I do not own anything. I'm just translating. The characters belong to the great J.K. Rowling. The story belongs to the amazing Brigi. Her e-mail: tbwtpbe [et] hotmail com

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THE BOY WITH THE PIERCING BLUE EYES

Chapter 37 – The thief (part 2)

Harry, hidden by the invisibility cloak, sneaked around in the corridors leading to the library. Wand in one hand, he was ready to do something in case he ran into Filch's cat again.

Last night, as he sneaked around in the darkness, he trampled on Mrs. Norris by accident. The animal cried out in such a deafening voice that the caretaker immediately ran to help her. Harry managed to step out of the way in time but it was a close call. Filch was so concerned with his pet's suffering that he only cast a sidelong glance towards the wall where the boy was standing then picked up the cat and walked away. Harry breathed out in relief but realized that he wasn't completely invisible; with his own invisible body he obscured a big part of the shadow. That was probably what the caretaker looked at with that stupid expression. It was very careless of him so this time he didn't want to give Filch any reason to come out of his room.

Angrily, he clutched his wand and was determined to hex Mrs. Norris in case they run into each other.

From time to time, he checked the map but no one was coming his way. He hugged the map close so the part of the shadow he obscured would be smaller.

The door of the library was just a breath away now. Quietly, he whispered Alohomora and it opened with a click. Harry pushed it open so he could slip inside. The first night he made the mistake of opening both doors which made a loud creaking sound.

Now that he was at his fifth night of stealing books, he was much better prepared.

At first it actually felt like a useless thing. Sitting in the Room of Requirement, it seemed a stupid idea to go to the library. After all, it would have been enough just to concentrate hard and the room would rearrange itself. Just like how on the DA training there was a bookcase full of DADA books in the room, this case there would be a bunch of books that would help him learn about necromancy and calling ghosts.

For days now, he's been thinking about what happened one and a half years ago. There, in the cemetery…

If Voldemort managed to make a body for himself, then there has to be some magic dealing with this. Sometimes he played with the idea that… his parents and Sirius Black could be easily brought back. He saw everything, so he knew what the ingredients were… bone of a family member, flesh of a servant, blood of an enemy… He found himself willing to cut Kreacher, Sirius' former house elf into pieces. He never really liked the dirty little creature, but since his betrayal caused his godfather's death, he hated him deeply. This way he could be useful at least once… though Hermione would probably never talk to him again. And he didn't really want to break into the 'old and prestigious' Black family's burial crypt.

However, the dusty bones, elf ear and blood would matter not if there was nothing to add these to. Voldemort had some sort of physical body or whatever it was Wormtail kept carrying around. Sirius however, wasn't really palpable which made him throw his idea out the window. And a French girl being able to see him wouldn't be enough…

So, while walking between shelves, Harry mused about how he could reach the state where he would be able to say 'Hi Sirius!'. It was stupid of him to think that the Room of Requirement would guess his thoughts and supply the right book immediately. And he couldn't rely on his wishes either; until he was inexperienced in this branch of magic he didn't know what would help and what to really wish for when walking around in front of the Room of Requirement. The shelves in the library were a much better option.

Among the ordinary DADA books he could search through during the day he didn't find anything worthwhile. He suspected that the restricted area had much more exciting options. He was a sixth year, so he could technically borrow books from there, but he had to take out ten books for different classes and the library didn't let students take more than ten books at once.

He didn't have any other choice but to visit the library at night and steal one or two books. He didn't dare take more than two or three volumes at once because the shelves would became empty that way. He tried to rearrange them a little so as to make it more difficult to notice the decreased quantity.

Harry put his cloak down on one of the chairs nearby. He looked around but the ladder was quite far away. He didn't want to make noise by dragging it back because the dozing portraits would draw attention to the intruder. Since he decided to take books from higher shelves that night he had no choice but to climb onto one of the tables. He wiped his sweaty hand on his trousers and started browsing. Murmuring softly he read the titles of the books in the pale light of his wand.

Some of the books smelled so strongly of mold that he got dizzy just by being close to them. A lot was covered by spider webs.

"Summoning and enchantments – following Kirk and Thiresias" he opened on of the leather-bound books. Its spine was weird; it was rough and just like the human spine and vertebrae there were small bulges on it. He started reading the author's review.

