Chapter 3
Three-hundred, Coralgraze
Harry was lying on his bed. It had been a full night since he walked out on his friends after receiving the news about the veil...
He hadn't spoken to anyone and didn't want to. He didn't even know if he had ever wanted to speak again. Suddenly, a soft knock came on the door.
"Go away!" said Harry, grumpily.
But it opened anyways and Ron walked in.
"What d'you want?" Harry said.
"Look, I'm sorry about what happened, Harry, but you can't stay cooped up in here forever. Hermione's been locked up in her room as well; Ginny told me her pillow's been stained this morning, apparently with tears."
"Really?" asked Harry.
"Yeah," said Ron. "So anyway, mum asked me to tell you that I was going up to Diagon Alley today with Ginny to get some stuff for school. Hermione didn't want to come, though. Do you?"
"No," said Harry, "I'd rather stay as well," sitting up on his bed.
"Fine. What's that thing on your finger?" asked Ron, pointing to the ring on Harry's right hand.
"It's nothing," said Harry, drawing the his arm behind his back, hiding the promise ring and focusing on a new topic. "Going to meet Luna, are you?"
"No!" said Ron, going pink. "Maybe. Probably. Why do you care, anyway?"
"I don't," said Harry, "I'm just wondering why you're keeping it such a secret."
"It's not a secret! I just - just forget it, Harry."
"Listen, if you want to get there faster, you can use my Magic Carpet."
"Your what?!" And Harry explained Sirius's gifts to Ron. He listened with the utmost curiosity and finally thanked Harry as he took the rug and left.
Harry just sat there for a while, thinking, and got up out of the room after about five minutes of blanc thoughts running through his mind. As soon as he walked out of his room, he ran into a hurrying Ginny who apologized and began to run downstairs, when Harry suddenly remembered something and held her back, "Hey, Ginny! Dean wanted me to give you this, by the way." Harry handed her the letter. She took it and ripped it open right away, taking out a piece of parchment and, with it, dropping a picture of a boy, who Harry recognized was definitely not Dean though couldn't tell who it was, and wondered why that picture was in the letter, but decided that he didn't want to know. Ginny let out an, "Oh," and quickly picked up the photograph before Harry could lean over to examen it. She blushed and ran downstairs as she called back, "Thanks, Harry. `Bye."
He walked around the mansion until he found Hermione sitting on the couch in the living room, gazing into the flames of the fire. Apparently, she had heard Harry come in because she said, "I'm still hoping, you know, that maybe, just maybe, Sirius will appear in the fire and tell us that everything's okay - that he's here for us - for you, Harry..."
"Me too..." said Harry dully and sat next to her as she put her hands around his waist and rested her head on his chest.
"We could have spoken to him again, couldn't we? Using the veil, couldn't we? Ginny told me that's what Luna said; she told me they could be spoken to...even when they're gone."
"Yeah, I know."
"Harry, how could he have known? How could he have found out? It's just not fair! How could he have?" breathed Hermione and then something suddenly came to her because Harry had noticed that the expression that she bore on her face had changed into a look of terror. She knows, thought Harry.
"Harry? Y-you didn't, did you? Y-you d-didn't have a-another d-dream, did you?"
"I-I-I did, Hermione."
Hermione made a very sharp intake of breath.
"I'm sorry, but there was nothing that I could have done, I just had it."
Hermione swallowed hard, "W-what was the dream about?"
"Sirius spoke to me from the veil, or at least it sounded like him because I didn't see his face."
"What did he say?" said Hermione, shocked.
"He said - he said -" but Harry didn't know what to say because how could he explain to Hermione exactly what the dream had meant?
"Listen, Hermione, you know when I told you about the prophesy?"
"He said that?" asked Hermione, comically.
"No, I mean do you remember when I told you?"
"Of course, how could I forget?" she said, turning red.
"Well, see, I was thinking about what had happened in the Department of Mysteries last year and I fell asleep and then Sirius's voice came and he said that I should tell you, by using the mirror..."
"What?! Harry, are you sure he was talking about you telling me about the prophesy? And are you sure that was really Sirius? You know what happened last year..."
"I know, Hermione. But no one knows about the mirrors except Sirius, my dad, Ginny, you and me."
"I still don't know, Harry....but why would he want you tell me?"
"I already told you that, Hermione," said Harry, who could feel heat rising out of him, "because I was just realizing how I really felt about you," and Hermione went pink.
