Reverse of a Dark Future
Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter, JK Rowling does. She is a wonderful author and I love her Harry Potter books. I do not own any of the persons in this fic except for Morin Black. He's mine, I created him!
Spoilers: Um, book four and five. Only a bit though in the fourth book, and book five does not happen in this fic except that I mention some things and some creatures you should be aware about. Good if you have read up to book five. Book six or seven does not happen at all.
It's not spoilers, but I will warn you that all of the characters will be a bit different. The most major ones are Snape, Draco, the Weasley twins, Percy and Voldemort. Oh, and Harry will be a bit different, and I warn you it will be a bit mental abuse from the Dursleys directed to our little Harry.
And beware, because I am an evil girl and I have changed Voldemort's past!
Not everything will center on Harry, but most of the time it will together with Morin. Morin is involved in Harry's whole life and they will get close to each other. Some parts will be all Morin, but I will not make this fic so it will only be about Morin, don't worry.
Pairings: Slight pairing between Morin and Voldemort.
-
EDITED 2010-01-20
-
Chapter Ten: The Rebirth of a Monster
Most of the students were happy when they discovered their ex-professor in DADA was back. Many seemed to have forgotten he was a werewolf, or they did not care about that fact. He was an excellent teacher for the younger children, and Morin gladly let off some of the burdens he had to the younger man.
Harry spent a lot of time pouring over his homework, talking to Remus and Morin about defence and speaking to Sirius. One day in the end of May, McGonagall held him back after a lesson in Transfiguration.
"Potter, Mr Bagman will explain the third task tonight at nine by the Quidditch pitch. Be there on time."
Half past eight that night Harry left Ron and Hermione in Gryffindor Tower and went downstairs. After the way he met up with Cedric and they fell in step with each other.
"What do you reckon the third task is?" he asked the shorter teen as they went down the stone steps and out into the cloudy yet warm night.
"No idea," Harry answered.
They walked down to the Quidditch stadium, turned through a gap in the stand and walked out onto the pitch. They both stopped dead in their path.
"What have they done to it?" Cedric asked, horrified.
The Quidditch pitch was no longer smooth and flat. It looked like someone had been building long, low walls over the pitch, twisting and criss-crossing in every direction.
"Hedges?" Harry said to himself and bent down to examine the closest one.
"Hello there!"
They both turned around to look at Bagman, who was standing in the middle of the pitch with Fleur and Viktor. The two made their way to the middle by climbing over the hedges. Fleur smiled to them both, as the ice between them had disappeared after the Yule ball for some reason. Viktor nodded his head to the two and even gave Harry a small smile.
"What do you think?" Bagman said happily as Harry and Cedric had reached them. "Give Hagrid a month and these beauties will be around six metres tall! Oh don't worry you two; the pitch will be left as it was afterwards, all nice and flat. Now, do you know why these hedges are here?"
No one spoke for a moment.
"Maze?" Viktor asked grumpily.
"That's right!" Bagman said. "A maze. The third task is very straightforward. The Tri-wizard Cup will be placed in the centre of the maze and the first to touch it will receive full marks."
"We 'ave to get through the maze?" Fleur said. "That's all?"
"There will be obstacles," the man said happily and the four champions wondered how he could be so happy about it. "Hagrid is providing some creatures, there is spells that has to be broken… all that sort of things you know. Now, the champions who are leading on points will get a head start into the maze." At this, Bagman grinned at Harry and Viktor. "Then Mr Diggory will enter, and lastly will be Miss Delacour. But you will all have a fighting chance, depending on how well you get past the obstacles. Doesn't it sound fun?"
Harry, who knew too well what kind of creatures that Hagrid could provide an event like this, knew it would be everything but fun. However, he nodded politely with the other champions.
"Very well. If you haven't any question, we'll go back to the castle. The air is becoming a bit chilly."
The man hurried up to walk alongside Harry, who inwardly groaned. When was the man going to leave him alone?? Bagman began to turn to him, when a tap on his shoulder made him turn his head around.
"A moment?" Viktor asked.
"Sure," Harry answered.
"Want me to wait?" Bagman asked.
"No thank you," the Gryffindor answered. "I can find my way back to castle on my own."
Viktor walked a bit and they stopped not far from Hagrid's hut, just where no one could see them. Harry turned to the Bulgarian and said:
"Thanks."
"My pleasure," Viktor replied. "Why is he offering help?"
"I don't know, and I don't like it. It's like he wants me to win, no matter what," Harry answered.
They talked a bit about the third task before Harry moved to the castle and Viktor towards the Durmstrang ship.
-
Morin was sitting in the teachers lounge was writing on a parchment when a chill suddenly ran down his spine. He sat up straight, scaring both Remus and Snape that was sitting not so far from the Black and the only other teachers in the room.
"Morin?" the potions professor said.
The man did not seem to hear. Instead he turned his eyes to the window, and seemed to listen. Then he stood up abruptly and all but ran out the door. The two younger men glanced at each other before following.
-
Morin was running down the stairs, down the corridor and towards the entrance door. He met Bagman and Cedric who both seemed to have entered not long ago.
"Mr Black, what's the rush?" Bagman said happily.
"Where is Harry?" Morin asked.
"He was with Viktor," Cedric said. "What's wrong?"
Morin knew it was not Viktor who had done anything, but someone had. Without answering their questions he ran outside.
The still form of the Gryffindor lay not too far away while a figure was bent over him with a bloodied knife in his hand. The figure pointed a wand against a bottle with something that looked a lot like blood and it disappeared. Morin growled, ripped out his wand and screamed:
"Stupefy!"
The figure was thrown away several metres by the strong curse and Morin ran to Harry. The teen seemed to have been hit by a Stupefy as well. Morin saw a deep cut in the boy's left arm and murmured a healing-spell. The wound disappeared instantly.
