Disclaimer: Not mine.
The Brotherhood
A/N - Here's the chapter I promised.
Chapter Thirty Two
Sirius start and looked over at the door as a loud knock rang out. Remus and Dora paused in their whispered conversation on the far side of the room and Ginny looked up from the book she had been looking through.
"Who could that be?" Remus questioned, standing.
Ginny, who was closest, stood and walked through the doorway to the kitchen and pulled opened the door. The three adults behind her couldn't see who was at the door, but they heard a sharp squeal of joy come from Ginny and a low chuckle. Sirius stood and saw Harry's face looking over Ginny's shoulder as she hugged the boy tightly.
"Harry!" Sirius called out in surprise.
Harry smiled at the man as Ginny pulled him into the house and closed the door. "How did you get away? Is he gone? Are you here for good?" Ginny questioned, her voice higher than usual from excitement.
"I can't stay for long. Nobody knows I'm gone. I just…" Harry paused, looking around at the friendly faces, "I just needed some encouragement."
Ginny looked mildly disappointed, but pulled Harry over to the couch regardless. He sat down and those he considered his family gathered around him.
"How is everything going in the Snake's den?" Sirius asked after letting Harry go from a tight hug.
"Voldemort has been in a horrid mood for a while. I'm not sure why, but I suspect it involves your freedom," Harry informed Sirius.
Harry saw Sirius' expression. "I don't blame you, at all, Sirius. Don't worry about it. He is just harder on me during training, not that I'm complaining. I'm improving faster than ever. I've disarmed Voldemort every single training session in the last five days," he told them.
"He is allowing that?" Remus questioned, sounding sceptical.
"For now. He is training me to be his heir, after all. It's not just duelling. He's also teaching me wandless magic, dark magic, ancient magic, and potions. I'm also teaching myself a few other helpful skills," Harry told them.
Remus looked mildly impressed.
~~~TB~~~
Sirius was sorry when Harry declared he had to leave and stood up. Sirius gave him a parting hug, then stepped back to allow him and Ginny some privacy. As Harry had a whispered conversation with the red head, he studied the boy. He couldn't really be considered a boy any more, Sirius mused, he was definitely able to defend himself in a fight. What worried Sirius, though, was the aura of darkness that Harry seemed to radiate. Sure, he still acted like himself, mostly, but there was a touch of darkness there. He didn't seemed fazed with death, or darkness, or any of the other atrocities that Voldemort and his followers did.
Harry was definitely not the young, scared boy who Sirius had helped in Azkaban. Remus seemed to notice the differences as well. They exchanged a meaningful glance with each other.
Harry soon said a final goodbye and let himself out the door of the house. There was a silence after he left.
Ginny left soon afterward without saying a word. She looked saddened about something Harry had told her.
~~~TB~~~
Harry slid through the window after arriving back at Voldemort's Lair and glanced around the room. Everything seemed as he left it.
Harry stepped over to the bed and flipped on the lamp, then stopped in surprise. In the chair sat Lucius Malfoy, his arms crossed in front of his chest, and looking stern.
"Where have you been, Potter?" he questioned.
Harry searched his mind for an answer, but didn't come up with one fast enough.
"The Dark Lord will hear about this. You're lucky that he left this afternoon and will be gone for two weeks, or he would have killed you on the spot," Lucius continued.
"What are you going to do about it?" Harry questioned, his voice not wavering at all. Inside, Harry was cursing himself. His excursion outside the headquarters was also more trouble than it had been worth.
"Unfortunately, I can't do anything about it. Things will carry on as normal until the Dark Lord returns. After that, well, things may get messy," Lucius informed him.
Lucius turned and swept out of the room, and Harry watched him go silently. He knew, once the Dark Lord returned, he would probably be killed. After all, the Dark Lord did not allow traitors in his midst.
Instead of preparing for bed, Harry opened a book that was sitting nearby and began studying it. If he was going to be taken down, he was going to take as many deatheaters as he could down with him, and Voldemort himself as well.
A/N - Uh oh, Harry's in trouble now! The end of this fanfic is drawing near, probably only three or four more chapters left, but no worries, I'm starting a new fanfic after this one is complete, which will hopefully be liked as well as this one. Please review.