diff options
| author | Tyler Davis <tydavis@gmail.com> | 2016-03-22 14:01:01 -0700 |
|---|---|---|
| committer | Tyler Davis <tydavis@gmail.com> | 2016-03-22 14:01:01 -0700 |
| commit | 3fad4b9f67417d85a0fc8f44bf7fe3926bc74100 (patch) | |
| tree | 7c672c2f192e40d52d28be33258003db46fbd851 | |
| parent | 76fe2024a661a7932cb5d45c3a6f0dd1f60ed21b (diff) | |
| download | lightningwavestories-3fad4b9f67417d85a0fc8f44bf7fe3926bc74100.tar.gz lightningwavestories-3fad4b9f67417d85a0fc8f44bf7fe3926bc74100.zip | |
NMBSS formatting complete, starting COODM
| -rw-r--r-- | tex/ComesOutOfDarknessMorn.tex | 726 | ||||
| -rw-r--r-- | tex/NoMouthButSomeSerpents.tex | 1062 |
2 files changed, 939 insertions, 849 deletions
diff --git a/tex/ComesOutOfDarknessMorn.tex b/tex/ComesOutOfDarknessMorn.tex index 9cf3039..34294a3 100644 --- a/tex/ComesOutOfDarknessMorn.tex +++ b/tex/ComesOutOfDarknessMorn.tex @@ -1,57 +1,37 @@ -\section{Comes Out of Darkness Morn}\label{comes-out-of-darkness-morn} - -\textbf{Story:} Comes Out of Darkness Morn\\ -\textbf{Storylink:} \url{https://www.fanfiction.net/s/2655016/1/}\\ -\textbf{Category:} Harry Potter\\ -\textbf{Genre:} Tragedy/Drama\\ -\textbf{Author:} Lightning on the Wave\\ -\textbf{Authorlink:} \url{https://www.fanfiction.net/u/895946/}\\ -\textbf{Last updated:} 12/23/2005\\ -\textbf{Words:} 278941\\ -\textbf{Rating:} M\\ -\textbf{Status:} Complete\\ -\textbf{Content:} Chapter 1 to 51 of 51 chapters\\ -\textbf{Source:} FanFiction.net\\[2\baselineskip]\textbf{Summary:} AU of -PoA, Slytherin!Harry. Harry struggles to rebuild himself after the -shattering events of his second year. He will finally learn the truths -he needs to know\ldots{}but they're hardly going to be pleasant ones. -COMPLETE - -\subsection{*Chapter 1*: Reintegration}\label{chapter-1-reintegration} - -\textbf{Title:} Comes Out of Darkness Morn. - -\textbf{Disclaimer:} The recognizable characters, events, and settings -in this story do not belong to me, but to J. K. Rowling. I intend no -copyright infringement and am making no money from this story. - -\textbf{Warnings:} Violence, language, references to rape and torture, -messed-up psychology, \textbf{character deaths} later in this and other -stories in the series. - -\textbf{Notes:} Yes, I know I'm posting a day early. That's because I'll -be traveling tomorrow, so I won't have time to write the chapter then. - -Welcome to the third story in this crazy AU I'm writing. {Comes Out of -Darkness Morn} will have references and resemblances to the canon plot -of {Prisoner of Azkaban}, but it's moving further away from it than the -first two stories did from their canon inspirations, because of the -changes that have built up as the AU continues. Therefore, if you -haven't, I strongly suggest you read {Saving Connor} and {No Mouth But -Some Serpent's} before this story. Otherwise, COoDM will be nearly -incomprehensible. - -As a warning for this individual story: Except for the seventh one, -which will cover the War, this is {most likely the darkest in the -series.} Harry's plummeted to the bottom and has to work his way back -up. - -That's the reason the first chapter is like it is. Harry is telling it, -and his mind is, um, kind of a mess right now, because of what happened -at the end of NMBSS. It gets better, but it starts near the bottom. -Onward! - -\textbf{Chapter One: Reintegration} +\documentclass[10pt,oneside]{book} +\usepackage[utf8x]{inputenc} +\usepackage[english]{babel} +%%%%% +% Make 1.0" margins on all sides +\usepackage[top=1.0in,bottom=1.0in,left=1.0in,right=1.0in]{geometry} +%opening +\title{Comes Out of Darkness Morn} +\date{December 23, 2005} +\author{Lightning on the Wave} +\begin{document} +\maketitle +\tableofcontents + +% \textbf{Story:} Comes Out of Darkness Morn\\ +% \textbf{Storylink:} \url{https://www.fanfiction.net/s/2655016/1/}\\ +% \textbf{Category:} Harry Potter\\ +% \textbf{Genre:} Tragedy/Drama\\ +% \textbf{Author:} Lightning on the Wave\\ +% \textbf{Authorlink:} \url{https://www.fanfiction.net/u/895946/}\\ +% \textbf{Last updated:} 12/23/2005\\ +% \textbf{Words:} 278941\\ +% \textbf{Rating:} M\\ +% \textbf{Status:} Complete\\ +% \textbf{Content:} Chapter 1 to 51 of 51 chapters\\ +% \textbf{Source:} FanFiction.net\\[2\baselineskip]\textbf{Summary:} AU of +% PoA, Slytherin!Harry. Harry struggles to rebuild himself after the +% shattering events of his second year. He will finally learn the truths +% he needs to know\ldots{}but they're hardly going to be pleasant ones. +% COMPLETE + + + +\chapter{Reintegration}\label{chapter-1-reintegration} Twice in one week, all the windows in Malfoy Manor shattered. Once they broke and cracked and crazed in the shape of lightning bolts. The second @@ -68,7 +48,10 @@ Andromeda. They were always mild, cheerful stories. Harry listened to them, and sipped at whatever drink she gave him, and felt Draco standing as silent sentry beside the chair or the divan, until he fell asleep. + \begin{center}\rule{0.5\linewidth}{\linethickness}\end{center} +\newpage + The star was five-armed, made of clear glass in the center and opaque, white glass towards the edges. Harry traced one finger away from the @@ -137,7 +120,10 @@ though Harry found it as hard to understand the things he talked about as it was to understand the birds, together they made a sharp and musical kind of sense. + \begin{center}\rule{0.5\linewidth}{\linethickness}\end{center} +\newpage + Harry's memory was tattered and fogged, bits of webs clinging to each other the way they had before Sylarana died and took a large part of his @@ -240,7 +226,10 @@ illusions about his parents, Sylarana. But still it hadn't happened. Harry couldn't cry. + \begin{center}\rule{0.5\linewidth}{\linethickness}\end{center} +\newpage + A barn owl came in the middle of the night at the end of June. Harry opened his eyes and found it waiting for him on his windowsill. It @@ -337,7 +326,10 @@ and wallowing in self-pity would not change that he was magical or how magical he was, and went to bed. For the first time since his arrival at the Manor, he slept without dreaming of dark Chambers or golden snakes. + \begin{center}\rule{0.5\linewidth}{\linethickness}\end{center} +\newpage + ``Mr. Potter.'' @@ -360,7 +352,7 @@ as if he suddenly had two powerful, impatient, murderous former Death Eaters to face. He let his breath carefully out of his lungs, and watched Lucius's face. -"Have you seen the \emph{Daily Prophet} today?" Lucius held the +``Have you seen the \emph{Daily Prophet} today?'' Lucius held the newspaper out in front of him as if it were a peace offering. Harry blinked, then regretted it as he saw a muscle clench in Lucius's @@ -376,9 +368,9 @@ that, try to work out how much is truth and how much is lies.} ``There is news of other importance,'' said Lucius, and then slid further around the table, coming towards Harry without making a sound. -"For example, if someone who once acted in the name of the Dark Lord was +``For example, if someone who once acted in the name of the Dark Lord was coming to kill you, the \emph{Prophet} might report on that. Surely, you -would want to know." +would want to know.'' Harry felt his magic wake, and wondered, also distantly, if Lucius realized just then how much he was taking his life in his hands. Draco @@ -442,7 +434,7 @@ that you cared more about my death than your son's happiness. But I care about my brother more than anything in the world, and it is the seventh of July now. I should be returning home soon.'' -"\emph{No}, Harry. You aren't fully recovered yet." +``\emph{No}, Harry. You aren't fully recovered yet.'' Harry sighed as Draco rushed back into the room and put his arms around him. Draco meant well, of course, but he had just revealed what could be @@ -455,11 +447,11 @@ had gone so blank and his face so still that Harry was no longer sure what he was feeling. Harry turned his attention to comforting Draco, who was watching him -pleadingly. ``You've only been here for a month,'' he said. "We were +pleadingly. ``You've only been here for a month,'' he said. ``We were going to celebrate your birthday in the Manor. The house elves were going make a special meal just for us, and you won't even \emph{believe} the gift I bought for you. It'd be the first time that you had a -birthday just to yourself, without Connor, wouldn't it?" +birthday just to yourself, without Connor, wouldn't it?'' Harry smiled gently. ``It would be,'' he said. ``But Peter Pettigrew is free, Draco---'' @@ -481,7 +473,7 @@ some time. ``I have to be there when Pettigrew arrives, just in case he tries to hurt Connor.'' ``He could already have Apparated there,'' Draco pointed out. -"\emph{Please}, Harry, I don't want you to worry about this." He leaned +``\emph{Please}, Harry, I don't want you to worry about this.'' He leaned forward earnestly. ``Wouldn't Connor have to protect himself sooner or later, anyway? Let him do it this once.'' @@ -595,9 +587,9 @@ birthday gift.'' Harry blinked. ``I thought you didn't want me to guess my birthday gift.'' -"I still want you to \emph{guess}," said Draco, tugging him towards the -door from the dining room. "I just don't want you to guess -\emph{right.}" +``I still want you to \emph{guess},'' said Draco, tugging him towards the +door from the dining room. ``I just don't want you to guess +\emph{right.}'' Harry nodded, then glanced once at Lucius. The pull at the back of his head had eased the moment he spoke of going home to his brother, but he @@ -619,14 +611,14 @@ still the Boy-Who-Lived, and Harry's brother. yank on his arm hard enough to nearly spill him to the floor. \emph{Who is always tugging me somewhere.} -"Come \emph{on}, Harry," said Draco, giving him another prompting pull. +``Come \emph{on}, Harry,'' said Draco, giving him another prompting pull. ``It's even hidden in my bedroom. I'll blindfold you, and you try to find it.'' Harry shook his head and yielded to the wonder of having such a friend as this, for a little while. -\subsection{*Chapter 2*: The +\chapter{*Chapter 2*: The Cartographer}\label{chapter-2-the-cartographer} Thank you for the reviews! That's quite a reception. I will try to get @@ -786,7 +778,7 @@ bottle he'd given Draco. The serpent had hardly stopped shining deep purple, the color of protectiveness, since Harry returned home. That hadn't been all, though, as a letter packed deep in the box had -revealed. If Harry touched the serpent and said, "\emph{Portus}," it +revealed. If Harry touched the serpent and said, ``\emph{Portus},'' it would act as a Portkey and take him to Malfoy Manor, inside and through all the wards on the house. @@ -799,14 +791,17 @@ summer. Clutching the serpent, he drifted slowly off to sleep. + \begin{center}\rule{0.5\linewidth}{\linethickness}\end{center} +\newpage + He woke to a knock on the door, and his brother's low voice. ``Harry? Will you let me in? I have something to show you.'' Harry blinked and fumbled with his glasses for a moment before remembering he'd fallen asleep with them on, rather than taking them -off. He sat up, muttered, "\emph{Finite Incantatem}," at the door, and +off. He sat up, muttered, ``\emph{Finite Incantatem},'' at the door, and then turned over, once again clutching the serpent close. It was faintly warm, as though it had lain in the sun. Harry knew it was Draco's magic making it so. He found it more and more difficult to let go of each time @@ -905,8 +900,8 @@ actually murder their parents, Harry supposed. this time, and for the first time since he came home, he also got an absolutely genuine smile from his brother. -``Good,'' said Connor. "Now I have to study these books that Mum wants -me to read. Do you \emph{know} how many Goblin Wars there have been?" +``Good,'' said Connor. ``Now I have to study these books that Mum wants +me to read. Do you \emph{know} how many Goblin Wars there have been?'' ``Seventeen,'' Harry said automatically. @@ -920,7 +915,10 @@ let control of his own magic go enough to examine the spells on the map, he sighed in contentment. Yes, there was more than enough here to keep him busy. + \begin{center}\rule{0.5\linewidth}{\linethickness}\end{center} +\newpage + Harry kicked the bed, then reminded himself to keep silent. Connor was sleeping, and Harry wasn't to keep him up simply because he had better @@ -1003,7 +1001,10 @@ Just \emph{a wand.} Harry felt his rage stretch lazy claws inside him, and smiled. + \begin{center}\rule{0.5\linewidth}{\linethickness}\end{center} +\newpage + He stepped through the front door and shut it behind him. He could not see Peter yet, but he suspected it was just a matter of time. He leaned @@ -1176,12 +1177,12 @@ cause you pain.'' ``Yes, they did,'' said Peter quietly. ``They knew, and---'' -"\emph{Harry!}" +``\emph{Harry!}'' Harry spun around abruptly. Sirius was rushing out of the house, his head low to the ground and his body already rippling with the first signs of his Animagus transformation. His next cry was as much a bark as -a shout. "\emph{Wormtail!}" +a shout. ``\emph{Wormtail!}'' By the time Harry turned around again, Peter had transformed and was running. He scurried across the ground, aiming for the edge of the @@ -1195,7 +1196,7 @@ Sirius came back in a few moments, his growl rumbling up from his throat. Harry didn't have to look at his jaws to know that he hadn't caught Peter. He swallowed, unsure what to feel. -"\emph{I betrayed your parents on Dumbledore's orders.}" +``\emph{I betrayed your parents on Dumbledore's orders.}'' That \emph{couldn't} be true. It \emph{wasn't} true. It \emph{had to not be true.} @@ -1233,8 +1234,8 @@ lead him back to his bedroom. He deliberately didn't think about anything until he was back under the covers, with Connor snoring heavily, reassuringly, across the room. -"\emph{It was the web, wasn't it? The phoenix web? I just broke free of -mine a few months ago\ldots{}}" +``\emph{It was the web, wasn't it? The phoenix web? I just broke free of +mine a few months ago\ldots{}}'' That was the thing that troubled Harry the most, and on two accounts. First, he wondered if a phoenix web---if that was what it was---placed @@ -1278,7 +1279,7 @@ designed to trick Harry and lure him away from his brother's side. \emph{Just nonsense,} Harry repeated to himself until he fell asleep. \emph{Just nonsense, all of it.} -\subsection{*Chapter 3*: Hawthorn and +\chapter{*Chapter 3*: Hawthorn and Rue}\label{chapter-3-hawthorn-and-rue} Glad that so many people liked the twist in the last chapter! Review @@ -1374,7 +1375,10 @@ really fair to demand that he should have this kind? Harry shrugged and turned away to consult the shopping list on his letter. He was no more eager to confront the question than Sirius was. + \begin{center}\rule{0.5\linewidth}{\linethickness}\end{center} +\newpage + Harry stepped out of Eeylops Owl Emporium and paused to tuck the bags of owl treats he'd bought for Hedwig in his pocket. Someone nearly knocked @@ -1405,7 +1409,7 @@ remember, even though his brother was only fifteen minutes younger than he was. To him, it was sacred, and it always slightly startled him to remember that there were people who disliked or resented doing it. -"\emph{There} she is," Pansy said abruptly, and sprinted away. Harry +``\emph{There} she is,'' Pansy said abruptly, and sprinted away. Harry turned, but could see only a glimpse of a small robe waving before Pansy blocked it. The childish howl that came a moment later, though, was probably a sign that she had caught her charge. @@ -1464,19 +1468,19 @@ and his own family had no elves. ``Tell me what you mean, Millicent,'' he said, deliberately switching to use of her first name. He drew his wand out so that she could see it. -"Are you threatening me? Is this an offering of alliance? Do you just -mean to tease me? \emph{What}?" +``Are you threatening me? Is this an offering of alliance? Do you just +mean to tease me? \emph{What}?'' ``It's mainly an attempt to make you see that I'm not stupid,'' said Millicent, stopping and turning to face him. She sounded as if she were speaking with disarming honesty, but Harry was sure that was only -another mask. "I can see what things are, you know. I can see what's +another mask. ``I can see what things are, you know. I can see what's what. And no one could have missed last year that you were the one blazing with power in the hospital wing. It wasn't your brother, and that story that he told about defeating the basilisk in the Chamber was just a bit \emph{too} constructed. Why would Fawkes have flown the Sword of Gryffindor to him? Why wouldn't Dumbledore have come himself to -battle the Dark Lord?" +battle the Dark Lord?'' Harry shook his head. ``It's not like that,'' he said, and could feel his head aching and his sight blurring from the strain. He didn't think @@ -1637,9 +1641,9 @@ daughter, as pale of skin, but her eyes were unlike Pansy's blue, being shadowed hazel. Her face carried the deep-carved lines of some great strain, and her body was coiled as though she might explode in any direction at any moment. Despite that, Harry thought, she was managing -to force some dry humor into her voice. "Of course, none of them truly +to force some dry humor into her voice. ``Of course, none of them truly \emph{promised} to do anything about it. Sorrow was the only balm they -felt able to offer me." +felt able to offer me.'' Harry studied her again, looking for some sign of an injury or curse, and then realized what else, beyond her face, seemed so familiar about @@ -1830,7 +1834,7 @@ too closely\ldots{} Harry shoved those thoughts aside, and concentrated instead on the new allies he was winning for Connor. That soothed him immeasurably. -\subsection{*Chapter 4*: Choosing Their +\chapter{*Chapter 4*: Choosing Their Camlanns}\label{chapter-4-choosing-their-camlanns} The title of this chapter is figurative; Camlann was, according to some @@ -1903,8 +1907,8 @@ and concentrated on Peter. \emph{He is Wormtail. He only wants to confuse you, to cause treachery. He's probably working with Fenrir Greyback to return the Dark Lord to life.} ``I don't know who he was.'' -``Sirius's brother,'' said Peter. "His \emph{younger} brother. His -\emph{beloved} younger brother, for all that he became a Death Eater." +``Sirius's brother,'' said Peter. ``His \emph{younger} brother. His +\emph{beloved} younger brother, for all that he became a Death Eater.'' He paused. ``Are you seeing any parallels here, Harry?'' ``That's ridiculous,'' Harry said, and was displeased to note that his @@ -1918,10 +1922,10 @@ Peter closed his eyes. Harry didn't know what to make of the expression that worked over his face then. It looked like a mixture of rage and disgust, but what was there in the words he'd said to inspire that? -``That's true, then,'' said Peter. "I wondered how much was. I only know +``That's true, then,'' said Peter. ``I wondered how much was. I only know what I heard that night. So you're guardian to Connor, then? You really \emph{are} the sacrifice for him, and weren't just raised to be that -way?" He opened his eyes and pinned Harry with his gaze once again. +way?'' He opened his eyes and pinned Harry with his gaze once again. ``Of course,'' said Harry. His web was quiet, probably because he was doing what it wanted. He plowed ahead. Perhaps he could convince Peter @@ -1929,9 +1933,9 @@ how ridiculous it was to try and speak to him and force him away from his family. Then Peter might run away and become someone else's problem. ``I know what I am. I'm proud of it. Why shouldn't I be?'' -``Harry,'' Peter whispered, his voice gone longing. "There is \emph{so +``Harry,'' Peter whispered, his voice gone longing. ``There is \emph{so much wrong} with someone simply raised to be a tool for someone else, a -pawn, concealing his strength in someone else's shadow." +pawn, concealing his strength in someone else's shadow.'' Harry felt the first headache begin, but he fought through it. ``I like it. I don't care.'' His rage stirred in him, joining the web, but he @@ -2024,7 +2028,7 @@ entirely gone?} Pain flared in his head, which Harry guessed was the last remnants of the web fighting for life, at the same moment as someone behind him -bellowed, "\emph{EXPECTO PATRONUM!}" +bellowed, ``\emph{EXPECTO PATRONUM!}'' A silvery wolf charged into the two Dementors, making the black one cry out in a high, shrill voice and turn to flee. The gray one lingered for @@ -2131,9 +2135,10 @@ calmed, his magic, but it had done nothing about his rage. \emph{What I came here to do}. -SSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS +\begin{center}\rule{0.5\linewidth}{\linethickness}\end{center} +\newpage -"Mr. Potter. What are \emph{you} doing here?" +``Mr. Potter. What are \emph{you} doing here?'' Just last year, that voice would have made him tense up. Now Harry could smile and turn around, confident that its owner meant to welcome him, no @@ -2168,8 +2173,8 @@ soon enough. And Connor is innocent.} Innocent. ``Good.'' Harry blinked, jolted out of contemplation of himself again as Snape -nodded and pointed in the direction of the Headmaster's office. "The -Headmaster's password is \emph{Cauldron Cakes}," he added. ``I will not +nodded and pointed in the direction of the Headmaster's office. ``The +Headmaster's password is \emph{Cauldron Cakes},'' he added. ``I will not come with you, Mr. Potter. I trust that you can leave the school standing by yourself?'' @@ -2187,7 +2192,8 @@ for Mrs. Parkinson}, Harry thought, as he took the stairs to the Headmaster's office. \emph{It would be a poor return for all his kindness if I simply took his supplies.} -SSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS +\begin{center}\rule{0.5\linewidth}{\linethickness}\end{center} +\newpage ``Cauldron Cakes,'' said Harry, and the gargoyle sprang aside. He stepped onto the moving staircase, his shoulders relaxed despite the @@ -2238,8 +2244,8 @@ was glad. He thought being in contact with him when his rage began to flare bright and cold might be painful for a creature of fire. ``I want to know why you put this web in my mind,'' he said, when he -thought he could say that and not simply burst out screaming. "I want to -know what the \emph{fuck} you thought you were doing to me." +thought he could say that and not simply burst out screaming. ``I want to +know what the \emph{fuck} you thought you were doing to me.'' Dumbledore only nodded, as if he had expected this question, and then bent down. Harry tensed, but he retrieved a Pensieve from the floor and @@ -2284,7 +2290,7 @@ and forth between the lawn and her son. Harry waited, his hands clenched. ``It is frightening,'' his mother admitted at last, her lips barely -moving. "I've never felt \emph{anything} like it. It sleeps most of the +moving. ``I've never felt \emph{anything} like it. It sleeps most of the time, and so far he hasn't hurt anyone, but I think that's mostly due to his training. He fetches himself toys when he wants them, and never seems to find it strange that he's not using his hands. He poured @@ -2292,7 +2298,7 @@ himself a bowl of porridge the other day, perfectly, and carried it to the table without spilling a drop---and all the while he didn't look up from his book. He Vanished all the dust in the nursery one day when it was making Connor sneeze. His use of magic is casual, and if it goes on -much longer, I don't think he'll be able to stop." She shuddered. ``And, +much longer, I don't think he'll be able to stop.'' She shuddered. ``And, Headmaster, it's just---it's hard living in a house with a child like that, even when his magic is sleeping. It's like listening to a tiger purr. It might be content right now, but you always know that it could @@ -2362,9 +2368,9 @@ didn't like. ``Yes!'' said Younger-Harry, dropping the book in his eagerness. His eyes shone from behind his glasses. ``I want to protect my brother!'' -Dumbledore nodded, and then lifted his wand. "\emph{Expleo penuriam cum -textura!}" he said firmly, and the golden sparks went into a wild dance, -coalescing around Younger-Harry's head. "\emph{Phoenix texturae!}" +Dumbledore nodded, and then lifted his wand. ``\emph{Expleo penuriam cum +textura!}'' he said firmly, and the golden sparks went into a wild dance, +coalescing around Younger-Harry's head. ``\emph{Phoenix texturae!}'' The gold tightened into a pattern, and Harry recognized one glimpse of the web as he dimly remembered it from his own wild attempts to repair @@ -2388,7 +2394,7 @@ tears on her cheeks. He had seen enough. He pulled his head out of the Pensieve, and made out Dumbledore's wand aimed at him in the moment before the Headmaster began -to intone, "\emph{Expleo penuriam}---" +to intone, ``\emph{Expleo penuriam}---'' Harry lashed out, angrier than he had ever been in his life. He didn't know what was going to happen. He only knew that he wanted to \emph{hurt @@ -2447,9 +2453,9 @@ there, too, the kind that had made \emph{Protego} so instinctive to him. It wasn't hard at all to tighten the wards and tie them off. All this took only a second, as did the Headmaster's recovery and the -snatching of his wand. "\emph{Expleo penuriam cum textura,"} he said, so -fast that Harry was impressed in spite of himself. "\emph{Phoenix -texturae!}" +snatching of his wand. ``\emph{Expleo penuriam cum textura,}'' he said, so +fast that Harry was impressed in spite of himself. ``\emph{Phoenix +texturae!}'' The spell stormed towards Harry--- @@ -2518,7 +2524,7 @@ McGonagall, her eyes sharp and haunted. ``Harry,'' Snape said, his voice at once mocking and triumphant, ``I believe that Minerva has something to say to you.'' -\subsection{*Chapter 5*: The Course of True +\chapter{*Chapter 5*: The Course of True Ethics}\label{chapter-5-the-course-of-true-ethics} Thank you very much for the reviews! I'm so happy that most people @@ -2564,7 +2570,7 @@ Animagus form reflects that person's nature?'' the same time, which Minerva had to admit was quite a feat for a man who hadn't yet seen his twenty-second year. -"Oh, \emph{good}," she said. "I \emph{am} happy for you." He'd peered at +``Oh, \emph{good},'' she said. ``I \emph{am} happy for you.'' He'd peered at her suspiciously then, because she never used sarcasm around him. Ordinarily, Minerva thought, there was no need. ``Then you might consider what it means that my Animagus form is a cat, Severus, rather @@ -2653,7 +2659,10 @@ guess at them, either. waited patiently at the bottom of the stairs to the Headmaster's office, until the gargoyle moved and Harry emerged from behind it. + \begin{center}\rule{0.5\linewidth}{\linethickness}\end{center} +\newpage + Minerva studied Harry carefully. She could feel his power, of course, in the way that witches and wizards of the McGonagall family had long been @@ -2757,7 +2766,7 @@ change the whole base of her ethics in a day or a season, she could at least acknowledge that leaders were not perfect. And this was far enough from perfection to sway her loyalties in the matter of Harry. -"I will \emph{never} do either of those things." +``I will \emph{never} do either of those things.'' Minerva's heart soared as she watched Harry's face when he made that vow. He spat the words, his lip curling at the thought of either murder @@ -2848,7 +2857,7 @@ The boy looked as if someone had slapped him in the face with a haddock. He blinked several more times, then nodded. ``Thank you, Professor McGonagall,'' he said. ``I'll remember that.'' -"Thank \emph{you}, Harry," she said. ``You have made it easier to be on +``Thank \emph{you}, Harry,'' she said. ``You have made it easier to be on your side.'' She stepped past him and towards the staircase. She could feel both Harry's and Severus's eyes on her back. She ignored them both. There were some things that she had to do alone, and some ways in which @@ -2866,9 +2875,12 @@ rode the staircase upwards, thinking of a battle that Harry would only have read about and Severus had not fought in---the battle that had secured her loyalty to Albus Dumbledore. + \begin{center}\rule{0.5\linewidth}{\linethickness}\end{center} +\newpage -"Back! \emph{Back}!" + +``Back! \emph{Back}!'' When Frank Longbottom sounded the call for a retreat, the battle had turned for the worse. Minerva maintained her position for a moment @@ -3010,7 +3022,10 @@ staircase and into Albus's office. \emph{Old friend, why must you have stumbled at last, asked for one particular sacrifice that you had no right to ask?