Chapter Seven – The First Step
It was well past midnight as Quirrell silently made his way out of the castle and across the grounds towards the Forbidden Forest. His master was weak, and no amount of strengthening potion would aid him, nor was he able to regain his strength through regular food. It seemed that their connection was weakening. There was only one way for his master to get what he needed.
The blood of the most innocent living thing on the entire planet. The blood of a unicorn.
A shiver ran down Quirrell's spine at the thought of having to ingest the blood. He knew that there was a price to pay for killing something so innocent and pure. He just hopped that his master's plan worked, because if not, without the stone, there would be no curing him of the curse that would take him the moment the blood touched his lips.
"You still doubt me?" Voldemort asked in him mind, too weak to speak out loud.
"No, my lord," said Quirrell. "It's just… Muggles and mudbloods are one thing as neither are fit to breath our air, let alone live. But a unicorn…"
"Is a symbol of light and goodness," said Voldemort. "While they live, it gives people like Dumbledore hope for a better tomorrow… And when I return, I will destroy that hope… I will see that every unicorn is wiped from the face of this world and use what I will from their lifeless forms in my rituals to bring me and those most faithful to me more power than could ever be imagined."
"Power?" asked Quirrell, as it was one of the main reasons he, like many others, had joined Voldemort in the first place. "How much power?"
Voldemort chuckled, knowing he had said exactly what he needed to control the idiot.
"Enough so that the rest of the world would view us as gods," Voldemort hissed. "Now, enough talk. I grow weaker every passing minute."
"Yes, my lord," Quirrell said. "Let us feed you and give you the strength you deserve."
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It had been a week since Harry had flown circles around the Whomping Willow in order to save Neville. Word had spread quickly about what had happened and Harry had barely been back in the common room for a few seconds after leaving Dumbledore's office before Portman descended on him, wanting to know why Harry had lied to him about not being able to fly.
"I never said I couldn't," said Harry. "All I said was that I had only been flying for about a month before coming to Hogwarts. You just assumed that it meant I couldn't fly."
"But you can fly," said Portman. "Oh, this is brilliant. You'll be perfect on the team. Of course, I'll have to talk to Professor Sprout about waving the rule about first years and brooms, but I don't think that should be a problem."
"Don't bother," said Harry. "I'm grounded."
"What?" asked Portman.
"After what I did, Madam Hooch has had me banned from flying for the rest of the year," said Harry.
"That's ridiculous," said Portman. "You saved someone's life. You flew through the thick of one of the most dangerous trees ever without a scratch as far as I can tell. You should be getting an award from the school, and points for our house, and most importantly, be on the Quidditch team."
"What can I say," said Harry. "I broke the rules. She told us to stay on the ground and I didn't. Just be happy that Professor Dumbledore over ruled her, otherwise I would be facing a full seven year ban."
"SHE WANTED TO BAN YOU FROM FLYING FOR SEVEN YEARS?!" shouted Portman. "I know Hooch was a stickler for the rules, but that's just mental."
"Look, I don't know what to say," said Harry. "Honestly, I would love to play Quidditch. But I can't. Not now."
Portman sighed and slumped his shoulders a bit.
"Yeah, you're right," he said. "It's just… Hufflepuff has never won the Quidditch cup. We've come close once or twice, though from what I've heard, in the past ten years, we've been dead last. It's usually been Gryffindor or Slytherin that wins. When I heard about your flying, I had hope that this year would be our year."
The two of them sat in silence for a moment, both lost in their own thoughts.
"There's always next year," Harry said.
"I guess," said Portman. "I mean, this year would have been nice, you know? My first year as captain and we win the cup… But I guess it can wait till next year… And don't even think about saying you don't deserve a spot on the team. Anyone that can fly like you did today has a brilliant future ahead of them as a Chaser."
And with that said, Portman stood up from the couch he and Harry were sitting on and went back over to join his friends.
"A Chaser?" Harry asked himself before shrugging his shoulders and headed to his room to write a letter home to let his family know about what had happened. He just hoped that they weren't too disappointed with him for breaking the rules and getting into trouble.
