The Empath

Chapter 2: Pavilion Mountain

It was Midnight and everyone on Privet Drive was asleep, at least almost everyone. Everyone except Harry Potter, who had been sitting on his bed doing his homework for the last hour. For most teenagers homework was a task in which to be dreaded thoroughly during the summer, but for Harry is was just another reason to stay in his room and away from his aunt and uncle.

This year had been easier for Harry. The Ministry now believed him about Voldemort's return, no one was saying he was insane or evil; he had the Daily Prophet delivered so that he could keep up with the daily news, and Dumbledore himself sent Harry owls often to keep him informed about what was going on. Ron and Hermione too, sent an owl everyday telling him of the latest news.

He didn't feel so distant like he had the previous year. The only thing he had to deal with this year was the pain in the pit of his stomach every time he thought about his godfather Sirius Black.

When Sirius died, the thought of him was completely unbearable. When he got back to Number Four Private Drive, it all just seemed like a really bad dream that he couldn't seem to wake up from. It was as if he was numb.

Harry couldn't really think about anything else. He played Sirius's death in his mind as if it were a movie, over and over. He remembered how everything happened, the look on Sirius's face, the spell that made Sirius fall, the feelings he first felt when it all happened, everything. He couldn't help but think about all the spells that he could have used, the choices he could have made, or would how things would be now if Sirius were still alive. Now when he replayed it back in his mind, it was as if he was beyond tears. He wasn't numb to everything.

It was nice to know everything that was going on in the wizarding world, but it was also nice to take a break from it all. The events of last year had drained him.

The never-ending voice of Professor Trelawney from in the Pensieve, "...neither can live while the other survives." This means that either he, Harry, or Voldemort would have to die.

Would he, have to defeat Lord Voldemort? Would Lord Voldemort kill him? He couldn't bare the thought of having to face this him again. Sure he'll be sixteen tomorrow, but that's still only sixteen.

Perhaps Dumbledore will come up with something that would help him defeat Voldemort and Harry will just have to follow instructions. Somehow he had a feeling that it would play out like that though.

He knew that he would have to face the Dark Lord. He just didn't know how he was going to be able to defeat him. Everyone thinks that he's some sort of savior because he defeated Voldemort as a baby, but it was the love that Harry's mother had for him that saved him. He didn't do anything.

After watching Sirius die, Harry felt more afraid of death than ever before. Yes, his parents died, but he could remember that. In a way having Sirius in his life gave him back his parents too. But now Sirius was gone. He never even got a trial to prove his innocence and everyone (besides those in the order) still thought that he was convicted murderer. How he wished he could clear Sirius' name.

To take his mind off of all of these thoughts, he did his homework. Finishing his Potions essay, Harry picked up the parchment and read quietly to himself:

"The Invisableach Potion is a potion which is used to soak cloaks in, in order to make an invisibility cloak. Some of the ingredients include a dragon's liver, dust scraped off of a unicorn's horn, and the hair of a centaur. All of these ingredients are nearly impossible to acquire, which is the reason that invisibility cloaks are so rare.

"No wonder why centaurs don't like men. I can't imagine trying to go through all that work to sly a dragon just to get its liver, that is if you can kill a dragon without killing yourself first," he thought to himself. After doing his essay he was glad he inherited his invisibility cloak from his father, but it also made him wonder where his father had gotten it.

Starting to get very tired, he decided to put his homework away and go to sleep. Just as he stood to start gathering his things to put them away, he saw an owl flying to his window.

It wasn't Hedwig because she was in her cage. "It must be something from Dumbledore," he thought, but Dumbledore had already sent him a letter today. The owl flew in and landed on his bed. He took the letter from it, but it just stood there looking up at him as he opened the letter to read it.

Harry,

I do hope you're all right and that your aunt and uncle are treating you well. I spoke with Dumbledore and we decided that you have been there long enough. Mad-Eye, Tonks, and I are coming and get you. Don't worry about the aunt and uncle; we'll take care of them. There's no need for alarm we just think that there's no reason for you to stay there any longer than you have to. Send this owl back with a short response telling us that you received it unopened. We'll be there tomorrow at 10:00p.m.

See you then,

Remus Lupin

"They're coming to get me? Now? The holiday isn't even over yet," Harry told the owl that nipped at his fingers impatiently. "Oh right, just a second." He took out a blank piece of parchment and wrote a short message, just as Lupin had instructed. Putting his quill down he read:

Lupin,

I received your letter unopened.

See you then,

Harry

He folded the piece of parchment and gave it to the owl. The owl ruffled its feathers importantly and flew back out the window.

