Unofficial Portkey Archive

Chapter Thirteen

Later that night, Remus, Ron and Harry were sitting by the fire in the drawing room along with Tonks and Dumbledore who had stopped by for dinner. Ron and Harry were playing a game of chess with the board perched on a corner of the ottoman. Harry watched as one of his pawns was brutally removed from play by Ron's knight.

"Any news today of the other escaped Death Eaters?" Remus asked.

"Not yet…they seem to have dropped of the face of the earth." Tonks replied, scowling. "We don't have any new leads-no one's reported seeing them in the last thirty-six hours."

Dumbledore shook his head. "It's only a matter of time before the others escape as well. The Ministry is trying to come up with a plan to safeguard the prison but I fear there isn't any way to guarantee that the prisoners will remain prisoners forever…"

Harry spoke up. "Draco told me in the last week of school that his father would be out soon. I was surprised that Lucius Malfoy wasn't one of the first to escape."

"He almost was," Dumbledore said gravely. "An Auror gave his life to keep Lucius in Azkaban." He went on. "Harry, we still don't know how Macnair came to be in the square outside. You need to be-we all need to be very careful. I would caution against any more visits to Diagon Alley. I don't mean to keep you cooped up here, but we must be on our guard. If you do go outside this house, use some of Fred and George's sweets to disguise yourself."

"That's a good idea, Harry," Tonks said.

Harry nodded.

"How is the Occlumency practice coming?" Dumbledore asked Harry.

"Slowly. I've been reading some of the books that you brought for Hermione but she took them with her. I've also been trying to clear my mind before I sleep, Harry answered earnestly. "I think I understand a bit better what's involved in blocking someone from seeing your thoughts. But so far, I haven't been able to empty my mind very well. Is it true that it helps to create false images for the person to see?"

"It can help, but it's far better to be able to restrain your feelings and not let them control your thinking, thereby inadvertently bringing images into your mind for the Legilimens to see." Dumbledore said. "You are getting more of a hold on your emotions, I believe. Your anger is not as near the surface as it was."

"I don't feel the same way I did before…I was so angry then, I couldn't seem to get past it. I let my emotions control me and I made wrong choices because of them. I won't let that happen again." Harry said, a bit downcast.

"Last year you were more mentally connected to Voldemort than you ever had been. You were feeling anger that wasn't all yours to begin with. Tom Riddle was a very angry young man. I don't think that anything has changed for him with that." Dumbledore shook his head sadly. "His feelings were being transferred to you. Whether or not he meant to do that is anyone's guess."

"Do you think that I'm still as connected to him as I was?"

"I think the basic link is still there but Voldemort doesn't appear to be using it as he was before. He was using that connection to try and get the prophecy. However, it appears that at the moment, you're not of use to him so he's leaving you alone for now. The question is, `What is it that's important to him right now and why?'"

"We know his goal is to live forever…but why does he want that?" Harry asked. "I mean, most people don't want to die, but most people don't go to the lengths that Voldemort has trying to accomplish that."

Dumbledore shook his head. "I wish I knew the answer to that question. When Nicolas Flamel created the Philosopher's Stone, it was out of curiosity and challenge-not necessarily to try and avoid death." Dumbledore paused for a moment but then continued. "Most people fear their physical death in some way-it is the greatest change humans go through: trading one existence for another, one form for another. No one completely understands the process and that makes it a fearful thing for most."

"Do you think Voldemort does all that he does out of fear of dying?" Remus asked furrowing his brow.

"Avoiding physical death appears to be a driving force in him. But I don't think it's just that…I knew Tom when he was at Hogwarts. His life had been a miserable one with his mother gone and his father and grandparents rejecting him because he was a wizard. He hated the orphanage-he was mistreated there. He also hated it when anyone felt pity for him. Tom was so locked up in his anger and bitterness that he pushed everything else away."

"He's mad…" Ron said off-handedly as he moved his rook.

"Well, yeah, Ron." Harry gave him a funny look.

"I think what Ron means is that Tom Riddle's perspective is so skewed that we may not ever be able to understand exactly what motivates him." Dumbledore clarified. "Harry, you most of all might be able to understand the events that helped make Tom what he is today. Your pasts are similar. However, you have turned out quite differently than he."

"And from what you told me before it was my choices that made the difference," responded Harry. "But I also have the knowledge that my parents loved me-died for me-and my mother's love runs inside me. Voldemort didn't have that."

"No he didn't. Tom rarely, if ever, thought that anyone truly cared about him," Dumbledore said sadly. "Parts of him seemed dead even before he ever entertained the thought of becoming Lord Voldemort."

