"I will contact Sirius and pass the word along, Ms. Tonks. What I can't do is force him to contact you."
She nodded and handed him a card with floo addresses on it. "Here, that's for Mum and me." When he took the card, she stood up. "Thank you, Mr. Lupin. I appreciate your time."
She smiled once again and her hair turned a buttery yellow, then she turned and walked away.
Bemused, he turned back to the notebook he was reading. He spread the map out and made some notations on a piece of parchment. Ravenclaw's brooch was the last piece of the puzzle and he had tracked it down to a collector in Lancaster. That lead, however, was over a hundred years old. Finding out where it went from there was turning out to be a proverbial needle in a haystack.
"Well, here's a surprise. One of my former students, sitting in a public pub and up to their eyebrows in studying? What could Remus Lupin find so fascinating?"
He sighed and rolled up the parchment. "Minerva," he said. "What a pleasant surprise! Won't you join me?"
He knew he ran the risk of running into her in Hogsmeade, but he had to come here to follow up on a lead for the brooch.
Minerva sat down and looked at him with a stern gaze. He gazed back, not the least intimidated by her look. Having once been a fellow professor, he had lost most of his wariness of her during Harry's third year.
"Congratulations on your promotion, Minerva. Can I order you something? Some tea, perhaps?" he offered, knowing it would annoy her.
She leaned back and frowned at him. "I don't know what you and Black are up to, but I can't say I like it."
Remus scowled and picked up his wand. With a deft flick, he put them in a privacy bubble.
"I'm afraid that I haven't any idea of what you're talking about Minerva," he replied mildly. "And if I did, I suspect this would hardly be the place to discuss it."
Noting her frown, he leaned forward. "Really Minerva. If you would take a moment to think on it, you'd understand why things are happening the way they are."
Her eyes widened. "So the prophecy is still valid?"
"Valid enough. The shame of it is, this is all so futile. Dumbledore knew before Harry was born what Voldemort had done, and he did nothing to prevent it. James and Lily died senseless deaths," Remus said with a touch of anger.
Minerva nodded to herself. She had surmised as much. "Well, tell Mr. Black I'm rather put out with his avoiding me."
Remus smiled. "You would be surprised at how many people are telling me that today."
From the Journal of Hermione Jane Granger (Private Entry), Oct 1st 1995, Hogwarts...
One month down, one and a half to go before I can see Harry again.
I am beginning to understand what Professor McGonagall meant in regard to these journals. I had to explain to Harry that these journals would make us be more open and honest with each other. I had no choice, really. He asked me a couple questions in his last entry and I felt like I had to answer them.
I knew I really didn't have to answer them. I knew I wasn't being forced, but he wanted to know what I replied to Professor McGonagall when she asked if I loved him. Now I know how embarrassed he felt when he told me what he would be afraid to say directly to my face.
His reply was swift and unexpected. He said we needed to be a little more careful what we ask each other, but on the whole, he thought it was good thing. He didn't seem surprised when I said I love him and he said he was sure he loved me as well. Then he said he didn't have much experience with it but he knew he wanted to be with me! Then he did something he's never done before, he admitted he was scared by what he felt for me. All of his life he's had so few who really cared about him and now that's changed and it frightens him.
For myself, I am very happy to know he feels the same way, but I would really like to hear it in his own voice.
It doesn't help that the girls of the dorm are circulating a book called 'How to keep and please your Wizard.' Like I don't have enough of those thoughts running through my head when I'm not studying?
We've agreed to limit the questions we ask each other for now. But in a way, we're becoming more open to each other. Harry spoke to Sirius, who admitted he was aware that the books would encourage us to be honest and open. Harry told me that he thought Sirius was trying to help, in his own prankster sort of way.
I was surprised that Harry wasn't mad at Sirius, but I think in this case he isn't because the books helped us express things that neither of us would have said to each other.
I can't be angry with Sirius either. He rescued Harry from Dumbledore and whatever he was planning. And he has gone out of his way to help Harry and I stay in contact. It would have been so easy to lose each other when he left last year.
Remus told me privately that it was Sirius who convinced Harry to write that first letter to my parents, inviting us to visit with them.
I haven't told him about Professor McGonagall's suggestion yet, but I did tell him I knew more about the journals and wanted to wait a bit before we tried them. He didn't have a problem with that. I just hope I'm worthy of the trust he's showing in me.
Harry told me that Sirius is aware of McGonagall's knowledge and I hate to say this, but they are watching her closely. Sirius isn't planning on doing anything unless it looks like the Headmistress is trying to cause problems.
