Disclaimer: Nope, I still own zilch. –Sobs.-
Chapter Summary: Decisions are made, and responses are given to news given to different parties...
A/N: Well, I thought it to be a good idea to post again before finals began eating at me, sooooo, hence this chapter. –Nod, nod.- The end of the school year is always a mix of happiness and stress for me…ugh… Anywho, moving past that now, enjoy the chapter. :-)
Chapter 32: Responses
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A shocked silence rang out throughout the room as Sirius and Remus' gazes shifted slowly, incredulously, to their charge.
"…Who?" Sirius asked after a few beats, wondering if his ears were finally failing him. 26 years were getting up there, after all…
Harry looked reluctantly from his Godfather to his Uncle before looking over at Dumbledore, who had been a little surprised at first, but who now seemed like if the name Harry had given was the most logical answer in the universe.
"…Draco Malfoy?" Remus repeated in disbelief. A Malfoy! Help a Potter? What in the world could have possessed the boy to even entertain the thought, let alone take action on them?? And in the ways this boy did…no normal wizard could have accomplished what he had in order help Harry… But Remus could not say that he was not grateful, for he was…extremely. They owed the boy now, for Harry. Things could have turned out horribly if Draco had not made the choice he had…
"Yeah…" Harry said, voice soft, sinking into his seat. A new silence fell, a pensive one this time. The fact that Padfoot had not gone over the roof about Draco comforted Harry and worried him at the same time. Passive aggression was worse in the long run than straight out aggression...
"I'm sorry…" These small, barely audible, words snapped those in the room out of their thoughts as they all placed their attention on Harry again.
"What for, kiddo?" Sirius inquired with a soft smile, picking his Godson up from his chair and sitting him on his lap.
Harry looked uncertainly up at his Godfather before leaning against him, resting his head on his chest. He did not really want to ask, but…if he did not know, it would bother him for the longest time…
"Well…aren't you mad? Draco's a…Malfoy…" Saying the last name like it was evil pained the young boy. Sirius's eyes softened as he shook his head, positioning the boy so that emerald eyes met bluish-grey ones.
"I can't be upset for something out of your control, Prongslet. Surprised…Merlin and Agrippa! Heh. But…I don't have room to talk. I'm a Black after all…"
Sirius had explained to Harry a good few months ago about how the Blacks had been a Dark Wizard family, just like many other pure-blood ones, but that he had been a kind of…outcast from them; which was how he and James had become friends.
"Another black sheep in a Dark Wizard family? Hard to believe…" Remus voiced, looking over at Dumbledore. "Sirius was one in a million."
"You're right. I would not label the boy a black sheep of the Malfoy's just for one day of rebellious acts…Draco is still young, moldable. He has yet to truly become who he 'shall' be the day he sets foot in Hogwarts. Whether or not he shall turn out like those before him has yet to be seen…" Dumbledore sighed. "Though from what Harry has told us, I would say it safe to assume we know who the second Elemental is…" Sirius and Remus nodded slowly at this. What other normal wizard could project their thoughts as well as 'hear' others'? It was good to know searching for the second was not going to be a problem though…but who the second was proposed a whole new range of predicaments.
"With this new revelation, I must say that it would be my preference that both boys were raised as Light Wizard's rather than one Light and one Dark. Things could prove troublesome if they stay that way. Hmm…I'll have to speak with Severus, but with Lucius in Azkaban we might just be able to—"
An abrupt knock on the door informed the four in the room that they had company.
"Come in," Dumbledore called, shifting his blue gaze to the door. The eyes of the three across from him followed suit.
In a flurry of robes, one Severus Snape entered the room, the door closing behind him.
"Headmaster, I have…" his silky voice trailed off as onyx eyes fell on Remus, Sirius, and lastly, Harry. They narrowed dangerously and Harry visibly cringed before hiding his face in his Godfather's robes. Oh, how that man's personality reminded him of his Uncle Vernon! "I see…have I come at a bad time?" he inquired lazily, shifting his gaze to the white bearded man.
"As a matter of fact, Snape—" Sirius began in malicious response, but was cut off by Dumbledore.
"You've come at a fine time, Severus. I was soon to just be calling you."
The corners of the Potion Master's lips curled in a satisfied sneer as he proceeded to enter the room a few more steps.
"Your arrival must mean you have something of importance to inform me," Dumbledore stated, knowing this to be the only reason the man would arrive without being called upon first.
