Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince

Chapter Five

O.W.L.s At Last

August bloomed hot and sultry. Ron, Harry, Hermione, and Ginny could once again be seen out in front of the stone façade of Spinners Ends sweating slightly as they tried to focus their minds away from the heat, but on their task.

Lupin had been teaching them all through July on centering themselves; it was something that they were getting good at, and soon, as July transitioned into August, they had mastered it outright.

"Okay," said Lupin, wiping his brow. "now that you can center yourself quickly, you need to start learning to move yourself through concentration."

Harry and Ron, tired of Hermione's constant badgering had given in and both read the book Lupin had lent her, and even though the mercury was rising outside, they were eager to try to put the information to practice.

"I want each of you to focus on moving to a spot near by," continued Lupin. "Concentrate hard on moving a few meters forward for now. When you feel like you have gathered your focus, will yourself to apparate to that spot."

Harry focused his mind, trying to concentrate on the spot right in front of him. The heat however was making him a little dazed. When he willed himself to apparate to the spot in front of him, all he did was misbalance his body, and fell face forward onto the hot grass in front of him.

"You need to center yourself more carefully," said Lupin, as Harry opened his eyes and saw that Ron had also fell face first. Hermione and Ginny were standing, though in the same place they had been. "If you center yourself enough, the heat won't bother you. It is important that you learn to overcome conditions such as heat and cold incase you ever find yourself in such a situation were you need to make a quick escape under difficult conditions. Center yourself to the point where you can not feel the heat."

It was easier to say that then to actually do it. It was getting hotter by the minute as they stood, trying to ignore the growing heat around them and perform the simple task of apperating a few meters. It seemed harder then anything else Harry had ever done; even harder then trying to keep Snape from entering his mind during Occlumency lessons.

By lunch time, no one, not even Hermione had been successful in transporting themselves. Harry was grateful when he heard Mrs. Weasley calling from the kitchen window to come in for lunch.

It was paradise to enter the cool interior of Spinners End. Mrs. Weasley had set out sandwiches and iced pumpkin juice for them. Tired and sweaty, they ate in silence, and then walked achingly up to the third floor to get a quick wash and change.

Ginny and Ron decided on a game of wizard's chess, while Hermione, yet again, was deeply immersed in Lupin's book on Apparation; Harry however decided to head back downstairs to see if Lupin was still there.

He could hear voices in the kitchen, and walked more slowly and quietly to listen.

"Where is Remus?" questioned Kingsley Shacklebolt. "We needed to speak with him."

"Oh, he just left to report to Dumbledore," said Mrs. Weasley calmly.

"He hasn't acted peculiar has he in recent days?" said Kingsley, quieter still. "I mean with Harry, has he had any episodes with his connection?"

"Not that I am aware of," said Mrs. Weasley, nervously. "He seems fine."

"Well if he does Dumbledore wants to know right away," said Kingsley. "Our sources tell us that You-Know-Who is starting to put his plans into action. Harry may very well be the one who can help to limit there abilities."

"Let's hope it does not get to that," said Mrs. Weasley, in a worried tone. "The last thing we need is Harry to be aware of You- Know-Who's activities; seeing as what happened last time. I have been growing worried, more so because nothing has happened yet."

"Well, You-Know-Who has come to recognize how dangerous Harry could be to himself if Harry got much deeper into his thoughts," replied Kingsley. "Well, I have to return to the ministry. Fudge is starting to get good and angry, and is moving through the ministry trying to get things under his control again; Best not to make him suspicious."

Harry heard the kitchen door open, then close, and footsteps coming quickly toward the stairs. As quietly as he could he retreated back up the stairs to the third floor and entered his and Ron's room.

"Oh come on!" said Ginny, prodding one of her knights with her finger. "It is just a pawn. Just go and capture him." she looked up as Harry closed the door. "What's wrong?"

