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Author: EvieMarie Story: Nothing Fails Rating: Teens Setting: Pre-HBP Status: WIP Reviews: 1 Words: 15,502
Anger coursed through Harry's veins, poisoning him. A white hot fury burned in his eyes, and he stared Kreacher down, at loss for words that could express anything he was feeling. "Why's Potter so quiet, Kreacher wonders? Is it because the nasty, blood traitor is never coming back?" Kreacher spoke hopefully, not bothering to lower his voice as he made his insults. Harry let out a roar, that sounded much more like a growl, and dove toward Kreacher. Fear spread across the house-elf's face and tried to crawl away, but Harry had grabbed him roughly about the waist. Tightening his grip, Harry slammed Kreacher against the wall as hard as he could. The house-elf let out a cry of pain. Harry didn't care. "Never - speak - Sirius - your fault - dead," he managed, unaware that he wasn't making much sense. He slammed Kreacher even more roughly against the wall. To his pleasure, blood was trickling from the elf's mouth and a large, bruised lump was forming on his head. Harry's fingers found Kreacher's neck and tightened. The house-elf sputtered. "Harry! What are you doing?" came a startled voice from the doorway. It was Hermione. She looked both shocked and furious. Harry only strengthened his grip around Kreacher's throat. "Harry, let go of him!" she shouted, striding to meet the two. She pulled furiously at Harry's fingers, finally prying them away. Kreacher gasped and fell on the floor. But before Harry could get hold of him again, Hermione had dragged Harry half-way across the room, away from Kreacher. The house-elf shot them another fearful look before he bolted down the hallway. "Hermione - let - go - of - me!" Harry panted, trying to loosen Hermione's grip on his arms. "No, Harry, I won't," Hermione gasped, trying to keep her hold on Harry. After a minute or so of their struggle, Harry finally tore away from her. He jumped up and sped toward the open door, his eyes searching the hallway outside for Kreacher. "Harry, no!" Hermione said furiously, yanking him back into the room. She slammed the door behind her. Harry, his energy quickly depleting, sank to floor by Ron's bed. "What in the world were you thinking? You could have killed him, Harry! For Merlin's sake, keep your temper under control - I'm always telling you to only be nice to him, why can't you just do that? Not strangle the poor - " "Leave me alone, Hermione," muttered Harry, drawing his knees to his chest. He was breathing hard, and his hands were shaking. "Leave you alone?" said Hermione incredulously, staring at him in disbelief. "If I had simply left you alone, Kreacher would be dead! It would be - " "All the better," murmured Harry, shutting his eyes briefly. "What are you talking about?" asked Hermione, confused. Her hair seemed bushier than ever; it floated in messy torrents around her face. Harry watched her, debating whether or not he should tell Hermione exactly why they should all hate Kreacher. Hermione just stared at him, frowning heavily. "Hermione ..." he started, but was unsure of what to say. He lifted himself off of the floor and moved to the window, half wishing she would just leave. "Harry," said Hermione suddenly, "What's this doing out?" He turned. Hermione was standing near Ron's bed, pointing to the Dream Arrest. Harry sighed. "I had a dream. Don't worry about it." Hermione's eyebrows knitted slightly. "Was it about Voldemort?" Harry turned back to the window, choosing not to answer. He only wanted to be alone; the dream, combined with Kreacher's appearance, had left him weak and tired. Out the window, sunlight had begun to glint off of the tree tops and muggle houses nearby. Smoke was rising from the chimney next door, curling and fading into the blue sky. "Harry." "What, Hermione?" Harry answered back, whirling around to face her. She didn't answer at first. Instead, she sank onto Ron's bed, causing Harry's gifts to sag toward her. She pushed them away. "Why did you attack Kreacher?" she asked finally, softly. "Hermione, it's nothing. Really." He badly wanted her to leave now. He put his hands in his pockets, waiting. "Nothing?" Hermione repeated incredulously. "Oh come on, Harry! That was insane what you