Harry Potter and the Galator
Chapter 17
Secrets
It had been over a week since Sirius' death and Harry still felt numb. He walked around going over his dream trying to figure out if there was something he could have done to save him, after all he able to save his uncle Arthur when he was attacked by a snake. For the life of him, he didn't understand why he wasn't able save the only person who's been the closest to a father to him besides Arthur Weasley.
He couldn't eat or sleep properly and Ron, Hermione, Lavender and Ginny were worried about him. Even being back in Hogwarts didn't change his mood any. He was somber and detached. Even Hermione couldn't seem to break him out of the spell he was in.
"Come on Harry, you have to eat something," she pleaded with him.
"I'm not really hungry," he smiled weakly at her but the hurt and sadness was apparent in his eyes.
"Please, you have to keep up your strength." She was about to add for Sirius' sake, but held her tongue. She didn't want him to start ranting and raving again when Ron had mentioned Sirius' name in a conversation. She understood that he might still be going through the denial phase of accepting a loved ones death, but she had to try to make him accept and go on so that they could go on.
"What for?"
"Well, what about for you and for me?" she asked hesitantly.
He looked at her and for the first time in over a week he realized how hurt she must have been when he had been moping around over Sirius death and had completely shut everyone out of his emotional turmoil including her.
"What's wrong Harry?" she asked as she looked at the confusion and realization wash over his face.
"Nothing," he lied. He didn't know how to deal with anything at that moment. He only knew how he felt. He felt miserable for not being able to save Sirius from death and now he felt miserable for putting Hermione through more hurt than she'd already suffered because of him. He was sure she was also sad over Sirius' death, but she held herself up and instead tried to comfort him when he should be comforting her.
"Harry, please don't shut me out," she pleaded with him. She felt hurt that he didn't want to share his grief with her when she was obviously trying to comfort him. She was constantly trying to let him know that he didn't need to be alone and that she was there for him if he needed her, but he wouldn't budge. Even Ron tried to no avail. They thought it was best for him to deal with his grief on his own and at his own pace, but she didn't think so. She knew how alone he must feel and she didn't want him to think that he was alone.
How can this beautiful woman be so kind and understanding, he thought. Everyone seemed to have given up coaxing him to eat or to sleep, but not his Hermione. Wait a minute. Where did that come from? He liked the idea of her being his. He decided to let her in after all.
"I'm sorry, 'Mione. I've just been trying to analyze everything that has happened. I didn't mean to push you away or anyone else for that matter."
"I know Harry, and I just wanted to let you know that you're not alone. I am here for you and so are the Weasleys and your other friends as well. We are all just worried about you."
"You don't need to be. I am just feeling a little guilty, is all."
"Harry, why. It wasn't your fault. If you have anyone to blame it is Voldemort."
At the sound of his name, Harry's temper rose violently. Voldemort had taken many people that mattered to him. He had turned his life upside down since infancy, now he took the only father he might have ever had. But that was all. He would not take anyone else from him. Not the Weasley's, not his friends, not his teachers and last of all not Hermione, the love of his life. Did he just say love?
"I am feeling guilty because Sirius had to die because of me and that I couldn't do anything to stop him," he told her as calmly as he could. "But it stops there, Hermione. I swear to you, he will not take another person I care about."
He looked in her eyes and placed his hand on her cheek. She held his hand and leaned into his hand. She didn't understand how she could love him more than she already had, but at that moment she knew she loved him more.
He brought his lips down and kissed her gently. Then the kiss heated and both were lost in their own thought. It was as if they were draining each other's grief. Harry felt a surge of warmth inside him. He knew that somehow Hermione's touch and feelings for him starting his healing process.
He stood at corner of Hogsmeade awaiting the arrival of a black dog. He was excited, but was not able to share the secret with anyone. Not even Hermione. He was sworn to secrecy and would not go against it.