Just then, Harry and Hermione were suddenly interrupted.
"We've got her! Mum! Dad! Come quick! We've got her! We've got Bellatrix Lestrange!"
Harry's insides went numb and, apparently, so had Hermione's. Bellatrix Lestrange was Voldemort's most loyal Death Eater, and she had killed Sirius just a couple of weeks ago...
The both of them immediately sprang from the couch and ran towards Charlie's voice, raising their wands in the air, prepared to fight. They stopped when they reached him at the entrance to the basement, but he was no longer conscious; Charlie was laying dead still on the floor next to Bill. Mr. and Mrs. Weasley came running into the room and Harry watched their faces go white just like his and Hermione's had done. Mrs. Weasley couldn't move as she dropped her wand; Mr. Weasley ran up to Bill and Charlie, feeling both their foreheads and then pressing his ear to each of their chests, listening for a heartbeat.
"They're alright. Just a spell." Relief sprang over Harry.
"D-did he say Bellatrix Lestrange?" said Harry, bravely.
"I'm afraid so, Harry."
"Then they know. About the Order of the Phoenix's hide out, I mean. But how?"
"Harry, Tonks was one of the members that were protecting the veil the night that it was destroyed. She came back to us, telling us everything that happened. But - " Mr. Weasley shook his head " - it wasn't her. I don't even know if she's still alive at this point. Bellatrix must have transformed into her using the Polyjuice Potion. The trouble is, we don't know how long Bellatrix has been in Tonk's body; she could have found out anything. I don't know if we'll see Tonks again."
Harry and Hermione's mouths fell open.
Mrs. Weasley had now come to her senses. "Arthur, you don't think she's still here, do you?"
"Oh, no. She would have Dissaperated by now. But, I'm afraid, this means that Harry is no longer safe here. No one is. Dumbledore must be contacted immediately and we need to get you in another location as soon as possible, Harry, do you hear me? Molly, you go with Harry and Hermione and make sure they pack their things. I'll be sending an owl to Ron and Ginny, they won't be allowed to come back here, we'll have to go to the Burrow..."
"But, how did she escape the charm in the basement?"
"My guess is as good as yours, Hermione."
Hermione, however, whispered to Harry, "You don't think she could have overheard us when Charlie was telling us about the basement? Remember how I questioned it being full of Dark Magic? Maybe she would have know how to escape it. More importantly, Voldemort could have told her."
Harry didn't answer. First Sirius was taken away from him and now he had to leave Grimmauld Place.
He watched Mr. Weasley wave his wand at both Charlie and Bill's bodies and walk away with them, while Mrs. Weasley turned to Harry and Hermione, a look of horror still trapped on her face.
"Let's go, the sooner we get out of here, the better," her voice was unusually squeaky.
She led Harry and Hermione upstairs to their bedrooms where they picked up their belongings and were ready to leave.
"Shouldn't we get Ron's and Ginny's things too?" asked Hermione.
"Don't you worry about that, now," said Mrs. Weasley, "I'll take care of it."
They walked downstairs and met Mr. Weasley a second time.
"Dumbledore's just sent me this," he pointed at a piece of parchment that he held in his hand. "Harry, I'm afraid we have no choice but to send you back to your relatives -"
"No!" yelled Harry.
"I'm really sorry, Harry, but I'm afraid that you are in grave danger. Hermione, you're to come with us to the Burrow."
"Please, Mr. Weasley," said Hermione, desperately, "can't Harry come to the Burrow as well?"
"I'm afraid not. The only way that we can all be safe is if we are united with our own flesh and blo-" Mr. Weasley seemed to have realized what he had just said and Hermione looked at Harry, so he finished, " - what I mean is, Harry, you're best off with your family and Hermione should stay with us because, er, she's, er, well, she's definitely safer at the Burrow then she would be at her home."
Harry knew that Mr. Weasley was desperately fighting the urge to spill the fact that he was Hermione's uncle.
"Fine, then," said Harry, mournfully. "As long as you're safe," he told Hermione.
Hermione nodded. She looked from Harry to Mrs. Weasley to Mr. Weasley.
"Er," she said, "would you mind it if we had a moment alone?"
"Not at all," said Mr. Weasley and accompanied Mrs. Weasley to the front of the house.
"Harry, don't worry. Everything's always for the best."
"Oh, yeah? How?"