just did - " "Hermione, listen to me - " "No, Harry, hear me out," she looked angry. Her next words tumbled from her mouth, as though she'd been waiting a long time to say them. "I'm worried about you, you know? All you've been doing recently is ignoring all of us, and being horrible. Harry, do you - do you honestly think that's how he'd have wanted you to be acting? Wouldn't he want you to be happy?" Harry turned back to the window. He didn't answer. "Harry, please... just talk to me. That's what I'm here for," she said softly. Harry could hear the tears in her voice. He looked down. He suddenly remembered the picture of Phineas Nigellus on the opposite wall, but as he glanced at it, it was empty and dusty. "Where is everyone?" he asked, trying to change the subject. "They're eating breakfast. Ron and Ginny won't be up here, they're playing chess. Harry... can't you at least tell me - " "Look," Harry burst out, turning sharply. "You want to know why I was trying to give Kreacher what he deserves? It's because - because he's the reason Sirius is gone, okay?" Hermione stared at him, her mouth open. "What?" "Oh, yeah," Harry said savagely. It hurt to be saying any of this, it tore at his insides and made his throat ache, but at the same time, it was oddly relieving to speak the words aloud. "He crept off one day, to the Malfoys, and they set up the whole thing... that day - " he started, struggling to finish, "that day I went to check if Sirius was here, and I met Kreacher, Kreacher told me Sirius had gone to the Depart - ," Harry blinked, now fighting to get the words out. "But you want to know something?" Hermione stared at him, shocked, and shook her head slightly. "Sirius was here, " Harry said roughly, his voice hoarse. "Kreacher lied." Hermione let out a horrified breath, one she'd been holding. She raised her hands slowly to cover her mouth. "Voldemort set everything up. He was banking on - " Harry's voice lowered, to something just above a whisper. He turned back to the window. "He was banking on my love of playing the hero. " There was a pregnant pause. "Oh, Harry, " Hermione murmured. "Oh, Harry, I'm so - so sorry. I should never have said that. I... " Her sentence hung limply in the silence. Harry rested his hands against the windowsill and watched little piles of dust rise around his fingers. His throat was tight and an unpleasant burning had started in his eyes. He wished Hermione would leave. "Harry, I... " "Just go, Hermione." There was another long silence, and then, to Harry's surprise, he heard Hermione rise from the bed and move toward the door. Her footsteps paused momentarily, but the door eventually swung open, and then closed. All resolve having left him, Harry sank onto his bed, a shaking hand passing over his eyes. Outside, grey clouds covered the sun, dimming the day's warmth. When Harry arrived in the kitchen about an hour later, he found only Lupin and Kingsley occupying it. "Hello, " said Kingsley, smiling at him. "We were just talking about you. There's something here for you." "What?" he asked curiously, looking around the table. An open envelope was laying open in front of Lupin. "Your O.W.L. results," said Lupin, grinning slightly, "I hope you don't mind that we took the liberty of reading them. Molly needed the letter inside, to shop for your things." "Oh, that's fine," Harry said, trying to sound casual, when really his heart was beating considerably faster. He'd forgotten all about the O.W.L.s ... "How'd I do?" "Why don't you take a look?" Kingsley said, handing him a piece of parchment. Harry took a deep breath and glanced down at the paper. Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry Headmaster: Albus Dumbledore