"…Yes, Headmaster," Snape replied, onyx eyes trailing back to Harry. "Although I would prefer it to be given without extra ears present…"
"Well, I suppose if you feel that way Severus…but Sirius and Remus shall stay, though. I would like their opinions as well as yours on a few matters…" Snape seemed to be using all his self control to not role his eyes at this, and nodded, hiding his displeasure at being in the same room as the two men in the chairs.
"…I have to go?" Harry inquired, his child-like voice muffled slightly by Sirius' robes. His two Guardians glanced over at Dumbledore, who nodded.
"We'll be back with you in just a bit, Prongslet," Sirius informed his Godson, causing the boy to sit up some - forcing himself to not look over at the man who's glance reminded him so much of Uncle Vernon's… - , and look from Sirius to Remus with sad emerald orbs. After being reunited with them, he definitely did not want to be apart again. The look broke their hearts, but they knew it would only be for a little while.
"It'll be alright, Harry. Here…I'll take you back up to Madam Pomfrey," Remus offered, standing up, reaching a hand out for Harry's.
Glancing briefly back up at his Godfather, Harry took his Uncle's hand and slowly slid off Sirius's lap.
"Do I...have to go there?" he asked, biting his bottom lip, hoping to not have to spend his time just with Madam Pomfrey. If nothing else, for he doubted his Guardians would allow him to go exploring the castle, he could at least go visit Hagrid and Amber while he waited for them.
Remus gave a small smile, and looked up at Dumbledore.
"If…you would prefer, Harry, I could have a teacher who's free at the moment look after you for a little while," Dumbledore consented with a smile, eyes sparkling in their Dumbledore-ish fashion.
Harry brightened up considerably at this prospect. He was sad he would have to leave Moony and Padfoot for a little while, but he knew he did not have much choice in the matter…and that at least 'this' way he would not have to spend his time in the hospital wing. His only true concern was that if all the teachers at Hogwarts were like Severus Snape… He did not want to think about that…
"Well, I suppose that settles matters, then," he smiled. "Give me just a moment." And with that, Dumbledore easily whipped out a quill from his desk drawer and pulled a blank piece of parchment from another drawer. In fine-script handwriting he wrote out a quick note, rolled it up and elegantly stood, walking over to Fawks, who sat regally on his perch, watching the room. "Care to do me the favor, my old friend?" And as if knowing the Headmaster's desired recipient, the Phoenix took the note in his beak, and disappeared in a flash of fiery feathers.
A gasp escaped Harry's lips as he looked wide-eyed at the place the bird had sat just previously.
"Just one of the many skills he has, my dear boy," Dumbledore smiled at Harry. "I believe you have one quite similar..."
"Headmaster…" Snape sighed, impatient. "Must we honestly conform to a spoiled boy's wishes? As far as I can see, Black and Lupin have done nothing more than aid him in becoming more like his conceited father…which I doubt he needed any help with from the beginning…"
"Care to say that 'again', Snape?" Sirius all but growled as he jumped to his feet, eyes flashing.
"I said," Snape sneered, all to glad to repeat his words, "that—"
"Now, now Severus…Sirius…" Dumbledore interrupted, voice kind yet stern at the same time. In that moment, in another flash of fiery feathers, Fawks reappeared, a new note held in his beak. The aging headmaster contentedly took the note, read it over quickly, smiled to himself, and looked down at Harry, whose hand was still in Remus'.
"The professor has kindly agreed. You may head down the spiral staircase on your own, Harry. You shall be greeted almost as soon as you arrive in the hall."
Harry nodded once before glancing at his two Guardians who both nodded, though Sirius did so after tearing a glare away from Snape. Removing his hand from Remus', he smiled lightly up at the man, then at Sirius, and then walked over to the large door that led into and out of Dumbledore's office.
Stopping at the door, placing his hand on the knob, he glanced back into the room at the headmaster and said, "…Thank you…sir…"
"You're welcome, Harry," Dumbledore replied, eyes sparkling once more.
"We'll come and get you here in little bit, kiddo," Sirius smiled. Harry nodded, knowing his words to be true ones, before turning back to the door, opening it, and exiting.
As he tentatively descended the spiral staircase towards the hall, nerves gripped the Potter heir. What would this person…this 'professor'…be like?
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Alexis Summerlin exited her office with a sigh. She still had some papers to grade, but she supposed it could wait until tomorrow, taking care of a child for Dumbledore seemed like a more interesting thing to do with her time. Since working at Hogwarts, she barely ever saw children below the age of eleven. Dumbledore had said the boy was well behaved and that he highly doubted there would be any problems, and that he was sure she would enjoy his company. How he assumed this, she was not sure…a curious thing, though, was that he had not given her a name. She guessed it was not a big deal, but…it was curious.