"Nothing," said Harry quickly, trying to feint interest in the chess game which he saw that Ron was likely 2 moves from winning. He sat down on his bed next to Hermione who was deeply immersed in the last few chapters of her book.

So this was why he had not been getting flashes of Voldemort's moods, and whereabouts. Was it true that Voldemort was so afraid of what uses Harry would put that information to that he was doing his best not to let it happen? And what plans were Voldemort starting to put into action as he sat around Spinners End?

"Are you sure everything is okay?" questioned Hermione, as she looked over her book. "You're looking really peaky."

Harry racked his brains for an excuse. "I think I had to much heat this morning."

Hermione returned to reading her book as Harry propped himself against the bedroom wall and watched as Ron checkmated with Ginny's king. Harry just sat where he was quietly, looking as Ron and Ginny started a new game, but not really seeing it; His thoughts were elsewhere.

***

"When you are ready," said Lupin quietly, "And feel confident that you have focused your mind enough, then begin."

It was an oddly cloudy day about a week into august. The air was not hot and dry, but warm and comfortable.

Harry focused his mind, trying to ignore the sound of the wind blowing through the trees. In an attempt to conquer his worries of what Voldemort was up to, Harry had focused most of his time on Apparation.

He was suddenly aware that the only sensation he felt was as if he was falling. No sound met his ears, not even Lupin speaking words to encourage them. He cleared his mind, and focused on apperating three meters in front of where he was standing. Though his body still felt like it was falling through nothingness, he was overcome with a new sensation; it was as if his body was vibrating with pulses that seemed to radiate from just above his navel.

He felt his feet hit the ground, and opened his eyes. The others were watching him and Lupin was grinning broadly.

"Well done," said Lupin, holding out a bar of honeydukes chocolate which Harry took feeling drained as if he had run a mile, not apperated a few meters.

Harry sat down on the grass watching the others while he ate his chocolate, feeling the warming sensation spread through his body that always accompanied honeydukes best chocolate. It took several more minutes before anyone else had success. Hermione had stood still for a few minutes not moving or speaking, or showing any sign that she was noticing anything around her when suddenly with a soft pop, she disappeared, only to reappear a few meters ahead of where she had been seconds before. Ginny followed shortly, followed by Ron a minute after her.

"Excellent," said Lupin, passing Ron a chocolate bar. "You now have all apperated. Though it was a small step, you still have crossed the hardest hurdle in learning to master it. I think we will leave it here for now. I do not want you guys practicing with out someone out here. I need to leave now, so I guess I will see you all tomorrow." And with a pop, he was gone.

"Did you feel the vibrations?" asked Ron, taking a bite of his chocolate. "They were so weird. I almost stopped because I did not expect them."

Hermione looked a little fearful, and Harry thought he knew what would have happened if Ron had stopped too soon. He shuddered at the vision of Ron laying in pieces after he splinched himself.

They spent the rest of the afternoon in Ron and Harry's bedroom where Ron, Harry, and Ginny sat doing the homework that was assigned to them over the summer while Hermione, who had finished all of her work before she came to Spinners End, sat watching them while stroking a purring Crookshanks behind the ears.

There was a rush of wings, and Harry looked up as a large barn owl flew in through the open window and landed on the bedside table. Crookshanks who had been purring contently hissed and stalked out the door with his bottlebrush tail held high. Hermione however hastily removed the letters tied to its leg.

"Finally!" said Hermione excitedly, as she threw around letters.

"What?" said Ron, looking up from his potions homework.

"Our O.W.L. results," said Hermione, gleefully ripping open hers. "We should have gotten them last month." She scanned the note "I got 10! Outstanding in all of my classes; Transfiguration, History of Magic, Charms, Herbolagy, Potions, Defense Against the Dark Art, Astronomy, Arithmancy, Ancient Runes, and Care of Magical Creatures."

