After their talk, November became way easier for Blaise. They were communicating by anonymous owls between each other, even if it wasn't practical. Harry had also showed him a room on the seventh floor, which was quite miraculous. He didn't know how he had found it, but he called it 'The Room of Requirement', and it was quite fitting with all the possibilities. They met nearly every night after diner, despite Harry telling him his friends were becoming more and more curious and 'demanded' to know where he left.
Blaise had told Harry how he struggled in defense, and with such a poor teacher how he feared he would fail. Harry had proposed to help him, and it was infuriating to see him execute the spells without a wand when he had so much problems with a wand himself. But he had to admit, Harry knew his subject, and managed to describe how each spell felt when you knew how to cast it. Blaise began to make progress, and while he trained against dummies, or practiced swordsmanship - the room could provide him practice swords! - Harry generally sat, meditating.
It was an exercise Pomfrey asked him to, Harry had explained, who might help him fix his magic. When Blaise had asked if he would learn Occlumency after, Harry was surprised and actually told him he was actually practicing Occlumency, and that he was progressing quickly.
Blaise hoped it would help because sadly, he badly needed it. Harry was utterly hopeless in Transfiguration, and even if McGonagall had been warned, she still had hope, before giving up after the first lesson.
Charms, however was quite different. Harry who, everyone knew, had mastered the summoning charm last year when he had summoned his firebolt in front of everyone, was either not summoning anything, or he was summoning so strongly he would have hurt himself if it wasn't for his seeker reflexes. He had tried 'Aguamenti' in the room of Requirement too, and it was lucky it wasn't a classroom, considering the huge quantity of water Harry had produced.
Draco and his gang took great pleasure teasing him, but Harry showed a surprising good control, and decided he would be patient and avenge himself only once he would have control of his magic. Surprisingly, Umbridge seemed...afraid to even talk to Harry right now. Maybe after Pomfrey announced Harry had nearly died, she realized she had gone too far, and she was lucky to still be here and not in Azkaban.
The more they talked, the more he realized how natural it felt to talk to Harry. They had decided to take it slow, after Blaise said he was concerned their relationship would end up on sex only. Harry had reluctantly agreed, and Blaise tried to give him the most physical contact he could knowing Harry had been starved off it all his life, but the necessity to stay hidden made things difficult. And Harry teased him without any rest, in the hope to make him yield especially since like he loved saying, 'He still had to discover him' and that he 'would be the one blind the next time'. It had led to quite a hot kissing sessions.
Harry was losing patience. He focused a lot of his time to the memories of Tom, after having learnt to go through his memories at will. He had thought at first that browsing through more than fifty years of memories would take years. But he was already halfway, even if he didn't analyze completely everything. He left the daily routine that everyone lives and stored these memories quickly. He was still a complete novice in the others aspect of Occlumency, but he wanted to find quickly a solution for his wand problem. Searching through anything he could find, he had discovered that amazing room where Tom had spent quite a lot of time in his later years, being too afraid to go back to the Chamber of Secrets. And to train, it was quite better than the Chamber anyway. The simple fact that you could summon a copy of each book stored in the library, restricted section included, made it worth it. It also gave him a good hideout to meet with Blaise. He still wanted to go back to the Chamber though, he had seen a very intriguing portrait at the bottom of the Basilisk nest. He had also panicked for a moment. He remembered Dumbledore telling him he had obtained Parseltongue because of Voldemort, did he still have the ability? After a while, he thought that yes, since he still could understand it in Tom's memories. He had quickly checked the following night, just before joining Blaise, and managed to open the entrance and scared Myrtle at the same time.
The room was great to hide from Ron and Hermione too, but mostly Hermione. She was way too damn annoying recently. Demanding he explained how to do wandless magic again. Demanding he worked harder on his school work since he had missed too much for her taste. Demanding to know who sent him these anonymous letters, and why it made him smile like hat. Demanding where he went so often after dinner.
Argh, I will need to clear things with her, it can't wait any longer or I will go crazy.
