Harry Potter and the Forest of Shadows

Harry Potter and

the Forest of Shadows

Chapter 16: Blame

Harry had never remembered getting ready quite as fast as he did that morning. Tripping over himself as he tried to run down to the common room due to the fact he was desperately trying to skip steps and put his shoes on at the same time made Ginny laugh as she watched him fall to the floor. Bouncing on the balls of her feet, she helped him up and waited impatiently as he finished slipping his feet into his sneakers.

Once that was done she grabbed his hand and they began running down staircases and through secret passages he had never seen before.

"I see you've done some exploring here," he said as they made their way through a particularly cozy one with paintings and a certain warmth being generated from seemingly nowhere.

"Fred and George basically showed me everything they knew about Hogwarts; more or less I know every short cut and I damn well pride myself on it."

He laughed at her seriousness of it as the exited on to the second floor. Ginny unceremoniously pushed through all of the straggling students making their way down to later breakfast and made a beeline for the infirmary, Harry's hand still grasped in hers.

Just as she reached out to open the door, someone from inside threw it open and tore out. Harry glanced back just in time to see Hermione's chestnut locks waving behind her as she shoved her way through the students. Fear grasped Harry as he hesitantly followed Ginny into the hospital wing; what had happened to make Hermione run off like that?

Lying on the last bed with his back turned towards them, was Ron.

At the sound of their feet tapping lightly on the cold stone, he turned so that he was laying on his back and his head facing them. His face had a huge gash running down it and a shiner, making his right eye swell up. But the thing that made Harry shudder the most was the sour expression on the redhead's face and the glare that came from his cold blue eyes.

"How are you?" Harry said, slicing through the tense silence.

"Come to back up that filthy little mudblood, have you?" Ron said in a harsh tone.

Ginny's eyes widened, while Harry's brow furrowed. "What did you say?" Harry demanded.

"I said, 'Come to back up that filthy little mudblood, have you?'"

"What happened to you?" Ginny whispered.

"Ask him," Ron said, gesturing to Harry with a beaten hand. "After all, it is his fault this happened. Just because I'm his friend."

Hurt tears burned at Harry's eyes but he didn't let them fall. Ginny slapped his face hard before stalking out of the room. Harry hesitated to leave. Instead he looked at his friend who was staring coldly at him. Looking down at his feet, Harry slowly walked after Ginny.

However, instead of following her back to the common room where he figured she was heading for, he walked out onto the lawns. Hermione was sitting silently by the lake, her knees pulled up to her chest and her chin resting upon her knees.

She didn't seem to take much notice of his presence until he sat down and put his arm around her shoulders. She fell limp against him, her head resting on his arm.

"Where is he?" she murmured.

"In the infirmary," Harry said, wondering why she asked him.

"No, where is he?"

"He's in-" Harry cut himself off. He knew what she meant but he didn't know.

"He blamed you didn't he?" she asked.

"Yea, he did."

"Oh, Harry, it's not your fault. I don't know what's wrong with him. But it isn't your fault, okay?"

He nodded, but then muttered, "He certainly seems to think it is. He said it never would have happened if we had just not been friends."

"What happened to him there," she said, sniffling. "The other night he was fine and now he's sitting up on his high horse yelling about falling for a mudblood." Hermione spat the last words out as she broke into fresh wave sobs.

"Hermione," Harry muttered once she dammed her tears and stopped hiccoughing. "I've been having these dreams..."

Remus looked out among the students, chattering and laughing with each other. His eyes were ringed with circles from lack of sleep and yawns came frequently. Even if they had gotten back to the school at a fairly early time, he was exhausted from the train attack and staying up until three O'clock in the morning.

Ron had been unconscious when he had been brought to the school and it had been two-thirty. Remus was in a fairly bad mood having been pecked out of his sleep by an extremely hyperactive owl. There were no permanent injuries save for some scrapes that might leave scars. After making sure the boy was all right, Remus slowly made his way to bed.