With trepidation Harry opened his letter. The first part was his O.W.L. results. He had gotten an outstanding in Charms, Defense Against the Darts Arts, Care of Magical Creatures, and Herbolagy. He also gotten exceeds expectation on Potions, and Transfiguration. Lastly he got acceptable in Astronomy. The only subjects that he did not get an O.W.L. for was divination, and History of Magic.

"Well?" pressured Hermione, grinning. "what did you guys get?"

"I got 6," said Ron. "I failed Divination, History of Magic, and Astronomy."

"Well," said Hermione, calmly. "Divination is understandable, and with what was happening during our Astronomy exam I was shocked even I got an outstanding on that." she didn't comment on his failing of History of Magic though Harry could almost hear her voice in his head 'you should have paid more attention.' "but still, 6 O.W.L.s is still really good." She turned to Harry.

"I got 7," said Harry, as he removed the second note from the envelope, "I failed History of Magic and Divination."

"What?" exclaimed Ginny, suddenly? "I...I...but why me?"

Harry turned to look, and saw a golden and crimson prefect's badge.

"You made prefect!" exclaimed Hermione, jumping up and down.

Ginny however was still sitting in shock, the prefects badge still in her hand. Hermione was beside herself, acting in what Harry felt was a very Mrs. Weasleyish way.

Harry looked down at the other letter which was his normal letter tilling him that the term started on September 1^st, and that they were to take platform 9 ¾ at eleven o'clock and that his school book list had been included. He pulled out the last and final sheet of parchment.

Course books

You will require the following books:

The Standard Book of Spells (Grade 6)

By Miranda Goshawk

Advanced Transfiguration Theory

By Emeric Switch

Encyclopedia of Venoms and Poisons

By Kali Arsec

Advanced Potion Making

By Libarius Borage

Dangerous Situations; A guide to advanced Defense

By Ryan Kellen

He folded up his booklist and placed it back into the envelope.

"Alls that's left is to get to diagon alley to get our supplies," said Hermione, beaming at Ginny.

"It is," said Harry, his heart sinking, "but I doubt they'll let me come."

"Mum says that Dumbledore's planning precautions so we can all go," said Ron, also stuffing his booklist back into his envelope. "she didn't say what those precautions were though."

Harry's heart lifted a bit as he thought of time away from Spinners End to explore Diagon Alley. It had been many years since he'd been carefree and able to visit Wizarding London as he was at the Quidditch World Cup the summer before his 4^th year, and Mrs. Weasley went for him the summer before his 5^th year.

The door opened, and Mrs. Weasley bustled in wearing an apron with her wand sticking out of the front pocket. "lunch is ready downstairs," she looked around seeing everyone was holding letters. "where did they come from?"

"It's our O.W.L. results and Hogwarts letters," said Hermione, standing up from Harry's bed.

"And?" Mrs. Weasley questioned with a look of excitement combined with expectation on her face.

"6," said Ron going slightly red.

"Oh Ron!" she said, so loudly that she made Harry jump. "oh Ron that's wonderful!" she turned away looking at Harry and Hermione.

"I got 7," said Harry, as he watched Mrs. Weasley hug her youngest son tightly.

"I got 10," said Hermione, blushing furiously.

"Well," she said as she let go of Ron and beamed, "I think tonight merits a celebration. Is everything okay Ginny dear?"

She paused, looking at what Ginny was holding, and let out a shriek that made everyone jump as he hugged and kissed her daughter in the same way she had just a year ago with Ron.

"Well," said Mrs. Weasley, breathless after a few minutes. "What do you want?"

"Can I get a cat?" asked Ginny, eagerly. Harry remembered that Ginny was a cat person. "I mean, I don't need an owl at Hogwarts," continued Ginny. "I can just use one of the school owls."

"Okay," said Mr. Weasley, still breathless, "You can get one during your trip to Diagon Alley."

When they arrived in the kitchen, it was to discover iced pumpkin juice and sandwiches left on the table, and Mrs. Weasley bustling out the door. "I will be back soon," she said, and out into the clearing she went.

