Harry Potter and the Forest of Shadows

Harry Potter and the

Forest of Shadows

*****Chapter 5*****

(somewhere in the northern parts of Maine, along the coast)

Kamerin Phillips-Waller clasped together both ends of her daughter's necklace, which bore a white amulet, and pulled the elbow-length chestnut hair over the chain so that it fell freely around her exposed arms due to the tank top she was wearing.

"Thanks mum," she said, slipping on a navy jacket and sliding her feet into blue and green flip-flops, matching her blue jean flares and purple tank top.

"Mel, please don't do magic. Please."

Melany stared at her mother with a horrified expression. "Who, me? Ha!"

"Melany, please take this seriously! He's looking for any traces of wandless magic-"

"And we wouldn't want me killed. Mummy, I know," the sixteen-year old said seriously.

"Maybe you just shouldn't go out..."

"Mum, it's just me and the beach. I'll be back in thirty minutes. Promise."

"Alright, go before I change my mind."

Melany flashed her mother a smile and skipped out of her bedroom, down the grand marble staircase, and into the kitchen where her father, Kyle Waller, was cooking up a grand breakfast.

"Morning daddy," she said, kissing his cheek and grabbing two pieces of buttered toast. "I'll be back in a few minutes."

Her father worked for the American Ministry as head of Law Enforcement and top Auror; the Waller family had quite a name for themselves. While her father did work for the Ministry, he was hardly there except for research on a mission or such. Instead he stayed home with his family: a beautiful, young wife and his two girls, eight

years apart in age.

Melany smiled at the thought of her sister eight-year old, Cassy. They didn't see each other that much and when they did, they never fought. Right now she was staying for a week at her friend's while Melany was secluded by her parents' worry in their mansion just on the rocky cliff beaches of Maine.

As the water lapped on her feet, an owl with unusually black feathers flew up, a newspaper in its beak.

"Whatcha got for me today, Cally?"

She had named her bird Calliopiea, but called her Cally. The beautiful bird dropped a let in her mistress' hands and enjoyed the praise she received. Melany pulled an owl treat from thin air and handed it to Cally.

Giving a feeble hoot of thanks and flew up to the house, entering of of three of Melany's large windows, making the blue curtains flutter in the morning breeze.

Looking at the paper, Melany's perfectly shaped eyebrows furrowed together. The paper was all the way from London; The Daily Prophet. It was headlined Sirius Black: Captured and Waiting a Trial.

Of course her parents knew all about their best friend's innocence when Melany's godfather had told them of it two summers ago. But how did they manage to catch him?

"Sirius was caught two days ago," Melany said during the middle of breakfast, laying the paper on the table.

Kamerin grabbed it before Kyle could and quickly scanned the article. "Well, if Daisy's got anything to say about it he'll be off the hook in no time," she said. "She was there the day Sirius was framed and has letters of James and Lily's that were written to Peter."

"In other words," Kyle said, "we'll be being invited to England in no time for a celebration."

***

(Paris, France)

Daisy Evans stared at the England's edition of the Prophet, a worried

look on her face. Her friend and roommate, Fleur, gazed at her with worry. "What iz it, Daizy?"

"Sirius Black, remember?"

"Yez."

"He was caught. By the ministry."

"He iz ze one you loved?"

"Yes. I need to go help," she muttered, getting from the sofa and walking into her room in their flat.

"Where are you going?"

"To England. The trial is tomorrow and my nephew's birthday is coming up. It'll be fifteen years now."

"Tell him I said hello. We were competing together two years ago. Took ze death of a schoolmate very hard."

"Yes, I've heard. Well, don't rent the flat out. I'll be back in a few days and... maybe we can both go and visit him."

"Zat would be wonderful."

Daisy turned to Fleur, a smile on her face, bags in hand. "Thank you, for everything. I'll see you in a few days." They hugged briefly before Daisy walked out the door, silver robes and green cloak swishing after her.

(A/n: yes, i know those are slytherin's colors but they were the first colors to come into my head. don't worry, she was a gryffindor!)

***

Harry laid miserably in bed, eyes gazing into space as tears unconciously leaked from them. Rosemary sat up next him, hand gently smoothing back his hair while Remus sat on the floor next to the bed.

Hermione and Ron hadn't been able to say anything to make him feel any better and he refused to see anyone else. At first he was angry, then in denial, and now he was just plain sad.

When Percy had come by to grab a few things two days ago, as the Weasleys, Remus, and Rosemary were out in the backyard, he had hoped to go unnnoticed, but was shocked to see Harry and the convicted murder casually talking the couch.

Immediately he had bound and gagged Sirius as Harry screamed at him and shouted for help. Everyone came rushing in to see what was going on. Rosemary held Harry back, telling him everything was going to be all right while everyone else shouted at Percy, trying to prove Sirius' innocence.

Just before he was apparated away, Harry held tightly onto his godfather's hand. Percy broke them apart and snarled at Harry, "Your lucky I'm not taking you, too."

