A/N: Sorry for the short delay on this chapter. Ended up taking a pretty significant section out and moving it to the next chapter. Couple of things of note:
Going to be going through first year kind of fast because honestly, I'm already longer than the first HP book
Going to be skipping quidditch because honestly I don't need the filler material
Because of the fast pace of the first year, there might not be a lot of interaction with Susan and Daphne and for that I appologize
I warned you all at the start, I am avoiding the typical Dark/Grey Harry clichés. And also, keep in mind that Harry might be mature for an eleven year old, but he is still eleven and not a political and evil generous mastermind.
Lastly, I do not have a beta for this story, which I will admit is something I more than likely need. So if anyone is willing to volunteer for the position please PM me and we can chat.
Other than that, I want to say thank you for the reviews, favorites, and alerts. This story has quickly become perhaps my most popular story yet. Please keep the reviews coming. Again suggestions, critiques, wishes, are all welcome. Just be polite. And please enjoy!
Disclaimer: *Sorting song taken directly from J.K. Rowling's Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone. I do not own it.
Chapter 7
Staring out the window of the train, Harry watched silently as they rode through the country side. It was peaceful. Something that Harry desperately needed as he mentally prepared himself for coming year. A year he would be spending mostly without his mother. The woman who had raised him, trained him, and been by his side since she took him from his birth parents house almost a decade ago.
"Harry! Are you even listening to me?"
Blinking, Harry turned back to the other four occupants of the cabin. Susan had been the first to arrive and therefore grabbed the cabin with her friend Hannah Abbott. Of course when Harry entered and revealed himself to be Susan's 'mystery' friend, the young girl had just about shrilled Harry's ears off. The girl's seemingly endless stream of questions only subsided when Daphne arrived with her friend Tracey. Of course, that arrival caused a small moment of awkward silence which lasted for one blessed minute before Tracey screeched at his presence and proceeded to bombard him with just as many questions as Hannah.
"Sorry Hannah." Harry said, not really all that sorry. "What was that last question?"
The blond rolled her eyes. "I asked what house do you think you'll be sorted into?"
Before Harry could answer the door to their compartment opened and a red headed boy stuck his head in. Instantly Harry was struck by a wave of nervousness and surprise from the boy. Although what he was surprised about Harry had no idea.
"Um, excuse me." The boy stammered. "The um…rest of the train is full. Can I – um. Can I sit you all?"
The five occupants of the cabin looked at one another. With a more than slight grimace Daphne moved closer to Harry, almost to the point where they were touching, so that the boy could have the last spot in the cabin. "Help yourself." Daphne said even going so far as to lean towards Harry.
"Thanks!" The boy smiled dropping heavily into the seat. "My names Ron, Ronald Weasley."
"Hannah Abbott."
"Susan Bones."
"Tracey Davis."
"Daphne."
"Harry Potter."
"Bloody hell! Are you really?"
Harry sighed as he felt the joy, surprise, and envy that he felt coming off of the red head. "Yes…I am."
"Do you…do you remember…him?"
Harry's eyes narrowed and Hannah and Tracey looked around clearly confused as the air temperature within the cabin dropped slightly. Daphne's hand on Harry's thigh and Susan's quick glare were the only things that made Harry reel his temper back in. It had been a long time, since his mother had shown him Voldemort's soul container, since he'd lost himself to the dark side even slightly like that. "Do I remember the night when I was just barely one and a half years old and a lunatic entered my parents' home, killed them both, and then tried to kill me? Sorry but I don't."
Ronald, finally showing some semblance of a brain, reddened. "Um, sorry about that. Sometimes I uh, I guess I don't really think. I um…I didn't mean to bring up any bad memories."
"Then you shouldn't have asked him about the night his parents died." Daphne said curtly, turning her nose up at him.
Ron opened his mouth to reply, but then closed it as he was met with the full weight of four girls glaring at him. Showing his second bout of intelligence so far, Ron wisely kept his mouth shut.
"So," Susan's glare dissolved and her cheerful face returned as she turned back to Harry. "As Hannah was about to ask. Do you know what house you want to be-"
A loud squeal cut Susan off. Everyone turned towards Ron who was steadily reddening. "Um…sorry about that." Ron said reaching into his robes and pulling out a large rat. "I kind of forgot he was in there."
Considering they were in a cabin full of young girls, the reaction to the sudden appearance of a rat was fairly predictable. Hannah and Tracey both squealed slightly, Susan pressed herself against the window more, and Daphne fixed the young boy with a glare that Harry was certain she learned from his mother. It was only lucky for Ron that neither Harry's, Daphne's nor Susan's owls where in the compartment with them at the time. "Ronald…you are in a cabin full of girls, and Harry. And you pull out a rat without warning?" Daphne said with more than a slight edge to her voice.
At her reprimand, Ron's ears reddened even further. "Um…sorry about that. I probably should've warned you all about him. But don't worry. He's tame and he's been in my family for years and we've never had a problem with him."
"Just as long as he stays on your side of the cabin." Hannah said, still looking decidedly pale at the rodent's presence.
"He'll be fine." Ron said petting the rat. "Hey! One of my brother's taught me a spell that can turn him yellow. Wanna see?"
Before anyone could answer yes or no, Ron had set the rat down on his lap and pulled out his wand. But before he could say a word the cabin door opened once again. This time they were greeted of an extremely bushy haired young girl. "Have any of you seen a toad? Neville here can't find his."
Everyone in the cabin shook their heads, making the girl sigh. That was of course until she spotted Ron holding his wand. "Are you doing magic? Can I see?"
Clearing his throat, Ron pressed the tip of his wand against the rat's back. "Sunshine daisies. Butter mellow…turn this stupid fat rat yellow!" Predictably enough…nothing happened.
"Are you sure that is a real spell?" The young girl asked. "I've been reading as much as I could ever since Madam McGonagall came and told me that I was a witch. And that…really didn't sound like any spell I've read of so far."
"That's because it isn't a spell." Daphne said, her attention fixed on bushy haired girl. "Are you by chance muggleborn?"
The bushy haired girl nodded. "Yes I – oh! I haven't introduced myself. I'm Hermione Granger. And you all are?"
Introducing themselves, Hermione greeted all of them politely, until they got to him. "I'm Harry Potter."
Hermione blinked. Then took off like a race horse. "God lord are you really? I've read all about you of course! You're in The Rise and Fall of the Greatest Dark Lords of the 20th Century! I know all about what happened to you!"
"Really?" Harry sighed. He'd been warned that he might get this kind of reaction when he first met witches and wizards. But he didn't realize at the time just how annoying it would be. "That's interesting. Because I don't remember ever talking to any of the authors of those books. And besides…there were only three people there that night besides my parents. I can't remember anything. Voldemort's dead. And my mother arrived at the very end of what happened. So I wonder how they knew what happened."
Hermione, Ron, Hannah, and Tracey were all looking at him completely awe struck. "What?"
"Harry." Susan sighed. "You said his name again."
Harry actually did sigh this time. Another thing he'd been warned about by his mother, Sirius, Madam Bones, and Lord Greengrass. Pretty much every witch or wizard outside of their little group would not care for it when he so blatantly used Voldemorts name. "Wait…you're mother?" Hermione questioned. "Lily Potter died when…well you know. Unless you mean…oh! You're talking about Madam Ziri Nox! My father just about had a fit when we read about her in the wizarding paper! One of the most powerful business women in the world is a witch. I think that convinced my parents to allow me to come to Hogwarts more than anything else. What house are you hoping for? I'm hoping for Gryffindor…although Ravenclaw would be good as well. Did you know that Dumbledore was a Gryffindor as well? And he's considered to be one of the most powerful wizards since Mer-"
"Hermione." Harry barked startling the girl. "Please…calm down. You were talking so fast we can barely understand you."
