***Nursie Note*** Sorry about the long wait... I want to thank you for all the wonderful reviews I do hope that time hasn't caused any of you to lose interest. I am currently almost done with the next part and all of you that requested some "action" should be happy. I was... *lol* while writing it. It should be posted sooner than later. I promise to try to post at least a part a week. As always, if you have questions/concerns or helpful insights feel free to email me. I am an email junkie so to speak. I do want to acknowledge a few reviews, however it is extremely late and Nursie needs to get some sleep. I would like to say that I am forever grateful for all the kind words and reviews. They inspire me more than you know. You, my fellow H/Hr shipmates are my muse! Well, now... with that said... on with the fic!
Hugs
Nursie
Part 9: Safe House-
Lupin held Harry for some time before he felt the boy stop shaking. Finally, Harry looked up at Lupin, his face ashen and his cheeks stained with tears. Lupin tried his damnedest to be comforting but he couldn't shake the feeling there was still so much he didn't know.
One thing he did know was that Willow wasn't telling everything she knew. Granted she may not realize the importance of her knowledge but she should have told Dumbledore what she had told him hours ago. He breathed in taking a good look at Harry and squeezed his shoulders tight, feeling Harry tense as he hugged him.
"Are you alright, Harry? Do you think you can talk about it now?" Lupin asked, scooting to the edge of the bed, pulling Harry with him.
"I can't stay here any longer." Harry shook his head. "I have to get away from Hogwarts so that I don't hurt anyone else. Who knows who I'll…" Harry made a disgusted face remembering the taste of blood in his mouth when he woke up. "I'll …" Harry couldn't finish his words. He had never thought he could murder anyone, let alone do what happened to Ginny. He couldn't even bring himself to say the word let alone follow through with the act.
Lupin sat Harry in the chair next to his writing desk. "Harry… you didn't hurt anyone. You've been here all night. I came in hours ago and you were in bed asleep."
"But what if I am doing these things in my dreams? What if they somehow become reality after I dream them?" Harry looked at Lupin with sad eyes. He blinked, then turned towards the window, watching as the frost crawled up the windowpane. "What if I can't control myself and I hurt Hermione?"
"Harry… I know you love Hermione." Lupin arched an eyebrow and placed a hand on Harry's cheek, pushing his head towards him so he could see Harry's eyes. "She's your friend Harry. You wouldn't do anything to put her in harm's way intentionally."
"You don't get it, do you Lupin? You say you know I love her… but did you know I'm in love with her?" Harry gave a sarcastic laugh. "I have a really funny way of showing it."
Lupin smiled gently at Harry. "Have you told her that?"
"I can't. He'll kill her." Harry forced his eyes away from Lupin.
"So you have been listening to Willow."
"I'm not as thick as I play sometimes. I've got some semblance of what she's told me."
"You think she may be who she claims to be then?"
Harry chuckled nervously. "You mean do I think she's my future daughter who traveled back in time to save my sorry ass from Voldemort because I fucked up the first time?"
"Something like that." Lupin answered, ignoring Harry's choice in words.
"Maybe." Harry answered in a near whisper, then turned to watch snow start to fall softly to the ground. "But that would mean something that I am not ready to deal with yet."
It was just after dawn when the figure pulled back his hood, revealing his dark hair and green eyes. The two men and one woman stood in the dark room that served as quarters for their meetings.
It was the first time the woman had seen the younger man and her astonishment did not go unnoticed. She gasped rather loudly and walked around the wizard wearing the black cloak, eyeing him as if he were dinner.
"Do you realize how hard it is for Mr. Malfoy to get around these days?" Her sharp shrewd voice filled the air and the young man smirked at her rolling his eyes. "He's very wanted individual." She snarled at the figure in the cloak.
"He knows the consequences. As do I." The young man shrugged defiantly. "However, I am being kind enough to check in from time to time and this is the only way I know to go about it. Can't be too careful when you are who I am."
"Ah yes… and how do we know to believe what you say?" The woman returned the young man's smirk.
"Bellatrix… you should know better just by looking at the lad. He's rather striking isn't he?" Lucius Malfoy hissed glaring at the woman hatefully.
"Oh yes. I didn't say he didn't look the… well shall we say… I never said he didn't resemble Mr. Potter." She spat out the name loathingly then continued. "I was simply stating that we are being awful trustworthy." She snarled back although evidently trying to refrain from pissing off the young man standing just a few side steps away.