In comparison, ignoring Malfoy's teasing was easy. He now realized how often he had been influenced by whatever had been in his head.
Sadly, all these memories, while extremely informative, to the point he barely paid attention in some classes now because he knew he could learn a lot faster by his personal way, didn't help with casting properly with a damn wand. Wandless magic was all and well, and certainly flashy enough to show off in front of Malfoy to shut him up for awhile, and a good way not to be defenseless, but it still wasn't as good as a properly cast spell. It lacked too much. Either he powered his spells, and they lacked precision, or the reverse. If they worked at all, like he discovered in Transfiguration. McGonagall's disappointed look was still in his mind.
He was focusing on the feeling Tom had felt the first time he had used his wand, compared to all the wandless magic he had used in the orphanage, and while climbing the stairs attempted another 'lumos' which failed once again.
"Damn it!" He didn't have time to bask in his anger though because he bumped into someone, and lost his wand and his books on the ground. He said a quick 'Sorry!' before looking at Neville, surrounded by books too. He muttered 'Accio wand' and got up catching his wand swiftly.
"Sorry Nev, I wasn't looking in front of me. You okay?" He grimaced. Seeing the boy nodding he let the frustration coming back. "I'm still not doing any progress with my wand, I'm going crazy! Look at that! Lumos! See? Not a bit of prog..." But then he was looking at a perfectly cast lumos, albeit weaker than he was used to before.
"What the... how? Nox! Lumos!" He said again, pouring more power this time. Once again the spell worked, and the light was stronger. He could feel the magic going fluidly in the wand even if he felt a resistance. But his wand had stopped acting like it refused to work with him. "Why is it working now? I don't get it.."
He was pulled out of his thoughts when he heard Neville humming.
"Harry... That's my wand actually." Harry blinked, then looked at the wand. Neville was right, it was definitively not his Holly wand.
"Well, that's weird. Why would your wand work... decently and not my own?" He took back the holly wand and tried again the lumos spell. And frowned at the result. "Nope, still the same." He paused. He then remembered his wand had a particular brother.
Could it be...?
"Neville, I think I know why my wand doesn't work anymore. But it doesn't explain why yours doesn't. Ollivander is supposed to give you a wand that works, I remember spending an eternity before he said that one was good. Wands chose the wizard or something if I remember correctly."
Neville looked a bit hesitant. "It's, uh... it's my father's wand actually. My grandmother gave it to me so I could honor him."
Harry was abashed. "But that's it then! That's why we can't cast properly! We're not tuned with them! I can't believe I didn't think of this before, it was so obvious!"
Neville didn't say anything. Harry would bet he never had heard this story about wands choosing theirs masters. "Try this Nev." He handed him his holly wand.
Neville hesitated a bit, and then, "Lumos!" a big ball of light exploded in the room.
"Ugh Neville, reduce the power!" Slowly the light diminished and Neville was looking at a perfectly normal sized lumos with awe.
"It feels so easy.." He said with a dreamy smile. Meanwhile Harry was deep in thoughts. Quickly he arrived at a conclusion.
"Alright, here is my theory. Your father's wand is blocking you, that's why you have trouble casting at all. I guess you are not compatible at all with it. Mine probably gave you resistance, but since you're so used to pour everything to make your father's working, you have the feeling it works normally. As for my case..." He bit his lip. He wanted to tell Neville, he already trusted him about his inheritance, and trusting Ron, and even worse Hermione lately, seemed like a bad idea, he was sure they would tell Dumbledore right away, and he wanted nothing to do with him.
"Neville, I know I can trust you but this is even more delicate than the Potter seat. It's related with him, but... if you want to know I can explain."
Neville thought about it and finally declared that he wanted to know, and that a second opinion could help. Harry agreed and got his mirror to call Sirius as well. Neville already knew, Harry had told him a few days before.
"Padfoot!" The mirror showed soon enough a curious Sirius Black. "Hey kiddo! What can I do for you?"
