Adaptations

Adaptations

Part 6

Harry's party at the Burrow lasted until well past supper, and when, towards the end, Mrs. Weasley engulfed him in a hug, Harry's face was lit with a broad smile. Cho accompanied him back to Privet Drive, ostensibly to help him carry his load of presents. From the smug grin on the face of Mrs. Weasley, Harry guessed she didn't believe that was all there was to it. Before going home herself, Cho promised to come back the next day to finally take Harry out for his birthday lunch.

Harry awoke early the next morning, got dressed, and helped himself to breakfast while the Dursleys were still dressing; it was much easier to get a hot shower when he got into the bath before anyone else was awake. He was in the garden weeding when a pair of sharp *cracks* snapped his attention away from his work. He whirled around to face the newcomers , his hand reaching for the wand that wasn't there. He was met by the smiling faces of Remus Lupin and Professor Dumbledore.

"Feeling a bit Moody this morning, Harry?" Remus said with a grin.

Harry first grinned and then chuckled as the levels of his former teacher's joke passed through his mind. "Yeah, well I reckon that sometimes a bit of paranoia can be a healthy thing," he said.

"Indeed it can, Harry," Professor Dumbledore said with a smile, "indeed it can." He produced a small package from within the billowing folds of his robes and held it out towards Harry. "I know I am a bit late, but I didn't want to put a damper on the festivities yesterday with your friends, so I decided to wait and give you this today."

Harry reached out and took the package hesitantly. "Thank you, Professor. You know you didn't have to get me a gift..."

"I know, Harry, but I felt this one would be welcome."

Harry unwrapped the package to find a slim book. It was old and bound in dragon hide; the script was ornate and illuminated. The title read, "Apparitione Codex" and Harry noticed that it held no wizarding copywrite date, nor any publisher. He looked at his Headmaster quizzically.

"Yes, Harry," he said with a smile, "it is from my own library. It was a gift to me from my friend Nicholas Flammel over a century ago. I've found that it covers the topic in a slightly different way than modern texts and provides several interesting insights. Perhaps, after you've read it over, we can discuss some of them?"

Harry was stunned; he had thought that Dumbledore would still be angry with him after his various temper tantrums but this... to give him such an obviously valuable book?

"But, Professor, we're not supposed to even begin to study Apparation until after we've come of age?" Dumbledore just looked at him with his eyes twinkling like the Kneazel who ate the canary. Harry stumbled a bit trying to understand the meaning of this when he suddenly remembered something from the party yesterday. "Oh, Professor, something happened at the party yesterday and it gave me an idea that might be useful to the Order!" Both Lupin and Dumbledore now looked at him with interest.

"Molly didn't notify us of any unusual incidents," Professor Dumbledore said.

"Well, I guess it wasn't that unusual for the Weasleys, but it gave me an idea."

"What gave you an idea, Harry? Start from the beginning," Remus said.

Harry led them over to some chairs and Dumbledore, with a wave of his wand, conjured a pot of tea and three cups.

"Well, somehow somebody slipped some Canary Creams into the food at the party," Harry began.

"Definitely not an unusual event from what I am given to understand," Dumbledore chuckled.

"Yeah," Harry said as Remus grinned. "But this time it was Cho who ate it. She'd never seen one before and she got a little frightened, not understanding what was happening and all." Both Dumbledore and Lupin nodded. "Anyway, I ate the rest of it so that she could see that it was harmless, and the two of us sat there talking while we were canaries." Harry looked at the two men expecting them to leap to the same conclusion that he had, but both just looked at him expectantly. "We were talking as birds, actually Cho was cursing at the twins rather colorfully, but no one else could understand us. I tried to talk to other people at the table but they couldn't understand me." Both Dumbledore and Lupin continued to gaze at Harry, waiting for him to get to the point. "Don't you see? We could talk and, even though the other people could hear us, they couldn't understand what we were saying. If the Order used Canary Creams, or some kind of variation of them, then they could talk openly in public but no one else could understand." Harry waited some more but then continued, now a little exasperated. "You wouldn't have to worry about spies or being overheard by anyone. Only other canaries could understand you. Don't you see? This could be like a code that the Death Eaters couldn't break."