Harry says that Remus sent Sirius a note concerning a meeting he had with McGonagall and that she may come and visit with all of us sometime next summer.
I had another run in with Lavender today. She is annoyed because of the photos I keep of Evan on my night table. She wanted to know what I could possibly do to keep such a hot boyfriend.
I just smiled and said I had the right sort of magic. Lavender's eyes nearly popped out of her head and she walked away muttering to herself. I can't help thinking that this might have been a quick victory, but that the war isn't over.
The Ministry representative had Lee Jordan in detention for the third time this week. The Weasley twins finally came to me, asking what they could do to help him. Apparently, she's using some sort of cursed quill that's carving his lines into the back of his hand.
Fortunately, I had a fresh jar of essence of Murtlap that they could use.
I've a charms test tomorrow, so I better end this now.
From the Journal of Harry Potter (Private Entry), Oct 20th 1995, Waivunu, Fiji...
It's official. I'm done with occlumency and have finally started on legilimency. According to Eton, there are two distinct types and he intends to teach me both. Directed legilimency requires a wand or focus ring to send a strong probe against a mind. Then there is the passive form, in which the practitioner can skim surface thoughts from unprotected minds.
Eton thinks Dumbledore's eye twinkling was probably passive legilimency. Apparently, every practitioner of the art has a "tell" which indicates what they're doing. Thinking back on it, I believe I've run across two such people, Dumbledore and Snape. Dumbledore twinkled, Snape glared.
Sirius and Cindy still aren't using silencing charms. I finally got annoyed and recorded them using a recording charm, then played it back during breakfast. Needless to say, Sirius didn't find it nearly as funny as Remus and I. In fact, I never knew Sirius could run that fast. He wouldn't have caught me either, except he summoned a wave that knocked me to my knees.
I'm still trying to figure out how to get rid of this white hair and these damn blue spots.
Damn you flea bitten dog. I'll get you yet!
From the Journal of Harry Potter (Transmitted Entry), Oct 31st 1995, Waivunu, Fiji...
Dear Hermione,
This is going to be a different kind of entry, only because of the day. It's Halloween here and I've been afraid of this day since I learned the truth about the death of my parents. Since I reentered the Wizarding world, something bad has always happened on Halloween.
It's hard to categorize Halloween in my mind. To the rest of the Wizarding world, it's a holiday. To wizards in Britain, it's not only a holiday, it's also the day I vanquished Voldemort. To me, it's a depressing reminder of a horrible day when my life changed forever.
I find myself wondering about my parents. Sirius and Remus can tell me what kind of people they were, but those memories are blurred by time and their own impressions. What kind of woman would my Mum be if she were alive today? Would she be like Molly Weasley or more like your Mum, or somewhere in-between? Or would she be like my Aunt Petunia? (Shuddering and praying that isn't the case.)
I hate this day. Even with Sirius, Cindy and Remus here, I feel alone. It's not helping that both Sirius and Remus feel their loss even more keenly than I do. They knew my parents. To them, they were living people with hopes and dreams and laughter. They have each other and Cindy to ease things for them. To me, my parents are silent photos and stories, or the rare dementor induced nightmare.
The one person who could help with how I feel isn't here and I won't see her for another month and a half. You've filled a hole in my life, Hermione, and I don't know how to thank you, or deal with it when you're not here. For you and I, Halloween marks a special day. The one good Halloween (if you can call fighting a mountain troll a good day) was where our friendship finally began.
I'm sorry, Hermione. I hate unloading on you like this, but after diner tonight I went into my room and thought about the holiday. Suddenly I felt so alone, there was this huge aching hurt in my chest and I just didn't know who to talk to. I almost took the door to your house, then I would have apparated the rest of the way.
I'm sure that by tomorrow I'll be able to laugh this off and greatly regret sending this entry to you. I wish there was a spell to fix how I feel, but there isn't.
I'm know this entry is a disappointment to you and I'm sorry for that. I'll do better next time. For now, I think I'll end this and go to sleep. That will get this day over even quicker.
Love,
Harry
Daily Prophet Article, October 31st, 1995...
Ministry Marks End of Reign of Terror.
In a solemn ceremony, Rufus Scrimgeour gave a short speech in the Ministry atrium, then called for three minutes of silence in respect for all those who died in the war against You-Know-Who.
It has been exactly one year ago today that Harry Potter sacrificed his magic. In doing so, he uncovered the despicable acts of Albus Dumbledore and forever removed the possibility of the Dark Lord from returning to life.
