Chances To Come

Chapter Fourteen

London

Harry let out a long sigh and rubbed his temples. His eyes were so sore and itchy, he was sure they would fall out of his sockets any second. He pushed his glasses up to rub his eyes, sighing again. He glanced at his watch to see just how long he'd been sitting in that same chair in the library. With absolutely nothing to show for it, he thought bitterly. He felt the sudden urge to rip the book in front of him apart.

Grunting in frustration, he slammed his fists down on the table, earning many reproving glares. But he didn't care, all he cared about was the information he needed to solve the riddle, and the library's ability to give it to him, or lack thereof.

"Harry."

Harry nearly jumped out of his skin and soon saw Draco smirking at him.

Draco sat at the same table, looking at the open book that was in front of Harry. "What are you doing?"

"Just reading."

"Just reading…" Draco lifted up the book to look at the title; his face fell. "Harry…"

"It's just another book about rare diseases, I've looked at plenty, this one's no more informative than the others."

"And what, pray tell, are you looking for?"

"A clue, I guess."

"Not that blasted riddle again."

"Yes that blasted riddle again. It's the only thing we have to hope for."

Draco sighed and put his head in his hands. "Harry, tell me something… when did we change from hoping it isn't Sidus Morbus to believing it is?"

Harry paused. "Dunno, really. Maybe when Madam Pomfrey handed me the poems."

Draco sighed again. "Let me see it."

"The riddle?"

"Yes. I want to see it."

Harry pulled the delicate paper out of his pocket and handed it to Draco. "I took it to Hermione – you know how brainy she is. She said the clue about those 'who know not of us' means the piece is in some Muggle place."

"Makes sense…" Draco looked up, raising one eyebrow at the book in front of his friend. "Then what are you looking at wizard books for?"

-

Harry had no idea where Dumbledore's office was, and he had no way to find it. He was headed to the hospital wing to ask Madam Pomfrey when he collided along the way into something very bright and flashy. Both he and the fluttering, shining object fell down and he immediately sought to disentangle himself.

"So sorry, my dear boy. Forgot to look where I was going."

Harry was slightly surprised that the object had a voice, and when he looked, he saw he'd managed to run into Professor Lockhart. "Oh… that's alright, sir, I'm as much at fault as you."

With a great flourish and wave of his golden cape, Lockhart bounded to his feet and helped Harry up. "You were in quite a rush, right enough. Have you lost something?"

"Er, no, sir. I was just going to go to Dumbledore's office."

"Dumbledore's office?" Lockhart repeated. "Well, you're going the wrong way. Here, let me show you." Taking Harry by the arm, Lockhart led him to the stone gargoyle, chatting amiably all the way. Tapping his nose secretively, Lockhart winked at Harry. "The password is 'sherbet lemon.'"

Harry nodded his thanks and started rubbing his arm the second Lockhart turned the other way. He looked at the gargoyle. "Er… sherbet lemon?"

The gargoyle sprang to life and moved aside to allow Harry to step onto the moving staircase.

Dumbledore was sitting at his desk when Harry entered, and he gazed at the young boy over his folded fingertips, his elbows resting on the desk. Harry had the sudden feeling that Dumbledore knew what he intended to ask as those startling blue eyes bored into him.

"Take a seat," said Dumbledore gently, gesturing to one of the two chairs in front of his desk. Harry sat. "You have something you wish to ask, Harry?"

"Er, yes, sir. You see, I… I think I'd like to go to Muggle London. I need to do some research."

Dumbledore raised his eyebrows but did not look all that surprised. "And how long would you need to stay there for this research?"

"I'm not sure, sir."

"Is this for a school project?"

"No, sir."

"Can it not wait until summer?"

Harry bit his lip. "No, sir."

Dumbledore settled back in his seat and looked thoughtful for a moment. So Poppy showed him the riddle after all, and he's not doing too bad either… but he needs to be kept safe. "You may go," he said carefully, "tomorrow, provided you have all of your homework from the week done, and you are to be accompanied by an adult. You are certainly too young to be wandering the streets of London alone. And you must return the same day, whether or not you are finished."

