A/N: I know it has been a long time since my last update and for that I am sorry. I have been waiting a while now to get this chapter back from my 'new' beta, and as of yet have not gotten it. So I have decided to post a non-beta copy so you don't have to wait any longer.
Chapter Fourteen: Planned Attack
Harry never made it to his second class of the day, which was Herbology, which caused Hermione to worry about him. She raced to the Ravenclaw tower to see if he was there before she sent him a message. When Hermione got into the common room she found Harry sleeping in the cushioned armchair that he had collapsed in.
Hermione went over and knelt down in front of him. "Harry…Harry wake up."
Harry moved slightly in the chair and then focused on Hermione as his eyes came open just a bit. "Morning already?"
"Morning? Harry it is nearly dinner time." Hermione said as she looked at him with a mixture of concern and joy in her eyes.
"What? Did I miss a whole day?" Harry asked as he moved a bit and realized he was still in the armchair that he had collapsed on.
"No, but you did miss Herbology and Ms. Sprout isn't happy about that." Hermione said as she continued to look him over. "What happened to you?"
Harry looked around and found that the common room was empty, and then looked back at Hermione. "I had a run in with a certain Slytherin traitor."
"Oh no what happened?"
"Let's just say that I put the fear of a lord into him. The bloody traitor probably pissed his pants when he saw me." Harry said and then laughed in his menacing Lord Ragnarok tone.
Harry's laugh sent a chill down Hermione's spine, but she knew now what appearance he took when he confronted Ronald Weasley. "You didn't hurt him did you?"
"Not too badly just enough to get my point across, but I did find out that I am too limited in my power to do as much as I did. That's why I fell asleep here I was totally exhausted after it, and I am still very tired."
"Well you can sleep later Harry right now we need to get to dinner, or Dumbledore will start to wonder why you weren't there. By now he probably has been informed that you ditched Herbology class, and that wont be a good thing."
"You're right Hermione, let us not keep the oh so lousy headmaster waiting." Harry said as he stood up and then promptly fell back into the chair as a bout of dizziness struck him. "Maybe I should get up a bit slower next time."
Harry and Hermione slowly made their way to the Great Hall for dinner, but by time Harry got there he was grateful to be able to sit down. His activates for the day proved to him that he still needed to greatly expand his power levels if he intended on doing anything like that again.
/'Mione I really need to try that power ritual again.'/ Harry said through the bond as he was eating.
/'What? No way Harry you know what happened the last time. Remus would never allow you to do it again.'/
/'There has to be a way to get my core to expand Hermione, I am just too weak with it the way it is now.'/ Harry wasn't happy about his power levels, but in truth he was already more powerful than most students his age.
/'I will check into other rituals that might work, but for now lets just focus on what we need to for school.'/ Hermione said as she went about eating her dinner.
After dinner Harry was still pretty well exhausted from what he had done, so he chose to head off to bed early that night. Hermione not wishing to sit in the common room alone headed off the to the library to look into what she could about power rituals to help Harry with his power problem.
As she was making her way towards the library, Dumbledore stopped her in the hall. "Miss Granger might I have a word with you?"
Hermione looked down for a moment as she masked her irritation with Dumbledore then she looked up at him. "Yes sir."
"Miss Granger I was informed that Mr. Potter missed Herbology today and I was wondering if you would have any idea as to why he missed the class."
"Yes sir, Harry is a bit ill today, and it got worse by lunchtime, so he went to his dorm to lay down for a bit and didn't wake up until I woke him before dinner. He is sorry he missed it, and I will make sure he doesn't miss any more."
"I see, well tell Mr. Potter if he is still ill to see Madam Pomfrey she will be able to help him fell better. Thank you for letting me now so I can tell Ms. Sprout as to why her student skipped her class." Dumbledore said as he walked off down the hall.
The next morning Harry woke earlier than he had planned to, and headed down to the common room. He sat down at a table and pulled out a book he had on power cores that he had brought with him from the library at the Potter Castle. He hoped that he would be able to find something in it that would tell him what he needed to know.
Harry read his book until Hermione came down from her dorm room and he quickly put the book away for later. "Hey Mione ready to get some breakfast?" Harry asked as he stood up.
Hermione motioned for him to sit back down and went on to tell him about her encounter with the headmaster and what she had told him.
"That's fine Hermione at least it will get him off my case, so did you have any luck in the library?"
"No, but I think if I could get into the restricted section that I could find what I need." Hermione said as she stood up to go with Harry to breakfast.