Invoking a magical singularity, Potter, then age 14, refused to partake in a binding magical contract. His refusal set in motion the loss of magic for himself and the dark lord, wherever he was hiding. It also brought to life the near criminal acts perpetrated by Albus Dumbledore on Harry Potter and twenty nine other orphans.
Investigations following Potter's refusal to enter the Triwizard tournament resulted in the fall of the Fudge administration, which lead to the arrest of twenty members of the Wizengamot, as well as other prominent members of wizarding society.
Mr. Potter dropped out of sight after he left Hogwarts and efforts to locate him have failed. It is rumored that Sirius Black is aware of his whereabouts, but Mr. Black is unwilling to tell what he knows. He asks that Harry be given the privacy he craves.
Minister Scrimgeour said that Mr. Potter's sacrifice was of the highest order of bravery and had he not turned himself into a muggle, he would surely be up for an Order of Merlin, forth class.
Full Coverage of Minister Scrimgeour's remarks. Page 2.
Harry Potter, a savior lost. Page 3.
You-Know-Who, muggle dark lord? Is that possible? Page 4.
Quibbler Headline Article, Oct 31st 1995...
Harry Potter Saves Mother Cat and Kittens from Burning Building!
As part of our ongoing investigation to locate Harry Potter we learned recently that he was spotted in San Francisco, USA. Apparently, a muggle high-rise was on fire and hundreds of people were trapped. Potter, age 15, appeared, hanging upside from a helicopter, which is no relation to the dreaded heliopaths the Ministry is training. The helicopter hovered over the building and Potter swung back and forth on his rope until he was able to swing into an open window.
From there, he collected the family of cats, which also aren't related to heliopaths, then he leaped from the window in his patented bat suit. He handed the mother cat and the four frightfully fried felines to the firemen. When asked why he didn't save the family of four who lived in the same apartment, he replied, "What's a family of people living in a place like that? Obviously they weren't real people and my duty was clear. I had to save the feisty felines from a fiery furnace."
And with that, our fantastic hero twirled his cape and swooped away, confirming his expertise in swooping.
We at the Quibbler will continue to bring you the exploits of Harry Potter and his swooping bat costume as we learn about them.
Correction: Due to the Publisher's daughter playing with a time turner, the answers to next week's crossword puzzle was accidentally published last week. We apologize for the inconvenience. In order to correct the mistake, we intend to rerun last weeks crossword next week with answers for a puzzle from yesterday.
From the Journal of Hermione Jane Granger (Transmitted Entry), Nov 1st 1995, Hogwarts...
Dear Harry,
Your last entry came as a complete surprise and it brought me to tears. I could feel your pain and I wanted nothing more than to be able to hold you and tell you it would be alright. As much as I want to do that, I can't, not until the holidays. But I promise you I will be doing that. You and I need some serious private time together.
Just when I think I have you completely figured out you surprise me and show another side that I didn't know existed. I always thought you were so sure of yourself, so confident.
What you need to understand is that we all doubt ourselves, Harry, and there is no shame in doing so. That you were willing to share your feelings like that made me feel privileged.
I think your parents would be very proud of you. I know I am. I told you this once before, but you're a great wizard. And you've been working to that end since last October.
We won't always be apart, Harry. I just hope that there will come a day when we're together and you'll still feel able to talk to me like you did in your last entry. Yes, it hurt to know you were hurting and I wasn't able to be there to help. But it also made me feel good that you trusted me enough to tell me that. Before last year, you always hid your feelings. I will do my best to be worthy of that trust, I promise you that.
We'll be together soon and we'll have some time then.
In the meantime, school continues unabated, but some things are changing. That Ministry woman, Umbridge, fired Trelawney and she tried to fire Hagrid. Lee Jordan was hurt in one of her detentions and several of us are trying to convince him to go to McGonagall about it.
She's been issuing edicts that everyone has been ignoring and I won't even go into the pranks that have been played on her. Slytherin house is falling into her tripe about pure blood superiority lock stock and barrel. Not much of a surprise there, really.
In other news, Ron and Malfoy tangled in the Great Hall and for once it was mostly Ron's fault. He needs to learn to control his temper. His spell missed, thank Merlin, but it punched a three inch hole in the wall! McGonagall was livid. Malfoy's spell was bad enough, but it wasn't potentially lethal, like Ron's was.
The Weasley's were here trying to decide what was to be done. Ron's been warned. One more infraction like that one and he will be expelled. Since then, he's been really subdued and not speaking much. I'd feel sorry for him, but this time he really blew it. Sure, Malfoy said some rude things about Ginny, but he shouldn't have used that spell.
