The sun shone right through Sirius' old bedroom, where Harry Potter was slowly waking up. He scrunched up his face. He felt like sand was in his mouth once again. He was really getting annoyed with this. He grabbed his glasses off the side-table and looked for a goblet. Seeing one, he looked inside to see Pumpkin Juice. He smiled; it even had a cooling charm on it.
"Thanks, Dobby." Harry thought
He downed the goblet in one go and got up rather quickly. Too quickly it seemed, because he started to feel light headed and collapsed to the floor. Hermione, who had been on her way to see him, heard the thud that came from him falling and rushed inside to help him back up to the bed.
"Harry James Potter! I swear on Merlin himself, if I give you Pepper-Up Potion next time, you'd better take it, otherwise I'll beat you so badly, you'll want a restraining order!"
"What's a restraining order?" Ron mouthed to Ginny
Ginny shrugged her shoulders and continued to listen to the ensuing war inside the room.
Hermione just huffed and stomped her feet when Harry didn't say anything. He slowly pushed himself up and sat on the bed, his head in his hands, his elbows propped on his knees for support.
"How long have I been out, and how did I get up here?" Harry asked
"Two days, you prat!" she answered vehemently, before calming down slightly and added, "Ron carried you up here."
"Ron is here?" he asked elated
"Yes, all the Weasleys are here."
He sighed. That meant Ginny too.
"Go get him, all three of us need to talk." He said
She frowned, but did as she was told and went to get Ron. Who was conveniently enough just outside the door eavesdropping. She brought him inside, and as Harry saw Ron they both smiled at each other.
"Good to see ya, sleeping beauty." Ron said
"Shut up. Good to see you too mate."
Harry made the room imperturbed and cast a silencing charm on the room and then carefully locked the door.
"We have some things we need to sort out. First off, I wasn't planning on going to Hogwarts. Now I have some other motives - I plan on going back."
Hermione's heart lifted at the news. Surprisingly it was Ron who put two and two together.
"What motives?" he asked
"I already told McGonagall I wasn't planning on going back, but she insisted I did. I'm going to go back on two conditions, one, I can leave when I want and two, she allows Junior and I to stay in a separate dorm."
Ron's jaw dropped.
"You'll think she'll let you do that, Harry?" Hermione asked un-phased like she knew what he was going to demand
"You two already said yourself, wherever I go, you two will follow. So unless she wants three less students, she'll do it."
"That's blackmail Harry!" Hermione chided
"I don't care." He said calmly, "I'm not letting Junior stay in that orphanage, and I'm not staying at Hogwarts so Voldemort can do as he pleases. I'm going to go there, research where the other Horcruxes could be, and go get them."
Ron secretly cringed at the name. Harry was dead set on his plan of action, and neither Ron nor Hermione were going to convince him otherwise. After no one spoke for several seconds, he decided it was time to show them the memories Dumbledore and himself had collected. Using a spell he found in one of his new books he projected the memories on the side of the wall. They went through the scene with Slughorn telling a young Tom Riddle, about Horcruxes. The memory of the ring, and the cup and the locket; and finally, where they were when Dumbledore died, as soon as Harry saw the littoral in the memory, he turned away. He still blamed himself that he made Dumbledore drink such a foul potion. He wished he hadn't - it was just a fake. He remembered the note inside the locket and got it as the last memory was ending. He was rummaging through his trunk throwing things in different directions.
"Harry, what're you-"
Harry found the piece of paper and thrust it into Hermione's hands. Hermione held it at an angle so Ron could read as well.
"That was in the locket, Dumbledore and I found."
They both quickly connected the dots.
"Bloody hell! You did all that for nothing!?"
Harry nodded sadly. For once Hermione didn't scold Ron for his use of language and just hugged Harry.
"That's must've been awful, Harry." She whispered tears streaming down her eyes from watching Snape kill Dumbledore.
Ron saw the interaction and felt a pang of jealousy. He shook it off as his two best friends broke apart.
"Nothing good came out of that night." Harry said
"Really now, Harry? We know this R.A.B knows about the Horcruxes. Maybe he could help us!" she said excitedly
"Yeah, and sell us out to V-Voldemort." Ron said glumly
"Ron!" Hermione scolded, "Did you even read the note? He's opposed to Voldemort."
Glancing at his watch he realized they'd been several hours and were probably a few minutes late for dinner. Harry finally took off the two charms protecting the room, and unlocked the door. All three of their stomachs grumbled. Hermione turned pink, while Harry and Ron just smiled.
"Let's go eat. My stomach thinks my throat is cut off!" Ron exclaimed
The trio shared a laugh as they made their way downstairs to the kitchen.