Hermione flushed red. "Umm, sorry about that. I sometimes get really excited and umm…I'm going to go and help Neville again. I hope we can talk again later!" And with that, she turned heel and fled the cabin without a backwards glance.
"Mental that one," Ron muttered after the compartment door shut behind Hermione. "Completely mental."
Daphne however was giving Harry a look out of the corner of her eye. His mother had told them to be on the lookout for any potential 'muggleborn' students who they could sponsor. This Hermione had a decent amount of inherent power. She was definitely worth looking into.
For the next half an hour the compartment slid into an easy silence, disturbed only by Ron's occasional attempts to ask Harry questions which were usually answered quickly or deflected by Susan.
As the sky outside began to darken, the compartment door opened again. This time with enough force to actually make it bounce back slightly. He could feel Daphne physical tense beside him as her anger spiked. Standing just within the now open door was a blond haired child flanked on either side by two large boys who looked as if they couldn't even process a thought between the two of them.
"Greengrass…I thought better of you. Sitting with blood traitors."
Harry blinked. Not at the words…but at Daphne. She didn't care for this boy. No. That was too gentle of a description. She absolutely loathed this boy. Whoever he was. "Draco Malfoy." Daphne responded, her voice dripping with ice.
Beside them, Ron snorted which made the blond haired boy round on him. "Think my name is funny do you? Well I don't need to ask for yours. Red hair. And a hand-me-down robe. You're a Weasley through and through. Did your parents give up eating for the month just to send you to Hogwarts?"
"What do you want Malfoy?" Susan sighed.
Malfoy looked Susan over once in a manner that made Harry want to send the little pounce flying backwards. "I've come looking for Harry Potter." Draco said turning towards Harry. "Just wanted to make sure that you're making the right friends. Greengrass is okay…despite recent developments. But you could do far better than sitting with Bones or blood traitorous Weasley's. I can help you there."
Harry stayed where he was and just stared at Draco and his offered hand. "No thanks." Harry said with a dismissive wave. "Pretty sure I can stop people of quality on my own. So go away and bother someone else."
Draco blinked stupidly as confusion rolled off of him. Which was followed quickly by anger and…a touch of fear. Apparently he hadn't been expecting to be turned down. "Hm. Apparently you lack the same sense your parents did. No wonder their dead."
All four girls gasped and Ron paled. Harry merely stared at the boy completely bewildered. "What did you just say?"
Draco smirked. "I said that your parents lacked sense and tried to fight against their own kind. And now look where they are. You'd do better not to follow in their footsteps."
It was extremely fortunate, for Draco that is, that a feminine hand reached out and grabbed a hold of his ear. "Well well. What do we have here? Little cousin Dracy…are you causing problems. Again? I've already had one complaint about you this ride so far. Will I need to send an owl to your father?"
"Don't you dare touch me half-blood!" Draco shouted twisting free of Tonks.
Tonks merely raised an eyebrow at him before pointing to the badge on her robes. "That is either Head Girl Half-blood, or future Lady Black Half-blood little cousin Dracy."
The title of Lady Black had been his mother's idea. Sirius had wanted to claim Harry as his heir, but seeing as how he was now his mother's adopted son, he could no longer be Sirius's chosen Heir. He could inherit the title of House Black through his grandmother Dorea. But technically Draco had the stronger claim through his mother Narcissa, Sirius's cousin. If they were to challenge Harry's claim, there was a good chance they would win. The only one with the better claim was Tonks. It took nearly an hour behind a closed door in order for his mother to convince Tonks to take the title, but she did in the end. Although why Tonks had left the room completely disheveled and red faced was a mystery to Harry.
Draco reddened. "Just wait until my father-"
"Your father can't do shite, little Dracy." Tonks said dismissively. "The Blacks stand above the Malfoy's in the political world. And here at school, I'm Head Girl. So here on the train I have the first, second, and last word. Now why don't you go and be a good little boy and run off now. You need to get changed anyway."
Draco looked like he was about to explode he was so red. Without another word he turned and marched away.
"Bloody hell…that was brilliant!" Ron exclaimed after Draco was out of sight.
"I didn't do that for your amusement." Tonks said looking at Harry.
Harry understood her meaning right away. "I'm fine." Harry said.
"Good." Tonks nodded. "Now Harry you're already in your robes. But um…"
"Ron Weasley."
"Right, Ron. You aren't and we'll be arriving soon so I suggest you change down the hall in the bathroom. Unless of course you plan on changing here in the cabin with the rest of the girls."
Ron's face flushed and he was practically a blur as he pulled out his uniform from his trunk before rushing out down the hall. "Now Harry," Tonks said turning to him. "Unless you feel like watching these fine young witches change, something I no doubt you will be attempting in a few years. Perhaps you should stand out here with me for a few minutes."
Being used to Tonk's teasing, Harry managed to step out of the compartment completely straight faced. The same couldn't be said for Hannah and Tracey however, who both turned beat red and practically slammed the door on him. "That wasn't very nice Tonks."
"Maybe, it was still fun though." Tonks chuckled before pulling out her wand and casting a silencing charm around them. "You need to be careful with that one Harry. He might not look like much, and truthfully isn't, but anything he does comes from his father. And he is someone we need to worry about."
"I'll keep my head about me." Harry promised. "He just…surprised me."
Tonks merely nodded. "You'll be getting a lot of that this year Harry. Watch out for Draco and Snape. While Draco only answer's to his father, Snape takes orders from both Dumbledore and Lucius. And watch out for Dumbledore too. Your mother was right when she said that Dumbledore would give me this position as an attempt to get me over to his side. I've already had one meeting with him, and about half of his well disguised questions were about you."
"I'll be okay Tonks." Harry reassured his cousin. "Just take care of yourself. I know what my mother asked of you isn't easy."
Tonks blushed again slightly, and Harry once again caught onto a feeling coming from her that he couldn't identify. "Yes well…your mother was quite…persuasive. Anyway take care of yourself Harry. I probably won't be able to watch out for you as much as I'd like once we're in school."
"I'll be fine Tonks," Harry said as the cabin door opened slightly to let him know that the girls were done. "Just take care of yourself."
Entering the cabin again, he took his seat once more. A few minutes later Ron came back were a more than slightly baggy robe and took his seat. The rest of the trip was spent in silence until they caught sight of the platform where the train would be stopping. Once the train had come to a full stop the students were all instructed to leave their luggage on the train and disembark.
"First years! Over here!"
The voice on the platform belonged to probably the largest man Harry had ever seen in his life. Based off the stories he'd heard from everyone, this was without a doubt Hagrid. The Grounds Keeper of Hogwarts. And according to Sirius and Remus, one of the most kind hearted men alive despite his size. Although that'd been followed up quickly by him also being labeled one of the worst secret keepers in the world and perhaps one of the biggest supporters of Dumbledore.
When Harry and the girls approached the large man, his eyes widened. "Harry! I havn't seen ya since yer were a wee little tyke."
Harry blinked. "Umm…"
"Oh right, you probably don't remember me eh?" Hagrid chuckled rubbing his beard. "I knew yer parent's Harry. Fine fine folks they were. But oh, now ain't the time. First years follow me to the boats!"
Separating from the rest of the student body, Harry and the rest of the first year students followed Hagrid away from the train and down to a set of docks where dozens of boats waited. "No more than four to a boat!" Hagrid bellowed, taking an entire boat to himself.
Susan, Hanna, Daphne, and Tracey all sat down in a boat together. Leaving Harry to get into one with Ron. "Do you mind if we join you two?"
Hermione was standing on the dock with a nervous looking black haired boy who was shifting his feet back and forth. "Sure." Harry said making room.