However, now it was a week later and the moment he had been dreaded for days.
Hedwig had returned with a letter from his family.
He sat at the Hufflepuff table in the Great Hall with the rest of the students that were talking and enjoying breakfast. However, at that moment, he wasn't feeling all that hungry.
"You know, it's easier to read a letter if you open it," Susan Bones commented from across the table.
Harry couldn't help but smile slightly, thankful to his housemate for easing a bit of the tension he was feeling.
Taking a deep breath and letting it out, Harry opened the letter and began to read.
Dear Harry,
First, let us say that we are proud of you for helping a friend in need. A true example of a Hufflepuff if there ever was one. However, it was quite foolish of you to single handedly rescue Neville from that tree. Whomping Willow's a quite dangerous. Honestly, I have no idea what Professor Dumbledore was thinking when he brought that tree to the school in the first place.
Please, promise us that you will not needlessly risk your own safety like that again. While you have only been a member of this family for a few months now, Ted and I both think of you as our son and care very deeply for you. Not to mention how much Nymphadora thinks the world of you as her little brother. It would break all of our hearts if something were to happen to you.
I won't lecture you on and on about this, as I am sure you have learned your lesson. I am also pleased to see that you are accepting of the punishment that was given to you. It shows that you are mature enough to know that when you are wrong and can accept the consequences.
In other news, I recently talked to Augusta Longbottom, Neville's grandmother, and we are planning on talking to a few other parents about approaching the Board of Governors about replacing the school brooms. If they are misbehaving the way you mentioned in your letter, then it is time for the school to replace them before someone gets seriously hurt, or even worse.
Also, I am a bit displeased about what you have told me about your potions teacher, Professor Snape. Nymphadora told me stories about how mean he was during her years there, however I just figured it was her complaining after she was caught breaking a rule. However, hearing you tell us the same exact things she told us, and even more, I am questioning why that man is being allowed to teach at all. I cannot do anything about it now, but I will be looking into the matter, and would appreciate it if you continue to keep me apprised of the situation with him and how he treats not only you, but other students as well. One way or another, we will handle this.
With Love,
Andromeda and Ted
Harry finished reading the letter and set it down with a sigh of relief. They were more worried about his safety than the fact that he had gotten into trouble.
It was an odd feeling to the young boy, who still wasn't completely used to people caring about him. He still hung onto those feelings of worthlessness that the Dursley's hammered into him on a regular basis. Harry began to wonder if he would truly ever be over the abuse he suffered at the hands of the Dursley's.
"So?" asked Susan. "Anything good?"
"Huh?" asked Harry as he was snapped out of his thoughts. "Oh, yeah. Actually, my family talked to Neville's grandmother."
Neville looked up from his porridge with a slightly pale look on his face.
"My Gran?" asked Neville. "What did she say?"
"Well, it would seem that they are going to talk to some other parents and get the Board of Governors to replace the brooms," said Harry.
"If my Gran is involved, she'll make it happen," said Neville. "She's tough and when she wants something done, nothing stops her from doing it."
"Same with my aunt," said Susan. "She didn't let anything get in her way of becoming the head of the Department of Magical Law Enforcement. She could probably be Minister for Magic if she wanted, but really doesn't have any desire to. Too much politics and bureaucracy. She prefers being somewhere where she can actually get things done without being bogged down by too much red tape."
"What about… The other thing you were worried about?" Hermione asked Harry quietly.
Harry had confided in his bushy haired friend about his fears about what the Tonks' would think about his getting into trouble.
"It's fine," Harry said with a smile. "They're just glad that I'm alright, and proud that I helped a friend in need."
Hermione smiled and said, "See? I told you that you had nothing to worry about."
"You were right," said Harry. "As usual."
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Up at the staff table, Hagrid had just sat down to breakfast when he glanced next to him and saw Professor Quirrell.
"'ello Professor," said Hagrid as he grabbed a small pile of sausage and bacon onto his plate, followed by five large spoonfuls of scrambled eggs and enough slices of toast to equal almost an entire loaf of bread.
"Hagrid," Quirrell quietly said as he stared at the untouched food in front of him.