Dumbledore looked at Harry for another moment, his fingers steepled and resting on his lips. "Harry, do you mean to say that while you were effected by these Canary Creams you could converse with another person similarly effected?"

"Exactly!" Harry crowed, thrilled that they had finally gotten his meaning.

"Could you hear the other people around you speaking, the ones that weren't canaries?"

"Yes, I could hear and understand all the normal - if anyone could call the Weasleys normal - people talking but they couldn't understand me! Do you see?"

Dumbledore's eyes were flashing brightly and a smile creased his cheeks. "Oh yes, Harry, I see, and I think you are correct. This could be something quite useful. I may just have to pay a little visit to Messrs. Fred and George Weasley to discuss this." Dumbledore nodded a few more times, as if he were taking mental notes for future reference before continuing.

"There is another matter that Professor Lupin and I would like to discuss with you today, Harry. That is if you have the time?"

"Certainly, Professor, what did you want to talk about?"

Dumbledore eyes suddenly lost their twinkle as he replied, "I would like to discuss exactly how it was that Sirius came to be within you, Harry."

Harry just sat and stared at them for a moment; this wasn't what he had been expecting. He didn't have the slightest idea how Sirius had found his way into his mind and he said so.

"If I may venture something, Harry," Lupin said. "I noticed that when you started to get agitated with us, during our conversation at Grimmauld Place, and just as Sirius began to make himself known, you began to scratch and flex your hand. Does that have anything to do with Sirius?"

Harry thought for a moment. He vaguely remembered how a tingling sensation had started to flow up his arm from his hand as he got angry. He opened his palm and looked at it. There, in the center of his palm, was the faint white line of a scar. It started just below the base of his index finger and curved down around his thumb, sort of like a second Life Line. He had gotten that cut on his first day back from school. He had gotten it from a piece of broken glass in his trunk... The MIRROR! The one that Sirius had given him! It was supposed to be some sort of a communications artifact. Maybe that was it?

Harry began to tell them about the mirror, about how Sirius had given it to him at Christmas but Harry hadn't opened it until after the events at the Department of Mysteries. He looked at his former teacher with guilt as he explained that the mirror was a means of communication. He waited for the incriminations to come. If he had only opened it sooner then he could have been able to speak directly with Sirius when he had the dreams and none of it would come to pass. None of his friends would have followed him to the Department of Mysteries. None of them would have been put in danger. Sirius would still be here. He waited for the anger to come, the anger that he so fully deserved. Remus just looked back at him with sadness.

"Listen, Harry, I know what you're thinking," he spoke gently. "You're thinking that so many things could have been avoided if you had only known about the mirror. Don't feel guilty about that."

"Why shouldn't I?" Harry answered hotly. "It was my fault."

"Harry, listen to me," Remus continued in a voice so soft that Harry had to lean forward to hear it. "I know you feel responsible for what happened to Sirius. You think that if you had only spoken of your dream to Professor Snape then he could have worked out that it was just a trap. But you're wrong. There was no way for Professor Snape to discover whether your dream was real or not, and no way he could have contacted anyone at Headquarters. You were all effectively isolated. Voldemort had timed things perfectly."

Harry snapped back at the mention of his Potions Master and former Occlumency Instructor, not hearing anything else that Remus was saying. Snape would have only ridiculed him if he had spoken to him about his dreams. He would have laughed and said that they were all fantasies sent by Voldemort and if Harry had only done as HE had instructed then he wouldn't be wasting anyone's time with this nonsense. And he would have been right.