"Enervate," Morin spoke softly and Harry opened his eyes.
"Morin?" he said groggily as the man helped him sit up. "What happened?"
"Harry!"
Morin looked up at the running figures. Snape, Remus, Cedric, Bagman and McGonagall. As soon as the potions master and the werewolf came to the Gryffindor, the older man rose up and walked with his wand ready to the figure. Suddenly a wand shot up and the figure screamed out:
"Stupefy!"
The curse hurled against Morin and everyone shouted. Morin did not move. He raised one hand and the spell stopped. He gently embraced the red light with his hand and when he opened his palm again the spell was gone. His aura began to leak up and wrapped him in an eerie light. Harry watched the man close his eyes for a brief moment and then looking at the figure again. He raised his wand slowly towards the figure and said calmly yet dangerously:
"Hello traitor Peter Pettigrew."
-
Aurors were called immediately by the headmaster while Morin made sure Pettigrew could not escape. The shock of seeing the old traitor had made Harry forget about the fact he almost had been killed, although the others did notice. Morin looked over at them as Snape rubbed Harry's shoulder to calm him down and Remus was speaking quietly to him. Dumbledore was standing next to the potions master and Morin turned his eyes to the ratlike man again. He kneeled down in front of the traitor and Pettigrew flinched. Morin's young face twisted for a moment in anger before he calmed himself down and growled:
"Where did you send the blood?"
"I don't know," Pettigrew said. "Not even the Dark Lord knows. It was an emergency spot, and there is thousands around the world."
"Do you know where they are?" Black continued.
Pettigrew obviously knew, but he looked away with a weak "No I don't."
"Don't lie to me Peter", Morin said softly with a small smile and put the tip of his wand to the man's forehead. "One move I don't like, and I will kill you."
"Fine!" he said with a tremble. "I know them."
Morin locked eyes with Pettigrew and his smile grew wider. Luckily no one noticed. But the ratlike man noticed, and chills ran along his spine. This was the man Voldemort had warned him about.
"Legilimens."
Morin looked into Pettigrew's mind slowly, not wanting the man to go insane before he could confess all about the betrayal. He found the places quickly and pulled that memory out into a bottle.
"Thank you", he said to the dazed man. "Now you are going to tell the Ministry all about your betrayal."
"No, I didn't do anything!" Pettigrew tried.
"Liar!" Harry screamed but was held back by Remus and Snape.
"Indeed," the DADA professor said and stood up, the wand never leaving the man's trembling form. "Luckily, you are not very good at lying. The Aurors won't have much trouble to make you confess."
Soon David, the one who had helped Morin with their special class, came in along with four others.
"Thank you for keeping a watch over him," David said. "This shouldn't take long, but maybe it's better you wait outside."
They were currently in Dumbledore's office, as they had moved into the castle before calling the Aurors, and the headmaster nodded. He ushered them all out and then there was only to wait.
-
One hour later Pettigrew had confessed under Verisatum and David came out. He looked around and noticed Dumbledore, Remus, Snape, Morin and Harry were waiting. Morin was entertaining the teen with chess.
"He confessed," the Auror said and they snapped their heads to his direction. "I've notified the minister, and he grudgingly accepted to take down the wanted posters of Sirius Black. If we can find him, he will be released from all charges."
"How good," the headmaster said. "What will happen to Peter?"
"He will have the Dementors kiss," David said. "We'll do it at the Ministry."
Harry wanted to jump high in the air. Sirius was a free man! Remus seemed to try not jump as well, but was still fidgeting a bit as David and Dumbledore continued to speak.
"Check mate," Morin said calmly and the boy whirled around.
"What?" he said. "I thought I had you for once!"
"Too bad," the man replied. "How about you go up to your dorm and tell your friends the happy news?"
"But I can't even tell Dray, Blaise or Pansy," Harry whined.
"You can tell them tomorrow", Remus said. "I'm sure they can wait until then."
"Off to bed," Morin said.
"Fine, fine."
"Maybe someone could walk with him?" David said. "I don't know if Pettigrew had someone with him."
"I doubt he had but maybe a bit precaution just in case," Morin said.
"I can go with you," Remus said.
"Okay," the teen replied and they walked off.
-
Harry had practically been shaking of excitement as he told Ron, Hermione, Fred and George.
"Sirius is free?" Hermione whispered. "That's great!"
They were sitting in the common room and the girl had cast a silencing spell over them so no one would hear them.
"Have you told him that?" Ron asked.
"Remus did it for me," the raven-haired boy said. "Sirius would lay low for a while and then go to the Ministry to sort things out."
"So Pettigrew is caught now?" Ron said bitterly.
"It wasn't your fault he escaped from the beginning," Harry said. "You couldn't have known."
Ron nodded and looked down at his hands.
"Harry?" George suddenly asked. "What happened to your sleeve?"
"Huh?"
Harry looked down at the torn left sleeve of his sweater.
"You got blood on it as well," Hermione almost shrieked. However, she jumped up to have a look.
"Morin said I was hurt and he healed the cut," the raven-haired teen said. "I'm fine."
"Sure?"
"Yes mother."
Hermione huffed at the teen who laughed a bit.
"Well, if you insist I'm your mother, then off to bed!" she said. "All of you!"
"No, why?" Ron whined.
"We have to practice to the exams in the morning!" Hermione answered.
The two of them argued back and forth as Harry, Fred and George looked on. The twins looked at each other and shrugged. Harry sighed.
'Here we go again.'
-
The time for the third task came too quickly according to Harry. Suddenly he lay there in bed on the day of the third and final task. He twisted onto his stomach and sighed. His nerves were in a mess already, and it was only morning!
