Disclaimer, I don't own HP and never will.
Chapter 14 Quidditch
On Saturday morning Ron, Harry and Ginny headed down to the Quidditch pitch. Trials for new chasers were scheduled for 10am. Harry was returning to his position as seeker, Ginny wanted to be a chaser and Ron needed to find replacements for Alicia Spinet and Katie bell.
Sloper and Kirk were to remain as beaters; Harry hoped they had been practicing over the summer. After an hour the team eventually agreed on a fourth year called Emily Twinkle-worth, a tall blonde girl who was graceful on her broom and managed to score several goals against Ron. The other chaser was Seamus Finigan, who though very enthusiastic, didn't have Emily's grace or Ginny's speed.
The team practiced for another hour and when Ron was finally happy that they had begun to come together, he let them go for lunch. Warning of many practice sessions during the coming term. "Our first match will be against Slytherin, we beat them in the final match last year and I know we can do it again, we just need to practice working as a team.
After lunch Harry, Ron and Hermione went to the library. Ron told them his version of the Green Flame Torch. Cassandra was visited by a dog. She found her father's notes and used them to activate the Torch which killed Bellona in a flash of green flame, much like the Avada Kedavra curse. Cassandra never truly recovered from the loss of her entire family, which had included several brothers and sisters.
Harry sat quietly for a while thinking about the three different versions of the story. Eventually he said, "I think I was right, the book changes according to he reader. Hermione has faith in knowledge, and believes we can win if we unite. Also a pentagram is a muggle symbol that shows witchcraft. Her greatest fear is being left without her friends alone in the magical world!"
Hermione and Ron exchanged looks and Harry continued. "Ron is wizard born, so he accepts that Avada Kedavra is the most powerful killing curse. He trusts his father's knowledge in magic. His greatest fear would be to lose his family."
Harry felt as though it were making some sense now, "I've been afraid that by murdering Voldemort, I would lose my soul and die evil!"
They all sat digesting this new theory and eventually Hermione said, "But I guess that means even if we could make the Torch it probably wouldn't work!"
Harry realised that she was right, but what did the Torch signify? "Maybe the Torch represents our own magical centre!" he thought aloud.
"Our magical centre?" Ron asked.
"You know, the magic inside you," Harry answered. Then he remembered to ask Ron. "By the way did you have any strange dreams last night, after you'd read it?"
"No, should I have?" Ron asked.
"Guess not, it's just that I did," Harry tried to appear unconcerned.
Hermione still thought they should try to find similar potions, to see if the Torch could be made. Ron agreed, he pointed out that normally they didn't list Potions ingredients in story books, just in case muggles found them and tried to copy them.
They spent the next few hours pouring over ancient potions and spell books taking notes on potions that used some of the same ingredients. They never found one that used all the ingredients.
They went down to dinner, comparing notes and discussing possibilities. As they reached the entrance hall they bumped into Professor McGonagall. "Good to see you all studying on a Saturday evening!" she said as she preceded them into the great hall.
"What do you want to do this evening?" Harry asked them.
Ron blushed a bit when he answered, "Well we thought we might take a walk, you know!"
Understanding that they wanted sometime alone he nodded and said, "I guess I should do my Potions homework."
Hermione smiled at him and added, "You're welcome to come with us Harry."
"Uh, no that's okay, I really should get that essay on Skele-gro done," Harry replied.
So that evening found Harry working quietly in a corner of the common room. Neville sat down across from him and muttered, "I really hate Snape. He always gives out too much homework!"
Harry finished his essay and then thinking about Snape, began to read about Legilimency again. After a while Harry realised that he would need to go back to the library for a more detailed account of Legilimency.
It was quite late when he found the book he needed and was returning to the Gryffindor common room, when he met Dumbledore.
"Still working hard Harry?" Dumbledore asked in a pleasant voice.
"Not too hard Sir," replied Harry, unobtrusively trying to cover the name of the book.
"Legilimency is a difficult subject to master Harry, I'm sure Professor McGonagall explained that," Dumbledore continued.
"Yes Sir," Harry said racking his brain for an explaination.
"Still if you're interested, I suppose there is no harm in studying it. Though I'm sure you won't try to practice it on any of your friends," Dumbledore started intently at Harry.
"I won't Sir," Harry replied honestly. His intended victim had never been his friend.
Dumbledore began walking in the direction of Gryffindor tower with Harry beside him. "How is the meditation coming along?"
"Well I was going to ask you about that Sir, recently after I have been meditating, I can see a strange aura around people. It only lasts for a few hours then it fades."
"Indeed!" Dumbledore paused, "and are all the aura's the same?"
"Mostly, some are brighter than others," Harry answered, glad that Dumbledore had not laughed at the idea of auras.
"Well it is a possible side effect of focusing your magic. You are strengthening your natural perceptions. You may even find it useful as it develops," Dumbledore resumed walking. Then he bid Harry good night and left him in front of the Gryffindor tower.
