a/n: Well I guess I can only say "I'm sorry" so many times. I seriously got this out as fast as I could (the joy of three day weekends) and I apologise for the wait. Hopefully this chapter (which I'm still having questions about) will make up for it, for it finally answers that question "Did anything change?".
And I do have another disclaimer, but I have to put it AFTER the chapter, since it would give stuff away :p
Chapter 40 â“ Or Did It?
Harry couldnât remember the moment when he let go of Siriusâ hand.
He didnât even really care anymore.
Staring in shock at the scene before him, his heart beat loudly against his chest and he cared not blink, afraid he would wash it all away.
----
Ginny could have sworn that she didnât blink, and yet she must have, for they were most definitely not in the forbidden forest anymore.
In factâŠ
Her wand still raised in one hand, Ginny flexed her other hand, arm still outstretched, but did not feel Hermione behind her anymore.
Not three seconds later, she was forced to snap out of her shock by a harsh voice shouting something in her direction and a green flash of light missing her only by inches.
Breathing heavily, she scrambled away, taking cover behind a nearby shelf, only to freeze in shock again as she stared, horrified, at the contents on the shelves.
GlobesâŠ
Small crystal globesâŠ
A persistent Death Eater fired another spell towards her and she dropped to the ground, almost tearing over in fright and confusion as she plugged up her ears to block out the sounds of the glass balls shattering and the mystical, floating voices all starting to speak at once.
She was in the Department of Mysteries.
----
Harry had to make himself keep breathing and blink when his eyes started to hurt from the air around them.
Air full of spells and dust.
âHarry!â
He jumped in shock when the hand grabbed him, but the person must have not noticed, or not taken it to heart when they saw how scared he was.
His head hit hard on the shelf that the person pulled him behind. Blinking the stars away, he managed to get his wits about him enough to whip out his wand and jerk his arm out of the personâs reach.
âWhat are you doing?â the voice hissed, Harry finally recognizing itâs owner.
Hermioneâs annoyed face appeared out of the darkness, Neville beside her looking positively terrified.
But Harry didnât have time to answer. A loud blast sounded from behind him and the door on the far side of the room they were in blew open.
Hermione pulled both Neville and Harry underneath a table and they saw two death Eaters step into the room.
Terrified not out of fear but of confusion, Harry backed farther into the shadows with Hermione and Neville, but stopped short as he noticed that there was something in his hand.
He glanced down in surprise, moving the object ever so slightly so that it caught the light coming through the door.
S.P.T to A.P.W.B.D
Dark Lord
And (?) Harry Potter
Harry smiled, and not having any idea about why this was happening, or even how, he pointed his wand out towards one of the unsuspecting Death Eaters legs.
He might not know why or how, but he knew exactly what was happeningâŠ
âŠand what would happen next.
----
Ginny âs tears had stopped, but her mind was still reeling as she pulled Ron away from the attacking Death Eaters, favoring her right ankle already , her wand in one hand and Luna on Ronâs other side as they struggled to get out of the room.
If she had had enough foresight, Ginny realized she could have prevented both her broken ankle and Ronâs little trip to la-la land, but it was too late for that now, and things were moving too fast.
Heaving Ron one last time through the door, the three of them practically fell into the circular room, doors surrounding them on all sides.
âGinny!â
She glanced up through half opened eyes that seemed so heavy, and knew for certain she was dreaming.
âHarryâŠ?â
----
Even repeating the same scenario, Harry, for the life of him could not remember which door to take.
Still chiding himself for not preventing Hermioneâs injury, Harry took a moment to lean down, checking for her pulse once more just for his own relief.
A door flew open behind him and Neville and just like déjà vu, Harry remembered instantly who was coming through it.
He reached forward quickly, catching Ron as he stumbled forward, giggling to himself and speaking nonsense words to Harry who ignored him promptly, at least one thing he learned from experiencing this before.
Ginnyâs frail body wearily collapsed right behind Ron and Harry saw her struggle to keep her eyes open as she held her ankle which had apparently still been broken as it had been last time.
Did that mean she didnât remember?
âGinny!â
âHarryâŠ?â
----
Ginnyâs eyes widened as she saw the look in Harryâs eyes when he spotted her.
Could it be�
âYou remember?â She asked softly, not even sure he could hear her through the commotion behind the doors around them.
Harry swallowed once and nodded.