"If what he says is true, then we had better listen very carefully to everything that he has to say." Lucius Malfoy hissed, being sure to put extra emphasis on the word he.
"Yes Bellatrix. I'd listen to me if I were you." The young man taunted, his green eyes narrowing into kneazle like slits. "Besides… I am the one with the map."
"You never did explain where you got this so called map." Lucius commented off handedly. "Nor have you ever shown anyone."
"And nor do I have to. Remember Lucius… I came to you. This is my game."
"I imagine it is then Sirius. Just what is your plan anyway?" Lucius inquired in his cool manner, looking the handsome young man up and down.
"To discredit my father's name… what else." The boy answered nonchalantly while cocking a grin at Bellatrix. His attention soon focused on her and his smile turned dangerously charming. "Why Ms. Lestrange… I do believe I don't remember you ever looking so… well."
"He's definitely charming Lucius." Bellatrix's voice grew more pleasant as she turned towards the older of the two men.
"Who are you kidding, Bella? Anyone can snake their way into your knickers, now couldn't they? Even before your precious husband made his mistake." He answered her back rather callously.
She smiled menacingly at him, turning her attention back to the younger wizard. "I do, however, wonder… if he is truly who he claims to be… how did he get here?"
Sirius twirled the chain around his neck smiling thoughtlessly. "I'm not telling." He cooed as he grabbed Lestrange by the waist, pulling her rather roughly to him. "But I could be persuaded to fill you in on how it works."
Bellatrix gasped as she felt his arm around her waist and caught an animalistic look in his eyes. She smiled appreciatively as she recognized the look.
~Is that his fingers tracing my spine?~
Bellatrix shivered accordingly. "I may just let you do that, Mr. Potter."
Sirius let go of her suddenly, grinning wildly while stepping back away from her. He lifted his hood securing it around his face concealing his features. "Some other time. For now… I have business to attend to. There's an odd little Ravenclaw I've been eyeing lately who's been dying to meet me." With that, he disappeared leaving Lucius and Bellatrix staring at each other with evil grins firmly planted on their faces.
The hallways were growing empty as the students readied themselves to leave for the holiday. One person leaned against the wall, watching the students scramble and she wondered why they were so anxious to leave. She flipped her waist length dirty blonde hair behind her shoulder and folded her arms as she made her way towards her common room.
"Everyone forgets about Luna." Luna Lovegood ranted as she rolled her eyes and entered her common room. She looked around the room noticing a familiar profile. She cocked her head, eyeing the figure sitting comfortably on the sofa, wondering how the hell he had managed to get past the security of the portrait guarding the Ravenclaw domain.
After all he was a Gryffindor. She walked slowly towards the dark haired boy who looked more than comfortable with his legs propped casually on the coffee table. His arms behind his head, his glasses sliding down his nose and his eyes closed as if waiting for something… or someone.
Luna neared the boy, her brow arched and she wondered skeptically what he was doing there once again.
"Wha… what are you doing here?" She asked, standing almost in front of him and his green eyes flew open.
She paused taking a step back. "Wait a second. You aren't Harry. How did you get in here?" She demanded.
"What makes you say that?" He stood looking Luna up and down.
"I can tell. You have your scar on the wrong side of your forehead." Luna pointed to the scar and backed away further.
Sirius ran a hand through his hair. "Ah yes… a minor mistake."
"What are you…" Luna's eyes went wide and she threw a glace at the entranceway. "You're him aren't you… the one that attacked Ginevra Weasley and killed Lavendar."
Sirius laughed coldly. "Lavendar, I dare say, was an accident. She wasn't really my type… but that Weasley had it coming."
Luna started to panic. "What do you want with me? I haven't done anything to you."
"Oh… but you will." Sirius inched closer to her. "You have no concept about these things, do you, Miss Lovegood?"
"I…" Luna's voice stuck in her throat. She looked at the floor and a smile crossed her face. "You know… who ever you are… if you knew of anything about me, you'd know I am a bit unorthodox. You could have just asked."
"Huh?" Sirius arched his eyebrow as he watched Luna make her way towards him.
