Don't own Harry Potter. Un-betad, therefore read at your own risk.

Catching Lightning in a Firewhisky Bottle

by WriteAlong

Chapter 8: Strike

. . . . .

Catch lighthing in a bottle - to do the impossible

Whisky ignored the burning feeling of the pair of – probably concerned - eyes watching him.

"Julia doesn't seem very happy with you." Dan said, stating the obvious as he closed the door for the night. He returned to the bar to hide the key, not seeming to care at all that the man in front of him might watch him as he stowed it away.

As it was, the man barely looked into his direction. Instead, Whisky grunted at him and took another tiny swig of his drink.

"I'm f'ne." He muttered under his breath.

"You were bleeding a few days ago?" Dan asked. Though the way he said it, made it sound less like a question and more like a statement.

Whisky ignored said statement.

"If something happened that bothers you, you can always tell us." Dan offered reluctantly, noticing how the man seemed to tense the longer they were on the subject.

Dan decided that he missed the cheery drunk that he had come to know. Instead, the man in front of him looked like he barely slept and had been staring at his drink for hours on end – ignoring everyone around him.

"Thanks." Whisky eventually answered him but didn't offer any information in return.

Dan sighed and shook his head, wondering what kind of hurtful things he might have told Julia in an attempt to get her to back off. She had refused to repeat any of it and he was sure that Whisky wouldn't like to repeat them either.

Pondering how he could help them solve this, he turned away and was about to leave before Dan noticed the movement from his left.

Rosmerta, who had probably been eavesdropping, approached oddly calmly. Her eyes told a whole other story though, which was confirmed as she slammed her hands on the bar right in front of Whisky, making him jump up. The woman didn't seem to care for his nearly aggressive reflex and glared at him as she leaned over the bar.

"You are acting like a prat." She hissed at him. "Stop being such a gloomy miserable and angst-y bastard and live a little! Julia just wanted to help! You don't have to tell anything about how you got blood on your clothes! Just don't push us away when we simply worry about you!"

"Rosmerta!" Dan cut her off as she opened her mouth to continue. "That's enough."

The woman didn't seem to agree.

"What, he has been acting like a prat for the past days! He scares Sharon when she tries to approach him! He made her cry today because he wouldn't even cast her one look when she wanted to thank him - no matter how scared she was. I know he must have his reasons to be down sometimes, but to suddenly ignore us just because someone saw something you don't want to talk about! I don't care how you got it, whether you did it yourself or that you got into a fight! It's the fact that you might be hurt! Do you think that this makes us think differently of you? The night that you came here, Dan already saw your scars alright? "

Whisky twitched at the mention of that particular night.

"That's enough Rose!" Dan barked, pulling her back from the man. "Don't take out your frustrations on Whisky just because you feel hurt that he might not trust us."

Rosmerta turned to him with wide eyes. "That's not what-"

A chair was pushed back so softly that neither of them noticed.

"Isn't it? Or is this because you are upset that he upset Julia?" He pushed and the girl's cheek turned red in embarrassment. "While it's a nice gesture that you want to defend her, it's not right to do that by offending someone."

"I- I'm sorry." She said, realizing that her frustration had gotten the better of her. "Whisky, I didn't mean to-" She stopped and looked around.

Dan, following her surprised gaze, shared her surprise when the stool in front of them was empty. The front door however, stood once again wide open.

"Oh gosh! I'm so sorry! Did I chase him away?" Rosmerta cried as she covered her mouth. "I shouldn't have said that. I was just so frustrated and – I'm so stupid!"

Dan tugged the distraught girl into a gentle hug, as he thoughtfully stared at the keys that were still where he had put them away.

He had closed the door right?

"Calm down, Rose. I'm sure it will be fine."

He hoped.

Harry had apparated as soon as he exited the Two Broomsticks. He wasn't surprised to find himself a roof of a cottage in Godric's Hollow. It had been the only place he could think off the momentarily clear his head.

Still, Harry couldn't completely disregard Rosmerta's words and that bothered the wizard.

So, under the bright light of the moon, Harry contemplated the possible truths that Rosmerta had told him. He hadn't even noticed that he had started to push them away.

But he had started to… hadn't he?

And just because Julia had seen a bit of blood on his clothes. She hadn't even seen his wound, he reminded himself. He had hidden that as soon as she tried to look.

"You aren't hurt?" He remembered her saying as she had somehow managed to push up his shirt to get a better look at the having-been-hidden-by-wandless-magic-seconds-ago wound.

"It's n'thing, I told ya! Now go away!" He had rudely pointed her to the door.

'I have horrible coping styles.' Harry finally admitted to himself with a sigh.