As he was a champion, he would not need to do any exams and therefore had the whole day free. Hermione and Ron had exams in DADA, History of Magic and Ron had an exam in Divination while Hermione had one in Runes. So that left Harry alone for pretty much of the whole day.
He twisted again to get a hold of the melody box. He cast a silencing spell around his bed and opened the lid. The melody began to play and Harry relaxed. Now when he came to think about it, he had not seen Morin for a while. Dumbledore had even announced three days ago that the man was away on important business, but Remus would hold in the DADA exams. The Gryffindor wondered what Morin was doing, as no one was too keen to answer him.
Harry almost screamed as a hand landed on his shoulder. He turned around and saw…
"George?" Noticing the spell was still intact, he released it and said again, "George?"
"Hi," the Weasley twin said awkwardly. "Mind if I sit down?"
"What are you doing here?"
"He's not alone," a voice answered.
Harry peeked over George's shoulder and saw Fred tip-toe into the room.
"We've done our exams already," George said, "and we thought you wouldn't mind some company."
"And what possessed you to come here at six in the morning?"
"Couldn't sleep," they answered with identical shrugs and jumped into his bed.
The twins made themselves comfortable and Harry shrugged and turned his attention to the melody again. When they had not disturbed him in ten minutes he looked over at them and smiled a bit.
They lay just next to him, Fred hugging George close to him. George had thrown a leg and arm over Fred and they had both fallen asleep. Harry sighed, put the melody box down on the sheets without closing the lid, lay back on the pillows and closed his eyes.
'Feels nice…'
Within minutes he fell asleep with his back to George.
-
Ron woke up around seven-thirty, and groaned. He had three exams and no Harry with him to suffer with. Well, may as well get up and fail them all. Though he might do good in DADA…
He got up from the bed and after a quick visit to the shower room he had freshened up. He pulled on his robes and thought of maybe waking Harry up. But as he came to his friend's bed, he was slightly surprised.
His two brothers were there as well. George had turned so that his back was flush against Fred's chest and Fred had simply rounded his arms around his brother's middle. Harry was lying on his back with the melody box by his head. It was still playing.
Ron put down his bag and put the covers over the three of them. He gently closed the lid to the box and Harry moved to his side towards George.
"Lucky you, you get to sleep long," he muttered to his friend. "See you later."
He put the melody box on the nightstand and left to see if Hermione was up.
-
Morin sat down on a rock in the chilling morning air and sighed. Ever since Pettigrew sent away the blood and Black had gotten the memory of that, the man had been searching for that little bottle of blood. So far, no success. Places checked: 589.
He hung his head as he thought of how many he had left to check. Snape had taken on to check places in England and Scotland, and maybe some countries in Europe.
Morin was in Germany right now, sitting somewhere in the bloody Alps. Not too far away was one of the locations the blood could have ended up. He rose up and picked up his robe. Yes, it was in June but the air was not so warm where he was. He put it around himself and began to walk. Bloody Pettigrew, trying to obey Voldemort for once. Could he not just fail like he always did? Morin muttered curses under his breath all the way up to the location.
Nothing. He almost fell to his knees in desperation. He had been to now 590 bloody places and no one had the bottle! There had been no magical traces of any other wizard on those places, so no Death Eater could have gotten it. Unless they were the same level as Voldemort and could therefore hide their traces completely, which Morin seriously doubted.
Morin shook his head to rid away the dizziness and decided he should go to Hogwarts for now. He had to rest his eyes for a bit.
-
Harry woke up around eight-thirty, and blinked drowsily. He was snuggled into something or… someone?
"The sleepy-head woke up," a voice a bit away laughed.
He looked up at George, who he was snuggled into. Then he turned his head and saw Fred sitting just a bit away, cross-legged and a book his in lap. Harry sat up slowly and yawned.
"What time is it?" he asked.
"Breakfast time," George declared.
"Why didn't you wake me up if you were feeling hungry?"
"Because we didn't want to."
Harry pulled on his robes and the twins ran to their dorm to change to their robes. Harry put on his glasses and stretched. For some reason he was a bit calmer about the third task. He had no idea why.
-
Morin almost dragged himself to his chambers, and just as he was going to just sit down on the floor and pass out, a pair of arms caught him gently. He looked up at the headmaster and said:
"Sorry for just coming in, but I want to rest."
"Of course," Dumbledore said. "I would be worried if you didn't come back. Now let's get you into bed, and maybe you'll wake up in time to wish Harry good luck."
"Is it already time for the third task?"
"Yes."
Morin let the old wizard lead him to his chambers. He did not even protest as Dumbledore removed his boots and robes. The headmaster gently pulled up the man from where he had sunken down in a chair and steered him to the bedroom.
Morin slowly sat down and when he realized how soft and warm the bed was he fell back with a 'thump' and almost melted into the mattress. Aah, he could fall asleep for eternity. He heard the older man's soft laughter and felt as Dumbledore turned him so that he was lying comfortable.
"I want Poppy or Severus to check on you," Dumbledore said. "Which one?"
"Severus," Black mumbled. "He doesn't ask too many questions, and doesn't poke me in the ribs."
"As you wish. I'll go to him straight away."
-
The Great Hall was empty except for the three Gryffindors, and to their surprise, two more redheads. Molly and Bill Weasley had almost given Harry a heart attack as McGonagall had told him the champions' families would be there to support them. He did not think much of it, since he had no real family.
Just minutes later, Molly and Bill came through the door to the Great Hall. The twins had gaped and Harry had stared.
Now they were sitting and eating breakfast when Snape stepped in. The only place that had food was by the Gryffindor table and the five of them. Snape hoped he would not give Molly a heart attack as he sat down next to Harry.