But then the voice from the back of Harry's head spoke, Sirius' voice. He said that if Snape had honestly tried to teach Harry Occlumency then maybe Harry could have blocked the dream, but he didn't. He didn't because he couldn't. Snape didn't know enough about Occlumency to teach it. He had failed to block Voldemort himself and so there was no way he could have taught Harry to how do it.

"It's not your fault, Harry," Dumbledore interrupted. "Many things could have happened differently that would have altered to final outcome that night, but, all in all, I am pleased with how things were resolved."

Harry looked at his Headmaster stunned. Did he just say that he was PLEASED that things had turned out the way they did!

Dumbledore continued, "Harry, please, hear me out. I am not pleased that Sirius is gone, even if it is only temporarily. I am certainly not pleased that several of my students were injured. But if we look at the situation as a whole, there is much to be pleased with. The only permanent damage to any of your fellow students was the loss of Mr. Longbottom's wand, and I have a feeling that he will be able to get on with his new wand quite a bit better than he did with his old. The loss of Sirius was tragic, but now even that may be mitigated. On the other side of the ledger we have the fact that Minister Fudge has been forced to openly acknowledge that Lord Voldemort has returned. I think you will agree that this is a very good thing. I have been returned to my position as Headmaster of Hogwarts." He gave Harry a sly wink. "Whether or not that is a good thing is a matter of opinion. Several very prominent Death Eaters have been captured, including Lucius Malfoy. And last, but not least, that atrocious statue in the lobby of the Ministry of Magic has been destroyed once and for all." Dumbledore's eyes were twinkling brightly at this. "All in all, you would have to agree that the events at the Ministry were a distinct victory for the forces of light."

Harry thought about this for a moment. When taken from that perspective, he had to admit that Dumbledore had gained far more than he had lost. It was Sirius who had lost, and Harry had lost Sirius.

"Harry," Dumbledore interrupted his thoughts, "do you still have this mirror? You haven't disposed of it have you?"

Harry hung his head for a moment. His face flushed at the thought of having to admit that he had kept the broken pieces, but they were all that he had left of Sirius. He kept them in a shoe box under the loose floorboards in his room.

"You still have them?" Dumbledore asked again gently. Harry nodded.

"Have you done any sort of enchantments on them, even the Reparo spell?"

"No, nothing," Harry said. "The last thing I need is another letter from Madam Hopkirk." Both the Headmaster and Remus grinned at this.

"Indeed, it would be best to avoid her notice for awhile. Would you mind if I borrowed the mirror, Harry? I wish to examine it; perhaps it could provide some clue as to how to go about retrieving Sirius."

Harry shrugged. He hadn't looked at the mirror since he had put it away, and with Sirius inside his head, he figured he wouldn't much need the mirror now. He ran upstairs and retrieved the box and gave it to the Headmaster. Professor Dumbledore looked intently at the pieces of broken glass and silver frame.

"Ah, very interesting," he said. "Thank you, Harry, this may be most useful. And now, I think it would be best if we left you to finish your chores and then get ready for your luncheon with Miss Chang."

Harry gaped back at them. How did he know about that? The two men dissapparated, leaving a rather bewildered Harry sitting alone in the garden.

"Oh, and thank you for the book," he called into the empty space.

* * * * *

The yellow motorbike came whizzing down normally quiet Privet Drive with its front wheel pointed firmly at the sky. As he was passing Number 10, Harry backed off the throttle and brought the wheel back down to the pavement with a jolt. Reaching Number 4, Harry turned up the drive and brought the bike to a halt in front of the garage door. Taking the helmet off his head, Harry shook out his unruly hair and looked back at his passenger. Cho was struggling with the chin strap of her helmet, so Harry helped her with it.

"So, how did you enjoy our little ride?" Harry said with a wide smile. "Didn't I tell you it was brilliant?"

"Harry," Cho managed, struggling to catch her breath, "that was amazing! It was better than riding in the carts at Gringotts!" She began to swing her leg over the end of the bike.