***
Everyone was congregated around the kitchen table, and was eating when Mrs. Weasley noticed three vacant seats.
"Where's Ron, Hermione and Harry?" she asked
"They've been locked in their room for about 4 or 5 hours talking." Ginny replied grudgingly
But just before Mrs. Weasley was going to ask why, the trio came downstairs for dinner.
"Speak of the devil!" Lupin quipped
"Dinner started about 10 minutes ago! What have you three been doing?" Mrs. Weasley screeched
"We were just talking amongst ourselves." As he noticed her frown he asked, "What? Don't like not knowing something when you know you're being lied to? Sort of like how you kept me out of the loop two years ago." Harry snapped
Everyone gasped, and Mrs. Weasley looked truly hurt. Harry felt like his anger was coming out once again and several of the dishes cracked, and the glasses shattered. You could hear potions in the cupboard, their vials all shattered. The mixing of all them made different colored concoctions that oozed out of the doors. His anger this time was random; it just came out of nowhere.
"What? Does the truth hurt?" Harry yelled
Then a fist collided with his temple, and all he saw was darkness.
***
"Stupefy!" he shouted
Spells were flying everywhere - he was in the Department of Mysteries once again. He ran through as many rooms as he could, trying to get away from his attackers. Neville was faithfully at his side. All the rooms they'd been to, conveniently marked with a large `X'. He had to get everyone out. Then he saw it. Antonin Dolohov fired a purple curse towards Hermione and she collapsed to the floor. Harry froze, guilt wracked his body. She can't be, no, she's fine. She's fine! She'll be alright! She's dead. "It's your fault, Harry."
Harry was tossing and turning and there was nothing he could do. He put him there, now he was regretting it. He deserved it though! But no one deserved to see what he must have been seeing in his sleep to make him toss so much. Ron made a split second decision he rushed to Harry's side and shook him awake. Harry awoke and his face looked like he'd been hit with a Confundus Charm. He quickly pushed his way to the corner of the bed hitting his back hard against the wall.
"Harry, are you alright?" Ron asked quietly
Hermione rushed in hearing the thud on the wall and immediately saw Harry curled up against the wall. She ran to the bed and settled herself beside him. She hugged him tightly as he just bobbed his head, shaking slightly. The rain outside was lightly tapping the glass as it echoed throughout the room. It was very calming for Harry. After several minutes and finally realizing what had happened he felt extremely guilty about yelling at Mrs. Weasley.
He got a hold on his shaking and got up.
"Sorry about earlier, Ron." He muttered
Ignoring the two's protests to sit down, he put on some pants, and left the room. He was starving because he missed dinner. He didn't want to wake Dobby up, but he hoped he wouldn't mind too much.
"Dobby," he paused, "I'd like a bit of food, could you cook me up something real easy and quick, please?"
Dobby knew exactly what Harry needed. Something that had lots of proteins and carbs - he was much skinnier than he should be. So he popped over to Hogwarts and grabbed some of the food that was already made for the teachers. The other house elves would notice soon enough and make more. He grabbed quite a bit and returned to Grimmauld and put everything on the table. Harry bid Dobby goodnight and to sleep well. He really didn't pay attention to how much food he ate, but Hermione watched him quietly go through four plates of food like it was nothing. Harry burped, muttered an `Excuse me' to himself and got up to go to the study. He wouldn't be able to get back to sleep.
It was cold in the study and as soon as he started shivering the fire started with no one pointing a wand. Hermione stood disillusioned watching at his involuntarily wandless magic. Hermione cancelled her charm and slowly walked into the study. She didn't want to startle him. So she grabbed a book that was already on the table and started reading. Harry noticed her long before she sat down, but she seemed to be oblivious to him watching her.
"Couldn't get back to sleep either?" Harry asked
Hermione lowered the book and nodded before pretending to read. There was a comfortable silence until Hermione spoke up.
"What happens in your nightmares Harry?" she asked timidly
Harry sighed pinching the bridge of his nose.
"I see… I see all the people that get hurt who either love me or are associated with me in some way. Then some voice says that it's all my fault."
He was careful not to mention that she was the reason that left him breathless after a nightmare. Seeing her body on the floor after being hit with a purple curse rattled him more than anything else ever had.
"Harry, we both know it's not your fault."
"It is, though. He wouldn't have done anything to my parents, if it weren't for me."
"You're wrong, Harry. He still would've tried. They were very important members to the Order. He would've come after them."