"Severus?" Molly asked, bewildered.
"Morning sir," the raven-haired teen said brightly.
"I rather wish for it to be night," the potions master muttered.
"Pulled another all-nighter?" Harry said with a chuckle. "You never learn."
"Oh, hush brat," Snape said and Molly gaped.
She snapped her mouth close soon enough and began to eat again.
Only a few minutes later the headmaster peeked inside. He saw them, smiled and walked over to them.
"Albus?" the potions professor asked, confused.
"I've been looking for you," the old wizard said.
"What for?" the man asked as he took a sip of his tea.
"I want someone to check up on Morin, and he doesn't want Poppy."
Snape almost choked on his tea and whipped his head towards Dumbledore.
"Is Morin in the castle?" he said.
"Yes, he returned only 15 minutes ago. Knowing him, he's probably asleep but I still want someone to check up on him," the headmaster said. "Oh, and it seems Harry wants to see Morin as well."
"No kidding," George said. "It looks he's ready to kill if you don't let him."
-
Harry was nearly bouncing next to Snape as they were walking to Morin's chambers. Truth to be told, he had never been in the older man's private chambers and he was a bit exited.
"There is no need to work away your energy, child," the potions master said.
"But I haven't seen him in like three weeks!" the teen said. "That's a long time!"
They came to the door, and Snape opened it. Harry was met by a comfy looking living room. The high windows made sure that it came in a lot of light. There was one sofa and three armchairs around a table. It was a hearth but no fire lit so the room was a bit chilly. The colours were all in a dark blue colour, but that did not change Harry's opinion of a warm-looking place.
Snape walked through the living room and pushed a door open. Harry quickly followed. The potions master gently shook Morin's shoulder and the older man woke up.
"Severus?" he said groggily.
"Well, don't you look like shit," Snape said. "You need a shower and a hair cut now."
"Not now," Morin moaned. "Please…"
"No, no pleases will work with me," the man snapped and dragged up the older man to a sitting position. "Harry, go and tap up a bath."
The teen turned around and walked to the bathroom. It was not so hard to find, since it was to the door next to the bedroom. He tapped up water into the bathtub and looked around. There was some crystals he knew made the water smell good. He looked at them all, and then decided on one that smelled faintly of vanilla.
Snape pushed Morin into the bathroom and the man took a deep breath.
"That vanilla is my favourite," he said to Harry. "Thank you."
"Alright, I'll wait with Harry outside. Take a bath and put on these clothes later."
"Yes mother."
"Call me mother and I'll cut off all of your hair."
"I'll just make it grow back."
"I'm telling Poppy the results of my examination," the potions master growled.
"Alright, alright, I won't call you mother," Morin huffed and ushered them out. "Now let me be alone."
He shut the door and Snape shook his head.
"Calling me mother of all the bloody things…"
Harry tried not to laugh.
-
When Morin emerged 20 minutes later, he looked better. He was drying his hair with a towel and said:
"You're right about the hair cut. The hair reaches my waist."
Another 20 minutes and Morin's hair had been cut to almost the hairstyle he had when he arrived in August at Hogwarts.
"Can I go to sleep now?" the older man said.
"Harry, take him to the bedroom, but don't let him fall asleep," the potions professor said. "You skipped breakfast, Morin."
"I skipped it because I wanted to my bed and sleep," the man whined.
The man fell down on his bed and Harry sat down on it. Morin looked at the teen and said:
"Tonight is the third task, right?"
"Yeah," Harry said.
"Nervous?"
"Not so much actually," the teen answered.
"I'm sorry, but I probably won't be able to come," Morin said. "I'm a bit too tired for such activities."
"It's alright," Harry said. "I'll just pester you about it afterwards."
Snape soon came in with some light food for the man and examined him while Morin ate.
"Morin, have you had a cold?"
"Yes," the man said. "Why?"
"Still recovering from it?"
"Eeerm…"
"Don't even try to lie."
"Yes, I'm still recovering from it," Morin said. "But I'm fine."
"You rarely are fine," Snape said as he stood up. "Well, it's almost gone and for once that's the only wrong with you."
"You make it sound like I'm wearing one disease after another. That's creepy."
"Eat up and go to sleep."
"I'm not going to complain about that."
-
Harry looked at Morin's face as the man slept. Snape was talking to the headmaster in the living room and they seemed to have put up silencing spells so Harry would not hear. Not that he was so interested at the moment. He was more interested in Morin's wellbeing.
He looked around the bedroom. There was a whole wall filled with books and the raven-haired teen rose up and went to them. He ran a finger along the books as he read the titles. Potions, Dark Arts, Black Magic, Light Magic, Celt language… the man seemed to have every book he needed to become a Dark Lord. But then Harry looked a bit further up. Ancient Runes, Charms, Herbology and a book… the same book Harry had given Snape as a Christmas gift. He stretched up and took it down. Unlike Snape's, this copy of the book was old.
The boy sat down and opened it at a random page. Morin's elegant handwriting covered almost all free spaces with notes and comments. Harry found himself reading the comments, and sometimes burst out in laughter as Morin had written something ridiculous.
"What do you find so amusing?" Morin's drowsy voice said.
Harry got up on his feet. The older man was up on his elbows with a raised eyebrow though he looked more asleep than awake.
"Your comments in this book," Harry said and showed it. "Sorry I looked through your books without asking."
"It alright," the man said and waved his hand. "Just keep your hands away from the Dark Arts and Black Arts, will you? I'm going back to sleep."
"Do so."
The man fell back and burrowed his head in the pillow. Within minutes, he was out again.
-
As the day progressed Harry became more and more nervous. He spent his time with the four Weasleys and they took a tour around Hogwarts to have something to do.
