Chapter 7: Christmas and Curses
A/N; Sorry about the wait, but I have been kinda busy and was hoping for more reviews… Anyway without further ado Chapter 7! (PS. I will post chapter 8 as soon as I get three more reviews…)
The Marauders along with lily and Alice spent the entire night cleaning up their mess and sobering up Sirius. Lily was still angry with James while James kept on attempting to flirt with her. He had gotten slapped thrice in the last hour alone. When the kids were finally done cleaning, it was already six and Harry was beginning to stir.
Harry woke up quite surprised to see the teenagers already up. "What are you guys doing up so early? I thought that at least the girls might like a lie in." He asked incredulously, raising one eyebrow. Lily, already in an off mood, replied to this.
"We would have if those idiots hadn't woken us up!" James raised an eyebrow at this. It was the first time Lily had lied to a teacher. Thankfully for all of them, Harry let it slide even though he knew something was up. He just walked over to Ginny to wake her up, but instead was greeted by a very distraught looking snake.
He picked up Lion and disappeared to his dorm. When he locked and charmed the door impenetrable, he hissed to Lion.
"What's wrong Leo, did he do something?"
"I don't know, but he is wary of us and may be able to track the tracer. It is unsafe to assume things, but he is much more careful about his travels. He usually Apparates to about ten or twenty different places before his final destination."
"Paranoid little bugger isn't he?"
"Yes, he is but with good reason. But I digress. The reason I called you here was to show you his current location. He is right now Diagon Alley, hiding. My guess is he's trying to get something of great value from Borgin and Burkes or some other Knockturn Alley store. I don't know why, but I feel that he will stage an attack and then steal what he is looking for."
"I know what he wants from there. He's looking for Horcrux number four- the diary. He may or may not steal it, but I do know that that was no ordinary diary. An ordinary book could never sustain a spirit for that long and still give means of communicating. It has to be a dark object and have a capacity to hold power, memories and has to be stable enough to allow him to be reborn without ripping or releasing the soul. Nagini is the spawn of a Basilisk, therefore she is magical, any other creature would have died after certain amounts of time, just like the creatures he tried to possess in my fourth year."
"Wow, clever. I never thought you able to produce a single thought that made sense and took a great deal of insight Harry; I'm impressed."
"Shut up Leo. Anyway we have more pressing matters at hand. We have to follow riddle wherever he goes so that we can find out where his hideout is and what it possesses. Also, I'm sure we could change the past if we try hard enough."
"Ok, so when do we set out? He is poised to attack and there are probably death eaters stationed throughout the Alley. Our only chance is invisibility and flight, both rendering us undetectable."
"Perfect! I've been looking for a chance to flaunt the Firebolt and this is perfect. Riding my broom the first time in months to chase Voldemort through a fight. This will be a great day."
"I can bet my tail that you'll be dancing to a different tune after today. You have to give up Christmas with your family if you want to do this."
Harry's face fell. He had been planning an exhilarating Christmas with his parents. This shattered all hopes of it. But why should he chase after Voldemort? Would one day really hurt anyone? "Then forget it, I don't need to go."
"Harry are you sure?"
"Yes, this is a once in a lifetime opportunity for me and I wont miss it for anything. For one day, Voldemort can stuff it and let me have my day. I don't need him screwing up this life too."
"Very well Harry, but be wary."
"Of course Leo, of course."
With that, Harry walked out of his dorm leaving Leo alone to mull over their conversation. This was one time that Harry wouldn't let Voldemort ruin.
When Harry walked out of his dorm, it was chaotic. Lily was chasing James with a floating rolling pin (clearly conjured) that was charmed to attack and was hexing him left and right. Ginny was nowhere in sight and the other three students were rolling on the ground laughing while a charmed camera took pictures of the two running about at random intervals.
Harry cleared his throat to announce his presence. "What is going on here?" He asked, barely masking the amusement in his voice.
Everyone stopped and the rolling pin smashed James in the head rendering him unconscious and Lily vanished it quickly. The other three had stopped and were standing guiltily. "Well sir, you see, the beginning of prank season is marked by the arrival of Christmas so we were celebrating it and Lily and James got into a fight and now James is unconscious." Sirius explained quickly.
"I see that makes enough sense; as much as I know you would like your entertaining two back, I think it would be time to open certain presents, which all of you have been waiting for." All the students cheered at this (except James who was still knocked out).
After all the gifts had been exchanged, the Marauders enjoyed a small party with their two professors. It was a very subdued affair, but Harry felt all the better about it. It was heartwarming that he could spend one Christmas with his birthparents.
After the party was over, the end of holidays came rather quickly (too soon for the marauders' liking). Harry and Ginny went back to tirelessly planning lesson after lesson.