Harry's mouth fell open. Outstanding? He'd received and Outstanding in Potions? A blank buzzing was filling his head. True he'd done better than if Snape had been examining them, but surely it hadn't made that much of a difference? Harry sank shakily into a chair, suddenly feeling lighter than he had all week. "Where are Ron and Hermione?" Harry asked vaguely, looking around. He had to tell them... "In the drawing room," Lupin said, still grinning slightly at him. "So, has all your hard work paid off?" "Definitely," Harry answered, grinning just as widely back. "I didn't think - well, I didn't think I did all that well when I took them. But... " As he gazed at the paper in his hands, a sudden thought striking him. "I can become an Auror now!" "Auror?" Kingsley and Lupin said simultaneously. "Er - yeah. We had a lot of career choices and things to decide last year... and, well, " he looked up at them, feeling slightly awkward, "that's what I chose. Professor McGonagall told me I would need at least an O in Potions before Snape would teach me..." Kingsley nodded. "That would be a fitting profession for you. I often wondered what you wanted to be... Now, if you're curious about - " Harry tried to listen as Kingsley spoke about his own training, but his concentration kept drifting. The numb shock that had filled him earlier had turned, wonderfully, to warm relief. He hadn't realized how dependent he'd been upon finding out his results, but now that he gripped the letter in his hands, he started to feel happier than he had in ages. He was going to be an Auror. He grinned suddenly, imagining the look on Snape's face when he turned up for the professor's N.E.W.T class... And how would McGonagall react when he told her? She had, after all, promised to help him become an Auror if it was the last thing she did... but then again, perhaps she'd only said that to irk Umbridge. "Harry," Lupin said quietly, interrupting Kingsley. "Why don't you go find Ron and Hermione?" Harry looked up, startled out of his reverie, and said, "Er - yeah, thanks!" With that, he bounded out of the kitchen and up the staircase. When he reached the drawing room, he found Hermione and Ron had already seen their own results. " - it's how much we knew you'd get. Quit complaining!" Ron said loudly, to a near hysterical Hermione. "You don't get it Ron, there's no way I could have gotten only fourteen! It's all that awful Umbridge woman's fault. She distracted us while we were taking our Astronomy exam, if I had finished - " "You still would have got higher than anybody! Merlin, can't you just - " "Hullo, " Harry said cheerfully from the doorway, interrupting their fight. "I see Hermione's done well. What about you Ron?" "Nine," Ron said proudly, holding up an crumpled piece of parchment. "You?" "Er - here," Harry said, handing him the paper. He suddenly felt guilty for outdoing Ron. Hermione jumped up eagerly from her chair and looked over Ron's shoulder to see Harry's results. Both Ron and Hermione's mouths dropped. "Eleven?" Hermione squealed, catching him in a hug. Over her bushy hair, Harry watched Ron apprehensively. Ron, however, grinned widely back at him. "That's fantastic, Harry! " he said loudly, over Hermione, who was talking so fast it was hard to make out exactly what she was saying. "Yes, brilliant job, Harry, " said a soft voice behind him. Harry tuned around and saw Ginny sitting in a chair by the fire. Her eyes were sparkling. "Thanks, " Harry said, feeling unusually self-conscious. "Up for a game of chess?" she said, picking up a box next to her. "Er - what?" Harry said, who'd been suddenly distracted by the light glinting off her red hair. An unpleasant heat was creeping onto his cheeks. Behind him, Hermione had started to argue with Ron again. "I said, would you like a game of chess?" "Uh - sure," he said. "I'm not great at it though." Ginny laughed. "Don't worry, I'm not much good either. And we're using Ron's pieces, so that won't be any help. They only fancy him." Harry grinned and sat down across from her, feeling comfortable again. It was only Ginny, really... what had caused that blush earlier? Harry shook it from his mind as he set up his pieces. "Ron, this is useless. I've got better things to do then waste my time arguing with you," Hermione said huffily and stood up to leave. Ron rolled his eyes at Harry as she slammed the door behind her. "Honestly, Harry, I don't know what it is with her. She doesn't get all the O.W.L.s possible, and she goes ballistic. If she did happen get all the O.W.L.s possible, she'd still find something to complain about." He sighed heavily and rubbed his eyes. "I'm hungry, you want anything Harry?" "Er - okay, " he said, moving his pawn forward. "Ginny?" Ginny looked up from her side of the board. "Get me a butterbeer, will you, Ron?" "Yeah, yeah, sure..." He left the room. "I love having brothers who will nick food