} + \begin{center}\rule{0.5\linewidth}{\linethickness}\end{center} +\newpage + She found Albus sitting behind his desk, staring at nothing. When she came in, he looked up. He did not even seem surprised, his eyes @@ -3050,9 +3065,9 @@ me. For the good of wizarding kind, of course.'' He closed his eyes. Minerva waited, listening. -``I let him grow,'' Albus whispered. "And that was a mistake. When I +``I let him grow,'' Albus whispered. ``And that was a mistake. When I found a child who seemed to be part of his legacy, whose magic was -deeply unnatural in more ways than one, what was I to do? +deeply unnatural in more ways than one, what was I to do?'' ``Not kill him, of course. But bind him? Yes, that was an option. And what better way to bind him than to ask him if he wanted to be a @@ -3064,8 +3079,8 @@ course they did, but she was a Gryffindor. It took more than pretty words to sway her. ``He made it,'' said Albus, and looked up at her with a face as weary as -time. "And it \emph{must} be kept as made, Minerva, or have consequences -that you cannot conceive of." +time. ``And it \emph{must} be kept as made, Minerva, or have consequences +that you cannot conceive of.'' ``Do you really believe that Harry Potter will become a Dark Lord?'' Minerva folded her arms and stared at him. @@ -3095,7 +3110,7 @@ until Albus looked up at her. Then she swept her palm in front of her as she bowed her head, the old pureblooded salute of a challenge given and accepted, and departed. -\subsection{*Chapter 6*: A Day and a +\chapter{*Chapter 6*: A Day and a Night}\label{chapter-6-a-day-and-a-night} Thank you for all the reviews. I am hoping most people will be patient @@ -3109,7 +3124,7 @@ things happen in it. \textbf{Chapter Six: A Day and a Night} -"But you \emph{weren't there.}" +``But you \emph{weren't there.}'' Harry checked a sigh as he and Draco slid into their desks in the Defense Against the Dark Arts classroom, followed by the rest of the @@ -3119,8 +3134,8 @@ about the time last year when they believed him to be an evil Dark Lord. Harry ignored them for the most part. Draco was far more annoying. ``Yes, and I told you why,'' he said, hearing the edge to his own voice. -"I \emph{had} to get out of there. I would have killed someone -otherwise." +``I \emph{had} to get out of there. I would have killed someone +otherwise.'' One of the Ravenclaws gasped. Harry would have glared at her, but Draco leaned around and did it for him. The girl squeaked and concentrated on @@ -3139,9 +3154,9 @@ legitimate reason for not riding the Express. ``She would have firecalled me when I arrived and told me where you were. I wouldn't have to spend seven hours fretting and wondering and waiting.'' -``Well, you did,'' said Harry, pulling his inkwell from his bag, "and +``Well, you did,'' said Harry, pulling his inkwell from his bag, ``and then you saw me at the Slytherin table. That is the \emph{end} of the -story, Draco." +story, Draco.'' Draco shook his head. ``Someday, Harry,'' he said loftily, ``you're going to have to learn that other people have a right to be interested @@ -3229,17 +3244,17 @@ one on the right grimaced horribly, as though she were fighting something. Harry swallowed and had to look away. Sometimes Remus was \emph{too} good at illusion magic. -"\emph{That} is the primary difference between Dark and Light magic," +``\emph{That} is the primary difference between Dark and Light magic,'' said Remus softly. ``Not that one is pleasant and the other unpleasant. Most medical magic is pretty unpleasant.'' He was making a horrible face, Harry saw when he looked back. A majority of the students -giggled---even Pansy, who looked surprised at herself. "Not even that +giggled---even Pansy, who looked surprised at herself. ``Not even that one affects the body and the other the mind. There are plenty of spells classed as Light and spells classed as Dark that do both. If we eliminated all the spells that did anyone harm, then we'd have to quit teaching most of Charms and at least half of Transfigurations. And of course we'd have to eliminate all the poisonous plants from Herbology, -and the poisonous Potions ingredients. +and the poisonous Potions ingredients.'' ``No, the main difference between Light and Dark magic is the difference between compulsion and choice.'' @@ -3274,11 +3289,11 @@ still hit him hard. He barely listened as Remus went into the next part of the lecture. ``Dark spells, on the other hand, thrive on compulsion,'' Remus went on, -his voice growing grim. "Dark creatures are those who usually subdue the +his voice growing grim. ``Dark creatures are those who usually subdue the victim's \emph{will} so he can't escape. That's why Dementors are considered Dark creatures and dragons are not. Dragons are dangerous, but they can't hold you in place, suck our your memories, and corrupt -your mind the way that Dementors can." +your mind the way that Dementors can.'' Draco put up a hand. Remus nodded to him. Draco put his hand down and gave an innocent smile. ``Are werewolves Dark creatures, too?'' he @@ -3288,7 +3303,7 @@ Remus jerked, but it was a movement so tiny that Harry didn't think anyone would see it who wasn't looking for it. Draco smirked, then yelped as Pansy abruptly pinched the back of his neck. -"Shut \emph{up}," Pansy whispered. Her voice was so deadly that Draco +``Shut \emph{up},'' Pansy whispered. Her voice was so deadly that Draco paled. Harry turned to listen to Remus's answer. Remus's eyes were narrowed speculatively at Pansy, but he smiled quickly. @@ -3327,7 +3342,10 @@ taken over without his consent.} \emph{Bastard,} Harry finished, and wondered if he meant Dumbledore or himself. + \begin{center}\rule{0.5\linewidth}{\linethickness}\end{center} +\newpage + Harry paused as he entered McGonagall's classroom, and frowned. Connor sat near the front, talking with Ron and Hermione. But Slytherins never @@ -3364,9 +3382,9 @@ to Dumbledore. Harry found he rather admired her. ``Today,'' McGonagall announced, adjusting her hat on her head as she -spun across the front of the room, "we will begin a lecture on Animagi. +spun across the front of the room, ``we will begin a lecture on Animagi. I want you to know the theory behind it, though of course \emph{no one} -will attempt a practical demonstration." Icicles were in her voice. ``I +will attempt a practical demonstration.'' Icicles were in her voice. ``I will also want you to write essays in pairs, and one group of three, so that you may pool your knowledge. I will assign the pairs and the topics. Draco Malfoy, Hermione Granger. Blaise Zabini, Parvati Patil. @@ -3404,10 +3422,10 @@ topic: why Animagi had to register with the Ministry. Connor wrote it down painstakingly, with a dedication that Harry didn't remember him showing last year. When he was finished, he continued as if they hadn't been interrupted. ``He has the gift himself. He doesn't use it -carelessly, of course,'' he added quickly. "But his parents trained him +carelessly, of course,'' he added quickly. ``But his parents trained him in it, and I don't think you could ask for stricter teachers than the Blacks as far as Dark magic goes. I mean, look at Bellatrix Lestrange, -and Narcissa Malfoy. They're \emph{great} Dark witches." +and Narcissa Malfoy. They're \emph{great} Dark witches.'' Harry swallowed. \emph{I think that's why Sirius was able to slip my} Fugitivus Animus. \emph{His mind is trained, like Snape's.} ``Narcissa @@ -3466,7 +3484,10 @@ Harry nodded. He said nothing more. Saying that he, himself, was suddenly uncertain of his own responsibilities would have sounded as though he were whining for pity, however true it was. + \begin{center}\rule{0.5\linewidth}{\linethickness}\end{center} +\newpage + Snape nodded at the knock on the door of his office. One thing that hadn't changed in Harry, and which he hoped never would, was the boy's @@ -3540,7 +3561,7 @@ think he was afraid, Harry. He has seen what your magic can do.'' Harry bit his lip. ``Yes. I was afraid it was that, sir.'' He clenched his hands, and Snape felt the magic lift around him, a buzzing pressure that leaned against his Malfoy-inspired shields but did not pierce them. -"There are times I \emph{do} want to put my magic away," Harry said +``There are times I \emph{do} want to put my magic away,'' Harry said passionately, ``just so that it won't frighten anyone anymore.'' Snape stood. This had been the core of their argument yesterday. He had @@ -3563,7 +3584,7 @@ simply because it might cause consternation and fear in those weaker than you are, you are conceding to Dumbledore, saying that he was right to enslave you in the first place.'' -Harry stiffened, and his magic lashed around him. "I am \emph{not.}" +Harry stiffened, and his magic lashed around him. ``I am \emph{not.}'' ``Yes, you are,'' said Snape, and paused until he felt Harry's power and temper both build. Then he added, delicately, ``Unless you are saying @@ -3579,8 +3600,8 @@ to confront them. ``They wanted to keep everyone safe,'' Harry murmured. ``And that's what I want, too.'' -Snape cocked his head. "And, of course, binding your magic has worked so -\emph{well} in the past to do that," he said. ``It must be someone +Snape cocked his head. ``And, of course, binding your magic has worked so +\emph{well} in the past to do that,'' he said. ``It must be someone else's magic that grew its own will and personality and did its best to destroy Hogwarts. Do forgive me. Shall I ask Mr. Malfoy how well he remembers that night, perhaps? Or your brother?'' @@ -3622,11 +3643,11 @@ Snape shrugged. ``I do. You are growing more successful at harnessing your power. You have not harnessed your rage.'' Harry laughed. It was not a sound that Snape wanted to hear ever again. -``Sometimes I wonder whether it matters,'' he said. "Our parents left me +``Sometimes I wonder whether it matters,'' he said. ``Our parents left me alone this summer. Sirius is being stupid, but I can deal with him. My brother has finally learned what responsibility means. I want to free Remus from the \emph{Obliviate}, but once I do that, do I really have to -face them? Couldn't I just sort of\ldots{}stay away from them?" +face them? Couldn't I just sort of\ldots{}stay away from them?'' ``You already know the answer to that, Mr. Potter,'' said Snape, using the boy's last name to get his attention. ``You cannot. You must face @@ -3745,7 +3766,7 @@ For that matter, Snape shared the sentiment. Harry's back in resignation, \emph{I am reminded how much further we have to walk.} -\subsection{*Chapter 7*: Interlude: Mothers to +\chapter{*Chapter 7*: Interlude: Mothers to Sons}\label{chapter-7-interlude-mothers-to-sons} I know this is only an interlude, but I'll have the regular chapter up @@ -3796,7 +3817,10 @@ So much love for my brave, heroic son, \emph{} + \begin{center}\rule{0.5\linewidth}{\linethickness}\end{center} +\newpage + \emph{September 5th, 1993} @@ -3853,7 +3877,7 @@ Your loving mother, \emph{Narcissa Black Malfoy.} -\subsection{*Chapter 8*: Rise, Like Lions After +\chapter{*Chapter 8*: Rise, Like Lions After Slumber}\label{chapter-8-rise-like-lions-after-slumber} Here's the chapter proper for today. Another quiet chapter---kind of. It @@ -4382,7 +4406,10 @@ Harry thought, but not many people's were. ``See you later, Harry.'' Harry glared at him. ``Strange as it might seem, Draco, I don't have to explain every one of my movements to you.'' + \begin{center}\rule{0.5\linewidth}{\linethickness}\end{center} +\newpage + Draco clenched one hand. He couldn't explain why this was so important without making Harry misunderstand him. And anyway, he'd tried all week, @@ -4465,7 +4492,7 @@ way into the sky, bearing his letter. \emph{Mum will make it better again.} -\subsection{*Chapter 9*: Omens of a Leadership +\chapter{*Chapter 9*: Omens of a Leadership Accepted}\label{chapter-9-omens-of-a-leadership-accepted} Thank you for the reviews yesterday! I'll get the review responses up @@ -4633,7 +4660,10 @@ until he believed it. \emph{} + \begin{center}\rule{0.5\linewidth}{\linethickness}\end{center} +\newpage + \emph{Harry. Can you meet me in the Charms corridor tonight at seven?} @@ -5106,7 +5136,7 @@ them} believe \emph{me.} He sighed and closed his eyes. -\subsection{*Chapter 10*: Gifts At Autumn's +\chapter{*Chapter 10*: Gifts At Autumn's Turning}\label{chapter-10-gifts-at-autumns-turning} Thank you for the reviews! A lot of people don't seem to mind that @@ -5343,7 +5373,10 @@ me, that's just fine. I can ignore him right back.} But, he admitted as he crawled into his own bed and drew the curtains closed, it \emph{did} hurt. + \begin{center}\rule{0.5\linewidth}{\linethickness}\end{center} +\newpage + Harry took a deep breath and added the final drop of sphinx blood. The potion stirred briefly, as though it would reach up out of its cauldron @@ -5524,7 +5557,10 @@ The book rode in his pocket, calling his thoughts. \emph{She was wrong. This book doesn't repay her debt. It makes me owe her a greater one.} + \begin{center}\rule{0.5\linewidth}{\linethickness}\end{center} +\newpage + ``I have to know,'' said Millicent, as they sat at breakfast on the first day of autumn. Harry jumped a bit; he'd been thinking more about @@ -5720,7 +5756,7 @@ assaulting} Snape. He wondered, gloomily, what new and disturbing discoveries about himself this portended. -\subsection{*Chapter 11*: Memories, Such Haunting +\chapter{*Chapter 11*: Memories, Such Haunting Memories}\label{chapter-11-memories-such-haunting-memories} Glad that people liked the last chapter! Review responses up in my LJ @@ -6101,7 +6137,10 @@ his Potions class. He would teach them, and he would go about the other ordinary efforts of his day, and at the end of it, he would go and speak to Remus Lupin. + \begin{center}\rule{0.5\linewidth}{\linethickness}\end{center} +\newpage + ``Lupin,'' said Snape coolly, when his knock on the werewolf's door that evening produced said werewolf. @@ -6341,7 +6380,7 @@ need be.} \emph{If need be.} -\subsection{*Chapter 12*: The Lure of +\chapter{*Chapter 12*: The Lure of Power}\label{chapter-12-the-lure-of-power} Glad that everyone liked the last chapter so much! I'd been waiting to @@ -6389,7 +6428,10 @@ destroying him. He put his hands behind his head, let out a long breath, and lay staring at the ceiling. + \begin{center}\rule{0.5\linewidth}{\linethickness}\end{center} +\newpage + The first book had simply been fascinating---mostly explanations of the compulsion power that ran in several pureblood family lines, including @@ -6464,7 +6506,10 @@ obey whatever he asked of her.} Change the names, and it was a perfect description of what always happened lately when Draco grew angry at Harry. + \begin{center}\rule{0.5\linewidth}{\linethickness}\end{center} +\newpage + Draco read hastily through the rest of the Guile book, and the other books that his mother had given him---a history of the Black family in @@ -6565,7 +6610,10 @@ Draco-because-of-Harry?} Draco decided he would have to find out. + \begin{center}\rule{0.5\linewidth}{\linethickness}\end{center} +\newpage + ``What's your favorite color, Harry?'' @@ -6591,7 +6639,10 @@ would do what they wanted before the Lords even commanded it. Draco decided he would make a few more tests, and then he would have to withdraw from Harry almost completely. + \begin{center}\rule{0.5\linewidth}{\linethickness}\end{center} +\newpage + It hurt not to be included in whatever had happened between Harry and the Headmaster, hurt that Millicent was the one who had escorted him to @@ -6649,7 +6700,10 @@ going to tell him? It would kill him, to know that he had a part in altering someone else's mind and personality. How am I ever going to get him to see that he didn't mean to?} + \begin{center}\rule{0.5\linewidth}{\linethickness}\end{center} +\newpage + ``Harry. We want to---'' @@ -6782,7 +6836,10 @@ He shouldn't have been able to disobey. How could he? + \begin{center}\rule{0.5\linewidth}{\linethickness}\end{center} +\newpage + Draco watched Harry more carefully than ever for the first two weeks of October. And he could only conclude that he must have been blind before, @@ -6814,7 +6871,10 @@ And then came a night at the second week of October, the night he had lain awake brooding about how he would tell Harry the truth even if he wanted to, and finally fell asleep staring at the ceiling of his bed. + \begin{center}\rule{0.5\linewidth}{\linethickness}\end{center} +\newpage + ``Draco?'' @@ -6936,7 +6996,10 @@ to be. \emph{} + \begin{center}\rule{0.5\linewidth}{\linethickness}\end{center} +\newpage + \emph{Dear Mother:} @@ -6950,7 +7013,7 @@ chosen, and my request is still the same.} \emph{Draco.} -\subsection{*Chapter 13*: How Like a +\chapter{*Chapter 13*: How Like a Lion}\label{chapter-13-how-like-a-lion} That last chapter was fun to write. This one a little less so---except @@ -7339,7 +7402,10 @@ didn't like it when anyone on the team was spending free time dithering about elsewhere, but he would make an exception and be especially harsh with Harry, since he thought Harry was their team's key to victory. + \begin{center}\rule{0.5\linewidth}{\linethickness}\end{center} +\newpage + Harry had just left the Great Hall and turned towards McGonagall's office when he felt a hand on his shoulder. He turned, and backed off @@ -7409,7 +7475,10 @@ Ministry on the front. He nodded slowly. ``Lead the way, Headmaster,'' he said. + \begin{center}\rule{0.5\linewidth}{\linethickness}\end{center} +\newpage + Once they were seated in Dumbledore's office, and Harry had refused tea and sweets and another cup of tea, the Headmaster handed over the @@ -7583,7 +7652,7 @@ This time, it destroyed the bitter memory of what he had said after the Veritaserum and replaced it with a good one. Harry grinned at him and turned back to his brewing. -\subsection{*Chapter 14*: Interlude: A Little +\chapter{*Chapter 14*: Interlude: A Little Knowledge}\label{chapter-14-interlude-a-little-knowledge} I just realized I'm not going to get as much writing time tomorrow as I @@ -7695,7 +7764,7 @@ Second, {do not trust Sirius Black.} \emph{Starborn.} -\subsection{*Chapter 15*: Padfoot and +\chapter{*Chapter 15*: Padfoot and Moony}\label{chapter-15-padfoot-and-moony} Glad that so many people liked both chapter and interlude. Thank you for @@ -7823,7 +7892,10 @@ natterings. \emph{} + \begin{center}\rule{0.5\linewidth}{\linethickness}\end{center} +\newpage + \emph{The goblins of the North have long proclaimed themselves different from the goblins of the South, who have been working and living among @@ -8130,7 +8202,10 @@ he would rush to Sirius in that moment, hug him, and beg his forgiveness, or try to strip his flesh from his bones with only the knife's edge of his magic. + \begin{center}\rule{0.5\linewidth}{\linethickness}\end{center} +\newpage + Snape took one look at him when Harry came to help finish brewing the Wolfsbane that night and strode across the room, catching his chin and @@ -8183,7 +8258,10 @@ in the brewing of the potion. His gaze didn't often waver from the locked cabinet, no matter what he was doing. Harry wondered what was in there that was so interesting. + \begin{center}\rule{0.5\linewidth}{\linethickness}\end{center} +\newpage + ``Ready, Harry?'' Sirius asked, now looking smiling and cheerful, much more his normal self. @@ -8372,7 +8450,10 @@ Fawkes began to sing, softly enough that Harry didn't think he was disturbing anyone else. He fell asleep contentedly, and for once, when phoenix music twined with his dreams, he wasn't frightened of it. + \begin{center}\rule{0.5\linewidth}{\linethickness}\end{center} +\newpage + Albus Dumbledore stood at his window, hands clenched hard on the sill. He could see the full moon from here, and he knew that underneath it @@ -8404,7 +8485,7 @@ the way. Granted, the phoenix had been gone for long periods of time before, but it wasn't like him to stay away when Albus could have used the company. -\subsection{*Chapter 16*: Detention With +\chapter{*Chapter 16*: Detention With Draco}\label{chapter-16-detention-with-draco} Thank you for the reviews on the last chapter! @@ -8441,7 +8522,10 @@ and he had lived long enough to know exactly how powerless regrets were. He swept from the room, then, to prepare for the Halloween Feast, giving Fawkes's perch only one irritated glance along the way. + \begin{center}\rule{0.5\linewidth}{\linethickness}\end{center} +\newpage + "Draco, what is \emph{wrong} with you?" @@ -8539,7 +8623,10 @@ the Pensieve. Then the memory swallowed him. + \begin{center}\rule{0.5\linewidth}{\linethickness}\end{center} +\newpage + Draco blinked and glanced around. He knew for a fact that he didn't recognize this place. It was a small, neat room, with wizarding pictures @@ -8917,7 +9004,10 @@ the corridor, and Harry's magic now merely draped his back like a warm blanket. Draco couldn't feel any commands from it. If it wanted him to keep holding Harry, then he was more than happy to oblige. + \begin{center}\rule{0.5\linewidth}{\linethickness}\end{center} +\newpage + Harry sighed and stooped down to pick up another branch. The wind really had been brisk this weekend, and individual leaves from the Forbidden @@ -9014,7 +9104,7 @@ with his back against a tree and stared intently at Harry. ``I think you can know why Dumbledore made me be your parents' Secret-Keeper now,'' he said softly. -\subsection{*Chapter 17*: Interlude: To Narcissa, To +\chapter{*Chapter 17*: Interlude: To Narcissa, To Lucius}\label{chapter-17-interlude-to-narcissa-to-lucius} Just a short little interlude, but I wanted to post it not too long @@ -9062,7 +9152,10 @@ my friend. And his brother scares me. Please help. \emph{} + \begin{center}\rule{0.5\linewidth}{\linethickness}\end{center} +\newpage + \emph{November 1st, 1993} @@ -9103,7 +9196,7 @@ will a test of your dedication at Yule. I trust you will have a pleasant day, Lucius, warmed by the thought of your son continuing to breathe. -\subsection{*Chapter 18*: Soldier In a Silent +\chapter{*Chapter 18*: Soldier In a Silent War}\label{chapter-18-soldier-in-a-silent-war} Thank you for the reviews on the last chapters! The story's moving in @@ -9485,7 +9578,10 @@ His mind was in chaos, screaming and shouting at him. He stood up, heavily, and made his way towards the school. He needed, badly, to speak with Dumbledore. + \begin{center}\rule{0.5\linewidth}{\linethickness}\end{center} +\newpage + Harry had just slipped past the doors into the entrance hall when a piece of darkness unfolded from the wall and swept towards him. Harry @@ -9588,7 +9684,10 @@ once. ``Thank you, sir.'' His hand never moved from its grip on Harry's shoulder, warm and intensely comforting. ``Let us go see the Headmaster.'' + \begin{center}\rule{0.5\linewidth}{\linethickness}\end{center} +\newpage + Albus told himself that he had expected the visit. Of course, that did not mean it did his old heart any good to see Harry walk in, laden with @@ -9764,7 +9863,7 @@ after all, and the only thing that would have made it better was the presence of Fawkes on his perch. Phoenixes, however, never seemed to know when they were wanted. -\subsection{*Chapter 19*: Comes a +\chapter{*Chapter 19*: Comes a Dementor}\label{chapter-19-comes-a-dementor} Thank you for the reviews on the chapter yesterday! They contained good @@ -9927,7 +10026,10 @@ will only seem like that if you let it.} Harry lay awake, trembling, for some time after that. + \begin{center}\rule{0.5\linewidth}{\linethickness}\end{center} +\newpage + ``Nervous, Harry?'' @@ -10068,7 +10170,10 @@ on his back, but he had no inclination to turn and meet them. He had a lecture to attend, a match to play, and a decision to make, probably in mid-air. + \begin{center}\rule{0.5\linewidth}{\linethickness}\end{center} +\newpage + Harry kicked into the air. He could feel eyes on him. The rest of the Slytherin Quidditch team would be watching, because Flint had managed to @@ -10445,7 +10550,7 @@ croon. Harry took a deep breath, accepted the heat seeping into him like courage, and flew towards Snape. -\subsection{*Chapter 20*: Shut Up, +\chapter{*Chapter 20*: Shut Up, Sirius}\label{chapter-20-shut-up-sirius} Thank you for the incredible response to Chapter 16! I'm so glad that I @@ -10646,7 +10751,10 @@ home. He did not look across the field for his parents and his brother. There seemed to be no point, not right now. His path was still too new. + \begin{center}\rule{0.5\linewidth}{\linethickness}\end{center} +\newpage + ``Would anyone fancy a cup of tea?'' @@ -11203,7 +11311,10 @@ barriers on either side of him. He didn't wait to see how the others sorted himself out. He was almost tired enough to skip the Slytherin victory party. + \begin{center}\rule{0.5\linewidth}{\linethickness}\end{center} +\newpage + Albus slumped against his desk as Harry and the others filed out of the room. Things were bad, but not as bad as they could have been. There was @@ -11236,7 +11347,10 @@ now. Not all hope was lost. He made himself believe that. + \begin{center}\rule{0.5\linewidth}{\linethickness}\end{center} +\newpage + Snape saw Harry and Draco safe to the door of the Slytherin common room, where the boys stepped from the silence of the corridor into wild @@ -11265,7 +11379,7 @@ unlocked it, and took out the potion sitting on the back shelf. thought, as he held up the bottle and admired the dark green shine of the potion. \emph{But I have not.} -\subsection{*Chapter 21*: Pureblood +\chapter{*Chapter 21*: Pureblood Rituals}\label{chapter-21-pureblood-rituals} I apologize for the rather amalgamated nature of this chapter. It's @@ -11466,7 +11580,10 @@ relaxed enough to say the same thing with his expression. Harry did think it was curious that he needed to lean right over Sirius's plate again, his sleeve almost trailing in his godfather's goblet. + \begin{center}\rule{0.5\linewidth}{\linethickness}\end{center} +\newpage + ``Oh,'' said Neville, and his face lit. ``That's a simple way to remember it. I never really thought of it that way before.'' @@ -11678,7 +11795,10 @@ he said, and smiled at him. chair. He darted a glance at his best friend, and had to smother a smile. \emph{Even though Draco's all jealous over me now.} + \begin{center}\rule{0.5\linewidth}{\linethickness}\end{center} +\newpage + Harry slid to a stop outside the Slytherin common room, staring. Millicent and Pansy were waiting for him, which might not have been all @@ -11880,7 +12000,10 @@ Harry listened to a tirade about Lucius Malfoy for the rest of the evening. It was the one way to make Draco feel better, and Harry much preferred having Draco happy to having him sulky. + \begin{center}\rule{0.5\linewidth}{\linethickness}\end{center} +\newpage + ``You will do well, Harry,'' Snape said softly, touching Harry's messy hair once more, but retracting his hand before he could muss it further. @@ -12117,7 +12240,7 @@ to realize why. It felt\ldots{}\emph{good} to have a parent again. -\subsection{*Chapter 22*: Strength of a +\chapter{*Chapter 22*: Strength of a Soul}\label{chapter-22-strength-of-a-soul} Thank you for the reviews on the last chapter! Writing that one turned @@ -12177,7 +12300,10 @@ Snape hummed as he drank. He had other doses of the empathy potion in preparation. He thought they might make a fine Christmas gift for Lily and James Potter. + \begin{center}\rule{0.5\linewidth}{\linethickness}\end{center} +\newpage + Harry glanced over his shoulder, and sighed with relief when he noticed no one coming after him. Millicent and Pansy had been very vigilant @@ -12337,7 +12463,10 @@ Werewolves were running. It was time to run with them, and guard his brother. + \begin{center}\rule{0.5\linewidth}{\linethickness}\end{center} +\newpage + Harry swore under his breath as he stepped carefully along the path that Connor had taken after Padfoot and Moony. He didn't dare use his magic @@ -12585,7 +12714,10 @@ The trees blurred past him, and his feet no longer touched the ground, and still Hogwarts loomed on the other side of the trees, impossibly far away. + \begin{center}\rule{0.5\linewidth}{\linethickness}\end{center} +\newpage + Draco yawned and put his book down, rubbing his eyes. It was all very well to study Charms for hours on end, but he wished Harry would come @@ -12750,7 +12882,10 @@ werewolf?'' And then he fainted, because there was apparently only so much that even a Malfoy could take. + \begin{center}\rule{0.5\linewidth}{\linethickness}\end{center} +\newpage + Harry hovered beside the bed; Madam Pomfrey had managed to make him back off, but she couldn't make him leave completely. ``And you're absolutely @@ -12977,7 +13112,10 @@ the things he had to give other than protection. Snape laid a hand on his shoulder one more time, and then left the hospital wing. + \begin{center}\rule{0.5\linewidth}{\linethickness}\end{center} +\newpage + Snape returned to the dungeons in a rage so deep that he was glad, in a distant fashion, that he had not encountered anyone along the way. @@ -13007,7 +13145,7 @@ overwhelming scope of what it would take to heal and free Harry's thoughts, and his own heart-stopping terror when he had heard that Harry was in danger. -\subsection{*Chapter 23*: Interlude: Revelations Upon the +\chapter{*Chapter 23*: Interlude: Revelations Upon the Waves}\label{chapter-23-interlude-revelations-upon-the-waves} Setting more of the game in motion. @@ -13061,7 +13199,10 @@ I remain, in shadows and starlight, \emph{} + \begin{center}\rule{0.5\linewidth}{\linethickness}\end{center} +\newpage + \emph{December 1st, 1993} @@ -13108,7 +13249,7 @@ Send us a letter back within a week with your formal declaration of allegiance, or the next attack will come. And perhaps this one is the one we mean. -\subsection{*Chapter 24*: Wrecks of a Dissolving +\chapter{*Chapter 24*: Wrecks of a Dissolving Dream}\label{chapter-24-wrecks-of-a-dissolving-dream} Thank you for the reviews on the last chapter! @@ -13302,7 +13443,10 @@ from the dreams and not the attack.