Harry and Hermione spoke quietly as they made their way to breakfast and during breakfast Harry knew that Dumbledore was keeping an eye on him. He didn't care what Dumbledore was thinking, nor did he care that Dumbledore was a lying bastard who was looking to gain power by gaining control of him as a weapon. Right now all Harry cared about was getting his own power back to where it once was, so he would be able to face both his enemies and take them both down with pure adulterated prejudice!
Following breakfast Ravenclaws had one free period to do as they pleased. Hermione once again went to the library to continue her research into the power problem Harry had, while Harry went to the Room of Requirements.
Harry needed a place that he could be alone and that had a nice cushioned armchair for him to sit in, in front of a fireplace. /'Remus!'/ Harry said through the bond trying to get a hold of the man that he needed to talk to more than any other.
/'Harry? Is everything alright?'/ Came the reply from Remus Lupin.
/'Maybe old friend, maybe not. All I know is that I have two first year students here that I am sure weren't sorted when I was here in my first year.'/ Harry replied with slight concern in his message.
/'Is it possible that you just never met them the first time?'/ Remus asked in response.
/'Yes, but I doubt it. I need you and mum to look into whatever you can find out about them. If they weren't in the original timeline then I want to know why they are here now.'/
/'Okay give me their names, then Lilly and I will look into them for you.'/
/'The first is Alvaro Epans he was sorted into Slytherin during the sorting. The second is Lamia Walker she was sorted into Ravenclaw.'/ Harry said as he thought about who the two were and which houses they were in.
/'I will get back to you as soon as I know something Harry, but in the mean time be careful because I don't remember either of them either, so it might be they are there because of the changes you have made.'/
/'Thanks Moony I look forward to hearing from you, and now I should get going I have Defense Against the Dark Arts soon with the two faced bastard.'/
/'Be careful Harry you know even with Quirrell being the main body, Voldemort is still a part of him and a controlling part at that.'/
Harry left the Room of Requirements and headed off to get ready for his class with one of his enemies. He didn't know how he was going to deal with Quirrell, but he knew he would have to face him no matter what happened.
Ravenclaw and Slytherin were in DADA together, so Harry saw this as a slight advantage to his overwhelming dread of the class itself. Harry led Hermione over to a set of chairs beside Draco Malfoy, who seemed to be staying away from where Ronald Weasley and Alvaro Epans were seated.
Harry found it a bit weird sitting beside the kid that he had once classified as his most hated rival for so many years. However now that Harry knew that Draco was his son, he found sitting beside him to be interesting. Harry wished he could just come out and tell Draco the truth about his parentage, but he knew that the time was not right for that. No he would have to wait to reveal that information, he wanted to make sure Lucius was taken care of before that came out.
Quirrell started his welcome speech to his class, which with all his stammering took a whole fifteen minutes, to make a five-minute speech. While he was stammering his speech Draco passed a piece of parchment to Harry. Harry thought it was probably a rude comment about the stammering professor, but was a bit surprised by what he read.
Hey mate you best watch yourself around some of the guys in Slytherin. I have heard that a few of them are planning on attacking you. I don't know who all is involved, but I have heard that weasel and that Epans kid are the ones planning it.
Harry had to fight back his laughter as he covered his mouth.
"Some thiiing funny Mr. Poooter?" Quirrell asked as he caught Harry trying to cover up his laugh.
'Shit!' Harry thought as he fought to control his laughter even harder. "No sir, sorry sir."
Harry looked down at the note again and then as if taking notes he wrote a reply as Quirrell went back to talking about what his class was all about. Harry slid the note back to Draco, which he had written in reply.
Meet me outside the Great Hall before lunch.
Draco nodded and then went back to trying to pay attention to what Quirrell was stammering on about, though it wasn't the easiest thing to accomplish.
Draco met Harry and Hermione outside the Great Hall, which Harry then pulled him off to an empty classroom to talk to him. Draco knew that Hermione was Harry's friend, and so he tried to not look to concerned as he was led into the room with Hermione still tagging along.
"What do you know about this Epans kid?" Harry asked as he looked at Draco.
"Not much really, but I do know he is one of the few students in Slytherin talking openly to weasel."
"Harry what are you going to do?" Hermione asked fearing the worst since she knew Harry's temper.
"Right now nothing." Harry said to Hermione then looked back at Draco. "When are they planning on attacking me?"
"I don't know for sure, but like I said I would watch my back if I was you. I have a few people trying to find out what is going on, but right now no one has a lot of information."
