The Figure Clothed in Black

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Chapter Seventeen: Portraits II

Lily was crying, kneeling at the edge of the portrait trying to get through to her youngest son whom she had thought dead. James knelt beside her and put an arm around her, tears on his face.

"Greg... I thought you were dead. I can't believe I'm actually seeing you. I wish I could come out of the portrait and hold you. But I guess I'll have to be content with this, won't I?" she smiled tearfully.

Greg nodded hesitantly, his throat too tight to speak.

"I wish I didn't have to. I want to hold both of my boys, three once Dustin gets here, and Kirsten. But that's not possible," she said bitterly. Harry found his own eyes filling with tears. He looked to Sirius and saw tears in his eyes.

Lily drew in a breath and composed herself. "I'm sorry about that. I didn't think that would happen. I'm sorry."

"Lily, you don't have to apologize. I'm surprised you hadn't done that already," Sirius said.

"I am to. I wanted to, but somehow managed to control it."

"Greg, are you okay?" Sirius asked. "You haven't said anything yet."

"I'm not sure what to say. How come there's a portrait of them here at Hogwarts and why didn't you tell me during the summer?"

They all explained it to him quickly and started talking. Greg told about his childhood, and then after he was finished Harry got to tell about the Dursleys. Lily and James were both already furious after hearing about Greg, and were more after Harry was finished.

"I should have never let you go with Petunia. She never did like magic. She hated me for being able to do it and her parents for being proud of me. She thought her parents loved me more because I could do magic and she couldn't." Seeing the confused looks on Harry's and Greg's faces she continued. "I was adopted. Petunias parents took me in after my parents died when I was five. Both of Petunia's parents could do magic. but she turned out to be a squib."

"You mean, by blood, Petunia isn't my aunt?" Harry asked.

Lily nodded.

"That explains why she hated me so much," Harry said.

"It might explain it, but it doesn't justify her actions. Nothing can do that and if I could I would go hex her into oblivion. Sirius, have you done that yet?" Lily asked.

"No, Harry won't let me for some reason. I am not going to wind up in Azkaban for going and hurting your relatives and making them suffer a fraction of what you did. I'm free, remember?"

"I know you're free, but Fudge will take any excuse he can get to put you back in, even if just for a little while, and you're not going back there just because of something my relatives did to me years ago that I've already got over," Harry said firmly.

"So, you're saying that they don't deserve anything to happen to them after what they did to you?" Sirius asked, slightly sarcastic.

"No, but I don't want you to end up in Azkaban since I know I wouldn't be able to handle it, and try to kill myself again no matter how good my life is going! I don't want to do that again, but if you get put in there, even for just like five minutes, I'll crack. I know it and so do you, so drop it," Harry said raising his voice. He sighed, closed his eyes, and leaned against the back of the couch. He heard Sirius move to kneel down in front of him.

Sirius cupped him under the chin forcing him to look him in the eyes. "Harry, that isn't going to happen, I'm never going back to Azkaban, ever. You have nothing to worry about, okay?" Sirius was looking into his eyes. All of Harry's emotions could be displayed so clear through his eyes, which was he avoided locking his gaze with someone else. Harry nodded even thought he wasn't completely reassured.

"Hey, "James said, "has Sirius told you about the prank we pulled on the last day of school?"

*~*

They talked into the night and both Harry and Greg fell asleep around one. Sirius didn't try to move them and let them sleep. He went to sleep about two thirty.

The next day was Saturday so none of them had to get up early, otherwise they would have been in trouble. Kirsten and Dustin arrived the next morning and Remus brought them to the room. He stayed for a couple of hours before leaving to get everyone else. All of the Weasleys attending the school, Kayla, Hermione, and Brittany were all surprised when they heard about the portraits. James asked Kirsten about her boyfriend and when he was going to get to see him. It was obvious Kirsten didn't want them to met, partly because she knew James would threaten him even though he couldn't do anything about it and he was also a portrait.

Harry was staring at Kayla though she hadn't realized it yet. Wow, she is so beautiful. Maybe I'll ask her out. Harry shook his head as if to rid his head of these thoughts. Snap out of it! She's one of your best friends. But, he argued with himself, don't some of the longest lasting and best relationship start out as just friends?

~ Harry, why did you say that some of the best and longest lasting relationships start out as just friends? ~

Harry winced. He really hadn't meant for her to hear that.