On Monday, the first day after the holidays, Harry and Ginny made their way to breakfast joyously chattering. Harry took his usual seat and Ginny popped down next to him. Harry began chatting with Hagrid and Flitwick animatedly while a flurry of owls swept the hall.
Harry (as expected) didn't receive any post, but Ginny had been getting the prophet recently. A tawny owl lifted its leg and Ginny slipped a nut into its pouch allowing it to fly away. Harry didn't give a second thought to this until he heard a gasp from Ginny.
"What's it now Gin? Prophet beginning a tirade on another person or something?" Harry asked.
"No, there have been various attacks. A total of seven dark marks found in the sky yesterday. That isn't good Harry; Voldemort has attacked muggle-born families and is continuing to." Ginny said panicked.
"Then it's time we teach these kids lessons they'll remember. This is growing into the first war and we need to train the army." Harry said firmly. "Losses will come but I don't want to feel that we could have taught them the spell that could have saved their lives. I'm sure most of these kids would rather go down with the knowledge that they fought a brave battle and that they were on par with their murderers." Harry said firmly.
"They will Harry, we'll make sure they will." Ginny assured him, a determined glint in her eyes.
As the sixth year class settled in, Harry stood in front of the room wearing a very serious look. Upon seeing this look, every single student (even the infamous Marauders) sat to rapt attention. This lesson would be an important on.
"Now class, today you will be having the most important lesson of your lives. This lesson may save your life, or help save the life of another." The class sat up straighter and paid close attention. "Now, today we will be learning about the three unforgivables." A gasp escaped the students as they pondered the evil of the curses.
Harry continued. "Who can tell me the first unforgivable? Yes, Mr. Longbottom." Harry said.
"Umm… the Cruciatus curse sir?" The shy boy answered, much like Neville would.
"Yes, that is perhaps the most gruesome of the three curses. The number one torture tool in the wizarding world, and according to me the worst unforgivable. Now," Harry began as he pulled out a jar with a spider in it. "As much as it pains me, I will demonstrate the effects of this curse. Engorgio!" The spider began to increase in size. "Watch carefully class. Crucio!" He screamed with all his hatred for Voldemort, Bellatrix and Wormtail combined. The spider writhed around the desk painfully.
"Stop it! Please just stop it!" Lily screamed and Harry stopped.
"I take it you all understand the severe powers and dangers of that curse. Well anyone know the next one?" Harry asked darkly.
"The Imperius curse professor." Snape answered without batting an eye.
"Yes Mr. Snape, the Imperius is a very dangerous curse indeed. Most probably the second worse out of the two. Now, do you know what it does Mr. Snape?" Harry asked.
"It gives the caster absolute control over the person they cast it on. It basically turns the victim into a puppet with eyes. The victim can see what they are doing, but they have no power to stop themselves from doing something." Snape answered.
"Yes, that is correct, take five points to Slytherin. The Imperius curse is very dangerous, especially to the sentimental person. But the upside to this curse is that it can be fought. People have been strong enough to throw off the curse in the past. This however takes immense power of the mind. Now watch the spider. Imperio!"
The spider began to tap dance on the desk. He made it bounce across the room, juggle books and then set it on a few students. The class began to laugh, just like in his fourth year.
"Think that's funny do you? Well think about this. I could cast this on you and make you murder your own family or your best friend. I could make you kiss the feet of your enemies and hand over all your secrets. I could make you do anything I wanted you to. Not so funny now is it?" Harry asked. The whole class was silent. They had finally understood why Harry was being so austere. These curses were no child's plaything.
"Now please can someone tell me the final curse?" Harry asked and Lily raised her shaking hand. "Yes Ms. Evans?"
"The killing curse." She whispered and the class shuddered. "It kills a person with no mark or anything. A muggle could never tell the cause of death because it leaves no sign of death on the body."
"Very good Ms. Evans, take five points to Gryffindor. Yes, the killing curse simply kills one. It is un-block able and no one has survived it yet." Harry emphasized the yet point. "I have never in my life cast this curse, nor will I ever do so. So that you understand, the killing curse is the only green colored curse to ever be used. It kills just by skimming its target and death is immediate."
"Professor, you said yet; do you believe that someone can survive the killing curse?" A boy asked.
"Yes Mr. Lovegood, I do. Under certain circumstances, I believe a sorcerer or sorceress may survive this curse, but not today. Class is dismissed with a foot-long essay on the unforgivables and the consequences for using one." Harry sighed. It had been hard, but the deed was finally done. He had taught his class about the infamous curses and let slip a piece of information that Lily Evans would use in the near future.
