Love Has No Boundaries.
Chapter Eleven: Year Five.
"I'm so glad that you're still here," Harry whispered as he hugged Daphne the morning she arrived back at Hogwarts, a month into the term. "How come you're so late?" he asked her, his arm snaking over her shoulders as they made their way outside into the cool autumn air.
"My mother sent me and Tori to Beauxbatons," Daphne told him reaching up to entwine their fingers. "I think after the 60th letter my father had finally had enough and agreed we could come home," she said with a happy smile.
"Well I'm glad you're dad gave in," Harry said with a slight laugh.
"So what did I miss while I was away?" she asked him as they arrived at the edge of the Black Lake, the two sitting down at the tree line.
"Well, we've got a new DADA professor, a right cow from the Ministry who refuses to let us practice any magic in class. She's also looking at firing some professors and replacing Dumbledore as Headmaster, who for some reason has been avoiding me since the start of term," Harry told her. "Oh and my entire house thinks I'm a crazy person and refuse to talk to me," he added with a shrug as though it didn't bother him.
"Must hurt," Daphne remarked squeezing his hand. "Is everyone being horrible?" she asked.
"I'm trying not to think about it to be honest, just getting through one day at a time. It's the only way I don't hex every single sodding person here," Harry said, letting his frustration at the situation out for the first time since school started.
"What about Mione? And Terry and Hannah? How are they coping with it?" she asked.
"Hannah and Terry still aren't talking to each other, but they have both said that they believe me so that's a little comfort, even if them being stubborn with each other is driving me crazy," he said shaking his head in exasperation. "But Hermione has been a diamond thought-out it all, hexing, jinxing and shouting at everyone that's called me a liar," he told her, happy he had such an avid supporter.
"Well I'm glad you've not been on your own this last month. And I'm sorry that I've not been here for you," she said leaning over and kissing Harry's cheek.
"Don't be, your parents only did what they thought was best for you and your sister," Harry told her with a reassuring smile.
"Thanks," she said, the two leaning towards one another, their lips meeting in a soft kiss.
Just as their arms wrapped around each other they were suddenly thrown apart, moving at least three feet from each other. Looking at each other in confusion they jumped in surprise at the sound of a high, sweet voice speaking behind them. "Students must be at least three feet from each other at all time," Umbridge told them, finishing with a high-pitched giggle before walking off.
"Since when is that a rule?" Daphne asked confused.
"No idea. I think she just made it up," Harry replied equally perplexed before shrugging and standing up. Holding out his hand to help Daphne up, the two made their way back up to the castle, purposefully ignoring Umbridge's latest 'rule'.
Ministry seeks educational reform.
Delores Umbridge appointed first ever High Inquisitor.
"So first we can't practice magic in class and now we have decrees to follow too," Hermione muttered to Harry as they sat down for potions class a couple of days later. "It's so stupid," she told him pulling her books out and getting ready for the lesson.
"I know, just keep your head down. I don't want you to get a scar like mine," he said with a sneer as he looked down at the white scars on the back of his hand.
"I won't say anything, don't worry," Hermione told him with a small smile. "Besides, my parents have only just accepted me having my teeth fixed last year, they'll pull me out if I got a detention like that," she pointed out with an amused smile.
"Continue with your strengthening solutions," Snape barked at then as he swept into the room. "Instructions are on the board," he added waving his wand at the board. "Carry on."
Class progresses smoothly for half an hour before Harry noticed movement out the corner of his eye. Looking up he saw Umbridge walk between two desks towards Snape. Nudging Hermione, he motioned towards the two professors, Umbridge waiting for Snape to acknowledge her, but he kept his attention on Dean and his potion.
"Well the class seem fairly advanced for their level. Though I would question whether it's advisable to teach them a potion like the strengthening solution. I think the Ministry would prefer it if that was removed from the syllabus," Umbridge remarked as Snape slowly straightened and turned to look at her.
"Now… how long have you been teaching at Hogwarts?" she asked, her quill poised over her clipboard.
"Fourteen years," Snape replied, his expression unreadable, even to Harry and Hermione.
"You applied first for the Defence Against the Dark Arts post, I believe?" Umbridge asked her voice sugary-sweet.
"Yes," he responded quietly.
"But you were unsuccessful?"
"Obviously," he said his lip curling in a snarl.
"And you've applied regularly for the Defence Against the Dark Arts post since you first joined the school, I believe?"
"Yes," he said quietly, looking angry.
"Do you have any idea why Dumbledore has consistently refused to appoint you?" she asked.
"I suggest you ask him," he told her.
"Oh I shall," Umbridge reassured him with a sweet smile.
"I suppose this is relevant?" he asked his eyes narrowing.