"I don't know," Hermione sighed, "but what I do know is that we'll see each other extremely soon. Don't worry, I'll write every day. I'll never forget you."
"I won't forget you either, Hermione," said Harry and kissed her.
"Be safe," said Hermione.
"You too."
And with that they walked on to meet Mr. and Mrs. Weasley. They beckoned them into the Ford Anglia and both Harry and Hermione took a seat in the back of the car.
They first arrived at the Dursleys, who looked ready to throw up at the sight of Harry. He awkwardly shook hands with Hermione to hide the fact that he wanted to hold her hand one last time and opened the car door.
He gathered his trunk, along with Hedwig's cage and his Firebolt and made his way upstairs to the tattered bedroom, not looking up at the disgruntled Uncle Vernon as he detestably listened to Mr. Weasley's explanation of the situation. He gazed out of his bedroom window, only to see Hermione looking back at him from the car.
"I love you," he saw her mouth the words.
"I love you too," said Harry as he heard the door slam itself shut downstairs and Mr. Weasley get back into the car, driving away to the Burrow.
***
Harry just sat there in his old bedroom. There was absolutely nothing to do; he wasn't allowed to go outside the house and there was no point in writing to anyone because, if he did, there was nothing much that he could say.
He missed Hermione, and Ron, and the Weasleys, and the members of the Order. Well, not Snape, though Harry. And he was now just remembering one of the last accounts that he had with his Potions master, including a Pensive and his father in the old days. Harry couldn't possibly imagine what Snape would do to him once he found out that he had gotten an Outstanding on his Potions O.W.L.; he'd probably make his life an even more of a nightmare than it already was. And if he knew that Harry made Quidditch Captain, he'd probably flip; Harry would be laying stone dead the moment he would walk into his classroom.
Harry laughed. He imagined Professor Dumbledore's expression if he found Harry murdered by Snape during one of his lessons; death was nothing to Harry any longer. The less he cared about dying, the better, because, to Harry Potter, death was inevitable.
Suddenly, Hermione's voice rang in his head, "That's not funny, Harry...that's not funny at all..." And he knew that it wasn't something to joke about, but it made Harry feel just a slight bit better, knowing that if death came, he would not be afraid of it, just like Sirius told him to...
Harry suddenly sprang up from his bed in such a jolt that he found his hair standing on end as he was no doubt surprised to hear his trunk calling his name.
"Harry! Harry! I know you're there! Harry, pick up!"
Wondering what in the world his trunk wanted him to pick up, he hesitantly opened the top of it and rummaged through, only to find Hermione's face looking at him from the small square mirror that Sirius had given him. She startled him so much that he accidentally dropped the mirror on his not-so-neatly folded robes and felt sorry for not appreciating Ginny's reaction to his call earlier from the mirror.
"Jeez, Hermione! You scared me half to death!"
"Only half?" she said, though not smiling.
"Ha, ha, I'm not laughing." said Harry, more seriously than necessary.
"Neither am I," said Hermione, and she meant it. "Right, well, I snatched this mirror before I left from Grimmauld Place," she said.
"Good thinking! I completely forgot about it."
"Well, you wouldn't have really remembered considering the fact that it was in our bedroom."
"Oh, yeah. Is Ginny back with Ron, anyway?"
"Yeah, but there's something wrong with him," she shook her head.
"What?"
"I don't know. He's awfully quiet; hasn't spoken much to me or anyone else since he came back from Diagon Alley with Ginny..." said Hermione, in a strangely shaky voice.
"You don't think it's got something to do with Luna, do you?"
"Dunno. Maybe it does, maybe not. But that's not important right now, Harry. What is important is how could have Bellatrix found out where the Order of the Phoenix Headquarters was if Dumbledore was it's Secret Keeper? It doesn't seem possible! It can't be! You know he'd never betray us. I mean - it's Dumbledore!"
"He wouldn't, Hermione! He couldn't have. But I have no idea! My head's been ringing these past few days, but I haven't had any dreams. I guess all that Occlumency's paid off, huh?"
"Oh, that's wonderful, Harry!"
"Yeah...yeah...it is wonderful. But then, why doesn't it feel wonderful? Why do I feel as if I wish I knew what was going on again?"
"Oh, Harry, don't! Don't - please! You'll just be leading yourself into another trap!"
"No, I promise I won't, Hermione. But, it's just...hard, you know..."