And speaking of Weasleys, Ginny is in danger developing a bit of a reputation. I'm not normally one to spread rumors, but I saw her coming out of a broom closet with Neville and her blouse was buttoned wrong. I'm not saying that she was doing anything wrong because I honestly don't know. But I need to talk to her about being more discreet.
How is your legilimency going? And what's this about apparating? Have you been taught how? I can't wait for us to learn, but that won't come until next year.
I mentioned your Snap Conjuring to our DADA teacher. He's an old Auror named Archibald Bunca, from Germany. His reaction surprised me greatly. He told me that the European Ministries frown on that technique in dueling because there is no counter, except to dodge. He told me to warn you to be wary of the technique, as some governments will prosecute you for using it.
Lavender is causing me some problems of late. For some reason she seemed to be extremely irritated over the idea that 'Evan' could be my boyfriend. So far it's just an annoyance, but she's beginning to get on my nerves with her innuendos.
My Mum tells me that Cindy has told her she's thinking of requesting a sabbatical from work. Mum is so smug. First us, now Sirius and Cindy. Honestly, I don't know how she can take any credit for us being together. I think that was our doing, and if I'm honest with myself, mostly your doing, Harry. I've seen you do many things and followed you into crazy situations, but this is one decision you made that I approve of wholeheartedly.
Anyway, Cindy is hoping to get some time off so she can spend more time with Sirius. I'm very jealous of her! On the other hand, the Christmas holiday is coming up and we'll be together then.
OOPS! Ginny's here and wants to talk. I'll get back to you later.
Love,
Hermione.
Waivunu, Fiji (Dec 15th 1995)...
Remus looked up and smiled, seeing Sirius and Cindy walk into the large kitchen area. He had tea and breakfast waiting for them. Back in England, Sirius relied on a house elf named Dobby to cook and clean his old family home, but here in Fiji, they did without his help. Sirius had to explain patiently to the little elf that the Pacific Rim Ministry considered house elf bondage to be slavery and would arrest anyone who had an elf.
That Dobby was a paid elf who wanted to bond with Harry was another issue. The simple fact was, they didn't want to risk arrest, even if they would eventually be cleared once Dobby explained his position with them.
"Good morning," Remus said, pouring two more cups of tea.
Cindy smiled dreamily and moved toward the tea on autopilot. Sirius had explained to her about Moony's condition and she had taken several blood samples to see if she could isolate the Lycanthropy pathogen. She had been looking at wizarding medicine and wondering if there were ways of adapting parts of it to muggle medicine without violating the law. It helped that she greatly enjoyed biochemistry in college and had learned how to isolate out the biologically active compounds from natural compounds.
"G'morning," she mumbled, then she sipped her tea and sighed in contentment.
Sirius mumbled something that didn't even sound close to a greeting and Remus snorted in amusement.
"Where's Harry?" asked Cindy. Normally Harry would be back from his morning run and having breakfast with them by now.
Remus frowned. "I'm not sure. I got up and put breakfast on before going through the owl post. Oh, that reminds me. We got a message from Samatha in the States, Sirius. She says that they've broken the protections on the ring and are waiting for either you or I to come witness it's destruction."
Sirius grunted, letting Moony know he'd heard.
Cindy shivered. "Evil things. I feel uncomfortable just thinking about them."
The group fell silent as they ate.
It was Cindy who broke the silence sometime later. "I'm starting to get a little worried about Harry. He's been working himself extremely hard and has seemed...I don't know, not himself, for the last few days."
Remus paused with a fork halfway to his mouth and scowled for a moment. "Yes, I thought that myself lately. But then, growing up is never easy."
Sirius shook his head. "He may be growing up, but he's growing up for the wrong reasons, Moony. He's still only a kid. He never flies his broom anymore, or uses that surfboard.
"Something has happened. He's been very serious and driven since last month," Sirius concluded. He was worried about Harry, but every time he asked, the young man's reply was always the same; he was fine and there was nothing to worry about.
"I think we need to make him..." Remus trailed off into silence.
Harry stood in the doorway shivering, his pajamas soaked in sweat and sticking to him. Cindy immediately went to his side. She felt his forehead, then his pulse.
"Don't feel good," he mumbled. There were dark circles under his eyes and his body shook with chills almost continuously.
"Sirius, get my medical kit," Cindy snapped. "Remus, help me get him back into bed."
Harry staggered and Remus jumped to his feet, catching him. He turned and lifted him easily in his arms, then walked down the corridor to his bedroom. Entering the room, he paused, seeing the condition of the bed. "Cindy, hold him upright. I need to change out his bedding; it's soaked clear through."