for me," Ginny said, grinning at him. "Yes, " Harry said, watching Ginny's bishop attack his knight. "Though it's easier at Hogwarts, yeah? The house-elves practically shove the food down your throat..." "Don't let Hermione hear you saying that," Ginny said mischievously, winking at him over the board. Harry's stomach gave an odd twist. He turned his gaze back onto the board, trying to look casual. Really, he thought, it is only Ginny... There was a moment's silence, and then Ginny said, "Harry?" "Yeah?" he said, looking up at her. Her eyes were dark and serious. "If you don't mind my asking... what was it Dumbledore told you this morning?" She bit her lip slightly, almost nervously. But Harry found he didn't mind talking to her about it. A cool sort calm had overcome him and he told her, quietly, what Dumbledore had said. "Well, we knew that much..., " Ginny said after he told her of Mrs. Figg's and the Dursley's disappearance. Harry nodded. "He also said something about Lupin. You've noticed he's been ill, right?" "Yeah," Ginny said sadly. "It's almost the full moon... " Harry watched her, wondering how much he should tell her, when she suddenly said, "Harry! It's almost the full moon!" "Er - yeah. You just... said that..." "No, I mean, it's almost your real birthday!" Harry blinked. "You're right, it is!" He gazed into the fire, and then said, "Why didn't you have my party then?" "Well, Lupin wanted to come didn't he? So we moved it up a little." Nodding, Harry watched one of his pawns putting up a brave fight with a rook. "You'll never take me!" it squealed. Ginny laughed, picked it up off the board, and dropped it into a container writhing with Harry's other pieces. "The poor thing... so brave," she murmured, grinning. "I thought you said you were no good at chess!" Harry said in mock outrage, folding his arms across his chest. "Oh, I'm not," Ginny said, giggling. "You're just more miserable at it then I am, Harry." Harry laughed and watched Ginny lean forward to inspect the board. If he were to lean forward right now, too, their faces would be almost touching and... Harry pulled farther back into his chair, startled. The awkward flush was creeping into his cheeks again. Ron burst through the door. Harry jumped. "She'll be going on about those exams for weeks, Harry... " Ron said mulishly, tossing him and Ginny a butterbeer. "Do you know what she's doing right now?" "No, " said Harry, popping the cork off his bottle. "You'll never believe it. She's studying for her N.E.W.T.s." "What?" "Yeah. Mum just got back with all the new school stuff. I'm telling you Harry, it'll be mad this year with her... and guess what else Mum's bought?" said Ron, taking a large swig of butterbeer. "What?" "Dress robes. We better not have another bloody ball this year, if we do... " He looked off out the window, as if pondering just what'd he do if there really was a ball. "Really, Ron, it won't be that bad," said Ginny, "Just ask Hermione and get it over with." "Just what?" sputtered Ron, almost dropping his butterbeer. "What are you on about?" "I'm talking about you asking Hermione to the ball like you're supposed to, " Ginny said absently, while Harry struggled very hard to keep his face straight. "I - I have no - whatever," Ron said, his eyes huge. He took three large gulps of his butterbeer, then dropped the bottle onto a table. "I - I need to go to the... the loo." He sped from the room. As soon as the door swung shut, Harry let out a snort of laughter. "Well done, Ginny," Harry said, grinning at her. "I know, " she answered back, smiling happily back at him. "I've just won." Harry looked down just in time to see his king being dragged off the board by Ginny's very violent queen. He looked back up at Ginny. "Another game?" she asked cheerfully, setting up the board again. Harry watched her, a feeling of giddy pleasure spreading through his stomach. He smiled crookedly at her. "Why not?" To be continued... A/N: I'm very sorry this chapter arrived so late. Both my beta, Promethean Alchemist, and I were terrible busy - but here it is anyway, edited to perfection! So, happy reading! And, as always, a million thanks to my beta, who's "suggestions" (as he likes to call them) made this chapter all the better.
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