Harry was so exited he could hardly contain himself. He had been glad to get away from everything and relax, but that was when he thought he had four weeks left of the holiday to spend on Privet Drive.

He tried all that night to sleep, but his excitement wouldn't let him lay still long enough to fall asleep. He wondered where he would stay, if the Order were still staying at Sirius's old house, how would he, Harry feel about being there without Sirius.

But the thought of spending his birthday, for the first time with friends kept a broad grin on his face as he lay on his bed too exited to fall asleep.

The next morning he ran down the stairs for breakfast, still in disbelief that he was soon going to leave Number Four Private Drive and probably fly to 12 Grimmauld Place, and spend his birthday with all of his friends.

The day seemed to never end. Even Dudley noticed he wasn't being his usual depressed self. "What are you so happy about?" he asked as he took Harry's grapefruit (which was no bigger than a small sliver) off his plate and ate it. Harry didn't care though; after all, he would be leaving tonight and be eating a meal cooked by one of the best cooks in the world, Mrs. Weasley.

At that thought he grabbed an unpeeled grapefruit off of the counter and started to peal it. His shocked aunt, uncle, and cousin sat at the table staring at him, until his Uncle Vernon broke the silence.

"What do you think you're doing boy?" he asked outraged.

"I was hungry and Dudley stole my grapefruit," he said matter-of-factly. "Why?"

"Why? What do you mean why? Everyone in the house is on a diet, that's why," Uncle Vernon said his face was getting more and more purple by the minute.

"Fine I'll go outside then," Harry said casually while walking out of the kitchen (not looking at his uncle). Uncle Vernon ran in front of Harry, and stood between him and the kitchen door, and put his finger in Harry's face.

"Now you listen here boy. We didn't have to let you come back and live here again this year. We didn't have to let you keep your books in your room, but we did, and this is the thanks we get?"

"You didn't let me do anything; Dumbledore made sure you let me stay here, and you let me keep school things in my room because you're afraid of Mad-Eye Moody," said Harry in a commanding voice.

"Afraid? That's preposterous! I'm not afraid of anyone, especially this May-Eye character," shouted Uncle Vernon getting right in Harry face.

"Well you won't have to worry about that for long, now will you?" asked Harry calmly standing his ground.

"What are you going on about now Potter?" Uncle Vernon asked nervously, stepping back from Harry.

"Now there's no need for you to worry about it, is there?" he said as Uncle Vernon stood there looking completely bewildered. Harry seized this moment to push through Uncle Vernon and go upstairs.

This argument with Uncle Vernon didn't hinder his good mood in the least. He simply brushed it off and continued eating his grapefruit giving the last slice of it to Hedwig and took out his Quidditch Teams of Britain and Ireland book Hermione had gotten him a few years ago for Christmas and started to read it. Though he practically had it memorized, he hadn't read it in awhile.

The lack of sleep from the night before seemed to be catching up to him and he slowly fell asleep. By the time he woke up, it was dark. He looked at his large clock on his bedside table; it said 9:15p.m. Where had the time gone? He hadn't even started packing yet. He got up, pulled out his trunk, and started to throw everything he owned into it. When that was finished he cleaned Hedwig's cage.

He paced the room quickly and looked everywhere to make sure he didn't forget anything, he hadn't. He looked at his clock; it said 9:55p.m. Just as he closed his trunk, he heard the doorbell ring and Aunt Petunia open the door.

"Hello can I help you?" she inquired sounding completely discussed.

"Yes ma'am we're here for Harry Potter," said a familiar voice. Harry opened his door and went down the stairs, as Uncle Vernon went to the door.

"What are you doing here?" shouted Uncle Vernon furiously. Harry could tell that Uncle Vernon was worried that they had come to check up on Harry and make sure that he was being treated well.

"He said he was here for me," Harry said from behind Uncle Vernon with a big grin on his face, as he saw Lupin, Mad-Eye, and Tonks standing in the doorway.

"Hello Harry. How are you doing?" asked Lupin.

"I'm fine. Why don't you come in? I'll just go and get my things," Harry said quickly as he turned and went up the stairs to his room.

He heard the front door shut and Made-Eye harshly talking to Uncle Vernon, though he couldn't make out what he was saying, he knew it couldn't be good.

Just as he picked up Hedwig's cage he heard something coming from his window. He put Hedwig's cage down, and went over to his window, and looked out. Not seeing anything he shrugged his shoulders, went back to get Hedwig's cage, and heard the noise again.

He turned around and saw a girl with long black hair and deep blue eyes staring back at him with a broom in her hand.