"Yeah, I know, Harry. But it's alright..."
"Say, you never told me what you got on your O.W.L.'s?"
"Oh, you know, this and that and twelve."
"That's great!"
"Yeah, thanks."
"So you still don't want to study and become an auror with me, do you?"
"It's not that I don't want to Harry...it's just that...I don't know - it's a bit dangerous, isn't it?"
"Dangerous? Hermione, being an auror isn't dangerous. What we do everyday is dangerous. But, compared to that, fighting and capturing Dark wizards while gambling with your life is nothing - "
"Stop, Harry!"
"What?"
Harry could see tears gleaming in her eyes as he held the mirror in the palm of his hand.
"Don't you ever talk that way! Do you hear me?!" her voice sounded hurt and, what's even more, scared.
"Hermione, wha - ?"
"Harry, you told me about that prophesy. You - you told me and I don't know what kind of affect it's had on you, but it doesn't seem to be anything good. It's as if the fact that if you d-die and V-Voldemort lives - its' nothing to you. Well it is to me! Harry, he wants you dead! Do you hear me, dead?! He'll stop at nothing! And the fact that I care more about no one else in the world and that you're the only who can stop him and you - you're just acting like death is one big JOKE! I c-can't lose you Harry! Not now! Not ever!"
So many tears had ran down her face in the process of saying these words that it appeared to Harry as if someone had gotten a large bucket or water and emptied it in her face, a fact that made him feel, if possible, even worse.
"Hermione, there are things worse then death - "
"Like what, Harry?! Tell me! Like pain? You mean what I feel when I see you in danger or hurt or...something else? Or perhaps the Dementor's Kiss? Well, I don't know how much worse that is then death, but - "
"No," said Harry, quietly, shaking his head, "that's not it."
"What is it then? TELL ME, HARRY!" she screamed, "Because I don't think that I can stand the fact that there is something worse than how I feel right now..."
"Shhh. Hermione, calm down. It'll be alright. But...there is something worse. Do you remember when I told you that I had power that he didn't know of?"
She nodded.
"Well, Dumbledore told me that that is worse...that the power within me is worse than death. He told me that there's - "
But Harry stopped.
"Hermione, I reckon I shouldn't tell you now. This - this mirror thing...I don't know. It just doesn't seem safe enough..."
"I understand, Harry. Take care of yourself."
"I will. Listen, talk to Ron for me, alright?"
"I-I can't," she said breathlessly.
"Why not?"
"Because....because....," Hermione was breathing very heavily and Harry saw that there were huge tears in her eyes, once again.
"Because I don't know where he is."
"What do you mean!" said Harry quickly, standing up.
She swallowed hard and hesitated, apparently trying to hold back the tears, but it wasn't working.
"He's gone, Harry! He's g-gone! He came back from Diagon Alley, dropped off Ginny and told her to stay put along with me and the rest of the Weasleys. We though - we though he was joking or something. But then, he ate dinner and was not saying a word; there was something extremely wrong and I tried to talk to him afterward, but he just shunned me aside and went upstairs to his room. I-I followed, b-but when I got there, h-he was gone! Just like that! And I don't know how he could have, I mean, he can't have Disapperated! Unless he had a Portkey, but he couldn't have gotten one of those! Oh, where could he have gone?!" she sobbed.
Harry felt a whine of panic and guilt reside inside of him. He knew how Ron had disappeared - he had used the Magic Carpet that Harry had given him. But where did he go?
"Hermione, listen to me! Ron's fine! I think he's off to see Luna at Diagon Alley or something! Listen to me, remember me telling you that Sirius gave me a Magic Carpet that can sort of Apparate you from place to place, along with several other items, for my birthday?" She nodded. "Well, I let Ron borrow it to get to Diagon Alley with Ginny. He's fine, he's - "
"No! Harry, don't you get it?! That's it! That's it exactly! He isn't fine because you didn't see the expression that he bore on his face during dinner! Like he was ready to kill! I've never seen Ron like that! Never! Something isn't right, Harry! Ron's in danger! And there's nothing we c-can do!"
Harry felt furious. "Tell the members of the Order! They have to know!"
"No point! They already do, but they have no idea even where to search for him. Harry, I think Ron's gone after V-Voldemort!"
"WHAT!" shouted Harry, suddenly forgetting that the Dursleys were in the house.