"Hi! Hmm first, Sirius, this is Neville, Neville, this is Sirius Black. I told him about you in the beginning of the week." Neville waved his hand shyly while Sirius had a huge smile. "Frank and Alice's kid right? I heard you're a good friend, Harry talks a lot about you."
"Sirius!" Harry was blushing. "I didn't call you so you could gossip!" He breathed to forget the embarrassment.
"Right. Wait, before, Are you alone? This is a sensitive subject." Sirius nodded. "So, just by mistake I found out why my wand's not working anymore. I accidentally used Neville's wand, and it's working just fine! Albeit it resists me a little, but it doesn't go all wonky. And by talking with Neville, who also had problems with his casting, I learnt it was actually his father's wand. When he tried mine it worked damn well too. It was just so obvious we didn't think about it!"
Sirius was frowning a bit. "I can understand why Neville had problems, but why you? There was no owner before..."
"Ah, but that's the thing." He said with a knowing smile. "My magic was so repressed, between the wards, the block, and probably fighting Voldemort's magic in my scar, this wand" -He pointed at the holly one- "Reacted to His magic, I think. It's used to react to a mix of both of us. And it makes sense because Ollivander told me our wands were actually brothers. So... right now, the wand is probably conflicted, since my magic has changed so much, and that's why it's erratic. It doesn't know if it should work or not."
"You had You-know-Who's magic inside you?!" Neville was horrified. Harry grimaced.
Yeah, good job Harry, that was a good way to give him the news.
"Errm yeah, that's why I was in a coma for a week, I somehow expelled it from me because of ... random events, but it wasn't pain free. Anyway, Sirius. I think I can wait until I go back it's only two weeks away, and maybe we could go for a trip to Ollivander in the Christmas break? I don't want to ask for a trip right now, it would go to Dumbledore's ears for sure."
Sirius nodded, deep in thoughts. "Maybe I could ask Dora to bring you, going to Gringotts is alright for me since goblins don't deal with wizard's justice, but Ollivander..."
"Sure, she's family I'm okay with that. Ugh, I remember spending an eternity the first time, I can't say I'm impatient to go again." He sighed. He turned to Neville. "Alright, you should keep mine, like that you can defend yourself if something happens. It's useless for me anyway. Just, could you lend me yours in class until the holidays?"
"Don't you want to keep it on yourself outside class too?" Neville asked genuinely.
"No way, it's your father's, even if you can't use it, it's precious right? I wish I knew where my parents's were... Just give me back the holly one once you have yours okay? I'm still attached to it."
The conversation ended, and Harry had learnt his father's wand had apparently been destroyed fighting Voldemort. His mother's was stored in the family vault. Harry was quite happy to have at least one of them. Harry later on recounted what happened to Poppy, and she agreed with his theory, and told him she was happy nothing was wrong with him in the end.
When he told Blaise that night, the conversation quickly continued about wandlore in general. Harry found this fascinating, and Blaise knew a bit about it. He actually didn't get his own at Ollivander but in Egypt. His mother thought he didn't have enough variety and Blaise had a Sphinx's hair tail as a core.
"You know, why no one uses two wands at once? I know some wizards fight with a wand and a dagger, or a sword on the other hand for example. So why not two wands?"
Blaise thought about it for a while. "That's a good question... I suppose the main reason is, would you be able to cast properly with your left hand right now? Sure it seems strong in theory, but it's a lot of work to be able to learn on your weak hand. Then, even if someone was ambidextrous, or had practiced in case their strong wand was injured, you would have to train your mind to cast simultaneously. And I'm not even sure if the magic can fuel two hands at once..."
Blaise then saw the expression on Harry's face. "I shouldn't have told you I think it's impossible, right?"
Harry laughed at this. "Sorry, it's just, if I could master this, it would be huge! And are you not curious?! It's decided, I want two wands."
Blaise hid his eyes with his hand and sighed heavily. "Well, you will have a problem then. It's actually illegal to buy two wands, you need a special authorization. Generally aurors, or people with responsibilities in the ministry. Actually now that I think about it, you might not even get to buy a new one since your first is not broken."