"Where is she going?" said Ron, as he helped himself.

"Probably to get stuff for the party tonight," said Hermione, grinning. "I am shocked she left us with no adults here to watch the place."

"Maybe we could sneak up and try to unlock one of the rooms on the second floor," said Ron, quietly.

"You are such a nosy prat sometimes," said Hermione. "Dumbledore has his reasons for not letting you in there."

"Im just curious," said Ron, shrugging between bites.

The rest of lunch was filled with discussions on their first successful attempts at apperating. Before Mrs. Weasley got back that they headed upstairs again.

They were about halfway across the 2^nd floor when one of the doors opened and Dumbledore's back appeared. It was a different door then last time. Harry had a brief glimpse of a shimmering silver light that reminded him of Dumbledore's pensive before he closed it with a snap, and locked it with his wand.

They froze when Dumbledore had appeared. He looked up with a slightly startled expressions which he quickly changed to a beaming smile as his hastily bustled toward the stairs and out of sight.

"What was that about?" said Ron. "Not even a hello."

"Well you know he has been really busy lately," said Hermione, quietly. "What was all that light though?"

"I think it might have been a pensive," said Harry, as he remembered to the other times he has seen the silver shivering light.

"But," said Hermione; deep in thought, "why is it here?"

"I don't know," said Harry, asking himself the same question.

Downstairs they heard the kitchen door open, and the sounds of Mrs. Weasley bustling around. They headed back to Harry and Ron's room and continued to discuss why Dumbledore had brought a pensive to Spinners End.

***

"6 O.W.L.s?" questioned Tonks, later that evening. "You did great, I got 6 also. Shocked my mother, but all the same you should be proud."

"Oh yes," said Mrs. Weasley, hugging Ron painfully tight. "And we have another prefect in the family." She glanced toward Ginny who was avidly talking with Hermione.

"Mum, your strangling me," said Ron, his face growing purple.

Mrs. Weasley spent most of the night gushing over Ron's results, and Ron soon learned to watch for her and to move as far away from her as he could. Hermione had sent Hedwig with a letter to her parents to tell her about her exam results. Harry remembered back to the party at Grimmauld Place celebrating Ron and Hermione's prefectship and remembered how all he had wanted to do was to leave unnoticed. Mrs. Weasley was acting the same way as she had then, and Harry couldn't help but laugh as he watched Ron evading her as the night went on.

Mrs. Weasley was happily telling Mad Eye about Ron's O.W.L.s when Harry heard a voice behind him.

Lupin was sitting at the table behind him. "I hear you got 7," he said, beaming. "Your father got 7 also; he only flunked History of Magic and Arithmancy; though he and Sirius never took History of Magic too seriously."

It was the first time Harry had heard Lupin say Sirius' name since it had happened.

"Do you know why the letters were so late?" asked Harry quickly. "I mean, we were told they would get to us in July."

"Well," said Lupin, thoughtfully, "it is likely because the Ministry has a lot to deal with right now. The exams are managed and regulated by a ministry office. With everyone accepting Voldemorts return, they have been moved around a bit with Fudge pulling people away from their original jobs to get everything under control in an attempt to save the situation."

"This wouldn't be a problem if they would have paid attention when we first told them," said Harry, angrily.

"Yes," said Lupin, smiling weakly. "But that's in the past now."

"It still doesn't make me okay with it," said Harry, as he sat down next to Lupin watching Ron moving quickly towards the far end of the room.

"It won't be long now," said Lupin, as Ron rushed past and into the hallway to hide. "I don't think we will have to worry about Fudge being in office for much longer. Let's just hope that whoever replaces him handles the current climate a lot better."

They watched as Mrs. Weasley looked around, trying to find Ron.

Many members of the Order came to celebrate, which meant many people for Mrs. Weasley to brag to about Ron's results, and meant many more people coming over to congratulate Harry. Harry however chooses to sit with Lupin quietly in the corner.