She was a young professor of twenty-six. Not the youngest to teach at the school, but young none-the-less. Fully clad in her wizarding robes, the shoulder-length strawberry-blonde haired, clear blue eyed woman took the hall in a purposeful stride. Better to find the kid and have him safe and sound in her chambers, than out and about when the all the students return from Hogsmeade!
Descending a flight of stairs and rounding a few corners throughout the corridors, she rounded a last one and met a sight that stole her breath…
No way… she thought to herself, nearly tripping over her own feet as she placed a hand on the stone wall to prevent herself from falling from shock. Her mind buzzed with thoughts as her gaze settled and focused completely on the child not ten feet from her…
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Dumbledore had not lied, the person before him, who Harry took for the Professor for she had robes that were a lot like McGonagall's - who had come to their house a few times - , had appeared around the corner not ten seconds after he had entered the hall. And she was…a torrent of emotions, each one different from the last, each falling on Harry in waves…but one was the most prominent, and that one was astonishment, bordering on disbelief.
Seeing as how the woman didn't seem in anyway capable of moving from her position by the wall, a nervousness struck Harry…but he found himself walking towards her anyway. Why he was nervous, he was uncertain, but that did not stop the fact that it was settling in the pits of his stomach. Stopping a good three feet from her, her gaze never leaving his face, the Potter heir drummed up his courage and said,
"…Erm…H-Hello…"
"Oh…" she breathed shakily, seeming to have just taken her first breath in minutes as her hand came up and covered her mouth and she gradually lowered herself to his level. Outstretching her other hand she ran it slowly, trembling, affectionately, through Harry's mess of raven-colored hair, briefly revealing his lightening shaped scar before his hair fell back in messy place, covering the mark once more as her hand came to rest on his cheek, it finally steadying at the contact of skin. "James…" she whispered, her eyes trailing over his features little by little, unnerving the boy slightly, before clear blue met fascinating emerald. Lowering her hand from her mouth, glimmers of tears collected in her eyes as she smiled kindly, more than fondly, at him, removing her hand as she murmured, emotion evident in her voice, "Lily…"
Harry's voice left him as he stared, felt, and listened to her. She had known his parents…why else would she be acting as strangely as she currently was? He felt like saying something…anything…but his throat was tight. His ability for speech had left since he had first greeted her, and the ailment had only worsened there after. She stared at him a good few more seconds, her emotions running at a remarkable speed, Harry barely able to catch affection and relief in their midst, before she sighed softly, no longer as shaken as she had been just minutes before. Bringing her hands up to her face she wiped the tears from her eyes that had been threatening to fall, and chuckled shaking her head as she lowered them once more, smiling warmly at Harry.
"…Wow…I don't think I've ever been such a baby about things before," she informed him truthfully. "And I can't remember when I've ever been so rude, I haven't even told you my name…I'm Alexis—well, Professor Summerlin, really. But you can call me Alexis, if you'd like, you're not old enough to be a student of mine."
Harry merely stared at her, not just because his speech was missing, for it most certainly still was, but because even if he 'had' the ability to speak right then, he was at a loss of how to respond to her.
"You're Harry, aren't you?" she said, her words more of a statement than an inquiry. Harry took a breath, pushing away the assailment of emotions that had flooded through him from her since she had rounded the corner, and nodded once, tentatively.
A tender smile touched her lips at this. "You've grown so much…" she murmured, more to herself than to him. "And you look so much like James, I can hardly believe it! But you're eyes are Lily's…there's no way I'd forget those eyes..."
Harry's mind was alight with questions, but he still had yet to regain control of his vocal cords. The last thing he had imagined about the professor he was to meet was that he/she would be anything like the person before him.
Concern, with a bit of uncertainty, entered Alexis' eyes as she gazed at him, realizing finally that he had been silent ever since greeting her…
"Oh, I'm sorry, Harry! Have I scared you? I bet you've never had anyone do anything like this to you before… Heh, I doubt Sirius would have let anyone. He was always awfully protective of James, about as much as James was of him, which is probably why it took him so bloody long to accept Lily into James's life. So I highly doubt he 'wouldn't' pass that protectiveness onto you… I mean, wait—Sirius 'is' your guardian…isn't he?" This time she was not so sure of the validity of her words. She had known Harry was a Potter, but she did not honestly know if he was being raised by Sirius, like had been mandated in James and Lily's will…or not…
A small smile began tugging at Harry's lips…she had certainly described his Padfoot well…
"…And Remus," he replied softly, his vocal cords finally falling back under his control, using the man's given name seeing as how he did not know whether or not she 'knew' his Uncle Moony's nickname. "No…you…erm, didn't scare me…just…surprised me some."