He stood Harry up and Cindy held him. Remus pulled out his wand and vanished the soggy bedding, then he conjured new sheets and blankets, which flew to the bed. He added a charm on the bedding to absorb Harry's sweat without soaking the mattress.
Remus took Harry and placed him in the bed, then he vanished his pajamas and replaced them with fresh ones.
"You have career possibilities as a nurse's aid, Remus," Cindy said softly.
Sirius rushed in and handed Cindy her medical kit. She pulled out her stethoscope and an electronic thermometer.
"No magic while I use this," she cautioned. She had learned that as long as the electronics didn't come in contact with an active magical field they'd work fine.
She placed the device against his ear and waited. A few seconds later it beeped and she examined the reading with a frown. "That can't be right. He's burning up, but he's registering as normal."
The two men exchanged a glance. "I'll call for the village healer," Sirius said, then turned and bolted from the room.
Remus conjured a cool damp cloth and laid it over Harry's forehead.
"Remus? What's wrong?" Cindy asked, confused.
"It's a magical illness, Cindy. We normally don't get many muggle diseases, but one of the signatures of a magical illness is a high fever that doesn't register on muggle instruments. Sirius is going to floo the village healer. She'll make the determination if he needs to go to hospital or if he can be treated here."
Harry groaned on the bed and a faint aura appeared around his body then faded away again.
At a loss, Cindy sat at the chair next to Harry's desk and watched in silence. She was a trained doctor, a specialist in internal medicine, and here was a situation where she was of no help at all.
Sirius returned a few minutes later, followed by a middle aged woman. "Cindy, this is Madam Salote, the Waivunu healer," Sirius explained
"You a mundane doctor?" asked the woman.
Cindy nodded. "Yes. I'm an internist, actually. But none of my instruments can help him," she said, gesturing to Harry.
Madam Salote nodded and sniffed loudly, then she ran a hand about four inches over Harry, muttering under her breath.
An image formed over Harry. It was brightly colored in sections and pulsed. There was a ticking sound in time with the pulsations.
Cindy moved in for a closer view and Madam Salote glanced up at her. She pointed to one section of the image with several hovering shapes colored bright pink. "These represent his physical condition. Heart, lungs, liver and so on. It's all good. Now this," she said pointing to another section. "This is his energy levels, which are very low. He's exhausted and has managed to contract a bad case of island fever because of it."
She straightened and reached into a pouch. "He'll be sick for at least a week. Except for going to the bathroom, he must rest. I'll leave you something for the pain and fever. When the fever breaks, he'll be weak physically and magically, but he should be able to move around. No magic for at least ten days! He needs to rest. I'll be back to look in on him tomorrow."
She pulled out several bottles of potions and handed them to Cindy. "Blue is for pain. Four drops, four times a day. The green bottle is for fever, three drops morning and night. Pain potion will make him sleep most of the time. Call me if he gets worse."
Cindy nodded numbly, staring at the little bottles in her hands. The scientist in her screamed about the unsealed, unsanitary conditions of the bottles, but this was a magical illness.
Madam Salote nodded to Sirius and Remus and breezed from the room. She'd been the healer who had sent Harry to the big hospital in Wellington, New Zealand when he'd had that potions accident. She suspected that something wasn't quite right here among these foreign wizards, but the boy seemed healthy and happy. Most of the small community of wizards and witches in Waivunu suspected the same thing when Sirius dropped his alias in favor of his real name. Sirius Black was a known name, even in the Pacific Rim.
"Why did she give me the potions? She knows I'm a muggle," protested Cindy.
Remus snickered and she caught something that sounded suspiciously like, "Village life".
Cindy looked at Sirius, her eyes narrowing. "What does he mean?"
Sirius shrugged his shoulders. "It's no secret we care about each other, Cin. Most of the Fiji wizard families are matriarchal in nature. She figured that you were assuming the role of Harry's mum. They already consider me his father."
She leaned back against the headboard of the bed and eyed him carefully. She didn't mind helping Harry. After all, she was a doctor and taking care of sick people was what she did. But what about Sirius? In the month she'd been shuttling between England and Fiji, she'd gotten more involved and more serious about their relationship. She had been badly burned once by Anthony and had sworn off men after that. But Sirius was different, wasn't he?
"We're going to talk about this later," she declared, then she stood and looked down at Harry. "I'm not sure if someone should be here with him all the time..."
"Let me, Cindy," Remus said, then he waved his wand. Like Sirius, he had a focus ring, but he was too used to his wand. Some habits were hard to break.