"Why's he so afraid of you? You could've killed him in the Ministry if you'd wanted but you didn't." Harry gazed at Dumbledore then his forehead furrowed as he remembered the battle in the Atrium. "That spell that you used that Voldemort had to conjure the shield for. What was that? I felt the power of it as it went by me. And what did you mean, `There are other ways of destroying a man'?"

Dumbledore regarded Harry for a moment. "I don't mean to put you off, Harry, but that is something we'll talk about later. It's getting rather late and I need to be on my way." He stood up and the rest stood up with him. "Thank you for dinner and for the lovely company afterward. I'll see you soon, Harry. Ron, your parents will be looking for you around eleven in the morning."

They said their goodbyes and Dumbledore flooed back to his office. Tonks left soon after and Remus, Harry, and Ron were left sitting on the couch with their feet all propped on the ottoman listening to the fire crackle. Crookshanks had settled himself on Harry's lap and was purring as Harry absentmindedly scratched him between his ears.

"Remus," Harry broke their silence. "How did my parents act together after they were married-were they happy?"

Remus turned a bemused look on Harry. "They were very happy. Why do you ask?"

"Well, when I was at Hermione's house today, I realized her parents were about the same age as mine would've been…they were really nice to each other-seemed to enjoy one another. The only married people I've ever spent time with are my aunt and uncle and the Weasleys. The Dursleys mostly just act like they happen to live in the same house for the purpose of being my cousin's fan club. The Weasleys love each other but they're older," Harry turned his head to look at Ron, "-no offense, Ron."

"None taken…" Ron replied. "My mum and dad love each other but I guess they're just an old married couple and with all us kids, things get a bit stressful for mum. She gets wound up at Dad a lot…at all of us, really." Ron shrugged. "Just the way she is."

Remus was still looking at Harry. "Y'know, I remember your mum and dad being very kind to one another after they started dating. James loved being with Lily. He loved talking with her…I think that's how they fell in love. He told Sirius and me once that they would sit up for hours just talking in their common room when they should've been studying or sleeping. They had their disagreements but I never saw them treat each other rudely. By the time they were married, I think they had become best friends. That was a little hard on Sirius even though he was absolutely happy for James. Your parents just had this…lovely connection for lack of a better term."

"That's kind of what Hermione said about her parents…I just hadn't ever seen that kind of relationship before and I wondered about my mum and dad," Harry mused then an odd feeling came over him and he looked around. "Sure seems strange without Hermione here…I keep thinking she'll walk through the door and have a seat with us at any moment."

"I guess she and her parents are in Austria by now." Ron said, looking at his watch.

Harry nodded. He had stopped scratching Crookshanks and the cat batted at Harry's hand trying to get him to resume. When that didn't work, he turned his squashy face to look at Harry in reproach. Harry tilted his head and smiled down at the cat as he ran a hand down his back. "Poor Crookshanks. Missing Hermione, are you?" he asked. "Well, don't worry, she'll be back soon."

Ron and Remus exchanged a look over Harry's head.

~>^<~>^<~>^<~>^<~

"Ooowww…"Ron said as he tried to take his shirt off. "My muscles are really sore…I hope I'll be able to get out of bed tomorrow."

"Yeah, mine are hurting a bit, too," Harry grimaced as he sat on his bed. "I bet Remus isn't feeling too great either but it'll hopefully be worth it."

"Well, we were going to be sore either way with the diving to the floor and all. Better to do the thing properly, I guess, but man…I wonder if Hermione's going to find a way to work out. She better not be skiving off when it was her idea."

Harry put his legs under the covers and drew the blankets up to his chest as Crookshanks hopped up on the bed and settled on Harry's feet. "Ron, you know Hermione…she's probably working harder than we are."

"Yeah, you're right," Ron began turning his covers down then cleared his throat. "Harry, I was wondering…you and Hermione aren't…"

"Aren't what?"

"Well, er…do you fancy Hermione?"

Harry was caught totally by surprise and gaped at Ron. "What?"

Ron sat down on his bed. "It's just…when I walked in from taking a shower the day before yesterday…I saw you two…it looked like you were…"

Harry rolled onto his side and propped his head on his hand. "Ron, Hermione was getting on to me about thinking everything regarding Voldemort is my responsibility. We just got a little upset at each other is all."

"You didn't look like you were upset at each other when I saw you." Ron said in a curiously flat voice.

"Well, we weren't then…we had sort of apologized by that time…that's what you saw." Harry said firmly and then added, "I thought you fancied her-I mean the fight after the Yule Ball in fourth year and all your jealousy about Krum."

Ron lowered his eyes. "I did fancy her but that's kind of changed now."