However, he never got the chance to find out how Hermione got to that conclusion because, at that moment, Uncle Vernon burst through the door and he had to stuff the mirror back into his trunk, while listening to him run on about the fact that, as long as Harry was back in his house, he'd have to keep his annoying voice down enough so not to wake the dead, which, to Harry, could have well included Ron.
Harry was fit with rage. He was pacing around the room. He didn't know what to think or what to do. But there was nothing he could do, he told himself stupidly. All he could do is sit there and wait, just like last summer. Why would Ron have done such a thing? He couldn't take it anymore; he was going to write to Dumbledore.
He took out a piece of parchment and a quill and wrote:
Professor Dumbledore,
My Keeper is missing. Can you help me find him? This is URGENT!
Harry
Harry knew it didn't sound too good, but at least it wasn't obvious. If anything, he hoped Dumbledore would remember who Gryffindor's Keeper was. He attached the paper to Hedwig's leg and watched as the snowy owl disappeared in the deep blue sky, hoping that she would come back with a reply more promising than Ron's return.
Harry picked up one of the books on his bed and threw it against the window, hearing it shatter and then repair itself magically, without meaning to. He couldn't feel anything anymore. This was so STUPID! he told himself. Dumbledore probably already know he's gone, why did I send that idiotic letter?!
But Harry knew why, because, if he could, he would have already been out of the Dursleys' home and out there looking for Ron. Though Harry was tempted, he held himself back. You know what happened last year, he thought, don't do it again! Ron's probably...probably fine!
Before he could think or do anything, he stumbled as he heard a loud crack of Apparation and the front door downstairs creak open as a familiar voice argued with Uncle Vernon.
"I'm sorry, but I need to see Potter - "
"You will not barge into my house and demand to see anyone, sir!"
Sir? thought Harry. Oh, no. It can't be...It was.
"Snape?!" yelled Harry, as he found his Uncle face-to-face with a rather poisonous Potions teacher of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry.
"That's Professor to you, Potter! Don't you dare speak like that to me! I come here on Headmaster's orders and you treat me like that! I should have your neck!" said Snape, at which Harry found himself staring into Snape's eyes in deep hatred as his fingers curled slowly around his collar.
"But no matter," he said with rage as he let Harry go, Uncle Vernon watching him with most interest. Harry's fingers were already gripped tightly around his wand and ready to strike incase Snape tried anything else.
"Listen, now, Potter. I take absolutely no interest in being here at this very moment, but considering that your little friend has gone missing, well, it just came to everyone's attention that you might try something out of the ordinary to try and save him. Come, we're leaving. Get you're stuff and hurry up, Potter - "
"Where's Ron got to? Have you been told anything?"
"I said now, Potter! Do not ask me questions. You should already be at the required location, but I doubted that was possible considering your extremely slow mind to follow orders...and such..." He smirked.
Harry could have kicked him, and he felt that it would have suited him very well. He stomped off to his room. This was not happening, he told himself. If only Malfoy was here, then all of the people that hated him to his very bone would all be together in the same house. He then thought of Voldemort, but no, he didn't hate Harry, he despised him; he wanted him dead the day he was born.
He gathered his things once again and met Snape down in the hallway where he had apparently scared Uncle Vernon into finally leaving his presence. Snape raised his unpleasantly large nose into the air in recognition of Harry's presence and whipped around, informing Harry to follow him. But Harry didn't care, he wanted to know where Ron was, and if Snape squashed him on that very spot, he wouldn't give a damn.
"Where's Ron!" sneered Harry as he broke of Snape just as he reached the door.
"Get away from the door, Potter!" said Snape, smiling slightly, which send a chill down Harry's spine; if anything was worse than seeing Snape give him a loathing look, it was him giving one with a grin. "I do not know of Weasley's whereabouts at the moment, but as soon as the fool has gotten himself killed, I'm sure we'll - "
"Shut up!" yelled Harry.
Snape suddenly grabbed him by his clothes and slammed him against the door.
"You may be a student up at the school where Dumbledore is watching your pretty little back, Potter, but I can make your life every bit of a torture as much as I want it to be outside of Hogwarts."
It was Harry's turn to laugh, which he did with the utmost pleasure. "You don't know, do you? If you went crawling back to dear old Voldmort right now he'd kill you! But you don't know who I am, do you?! You don't know what I can do...what I'm meant to do..."
Snape suddenly released Harry. He grasped his arm, where Harry knew very well he had the Dark Mark engraved onto his skin.