Harry relaxed slightly. "Thank you, sir. But if I may ask… who shall accompany me?"

"I will think on it and make my decision tonight. Whomever I choose will be ready for you tomorrow. Now go, and make sure you get well-rested tonight."

Harry nodded and bowed slightly. "Thank you, sir," he said again as he left, wondering who Dumbledore would send with him.

Dumbledore thought for a long moment. He knew he couldn't send a teacher when there was work to be done around the castle, classes to prepare. But who, then? Slowly a smile spread over his face. It was time to call in a favor from an old friend.

-

Harry went straight to the common room to finish up his homework. It was late at night when he finished and, lacking the energy to climb the spiral staircase to his dorm, he fell asleep in the chair by the dying fire embers.

He dreamed that he failed to find the cure and Draco was later in the stages of the sickness. He felt panic grip him as Draco's image started to fade, smiling sadly at him.

"Harry…"

"Draco," he responded, reaching for his friend.

"Harry!" This time, the voice was different and Harry felt himself being pulled back into consciousness. "Harry, wake up!"

Harry groaned softly, shaking his head in attempt to clear it of haunting images. "What?"

"Why were you sleeping in the chair?" asked Hermione, who had one hand on his shoulder.

"Homework… finished late," he mumbled sleepily, rubbing his eyes.

She looked impressed that someone aside from her had actually put effort into their homework. "Want to go get some breakfast?"

"Sure." He got up and sorted through the several pages of homework, making sure everything was there and finished. He followed as Hermione led the way out. "I'm going to Muggle London today."

"Muggle London?" she repeated, giving him a quizzical look. "What for?"

"Well, it was you who gave me the idea actually. You said that the first piece in the riddle is in a Muggle place, so I'll start in London and see if I can find the White Rose."

"That's a good idea," she said slowly. "It might help if I came with you."

"I dunno, Hermione, you'll have to ask Dumbledore, and whoever is going to be chaperoning me."

"I will after breakfast."

They met Draco at the doors of Great Hall and he greeted them with a smile. "Morning, Harry, Hermione."

"Good morning," they said simultaneously, then Harry continued, "I'm going to Muggle London today and Hermione might be coming too, what do you think? Care to join in?"

"Muggle London?" he repeated, much the same way that Hermione had a few minutes prior. "I dunno. Not too crazy about the place myself."

Harry shrugged. "Okay. How are you feeling today?"

The tone of voice Harry used made Draco roll his eyes. "Fine, Mother. Just because I didn't wait for Pomfrey's approval to leave the hospital wing doesn't mean I'm about to faint."

"He was only asking, Draco," reprimanded Hermione.

"He always asks."

"Only because you don't seem to like telling me when something is wrong," interjected Harry.

Draco smirked slightly. "What, and your constant asking changes that? Anyway, have fun in London, I'll see you later." He walked off towards the Slytherin table.

As Harry walked towards the Gryffindor table with Hermione, he looked up at the head table and saw a man he didn't recognize. The man was seated beside Dumbledore, seeming to be perfectly at ease with the headmaster, and he appeared to be in his mid-thirties even though there were shocks of gray in his sandy-colored hair. "Who is that?" asked Harry, pointing subtly. He figured the man could teach a class he did not attend, and Hermione seemed to know all the teachers.

Hermione looked up. "Hmm? Oh… I'm not sure, I've never seen him before."

"Odd," muttered Harry, sitting down and serving himself breakfast.

He thought of his task that he'd set, and started to wonder as to what exactly the White Rose could be. Without realizing, he started to murmur quietly to himself, as he often did in the library.

"Talking to yourself again, Harry?"

Ron's voice shook him from his thoughts and he looked up. He couldn't help but grin a little. "Finally got up, did you?"

"Yeah, I slept nice and easy without you snoring up a storm." Ron grinned back and took his seat next to his friend.

"I do not snore," argued Harry.

Further argument was cut off as the man from the head table walked over and smiled kindly at Harry. "Hello, Harry," he said quietly.

"Hello." As Harry looked at the man, he felt a twinge of familiarity.