} Halfway to the dungeons, much to his annoyance, he had to detour to the loo and wash blood off his scar again. At least his head wasn't hurting. + \begin{center}\rule{0.5\linewidth}{\linethickness}\end{center} +\newpage + ``You are ready this time, I trust?'' Snape's voice was casual, and he didn't look up from the essays he was marking. @@ -13611,7 +13755,10 @@ him. "Why do we have allies in the \emph{Ministry}, of all places?" Harry blinked, then picked up his book. People seemed to make a habit of disconcerting him today. + \begin{center}\rule{0.5\linewidth}{\linethickness}\end{center} +\newpage + Lucius Malfoy was having a nervous breakdown. @@ -13750,7 +13897,7 @@ pond, like painful drums, like wings. ``Mr. Malfoy,'' said Potter calmly, ``I don't know what you're doing here, but you'll have to go through me if you want to harm Draco.'' -\subsection{*Chapter 25*: Pomona and Septimus +\chapter{*Chapter 25*: Pomona and Septimus Renewed}\label{chapter-25-pomona-and-septimus-renewed} Well, here we are. I must say, I didn't anticipate the bomb coming down @@ -14243,7 +14390,10 @@ He felt Hogwarts' wards against Apparition trying frantically to resist him, but Harry smashed straight through them, his body bending, his mind twisting, and then the room vanishing behind him. + \begin{center}\rule{0.5\linewidth}{\linethickness}\end{center} +\newpage + Lucius had only a moment to enjoy his victory before Narcissa's palm connected with his face. @@ -14336,7 +14486,10 @@ however, there was only the thick, cold taste of shame in his throat. Lucius reached up and clasped her hand. + \begin{center}\rule{0.5\linewidth}{\linethickness}\end{center} +\newpage + Harry sat on the bed in the Shrieking Shack and stared at the far wall, while his mind whirled and cut and danced around thoughts that he had @@ -14470,7 +14623,10 @@ insure that he parted from them for a while. Harry knew the perfect way. + \begin{center}\rule{0.5\linewidth}{\linethickness}\end{center} +\newpage + Neville let him into Gryffindor Tower with no questions asked, and directed Harry to the third-year boys' room when he asked after Connor. @@ -14486,7 +14642,7 @@ When Connor's face welled into a smile and he lunged at Harry over the bed, grabbing him in a fierce hug, Harry knew he'd made the right choice. -\subsection{*Chapter 26*: Christmas With the +\chapter{*Chapter 26*: Christmas With the Potters}\label{chapter-26-christmas-with-the-potters} I'm updating this early because I won't get the time to do so Friday, @@ -14676,7 +14832,10 @@ coming. Then Snape forced it out. ``Please.'' Harry fled. + \begin{center}\rule{0.5\linewidth}{\linethickness}\end{center} +\newpage + ``Harry.'' @@ -14799,7 +14958,10 @@ depiction. What scared him was the calm determination behind Draco's words. Compelled or not, Harry thought it might be a match for his own. + \begin{center}\rule{0.5\linewidth}{\linethickness}\end{center} +\newpage + Snape ate his breakfast in silence that morning, and watched Black drink the last dose of empathy potion he would have for a time with much less @@ -14868,7 +15030,10 @@ would be worse.} \emph{Is this what all parents feel about their children?} + \begin{center}\rule{0.5\linewidth}{\linethickness}\end{center} +\newpage + So far, Harry thought, stretched out on the couch in front of the fireplace but posed to shift if one of their parents should come over @@ -15139,7 +15304,7 @@ green eyes were staring at him, the twins of his own. ``Hi, Mum,'' said Harry softly. -\subsection{*Chapter 27*: Harry And His Mother Have a Little +\chapter{*Chapter 27*: Harry And His Mother Have a Little Chat}\label{chapter-27-harry-and-his-mother-have-a-little-chat} I'm updating so early because I'm obsessed with writing this story. I @@ -15178,7 +15343,10 @@ one more sacrifice in a long string of them. \emph{I am not,} Lily thought, as she stared at her elder son, the son with her eyes and her soul, \emph{any stranger to sacrifices.} + \begin{center}\rule{0.5\linewidth}{\linethickness}\end{center} +\newpage + Harry waited. His mother only went on looking at him, as though she didn't know whether to hug him or burst into tears or lunge away in @@ -15807,7 +15975,7 @@ burst into tears. And he let Draco escort him into the warmth and light of the Manor, because while there really was a dance for most everything, there wasn't a dance for this. -\subsection{*Chapter 28*: Interlude: Another +\chapter{*Chapter 28*: Interlude: Another Letter}\label{chapter-28-interlude-another-letter} Thank you so much for the response to the last chapter. I'm glad to know @@ -15864,7 +16032,7 @@ I remain, \emph{Severus Snape.} -\subsection{*Chapter 29*: Compulsion Against +\chapter{*Chapter 29*: Compulsion Against Compulsion}\label{chapter-29-compulsion-against-compulsion} And now, the chapter proper. @@ -15966,7 +16134,10 @@ Snape smiled. He knew it was not a pleasant smile, because his smiles were never pleasant, but it was the first one he had worn since Narcissa's letter had summoned him. ``Lead the way, Draco.'' + \begin{center}\rule{0.5\linewidth}{\linethickness}\end{center} +\newpage + Harry stirred slowly and opened his eyes. He recognized the effects of a sleeping draught in his unusually hazy mind and the way it took him two @@ -16271,7 +16442,10 @@ choose to be here, and I \emph{am} your friend, Harry. I promise." Harry closed his eyes and hung on, aware for the very first time of how much he really needed this. + \begin{center}\rule{0.5\linewidth}{\linethickness}\end{center} +\newpage + Snape watched the scene in silence, as Harry shook in Draco's embrace. His tears had dried up almost as soon as they arrived, but that didn't @@ -16383,7 +16557,10 @@ touched James, or Black.} \emph{It will be my pleasure to insure their destruction.} + \begin{center}\rule{0.5\linewidth}{\linethickness}\end{center} +\newpage + Harry paused warily at the entrance to the room. He had thought about not coming; the ritual that Lucius had used to request this meeting gave @@ -16518,7 +16695,10 @@ nonetheless. \emph{} + \begin{center}\rule{0.5\linewidth}{\linethickness}\end{center} +\newpage + \emph{January 2nd, 1994} @@ -16535,7 +16715,7 @@ It is time that you and I talked. \emph{Albus Dumbledore.} -\subsection{*Chapter 30*: I Have Been a Brother to +\chapter{*Chapter 30*: I Have Been a Brother to Wolves}\label{chapter-30-i-have-been-a-brother-to-wolves} Thank you for the responses on the last chapter. Poor Harry just doesn't @@ -16622,7 +16802,10 @@ about letting him go, and tried to say something. But Harry didn't stay long enough to hear what it was. He was afraid that it might break through the fragile shields that he was already building around himself. + \begin{center}\rule{0.5\linewidth}{\linethickness}\end{center} +\newpage + ``Mr. Potter, Severus. Please do come in.'' @@ -16971,7 +17154,10 @@ custody of a child from one guardian to another when all the forms hadn't been properly completed. It's a terrible thing. Keeps me awake at nights.'' + \begin{center}\rule{0.5\linewidth}{\linethickness}\end{center} +\newpage + Someone knocked on the door of Snape's office that night. Harry paused and looked up at Snape, who only shook his head back. He wasn't @@ -16990,7 +17176,10 @@ Remus, and he looked inclined to hex first and ask questions later. ``I want my memories back,'' said Remus softly. + \begin{center}\rule{0.5\linewidth}{\linethickness}\end{center} +\newpage + ``I know the ritual that you did to Lily,'' Remus explained, for the third time, at Snape's insistence. ``My father told me about it. And I @@ -17189,7 +17378,7 @@ with pain, and even his magic felt exhausted. ``Why didn't you say so?'' Snape let him go and strode towards the door. ``I want to watch.'' -\subsection{*Chapter 31*: Lady Lioness}\label{chapter-31-lady-lioness} +\chapter{*Chapter 31*: Lady Lioness}\label{chapter-31-lady-lioness} Thank you for all the responses yesterday, and the patience with the cliffhanger! @@ -17333,7 +17522,10 @@ the matter at least partly out of her hands. ``I hate you, Harry!'' + \begin{center}\rule{0.5\linewidth}{\linethickness}\end{center} +\newpage + Harry winced and closed his eyes, turning his head so that his chin rested on his shoulder. He supposed he should have expected his twin's @@ -17427,7 +17619,10 @@ Of course, without the surety of affection from his brother that he had based so much of that world on, it was a harder task than he had expected. And by now his head \emph{really} hurt. + \begin{center}\rule{0.5\linewidth}{\linethickness}\end{center} +\newpage + Minerva caught her own breath and scowled at the wizards sprawled or standing around the office. @@ -17610,7 +17805,10 @@ Connor\ldots{} She was surprised, therefore, when Harry lifted his head and shook it, lips pressed tightly together. + \begin{center}\rule{0.5\linewidth}{\linethickness}\end{center} +\newpage + Harry had already made his decision---long before he entered the room, actually, but in concrete fashion ever since he'd realized what he'd @@ -17661,7 +17859,10 @@ Snape was capable of releasing himself, of course, but if he did, then his anger was probably also severe enough to make him use wandless, nonverbal magic against Sirius and Connor. + \begin{center}\rule{0.5\linewidth}{\linethickness}\end{center} +\newpage + ``Drink.'' @@ -17820,7 +18021,10 @@ But beneath the incomprehension was a glimmer of warmth. \emph{This is more proof, I think, that he really does feel the affection he says he does.} + \begin{center}\rule{0.5\linewidth}{\linethickness}\end{center} +\newpage + Draco tore the wrapping away from his present and let out a crow. "Harry! Where did you \emph{find} one?" He turned the book around in his @@ -17896,7 +18100,7 @@ having it spoiled. Harry blinked and looked at the family clock, then smiled slightly. His hand was pointing firmly at PLOTTING. -\subsection{*Chapter 32*: Trelawney's Second +\chapter{*Chapter 32*: Trelawney's Second Prophecy}\label{chapter-32-trelawneys-second-prophecy} Thank you for the reviews yesterday! @@ -18082,7 +18286,10 @@ to love. Harry took a deep breath, nodded once, and then turned and walked back to school, hearing behind him the scamper of a rat's paws on the snow. + \begin{center}\rule{0.5\linewidth}{\linethickness}\end{center} +\newpage + ``Connor.'' @@ -18218,7 +18425,10 @@ else failed, to try and get Connor away from Lily and Sirius. ``Let's go, then,'' he said, and set off firmly in the direction of the gargoyle, leaving Percy to stumble after him. + \begin{center}\rule{0.5\linewidth}{\linethickness}\end{center} +\newpage + ``My dear boys.'' Harry marveled that the Headmaster could sound perfectly calm with Percy, red-faced and panting, and Harry, his body @@ -18375,7 +18585,10 @@ Dumbledore's expectant eyes. ``Fuck you very much, sir,'' he said quietly, and walked out of the office. + \begin{center}\rule{0.5\linewidth}{\linethickness}\end{center} +\newpage + ``Oooh, yes, dear,'' said Professor Trelawney excitedly, as she peered into Lavender Brown's carefully arranged leaves from around the lake. @@ -18481,7 +18694,10 @@ Hermione, who glared back at him. \emph{One day, she really is going to lose it at her,} Harry thought, as he leaned back and waited for the charade to end. \emph{But not today.} + \begin{center}\rule{0.5\linewidth}{\linethickness}\end{center} +\newpage + Harry left Divination early and by himself, as usual, but lingered near the bottom of the ladder to the Tower. He ought to be able to hear @@ -18606,7 +18822,10 @@ exactly the prophecy might have said about his brother. Of course it would be about him, since he was the one who had heard it, and the Boy-Who-Lived. + \begin{center}\rule{0.5\linewidth}{\linethickness}\end{center} +\newpage + That night, a new nightmare came hunting him. @@ -18650,7 +18869,7 @@ shapes had been less than silhouettes, and he had no reason to think this was true, or even that the dream meant anything---he believed that the shapes he had seen were those of a rat and a dog. -\subsection{*Chapter 33*: Gazing on +\chapter{*Chapter 33*: Gazing on Connor}\label{chapter-33-gazing-on-connor} Thank you for the reviews on the last chapter! @@ -18814,7 +19033,10 @@ something more than this was growing greater. Albus put the regrets away again, and wondered what wizards did who had never learned that ability. + \begin{center}\rule{0.5\linewidth}{\linethickness}\end{center} +\newpage + Harry wasn't surprised that Draco accompanied him to breakfast. The spider attack and the nightmare in early February had obviously @@ -19018,7 +19240,10 @@ beating, hard, with cautious hope. He might be able to reconcile with his brother. He might. + \begin{center}\rule{0.5\linewidth}{\linethickness}\end{center} +\newpage + At dinner the evening of the distasteful encounter with Weasley, Draco leaned back and scowled across the Great Hall at the chattering @@ -19086,7 +19311,10 @@ to emotional matters that concerned him. There were threats that he also didn't think to watch for, and this way other people could protect him without his peevish arguing. + \begin{center}\rule{0.5\linewidth}{\linethickness}\end{center} +\newpage + Snape was in a foul enough mood to actually welcome teaching the third-year Gryffindors and Slytherins as they tumbled into class that @@ -19215,7 +19443,10 @@ Potter was. truly the savior of the wizarding world, then we might as well hand ourselves over to the Dark Lord right now.} + \begin{center}\rule{0.5\linewidth}{\linethickness}\end{center} +\newpage + Minerva had to admit, as she checked to make sure that the teacups were in place on the desk and that she was sitting in a straight, upright @@ -19321,7 +19552,10 @@ want to make them lose me, too.'' He shut the door gently behind him. + \begin{center}\rule{0.5\linewidth}{\linethickness}\end{center} +\newpage + Remus forced himself to stop pacing. He had the Gryffindor and Hufflepuff third-years arriving for their Defense Against the Dark Arts @@ -19488,7 +19722,7 @@ coolly evaluating his classmates' reaction. he motioned Connor back and Ron forward. \emph{Since Harry's boggart, after all, was Connor lying dead because of his failure.} -\subsection{*Chapter 34*: A Visit From +\chapter{*Chapter 34*: A Visit From Dobby}\label{chapter-34-a-visit-from-dobby} Um. Cliffhanger at the end of this one, too. Sorry about that. @@ -19950,7 +20184,10 @@ had other obligations to attend to today, and the first of them was waiting for the sweep of a great horned owl's wings across the Slytherin table. + \begin{center}\rule{0.5\linewidth}{\linethickness}\end{center} +\newpage + Halfway through breakfast, Harry became aware that he wasn't the only one awaiting the appearance of Lucius's owl. Pansy and Millicent @@ -20080,7 +20317,10 @@ Or perhaps he could, but that didn't mean he \emph{should.} Harry shut his ears. He was not going to listen. He had a reconciliation with his brother to look forward to. + \begin{center}\rule{0.5\linewidth}{\linethickness}\end{center} +\newpage + Step, and step, and step, and then Harry completed the climb to the Owlery. He stood there for a moment, listening to the rustle of the @@ -20101,7 +20341,7 @@ controlled. Harry took a deep breath and turned to face his brother. ``Hello, Connor.'' -\subsection{*Chapter 35*: Choose, Harry}\label{chapter-35-choose-harry} +\chapter{*Chapter 35*: Choose, Harry}\label{chapter-35-choose-harry} Thank you for the reviews yesterday! Just as a note, I had slight trouble uploading today, but I will still post new chapters on my LJ @@ -20700,7 +20940,7 @@ to do it.} Calmly, he made his way down the Owlery steps. -\subsection{*Chapter 36*: Aftershocks}\label{chapter-36-aftershocks} +\chapter{*Chapter 36*: Aftershocks}\label{chapter-36-aftershocks} Thank you for the reviews yesterday! @@ -20769,7 +21009,10 @@ then his head would feel clear for a while--- Until the next time the impossible decision crept up on him. + \begin{center}\rule{0.5\linewidth}{\linethickness}\end{center} +\newpage + Hermione was in the middle of her Arithmancy homework when she began sneezing. She put the book down and pushed it out of the way of the @@ -20937,7 +21180,10 @@ Hermione nodded. "But \emph{how} brilliant?" Harry laughed. Hermione decided that she could stand not getting the answers to a few questions, since she was hearing that laugh. + \begin{center}\rule{0.5\linewidth}{\linethickness}\end{center} +\newpage + Albus stared out the window of his office as the last of Harry's light-show died. He continued watching for long moments before he @@ -21001,7 +21247,10 @@ thrown away. Regrets or not, he had a path to follow. Albus lifted his head and put on his best smile. ``Come in, Mr. Weasley.'' + \begin{center}\rule{0.5\linewidth}{\linethickness}\end{center} +\newpage + Luna didn't know why everyone around her was chattering about the blast of magic. It was perfectly \emph{obvious} that the blast of magic was @@ -21087,7 +21336,10 @@ happen if they drew their attention. necklace and picked up the book on Arithmancy she'd been reading again. \emph{So few of them see the world for what it is.} + \begin{center}\rule{0.5\linewidth}{\linethickness}\end{center} +\newpage + Remus jolted out of a doze as the magic swept the castle. He could \emph{smell} it, which was more than he'd been able to do in a long @@ -21154,7 +21406,10 @@ Dumbledore had given him clinked and shone. Remus found that he was no longer quite as joyful as he had been. + \begin{center}\rule{0.5\linewidth}{\linethickness}\end{center} +\newpage + Draco had planned many fine speeches for when Harry got back to the dungeons. @@ -21240,7 +21495,10 @@ off to think of his brother. It had been a long time coming. + \begin{center}\rule{0.5\linewidth}{\linethickness}\end{center} +\newpage + Snape judged the moment less by the magic he felt sweeping through the school and more by the pain in his Dark Mark. @@ -21306,7 +21564,10 @@ essay, was a glaring grammatical error. Snape marked it with a flourish. + \begin{center}\rule{0.5\linewidth}{\linethickness}\end{center} +\newpage + ``Millicent! Millicent, did you feel that?'' Pansy was practically babbling, and she'd fallen off the bed to the floor. @@ -21347,7 +21608,7 @@ some things done.} She wasn't Slytherin enough to conceal her smile. -\subsection{*Chapter 37*: Mastering +\chapter{*Chapter 37*: Mastering Himself}\label{chapter-37-mastering-himself} Thank you for all the reviews yesterday! Writing that many different @@ -21437,7 +21698,10 @@ don't think I should, interfere." Harry gave him a small smile. ``I know.'' + \begin{center}\rule{0.5\linewidth}{\linethickness}\end{center} +\newpage + ``Harry, come in,'' said Dumbledore as the door to his office opened. His voice was patient, calm, serene. Harry could tell it wasn't full of @@ -21814,7 +22078,10 @@ for telling me,'' and vanished into the Slytherin common room. He couldn't think about this right now, he reasoned, as he dragged his books out from his trunk. He had Charms homework to finish. + \begin{center}\rule{0.5\linewidth}{\linethickness}\end{center} +\newpage + ``Good,'' said Snape's voice, from somewhere beyond the barriers that Harry had set up. ``Now. Open your eyes, and tell me what you see.'' His @@ -21941,7 +22208,7 @@ Snape's eyes lit in interest, and he stepped back. "Ready, Harry? Harry allowed the intrusion, and settled himself to the task of making his incorrigible magic obey him. -\subsection{*Chapter 38*: On the Wings of the +\chapter{*Chapter 38*: On the Wings of the Storm}\label{chapter-38-on-the-wings-of-the-storm} Thank you for the reviews yesterday! That was a rather mild chapter. @@ -22063,7 +22330,10 @@ Pansy. She was having to pretend to her peers who didn't know about Hawthorn that she was upset with something else in the paper. Harry wanted to reassure her that she wasn't alone. + \begin{center}\rule{0.5\linewidth}{\linethickness}\end{center} +\newpage + By late Saturday afternoon, Harry had decided what else he would do. He'd drafted a letter to Scrimgeour explaining the situation, Starborn's @@ -22222,7 +22492,10 @@ year\ldots{}'' He ducked Draco's punch, grinning. It kept him from thinking about what it meant that Peter was apparently wearing yet another phoenix web. + \begin{center}\rule{0.5\linewidth}{\linethickness}\end{center} +\newpage + Harry yawned and knuckled at his eyes, then sat back with a sigh. Hermione had been right. Every single book with so much as a reference @@ -22350,7 +22623,10 @@ Snape to look at the spiders' jaws, if any are left.'' He pushed his magic back inside his skin, and then collapsed. Two icy arrows of venom rode his body towards his heart. + \begin{center}\rule{0.5\linewidth}{\linethickness}\end{center} +\newpage + Harry opened his eyes slowly. He knew he was in the hospital wing, because he remembered the spiders biting him, and where \emph{else} @@ -22541,7 +22817,10 @@ danced in the chaos he hadn't permitted them to assume earlier. \emph{I have a lot of things to think about.} + \begin{center}\rule{0.5\linewidth}{\linethickness}\end{center} +\newpage + Harry winced as Sirius bowled out of the Great Hall, obviously on the verge of yet another fight with Snape. At least Sirius had himself under @@ -22609,7 +22888,7 @@ hinders Dumbledore and makes Snape impossible to live with.} \emph{I am going to} fight. -\subsection{*Chapter 39*: Interlude: A Last +\chapter{*Chapter 39*: Interlude: A Last Warning}\label{chapter-39-interlude-a-last-warning} This Interlude more or less sets up the ending of the book. @@ -22684,7 +22963,10 @@ Yours in starlight and shadows, \emph{} + \begin{center}\rule{0.5\linewidth}{\linethickness}\end{center} +\newpage + \emph{April 10th, 1994} @@ -22717,7 +22999,7 @@ The Dark Lord has almost returned, Lucius. Now comes the night, and out of this darkness, there will be no morn. -\subsection{*Chapter 40*: Educating His +\chapter{*Chapter 40*: Educating His Brother}\label{chapter-40-educating-his-brother} Thank you for the reviews on the last chapter! This one is actually less @@ -22949,7 +23231,10 @@ pointed questions was about to occur. ``You're making our House look incredibly asinine and prejudiced, Connor.'' + \begin{center}\rule{0.5\linewidth}{\linethickness}\end{center} +\newpage + Hermione had been feeling like that for some time, really. @@ -23183,7 +23468,10 @@ Smith nodded to her, giving her one of those cool not-quite-smiles. Hermione nodded back and fell in beside him. She supposed Connor wasn't the only one who might need to revise his prejudices. + \begin{center}\rule{0.5\linewidth}{\linethickness}\end{center} +\newpage + ``Because I asked you to, Draco, that's why.'' Harry could feel his self-control slipping. He wanted to comfort Connor and slap him both at @@ -23352,7 +23640,7 @@ incredibly long way still to go.} \emph{He's my brother, and I love him.} -\subsection{*Chapter 41*: Walpurgis +\chapter{*Chapter 41*: Walpurgis Night}\label{chapter-41-walpurgis-night} Thank you for the reviews on the last chapter! I agree that it was @@ -23485,7 +23773,10 @@ studying for Charms again. \emph{I'm a Slytherin. I don't really} care \emph{what the letter says, but it might be good to} know\emph{, someday.} + \begin{center}\rule{0.5\linewidth}{\linethickness}\end{center} +\newpage + ``Harry, I wish you wouldn't,'' Draco whined. They were on their way back from the Owlery, where Harry had just attached his letter to Lucius @@ -23533,7 +23824,10 @@ our definitions of family.} \emph{Harry Potter.} + \begin{center}\rule{0.5\linewidth}{\linethickness}\end{center} +\newpage + ``How do we get there?'' Harry asked Millicent, as he waited with a milling group of Slytherin students later that night after dinner in the @@ -23855,7 +24149,10 @@ festival is just about to get started!'' Harry shook his head, braced himself, and plunged back into the fray. + \begin{center}\rule{0.5\linewidth}{\linethickness}\end{center} +\newpage + Hawthorn stepped forward, her hands held in front of her. Harry thought she was cradling something, but he couldn't be sure what it was. It @@ -24205,7 +24502,7 @@ She was smiling at him softly. Harry nodded, and let her pull him back into the circle of chattering Dark wizards and witches, part of him still free and gone flying. -\subsection{*Chapter 42*: You Cannot Afford Not to +\chapter{*Chapter 42*: You Cannot Afford Not to Listen}\label{chapter-42-you-cannot-afford-not-to-listen} Thank you for the reviews on the last chapter! @@ -24445,7 +24742,10 @@ Child Services. He had wanted them for another purpose, but they should serve this one: teaching him what children raised pureblood did beyond dance and watch each other like hawks. + \begin{center}\rule{0.5\linewidth}{\linethickness}\end{center} +\newpage + ``All right,'' said Connor suddenly. His lip was bitten from trying to stay silent in the face of Draco's taunts, and his cheeks were red, and @@ -24608,7 +24908,10 @@ really formed in his mind, in so many words: \emph{If Connor's the Boy-Who-Lived, then Voldemort's already won.} + \begin{center}\rule{0.5\linewidth}{\linethickness}\end{center} +\newpage + "Go to \emph{bed}, Harry," said Hermione, pausing behind him in the library. @@ -24726,7 +25029,10 @@ past Madam Pince. He had to see Snape, right away. + \begin{center}\rule{0.5\linewidth}{\linethickness}\end{center} +\newpage + Snape groaned as a sharp rap sounded on his office door. That someone was bothering him near---he glanced at his clock---eleven at night was @@ -24916,7 +25222,10 @@ Then he realized that he hadn't managed to assign Harry a punishment for leaving an illusion of himself asleep in Slytherin, and his curses shook the walls. + \begin{center}\rule{0.5\linewidth}{\linethickness}\end{center} +\newpage + Harry opened his eyes quickly and let out a long, slow breath, forcing himself to relax. Everything had gone well. He'd slipped back into @@ -24999,7 +25308,7 @@ unclench his jaw. He heard distant shouts, one of his name and one of Pain turned the world behind his eyes red, and then yellow, and then blue, slowly blooming into black. -\subsection{*Chapter 43*: Gone Round the +\chapter{*Chapter 43*: Gone Round the Twist}\label{chapter-43-gone-round-the-twist} Thank you for the reviews yesterday! @@ -25132,7 +25441,10 @@ half-listening for echoes of the voice as he did. It did not return. + \begin{center}\rule{0.5\linewidth}{\linethickness}\end{center} +\newpage + When he woke, Draco was there, and scowling at him. @@ -25227,7 +25539,10 @@ more tempting the more he thought about it. sounded affectionate rather than despairing. Harry was sure he felt a soft touch to his scar just before sleep claimed him. + \begin{center}\rule{0.5\linewidth}{\linethickness}\end{center} +\newpage + Harry leaned against the wall of the first floor corridor and let out a shaky breath. After he'd eaten lunch in the hospital wing and proven he @@ -25358,7 +25673,10 @@ first time in months, he regretted it. He turned and pursued his course back to the dungeons, in a more sober and thoughtful frame of mind than he had been since awakening. + \begin{center}\rule{0.5\linewidth}{\linethickness}\end{center} +\newpage + ``He said there was no way that we could keep him out of our heads as long as we still bore our connections to Voldemort,'' said Harry, eyeing @@ -25618,7 +25936,7 @@ As he hurried towards the second floor, Draco supporting him where necessary, ice raced along the walls beside him and behind him and ahead. -\subsection{*Chapter 44*: A Blow Up Between +\chapter{*Chapter 44*: A Blow Up Between Brothers}\label{chapter-44-a-blow-up-between-brothers} Thank you for the reviews yesterday! I'm afraid that I can't answer a @@ -25893,7 +26211,10 @@ Connor.'' Harry smoothed his face into desperation for the sake of the house elf's eyes, not that it was hard, and led the way out the door. + \begin{center}\rule{0.5\linewidth}{\linethickness}\end{center} +\newpage + Harry swore and banged his trunk shut. Draco glanced up, startled, from where he was studying the spider critically. He'd placed it on his bed @@ -26240,7 +26561,7 @@ And, right now, he had a plan to learn the second prophecy. left on his bed and one for the parchment, \emph{if I'm thinking right, I already did.