"He speaks!" she exclaimed, a grin coming to her lips as she stood. "You had me worried there for a second…"
Harry smiled sheepishly…shyly.
"Merlin and Agrippa…Remus, too?" she said, shaking her head. "I'm amazed you're such a quiet, sweet kid. Being raised by one Marauder is one thing…but two?" She chuckled at this.
Harry wondered what could be funny about being raised by both Sirius and Remus, but he decided against asking.
"Well, I'm pretty sure Dumbledore didn't ask me to come down here to just stay with you in the halls…here, we'll go back to my chambers. It'll be more comfortable there," she sighed, glancing briefly in the direction from where she had come before returning her gaze to the boy before her. The students were due back anytime from Hogsmeade, and she would much prefer it if the boy was not spotted by curious eyes.
"…Okay."
Smiling softly at him, she outstretched her hand for him to take, which he slowly did after starring at the appendage for a few seconds. Harry was rarely around girls, other than Mrs. Weasley, who was a lot older than him, and Ron's sister Ginny, who was a year younger. He had never held a girl's hand before, and it was a drastic change from the hands of his Guardians. The professor's hands were soft, smooth, delicate…it was…different…yet…very nice.
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Severus Snape declined the chair Dumbledore had offered for him to sit in. Standing had always been his preference, the Headmaster knew this, but that never stopped Dumbledore from offering every bloody time.
"The Dark Lord called an abrupt meeting early this morning…" Severus began smoothly. "To take count of how many of us hadn't been caught, to hear how we hadn't, and to inform us of what course of action he would be taking thanks to last night's…change in plans… He is currently located somewhere in Albania. He summoned us to a place far from where he is situated for he suspects a spy within the midst, but told us enough to know the country," the Order's resident spy continued before pausing to allow a thin smile become slightly apparent on his lips. "To say the least, the efforts of the Order last night certainly angered him farther than I have yet see. His plan had been to use Potter's blood along with dark magic to regain his true body…"
Understanding washed over Remus. He had known, thanks to Xantos, that Voldemort had wanted Harry for the boy's abilities…for his being an Elemental. The dark wizard had wanted to be able to use him for his own means, but he had also known that the chance Harry went along with that plan willingly was as likely as Sirius becoming chummy with Severus. The amber-eyed man had wondered why Voldemort had not just decided to rid himself of Harry when the boy had defied him that night, Elemental or not. Blatantly telling him that he 'would not' go along with the Dark Lord's wishes. Remus had not understood why Voldemort had been somewhat patient…but now the puzzle pieces fell into place, finally forming the picture. Voldemort wanted Harry, not only to have an Elemental on his side, but to have his body back with higher level of magical blood flowing through him. Not being granted with Elemental powers from it, those were Harry's and Harry's alone, but at least getting a lot of the benefits Elemental blood came with.
Dumbledore and Sirius also had looks of understanding, though Remus did not fail to notice that the knowledge of Voldemort's plan for Harry brought a look of controlled anger into his friend's blue-grey eyes. Severus kept his gaze on Dumbledore, acting as though the other two men were either not present, or were too insignificant to spare a fleeting glance.
"He is searching for another suitable host, and then will be recruiting new Death Eaters to keep the count up before he regains his true body and can break into Azkaban."
The aging wizard nodded, he had believed Tom to do such a thing. The Slytherin heir had a lot to take into account now that the tables had been turned on him… But, in honesty, other than the fact that Voldemort would be acquiring new recruits in due time, there was not terribly much to worry about on the light side's part, Dumbledore knew. Forcibly stopping wizards from willingly joining Voldemort was not an option after all. And seeing as the man's recruiting could attract unwanted attention, the likelihood he would achieve much was slim…
"Greyback and his group of werewolves-" Remus's eyes darkened at the mention of the man, but no other reaction escaped him…only Sirius had noticed. "-are aiding him in getting new recruits and finding his next suitable body to possess. His previous one will not hold out much longer…which only adds to the anger he has for not being able to use Potter's blood to revive his former body and a great level of power…" The Head of Slytherin House delivered all this information in the same silky tone of voice.
