Harry Potter and the Slytherin Connection

Chapter 20

The Order of The Phoenix

Magical ropes shot from Sirius wand and wrapped around Voldemort.

"Expelliamus!" Voldemort's wand flew across the room to Sirius.

Voldemort laughed. "Highly amusing, Sirius," said Voldemort as the ropes broke open and his wand soared back to him. "You are not strong enough to subdue me."

"There are a hundred Aurors next door, Voldemort," said Sirius.

"Yes, yes," said Voldemort, unimpressed. "I will deal with them when they get here." He looked back down at Harry. "But right now, Harry needs me and that is what is important."

Voldemort took a hold of Harry's face again. Again the dizziness went away and the pain was back.

"Isn't that right, Harry?"

The Aurors were coming. Voldemort would be caught. The nightmare would be over. Harry had to keep him there.

Harry weakly reached up and took a hold of Voldemort's wrists. Voldemort look down at Harry's hands then into his eyes.

"Am I strong enough to keep you here?" said Harry.

"Ah, but you are, Harry," said Voldemort. "I am here for you."

Harry grip on Voldemort was pretty weak but Voldemort didn't shake it off.

"Hold on to him, Harry," said Sirius. "You can keep him here."

"Harry," said Voldemort. "Let go of me. Your pain is too great."

The pain was rather bad but Voldemort wasn't leaving. The Aurors were coming. Harry concentrated on keeping Voldemort there.

"Harry, I have given you much strength, but you can't physically keep me here," said Voldemort.

"You can, Harry," said Sirius. "He would have left by now if he could. Hold on."

Voldemort reached a hand toward Harry's scar. Harry's hand was still wrapped around Voldemort's wrist but only had strength enough to hold on.

"Harry, let go. I won't leave you," said Voldemort. "You need my power. I have to hear you accept it first."

"Harry, don't let go," said Sirius. "They're coming."

The door banged open and Voldemort raised his wand.

"Avada Kedavra."

Ginny and Hermione screamed and Harry heard a body hit the ground.

"Not yet, Albus," said Voldemort. "I'm not ready."

Professor Dumbledore?

"Hold on, Harry," said Sirius

"Just accept me, Harry and this will all be over," said Voldemort.

It sounded so easy. So simple.

Harry eyes locked with Voldemort's. Harry couldn't look away.

"You need me right now, Harry," said Voldemort.

Harry took a breath. "Will you punish me for doing the right thing?" he whispered hoarsely. Pain had taken over his body.

"I must, Harry. You know I must."

Voldemort's hand grew closer to the scar.

"Hold on, Harry," shouted Sirius. "Your father could do it. You can too."

"My father," echoed Harry. He stared at Voldemort. "My father," said Harry again, getting a firm hold. I can do this.

"Very good, Harry," said Voldemort.

People started apparating into the room and Voldemort pressed his palm into the scar.

Harry hit the ground screaming. Above him, he wasn't sure what he heard.

"Rowan," Harry managed to choke.

She came immediately and perched on his back.

"Not me, girl," said Harry. "Go save Professor Dumbledore."

By her song, Harry could tell she was quite annoyed. "Do it now," said Harry weakly. "I order you too." Harry felt her leave her perch on his back and slipped into heavenly painless blackness.

Harry awoke to voices.

"Come and have something to eat, Sirius," said Remus. "Please."

"I won't leave him," said Sirius hoarsely.

"He's not going anywhere."

"What if he wakes up?" said Sirius. Harry felt a head fall onto the back of his hand then realized Sirius was gripping Harry's hand. Harry heard the door close quietly and could assume Remus had left.

Harry opened his eyes and was surprised he could see. The pain he felt was manageable so he turned his head.

"Sirius," said Harry, his voice sounded as hoarse as Sirius'.

Sirius shot to his feet so fast he pulled Harry's arm up. Harry groaned and Sirius gently laid it back on the bed.

"Harry," said Sirius leaning over him.