"That's a simple charm to warn us if he's in trouble. Someone should probably check him every few hours, but the charm will warn us if there are any problems," Remus said.
She nodded and placed the potion bottles out of Harry's reach on the dresser.
Waivunu, Fiji (Dec 20th 1995)...
"He's going to be alright, isn't he?" asked Hermione anxiously. Her hands twisted in her lap and she looked at Cindy worriedly.
She'd arrived in Fiji early. The Grangers were supposed to arrive on the 23rd, but when Hermione heard Harry was ill she had wanted to leave immediately. Dan and Emma had let her go once they had gotten a promise from her that she'd return on the 22nd for the annual family Christmas party.
"He'll be fine, Hermione," Cindy reassured. "He worked himself to a point where he got sick, but he's recovering. The fever broke two days ago. He's still partially bed ridden and he's not allowed to do any magic for five more days, but he's well and getting better."
"Hermione," Sirius said softly. "Do you know what brought this on? Last month he started working like a demon, running and studying nearly every minute of the day."
"Halloween," she whispered in reply.
"Halloween?" Cindy asked in confusion.
Sirius and Remus shared an anguished look.
"We forgot," Remus said, wiping his face tiredly. Suddenly both marauders knew that they had overlooked something very important.
"I don't understand," Cindy complained.
"It was Halloween. In the wizarding world, it's a major holiday, almost as important as the winter solstice or Christmas. But it's also the night that his parents were killed."
"Harry wrote me in the journal that night. He was depressed and unhappy. He hates Halloween. He hates the fact that Britain celebrates the first fall of Voldemort and what was the worst day of his life," Hermione said softly, then she shivered. It was hard to even imagine having a nation celebrate the death of your parents.
"They celebrate that?" Cindy exclaimed.
Sirius nodded unhappily. "They do. They even have school plays about him banishing the dark lord. His parents are painted as some kind of martyrs."
"We forgot about it entirely," Remus said bitterly. "You and I got tipsy and we hung out with Cindy, but I remember Harry excusing himself early."
"He said he felt especially alone that night," Hermione added, then she stood. "I'm going in to talk with him."
The adults nodded and watched her leave the room before turning to look at each other. "We really blew it, Paddy," Remus said.
"We'll make it up to him, Moony. Now that we know, we'll make sure he's not alone on Halloween."
"I think the best medicine for what ails him just entered his room," murmured Cindy.
Sirius grinned at that. Cindy might not be a witch, but she was intelligent and very good at reading people.
Harry woke to the sensation of someone running their hand through his hair. He could feel someone lying in the bed next to him and he smelled the sweet scent of lilac and apple blossoms.
"Hermione?" he whispered sleepily.
She smiled and looked inordinately pleased that he could tell it was her. "How did you know?"
"Your shampoo, you're the only person I know whose hair smells of lilac and apple blossoms."
She nodded and her expression turned serious. "You frightened me, you know. I work hard, but never to the point of getting sick."
He grinned at her.
"What?" she asked, annoyed at his reaction.
"Time Turner."
She blinked and realized he had her there. She was about to reply when he pulled her into a tight hug.
"I missed you so much," he said softly against her ear.
Tears sprang to her eyes and she tightened her grip on him. "It will be alright, Harry. Things will get better."
He slowly released her and moved back enough to stare into her eyes. For the first time she noticed he wasn't wearing his glasses. His eyes were bright and clear and filled with a green that seemed to go on forever. It was mesmerizing!
He reached up and cupped her cheek. "The last month has been really bad. That's why I haven't written much. I didn't want to keep dumping on you, and it seemed that no matter what I did, I was in a hole I couldn't climb out of."
"Harry, you can always talk to me, you know that."
He nodded and his own eyes moistened with tears. "I know."
She hugged him again and kiss his forehead. "Let's get you out of bed. I talked to Sirius and Remus about why you felt the way you did. They understand now."
He winced at that, but nodded. As much as he didn't want to talk about Halloween, he really couldn't be mad at her. She was scared for him and that was something he was still getting used to.
She rolled off the bed and picked up his robe from the back of a chair. He sat up and swung his legs off the bed, then stood unsteadily. She reached out, steadying him, and he smiled weakly at her. Then she handed him his robe and watched him carefully as he put it on.
She followed him as he walked unsteadily towards the living room. As soon as he appeared, Sirius and Remus jumped to their feet and rushed to help him. He held up a hand, stopping them both.
"I'm sorry. I guess I should have said something, but I didn't want to trouble you with my problems."
Sirius scowled and Hermione muttered darkly about the Dursleys and waiting until she was of age and could use magic outside of Hogwarts.