"What? But why?" Harry was shocked.
At this rate, I will have to talk to Dumbledore anyway, or maybe I could ask Fudge, I could say he owes me a favor after that stupid trial...
"Well, it's another attempt to control better the masses. If you have only one wand, and they want to make sure you didn't do anything illegal, they just have to check the spells on this one. If anyone could buy multiples wands, it would make it harder for the DMLE." Harry didn't like that, but he was forced to admit that for once, the law had some logic.
December was quite nice for Harry. First, he had finally told Hermione what he thought about her attitude. He had been a bit rude, and she wasn't talking to him at the moment, but at least she had stopped harassing him. Ron, and it was a surprise, had agreed with him. Then in the privacy of theirs dorms, he had actually confessed he suspected Harry to date someone and understood why he wanted to keep it a secret to everyone.
Then, there was the pleasure to do well in class again. Neville and he were now sitting next to each other in every class of Charms and Transfiguration, and his friend passed him discretely his father's wand at the beginning of each class. Flitwick had been pleased to see Harry working well again and even more to see Neville succeed as well. When Harry had managed an exercise in Transfiguration, and him being the first to manage it, McGonagall had been ecstatic, and stayed with him all the period, checking if he could do everything they had covered since the year started. Harry had been surprised how easy Transfiguration felt to him now. The fact that he could focus properly seemed to make a big difference, and even with a wand not properly tuned to him, he still found it easy. Hermione was fuming, she tried to ask him how he suddenly was so good after being useless for a month. He had ignored her, he was waiting for an apology first.
His new friendship with Neville was getting really well. He had asked Blaise if he could fill him, and Blaise only asked him if he thought Neville could keep a secret. Neville had been extremely comprehensive, and even told him he had his suspicions about him liking boys, saying he looked a bit too much at Cedric last year at the ball. Harry tried to tell him he was looking at Cho instead, but with hindsight...maybe he had looked at both of them.
He was heading towards the 'Room', saw the door already there and opened it. He was curious, Blaise had sent him a message earlier, saying he had a proposition.
He barely set a foot in the room and was attacked by a wild kissing Zabini. He laughed and tried to look reproachful but couldn't quite get it. "Come on, it's not that I don't like it, but you could let me close the door properly before assaulting me! You're lucky I check every time if someone follows me."
Blaise gave him a cheeky grin and they both sat on a very comfortable couch, curled up together.
"So, what's that 'proposition'?" He asked.
"Curious?" Harry rolled his eyes. "Come on, tell me or I will punish you. One day without any kiss for every minute I wait."
Blaise stared at him. Pinched his lips. "You cruel, heartless man. Fine. I would like to invite you in my home for the Yule break. My mother agreed to it, I received her letter this morning."
Wow, I wasn't expecting this. Harry thought. Wait, her mother knows?! He felt the panic building up.
"Hmmm, does your mother know we are together then? Or are you inviting me as a friend?" Blaise gave him such a smile, he felt himself feeling a bit better. Blaise probably had seen him stiffen, because he gently kissed him and passed his hand through his hair.
Then, he answered with that soft voice Harry loved so much. "Of course she knows Harry. She was actually the one encouraging me to give you a chance when I said your magic was pulling me in, but I thought you would never talk to me since I was a slytherin."
Harry felt himself relax under the gentle touch in his hair, and the words of reassurance.
Maybe it wouldn't be too bad. It is probably like meeting Mrs Weasley or Mrs Granger...
And then he remembered his plans with Sirius. "I, uh, actually have plans already... You remember when I told you Draco would be surprised by the next in line for the Black Lordship?"
Blaise nodded slowly. "Sirius is going to adopt me. Not legally, but magically. Which make it legal too but it's not by the administrative form." He sighed. "I'm ranting, you know that better than me I think. We will do the blood adoption ritual. So the main line will have an official heir and Draco is fucked. Sirius told me it could take me a few days to recover so we planned it for the very first day of the break. I have to check with Gringotts after that for the Potter and Black heirs rings, and see if everything is fine, Dumbledore is my magical guardian and I don't trust him one bit now, I hope he didn't mess up my family situation."
