Chapter Ten: Screams in the Dark

Harry's P.O.V.

I shivered as I finished stirring the potion in Professor Snape's class. All day I had been feeling these shivers. It was like something bad was about to happen, but I don't know what's going to happen or when it was going to take place. I shook my head as the professor went to the front of the room. I knew he was about to say something and, no matter how boring it was, I didn't want to spend another detention scrubbing cauldrons or cleaning the whole classroom again.

"Tomorrow there will be no class," Professor Snape said, "I'll be gone with some other teachers for the next week or so. But do not think you can slack off! After tomorrow you'll have a substitute. Respect him or her and treat him or her like you would any other teacher. Now, cork your potions and put them on my desk!"

As I put mine and Neville's on the table, Professor Snape grabbed my arm. "Mr. Potter, I would greatly appreciate it if you could tell Ryan about my departure," he said, "He will be back for Defense and I don't have time to find him before I leave,"

"Yes sir," I said, "I'll make sure he knows," I ran out the room and hurried off to DADA. I guess Professor Snape was leaving after our class because he could have pulled him over before lunch if he wanted too.

"So, what did Snape want you for?" Ron asked as soon as I walked out.

"He wanted me to tell Ryan about him leaving," I said.

"Why?" Draco asked, Neville trailing behind him, "He could have easily pulled him over before or after lunch to tell him,"

"I guess he'll be gone before then," I said, "At least he's letting his son know he isn't going to be here,"

"But what about the professor's daughter?" Neville asked, "Who's going to watch her?"

"I think Professor McGonagall," Draco said, "She is Ivy's godmother,"

"Ivy?" Ron asked.

"That's the professor's daughter's name," Draco said, rolling his eyes, "You've met her before, haven't you Harry?"

"Once," I said, "Dad had to watch her because no one else could,"

"Oh yeah," Ron said, "I remember that. You came back to the dorms covered in throw up!"

I growled at him as the others started laughing. "Come on," I said, "We're going to be late to class if we don't hurry,"

We hurried to Qurriel's class and I took a seat next to Ryan. He seemed pretty into whatever assignment we had today and it took me shaking him and repeatedly saying his name to get his attention. "Oh, hi Harry," he said, looking embarrassed. "What's going on?"

"Your dad asked me to tell you he's leaving for a little while," I said.

"Do you know where?"

"He didn't tell me," Ryan looked like he was about to cry and I did my best to comfort him. "Is something wrong Ryan?" I asked, "You look like you're about to cry,"

"What if it has something to do with the Death Eaters?" Ryan asked, "I remember when some of them came over to 'ask' Dad for some potions. They threatened to kill us if he didn't give them to them. What if they threaten Dad? What if they hurt him?"

I cut him off. "I don't think its Death Eaters Ryan," I said, "I heard Dad say something about an animal in the forest that isn't supposed to be there. Maybe he went with Hagrid to get rid of it,"

"Your dad is staying at the castle?" Ryan asked looking over to make sure Quirrel was still too busy trying to get the rest of the class under control.

"He hasn't told me about leaving," I said, feeling fear tightening my throat. "Maybe Professor Flitwick is going with your dad. Though I think it might be better for him if he took Dad along too. With my Dad being an Auror and yours knowing all those spells, nothing can stop them!"

He smiled at that and Professor Quirrel managed to get control over the class. He looked at me and I shivered, feeling my scar start to hurt. It always hurts when Professor Quirrel looks at me actually. There was one explanation, but it was crazy! I knew Dad had a suspicion about You-Know-Who not being completely dead, but could he really have possessed the Professor? Dad said that there was no way of destroying someone's soul unless it was a Horcrux or it had its own body. The only reason I had asked Dad about the souls anyway was because soul's had something to do with wand lore. One thing led to another and soon we went from souls to You-Know-Who and Horcruxes. He thought that, since he didn't destroy Hufflepuff's cup before You-Know-Who death, that his soul might live on and take another body. That he might be trying to make himself a new body and rise back to power, which would be near impossible since most of his Death Eaters are either dead or soulless in Azkaban. The others are just going insane or trying clear their family's name. Dad was studying how to just destroy a soul with no body or possessing another. The only way I knew how was crucifying and there is no doubt in my mind that the professor would die if we took that route. I needed to get proof of Professor Quirrel being possessed and tell Dad. We can't let You-Know-Who rise to power again!