"I believe Dumbledore has assigned me the task of taking you around Muggle London today. I'm Remus Lupin." Remus extended a hand.

"Harry – "

"Potter, I know. However, unlike most, I knew you before you earned that scar."

Harry frowned slightly. "How?"

"I'll explain later." Remus glanced to either side of Harry, acknowledging Hermione and Ron with a friendly smile. Hermione returned the smile, but Ron was preoccupied with his breakfast.

"Mr. Lupin, sir, I was wondering if I could accompany you and Harry today," said Hermione. "Is it alright with you?"

"On one condition."

"And that is?"

"That you call me Remus."

Hermione nodded with alacrity and stood up. "I believe I'll go ask Dumbledore as well now, I'll be back in a tick."

Remus smiled again as she walked away. "Nice girl."

"Wait 'til you get to know her," grumbled Ron, which made Remus smile wider.

To Harry and Ron's surprise, Remus sat down beside them, taking Hermione's seat. He served himself to a new plate and some breakfast, acting as if this was nothing out of the ordinary. Harry noticed Draco giving them an odd look from the Slytherin table. Ron was staring at Remus as well.

"Did you know my parents?" Harry blurted out suddenly.

Remus's head snapped up. "I'm sorry?"

"Did you know my parents?" Harry repeated patiently.

"Yes… yes, I did. I knew them well. In fact, your father was as good of a friend to me as you are to young Draco there. Though I must say, it is rather ironic that you and Draco of all people have befriended each other." Remus allowed himself a dry little chuckle. "Let's just say your father and Lucius Malfoy didn't get along so well."

"Yeah, I know. Draco told me. My father and Mr. Malfoy were on opposite sides of the war until Mr. Malfoy renounced his loyalty to Voldemort."

Remus looked surprised, and for a moment Harry thought it was because he had said Voldemort's name. Then Remus asked, "He did what?"

"Who?"

"Lucius Malfoy."

"He renounced his loyalty to Voldemort…" said Harry slowly, frowning. "Why, didn't you know?"

"No… No one on our side of the war ever heard anything about it."

"Well, apparently the Death Eaters did."

Remus looked thoughtful for a moment. "That would explain a few things, yes."

"What would explain a few things?" Hermione asked, walking up with a bright smile on her face.

"Nothing. Oh, I'm in your seat, aren't I? Excuse me." Remus stood up, abandoning his untouched plate of food.

"That's alright, Mr. Lu… er… Remus."

Remus smiled at her then looked at Harry. "I'm ready whenever you are, Harry. I'll wait outside Great Hall for you."

"Alright. I shouldn't be too much longer."

"Take your time."

Hermione watched him go for a moment before sitting down. "He seems nice. He's a bit odd though, isn't he?"

Harry nodded distractedly. Ron muttered something underneath his breath that sounded an awful lot like, "Look who's talking…"

-

As soon as the doors to the Great Hall closed behind him, Remus felt the extremely oppressive silence that wrapped around him like a blanket. He hated it. The silence gave him too much peace to reflect on memories, and being in Hogwarts only made it worse. He closed his eyes so that he wouldn't have to look at the entrance hall, hoping that it would spare him, but instead he only pictured in his mind the first time that he walked through the entrance hall. How much had things changed since then? He opened his eyes again and looked around. Judging by the appearance of the entrance hall, it'd be easy to say that nothing had changed at Hogwarts since his school years, but he knew better. He knew that the eyes he saw things through now were far different from the eyes of his eleven-year-old self. He had Prongs, Padfoot, and Wormtail to thank for that. Or curse. He couldn't figure out which. He allowed himself a bitter smile; maybe it was a mix of the two.

Prongs… Harry looks so much like you, except for Lily's eyes… Remus sighed.

"Are you okay?"

Remus jumped slightly as Harry's voice shook him from his thoughts. He smiled kindly. "Yes. I was just thinking."

"About my parents?"

Harry's perception surprised him. "Yes, actually. You look so much like your father, except—"

"I have my mother's eyes," Harry finished for him. "I know."

Remus chuckled dryly. "I suppose you've heard it a few times?"

"Just a few."

"Where's your friend who wanted to come with us?"