Harry tried to retort, but he chastised himself. Why was she right all the time? Especially when he wished she was wrong. Another comfortable silence came over them, and Hermione actually found herself reading. Noticing the conversation wasn't probably going to start again she made to leave.
"Hermione?" Harry called
"Yeah?"
"…thanks."
***
Harry hadn't taken care of himself very well over the few weeks at the start of the summer. When he ate so much food last night, it made an imbalance in his system and he found himself throwing half of it up this morning.
With Tonks' auror training she made a potion that would settle his stomach down. She also ordered Dobby to get light foods for Harry for breakfast.
Everyone had already eaten by the time Harry made his way downstairs. Harry noticed most of the food Dobby had gotten him for breakfast would probably be easier on his stomach. With the traditional eggs, there were no sausages and home fries, but an orange with a goblet of Pumpkin Juice. He ate alone in the kitchen while people were bustling around the house. The Daily Prophet was to his right however it was a day old, but he picked it up anyway when a particular headline made him sick.
`Attack in Diagon Alley - Boy-Who-Lived strikes back, but at what cost?'
By: Rita Skeeter
The attack on Diagon Alley was short lived due to the bravery of `The Chosen One' yesterday. Many Death Eaters were captured and some Dementors were actually destroyed due to a Patronus cast by Harry Potter himself. Many Unspeakables have been quoted saying they'd like a chance to research into his Patronus Charm. Visiting Weasley's Wizarding Wheezes before making his way to Quality Quidditch Supplies, he was accompanied by his friends. One of them was none other than Hermione Granger. The brown haired muggle-born who apparently had a relationship with Harry Potter in his fourth year during the tri-wizard tournament, had negative feelings towards many of the young witches who tried to approach the young man, who is currently rated second in Witch Weekly for most handsome wizard behind Gilderoy Lockhart. During the attack, when Miss Granger was surrounded by Death Eaters Harry came to her rescue casting a spell that was definitely a Dark Arts spell causing the Death Eater to spurt blood from his or her many wounds. One should question the effectiveness of Harry Potter before he comes to the point where he sees himself above the law. This reporter recommends the Ministry do something before he gets out of hand.
For more information on the spell Harry Potter used go to page 3
For more information on the Tri-Wizard Tournament 3 years ago, go to page 4
For more information on Gilderoy Lockhart, go to page 7
Harry sighed at the article. Rita Skeeter just kept getting worse and worse. What was definitely scary about the article was that it was the truth. The spell he had used, if it were commonly known would definitely be classified as the Dark Arts.
Remus strode into the kitchen and greeted Harry warmly. The smile he held turned into a frown.
"Harry, because of the magic you used, Amelia Bones wants to talk to you. You've already been cleared as innocent, due to some witnesses at Diagon Alley, but she still wants to bring you in for questioning."
Harry scowled, but nodded in reply. Harry then decided he wanted to go to Diagon Alley today to look at the damage.
"You can't Harry, it isn't safe." Remus argued
"I can, and I will. Trust me Remus, please. I'm asking you to trust me; as one of your best friend's son. Trust me, I won't get into trouble."
Remus sighed.
"Take your invisibility cloak, and take my emergency Portkey. It'll take you straight to the Hogwarts infirmary should you need medical assistance."
Harry smiled, and thanked Remus. He went upstairs and grabbed all the money he had out of his trunk. He wanted to buy Junior an owl and maybe some books. He never realized he had left so much in his trunk. He had to have at least 250 galleons in a brown bag that was stowed away.
As Harry was leaving he heard a familiar voice talking to Remus.
"Remus, where's Harry?" Hermione asked
Remus stuttered a bit, and Harry showed himself behind Hermione several feet back and made a face that looked like he was sick before putting the cloak back on.
"Uhh, he's - gone with Madam Pomfrey to Hogwarts. He wasn't feeling well this morning, and I suggested she take Harry for a couple hours."
"He's alright isn't he? It's nothing serious!?" Hermione started to rant and Remus let out a deep breath he was holding
"He's fine Hermione. Poppy said he'll be back in a couple hours."
Harry finally got out unnoticed when Hermione started to rant again.
Once Harry managed to get into The Leaky Cauldron (courtesy of the Knight Bus) he took off the cloak, he put it in the bag he was carrying with him. As soon as he went through the wall separating the alley from the pub he headed straight for the Owl Emporium. Most of the stores were open but the amount of people in the alley was significantly smaller in number. The lack of people in the alley made him angry.
The people that were walking in the alley gave him reproachful looks, but one or two gave him a smile that he returned. After getting many more snide looks he put his hood up tired of the townsfolk. He entered the Owl Emporium. Lowering his hood he found a brown barn owl that looked quite big for an owl. He pat the owl, and it seemed very gentle for its size.