} -\subsection{*Chapter 45*: Help From +\chapter{*Chapter 45*: Help From Hermione}\label{chapter-45-help-from-hermione} Last cliffhanger for a while. @@ -26846,7 +27167,7 @@ Connor and Sirius were waiting. Harry reached out and pushed the door open. -\subsection{*Chapter 46*: Danse Macabre}\label{chapter-46-danse-macabre} +\chapter{*Chapter 46*: Danse Macabre}\label{chapter-46-danse-macabre} Here we go. @@ -27506,7 +27827,7 @@ Then the light was gone, and they were left---Peter crouching as a rat in the corner, Connor sobbing near the remains of the circle, and Harry kneeling on the floor with his throat bleeding---in utter silence. -\subsection{*Chapter 47*: October 31, +\chapter{*Chapter 47*: October 31, 1981}\label{chapter-47-october-31-1981} I know this is the chapter a lot of people have been waiting for. Let's @@ -28279,7 +28600,7 @@ when he stood, then stood, and clasped Connor's hand more firmly. ``Let's get out of here,'' he said softly, and turned towards the door, and the future that waited beyond it. -\subsection{*Chapter 48*: Stand or Fall}\label{chapter-48-stand-or-fall} +\chapter{*Chapter 48*: Stand or Fall}\label{chapter-48-stand-or-fall} Posting tonight because I finished the chapter unexpectedly. That does mean there won't be another chapter so soon; Chapter 43 will come on my @@ -29055,7 +29376,7 @@ fault, Harry, you realize. You \emph{had} to kill him." ``Rest sounds good,'' said Harry, and dropped away into a blackness that was far less confusing than the world he had just made for himself. -\subsection{*Chapter 49*: Starborn}\label{chapter-49-starborn} +\chapter{*Chapter 49*: Starborn}\label{chapter-49-starborn} Thank you for the reviews yesterday and the day before for the chapter! @@ -29136,7 +29457,10 @@ him peer into his mind before collapsing, \emph{I will try.} \emph{As long as you wake up. Wake up, Harry.} + \begin{center}\rule{0.5\linewidth}{\linethickness}\end{center} +\newpage + Harry came awake slowly. @@ -29317,7 +29641,10 @@ believed it. \emph{As if I won't seize that with both hands.} + \begin{center}\rule{0.5\linewidth}{\linethickness}\end{center} +\newpage + Draco came prepared. He knew what Harry's confrontation with Snape had been like, because Snape had told him. He knew that it was going to be @@ -29535,7 +29862,10 @@ Then, and only then, did he allow himself to close his eyes and spend a few minutes just listening to Harry breathe, reassuring himself, with each drawn breath, that his best friend was still alive. + \begin{center}\rule{0.5\linewidth}{\linethickness}\end{center} +\newpage + ``That's the last of them, I think,'' Draco said. @@ -29769,7 +30099,10 @@ Hermione's, and gave his promise, in the name of Merlin and his magic. \emph{Should have remembered she was a Gryffindor,} he thought darkly. \emph{Showing them danger only makes them more eager to jump into it.} + \begin{center}\rule{0.5\linewidth}{\linethickness}\end{center} +\newpage + Harry woke slowly. He knew it was late, probably late Sunday evening, though he was still given to sleeping long stretches without warning, @@ -30047,7 +30380,10 @@ and see how the funeral was done. Harry reached for his robes. + \begin{center}\rule{0.5\linewidth}{\linethickness}\end{center} +\newpage + It hadn't taken them long to find Sirius's body. Narcissa had walked straight to it the moment they were out of the hospital wing. When Harry @@ -30168,7 +30504,7 @@ she left. He went to sleep smiling. -\subsection{*Chapter 50*: A Voice in the +\chapter{*Chapter 50*: A Voice in the Darkness}\label{chapter-50-a-voice-in-the-darkness} Thank you for the reviews yesterday! This is \emph{also} a longer @@ -30262,7 +30598,10 @@ Connor's intelligence. Honestly, he's a grown man, a professor, a former Death Eater who's seen far more of the world than Connor has. Isn't it about time for him to get over} his \emph{grudges?} + \begin{center}\rule{0.5\linewidth}{\linethickness}\end{center} +\newpage + Albus started when the knock came on the office door. He had been expecting it, of course, ever since Severus had swept into the school @@ -30705,7 +31044,10 @@ he could gain control if he ever needed it. swore vows to each other in the name of Merlin. \emph{Much better to subtly encourage Harry back into the shadows---should I need to.} + \begin{center}\rule{0.5\linewidth}{\linethickness}\end{center} +\newpage + Harry paused and eyed the portrait of the Fat Lady. ``I know that Hermione forgave me,'' he said, ``but how do the rest of your Housemates @@ -30923,7 +31265,10 @@ was coming from and be able to act at his discretion. \emph{Everyone wins,} Harry thought, and made his way back to the Gryffindor Tower, and his twin. + \begin{center}\rule{0.5\linewidth}{\linethickness}\end{center} +\newpage + ``I'm so sorry, Remus.'' @@ -31096,7 +31441,10 @@ eager note in his voice. \emph{It would be nice to see the sun again.} + \begin{center}\rule{0.5\linewidth}{\linethickness}\end{center} +\newpage + Harry woke slowly. Someone was shaking his shoulder, and it was the middle of the night. He sat up, rubbing his eyes, and heard Fawkes chirp @@ -31107,7 +31455,7 @@ wing. that Harry didn't understand until the next words. ``Your father's here. He says that he'd like to see you.'' -\subsection{*Chapter 51*: A Conversation With +\chapter{*Chapter 51*: A Conversation With James}\label{chapter-51-a-conversation-with-james} Thank you for the reviews yesterday! @@ -31171,7 +31519,10 @@ was here.} He reached out and opened the door of the hospital wing. + \begin{center}\rule{0.5\linewidth}{\linethickness}\end{center} +\newpage + James ran a hand down his face and told himself that he wasn't afraid of his own sons, damn it, and that he was \emph{too} awake enough to handle @@ -31624,7 +31975,10 @@ patiently awaiting his company. \emph{It's all been worth it,} James thought, \emph{to see him smile like that.} + \begin{center}\rule{0.5\linewidth}{\linethickness}\end{center} +\newpage + Draco was not able to understand, really, how all his neat plans for the summer had gone so horribly wrong. @@ -31801,7 +32155,10 @@ whispered. ``And good luck with Professor Snape.'' He felt Harry wince. ``Thanks. I'm going to need it.'' + \begin{center}\rule{0.5\linewidth}{\linethickness}\end{center} +\newpage + Snape blinked his eyes open slowly; he'd fallen asleep in his office again, over the last of the exams for the term. Someone was knocking on @@ -31999,7 +32356,10 @@ begin his research. \emph{If Harry will not take the proper steps against his father, against Lily, against Dumbledore, I will take them for him.} + \begin{center}\rule{0.5\linewidth}{\linethickness}\end{center} +\newpage + ``Ready, boys?'' diff --git a/tex/NoMouthButSomeSerpents.tex b/tex/NoMouthButSomeSerpents.tex index 9ecfae9..29b15ca 100644 --- a/tex/NoMouthButSomeSerpents.tex +++ b/tex/NoMouthButSomeSerpents.tex @@ -9,8 +9,6 @@ \maketitle \tableofcontents -\chapter{No Mouth But Some Serpent's}\label{no-mouth-but-some-serpents} - % \textbf{Story:} No Mouth But Some Serpent's\\ % \textbf{Storylink:} \url{https://www.fanfiction.net/s/2612486/1/}\\ % \textbf{Category:} Harry Potter\\ @@ -28,7 +26,7 @@ % year two people learned the truth about Harry\ldots{} and this year, two % more will. COMPLETE -\chapter{*Chapter 1*: The Scabbed Summer}\label{chapter-1-the-scabbed-summer} +\chapter{The Scabbed Summer}\label{chapter-1-the-scabbed-summer} ``Harry, are you all right?'' @@ -282,6 +280,7 @@ Her contented hissing resounded in his mind a moment later. Harry fought back the desire to be sick, and went on petting her. \begin{center}\rule{0.5\linewidth}{\linethickness}\end{center} +\newpage ``Mum! Mum!'' @@ -488,7 +487,7 @@ food for Sylarana, who was indicating that Connor-flesh would taste quite good if there weren't Chocolate Frogs about. \begin{center}\rule{0.5\linewidth}{\linethickness}\end{center} - +\newpage Lily sighed. She had performed every detection charm she could think of, and nothing had shown up. Imperius shifted from foot to food and gave her a look of quiet disgust, then took wing for the impromptu owlery in @@ -566,15 +565,7 @@ she thought and dared not say. \emph{When you hold me like this, then I can believe that everything's going to be all right, and I don't have to believe in Dark Lords.} -\chapter{*Chapter 2*: Old Family -Rivalries}\label{chapter-2-old-family-rivalries} - -Wow, thank you very much for the warm reception! Responses to reviews -will be up in my LJ in a few hours. - -For now, enjoy the second chapter! - -\textbf{Chapter Two: Old Family Rivalries} +\chapter{Old Family Rivalries}\label{chapter-2-old-family-rivalries} ``Ron!'' @@ -881,7 +872,7 @@ He was especially grateful that his brother wasn't there when he saw what the Malfoys had bought him. \begin{center}\rule{0.5\linewidth}{\linethickness}\end{center} - +\newpage ``I---I can't accept it, Mrs. Malfoy,'' Harry stammered, staring down at the Nimbus 2001 broomstick that he held in his hands. ``It's too much. Please. I can't---I feel embarrassed. I haven't done anything to deserve @@ -937,7 +928,7 @@ Harry spared a brief moment to hope that things would be simpler when he got to Hogwarts, or else he did fear that he would go mad. \begin{center}\rule{0.5\linewidth}{\linethickness}\end{center} - +\newpage ``Such a commotion,'' said Lucius, curling his lip, as they came into Flourish and Blotts a few hours later. @@ -1069,7 +1060,7 @@ Harry held onto the book. He didn't know what it was, but he would study it until he did. \begin{center}\rule{0.5\linewidth}{\linethickness}\end{center} - +\newpage ``Dear? You're smirking.'' Lucius smiled at his wife and murmured, ``I'm well,'' before he returned @@ -1091,16 +1082,7 @@ their way back to the Leaky Cauldron and the nearest Apparition point, \emph{than to have it in such a child's hands. At the very least, the results will be interesting.} -\chapter{*Chapter 3*: A Touch of -Sirius}\label{chapter-3-a-touch-of-sirius} - -Wow. I am shocked by the enthusiasm for this story. Hopefully I'll -continue to meet people's high expectations. Thank you for letting me -know that you like it so much! - -A few important scenes in this chapter. Also, Sirius is Irresponsible. - -\textbf{Chapter Three: A Touch of Sirius} +\chapter{A Touch of Sirius}\label{chapter-3-a-touch-of-sirius} ``Hello, Harry.'' @@ -1334,7 +1316,7 @@ Once he'd done that, Harry felt a few inches better, and went outside to give his Locusta what she wanted. \begin{center}\rule{0.5\linewidth}{\linethickness}\end{center} - +\newpage ``Harry! How's my favorite godson?'' ``Hi, Sir---'' was all Harry got out before his godfather half-crushed @@ -1540,7 +1522,7 @@ implicit one: he was forgiven for not being there today when Connor needed him to be. \begin{center}\rule{0.5\linewidth}{\linethickness}\end{center} - +\newpage ``Come \emph{on}, Sirius! We're going to be late!'' Harry studied his brother closely as Connor ran on ahead through King's @@ -1734,13 +1716,7 @@ on. \emph{Yes,} Sylarana agreed, her tone not nearly so complimentary. -\chapter{*Chapter 4*: Snape Baiting}\label{chapter-4-snape-baiting} - -Thank you for the reviews! Responses will be in my LJ. - -I love this chapter. It's ugly, but it's true. - -\textbf{Chapter Four: Snape-Baiting} +\chapter{Snape Baiting}\label{chapter-4-snape-baiting} Sirius brought the bike lower as they came in towards Hogwarts, much to Harry's relief. They could see the castle glittering across the lake @@ -2104,7 +2080,7 @@ to take in Snape's expression. He knew that he wouldn't see anything valuable there. \begin{center}\rule{0.5\linewidth}{\linethickness}\end{center} - +\newpage Snape had never been in such a foul mood, and he knew it. \emph{Now if only the recipient of said foul mood knew it, too.} @@ -2187,7 +2163,7 @@ away with it. He found the weakness during the third week of school. \begin{center}\rule{0.5\linewidth}{\linethickness}\end{center} - +\newpage Snape was patrolling the corridors near the dungeons---something he trusted not even the Slytherin prefects to do properly---when he heard a low, continuous, disturbing sound. It made his spine stiffen with @@ -2633,7 +2609,7 @@ dark figures, or Tom Riddle. Neither came. For once, he slept soundly. \begin{center}\rule{0.5\linewidth}{\linethickness}\end{center} - +\newpage Harry leaned in through the doors of the Great Hall and checked the House tables one more time. He nodded to himself. He didn't think every student was there yet, since it was only halfway through breakfast, but @@ -2839,7 +2815,7 @@ do. He let Connor escort him with an arm around his shoulders, and they followed the Headmaster to his office. \begin{center}\rule{0.5\linewidth}{\linethickness}\end{center} - +\newpage ``Sit down, boys. Would you like a sweet?'' Connor accepted eagerly, though without taking his arm from around @@ -2997,7 +2973,7 @@ and in relief that this had turned out so much better than it could have, went with him. \begin{center}\rule{0.5\linewidth}{\linethickness}\end{center} - +\newpage Dumbledore sighed and sank back in his seat, putting one hand over his face. Fawkes, the phoenix, gave a questioning trill from his perch, then flew over and landed on his friend's shoulder when Dumbledore said @@ -3036,16 +3012,7 @@ There was another wizard he must speak to, about choices and sacrifices and how he could help the Light, given that he was in a unique position to do so. -\chapter{*Chapter 6*: Moons and Wouldbe -Stars}\label{chapter-6-moons-and-wouldbe-stars} - -Ah, good, the last chapter worked in with the rest of the story instead -of changing it entirely. We are back on track now. - -Thank you again for the reviews! Review responses up in LJ this -afternoon. - -\textbf{Chapter Six: Moons and (Would-be) Stars} +\chapter{Moons and Wouldbe Stars}\label{chapter-6-moons-and-wouldbe-stars} ``Do you think he'll use the snake to cheat on exams?'' @@ -3369,7 +3336,7 @@ chattering around him. A glance back showed Luna marching determinedly down the corridor, wand tucked behind her left ear, alone. \begin{center}\rule{0.5\linewidth}{\linethickness}\end{center} - +\newpage ``Why did you look so smug to have detention?'' Harry whispered to Draco as soon as they were seated in Defense. Lockhart hadn't arrived yet, which made Harry happy. When he was in the room, it was hard to @@ -3643,16 +3610,7 @@ grown up around Dark magic and then fought it as an Auror. \emph{After lunch,} he decided. \emph{I'll go and talk to Sirius then.} -\chapter{*Chapter 7*: Lessons In -Courage}\label{chapter-7-lessons-in-courage} - -Thank you so much for the reviews! I'm happy that so many readers are -happy with Luna and the Slytherins' reaction to Harry's abilities. -Responses will be up in my LJ in a short time. - -This chapter has teeth. Sorry about that. - -\textbf{Chapter Seven: Lessons In Courage} +\chapter{Lessons In Courage}\label{chapter-7-lessons-in-courage} Harry slipped rapidly down the second floor hallway to the office that Dumbledore had given Sirius. He had abandoned lunch early, which had @@ -3866,7 +3824,7 @@ He lengthened his strides, rubbing at his scar, which had begun to burn faintly again. Then he heard a startled hiss from Sylarana. \begin{center}\rule{0.5\linewidth}{\linethickness}\end{center} - +\newpage Harry opened his eyes slowly, carefully. It felt as though they'd been gummed together by sleep for a long time. His head hurt. He glanced around and didn't understand what he saw. He was lying in a bed in the @@ -4286,7 +4244,7 @@ He turned over, made himself comfortable, and let his mind drift into darkness. \begin{center}\rule{0.5\linewidth}{\linethickness}\end{center} - +\newpage Snape waited until he was back in his office to let his stoic face slip. Then he drew his wand, conjured a dueling target, and flung hexes at it, one after another, charring it and melting its limbs, scarring and @@ -4350,21 +4308,11 @@ You stand not alone.} \emph{The trouble, of course, will be making you see it.} -\chapter{*Chapter 8*: Interlude: Lily's -Letter}\label{chapter-8-interlude-lilys-letter} - -Thank you for the reviews! Review responses up in my LJ in a little -while. - -This is an Interlude chapter, and therefore short, but a new full-length -chapter will be up in just a few moments. They are both Depressing, just -to warn you. - -\textbf{Interlude: Lily's Letter} +\chapter{Interlude: Lily's Letter}\label{chapter-8-interlude-lilys-letter} \emph{October 7th, 1992} -Dear Harry: +\noindent Dear Harry: I have heard from both Sirius and Headmaster Dumbledore that Professor Snape wants you to take Occlumency lessons with him. Sirius, of course, @@ -4409,13 +4357,7 @@ I love you, my son, and know that you will make the right decision. \emph{Lily Evans Potter.} -\chapter{*Chapter 9*: What A Tangled Web We -Weave}\label{chapter-9-what-a-tangled-web-we-weave} - -This chapter is part of the reason that I see the book definitely -getting darker. - -\textbf{Chapter Eight: What a Tangled Web We Weave} +\chapter{What A Tangled Web We Weave}\label{chapter-9-what-a-tangled-web-we-weave} ``Someone's coming,'' rasped a low, urgent voice from ahead. @@ -4567,7 +4509,7 @@ Occlumency lesson with Snape. But he had promised his mother to try to be as cool and composed as possible. He had to be, for Connor's sake. \begin{center}\rule{0.5\linewidth}{\linethickness}\end{center} - +\newpage Snape raised an eyebrow when Harry and Draco came in just before he would have closed the classroom doors, but he said nothing---until Harry turned to take his usual seat beside Neville Longbottom. Then his @@ -4693,7 +4635,7 @@ Snape eyed him once, then turned away. Neville let out a shaky breath. shrivelfig. ``He stands me.'' \begin{center}\rule{0.5\linewidth}{\linethickness}\end{center} - +\newpage Harry let out a deep breath, put his anger in the box---this was for Connor---and knocked on the door to Snape's office. @@ -4931,7 +4873,7 @@ Harry didn't see any reason to respond to that, since Snape already knew what he would say. He pulled open the door and left. \begin{center}\rule{0.5\linewidth}{\linethickness}\end{center} - +\newpage Snape Transfigured the mattress back into the floor, moved his desk and chairs into their rightful places, and reversed his earlier Vanishment spell, summoning the potions back to their proper place. He did all that @@ -5034,15 +4976,7 @@ any bloody Potter.} It was not entirely true, but he made it be true for right now, and turned to his own preparations before bed. -\chapter{*Chapter 10*: That Sharp Spark of -Betrayal}\label{chapter-10-that-sharp-spark-of-betrayal} - -Thank you for the reviews on both the Interlude and Chapter 9! I'll put -up review responses in my LJ later today. - -I didn't like writing this chapter. I think I did it well, but it hurts. - -\textbf{Chapter Nine: That Sharp Spark of Betrayal} +\chapter{That Sharp Spark of Betrayal}\label{chapter-10-that-sharp-spark-of-betrayal} Harry's hand darted out, snatching the Snitch as it tried to bolt around him, and Flint bellowed twice, signaling an end to the Quidditch @@ -5258,7 +5192,7 @@ Harry rolled his eyes. ``Wait here, then,'' he said, and went in to shower. \begin{center}\rule{0.5\linewidth}{\linethickness}\end{center} - +\newpage ``She's beautiful, Harry,'' said Hagrid appreciatively, caressing Sylarana's scales. He looked as though he were barely keeping himself from picking up and cuddling the Locusta, much to Harry's surprise. It @@ -5346,7 +5280,7 @@ looking at Connor and Draco again. At least the afternoon was a success for two of them, he thought. \begin{center}\rule{0.5\linewidth}{\linethickness}\end{center} - +\newpage Harrysped up a little as they came closer to Hogwarts. Connor and Draco had started to bicker on the way back from Hagrid's cottage, and it was growing steadily louder and more annoying. That they were bickering @@ -5663,7 +5597,7 @@ tucking up all the anguish, all the pain, all the exhaustion, and putting them into the box. \begin{center}\rule{0.5\linewidth}{\linethickness}\end{center} - +\newpage Harry blinked and woke. He didn't know how much later it was, though judging from the cramped state his body was in, he'd slept without moving for a good long time. On his chest, Sylarana hissed at him. @@ -5719,18 +5653,7 @@ beware!} Beside the puddle, just under the writing, lay the motionless body of Luna Lovegood. -\chapter{*Chapter 11*: Fugitivus -Animus}\label{chapter-11-fugitivus-animus} - -Thank you for the reviews, especially on the last chapter! Many were -detailed and thoughtful. Review responses will be up in my LJ later this -afternoon. - -I can safely say now that this book will be longer than \emph{Saving -Connor}, since the chapters don't want to contract in length, and now -there are \emph{more} of them. - -\textbf{Chapter Ten: \emph{Fugitivus Animus}} +\chapter{Fugitivus Animus}\label{chapter-11-fugitivus-animus} Harry turned as he heard footsteps coming up the hall. He knew who it would be. It was about time for the Halloween Feast to let out, and this @@ -5923,7 +5846,7 @@ hadn't napped at all. gentle, and led him off. \begin{center}\rule{0.5\linewidth}{\linethickness}\end{center} - +\newpage ``Ah, Minerva, young Harry. Do come in. Have a seat. Lemon drop, Minerva?'' @@ -6152,7 +6075,7 @@ figures. And he did, and he passed into slumber and darkness. \begin{center}\rule{0.5\linewidth}{\linethickness}\end{center} - +\newpage ``Mr. Potter. Come in. Take your place in front of the mattress.'' The office looked much the same as it had for the last lesson, but @@ -6328,7 +6251,7 @@ One thing was certain, however. The box was not going to be enough anymore. Harry had to find something else. \begin{center}\rule{0.5\linewidth}{\linethickness}\end{center} - +\newpage Harry sighed softly and slumped back in his seat. He'd been in the library for the past three hours, and hadn't found any spells that sounded like what he was looking for, even granted that he was looking @@ -6404,16 +6327,7 @@ right. Every move he made was anticipated, tracked, and turned aside. He needed to figure out some way of keeping his vows, and until he came up with a better one, the \emph{Fugitivus Animus} spell was it. -\chapter{*Chapter 12*: Threats and -Throws}\label{chapter-12-threats-and-throws} - -Thank you once again to all my reviewers! Questions and such will be -addressed in my LJ later. - -The plot takes another bound here, as Harry talks with his family and -tries to throw the Quidditch game. - -\textbf{Chapter Eleven: Threats and Throws} +\chapter{Threats and Throws}\label{chapter-12-threats-and-throws} Harry never wanted to go through a week like that again. The sooner he mastered the \emph{Fugitivus Animus} spell, the better. @@ -6552,7 +6466,7 @@ the Slytherin-Gryffindor Quidditch game that Saturday. At least he knew that he'd be able to control what happened. \begin{center}\rule{0.5\linewidth}{\linethickness}\end{center} - +\newpage Harry closed his eyes and pushed open the door of Sirius's office. The voices inside stopped speaking at once. He knew that several pairs of eyes had turned to him, but it was a long moment before he managed to @@ -6824,7 +6738,7 @@ then he was finally going to put them to good use, in the service of the Light. \begin{center}\rule{0.5\linewidth}{\linethickness}\end{center} - +\newpage Harry was confident, as he swooped and turned and tumbled through the air, in a way that he had not been at last year's Gryffindor-Slytherin Quidditch game. @@ -7053,7 +6967,7 @@ out how to do it, and I should have some time alone in the hospital wing. I'll tell Madam Pomfrey that I'm tired.} \begin{center}\rule{0.5\linewidth}{\linethickness}\end{center} - +\newpage Harry woke, alone, in the middle of the night, his repaired right arm curled over his chest and Sylarana curled on top of it, and blinked. It was a long moment before he could remember what he'd been thinking of. @@ -7066,14 +6980,7 @@ Harry told himself that he hadn't expected them to. When the anger would not go away, he relegated it to the box, without waking Sylarana, and then went back to sleep, levelheaded and serene. -\chapter{*Chapter 13*: Paralysis}\label{chapter-13-paralysis} - -Thank you very much for the reviews for the last chapter! Review -responses in LJ this afternoon as per usual. - -And \emph{on} we go. - -\textbf{Chapter Twelve: Paralysis} +\chapter{Paralysis}\label{chapter-13-paralysis} \emph{Harry isn't going to like this.} @@ -7488,7 +7395,7 @@ went. The only good thing he could hear behind him was the crack that meant Harry had let Dobby go. \begin{center}\rule{0.5\linewidth}{\linethickness}\end{center} - +\newpage Harry stared at where Draco had been, and then closed his eyes. \emph{That did not go well.} @@ -7649,14 +7556,7 @@ darkness. ``Tom Riddle is hiding in the box.'' -\chapter{*Chapter 14*: A Grim Hope}\label{chapter-14-a-grim-hope} - -Thank you for the response to the last chapter! I'm so glad that so many -people liked it. Review responses will be up in my LJ later. - -Now, this chapter, I enjoyed writing. - -\textbf{Chapter Thirteen: A Grim Hope} +\chapter{A Grim Hope}\label{chapter-14-a-grim-hope} Later, Snape reflected that it would have all gone far differently if Draco hadn't caught him before he could bundle Harry into his office. @@ -8260,14 +8160,7 @@ had taken Harry to his office and Draco had not stopped him. But, he was inclined to think as he tried not to feel hope, the way they had fallen out was better. -\chapter{*Chapter 15*: Paying the -Piper}\label{chapter-15-paying-the-piper} - -Thanks again for the reviews! Look in LJ later for my review responses. - -Wow, when Harry changes, he really\ldots{}changes. - -\textbf{Chapter Fourteen: Paying the Piper} +\chapter{Paying the Piper}\label{chapter-15-paying-the-piper} Harry told himself he was ready when someone knocked on the door of Snape's office. @@ -8520,7 +8413,7 @@ with warm feathers. Harry knew that might not be an entirely positive thing, but for now he would enjoy it. \begin{center}\rule{0.5\linewidth}{\linethickness}\end{center} - +\newpage ``Ah, my dear boy,'' said Dumbledore. He was sitting behind his desk when they entered, and leaned across the desk, smiling pleasantly, when he saw them. ``Minerva, leave us, please. I would like to speak to Mr. @@ -8859,15 +8752,7 @@ change. Given that, I can handle it, surely.} He ignored the part of him that hummed and sang in his magic, that enjoyed the emotions, and wanted to make the change more permanent. -\chapter{*Chapter 16*: No One Ever Notices a -Hufflepuff}\label{chapter-16-no-one-ever-notices-a-hufflepuff} - -Reviews up in LJ later this afternoon! Thank you again! - -Well. I \emph{like} this chapter, since it advances three subplots as -well as the main one. - -\textbf{Chapter Fifteen: No One Ever Notices a Hufflepuff} +\chapter{No One Ever Notices a Hufflepuff}\label{chapter-16-no-one-ever-notices-a-hufflepuff} \emph{\ldots{}never knew that there would be such a problem with one of my sons acting Gryffindor\ldots{}just can't understand why you would do @@ -9018,7 +8903,7 @@ his mind, so that it would slither around in the darkness and not bother him for a while. \begin{center}\rule{0.5\linewidth}{\linethickness}\end{center} - +\newpage By Friday, Harry felt as though he had gained some semblance of control over his swimming emotions. It wasn't perfect, of course, and it still disconcerted him when he uncovered something he had never suspected he @@ -9222,7 +9107,7 @@ lunch, but in the three hours in between, Draco had to make his apologies in complicated sign language, which entertained Harry. \begin{center}\rule{0.5\linewidth}{\linethickness}\end{center} - +\newpage Someone tapped him on the shoulder. Harry turned around carefully, his hands full of the pot containing the Mandrake. He assumed that someone wanted to use the raw dirt, which he was standing in front of. By now, @@ -9471,15 +9356,7 @@ Riddle. He found himself smiling, and ignored the bubbling curiosity from Draco and Sylarana for right now. Sometimes, it was nice to have a secret. -\chapter{*Chapter 17*: Battle Plans}\label{chapter-17-battle-plans} - -Thank you for all the responses on the last chapter! Review responses up -in LJ later. - -For now, enjoy this chapter, and Harry's attitude. Or not, as it pleases -you. - -\textbf{Chapter Sixteen: Battle Plans} +\chapter{Battle Plans}\label{chapter-17-battle-plans} Harry knocked on the door to Snape's office in high good humor, and felt the man's presence inside his mind grow cruel with suspicion. Harry was @@ -9969,7 +9846,7 @@ holidays. He climbed. \begin{center}\rule{0.5\linewidth}{\linethickness}\end{center} - +\newpage ``Of course, my dear boy,'' Dumbledore agreed calmly. ``I would have suggested your staying here over the holidays myself, if you had not. I think that Hogwarts's wards are the best protection for you in any @@ -10090,7 +9967,7 @@ He and Dumbledore were not allies, not really, not yet. But they were something like it. \begin{center}\rule{0.5\linewidth}{\linethickness}\end{center} - +\newpage Fawkes barely waited until the door had closed behind Harry before giving a trill of disapproval and turning his back. @@ -10129,15 +10006,7 @@ often twelve years ago during the height of the First War with Voldemort. As the Second War began, it was only natural that he would begin dreaming of them again. -\chapter{*Chapter 18*: Comes the -Test}\label{chapter-18-comes-the-test} - -Review responses up later! Thank you for so many responses, and such -detailed ones! - -And here we \emph{go}. This chapter was a \emph{blast} to write. - -\textbf{Chapter Seventeen: Comes the Test} +\chapter{Comes the Test}\label{chapter-18-comes-the-test} Harry was standing before the dark figures in his nightmare again, one screaming in a confined space, the other whimpering in a larger one, and @@ -10260,7 +10129,7 @@ piece of him, would be different. But Harry was confident, now, that he could face it. \begin{center}\rule{0.5\linewidth}{\linethickness}\end{center} - +\newpage ``All right there, Potter?'' Harry blinked and looked up. A green tinge had covered his eyes since he @@ -10774,15 +10643,7 @@ Snape's cold voice, ``I will escort Mr. Potter to the hospital wing.'' \emph{More like carry,} Harry thought, and then he was gone. -\chapter{*Chapter 19*: Recovery}\label{chapter-19-recovery} - -Thank you for all the reviews! I'm glad that most people enjoyed the -chapter as much as I did. Review responses up in my LJ later. - -This is now definitely the eighteenth chapter of 31, not counting the -interludes. - -\textbf{Chapter Eighteen: Recovery} +\chapter{Recovery}\label{chapter-19-recovery} Harry opened his eyes slowly. The hospital wing bed was not uncomfortable, but he could feel the sheets scraping against him when he @@ -11164,7 +11025,7 @@ to ask him to make yet. If we just ignore it, then we can pretend we're untroubled for a little while longer.