"Mum? Bill?" Ron asked, shocked, as he sat down to eat lunch.
"Hello sweetie," Molly said.
"What are you two doing here?"
"We're here to cheer on Harry," Bill said. "Charlie wanted to come but he couldn't find the time to do it."
"How did the exams go?" Molly asked her son as Hermione sat down. "Hello Hermione."
"Mrs Weasley," the girl said happily and began to eat.
"Well, I think it went well in DADA," Ron said, "but I forgot some names in History of Magic. It was alright, mum, you just need to write down some strange names and you'll be fine."
"Honestly Ron," Hermione said, "you're a hopeless case."
"Count me in on that," Harry said. "I suck at History of Magic."
"And just thinking of the exams in Divination makes me depressed," the youngest redhead continued with a groan. "I hate it."
"Why do you have it then?" the bushy-haired girl said. "You could have chosen Ancient Runes or…"
"Don't begin 'Mione!" Ron cut off. "I know; I'm an idiot!"
"You're not. You just made some bad choices," Hermione informed. "We better hurry to our last exam. Or you should; you have a long way to go."
Ron swallowed his food, and jumped up. He checked his watch and went out from the hall in a light sprint. Hermione followed minutes later.
-
Morin woke up suddenly and sat up abruptly in his bed. There was a mass of magic radiating near one of the places the bottle of blood could have ended up. And the place was not far from a small village. He swore as he realized from which village and got up from the bed.
He grabbed his clothes and pulled them on. Black pants, a white shirt and a black neck shirt over the shirt. He snapped on his robe onto the neck shirt and pulled on the necklace Harry had given him around his neck. He snapped the two bracelets onto his wrists and made sure his wand was with him. He nearly ran from his chambers and prayed he would get there in time.
-
Harry was slightly disappointed when Snape announced Morin was gone by the time he was going down to the Quidditch pitch.
"Don't worry," the potions master said. "I'm sure he's fine."
"Yeah," the teen said. "I better go then."
"It seems Mr Bagman is escorting the others down to the pitch," Snape said. "Go with them."
Harry nodded and caught up to the group of four. He fell in step with Viktor, who nodded to him. The teen looked up at the darkening sky and thought he felt a flare of Morin's magic. The man was just so unpredictable sometimes…
-
Morin followed the Death Eater, who was walking towards a cemetery. He wanted to stop the man right here and now, but knew he could not afford it. He needed Voldemort in a human form before the dark wizard could be killed.
As he floated along within the shadows, Morin once more began to think of a way to remove Voldemort's soul-piece from the young Potter without killing him. Deep inside, a murmur, Morin hushed the older Harry gently, already knowing what he had to go through to remove the piece. Moving his mind away from that particular problem for the moment, he began to think of the other Horcruxes. One easy to get would be Ravenclaw's diadem, certain it was in the Room of Requirement. He had time to go there later.
Nagini would be a bit of a trouble to destroy though. Even though the Dark Lord had yet to gain a body, the snake was rarely away from him. Morin needed to lure Nagini away from Voldemort before he attempted anything. He sighed as he thought he had to shake off the dust of his Parseltongue speech.
The Death Eater turned around slightly and the man retreated further into the shadows. This would all be in vain if he was discovered. The Death Eater soon continued to walk and Morin continued to follow to the place that would bring Voldemort back to power.
-
Harry was running through a narrow way between two hedges. He and Viktor had started only minutes ago and he stopped to survey his surroundings. So far he had only met dead-ends and one of those horrible Blast-Ended Skrewts – a creature they had worked on in Care of Magical Creatures and a creature Harry hated with passion. He looked around and used the spell Hermione had taught him. He placed his wand on his palm and whispered:
"Point north."
The wand trembled and then made a sharp left turn. That way was north. Harry took a hold of his wand and began going that direction.
-
Morin was tempted, so tempted, to just get out and kill that bloody Death Eater. He refrained himself and watched as the man, whoever it was, continued to dig up Voldemort's father's grave. A bundle lying a bit away next to a cauldron moved and pain shot through Morin's right arm. As suspected, the blood oath had not gone away despite Dumbledore's, Snape's and Poppy's effort. Of course, Morin had already known that but indulged them. How he knew? If Voldemort wanted to have the blood oath, then the Dark Lord would keep it.
He saw Nagini slither around the grave and shrank into the shadows a bit more. That bloody snake was a bit too good to notice people. If the bundle was Voldemort, Morin was surprised he had not alerted the Death Eater yet.
Or maybe Voldemort knew that Morin was not here to kill him. The DADA professor leaned back into the comforting shadows and waited.
-
Harry had dismissed three Bogarts, who all turned into those Dementors, met another Blast-Ended Skrewts and come across a spider as big as the one he met in his second year, Aragog.
Now he was standing and resting a bit. He had no idea how much time had passed since he begun, but that was not really his priority at the moment. He was busy doing another 'Point north' while he looked around. He had seen a red blast being sent up, meaning one of the four champions had given up.
The wand had finished and he looked into a solid hedge wall. He walked to find a road to run north with, since he was too far west.
-
The Death Eater had just started the fire and put the cauldron on it. Morin looked out from the shadows for a bit and then leaned back. He went through different defensive and offensive spells just in case Voldemort would be a bit cranky with him. After all, their last encounter had not really ended that good. Although, if they would really be fair, it should be Morin that would be cranky.
Morin shut his eyes as he recalled that moment, the night Voldemort vanished. Now afterwards he had felt it was the right decision to make. Harry had deflected the killing curse once, that was true, but Voldemort's body had not disappeared then. The killing curse had simply shot past the dark wizard into the night. But as Voldemort had accidentally put a part of his soul into the killing curse, some of his powers and that piece of soul had been sealed inside Harry's scar.
