Chapter Thirteen
Dumbledore Reflections, and Patronus Charms.
Albus Percival Wulfric Brian Dumbledore, Headmaster of Hogwarts Witchcraft and Wizardry, and many other titles he really couldn't give a shite less about, sat warily at his desk. It was in the wee early hours of the morning, more then three weeks since he and Harry'd found the cursed diadem.
Looking down at said diadem, now cleaved in half, and the mangled enchanted diary from the year before, he knew without a doubt what they were. Horcruxes. Some of the most vile magic known to wizard kind. Created by Tom to 'anchor' his soul to this plane of existence.
One Horcrux was horrifying enough, but several? The thought made bile begin to rise in the old wizard's throat. It was disgusting to say the least, but how many did the foolish boy make? Albus suspected that Myrtle's death was used to create the first. The real question was, 'How many?'
He had used several different enchantments in many unsuccessful attempts to destroy the Horcrux. In the end, it was as simple as using the Sword of Gryffindor. 'Basilisk Venom' he thought. 'That must have been it.'
He doubted the Goblin Wrought sword would be capable of such feat on it's own, but when young Harry killed the Basilisk, 'stabbing it through the snake's head, it must have passed through it's venom sacks, impregnated the blade with it's deadly poison.' he thought with a sigh.
"So young, and already faced more terror than most adults do in their entire lifetimes." said Dumbledore, looking over at his familiar, Fawkes.
Then there were the dreams, and abilities, that appeared to be surfacing slowly. The dream he had been shown, very few people knew more than legends when it came to Merlin. Few knew of obscure rumours about a secret wife and child. In fact, he was almost certain, that he was the only living soul who did. His old Master, Nicholas Flamel and his wife Perenelle were the others. In fact, it had been Nicholas who'd told him of said legend.
When his apprenticeship was nearly complete, he'd told the young Albus of a secret Order that kept watch over Merlin's line. Nicholas was to be the last, as prophesied. It was said that the last of this Order would pass on his knowledge to the leader of the light whom in turn would tutor Merlin's reincarnated soul.
Albus had always though that the subject of Divination was inaccurate, and rather useless unless you were born with the gift. He had even considered dropping the class from the Hogwarts curriculum.
Then came Sybill Trelawney. She'd spoken the prophecy that had ultimately lead to the Potters' demise, and the situation Harry was in now. When she had made her prediction, he began to rethink his position on what Nicholas had told him all those years ago.
It had been the secret Order's destiny to only go so far, and no farther. With the death of the Flamels less than a year gone by, part their prophecy had been fulfilled. The pair had been devastated when news of the Potters' death, but relieved when they learned that young Harry had survived. When Albus asked why, they'd simply told him that it would be revealed to him in time.
Albus sat with Nicholas and Perenelle as they lay on their death bed. When he'd told them of Harry's exploits with the Stone, the ancient couple had shared a look of happiness. Nicholas' final words were, "It's him Albus. He's returned. Finally" as he and his wife drew their final breaths.
Until Harry had come to him about his dreams, Albus had been unwilling to face the truth. He didn't want the boy to carry such a burden. He would have given everything for Harry to have a normal life. The boy should be worried about; grades, finding a suitable place to snog a certain young lady with the deepest blue eyes and honey coloured hair, Quidditch, Hogsmeade weekends, and friendships. Not; death, destruction, dark wizards who wanted to see his head on a pike, prophecies, or being Merlin reincarnate.
A tear rolled down the old wizard's face, as he thought of the trials yet to come for the young lad. How he wished he could take it all away.
He just hoped he wouldn't fail Harry.
X x x x x x x x x
She was screaming.
She felt so much pain coming from her nether regions.
SHE WAS GIVING BIRTH!
How was that possible? She's never been with anyone! She was too young.
From the soft light coming through the windows, she could see it was mid morning at least.
"You can do it sweet heart," said the man holding her hand.
She looked up at him. He seemed familiar somehow. Long messy raven coloured hair, piercing green eyes, and a full beard.
'Ew' Daphne thought to herself. She didn't like beards, but whoever she was in the dream, felt only the deepest love for this man.
"One more hard push," said a woman whom was obviously the midwife. "and the babe will be with us in this world."
She felt herself bear down, and give a mighty heave. How she did it, she didn't know. The pain was immense.
Suddenly the pain subsided to a powerful ache, and she heard the wail of an infant.
"It's a boy." said the midwife.
Soon the newborn was cleaned and wrapped protectively in his mother's arms.