"Are you okay?" asked Lupin, after a few minutes silence.

Harry, who had been deep in thought snapped back to his senses. "What do you mean?"

"With everything that has happened over the last few months," said Lupin, quietly; Ron had snuck back into the room and was trying to make his way to the stairwell before Mrs. Weasley could spot him. "With Sirius' death I mean."

Harry looked down at his feet. "I...I have been doing okay," he said, quietly, more to the ground then anyone else.

"Are you sure?" questioned Lupin, quietly above him. "Ron and Hermione said that you've not brought it up. Harry, it's not shameful to feel pain. I know what you're going through, as I've had to go through it many times in my life as it is with James, lily, and now Sirius. Why don't we go for a walk?"

Harry reluctantly rose, and followed Lupin out of the room and out the front door with the carved phoenix above the lentil. The clearing was dark, as the crescent moon arched overhead. The only light came from the windows of Spinners End and the field of stars that twinkled above them like a shimmering sea of diamonds. For a few minutes, they just walked silently around Spinners End, taking in the clear night.

"It's just," said Harry, after a few minutes silence, "a part of me just doesn't want to believe that he's..." he couldn't bring himself to say it. "It happened so suddenly."

Harry sat down on the ground looking up at the starry night. Lupin followed, the stars reflecting in his eyes.

"I have been worried about you," said Lupin. "I was worried that you were keeping it all to yourself."

He sighed looking over the grass as it moved in the calm wind that was blowing through the trees. "I remember what life was like after James died," he said, staring out into the trees lining the clearing. "I was alone, with Sirius in Azkaban, and Peter presumed dead, I had no one to turn to in my grief."

Harry looked up at Lupin as a shooting star streaked across the clear sky.

"I remember," said Lupin, as he watched the tail of light fade out, "sitting outside watching the signs of celebration breaking out all around me and wondering how anyone could celebrate something like this. How could they be happy when James and Lily were dead?"

"I remembering feeling like that just before term ended," said Harry, quietly. "To see people enjoying themselves outside, and not a care in the world that Sirius was dead." He wiped away the tear that was forming on his cheek. "And I so wanted them to just disappear, so that I could be alone and not have to listen or care that there was anyone else in the world."

"That is what we always want in a time like this," said Lupin, sagely. "But it's the one thing we should not have."

Harry looked up at Lupin who was staring resolutely into the trees. "I wanted solitude. I turned my back on everyone, and tried to forget, tried to mask the pain," Lupin, wiped a tear from his eye. "And so for many weeks I stayed alone, cursed in that pain."

For many minutes there was silence except for the rustle of the leaves in the warm summer wind.

"How do you move on?" questioned Harry, quietly.

"You just do," said Lupin. "It is not easy; there is no clear path to take, sadly. It's something that we must all do in our own way."

"How did you?" asked Harry, staring out toward the trees. "How did you overcome the pain?"

"I never did overcome the pain," said Lupin, turning to look at Harry. "I just accepted it. Something that is easier said then done. When I emerged from my solitude I found comfort in others. I was free to accept James and Lily's death only when I was ready to speak to others, to confide my feelings to others I could trust. Sadly most didn't feel I was worthy of notice.

"Harry, don't fear your emotions. I have as of late, and I knew that by staying silent, by not speaking of Sirius's death, that I was only making matters worse."

There was a few minutes silence.

"They've tried to get me to speak about it," said Lupin, calmly. "I couldn't confide in them; how could they know what I was feeling. I was wrong to believe that they didn't understand. I've watched you over the past month and knew that you were holding it all in. I also knew that you were the only person I could talk to."

Harry didn't know what to say.

"Do you remember that night?" said Lupin, smiling slightly. "When you uncovered the truth and saved Sirius?"