The distraction had given Morin enough time running out from the house and meeting up with Hagrid. He had convinced the half-giant that the Dark Lord was gone but Death Eaters lured around and had watched the man disappear with the Boy-Who-Lived.
Then he had turned back to face his old friend for what he had hoped would be a final time.
Morin shook his head as he remembered that. His magic was spiking, and nothing good would come out of that. That Death Eater was not a very strong one, but the way his magic spiked up it would be a miracle if the man did not notice.
-
The Gryffindor looked around. This was frustrating. He had seen one more red blast, which meant there was only two left. Harry had found himself in a strange round circle with five exits. He sat down, intending to catch his breath and think of a plan. His scar was hurting for some reason and thought of Morin popped up all the time. He rubbed the scar with his hand and sighed, frustrated. This was getting nowhere.
He was dirty, had burnt his hands because of those bloody Blast-Ended Skrewts and he above else was tired. He tiredly made another 'Point north' and to his surprise it did not move. He tried another angle:
"Point Tri-wizard Cup."
Once again, the wand lay still. Harry looked around and said to himself:
"I'm in the middle of this whole maze?"
-
It was almost finished. Morin looked at the bubbling liquid and saw how the man picked up the bundle from the ground. The older man gripped his wand, trying not to screw this up while he chanted in his head:
'I'm sorry Harry.'
-
Harry walked around in the middle. He thought of spells he had learned that would let him see unknown objects. When he found none, he sat down frustrated. Then Morin's words showed up in his head. The man had talked a lot with him during the year, but this one suddenly seemed so clear.
-Flashback-
Harry entered the office to find Morin sitting on the floor with bent head and his hands sitting loosely in his lap, legs crossed Indian-style.
"Um… Morin?"
"Hmm?" Black answered and lifted his head. His eyes were still closed.
"What are you doing?" the teen asked as he closed the door.
"Come here."
The Gryffindor sat down in front of Morin and the older wizard opened his eyes. The deep pools of emerald were calm, calmer than anytime Harry had seen them.
"It's a kind of exercise," Morin began absently. "Where you focus of 'seeing' with your magic rather than your eyes."
"You can do that?"
"It's easy," Morin said. "Just relax and close your eyes."
The teen complied and felt Morin's cool hands pressing against his temples. Instantly he felt calm.
"Do you feel this calmness sinking over you?" Morin's voice was heard.
"Yeah…" Harry mumbled.
"I'm showing you the first time how your mind is supposed to be. Now try that on your own."
Harry had closed his eyes once more and relaxed. It took a few tries, but soon he had managed.
"Now," Morin continued, "stretch out your magic. Start with me."
That bit was a bit harder, but after a few tries Harry gasped as he could 'see' the man even though he had closed eyes.
"Cool," he said.
He had seen Morin's lips forming into a pleasant smile.
-End flashback-
He sat down, laid his wand in his lap and closed his eyes. He imagined Morin's cool hands on his temples again and fell into a calming state. He then slowly began to stretch his magic and soon he 'saw' the cup. He turned his head in that direction and opened his eyes. He rose up and walked to the spot. As his fingers stretched out, the cup became visible. Making sure it was not a trap, and ensuring himself it was for real, he now carefully touched it.
It shone up and sent up a set of blinding white stars. Harry grinned. He had actually won.
But just as he thought that, a pain unbelievable to anything else exploded in his forehead. He screamed in agony and was not even aware he fell to the ground as blood poured out from his scar.
-
Morin watched on as Voldemort inspected his new body. The Death Eater had called on the other Death Eaters. Morin swore as he realized this might become too much for him to handle, but he needed some damn good information for making up the mistake he did by letting Voldemort gain back his body.
Soon soft apparating sounds were heard and Death Eaters began to file in. Voldemort looked around and began to comment of the missing places. Morin noted Snape was not there. The potions master had a good explanation to the Dark Lord though; Dumbledore.
Suddenly the reborn man whirled around and came face to face with… a shadow.
"What's wrong my lord?" a Death Eater called out.
Voldemort however did not even listen. His heart beat faster, his hands began to shake the tiniest bit and a smile formed on his lips. He raised his wand against the shadow and said:
"Come out, Morin."
-
Harry withered around in pain and arched his back as another jolt sent him almost into unconsciousness.
Suddenly gentle arms held him and he pried his eyes open to look at the worried faces of Snape and Remus.
"Harry?" Dumbledore's voice sounded to his right. "It's alight Harry; Poppy is on her way."
He opened his mouth to speak, but no words came out. He kept trying even though the three adults said it was alright. He summoned up all the willpower he had and spoke:
"Y-you ha-ave to he… lp him…"
"Help who?" Remus asked gently.
"He-lp h-him… before Vol-oldemort gets t-to h-him…"
"I'm afraid we don't know who you are talking about," the headmaster said worriedly.
Harry began to raise one arm. He brought it up in the air and gasped:
"Mo-orin…"
-
The Death Eaters thought their lord had gone insane, when they heard a chuckle from the bloody shadow.
"Always the observant," a voice echoed in the shadow and a person stepped out.
Voldemort stopped short on any comments he had. Pale face, raven black hair framing his face perfectly and emerald orbs; no matter how much time passed, Morin had not aged. The Dark Lord wanted to reach out and caress that black hair as he always did when they were in school. He wanted to swing up Morin in his arms just to see those lips forming that eternal shining smile.
But instead he stood still, drinking Morin's looks in. He noted the necklace and chuckled slightly.
"What's so funny?" Morin asked, tilting his head to the side, as if he was not talking to the Dark Lord of the century.
"That necklace of yours," Voldemort said. "I don't know why but it seems so… you."
