DREAMS FROM BEYOND
"Dueling is a branch of magic where a wizard or witch will have to use every resource that is available to him. Even if you are magically weaker you can still defeat the opponent with your brain, I have defeated wizards with greater number of spells than mine. All you need is complete mastery over your spells and have a clear plan and you can defeat anyone." Flitwick continued his talking while his eyes pored deep into the emerald eyes of Harry.
"The first and foremost thing to learn about dueling is the stance related to it, a proper stance can help you manipulate your body easier and faster than your opponent, also helps in getting the wand movements right." The aged dueling expert landed on the clearing in front of the desk and took position. He spread his legs body slightly crouched legs bent he raised his wand arm at the shoulder level.
"watch my stance, this is the best dueling stance and the most basic as well, here your wand remains in a position where you can do any movement with same time, the rest of the stances deal with specific spells in mind thus greatly increasing or decreasing the importance. Now Mr. Potter, take position opposite me and cast every single target based spell you can think of."
Harry was impressed at the agility the old wizard was showing himself capable of and without a question he took his place at the opposite side of the duel master. He pulled his wand out took aim at the charm's professor's left shoulder; his years of getting beaten by Dudley and his crew had taught him the weakest position where a hit hurt really well. But he was surprised when the professor with a bare movement of his feet dodged the incoming hex.
"In dueling block only those you cannot dodge so use your brains to aim where he will move next, I saw when you fought against Quirrell you were jumping to dodge the attacks, that is a mistake. For an experienced duelist will guess your landing spot and damage you even before you gather yourself up, but that is for the next lesson today we shall perfect your stance."
The next two hours Harry was subjected to more humiliation than his entire life Flitwick would send various spells at him while he was forbidden to raise his wand and had to use his agility to dodge them, still more than fifty percent connected with his body. Growling from an underpowered bludgeoning hex Harry stood position again while his tutor seemed to be enjoying himself. Harry concentrated and remembered the advice Flitwick gave and took his stance his entire weight shifted in his legs. Muscles tensed for the movement an unbidden image of a wolf about to lunge at his opponent came to Harry's mind.
Flitwick gave his wand a flick and a force of concentrated magical energy moved towards harry with high speed, Harry was waiting he felt the spell gaining distance and once he knew he would be hit in the next moment he put his entire weight on the left foot while spinning out of the spells path and landed once again in the same stance.
Flitwick clapped at the display, "finally after hours of getting bruised you have managed to adapt the stance, take rest tomorrow because you are going to be sore. I will see you later and Mr. Potter good job with the instinct I took more time in learning this lesson I am sure you will out do me one day."
Happy at the praise Harry slowly made his way out of the class, this lesson was better than he expected but he still had a lot of way to go. "Good night Professor" he bid at his back as he closed the door and slowly made the journey to his bed.
"Pig snout" he gave the password to the fat lady and staggering collapsed on the chair by the fire where rests of his friends were sitting.
"Harry are you alright you look rather beaten" Daphne's caring nature was evident in her voice, smiling softly at her Harry replied, "well this is the best lesson I have ever had, man he really knows his stuff." And like vultures sweep down to carcass his friends came onto him for the gossip, which Harry was only glad to provide.
After talking nonstop about the dueling lesson with Flitwick in a bit exaggerated manner Harry finished his tale. "Ok that was at my end, so what happened to you guys has any of you saved me some food I am starving."
"Honestly Harry couldn't you just go after having your dinner. What would you do without us?" Hermione spoke in a bossy voice while Daphne and Ron were searching their bags to find any of the snacks left.
"Sorry buddy I am out" spoke Ron after doing a thorough search of his bag to find anything for his raven haired friend to eat, "only two chocolate frogs left" spoke Daphne handing the sweets to Harry who muttered thanks.