"His name is Hercules. He's one of the stronger owls. He's a bit more expensive than the rest."
***
Harry left the Owl Emporium with Hercules in his cage. Under his hood no one could see the smirk on his face, as the clerk was shocked for the amount of money he had and could afford the owl. Just as he was leaving he saw the entrance to Knockturn Alley. There seemed to be a new store moving in at the top of the hill leading down. He also noticed Borgin and Burkes looked busy. He made sure his face was covered by his hood, and walked down into the alley way. He walked into Borgin and Burkes, it was crowded with about six people. When he entered the shop he remembered his first use of the Floo Network and landing in this shop, listening to Mr. Malfoy badger Draco at being less talented of the likes of himself and Hermione; he smiled at the memory.
He looked around the shop when he saw Mundungus trying to sell a locket that looked oddly familiar. He silently walked up behind him. He was now taller than Mundungus and secretly whispered in his ear when the man he was trying to sell the locket to walked off.
"Mundungus, sell that locket, and I won't hesitate to hurt you. We both know you took that locket from Grimmauld. If you give me all the things you took, I'll be kind enough to let you leave this shop unscathed."
"Borgin!" Mundungus called, and Harry snapped his wand at him.
"Do you mind if myself and my customer used one of your private rooms?"
"Not at all Dung." He motioned to the right Harry lowered his wand and followed him into the room.
When the door closed Harry quickly silenced and imperturbed the room, before locking the door. He'd deal with the Ministry later.
"You've got a lot of nerve showing up here, Ha-"
"Say my name, and you'll find yourself knocked out." Harry scolded, "Now! Give me everything you stole from my house. You're lucky you didn't get your hands on the silverware otherwise I'd be hurting you right now."
Mundungus grabbed several things and put them in the bag that Harry had outstretched for him.
"That's all I took, I swear." It actually seemed he was scared of Harry. All Mundungus could do was notice how broad his chest and shoulders had become. Harry had shot up a good foot since the last time he saw him
"It better be, Mundungus. And I'll take the locket now." Harry said coolly
Mundungus glared at Harry now and set the locket in the bag.
"Obliviate!" Harry said
"Good to do business with you Dung!" he said as Harry set five galleons into his hand and he left the room.
"Uhm, yes." Mundungus oddly couldn't remember what he sold but didn't want to wreck a good thing with five extra galleons.
The adrenaline that was going through Harry's body subsided. He couldn't believe he just did that. It felt great! He felt an odd sense of power, the Ministry be damned.
Harry decided to go into the new shop at the top of Knockturn Alley. No one dared approach a tall hooded individual. Owl or not, he didn't seem like the type to fraternize with. Harry arrived at the new shop; the owner had left the door open and was unpacking several items. He noticed it was some sort of pet shop and noticed there was a small snake that said 1 month old female Green Anaconda on the glass tank in was housed in.
Many children who were daring enough to enter the alley stood tapping the glass.
"Go away!" the snake hissed as it tried to sleep
Harry approached the glass case and coughed slightly. The kids scattered. He looked towards the owner.
"How much?" Harry asked
"She's not for sale." The owner replied
"Fifty galleons?" Harry offered
"Not for sale." The owned repeated
"One-hundred galleons?" Harry asked again
"Are you deaf, she's not for sale."
Harry was not about to give up.
"One hundred and fifty galleons? I can go higher." Harry replied sternly
"I'm getting you out of here." Harry hissed at the snake
The owner shivered at Harry's Parseltongue abilities.
"Two hundred and she's yours."
Harry handed the sack of the remaining money he had left. He carefully lifted the lid on the case. The snake hissed at him.
"Hush! I'm going to take care of you. I'm not going to harm you." Harry hissed
"Have you got a smaller case, for her so I can take her home?" Harry asked behind his hood
The owner nodded and after a few minutes in the back came back to the front with a small glass case for him. He gave Harry a pamphlet on how to order food for the snake, and gave him some food for the first week. Harry gently picked up the snake and placed it in its temporary home and left the shop.
"You're lucky the ministry can't detect magic in that shop." A man growled who approached Harry from behind.
Harry spun around and pointed his wand at the man, who he immediately recognized.
"Don't come any closer, Moody. Tell me what happened to your eye after you got it from your impostor."
Moody smiled, "It kept getting stuck, and I had to put it in a glass of water every few hours."
Harry lowered his wand.
"You're learning, Potter; Constant vigilance!" Moody seemed impressed, and that same look never left his face when he saw Harry with the snake.