Sirius looked terrible. There were shadows under his blood shot eyes as if he hadn't slept or eaten. His face was covered in a dark shadow of stubble. He also looked like he wanted to pull Harry into a back breaking hug but didn't want to hurt him.

"How do you feel?"

Harry considered the question. "Not too bad actually," said Harry. "Did they get him?"

"Harry, you really should-"

"Don't blow me off on this one, Sirius," said Harry firmly. "I want to know. Did they get him?"

"Yes, Harry. They got him."

Harry sighed with relief. "And is Dumbledore all right?"

"Yes, thanks to you," said Sirius. "Although Rowan and Albus are very annoyed with you about it."

"Why?" said Harry.

"Because Rowan is still young. It took most of her strength to save Albus," said Sirius. "She didn't have anything left for you. And Fawkes is at the end of his cycle and couldn't help you either. You've been unconscious for three weeks, Harry. Madam Pomfrey said - well she said," Sirius swallowed hard.

"What?" said Harry. "That I was a goner?"

"Well, in a manner of speaking."

Harry laughed.

"Harry, it isn't funny."

But Harry thought it was. "I'll bet Trelawney was thrilled to hear that prognosis," said Harry still chuckling.

"Harry, the whole school thinks you're on your deathbed and you're laughing," said Sirius. "You haven't lost your mind, have you?"

Harry smiled up at Sirius. "Sirius, I think I've proven how durable I am when facing Voldemort and the easiest way to assure everyone is to show them that I'm not dead."

Sirius finally smiled as if just realizing that fact.

"Um, I'm not, am I?" said Harry, suddenly unsure.

Sirius laughed then. "No, Harry. You're not."

"Whew," said Harry. "You had me worried there for a minute."

Harry struggled to sit up and Sirius put a hand on his shoulder. "Whoa, where do you think you're going?"

"I'm just sitting up," said Harry. Harry held out his hand and the bed bent up behind him so he could lean back into it. "How come I can see, by the way?"

Sirius sat back down and took Harry's hand again. "Severus fixed your eyes when you first got back and Hermione's been changing your lenses. She wanted to make sure you could see when you woke up." Sirius sighed. "She was quite adamant that you would wake up."

"Well, that's Hermione," said Harry. "She said she wasn't about to let me die." Harry smiled recalling all the help she and Ron were. "They helped me find another way," said Harry softly.

"What do you mean?"

"To kill Voldemort without dying myself," said Harry.

Sirius' expression turned so serious, Harry blinked at him.

"He is dead, isn't he?" said Harry.

"Not exactly," said Sirius.

Harry sat up. "What do you mean not exactly? You said they got him," Harry said getting angry. "Will you tell me, damn it."

"All right, all right," said Sirius, moving a hand to Harry's shoulder and pushing him back into the reclined bed. "Calm down, Harry."

"Calm down?" said Harry. "He didn't get away did he?" The thought of Voldemort still out there plotting more ways to rule in terror and torment Harry sent a shudder through him.

"No, Harry," assured Sirius. "He's in Azkaban."

Harry sighed. "Well don't scare me like that, Sirius."

Sirius smiled.

"So tell me what happened," said Harry.

"Well when Voldemort touched your scar, you did let go," said Sirius and he hesitated. "And well, Voldemort just stood there looking down at you with a very strange smile. The Aurors apparated around him and magically restrained him. He simply stood there. He watched as your bird healed Albus and when Albus stood up, he said 'Now I'm ready.'"

"What did Dumbledore do?" said Harry, surprised by this information. What was Voldemort doing?

"He directed the Aurors to take him away and took Rowan to you," said Sirius. "He checked to see if you were alive (no one else was brave enough to go near you), but once he noticed Rowan couldn't help you, he magicked a stretcher and put you on it. Then he sent Ron for Penelope."

"Penelope?" said Harry. "Why?"