"So now while I was getting bruised by Flitwick what happened with you guys?" Harry asked again. Daphne and Hermione looked at each other one's face hardened and another just looked down at ground. Face clenched in fury Daphne hissed out, "Malfoy happened. The piece of shit called Hermione mud blood" the look at Ron's eyes were absolutely furious. He started calling Malfoy some names that caused even Harry blush. Harry was confused though he knew this was slang but he didn't realize its full extent until Ron explained it to him.
"Hello Boys, some colorful languages you got here," a cheery voice came from behind Harry and soon a similar voice followed, "yes Mum would be so proud."
Harry already knew the source of the voices even before he turned behind him leaning against each other stood the twin brothers of Ronald Weasley identical to the last freckle Fred and George Weasley stood there grinning.
"We heard"
"Some beautiful"
"Languages so"
"We thought"
"That we"
"Lend you our"
"Help"
As the twins finished their show Ron's left eye was twitching madly Harry stood speechless and the girls were rolling laughing.
After Harry managed to gain some resemblance of sanity he explained the problem to the red haired pranksters from hell. This time oddly serious the twins started planning their revenge, it was simply awe inspiring to think the most laid back two of the Gryffindor house goes through this amount of planning for their pranks.
The night went on and soon Harry and Daphne were the only ones sitting the common room. Sitting side by side both teens had the same train of thought going through their minds and unconsciously their hands inched closer to each other. Both of the teens sometimes felt awkward with the new development between them on one hand they wanted to take their relationship further but both scared to ruin what they have.
As time fire in the fireplace slowly died down leaving only timbers the raven haired duo slowly fell asleep neither realizing their hands being entwined by then.
Harry's dream
Open grassy field lay ahead of him as he sat perched on a branch of the tree that stood on the edge of the field, his keen senses could pick out the small fiery glow at the southern sky. 'Another of our strongholds has fallen against the cult of death callers.' That was the name the army of necromancers called themselves with every battle they won their forces grew fiercer the savage green skin orcs have allied with them.
Clenching his teeth in the anger the silent sentinel stood up his mane of raven locks fell to the small of his back dark skin glowed in the setting sun as if it was a black pearl, his emerald orbs burned with intensity. He was Knightstar yet he was Harry Potter he sent his senses mingle with the nature and with a flash he could see an army of his brethren moving towards him but they are not living they are simply reanimated corpse. He clenched his teeth in frustration when he saw his friends among the undead army.
"You shall pay for your deeds" he swore loudly the vibration from the land was enough to tell him that the army of undead have come as close as he is going to allow. He let out a loud war cry as hundreds of elves like him stood behind him; a bearded green haired elf came forward as he bowed before him.
"Shando the vile army draws close they will be here in next fifteen minutes they will be upon us."
…
"Harry wake up, wake up" a familiar voice was calling him he also felt some one pushing him. Opening his eyes Harry saw the light of dawn has yet to break out and beside him Daphne looked at him with worry etched upon her beautiful features. "What happened? " Harry asked his voice groggy from the sleep he was confused his first thought was something bad happening to her.
"You were speaking in your sleep in a strange dialect, and then you started tossing and turning so I woke you up. Are you alright Harry?" Harry shook his head he didn't really know what happened specially he didn't realize he was speaking a new language.
"My dreams" Harry muttered absentmindedly not realizing he spoke out loud. Daphne heard it clearly her curiosity was peaked "what was that?" she asked still worried about her best friend.
"Just some nightmares" Harry told offhandedly, "I will tell you later, let's go and have breakfast"
"You idiot it's not even dawn we slept whole time in the common room you stay here I am going to bed." Daphne got up and with an arrogant huff left a young teen aged boy gaping at her.
"God she is beautiful" Harry spoke never even realizing he was speaking aloud he felt wide awake.
Five minutes later as the light of dawn was breaking out of the eastern sky Harry was seen flying in the morning breeze. His raven hair naturally messy was becoming messier in the wind he felt freer than ever. He did remember his dream last night. He remembered the dream because it was the same dream he had been dreaming since summer since he killed Quirrell he feared to tell others about it.