~ I was just thinking about Ron and Hermione and how when they finally start to date they will have a long lasting relationship. ~

~ Oh, okay. ~

She didn't sound convinced. Harry saw her grin at him and then telepathically she said, ~ So, who's the girl you have a crush on and are just friends with. Surely it isn't Hermione. You yourself said that her and Ron should be together. Is it Ginny? ~

~ It isn't Hermione, or Ginny, Kayla. I don't have a crush on anyone. ~

~ If you don't have a crush on anyone then why did you say that it wasn't Hermione or Ginny? By saying that you admitted that you have a crush on someone, but it just isn't the ones I mentioned. If you really didn't have a crush on anyone then you would have said that first, and you know I'm right so don't deny it. ~

~ You are wrong. I don't have a crush on anyone. You're just misinterpreting what I said and making a big deal out of it. ~

~ Whatever. If you're going to refuse that you don't have a crush on someone, I won't bother you right now. But you do have a crush on someone. ~

~ I do not. ~

Kayla simply ignored him, knowing she was right.

Now, she thought to herself, who does he have a crush on?

*~*

I have to be more careful. She can't know I have a crush on her until I know she feels the same way. That would be so embarrassing if I asked her out and she didn't want to. It might destroy our friendship, and I really don't want that. Maybe I should talk to Sirius. No, he'd just tease me over it and tell everyone. I know, I can tell Hermione! She would know if Kayla like liked me and she would be better for advice since she's a girl.

Sirius saying his name brought him out of his thoughts. "Are you okay? You've been kind of quiet. What are you thinking about?"

"Nothing." Sirius gave him a look that plainly said he didn't believe him.

"I'm not thinking about anything depressing, or anything like that. This time it's normal teenage stuff that all teenagers think about."

"Yes," Sirius lowered his voice, "so who's the girl you're thinking about? Is she in this room?" Sirius asked grinning.

"I wasn't thinking about a girl," Harry said though his flushed cheeks said otherwise.

Sirius smiled knowingly and said, "Sure you weren't."

Harry blushed deeper and unconsciously glanced toward Kayla. Sirius followed the quick glance.

"So, its Kayla is it? She's a very pretty girl, but don't ruin your friendship over some teenage crush. Don't pursue a relationship with her until you're sure, alright? I don't want to see your friendship ruined over a simple crush.

Harry nodded. "I had already though of that. Darn it!"

Sirius had grinned even wider when Harry said. He had confirmed that Kayla was the one he had a crush on when he had meant to deny it. Sirius grinned, if possible, even wider and ruffled his hair affectionately before going to talk to Remus.

"Sirius, wait!" Harry called after him. Sirius came back over to him.

"Please don't tell everyone about this."

"I can't tell Remus? He's just as much your guardian as I am."

"I didn't say that, but don't do it here. There are too many people that could over hear and tell her. Please don't tell him here." Harry gave him the puppy dog eyes seeing the glint in Sirius' eyes. Sirius caved. He couldn't say no to Harry when he did the puppy dog eyes.

"All right, I won't tell him here. I will later though."

Harry grinned and nodded.

*~*

I wonder who Harry has a crush on. He wouldn't have a crush on Brittany; she has a boyfriend. I'm the only other girl he's really friends with. But he can't have a crush on me. No guys have returned my feelings. It's impossible for him to have a crush on me, isn't it?

"So," Hermione said bringing Kayla out of her thoughts, "thinking about Harry? I know you like him. Let's just say I heard a little bird say that he likes you to."

Kayla looked at her skeptically. "I don't like him." Hermione gave her a knowing look and she caved.

"Okay, I do like him. But he doesn't like me back."

"Yes, he does. I over heard him and Sirius. Harry admitted that he liked you."

"No way. Are you joking?" Hermione saw the hope in her eyes that she wasn't.

"No, I'm not joking. He really does. Why don't you ask him out? It doesn't have to be the guy that asks the girl out you know."

"I can't ask him out! What if he says no?"

"He won't say no, I promise. And if he does I'll convince him to change his mind. Come on ask him out. And I am not going to do it for you. If you want to go out with him you have to ask him out," Hermione said firmly.

Just because I won't ask him out for her doesn't mean I can't set them up.

She began making a plan then to get her two best friends together.

*~*

Ethan woke up feeling tired and depressed. He knew what had happened. He had gone somewhere and had given a warning to someone in the wizarding world.

I really wish this wouldn't happen. I wonder where I went this time and what I said.

He closed his eyes and starting breathing slowly and deeply. He knew where he went and what he said would come to him in a minute. When it did he sat bolt upright, opened his eyes and his breathing quickened.

Oh no, that can't be true. Hogwarts is on a whole different continent, I've never gone that far before. And Harry, oh no. That's going to complicate his life so much. I wish I didn't have this. Maybe I convince mom to let me stay out of school today. I'll call Amy later and talk to her about it and she what she thinks about it.

*~*

"Harry!" Hermione yelled running towards him. "I found it! I found it! I found the diary!"

Harry ran toward her and took the diary out her hands. They went outside so no one would disturb them. Harry started to leaf through the diary looking for the right the page with the potion.

*~*