} \begin{center}\rule{0.5\linewidth}{\linethickness}\end{center} - +\newpage Snape was waiting for them when they got back to the hospital wing. He narrowed his eyes at Harry and glided forward from the bed, his robes sweeping behind the way Harry imagined the basilisk's tail moving. ``And @@ -11372,7 +11233,7 @@ nagging guilt that, once again, he'd failed to convince Snape of Connor's importance. \begin{center}\rule{0.5\linewidth}{\linethickness}\end{center} - +\newpage Snape stood watching Harry for long moments after the boy's eyes had closed. He found himself grateful that Harry had not awakened until a week after his battle, for all that Snape had been more certain with @@ -11422,14 +11283,7 @@ Besides, Snape had to do \emph{something} to keep up appearances now that he had decided the bet with Black had also been a mistake on his part. -\chapter{*Chapter 20*: Coterie}\label{chapter-20-coterie} - -Thank you for the reviews! Review responses up later. - -All good things must come to an end eventually\ldots{}but not in this -chapter. - -\textbf{Chapter Nineteen: Coterie} +\chapter{Coterie}\label{chapter-20-coterie} Harry didn't like what he had to do. @@ -11935,7 +11789,7 @@ along, his brains still scrambled, trying to decide how he was going to rescue Connor from the depths of his own stupidity. \begin{center}\rule{0.5\linewidth}{\linethickness}\end{center} - +\newpage ``Harry. I need to talk to you.'' Harry turned around, his eyes wide. He had gone into the shelves to @@ -12032,7 +11886,7 @@ Harry shoved that thought away. He thought of Draco's Christmas present instead, and the expression he would wear when he received it. \begin{center}\rule{0.5\linewidth}{\linethickness}\end{center} - +\newpage As it turned out, his first expression was puzzlement. He held up the crystalline bottle Harry had given him and tilted it back and forth, staring at the lights in it. The lights had turned out rather well, @@ -12074,15 +11928,7 @@ understand Draco anyway, and started reading again, while the light in the bottle alternated steadily between green and gold. Draco never took his eyes off it. -\chapter{*Chapter 21*: Lockhart's Very Special -Idea}\label{chapter-21-lockharts-very-special-idea} - -Thank you again for all the reviews! Review responses up in my LJ in a -bit. - -Still not the end of the good stuff. Hee! - -\textbf{Chapter Twenty: Lockhart's Very Special Idea} +\chapter{Lockhart's Very Special Idea}\label{chapter-21-lockharts-very-special-idea} ``Connor, if you would just listen to me---'' Harry began soothingly, hoping it would stop the spiraling, out-of-control mania that his @@ -12262,7 +12108,7 @@ Harry didn't respond. What she said was true enough, but so obvious that he didn't think it interesting. \begin{center}\rule{0.5\linewidth}{\linethickness}\end{center} - +\newpage ``Excuse me! I have a special announcement to make!'' Harry blinked and turned his eyes up to the staff table, where Professor @@ -12676,16 +12522,7 @@ Harry took great delight in pointing this out, and even greater delight in running down the dungeon corridors while Draco chased him yelling threats. -\chapter{*Chapter 22*: A Renewal of -Bonds}\label{chapter-22-a-renewal-of-bonds} - -Thank you for the reviews on the last chapter! Review responses up in a -little while. - -I adore this chapter. It is not entirely happy, but it makes Harry -happy. - -\textbf{Chapter Twenty-One: A Renewal of Bonds} +\chapter{A Renewal of Bonds}\label{chapter-22-a-renewal-of-bonds} Harry glanced up and caught Lockhart's eye a moment before he knocked his books and his ink off his table. The ink bounced and sprayed in @@ -12759,10 +12596,8 @@ measure. She just smirked back at him, her eyes sharp with curiosity. him. He couldn't have grown too far away from what he was supposed to be, if he was still nervous about the attention. -\emph{} - \begin{center}\rule{0.5\linewidth}{\linethickness}\end{center} - +\newpage \emph{Did you see the look on his face?} Sylarana asked as they walked towards Lockhart's office on Sunday. She was wrapped around Harry's neck, for once, flashes of her golden scales visible where his robes @@ -13342,16 +13177,7 @@ others would question. in Slytherin, but I belong with Connor, too. They're just going to have to learn to accept each other.} -\chapter{*Chapter 23*: A Gryffindor Among the -Slytherins}\label{chapter-23-a-gryffindor-among-the-slytherins} - -Thank you again for the reviews! I'm glad that so many people liked that -chapter. Review responses will be up in my LJ later. - -Meanwhile, Harry plays politics, and tries to convince Connor to play -them. - -\textbf{Chapter Twenty-Two: A Gryffindor Among the Slytherins} +\chapter{A Gryffindor Among the Slytherins}\label{chapter-23-a-gryffindor-among-the-slytherins} ``No,'' said Justin. @@ -13378,9 +13204,9 @@ I don't believe that he's suddenly a different person.'' ``He's not,'' said Harry, quashing his annoyance at Justin. He was better at controlling his temper than ever now, after living without the box for two months. Besides, it had probably been something he said, -some odd wording he'd used, that made Justin react this way. "But he +some odd wording he'd used, that made Justin react this way. ``But he \emph{is} sorry. He was worried about thinking I was the Boy-Who-Lived, -and that influenced his judgment." He wasn't going to tell anyone about +and that influenced his judgment.'' He wasn't going to tell anyone about Connor's compulsion gift until his brother was ready to announce it to the school in general. ``Really, Justin, I promise that he'll try hard not to act like a git. Can you find it in your heart to forgive him?'' @@ -13390,10 +13216,10 @@ not to act like a git. Can you find it in your heart to forgive him?'' ``Obviously,'' said Harry, before he could stop himself. The other wizard gave him a small smile. ``We could forgive him, as you -call it, for acting like a prat,'' he said. "\emph{If} it was just +call it, for acting like a prat,'' he said. ``\emph{If} it was just anything he'd said about our House or one of us, and he hasn't said much. But he hurt \emph{you}, Harry. And we find it a lot harder to -forgive when someone hurts one of our friends." +forgive when someone hurts one of our friends.'' Harry blinked. He would not have thought of that objection himself, left a decade to do it in. ``But I forgave him, Justin.'' Maybe he hadn't @@ -13405,7 +13231,7 @@ months of dodging around you and trying to make you look bad? You think that excuses lying to his friends about visiting you in the hospital wing?'' -"Not \emph{excuses}, as such," said Harry. ``Just\ldots{}I understood +``Not \emph{excuses}, as such,'' said Harry. ``Just\ldots{}I understood why he did it.'' He shrugged. ``And since I've forgiven him, and I was the one most directly affected, it would look odd for you to go on disliking him, wouldn't it?'' @@ -13429,8 +13255,8 @@ either way, I think he'll make a poor leader. He didn't even notice he was alienating people, from what you said. You'd make a better one.'' He paused and waited to see what Harry would say to that. -``It doesn't matter what might or might not happen,'' said Harry. "He -\emph{has} to be the leader, because he's the Boy-Who-Lived." +``It doesn't matter what might or might not happen,'' said Harry. ``He +\emph{has} to be the leader, because he's the Boy-Who-Lived.'' ``I told you, I don't know much about that,'' Zacharias said amiably. ``But I know a little about leadership. My mum took me to watch the @@ -13500,7 +13326,7 @@ expected would be suspicious, just because of the House rivalry, but why the Hufflepuffs? I don't understand.} \begin{center}\rule{0.5\linewidth}{\linethickness}\end{center} - +\newpage Harry braced himself and stepped into the Slytherin common room. He was going to speak with Draco, Blaise, Vince, and Greg again. Their last confrontation about Connor had escalated into screaming (on Draco's @@ -13636,14 +13462,14 @@ pureblood history myself.'' ``Yet you were shocked when you were put in Slytherin?'' Flint's voice had a sneer to it now. -Harry flicked him a glance. "My brother is the Boy-Who-Lived. I'm a +Harry flicked him a glance. ``My brother is the Boy-Who-Lived. I'm a Potter, and we've \emph{always} been Gryffindors. Family is important, -isn't it? You'd probably stand by yours no matter what?" +isn't it? You'd probably stand by yours no matter what?'' Flint nodded slowly, a faint gleam of appreciation in his eyes. -``So, yes, I was shocked,'' said Harry, and then shrugged. "But I accept -that I'm a Slytherin now. +``So, yes, I was shocked,'' said Harry, and then shrugged. ``But I accept +that I'm a Slytherin now.'' ``That doesn't mean that I'm about to abandon my brother. That wouldn't be very loyal to my family at all. And it's no good trying to pretend to @@ -13671,8 +13497,8 @@ quite understand the expressions that crept over most of the Slytherins' faces, expressions of reverence and awe, but he could use them. ``Agreeable?'' -"\emph{Of course,}" she said. "\emph{For all that I love being so close -to your skin, your sleeve does get hot and stuffy sometimes.}" +``\emph{Of course,}'' she said. ``\emph{For all that I love being so close +to your skin, your sleeve does get hot and stuffy sometimes.}'' Harry nodded and held up his arm so that Sylarana's scales flashed in the firelight. She hissed at everyone, darting her tongue out to taste @@ -13713,7 +13539,7 @@ back. They seemed to think he was impressive. as he got ready for bed. \emph{That'll be impressive.} \begin{center}\rule{0.5\linewidth}{\linethickness}\end{center} - +\newpage ``But I don't think that the Chudley Cannons stand a chance of winning against the Montrose Magpies, of course,'' said Draco in a bright, chatty voice. ``What do you think, Potter?'' @@ -13917,7 +13743,7 @@ drive a little wedge between them that didn't need to be there. ``I want to race you,'' said Connor, and that sealed it. \begin{center}\rule{0.5\linewidth}{\linethickness}\end{center} - +\newpage Harry and Connor stood on the far end of the Quidditch Pitch, each with his broom lying beside him on the grass. It was an unexpectedly pretty day, with the sky a very sharp, pale blue, and looking higher than @@ -13932,7 +13758,7 @@ is going to be fun.'' clenching in misery, and Sylarana's soothing thoughts did little to help him. -"\emph{Tempus!}" Draco intoned from the far side of the pitch, and a +``\emph{Tempus!}'' Draco intoned from the far side of the pitch, and a small hourglass appeared in the air beside him, filled with tiny grains of sand. One would fall for each second it took them to race, Harry knew. @@ -13999,16 +13825,7 @@ sooner or later.} And, abruptly, he knew what the next step was. -\chapter{*Chapter 24*: Two Snakes in the Lions' -Den}\label{chapter-24-two-snakes-in-the-lions-den} - -Thank you very much for the reviews! Responses up in my LJ later. - -\ldots{}And then there's this chapter. Which is not going to change the -whole course of the plot, but which I envisioned turning out rather -differently. \emph{Honestly}, story. - -\textbf{Chapter Twenty-Three: Two Snakes in the Lions' Den} +\chapter{Two Snakes in the Lions' Den}\label{chapter-24-two-snakes-in-the-lions-den} ``You are not visiting Gryffindor Tower without me,'' Draco declared, looking as though Harry had decreed he was going to go jump off the @@ -14058,11 +13875,11 @@ no memories except a very few of his childhood. ``What?'' Draco croaked at last. Harry glanced up at him. ``I thought we could visit Gryffindor Tower -together,'' he said. "It's not going to make enough of an impression if +together,'' he said. ``It's not going to make enough of an impression if I go by myself. The Gryffindors are uncertain right now, shifting around. They don't know \emph{what} to think. And I think having someone they associate for sure with Slytherin among them will make it more -difficult to ignore what House we come from." +difficult to ignore what House we come from.'' ``What if I said that I don't want to go now, and I don't want you to go, either?'' Draco folded his arms and glared mutinously at him. @@ -14078,10 +13895,10 @@ annoyed so far. I could, you know.'' ``That wasn't just my idea,'' Draco protested. ``I know that. But you're the one who cares the most if I'm annoyed with -you,'' said Harry. "And you \emph{participated} in it. You made sure +you,'' said Harry. ``And you \emph{participated} in it. You made sure that I couldn't get to Connor in time, along with the rest of them. And I heard you buttering him up about his performance in the last Quidditch -match. You were trying to set him up for a fall, weren't you?" +match. You were trying to set him up for a fall, weren't you?'' Draco turned his head sulkily away. @@ -14092,18 +13909,18 @@ book. Harry ignored him. -"Harry? \emph{Please} don't ignore me." The absolute desperation in his -voice made Harry twitch, but he didn't turn back around. "All right, it +``Harry? \emph{Please} don't ignore me.'' The absolute desperation in his +voice made Harry twitch, but he didn't turn back around. ``All right, it was a stupid idea. And all right, we can visit Gryffindor Tower. Just don't be annoyed with me. \emph{Please}. I went through that in the -first weeks of last term, and I can't tell you how I suffered." The bed +first weeks of last term, and I can't tell you how I suffered.'' The bed beside Harry dipped, and an arm wound through his. ``Please?'' Harry sighed and clasped Draco's hand, glancing up at him. ``Tell me what you were trying to do with that race.'' ``Separate you from your brother,'' Draco admitted, without enough of a -flush for Harry's taste. "Harry, I don't understand why you want the +flush for Harry's taste. ``Harry, I don't understand why you want the Houses to unite so badly. We can learn to tolerate the Gryffindors---maybe. But does it have to be \emph{right now}? And does it have to be behind Connor? I think you're pushing this too fast. @@ -14112,7 +13929,7 @@ Connor was a prat, and now suddenly you're back together and pushing pretty openly for us to join Dumbledore's side---Connor's side, I suppose, if you want to look at it that way. You \emph{know} it's not that simple. You're not the only one doing a balancing act in Slytherin, -you know. There's my father, for me." +you know. There's my father, for me.'' Harry blinked once, then twice. ``Then you admit your father was a Death Eater?'' he asked at last. ``And not under Imperius?'' @@ -14124,13 +13941,13 @@ Draco winced and glanced away from him. ``I don't know,'' Draco whispered. ``I think that it's likely, at least, and isn't that enough for right now?'' He abruptly buried his head in Harry's shoulder, and shivered once, a bone-deep tremble that seemed to -run from his shoulders to his toes. "I don't \emph{know} what to do. I -can't give up being a Malfoy. I love my parents." +run from his shoulders to his toes. ``I don't \emph{know} what to do. I +can't give up being a Malfoy. I love my parents.'' ``I would never expect you to give up being a Malfoy, or to stop loving them,'' Harry began gently. -``But I can't give you up, either,'' said Draco. "I \emph{can't}." +``But I can't give you up, either,'' said Draco. ``I \emph{can't}.'' Harry shifted around so that he wasn't twisted in quite so awkward a position, and draped his arms around Draco's shoulders. Sylarana hissed @@ -14178,7 +13995,7 @@ you help me?'' Draco smiled at him. ``You know, all you had to do was ask.'' \begin{center}\rule{0.5\linewidth}{\linethickness}\end{center} - +\newpage ``Mr. Potter.'' Startled, Harry turned. He was just leaving Defense Against the Dark @@ -14346,7 +14163,7 @@ including his new goal for the time he left. It was time to see how well Connor had made up with his Housemates. \begin{center}\rule{0.5\linewidth}{\linethickness}\end{center} - +\newpage ``Honeysuckle,'' said Harry to the portrait of the Fat Lady, and she swung outward, though she was still staring at the Slytherin crests on their robes as though she couldn't believe they were there. @@ -14433,8 +14250,8 @@ How's your month been?'' ``Less eventful than it seems yours has been,'' Harry muttered back to her. ``Did Connor not apologize?'' -``Not enough,'' said Hermione tartly. "He did \emph{that} to me, and -then he just thought he could wave it off." +``Not enough,'' said Hermione tartly. ``He did \emph{that} to me, and +then he just thought he could wave it off.'' ``He did what?'' Draco asked in interest. @@ -14453,18 +14270,18 @@ biting his lip and fiddling with his hands. ``I'm sorry,'' he said. ``I'm trying. But it's an uphill struggle with some people.'' He scowled at Hermione. -"You were in my \emph{head}," said Hermione, standing up and putting her +``You were in my \emph{head},'' said Hermione, standing up and putting her hands on her hips. Harry, for the first time, reflected that she could be intimidating when she wanted to be, and not only because of her -intelligence. "And then you tried to make a \emph{joke} out of it. I -don't \emph{like} that." Her voice was rising, and heads were turning +intelligence. ``And then you tried to make a \emph{joke} out of it. I +don't \emph{like} that.'' Her voice was rising, and heads were turning all over the common room. Or perhaps they'd always been turned, Harry reflected, and he was noticing their gazes more. ``I didn't mean to do it, though,'' said Connor, a flush coming into his cheeks. ``Doesn't that mean anything to you?'' -"Not when you treat it as a \emph{joke.}" +``Not when you treat it as a \emph{joke.}'' Harry stood up in alarm. Hermione's friendship with Connor mattered to him, or he would never have tried to compel her belief in the first @@ -14481,7 +14298,7 @@ which Harry was grateful. ``Maybe making it a joke wasn't the best thing you could have done with Hermione.'' He shrugged. ``It worked with me, but I'm different.'' -"You're a \emph{boy}," Hermione uttered direly, as if that explained +``You're a \emph{boy},'' Hermione uttered direly, as if that explained everything. Ron glanced at her nervously, then looked back at Connor. ``Yeah, and @@ -14489,7 +14306,7 @@ girls want apologies,'' he said. ``I apologized.'' Connor looked stubborn. -"Not the right \emph{way.}" Hermione stamped her foot. +``Not the right \emph{way.}'' Hermione stamped her foot. Harry shot a quick glance around the Gryffindor common room. He saw interest on many faces, but not a whole lot of sympathy. He sighed. It @@ -14501,8 +14318,8 @@ won't take all that much more time, and then I think Hermione would think of you better.'' He looked at Hermione, to see if this was actually the case. -Hermione nodded. ``Well, a little, anyway,'' she added. "And then it -wouldn't be a bloody \emph{joke} to him." +Hermione nodded. ``Well, a little, anyway,'' she added. ``And then it +wouldn't be a bloody \emph{joke} to him.'' Harry winced. When Hermione swore, things were serious. @@ -14540,9 +14357,9 @@ Ron tightened the clasp of his hand on Connor's shoulder. ``Don't, mate,'' he said. ``He's not worth it.'' -``I heard that, Weasley,'' said Draco. "I am \emph{too} worth it." +``I heard that, Weasley,'' said Draco. ``I am \emph{too} worth it.'' -"Will you \emph{shut up}?" Harry appealed to Draco, and then faced +``Will you \emph{shut up}?'' Harry appealed to Draco, and then faced Connor. ``Please, Connor. You know what Draco's like. And you know what Hermione's like.'' He paused, considered rephrasing the question, and in the end decided he had to know what Connor's answer would be when it was @@ -14553,8 +14370,8 @@ you knew she wouldn't take it well?'' himself. ``But he's not the same person as Hermione,'' Harry pointed out, -controlling his exasperation with an effort. "Never mind that he's a boy -and she's a girl, she's a \emph{different person}, Connor." +controlling his exasperation with an effort. ``Never mind that he's a boy +and she's a girl, she's a \emph{different person}, Connor.'' Connor bit his lip. Harry could see him struggling with the temptation to admit that he knew that, to admit that he'd been wrong, and that his @@ -14569,15 +14386,15 @@ just take a joke?'' and Ron. ``Many times a day, I say to myself, Fred, why can't anyone just take a joke?'' -``That's right,'' said a second voice. "And I say to myself, George, +``That's right,'' said a second voice. ``And I say to myself, George, \emph{anyone} ought to be able to take a joke, especially people who -complain about others not being able to take a joke." +complain about others not being able to take a joke.'' ``Right,'' said Fred's voice. ``And when they don't---'' ``Then we show them up. Ready, Fred?'' -"Ready, George. \emph{Exhibeo!}" +``Ready, George. \emph{Exhibeo!}'' Connor's robes, and the clothes under them, abruptly shimmered and turned transparent. He gave a shriek and tried to cover himself, @@ -14585,7 +14402,7 @@ hunching over as though he thought that would protect him. It couldn't protect him from the shocked laughter already ringing out across the common room, of course, laughter that even Ron was apparently having trouble refraining from joining in. Of course, he turned around in the -next moment and bellowed, "\emph{Fred! George!}" +next moment and bellowed, ``\emph{Fred! George!}'' ``Yes, Ronnie-kins?'' asked one of the twins. Harry, pulling off his own robe to toss around his brother, saw them both standing behind Connor @@ -14644,7 +14461,7 @@ sitting on Gryffindor furniture. Luckily, he followed Harry without much prompting, and without, most importantly, saying anything until they were outside the portrait. -Then he said, "I \emph{told} you he was still being a prat." +Then he said, ``I \emph{told} you he was still being a prat.'' Harry scowled. ``You made it worse,'' he said. ``Well, you, and Hermione, and the twins.'' He started back to the dungeons at a pace @@ -14659,8 +14476,8 @@ until he changes towards other people and not just you.'' caring. Draco gripped his arm, forcing him to stop. ``Yes, he did,'' he said -calmly, meeting Harry's eyes. "And the sooner you make \emph{him} see -that, the better off everyone will be." +calmly, meeting Harry's eyes. ``And the sooner you make \emph{him} see +that, the better off everyone will be.'' Harry nodded. Perhaps he \emph{did} need to have another talk with Connor, before all was said and done. @@ -14700,17 +14517,7 @@ Harry threw that thought through one of the holes in his mind not yet filled with the Occlumency fog. There were some things he refused to think. -\chapter{*Chapter 25*: The Past Comes Home to -Roost}\label{chapter-25-the-past-comes-home-to-roost} - -Thank you for the reviews! Responses will be in my LiveJournal (which is -linked from my profile/bio; I had a few questions about that). - -And I'm sorry for all the mysterious and new stuff in this chapter, but -I'm really going to need it for the end of this book and the third one. -Don't you want to drive yourself crazy with guessing? - -\textbf{Chapter Twenty-Four: The Past Comes Home to Roost} +\chapter{The Past Comes Home to Roost}\label{chapter-25-the-past-comes-home-to-roost} Harry let his breath out slowly, and didn't know if he was doing it in the physical world or in the dream. All he knew was that he was @@ -14756,7 +14563,7 @@ Part of him marveled at how calm he was being about it all. \emph{Well. I can panic when I'm awake.} -"Hold \emph{still}!" said Riddle, his voice a whipcrack, as he flew +``Hold \emph{still}!'' said Riddle, his voice a whipcrack, as he flew around Harry, attempting to grab him. Harry ducked again, and he heard Riddle let out an audible, huffing breath. ``Or are you too frightened to stand your ground?'' he taunted. @@ -14787,16 +14594,16 @@ Harry sat up in his bed, feeling it wrong that the room was still dark around him. It had been so bright in his mind. Sylarana stirred on his shoulder, and said, in a voice loud enough to -wake his Housemates, "\emph{He came for the box. He was aiming for it.}" +wake his Housemates, ``\emph{He came for the box. He was aiming for it.}'' Harry nodded. He had not been able to see that, not in the chaos of battle, but he had guessed it. He was more interested in something else, though. ``What was that light and song in my head? Did you cause that?'' -"\emph{I had nothing whatsoever to do with that,}" said Sylarana, and +``\emph{I had nothing whatsoever to do with that,}'' said Sylarana, and performed a looping motion with her head and tail that Harry had learned -was her equivalent of a shrug. "\emph{I would not have arranged for a -defense so showy.}" +was her equivalent of a shrug. ``\emph{I would not have arranged for a +defense so showy.}'' Harry chuckled, but most of his mind was busy with the voice---the singing voice, not Tom Riddle's. There had been little surprise in @@ -14806,9 +14613,9 @@ there, still a threat. ``I know I've heard something sing like that before,'' he whispered. ``What?'' -"\emph{I don't know, and I don't care."} He could feel Sylarana sliding -gently through his mind, poking at the webs. "\emph{It doesn't look as -though you've taken any damage. Go back to sleep. I certainly will.}" +``\emph{I don't know, and I don't care.}'' He could feel Sylarana sliding +gently through his mind, poking at the webs. ``\emph{It doesn't look as +though you've taken any damage. Go back to sleep. I certainly will.}'' Harry nodded, absently, and then lay back down. He would have to go to Dumbledore tomorrow, and tell him about the attack. Perhaps he could @@ -14821,7 +14628,7 @@ Harry wondered where it could have been hiding, even as he fell back asleep at last. \begin{center}\rule{0.5\linewidth}{\linethickness}\end{center} - +\newpage ``Professor Lockhart, I need to go see the Headmaster,'' said Harry in the middle of Defense Against the Dark Arts the next day, and yet another quiz on yet another one of Lockhart's interminable books. @@ -14837,8 +14644,8 @@ option, should Lockhart displease him. Such as by keeping him in class when he asked to see the Headmaster. Harry could see the exact moment when Lockhart figured it out. He waved -a hand at Harry. ``Off you go, then,'' he said. "But you'll miss the -next exciting revelation from \emph{Year with the Yeti.}" +a hand at Harry. ``Off you go, then,'' he said. ``But you'll miss the +next exciting revelation from \emph{Year with the Yeti.}'' ``I'll try to hurry back, then, sir,'' Harry said, not letting any of his sarcasm into his voice, and ignoring Draco's gaze on his back, too. @@ -14972,12 +14779,12 @@ Dumbledore nodded at Fawkes. ``As Fawkes is my familiar, he had some influence on the spells as they were cast. There is a remnant of that influence within you, Harry. It will be even stronger with your brother, of course, given that his wand actually contains one of Fawkes's -feathers, and so does Voldemort's wand. I am sorry,'' he repeated. "We +feathers, and so does Voldemort's wand. I am sorry,'' he repeated. ``We wished to preserve you from the possible dangers of sharing this kind of bond with your twin, but since you \emph{are} twins, and not only brothers by blood, the connection is extremely hard to block. It seems so far that the bond has protected you only, and for that I am pleased -and grateful. But please do not rely on it." +and grateful. But please do not rely on it.'' Fawkes uttered a low croon this time. When Harry looked at him sideways, he found the phoenix's head bowed, pressed against his neck so that it @@ -15013,9 +14820,9 @@ there. Dumbledore cleared his throat. ``Given that we cannot trust the spell contamination to protect you again, Harry, I think it is time to turn to -weapons that can.'' He leaned forward and stared intently at Harry. "You +weapons that can.'' He leaned forward and stared intently at Harry. ``You must understand how important this is. Voldemort \emph{must not} be able -to turn you against your brother." +to turn you against your brother.'' Harry opened his mouth to say that he would never turn against his brother, then shut it again. That was the whole point of Dumbledore @@ -15026,10 +14833,10 @@ being turned. Dumbledore reached behind him and drew forth a long, slim sword from a glass case on the wall that Harry hadn't even noticed. He held it solemnly towards Harry. ``This is the Sword of Gryffindor,'' he said. -"When Tom Riddle was a student here, he several times took books from +``When Tom Riddle was a student here, he several times took books from the library that contained information on the Founders' artifacts, and I believe that he tried to, ah, \emph{acquire} the sword several times -before he was finally convinced not to try again." Dumbledore's eyes +before he was finally convinced not to try again.'' Dumbledore's eyes gleamed, and Harry wondered for a moment just who had convinced him; he thought he knew. ``I believe he was interested in it for a reason. It is a powerful artifact. Do you think you could use it to defeat him?'' @@ -15093,8 +14900,8 @@ door behind himself. \emph{Not at all what I expected of a phoenix, and especially Dumbledore's familiar.