"Anyway," continued Harry, "there is no possible way that you could make my life any more of a living hell," as he opened the door and stepped outside, looking back at Snape. "It's practically my home."
Snape looked at him and, for the first time, said, "Right you are, Potter,...right you are..."
"So," said Harry, slightly scowling, "how are we getting to, er, wherever we're going, er, Professor?"
Harry swallowed Snape's most unpleasant expression as he came to the side of the road, and his eyes widened as he hear him cry, "Reverto Transport Dans Lit!"
Suddenly, the earth trembled, and Harry felt as if the world was coming to an end as he watched the ground on the middle of Privet Drive suddenly tear open as if with a knife and reveal a dark hole, in which it seemed something gigantic, exciting, and golden was passing through.
"Well? Coming, Potter?" he said as he got near the hole and, to Harry's surprise, jumped inside of it just as Harry had done with Ron when they found the entrance to the Chamber of Secrets.
Harry gulped, but got near the dangerous-looking hole, looked around the street to see if any Muggles or cars were coming, and, doubtfully, jumped in after Snape.
In great awe, he found himself in an underground tunnel, full of excited-looking wizards and witches who were busily talking amongst themselves, although it seemed as if none of them had just noticed that a sixteen-year-old boy had just dropped from the ceiling. However, he found that the reason for their reactions was merely the fact that more and more people seemed to be dropping right out of the sky, suddenly appearing from the top of the tunnel and dropping to the floor with an "ouch."
He looked around and saw Snape standing right next to him, his long black cloak swaying from what seemed to be and incredibly fast and bronze metro that kept stopping to let several wizards and witches on it and then leaving in a matter of seconds.
Harry rubbed his eyes. Surely he was imagining the fact that there had always been an underground wizarding station right below Little Whinging and he was just finding out about it's existence.
He finally got up and brushed the dirt off his clothes, standing next to Snape.
"Er, sir?" said Harry. "Er, where exactly are we?"
Snape sighed, rolling his eyes, "As always, I should expect for you to know very little, Potter. If you had been keeping a closer eye on the Daily Prophet you would have already known that the new Minister of Magic has currently installed a Wizarding Metro throughout London."
But Harry hadn't been looking at the Daily Prophet these past couple of days; he had been to busy with his birthday and Hermione...
"Who's the new Minister of Magic?" he asked.
Snape gave him a disgusted look and said, "Do you know nothing, Potter?"
Harry raised his eyebrows.
"Percy Weasley," he muttered.
"What?" said Harry, nearly falling to the ground once more.
Snape nodded, unpleasantly.
"P-Percy did this?" said Harry, not only surprised that anyone in their right minds would make him Minister of Magic, but that he would come up with such a brilliant idea.
"Don't get your thoughts up about a Weasley, Potter. Percy is working through Dumbledore; it was the Headmaster's idea to make sure that wizards and witches had a bit of a safer way to travel with children other than the Knight Bus, and quicker too, I might add."
Harry was still in shock.
"Yes, it was the Wizengamot's idea to refer to him as the new Minister considering the fact that Fudge no longer wanted the job, now that the idiot is convinced the Dark Lord has returned. No - they simply wanted Dumbledore to fill the position. But we all know Dumbledore as the one to rightfully remain at Hogwarts. However, making sure that Percy was made Minister of Magic would give him the advantage of passing all of his ideas through young Mr. Weasley."
Harry could feel a quiver of hate in Snape's voice, but he didn't mind; anything that annoyed Snape was worth hearing.
"I dare say the boy knows nothing about what he is doing..."
But Harry wasn't listening as he found himself staring at the shining stars that appeared next to the red numbers that were floating on a huge board above their heads. Harry had no idea what the stars meant, but as soon as the bronze metro stopped in it's tracks to pick up travelers, the stars would suddenly spark out from beside the number, whizzing around excitedly, and then dim out as the metro's doors would shut and it would take off at the speed of light.
He then turned his attention to an elderly witch who approached Snape and tugged on his sleeve, at which he jumped.
"Sir, would you and your son here mind helping me with my bags? I've been banned from using my wand considering my unsteady grip and I - "
"He is not my son!" spat Snape, as he took what the woman had said as the most insulting thing in the world.
Harry also frowned; he couldn't imagine anything worse than being Snape's son, unless he was perhaps Voldemort's, at which he shuddered.