'Am I going mad dreaming about things that do not exist? What the hell was that thing any way? It looked like a house elf but he was tall taller than me any way. And unlike dobby he seemed proud they seemed proud. Meh seems like I need to take a leaf out of Hermione's book.'
A few hours later
Harry was bored out of his mind, his suspicion of Lockhart being a fraud was sealed in adamantium by now. Seriously only the girls still defended him who on their right mind would give quiz about themselves in their first class.
He looked beside him to see Ron watching ahead his mouth open in amusement following his line of sight Harry could not help the groan he was feeling. Hermione and Daphne were answering the questions like possessed people. He looked around to see multiple pictures of the blonde idiot on the teacher's desk.
"I never thought someone could bore me this much. Hell even Binns is more interesting than this asshole." Harry grumbled all the three girls looked affronted by this.
"Harry, respect the position if not the person" advised Daphne in a cool tone getting only a lopsided grin in return, she inadvertently felt her cheeks slightly warm up. 'stupid fool' she cursed herself, 'he doesn't even trust me enough to tell what's bothering him'
The classes continued that way the defense class got more and more boring according to Harry. Still he was actually glad for it as his lessons with Flitwick was getting more and more fierce. They had moved on to the target practicing and while dodging so it was hard as the charmed target was designed to hit only bludgeoning spells.
His dreams had increased in numbers so much that he had to put silencing charm on his bad so that his friends don't suspect anything. Daphne seemed to be watching him closely these days. But on the good part he had the best laugh in his whole damn life when Malfoy showed up in breakfast his hair turned in to bright neon pink.
….
"Oi Potter, are you even listening what I am saying?" barked Oliver Wood his frustration clearly evident in his voice he was explaining his newest tactics when Harry decided to take his trip down the memory line.
"Come on Oliver you need to understand standing outside of a boy's toilet is hardly a place for discussing tactics." Harry grumbled but even as Oliver left the place Harry could not move as he heard something that froze him in his tracks an ancient voice. "Rip… Kill….Tear….Blood". Harry could feel the lust for blood in the air. A presence so dark that it could be felt far away from it and it chilled Harry's blood.
He knew someone was going to get hurt and he would be damned before he let it happen. He ran following the voice until he couldn't hear it any more. It was there when the girls found him.
"Harry, are you alright? You seem scared?" Daphne rushed to his side her wand out looking for anything that may threaten the bravest person she knows. The rest of the girls followed her lead.
"Did you hear the voice?" Harry asked his voice barely more than a whisper.
"What whisper?" Hermione asked her tone clearly telling that they heard nothing.
"Harry, maybe you should go to the hospital wing I think the stress is getting to you." Tracey suggested trying to be helpful but a glare from her child hood friend stopped her from making any more suggestions.
Dragging Harry by his arm Daphne entered a currently empty class room. Hermione and Tracey quickly followed suit Tracey casted the locking charm on the door as well as silencing it. Harry felt like he was thrusted into the lime light as his friends looked at him to explain things. He did explain to the best of his abilities.
"Do you know any other language and I don't mean human ones?" Hermione asked her brows clenched together as she drove her mind to overdrive. Harry just shrugged in answer.
"Wait, why do you think it was some non human language?" Daphne asked frankly she found it incredulous.
"Because we couldn't hear it now if Harry didn't imagine it the only explanation is that the language is non human."
"But I don't know any other language." Harry complained loudly, "I would know if I did."
"Would you really?" the question stopped Harry in his tracks 'would I really know'
AUTHOR'S RANT: Ok guys I wrap up this chapter here, it was a pretty big one. One of my biggest ones in fact with this chapter the true mystery of the chamber begins. Read and review everyone constructive criticism is encouraged you only make me write better and to any and all who stick with this story. You are the reason I find time to write. I know I am not a good one but I am learning and my next story will be better.