----
The past moved faster than Harry remembered. There was no time for the type of reunion with Ginny than he had wanted. In fact, neither of them spoke to one another again, and when Ginny went down just as she had before, Harry only took comfort in the fact that he knew she would be alright in the end.
But at least he knew that Ginny knew. It helped him brush away the insanity question from his mind.
He still hadnât prevented anything, and before he knew it, found himself falling down the long set of stairs, his body remembering each ache and pain as it happened all over again.
He finally stopped, groaning as he rolled over, cracking his eyes open to see the familiar death eaters standing around him, so sure of their victory that Harry knew they would never get. That is, if they really hadnât changed anything in the past, though he couldnât see how that was a factor now. What could they have changed that would still lead to this exact moment?
But suddenly, before they could even open their mouths to taunt him like he knew they would doâŠ
Something finally changed.
Or
Harry finally saw the results of the change.
Remus and Sirius ran down the long stairs, Neville close behind.
----
You get yourself killed again, Sirius, and I swear, you had better not come backâŠ
Remusâ words ran through his head over and over and Sirius fought furiously to get over to where Harry was.
I have no intention of dying, Moony, he had countered.
You didnât last time, eitherâŠ.
He was glad, at least that the disorientation was gone from their abrupt stop on their journeyâŠ.at least it was overâŠ.
Or was it?
Pushing the questions out of his mind till they were out of here, Sirius finally reached Harry, quickly pulling him down to avoid a pair of stunners that were shot towards them.
âYou remember,â Harry stated at once, not bothering with a greeting. âI saw it in your eyes.â
âRemus and I were just glad we were able to get here faster,â Sirius said in way of a reply, both of them ducking again to avoid more spells.
âGinny remembers, but no one else-â
Harry was cut off by a crash and they looked to see Tonks fall to the ground, Bellatrix grinning in triumph.
Siriusâ face hardened and he automatically started to stand, but Harryâs grip tightened on his arm.
âSirius, no.â
He turned to see the color drained out of his Godsonâs face, his arm shaking as he gripped Siriusâ upper arm.
âHarryâŠâ
âNO, Sirius!â Harry cried, though it didnât sound very loud over the battle around them.
âI have to do this.â
Sirius probably would have winced at how tightly Harry was gripping his arm, but that didnât matter at the moment.
A few tears were caught in the corner of Harryâs eyes. âHow can you say that?!.â
âIâm not planning to die, Harry,â Sirius repeated.
âWell you werenât the first time either!â
âI know whatâs happening now, I can prevent-â
âNothing has really changed yet Sirius! Even though you and Remus came early, weâre still at the same point! Donât you remember?â
âHarry, I canât just let her-â
âYou canât leave me alone again!â
Sirius started at those words, realizing at last what exactly Harry was implying. A tear had finally fallen from Harryâs eyes and he was looking more terrified that Sirius could ever remember him being.
Reaching forward quickly, Sirius pulled Harry into a tight hug before going over to Nevilleâs other side and both of them helped the young Gryffindor stand.
And for a fleeting moment, Sirius got the feeling that this was not the only change they would see.
----
âMr. Potter? Harry? Harry, I need you to wake up now. Thatâs it, Mr. PotterâŠâ
Harry felt reminiscent of first year as he blinked a few times, seeing Albus Dumbledoreâs smiling and relieved face hanging over him.
One final blank told him he was in the hospital wing, the familiar smell giving it away as well.
His body felt strangely well for what he remembered going through in the Department of Mysteries. Though no where hear what had happened when Sirius died, Harry had his share of aches and pains from his ordeal.
âSir?â
Dumbledore smiled again, sitting down on the chair next to Harryâs bed. âYou seem to have merely continued your tradition of ending up in the hospital wing at the end of each year.â
Harry smirked. âBe fair, sir. After that business with the Chamber-â
âAh, Harry, perhaps we should save this discussion for a more appropriate time ,â Dumbledore cut him off quickly, his eyes flickering to Madam Pomfrey, who was over tending to Hermione and Ron in their beds, confusion him quite a bit. âBesides, there are two gentlemen wishing to see you and a whole group of people who they are trying to prevent from seeing you.â
Harry frowned in confusion, but his own question was answered as the door of the hospital wing was thrown open and he heard a menagerie of voices from outside.
âFive minutes, Mr. Black!â
âIs Mr. Potter awake yet?â
âWe merely want a quote!