"Harry, I know Remus and I aren't very good role models, but we want to help you. What James and Lily were thinking to make me your godfather is still a mystery. Remus would have been a better choice."
"Sirius, stop that," Remus said softly.
"Yeah, stop it, Siri. Besides, Remus can only warm the bottom of the bed once a month. You can do it any old day," Harry said.
Sirius grinned and helped Harry over to sit on the couch. A moment later, Hermione joined him.
"You're looking better," Cindy said.
Harry nodded. "Maybe, but I still tire easily."
Remus chuckled. "That's because your core is still refilling after you shook off the fever. Your core was low to start, which made you vulnerable to the fever, and then it almost emptied fighting it. As it stands, Madam Salote is amazed that the fever broke early and your core is refilling so quickly."
Sirius leaned toward Harry and scowled at him. "From now on, you're going to go at a more reasonable pace. And I want to see you getting at least eight hours sleep a night. Master Kwang has done a good job of getting you into shape. Now I think I'll ask him to design a simple maintenance plan to stay that way. There's no need to build you up into some muscle bound hulk."
Harry glared at Sirius, but his godfather refused to back down. Finally he looked away. "Fine," he muttered, looking away.
Hermione shook her head and he turned to look at her inquisitively.
"I never thought I'd see the day that Sirius Black would be downright parental," she said dryly.
Sirius suddenly looked mortified and both Remus and Cindy broke up laughing.
"Sirius? A parent?" exclaimed Remus. "Merlin help the child!"
"Hey! I think he'd make a good father," protested Cindy.
Harry turned to her. "Is there something you'd like to share with us?" he asked with a wide grin.
She blushed and looked down. "Um, no, not really. I'm just saying."
Sirius glared at Harry. "Only your illness is stopping me from making you say uncle!"
"Thank Merlin for island fever then," Harry replied.
Hermione grinned.
Sirius glared at him for a moment longer, then his expression softened somewhat. "Hermione told us that you felt especially alone on Halloween."
He nodded warily, wondering what Sirius had up his sleeve.
Sirius turned to Hermione. "How's your occlumency?"
She gasped. "McGonagall asked me that same question. She said to enter the trance and put a drop of blood in the center of the pentagram on the front covers of the journals."
"McGonagall told you that?" exclaimed Remus.
Hermione nodded. "She didn't say what would happen. She just said to arrange a time when we both could do it at the same time."
"And did you try it?" pressed Sirius.
Hermione shook her head. "No. I didn't tell Harry about it because I wasn't sure what it would do."
Sirius shook his head in dismay. "Hermione, I love you to pieces and I suspect someday you'll be my goddaughter-in-law, but you need to be willing to experiment occasionally. I think this whole Halloween incident might have been avoided if you had followed McGonagall's advice."
Hermione stared at Sirius in shock.
"What will happen?" she asked.
Sirius opened his mouth, but Remus laid a hand on his shoulder and shook his head. Sirius nodded to him in agreement, then he turned back to Hermione. "Just try it, Hermione. Did you bring your journal with you?"
She nodded. She never went anywhere without her journal. It had become a part of her, like her favorite book, Hogwarts: A History.
Remus smirked at the young woman. "Just remember that it only lasts for an hour and you can only do it every two days. But I think Sirius is right. It will help you both."
She glanced over to Harry, who shrugged. "Even hearing your voice would have helped," he said softly. "I'm willing to try it, if they think it will help. I was in a dark place and I don't want to go back there again."
"Alright. Let's wait until after Christmas, though. You're still tired from being sick."
He nodded and leaned against her shoulder. Remus launched into a conversation about the protections that had been placed on the ring and the great antiquity of them. The Americans recognized there was an exceedingly dark curse on the object and it had to be destroyed, but they also lamented the fact that the object obviously had some historical significance.
Somewhere in the middle of that conversation, Hermione felt Harry slip into sleep. Without giving it a second thought, she used her ring to lay him out on the couch with his head resting in her lap. She gently combed his hair with her fingers.
The adults exchanged grins, but said nothing.
Hermione's home, Oxford, England, Dec 21st , 1995...
"Anyone home?"
Emma looked up to see the garage door open and Cindy walk in to the house.
"Cindy! Come in. I didn't expect to see you today. Is everything alright?"
As she spoke, she turned and placed a kettle on the stove for tea, then motioned for Cindy to take a seat at the table.
"Yes, yes, everything is fine. Harry is recovering nicely, although he's still sleeping a lot. The village healer dropped off several nutrient potions to help him recover the bulk he lost while ill. And Hermione is hovering nicely."