"…What about Malfoy?" Sirius inquired with forced civil-ness in his voice. Severus shifted his cold black gaze to the two men for the first time since beginning his report.
"In Azkaban, last I saw. Maybe some of us should pay more attention when the Headmaster speaks at Order meetings," was his sneering response, satisfyingly earning the gritting of teeth from the Black.
Knowing that, for a while now, his friend has been a hair's breath away from raining an all out onslaught on Snape, Remus interjected,
"We mean Draco."
Something unreadable crossed the potions masters eyes, but it was gone as quick as it had come, leaving suspicion in its wake.
"Why do you want to know?" he asked evenly.
"Something has come to our attention, Severus…" Dumbledore sighed, bringing all eyes back to him. "Something, as a Godfather, I believe you should know and have a say in…"
Severus said nothing, but nodded once, cautiously. What could they know about his Godson that he did not…?
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Harry's mind was going a mile a minute as they walked; he had so many questions that they all seemed to jumble together. Someone else who had known his parents, someone else who actually 'knew' his guardians…and he did not even know 'how'! He was surprised at himself for not bursting with an interrogation right then and there, but he supposed her emotions were what kept him at bay. They were not so violently assailing her at the moment, but they were there, and Harry contented himself with just feeling them. Not to much later the two arrived in front of a door that Harry was sure had not appeared until they stood in front of it.
Just as the professor was unsheathing her wand, to unlock the door no doubt, a voice said from behind them,
"Hello, Professor Summerlin. You said that essay was due on Monday, right? …Hey, who's that?"
Having been open to solely Alexis's feelings at the time, he had not sensed the student approaching, and got a double dose of surprise; his own, and Alexis'.
Both all but yelped as they whipped around, hands separating as the strawberry-blonde promptly stepped in front of Harry.
"Who?" she asked the third year Hufflepuff, acting as though she did not have anyone with her…a little childish of her, she knew, but it had been the first answer that had come to mind. Harry, however, after closing his 'empathic door' to enough to reduce the emotions around him to a very dull roar, stuck his head out promptly after Alexis' words left her mouth, causing the professor to close her eyes and release a deep sigh before opening them slowly.
"Him," the student replied, her grin evident in her voice. "Is he your son?"
"Merlin, no. Just the son of a friend of mine, and yes, the essay is due Monday," Alexis said, acting as though this whole exchange was natural, and that she had not just been trying to hide Harry. Said boy withdrew from the student's view once more…what was that all about?
"Oh, okay. Thanks…" the girl said, barely hiding a smile. "…Have a good day, professor."
"You too, Miss Tonks."
And with that, the girl departed, leaving Alexis to chuckle with relief as she shook her head. That could have turned out worse.
"Sorry about that, Harry," she whispered, turning back to the boy, who was staring at his shoes. He nodded, looking up to meet her eyes; the clear blue seemed weary.
"It's okay…" he replied softly. She ruffled his hair some, making him look even more like a kid-James than he had previously.
"Come on, I've got a good bit to show you, and I bet you've got some questions for me," she grinned as she stood, magically unlocking her door before proceeding to open it.
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"Yesterday's events went well for the most part, I must say, thanks to your Godson," Dumbledore began, believing this to be the best way to begin. How exactly did one inform a parent, guardian, or Godparent that their child was not just an everyday wizard, but an Elemental? Well…he had done it well with the two Marauders before him, but with Severus, who's Godson had not been in danger of Voldemort his since before birth… Yes, best to start the way he had.
Severus was silent for a few beats. His Godson had aided in saving Potter? Or better put, a Malfoy had helped a Potter?
"…How?" he inquired finally.
And so the Headmaster recounted Harry's story…and for the first time in Severus' history of being a spy for the Order, he allowed himself to lower into a chair across from Dumbledore's desk, at a loss for words.
"He's an Elemental," he breathed, more to himself than to Dumbledore, but the elder wizard nodded none the less. An Elemental! Draco! The thought of that even being 'possible' had never even crossed Severus' mind. Sure, he could see Merlin allowing a Potter to be endowed with the magic of an Elemental, Potter's always got 'whatever' they wanted, but to allow the same for a Malfoy, who were natural Dark Wizards? The thought was mind-boggling, even for one as intelligent as Snape…
"As yesterday has informed us, the boy has, if even only a speck, 'some' light in him. It would be my wish that Draco and Harry had more interaction, that they could—"
"No…" Severus said thoughtfully. Though, for those open to the conversation, it was obvious that the Potions Master had not been answering in the negative to Dumbledore.