Harry woke up early the next morning and decided to meditate before breakfast, he could check out the other students to see if all their auras were the same. Later as he entered the Great hall he glanced down the Gryffindor table, they were all glowing a slightly bluish pink colour. Casting his glance around the room he stopped when he saw Malfoy at the Slytherin table.
Harry took a slight step back as he saw the aura around Malfoy was much darker than the other students; it was a deep crimson with hardly any blue. Harry looked at the rest of the Slytherin table and found most had the same bluish pink glow like the Gryffindor's. Only a few were darker pink.
Harry glanced up at the top table and found Dumbledore watching him, and then Harry looked for Snape, if the crimson signified hatred, then Snape would be red too. Snape however was bluish pink; the pink was a fraction darker. Harry returned his gaze to Dumbledore who now had his head tilted questioningly to one side and the ghost of a smile on his face.
Disconcerted Harry sat down and ate a quick breakfast, then noting Dumbledore had left the Great Hall, Harry rushed up to his office.
Before Harry could say a word the Statue moved to reveal the stairs up to Dumbledore's office. Knocking the door Harry entered to find Dumbledore sitting at his desk.
"You have a question?" Dumbledore smiled knowingly.
"Why is Malfoy's aura almost red?" Harry blurted out without preamble.
"Because Mr Malfoy hates you and wishes to cause you harm!" Dumbledore confirmed Harry's suspicions.
"But Snape?" Harry remembered.
"Professor Snape dislikes you, yet he wishes no harm to come to you. In fact one of his main jobs in the order is to protect you from Voldemort." Dumbledore explained.
"He hates me!" Harry countered.
"Professor Snape may have hated your father, but his feelings for you are no-where near so powerful." Dumbledore said calmly. "All magical creatures have an aura, the shades and tones are invisible to most. As you are learning to focus your magical abilities, you are learning to tap into basic magical currents. Eventually you should be able to recognize immediately if someone wishes you harm. It is a useful ability!"
Harry looked at Fawkes and suddenly felt his eyes sting, the aura around the bird was electric blue. Dumbledore smiled.
Harry left Dumbledore's office and went in search of his friends. He found them finishing their homework in the common room. "Harry, where have you been?" Hermione asked.
Harry mumbled a response about taking a walk then sat down with them to read his charms notes. His mind wandering to all Dumbledore had said, he would have to try harder with his wandless magic and meditation, it was proving very interesting. Maybe that's why Dumbledore was always so sure of whom to trust, he could read their Auras.
Chapter 14 Quidditch
On Saturday morning Ron, Harry and Ginny headed down to the Quidditch pitch. Trials for new chasers were scheduled for 10am. Harry was returning to his position as seeker, Ginny wanted to be a chaser and Ron needed to find replacements for Alicia Spinet and Katie bell.
Sloper and Kirk were to remain as beaters; Harry hoped they had been practicing over the summer. After an hour the team eventually agreed on a fourth year called Emily Twinkle-worth, a tall blonde girl who was graceful on her broom and managed to score several goals against Ron. The other chaser was Seamus Finigan, who though very enthusiastic, didn't have Emily's grace or Ginny's speed.
The team practiced for another hour and when Ron was finally happy that they had begun to come together, he let them go for lunch. Warning of many practice sessions during the coming term. "Our first match will be against Slytherin, we beat them in the final match last year and I know we can do it again, we just need to practice working as a team.
After lunch Harry, Ron and Hermione went to the library. Ron told them his version of the Green Flame Torch. Cassandra was visited by a dog. She found her father's notes and used them to activate the Torch which killed Bellona in a flash of green flame, much like the Avada Kedavra curse. Cassandra never truly recovered from the loss of her entire family, which had included several brothers and sisters.
Harry sat quietly for a while thinking about the three different versions of the story. Eventually he said, "I think I was right, the book changes according to he reader. Hermione has faith in knowledge, and believes we can win if we unite. Also a pentagram is a muggle symbol that shows witchcraft. Her greatest fear is being left without her friends alone in the magical world!"
Hermione and Ron exchanged looks and Harry continued. "Ron is wizard born, so he accepts that Avada Kedavra is the most powerful killing curse. He trusts his father's knowledge in magic. His greatest fear would be to lose his family."
Harry felt as though it were making some sense now, "I've been afraid that by murdering Voldemort, I would lose my soul and die evil!"
They all sat digesting this new theory and eventually Hermione said, "But I guess that means even if we could make the Torch it probably wouldn't work!"
Harry realised that she was right, but what did the Torch signify? "Maybe the Torch represents our own magical centre!" he thought aloud.
"Our magical centre?" Ron asked.
"You know, the magic inside you," Harry answered. Then he remembered to ask Ron. "By the way did you have any strange dreams last night, after you'd read it?"
"No, should I have?" Ron asked.
"Guess not, it's just that I did," Harry tried to appear unconcerned.