He honestly hoped Ron would be fine; the last thing Harry needed right now was to blame himself for something else.

Of course Sirius slept in too late and was now desperately trying to get ready for his first class of the day and Rosy had gone off to God-knows-where for "a very secret and important meeting" as she said. Remus rolled his eyes.

With another yawn, his mind was drawn back to reminiscing. Looking out on the students eating their breakfast, he was reminded strongly of his own days at Hogwarts. Just then, the Great Hall door was opened. He smiled widely.

"Well, speak of the devil."

**Five Minutes Earlier**

Rosy jumped lightly up and down as she waited impatiently inside the study iron gates of the Hogwarts' grounds. A light breeze hit her, carrying an airy laughter with it that made her lips curve into a broad smile. A few seconds past and now she could hear the crunch of gravel. Finally, two young women came into view and Rosy pulled open the gate as she caught sight of the comforting face.

"Rosemary! What are you doing here?"

She flashed a mischievous grin and raced up to embrace her older sister.

"How in the world did you know we were going to be here," Daisy asked, still holding on tightly to her younger sibling whom she hadn't been able to come in close contact with in too long a time. "No one was supposed to know we were even in the country yet."

"Oh you know," Rosy said, stepping back at an arms-length. "I have me sources."

Daisy soft laugh filled their air as she threw her head back, her beautiful brunette hair rippling in the morning breeze. "Oh, Rosy, this is my friend Fleur Delacour. Fleur, this is my baby sister Rosy."

Rosy lightly hit Daisy on the shoulder and turned to Fleur, a pleasant smile on her face. "It's very nice to meet you Fleur."

"It ees very nice to meet you too. I 'ave heard a lot of nice things about you."

"Well, I'll have to ditto that comment," Rosy said with another sly grin and leaned in to whisper into Fleur's ear, "Especially from a certain red-haired young man who has just been pining for his traveling French sweetheart."

Fleur blushed a light crimson and smiled lightly at Rosy who returned it with a knowing look.

"Well," Daisy said, clapping her hands together, "now that you two know each other let's go up this way. I see an extremely familiar sight." Just over the grassy hill were the roofs and turrets of the ancient, yet inviting castle.

"So, do you think that your dreams are real?"

"Others have been," Harry muttered as they made their way back up the stone steps.

"Well, I know," Hermione said, pushing open the door, "it would just be a comfort if we knew if these were-"

She cut herself off staring ahead with a confused look.

"Harry, is that who I think it is?"

Harry looked from her to where she was staring. Walking into the Great Hall was Rosy, Fleur Delacour, and his mother's last sister. He groaned as rosy turned to wink at him before disappearing into the Hall. "Just one normal day. That's all I ask for."

"Come on," Hermione said walking up to the large oak doors and peering in to see what was going on. "Well, Professor Lupin sure looks happy."

Harry poked his head just above hers so they could both see in without being seen. Remus was glowing as he embraced Daisy.

"What's the disturbance this morning?"

Both teenagers jumped out of their skins; Hermione flew so high that she jammed her head into Harry's chin.

"Sirius! You scared me!"

"Hermione! I think you broke my nose!" Harry moaned.

"Oh, don't be such a baby," she said exasperatedly.

"Scared you did I?" Sirius asked, leaning up against the wall, arms crossed. "So what is going on in there?" He motioned his head to the Great Hall doors. "My plan to turn Snape into a chicken didn't work did it?"

"Sirius!" Hermione gasped. "You wouldn't."

He gave a strange smile. "'Course not Hermione. The thought never crossed my mind." He patted her head and continued to walk towards the Great Hall. "Why is this place buz-"

He stopped mid-sentence and his face went from confused to delighted faster than a room went from dark to light when someone flipped a light switch.

"Sirius?" Harry asked tentatively.

His only response was the older man walking out of sight with a goofy grin on his face. Hermione and Harry popped their heads back around the doorframe to see what was going on.

