the walls. The far wall had probably the worst damage. A huge chunk of the wall had been missing and at points, it seemed almost as if the wall had melted. The adjacent walls were not much better with smaller versions of the hole and clumps of some sort of goop. I calmed my mind with the thought that the Unspeakables wouldn't leave that there unless they deemed it safe. The floor had, surprisingly, the least damage. It had scorch marks spread out and a few holes that looked acidly burned.

Overall, the two halves of the room looked like two separate ones.

I'm so busy noticing the damage of the room that I almost miss the small lump in the left corner. It's a locket with two pictures meticulously placed. On one side is a man that looks eerily like Sirius, and on the other, a woman that looks surprisingly like Narcissa Malfoy. The longer I look at it, the more it looks like the Malfoy matriarch. It takes me another second of staring at the picture to remember that Narcissa was a Black.

For a moment I wondered why the Unspeakables left what looked like a Black heirloom. Then I realized it didn't appear to be Dark. It had seemed to be important though, and, before I consciously decided it, I pulled it over my head. It settled on my chest and I walked out of the room, feeling satisfied.

*O0o-o0O*

Not long after, I was relaxing with the tea I finally got around to making. I began to think that I could relax for the rest of the day and await a letter from Kingsley tomorrow. Of course, that was when a damn owl had to appear at the edge of my wards. I told myself to calm down and that there was no way Kingsley would start helping on his day off.

I had managed to convince myself as the familiar owl came through the window. Apparently the owl could tell how annoyed I had been at its owner; it didn't wait for a treat, but instead left after dropping the letter.

This situation was beginning to become more annoying than actually visiting Hermione. I wince as I read the letter, practically being able to hear the octaves rising.

Harry,

Finally. Where have you been? Why haven't you been responding?

I could sense the deep breath she took here to calm herself. Octaves down.

I'm glad to hear from you now. All I want is to hear you out. Will you agree to meet with me tomorrow for tea? It'll be just me because Ron is on a major case right now, but I promise to hear you out. You can even hold me to that.

Please respond soon. I'll leave Archey there for the time being. I told him to leave you so he'll be outside, but please use him.

(I still can't believe Ron named the owl that.)

Hermione Granger

I stared at the letter. I let it fall from my hands and didn't bat an eyelash as it fell into my tea. I sat there for a while just analyzing what she had said. By the time I pulled the letter out of my tea, the latter is cold and half the paper had only an ink blob where Hermione's meticulous words used to be. I ripped off that part of the paper and Accioed a quill to me-I kept my wand on me at that point. I wrote on the back of the paper no wanting to stand up.

I wrote a quick response and whistled. I hoped the Weasleys trained the owl to come at a whistle; I really didn't want to get up. Thankfully, the owl did come in, snatched the folded piece of paper out of my hand and majestically swooped out of my house. I finally stood up and headed to bed, not thinking the whole way there.

As I was falling asleep, the thought slapped me on the side of my head.

I have a meeting with Hermione tomorrow.

*O0o-o0O*

I woke up peacefully, and of my own accord the next morning. I walked downstairs and began making my tea. I felt like nothing can ruin today; I really hadn't been thinking.

My throat fell to the pit of my stomach as I saw the envelope on my table; envelope that should have been waiting outside of my wards. Reality comes crashing down on me as two main things from the previous day return of the front of my mind.

First, I have a meeting with Hermione today.

Second and probably more pressing at that moment, I had been awaiting an acceptance or denial letter for Unspeakable training.

I opened the letter with shaking hands.

To: Mister Harry J. Potter

We at the Department of Mysteries have received notice of your interest in the program Unspeakables' Advanced Training and are happy to inform you that you that you have been accepted.

The program begins the 1 May 2000. Apart from this letter, you have also received an informational packet describing the location and all items you will be expected to have.

We expect you to arrive at the site at 22:00 on the date specified. Keep in mind the program is specially conducted to assure the utmost qualities of our future Unspeakables.

Finally, we may only ask one thing of all of our inductees. No one around you must know of where or why you have left home for three weeks- the duration of the program.

Come and be prepared Mr. Potter .

Rabastan Erios

Head of the Department of Mysteries

I breathed a sigh of relief and put down the letter. Step two was complete.

*O0o-o0O*

I stared blankly at Hermione and she reciprocated the action. I had half a mind to keep this going until I could excuse myself. Instead of going for tea as she said in the letter, we ended up in a small pub near the Ministry. Finally, I came to my senses, knowing she would not let me leave even if that did mean not talking until the end of her lunch hour.