"Oh yes. The Ministry wants a thorough understanding of teachers –er– backgrounds" she told him before walking off to question Pansy about lessons.
Catching Harry's eye Snape frowned before waving his wand and vanishing Harry's potion from his cauldron, "No marks today then Potter. See me after class," he said before walking back to his desk where he kept an eye on Umbridge as she moved amongst the students.
Once class ended and everyone had left Harry stood and made his way up to Snape's desk. "You wanted to see me Professor?" he said, avoiding any familial affection towards his 'uncle' knowing Umbridge was still in the classroom.
"When you lost your concentration in class today, you could have potentially injured your fellow students with your stupidity," he told him angrily, surreptitiously glancing at Umbridge at the side of the room. "Detention tonight Potter. Eight o'clock don't be late."
When Harry arrived later that night he was curious as to why Severus wanted to see him. "You wanted to see me?" he asked when he was granted access to Snape's office.
"Yes, sit down," he told him before he waved his wand and silenced the room. "Harry, I'm going to ask you something and I want an honest answer," he told the messy-haired teen. Once Harry nodded Severus continued, "Have you been having strange dreams recently?"
"How do you know that?" he asked slumping in his chair, knowing there was no way he could avoid the topic of his nightmares.
"I know the signs Harry. And you've been projecting some thing's subconsciously," Severus explained. "What are they about?" he asked.
"I don't know. I only see little fragments. Like and old house, kind of like the one He was staying in last year. Then there's this view, it's like I'm on the ground looking up but I can only see people's feet and the legs of furniture," he explained, feeling relieved at finally being able to tell someone. "I know that it isn't really scary, at all. I just get this feeling of panic while I have them."
Nodding Severus moved around his desk to sit beside Harry, "If you'd like, I can teach you how to control your dreams, block them from your conscious mind. What do you say?" he suggested.
"You're offering to teach me occlumency?" Harry asked astonished, before frowning. "Wait, if you're offering me a solution then that must mean you know why I've been having these dreams," Harry theorized with a frown. "What's happening Sev?" he asked, determination lacing his voice.
"The attack on you as a baby transferred some of His powers to you, such as his Parsletongue," Severus started to explain. When Harry nodded Severus took a deep breath and continued. "There's a theory that he also transferred a part of his conscience to you as well. It could in theory allow you access to his mind, but for the moment we know that he can access yours and Harry, that's something that can't continue," Severus explained, hoping that Harry was mature enough to understand the severity of the situation.
"Yeah I understand," Harry said nodding solemnly. "Can you teach me, please?" he asked accepting his offer with a smile, hoping he wouldn't regret it later.
Christmas was a subdued affair that year, Harry constantly waiting for more flashes of more attacks, but none came.
"Harry," Clara said as she arrived at his room on Christmas Eve, "can I come in?" she asked.
"Of course you can," Harry responded. "I didn't know you were staying this year," he remarked as he sat up in bed, putting his book down.
"I'm not, I just wanted to see how you were doing," she told him sitting down at the end of his bed.
"Lousy," he responded, "I feel guilty for ruining the Weasley's Christmas," he admitted.
"You didn't ruin anything for them. In fact given the alternative, I'd say that you saved them from having a nightmare of a holiday. Arthur is practically all healed and he'll be home in a couple of days," Clara told him with a reassuring smile.
"Thanks Clara," Harry said, once again feeling thankful that Clara had joined their family.
"Anytime. Now get off your arse and come downstairs. Severus and I are going to test out your occlumency shields," she said, laughing at Harry's expression of annoyance.
"Great!" Harry exclaimed as he rolled out of bed, "Guess Christmas wouldn't be Christmas without a killer headache," he muttered rolling his eyes as Clara laughed, following him downstairs.
"How are you feeling?" Hermione asked as she met Harry on the train to Hogwarts a week later.
"I'm okay, Clara talked to me over Christmas, told me how Mr Weasley was doing," Harry told her with a smile.
"I'm glad that you're okay now," she told him with a grin. "Are we still carrying on with you know what this term?" she asked him, being careful not to reveal the DA.
"Of course, call me old fashioned but I kind of want to pass my exams," he responded knowing it would get a laugh from his studious friend. "Besides dad and Clara taught me a bunch of new defence spells that I can't wait to share," he added with an excited smile.
"Great. Did you hear from Terry and Hannah last week?" she asked.
"Yeah, they said that they've been writing to each other and have sorted out their problems," Harry said. "Why did they even fall out? It's been so long I've forgotten," Harry added with am embarrassed smile.
"He made a stupid comment about Remus and she called him insensitive" Hermione explained.
"Don't forget the fact that she slapped him," Daphne added as she entered the compartment. "Have they finally started talking to each other again?" she asked sitting down next to Harry, who immediately wrapped his arm around her shoulders.