Daisy was no longer at the head table. She had ran all the way down and was holding on tightly to Sirius.

Once again Hermione hit Harry's nose with her head as she got up from her squatting position. He turned his head slowly and gave her a forced smile.

"We better be getting to classes," she muttered, picking up her bag and slinging it across her shoulder.

As she stalked off, Harry caught a glimpse of her expression and saw jealousy etched across her face. He took another look at the happy pair hugging in the middle of the Great Hall before following after Hermione to their first class: Defense Against the Dark Arts.

Sirius spun Daisy around, continuously kissing her. "What are you doing here?" he asked, laughing.

"Well, Rosy owled me a few days ago and told me my favorite guy was working at Hogwarts."

"Really?" said Sirius, raising an eyebrow.

"Yes. I just love Remus."

He made a face at her and kissed her again.

"I'll just ignore that comment and tell you how wonderful it is to see your lovely face," he murmured, staring mesmerized at her.

She gave a soft smile, her sapphire eyes lighting up. "I guess it is kind of nice to see you."

Sirius closed his eyes as she ran a hand across his cheek and brought her forehead to his. "You've aged a little, love."

"Yes, well I can't say the same for you. However it looks like you're a little heavier than you used to be." Daisy gave a slight gasp as Sirius literally swept her off her feet and cradled her in his arms. She leaned into the embrace smiling brilliantly at him. "Nope," he said, setting her back on her feet. "You're the same."

"Remus, he's picking on me," she said, puppy dog eyeing Remus as he walked up to them; the three of them seemed to be unaware that the Great Hall was still full and everyone was intently watching them.

"Sirius! What did you do to her?"

"Me? Ha!"

"He called me fat," Daisy whined, then turned to a serious tone (no pun intended). "But oh well. You two have classes to get to."

"It can wait," Sirius muttered, kissing on her neck and grabbing onto her hand.

She jerked it away and swatted him. "No, it's your first day and you are not going to be late. Now scoot."

"It's good to see you Dais'," Remus said, hugging her tightly and pulling Sirius away as the bell rang.

A roar of sound erupted as Daisy made her way back to the head table and Sirius and Remus walked out.

"Damn, it's good to see her," Sirius said.

Remus slapped him.

The class crowded around the door to the Defense Against the Dark Arts classroom, waiting for their later professor.

"Did you see that nice figure?" Seamus said, wagging his eyebrows.

Daisy's arrival was all anyone was talking about.

"If she's teaching here," said Dean loudly, "she can give me private lessons any time."

"She's very pretty," Parvati said to Lavender. "Her hair was so beautiful. I wonder if she can give me any tips."

Everyone rolled her eyes.

"And," Lavendar replied, "Sirius Black really seems to like her... if you know what I mean. She's so lucky. Oh, sorry Harry."

Everyone glanced at Harry. "No problem Lavendar. Just puts bad mental images into my head," he said with a shudder.

Lavendar smacked his arm lightly, but only Hermione seemed to notice how he became extremely tense at the touch.

"Lavendar, I don't ever recall you being so feisty."

Her eyes widened and her face adopted an expression resembling a cat's whose paw was found groping in the fish bowl as Professor Lupin turned the corner and walked up to his class.

"My!'' he exclaimed, looking over all of them as he unlocked the classroom door and pushed it open. "You have all grown."

A large amount of hustle and bustle took place as everyone seated themselves as far to the front of the room as possible; excitement hung in the air as their favorite professor stood in front of them again.

"You've changed too, Professor!" Seamus called out.

Remus chuckled. "Yes. Unfortunately in ways I'm not particularly happy about." He absently ran a hand through his graying hair. "However, some things have not changed- books away!"

Everyone smiled. After a year of reading and copying boring theories with a toad as a teacher, it was an excellent change and relief to be able to put their books away.

Remus began walking around the room as he briefed them on everything they would be covering that year.