} \begin{center}\rule{0.5\linewidth}{\linethickness}\end{center} - -"\emph{Protego!}" +\newpage +``\emph{Protego!}'' Harry waved his wand and cast the spell perfectly, enunciating every syllable with what he knew was total control. The armband was clasped @@ -15103,7 +14910,7 @@ snugly around his upper left arm. He could feel it as he waved his wand. Nothing happened. The shield simply snapped into place and hovered there in front of him. -"\emph{Finite Incantatem,}" said Harry, disgusted, and watched the +``\emph{Finite Incantatem,}'' said Harry, disgusted, and watched the shield fade. ``Well, not defensive magic, then,'' Sirius murmured soothingly from the @@ -15154,7 +14961,7 @@ armband works with now.'' ``Wandless,'' said Harry. ``Or is it only wandless and nonverbal?'' More carefully this time, he looked at the apple in Sirius's hand. -"\emph{Accio} Sirius's apple." +``\emph{Accio} Sirius's apple.'' Once again, he felt the warmth, and then a wild surge of power. The apple darted out of Sirius's hand and towards him. Harry barely caught @@ -15162,23 +14969,23 @@ it in time. He bit into the side that Sirius hadn't touched, feeling vindicated. ``That's mine,'' said Sirius, but it was a mild protest. He was still -staring cross-eyed at Harry. ``That's it, then,'' he breathed. "None of +staring cross-eyed at Harry. ``That's it, then,'' he breathed. ``None of us thought to try it with raw magic, or wandless. Of course, none of us could perform wandless magic but Snape anyway, and like we were going to trust \emph{him} with something like this. And perhaps it really does -work only for wandless magic performed by Parselmouths." +work only for wandless magic performed by Parselmouths.'' -"\emph{Yes}," Sylarana said abruptly, making Sirius jump badly as she +``\emph{Yes},'' Sylarana said abruptly, making Sirius jump badly as she emerged from the collar of Harry's robe and slithered under his sleeve -to nudge at the armband. "\emph{It is no accident that it bears the +to nudge at the armband. ``\emph{It is no accident that it bears the image of a serpent, and that the black coating is made of scales. It was made to call only to the magic that other wizards considered Darkest and most primal, magic performed without a wand in the minds of those who -could speak to beasts.}" Sylarana flicked her tongue out, and Harry felt -it against his skin, still warm from the armband. "\emph{But that is +could speak to beasts.}'' Sylarana flicked her tongue out, and Harry felt +it against his skin, still warm from the armband. ``\emph{But that is only the knowledge that comes from the thing itself.} Beasts, \emph{indeed. Something like the basilisk is. But some of us are more -civilized.}" +civilized.}'' ``What did she say?'' Sirius's voice was still incredulous, as though he couldn't believe he was asking what a snake had to say. @@ -15194,11 +15001,11 @@ having a trace of serpent in them. Hard as Sirius was trying to understand, Harry didn't trust him not to make an unfortunate remark. Sirius came forward abruptly and embraced him. ``Don't look at me like -that, Harry,'' he whispered into his ear. "Lily explained everything to +that, Harry,'' he whispered into his ear. ``Lily explained everything to me. It's \emph{fine}. I'm living proof that you can grow up with a touch of the Dark in you and still turn out fine. And Peter came from a good home, was wonderfully taken care of and pampered and spoiled and had all -our friendship, and look where he is. In Azkaban." His hands tightened +our friendship, and look where he is. In Azkaban.'' His hands tightened on Harry's shoulders. ``I won't reject you again, I swear it.'' Harry breathed out shallowly and nodded, daring to hold Sirius back. He @@ -15207,7 +15014,7 @@ forced his mind past the moment, to concentrate on what really mattered. \emph{At least I have a weapon to use against Tom Riddle.} \begin{center}\rule{0.5\linewidth}{\linethickness}\end{center} - +\newpage The boy was unusually distracted tonight, Snape thought, which was probably the reason that he was able to push past Harry's defenses and enter his mind so easily. That was no longer a simple task. Of course, @@ -15276,12 +15083,12 @@ the good. ``What is the web of light in your thoughts, Potter?'' he asked. -Harry blinked. "You \emph{saw} it?" he blurted. +Harry blinked. ``You \emph{saw} it?'' he blurted. -Snape sneered. ``Control, Mr. Potter, control,'' he said. "Yes, I saw +Snape sneered. ``Control, Mr. Potter, control,'' he said. ``Yes, I saw it. If you reveal it when you lower your guard, then I can only instruct you not to trust me. We \emph{must} guard your mind at all costs if -Riddle is attempting to find his way in again." \emph{We cannot have +Riddle is attempting to find his way in again.'' \emph{We cannot have Voldemort taking over the body and magic of the Boy-Who-Lived,} he added, but only inwardly. He was glad that he had made the choice not to try and convince Harry of that again. Harry had dedicated a good portion @@ -15351,20 +15158,12 @@ He scowled as what Harry had said about Dumbledore's words returned. ``Old friend,'' he whispered as he opened the first book, \emph{Side-Effects of the Dark Arts.} ``What have you done now?'' -\chapter{*Chapter 26*: Over Easter -Holidays}\label{chapter-26-over-easter-holidays} - -Thank you for the reviews on the last chapter! Review responses up in LJ -later. - -Well, \emph{damn}. - -\textbf{Chapter Twenty-Five: Over Easter Holidays} +\chapter{Over Easter Holidays}\label{chapter-26-over-easter-holidays} Draco was fussing and whining about Harry not coming to Malfoy Manor for Easter, and he'd been doing it since yesterday, so Harry was paying more attention to his breakfast than Draco when the other boy abruptly -gripped his arm. ``Look,'' he breathed. "What's \emph{he} doing here?" +gripped his arm. ``Look,'' he breathed. ``What's \emph{he} doing here?'' Harry looked up, blinking, but saw no one looming in front of their table; he'd assumed Connor had come over to visit, from Draco's @@ -15454,7 +15253,7 @@ was an insult to feed or pay a formal owl, so Harry hadn't tried. He watched as the great bird skimmed to the window and rose out of sight. \begin{center}\rule{0.5\linewidth}{\linethickness}\end{center} - +\newpage ``Come on, Harry!'' Connor yelled from the bottom of the stairs. He'd been permitted into the Slytherin common room, though not actually into the room covered with clutter from five busily packing Slytherin boys. @@ -15465,8 +15264,8 @@ Harry scooped the last of his clothes into his trunk and hugged Draco one-armed. Sylarana was on the other arm, sleeping so deeply that Harry didn't want to disturb her. Draco turned his head sulkily away. -``I'll see you when the summer term begins,'' Harry reminded him. "It's -not as if it's that long, Draco. You \emph{know} it isn't." +``I'll see you when the summer term begins,'' Harry reminded him. ``It's +not as if it's that long, Draco. You \emph{know} it isn't.'' ``But you could have come to the Manor,'' said Draco. ``You could have spent time with me outside of school. And you didn't.'' @@ -15477,7 +15276,7 @@ take.} ``I spent Christmas with you,'' he said. ``And last Christmas with you. And now I want to know what my parents have been keeping from me, why they didn't come to visit me at Christmas, and what they'll say to Connor. I've no doubt that I'm due some scolding, too.'' He shook his -head. "I \emph{need} to see my family, Draco." +head. ``I \emph{need} to see my family, Draco.'' Draco closed his eyes. ``I know,'' he said in a small voice. ``But every time I lose sight of you, I'm afraid that you might not come back.'' @@ -15498,7 +15297,7 @@ them any more. I know it's not much, but it's knowledge.'' Draco swallowed once, then said, ``All right.'' He looked as if he would have said more, but Connor yelled from the bottom of the stairs again. -"Harry! Come \emph{on}!" +``Harry! Come \emph{on}!'' Harry smiled slightly at Draco and levitated his trunk behind him. He had to hurry back, though, for the small object and letter he'd hidden @@ -15613,15 +15412,15 @@ right hand. It was becoming tricky, juggling those things and the books while trying not to wake Sylarana, but he would be rid of the stone and the letter in a moment. -``Well---no,'' said Connor. "But I'm not acting a particular way because +``Well---no,'' said Connor. ``But I'm not acting a particular way because that's my House and that's how people expect me to act. I really -\emph{am} Gryffindor, Harry." He gave his brother a winning smile. +\emph{am} Gryffindor, Harry.'' He gave his brother a winning smile. Harry could see where this was going, and that it would all end in tears, and he decided he needed to say it anyway. He had been mistaken in trying to direct how Connor related to everyone else in the school. But he could refuse to live up to his brother's misconceptions. ``And -this is how I am, Connor,'' he said. "I \emph{am} Slytherin." +this is how I am, Connor,'' he said. ``I \emph{am} Slytherin.'' Connor froze and turned to stare at him. Harry met his gaze as steadily as he could. Of course, after a moment, shame overcame him, and he @@ -15630,8 +15429,8 @@ them, though they were still too far away for his godfather to hear what Connor said next. ``I thought---then there's something wrong, Harry,'' Connor began -slowly. "I thought all Slytherins were false and fake and only cared -about money and blood status. I thought most of them were \emph{evil.}" +slowly. ``I thought all Slytherins were false and fake and only cared +about money and blood status. I thought most of them were \emph{evil.}'' He bit his lip. ``So either I was right in what I thought earlier this year and you're evil, or I was wrong about Slytherins. And how can either be true?'' @@ -15641,9 +15440,9 @@ had a chance to make this right, as long as he didn't screw it up. ``Connor,'' he whispered. ``Which do you think is true? If one thing or the other has to be true, which do you choose?'' -Connor stared back at him, his eyes widening. Then he said, "But I +Connor stared back at him, his eyes widening. Then he said, ``But I \emph{can't} be wrong about Slytherins, Harry! How can I be? Dad and -Sirius always told me how evil they were!" +Sirius always told me how evil they were!'' Harry closed his eyes and was conscious of his heart beating rapidly in his ears, over and over again, like the sound of velvet being crushed. @@ -15689,7 +15488,7 @@ over.} \emph{Harry Potter.} \begin{center}\rule{0.5\linewidth}{\linethickness}\end{center} - +\newpage ``Harry!'' Harry looked up with a smile of pleasure. Remus had finally joined them; @@ -15710,10 +15509,10 @@ whatever it was that you wrote in your letter to Sirius. It was brilliant. Thank you. He's been treating me a lot better since he got it.'' -Remus growled slightly. "And so he should be. If it was anyone else, +Remus growled slightly. ``And so he should be. If it was anyone else, then I might have been able to believe the way he was treating you at first, but \emph{Sirius}, of all people! I'm very glad that he changed -his mind." He embraced Harry, actually managing to lift him from the +his mind.'' He embraced Harry, actually managing to lift him from the ground. Harry hid his surprise. He always forgot how strong Remus was until he actually saw him demonstrate it. ``He told me that he was doing better, in his letters,'' Remus whispered in his ear, ``but I didn't @@ -15752,17 +15551,17 @@ out and accuse one of your oldest friends of abusing her elder son---'' ``Abusing?'' Harry spluttered. He should have asked their mother to tell Remus at once, he realized. Then he would not have had ridiculous ideas -like this. "That's not true at all, Remus! She's given me extra +like this. ``That's not true at all, Remus! She's given me extra training. Taught me wandless magic and pureblood customs and so on. It -was all things I \emph{wanted} to learn." +was all things I \emph{wanted} to learn.'' Remus opened his eyes, and though his gaze was mild, it still felt as if it cut right through Harry, which he didn't consider fair. ``Why?'' -``Why, what?'' Harry rubbed his head. It hurt. "Why did I want to learn +``Why, what?'' Harry rubbed his head. It hurt. ``Why did I want to learn them? I've \emph{always} wanted to learn things, Remus, you know that. I'm kind of surprised that I didn't end up in Ravenclaw, come to think -of it---" +of it---'' ``Not that,'' said Remus. ``Why was she training you in it? It would have made more sense to train Connor, if she really wanted him ready to @@ -15793,7 +15592,7 @@ calling him, but he couldn't respond. The fire was loose, and burning every corner of him, and over all of it rode the ringing phoenix song. \begin{center}\rule{0.5\linewidth}{\linethickness}\end{center} - +\newpage ``Harry.'' He heard the voice, but he didn't want to answer it. He huddled in the @@ -15808,21 +15607,21 @@ Harry forced his eyes open then. Sylarana was on the floor between his bed and Lily, he saw at once, her head swaying back and forth as she watched Lily. Her hissing was a steady threat, a stream of words that Harry could understand. He shivered, because there was none of her usual -teasing tone in them. "\emph{Come near him and I will kill you. I don't +teasing tone in them. ``\emph{Come near him and I will kill you. I don't want to, because you are precious to him, for reasons I cannot fathom, but touch him and I will bite you. The venom will cause convulsions at first. Then you begin to lose the ability to breathe. Then it dissolves your stomach and sets free the acid there. Come near him, and that will -happen to you. Come near him, and I will kill you."} +happen to you. Come near him, and I will kill you.}'' ``Sylarana,'' Harry called out weakly. He knew from his mother's flinch that he'd spoken in Parseltongue. But it was the one thing that might calm the Locusta and move her, so he continued speaking in it. ``Please let her by. I promise that she's not going to harm me.'' -"\emph{She will. She already has. If I had known where you were, I would +``\emph{She will. She already has. If I had known where you were, I would have come here and poisoned her years ago. You are my human. I defend -you against other snakes. She is one.}" +you against other snakes. She is one.}'' ``Please,'' Harry whispered. ``I want you to.'' @@ -15832,7 +15631,7 @@ her see that he really didn't want Lily dead. He might be more confused than before, less sure of his purpose, but he \emph{knew} that he didn't want to see what would happen if the Locusta bit her. -"\emph{You could look away,}" Sylarana suggested, but her resolve was +``\emph{You could look away,}'' Sylarana suggested, but her resolve was weakening. ``Please,'' Harry whispered. @@ -15930,7 +15729,7 @@ Harry nodded slowly. He had sometimes suspected something like that, though never known for certain. ``But prophecies are the wildest form of Divination magic,'' Lily -whispered. "There's a chance that it might mean different things. It +whispered. ``There's a chance that it might mean different things. It would still come true, but it could turn out meaning something different from what it seemed to say the night it was made. In this case, we knew, from other things in the prophecy itself, that it had to be Connor. And @@ -15943,8 +15742,8 @@ wander off and mean someone else, someone we wouldn't know in time to protect, someone that Voldemort could perhaps kill. \emph{Everything} in the prophecy had to come true. You \emph{had} to love Connor, and before everything else. We couldn't take the chance that it would be otherwise. -Do you understand?" Her eyes grew brilliant with tears now. "I am so -\emph{sorry}, my son." +Do you understand?'' Her eyes grew brilliant with tears now. ``I am so +\emph{sorry}, my son.'' Harry shook his head slightly. The last of the pain had vanished. He felt calm, and sleepy, and not really inclined to understand what his @@ -15956,7 +15755,7 @@ More tears fell from her eyes, then, but Harry didn't understand why, and in another moment he was asleep, anyway. \begin{center}\rule{0.5\linewidth}{\linethickness}\end{center} - +\newpage Lily drew her hands slowly back from her son's face and settled them in her lap. She was shaking. That had been closer than either of them knew---than \emph{anyone} had known. The light and the song in Harry's @@ -15997,14 +15796,7 @@ unmistakable. her friend, \emph{it does not mean anything else. We chose rightly how to raise both Harry and Connor.} -\chapter{*Chapter 27*: Father and -Son}\label{chapter-27-father-and-son} - -Thank you for all the reviews! Responses in my LJ later. - -This chapter is pretty damn ugly, in lots of ways. Be prepared. - -\textbf{Chapter Twenty-Six: Father and Son} +\chapter{Father and Son}\label{chapter-27-father-and-son} Harry woke to the sound of shouting. He blinked and touched his temple. He felt calm and clear-minded now, though a bit light-headed. After a @@ -16015,20 +15807,20 @@ was feeling. It was good practice for the future, anyway. He was hardly going to be able to choose his food on the battlefield. The shouting intruded on his consciousness again, just as Sylarana -stirred and said, "\emph{I have wanted to bite everybody who has come -and seen you, except the werewolf.}" +stirred and said, ``\emph{I have wanted to bite everybody who has come +and seen you, except the werewolf.}'' ``You haven't bitten anyone, have you?'' asked Harry, hurtled abruptly into worry as he sipped at the cold soup. Chunks of slimy vegetables slid down his throat. He tried to ignore them. ``Please tell me you haven't.'' -"\emph{I haven't. Share the soup. The werewolf and your rabbit-father -are arguing now. I hope the werewolf eats him.}" Sylarana slithered up +``\emph{I haven't. Share the soup. The werewolf and your rabbit-father +are arguing now. I hope the werewolf eats him.}'' Sylarana slithered up his arm and laid her head along the rim of the bowl, tongue flicking as she sipped at the soup. She gave him one glance out of eyes that had -turned almost the color of his own. "\emph{How much do you remember of -what happened before you fell asleep}?" +turned almost the color of his own. ``\emph{How much do you remember of +what happened before you fell asleep}?'' Harry shook his head. ``Not much. I know that my mother confirmed the existence of a prophecy, and Remus---Remus was angry about something. @@ -16041,11 +15833,11 @@ when they were both in the house at Godric's Hollow. But now he realized that it was their father and Remus arguing. He tensed and listened. ``---going to take Harry with me,'' Remus was saying, with a raw anger -in his voice that Harry had never heard before. "\emph{Merlin}, James, +in his voice that Harry had never heard before. ``\emph{Merlin}, James, can't you see that he'll suffer here? I still don't know what Lily's doing to him, because she backed off when she saw she wasn't convincing me, but I know that he needs to be taken away. I'm bringing him to -Dumbledore." +Dumbledore.'' ``You don't understand, Remus!'' James sounded as if he'd been repeating that for a little while. ``I didn't either, at first. But I promise you, @@ -16056,14 +15848,14 @@ Remus cut him off with a growl. Harry blinked. Remus was \emph{gentle}. Remus went out of his way to avoid reminding people that he was a werewolf. That he would do it now was beyond Harry's comprehension. -"Why don't \emph{you} explain it to me, James?" Remus said, and the -growl was lurking behind his words. "If you understand it so well, if -she convinced you of it, then explain it to me. \emph{Now, James.}" +``Why don't \emph{you} explain it to me, James?'' Remus said, and the +growl was lurking behind his words. ``If you understand it so well, if +she convinced you of it, then explain it to me. \emph{Now, James.}'' Harry heard a solid thump, as though their father had fallen against the -closed bedroom door. ``Remus,'' Harry heard him say helplessly. "There +closed bedroom door. ``Remus,'' Harry heard him say helplessly. ``There are so \emph{many} things that you don't understand, so many things that -have to come true." +have to come true.'' ``Name one.'' @@ -16073,27 +15865,27 @@ have to come true." was closer than before. Harry shivered and hugged his arms, fighting the temptation to go out there. He didn't know what his appearance might provoke Remus into doing, though. It sounded as though he had managed to -provoke Remus quite a bit already, though he didn't remember how. "And I +provoke Remus quite a bit already, though he didn't remember how. ``And I know that that can't excuse what you've done, James. There was \emph{nothing} in the prophecy about teaching one son to master wandless -magic by the time he was twelve." +magic by the time he was twelve.'' ``That's one of the requirements, though,'' said James. ``Remus, you were there, that night---you came back before everything had calmed down---you know what we saw, what we felt---'' -"\emph{Damn you, James.}," said Remus, and Harry flinched. "Is +``\emph{Damn you, James.},'' said Remus, and Harry flinched. ``Is \emph{that} what this is about? I thought you'd got over that when you befriended me in school. How could someone who wasn't afraid of being -friends with a werewolf be afraid of his own son?" His voice sounded +friends with a werewolf be afraid of his own son?'' His voice sounded more weary than angry now. ``Now, step out of the way. I'm taking Harry with me.'' ``Remus, don't make me hurt you,'' James whispered. ``Please. We lost Peter. I don't want to lose you, too.'' -"I might, \emph{might,} be able to forgive you someday if you step aside -now," said Remus. ``Let me through.'' +``I might, \emph{might,} be able to forgive you someday if you step aside +now,'' said Remus. ``Let me through.'' There was a long pause, and then the sounds of scrambling. The door opened in the next moment, and Remus strode into the room. His eyes came @@ -16116,7 +15908,7 @@ voice that it hurt Harry to hear. ``But they've done other things, Harry. I don't even know the full extent of them. I just know they're evil.'' -"They're \emph{not}," said Harry, feeling his headache start again. A +``They're \emph{not},'' said Harry, feeling his headache start again. A brief explosion of yellow ran across the back of his eyelids. ``If you understood everything, Remus, you would see that---'' @@ -16151,8 +15943,8 @@ moved, but he began to growl now, a sound that made James's hand shake even harder. ``I can fight my way out.'' ``But I don't want you to lose your friends because of me!'' Harry -whispered back fiercely. "\emph{Please}, Remus. I promise they won't -hurt me. I want you to leave, to get away from here." +whispered back fiercely. ``\emph{Please}, Remus. I promise they won't +hurt me. I want you to leave, to get away from here.'' Remus stood still for a long moment. Then, slowly, every motion obviously made against his will, he lowered Harry onto the bed. He @@ -16203,9 +15995,9 @@ strong beat of his heart. James stroked his hair. Then he said, ``You understand why we have to keep you here, don't you, Harry?'' -``Of course,'' said Harry. "I don't know what made Remus so angry. I +``Of course,'' said Harry. ``I don't know what made Remus so angry. I mean, you \emph{know}, don't you? You know how Mum trained me, and why, -and what kinds of things I learned?" +and what kinds of things I learned?'' ``Of course,'' said James. ``And it took me months to accept it, and I'm your father. I'm not surprised that it's taking Moony longer. He's @@ -16243,12 +16035,12 @@ battle---and eventually, he thought he would; eventually, all the Death Eaters would rally to Voldemort's side when he found a way to return---then this would be good to know. -``Yes,'' James whispered. "It was just after the attack on us, you know. +``Yes,'' James whispered. ``It was just after the attack on us, you know. You and Connor were still healing when we received word that the Lestranges had attacked the Longbottoms and tortured poor Frank and Alice into insanity. Or maybe I should say that \emph{Bellatrix} did -that," he added, with a little twist to his mouth. "Rodolphus was never -as dangerous as she was. +that,'' he added, with a little twist to his mouth. ``Rodolphus was never +as dangerous as she was.'' ``The Aurors nearly captured them when they left the Longbottoms' house, but they managed to Apparate away, and they couldn't trace them. They @@ -16259,14 +16051,14 @@ might be hiding.'' ``Why didn't they send Sirius?'' asked Harry. James closed his eyes and let out his breath for a long moment. ``That -was---two days after the attack,'' he said. "And Peter's betrayal hit +was---two days after the attack,'' he said. ``And Peter's betrayal hit Sirius hardest of all. He was in the Ministry when they interrogated Peter. I don't think he slept for three more days after that. He had to -hear every last detail, every last confession. +hear every last detail, every last confession.'' -"Well, I didn't. But I wanted---I wanted to \emph{kill} something, hurt -someone. We'd come so close to losing both of you." His hand came out -and rested tightly on Harry's shoulder for a second. "The Aurors gave me +``Well, I didn't. But I wanted---I wanted to \emph{kill} something, hurt +someone. We'd come so close to losing both of you.'' His hand came out +and rested tightly on Harry's shoulder for a second. ``The Aurors gave me a purpose and a reason to go looking. When I heard about what had happened to Frank and Alice, I was even angrier. Neville lived, but he could have died. He was in that much danger. And what if we'd been in @@ -16274,7 +16066,7 @@ the house when Voldemort attacked, Harry? He would have killed us, too. You would have been left orphaned. Neville's situation could so easily have been your own. I wanted Bellatrix squirming and screaming at the end of my wand. It was the one time in my life I think I was ready to -perform the Cruciatus. +perform the Cruciatus.'' ``I Apparated to a family home that Sirius told me about, a little cottage in the woods where he and his cousins used to spend the summer @@ -16287,32 +16079,32 @@ knew well, since it was Sirius's home when he was a child.'' ``Grimmauld Place,'' Harry whispered, remembering the stories that Sirius had told him. -James nodded slightly. He still hadn't opened his eyes. "Yes. So I +James nodded slightly. He still hadn't opened his eyes. ``Yes. So I Apparated there. I was able to get most of the way into the house before they noticed me. They'd been expecting company, you see, but of the Death Eater kind, and they were supremely confident that no one else -could have found them. +could have found them.'' ``I dropped Rodolphus while he was still fumbling for his wand. And then I faced Bellatrix.'' James squeezed his eyes more tightly shut, as -though to prevent the fall of tears. "And we \emph{fought}, Harry. I'd -never been that angry. I'd never wanted to kill someone so much. +though to prevent the fall of tears. ``And we \emph{fought}, Harry. I'd +never been that angry. I'd never wanted to kill someone so much.'' ``But Bellatrix is a powerful witch---'' Harry shivered in remembrance of the curses she'd cast at him, and nodded. -"And she'd had a lot more practice at that kind of hatred than I had. +``And she'd had a lot more practice at that kind of hatred than I had. She fought me to a standstill, and got me to the point where I thought I couldn't throw another hex. She laughed at me, and even that wasn't enough to give me extra strength in my wand hand, though it would have -been when we were still in school. +been when we were still in school.'' -"And then she said---she said, 'It should have been me going after your +``And then she said---she said, 'It should have been me going after your sons, Potter, and would have been if Wormtail were a bit smarter. I wish it had been. I enjoy the way that babies scream under the -\emph{Crucio}.'" +\emph{Crucio}.' '' Harry found he could envision it well: Bellatrix standing there and taunting his father, James with his head bowed but eyes suddenly full of @@ -16320,7 +16112,7 @@ fire as he listened to the Death Eater. ``What did you do?'' Harry whispered. -"I held her under \emph{Crucio} for ten minutes," James responded. +``I held her under \emph{Crucio} for ten minutes,'' James responded. Harry could not help it; he gave a massive shudder, and then raised his head and stared at his father in disbelief. James was \emph{gentle.