"Okay thanks Draco, let me know anything you find out. In the mean time I will just be extra careful."
Draco nodded and then left the room, but Hermione and Harry stayed behind.
"Harry if Ron and this unknown kid are planning to attack you, do you think you should talk to Snape?" Hermione asked with concern in her voice.
"No I don't think I need to involve Severus in this matter. After all I can protect myself against first years."
"I know that Harry, but this Epans is unknown, you don't know what he is capable of doing. Not to mention the fact that Quirrell probably has that alter head of his planning the best way to eliminate you!"
"I don't know what to do Hermione, not right now I don't, but I will figure it out. Lets just get to lunch, I am starving." Harry said as he started towards the door.
As soon as Harry opened the door to the Great Hall he could sense that something wasn't right. There was something off about the atmosphere in the hall, and as he looked around the hall for a second he saw a student, a seventh-year most likely by his size, stand up with his wand in hand.
Harry didn't need his magically enhanced senses to tell him what was coming next and he quickly dove driving him and Hermione both to the floor as a bone shattering curse flew over the top of them.
At the head table Snape had watched as the doors to the Great Hall had opened and then he saw one of his seventh year Slytherin students stand up with his wand in hand. Snape went for his wand, but before he could the student had sent the curse at Harry and Hermione. He did the only thing he could and sent a stunner at the student dropping him to the floor. He then ran over to bind the student with magical ropes until he was able to be questioned about his failed attack.
Dumbledore and McGonagall both stood when the curse went flying at Harry, but neither really knew what had happened. Professor Flitwick went to check on Harry and Hermione since they were in his house, it was his duty to see what their condition was. Dumbledore went to speak with Snape after realizing that the potions master had subdued the student who sent the curse at Harry.
"Severus what just happened here?" Dumbledore asked not totally sure what had happened.
"That headmaster is a good question, and one I intend to get to the bottom of, with your help of course." Snape said as he looked at Dumbledore. He then looked at the student that he now had bond on the floor. "Shall we escort him to your office sir, and find out why he tried to attack a fellow student?"
"Yes I think that would be best Severus as we can not afford any more actions like this one." Albus said as he watched Snape levitate the boy.
Snape dragged the boy behind him as he followed Dumbledore towards the doors. Dumbledore stopped to check on Harry's condition and once he was assured the boy would be fine he continued on his way to his office.
Dumbledore closed the door to his office as Snape levitated the boy into a seat and bond him to it. Dumbledore made his way towards his seat while Snape brought the boy around with a simple Enervate Charm.
"Welcome back Mr. Malign. Could you please explain to me why you took it upon yourself to try and harm a fellow student." Dumbledore asked in a polite tone.
"What? What happened?" The boy asked seemingly totally confused by the line of questioning.
"Don't play dumb with the headmaster Malign! Tell him why you tried to attack Harry Potter with a bone shattering curse!" Snape snapped as he looked at the boy.
"Professor? I am not sure what you are referring to sir." Malign said completely lost as to what Professor Snape was talking about.
"Severus please, before you start badgering the boy allow me." Dumbledore said, as Snape was about to start into the boy before him. "Tell me Mr. Malign what do you remember?"
"I remember going to the Great Hall for lunch following my class, and then I remember starting to eat, but after that I only remember being woke up here in your office sir." Malign said as he looked at Dumbledore.
"Headmaster it is possible he was under the Imperius Curse." Snape said as he looked at the headmaster.
"Alas it would seem that way Severus. Mr. Malign please return to your common room, and wait for Professor Snape to come speak with you." Dumbledore said and then waited until Malign had left his office before he looked at Snape once again. "The real question now is who would have placed Mr. Malign under the curse, and why now of all times?"
"Sir you know that there are Death Eaters out in the world whom are still loyal to the Dark Lord even if he is dead. It is possible that one of them might have done it, but I don't see how considering the school is so protected."
"Alas I fear you are right Severus and thus it would mean that young Mr. Potter is in far greater danger than even I wish to believe. I shall see to it that he is protected better for his own safety. Now please go and check Mr. Malign and make sure that he will not be trying to attack Mr. Potter again."
Severus was on his way towards the dungeons to check in on Mr. Malign when he felt a hand clamp on to his arm and pull him into a dark recess, which was an unknown secret passageway down into the dungeons. Snape was about to pull his wand out on his attacker, until he heard the attacker speak, and then he knew what was happening.
"Tell me Severus what do I have you here for?" The voice asked from the darkness of the recess.
"I am sorry milord, if I had known…" Snape stammered as he released his wand.