"We will start off the first quarter doing a major review of everything you've covered since I've been here. After that we will move on to the theory and brief history of different techniques used. When you get back from your winter break you will be practicing the tactics and different spells used in duelling. For the last quarter of the year, you will be going up against illusions that will challenge your basic knowledge of all the movements and defenses you will have learned about. I should tell you this: this will be one of your most important classes this year with war coming to our world."

Tension hung thickly in the air as everyone waited for the professor to make his next move.

"Well, let's get on with the review," he said, much more cheerful. Everyone seemed to let out their breath. "Now, who can tell me what to do when face with a hinkypunk... yes, Mr. Thomas?"

The crowd of students filtering out of the Defense Against the Dark Arts classroom were all smiling and chattering happily. Harry and Hermione were at the very end of the line, looking as though their spirits could still do with an uprising.

"What've we got next?" Harry asked moodily.

"Double potions," Hermione replied shortly, shoving her bag farther up her shoulder and walking briskly with a straight face towards the dungeons.

Harry groaned, trudging after her.

"Oh, don't sound so upset," she muttered.

"Why? It's potions. Not to mention double time with that hook-nosed, greasy-haired bast-"

"Harry!"

"It's true." He probably even hates me more after what happened last year, Harry thought to himself with dismay as they came to the dungeons.

Snape was sitting at front, scowling at all the students, daring any of them to talk.

As Hermione and Harry settled in the very back corner, Melany came up to them. "Can I sit here?" she whispered.

They nodded making room for her.

"Hermione, this is Melany. Melany, Hermione."

"Nice to meet you," Melany said softly, smiling at Hermione.

She returned the small gesture of friendship.

"Welcome to Advanced Potions," Snape said. "Somehow you have all managed to pass your O.W.L.s with scores high enough to continue with potions. If there are any signs of incompetence, you will immediately be removed from this class. I do not accept failures in this class and I will not tolerate disrespect."

Harry could feel the glare being placed upon him.

"Everyone open your books up to page twenty-five. Draco." The blonde jumped. "What is the name of this potion and what is its purpose."

"It's called the Polyjuice potion, sir." Hermione and Harry grinned at each other. "It gives you the ability to transform into another human being for one hour."

"Very good, Draco. Five points for Slytherin. Mr. Potter, how long does it take to complete this potion?"

Harry smirked in spite of himself. "One moon-cycle, Professor," he answered automatically.

A sour look came over Snape's features. "Correct." No points were awarded to Gryffindor. "I expect a foot of parchment on the theory and making of the potion by next class when we will begin working on the potion. Get to work!"

The scratch of quills echoed throughout the silent dungeon, Harry and Hermione sharing another knowing smile as they began working on the familiar potion.

When the bell finally rang for lunch, everyone hurriedly packed their bags and raced out of the room. Harry hung back.

"Ya'll go ahead," he said to Hermione and Melany who were waiting for him.

"What's wrong?" Hermione asked.

"Nothing," Harry assured her. "There's just something I need to do."

The two girls walked out, talking together. Nervously, Harry walked to the front of the classroom where Snape was deliberately ignoring him, instead focusing his attention on papers that were spread on his desk.

"Excuse me, Professor."

No reply.

"Professor?"

"What Potter?" he spat, still not looking at Harry.

Harry gulped and intensely studied his feet.

"I never got the chance to really apologize for what happened last year. I just wanted to say I was sorry."

He could now feel the cold black eyes burning into him.

"And why do you want to apologize? Just like your father you can't have any imperfections, can you?"

Harry looked up furiously, meeting the eyes staring at him. "Will you just get over it? I'm not my father! I didn't even know him so I don't know how I could have learned to be just like him! Listen, I'm sorry for what he did. It made me sick to think about it, but I can't change that! But for all the he did to you, you're worse to me, his son who you hated when you first saw me, than he was to you! So I'm sorry for looking through your thoughts. And I want to apologize for what he did. But I can't change the past. I'm sorry."

With that Harry stalked out the door, slightly forgiving eyes following him.