"Yeah apparently they've been writing to each other for a while now," Mione informed her friend. "Plus get have been sneaking glances at each other at the last couple of DA meetings", she pointed out to them with a knowing look, both Daphne and herself giggling slightly as they realised what it meant.
"Knock, knock," a voice said from the doorway catching the three teens attention. "Mind if we join you, I kind of want you to witness this," Terry said pulling a confused Hannah into the compartment with him.
"Okay so we're here, are you going to explain why you pulled me away from Susan now?" Hannah said with a frown.
"Yeah, I wanted to say that I'm sorry for my comments about Professor Lupin at the end of third year. They were stupid and insensitive. The only excuse I have is that I was scared and I let it get to me. And I'm sorry," he told them, his eyes downcast. "I'm also sorry that I was too stubborn to apologise sooner. I can't believe I waited a year and a half to say this, I'm an idiot," he added as he collapsed in the seat next to Hermione.
"Stupidity from a Ravenclaw, who would have thought it," Daphne remarked with a smirk.
"Oh, ha-ha," Terry said before all five of them started laughing, the five falling back into an easy conversation as though they'd never spent any time apart. It was almost as though nothing had ever changed.
When they arrived back at Hogwarts they quickly realised that things had indeed changed. As soon as the students arrived at the courtyard they were surprised to find a crying Professor Trelawney stood in the centre surrounded by trunks which evidently held all her belongings.
"Why are you doing this?" she asked tearfully as her thin bony fingers knotted her scarf around themselves. "I've lived and taught her for sixteen years, Hogwarts is my home!" she said, tears falling from her eyes. "You can't do this!"
"Actually," Umbridge said holding up an official Ministry sealed document, "I can," she told her with a little giggle.
"Actually you can't," a loud booming voice said from the doors of the castle, drawing everyone's attention to where Dumbledore had just entered the court yard. "You may have the right to dismiss my teachers, but only the headmaster has the authority to banish people from the grounds," he told her before turning to McGonagall. "Would you escort Sybil back to her rooms please?" he instructed before giving Umbridge a final withering look and re-entering the school, leaving a shocked and amused student body behind.
"Oh, poor Trelawney," Hermione said as they watched a slightly drier eyed Trelawney went back into the castle. "What?" she asked as she realised her friends were looking at her strangely.
"You feel sorry for her? You walked out her class and called her a fake," Hannah pointed out.
"So, that doesn't mean I can't feel sorry for her for being pushed out of her home," she said.
"No you can feel sorry for her," Daph said linking her arm with Hermione's. "It just means that we're shocked that's all," she added laughing when Hermione playfully pushed her. After saying goodbye to each other they all went their separate ways, one thought in all their minds; which professor would be next?
"Hurry up; we need to see Snape, now!" Harry told Hermione as they raced through the school towards the dungeons. "PROFESSOR!" Harry shouted banging on his office door.
"Harry? What's going on?" Severus asked when he opened the door, ushering the two Gryffindors inside.
"I've had a vision," Harry said, shocking both his professor and his friend. "He's got someone held at the Ministry, I'm not sure where."
"Who have they got?" Severus asked as he grabbed his cloak.
"Clara."
"I'm sure she's going to be okay," Hermione said when she could stand the silence no longer. It had been at least an hour since Severus had departed, leaving instructions for them not to leave his office until he returned.
"No offence Hermione, but we don't know a thing. This is well out of our league," Harry pointed out.
"A little optimism never hurt though," Hermione responded. "Severus has most likely gone to the Order and we know enough about them to know that they have the best chance of getting Clara out alive and well. So start to relax."
"But what if-…" Harry started to say only to be interrupted by the arrival of Remus. "Moony what's going on? Where's Severus?" Harry asked.
"We're going to headquarters," he revealed. "There's something you need to know," he told them holding out the floo powder and instructing them on the address.
When the three arrived at the other side the two teens were surprised to find an angry James glaring at Dumbledore while Lily cried at the side of the room.
"Dad, what's going on?" Harry asked.
"Some secrets have come to light that you need to hear," James informed his son before turning to Dumbledore. "Well, tell him," he said through gritted teeth.
"The one with the power to vanquish the Dark Lord approaches… Born to those who have thrice defied him, born as the seventh month dies… And the Dark Lord will mark him as his equal, but he will have power the Dark Lord knows not… And either must die at the hand of the other for neither can live while the other survives… The one with the power to vanquish the Dark Lord will be born as the seventh month dies." Dumbledore recited to the quiet room.
"You can't possibly believe that can you?" Hermione questioned the first to break the silence.
"Yes I do Miss Granger," Dumbledore said solemnly nodding. "You are destined to destroy the Dark Lord, Harry. You will save us."
Well there you go, chapter 11. Hope you enjoyed it.