"So sorry," replied the witch, "but do you mind?"
"Er," said Snape, "sorry, out train is almost - "
"Sure, I'll help," said Harry.
Snape however, held him back. "You are not of age to use magic! The Headmaster did not go through the trouble with the Ministry to get you expelled!"
"I don't need to use magic!" said Harry. "I could carry them myself, you know. It's called Muggle handling."
Snape stared at him and then grinned mischievously. "I'd like to see you try."
Harry, thankfully, had no trouble handling the baggage whatsoever. It seemed that the bags were already bewitched with a weight-lightening spell that made things a lot easier for Harry. When he finally finished putting all of the bags on the cart, while Snape stood aside with his arms crossed and carrying the worst expression imaginable, apparently upset that Harry managed it so easily, the woman smiled at Harry and held out her hand. At first, Harry wasn't sure what to do, but then he said, "oh," and shook her hand, at which he found her slip something into his hand and wink when letting go as she left with her things.
He watched the woman leave, curiously, and then looked into the palm of his hand, where he found a small silver locket in his hand with the letter "P" engraved on the front. Harry stared at it, and then attempted to open the locket, at which he succeeded. Harry's jaw dropped; he couldn't believe his eyes. There, in the locket, was a picture of his parents, who were in each other's arms and grinning broadly up at him. Harry looked back at the woman and called, "Wait...come back! Do you know - ?" But it was too late; the woman was gone.
Who was she? thought Harry. Did she know my parents, and if so, did she recognize me? But then, thought Harry, why did she think that Snape was his father? Harry shuddered again.
"Fascinating," said Snape, but in a tone that made Harry think that he didn't believe it was fascinating at all. "Hurry up, Potter. Our train is here."
Harry followed Snape into the metro and took a seat next to him that was also bonded in bronze. He then quickly took on another subject, stuffing the locket inside of his jeans.
"That was a really long spell that you used to get into the metro."
"Yes," sneered Snape, "it is a particularly new one and, I'm afraid the new spells are getting a bit longer and more difficult to memorize...that is, afraid for you, Potter. You see, undoubtingly large though your head may be, it is also quite empty and, must I say, likes to stay that way, but I assure you, if you need help, I'm sure that - "
"I'll be able to figure it out on my own, thanks," said Harry, who began to feel the anger boiling up inside of him and decided to better not speak to Snape unless he absolutely needed to do so.
"I wasn't offering my help, Potter," he said in an icy tone.
"Good," said Harry, "I didn't ask for it." However, the image of Snape reaching for his wand suddenly made Harry shut up.
Finally, the bronze metro took off as fast as it had come and Harry found himself being thrust unwillingly against Snape and feeling that his black robes were just as cold and slimy as they looked. As soon as the train stopped, Snape snatched his cloak out from under Harry, to which Harry gratefully pulled himself upright.
"Welcome to Coralgraze Seashore," said a voice from the speakers as it echoed throughout the long metro.
"Seashore?" said Harry. "What - ?"
"Shut up, boy!" yelled Snape. "This way."
Harry followed Snape to one of the narrow passageways that he supposed led to the outside. As they reached the end, however, Harry found that the tunnel was a dead end.
"Er - " said Harry, but before he could finish, Snape stepped up to it and yelled, "Lit Renvoyer," at which the passage seemingly split open just like the road on Privet Drive had done.
Harry stepped forward towards the light leading outside, but Snape took hold of his shoulder with his cold hand. He then quickly released him as if he had just touched something absolutely filthy.
"Not yet," he said. "Here - " Snape then took out from the threshhold of his pocket what seemed like a tiny bird cage, a broom, and a trunk, all of which belonged to Harry, but had been very much reduced in size.
"My stuff!" said Harry. "How did you - Wait, where's Hedwig?"
"I already sent her to - never you mind," said Snape and pointed to the things on the palm of his hand with his wand, saying, "Engorgio."
Suddenly everything quickly gained its regular size as Snape dropped Harry's belongings on the floor.
"Accio invisibility cloak," said Snape, once more, and Harry's invisibility cloak suddenly sprang from his trunk, which Snape caught, and another minuscule one slipped out of Snape's robes, whose size he also magnified.
"Put this on," he hissed, as he wrapped his own cloak around his shoulders and Harry followed suit.
Snape pointed his wand at where they had come from and Harry had the impression that someone had been following them, but, just then, Snape yelled, "Trackaperra," and both of their footprints glowed in fire at which they burned to the crisp and were blown about in the wind.