"Watch your leg on the exhaust pipe," Harry pointed out. "They're quite hot and will give you a nasty burn if your touch them." He held Cho's hand to steady her as she swung her leg over the saddle and stood next to him. She tried to take a step but her legs were still unsteady and she fell against Harry, who caught her firmly around the waist. "Careful there," he said warmly. "It might take you a second to get your balance back."

"Oh, Harry, I never thought it would be like that. When you fly a broom it's just you but here... everything just goes rushing by so quickly, and you're snapping back and forth. How fast does that thing go?"

Harry blushed a little. "We never really went that fast, even though it seemed that way, but the bike will go up to 200 kilometers an hour."

"200!" Cho practically shrieked. "That's faster than a Firebolt!"

"Yeah, but the Firebolt will turn a lot more sharply, especially in the air."

"In the air?" Cho's eyebrows arched nearly to her hairline. "You mean this thing can fly as well?"

"Yeah, Sirius enchanted it to fly and turn invisible also."

Cho's eyes grew round as saucers. "Do you have any idea how much trouble you could get into with that thing?" she asked. Harry just grinned back and nodded.

Cho stepped away from the motorbike as Harry raised the garage door and rolled the bike inside. As Harry came back out and closed the door he turned back to Cho.

"I'm glad you enjoyed the ride," he said, "and I want to thank you again for the lunch, it was really nice."

"I'm glad you enjoyed it," Cho responded. "I just wish that we could have done it on your actual birthday. It's sad that your special day was ruined like that."

Harry just shook his head. "It's not like I usually celebrate my birthday anyway. It was great that the Weasleys would throw me that party though, and now you take me to lunch. It's been a great birthday."

Cho wanted to ask if what his aunt and uncle had done for his birthday but she suddenly realized what Harry was implying; they didn't do anything, they never did. Why did they treat him so horribly, she wondered for probably the hundredth time that summer? What had he done to deserve it?

Harry broke into her thoughts. "So, when do you have to head back? Not right away, I hope."

"No Harry," she answered with a smile, "my family isn't expecting me back until after dinner so we can hang around a bit, if you like."

"Yeah," Harry answered quickly, "I'd like that. But what do you want to do? We've already put the bike away."

"That's OK," Cho said, "I think I've had enough excitement for the afternoon, thanks. You have any ideas? I don't want to get your aunt annoyed with me."

"No problem there. She took Dudley into London for the day. They've got to get him fitted for his school stuff."

"Fitted?" Cho asked.

Harry grinned maliciously, "Yeah, 'fitted'. Old Dudders doesn't fit into any normal uniforms anymore, hasn't for a couple of years. So, they take him to a tailor in London and have his school stuff made to fit. Sort of like special ordering a circus tent with matching knickerbockers." They both giggled for a moment.

"So no one's home?" Cho said.

"No one but us," Harry replied.

"We're all alone?" Harry nodded and Cho grinned slyly at him, her cheeks blooming a lovely tint of red. "Does that mean we can... go inside?"

"Yeah sure, if you want to," Harry said, a little confused.

"Well," Cho said suddenly shy, "I was wondering... I mean... "

"You mean what, Cho?"

"I've never seen the inside of a muggle house before," she blurted out.

"Oh, is that all! Sure, come on in and I'll show you around. You want to see the fellytone? Mr. Weasley was really excited about that."

"Oh, I've read about them in Muggle Studies! Only I thought they were called 'telephones'. Isn't that right?"

Harry blushed and ushered Cho through the front door and into Number 4 Privet Drive, the most normal house in all of Great Britain, except for its occupants that is. He showed her around the entire house. He tried to avoid Dudley's room, but Cho insisted on seeing it and then wished she hadn't when she did. They finally wound up back in the lounge.

"I've got an idea," Harry said. "Have you ever watched television? It's all the rage for muggles. They spent almost every moment they can sitting in front of it." Cho shook her head 'no' and Harry pointed her to the couch as he turned it on.