"Thank you." Hermione said taking a seat. "This is Neville Longbottom."
Nice to meet you Neville." Harry said offering his hand, which the nervous looking boy just stared at for a moment before quickly shaking and then turning away from him.
"Everyone hold on tight!" Hagrid shouted.
With a slight jerk, the boats began moving across the lake of their own accord with Hagrid's leading the way. As the boats rounded the bend, Harry was treated to his first sight of Hogwarts. It was…magnificent. And not just from an architectural standpoint. It was as if every stone that made up the towering castle had been crafted using the Force…magic. "Bloody hell." Ron gasped behind him. "My brothers told me what to expect…but still...bloody hell."
"Language Ronald." Hermione chided, although her voice was more than slightly dreamy as she stared up at the castle.
"Y'all watch y'er heads now!"
Tearing his eyes away from the castle, Harry saw that Hagrid's boat was entering a small alcove making the larger than normal man nearly bend over in half to avoid hitting his head. Unlike Hagrid though, as the rest of the boats passed into the alcove the students on them only had to move their heads slightly to the side.
Once inside, the boats moved towards a large platform at the base of a large set of stairs. "Alright, watch y'er step now." Hagrid bellowed as he stepped out of his boat and onto the platform.
Ron was the first one out of the boat, followed quickly by Neville who did a face plant right on the platform the moment his feet touched solid ground. Remembering the manners that'd been drilled into him by his mother, Harry turned back to the boat and offered Hermione a hand.
Giving him a quick smile, Hermione took his hand and stepped out of the boat. "At least some boys remember their manners." She grumbled, casting a quick look towards Ron and Neville who were both looking around in awe.
"Alright first ye'rs." Hagrid bellowed once everyone was off the boats. "Head on up the stairs here and Professor McGonagall will be meetin ya at the top!"
Harry made to stand near Daphne, but a subtle shake of her head stopped him. It was time for them to start playing their parts. With a sigh, he fell into step with the rest of the students as they made their way up the stairs.
Near the top of the stair's he spotted an old woman who was dressed pretty much exactly like the stereotypical non-Force sensitive witch costume. "Welcome to Hogwarts." The old woman said as the students reached the top of the stairs. "I am Minerva McGonagall, Head of Gryffindor House and Deputy Headmistress of Hogwarts. In a few moments I will be taking you to the Great Hall where you will be sorted into your houses. The houses are Gryffindor, Ravenclaw, Hufflepuff, or Slytherin. While you are here your houses will act as your families. Your triumphs will earn your house points. While any rule breaking will lose them. At the end of the year the house with the most points will be awarded the House Cup. Are there any question before we head in? No. Then please form up in two lines and follow me."
As fate would have it, Harry ended up standing next to Ron as they walked down the wide hallway after the Professor. "Hey Harry…do you think we'll have to wrestle a troll in order to figure out which house we're in? That's what my brothers all said."
'Force…give me patience.' "Are these the same brothers who taught you that color changing spell?"
"Umm…yes."
"Then why do you believe him?"
"…good point. So what do you think will happen?"
Harry just shrugged as the group approached a large set or ornate doors. "No idea. But whatever happens, happens. No sense worrying about it now."
The doors opened on their own as the Professor approached them. The Great Hall certainty lived up to its name. Hundreds of students were sitting at one of four tables that ran the length of the hall. Stain glass windows and banners decorated either side of the hall. And the ceiling…the ceiling was the night sky.
"It's not really the night's sky." He heard Hermione whisper knowingly to the girl she was walking with. "It's just bewitched to look like it. I read all about it in Hogwarts: A History."
As they passed by the last of the tables, Professor McGonagall went off to the side and retrieved a wooden stool and an extremely worn out looking hat. Coming back to the center, she placed the stool down before placing the hat on top. Then to Harry's amazement…the hat started to sign! Oh you may not think I'm pretty, But don't judge on what you see, I'll eat myself if you can find A smarter hat than me. You can keep your bowlers black, Your top hats sleek and tall, For I'm the Hogwarts Sorting Hat And I can cap them all. There's nothing hidden in your head The Sorting Hat can't see, So try me on and I will tell you Where you ought to be. You might belong in Gryffindor, Where dwell the brave at heart, Their daring, nerve, and chivalry Set Gryffindors apart; You might belong in Hufflepuff, Where they are just and loyal, Those patient Hufflepuffs are true And unafraid of toil; Or yet in wise old Ravenclaw, if you've a ready mind, Where those of wit and learning, Will always find their kind; Or perhaps in Slytherin You'll make your real friends, Those cunning folks use any means To achieve their ends. So put me on! Don't be afraid! And don't get in a flap! You're in safe hands, though I have none, For I'm a Thinking Cap!*
"As I call your name, please come forward to be sorted." McGonagall said unfurling a scroll. "Abbott, Hannah."
Susan's blond friend pale considerably, but walked forward none the less and sat down on the stool. Once she was seated McGonagall placed the hat on her head. "Hmmm…better be…Hufflepuff!"
The table directly behind Harry started applauding loudly as the hat was taken off of Hannah's head allowing the blond girl to join her new housemates. "Bones, Susan!"
Biting his lip slightly, Harry watched as Susan sat down and let the sorting hat sit on her head. The moment the hat touched her hair, Harry felt a spike of fear and anxiety come from her. The only thing that stopped him from reaching out with the Force and ripping the hat off her head was the look she immediately shot him.
For several long moments the hat just sat atop her head. "Hmm, tricky customer. But I know where to put you. Hufflepuff!"
The table behind Harry exploded once again as Susan took off the hat. She paused only briefly on her way to her new house in order to give him an encouraging nod. "Boot, Terry."
Harry stopped paying attention as a young boy stepped up towards the stool. His sudden lack of attention wasn't because he wasn't interested in what was happening. Far from it in fact. It was because he'd felt something. A feather light touch against his mind's barriers. But the moment he pushed back and attempted to trace the presence it quickly retreated leaving no trace.
There was only one person that he knew of that was capable of such a feat. Someone his mother had warned him about. Immediately he turned his attention to the head table, specifically the Headmaster. Albus Dumbledore. But the Headmaster wasn't even looking at him. And according to his mother, the only type of mind reading required eye contact to be truly effective.
Vaguely he heard the sorting hat yell out a house, students applauding, and then another name being called. But he paid none of it any mind. Instead he made across the head table from one end to the other trying to figure out who had tried to touch his mind.
As his gaze passed by a turban wearing professor he felt the pressure on his mind again. This time he locked eyes with a black haired professor who quickly looked away, which brought an immediate end to the pressure on his mind. The thing that confused Harry though…was that neither of the pressures were the same. Just how many teachers were looking into the minds of their students here?
"Davis, Tracey."
Daphne's blond friend hoped up onto the stool and remained perfectly still as the large hat was placed on her head. "Slytherin!"
The table on the far side of the hall exploded into cheers as the blond girl took of the hat and walked over to her new house.
"Granger, Hermione."
Harry could only shake his head as he heard the bushy haired girl muttering under her breath to relax, as well as several different spells, as she walked up to the stool. Sitting down the sorting hat was placed atop her head. The hat stayed silent for nearly a full minute or two before finally speaking again. "Another fun one…better be…Gryffindor!"
Hermione beamed as she skipped, literally skipped, from the stool to the Gryffindor table. "Greengrass, Daphne."
Harry watched as Daphne strode forward with her head held high. Just as it did with Susan, the moment the hat touched her head it started fidgeting but otherwise stayed completely quiet. After nearly five minutes of silence the hat finally shouted, "Slytherin!"
Listening to the Slyterin table clapping and shouting, Harry watched as Daphne passed him by without even a second glance.