"That'll make sure we're non-trackable," Snape explained. "Right, follow my voice, Potter," said Snape as he fully covered himself with his Invisibility Cloak and Harry followed, walking outside to smell what was unmistakably the smell of the....ocean.
Harry watched as they made their way out onto a cliff full of beat-down huge rocks and, as he looked back, he watched as the one that they had walked out of seal itself back up after being cut open for an exit.
"This way," spat Snape.
Harry had the impression that he wanted him to walk of the cliff, in high hopes, of course, but he stopped when he saw Snape's hands appear from under the cloak along with his head, which looked down at a piece of parchment that they were holding, and said, "Three-hundred, Coralgraze."
An enormous lighthouse rapidly sprang from the rocky ground that looked just as ancient as the rocks around it and Harry watched as Snape made the parchment from which he read disappear with a 'pop.'
The doors of the giant lighthouse barged open and he found himself entering it's strange walls as a breezy wind blew through his hair from the entrance. He figured that Snape had already walked in and put his things down at the entrance, which were carried with difficulty across the uneven rocks.
He looked up and found his jaw dropping once more as he saw the most beautiful surroundings; the lighthouse had an enormous staircase that winded at the center and led to the next floor up and, eventually, to the top. Harry had to admit that the inside of the lighthouse was much larger than the outside; it was more like a mansion than anything and Harry had the idea that, surely, this lighthouse was not merely an artifact, but someone's residence. But whose?
"Welcome, welcome, Harry," he heard a familiar voice that sure enough belonged to the Headmaster of Hogwarts - Albus Dumbledore. "So glad you made it here, safe and sound, I trust, Severus?"
"Yes, Headmaster. Everything went as planned," Snape answered, nodding his head.
"Brilliant," said Dumbledore. "Now, Harry, you will find that this is now the new headquarters to the Order of the Phoenix owing to yesterday's most unfortunate event," Dumbledore shook his head, but smiled. "This is my home, Harry. And, may I trust you to make it yours as well?"
"Yes. Sure. Thanks," said Harry, still at awe at the beautiful paintings that resided on the walls of the circular lighthouse.
"You see, Harry," Dumbledore continued as he walked with him up the stairs, leaving Snape to go off somewhere that Harry did not know off, "this place used to be a research center for Hogwarts. However, when it got old and useless, I found there was no need to destroy such a miraculous establishment and so I made it my home."
Harry grinned. He couldn't see a reason not to make the place a home; it was spectacular. Just the very sight of the engraved seashells and chandeliers that sounded off to the beat of the waves against the shore took his breath away.
And then there was the very presence of the gigantic windows that surrounded parts of the lighthouse as he watched the water glistening below them and stretch for miles against the sun in the periwinkle sky. Harry now realized why he felt the breeze when he walked inside - the lighthouse had been bewitched to contain the air of the beach and the ocean that surrounded them.
They walked past two huge wooden doors that had dolphins carved out on both sides and seaweed for handles, which Dumbeledore explained to be his bedroom and noted that for no reason whatsoever was anyone to go in there but himself, with a grin. "I have secrets, Harry, that even I'm afraid to reveal to myself," he snickered.
"Is this where you went, Headmaster" asked Harry, eagerly, "when you were hiding out last year?"
"Yes, Harry," he replied, "but I must say that my stay here was not long considering all the tasks that I had to perform for the Order," he added sadly.
Then Harry remembered something, "Sir, is Ron -? "
"We are currently not aware of Mr. Weasley's location at the moment, I am sad to say, Harry. But I assure you, with no doubt whatsoever, that we will have him back safe. In the mean time, the Order is having a meeting in the gallery downstairs and they will meet you for dinner as soon as you've finished, erm, discussing things with Miss Granger - "
"Hermione's here?" asked Harry, more anxiously than he would have hoped.
Dumbledore chuckled, "Yes, Miss Granger is, indeed, present and if you proceed up the stairs as such, you will find her waiting for you in the next two rooms up; there are sea turtles on the door. In the mean time, you will excuse me for having to take care of some business, Harry, won't you?"
"Oh, sure," said Harry, rather amusingly as he watched Dumbledore open the door on his side, only to reveal a beautifully marbled bathroom. Harry grinned to himself and hurried of upstairs to the turtle-decorative doors.
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