"Yes," said Harry, quietly staring down at his feet remembering that night; Of following Sirius and Ron into the whomping willow. He remembered when Wormtail had been revealed; of seeing his "father" when he cast the patronus across the lake; and of Sirius escaping into the night on Buckbeak's back. His emotions overcame him as he rested his head on his hands. Sirius lived the last 14 years of his life a prisoner, and never would he walk again as a free man

Lupin put his hand on Harry's shoulder as he sat there shaking; trying to fight back the tears.

"I know," said Lupin, gravely. "But we mustn't fear our emotions Harry, I know it's hard, but Sirius would have wanted us to learn to move on with our lives."

"He gave me my dad's two way mirror," said Harry, shakily. "If I had only used it instead of trying to speak to him through her fire, he would still be alive. It is my fault that Sirius is dead."

"Harry," said Lupin, quietly into his ear. "It is not your fault that Sirius is dead. There are things in this world that are not of our control. For a while I felt it was my fault that Sirius was dead; my fault that I didn't convince him to stay when Professor Snape had told us where you had gone. He'd tried to convince Sirius to stay, not just because he needed Sirius to wait to tell Dumbledore, but also because he knew that if Sirius was found that there would be nothing anyone could have done to save him from the ministry."

"Snape provoked him," said Harry, angrily. "He kept making snide comments about how he was risking his neck. Dumbledore defended Snape!"

"Harry," said Lupin, firmly. "Sirius did not leave because of Snape. Sirius left because he was willing to risk his life, to be captured if it meant giving you the chance to run to safety. He left to save you."

"Then it is my fault that he is dead!" said Harry, staring forcefully through the trees, tears streaming down his face.

"Harry, it is in no way your fault, or anyone else's that Sirius is dead," said Lupin, firmly. "This is why we needed to talk. We need to accept that this..."

Something odd was happening. Lupin's voice was fading out, as were the stars, and everything in front of him. All was inky blackness. He felt as if he was rushing through a heavy wind, and that it was lashing at his body.

A scene was fading in around him. He was standing in the center of a stone room devoid of doors and windows. In the center sat a large stone block with a winged high back chair behind it. The very air in the room caught in Harry's chest, making him feel like he was in a freezer. The air seemed to crackle with an almost electric feeling. His heart was pounding painfully in his chest.

A sound behind him made him jump. The stone was melting forming a door to which a group of hooded, masked people entered stopping before the stone slab. The hole in the wall was forming back into solid stone.

The breaths of the people rose as mist into the air, and the crackling feel in the air grew stronger.

"I am waiting," said a cold voice, from the winged back chair. Voldemort turned the chair around and faced his deatheaters. "Where are the others?"

One of the deatheaters moved forward. Unlike the others, who were shaking, this one stood resolute and still.

"They are too well guarded," said the familiar voice of Bellatrix Lestrange.

"Then why haven't you done anything about it," sneered Voldemort, he red eyes glinting with fury.

"We are trying to understand what is guarding them," said Bellatrix calmly. "We do not want to displease you by being captured and setting your plans back any further My Lord."

"I see," said Voldemort calmly, "but it is to be noted that I will not wait much longer."

The world around Harry dissolved into inky blackness only to reappear a few moments later. He was staring up at the ceiling of his and Ron's room.

"Harry," said Lupin, who was standing over him. "What is it? Has something happened?"

His mind was reeling; his memories were blurs of color as he tried to regain his composure.

"Harry, I need you to tell me what you saw," said Lupin, forcefully.

The door to his room opened.

"We were sitting outside talking," said Lupin, as the person closed the door behind them, "when he collapsed and started having a fit."

"Did he say anything?" said Dumbledore, as he kneeled by Harry's bed looking into his eyes.

"He was silent," said Lupin.

"Harry," said Dumbledore, calmly, "what did you see?"

"Voldemort, he said they aren't doing it fast enough," said Harry, his words shaking as he tried to speak.

"What are they not doing fast enough?" persisted Dumbledore.

"I don't know," said Harry, shakily from head to foot.

Dumbledore rose, and left him and Lupin in the room alone.