He would try to forget, which he could accept seeing as there were a few things that he really didn't want to remember. He would push away everything and anyone that could possibly cause extra attention on Harry Potter – which he wasn't anymore. And now suddenly even attention on Whisky seemed too close for comfort.

He could have resolved everything with a simple lie, but instead he had automatically closed himself off like before – as soon as anybody started asking questions.

He might need to work on that. Voldemort was gone for the moment. His future archenemy – his stomach turned at the thought– wasn't even there yet. So many years before him to wait and…

What else would he do?

Was there anywhere else he wanted to go to?

He would need to pull his head out of his ass, he told himself. Harry might not like the idea of people possibly finding out a few hints that he wasn't what tried to show, but he knew himself well enough that he wouldn't be able to live without a few people around him. He needed distractions.

Harry paused when he recognized a house nearby. On the opposite side of the street Harry looked at his parent's house where Voldemort had been 'vanquished' weeks ago.

It place had always felt alienated to him before, but now, it was even worse.

When the building had come in sight, Harry had nearly expected it to be the ruins that it had been the last time he had seen them. However, the Potter's seemed to have repaired the damage done to the house. As the wizard spread his senses to get a feel of the magic present, he found that the wards were still up.

They probably had another secret keeper this time.

A dark look passed his face as he remembered the rat that he was still searching for. He would have to put a bit more effort in that. That would be a nice distraction wouldn't it?

He stood there for a moment, feeling somewhat awkward that he had felt the need to check on his parents. It wasn't as if they couldn't take care of themselves. Hell, they didn't even know who he was. Being here was ridiculous.

Still, as soon as he spotted his mother through one of the windows, Harry found himself unable to leave.

Through the window of the kitchen, he watched as Lily started cooking what seemed to be a late dinner. He had heard stories about how she had always liked to cook the muggle way. Sirius had told him he had laughed at her until she had let him taste her food and he had shut up soon afterwards.

He hesitated for a moment before he slowly sat down on the roof, making sure that the cloak still covered him properly as he did. He felt a bit odd secretly spying on his mother, but smiled when he saw her form slowly relax as she worked. As she absently looked out of the window, he momentarily enjoyed the thought that they eyes had met for a moment.

'I'm being ridiculous.' He told himself again, but stayed put anyway.

A cold breeze caught him from behind and he automatically turned to watch the shadows that were formed by the clouds on his right turn into a familiar shape.

"Hello Death." He greeted the presence. "Have you come to take a certain piece of soul in my head along with you when you leave again?"

The shadow twitched.

"I still take that as a no again." Harry decided, before he regarded the surprisingly detailed shadow next to him. He smiled slightly as he saw Death creep closer, a spidery hand reaching out for him.

Harry touched the tiles right next to him and smiled as the shadow seemed to touch his skin for a moment before it retreated again. It was a gesture that Harry recognized.

"So you are not directly influenced by Time itself?" The wizard mused out loud, his green eyes puzzled.

"Or have you followed me to the past? No matter, you won't tell me your secrets anyway." He rolled his eyes.

The shadow didn't show a smile but he could practically feel the amusement oozing from his face.

"What happened to the future?" Harry couldn't help but ask out loud, ignoring the way his heartrate sped up. Death never really spoke to him directly, but he had a way of giving hints and answers when he really needed it before.

The shadow's bony claw pointed to the hand still on the icy tiles of the roof.

Harry lifted it and looked at his empty hand. The shadows hand seemed to close before opening again. Harry took the hint and copied him. He felt a weight appear in his hand and didn't need to see it to know what it was.

As he opens his hand, the familiar stone felt strangely heavy.

"No matter how many times I throw this away, you always bring it back to me." He muttered as he closed his eyes. Harry had used it a few times before. Being the master of Death had a few perks. In the horrible far future, it had allowed him to say goodbye to people that he hadn't been able to say goodbye to.

The story about the curse of the stone had always been in the back of his mind though. Those that had passed to the other side couldn't find peace here. Ginny had been forced to remind him of this a few times, but he had always relinquished to her wishes. He never wanted to see her unhappy.

Though he was always forced himself to throw away the stone, or he wouldn't be able to control himself.

Only in the heaviest time, would he call her again and she would gladly answer. Somehow, Death seemed to know when to return it to him.

Harry grimaced before he closed his eyes.

"Ginny?" He called gently, clenching his hand around the stone.

Would she still be there? He swallowed heavily when no one appeared in front of him. Of course. Her younger self was alive… did this mean that all things future had been wiped out? The idea made him feel nauseous.

"Harry?"

A soft hollow voice sounded from behind.

He swirled around and let out a sob of relief. "Oh Gin. I miss you."