…prefect for those prepared to leave behind their fear and look into the world of the dead…

Harry, after so many days, felt like he finally made some progress. He rubbed his eyes feeling awfully tired. It was difficult to do well in class, deal with the homework they got and still work at night for hours; research and write down what might be useful…

That week, when he fell asleep standing during training in Remus's class, he realized how serious the situation had become. He was leaning against the wall waiting for his turn but after a while it was getting difficult to keep his eyes open and…

He woke to Remus stroking his forehead gently. The sudden awakening resulted in him knocking over his sword and he almost lost his balance. Lupin didn't seem angry though; with a smile he reassured him that he understands he has to study a lot since he was once a sixth year too and spent nights leaning over textbooks. Harry still felt awful. The gut-wrenching feeling that he was keeping secrets again made him forget about the deadline of the essay he had to write for Honeybourne so he got his first Insufficient that year.

However, all these made him realize that he can't do all of it by himself.

Holding the book in one hand, he hopped off the table, away from the moonlight shining through the window. The library was bathed in colorful light as the moon shined through the colored window. Harry stood there for a while, in the white and dark-blue light, and everything would have been beautiful if not for the seriousness of the situation. So while putting on his invisibility cloak, he looked at the table he was previously standing on. His footprints remained on the dusty surface. With a smile, he looked at the pattern then hurried out of the Room of Requirement…

Madame Pince wasn't stupid. On Saturday morning before opening, she checked the library and found the footprints on one of the tables. She studied the nearby shelves and soon noticed how empty they looked. In her notes she checked if those books missing were borrowed and had to realize that no one took them out.

She immediately notified the Headmaster who expressed his surprise, since there was no steeling in Hogwarts for years now. The most disturbing case happened four years ago when Ginny Weasley broke into the boys' room and went through Harry's stuff, though it never came to light that the culprit was the girl.

Dumbledore was forced to ask the teacher to pay attention to anyone who behaved suspiciously. Professor Flitwick didn't care; he thought at least the person would study. Rowena was more surprised than suspicious; she found it unusual for someone to steal books. The two clowns from the Ministry were outraged and immediately notified their superiors. With Snape missing, Remus was the only young teacher, but he couldn't appear too often because the full moon was getting closer. So the two idiots, Honeybourne and Stainthorp accepted the role; with the help of Filch they checked the students. Seeing the perverse pleasure the caretaker felt while doing this made a lot of students think about last year.

"Unbelievable," Hermione mused as they went to dinner. "There was no steeling for years… But it's still a bit too much. Do they think the person is carrying all the books with them? They just make them hide it better…"

"Wasn't it you, Hermione? Everyone knows how much you love books," Justin joked.

"Don't be stupid…" the girl waved him off. "I don't borrow 10 books at the same time. Eight is the maximum. I have to be able to get one if I need it urgently for class. And one in case I find something interesting while looking around."

"You go looking around in the library?"

"Also, I would never steel," the girl continued, oblivious to the startled tone in the boys' voice.

"Aren't you scared about the fact that those books deal with serious dark magic? What if someone's doing bad things within the school walls?" Lavender asked.

"I wouldn't be surprised," Parvati looked at her friend when Pansy Parkinson walked by them.

"Harry? Where are you going?" Hermione asked their friend.

"To the library," he grinned.

"Very funny…"

"I'm really going there. I need to extend some of my books. See you in the Great Hall."

"Oh… well… we'll be waiting there."

Harry left the group and walked towards the library. In the past, he never spent this much time there. He spent more time there in the last couple of days then he previously did in months. He was there legally now which felt a little weird. As he stepped in, he looked up then at the metal handle he so carefully opened during his nightly visits.

"Ah, Potter," Madame Pince pursed. "Just in time," she looked into her book. "If you didn't come till Monday I would have sent an owl. "

"I would like to extend these," Harry handed her a note.

She wrote something in her book.

"Two weeks, Potter. Then you'll have to bring them back."

"Alright. Thank you."

Harry put his hands in his pockets and started walking around in the library. He imagined Hermione as she looked around in here as well.

At the Herbology section he stopped and decided which shelf to pick a book from. When he picked out an agricultural one, he closed his eyes and put his hand on one of the books.

"Magical shepherding? No one's going to believe me…" he shook his head. However, the other ones didn't appear to be any better so he took the book and stood in line.

Everyone had empty stomachs and some even smelt the delicious smells coming from the Great Hall so they tried to urge Madame Pince.

"Next. Ah, Potter, you again…"

"I want this!" he put the book in front of her with a huge smile. He appeared so enthusiastic and eager that the woman was completely baffled.

"Let's see… You can't take it, Potter. You already borrow ten books. You can't take out more at once. If you bring one back then…"

"Oh! But I really want to!" Harry insisted.