After no more than 10 minutes Cho turned to Harry and asked, "Is this it?" Harry nodded in response. "Not very good, is it?" she asked.

Harry grinned. "Not really, no."

"I'd much rather sit in front of the fire and watch it. At least then I can hear myself think."

"Maybe you'd rather watch a muggle film? They can be much better than regular shows. I'll make some popcorn and it will be like going to the cinema."

Harry made a batch of popcorn in the microwave, fascinating Cho in the process, and then they started combing through the piles of videos to try and decide what to watch. Finally, they came across one titled 'Poltergeist'.

"Oh," Cho exclaimed, "here's one about Peeves! That ought to be fun!" Harry had never seen the film so he popped it into the player and they sat back on the couch.

About an hour into the film Cho had wormed her way under Harry's arm and lay snuggled into his shoulder, turning her head away to avoid the screen.

"Muggles know absolutely nothing about poltergeists," she said into the sleeve of his shirt.

"No," Harry answered, "and not much about ghosts either. Would you like me to turn it off?"

Cho nodded but Harry was suddenly riveted to the screen. The people in the house had thrown a rope into some sort of portal and Harry was perched on the edge of the couch, fixated by what they were doing.

"Harry?" she said nudging him in the ribs. "I think I really would like you to turn it off. I'm not enjoying this at all."

Harry shook himself out of his trance. "Yeah, sure Cho, I wasn't enjoying it either," he said as he grabbed the remote control off the table.

"Are you sure, Harry? You seemed rather engrossed in it for a minute there."

"No, I mean yes, I'm sure. It's just that that scene, it's given me an idea about how to get Sirius out."

"What do you mean? You want to see if Professor Trelawney has a much shorter sister who also likes to pretend she's a seer?"

Harry looked at her and grinned. "Not at all," he said. "How would you like to go to London for dinner? I need to see the twins about something."

* * * * *

The next day, Harry was sitting at the small desk in his small bedroom, a pile of crumpled and discarded parchment keeping him company as he tapped the end of his quill against his teeth. He had started his note to Dumbledore at least a dozen times and each time he had faltered on how exactly to tell his Headmaster that he got the idea for how to rescue Sirius from a trashy muggle movie. He knew the idea would work, well he didn't know, but he felt it strongly. After the events in the Department of Mysteries, he knew he had to present his idea in just the right manner if he was to have any hope of getting them to listen.

Harry's deliberations were interrupted by a sudden flash of golden red flames as Fawkes appeared in the air in front of him. Harry stared as the magnificent bird circled the small room, its wingtips grazing the walls and leaving a trail of sparks behind as they did. Fawkes splayed his wings and came to a gentle stop resting on Harry's shoulder.

"Hello, Fawkes," Harry said and was answered by a warbling trill that penetrated and warmed him thoroughly. "What brings you here?"

Fawkes responded by turning around and spreading his long tail across the desktop in front of Harry. Realizing what Fawkes wanted, Harry took a firm hold of the bird's tail and they were away in another flask of light.

Harry stumbled as he released the Phoenix's tail, and fell to his knees on the floor of Dumbledore's office. He blinked at the sudden change of surroundings. He heard a disdainful snort and looked up into the eyes of Professor Snape. The Potions Master snarled silently and gathered his robes around his knees as Harry regained his feet. Harry looked around the crowded room and found that Professor Dumbledore was meeting with Remus Lupin, and Professor McGonagall, as well as Snape.

Dumbledore was smiling serenely, Remus was grinning, Snape scowled, and Professor McGonagall said, "Good morning, Mr. Potter."

"Hello, everyone," Harry said cautiously. "I take it you wanted to see me, Professor?"

"Yes, Harry," Dumbledore said softly, "I did."

Harry shifted from one foot to the other for a moment and Professor McGonagall waved her wand to conjure a straight-backed chair for him to sit in.

"Harry," the headmaster began, "we've been looking at the mirror that Sirius gave you and I have to say that we are rather concerned."