"She's the heir of Ravenclaw, Harry," said Sirius. Dumbledore had to get you here fast before you bled to death."

(A/N: This is total literary license here as I'm pretty sure this could not be true in canon. Someone can double check for me if they like but I think I recall that Penelope Clearwater was attacked in CoS and would therefore have been a Muggle born. It was convenient for me so what the heck.)

"I spoiled her wedding," said Harry feeling miserable.

Sirius smiled and touched his shoulder. He shook his head. "No, Harry. She took one look at you and turned to Percy. She said, 'Harry captured You-Know-Who at our wedding.' She seemed thrilled. Percy seemed pretty pleased too."

Harry shrugged. "Well I didn't exactly capture him. The Aurors did."

"But you were strong enough to hold him here until they got there."

"Not according to him," said Harry, still wondering about Voldemort's strange words. "So why didn't they kill him?"

Sirius sighed. "The Ministry, in there infinite stupidity, wants a public execution. To make an example of him."

"Figures," muttered Harry.

Sirius looked a little hesitant.

"What?" said Harry.

"There's more," said Sirius. "Voldemort filed for a stay of execution using the wizard's right to see his subjugator before he dies."

"Meaning," said Harry. He didn't like the sound of that.

"Meaning, Harry, that they can't kill him until he gets to see you."

Great. "What if I had died?"

"Then they could kill him, but he seemed pretty confident that you wouldn't die."

"And what happened to the Death Eaters?" said Harry.

"Some of them have scattered, but most of them are probably still in the hidden Compound," said Sirius. "No doubt trying to figure out a way to break Voldemort out, or waiting for him to do it."

"The Dementors?" said Harry.

"He isn't being guarded by Dementors. They were his allies," said Sirius. "The cell is sealed by an ancient spell that several very strong wizards hold on it at the same time.

"Disconcerting thing is that Voldemort doesn't seem worried."

"No?" said Harry.

"He's acting as if he arranged the whole thing."

Harry really didn't like the sound of that. He forced his thoughts away from Voldemort. "What about Catherine and Mr. Johnson?"

"They're fine," said Sirius. "They turned up in Hogsmeade."

"Turned up?"

"Yes," said Sirius suddenly frowning. "Um, they were dumped."

"Dumped?"

"Er-"

"Spit it out, Sirius."

"Harry, their memories were modified," said Sirius. "Neither one of them remembers anything that took place at Voldemort's camp."

Harry blinked at his godfather. "What about-"

"Or at Hogwarts." Sirius patted Harry hand. "I'm sorry, Harry. She doesn't remember meeting you."

Harry absorbed that not really knowing how to feel. He hadn't really known her all that well but she had been someone to talk to at the camp.

"They reported to the Ministry," Sirius went on. "They went back to the States a couple of days ago."

At least they were safe. "So where are Ron and Hermione?" said Harry.

"Probably at the feast," said Sirius.

Harry's heart leapt. "Can we go?" said Harry. "I'm starving."

"You aren't strong enough," said Sirius.

To test that theory, Harry threw his legs over the side of the bed and stood up. His legs were a little shaky, but as he moved around, he felt well enough. "Please, Sirius. I'm a little sore but I'm OK." Harry's eyes moved over his godfather. "You look worse than I do," said Harry.

Sirius smirked at him. "Well, stop making me worry so much about you," said Sirius. "I swear, being Harry Potter's godfather-"

"Is a nightmare," suggested Harry.

Sirius laughed and ruffled Harry's hair. "No, Harry. But it's a full time job. Get dressed and I'll get cleaned up."

Chapter 21

A New Beginning

"The end," Harry heard from out in the Hallway when he and Sirius approached the Great Hall. "Of another year."

Harry stopped to listen. He didn't want to interrupt Dumbledore's speech. Sirius stopped too and looked down at Harry.

"As you know," Dumbledore went on, "Lord Voldemort has been subdued and imprisoned. Once again due to the courage and perseverance of Harry Potter, who I now owe my life."