âThis is for the Daily Prophet my good fellow!â
This comment was followed by a familiar voice that sounded very much like his secret animagus form.
âWell you can take that Daily Prophet and shove it up your-â
âSirius!â
Harry wanted to smile and frown at the same time as he heard and saw Remus appear in the doorway and quickly shut the door behind him.
âAh! Harry, youâre awake!â Remus smiled and hurried over. âI probably shouldnât leave him out there alone for too long, Albus,â Remus added to Dumbledore quickly. âI mean, you know how he is about reporters and Merlin help him if Fudge shows up-â
âYOU HAD BETTER GET YOUR BLOODY ARSE AWAY FROM THIS SCHOOL OR SO HELP ME-â
Remus groaned, Dumbledore smiled and Harryâs eyebrows rose as they heard Siriusâ voice rise up from the crowded hallway.
âIâd best go calm him down,â Dumbledore said immediately, standing up and hurrying out the door.
Remus took Dumbledoreâs seat.
âYouâd better not sit there unless youâre giving me answers Remus,â Harry warned. âIâve picked up a few good ones being around Sirius for the last few years.â
Once again, Harryâs brow furrowed as he saw Remus shoot a worried glance towards Pomfrey, Ron and Hermione. Hermione looked over at them with a bit of confusion, but, as she always does, threw it off quickly when both Harry and Remus looked at her.
âFeeling alright, Hermione?â Remus said gently.
âMuch better, Remus, thanks,â she said with a smile, though she held her side a bit as she spoke.
Harry turned back to Remus.
âWhatâs the matter with you?â he whispered. âItâs just Hermione. Besides, how is Sirius standing out there with all those reporters? Why canât we talk in here? What was Dumbledore so worried abou-â
The door slammed open again, but shut just as fast, an aggravated and clenched fisted Sirius standing in front of it.
âRemus, so help me, if Dumbledore lets that man into this hospital wing-â
âCalm down, Sirius. Iâm sure Dumbledore knows what heâs doing.â Remus stood and motioned to Harry. âBesidesâŠâ
Siriusâ face lit up and he walked quickly over to Harry, leaning down to ruffle his hair. âHowâre you feeling kid? Couple bonks on the head bring you down?â
Harry frowned, swatting Siriusâ hand away and glaring up at him. âWhat. Is. Going. On.â
âHarry, are you alright?â Hermione put in, frowning over at them.
He turned to her quickly. âIâm Harry, right?â he said quickly, pointing to himself. âIâm a 15 year old wizard who is sometimes called the Boy-Who-Lived and saved the world when I was one? Youâre Hermione Granger, bookworm and all around smartest kid in the school. Heâs Ron Weasley, sixth of seven kids who all have red hair, tempers and hand-me-down clothes?â Hermione didnât say anything and neither did anyone else. Harry turned to the other side of the room. âSheâs Ginny Weasley, Ronâs younger sister who had a crush on me for years. Heâs Neville Longbottom who grew up with his grandmother and is kinda clumsy when it comes to magic.â He rounded on Sirius and Remus. âHeâs Remus Lupin, werewolf and ex-DADA teacher and heâsâŠheâsâŠâ Harryâs head started to hurt. âHeâs Sirius BlackâŠheâs my GodfatherâŠheâs my GodfatherâŠâ
Harryâs head was spinning and he had to lean back and stop talking. He noticed suddenly that with him not talking it was completely silent, not even the reporters outside made a sound. A small click was heard and Dumbledore stepped into the room, the hallway empty behind him.
Disbelieving, Harryâs gaze strayed from a pale, but hopeful looking Sirius towards Dumbledore who smiled softly at Harry.
âYes, Harry. Sirius is your Godfather. Godparents are appointed in the extreme case of when a parent becomes unable to take care of their child, a close family friend or relative is given the rights of caring for the child.
âYes, Harry. Sirius is your Godfather.â
----
a/n: Okay, so yeah a bit of that you'll recognize from OotP in chapter 35. And if you did get confused, I'd recommend rereading that chapter and it might help.
There is going to be a barrage of questions, I know. Try to hold back until the next chapter since I'll be answering a lot of them there, but if you just can't stand it, go ahead and ask them and I might answer :p
Preview for the next chapter:
Another famous "talk" in the privacy of Dumbledore's office reveals to Harry what exactly happened to cause the change and all of the facts about what has changed.