"I'm sorry but you can't." Madame Pince stood up with it gaining everyone's attention.

"Can't you make an exception just this once? No one would know," the boy said, but the eyes of the Ravenclaw boy standing next to him showed that he heard everything.

"I sad no, Potter! Take the book back or leave it on the table where the returned books are. Come on! The line is long behind you, don't keep them waiting!"

Harry visibly saddened and walked away. His face was of someone close to tears so some people looked at him with pity. He used that because the whole point was to be seen…

He walked to the side and like a skilled pickpocket he looked around and shoved the volume into his bag. A couple of younger students standing not far from him watched him stunned.

Harry didn't care about them, instead left the library in a hurry. Once outside, he stopped, looked around and started running.

He didn't stop until he reached the common room. Harry hid the book under his pillow then made his way towards the great hall.

Satisfied, he sat down next to his friends who didn't understand why he was smiling.

"Are you okay?" Hermione asked. "You're a little red."

"I was running," he smiled at her. "Is everything alright?" he pointed towards the still sad-looking Ron.

The girl nodded and they started eating.

Soon after, Stainthorp and Honeybourne appeared with a group of first years who pointed towards Harry. The two men confidently began their way towards the Gryffindor table.

"Potter? Come with us now!" Honeybourne instructed.

The background noise of rattling stopped and the students started murmuring.

"Did you do something?" Ernie whispered.

Harry didn't answer just smiled as he stood up and followed the two professors. He shot a mischievous glance towards Lamerin who appeared to be just as shocked as the other students.

"Let's go!" Hermione slammed her knife down and stood up. "I don't know what he did this time but we can't leave him alone!"

"Especially not with those monkeys," Ron added. Several people stopped eating and went after them towards the Gryffindor tower.

"The password, Potter," Stainthorp said stiffly as they reached the Fat Lady.

"Caminus…"

The portrait let them in and they didn't stop until reaching the boys' room. The students caught up with them soon but by that time the two teachers looked through most of Harry's stuff and one of them was searching in his bed.

"What happened?" they asked from the doorway, but Harry only shook his head playfully.

"Books…" Honeybourne mumbled. "…have to be… Ah!"

He held the volume Harry stole just before dinner.

"Your name's not written in it, Potter," he shut it triumphantly after taking a look.

"There are ten more here…" Stainthorp found more under the bed. "I think we found our little thief…"

Hermione put her hand in front of her mouth to muffle a scream of surprise. Everyone stared blankly at the two teachers as they made their way towards the headmaster's office. Harry was at front with his hands behind his back like he was handcuffed followed by the two teachers carrying the eleven books.

Everyone looked at them as they walked on the corridors. The students knew about the steeling and even made accusations among themselves; so when they saw Harry Potter being followed by two teachers who carried a bunch of books they immediately suspected him to be the culprit.

After Stainthorp said the password, the gargoyle let them in. They found Dumbledore waiting for them with the very pale looking Remus and a gentle-looking Rowena.

"Headmaster…" Stainthorp coughed pompously. He put the evidence on Dumbledore's desk then straightened up and adjusted his robes to look good before Rowena.

"I think we caught our little thief."

Dumbledore only raised an eyebrow but the other two people in the office were completely taken aback.

"What? You don't think Harry would…" Remus protested immediately.

Harry appreciated the man's support and smiled at him gratefully.

"We found the evidence among the boy's things," Stainthorp continued. "In addition, there are witnesses who saw Potter taking a book from the library without permission this afternoon."

"And these are the ones Madame Pince said were missing?" Dumbledore leaned forward to examine the books. "But… this have a stamp in it," he looked up.

Harry stood on tiptoes to see which book they talked about.

"Oh, yes, I need that for a History of Magic essay…"

The headmaster put the book aside.

"Those three are for Potions. That…" he pointed at one of them. "… I needed because mine caught on fire while I was studying…"

"This one is for Fencing," Rowena smiled at Remus. "These two are stamped too."

Harry sighed in relief and closed his eyes.

"What's left?" Dumbledore rummaged in the books. "Gentlemen, these are all stamped books."

"But not this one!" Honeybourne showed the book that was under Harry's cushion. He held out the book and opened it.

Remus and Rowena stood next to Dumbledore and had to find out that the eleventh book didn't have a stamp in it. They all looked at the boy questioningly.

"Well, Harry, can you explain this?" the Headmaster's eyes flashed.