Harry took a step back. He didn't want to go in now. It would be too embarrassing.

"Come on," said Sirius. "Show them what you're made of." He moved to the opening into the Hall.

"There is a great fear for-" Dumbledore cut himself off, seeing Sirius. "Sirius?"

Harry heard the scrapes of chairs from the staff table.

"Oh, good heavens," said Professor McGonagall.

Sirius turned his head to look from the staff table to the rest of the room.

"NOOO!"

That was Hermione. What? Did they think Sirius was there to tell them that Harry had died?

Sirius looked at Harry. He took a few steps into the doorway. The Hall went silent.

"Sorry, Professor," said Harry self-consciously. He dared a glance up at the staff table. Dumbledore smiled at him. Then he looked at the Gryffindor table and met Ron's gaze. He shrugged. "I'm hungry," said Harry.

The hall exploded with cheers as Sirius dragged Harry to staff table.

"Welcome back, Harry," said Dumbledore.

Professor McGonagall actually hugged him. Then Hagrid nearly broke him in half.

"Easy Hagrid," said Sirius. "He's still very weak."

"Sorry, Harry," Hagrid sniffled.

The rest of the teachers shook his hand and when he looked up at Snape, there was a very stern look on the potion master's face.

"So, what have you got to say for yourself, Potter?" said Snape, crossing his arms.

"Um." Harry thought hard. "Fifty points from Gryffindor because famous Harry Potter managed to stay alive - again?" said Harry.

Severus Snape laughed, then reached out and ruffled Harry's already untidy hair. "Go and eat, Potter. You've earned it."

Harry turned to the room and the cheering started again. Ron and Hermione hit him at top speed and if Sirius hadn't been with him they would have knocked him down.

"I knew you wouldn't die," cried Hermione. "I just knew it." She was crying all over Harry's shoulder.

"Mental," muttered Ron. He squeezed Harry's shoulder then grabbed his arm and dragged him over to the Gryffindor table where Harry received more back slapping and hugs then he could recall ever getting in his life.

"Can I eat now?" said Harry. He sat down and started piling food onto his plate.

Someone held a plate out to him. "Canary Cream, Harry?"

Harry looked up at Fred. He had an ear to ear grin on his face. Harry reached toward the platter. "Yeah, I think I'm brave enough to try one of those."

The table laughed but it wasn't one of the twins' trick candies so nothing happened when Harry took a bite.

The weather was near perfect as Harry, Hermione, Ginny and Ron settled into a compartment on the Hogwarts Express. Sirius had assured him that he would meet Harry at Kings Cross so Harry could ride home with his friends. They settled their assorted pets around the compartment and sat down. Rowan was still giving Harry chastising looks, but Harry tried to ignore them.

For the first time in his life, Harry was happy leaving Hogwarts. He would have a completely Dursley free summer.

"He'll be back you know, Potter."

It was Malfoy. He didn't have his thugs with him but he was standing in the doorway with a very serious look on his face.

"They can't cage him and they won't be able to kill him," said Draco Malfoy.

Malfoy didn't sound like he was being nasty or harsh or even taunting.

"Why do you think so?" said Harry matching Malfoy's neutral tone.

"Because my father said that no one has enough power to kill him now that he's been feeding power off you," said Malfoy. "My father thinks that you're the only one who will be strong enough to kill him."

"Do you believe that?" said Harry.

"Yeah," said Malfoy. "I'm afraid I do believe it."

Malfoy left and Harry turned to Ron.

"Well, that was weird," said Ron.

Harry shrugged. He didn't care. For now, Harry was free. He had no Voldemort to worry about, a home with Sirius for the entire summer and days of playing Quidditch with the Weasleys. Harry smiled.

"Why are you smiling, Harry?" said Hermione with a grin of her own.

Harry leaned back into the cushion and closed his eyes.

"My life doesn't feel like a nightmare, right now," said Harry.

To be continued...

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