Blaise was humming, and took out a piece of parchment.
"Holidays start Saturday 15th. You do the ritual this day you said?" Harry nodded. "Right. We have to get on the train on the 4th of January. I suppose you want to spend time with your father...?" He hesitated a bit. Harry smiled, it was something that made him feel queasy too.
"I don't think I will ever call him that. It's a bit too late I suppose. Sirius is fine to me."
"Very well. But I was right? You will spend time with him?" Harry nodded. "What about this, you stay with him, celebrate Yule with him, and you could come with me on the 24th? This way you could spend roughly half the time with him, and half with my family."
Harry found this very tempting. On the other hand, he was going to be adopted, it should be logical that Sirius agreed to this, he couldn't act like he was adult already...
"How would I came to your home?"
"My mother proposed to send you a portkey, you would just have to hold onto it and say the password."
Yes, that could work. Alright, time to inform Sirius I guess...
He took out the mirror out of his bag and looked straight in Blaise's eyes. "I'm gonna call Sirius. I have to ask him and, well I'm gonna introduce you I guess."
He felt the sweat on his hands. Why am I so anxious?! But he really wanted to see where Blaise lived, and spending time with him without the pressure of the school...
"Padfoot!" The mirror stayed normal for quite a bit but Sirius finally emerged.
"Hello Harry! Are you alright you are a bit pale. And who is this?" Then a mischievous smile appeared on him. "Is this who I think it is?" He asked with a knowing tone.
"Yes that's him. Sirius, this is Blaise Zabini. Blaise, my godfather, Sirius Black the terrific mass murderer. Be warned." Sirius laughed loudly and Blaise looked amused.
"So, this is the one who took my godson's innocence?" Sirius blurt out, raising an eyebrow. Blaise and Harry looked equally horrified and it made Sirius laugh even more.
"Sirius!" Harry exclaimed, while Blaise- "You told him that?!" looked reproachful.
"I had to! He knew something was going on just looking at me. And when I tried to change the subject he threatened to give details about my parents! Personal, intimate and very-unfit-for-me-to-know details! So I did the best I could, I gave him the entire truth and he was so not expecting it, his face made it worth it."
Blaise snorted. "Seeing how smug you look, I suppose i can understand. But you asking if my mother knows we are dating is a bit hypocrite when you told him this kind of detail, don't you think?"
Harry glared at him before admitting that Blaise had a point.
"So, to what do I owe the pleasure boys?" Sirius asked still grinning like a madman.
"Blaise... asked me to pass a bit of time with him during the break. I told him about our plans but he proposed I arrived on the 24th. We could celebrate Yule instead of Christmas...? His mother would send me a portkey before we leave Hogwarts and she would bring us both to the train station I suppose?" Blaise nodded.
"Hmmm, you know I have nothing against you kid, but your mother has quite a reputation." Blaise grimaced hearing this. Harry had never heard about this, and Blaise always described this mother with affection.
"It's... deserved I suppose. It has to do with our family. I can't really say much more. Just that every one of these men deserved it, except for my father. I can promise you Harry will be in no danger coming from us."
Sirius was looking extremely serious right now, and stared intensely at his boyfriend. Harry was feeling the tension radiating from Blaise, and he wondered where all of this came from.
"Harry, I agree to this and in the end it is your choice. I want to trust him, he makes you happy I can see it, but I have two conditions. First you have to call me everyday. Second, I would like a portkey myself, and I will come with him the first day. Celebrating Yule is fine with me, I was raised celebrating it after all. Only did Christmas two years I think, because of Lily." He remembered. Then he looked at Blaise again. "So, what do you think?"
"That should be feasible. There is actually another reason for you to come Harry, I have found a solution to your wand problem. Loopholes are quite handy sometimes." He smirked.