She was there, but something was not right. She looked too translucent, too wispy… too vague. As if she could disappear any second. A sense of foreboding hit Harry, something was wrong.

"I can't stay long. I will disappear." She confirmed him vaguely. "The pull is not strong enough."

"The fact that you are in front of me… I think the timeline split, when I appeared back here." Harry muttered.

"I think you won't be able to call me again. The… distance will be too far?" Gin told him sadly. His expression twisted before he simply looked at her, trying to enjoy every second of seeing her face.

"I miss you."

Ginny smiled sadly as she crouched in front of him.

"Oh Harry, I'm sure you will be able to see me again when you pass on. Don't worry." Her hand reached for his face. He wished he could feel her touch, but there was nothing.

It still hurt.

There was a short pause, before Ginny continued. "I will still be watching you of course. I have been until now and I will do so as long as possible. I'm so proud of you what you did for your parents." She reassured him before an odd but determined look appeared on her face. "But Harry, please, live."

"It hurts." Harry admitted for probably the first time.

"Oh Harry." Ginny swallowed. "It was not your fault. I'm not angry. Nobody is angry with you."

"I am angry with myself." Harry protested and Ginny let out a giggle that seemed so out of place, but it was somehow so comforting that she could laugh about it that it made Harry smile as well.

"Well, that's you being you." Ginny managed to tease him, despite the situation. "But seriously Harry, playing the drunk is nice and all, but you are starting to become the drunk. So, pull your head out of your ass, you hear me?" She pointed her finger at him and Harry grunted, though the corner of his lips twisted upwards.

It was not the first time she had said those words to him.

His amusement disappeared when she suddenly started to fade.

"Ginny." He muttered mournfully.

"I don't want any brooding. Ya hear me Mr. Potter!" She glared at him. "You have no choice but to enjoy an extra-long life seeing as you just had to get all the three hollows in you possession." Harry didn't even bother to start their usual joking discussion about the fact that it hadn't been his intention – thank you very much - seeing as there was so little time left.

Her eyes narrowed at him, giving him the look that demanded Harry to pay attention to her words. He gave it to her.

"And now listen very carefully to me, if you find someone you would like to spend the rest of your life more intimately with someone, do so. I don't mind Harry. You deserve it."

"I love you." He reassured her, suddenly feeling confused by her words. "I don't want someone else."

"I know you will always love me. That's why I'm fine with you possibly loving someone else as well. Become happy Harry." She assured him. "I love you to-"

He opened his mouth to say something else, but she had aleady disappeared.

The shadow of Death drew away gently, letting the man next to him have a moment of peace. Harry didn't cry. Despite the fact that his lips pursed together in attempt to control his emotions, Harry forced himself to smile.

A sound distracted him from his empty thoughts. His eyes turned towards the Potter's front lawn, where two familiar figures were welcomed by Lily into their house.

Latching onto the first opportunity to distract himself, he allowed curiosity to rise. What were those visitors doing there? Were they going to check on Lily's magic?

Harry stood.

Albus sighed as he lowered his wand, before he sat down on one of the comfortable chairs in the Potter's living room.

Pomfrey shook her head as she lowered her wand as well. "It's of no use."

James looked at her sharply.

"I still can't retrieve the memory." Albus explained. "Your magical levels are currently so low that they are still too vulnerable.

Pomfrey quickly continued as she noticed the look in Lily's eyes. "It's not a bad as it was just after the…" She paused for a moment before continuing. "- the incident, mind you, but recovery seems to be even slower than we hoped it would."

Albus nodded somberly. "It will probably recover in the future, but for now, I don't want to disrupt anything. Maybe in a couple of months, we can try again."

Lily nodded, as though she had expected as much, while James looked disgruntled by the confirmation that Lily was nowhere near recovery.

"At least, there is a chance that I can do magic again in the future." Lily muttered hopefully as she took James's hand in a comforting gesture.

Whether it was for her own comfort or for James, Albus wasn't sure.

"I had hoped I would have had better news." Pomfrey apologized. "At least, there is hope." She pointed out with a small smile."

Lily smiled back, looking reassured by the woman's words.

The heavy atmosphere seemed to become a little lighter. That was, until Albus suddenly turned rather abruptly towards a corner of the room. His eyes squinted warily and left his chair to walk up to the corner of the living room that had somehow caught his attention.

"What's wrong?" James asked, following his movement.

Albus didn't answer him right away and the others followed his movements warily as he pulled out his wand and cast several spells. It took a few moments before he finally put his wand away. Lily noticed the way he took a moment to study his own wand, as if something was wrong with it.

"Forgive me. With my age, I sometimes still have moments of paranoia." Albus pushed aside after he took one last glance about, before he settled back into the chair.