"Well, thank you," Morin said. "But it seems like your followers seems rather surprised over our chat."
The dark wizard turned his head and hissed:
"You will come again when I call."
They apparated away. Voldemort turned back to Morin and said:
"I'm a bit surprised."
"Over what?"
"That you're here," the man said and began to walk up to the raven-haired man. Morin did not move backwards.
"Well, I'm a bit surprised as well," Morin answered and shivered as one of Voldemort's thin hands came to rest on his cheek.
"Your skin is cold," Voldemort murmured.
"My skin has always been cold, Tom." The name slipped out from Morin's mouth before he could stop himself.
The dark wizard would have tried to kill anyone who called him that name. But not Morin. The Dark Lord had an unusually amount of patience when it came to the emerald-eyed man. He moved close and slid his hand down to take a closer look at Morin's necklace. He noted absently that the man had lowered his guard far too much.
"You let me get my body back so you can kill me," the dark wizard said after a while as he traced the snake on the necklace with one long finger.
"Am I that obvious?" Morin said.
"Not normally. But your guard isn't up," Voldemort said and pushed Morin back to a tree close by.
They stared at each other for a while. Emerald eyes flashed with the light of the killing curse, and Voldemort grinned at the sight. Seemed like the Morin from school was still somewhere inside this body.
"Are you going to kill me?" Morin asked softly.
"I can't, and I won't," the man answered truthfully. "If you do die, then it's all ruined."
"If you're not going to kill me, can you please lift the pressure from Harry?"
"Caught your heart, did he?"
"He seems to be a bit cunning like you, Tom," Morin said. "Trapped me in an instant, just as you did."
"A feat I'm proud over," Voldemort said and massaged the emerald-eyed man's arms. "I'll release him, if you give me something in return."
"It depends on what it is."
"Stay here for a little while?"
Morin looked deep into those fierce red eyes, then leaned closed and breathed against the man's lips with a ghost of a smile playing on his lips:
"Wish granted."
-
Harry's body suddenly stopped convulsing and he coughed. Remus picked him up in his arms and Harry opened his eyes.
"Harry?" the werewolf asked worriedly.
"Voldemort…" he whispered. "He's back."
Remus looked up at Dumbledore and Snape. The headmaster rose up and said:
"I need to find Morin."
"What for Albus?" the potions master asked.
"Knowing him, he probably sought out Voldemort."
-
Morin had no idea what he wanted to do now. He had no idea if he really wanted to kill Voldemort. On one side there was Harry; innocent Harry that deserved so much more. A Harry he had promised the older Harry to allow to grow up without the threat of Voldemort hanging over his head.
On the other side was Voldemort; cruel and a murderer. But in the same time, the only person Morin truly called friend. The only person who had cared and had reached out his hand to drag out Morin from his depression, the only one who held him like a mother should hold one's child.
Morin looked with half-lidded eyes on as Voldemort was humming something and petting Morin's hair. The raven-haired man was lying on his side with the Dark Lord positioned in front of him. Morin was using one of Voldemort's legs as a pillow.
Harry or Tom? Harry or Tom? Morin closed his eyes fully as he had to rethink. Tom was dead; an evil man named Voldemort had taken Tom's place.
As he felt those fingers hover over his lips, he could not help but part them slightly. Why? Why was this happening? Even though the Dark Lord had tortured him, even tried to kill him, Morin could not help but continue love this person. Whether he loved this person as a friend, as a brother, as a substitute parent or as a lover not even Morin himself knew.
-
Harry was brought up to the Infirmary and only a few were allowed in. Soon Ron, Hermione, Draco and the twins were sitting around his bed. Harry was still feeling on his forehead and said:
"It's strange."
"What's strange?" the blonde asked.
"First it hurt like hell," Harry mumbled as he closed his eyes, "and in the next it feels like when Morin made me do one of the calming practises."
"Calming practise?" Hermione said with a frown.
"It's feels like you're sleeping, though you know you're awake," the Gryffindor said. "I can't really explain it, but it feels great. And if you're relaxed enough, you can use this to stretch your magic and 'see' with your magic even though you have your eyes closed."
"Morin taught you that?" George asked.
"Mmm," Harry said. "He let me join him the first time. I thought I would drop down asleep any second."
They talked for a while, before Harry could not keep his eyes open. They slid close and he fell asleep.
-
Morin was sitting on the stone stairs as Dumbledore, Snape and Remus stepped out. The old wizard walked down to the man and kneeled down.
"Morin?"
"I can't," Morin whispered.
"Can't do what?"
"I shouldn't have come back."
"Why not, Morin?" Dumbledore asked as the potions master and the werewolf came closer.
"I saw him, Albus," the raven-haired man said. "I saw Voldemort, but all I could think of when I looked in his eyes was Tom. I can't put any difference between Tom and Voldemort anymore."
Dumbledore looked at the man for a while, and then said:
"First things first, let's get you inside and you'll tell me what happened."
Morin looked down.
"I'm sorry Albus," he said quietly.
"What are you sorry for?"
"I guess I went over the limit you put."
The headmaster's eyes widened and he forced Morin's head up again. Snape and Remus took a step away in surprise and fear.
It came blood out from Morin's eyes. Not much, but blood normally does not come out from the eyes. From the inside, a question was asked. Morin said no, and the force retreated; not time for it yet. He could go on. Dumbledore gently helped the dazed man up and said:
"Severus, go and collect the two potions bottle on my office and then meet me in Morin's chambers. Remus, I heard that Sirius became a free man yesterday."
"Yes," the werewolf said.
"Why don't you contact him? I'm sure Harry wants to see him."
There was something akin to fear in the old man's eyes as he led up Morin into the castle.