Harry didn't blink. He wanted to let Dumbledore into his mind because he was curious of his reaction when he saw the Alpine landscape… Honeybourne protecting a flock of sheep… Stainthorp sitting next to him wearing women's clothes while churning butter… he concentrated on the images…

Dumbledore's face twitched at the bizarre picture. His lips moved but he didn't smile, however the boy suspected he really wanted to.

"Well, Harry?" he coughed, asking the question again.

"I really wanted to borrow that book," Harry began apologetically. "But Madame Pince was strict and wouldn't let me… I couldn't take back any of my books because I need all of them for class… So I had to take it… Anyway, I don't think that stealing books is a crime." he straightened. "But the professors," he turned to the teachers from the Ministry. "… must be really proud to have captured a student who wanted to satisfy his curiosity and thirst for knowledge. Nowadays, people don't appreciate it when someone wants to learn things…"

Honeybourne looked devastated at the monologue, but Stainthorp seemed enraged.

"Enough of this nonsense! You're nothing but a dirty little thief and I can guarantee you that the Ministry will hear about this! I know you took the other books too! And I'll prove it!"

"Whatever…" Harry shrugged and turned back towards the Headmaster's table.

Remus looked into his eyes utterly disappointed and it made Harry feel awful. He didn't want to cause him sorrow, since he probably didn't suspect his childhood friend's son to act like this. Yet…

"I'm really sorry…" the boy hung his head.

"I-I think," Dumbledore began when he recovered from the shock caused by Stainthorp's words. "…it wasn't that big of a mistake. Harry, unfortunately, I have to take this book back to the library. "He picked up the Magical Shepherding book. "And I have to take thirty points from Gryffindor… But I don't think this warrants any more punishment," he said, telling all the teachers that such action would be against his will and should not happen. "Now… I think we should all retire for the day."

Descending the stairs, Harry walked next to Remus and grabbed his hands when the others started towards their respective chambers.

"Remus!" he pleaded. "Wait!"

The man looked at him wearily as if he had a fever.

"Are you mad at me?" he asked.

Lupin smiled faintly and patted he boy on the head.

"Of course not," he answered. He tired to arrange the boy's ruffled hair and looked at him with fatherly love. When the full moon approached he always became more affectionate. There was no sigh of the wildness that came with this disease. He could never behave like a dangerous beast. In his soul there was only peace.

"I didn't want to disappoint you… I saw how much it hurt you… Dad… would be disappointed too if he learnt that his son is a thief…"

Remus beckoned him closed and hugged the boy with all his strength though that wasn't much.

"Maybe he would be proud of you… He and I… we did a lot of things worse than this… Don't feel guilty…"

By Sunday morning, half the school heard the gossip that Harry Potter did something so immoral as stealing books. Some avoided him in the corridors while others didn't even hide that they were talking about him.

"Mate, how can you be so stupid? Why didn't you hide it better?" Anthony Goldstein grimaced.

Harry shrugged.

"I wanted to look into it before going to bed…"

"Man… Now everyone thinks you're a dangerous criminal," Seamus said.

"Look, how they close their bags!" Hermione seethed. "Jerks! You only took a book, Harry! That's not the end of the world!"

"I heard it in the toilet, that the girls think this is just the beginning…" Padma Patil added. "I know that steeling is a crime but baseless accusation is a crime too…"

"Don't worry about it," Harry shrugged. "I don't."

He calmly walked into the great hall. Stainthorp and Honeybourne stood at either side of the door and watch his every move. Though he didn't care about the rumors he had to admit this little fuss worked quite well. He sat opposite Lamerin and put some food on his plate.

The murmuring and talking increased as more and more students joined them for breakfast and Harry became one of them. He stretched his legs and touched Lamerin's ankle.

The boy looked down under the table then pulled his legs back. It wasn't uncommon for the students to kick each other under the table since they didn't always fit in comfortably. So Harry's leg began exploring again.

Lamerin looked up and eyed the girls sitting next to Harry suspiciously. However, the Gryffindor boy motioned with his eyes to notice him. The young Snape looked slightly baffled by the fact that a boy was fumbling with his legs but Harry smiled at his embarrassment. He raised his eyebrows and looked into Lamerin's piercing blue eyes without blinking. He tried to make the older boy open his mind and let him in…

When the finally established eye contact, Harry showed him a series of images; about steeling at night, visiting the Room of Requirements, the secret plan he was making and with which he needed help…

Lamerin watched him in awe as he finished while his eyes shined with joy and hope for adventure. He only sent a few word as answer:

"What the hell?! I love you, man!"