} Oh, @@ -16351,7 +16143,7 @@ when we absolutely had to.'' ``But that wasn't all of it,'' said Harry, not having to ask. He knew, now. -``No,'' said James. "I'd found something in myself that disgusted me. I +``No,'' said James. ``I'd found something in myself that disgusted me. I never knew I could torture someone like that. I couldn't believe that, after I did it, I wanted to do it \emph{again}. I was still shaking with the urge to make Bellatrix suffer when I handed her over to Alastor @@ -16361,7 +16153,7 @@ up when they decided to ignore some of the older pureblood customs and dedicate the Potter line to the Light permanently. It was Dark power. All purebloods feel it to a certain extent. It's the power that can most stir up magic, can make it flow through you so that you feel like you -can do anything." +can do anything.'' Harry closed his eyes and sat perfectly still for a long moment, remembering the magic that had answered him when he fought Riddle in @@ -16396,13 +16188,13 @@ channel power, but for selfish benefit.'' He grimaced for a moment. ``It's not an accident that so many of the powerful pureblood families went into Slytherin House year after year, you know.'' -Harry bowed his head. 'And so, when I was Sorted into Slytherin, you -thought---" +Harry bowed his head. ``And so, when I was Sorted into Slytherin, you +thought---'' -``Your mother was frantic,'' said James quietly. "I didn't know about +``Your mother was frantic,'' said James quietly. ``I didn't know about your training then. But she feared for a little while that all her efforts had been for nothing, that you were going to be that kind of -terrifying wizard. +terrifying wizard.'' ``We see now that you aren't, that your dedication to your brother is intact.'' @@ -16414,18 +16206,18 @@ nice to have company on a road so lonely. ``And now she's told me everything,'' said James. ``I didn't understand at first. I even cursed her, if you can imagine that.'' He smiled -slightly and shook his head. "But she made me remember what I felt when +slightly and shook his head. ``But she made me remember what I felt when I captured the Lestranges. I'm not as strong as you are, Harry, and I'd been trained since I was born to resist temptation, to bow to the Light, and to be a Gryffindor. And I \emph{still} gave in, even if it was only -for ten minutes." +for ten minutes.'' He leaned forward and picked Harry up, cradling him against his chest. -``You're stronger than I ever was, son,'' he whispered. "It is +``You're stronger than I ever was, son,'' he whispered. ``It is absolutely \emph{essential} that you never feel what I did, the -temptation to make someone suffer like that." He kissed the top of -Harry's head. "I never want you to be able to cast \emph{Crucio}. You -have to \emph{want} to cause someone else pain to do that." +temptation to make someone suffer like that.'' He kissed the top of +Harry's head. ``I never want you to be able to cast \emph{Crucio}. You +have to \emph{want} to cause someone else pain to do that.'' ``And a more powerful wizard would have more of a temptation to do it,'' Harry whispered, thinking again of Snape, the raw magic he could feel @@ -16519,7 +16311,7 @@ Sylarana did not have an answer to that, as Harry had expected. He finished the soup and went to sleep. \begin{center}\rule{0.5\linewidth}{\linethickness}\end{center} - +\newpage ``Harry! Harry! Remus is here!'' Harry looked up anxiously as Connor leaped up from reading the latest @@ -16531,7 +16323,7 @@ him absently and embraced him, he didn't seem inclined to stay and talk. Harry bit his lip, debated on the ethics of it a moment, and then decided he had to know. -"\emph{Legilimens}," he whispered, with a flick of his wand, and pushed +``\emph{Legilimens},'' he whispered, with a flick of his wand, and pushed gently into Remus's mind. He saw Remus arriving at the school three days ago, having a cup of tea @@ -16567,8 +16359,7 @@ really important, and was sorry for what truths and ethics had to fall between the cracks. That was just the way it was. That was the way he had to live. -\chapter{*Chapter 28*: Home Is The -Hunter}\label{chapter-28-home-is-the-hunter} +\chapter{Home Is The Hunter}\label{chapter-28-home-is-the-hunter} Thank you for all the reviews! Responses on my LJ later. Sorry this chapter is late, but I couldn't log in; in the future, if there's a @@ -16617,7 +16408,7 @@ intent. ``No, Harry,'' he said. ``None of those matter next to my friendship with you.'' -"Family loyalty \emph{has} to, Draco," said Harry. ``Remember, I know +``Family loyalty \emph{has} to, Draco,'' said Harry. ``Remember, I know well enough what purebloods teach their children.'' The words made him wince, for some reason. He supposed he connected them to the conversation with James. He shoved the thoughts away. Whenever he @@ -16632,10 +16423,10 @@ Harry flinched. ``Of course not!'' His voice carried a desperate edge he didn't understand. Sylarana hissed soothingly on his arm, and Draco blinked at him, then reached out and put a hand on his shoulder. -``Well, then,'' said Draco slowly. "I still have the right and the will +``Well, then,'' said Draco slowly. ``I still have the right and the will to make a choice. And I choose to \emph{be} with you, Harry. I choose to remain your friend until something happens that makes me choose to split -our friendship apart." +our friendship apart.'' ``And what if I betray you?'' Harry whispered. ``What if our friendship lasts until the War begins, and then I leave to fight at Connor's @@ -16691,7 +16482,7 @@ Harry found himself frequently glancing at the bottle as the evening wore on, as if he needed his own kind of reassurance. \begin{center}\rule{0.5\linewidth}{\linethickness}\end{center} - +\newpage ``Nothing?'' Snape could not have sounded more disappointed, Harry thought, if he had confessed that he still wanted to be in Gryffindor. @@ -16724,10 +16515,10 @@ he?'' Harry said, stuttering as he grasped at straws. ``He---he told me it was nearly done when he came back to Godric's Hollow.'' ``He consulted with me,'' said Snape, and paced forward a few steps from -behind his desk. "That is not the reason he originally came here. When I +behind his desk. ``That is not the reason he originally came here. When I asked him why, he laughed uncertainly, rubbed his head, and said that he didn't know, really, and he should be getting back to Godric's Hollow -and spending time with his \emph{friends.}" The vicious bite Snape gave +and spending time with his \emph{friends.}'' The vicious bite Snape gave that word was really quite magnificent, Harry thought. ``He did come back---'' @@ -16742,11 +16533,11 @@ Occlumency shields up. ``You don't care about Remus. You would have been just as happy to see him dead if you could.'' ``And deprive myself of a test subject for the Wolfsbane? Never.'' Snape -was smiling with his eyes, sneering with his lips. "But I find it +was smiling with his eyes, sneering with his lips. ``But I find it interesting that, two weeks after the werewolf leaves Hogwarts displaying the telltale signs of an \emph{Obliviate}, you come back and -display the telltale signs of someone with a secret to hide." He tilted -his head. "Did \emph{you} do it, Potter? Did \emph{you Obliviate} him?" +display the telltale signs of someone with a secret to hide.'' He tilted +his head. ``Did \emph{you} do it, Potter? Did \emph{you Obliviate} him?'' ``No,'' Harry whispered. He could feel the world narrowing down to a tunnel, at the end of which was a light shining as fierce as fire. Hot @@ -16764,23 +16555,23 @@ surface of his mind, ready to breach it if he looked for them. He didn't want to look for them. He didn't want to see. -``Tell me,'' Snape whispered. "\emph{Tell me.}" +``Tell me,'' Snape whispered. ``\emph{Tell me.}'' ``Why do you care?'' Harry asked, in a last-ditch effort to make things go back to the way they had been. Everything around him was light and fire, and the phoenix song in his ears made it hard to hear his own -words. "You \emph{don't} care about Remus, I know that. And you +words. ``You \emph{don't} care about Remus, I know that. And you \emph{don't} care about what happens to me, beyond it giving you a -chance to humiliate my father and Sirius." +chance to humiliate my father and Sirius.'' ``I do not give children Occlumency lessons for the pleasure of humiliating old school rivals, Potter,'' Snape replied, and Harry heard -his robes rustle as he knelt in front of him. "And this has gone beyond +his robes rustle as he knelt in front of him. ``And this has gone beyond that. You should know that now. It went beyond the first time that Tom Riddle, and all that he is, tainted your mind. I will not \emph{see} him -rise like this." There was a long pause, and then he added, "And I will +rise like this.'' There was a long pause, and then he added, ``And I will not see him gain a victory by corrupting or distressing you. Tell me who -\emph{Obliviated} the werewolf." +\emph{Obliviated} the werewolf.'' Harry was falling towards light and fire. If he opened his mouth and said \emph{Dumbledore,} he knew, the web would snap into the front of @@ -16807,13 +16598,13 @@ end of a wand is which.'' ``I found him out,'' Harry whispered, glorying in the relief that flooded his head and heart as they moved further and further away from -the web. "He didn't really defeat any of those monsters or have any of +the web. ``He didn't really defeat any of those monsters or have any of those adventures that he writes about in his books, you know. He sought out wizards and witches who defeated the monsters, took down their stories, and then \emph{Obliviated} them so they would forget having -done it." Harry breathed for a long moment. "He tried to +done it.'' Harry breathed for a long moment. ``He tried to \emph{Obliviate} me after I found out his secret, but I bounced it off -me." +me.'' ``You bounced it off you.'' Snape's voice was flat. @@ -16833,24 +16624,24 @@ into the webs of his mind. ``I have no doubt that it is true,'' Snape said. ``The impossible is possible with you.'' He spent a long moment studying Harry, then rose to his feet in a graceful swirl of black robes. ``You are telling the truth -about Lockhart,'' he said. "I will make sure that Dumbledore knows of +about Lockhart,'' he said. ``I will make sure that Dumbledore knows of this, though he is unlikely to sack the man before the end of the year. We \emph{need} a Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher, and he will not -give the post to me." He sneered through his teeth. +give the post to me.'' He sneered through his teeth. ``Professor?'' Harry asked uncertainly, not sure if he should stay or -go. "Is it possible to recover memories from behind an -\emph{Obliviate}?" +go. ``Is it possible to recover memories from behind an +\emph{Obliviate}?'' ``It is possible,'' Snape agreed, folding his arms and tilting his head -like an enormous bird. "But dangerous. The \emph{Obliviate} is a block +like an enormous bird. ``But dangerous. The \emph{Obliviate} is a block on the mind, and dangerous in the way that solid shields always are. If it is simply broken and the memories released in a rush, then they can -cause the wizard to go insane." He leaned abruptly near to Harry. "Do +cause the wizard to go insane.'' He leaned abruptly near to Harry. ``Do not, do \emph{not}, Mr. Potter, attempt to break the block on the werewolf's memories. Whatever Lockhart wanted him to forget was no doubt trivial. I will teach you to break such a block in time. For now, unless -you want your precious Lupin to go mad, do not attempt it." +you want your precious Lupin to go mad, do not attempt it.'' \emph{But it wasn't Lockhart, it was Dumbledore---} @@ -16900,8 +16691,8 @@ soon.} With that, Harry thought, he had to be content. \begin{center}\rule{0.5\linewidth}{\linethickness}\end{center} - -"You can't actually \emph{want} to take Divination," said Zacharias +\newpage +``You can't actually \emph{want} to take Divination,'' said Zacharias Smith, leaning over Harry's shoulder to peer at his schedule. Harry glanced at the Hufflepuff in annoyance. He was sitting in the hospital wing, between Luna's and Neville's beds, and trying to choose his @@ -16921,7 +16712,7 @@ with Harry. ``Why?'' Zacharias started to sit down on Luna's bed, caught Harry's glare, and flopped into a chair instead. His gaze remained intent and -interested. "Everyone knows that Trelawney is a fraud. \emph{Everyone.}" +interested. ``Everyone knows that Trelawney is a fraud. \emph{Everyone.}'' ``I know,'' said Harry patiently, and went back to scanning the selection of classes he could take in his third year. ``But that doesn't @@ -16984,7 +16775,7 @@ at the Hufflepuff, then folding his arms across his chest and glaring at Harry. ``And stupid you. You don't have to look quite so smug, you know.'' -``Three Galleons,'' said Harry. "It was \emph{only} three." +``Three Galleons,'' said Harry. ``It was \emph{only} three.'' ``He probably cheated.'' @@ -17066,8 +16857,8 @@ suffered the brunt of it. I'm so sorry.'' Luna said, ``I was right. It was the Wrackspurts.'' ``I---I don't blame you, Harry,'' said Neville, giving him a shy smile. -"You didn't look at all like yourself, you know. I \emph{knew} that you -didn't have red eyes, or hair that stood on end and moved by itself." +``You didn't look at all like yourself, you know. I \emph{knew} that you +didn't have red eyes, or hair that stood on end and moved by itself.'' Harry chuckled at the thought of the picture he must have presented, and leaned closer to them. For a moment, at least, all was right with the @@ -17121,12 +16912,12 @@ long they had been Petrified, and let himself think it really would be all right. \begin{center}\rule{0.5\linewidth}{\linethickness}\end{center} - +\newpage ``Prat,'' Draco said, shoving him in the shoulder as they finally emerged from the hospital wing. ``Did you have to tell them about the bet?'' -"They \emph{heard} me tell Connor about it," said Harry, and gave him a +``They \emph{heard} me tell Connor about it,'' said Harry, and gave him a shove back. ``What was I supposed to do when Neville asked me about it? Lie?'' @@ -17159,17 +16950,7 @@ pray. \emph{Tom Riddle.} -\chapter{*Chapter 29*: Walk These -Roads}\label{chapter-29-walk-these-roads} - -Sorry about the problems with updating yesterday! Hopefully everything -is sorted out now, but just in case, \emph{don't} read this if you -haven't read Chapter 27 (``Home Is the Hunter'') or it wouldn't make any -sense. - -Draco chapter, and run-up to the battle. - -\textbf{Chapter Twenty-Eight: Walk These Roads} +\chapter{Walk These Roads}\label{chapter-29-walk-these-roads} Draco was behind Harry, so he couldn't see his expression as he read the words scribed into the stone. But he saw the walls of the corridor @@ -17205,8 +16986,8 @@ over the stone in delicate tendrils of frost and probing at the ceiling. ``Mr. Potter,'' said McGonagall. She didn't sound afraid, but she was a Gryffindor, wasn't she? Draco knew they didn't know when to turn tail -and run, when it was sensible for their own safety. "I will not let two -\emph{more} students put their lives in danger." +and run, when it was sensible for their own safety. ``I will not let two +\emph{more} students put their lives in danger.'' ``Tom Riddle has my brother.'' @@ -17295,7 +17076,7 @@ it will hurt him more if I hold him back. Go alone for the ride now, Draco. At least you'll be there when the world explodes.} \begin{center}\rule{0.5\linewidth}{\linethickness}\end{center} - +\newpage Once they were back in the Slytherin dorms---which were empty, luckily, as everyone had already gone to dinner---Harry moved quickly. He slipped over to the trunk at the foot of his bed and opened it, pulling out a @@ -17330,11 +17111,11 @@ Harry lowered his head slightly, and Draco felt the pain in his brow spike as Harry called his power. When Harry next spoke, he once again sounded more like Tom Riddle than himself. -"I could knock you out and leave you helpless on the floor, Draco. I +``I could knock you out and leave you helpless on the floor, Draco. I could hit you with a spell that wouldn't let you remember that any of this happened. I could cast \emph{Imperio} on you and make you go at once to Snape and say whatever I wanted. Given all that, why are you -still insistent on standing up to me?" +still insistent on standing up to me?'' Draco looked at the bottle. There was no trace of red, which showed Harry's anger with him. Purple and green danced in a fierce mix that @@ -17364,8 +17145,8 @@ really functioning brain.'' Harry blinked at the mirror. ``What---'' ``I felt you think that the snake was a basilisk,'' said Draco calmly. -"And a mirror is, if not a \emph{very} effective weapon against a -basilisk, at least better than marching in empty-handed." +``And a mirror is, if not a \emph{very} effective weapon against a +basilisk, at least better than marching in empty-handed.'' Harry's eyes turned frighteningly blank again, and he made a gesture that could have indicated his magic, or his snake, or the black circlet @@ -17385,20 +17166,20 @@ doing Merlin knows what to your brother?'' He was sorry for what he'd said a moment later, as Harry sucked in a breath and closed his eyes, gripping the sides of his head. Then he -managed to open watering eyes and focus on Draco. "I think we have to. I +managed to open watering eyes and focus on Draco. ``I think we have to. I don't want to hurt you, and I don't want to let you come with me, either. Please, Draco. I have to know. You say that your loyalty is to me. You've defied your father and manipulated him for me. You refused to give up our friendship even when I made it clear that I thought you -would. \emph{Why}?" +would. \emph{Why}?'' Draco swallowed. His hands were shaking. It didn't help that his own truest answer sounded inane, even to him. -"Because you're \emph{Harry}," he said. "You're \emph{you}. That's all I +``Because you're \emph{Harry},'' he said. ``You're \emph{you}. That's all I really know, Harry. I like you and I'm loyal to you, and if you don't tie me up or \emph{Obliviate} me or Apparate away from me right now, -then I'm coming with you." +then I'm coming with you.'' Harry closed his eyes. Draco stood in silence for a long moment, unsure what his response would be. He could almost feel the pressure in his @@ -17445,8 +17226,8 @@ way you could find out? What were you planning to do, anyway, if you went alone?'' ``Just go to the girls' loo where all the attacks happened and root -around,'' said Harry. "The entrance to the Chamber is there, but I don't -know \emph{where} it is. Riddle took the memories from me---" +around,'' said Harry. ``The entrance to the Chamber is there, but I don't +know \emph{where} it is. Riddle took the memories from me---'' Abruptly, he froze, and Draco realized Sylarana was probably speaking into his mind. He held his peace. He was jealous of the Locusta's @@ -17500,7 +17281,7 @@ could hardly hear anything through the deafening song. Draco winced. The song was beautiful, but so \emph{loud}\ldots{} how did Harry sleep with it in his head? -"\emph{I help him."} +``\emph{I help him.}'' Draco jumped and turned around. A different kind of golden fire shone in the midst of the fiery gold, and he realized it was Sylarana. He was @@ -17521,9 +17302,9 @@ representation of him. The box looked just as bad as it always had, though this time, instead of the locks that Draco thought it had possessed, it shone with the Locusta's shifting coils. -"\emph{Are you ready, Harry?}" she asked, and Harry's voice gave soft +``\emph{Are you ready, Harry?}'' she asked, and Harry's voice gave soft assent from everywhere around them. Draco felt Sylarana turn her -attention to him. "\emph{Hold him as he plunges.}" +attention to him. ``\emph{Hold him as he plunges.}'' Draco nodded, and reached out, curling his arms around the tendril of dark and gold. It seemed to be enough. @@ -17563,9 +17344,9 @@ didn't like that memory at all, Draco sensed. It was supposed to be crisped away to ashes and never trouble Harry again. It should not have been in the box. -"\emph{No, it should not have been,}" said Sylarana, her voice beyond -anxious. "\emph{It happened after he stopped using the box. How did it -get in there? Harry? Harry!}" +``\emph{No, it should not have been,}'' said Sylarana, her voice beyond +anxious. ``\emph{It happened after he stopped using the box. How did it +get in there? Harry? Harry!}'' But Harry could not hear them. He was far beneath them, Draco thought, plunging further and further into the darkness, and if he had not found @@ -17630,8 +17411,8 @@ wound around it, crooning. Or so Draco imagined her hiss to sound like. He wished he could understand what she was saying. He wished he could find the words for the emotions he'd experienced in the box. ``I'm sorry'' was not enough, and neither was ``Harry, are you all right?'' He -really \emph{wanted} to say, "Don't you want to cast \emph{Crucio} on -your parents?" but he had the feeling Harry wouldn't want to hear that. +really \emph{wanted} to say, ``Don't you want to cast \emph{Crucio} on +your parents?'' but he had the feeling Harry wouldn't want to hear that. Harry murmured something in Parseltongue, the hissing words slipping from his mouth in a fluid stream. Then he took a deep breath and closed @@ -17681,7 +17462,7 @@ saying anything about it, Draco.'' loo on the second floor. \begin{center}\rule{0.5\linewidth}{\linethickness}\end{center} - +\newpage By the time they got there, of course, there were students wandering around and staring, and professors trying to herd them away. Harry cast a Disillusionment Charm on them both before they rounded the corner. @@ -17692,7 +17473,7 @@ see them. Draco found himself slightly relieved for that. Harry strode to the sink from his memories and bent down, aiming his mouth directly at the small carving of the snake. He hissed. Draco -assumed he hissed the word for "\emph{Open}," as the sink began whirling +assumed he hissed the word for ``\emph{Open},'' as the sink began whirling in the next instant. White light flared for a moment, so brilliant that Draco couldn't help but glance nervously over his shoulder at the ghost, and by the time he looked back, there was a tunnel into the floor. @@ -17715,7 +17496,7 @@ Harry abruptly vanished ahead of him. Draco tried to be prepared, but he couldn't find anything to hold onto. He shot out of the end of the pipe, and would have hit the ground hard, -but Harry's shouted "\emph{Wingardium Leviosa!}" caught and held him. +but Harry's shouted ``\emph{Wingardium Leviosa!}'' caught and held him. Draco floated gently to the floor, patted his pocket to make sure the mirror was still intact, and nodded to Harry. Harry's wand flared with \emph{Lumos}, but it didn't really illuminate his face; it made him look @@ -17764,7 +17545,7 @@ set his shoulders back and followed Harry again, more confidently than before. \begin{center}\rule{0.5\linewidth}{\linethickness}\end{center} - +\newpage He found Harry standing in front of a pair of enormous stone serpents, staring up at them. Their eyes shone in the light of the \emph{Lumos}, and Draco felt an odd shiver in his belly when he realized they were @@ -17787,21 +17568,7 @@ of Harry's scar, and the serpents dropped out of sight. Draco came forward slightly so that he stood at Harry's shoulder, and they walked into what waited for them. -\chapter{*Chapter 30*: Fang to Fang}\label{chapter-30-fang-to-fang} - -Thank you for the reviews! Now that I can access them, I can post review -responses on my LJ. - -This is the point at which I fully expect a lot of people to stop -reading. After this chapter it's uphill all the way, because it's got no -place to go but up. But that means that we hit rock-bottom here. This is -probably the darkest single chapter I will write. I understand if -someone doesn't want to continue after this. - -Ready? Down we go. - -\textbf{Chapter Twenty-Nine: Fang to Fang} - +\chapter{Fang to Fang}\label{chapter-30-fang-to-fang} Harry felt odd the moment he moved into the Chamber, which was as he had remembered it from the box: long, straight, narrow, crowded with pillars and filled with grim green light, with a statue of Salazar Slytherin at @@ -17814,8 +17581,8 @@ over his scar. At his feet lay the diary, and a thick link, green as the light, green as \emph{Avada Kedavra}, stretched between the book and his hand. -``Harry Potter,'' said Riddle. "Welcome. I have been \emph{waiting} for -you." He clamped his hand onto Connor's scar more firmly. +``Harry Potter,'' said Riddle. ``Welcome. I have been \emph{waiting} for +you.'' He clamped his hand onto Connor's scar more firmly. Harry called gladly on his magic. It roared up around him, turning the immediate floor to ice--- @@ -17864,7 +17631,7 @@ suffering, and he could do \emph{nothing.} But he was aware enough to know when Draco moved forward from the side, his wand out and his face contorted with a mixture of fury and fear that Harry had never seen before. His wand lashed, and he snarled, -"\emph{Incendio!}" +``\emph{Incendio!}'' The diary briefly began to smoke, before Riddle gestured lazily, once, and the fire went out. He smiled at Draco. ``Did you think that you @@ -17884,8 +17651,8 @@ in frozen shards. At the same moment, the armband warmed, and Harry felt the magic escaping Riddle's control deepen and strengthen. He felt it asking him what he wanted, trying to follow the desires of his will. -Riddle hissed, and Harry heard his words. "\emph{Come, creature of -Slytherin, obey your master and Slytherin's Heir!}" The shadows behind +Riddle hissed, and Harry heard his words. ``\emph{Come, creature of +Slytherin, obey your master and Slytherin's Heir!}'' The shadows behind Slytherin's statue began to lash and churn. Harry ignored the temptation to try to speak Parseltongue himself, and @@ -17900,7 +17667,7 @@ They were connected to no mouth, but they went soaring at the diary as if they were. Riddle saw them and snarled at them, flinging out his hand. -"\emph{Reducto!}" he shouted, and the jaws shuddered once, though they +``\emph{Reducto!}'' he shouted, and the jaws shuddered once, though they stubbornly tried to continue moving forward. Harry turned his attention away from them briefly. He knew they would keep Riddle busy for at least another moment, and the vicious, pounding pain in his head urged him to @@ -17949,8 +17716,8 @@ would be strong enough to pull Connor back to safety. Unfortunately, Riddle turned just then and clamped his hand back on Connor's scar, trying to renew his link with the diary. He hissed at the -basilisk in the meanwhile. "\emph{Attack them. Kill the one who smells -like chalk. Leave the other one alive.}" +basilisk in the meanwhile. ``\emph{Attack them. Kill the one who smells +like chalk. Leave the other one alive.}'' Harry glanced quickly sideways, to see that Draco held the mirror ready, and then touched his left arm. ``Sylarana? Are you awake?'' @@ -17981,12 +17748,12 @@ Draco held the mirror high, crowding close to Harry's side, though he shivered at the touch of the rising cold. The basilisk came slowly forward, and Draco tilted the glass at it. -"\emph{Close your eyes!}" Riddle commanded abruptly in Parseltongue, and +``\emph{Close your eyes!}'' Riddle commanded abruptly in Parseltongue, and Harry saw the wink of yellow vanish as the basilisk's eyes shut. A moment later, its tongue flickered out, hunting for them by scent. Then it slithered straight at Draco. -"\emph{Move}!" Harry shouted, shoving at Draco, making him tumble to the +``\emph{Move}!'' Harry shouted, shoving at Draco, making him tumble to the side. He turned back, feeling his magic soar to an absurd height, joined by his fear for Connor, his fear for Draco, his fear of Riddle, and his anger at having to battle Riddle like this at all. @@ -18023,7 +17790,7 @@ fast, his thoughts crystalline. He was going to do this. He could take the bite, where Draco could not. He was fairly sure he would not sacrifice his life. He was--- -"\emph{No! Mine! My human! I defend him from other snakes!}" +``\emph{No! Mine! My human! I defend him from other snakes!