"Remus just told me to keep an eye on you, seeing as he knew I was going to be in the area. That was a very risky thing you did in there Potter. Do you have any other hidden agenda I should know about?"
Harry shook his head and waited a few seconds before speaking up, "Well, as you can see, I'm fine. So I'll be going."
Moody grunted, "Don't think Tonks didn't tell me about your marble comment."
Harry hastily set off for The Leaky Cauldron. He could feel Moody silently watching him with his eye. Harry entered The Leaky Cauldron grabbing a table setting Hercules on the table along with the glass case of the snake.
"What's your name?" he hissed at the snake
"Amunet." She replied hissing back
"Do you mind if I call you Amy?" hissed Harry
The snake looked as if it were in thought and replied with a nod of its head.
"It's nice to meet you Amy. My name is Harry Potter."
After having a butterbeer that was given to him rather shakily by one of the waitresses there, he tiredly walked home with Amy and Hercules. He decided to let Hercules fly above them as it was easier for him to carry Amy.
Harry finally got to Grimmauld. He was really, really tired from carrying the glass case. It was surprisingly heavy. It drained him quite a bit. He mustered up his last bit of strength and went inside. As he was going up the stairs there seemed to be a meeting going on. Everyone turned their heads to stare at him, and then his snake, and then large owl on his shoulder. Harry got slightly angry at them staring, so he turned his back to them and went upstairs to his room, where he let Amy out of her glass case and set her on the bed, and Hercules shared Hedwig's perch. Hedwig looked positively infatuated.
"There are many animals here Amy. There is a house-elf, several owls, and a ginger cat that you may not harm in any way. I can order food for you, so you are to eat nothing except what I give you. Even if you are sure it's a wild animal, you will not eat it unless I have made sure it does not belong to anyone. Understand?" Despite how much Harry had to say it came out in three or four hisses. He gave Amy a large rat that he had been given by the owner of the pet shop. Amy just nodded before she ate the rat whole and started to slither on his bed and coiled onto his desk under a candle lamp. He took that as a hint as he lit the candle.
***
"Did you see that!?" Dedalus Diggle exclaimed
"He has a ruddy snake! Big deal!" Hagrid defended Harry
"A snake! That's no ordinary snake! That's an anaconda! A bloody snake! Does that remind you of anyone?"
A couple of people at the meeting nodded their heads in agreement.
Hermione overheard their bantering, walked into the kitchen glaring at them.
"Harry is not into the Dark Arts. And if any of you think he is, you should be ashamed!" Hermione let Harry down once before, she was not going to do so again. Ron stepped beside her and voiced his agreement with her.
"We've known Harry longer than any of you. He'd never practice the Dark Arts!" and with that they stormed out of the kitchen.
They both made their way to Harry's room in a huff, and coughed loudly when they saw the snake on his desk.
"Don't worry, Amy won't hurt you." Harry said quietly
"Bloody hell mate. Could you help the rumors about you, any better?" Ron said flabbergasted
"Do you believe them Ron?" Harry asked coldly
"No, of course no-"
"Really Ron? You believe me?" Harry asked again
"Harry, don't be a git. Of course I believe you."
"I do too, Harry. I know I've said it before, but, I'm saying it again."
Harry muttered his apology and gently stroked Amy. Her body contracted a bit at his touch, but she eventually relaxed. Her tongue darted in and out of her mouth. It almost looked as if she was smiling.
"So how was your day with Madam Pomfrey?" Ron asked knowingly
Harry stammered a bit trying to come up with an explanation.
"Don't worry, mate. Everyone knows you went to Diagon Alley. Didn't help, Remus though once Tonks got hold of him." He chuckled
"You said her name was Amy, Harry?" Hermione asked changing the subject
"It's Amunet, Amy for short. But yes her name is Amy. Kids kept poking her glass. I couldn't leave her there." After several moments Harry spoke again, "Listen, I had to carry her here in that glass case, it wasn't exactly light and I'm exhausted. I'm gonna take a kip, I'll talk to you guys tomorrow ok?"
They nodded and left his room.
"The brown haired one has strong feelings for you." Amy hissed
"I know, but how'd you figure that out?" Harry asked
"I can taste it."
***
A/N: Hope you enjoyed that chapter. I have a sick pleasure in making Harry seem like an arse to the rest of the world. lol, I'm just kidding. Anyways, if you want to know where I got the name Amunet I was looking through Greek Gods, and came with that, the goddess she represents isn't Greek though. I just stumbled upon it. She was a goddess and her body resembled that of a snake. If you search for Amunet on Wikipedia you can get a full story on it.
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