Hagrid took a better look at the man next to him and frowned a bit.
"You know, you don't look well," said the half-giant.
"B-b-b-bad nights s-s-s-sl-sleep," Quirrell stuttered. "D-d-d-dreams about that vam-vampire I met."
"Ah," Hagrid said as he added some salt and pepper to his eggs. "Perhaps you should see Madam Pomfrey about getting a dreamless sleep potion. It bein' Saturday and all, you could take the time to rest up a bit."
"Perhaps," said Quirrell, who felt his stomach twist slightly as the unicorn blood he had drank the night before made its way through his body, almost causing him to cry out in pain. It was almost as bad as when his master would simulate the cruciatus curse when he manipulated the pain receptors in the nerves running through his body.
"Pain is the path to true power," Voldemort whispered inside Quirrell's mind. "It will ease with time, and you will grow the more stronger from it. And with your strength, I will grow stronger as well."
"Yes, my lord," Quirrell whispered.
"What was that?" asked Hagrid.
"N-n-n-n-nothing," said Quirrell. "I think you're r-r-r-r-right about s-s-s-seeing Madam Pomfrey."
Quirrell stood up and left the Great Hall, heading for his private quarters instead of the hospital wing.
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Nymphadora Tonks stood at attention as the auror that had been assigned to train her looked her over. She felt really uncomfortable as his eyes roamed over her body, especially that one eye of his.
"Humph," the man grunted. "I don't see nothing special about you… Why are you wasting my time?"
"I'm not," said Tonks. "I've wanted to be an auror since my second year at Hogwarts."
"Wanting to be and actually being an auror are nothing alike," the man growled. "Being an auror takes hard work and dedication. Look at me… I've been an auror for nearly thirty years. I lost my eye my first year out of training to a hag that ripped it right out of my head and ate it. A chunk of my nose blasted off by a Death Eater in the war. My leg sliced off with a cutting curse during what was supposed to be a simple raid that ended with nine aurors dead. I would have bled to death had Shanks not sent a Patronus message just seconds before being struck down by the killing curse. So, tell me… Do you still want to be an auror?"
Tonks gulped audibly before nodding her head.
"Yes," she said, pushing down her sudden fear and trying to sound confident. "I'm not afraid."
The man smiled as his fake eye swiveled around in his head, giving him a slightly mad look.
"Good," he said. "You will be… You will be."
OoOoOoOoOoO
"And if you turn your telescopes three degrees to the left, you should be able to spot Mars," said Professor Sinistra.
It was the last Wednesday of September, just shortly after midnight and during their weekly astronomy class. Harry yawned, despite this being the forth class, he was still not yet used to being up this late, and was very thankful that they were allowed to sleep in the mornings after since they weren't given a class to attend.
Suddenly, everyone exclaimed as they watched the red planet and a small asteroid hit it.
"Oh my, what a treat," said Professor Sinistra with a hint of child like glee.
Of course, they weren't the only ones watching Mars that night.
Deep in the Forbidden Forest, a group of centaurs had gathered in a small clearing to watch the stars.
"Mars is angry tonight," one of the centaurs said.
"Danger looms close," replied another.
"And evil," added a third.
"The humans are at risk," said the first.
"Do we warn them?" asked the third.
"It is not our place to interfere," said the second.
"Only to watch and read what the stars have planned," said the first.
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A/N: One of the things I've always wondered from the first book is why Quirrell never showed any signs of having drunk unicorn blood. I mean, I get the whole misdirection thing by having the reader believe Snape was the bad guy, but there still should have been subtle clues so when you go back and re-read the book, it's like, "oh yeah, I see it now". Which is why I wrote in a little scene the morning after, showing that the effects of the blood is sapping away half of his life force. There's another reason I wrote it, but we'll be getting to that later on… Much later on.
Also, sorry for the shortness of this chapter. Borderlands 2 came out recently, and I have had trouble setting the controller down.
I hope you all enjoyed this chapter. Be sure to check back for the next one, for it is the Halloween chapter, and I have a slightly different version of what will happen planed out, as well as some of the mothers will be visiting the Board of Governors.