Harry Potter and the Power Unknown

--Chapter Fourteen: New Year's Eve--

Harry Potter had never felt better in his life. As the New Year approached, he felt renewed, born again without the weight he carried his whole life. It was as if he never had a connection to Lord Voldemort; he suddenly had a life in which he grew up away from the spotlight and away from the pain and horrors that burdened him since he was one year old.

Harry ate his lunch happily in the dining room of Grimmauld Place, unusually cheerful despite his gloomy surroundings. Hermione and Ginny kept glancing up at him skeptically, throwing significant looks at each other every so often. Harry simply smiled at both of them, eating his kidney pie while happily humming a tune. Even Ron was thrown off by his unusual cheerfulness. He raised his eyebrows at Harry so often during lunch that he eventually gave himself a headache.

"I don't know what you're so worried about, Hermione," Harry told her up in the attic after lunch.

Ron and Ginny avoided the conversation by moving over to a corner of the attic and beginning a game of Exploding Snap. Ron looked extremely nervous, as if speaking would somehow set off the invisible bomb that was ticking inside Hermione. Ginny simply looked annoyed if not concerned.

Hermione, struggling to maintain her composure, glared at Harry and said, "I'm worried because you don't seem to care what this might mean, Harry! How do you know Voldemort isn't just playing a trick on you?"

Harry scoffed playfully at this idea, still smiling as if Hermione had just made a witty comment. She glared at him, but he merely said, "I appreciate your concern, Hermione, but I'm really okay. I've never felt better!"

This statement was certainly true, and everyone in Grimmauld Place seemed to immerse themselves in his upbeat mood. Ginny was pleased that they were able to spend sometime alone and was enjoying Harry's company so much she finally stopped sharing Hermione's concern. Ron's mood brightened as if infected by Harry's cheerfulness, so much so that when Percy came to visit a few days after Christmas, he laughed off Percy's idiocy and was able to cheer Mrs. Weasley up once Percy left.

In fact, the only people who seemed to be deeply distressed at Harry's condition were Hermione, Lupin and Dumbledore. Lupin was now visiting Grimmauld Place daily, and Harry had a sneaking suspicion that he was making reports to Dumbledore. Rather than annoying or angering him, however, Harry was amused at Lupin's attempts to spy on him. Lupin always ended up with nothing to report to Dumbledore except the fact that Harry was happier than he had ever seen him.

Harry was even amazed at his own elation and patience. Harry kept expecting to get angry every time Lupin asked him how he was or Hermione probed for more information about his dream, but instead he cleanly reassured them that he was fine. Even Ginny was finally convinced that his happiness was genuine.

"For crying out loud, Hermione!" Ginny yelled at her the day before New Year's Eve.

"What?" cried Hermione, sounding scandalized. "I just want to be sure his dream was real and...!"

"You just can't stand the fact that he's happy!" Ginny interrupted. "It's almost like you expect him to be miserable all the time!"

"That's not it at all!" Hermione protested. "I just...!"

"Oh, give it a rest, Hermione," Ron mumbled to her.

She opened her mouth again, but closed it once more at one look at Ron. She bit her lip and bit back the tears welling in her eyes, then walked out of the room with her head held high.

Ginny made a loud huff as she sat down next to Harry, who had a slightly stupid grin on his face. Ron, looking somewhat indecisive, eventually figured that Hermione's need was greater than Ginny's, so he got up and left the room to find her.

"It's okay, Ginny," said Harry, the grin still laying lazily on his face. "She'll get over it eventually; Hermione always does."

"I don't know how you put up with it," Ginny replied. "It drives me crazy when she does it to you! I couldn't imagine how I'd be if she was actually bugging me constantly like that."

Harry shrugged and changed the subject. "I really miss flying. I wish we were at the Burrow so we could play a little Quiddich."

Ginny nodded. "I miss it too. This house sucks," she said as she looked around.

"Now I really know how... er... how..." Harry trailed off. His expression was pained, seemingly trying to reach into the depths of his memory.

Ginny looked at him curiously. "How Sirius felt?" she said, attempting to finish his sentence.

Harry blinked and looked slightly confused, as if he had no idea who she was talking about. However, he answered, "Yeah... Huh! How weird! I completely forgot what I wanted to say!"

Ginny eyed him suspiciously but before she could question him about this odd behavior, Harry asked, "How about a game of exploding snap?"

She shook her head. "I think I should go apologize to Hermione. I want to make sure she's okay."

"Good idea. I'll come with you," said Harry.

"Ginny replied, "No, I think it would be better if I went alone. I'll send Ron back up."

"Suit yourself," Harry said. He jumped to his feet and offered Ginny his had to help her up; once on her feet she kissed him on the cheek and left the bedroom.

The New Year's celebration was better than it ever had been in Harry's memory. Almost the entire Order came over to celebrate; Dumbledore shared a dance with Professor McGonagall and Harry happily kissed Ginny at midnight. The most exciting news, however, was after a few too many mugs of firewhiskey, Ron finally told Hermione how he felt about her (which Harry knew was a long time in coming), and they kissed at midnight as well.

Harry spent the evening talking to different members of the Order and eventually made his way over to a corner where Mr. Weasley and Lupin were talking.

"I know you miss him, Remus, but..."

"He was my last friend, Arthur. This is why I hate New Years. He's just another one to add to the list of those who should be here. I was doing fine until..." he trailed off.

His speech was slightly slurred; Harry had the distinct feeling that Lupin may, like Ron, have dipped a little too much into the bottle of firewhiskey.

"We all care about you, Remus," Mr. Weasley insisted, placing a reassuring hand on Lupin's shoulder. "But it's time to let him go."

"Who?" asked Harry.

Lupin and Mr. Weasley fell silent and looked up at Harry, who drew back, surprised at their faces. Then Lupin's face contorted with hurt and anger.

"That's not funny, Harry. If that's your way of making me feel better..."

"Seriously," Harry insisted, smiling as if waiting for Lupin to let him in on some joke. "Who are you talking about?"

Everyone else in the room was deep in their own conversations, so Mr. Weasley and Lupin were the only ones able to marvel at this question. Mr. Weasley opened his mouth to say something, but Lupin stood up drunkenly and moved to within inches of Harry's face.

"I'm glad you've moved on so quickly, Harry," Lupin slurred. "You remind me of Severus."

Harry had the impression that this last statement was supposed to be more insulting than he took it, even though he knew he would never want to be compared with Snape.

"You should show a little more respect. Sirius loved you like a son," Lupin spat.

Harry's grin slid slightly from his face and fogginess clouded his eyes.

Then, as if nothing had happened, Harry smiled sympathetically and said, "I know, Remus. I'm sorry; I wasn't trying to be disrespectful."

Mr. Weasley stepped over towards Lupin and said cheerfully, "You had me worried there for a second, Harry! Come on, Remus; I think you should get some rest."

Harry stayed rooted to the spot, thinking while he watched Lupin attempt to stumble up the stairs with Mr. Weasley's assistance. Ginny wandered over to him shortly thereafter, her face lit up with a sleepy grin.

"Most everyone's leaving now, so I'm off to bed, Harry," she said dreamily. "What was that with Lupin all about? He looked upset."

Harry shrugged and gently kissed her goodnight. She and Hermione then headed up the stairs; Ron waved to him and drunkenly climbed the stairs as well. Harry helped Mrs. Weasley tidy up and soon went to bed, but he laid awake for a while, happy that he didn't have to lie to Ginny. His shrug answered her question perfectly; He had absolutely no idea who Lupin was talking about.