"Oh, Hermione, she got into an argument with Ron. I decided to get out of the way before I got injured stuck between the two of them."

"Should we wait for her?"

"No, we'd be here all day, and I don't have time. The sooner I get to London, the better."

"Alright. Let's go then."

-

Oh, for hatred of Floo Powder...

Neither of them said anything, but that was the only thought for both Remus and Harry as they tumbled out of the fireplace in the Leaky Cauldron. Remus dusted himself off and helped Harry up, moving towards the front door. Harry squinted as sunlight assaulted them, and as he glanced over his shoulder at the darkness of the Leaky Cauldron, he realized that it had been several years since he had been on the Muggle side of the pub. He'd forgotten how small it looked from the outside.

"So where to, Harry?"

Harry looked up at Remus. "I'm not sure."

"Dumbledore mentioned some research you need to do."

"Yes, sir."

"Remus," he corrected quietly. "There's no need for my best friend's son to call me 'sir.' Now what kind of research?"

"Well..." Harry fidgeted slightly, then pulled the riddle out of his pocket to let Remus read it. "Hermione said that the White Rose 'amongst those who know not of us' would be in a Muggle place."

Remus raised his eyebrows at Harry, looking slightly amused. "And you aim to wander aimlessly around London in order to find it?"

Harry's face flushed in embarrassment.

"Tell you what," said Remus, handing the paper back to Harry, who stuffed it in his pocket quickly. "Let's go to the library and look up anything we can find about a White Rose."

Harry nodded and followed Remus down the street.

"The Sidus Morbus..." said Remus quietly. "It's supposed to be a myth. Why would you want to find a cure for a mythological disease?"

Harry refused to meet Remus's gaze. "It's supposed to be a myth."

"You don't think it is?"

Harry shook his head silently.

"Do you have it?"

"No."

Remus smiled kindly at the boy. "But Draco does."

Harry's head snapped up, and he stared at Remus incredulously.

"It's funny how often things are supposed to be myths when they really aren't. Did you know that people thought that werewolves were supposed to be myths? The idea of it sounded so ridiculous that even wizards didn't want to believe it. Same goes for some other things, vampires, dragons... and I know plenty of people who wish banshees were myths."

Harry muttered something underneath his breath that he didn't intend for Remus to hear, but Remus burst out laughing, earning some odd looks from passerby.

"Don't worry, Harry, I'm sure you're not the only one who wishes Lockhart was a myth." Remus chuckled to himself, patting Harry on the back, but Harry froze in his tracks, staring across the street. "Harry? What is it?" Remus followed his gaze and took in a sharp breath.

It was a church with a graveyard beside it. And gloriously emblazoned over the gates of both... a white rose.

A/N: Okay, I know it's been three and a half years since I updated. I'll be surprised if I still have any loyal readers left. I'm really sorry, guys. College and writer's block account for a lot of the wait. I always intended to come back to this story though, and I finally did. At least it's a good sized chapter this time, almost 3,000 words. I really don't know when I'll update again. Sorry again.

I'm so glad I finally got Remus in here.

Now for my reviewers...

Kaaera: Well, at least the riddle is unfolding now. I hope it hasn't been bugging you all this time. (I do the same thing with CDs.) Thanks!

Misdilla: Reviewers like you are the ones who make writing fan fiction great. (Foamy the Squirrel is awesome.) I hope you like this chapter.

FSL: Thanks!

sak: Harry is definitely getting farther with the riddle now. Can't promise the happily ever after though.

Liliku: Thanks a lot. Writer's block should be murdered.

Cressida Aliora: Thanks!

Yana5: Thanks!

Alimighty Yummy One: You spelled "Almighty" wrong. Giggle You can have all the cookies you want, and one of these days, I'll make you pie and sandwiches and stuff.

lady sakura cosmos: Thanks a lot.

Never Odd Or eveN: Awesome, thanks!

Alexandria Jade Lily Potter: I'm not gonna tell what happens to Draco! Thanks for reading though.

Haunted Past: Thanks, here you go.

Nikko Corvin: Brat.

Cookies for everybody!!!

Sabre Black