Disclaimer: I am just a mere visitor in the sublime world constructed by the brilliant mind that is J.K Rowling. Anything that rings a bell is hers.

Chapter 47

I leaned my head against the wood, listening to the music. I recognised a few notes, suddenly the door opened and I almost fell through,

"What?"

His grey eyes were fueled with annoyance at being disturbed. I ignored his reproachful aura and walked through the door towards the piano,

"You can play the piano?" I sat down on the bench and pressed a key. I never learned how to play, Linus could and Len could play a lot of instruments. I never had the patience to learn, too much discipline was needed. I pressed another key.

Sirius sat down next to me. "Only on Sundays."

His eyes were sad, images of his past hidden behind them. I pressed another key at random. I was so bored. There wasn't much to do but homework and I didn't feel like homework. I smiled as the three keys I pressed made a pleasant sound. Sirius pressed a few more keys and we kept repeating these steps for a while.

I stopped pressing the three keys and let him do it, just listening to the pleasant melody. I loved the piano, I remember listening to Linus play away on Saturday nights as Len would twirl me around the room. It seemed ages ago when it was just us three. Sirius' fingers were gliding smoothly across the keys. My eyes zoomed around his room, it was frozen in time. The room was huge, a big bed littered with sheets and bits of paper and cupboards with clothes jutting out. Then there was this piano. So strange to have a piano in your room, his parents probably didn't want him to have it. The wall was plastered with posters of the seventies or eighties, lots of bikini clad super models that were probably retired by now. One poster caught my eye,

"You like the Stones?"

He stopped playing and turned to me, dark eyebrows rose, "Of course I do. I would be mental not to like the best band to have graced this planet!"

I laughed at that, "The Beatles are the best-"

"The Beatles! Salazar's Sack! The Stones can out rock the Beatles if Jagger had a sore throat and was high as a hippogriff on meth."

"Oh wait you're right, the Stones revolutionised music…wait no! That was the Beatles!"

"Revolutionized music my arse. Why fix what isn't broken."

"I see why you like the Stones…simple minded creature like yourself that is against progress."

"Oh and Lennon was a progressive mind? Such a powerful and progressive mind that he was side tracked by a girl."

"Yoko Ono is the devil and we shall not speak of her! Lennon is a legend and if you won't admit that then you are living in a dream world."

"Well I'd rather live in a dream world because it would be a nightmare to admit such things. Have you even listened to Paint it Black!"

"Have you listened to Come Together!"

"Oh please, that weak arsed hippie music!"

Hippie music, hippie music! I hated hippies! How dare he, I stood up and crossed the room in three strides. I was back in a moment, and bumped into him on my way back in.

"Ky I didn't… I mean I did, but I was too hard-"

"Shut up Sirius and listen!" I shoved a headphone into his ear and he rolled his eyes but didn't unplug it.

"It's just static."

"Oh man!" I listened and he was right. "It's this stupid house. It's the same at Hogwarts."

"The amount of magic-"

"I know! I know!" I huffed and sat down at the piano. "It interferes with the electricity. But what if it didn't run on electricity?"

I had just remembered one of my pet projects from last year. Sirius sat on his bed, his eyebrows furrowed, "Well they are music mediums that run on magic. Like the wireless and gramophones."

"Yeah but why can't we have a medium that fits in your pocket?"

"Well…because…well…I don't know."

"I'll tell you why. Because nobody ever tried."

"I think people tried Ky."

"Granted they must have but they were unsuccessful. I mean, I know there must be recalculation for the amount of power needed to be magically harnessed to sustain a medium this small-"

"Not to mention the amount of transfiguration and resizing."

I tossed him the iPod and he caught it, "You in?"

He smiled and a seventeen year old boy sat opposite me, gleaming at his new muggle toy. "Well someone has to supervise your poor taste in music."

"You guys have not even touched your supper!"

I rolled my eyes backwards to see an inverted Nessie in the doorway of Sirius' room. I had a pencil in my mouth and was lying with my head hanging off his bed, a parchment scattered with ink hovering above me.

"So sorry Agnes dear, we thought we managed to find the right power output, but turns out we haven't because Ky mucked up the equation."

I lay my palms on the floor and flipped up and over, landing on my feet and glaring at Sirius as he sat at the piano, he raised an eyebrow at the monkey trick, his glass of firewhiskey at his lips, "Well it's because you keep screwing up the transfiguration ratio! In order for me to have the right equation you need to at least have the right ratio."

He rolled his eyes, and played a tune on the piano, "'tis the right ratio Miss Thornton, why are you such a brat, 'tis the right ratio Miss Thornton, my transfiguration skills you can count on that."

I grabbed the pillow and flung it at his head, Sirius and his stupid songs.

"Miss Thornton have respect for your elders, Miss Thornton don't be a brat, Miss Thornton don't do that with your nose or your face may remain like thaaaaaattttttttttt!"

Sirius laughed and Nessie mock bowed, I glared at her for her assistance in my torture. Of course these two would take each other's sides; they were both stuck in this house.