"Why's that, Professor?" Harry asked.

"Well, Harry, it seems that the magic that Sirius used to create that mirror was very similar to that which Tom Riddle used to enchant his diary. I think you remember that."

Harry shuddered at the memories of Tom Riddle possessing Ginny Weasley and attempting to use her life force to resurrect himself. "You don't think that Sirius will try..."

Remus broke into the conversation. "No, Harry, of course we don't think that Sirius would try to possess you like that. It's just that Riddle used some very powerful Dark magic to create his diary."

"And you're accusing Sirius and my dad of using Dark magic to create those mirrors?"

"James had one, too?" Remus asked.

"Yeah, at least that's what Sirius told me when he gave it to me. He said that he and my dad both had them and that they used to use them all the time to talk to each other. I thought you all had them."

Remus furrowed his brows. "No, Harry, I didn't have one, and I doubt that Peter had one either. It must have been something that only James and Sirius used."

"Regardless, Mister Potter," Professor McGonagall spoke, trying to get the conversation back on topic, "we are concerned that there might be some inadvertent risk in this connection between you and Sirius." Harry shook his head.

Remus continued, "Harry, we just want to make sure that nothing unexpected happens."

"Unexpected?" Harry asked. "Like what?"

"If we knew what to expect then it wouldn't be unexpected, would it?" Snape's voice was cold and full of condescension.

"What are you saying?" Harry said looking straight at Dumbledore.

"Harry, we feel it is best if we remove that part of Sirius' being that is currently residing in you," he said calmly.

Harry shook his head. "No, I don't agree. Sirius isn't causing any harm and as long as he is inside me I know that he is still alive somewhere."

Dumbledore stood and faced Harry. "Harry, we will do everything in our power to return Sirius to this world but we also have to think about your welfare."

"No! As long as I have a piece of him, he's safe. I won't let you take him out." Harry thought of telling them about his idea, but the look in Snape's eyes made him stop. Now was not the time for discussion. They had already made their minds up and now Harry had to concentrate on getting out with Sirius intact.

McGonagall spoke again, still trying to be the voice of reason. "Harry, no one wants to put Sirius in any danger but we have to think about your well being. We are only concerned about keeping you safe."

"No, I won't let you take him."

"Harry, I'm afraid that I must insist," Dumbledore said, his voice still calm and serene.

"No." Harry turned towards the door.

He had taken only a single step towards it when he heard Snape's voice. "Petrificus Totallus!" The spell caught Harry right between the shoulder blades and his arms and legs snapped together with a thud as he began to fall. Professor McGonagall quickly cast a cushioning charm on the floor and Remus levitated him over to a table.

As Harry settled onto the surface of the table, Remus spoke, "Albus, are you certain about this?"

"I am confident that it is the best course of action," the old man responded.

"Indeed," said Professor McGonagall, "I'm sure that he will thank us when this is all straightened out."

Snape snorted, "I sincerely doubt that. The boy is incapable of proper gratitude."

"We've given little to be grateful for today," Remus said.

"No? We've only saved his miserable life. Again. Not much at all. What on earth is that to be grateful for?"

"Can you honestly expect him to be grateful for getting hexed," Remus asked and then couldn't stop himself from adding, "while his back was turned?" Snape stiffened but made no further comment.

Harry tried to struggle but the hex was too strong. His body was frozen and totally beyond his control. He listened to them talk as if he wasn't even there and his fury grew. All the talk about treating him like an adult was just a lie. They didn't care what he thought and had no intention of giving him any control over his own life. He railed against the curse. He tried with all his might to break through it, to regain control of his muscles and himself, but he failed.

Dumbledore circled from behind his desk and came to the table where Harry lay. With a flick of the headmaster's wand, Harry was on his back, and with another, his arm had moved. Now it stuck straight out from his body. Dumbledore opened Harry fingers gently, exposing his palm.

"Albus," Minerva pleaded, "shouldn't we try to reason with the boy, to make him see the situation clearly?"