"What?" Sirius asked accusatorily, hoping and believing to have caught the greasy-haired man in the act, proving him to be a wizard for Voldemort this whole time. "Scared that having Malfoy around Harry will change him to the Light for good?" the Animagus grounded out, a fierce grin on his face.
Severus sent a biting glare in the man's direction, "Perhaps it's you that doesn't want Draco to turn Harry Dark."
Sirius looked as though he had been punched in the gut, and Severus sneered before returning his attention to Dumbledore. Remus reflexively grabbed the arm Sirius was inching towards his wand pocket, shaking his head at his friend. This was neither the time nor place.
"What do you mean 'no', Severus?" Dumbledore inquired, acting as though the brief dispute before him had never transpired, and that their conversation had not been interrupted.
"Potter knew…" Severus sighed, closing his eyes, seeming to be having a mental argument.
"Harry?" the headmaster offered uncertainly, though knowing it was only a matter of time before the man elaborated.
"Xantos," he finally said, onyx eyes locking with no-longer-sparkling blue, the name venom on his tongue. Remus and Sirius shared a glance. "He knew Draco was an…an Elemental. That's why he… If I would have known… I wouldn't have…"
"What are you talking about?" Remus asked calmly, hoping to bring the man's running thoughts into better focus.
Severus sighed once more, seeming to collect his thoughts. So many revelations, so much to think about… "The Dark Lord did speak of Draco," he began hesitantly, before regaining control. "The Malfoy line has always been loyal to the darkness, so he obviously wants Draco to follow the same path. With Lucius in Azkaban he asked me if I would be able to continue his pre-Hogwarts schooling…"
"And you said you couldn't..." Dumbledore finished knowingly, sadness in his eyes. "Because the school-year had already started."
Severus nodded. "If I had known then the opportunity taking him in would offer…"
"There was no way you could have," Remus frowned.
"How does Xantos tie into all of this?" Sirius asked, angry enough since the arrival of Snape, and the mention of his late friend's cousin not helping his seething mood.
"I hadn't thought terribly on it at the time," Severus continued to Dumbledore. "But Potter had been quick to offer himself as a tutor once I declined."
"And Voldemort went along with this?" Dumbledore asked.
"No, it took some convincing, but he got the job. It all makes sense now… He must have caught Draco in the act last night."
"Is there no way you can go and tell him you've changed your mind?" Sirius inquired, hoping there was, but earning himself an 'are you daft' look from both his friend and Snape.
"The Dark Lord would be more than suspicious if I went back with a change of mind."
"If indeed Xantos does know, and Voldemort failed to mention any of it, then that means Xantos has not divulged his knowledge. And I highly doubt he will anytime soon…" Dumbledore said pensively.
"What makes you think so, sir?" Remus asked curiously, and blue eyes glanced over to meet amber.
"Xantos is anything but unintelligent. To have a true trump card is a rare occurrence, and only a daft person would show it to the other players with such ease. He'll keep the knowledge to himself until the time telling would benefit him most," Dumbledore explained, Remus nodding in understanding. "By no means can we breathe a sigh of relief, but at least, for the time being, things are not as drastic as they could be."
The room fell into silent contemplation. Things, under the circumstances, were better than they could have been…that much was true. 'Voldemort' did not have his hands on the second Elemental. But that did not mean terribly much. Xantos had the second Elemental. Xantos…and only Merlin knew what damage he could to accomplish.
"Wait…don't you get Draco on most holidays?" Remus said after a few minutes, looking over at Snape. "I mean…I've seen him around the school from time to time during Christmas and summer." The Potions Master blinked a few times, the information registering. Lucius and Narcissa had always been out and about doing something or rather during the holidays. They had hardly ever spent them with their son, and it had become customary for the young blonde to spend most holidays with Snape.
"He does," the spy confirmed, almost surprised at the truth. Dumbledore's eyes regained their usual sparkle as a smile came to his face.
"Then we have a chance…a chance to have the boy desire to fight on our side rather than on Voldemort's. A chance for him to interact with his other half…"
Snape inwardly winced at the prospect of have his Godson interact, on friendly terms, with a Potter. It was…abysmal…though he knew there was no way around it. Sadly…fate had dealt its cards… Remus, on the other hand, was no where near upset. This was in both boys' best interest. Elementals' powers were nearly doubled when in the presence of the counterpart, and if their powers were to combine…the prospects were immeasurable. Sirius knew the same, even though he did have to admit he was exited as Snape was.