The three others took in his relaxed pose and let it slide and settled down themselves. The comfortable atmosphere had yet to return though.

No one noticed the other presence present right next to the fireplace, who mentally released a small breath of relief from under the invisible cloak he was wearing. He knew that even Dumbledore shouldn't be able to find him, but somehow the man had always seemed to have a knack for surprising people.

"Now, how about a cup of tea?"

Harry turned around with a thoughtful look on his face, before he slipped away.

"Ahhh!" A scream filled the cellar. "Whisky!"

A green eye piered open, as if she hadn't woken him at all. "What's wr'ng?"

Rosmerta put a hand on her chest, her other hand on the side of the entrance and slowly breathed out to calm herself. She shook slightly as she tried to find the words.

"You! I-I just didn't expect anyone to… sleep here. I thought you might have left." She managed to say before she sat down on one of the barrels that apparently seemed part of some weird construction that resembled some kind of bed.

It didn't look very comfortable.

Whisky didn't seem to be bothered by it as he stretched out groggily.

"Didn't feel like going to mah room y'sterday." He simply stated with a shrug. He picked up a bottle that stood on another barrel that seemed to function as a nightstand. Rosmerta couldn't help but notice that it was still nearly full.

He sounded more sober than normal.

Yet…

"I'm sorry about yesterday." She forced herself to say before she felt too awkward to start.

Whisky frowned thoughtfully at her as if contemplating her words. She felt oddly nervous before he – of course - had to ruin her apology by being typically Whisky.

"What d'd ya ex'ctly say again?"

Rosmerta half-heartedly glared at him. The man simply shrugged helplessly.

"Y'a was probably r'ght anway." He offered, which actually did make Rosmerta feel slightly less guilty.

They didn't get the chance to continue the conversation as they were both surprised when suddenly Dan – whom probably had come running as soon as he heard the scream - nearly jumped down the stairs and flung his wand into the direction of Whisky as he pulled Rosmerta behind him.

It took him a moment to realise why Whisky seemed so familiar.

He didn't get the chance to directly aim his wand at Whisky though. Rosmerta watched as the man's eyes widened a second before he mysteriously pulled another of his acrobatic moves – swirling around them using one of the barrels while slipping right between the two of them – and fled upstairs, leaving the two people gaping behind him.

"What ha- wait. Was that Whisky?"

"Y-yes." Rosmerta confirmed.

Dan winched as he realised that he had nearly attacked the man and in the process probably scared him by the looks of how fast he had fled. He might have to apologize for that. But first…

"Where did he come from?" He asked the woman whom was studying the oddly piled barrels in the basement. He hadn't seen Whisky come back.

"He was sleeping here. It seems he slipped downstairs yesterday evening." Rosmerta told him as she gestured to Whisky's make-shift bed.

That confused Dan only even more. "But the front door was open. I had locked it." He pointed out. Rosmerta shrugged at him.

"The wind might have blown it open if it hadn't been closed properly?"

"I'm pretty sure that I had the keys in my hands."

"But did you lock it?"

"Yes."

"Are you sure?"

Dan frowned. "I-I guess not?" – how else could he explain the open door?

Rosmerta smiled at him and patted his shoulder is what was obviously meant to be comforting. "Don't worry Dan. You are getting a little older so there is no shame in forgetting something."

"Hey! Now wait a minute!"

"I'm s'rry, Sharon. I have been a l'ttle grumpy, haven't I? I didn't mean to scare you."

Whisky crouched in front of the child who seemed to contemplate her words very carefully. She glanced towards her grandmother who seemed to smile despite the fact that had not been very happy with Mr. Whisky. In fact -

"Well, I know Grandma can be very grumpy sometimes." Sharon nodded warily as if that explained everything. It must be an adult thing.

"Sharon!"

"What?! It's true! You were yesterday!" Sharon protested.

Whisky let out an amused snort. "So am I forgiven?"

"Well…I just wanted to thank you." The girl seemed still reluctant, not knowing whether the man whom had probably saved her even liked her.

"How 'bout we go g't some icecream to m'ke us al feel better and then ya can think 'bout it?" Whisky proposed, earning a brilliant smile in return. Julia let out a sigh and shook her head, but her eyes showed her amusement.

"I want Sparkling Strawberry!"

"Sure."

That seemed to settle it as everything seemed to be forgiven and forgotten.

Oh gosh. I stayed nearly up all night and wrote it in one go. I'm so freaking tired right now.

In return, please share your thoughts with me!

Also, if you spot (spelling/grammar) mistakes, please help me and tell me. I will happily fix them.

Being sleep deprived makes it difficult to try and think of the weirdest magical ice cream that might be available... Anyone got anything better? I might change is.

Going to sleep now.