}'' Sylarana reared out of Harry's sleeve, and as the basilisk's head came down, she flung herself off his arm, coiling around its neck. She @@ -18083,8 +17850,8 @@ magic reared high above Tom Riddle and the diary and stared at them. Riddle stared back for a long moment. Then he swung his head to look at Harry, and his eyes had gone mad. -``Not him,'' he breathed. "Never him. It was \emph{you}, it must have -been, and the nature of our connection---" +``Not him,'' he breathed. ``Never him. It was \emph{you}, it must have +been, and the nature of our connection---'' The silent self had had enough of him. Down it coiled, and made itself into a snake, a constrictor, so black that Harry's eyes bled as he @@ -18248,7 +18015,7 @@ and--- Harry gasped and pushed away the anger. There was a time and place for the rage, and it was not here. He reached out, and, as Connor opened his -eyes, whispered, "\emph{Obliviate}." +eyes, whispered, ``\emph{Obliviate}.'' Connor blinked and stared at him with glazed eyes. @@ -18284,7 +18051,7 @@ Up Fawkes soared, away from the Chamber and Sylarana's body, and Harry leaned his head on the tail and wished he could cry. \begin{center}\rule{0.5\linewidth}{\linethickness}\end{center} - +\newpage They were in the Headmaster's office. Their parents had Apparated in, which was not a surprise, Harry thought distantly, when they heard about their son taken into the Chamber. He knew his safety would have been one @@ -18315,7 +18082,7 @@ might be able to read his mind. Harry let a bit of his magic free. It was longing to be used, and he would use it in the best way he could. -"\emph{Fugitivus Animus Amplector}," he whispered. +``\emph{Fugitivus Animus Amplector},'' he whispered. The magic flooded out of him, catching the attention of everyone else in the room and directing it fiercely towards Connor. Harry slipped in @@ -18364,17 +18131,7 @@ Then the magic roared out of him and into the heart of the sky, and called down a storm. Harry closed his eyes and let himself be swept away. -\chapter{*Chapter 31*: The Heart of the -Storm}\label{chapter-31-the-heart-of-the-storm} - -Thank you so much for all the reviews! I'm glad that chapter didn't -affect people as harshly as I had thought it might. Responses to reviews -will be on my LJ. - -Here we go into almost the last chapter; after this one, there's one -more proper chapter and an interlude, and then Year 2 concludes. - -\textbf{Chapter Thirty: The Heart of the Storm} +\chapter{The Heart of the Storm}\label{chapter-31-the-heart-of-the-storm} Snape frowned. He could feel an odd pulling sensation in his mind, the urge to step out of the Headmaster's office and---do something. He @@ -18422,7 +18179,7 @@ and the realization hit him like a blow. Snape began to run. \begin{center}\rule{0.5\linewidth}{\linethickness}\end{center} - +\newpage He had aimed for Hogwarts's front doors, guessing that Harry would not have gone to the hospital wing or back to the Slytherin common room. But perhaps, he thought, as he sagged against the doors and stared at the @@ -18508,7 +18265,7 @@ he asked, even as he worked his way to the edge of his shield and the centaur knelt down, waiting for him to scramble onto his back. ``Because he is ours, too,'' said the centaur, utter seriousness on his -face. His eyes were piercing, bright. "\emph{Vates.}" +face. His eyes were piercing, bright. ``\emph{Vates.}'' Snape paused for a moment. He knew the word. It meant a poet, but also a prophet, a seer--- @@ -18546,16 +18303,16 @@ corrected the irritating creature. ``That does not mean that I will succeed.'' ``The stars do not say that you will succeed, either,'' the centaur -agreed. "They say that you will try, and do a better job than many +agreed. ``They say that you will try, and do a better job than many others could, and that we will have a new Dark Lord or the beginnings of -our \emph{vates} after this evening." He turned before Snape could +our \emph{vates} after this evening.'' He turned before Snape could question him, using the sheer bulk of his body to shield him from the newest blast of air. ``Now, enter the storm.'' Snape turned and held his wand out before him. He could use wandless magic when he needed to, but it taxed him, and he thought he would need all his strength to deal with whatever he found inside. -"\emph{Diffindo!}" +``\emph{Diffindo!}'' The black magic fell apart, cut into two neat halves, and Snape strode forward. He felt the gap close immediately behind him, and he let out a @@ -18587,7 +18344,7 @@ storm from attacking the school---and, if the centaurs and their stars were right, prevent the rise of a new Dark Lord. He pointed his wand at Harry, ignoring how his hand shook. He intoned -the word, ignoring how his voice trembled. "\emph{Legilimens.}" +the word, ignoring how his voice trembled. ``\emph{Legilimens.}'' Pain swallowed him. @@ -18664,7 +18421,7 @@ The figure ducked its head modestly. ``It is. And when Harry manages to look out of the center of himself, then I'll expand it, and we'll tear down the walls of Hogwarts together.'' -"Would Harry \emph{want} to tear down the walls of Hogwarts?" +``Would Harry \emph{want} to tear down the walls of Hogwarts?'' The figure shrugged. ``I don't really care. I've been tied down most of his life. I should get to do what I want to do.'' @@ -18694,7 +18451,7 @@ wizards who had thought that the Dark Lord would never dare touch them. He had taken much pleasure in showing them the error of their ways. He would do the same thing now. He had always enjoyed being right. -``You're lying,'' the figure breathed. "You \emph{must} be." +``You're lying,'' the figure breathed. ``You \emph{must} be.'' ``I am not,'' said Snape, making his voice bored. ``You said yourself that you cannot tear down the walls of Hogwarts, not yet. You need @@ -18705,8 +18462,8 @@ The figure turned and screamed up towards the golden web. The shards of it stirred and tried to unfold themselves again, then collapsed crookedly back against the wall they clung to. -``I want it back, then,'' said the figure, green eyes crazed. "If the -only way I can survive is to be confined, I want it \emph{back.}" +``I want it back, then,'' said the figure, green eyes crazed. ``If the +only way I can survive is to be confined, I want it \emph{back.}'' Snape made a sound that was neither agreement nor disagreement, and looked carefully back up through Harry's mind. There was a point at the @@ -18736,7 +18493,7 @@ darkness. Snape felt \emph{something} else move to encircle him, rubbing against his body like a snake made of ice. He lifted his imagined wand in front -of him and breathed, "\emph{Lumos}." His voice sounded far breathier +of him and breathed, ``\emph{Lumos}.'' His voice sounded far breathier than he would have liked, given everything. The thing revealed itself. It was a snake, at least in form, and it @@ -18749,8 +18506,8 @@ them, envy shuttered and shuffled aside, talent denied, connections destroyed, everything but duty forsaken. Cruelty justified and supported was there, and neglect excused with any one of a thousand breathy sentences. Snape could hear a chorus of voices crying out in his head, -most of which sounded like Lily Potter, all beginning with "\emph{But if -you only knew everything, then you would understand\ldots{}}" +most of which sounded like Lily Potter, all beginning with ``\emph{But if +you only knew everything, then you would understand\ldots{}}'' Snape did not know how old Harry had been when these memories began, but he looked young in at least some of them, perhaps no older than three or @@ -18824,8 +18581,8 @@ the time.'' He extended one arm and let his own magic blaze around him. the Forbidden Forest or conjure a target and spend it harmlessly there. I can show you how to do the same thing.'' -``I don't want to,'' Harry whispered. "I swallowed part of Tom Riddle's -power, in the Chamber. I don't \emph{want} that much magic." +``I don't want to,'' Harry whispered. ``I swallowed part of Tom Riddle's +power, in the Chamber. I don't \emph{want} that much magic.'' ``But you have it,'' said Snape, making sure that his voice sounded gentle. To his surprise, it really didn't take that much effort. ``And @@ -18835,8 +18592,8 @@ moment, and its own desire for freedom. If you try to deny it, the same thing will happen again. And perhaps this time you will kill someone else, instead of trying to escape doing so.'' -Harry let out a little sob. "But the---I---my parents are \emph{afraid} -of me, Professor." He laughed bitterly, and Snape felt the silent self +Harry let out a little sob. ``But the---I---my parents are \emph{afraid} +of me, Professor.'' He laughed bitterly, and Snape felt the silent self stir nearby, filled with memories. ``That was why they tried to tie my magic down in the first place. They didn't want me to become another Dark Lord. How am I supposed to avoid that?'' @@ -18848,12 +18605,12 @@ He knew he was taking a horrible risk, and he felt the silent self surge towards him, ready to hurt him if Harry was hurt. But Harry merely froze, and then whispered, ``Why? I don't understand.'' -``Because this magic is being ignored,'' said Snape. "Just as your envy +``Because this magic is being ignored,'' said Snape. ``Just as your envy and resentment of your brother built over all the years that your accomplishments were ignored, the magic built, and what you have done to exercise and train it is not enough. And now you are stronger than ever. This \emph{must} be used, Harry, not pushed away or cast aside. I very -much doubt that you could ever cage it again." +much doubt that you could ever cage it again.'' Harry was silent for a long time. Snape tamed his impatience, his fear that the magic was doing irreversible things to Hogwarts and its grounds @@ -18864,7 +18621,7 @@ rushed. true that I want it too much.'' The air around them surged, and turned noticeably warmer. Snape dared to -breathe a bit more easily. "That \emph{is} the truth," he said softly. +breathe a bit more easily. ``That \emph{is} the truth,'' he said softly. ``But consider this, Harry. You have always wanted to defend your brother, is that not true? And others?'' @@ -18872,8 +18629,8 @@ Harry glanced up at him and nodded slowly. ``Master this,'' said Snape, with a sweep of his arm that was meant to indicate the storm and the shattered bits of Harry's personality and the -silent self and everything else, "and you can do wonderful things as -easily as hurtful, Harry. You can protect. Defend. Guard. \emph{Heal.}" +silent self and everything else, ``and you can do wonderful things as +easily as hurtful, Harry. You can protect. Defend. Guard. \emph{Heal.}'' He saw the boy's head lift then, as if hearing a trumpet call, and pressed on. ``There is no law that says every powerful wizard must fall to the Dark.'' @@ -18892,9 +18649,9 @@ Snape nodded. ``That was meant to tie my magic down,'' said Harry, an edge of bitterness slipping into his voice. ``Amid other things that I don't even know yet. And I know who created it.'' He let his breath out. -``Dumbledore.'' He stared hard at Snape. "That means that, if you stand +``Dumbledore.'' He stared hard at Snape. ``That means that, if you stand with me and train me, then you're acting against Dumbledore. And I -\emph{know} you're loyal to him." +\emph{know} you're loyal to him.'' Snape felt the world around him wrench into utter clarity. @@ -19044,12 +18801,12 @@ outside.'' Snape was unable to contain his snort at the understatement. -He could feel Harry smiling. "I---I used \emph{Fugitivus Animus +He could feel Harry smiling. ``I---I used \emph{Fugitivus Animus Amplector} on my parents and Sirius. I should have some time before they're even able to focus on me and think about me properly. But I don't trust myself. I can hold the rage, but I can't damp it or get rid of it. Promise me that you'll get me away from them for at least part of -the summer? I don't trust myself not to kill them." +the summer? I don't trust myself not to kill them.'' Snape nodded. ``Though you mistake the source of my concern,'' he couldn't help adding. ``I am much more concerned about what they might @@ -19086,17 +18843,7 @@ Harry---not least, where Harry should go over the summer. Somewhat to his surprise and confusion, Snape found that he was quite looking forward to making them. -\chapter{*Chapter 32*: The Boy Who -Survived}\label{chapter-32-the-boy-who-survived} - -I'm very, very happy that readers liked the last two chapters so much. -Thank you! Review responses on LJ later. - -This is the last proper chapter of Year 2; there will be an interlude -also posted today, and then Year 2 ends. Year 3, {Comes Out of Darkness -Morn}, begins on Friday. Look for me then! - -\textbf{Chapter Thirty-One: The Boy-Who-Survived} +\chapter{The Boy Who Survived}\label{chapter-32-the-boy-who-survived} Snape hadn't gone far towards the school when he heard footsteps pounding behind him. Curious, he glanced back. He wondered if Hagrid had @@ -19158,10 +18905,10 @@ coherent revenge. Snape never was. He didn't need his wand, which was a good thing, as getting it would have meant shifting his arms from under Harry. He merely focused on -Lucius and breathed, "\emph{Sectumsempra.}" +Lucius and breathed, ``\emph{Sectumsempra.}'' The spell had barely flown before a voice from the general vicinity of -his chest shouted, "\emph{Protego!}" +his chest shouted, ``\emph{Protego!}'' Snape's spell hit the misty shield that had formed in front of Lucius, and Snape barely ducked aside in time as it came back at him. He watched @@ -19174,9 +18921,9 @@ Snape moved so that he could see Harry's face, and snarled, ``Why did you do that?'' Harry glared back at him, as much as he could glare when he looked weary -to the bone. ``Because,'' he said, "he's Draco's father. That means I +to the bone. ``Because,'' he said, ``he's Draco's father. That means I value him. And honestly, he said that to test \emph{you}. That was part -of the dance." He rolled his neck, slowly, so that he could see Lucius. +of the dance.'' He rolled his neck, slowly, so that he could see Lucius. ``I'm sorry, Mr. Malfoy,'' he said formally. ``That spell was launched to protect me, and I am the one who must ask that you forgive its use. Do you?'' @@ -19203,9 +18950,9 @@ things that needed to be said. To his surprise, both Malfoys walked behind him. Snape met Narcissa's gaze, and only Narcissa's. ``Draco is safe, I said,'' he murmured. -``I know,'' said Narcissa softly. "And I would still like to know what +``I know,'' said Narcissa softly. ``And I would still like to know what happened. I \emph{know} you, Severus. Why did you become so angry at -Lucius when he talked of the Dark Lord's return?" +Lucius when he talked of the Dark Lord's return?'' \emph{This, at least,} Snape thought, \emph{Harry cannot cast a spell to interfere with.} ``Because your husband is the reason that Harry is like @@ -19224,17 +18971,17 @@ bafflement on his face. ``Narcissa---'' -"\emph{Silencio,}" Narcissa said, and Lucius's mouth refused to work. +``\emph{Silencio,}'' Narcissa said, and Lucius's mouth refused to work. Narcissa went on without a pause. ``Lucius Abraxas Malfoy,'' she said, very slowly. ``Did you think that you could hurt someone who is dear to my son and not have me find out?'' Lucius just stared at her. -Narcissa moved a step forward. "You \emph{knew}," she hissed, with a +Narcissa moved a step forward. ``You \emph{knew},'' she hissed, with a viciousness in her voice that Snape thought would have done credit to -Harry's snake. "You \emph{knew} that Draco needs him, and you still -tried to destroy him." +Harry's snake. ``You \emph{knew} that Draco needs him, and you still +tried to destroy him.'' Lucius made some gesture that Snape knew would attempt an explanation---probably trying to say that he had not known the diary @@ -19243,9 +18990,9 @@ Narcissa's face, it wouldn't have been enough even if he could say it. Snape watched in glee. ``If what I suspect will happen now happens,'' said Narcissa, her voice -gone smooth and dark, "then I \emph{will} make sure he is safe from you, +gone smooth and dark, ``then I \emph{will} make sure he is safe from you, Lucius. And if that means that Draco and I must leave the Manor for the -summer, so be it." She glared at her husband for a long moment, all +summer, so be it.'' She glared at her husband for a long moment, all poised, cold beauty. ``I am disgusted with you,'' she added, and turned towards Snape, holding her arms out for Harry. @@ -19262,7 +19009,7 @@ Lucius must have managed the nonverbal counterspell, as he gasped out, Dumbledore and do the same thing. \begin{center}\rule{0.5\linewidth}{\linethickness}\end{center} - +\newpage ``Come in, Severus.'' Snape determined not to be put off by the fact that Dumbledore had known @@ -19285,31 +19032,31 @@ Headmaster cheerfully. ``I'm not omniscient, you know. Sherbet lemon?'' Snape shook his head. He didn't take a seat, either, even though Dumbledore was clearly looking between him and the nearest chair. ``I've -seen the web that you put in Harry's mind,'' he said. "I know that you +seen the web that you put in Harry's mind,'' he said. ``I know that you had something to do with suppressing his magic and changing the course of his thoughts. Did you \emph{really} think that no one would ever find -out?" +out?'' Dumbledore sighed. ``Ah, yes. The web was necessary, Severus.'' He sat back and met Snape's gaze calmly, as if he really thought that would be all. -``Necessary,'' Snape echoed. "Just as his training in wandless magic was +``Necessary,'' Snape echoed. ``Just as his training in wandless magic was necessary, I suppose, and his blind devotion to his brother, and the -utter \emph{shattering} of his mind that he's experienced now?" +utter \emph{shattering} of his mind that he's experienced now?'' Dumbledore's face changed. ``I had assumed that young Harry's familiar would stabilize him,'' he murmured. -"His snake is \emph{dead}, Albus!" Snape slammed a palm into the middle +``His snake is \emph{dead}, Albus!'' Snape slammed a palm into the middle of the Headmaster's desk. ``She died in that Chamber! And don't think for a moment that I'm accepting Connor Potter's story as the real one. -He believes it, yes,'' he added, as Dumbledore opened his mouth. "That +He believes it, yes,'' he added, as Dumbledore opened his mouth. ``That does not make it true. And I will no longer stand back and allow that kind of truth to obscure my mind. \emph{I} was the one who stabilized Harry, Albus. \emph{I} was the one who discovered the truth about what you've done to him, and about what your precious Gryffindors have done -to him." He was breathing hard by the end of it, his magic sparking and +to him.'' He was breathing hard by the end of it, his magic sparking and snapping at its shields. ``Give me one good reason that I should not take this to the Ministry and see you sacked for condoning and enhancing the abuse of a helpless child.'' @@ -19319,7 +19066,7 @@ researcher, Severus,'' he said. ``It seems that I overestimated them.'' Snape simply stared at him, and waited. -``If you had studied the phoenix web,'' Dumbledore continued, "you would +``If you had studied the phoenix web,'' Dumbledore continued, ``you would have found that not only is it Light magic, but it must be accepted \emph{willingly.} It is not abuse, and it is not illegal. I could never have placed the web in Harry's mind unless he had agreed to it. He chose @@ -19328,7 +19075,7 @@ truly are. In this case, it is sacrifice for his brother. That is Harry's role, the one chosen for him by the prophecy and his parents, but also by his own will. I fear that you have severely underestimated the depth of Harry's commitment to Connor. I am disappointed in you, -Severus." Dumbledore's eyes shone with that disappointment, which might +Severus.'' Dumbledore's eyes shone with that disappointment, which might have nearly broken Snape an hour ago. Snape straightened his back. \emph{That was an hour ago. And if it isn't @@ -19339,9 +19086,9 @@ slight, sour taste of his own disappointment, and forged ahead. ``He cannot truly have known what he was agreeing to when you placed the web, Albus. How old was he? Six? Seven?'' -``He was four,'' said Dumbledore quietly. "And he \emph{did} know. By +``He was four,'' said Dumbledore quietly. ``And he \emph{did} know. By that age, his mother had already taught him his vows, and about the -danger that Voldemort presents to his brother." +danger that Voldemort presents to his brother.'' Snape shook his head. He wanted to say something, but his disgust and his rage were holding him silent for now. His magic reached out instead, @@ -19362,9 +19109,9 @@ death of his snake, since she was involved in it as she was in every other turn and twist of his thoughts. It has served its purpose. Surely you could remove it now.'' -``That would not be the best course,'' said Dumbledore. "I \emph{have} +``That would not be the best course,'' said Dumbledore. ``I \emph{have} made tests, Severus, to see if perhaps Harry would be trustworthy -without the web. None of them have proven so." +without the web. None of them have proven so.'' ``Trustworthy for what?'' Snape sneered. ``Trustworthy to trot across a battlefield and lay his head on the chopping block?'' @@ -19383,7 +19130,7 @@ Snape braced himself, then reached out his left hand and gripped the sword's hilt. He snatched it back at once, and showed Dumbledore the reddened blister in the center of his palm. ``You know well enough that the Sword reacts to the presence of Dark magic in another wizard,'' he -snarled. "That is \emph{not} a final test, Albus." +snarled. ``That is \emph{not} a final test, Albus.'' ``There have been others.'' Dumbledore's face was gentle, but implacable. ``I sent Fawkes with the Sword to help anyone in the Chamber @@ -19428,10 +19175,10 @@ think he would be able to hold or hide it. And then Snape thought of another solution, and smiled unpleasantly. ``Harry will go to Godric's Hollow for the summer,'' Dumbledore -continued, unaware of Snape's private elation. "I am sure they will +continued, unaware of Snape's private elation. ``I am sure they will treat him well, since his life was in danger in the Chamber, or else they will respect his privacy because of the \emph{Fugitivus Animus} -spell. Yes, I felt him cast that, and admired the touch," he added to +spell. Yes, I felt him cast that, and admired the touch,'' he added to Snape's raised eyebrows. ``Either way, he will have the family around him, and powerful wards.'' @@ -19450,7 +19197,7 @@ quick.} ``Harry's parents would never agree to let him go to Malfoy Manor,'' said Dumbledore quietly. -"Under the \emph{Fugitivus Animus} spell? They will not care." Snape +``Under the \emph{Fugitivus Animus} spell? They will not care.'' Snape shrugged carelessly. ``And Narcissa Malfoy is already here, Headmaster. If you believe that you can take her from Harry's side now, with Draco there and Harry so important to her son, then you are a better wizard @@ -19460,11 +19207,11 @@ Dumbledore sat quite still for a long moment. Then he said, ``Severus, you do not understand a great many of the choices I have made.'' ``Nor do I want to,'' said Snape, making his voice as cool and polite as -possible. "But I understand what even half-understood truths can do. Try +possible. ``But I understand what even half-understood truths can do. Try to remove that spell from the Potters, Headmaster, or try to remove Harry from the Malfoys before he is ready, and I \emph{will} go to the Ministry. It will take only a few words in the right ears to stir -suspicion of you." He braced himself and waited. +suspicion of you.'' He braced himself and waited. Dumbledore's eyes came to him, shining and sad. ``Why have you turned against me, Severus?'' he whispered. ``I have---'' @@ -19495,10 +19242,8 @@ it could be. It was only when he stepped out of the office that he realized Fawkes had not been on his perch in the corner. -\emph{} - \begin{center}\rule{0.5\linewidth}{\linethickness}\end{center} - +\newpage \emph{It was like a fever dream.} The first time Harry opened his eyes, it was to become aware of someone @@ -19593,10 +19338,8 @@ watched their blurring figures for a moment before his awareness shattered on the sharp edges of reality as if he were falling down stairs, and he fell asleep. -\emph{} - \begin{center}\rule{0.5\linewidth}{\linethickness}\end{center} - +\newpage \emph{Like another fever dream}: Harry woke to a croon he had reason to know, and a high-pitched voice @@ -19644,8 +19387,8 @@ and all phoenixes understand house elves.'' ``Harry Potter has never asked Dobby,'' Dobby said simply. He listened as Fawkes uttered a stream of notes, then smiled. Harry didn't know what to make of that smile. It was intent and dreamy, as though Dobby saw -something in the future that he truly enjoyed. "Fawkes says that Harry -Potter is on the road to being a \emph{vates}," he said. +something in the future that he truly enjoyed. ``Fawkes says that Harry +Potter is on the road to being a \emph{vates},'' he said. ``What is that?'' Harry tried to force his aching brain to work. He knew the word, he knew that, but he didn't know what it meant right now. @@ -19663,10 +19406,8 @@ Dobby's answer was nearly lost between the planes of sleep, but Harry managed to hear it. ``Not all of it, Harry Potter. Some of it is because he likes you.'' A pause. ``And because he is sorry.'' -\emph{} - \begin{center}\rule{0.5\linewidth}{\linethickness}\end{center} - +\newpage \emph{And a third dream, or occurrence, or odd meeting that Harry would not have imagined for himself}: @@ -19706,8 +19447,8 @@ now.'' His smile dropped away, and he trained his eyes on Harry's face. ``Some of the things you said during that conversation convinced him that you suspected he was there, so he did draw back and let me act more naturally in the months since then. But I---I could always feel him.'' -His hand drifted up to his scar. "Such \emph{slime}, Harry, such -\emph{filth.} How did you stand it?" +His hand drifted up to his scar. ``Such \emph{slime}, Harry, such +\emph{filth.} How did you stand it?'' ``Pretty much the same way you did, I imagine,'' said Harry, and heard his voice crack down the middle. ``I survived.'' @@ -19727,15 +19468,15 @@ I asked them about you once, and they were on the verge of asking who you were. It's like you moved away a long time ago.'' He paused. ``Did you do that?'' -``Yes,'' Harry whispered, his voice cracking again. "I \emph{had} to, -Connor." +``Yes,'' Harry whispered, his voice cracking again. ``I \emph{had} to, +Connor.'' ``Shhh, I know,'' Connor said. His hand moved up and down on Harry's back. ``When Mum came near your bed, your magic started spitting around you, and a lightning bolt nearly took her down. I think it's best if you -stay apart from all of us a little while.'' He let out a breath. "I +stay apart from all of us a little while.'' He let out a breath. ``I don't think that going with the \emph{Malfoys} is necessarily the best -choice, but it's not my decision. You're leaving today, you know." +choice, but it's not my decision. You're leaving today, you know.'' ``Today?'' Harry tried to sit back and see Connor's face, but his brother wouldn't let him. ``How long have I been asleep?'' @@ -19751,9 +19492,9 @@ It's tonight.'' ``I don't think I could,'' Harry said honestly, and closed his eyes. He was already tiring again. It was less a physical than a mental -tiredness, as though his mind were weary of thinking. "I want to +tiredness, as though his mind were weary of thinking. ``I want to \emph{rest}, Connor. That's why I'm going to the Malfoys, to rest. You -can tell the others---whatever you want." +can tell the others---whatever you want.'' ``I'm going to tell them the truth,'' Connor whispered back. ``That we were both possessed, and you're the bravest person I know.'' His hands @@ -19799,23 +19540,14 @@ crystalline around him suddenly. He looked up and saw Narcissa Malfoy standing in the doorway, ready to carry him if he couldn't walk. ``Let's go home.'' -\chapter{*Chapter 33*: Interlude: Two -Letters}\label{chapter-33-interlude-two-letters} - -This is the end of {No Mouth But Some Serpent's.} The next story begins -on Friday. (If you want to know for certain when it's up, you can join -the Yahoo!Group). Many, many thanks to everyone who's come to the end of -this story with me. - -\textbf{Interlude: Two Letters} +\chapter{Interlude: Two Letters}\label{chapter-33-interlude-two-letters} +\noindent \emph{June 12th, 1993} -\emph{June 12th, 1993} - -To: Auror Department +\noindent To: Auror Department Ministry of Magic -To whom it may concern, +\noindent To whom it may concern, My name is Severus Snape, Potions Master at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. I am currently doing research into the @@ -19836,20 +19568,18 @@ Trial of Hawthorn Parkinson, May 11th, 1982 Trial of Mundungus Fletcher, September 9th, 1983 -Please let me know at your earliest convenience whether I may be obliged +\noindent Please let me know at your earliest convenience whether I may be obliged in this matter. I remain, \emph{Severus Snape.} -\emph{} - \begin{center}\rule{0.5\linewidth}{\linethickness}\end{center} -\emph{July 1st, 1993} +\noindent \emph{July 1st, 1993} -Lucius: +\noindent Lucius: I trust that you will let no opportunity slip by you as you did with the diary I asked you to fetch. You know what you need to do, and if you do |