She felt overwhelming love for the new life she'd brought into this world. She looked up at the man, whom Daphne assumed was the father, and saw beaming pride on his slightly scared features.
Their eyes met, and he leaned down and kissed her lips tenderly…
X x x x x x
Daphne Greengrass sat up in bed quickly. She wasn't breathing heavily or sweating. In fact, she felt a great loss with the end of the dream.
'Who were those people?' she asked herself.
Quickly as the dream faded from her memory, she thought back to the man. He reminded her of a certain Gryffindor she was head over heels for. The man radiated such power and compassion. So much love. And then, the dream was gone. Try as she might, she could no longer recall any detail, except the emotion.
Shaking her head, she looked over at her clock quietly ticking away on her nightstand, and noted it was three past three in the morning. She shook her head, and lay back down, closing her eyes. Sleep took her soon after.
X x x x x x x x
Christmas morning started out great. Harry'd gotten a Firebolt broomstick for Christmas. Things had been looking up, until Hermione told Professor McGonagall, and the broom had been confiscated.
He had been angry at first, he'd never even got to ride it, but instead of blowing his stack, he calmed himself and asked Hermione why she did what she had done. Ron had even come into the conversation, and had yelled at Hermione for "ratting him out" and getting the broom taken away.
"Harry," she said, "There was no note on the broom to tell you who it's from. Sirius Black could have cursed the broom so it could kill you. Don't you remember your first Quidditch match?"
This gave Harry pause. She had a point, a damn good point.
'Bugger.' he thought with a groan.
"Why do you always have to be right?" he asked her, nearly whining.
"I can't believe you're taking her side!" Ron nearly shouted, catching the attention of the rest of the hall. 'You're always taking her side!"
"I do not!" defended Harry loudly. "If anything, I've taken your side more than hers."
"Fine!" said Ron. "I see how it is! She spreads her legs and now you go with everything she says?"
He wasn't able to say much more before Harry decked him, effectively shutting him up. Ron, however quickly recovered, and the two were soon on the ground brawling, until-
"Mr. Potter! Mr. Weasley!" shouted Professor McGonagall. "That will be three nights detention for both of you as soon as the new term begins!"
The pair were pulled apart by a few sixth and seventh years who'd stayed at the castle over the holidays.
"If term were in session I'd deduct points as well, for your scandalous slander of Ms. Granger and Mr. Potter, Mr. Weasley." said McGonagall before Ron stomped off, "And you, Mr. Potter, I'd take points from you as well-" she paused, "-and award you points for defending Ms. Granger's honour." With that, she turned and walked briskly out of the hall.
So here he was, sitting in the empty common room in his favourite chair in front of the fire reading, while Hermione sat on the couch, legs curled under her, nose in a book.
It was good to see Hermione relaxing for a change. She'd been very frazzled the entire term. Now with news that Buckbeak's hearing had been scheduled for the twentieth of April, she'd taken up helping prepare Hagrid's defence in order to save Buckbeak's life. He had to drag her away from the legal books she'd check out from the library, and force her to sit back and relax a bit.
He was sad that Daphne hadn't been able to stay at the castle for the holidays, or that he hadn't been able to go. It would have made people ask too many questions. Their Occlumency with Dumbledore was coming along well. While they couldn't keep him out yet, they were both able to push him out of their minds after a few minutes.
Harry had noticed Dumbledore looking at him sadly several times, before the headmaster had been able to school his features to a more jovial look. He wondered what that had been all about.
At their third lesson, Harry asked about Sirius Black, and why some people had told him not to go looking for him. Daphne sat next to him, waiting for the headmaster's answer. She, like everyone else, knew about Peter Pettigrew and the twelve Muggles Black had killed when he blew up the street.
Dumbledore sighed. "Harry, you must understand, when you were young, you parents had gone into hiding. They were hidden by a Fidelius Charm. I had offered to be their secret keeper, but your father chose another. Your father and Sirius Black best friends, almost brothers, whilst here at Hogwarts. In fact, Sirius Black is your Godfather."
Harry sat there stunned. A mass murderer was his Godfather?
"Your father had chosen Sirius Black as their secret keeper. Unfortunately, he betrayed your parents to Voldemort that Halloween night, and he found you."
"He was their best friend and he betrayed them?" Harry said, anger rising.