Emma smiled at that. "And Harry isn't complaining? Dan complains if I hover too much when he's feeling ill."
She shook her head. "No. I think he actually enjoys the attention. Remus explained his upbringing to me and it does make sense. He had no one to care for him while he was growing up at his aunt and uncle's house. So if Hermione coddles him a little, he's not going to turn it away. Besides, she's in seventh heaven. She even managed to convince him to read that book she's so fond of."
Emma smiled knowingly. "That boy knows exactly what buttons she likes pushed."
Cindy blinked. "I think you give him too much credit. He's a smart lad, but he lets her do most of the steering, at least for now. I've had the opportunity to really watch him now and he's one of the strangest people I've ever met. He's incredibly driven, so much so that he drove himself into illness, and at the same time he has little self esteem and is very uncomfortable in situations involving other people.
"I actually worry that he'll be cast adrift once this Voldemort is finally gone. I've been trying to steer him into thinking about career opportunities, but he doesn't have any long term goals."
Emma frowned. "What do you suggest?"
Cindy sipped at her tea. "Let's enlist Hermione. She's the one person he almost always listens to. Maybe if she started talking along those lines, he'll get the hint."
"I don't know. Isn't that rather pushy? I mean, she's only going on seventeen. Wouldn't that seem like she's herding him towards a marriage?" asked Emma worriedly.
"It might, if Harry were normal, but I don't think he'll feel that way," Cindy replied. "Besides, he needs to think about what life can be like after Voldemort is out of the picture."
Emma nodded, mulling over the idea. She could see Cindy's point well enough. However, she didn't want to talk about her daughter's love life. That seemed to be developing all by itself with no help from her. "So, how are things with you and Sirius?" she asked innocently.
Cindy blushed. "In some ways he's more of a kid than Harry, but I guess that's to be expected. And just when I'm about to despair, thinking he'll never grow up, he does something so totally adult. Yesterday he laid down the law to Harry and they had a contest of wills over it. Harry lost, this time," she said, then she sighed. "Although, to be honest, if Harry weren't recovering from his fever, I think they might have wrestled over it."
Her expression brightened and she smiled at Emma. "Actually, it's rather refreshing. Sirius makes me stop and laugh. Before, it was rush to see patients, rush to get lab results, or rush for this conference or that one. He makes me stop and look around with wonder. He's put magic into my world and I rather like that."
Emma hid her smug grin by taking a sip of tea. She never really expected Cindy to take to Sirius as well as she did. Cindy had been hurt by a man she'd nearly married five years ago. She'd sworn off men and relationships after that.
Cindy stood. "I'm off to do some last minute shopping for the holiday, then I'll head back to the beach house. Can I pick you up anything while I'm in London?"
Emma shook her head. Their shopping was long over and Hermione had made it infinitely easier when she shrank everything down and put it into a single bag. "No, we're set. Although I'm going to go pop over to the beach house in a bit to remind Hermione that we have the family Christmas party to go to."
Cindy nodded and headed for the door with a wave.
Emma waited until the door was closed, then she started laughing. "Girl, you have it bad," she muttered.
Author's Notes:
We interrupt these author's notes to bring you a public service announcement!
INTRODUCING THE FAN FICTION EXCUSE NOTE!
Instructions:
Please print below the dotted line.
Circle all appropriate fields.
Do not bend, fold, spindle or mutilate.
Dear Boss/Teacher/Parent/Spouse/Child
Please excuse _ from doing their work/homework/cleaning their room/talking to you/Taking care of you and feeding you. They were engaged in the more important duty of reading the latest chapter from the non-award winning tag team wrestling duo of Bob and Alyx.
If you are under the impression that performing one of the following (please circle appropriately) activities is more important, you are clearly mistaken. Hence the reason for this note.
Writing that report to prevent world war.
Writing that report to keep the company liquid.
Curing cancer.
Landing men on the moon.
Doing their homework.
Cleaning their room.
Taking out the trash and walking the dog.
Making love.
Apologizing to your spouse for pushing her/him away from the computer.
Changing that three day old smelly diaper.
Taking the gun away from the toddler.
Feeding the baby.
Taking that at home pregnancy test.
Cooking dinner for the family.
Talking to the family.
Admitting they have a family.
It is important that you understand where you stand in the grand scheme of things in the life of your loved one. You are a distraction when a new chapter is published, and entertainment when there is nothing better to do. Life would be so much easier if you would hide in your Office/Classroom/Bedroom except for such times when the note bearer actually desires your presence.
Your cooperation will be enforced.
Bob & Alyx (Will wrestle for donuts)