"SIRIUS BLACK YOU UNGRATEFUL LITTLE SNOT."

The laugh died on Sirius' face and Nessie's smile disappeared. Ha, seemed like someone was on my side…whoever the snarky voice belonged to.

Sirius was out of the room in a moment, Nessie hot on his heels. I stared at the empty piano for a moment, confused and then followed.

"Why are we in the boys-"

"SHHH." Nessie hushed me as the painting in Harry and Ron's room, which I always thought was blank, was now occupied by a sallow looking, scrawny ponce of a man. Sirius was taking in his words with a grave expression,

"I will be delighted. Of course."

Well his words didn't match his expression. The sallow man muttered to himself and rolled his eyes and walked out of the painting.

"What is it?" Nessie joined Sirius in the room, I hovered at the doorway. Nessie grasped Sirius' arm to grab his attention, she removed the glass of whiskey from his hand as it dangled at his fingertips. His head snapped up at that, "Sirius, what is it?"

Something registered in his head and he turned quickly and crossed the room, he stopped suddenly when our eyes met.

"Ky. Ky…" His grey eyes dissolved from his previous determined gaze and turned to shrouds of worry; he placed his hands on my shoulders and bent to look me in the eye. "Everything is OK love. Arthur is injured but...I'm sure he'll…I mean…"

I pulled away from his hands and quickly turned around, angrily wiping my face. When did I start crying? When did my heart start beating so fast? When did my body seize up? And when did the first thought that comes to my mind in the mouth of danger is that Harry is hurt? I felt slender fingers at my neck and shoved it off, embarrassed at my weakness. Dark hair flew pass me and rattled down the stairs and I followed.

Sirius ran into the library and I hovered by the door, this must be the biggest room in the house. I could see nothing but shadows here in the dead of night but in the light of day it was filled with ancient tomes, Mi had told me that it was the fifth largest library in Britain. Before I could take a step in Sirius was out the door again and I followed him like a lost puppy.

"Settings are changed Agnes dear, should let them in fine." We walked into the kitchen and Agnes nodded her head. I hovered at the door, unsure what the other two were so expectantly waiting for.

My answer came in a flurry of bright red, but the captivating colour had no effect on me, my eyes attuned to the jet black as if it had a special sensor in my brain just for it. I vaguely processed the noise that broke out at the Weasley's entrance; emerald green had found my stormy grey just as quickly.

A prickle of unease that never came when Harry looked at me crawled through my skin and made me hold my distance, but with a blink it disappeared to be replaced by its antonym. I crossed the room quickly; Harry made no attempt to meet me in the middle. He stood at the table, clad in his pyjamas, shoulders dropped in defeat, face blank except for the swirls of green that raged in confusion.

There was this aura of rejection that permeated from him, the Weasley's seemed ready to agree with him, too busy fighting with Sirius about something. I ignore the aura and reached him, and as if my proximity defused the aura his hand reached up and grabbed my own, slender fingers filling the grooves of my hand tenderly. The smallest of gesture conveying the greatest of feelings, and just like that the aura disappeared,

"Ask Harry." I didn't have to turn to know that was Fred's voice, the tone was all wrong though. There was no hint of mischief, rhythm of humour…it was accusatory.

"Yeah I want to hear this for myself." George's tone mirrored his twins. Harry's eyes left mine, and looked from Fred to George. He made to let go of my hand but I wouldn't allow it, he stepped in front of me, not looking anyone in the eye. He began explaining what had happened. There was an infliction in his voice at certain parts, very minute but I could tell he was leaving out details. It didn't anger me though, I knew they weren't left out because of my presence. My hand held his tighter, that must have been horrific to see. I wonder what snake it was? Poison intensity differs, but the healers in Mungo's were brilliant, I'm sure they'll manage something.

The kitchen broke out in shouting, Fred and George were not taking no for an answer. They wanted to go to Mungo's. I ignored them, knowing the fight was futile, Harry stared at the outcome of his vision, looking as if every angry word was directed at him.

The room filled with the scraping of chairs and Harry followed suit, he didn't sit though, his one hand in my own and the other on the chair, his eyes never met my own but I knew he was pulling out the chair for me. I didn't want to sit, not on that chair. He waited a few moments and then plopped down on his own chair.

I lowered myself onto his lap, he finally looked at me. There was so much brewing in his eyes, so many emotions. Shock, confusion, self depreciation, fear, and that core emotion that permeated his skin, changing his whole stance. That aura of rejection. Of wanting to be alone. Of thinking he deserved no more. I leaned my head onto his shoulder, my arms circling his waist, ignoring that every pore of his body was screaming for me to get off him. And then slowly I felt warm fingers on my back and I took comfort in the small gesture, meaning the world to me.