After that Harry stopped paying attention to the sorting. His fellow apprentices were in two different houses, and he wasn't sure where he was going to end up. "Potter, Harry."
Refocusing his attention, Harry walked up to the front of the hall with his head held high. He was vaguely aware of everyone whispering his name and the entire hall went dead silent as he turned and faced them. Sitting down on the wooden stool, Harry remained perfectly still as the large hat was placed over his head. 'Hmm, now what do we have here?'
On pure instinct Harry tried to repel the voice within his mind. 'Oh…another one. Hmm, yes such strange training you've obtained from your 'mother'. Hmm…most interesting indeed. Far more refined than the two young ladies I just sorted…hmm.'
'Breathe one word of it hat…and I'll burn you and scatter your ashes.'
'And another one to threaten me. Although I must say that the young Slytherin girl had a much better threat than that. But I suppose that I will need to reassure you just as I did those two young ladies. I am the Sorting Hat. I was created for a singular reason and that is to sort your into your house young man. I cannot and will not divulge anything I see in your mind to anyone. Satisfied?'
'Not even remotely.' Harry cursed internally. Personally he wouldn't be satisfied until he'd rewoven every fiber of the hat atop his head.
'Now that is closer to what the young Hufflepuff thought.'
'Can't you just sort me so we can get this out of the way? People are starting to stare.'
'Don't be naïve Mr. Potter, they've been staring at you since you entered this room. And as for sorting you…I've been trying. But you are proving to be quite the challenge. Your loyalty to your mother is worthy of Lady Hufflepuff herself. You have keen mind that is eager to learn everything you can. Your cunning…oh yes your cunning is something of legend. And the courage to stand in the darkness and fight against it…yes so very challenging. I haven't had this much fun during a sorting since I sorted your Mother and godfather.'
Everyone in the hall were now whispering, causing Harry to become more and more unsettled. 'Can you hurry this up…please?'
'Hm? Oh fine. Take away my fun. I guess in the end there is only one place you truly belong and that is…' "GRYFFINDOR!"
Leaning back in his chair in his office, Dumbledore felt himself relax for what was perhaps the first time almost two years. Finally Harry Potter was back at Hogwarts and away from the 'pillar'. And better yet, Harry had followed his parents and been sorted into Gryffindor. When the boy had come up to be sorted, Dumbledore had noticed the small scar on the boy's forehead and had knew exactly what had, or rather who, caused it. But the thing was…he couldn't necessarily detect anything malevolent about the scar.
But those thoughts could wait for later. Now he could begin the careful process of trying to drive a wedge between Harry and this Nox woman. It wouldn't be easy. Nymphadora had accidently let it slip last semester when he'd told her that she would Head Girl that Harry thought of this Nox woman like his mother. But this wouldn't be the first child he'd turned against his family. Sirius had been his shining star in that regard. However this time he wouldn't be able to use a child's unrest towards his family to order to separate them.
He would have to wait until he could learn more about the boy. He'd tried the gentlest of legimency probes during the feast. But apparently Nox had been training Harry in some magic because the boy had instantly looked towards the teachers table. It was only luck that his eyes landed on Severus and Quirrell first. Not being able to read his mind outright would make the process slower. But he'd already put his contingency plan in motion. The Weasley's.
Not that they actually knew it of course. Before William had reached the age where he would be attending school, Dumbledore had approached Molly and Arthur about a special program that would help them afford the cost of schooling. A program which of course didn't exist. But losing a couple thousand gallons a year was a drop in the hat for Dumbledore. Especially when it was weighed against the fact that it bought him the unquestioning loyalty of one of the most numerous and frankly one of the most powerful light sided families in all of Britain.
His contingency plan had been for young Ronald to find Harry and befriend him on the train. Which wasn't too hard to manipulate. One afternoon and a pleasant meal with the Weasley's as well as an offhand comment about worrying that Harry would arrive at Hogwarts without any friends and Molly Weasley had taken care of the rest. And by the looks of things at the feast, the two were at least of speaking terms. Friendship would hopefully come in time. And while he couldn't outright ask the Weasley's about young Harry for fear of rising suspicion…they were not nearly as renowned for their ability to protect their minds.
What did worry him slightly was the report from the Head Boy about the train ride. Apparently Harry had been sitting with Ronald. But he had also been sitting with Susan Bones, Hannah Abbott, Daphne Greengrass, and Tracey Davis.
The first two had been mildly expected. After all the Abbott's followed the Bones. And Madam Bones had been known to work with Nox on more than one occasion. So their association wasn't strange.
Daphne's presence however had given him pause. Despite the cordial relationship between Nox and Cyrus, there was no known formal alliance between the two. Perhaps Cyrus was merely trying to court Nox's favor by having his daughter befriend Harry. Something that he couldn't have. The girl was rumored to be an Apprentice to someone unknown and from everything he'd heard of the girl, she was true Slytherin through and through. He would have to talk with Severus and make sure that the rivalry between Slythering and Gryffindor remained strong.
But outside of those factors, things were coming together for Dumbledore. His ruse had worked and Voldemort was in the castle. No doubt after the 'stone'. The traps were well designed for their true purpose. The mirror would soon be on its way. And he had the Potter family heirloom ready to give back to Harry on Christmas. Yes. Everything was starting to come together.
Pulling on her nightshirt in her dorm room, Daphne tried not to roll her eyes at the sound of Pansy laughing behind her with Millicent's bellowing laugh not far behind. Part of her almost felt bad for Pansy. Almost.
After learning of her broken betrothal contract with Draco, which its mere existence caused her not to speak to her father for nearly two months, she'd learned the Lucius had negotiated with House Parkinson and betrothed Draco to Pansy.
Looking across the small dorm room she saw Tracey roll her eyes at her. The fact that she would have to share a room with those two for the next seven years almost made her want to march up to the Headmaster's office and request to be resorted. They were loud and annoying. Not to mention that Pansy had made no secret as to just who her intended was. And seemed to think and feel that she was queen bee of the hive because of it.
"So, Greengrass. What's this I hear about you sitting in a cabin with Harry Potter?"
Taking out her school uniform, she carefully arranged it on top of her trunk before answering Pansy. "It was my father's request. As the Heir of House Parkinson, I'm sure that you've been paying at least some attention to the Wizengamot. Madam Nox, Harry Potter's magical guardian, all but control's the neutrals. My father is trying to court her favor by having me befriend him. But if I had the choice…I wouldn't be in the same room as the pounce."
Her answer seemed to appease Pansy, but Tracey sent her a curious look. Before her friend could blow everything, Daphne gave her friend a very slight shake of her head and mouthed 'later' to her when neither Pansy or Millicent were looking.
Her Master had assigned her a very important mission while she was here at Hogwarts. In essence…she was her Master's spy amongst the Slytherins. 'You don't send a lion, or a raven, or a badger into the snakes den.' Her Master had explained to her before she'd left for school. 'You send in a snake of your own and let them slither right in. You, my wonderful apprentice, are our snake. Unfortunately this means you must publicly distance yourself from my son and Susan. Can you do this?'
Of course her answer had been yes. Not that Harry or Susan had enjoyed her answer or her assigned task. But orders were orders. And she would succeed in this task that'd been entrusted to her.
Grabbing a small pouch from her trunk she crawled up onto her bed and sat down cross legged. "Good night."
After receiving three responses she pulled down the curtains around her bed. There was a little fact about the Slytherin dorm bed's that most students didn't realize until they were in their upper years. The curtains were imbedded with several layers of silencing and obscuring charms. Which ensured that whoever was in the bed were guaranteed complete privacy.