Harry dug his face into the pillow at the memory. Rosemary's hand paused as the door opened and Harry felt her weight come from the bed and the floorboards creak as Remus got to his feet.

A hand was placed on Harry's shoulder. "Go away," he muttered, his voice thick with emotion.

"Sirius has a trial in two days."

The seven words brought Harry up from his pillow to look Dumbledore in the face. "A trial?"

"Yes, after I swished this little stick in my hand, it seemed Fudge had a change of opinion."

New tears flowed, but out of joy as Harry wrapped his arms around the old man. Dumbledore smiled slightly and hesitantly hugged Harry back.

That evening, as Harry was walking down to supper(his legs had healed and only a small limp was left)he heard music coming from Ginny's room. Softly, so as not to disturb her, he opened the door and peeked in.

She was sitting on her bed, sketching on a pad of paper he had seen her carry around everywhere. Music was coming from what looked like a muggle boom box; she was singing along to the softy song, as she added color to her picture.

"Oh, why you look so sad

Tears are in your eyes

Come on and come to me now

Don't be ashamed to cry

Let me see you through

'Cause I've seen the dark side too

When the night fall on you

Ya don't know what to do

Nothing you confess

Could make me love you less."

To Harry's disappointment she stopped singing with the voice that sounded like an angel would envy. But she continued with the next verse, and looked up, just noticing him. And she started to sing directly to him.

"I'll stand by you.

I'll stand by you.

Won't let nobody hurt you.

I'll stand by you.

Bring me to your darkest hour

And I'll never resent you

I'll stand by you."

He stared, transfixed at her words as the song continued. She put down her art pad, pencil, and watercolors and got to her feet. Harry didn't object, nor respond to the kiss she laid on his cheek before walking down the stairs, biting her lip.

For a few minutes he just stood there, grinning like and idiot before Rosemary walked past him, snorting and shaking her head as he was pulled from his daze.

Regathering himself, he followed up on Rosemary and into the kitchen where everyone except Remus, Bill, and Charlie were sitting; they had gone to do some more research, mainly for the trial.

Harry seated himself across the table from Ginny. She smiled at him before becoming more interested in her kidney steak and mashed potatoes.

Halfway through with his second helping, Harry felt a bare foot come in contact with one of his legs. Ginny was grinning at her food like the cat that had sneaked into the fish bowl. Harry raised his eyebrows and kicked her back.

They continued their little footsy game throughout desert(chocolate cake and cookies)until Ginny slipped and kicked Rosemary by accident. She looked at the two teenagers with a knowing smile before draining her cup of coffee.

Without a word more, she walked into the living room and stood behind Remus. He muttered a "hello" but continued to read through the ministry decrees. Rosemary gently leaned down, and, in his ear whispered, "I am the queen of matchmakers."

Remus looked at the entrance from the kitchen as Ginny and Harry walked through, every so often giving each other small kicks. He smirked at the two before handing Rosemary two galleons.

That night Remus and Rosemary joined Harry, Hermione, Ron, and Ginny up in Ron's room for a game of poker. Ginny was leading with ten galleons in her pocket.

"Jeez, Gin, give us a break," Ron muttered, placing a knut into the pile of money.

She smiled happily, leaning back against the headboard, next to Harry. "No peeking," he scolded, hiding his cards from sight.

Teasingly, she stuck her tongue out. "Oh that's mature," Remus said, placing two sickles in the pile.

"Feeling daring today are we?" Rosemary asked in a game show host's

voice. "Oh, and come in Severus."

Everyone looked at her but their attention turned to the door as it opened. "How do you do that?" he asked.

"It's a gift. What do you want?"

"I need to speak to you and Mr. Weasley."

"Me? What did I do?" Ron spluttered.

Rosemary rolled her eyes and slapped Severus before he could say anything. "For good measures," she explained, pulling Ron out the door with her and Snape.

"What do you think he wants Ron for," Harry queried. Remus simply answered with a shrug.

Whatever it was, Rosemary knew about it. It had to be one heck of a secret though; she never kept anything from Remus.

"You want me to what?" Ron asked.

"I just explained it to you, Weasley. Yes or no is all I need."

"And whose idea was this?"

"Mine, actually," Snape answered. "No one knows but the three of us."

"Why not the Headmaster?" asked Ron.

"Because, Weasley, the less people that know, the better. Three is pushing it, but Rosemary just had to be here."

She kicked him. "Ron, he'll help train you and then set up a scene for you to cause so you can get out and inform the other group of the password. Trust me, it will all work out. I wouldn't ask you to do anything that would cost you your life or anyone else's."

"But Hermione, and my family..."

"Will understand after it's over. Think of doing it for us or your family. Or most importantly, Harry. You'll be a hero in your own right."

He sighed. "Somebody stop me. Okay, I'll do it."

"Great," Rosemary exclaimed. "Severus..."

The potions master pulled up a set of heavy black, satin robes that were trimmed with silver and green.

"What are those?" Ron asked skeptically.

Rosemary pulled back the collar for him to read. He gasped. The realization of what the world was coming to and what he was about to do to help, hit him square in the face.