"Not a Slytherin for nothing I see." Sirius commented wryly.
"Thank you!" He smiled in return. "I've read the law about possessing wands quite a bit, and there is nothing against OWNING multiples wands." Comprehension appeared in Sirius's eyes.
"Yes, it's because families keep the wands of the deceased. They couldn't declare this illegal. People would protest too much. So you propose to buy his wand abroad then. It would work, as long as Ollivander attests he never sold another one to Harry if he is asked, and Harry will be fine." Sirius nodded approvingly. "It's well thought."
Blaise smirked while looking at Harry. "Wands actually. Harry has decided he wants to learn how to fight with two wands simultaneously."
Sirius looked at Harry with a blank face, then dismissed it with a wave of his hand. "It's Harry, I'm not surprised he is crazy. He is not a full Black yet but he has his own form of madness. I'm sure he will work it out somehow." He laughed at Blaise dubious face. "Hello kid, full Patronus at thirteen? Triwizard winner at fourteen with a little duel against a Dark Lord as bonus? And I've heard a little story about a giant Basilisk I wasn't aware recently?" He raised an eyebrow. Harry ignored him the best he could.
Blaise on the other hand looked resigned. "Maybe you are right. He does do crazy things. I guess I will have to stop this trend, I want to keep him alive after all. I don't like to part way with what's mine."
Sirius howled at this, and even teared up after seeing Harry blushing really hard.
"Yours uh? You are awfully distant for someone who claims that." He muttered. Blaise hit his arm, and gave him a 'we're not alone look' and he realized what he suggested. Luckily for them, Sirius hadn't heard any of it and was still recovering from his wild laugh.
"So, who are you going to take him? Gregorovitch maybe?"
"No, he is the grandson of Shikoba Wolfe, an American wandmaker. She is quite famous there. His name his Talako Wolfe. He has learnt everything he could from his grandmother and then started traveling. He is the complete opposite of someone like Ollivander, who is trying to perfect his art by making the most refined wands, and for this has reduced the pool of cores he uses to three. It's admitted that Ollivander's wand are the best if you find a perfect match. Ollivander is a wood speaker, it's an incredible advantage to have this magical gift for crafting wands. However since he is so famous, he became the only one in Britain. A lot of people end up with a wand imperfectly tuned with their magic. Wolfe on the contrary is willing to try literally everything. He actually requests either magical wood parts, or potential wand cores as a part of his payment. It limits the number of clients he has but it leaves him time to experiment. So in the end his wands are maybe a bit less perfected but you are way more likely to end up with a perfect match.
It's also why he never stays long in the same place. When I got my wand his shop was situated in Spain. Now he is in Egypt. He has enough reputation that it doesn't matter to him. Him being in Egypt is why it will be easy for us since this is the country where my mother's family is coming from."
Blaise finished his speech, and he was surprised not to have been interrupted for so long. He knew Harry was interested in wandcrafting, Sirius was obviously the same.
"So," Harry finally said- "I have to find something as a payment then. Maybe I should ask Hagrid... There is quite a lot of Magical Creatures at Hogwarts after all."
"It's a good idea, and you still have a week, it should be enough... Uh Oh. Harry, look at the time."
Shit. 11PM.
"We have to go, Bye Sirius!" He closed the mirror without waiting for an answer and took his cloak.
"So that's why you always manage to sneak out on me. It seems quite different than regular invisibility cloaks... an heirloom maybe?" He said, with reverence. Harry paused, he didn't know anything about invisibility cloaks in general. How could he know if it was an heirloom?
"Uuuh I have no idea. I know my father used it when he was at Hogwarts too, and Sirius called it 'The Potter cloak' so... I guess?"
"Normal cloaks only last for two or three decades maximum, then they become regular cloaks, the effect stops. So yes, probably heirloom. Good night Harry."