-
Voldemort was sitting in a dark chamber, staring into space as parchments were spread around the desk he was sitting by. His followers were hovering around the manor, too afraid to disturb him.
He looked down at the parchments again and scanned his red eyes over them. The potion instructions were not here. He rose up and began to pace. He needed that potion.
-
The rest of the term went quickly, even though a few selected people in Hogwarts knew what had happened. Harry found himself isolating himself with Morin more and more often as people always wanted to congratulate or talk to him. The DADA professor would only glance up when he came and then put a spell on the door, preventing others from coming inside, if the teen wished so.
Sirius had visit a few times, but otherwise was busy with trying getting his house liveable again, since he was going to take Harry. That thing was the only thing that kept Harry looking forward a bit to the summer.
Morin himself seemed to look more and more troubled. Harry caught him staring into space, or at him. There was something unreadable in those ancient emerald eyes, something that the teen did not like.
The end of the term came, and soon Harry was standing on the platform on his way back to London. Remus hugged him tightly and said:
"You will spend the first week with the Dursleys as me and Sirius will fix the last papers for your adoption. Then we'll go and get you as soon as we can."
Harry nodded against the man's chest. He rather not be with the Dursleys at all, but one week was endurable. He was released and got a hug from Snape as well. The potions master promised Harry to visit him, whether Sirius wanted or not. Actually, Snape looked to be happy to annoy Sirius. Harry did not know what to make of that face, so he just smiled nervously.
Finally, he came face to face with Morin. The man looked at him and said:
"Well, I'll guess we'll be seeing each other a bit during the summer."
"We will? But don't you have things to do?"
"Like what? Sit alone in my home and brood?" Morin said with a slight laugh. "I rather spend my time doing something else, thank you very much. And I'm one of the people who will be needed for the special wards on your future home."
Since Harry would not have a blood protection at Grimmauld Place, Sirius' home, they had come up with a series of wads to put up. The place would not just be used as a home for Sirius, Remus and Harry but also for something more. The teen had not gotten any details about it so far.
The Gryffindor hesitated a bit as he stood before Morin and then carefully slid his arms around the man's waist and hugged him gently. Morin was a bit surprised but hugged back nonetheless. Then the man did something Harry did not expect; he put two fingers to his mouth, like kissing them, and then placed them on Harry's scar with the word:
"Protego."
A gentle light surrounded Harry and he felt warm and safe. He looked up at Morin, confused.
"Voldemort has tricks up his sleeve," the man said with a shrug. "No doubt he was going to use your scar and connection to the fullest."
Harry had realized he had some kind of connection to Voldemort, since he was able to feel when the dark wizard had been reborn.
"What will happen if he tries now?" Harry said and touched his scar.
"No idea," Morin said. "The only one who will know is he himself. Now, get up on the train. Don't get into trouble, stay indoors if you can and you'll be out of there before you know it."
"You sound like a mother," the Gryffindor said.
"Oh, I'm nowhere near a mother," the man said with a huff. "Want me to imitate Molly?"
Harry quickly shook his head and let Morin usher up him on the train.
-
The teen found his friends in a compartment not long away from where he had jumped on, and he got inside. The place was full, but before he knew it Fred and George pulled him down with them.
"You're spoiling him," the blonde Slytherin said.
"We're not," the twins answered and pulled Harry closer.
The teen only looked up at the two in confusion. Then he shrugged and said:
"Seems like you two got a Mrs Weasley inside."
"What?!" they screamed as the rest roared with laughter.
-
As the train slowed down, they all got out from the compartment. Harry held back the twins.
"What is it?" George asked.
"You got plans for a joke shop don't you?" the Gryffindor said.
"Yeah, if we ever get the money for it," Fred said. "Why?"
Harry pressed something in George's hand. The redhead looked down and gaped.
"Harry, this is the victory money from the tournament," he said.
"Yep. 1000 Galleons," Harry said. "How about that for a start-capital when you open the shop?"
"Harry, are you serious?" Fred asked with wide eyes.
"Would I joke about 1000 Galleons?"
The twins hugged him tightly and both pressed a kiss each to his temples. They hid the money and followed Harry out.
As he stood and waited for Vernon to pick him up, he got more and more nervous. He just sincerely hoped that the week would go quickly. Mrs Weasley kissed him goodbye, and so did Hermione and Pansy. Blaise made him promise to write, and Draco wanted Harry to call Sirius through the two-way mirror if something happened. The twins hugged him one more time, both promising to see him soon and Ron said:
"If that family of yours hurt you in any way, I'm gonna kill them."
"Ron, I really want to see you this summer, just not in Azkaban okay?" Harry said.
"I'm serious."
"I know. Don't worry; they're usually most scared of me the two first weeks, so I'll be fine," the Gryffindor said. "And they probably got the letter Remus sent about Sirius adopting me."
"Letter how?"
"Muggle-way," Harry said. "With the right amount of stamps."
"Sorry about that one," Ron said with a scratch of his head.
"You guys didn't know."
"Boy!"
Harry turned around and saw Vernon coming. He looked back at Ron and said:
"I'll see you soon. And I will tell Sirius if anything happens, don't worry."
Ron nodded and clasped Harry's shoulder once, hard but reassuring. Draco cut in and sneaked something into Harry's hand.
"The parchment is charmed so that whenever you write on it, the words will come up on my parchment. I want you to write every day until someone picks you up."
Harry nodded and Draco flashed a smile before the two of them hurried to catch up with the others. Harry turned to his uncle who was getting purple, but the boy was unfazed for once. The Gryffindor quickly put the parchment into his pocket before the man noticed and said:
"I'm ready."
Inwardly however, he was not.
Tbc…
EDITED 2010-01-20
Until later,
Ja,
Tiro