"Harry," Ryan whispered, "Is something wrong?"

"I think something's wrong with the professor," I whispered back, "But I need to get proof of it first before I can tell Dad anything,"

"William and I'll keep an eye on him," Ryan whispered, "The only thing I can tell you right now is that William heard him muttering to himself about something called the Sorcerer's Stone,"

The class went by pretty normally, until Quirrel gave me detention for talking to Ryan. I mean, I stopped talking with him right before he actually started the lesson. It wasn't like I was interrupting something important. I knew something was up. Quirrel never hands out detentions, he's so scared of his own shadow, and I don't even want to know what he felt about us. I saw the guys giving me looks of sympathy and I shrugged. There's a first for everything I guess.

The day passed by pretty quickly and soon it was time for my detention with Professor Quirrel. I had told the guys my suspicions and they promised to tell my dad where I was if I wasn't back on time so he could check up on me.

As I walked to the classroom, the bad feeling I had got stronger. By the time I got there, I felt like throwing up. I knocked on the door. "Professor Quirrel," I said, "I'm here for my detention, sir,"

"Potter, don't!" I heard Professor Snape yell, but it was too late. Professor Quirrel grabbed me and locked the door with multiple charms after throwing me to the floor. "It seems Snape was really a spy for Dumbledore all along," someone hissed. I knew it wasn't Quirrel. It sounded more like something dripping evil.

I tried to stand up, but something was holding me down. Professor Quirrel was taking off his turban and I screamed at the sight that was on the back of his head.

It was a face with ruby red eyes. Instead of a nose it had slits. Suddenly, I remembered where I had seen that face before. The night Neville's gran had been killed; Voldemort had come into the room, trying to kill us. Voldemort was possessing Quirrel!

"Hello, boy," Voldemort hissed, Quirrel walking backwards so old Voldie could face me, "It seems that you have fallen into my trap. I pity too, I was hoping to have my… body back so I can truly kill you for myself. But, of course, it will be nice to have the boy of the prophecy gone before I try for world domination again, won't it?"

"You won't get away with this!" I shouted.

"But I already have Potter," he said, "Quirrel, kill the boy,"

With that Quirrel turned to face me, but whatever was holding me down was gone. I jumped up and kicked Quirrel as hard as I could. He fell to the ground in agony. "Professor Snape!" I screamed, "Help me, please!"

I barely managed to dodge a Stunner before Quirrel hit me with a Cutting hex. I screamed as my blood started to fall. I knew I was going to die before Professor Snape managed to knock down the door. But I can try to take Voldemort and the professor with me. Or, maybe I can hold them off long enough for the professor to get into the classroom. I shot off a Body-Bind hex and a Levitation charm. The Body-Bind didn't hit, but the Levitation charm did. I quickly shot off another Body-Bind, not sure how long it would hold. "Harry!" I heard my dad scream.

"Dad!" I screamed, "Hurry! I don't know how long the Body-Bind's going to last!"

Quirrel managed to break the hex and the charm just as Professor Snape and Dad came rushing into the classroom, followed closely by Headmistress McGonagall. "Avada Kedava!" Quirrel shouted and I jumped closer to Dad, barely missing the Unforgivable by a few centimeters. He pushed me behind him and shot off a whole bunch of spells I had never heard of, with a few of Snape's and McGonagall's as well. Quirrel toppled over and started screaming. I watched in horror as Voldemort's soul ripped itself from Quirrel's and dissolved. Quirrel's followed suit, but his exploded instead. He let one last scream of pain out before falling dead to the floor. I crumbled to the floor, feeling dizzy and extremely horrified.

"James, get Harry to Poppy now!" Professor McGonagall shouted, "We can handle Quirrel from here!"

He lifted me into his arms, but I couldn't tear my eyes away from Quirrel. I had been hoping that he could have been saved, but it seemed that the fates had other plans. "Daddy," I whispered, feeling like I was five again, "Is he dead forever now?"

"I really hope so buddy," he whispered, "I really hope so,"

I looked up and saw a full moon. Poor Uncle Moony, he was probably in so much pain tonight. Then I promptly fainted in Dad's arms.