A Trio of Serpents

46: That's Rough, Buddy

Title came from a single line here that was inspired by a line in a show I've never watched because... reasons??

Summary: Harry realizes he's being an idiot; Remus is also an idiot

Deep breaths... In and out... in and out...

Back and forth.

You hurt him. You hurt Mr. Weasley.

He'll be fine now, Harry argued meekly.

No thanks to you, said the harsh part of his mind.

It was right. It was Harry who had brought suffering to Mr. Weasley and his family to begin with. It was Harry who Voldemort had possessed. It was Harry who... left the bed and traveled to the Ministry.

That last part brought Harry up short. How could he have left his bed? As Hermione liked to remind them, Apparating was impossible in Hogwarts, and he doubted even Voldemort could override that. Furrowing his eyebrows, Harry sat up and made for the door.

He wrenched it open and jumped as he came face to face with Ginny, her fist poised to knock.

"Oh, good, it's you. Come in." Harry pulled her inside and shut the door. "You were possessed by Voldemort," he said before she could speak. "What was it like?"

She stared at him for a few seconds before her gaze cleared. "Well, let's see. There were big periods where I couldn't remember a thing. I couldn't remember how I got somewhere. Was it like that with you?"

Harry shook his head.

"Then You-Know-Who never possessed you," she said with finality.

Harry slumped on his bed, suddenly weak with relief. He wasn't the snake... Voldemort didn't possess him... "I'm sorry," he said.

Ginny cocked her head to one side. "For what?"

"For forgetting about the whole thing with the diary. That was pretty stupid of me."

"Yeah, it was," she said. 'Bitch.' And then she took off.

'Hey!' Harry hissed after her. 'You little —'

He picked up Azure. "She's a real in the arse, don't you think?"

"No more than you," "Azure" replied.

"Rude." Harry tossed her back onto the bed and got back up, his mood lifting. And when Sirius walked by, Harry had the urge to join him in singing "God Rest Ye, Merry Hippogriffs."

Something heavy landed on top of Harry.

"Sirius, get off!" Harry groaned.

"Not Sirius."

Harry opened his eyes. Remus' scarred face hovered above him. "Remus, get off."

"Well, good morning to you, too, grumpy. Merry Christmas!"

"Yeah, yeah, Christmerrymas." Harry fumbled for his glasses, only to see them in Remus' hand. "Why you — give them here!" He made a swipe for them, but it was so lousy Remus simply lifted the glasses higher.

"Wow, Harry," said Sirius from the doorway. "Even James didn't fail so spectacularly."

Harry's arm flopped back onto the bed. "Not. Helping."

Sirius chortled. "Moony, give him his glasses back."

"Sheesh. You can act like an immature two-year-old for hours, but the second I do..." Remus grumbled but complied.