She pressed her body into his and went to kiss him. "Why didn't you just ask? I'd have played along." Her leg found it's way between his and with one swift motion she connected with his groin forcing her knee hard into him.
Sirius sputtered to the floor.
"I don't know who you are, but I am sure the headmaster will want to know!" She screamed at him nastily and ran for the entrance. The door closed behind her and she checked out both empty hallways before choosing one and rushing for the headmaster's chambers.
"PROFESSOR DUMBLEDORE!!!"
They heard someone screaming at the top of their lungs. Harry was the first to turn his head towards the door.
Everyone was there, or at least everybody that was going to Grimmauld Place for the holidays. The spiral staircase started to move and Harry let go of the Portkey he was holding. He squinted his eyes as the stairs moved upwards.
"Let's just get a move on." Hermione demanded, letting go of the Portkey while flashing Harry a dirty look and crossing her arms. It was the first sentence she had uttered to Harry in almost two days. He stopped closing his eyes and clenched his fists at his sides.
"Someone obviously wants to speak with Dumbledore, Hermione." He said through gritted teeth.
Ron shook his head and the others standing there looked from Harry to Hermione wondering what was going on. Willow cringed and looked up at Lupin who took a deep breath.
"Harry… get back here… the Portkey is programmed to send us to Grimmauld Place any moment.
"Wait, Lupin… just…" Harry was unable to finish his sentence as Luna Lovegood jumped from the step she stood on into the room.
"Professor!" She pleaded. "You must hear me out! I know who is behind all of this!"
Harry's heart leaped into his throat. How could she know what his dream was about?
She glanced at Harry and he shivered as she ran her eyes up to his forehead.
"Dear child, why are you still here? Students were ordered home for the holiday." Dumbledore said. His robes flowed behind him as he cleared the space between himself and Luna. He passed Harry, placing a hand on his shoulder as he went by.
"It's not Harry… Dumbledore! He's there… in my common room!" She managed to get out while trying to catch her breath.
"You've seen this person?" He inquired looking directly into Luna's eyes.
"You don't need to use magic on me Headmaster. I incapacitated him in my common room!"
Hermione gasped. Dumbledore grabbed Luna's shoulders gently.
"Didn't you hear me… the monster that hurt Ginevra is currently laying on the floor in my common room! He killed Lavendar! GO GET HIM!"
Harry could not contain himself a moment longer. "Who is it, Luna?? Who did you see? Did he try to hurt you? What happened?!"
Dumbledore stepped between Harry and Luna, casting a silencing frown at the young Mr. Potter. He glanced up at Willow, and furrowed his brow.
"We will take care of the situation, Harry," Dumbledore said, matter of factly. "Professor McGonagall, go and alert Tonks. She should at least have a look." Dumbledore turned to the transfiguration teacher as she nodded.
Harry sighed and took a step back. Clearly, Dumbledore did not feel this was the time nor the place to discuss whatever had happened in the common room. Harry resigned himself to the fact that he would have to wait until he got the chance to talk to Luna alone.
Then he turned his attention back to Luna. "Come now, Miss Lovegood… there is a reason we instructed all students to leave Hogwarts for this impromptu holiday."
Luna nodded her head. "I heard your announcement yesterday, but my dad is on safari with my uncle, getting the latest story for the Quibbler."
"Well then… You'll have to join the Weasley's, Mr. Potter and Miss Granger at Grimmauld Place."
Ron moaned and his mother gave him a look that shut him up fast. Ginny smiled, happy to see someone in her class joining her. Hermione smiled as well, for the first time since she had entered the Headmaster's chambers.
"Grimmauld Place?" Luna looked at Dumbledore, confused until the realization that she would be spending the holiday with Ron sank in. "Oh Ronald…" She batted her eyes and gave him a coy look.
Ron grabbed his mother's shawl. "Don't let her near me." He whispered desperately. "Just don't." He caught his mother's angry look and quickly looked away. "That's great. What a holiday this'll turn out to be." Ron muttered just under his breath, hoping his mother hadn't heard him.
"You can stand by me." Ginny said softly. Harry couldn't help but smile at her voice. It was the first time he had heard her say anything since the incident in the hospital wing. Her eyes held nothing malignant, and she was even beginning to gain some color to her pale skin. However, the black eye she had received was being stubborn and refused every bit of Madame Pomphrey's magic. His smile faded when his eye ran over her face.