"We won't have as much time with him as Xantos will, for he'll only be in Severus' care during holidays, but some time is better than no time at all. Hopefully the influence will have an affect," Dumbledore sighed, the three men before him nodded in agreement. With both Elementals on the light side their chance of winning the war was almost assured.
And so the planning began. Christmas was, after all, not too horribly far away…
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Harry sat on a long sofa glancing curiously around the room. It was a sitting room, the first room one entered from the door. From what Harry could tell, the place looked like a smaller version of a house. Other than the sofa he was sitting on, there was a bookshelf against the opposite wall, a fish tank on a stand with multiple colored fish swimming around, three lamps on various stands, a recliner near the bookstand, and a coffee table between the recliner and the sofa. A hall to the right of the sofa led to the rest of the living space, a bedroom and bathroom, as Miss Alexis had shown him. She had then told him to sit and make himself at home. Harry was not exactly sure how one 'made themselves at home', so he just settled with sitting and glancing around.
Many pictures hung on the walls, most moving, some not. A particular one caught Harry's wandering emerald eyes. It was Miss Alexis, but as a teenager. To her left, in the picture, were teenage Remus and a boy Harry tried to recall but could not for the life of him, and to her right, in order, were Harry's teenage mother, father, and godfather. All the boy's were grinning, a mischievous glint in their eyes, and the two girls were merely smiling, though his mother seemed to be inching away from his father. Glancing around to make sure he was still alone, Harry hopped off the sofa and enclosed the gap between himself and the picture, to get a better look at it. A smile graced his lips. They all looked so happy.
"Here we go," a voice said from somewhere behind him, footsteps accompanying. Harry all but fell over backwards in his attempt to reach the sofa before she returned. His luck made it to where he was half on/half off the sofa when she reentered the sitting room. He looked like a child with his hand caught in the cookie-jar, and she could not help but chuckle. "Are you alright, Harry?"
"Y-Yeah," he replied embarrassedly, a blush creeping onto his cheeks, as he scrambled the rest of the way back onto the sofa. "S-Sorry, I just…"
"No, it's fine, hun. I didn't literally mean for you to stay 'sitting'," she smiled warmly as she took a seat next to him, two books on her lap and a small box on the top. The latter of these things she set to the side. "What were you looking at?" Though still embarrassed for what he had done, Harry answered,
"That picture."
"Oh, I see." Her eyes gained a faraway look in them. "That was our fourth year…before…" she trailed off, her gaze coming into focus as she looked back at him with a sad smile. Harry wanted to press her into continuing her sentence, but he did not want to make her dislike him. He deeply enjoyed her kindness and did not want to risk loosing it. He would let 'that' question fall, but he had one eating at him that needed answered.
"Who's that?"
Alexis glanced reluctantly back at the picture, at the person Harry was pointing to, then back at the raven-haired child. Did he not know?
"Xantos Potter, James's cousin…your cousin. Well…second cousin, really." She seemed surprised that this was information Harry did not know about.
"Xan…Xantos?" Harry repeated, realization dawning in his eyes. He 'had' seen the person before…in his dreams…though it had been a while. "He's real??" Alexis looked at him oddly, as though regarding him for the first time.
"Of course, he's as real as you and me."
"Is he…alive?"
Alexis took a breath, pondering over her answer. Xantos was alive, yes, but dead to her and the rest of the light side. Why had Sirius and Remus never discussed him with Harry? Why avoid the subject that would eventually come up?
"I'm…not sure. I haven't seen him for years, so…" she trailed off again, willing Harry to be satisfied with the answer she supplied. For it was the truth of sorts…
Harry's emerald eyes studied her clear blue for a few moments before nodding and glancing down at his hands. He wondered if he had asked too much… "Oh…"
"Here, why don't you look through one of these?" she suggested, handing one of the books over. Harry looked over at it, then up at her. Being greeted with an encouraging smile, Harry took it, and began to flip though it. It was a photo album.
There were so many pictures; ranging from the Hogwarts grounds, London, Diagon Ally, Hogsmeade, and even outside houses and places Harry did not recognize. Every now and then as he turned the pages, Alexis would explain a picture. "That was when James and Sirius had the whole of Slytherin sing Ave Maria on their heads with yellow polka dotted robes on", "That's Lily and I at my house", "That's the priceless look on James, Remus, Sirius, and Peter's faces when they realized it was 'us' that had pulled a prank on 'them'".