Harry was heading towards Hagrid's hut, and was secretly blessing magic. He had left straight after his last class, with a little detour in the kitchen to grab diner for two persons, and now was giving in the wonders of warming charms. It was really cold, but despite his thin cloak he felt quite nice outside.
Hagrid had given him rendezvous for 6pm, after he had told him the day before he was looking for potential magical wand parts because he had taken an interest lately in wandcrafting, which was true, he said to himself. He liked Hagrid, despite the blind loyalty to Dumbledore, and he refused to lie to him. Omitting details however, he could live with that.
"Heya 'Arry!" A voice called him.
"Hi! How was your day Hagrid?"
"Fine 'Arry, classes were nice today, not one Slytherin/Gryffindor, so like holidays really!" He joked. "So, you interested in wands heh? What are you lookin' for exactly?"
Harry had discussed this with Blaise, who had told him the forest had quite a variety of trees. Blaise had explained trees growing in a magical forest had a high probability to be magical.
"Well, different kind of woods mainly. And maybe parts of animals? I know you have a herd of unicorns, so perhaps some of the hair they leave behind?"
"Ooh, yah I have quite a lot of that. And thestrals's too. Hipogriff feathers also, dunno if you'd like them. Hmmm let's see what else..."
They were now in the forest, and Harry wondered what trees would give magical wood. He opted to look for what appeared the oldest ones, supposing they may be more impregnated with magic the older they were.
He found a pale one with an enormous trunk. He saw a branch nearly fallen, and asked Hagrid because he didn't know how to cut it without damaging the tree.
A few meters away, he saw another one with the wood looking like ivory and they repeated the process.
"Hagrid, you are still friends with Aragog right? Do you have any acromentula venom?"
"Ofcourse! Aragog's kids sometimes try to hunt into the centaurs territory. They have no chance against these arrows, poor babies." Hagrid lamented.
Harry managed not to laugh, he knew Hagrid for a long time now, and he wasn't surprised by his love of horrific creatures, but it was still funny.
"Maybe you could give me some? I don't need a lot, I think." Harry was curious to see what the wandmaker would think of this. Blaise never heard about venom used in wand core either, and Harry planned to go in the Chamber to take a basilisk fang too. He was sure it would make a nice bargain tool.
"It is no trouble 'Arry. Here, look at this one, it's blackthorn wood, I know because it was what my old wand used." Another branch was taken, and then Hagrid told him he had a particular tree to show him.
"Tis the oldest tree in the forest, I heard the centaurs say once. They take great care of it so we will just check if it is damaged somewhere alright?"
Harry was beginning to worry, they were pretty deep in the forest. Then Hagrid stopped in front of a gigantic tree, who had a beautiful hue. It was a deep red, somewhat it looked like the tree had a fire inside his trunk.
"Wow, I can understand why they like that tree so much, I can actually see the magic coming off from the trunk." He approached and caressed it. Suddenly, he heard a cracking noise and a branch fell next to him. He was in the process of wondering if the tree was somehow sentient when he heard a hard voice shouting.
"Hagrid! What do you think you are doing to a sacred tree?!"
Harry startled and saw three centaurs and recognized them in particular Firenze, who had helped him back in his first year. He took the branch on the ground and approached them slowly.
"Harry Potter. What brings you so deep in this forest? It is a dangerous place for one so young."
He decided quickly than honesty should be the way to go. He remembered the first one, Bane, and how he didn't seem to like humans.
"I... am meeting a wandmaker in the coming weeks. I have been told he is looking for diverse magical parts. I asked Hagrid to bring me to the forest so I could look for magical wood. Hagrid helped me chose branches where it would not injure the trees." He showed the three first ones he had collected. "Then Hagrid told me he wanted to show me a tree. That it was the oldest in the forest, and that we could look and only take one branch if it was damaged."
The centaurs showed no emotions for now. Even Bane listened, probably waiting to decide if he would kill him or not.
"When we arrived, I was enthralled by how beautiful it was. It's so much more alive than any other tree in the forest from what I've seen. The magic is leaking from it... I don't know if I did anything when I touched it, I don't think so, but this branch fell just next to me. And the cut is... unnaturally clean. Is it possible the tree is somehow sentient?"