He couldn't believe it. He had to see it for himself. The note he'd received had been vague and unexpected, but he followed the instructions. He would go to Hogsmeade alone as instructed and would decide what the truth was.
"Harry?" a familiar voice came from behind some bushes.
"Sirius?!" he asked. "Is that really you?" The man stepped out of the bushes a little to prove that he was indeed who he thought he was.
"How are you?"
"Better now thanks. How could this be?"
"I don't have much time to explain. Not good to be out in the open like this. Too dangerous."
"Who else knows you're alive?"
"No one but you and if you don't mind I'd like to keep it that way. The ambush was questionable. I suspect someone inside the order must be a spy. No one besides the order knew where I was going to be that night. I was lucky to get out alive."
"What do you mean? I saw you die."
"How could you?"
"I was having a dream and you were killed. The next thing I know aunt Molly and uncle Arthur were waking me up to tell me you were gone."
"Well, as you can see for yourself, I am alive and well. I just have to keep a low profile even from the order. I don't want the spy to know that I am alive and onto him."
"Well, I am glad you're okay." Harry smiled and Sirius returned his smile. Then Harry gave Sirius a hug that caught Sirius by surprise. He stiffened at the contact and Harry felt it. "Is something wrong?"
"No. No, you just caught me by surprise is all. I was roughed up during the ambush and still have some of my bones trying to heal. So, did you have any interesting presents during Christmas? "
"No. Just the usual Weasley sweater, chocolate frogs, Bernie botts and a bracelet from Hermione to match the charm he gave me on my birthday." The older man saw his eyes light up at the mention of the girl's name.
"So, is there something you should tell me about Hermione?" Harry blushed.
"Well, we're together now."
"Really? Like boyfriend and girlfriend together?"
"Yes."
"That's great Harry. What kind of charm did she give you on your birthday?" Harry was about to pull out the necklace that held the galator, lightning bolt and the true friend charm when a familiar voice was calling out to him.
"I'd better go," Sirius told him. "Remember, no one is to know we saw each other." He quickly disappeared behind the bush he emerged from earlier. Harry found it odd that he didn't transform into his animagus dog form, but brushed it aside as a safety precaution.
"Harry! There you are," Hermione practically screamed. She ran to him and hugged him furiously. Then he saw that she had a very worried look on her face and that she was quite pale and out of breath. He saw Ron, Lavender and Ginny running towards them at the same time.
"What is this about?" he asked them.
"Well, we were all at the Three Broomstick and we all felt that you were in danger so we used our lockets to look for you. I was afraid we were too late," she told him and hugged him again.
"What are you on about? I was just out here thinking. As you can see, there is no one else out here.
"We felt it mate. You were in danger. You told us yourself, the charms do not lie." He frowned and tried to calm them down.
"Well, I'm okay. Maybe there's a glitch in the charm. We'll have to inspect it closer later. Let's go get some butter beer."
He wondered all the way back at the palace how he could have been in danger when he was with his godfather. He had to check on the charms and make sure they were working correctly. Then it occurred to him that Sirius didn't even ask him to heal his wounds. He knew he had the healing power and he's been practicing every time he had a chance. He'd had to let the Weasleys in and Lavender of course, but he'd been useful during the holidays.
He'd healed Fred's arm that he'd broke when he fell off his broom during one of their quidditch matches in the backyard. He'd also healed Arthur's sprained ankle when he came home from his watch limping. He'd even been able to cure Bill's scratches and burns his previous encounters with death eaters. They'd been delighted and at the same time worried. They all knew what it meant for Harry to be able to heal. If Voldemort ever found out, he would try to get Harry to cross over to their side instead of merely killing him.
They were all a little relieved to find out that his ability hadn't been made public and he'd agreed the less people know the better. He would be more than happy to share his skill once the threat to him was over, but until then they would keep his secret.
As far as Sirius was concerned, however, Harry will keep that his little secret. If Sirius was right and there was a spy, he didn't want to put his life in danger. He lost him once; he was not going to lose him again.