Once the curtains where in place she let out a small breath of relief. She could sense that Pansy had believed her. Which means that she would tell Draco and the little blond pounce would no longer focus on her. Hopefully. She would have to start teaching Tracey how to defend her mind. She wanted to take her friend into her confidence. After all, two eyes were better than one. But with both Snape and Dumbledore being confirmed legilimencer's…she would have to be confident that her friend wouldn't inadvertently give away any secrets beforehand.
Reaching into the pouch she'd thrown on her bed, she pulled out the small pyramid holocron that was within. Just like Susan and Harry, her father had gotten her a trunk that had a secret compartment that was only accessible to her. And just like her, Susan and Harry each a holocron of their own. Later in the year they would switch off their holocrons so they could learn as much as possible.
Using the Force, she floated the holocron before her and sent waves of the Force into it. Immediately the four sides of the pyramid folded back and small holographic representation of a masked man wearing red and black armor appeared before her. "Hear well the words of Darth Marr."
The light surrounding Susan dimmed as the holocron before her folded up on itself to form a perfect cube once more. After everything that she'd heard and seen during the sorting, Susan had needed to hear the words of Grand Master Shan once more before she went to sleep for the night. Her Aunt and her Master were right. Something was very off about Hogwarts. More specifically…something was very off with the Headmaster.
Susan may have only be elven, but she wasn't naïve. According to Tonks, who she'd managed to get a quick word in with down in the common room, there had never been any section of the castle that'd been declared 'out of bounds' except for the restricted section of the library. But then to also say to a room full of kids that a 'painful death' awaited anyone who ventured there? Merlin…that was almost inviting them to go and look. Case and point, she'd already heard no less than three of her own house mates talking about how to get into the 3rd floor corridor.
She would have to send an owl to her Aunt and her Master as soon as she could for further instructions. Part of her wanted to go and check out just what was so important about that corridor. But her Master had made it clear that the three of them, outside of academics, were not supposed to stand out. And sneaking into a forbidden corridor and possibly getting caught definitely constituted standing out. So she would wait until she heard back.
Pulling her bed curtains aside, she peaked out at her dorm. The room was completely dark and all of the beds had their curtains closed. Leaning out of her bed slightly, she pressed her finger against a very specific spot on her trunk. A small panel snapped open, exposing a small compartment where she put her holocron before closing it once more.
'The three of us really need a better place to study rather than our beds in the dead of night.' Susan thought retreating behind the curtains of her bed once more and laying down. 'The last thing we need is to possibly get caught with our holocrons.'
Unfortunately according to Tonks, Sirius, Remus, and her Aunt just about every hidden passageway or hidden room were watched. Either by charms or by the many hundreds of paintings that littered the walls of the castle.
But those concerns could wait for another day. Tomorrow was her first day of learning magic. And she needed to get some sleep. It really wouldn't do for her to slip up and use some of the Force techniques her Master had taught her during class.
Pursing her lips, Nox watched as her latest subject was dragged unconscious from the interrogation room. It had taken no small amount of convincing and promises on her part, but Nox had finally convinced Amelia to let her come here to the wizarding prison of Azkaban to personally question the Death Eaters that were captured during the last war. There was a possibility, however slight, that Voldemort had given one of his followers one of his soul containers to hide even from himself. If he did, she doubted that he would outright tell them what they had, more than likely say it was a 'precious artifact' of sorts that he trusted them to protect. But as she watched her latest subject be dragged unconscious from the room she was starting to doubt her assumption.
"How many more do we have to question?" She asked turning to Amelia.
Amelia had insisted on coming with as one of her conditions to allowing Nox to question the Death Eaters and Sirius had tagged along as well. Amelia she could understand. Why Sirius joined them however she didn't know. Perhaps to face his own personal demons by coming to the place that had held him captive unjustly for a time. Whatever his reasons, he and Amelia stayed closed to her phoenix patronus as well as Amelia's hawk patronus pretty much at all times.
Not that she necessarily blamed him of course. The depressing darkness that hung about this prison reminded her remarkably of the dark temple on Dromund Kaas. It was only because she was used to the darkness that she was able to withstand its constant pressing. If she wasn't then she more than likely would've been sitting right next to Amelia and Sirius. That wasn't even to mention the 'guards' of the prison. If she didn't know better, she would assume that these 'dementors' were a byproduct of Sith alchemy.
"That takes care of all of the dark lord's lower ranks." Amelia grumbled more than slightly irritably. She apparently didn't have much of a taste for Nox's brand of questioning. Despite the fact that Nox had toned it down considerably. "That leaves only the members of his 'inner circle'. And despite your methods…I have to admit that we've learned a great deal so far. It's too bad that we won't be able to use any of it in court however. I would've love to nail Lucius's arse to the wall."
"You're not the only one." Sirius growled. "I just wish that I could be obliviated like the rest of these poor sods."
On top of Amelia's conditions for their visit, Nox had placed two of her own. Primarily that their visit must remain completely secret. It wouldn't do for Voldemort to discover that they were searching for his soul containers. To that end, each of the prisoners they questioned were then obliviated. And the two guards and Warden who knew of their visit had also agreed to be obliviated as well to erase any knowledge of their visit.
"Who's next?" Nox asked turning to the Warden.
The Warden looked down at his list and visibly winced. "Prisoner number 432-5715…Bellatrix Lestrange. Serving life sentence without the possibility of release for association with the Death Eaters. Multiple uses of the killing curse. And for torturing Frank and Alice Longbottom into insanity with the torture curse. And she…well…"
"She's my cousin."
Nox turned and raised a questioning eyebrow at Sirius. "And will that be a problem?"
Sirius snorted. "Are you kidding me? Frank and Alice were two of my closet friends outside of James, Remus, and Lily. You want me to hold her down for you?"
Shaking her head, she turned to the Warden and nodded.
The doors opened once again allowing the two guards to enter once more. Between them they half led, half carried, the form of a lithe woman with wild black hair. She might have once been beautiful, and probably could be once more. But her time in captivity had done her no favors in that regard. What stood out to Nox though was the woman's power. It was simply incredible. It was no wonder this Voldemort considered her one of his 'Inner Circle'.
With little care or ceremony, the two guards dropped her down heavily into the chair before securing her wrist, ankles, and wrapping a belt around her middle. "That will do." Nox said waving the two guards out of the room before approaching the bound woman.
Bellatrix's head rolled around, her eyes squinting from the light of the room as she tried to get her bearings. "My my my…the head cunt herself comes to greet me. How's your brother Amelia? Oh that's right…he's dead hehehe. And little ity bity Siri…do you need cousin Bella to hold your hand again from the big dad nightmares? And…who the bloody fuck are you? Sirius's new fuck buddy?"
Nox didn't bother with a response. Instead she quietly walked right up to the woman and held her hand in front of her face. Her first probe made the woman flinch. This one actually had some decent mental defenses. On the same level as Sirius. And since she had been holding herself back from experimenting on Sirius's defenses…this was almost a gift from the Force.
Her second probe was neither gentle nor subtle. She threw most of her power against the shields in Bellatrix's mind causing her head to snap back hard against the chair and her mouth to open in a wordless scream of agony. But despite the pressure Nox was putting on her…her defenses held strong.
'A new tactic then.' She mused relenting slightly as she began searching the fleeting emotions that were escaping past the woman's mental barrier. 'Give me something I can use…ah. There it is. Yes. That will work perfectly.'
"May as well bring this one back to her cell Warden." Nox said over her shoulder while keeping the pressure on Bellatrix's mind. "She's not all that powerful. I doubt she ever served any real purpose for Voldemort besides being on her back as a reward for his more trusted followers."
"You dare speak his name!" Bellatrix shouted trying to move, which only resulted in Nox throwing her back with another probe.