Hermione still thought they should try to find similar potions, to see if the Torch could be made. Ron agreed, he pointed out that normally they didn't list Potions ingredients in story books, just in case muggles found them and tried to copy them.
They spent the next few hours pouring over ancient potions and spell books taking notes on potions that used some of the same ingredients. They never found one that used all the ingredients.
They went down to dinner, comparing notes and discussing possibilities. As they reached the entrance hall they bumped into Professor McGonagall. "Good to see you all studying on a Saturday evening!" she said as she preceded them into the great hall.
"What do you want to do this evening?" Harry asked them.
Ron blushed a bit when he answered, "Well we thought we might take a walk, you know!"
Understanding that they wanted sometime alone he nodded and said, "I guess I should do my Potions homework."
Hermione smiled at him and added, "You're welcome to come with us Harry."
"Uh, no that's okay, I really should get that essay on Skele-gro done," Harry replied.
So that evening found Harry working quietly in a corner of the common room. Neville sat down across from him and muttered, "I really hate Snape. He always gives out too much homework!"
Harry finished his essay and then thinking about Snape, began to read about Legilimency again. After a while Harry realised that he would need to go back to the library for a more detailed account of Legilimency.
It was quite late when he found the book he needed and was returning to the Gryffindor common room, when he met Dumbledore.
"Still working hard Harry?" Dumbledore asked in a pleasant voice.
"Not too hard Sir," replied Harry, unobtrusively trying to cover the name of the book.
"Legilimency is a difficult subject to master Harry, I'm sure Professor McGonagall explained that," Dumbledore continued.
"Yes Sir," Harry said racking his brain for an explaination.
"Still if you're interested, I suppose there is no harm in studying it. Though I'm sure you won't try to practice it on any of your friends," Dumbledore started intently at Harry.
"I won't Sir," Harry replied honestly. His intended victim had never been his friend.
Dumbledore began walking in the direction of Gryffindor tower with Harry beside him. "How is the meditation coming along?"
"Well I was going to ask you about that Sir, recently after I have been meditating, I can see a strange aura around people. It only lasts for a few hours then it fades."
"Indeed!" Dumbledore paused, "and are all the aura's the same?"
"Mostly, some are brighter than others," Harry answered, glad that Dumbledore had not laughed at the idea of auras.
"Well it is a possible side effect of focusing your magic. You are strengthening your natural perceptions. You may even find it useful as it develops," Dumbledore resumed walking. Then he bid Harry good night and left him in front of the Gryffindor tower.
Harry woke up early the next morning and decided to meditate before breakfast, he could check out the other students to see if all their auras were the same. Later as he entered the Great hall he glanced down the Gryffindor table, they were all glowing a slightly bluish pink colour. Casting his glance around the room he stopped when he saw Malfoy at the Slytherin table.
Harry took a slight step back as he saw the aura around Malfoy was much darker than the other students; it was a deep crimson with hardly any blue. Harry looked at the rest of the Slytherin table and found most had the same bluish pink glow like the Gryffindor's. Only a few were darker pink.
Harry glanced up at the top table and found Dumbledore watching him, and then Harry looked for Snape, if the crimson signified hatred, then Snape would be red too. Snape however was bluish pink; the pink was a fraction darker. Harry returned his gaze to Dumbledore who now had his head tilted questioningly to one side and the ghost of a smile on his face.
Disconcerted Harry sat down and ate a quick breakfast, then noting Dumbledore had left the Great Hall, Harry rushed up to his office.
Before Harry could say a word the Statue moved to reveal the stairs up to Dumbledore's office. Knocking the door Harry entered to find Dumbledore sitting at his desk.
"You have a question?" Dumbledore smiled knowingly.
"Why is Malfoy's aura almost red?" Harry blurted out without preamble.
"Because Mr Malfoy hates you and wishes to cause you harm!" Dumbledore confirmed Harry's suspicions.
"But Snape?" Harry remembered.
"Professor Snape dislikes you, yet he wishes no harm to come to you. In fact one of his main jobs in the order is to protect you from Voldemort." Dumbledore explained.
"He hates me!" Harry countered.
"Professor Snape may have hated your father, but his feelings for you are no-where near so powerful." Dumbledore said calmly. "All magical creatures have an aura, the shades and tones are invisible to most. As you are learning to focus your magical abilities, you are learning to tap into basic magical currents. Eventually you should be able to recognize immediately if someone wishes you harm. It is a useful ability!"
Harry looked at Fawkes and suddenly felt his eyes sting, the aura around the bird was electric blue. Dumbledore smiled.
Harry left Dumbledore's office and went in search of his friends. He found them finishing their homework in the common room. "Harry, where have you been?" Hermione asked.
Harry mumbled a response about taking a walk then sat down with them to read his charms notes. His mind wandering to all Dumbledore had said, he would have to try harder with his wandless magic and meditation, it was proving very interesting. Maybe that's why Dumbledore was always so sure of whom to trust, he could read their Auras.