Daphne quickly wrapped her arms around Harry. "Oh Harry, I'm so sorry." she whispered in his ear. His anger quickly dissipated, but was replaced with heart wrenching sorrow. For the first time in a long time, Harry cried for the life he could have had, if not for the betrayal of his father's best friend.
X x x x x x x
"Harry," said Professor Lupin, on the first night of their Patronus training, 'Are you sure about this? This is very advanced magic, well beyond the Ordinary Wizarding Level."
"I'm sure." said Harry quickly.
"Well, everything is prepared," Lupin said pointing at a trunk in the middle of the defence classroom. "Now the spell I'm going to teach you is called the Patronus Charm, did you ever hear of it?"
Harry shook his head.
"The Patronus is a positive force, and for the wizard who could conjure one, it acts as a shield with the Dementors feeding on it, rather than him." said Lupin as he stood in front of the chest containing the Boggart. " Now in order for it to work, you need to think of a memory, not just any memory, but a very happy memory, a very powerful one. Can you do this?"
Harry nodded again.
"Good," Lupin began, "Close your eyes. Explore your past. Do you have a memory? Lose yourself in it. Allow it to fill you up, and speak the incantation 'Expecto Patronum'."
"Expecto Patronum." parroted Harry.
"Very good." said Lupin turning to the trunk. 'Shall we?"
"Yes." said Harry.
With that, Lupin opened the trunk's lid, and a Dementor flew out toward Harry. Raising his wand, the young boy cried "Expecto Patronum!"
Nothing.
"Expecto Patronum!" he called again, and again nothing.
His vision started to fade, and a woman's screams could be heard echoing in his mind.
'Stand aside you silly girl!'
'No!'
'She will be mine..'
'She will be mine…..'
Darkness finally claimed him.
Opening his eyes, the first thing he saw was the worried face of his Defence professor.
"Here we go." said the shabby looking man, as he pulled Harry into a sitting position. Looking around, Harry saw no sign of the Dementor-Boggart. He also saw he was on the floor, again. He was disappointed in himself .
"I didn't expect you to get it the first time." said Lupin, handing Harry a chocolate frog. 'That would have been remarkable." he finished with a chuckle.
Harry took a bite, and warmth began spreading through his body. He hadn't realized how cold he was.
Helping Harry to his feet, Lupin asked, "So what memory did you use?"
"The first time I rode a broom." said Harry.
"No that's not good enough, not nearly good enough." Lupin replied, shaking his head.
"Well, there haven't been to many really happy memories in my life Professor." Harry said, looking down at his feet.
Lupin furrowed his brow, wondering exactly what the boy meant by that. He decided not to press the issue for now.
"There is another though." said Harry, "It's not really a memory, but it's the happiest I've ever felt." he finished, looking up at his Professor.
"Is it powerful" said Lupin, to which Harry nodded. "Well, let's give it a try shall we?"
Harry readied himself as Lupin opened the lid once more, Dementor leaping out at him.
"EXPECTO PATRONUM!" shouted Harry, and instantly, a bright white erupted from his wand, beginning to drive the Dementor back.
What happened next shocked the Professor. The white light began to take shape. Seconds later, a majestic stag raced toward the Boggart-Dementor, and impaled it's great antlers into the Boggart's torso. With a shriek, the Boggart quickly retreated back into the trunk, just as Lupin slammed the lid shut. A look of pure shock, was etched on his face as he stared wide eyed at the corporeal Patronus standing before him, searching for any more threats.
Seeing no threats in the immediate area, the glowing stag turned to Harry and seemed to evaluate him. Remus walked up beside Harry, and in a shock voice said "This is incredible Harry. Most adults can only manage a Patronus shield, or just a mist. You've conjured a fully corporeal Patronus on only your second try. Amazing. You are a very powerful wizard Harry. Twenty points to Gryffindor."
Harry let the charm drop, and took a seat at one of the desks.
"I think that's enough for now." he said feeling a little chilled, and tired.
Lupin took a seat next to him, and handed him another chocolate frog, "I think you could have easily beaten out your father Harry, that that is saying something. He was very talented and very powerful as well."
"I was thinking of-" said Harry, "-a dream I had once."
"Go on," Lupin encouraged.
"In the dream, I have a wife and son. He'd just been born, and I was holding him in my arms." Harry said with a smile, "He had black hair like mine, and dark blue eyes, like his mother. I don't even know if it's real or my imagination, but- it's the happiest I've ever felt."
What he didn't say was that the woman was somehow familiar. He hadn't been able to figure out why, just that it's how it was.