"Of course." Nox shrugged. "The man was completely incompetent as a 'Dark Lord'. Being defeated by a child? How utterly pathetic."
"The Dark Lord is greater than you could ever hope to be! He has conquered death!" Bellatrix shouted. "And I was his favored servant! And when he returns he will come for me and I will be by his side once more!"
Nox could feel the woman's barriers falter slightly. "Favored in bed maybe. I doubt he would ever trust someone so pitifully weak like yourself with anything truly meaningful. And even if he did 'defeat death' as you say. I doubt he would waste his time assaulting this place to rescue someone weak like yourself."
"I am not weak!" Bellatrix screamed as Nox put more pressure on her mind. Her barriers were wavering almost violently. "And the great Lord trusted me above all others! I am his faithful servant now and forever!"
"He trusted your cousin Regulus more than you." Nox pressed. Her mind was wavering and Nox was able to slip slightly past her barriers. "He trusted your cousin with the location of a great artifact of power. I bet you were never even told about them. And why would you be? You were nothing more than a whore to him."
"No! He trusted me!"
"Why?" Nox pressed. She was so close. "Why do you believe he trusted you?"
"Because he gave me a great artifact of power! He trusted me with guarding it for his return!" Bellatrix screamed and laughed. "And when he returns I will rip the flesh from your bones!"
"A lie you tell yourself to justify your continued existence in this hell. Everything you could lay claim too was searched thoroughly when you were sent here. So tell me…where would did you hide such a 'precious artifact'. If indeed you even had one?"
She could feel Bellatrix pushing against her probe, but it was far, far, too late. She was already past her barrier. And with no training on how to resist this type of interrogation…Bellatrix was hers. "Those little beast guard their…and my treasures well."
Withdrawing the probe, Bellatrix slumped forward breathing heavily. "Obliviate her. Twice."
Stepping forward, Sirius leveled his wand right between Bellatrix's eyes. "Obliviate! Obliviate!"
Two bolts of green light struck Bellatrix in rapid succession. "Get her out of here." Amelia said to the Warden.
The Warden nodded and the two guards came back in to collect Bellatrix. "I really don't want to know what you three are up too." The Warden said more than slightly fearfully as he watched Bellatrix's limp form being dragged out of the room. "And this day can't be over soon enough. Please…obliviate me twice as well when you're done."
"We will." Nox said, sitting down and feeling more than slightly pleased with herself. They'd gained the location of another soul container. The only question now was how she was going to convince the goblins to let her have access to any vault Bellatrix might have access too.
Sitting down in the great hall in the early hours of the morning, Harry was enjoying the relative quiet as he heard the morning issue of the Daily Prophet. He'd learned fairly quickly that the best time to be in the Great Hall was right about the time it started breakfast as few students were actually brave enough to rise that early in the day. It was quiet. Something he relished. "How are you down here already?!" At least most of the time that was.
Glancing over the rim of his text book, he spotted Herminie Granger dropping down heavily onto the seat across from him. Not surprising really when one considered that her bag looked to contain every book they'd been assigned as first years. Plus a few extra. "I woke up and came down here." Harry said pushing the plate of eggs towards her. "Hungry?"
Hermione glanced down at the plate for a second before scooping a few eggs onto her plate. After taking only two mouthfuls of food she set her fork down, pulled out a book from her bag and started reading. Harry could just make out the words 'Magical Drafts and Potions' across the spine of the book. Picking up his paper again, the two settled into an easy silence as they both read.
Sensing her long before he could hear her, Harry turned his head just enough to see a wide awake Daphne stroll into the Great Hall with a zombie like Tracey following closely behind her. The two shared the briefest of glances, but that was it and soon Daphne was sitting at her own house table.
If there was one thing that he truly hated about this school, it was what it had done to his and Daphne's relationship. At least on the surface. The fact that she was in Slytherin while he was in Gryffindor pretty much assured that should the two of them ever be caught speaking in any way even slightly cordial, several unpleasant things would happen to her.
He understood why she needed to be in Slytherin. His mother had explained it to him. She was to be their eyes and ears amongst the children of the Death Eaters. But that still didn't mean he liked it. He missed talking with her. She was fun and wicked smart. He could still talk with Susan without raising suspicion but he missed the times when it was just the three of them.
He'd tried to find some common companionship amongst his new house mates, but that task was proving to be more than slightly difficult as just about every other person seemed to almost fawn over him. His dorm mates weren't so bad he supposed. Dean and Seamus were decent enough. Neville though…Harry wasn't sure what to make of him. He could sense the power the boy had. But he was so reserved that Harry doubted his power would ever be fully realized. Then there was Ron who was…well Harry didn't know quite what to think of him. Most of the time he was a decent bloke. But other times…he was a complete and utter idiot.
Hearing a book drop heavily against the table, he looked up in time to see Hermione rapidly digging through her bag as she searched for another.
After meeting her, he'd originally hoped that Hermione would be able to fill the intellectual gap that Daphne's absence had created. Unfortunately after their first day of classes, Harry doubted that it would ever come to pass.
The first magical class of the year had been Transfiguration with his now head of house Madam McGonagall, a subject Harry had been looking forward too after seeing what his mother and Sirius could do with the art. The first near hour of the class had been dedicated to a lecture dealing with the intricacies and uses of transfiguration. For several of the students, the hour long lecture seemed to be too much for them as they started to nod off. But for Harry, whose mother could lecture for nearly a full day on specific usage of the Force, it was perfectly normal. The second half of the class was dedicated to practical application. In this case turning a wooden match into a metal needle. And that was where things had fallen apart.
While the rest of the class were saving their wands about and shouting the incantation. Harry had taken his time, used the Force to supplement his magic, and subjected his will onto the wooden match while saying the incantation; which instantly changed into a metal needle.
Even McGonagall seemed surprised by his success on the first try and praised him by saying that maybe he had inherited his father's knack for the art. His success however had not pleased Hermione, who almost seemed insulted that he'd managed to do it before her. Harry winced as he felt her anger rise with each failed attempt. She'd eventually managed to make the change, but she was the fourth student to do so behind both Susan and Daphne.
After class she'd marched up to him and demanded, not asked, but demanded to know how he'd done it. He told her what he'd done and she'd immediately countered by saying that what he did wasn't in the book. And that was when he'd apparently made his second mistake when he'd told her that she needed to think beyond the book because they might not always be complete or even correct. That had irked her more than slightly.
Their next class, charms, didn't help matters either. As Harry had once again managed to get the spell, a simple flipping of a cup which he could've done with the Force without issue, correct first. That of course had earned him several more glares from Hermione. And by the end of class he could actually feel jealousy and anger coming off of her whenever she looked at him.
After that, Hermione had almost seemed to take it as personal insult that he was doing better than him. She studied constantly, always made sure her hand was raised whenever a teacher asked a question. And always made sure to give him a mildly smug look whenever she got a question right. At this point he was beginning to doubt whether or not his mother should even consider sponsoring the girl.
As she opened yet another potions book, Harry set down his paper with a sigh. "Hermione…I don't think we're expected to know everything before the start of each class. That's why we're in school in the first place. To learn."
Although he was seriously starting to question that theory as well. The teachers of this school were…inconsistent to say the least. Transfiguration and Charms were both interesting and engaging classes that were taught by very knowledgeable teachers. Defence Against the Dark Arts could've been an interesting class, but Quirell made the class completely useless with his fear of just about everything. But despite his ineptitude…there was something dark about the man. He reeked of the dark side. But for some reason Harry could not pinpoint why.