"Are we all settled then?" Lupin inquired as Harry crossed the distance between where he was standing and the Portkey.
He placed his hand on the cauldron Dumbledore had charmed into a Portkey and shot a quick, pitiful glance at Hermione who was refusing to look in his direction. He sighed inaudibly, then blinked his eyes hard, trying to push back the sudden rush of angry tears that threatened his emerald eyes. That was one thing he wouldn't do… He wouldn't let her see him cry. "Just do it." He shook his head regretfully and felt the sudden jerk behind his navel.
It was dark at Number 12 Grimmauld Place. So dark, in fact, that as the group of wizards and witches found themselves surrounded by the darkness, one of them fell directly into a table.
"Awfully sorry about that." Luna squeaked embarrassed. "You can't possibly expect me to see a thing with out any light."
"Lumos." Everyone heard Lupin call out the spell as the tip of his wand immediately started to glow with yellow light.
"That's much better." Luna said dreamily, her eyes resting on Ron. "You look so handsome in the glow, Ronald," she mused.
Ron turned beet red and squirmed away from his mother. "Hermione," he began. "Do you suppose you could get your foot off of mine? It's starting to hurt."
Hermione looked down at her feet and instantly removed her foot from Ron's sneaker.
"Sorry," she mumbled. She looked up at Mrs. Weasley who was smiling gently at her, though her eyes were clearly inquiring what was wrong.
"Well, now… I suppose I should get a move on, then," Mrs. Weasley chimed in. "This place looks like it hasn't been cleaned up since I was last here." She quickly glared at Remus, who shrugged and at least had the decency to immediately look guilty. An embarrassed blush rose to his face and he cleared his throat, trying to come up with some way to make himself look better.
Molly Weasley's first task was finding the lights. When she did so, she lined up the younger witches and wizards. She sighed, looking over at Harry, Ron, Hermione and Ginny as a twinge of nostalgia caught her, and she found herself swallowing a lump that had suddenly lodged in her throat.
She cleared her throat for good measure, putting a welcoming hand on Luna's shoulder. Ginny had spoken fondly of the girl and she knew her father. If she were anything like him, well then, Molly would definitely have to keep an eye on her.
"How 'bout a spot of breakfast? I know all of you must be hungry and it's early yet. You should all eat something before I place you all in groups so that we can get this place livable again."
Remus gave a disgruntled groan. "I beg your pardon, Molly. I happen to live here."
"Yes… a confirmed bachelor and it shows." She huffed. Remus arched an eye at her.
"How would you know such things, Molly? You haven't been here since Harry's fifth year."
"Again, it shows," Molly snapped bemusedly. However, seeing the hurt expression on Lupin's face she suddenly felt her features fall. "Can I help it if I am obsessive/compulsive? I'm sorry Remus. I hadn't meant to insult you."
"I'm not insulted." Lupin chuckled. "I'm amazed at how well you know me."
Ron looked over at Harry, who had been awfully quiet since arriving. He knew it might be difficult for his best mate to come back here after what had happened at the end of fifth year. He pursed his lips and stared at Harry.
Harry stood motionless, staring at the ground. Every emotion he was trying to contain was hitting him like a slap in the face, and he suddenly felt the need to vomit. He peeked up at Hermione, who was watching the conversation between Mrs. Weasley and Lupin, and his mouth turned into a deeper scowl.
This did not go unnoticed by Ron, and he felt his heart sink with empathy for his friend. He mentally growled at Hermione. Couldn't she see how sorry Harry was? If she would just glance in his direction she would know how much hurt her silence was causing him. His best friend looked pale and thin among other things. Almost like the Dementors had actually sucked out his soul.
The next thing they heard was a small voice coming from Harry as he blinked hard, opening his eyes to look at Mrs. Weasley.
"May I be excused? I don't feel much like eating and I didn't sleep very well last night." Harry's voice was so soft Mrs. Weasley had to strain her ears to hear him.
"What's wrong dear? You of all people need to eat. Look at you. It's as if you haven't touched a bite to eat in a week."
"Actually it's been two days." Ron answered, receiving hateful look from Harry. "He hasn't eaten since the day Ginny got hurt."
Harry glared at Ron, clenching his fists and setting his jaw. Mrs. Weasley's eyes grew wide as she searched from Ginny to Harry, knowing that she couldn't speak freely with Ginny present. She bit her lip. She sighed, defeated.
