Lion\'s Locket

Harry sat in the chair he had collapsed in for almost an hour. He was enjoying the peace and quiet in the Gryffindor common room. He felt none of the pressure’s he would feel if he was still at his aunt and uncle’s house. Nor did he feel any of the pressure’s he did during the school year. It was actually one of the most relaxing moments he had had in a long time.

Harry pulled himself out of the chair after awhile then went to his trunk that had been unshrunk and placed within the Common room. He opened it and began to pull out his books and his homework. Since he had no real chance to work on it while at the Dursley’s he figured he would start to work on it properly while here. He pulled out pages of parchment one of his decent quills and a bottle of black ink before beginning to work on the potions essay he needed to finish.

He began by opening his last year’s potion book and reading through all relevant chapters dealing with the subject of the essay. He began to write parts of it down then read through it again. He worked on the project for 2 hours straight not even realizing that it was coming out far better than any of his summer essays ever had. He leaned back then stretched slowly before standing and glancing around. He frowned a moment then sighed. He needed to write thank you notes to Hermione and the Weasley’s then send a proper letter to Hermione and Ron letting them know where he was, but first he needed food.

Harry stood and headed out of the Gryffindor common room. He headed down towards the kitchen’s remembering where they were for himself. He really didn’t want to eat in the great hall not when it was so big and there would be no one else there. He reached the portrait that sat in front of the kitchens and looked it over for the pear. Finally spotting the pear he tickled it to enter the room.

He looked around seeing a few of the House Elves that served Hogwarts busy in the kitchen, but there was no where near the amount of them as there was during the school year. It was actually fairly quiet within the kitchen at the moment. One of the House Elves moved over to him and nodded a bit.

“Is there something Pippy can do for you?” The house elf asked. Harry smiled and sighed almost happily. He nodded a moment then looked around. He was more relaxed than he could remember being. He found a chair and sat down before looking at Pippy again.

“I’m hungry Pippy is there anyway I can get something to eat without going to the Great Hall?” Harry asked. Pippy seemed to bounce and smile as he requested this.

“We will happily serve you.” Pippy said then popped away to make something with a few other elves for Harry. Harry just smiled and sighed stretching a bit where he was. After only 10 minutes of waiting Harry had a plate full of food and a drink. He smiled and thanked the house elves then began to eat happily.

Harry sighed and ate his food within the kitchens. He wondered at how things were going to go now that he was here instead of at the Dursley’s. Really he had no idea how dangerous this flaw in the blood wards around his aunt and uncles house was. He looked up hearing the door to the kitchens open and then smiled seeing Albus walking into the room.

“Ahh my boy there you are. How has your day been so far?” Albus asked as he walked over to Harry. Harry smiled and shrugged a bit. He finished off his food then tilted his head.

“Headmaster, what is going to happen now? I mean what am I supposed to do while here? There isn’t that much to be done.” Harry said softly as he shifted a bit. Albus frowned then after a bit smiled.

“Well you will be able to get your summer homework finished and actually do some quidditch practice for a change.” Albus pointed out his eyes sparkling happily. Harry leaned back a as he thought on what the Headmaster said.

“That is true and I know I will enjoy being up in the air on my broom again. Has my Quidditch ban been eliminated?” Harry asked softly looking at Albus. Albus smiled and nodded.

“But of course my boy, that woman had no right to ban you from Quidditch to start with.” Albus pointed out. Harry sighed happily and nodded. He looked around the room then slowly stood.

“Thank you Headmaster. I think I am going to run up to the common room and get my broom. I know I would enjoy being in the air.” Harry said a bright smile on his lips.

“No problem my boy, I just suggest that you stay on school grounds. Don’t want anything bad to happen.” Albus said. Harry nodded then left the kitchens. He quickly ran up to the Gryffindor common room a bright smile. He went into his trunk and pulled out his Firebolt. It was then he remembered about the thank you notes and message for Hermione and Ron. He sighed and looked at his broom.

“Aww man… I need to send those notes or they’ll begin to worry.” Harry muttered so quickly wrote the messages to the Weasley’s. He raced up towards the Owlery smiling brightly only to skid to a stop as he spotted Snape standing on the last stairway up to the Owlery.

“So Potter what are you doing up here?” Snape growled as his eyes narrowed at the boy. Harry gulped and shifted to the far side of the stairs.

“I’m sending notes to the Weasley’s and Hermione.” Harry answered truthfully. He finished passing Snape before shaking his head. The man always gave him the creeps, probably always would. Snape watched Harry vanish around the corner and up to the owlery with a shrug; if the Dark Lord had gotten the item to Harry he couldn’t tell.

Harry sighed as he entered the Owlery and looked around for Hedwig. Spotting her resting he walked over to her with a slight smile. He reached out one hand and lightly ran a hand over her soft feathers.

“Hey girl, I got a delivery for your. You know who to take them to, Hermione and the Weasley’s. Take your time.” Harry said as he gave the notes to his Snowy owl, She took the notes and quickly took off into the air. Harry smiled as he watched her fly away from the castle. He then turned and raced back to the Gryffindor common room. He wanted to collect his broom and go flying once more.