Herbology was an interesting class taught by another competent teacher in Professor Sprout. History of Magic was completely useless. The ghost who taught the class…Harry doubted it even realized it had students half the time. He was seriously considering asking his mother if there was some Force ritual he could perform just to send the ghost on its way and save himself the trouble of having to sit through his class. Astronomy was…well Harry wasn't really sure why they taught this class. Sure knowing the stars were important, especially for navigation. But how or why they corresponded to magic was strange. Not to mention the teacher seemed to be completely bewildered when Harry described the sun as a star as well. So in all, of the six classes they were being forced to take only three of them actually worth taking in Harry's opinion. Not a good percentage for presumably the greatest magical school in the world.
Hermione fixed him with a glare, but didn't say anything as she buried her nose once again into her book.
Soon enough Harry's peaceful silence was brought to an end as all of the students began filling in for a quick breakfast before classes. "There you are." Ron said dropping down sleepily onto the bench beside him before reaching for several plates of food. "You weren't in bed this morning."
Harry just shrugged. "I was down here."
When Harry didn't elaborate any further, Ron just shrugged and began shoveling food into his mouth. Literally…shoveling food. And missing half the time. "That's disgusting Ronald." Hermione said, glancing over her book just long enough to look at him.
"What?" Ron got out around a mouthful of food.
"Nothing." Hermione said turning back to her book.
The rest of breakfast passed relatively quickly and in no time at all it was time to head on down to the dungeons. Although why they held potions class in the deepest part of the castle Harry had no idea.
Standing outside the classroom, Harry waited with his fellow Gryffindor's and the Slytherin first years for the door to open. Beside him Hermione was reciting different potion ingredients and Ron was finishing off the last of a biscuit that he'd nabbed from the Great Hall on his way out. Across the hall from him was Daphne, who gave him a very brief amused glance at his current predicament before completely ignoring him once more.
The door to the classroom slammed open without warning as the black haired Professor Snape marched out into the hall. "All of you get in. Leave your wands where they are and get your supplies out."
Harry blink and was nearly run over as his fellow students rushed into the classroom. This man…there was little in him besides hate and loathing. He'd heard more than a fair share of stories about Snape from his godfather, Remus, and Dora in the past year. But until now he'd been prepared to give the man the benefit of the doubt. Now though…he realized that everything they'd been saying about him was true. He was little more than a black cesspool of hatred.
Setting his bag down on an empty bench top, he grimaced slightly as Ron quickly dropped his stuff down next to him. The boy had shown that he had no steady hand during Herbology. And his lack of attention to directions had been exemplified in more than one class. Both of which were a necessity for a success potion. Without them, the results could be quite…explosive.
"There will be no foolish wand waving in this class." Snape said walking to the front of the class. "As it is, I doubt most of you will ever have the mental fascilities to truly comprehend the art of potion making. But for those of you who do. I can teach you to ensure the mind, mend the body, or make your greatest enemies disappear. Now…let's see how prepared you are. Potter! Where would I find a bezoar?"
"In the stomach of a goat." Harry knew this one right off the back. After all…he carried one on him at all times at his mother's insistence.
Snape blinked. Apparently he didn't expect Harry to answer correctly. "A lucky guess. So tell me, what is the difference between monkshood and wolfsbane?"
Harry glared at Snape. This was a trick questions. And truthfully he probably wouldn't have known the answer had he not been helping Remus with his monthly potion requirements. Beside him, Hermione was almost bouncing in her seat as she tried to get Snape's attention. "They are the same thing Professor. So there is no difference."
The rage coming off of Snape was nearly staggering. "Tell me then, Mr. Celebrity. What will I get if I add powdered root of asphodel to an infusion of wormwood?"
This one made Harry blink. There had been no mention of either of those two ingredients in either the first or second year's potions books. He knew because he'd read and memorized them both. Beside him Hermione was waving her hand frantically in the air trying to get Snape's attention. "I'm not sure Professor. I don't remember seeing either our book for this year."
Snape sneered, although Harry could sense the faintest bit of joy coming from the man. "Clearly…fame isn't everything. I hope you don't think it will carry you through this class."
"Professor! Please I know the answer. It's-"
"Quiet Granger!" Snape snapped at the girl making her flinch. "Ten points from Gryffindor for talking without permission. And seeing as how you obviously don't know Potter, not surprising considering your godfather and father, asphodel and wormwood make a sleeping potion so powerful it is known as the Draught of Living Death."
Turning his back to the class, Snape tapped his wand to the large blackboard dominating the front of the class. "The potion for the day is on the board. Ingredients are in the cupboard. Any who don't turn in a potion by the end of class shall receive a zero for the day. Get to it now!"
Sitting in his office, Dumbledore was idly stroking his beard as he listened as Severus finished telling him of his findings. "So Harry has mental barriers then."
"Yes Headmaster." Severus replied, seemingly more than slightly unnerved. "While he was working I used a light probe and was met with a wall. The brat instantly reacted and looked around so I withdrew. The second time I tried distracting him before the probe, but that didn't work at all and he turned his attention to me the moment I touched the barriers. Headmaster, I've never even heard of the type of barriers he has. But I'm confident that they are not occulemncy barriers."
"Unfortunately, I have Severus." Dumbledore sighed leaning back further into his chair.
It didn't take long for Severus to make the connection. "Nox?"
"Yes." Dumbledore nodded. "Before we were ever formally introduced I attempted to probe her. Not only did she completely rebuff my probe, she violently threw me from her mind. Not only that, she was able to correctly identify that it was I who was attempting to probe her in a room full of witches and wizards. And apparently she is passing this new art onto her son as well."
And apparently that wasn't all that Nox was passing on. Just as she had promised all those years ago, Harry was indeed incredibly gifted. Every teacher who'd had him in class so far had had nothing but praise for the young man. But he wasn't he only one who was being praised this year. "What about the girls? Abbott, Bones, Greengrass and Davis?"
"Both Bones and Greengrass have mental barriers." Severus said quickly. "Not necessarily surprising considering who their families are. But neither seem to be at the level of the brat's. Also, theirs felt more like traditional occulmency barriers. Abbott and Davis however have no mental barriers. Davis had nothing to offer. And the only thing I could gain from the Abbott girl was that apparently Potter and Bones knew each other before school."
'So Madam Bones is aligned with Sirius and Nox.' Dumbledore mused.
He figured that was the case. As the three of them often voted similarly on most of the bills that'd come through the Wizengamot in the past two years. But it was still good to have verification of their alliance. Even if it was circumstantial. "I'm surprised your new little 'spy' didn't tell you about the relationship between Bones and Potter."
"Nypmhadora told me that Madam Bones had been over to speak with Sirius on several occasions Severus." Dumbledore said suppressing a sigh. The subject of Nypmhadora was a sore spot between the two of them. Mainly because Severus didn't believe that the girl was truly on their side.
"I still don't believe that she is with us Headmaster." Severus said shaking his head. "In the past two years the girl has developed amazing mental barriers. And now she has been named as Heir to the Head of House Black. She may carry the name 'Tonks'. But she is a Black through and through. What reason would she have to turn against her family?"
"You forget Severus, that Sirius was a Black as well. And I convinced him to turn against his family as well."
He left unsaid that Black had already been disheartened with his family well before ever arriving at Hogwarts. But after his wrongful arrest, Sirius had turned his back on the light. And Dumbledore was afraid that he would lead the Black family once more down a dark path. Which was why he'd been having multiple conversations with young Nymphadora every school year since she entered school. If the Black family was to stay truly with the light, he felt that the best person to do that was young Nymphadora. And now, with Sirius naming Nymphadora as the Heir, that was almost assured.
"So what do we do now Headmaster?" Severus asked.
Stroking his beard, he looked towards the pensive. Even after all of these years he still hadn't figured out the full meaning of the prophecy. There was no doubt that Nox was this 'pillar'. She confirmed that for him two years ago. But he still had no idea what was meant by the 'six wings'. Or how would young Harry's power break and heal the world? There were far too many questions that still needed to be answered.