All right. I am still alive. It is positive!
Bane was still looking at him expressionless. Ronan was deep in thought, looking at the old tree. Firenze... was looking at the stars and looking like he was in trance. Then Ronan spoke.
"I think the child may be right my friends. It has been a long time since one of the Elders gave a sign..."
The Elders?
"You can't be serious! Why would an Elder gave a sign to a human?!" Bane retorted with disbelief.
"He will probably be important for the forest in the future I suppose..." He turned back to look at Firenze, who got out of his torpor and seemed disturbed.
"Did you see something Firenze?"
Said centaur nodded, and looked at Harry.
"The forest is dying...Come back when you are ready young one, Death is part of the cycle but the Forest should live, it is not yet its time. We will wait for you to return."
And then he left. Ronan followed him without a word but Bane was looking at them, and Harry in succession, hesitant. Finally, he growled.
"Leave these woods. You have been here long enough."
Hagrid for once, didn't play the tough guy and they left quickly. On the return, Harry saw a carcass of something familiar.
"Hagrid, is that a blast ended skrewt?"
Hagrid choked a bit. "Aye, t'was the last one too. He died a few days ago, he refused to eat ..."
Mmmh, they were highly venomous I think, maybe...
"What will you do with the body?" he asked.
"Well, thestrals ate all the others. They will probably eat this one too."
"Do you think you could get me the tail? It's a new specie, maybe it could work in a wand.."
Hagrid had suddenly life in his yes. "You think so? Oh it would be so nice, it's like he would live again!"
Oookay. Hagrid is really weird sometimes.
Thirty minutes later, they both left the forest. Harry was in possession of quite a heavy bag, and he was happy to have brought boxes. He had two highly venomous parts, and would be in a possession of a third tomorrow. He put his cloak on him since it was after curfew after thanking and saying good bye to Hagrid, and headed back to the common room.
He was yawning when he got assaulted by a very angry Hermione.
"Harry!" She hissed. "Where the hell were you?!"
He raised an eyebrow. "So, you are talking to me again? How nice of you."
"Stop being childish! Mr Weasley was attacked, they all left an hour ago to headquarters, the headmaster was looking for you to leave with them."
"What do you mean attacked? Is he alright?!"
She pinched her lips. "I don't know, they didn't give me any details. You didn't answer me Harry, where were you? You can't wander alone like that after curfew. I should take off points!"
Points, really? What a disaster! Mr Weasley may be dead and she wants to take off points!
"Then do. I'm going to call Sirius." And stormed out of the common room, rushed towards his trunk, took out the mirror and called "Padfoot!"
The mirror instantly showed Sirius who looked murderous.
"Finally! Where were you?! I was worried sick! Arthur is in St Mungo's, he was bitten by a some venomous snake..."
Harry blinked. He had told Sirius where he would be tonight and that he would most likely be late, but he supposed worrying over Arthur had somehow extended to him.
"Sirius, I was with Hagrid, I told you yesterday, relax I'm perfectly fine. Is Mr Weasley going to be alright?" Sirius regained a few colors but Harry saw sadness in his eyes.
"We don't know, the venom is unknown, Voldemort probably modified his snake to make it unique, for now they are fighting to keep him alive. But Snape already took venom from the wound and is working on the antidote."
Harry felt a bit relieved, at least he was still alive, and Snape despite being a terrible teacher, was a genius with his work. He felt a bit better knowing someone like him worked on a solution.
"Dora and Remus will wait for you at the station Harry. Now that it's only you it should be enough. Dumbledore was quite mad not to find you, he will probably summon you tomorrow."
Harry shrugged, it didn't matter to him. "I still don't have the portkeys so I would have refused to come anyway. And I need to go in the Chamber to harvest a basilisk fang too."
"I don't like you going back there alone, but I suppose there is no danger anymore... Try to sleep Harry. I will see you in three days."