"Why? What happened?"

"I…I just don't think it would work out." Ron slid his legs under the cover and pulled them to his chest.

Harry regarded Ron for a moment. Ron seemed to be avoiding his eyes and hedging uncomfortably around something but Harry wasn't going to force him to say what it was.

"I'm sorry, mate," Harry said sincerely.

Ron nodded. "Well, I'm turning in. G'night." He rolled over.

"Night."

~>^<~>^<~>^<~>^<~

If it were possible, Ron and Harry's muscles felt worse the next day-sore and stiff. Getting out of bed was torturous.

"I'm going to get a hot shower…if I can make it there," Harry groaned.

"Yeah, that sounds good-don't take forever in there, okay? Remember your best friend sitting here in agony," Ron managed.

"Wonder how Remus is doing?" Harry asked as he dragged himself out of bed and hobbled painfully across the floor. "Wait, I'll check…REMUS!" he hollered up at the ceiling.

"What!" a muffled yell came back.

"HOW ARE YOU?"

"Other than the fact that I want to be put out of my misery, you mean?"

Harry heard Ron laugh from behind him, then a yelp. "OWWW! Even that hurt…mum's gonna kill me."

Harry smiled to himself (thankful that at least his face muscles weren't sore) and looked down as he felt something warm and furry wind around his legs. "'Lo, Crookshanks, come to gloat? Sorry but I can't stop to pet you-don't want to lose this forward momentum, y'know." The cat sat back on his haunches and observed Harry shuffling across the landing to the toilet. If anyone could've seen Crookshank's face, they might've thought he was smirking a bit.

Harry winced as he climbed into the shower and then almost moaned as the hot water hit his body. He could feel his muscles starting to loosen. He put his hands on the shower wall and leaned in, letting the water cascade down his neck and back for a while. He would've stood there even longer but he knew Ron was waiting. He finished up quickly and toweled off feeling much better than he had. Harry padded across the landing and found Ron sitting in the same place he was before.

"Your turn, mate."

"I don't think I can make it."

"Yes, you can and you'll be glad you did," Harry said a little too cheerfully.

Ron heaved himself off the bed with a mighty groan and made his way to the shower. Harry got dressed and went upstairs to check on Remus. He knocked on his door.

"Come in." Remus said in a long-suffering voice.

Harry opened the door to find Remus still in his pajamas, sitting on the edge of his bed with a grimace on his face.

"This is not good," Remus ground out.

Harry suppressed a chuckle. "I highly recommend a hot shower. Did wonders for me."

"Yes, but I've got to be able to get there first and my back isn't cooperating."

"Need some help, old man?"

Remus snarled at him but held out his hand.

Harry pulled Remus slowly up to standing then said, "The trick is to get going toward the shower and don't stop until you get there-or you're doomed."

Remus nodded shortly. "I'll see you in a little bit and I won't have forgotten the `old man' crack. If Sirius and your dad can see this, I'll bet they're rolling on the floor laughing…hope it makes them sore." He began to make his way across the hall to his bathroom.

Harry held his laughter until he heard the door to the loo close.

~>^<~>^<~>^<~>^<~

Things went much better for them at breakfast. They ate heartily and joked around. Before long, it was time for Ron to leave. They said they're goodbyes and Ron flooed to the Burrow. Harry watched the last of the green flames die down, then turned and sank into the nearest chair.

"Going to be all right, Harry?" Remus asked.

Harry nodded and mustered a smile. "Guess it's just you and me…old man," his smile turning into a smirk.

"Okay, Mister, you're gonna get it-when you least expect it…expect it." Remus returned.

"Yeah, yeah…whatever-you aren't moving very fast today," Harry said smiling. "I'm not too scared."

"Oh, you will be…just wait," Remus shot back. "Don't forget who I used to hang around."

"So…what's the worst thing the Marauders ever did?" Harry asked hoping to hear some funny stories to take his mind off Ron's leaving.

"Well, I'll have to think about that one…wait…probably the worst thing we did was-I probably shouldn't tell you this-well, suffice it to say it involved the Christmas decorations in the Great Hall…and we paid heavily for it." Remus shook his head. "We set a record length for a detention on that one, I think."

"Okay, so spill it…what did you do?" Harry asked.

"Nope."

"Come on…I want to know!"

"Let's just say the decorations gave some of the younger students information about certain kinds of relationships they weren't quite ready for."

Harry raised his eyebrows.

"Sorry, but that's all you're going to get out of me right now…maybe someday when you're older."

"I'm almost sixteen."

"You're kidding-sixteen, huh? Do you know how positively young that sounds to an old man like me?" Remus grinned.

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