"For now we wait." Dumbledore said. "Our bait has worked, as you well know. Continue baiting young Harry. See if you can find a weakness in his defenses by do not be obvious about it. If he is on to you withdraw immediately. In the meantime…we must find a way to drive a wedge between Harry and this Nox."
Sitting down at the Great Hall, Harry idly stared down at the few pieces of food on his plate as dozens of magically conjured bats flew overhead. Truthfully, he didn't even know why he'd come down to the Hall today. He certainly wasn't in the mood to celebrate like everyone else. Halloween for his wasn't a time for celebration. To him it was much more a reminder of the night his parents died trying to protect him. And this particular Halloween was especially difficult because he did not have his mother around to help him.
"-heard that she's been in the girls bathroom all day. Crying."
When he heard that, he turned his glare towards Ron, who at least had the good sense to look ashamed.
After nearly a month of semi-hostilities between the two of them, Harry had finally managed to come to some sort of truce between himself and Hermione. The two had settled into an almost friendly rivalry of sorts. And Harry had actually come to start enjoying the challenge she was presenting him. Of course not everyone appreciated her, Ron seemingly least of all.
Earlier in the day during their charms class Ron had been waving his wand around and completely mispronouncing the levitation spell. Hermione had pointedly corrected him on what he was doing wrong. And when Ron had snapped back that 'if it was so easy, why don't you do it'. Hermione had shown him up in the middle of class.
That of course did not end well. As Ron had then started complaining loudly out in the middle of the hall how Hermione was a know it all and that it was no wonder why she had no friends and how it was highly unlikely that she would ever have them. Of course the pounce had also not realized that Hermione had pretty much been right behind him the entire time. Which made the young girl run of without a second look back.
It'd taken Harry the better part of the afternoon to even find out where she'd run off too. When he finally did find her, he was unable to reach her as she'd barricaded herself into the girl's bathroom. He'd sent Susan in after her, but his fellow apprentice had come out empty handed, saying that the girl was pretty much inconsolable.
With no desire to attend the Halloween feast, Harry had wanted to stay and wait for her with Susan. But Snape had put an end to that. When the professor had come through the hall and saw them, he immediately demanded to know what they doing outside the girls bathroom. When Harry explained that Hermione was upset and they were waiting for her, Snape merely scoffed and said that the girl should grow tougher skin. He then forcibly escorted the two of them to the feast. A fact which had made Harry want to snap every bone in the man's arm.
So now without any option left to him, he was forced to sit at his seat and push food around his plate until the feast officially ended and he could go and check up on her.
Without warning the doors to the Great Hall burst open and the turban wearing Quirell rushed into the hall. "Troll! In the dungeon…thought you all ought to know." He got out just before fainting right in the middle of the hall.
The reaction was predictable enough. Every student in the hall started screaming in fear and started rushing for the doors of the Great Hall. An action that Harry thought was completely idiotic considering how the very creature they feared was out there.
"Silence!"
Everyone in the Great Hall turned towards the front of the Great Hall. Harry had to hand it to the man. Dumbledore surely did know how to get everyone's attention when he wanted to. "Everyone please remain calm. Prefects, please escort your houses back to your dormitories. Teachers will come with me down to the dungeons so we can deal with the troll. On your way everyone."
As he stood with the rest of his house, Harry took back what little respect he had for the Headmaster. A dangerous creature who was naturally resistance to magic was running through the halls of a school full of children and what did he do? Keep them all in the Great hall? No. He sent them out into the school to go back to their dorms. Two of which were in the direction of where the troll was rumored to be.
As he walked out, he briefly caught Susan's eyes. Apparently she didn't look too thrilled about this order either. But it was what she did next that made Harry's heart stop. She mouthed the word, 'Hermione'.
Cursing internally, he looked to see if any of the teachers were heading in the direction he knew Hermione to be at. But all of them were heading down towards the dungeons. Save for Quirell who was still passed out on the ground and Snape who was heading in the opposite direction for some reason.
'Shit.' Harry thought. Hermione had no idea what was going on…and it didn't look like anyone was going to go after her either. 'Mother's going to kill me for doing this.'
Falling back in line, he waited until he was at the every back of the line and they started to ascend the great stairs before he took off at a full sprint towards the girl's bathroom.
Rounding the last bend just before the girl's bathroom, Harry skidded to an abrupt stop. A large, green-skinned creature was just coming out of the bathroom. A club in one hand and the limp form of Hermione in the other. The troll looked down at Hermione, gave her limp form a shake, and then threw her into the wall on the far side of the hallway.
Harry didn't even think. Without drawing his wand he grabbed hold of a statue of armor next to him with the Force and threw it as hard as he could at the hulking beast.
The steel armor struck the troll right in the center of its forehead. Using the brief opening, Harry sprinted as fast as he could towards the troll. With a flick of his wrist his lightsaber was in his right hand.
Harry had managed covered half the distance between the two of them by before the troll even realized he was there. With an ear piercing yell, the troll swung its massive club in an arch across its body.
Just before the club hit him Harry used the Force to propel his body off the ground and into the air. As he passed by the side of the trolls head he activated his lightsaber and slashed diagonally from the creature's eye to temple before landing behind the troll.
What Harry hadn't counted on, or even seen, was the large stairwell that'd been behind the troll. And he just barely managed to stop himself from falling head long down the stone steps. 'This will work.' He thought turning back to the raging troll, who was swinging its club around widely while pressing its other hand to its ruined eye.
Reaching out with the Force, Harry pulled the troll back towards him while he ran forward and slashed at the back of its ankles.
The combination of being pulled back and having the tendon's in its ankle cut was enough to make the massive beast lose its balance and topple backwards down the stairs. Over and over it turned, screaming at the top of its lungs as it tried to stop its fall. But it was useless. Its cries finally came to an abrupt and violent end as it reached the bottom landing with a loud crash. Several of its arms were twisted at wrong angles…and its head was turned completely around.
Giving the creature a final glance, Harry deactivated his lightsaber, sprinted across the hall and fell to his knees beside the broken and bloodied Hermione. Pressing his fingers to her throat he leaned over brining his ear close to her mouth. She was breathing and her heart was beating. But only just.
Flipping his lightsaber over, he opened the small compartment on its base that Sirius and Remus had added. Inside the small hold was a folded up pouch. Unfolding the pouch he stuck his arm into its opening all the way down to his elbow. Grabbing the two small glass vials inside, he quickly withdrew them before setting the pouch and his lightsaber on the ground.
The first bottle contained Essence of Dittany, while the other contained the much more powerful Phoenix tears. Pulling the eyedropper out of the Dittany bottle, Harry carefully placed a single drop of the healing substance onto each of the open wounds he could find on Hermione. When he completed that he set the bottle aside and picked up the Phoenix tears. Carefully opening her mouth, Harry put two drops directly into her throat before closing her mouth tight. The Dittany would heal her outside wounds and the Phoenix tears would heal any internal injuries.
Within seconds her breathing evened out and her heartbeat began returning to normal. "H-H-Harry?"
"Shh. Don't talk." Harry said, quickly putting the bottles away and returning his lightsaber into its holder.
"Wh…what h-h-happen-ed?"
"Don't talk." Harry said again, he could sense several strong presences approaching. And he didn't necessarily want to wait around and have to explain to them why he was holding onto a bloodied by apparently uninjured Hermione while a dead troll lay at the bottom of the stairs less than a few dozen paces from them.
Scooping her up in his arms, he used the Force to augment his muscles as he sprinted away as fast as his legs could carry the two of them.