Dumbledore stopped what he was doing but it was Snape who spoke. "We can reason with him, if he is capable of it, afterwards. Let us do what needs to be done now and explain ourselves later."

Remus looked at the headmaster with eyes full of doubt. He was about to say something when Dumbledore resumed his actions. He muttered an incantation, so softly that Harry couldn't make it out. Once again, Harry felt a tingling throughout his body, but now, instead of spreading, the sensation was coalescing back into his hand, pulling away from his heart, and his mind, and his soul. Leaving him alone. Then, with the nail of one finger, Dumbledore traced the faint scar that ran along Harry's lifeline and sliced through the skin.

Small beads of liquid, not blood but looking more like quicksilver, welled up and dripped towards the floor. Dumbledore made certain to catch these in a small stone basin. After a minute, the silver liquid was gone and red blood took its place. Dumbledore quickly spoke a healing charm, and the cut he had made sealed itself. Dumbledore took the basin containing what was left of Sirius and placed it on a high shelf. Harry felt empty, bereft. It was as if someone had drained some precious life-force from him, and he realized that is exactly what happened. They had removed all that remained of his Godfather from him. He was alone again.

With another wave of his wand, Dumbledore released the body bind and Harry was free again. Quivering all over, Harry rose shakily to his feet. He clutched his hands into fists until the knuckles grew white. His jaw was clenched. He slowly turned to look at each of the people in the room, they were his teachers and they had done this to him. Voldemort at least showed him the courtesy of torturing him. His enemies had enough respect for him to grant him the dignity of a fight, but these people, people he was supposed to trust, hadn't. They had just... Harry had to shake himself to stop his thoughts from continuing. He had to leave this place and he had to leave it now. Dumbledore looked at him over his half-moon spectacles.

"Harry, let me explain..."

Harry interrupted him. "Get me out of here," he said, his voice cold as stone.

Harry's whole body was vibrating from the anger he was trying to contain. Harry turned towards Remus Lupin who could not meet his eyes. He turned to Professor McGonagall, who looked almost pleadingly back at him.

"Mister Potter... Harry, please try to understand that..."

"Get me out of here."

He turned to face Snape, who looked back at him with his usual sneer, like he was considering a particularly slimy insect before stepping on it. Snape's cold eyes held a triumphant look as he opened his mouth to speak, but before he could make a sound Harry took a quick step towards him. Snape's eyes grew suddenly wide. The Potions Master stumbled backwards a half-step before bumping into the chair behind him. His hand went to his wand, Harry's wand, but before he could fully draw it Harry's hand had shot out like a striking viper and snatched the wand from his grasp.

Harry spoke in an unrelenting voice that chilled the room and brought gooseflesh to Minerva McGonagall's arms. "Sirius was right about you," he said. "You are nothing but a coward." He turned again to the headmaster. "Get me out of here."

Dumbledore alone seemed unaffected, he calmly asked, "Where would you like to go, Harry? If you wish you may go to the Burrow for the rest of the summer."

Harry's lips curled into a sneer and his laugh contained nothing like humor. "As if you give a dam about what I wish. Just get me out of here."

In two steps, Harry was beside Fawkes' perch. He grasped the bird's tail feathers and in a flash of color they were gone.

Dumbledore looked around his office and at the faces there then sighed deeply. "Well, I can honestly say that things did not go as well as I would have hoped. But at least Harry is safe now."

Remus shook his head, his mind a million miles (or was it years?) away. "Is he? Is he really?" Snapping himself out of his revelry he added, "At least he's safer than you are, Severus. You'll have to watch your back when classes begin again."

Snape scowled at the former teacher, but somehow it didn't look at menacing as it had a few minutes ago.

Minerva spoke, calmly and flatly, "No, Severus, there's no need for you to watch your back. I am certain that, no matter what happens, Harry will be looking you directly in the eye at the time."

I feel as if I gave you the idear for this SMILES