She was the most beautiful girl he had ever seen before. He felt a lump in his throat, and had to remind himself how to breathe. All he wanted to do was to know this girl, who she was, where she came from. He wanted to know everything, but a part of him didn't really care. He stared into her deep blue eyes for what seemed like forever until he finally took a deep (and greatly needed) breath and asked, "Who are you?"

"My name is Lily, and I need your help," she said softly.

"Why should I help you? I don't even know you."

"Then don't help me; help someone you do know," she said stepping towards him. He didn't know what to think, but one thing was for sure, whoever this girl was he felt like he could trust her. It felt like he knew her, but he had never seen her before in his life.

"Help who? What do you want me to do?" he asked her.

"I want you to come with me," she told him and at that he stepped back away from her. Could he trust her? Was this another one of Voldemort's tricks?

"How did you find me?" he asked her. She stepped to the side revealing a small house elf that had been standing next to her, smiling back at him. "Dobby? What are you doing here?"

"Helping Miss Lily," said Dobby matter-of-factly in his small squeaky voice. "Harry Potter must hurry, for someone he cares for dearly could be killed."

"Who Dobby? Who could be killed?" Harry asked the house elf.

"Dobby cannot say, he likes Miss Lily and keeps her secrets. Harry Potter must trust Miss Lily and hurry," he said looking up at Harry.

"Harry, are you all right up there?" he heard Tonks yell up the stairs.

Lily went up to Harry, got an inch from his face, and put her hand on his check. "Please, there's not much time. We must go. Please help me. You and I are the only ones that can do this," she said to him with tears in her eyes. He went his bedroom door and yelled down the stairs, "Yes, I'm fine. I just got a little visit from Dobby the house elf that's all. I'll be down in a minute."

"All right Harry, but hurry we have to leave now, or we'll be late," Tonks yelled back up the stairs.

"Okay, I'll be right down," he yelled and went back to Lily. "Okay I'll help you, but this better not be a trap!" he told her harshly.

"Thank you. You'll need your broom. Dobby will tell everyone you've gone, and that you're safe," she told him as she took a letter out of her pocket, went over to Hedwig, and took her out of her cage. "Bring this to Dumbledore. Fly faster than you've ever flown in your life." At this Hedwig flew out the window and out of sight. "Come on we have to go. Are you ready?" she asked. Harry nodded, and went over and got his Firebolt.

Lily made a thick cloak appear out of nowhere from her wand, and handed it to Harry. "You'll need this. Be very quiet and keep close to me," she told him as she flew out the window.

"Be safe Harry Potter," said Dobby as Harry put the cloak on, mounted his broom, and flew out the window.

They flew for what seemed like forever. A million thoughts went through his mind. Why did he trust this girl he didn't even know? Why was Dobby helping her? How did she know Dobby? Where were they going? Who was this girl, and why were the two of them the only ones that could do this? What were they doing? Who could die? Did Lupin and everyone know that he was gone yet? What did the letter say that she gave Hedwig to deliver to Dumbledore?

He had been sweating in the thick cloak before, but now he was getting colder and it was snowing fiercely. The wind was blowing so hard that he had to struggle to keep his broom on course.

He stopped and looked; he couldn't see Lily anymore. Then a hand came and swept across his back, and she leaned into him putting her cheek to his, and whispered in his ear, "It's just over there. Fly close" she pulled away, and he followed her closely.

What was she talking about? What is over there? Did he trust her because she was trustworthy or because he was attracted to her? She was very pretty. She was a lot prettier than Cho Chang was.

He saw her fly downward and closely followed. They reached the ground, and both got off their brooms. He followed her into a cave.

"Where are we?" he commanded.

"Pavilion Mountain. We're at the base of it. At the top is Lord Voldemort's secret headquarters. No one knows it's here except a few of his followers," she whispered to him while she was cautiously looking around the cave.

"Then how do you know it's here? Are you one of his followers? I THOUGHT YOU SAID THIS WASN'T A TRAP?" he shouted grabbing his wand and pointed it at her.

"Shhhh, you mustn't be so loud! It's not a trap," she whispered back to him, ignoring his wand and continuing her search. "Where is he? He was right here," she said as tears came running down her face. "They must have found him."

"They didn't find anything," said a familiar course voice. "Harry put your wand down that's no way to treat a lady. I guess I still have much to teach you." Harry froze as he heard the man.

"Lumos." He heard Lily say to her wand. Tears started to run down Harry's face as he saw who it was, but it couldn't be. It wasn't possible. He saw him die. Or did he? He just saw him fall. This was too much to take. He ran, fell at Sirius' side, and started to weep uncontrollably in front of the man whom he thought was dead, his godfather, Sirius Black.