X x x x x x x
The night after it appeared that Crookshanks had eaten Scabbers, Harry was in bed, looking over the Marauder's Map. He saw Argus Filch, sulking down the Defence corridor. Daphne was asleep in her bed, and the twins were lingering in the kitchens.
Turning a flap to the fourth floor, he saw a name that shouldn't be there. Peter Pettigrew.
"That's not possible." he whispered to himself.
Coming to a quick decision, he jumped out of bed quietly, and stepped into his trainers. He looked at the map again, and saw there was no one near "Pettigrew's" label, and made his way out of Gryffindor tower.
Creeping down the fourth floor corridor, wand tip lit, he approached where the label said Pettigrew was, but he didn't see anyone. Looking down at the map, he saw Pettigrew coming closer and closer. Looking up, he frantically searched for any sign of some one, but seeing no one. The label moved around his, and Harry could still see no one.
Pettigrew's label was moving down the hallway, around a corner, and away from him. Looking at the map again, he suddenly noticed 'Severus Snape" approaching the corridor he was in quickly.
"Oh shite!" he yelled in a whisper. Snape was about to turn the corner. Quickly tapping his wand to the map, he muttered "Mischief Managed" clearing the map, and stuffing it in his hoodie's pocket before turning out the light of his wand causing the corridor to go pitch black.
Very quickly though, Professor Snape appeared in front of him, wand lit and looking at him in suspicion.
"Potter." he sneered. 'What are you doing, wandering the corridors at night?" he asked.
"I was sleepwalking sir." said Harry.
"How extraordinarily like your father you are," said Snape. "he too was exceedingly arrogant. Always strutting about the castle."
"My dad didn't strut." Harry said calmly. He was glad his Occlumency training was helping him stay in control of his emotions better. 'Nor do I. Now if you don't mind, I would appreciate it if you would lower your wand."
Glaring at Harry, Professor Snape said. "Turn out your pockets."
Harry hesitated.
"Turn. Out. Your Pockets." Snape repeated more forcefully.
Doing as he was told, Harry pulled the cleared map from his jacket pocket.
'What's this?" Snape asked quickly pointing at the bundle of old parchment.
"Just a spare bit of parchment." said Harry.
"Really?" Snape asked, voice dripping with sarcasm. "Open it."
Looking at the greasy git for a moment, Harry opened the map.
Snape place the tip of his lit wand on the bundle of parchment and said, "reveal your secrets."
Writing began forming across the map. "Read it." said Snape
Looking down at the map Harry read aloud, "Messers Moony, Wormtail, Padfoot, and Prongs offer their compliments to Professor Snape, and-" reading the next part, Harry didn't know if he should laugh, or run for his life.
"Go on.." Snape drawled.
"-and request that he kiss this map's arse." Harry finished.
Snape's face contorted in fury as he spat, "Why you insolent little!"
"Professor," a voice interrupted. It was Lupin.
Turning to face the new arrival Snape said, "Well, well, well, Lupin. Out for a little walk in the moon light, are we?"
"Harry," said Lupin, looking at said boy. "Are you alright." eyes flickering toward the parchment in his hand.
'That remains to be seen." said Snape while snatching the bundle of parchment from Harry's hand. "I have just now confiscated a rather curious artifact from Mr. Potter. Take a look Lupin, this is suppose to be you area of expertise." He said handing the parchment to Professor Lupin. "Clearly it's full of dark magic."
"Oh I seriously doubt that Severus," said Lupin, trying to hold back a laugh as he read the Marauder's reply to Professor Snape. "It looks as though it's merely a parchment designed to insult anyone who tries to read it. I suspect it's a Zonko product."
Snape tried grabbing the map from Lupin, but the werewolf quickly moved it out of Severus' reach." Never the less, I shall investigate any hidden qualities it may posses. It is after all, as you said, my area of expertise."
Snape sneered his usual greasy sneer.
"Harry could you come with me please?" said Lupin, motioning for Harry to follow him.
'Oh crap. I am still in trouble.' Harry thought as he followed the Defence Professor.. 'At least I got away from Snape. What ever Professor Lupin does is bound to be better than that greasy git of a professor.'
x x x x x x x x
Note: There you have it. I thought it was funny to have the map tell Snape to kiss it's ass, I laughed ten minutes straight when I though of Daniel Radcliffe and Alan Rickman acting out the scene in the third movie. Sorry if this chapter isn't up to what you've come to expect. I'm a little out of it because of medications I'm on.