Harry's smile widened as the minutes dragged on and they moved on to the second photo album. The slight rift that had occurred earlier disappearing into the past as the two enjoyed the others company and rifled through the book. "There's James and Lily on there wedding day, Sirius grinning like the idiot he is, and here's Lily pregnant with you getting ready to slap James for suggesting they name you after Sirius." At this Harry could not help but laugh.
"Really??"
"Heh, yeah, she was feisty when she wanted to be, that Lily. I was her best friend, I'd know. The only person I think who could honestly scare James into obedience," Alexis smirked. Harry grinned. "And lastly I've got pictures of you."
Harry glanced at each of the pictures; him with his godfather…who looked like Christmas had come early in each picture that he held him in…him with his father, his mother, his Uncle Moony. Seeing it all gave Harry a sense of happiness as well as emptiness. He would never meet the smiling couple in the pictures. But he knew they had loved him, and that now he had two people who felt that same amount of love toward him, and that in itself filled most of the void…gave him a sense of peace.
"You took a lot of pictures," Harry remarked as they closed the book.
"Yeah, I used to be really camera crazy," she smiled as she set the two books down on the coffee table.
"How did you all meet?" Harry inquired curiously.
"Well, Lily and I lived across the street from each other, and had been friends since before I can remember. We found out we were witches on the same day," she informed him as she sat back, shifted her gaze to him.
"So you knew my Aunt Pe—"
"Petunia? That old hag? Yes," Alexis finished for him, a darkness in her eyes. Harry could not help but grin.
"What about my dad and the rest?"
"We all met our first year here. Didn't become friends till about second year," She explained; Harry nodded. Padfoot and Moony had explained all about Hogwarts, how many years one attended, the two major kinds of tests, the houses… "So…now I've got something to give you."
Harry's eyes lit up as she reached over and picked up the small box and handed it to him. The box jumbled about, something that had not dawned on him that it had been doing before. Tucking a strand of blonde hair behind her ear, a grin spreading across her face, she set the box down on Harry's lap.
A smile tugged at Harry's lips, but he fought it back as he glanced over at Alexis. "Can I…open it?"
"Sure, go ahead!"
And so he did. Something shimmery shot out and without even realizing what he was doing, Harry's arm shot up above his head, grabbing a hold of whatever had escaped, earning a gasp from the professor next to him. Bringing his hand back down, surprised at his own speed, the Potter heir took a firm hold of the object between his thumb and forefinger, and gazed meticulously at it.
"A golden snitch…" he whispered captivatedly, more to himself than to the other occupant of the room. He had seen pictures, been told stories, played a makeshift game with Padfoot with enchanted golf balls, but he had never seen a real one up front. And I caught it…I caught the snitch!
"Wow…" Alexis murmured. "That was James' lucky snitch…no one was ever able to catch it but him…" Harry sheepishly shifted his gaze to the woman next to him, not expecting to hear those words.
"This was my daddy's? And you're…giving it to me?"
Alexis bit her quivering lip, and nodded.
"Thank you, Miss Alexis!" And with that, snitch in hand, Harry wrapped his arms around Alexis' middle and hugged her. It took her a few seconds to realize what Harry was giving her, before returning it.
"You're welcome, hun! I think you deserve to have it."
Harry was smiling happily as he resurfaced from the hug, gaze returning to the fluttering snitch in his hand.
"How'd you get it?"
"James gave it to me for safe-keeping when you three went into hiding. Said he knew I, unlike his friends, wouldn't play with it and ruin it," Alexis sighed, looking at the snitch forlornly. "Being the picture-taker, I knew how to make sure things stayed like new."
Harry opened his mouth to say something, but was cut off as a knock was heard at the door. Both heads snapped in the direction of the noise, then back at each other. Alexis shrugged with a smile, before standing as another knock was heard...
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A/N: And there you have it, the end of chapter thirty-two. :-) I hope it was worth the wait. –Nod, nod.- A lot was brought to the light in this chapter, some things easily noticeable, and others not so easy. How'd you all like the cover for the 7th book? I was grinning like crazy, it really made things 'real'...the series is almost over. –Sniffles slightly.- But we will move on! Fanfiction will still exist!
Onto the 'Curiosity Filler' for this chapter:
"If one of the golden trio were to die in the seventh book, and you were given the job of picking...who would it be?"
Thanks for taking out the time to read my fic, and I hope to continue to hold your attention with updates as time goes on. Thanks for all the reviews, I appreciate all of them.
Till next time...
-Chloe
A.K.A – Japanime1