I sigh and figure I'd better begin. "Look, Hermione, I don't really know what you're hoping to get out of this. I get that you want to understand, but what, exactly? You seem to think you know everything about my mannerisms and my reasons behind doing things. You say you'll let me talk, but, as soon as I'm done, I know you'll try to analyze me. So just tell me exactly what you want to know, I'll see if I can answer you, and we'll go from there."

She looked shocked that I was so up front about it. "I- well, I just wanted to… it's just that, Harry, both Ron and I are worried. We want to know what you haven't wanted to do something with your second chance. And why you haven't been responding and why you closed your wards to not admit us. And why, I don't know, Harry. You've just changed. Most importantly, we just want to understand you. And well-"

I cut her off. "You're rambling, Hermione. I understand. I'll tell you, if you promise not to try and analyze me." She nods, quickly. "First, I don't consider it a second chance, Hermione. If it had been, nothing would have changed. But, everything around me changed. Ron was immediately accepted into Auror training, even without his NEWTs. Something I know you didn't approve of, but went along with. We still hung out, but you two had obviously moved on. That fall, you returned to Hogwarts to take your NEWTs, and then you were instantly recruited at the Ministry. You and Ron got together and I was suddenly the third wheel.

"Then, every time the three of us met up, you guys would either be angry at me or take pity on me for not moving on already. Somehow, I don't understand how you guys didn't realize something was wrong. Even when the newspapers wondered if anything was wrong with me, or people hounded me for just about anything, you two- the supposed most important people to me- never showed any concern. All Ron seemed to actually care about was Ginny and I breaking up. That was the one time, though, that there hadn't been anything wrong."

She looked as if she had been dying to say something, but I just put up my hand. "Wait. Now, I'll get around to it. Yes, everything had been wrong directly after the war. Everything just got worse the further we grew apart. I felt so lost, for so long and the people who were supposed to be there for me, weren't. It got to the point that I felt broken. Hermione, I died and came back. Despite everything that had gone on in the former years, that was what truly traumatized me, and that was what you guys didn't help me get through.

"These past two years, I've been trying to work through my problems myself. The ones I didn't want to deal with I locked away to not be dealt with. I'm sure you'll say that's irresponsible, but I don't care. A few days ago, after the dinner at the Burrow, I made a decision. In two days, I will be leaving." I knew she wanted to interrupt but I gave her a stern look. "I will be traveling for three weeks, and after that, I will decide what to do." I decided to sell different mindset than my real one at the moment.

"I'm going to get philosophical for a moment. I don't want to do this to see the world that I saved. I want to see the world that saved me. Everything is magical Hermione. Everything magical and unknown in the world came together to help me defeat Voldemort. I don't want to understand it, but I do want to experience it.

"Now you can't dissuade me from anything, at this point. Please don't even try. I don't want to leave angry at you, but I will if I have to." I sighed, finally ending my speech. "You can talk now."

She let out a sigh a relief, as if this had been what she had been waiting for the whole time I'd been speaking. She took a few more breaths with a thoughtful look on her face. She took one more drink before she began to speak. "I won't try to dissuade you from leaving. I don't quite understand why you are leaving, but I respect your decision. As for the past two years, I'm so sorry. As for Ron, I'll make him back off with Ginny. Even I can see that she is happy with Ethan. Just remember I, if not Ron, am always here if you want to talk. After what happened five days ago, I'll respect you more. I'll hear you out, and I'll hope that one day we can be as close at three years ago again." She smiles sadly and I nod.

"Thank you, Hermione. Now, I think your lunch break must have been over ten minutes ago, and I have a few last minute things to pick up for my trip." I stood and paid for my drink, even though it was barely touched. "G'bye, 'Mione."

She smiled at the use of her old nickname while she paid as well. "Good-bye, Harry." She walked out, and I followed a few moments later. I Apparated, as soon as I found a secluded enough spot, to Diagon Alley to pick up the few things I needed for Unspeakable training.

A/N: That was a long one. Phew. Next chapter is mostly filler, with some plot. Again, sorry for the delay. I hope next one to be out by the end of the week. And, to anyone interested, i am always happy to hear suggestions for anything you want. I only want to keep improving. Anyone can review or PM me at anytime. Please feel free to point out anything. Plus, to anyone in the US, Happy Fourth of July! Until next time…