Harry's POV

It was inexplicable and painful…this feeling. A contrast…a bitter contrast of the urge to hold this girl in my arms and relish from her touch or reject her completely…knowing I was not deserving of this contact…of this feeling...Selfishness. I was selfish…the words of rejection never left my throat as I ran my hand up and down her back soothingly…it was the least I could do considering I was the cause of her pain. I could see it in her stormy eyes, they didn't have the penetrating almost thought reading gaze of her grandfather's, but they were just as intense. It was as if Ky could read my emotions…what was going on? Did I…could I have hurt Mr Weasley…I was the snake…and then Dumbledore…the killer intent I had momentarily felt when staring into the midnight blue gleam hadn't returned but the fact that it was ever present chilled my blood.

Ky snuggled closer into my shirt, her stormy orbs hidden behind dark lashes. I had been watching her sleep in my arms for an hour, it was a more pleasing sight than observing the other occupants of the kitchen, varying between sleeping and staring off at something else. I could stake my life that their stares were not directed at an object more beautiful than my own. My heart clenched at the thought and an urge to just push her away came over me, I didn't deserve her. I didn't deserve to be cuddled when I was responsible for…whatever that was. She deserved someone who wasn't tainted by the Dark Lord. Someone normal. Someone who didn't bring about that heart breaking expression of worry on her face. Yet knowing all of that didn't stop me from relishing from the soft pushing of her chest against my own as she breathed, it didn't stop me from revelling from the smoothness of her cheek…I was horrible.

My eyes snapped away from the pink lips as I heard the chair opposite my own scratch at the floor. Emerald met midnight blue, a battle different from their last meeting in the fact that the killer intent oozed off the midnight blue this time. With a blink it was cleared. Linus definitely wasn't happy by the fact that I cradled his baby sister in my arms but he didn't look like he wanted to kill me anymore, just maim me. His expression softened as Agnes leaned her head on his chest and I watched as he muttered something in her ear. I looked away, meeting relieved eyes of my godfather. It seemed like ages since Fawkes had shown up with Mrs Weasley's letter announcing that Mr Weasley was still alive. My eyes prickled but I didn't let them close…not for a moment.

Sirius had just left the pantry after I told him the truth about my vision, that I had seen the whole thing from the snake's eyes. He seemed to believe what the others did, that I was some sort of saviour for witnessing what had happened. That it was some miracle that they were all grateful for. The kitchen was almost completely empty after the breakfast Mrs Weasley had almost instantaneously started making on her arrival. Ky was still fast asleep where I left her, in Ron's arms. Sirius said they hadn't slept in two days, working on some kind of music contraption. Agnes was cleaning up, she managed to push Mrs Weasley into bed a few minutes ago. Ron stood up,

"Take her to her room?"

I shook my head in the negative, I took her from him and sat back down. "I'll be up in a few minutes."

He didn't respond, I heard the soft click of the door. I looked down at my talisman. This is what she is after all…I never had nightmares when she was wrapped up next to me. Maybe it would work the same…maybe I wouldn't…become a poisonous snake if she was in my arms? That even sounds ridiculous in my head. I heard the scrape of a chair and met midnight blue for a third time today. He didn't look angered this time, just tired.

Linus and I sat staring at each other for a few moments, we were alone in the kitchen, Agnes must have left. I didn't feel awkward though, we never really spoke before or had any sort of relationship but our ties to the girl in my arms were so strong that it left a sense of familiarity in his presence.

He sighed and leaned back in his chair. He then let out a chuckle which turned into a hollow laugh. He shook his head, "Of course it would be you. Nobody else could manage, could they? I mean taking on a Dark lord a good few times is preparation enough on becoming Ky Thornton's boyfriend."

I didn't know what to say to that…was he being…nice? He sighed, "Don't look so worried Harry. I'm not mocking you, neither am I warning you or threatening you…I really don't know what I should be doing. I know Ky isn't perfect, she's…difficult, lovable but difficult. So I'm not going to give you some speech about hurting my little girl because I know she can give better than she gets. I guess that's what scares me. It won't be easy, she will push and shove you just have to pull right back."

The surprise must have been showing on my face because he gave me a tired grin, "Don't get me wrong, nobody is ever going to be good enough for her. But you're pretty close."

"Because I'm the boy who lived?" I couldn't help the slight edge in my voice. It did sound like that was what he was getting at with all his Dark Lord nonsense. He shook his head tiredly,

"No. Because you're the boy who lost. We never truly appreciate what we have until we have suffered loss."

I looked back down at Ky, at her serene face. "I do appreciate her."

"I know that. I can see that. But it doesn't matter what I see. It matters what you see. You need to really see her Harry…she's hidden in plain sight."

I understood what he had meant by that, images of the day I had confronted her about Blishwick coming to my mind. My failure at not being able to help pushed my shoulders even lower, "I'll never be good enough for her."

"It's not about being good enough for her Harry. It's about being better than you ever thought was possible because of her. "

He stood from his seat, letting the words sink in.

"Linus." He turned from his position at the door, an eyebrow raised, "Thank you."

He laughed, "Don't thank me, thank Agnes for making me a better man. Get some sleep Harry, you had a long night."

A/N: So? Did you like the 'confrontation'?

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Kalina