"If you must Harry. If you must." She shook her head. "However, you will eat something today if I have to spoon feed you myself," she quipped, watching Harry turn on his heel faster than she had ever seen anyone, and run up the darkened staircase.
Once he was out of ear shot, Mrs. Weasley turned on the group of young witches and the one wizard left. Ron quickly felt very out of place and shifted his stance nervously.
"Does anyone care to fill me in on what is going on with Harry now? I thought we had cleared up certain misconceptions yesterday." She danced around the subject trying desperately to get her point across without bringing Ginny's outburst into question.
Then Ginny spoke up. "Is he still there?"
"Who dear?" Molly tilted her head, her eyes falling on her only daughter.
"The wizard that did this to me. Is he still at Hogwarts?"
Molly's face fell into a cross between sympathetic and concern expression. "I don't know." She answered honestly her glance shifted towards Luna. "Professor Dumbledore and Tonks are doing all they can." She focused back on her daughter. "And Sir Nicolas has requested Miss Myrtle to speak with them about what she knows."
"I know it wasn't Harry." Ginny said abruptly, causing the group to gasp including her mother.
"What on earth do you mean, Ginerva?" Molly insisted. She had been present when Madame Pomphrey had preformed the Obliviate charm and she was the one to okay the information Ginny retained from the attack. Needless to say, Molly was alarmed at Ginny's words.
Ginny stole a look at Hermione as she bit her lip and found a spot on the carpet to stare at trying to ignore the implications.
"Harry is a kind person… a powerful wizard, but a kind person. He wouldn't have it in him. I was wrong to incriminate him." Ginny blinked the tears from her eyes and Molly stepped forward to hug her.
"What do you remember?" Molly swept a strand of Ginny's hair behind her ear.
"Enough. Enough to know that whoever it was is an imposter. I mean, he had the scar on the wrong side of his forehead." Ginny shrugged as Molly pulled away slightly.
Luna couldn't contain herself. "That's what I was trying to tell everyone this morning!" She shrieked. "I told you it wasn't him! He looks just like Harry… but the scar… it's not real. It's not natural." Luna proclaimed.
Willow, who had remain deathly quiet since arrival cried out in horror. A trembling hand went straight to her mouth as her eyes rolled backwards into her head. Within seconds, she was the next to leave the group, running rather clumsily towards any place of solitude she could find.
Lupin watched her intently as she scurried away down a dark hallway. He excused himself immediately and followed her, being sure to keep a step or so behind.
Molly threw her hands in the air. "That girl is just not right!" she scoffed. She saw that Ginny was becoming flustered just talking about what had happened, and decided enough had been said about the ordeal for now. "Alright now, at least with the rest of you I can start some assignments. Ron and Luna, you two are to check the library and the den, you know the one Ron, the one with the fireplace that is connected to the floo network."
"Yes… I know the one. The one that imp Kreacher used to lie to Harry and now his only family link is dead." Ron answered miserably.
"That would be the one. Now off with you. I'll call you when breakfast is done." She rested a hand on Ginny's shoulder. "Ginny, I think you should rest a bit. I had no idea your memory would be so vivid." She sighed. "I guess I should have known, huh, Ginny? You are a Weasley. As for you Hermione… Since Lupin went off to track that space cadet of a spell composition professor, I guess that leaves you to go check on Harry."
"But Mrs. Weasley… Couldn't you do it? I mean, Harry and I are… well, we're sorta not…"
Molly watched Hermione's face as she tried to explain why she didn't want to speak with Harry.
"Hermione, you need to remember that Harry and you are friends. Whatever misunderstanding you two have had, a friendship like yours doesn't come along often, and when it does… well, something as trivial as a falling out doesn't affect the fact that Harry needs you right now."
Hermione was visibly shaken. For a moment, Molly thought she might recover and agree to go speak with Harry. Instead, Hermione burst into tears. She managed to choke out "I'm sorry" as she bounded up the staircase to the room she shared with Ginny the last time she had visited.
"That's it! I give up. Come now, Ginny, let's go have some tea. This place is a mad house already, and we've been here all of ten minutes!" She griped, openly placing an arm around a smiling Ginny, and guided her towards the kitchen.
To Be Continued…