Harry gathered up his broom once he reached the Gryffindor dorms. He couldn’t wait to get up into the air once more. He caressed the handle of his Firebolt with a slight smile on his lips. His smile was a bit bittersweet but he still couldn’t wait to be upon his broom again. He hurried out of the dorm room then headed down to the main floor and out through the doors.

Once he was out on the field he mounted his broom and took it off into the air. Laughter was pulled from his throat as he began to quickly move through the air. He would dive bomb at the ground and pull up at the last second. He would then climb up into the air until the air became chill about him. He pulled loop de loops and barrel rolls at random intervals. With every motion he reveled in the freedom he had while in the air.

Harry spent almost the entire afternoon in the air not even noticing how much time was going by until his stomach growled loudly in hunger. Harry paused in the air and looked about as though just noticing how much time had passed by. He slowly came in for a landing then got off of his broom. He glanced about then sighed and with the broom over one shoulder headed back towards the school.

He entered the old castle then hurried up to Gryffindor tower. He needed to clean up a bit before he went to get another meal. He would then work a bit more on his summer homework. He nodded at the plan and put his Firebolt away before heading into the bathroom and stripping from his day clothes. He made sure he had brought a change with him then paused and frowned as he noticed the Lion pendant around his neck.

“Where did I get you?” Harry asked out loud as he touched the pendant with a slight frown. He shook his head deciding after his shower he would go see Dumbledore about the pendant. He then attempted to take it off only to find he couldn’t. He frowned and lifted the pendant in one more attempt before frowning. He now knew this could be a very bad situation.

He sighed and jumped into the shower even with the pendant on and washed up. He would hurry up to the Headmasters office hoping the man would be there to talk to about the strange object. He got out of the shower and dried off before getting dressed. He then hurried out of the bathroom. He headed up towards the Headmasters office pausing outside the gargoyle frowning in thought at what the password might presently be.

“Potter, what are you doing up here? Or did something approach you while you were outside that makes you think You-Know-Who is after you?” Severus snapped. Harry stiffened then spun to glare at his most hated yet must trusted teacher.

“Since when do you call Voldemort You-Know-Who instead of the Dark Lord?” Harry snapped back answering a question with a question. Severus glared angrily at Harry causing the young man to step back and gulp.

“Answer my question Potter before I feel the need to repeat myself.” Severus growled angrily. Harry shifted from one foot to the other nervously as he frowned.

“I don’t know why I came up here… I guess it was nothing.” Harry said with a slight shrug. Severus frowned then narrowed his eyes at Harry. “Now why don’t you answer my question?”

“Since he ordered me to and I can not risk being caught not doing so.” Severus snapped at Harry. Harry blinked then slowly nodded with a slight frown.

“This has something to do with his plan for me, doesn’t it?” Harry asked. Severus nodded slowly with a slight frown.

“Yes Potter it does. Now since you have no reason to be up here why don’t you go and do something else.” Severus snarled at Harry. Harry turned and hurried away. Once Harry was gone Severus whispered the password to Albus’ office and headed up his face covered in a worried frown.

Harry kicked at the ground a bit as he headed back towards the Gryffindor dorms. He wanted someone to talk to but didn’t have anyone and since everything else was done he wasn’t sure what he should do now. Harry smiled at the Fat Lady as he paused in the hall way.

“Is something wrong deary?” The Fat Lady asked softly. Harry shook his head a moment before laughing at himself.

“No nothing that I can think of, thank you. May I enter the common room please?” Harry requested. The Fat Lady smiled and swung open to let Harry within the chambers he had left earlier. Harry walked up the stairs from the common room and sat down on his bed. He shut his eyes thinking on what he was supposed to do now.

HP/LV HP/LV HP/LV HP/LV

Severus sat down in front of the Headmasters desk with a slight frown he was not happy with his run in with Potter. If anything it seemed Harry might not be as free of the curse as they had thought. Severus rubbed at his face as he watched Albus sit down across from him.

“Would you like some tea Severus?” Albus asked. Severus internally rolled his eyes before shaking his head.

“No thank you Headmaster.” Severus stated. Albus just shrugged his shoulders as he sipped at his own cup of tea.

“So what is bothering you now Severus?” Albus asked. Severus glared at the old man then leaned back shutting his eyes a bit.

“Albus you are absolutely sure nothing got through your check on Potter?” Severus asked. Albus just smiled at Severus’ worry and laughed a bit.

“Of course, Severus. Whatever made you think I missed something?” Albus asked with his bright cheery smile. Severus snarled at the cheery headmaster.

“Then why was the boy outside your office and when I asked him a question he became confused?” Severus snapped. Albus frowned then waved at Severus shaking his head.

“It was probably nothing Severus. You are just worrying yourself over nothing. I’m sure he just didn’t want to tell you about whatever it was he wanted to talk to me about. He’ll probably approach me tomorrow.” Albus said reassuringly. Severus sighed inwardly and gripped at the bridge of his nose.

“I pray you are correct Albus, for if you are wrong you are signing all of our death warrants.” Severus said before standing and turning away.

“Severus there is nothing to worry about. Everything will be fine.” Albus said as Severus walked out of the office.


A/N: Wow I actually finished the chapter. *Smiles* You can thank one of my friends for getting me an awesome MP3. ^^ *Dances a bit* Now hmm.. which one.. *Looks at Angelic and lowers head* I feel really really bad… I should really finish the present chapter…