Disclaimer: The Harry Potter Universe and all the characters belong to J.K. Rowling.
He energetically put out step after step. The route they took was largely unused so at the moment they were pretty much the only ones in the hallway with no other students in sight besides themselves. They were currently all walking toward the reserved hall where they would be holding their next supplementary lesson, something he had been looking forward to.
"Uhm, Harry?" Hermione slowly asked.
"Yeah?" He answered, turning to look at Hermione.
"It is safe to assume that you managed to patch things up again with Daphne?" She asked raising her eyebrow questioningly.
He answered with a nod. "Yeah I did actually, why do you ask?"
"Oh, you know. I was just wondering why you were smiling like an idiot all day suddenly, and still are by the way… it's a bit unusual, not that it's a bad thing of course!" Hermione quickly added at the end.
"I'm not smiling like an idiot!" Harry exclaimed looking to Neville and Ron for support. Only to find the opposite as they gave him sarcastic expressions.
Well maybe it did show on his face a bit... His kiss with Daphne had been short and simple but it had made his heart soar as he held her with the rain drumming against the windows. It had been a bit goofy and awkward afterward but she had seemed extremely pleased when they departed.
He also felt glad that both of them had managed to get things of their chests, it made his ever heavy shoulders feel a bit lighter. There was still the issue of yet having to show her his past but her confidence and determination about her feelings and opinion on him seemed to boost his own. He still doubted but less so, maybe Daphne could learn more about the Harry from the muggle world without coming to think negatively of him. He could only wait and see.
"Still I'm a bit upset that you didn't ask for any advice from me.. I'm a girl too you know, I could easily have provided you with some insight." Hermione said lightly, but probably still felt a bit offended despite her tone.
He gave her an apologetic look. "I know that, Hermione, but I needed to do it on my own this time. I'll make sure to come to you plenty of times in the future."
"I can't really imagine the situation of not wanting to ask for advice and information on something you don't fully understand, but I guess that it was mostly you being stubborn again." Hermione replied with a sigh.
"Yeah, that was pretty much the case."
"Doesn't really explain why you've been like this all day. Did something else happen? Happened to find a whole stash of forgotten essays for us to use?" Ron asked eying him curiously, as if expecting them to be right there underneath his robes.
He rolled his eyes. "No, Ron, it's nothing like that."
"What is it then? No insult intended but having you smile all day is rather worrisome to see." Neville piped up after his response to Ron.
He gave Neville a sour expression. It wasn't that unusual to see, right?
"Oh, look there's our Harry, again." Ron said after seeing his sour face. "Was beginning to think that someone hit you with a Cheering Charm or something in the morning."
"Come off it guys, leave Harry alone." Hermione said with no real force behind it as she smiled a bit.
"Twats, all of you." He said in feigned annoyance before stopping flat in his tracks, making the others do the same as he strained his ears, hearing familiar voices nearby. "I'll tell you guys sometime later, be silent for now."
"Think you can just- mphf!" Ron tried to argue before Hermione shut him up by putting a hand over his mouth as they went quiet and waited around the corner, following his lead.
"Haha, seriously, Looney!" He heard Nott laugh arrogantly along others. "What are these things even? Butterbeer caps?"
"Yes, it helps ward off the Wrackspurts." Came Luna's blank reply to his question, completely clear and serious but he could sense discomfort in it as well, and assumed that this had already been going on for some time before they came.
"You truly live up to your name Looney! I'm sure that someday you might even surpass the insanity of your own father!" Nott said humorously before joining the lumbering laughs that had started after his insult.
"Asshole." Neville softly bristled in anger.
Harry felt surprised at Neville's outburst but could understand his reaction since his own parents were still hospitalized in St. Mungo's. Hearing other people joke about it in a deliberately hurtful manner was no doubt infuriating.
"My father isn't insane.." Luna replied in a tense voice, to which Harry decided that he had heard enough already, he knew who was with her and that there were multiple of them. Harry didn't know much about her family, and her father was likely a bit of a special case just like herself but calling either her of her father insane went too far.
"You shouldn't talk about the sanity of others if your own father is in Azkaban, Nott. Rightfully so of course." Harry said as he and his other friends stepped into view from behind the corner.
Nott and the others around him looked up and turned around from the spot in which they had cornered Luna, after which she saw her chance and subtly moved away from them to their side. Nott's eyes followed Luna as she moved away from them, but didn't make any move to stop her.
Nott wasn't alone either, just like Harry had predicted. Around him stood Crabbe and Goyle which had provided the lumbering laughs at his jokes. A bit to his surprise however, was Malfoy still looking as tired as ever, who gave a glare at him when their eyes met. There wasn't much intensity in them however, as he looked like he wanted to do nothing more than leave.
He knew that Malfoy and his cronies were practically inseparable but his lack of presence and activity this year had Harry nearly forget all about him as time silently went on after the incident with Katie, giving him no leads or proof that Malfoy was possibly a Death Eater. Nott making sure to center himself as the new vocal point of annoyance and attention also hadn't helped him focus on Malfoy.
Nott's dark brown eyes gleamed in a spike of disgrace, but remained calm otherwise. "Better imprisoned than dead, am I right? At least my father will be free and return to me after a while. Sadly that isn't the case for you."
Now it was Harry's time to bristle as he reached for his wand, his opponents and friends reacting likewise.
"Please, Harry." Hermione pleaded with a hand on his arm, keeping it lowered. "We are not at fault here and shouldn't change that fact either."
"I would rather have a dead father I can be proud of than a father that is worth less than a pile of owl droppings!" Ron unceremoniously continued, not one to let go of an insult that easily.
"Wise advice Harry, we should all listen to her." Nott said in an overly polite nod to Hermione, completely ignoring Ron, much to the latter's annoyance. "And now that we are on the topic of advice; did you listen to my mine? The atmosphere was a bit tense, last time I saw you two in class. I sure do hope you managed to end things in a friendly way."
His friends around him didn't get what he was talking about, but Harry did. Nott was referring to the conversation they had last time they met in the hallway. Nott evidently thought that he and Daphne weren't friends with each other anymore because of the chilly silence they shared in the recent Potions lesson.
Harry couldn't help but let a smug look take over upon his face. Nott couldn't be farther from the truth.
"Oh, it's been great thanks for asking, and no I didn't listen to your advice, even without a brain in my head I would still have enough common sense not to listen to your nonsense." He said in satisfaction as Nott's face became strained with keeping the annoyance from openly showing.
"Turn away, Nott. Ron and I are prefects, we can place detention upon you for what you did to Luna." Hermione commanded in a no-nonsense tone as she looked directly at him.
He let out a short and soft mocking laugh in response. "Detention? I doubt that a little joke would be enough reason for detention but I'll take your truthful word for it."
Nott curtly gestured with his head to Malfoy and his cronies who turned to follow him. Walking away with their backs to them.
"He's up to something." Neville simply said, pocketing his wand to which the others followed his example.
Harry only nodded silently as he watched them walk away before turning around himself and moving away. "Let's just go we still have the dance lesson."
"Luna, are you okay? Take another route and walk with us for a while. They didn't break any of your.. things, right?" Hermione asked gesturing and looking at the many accessories that Luna wore with a concerned expression.
Luna smiled at her sympathy. "I'm fine, the-"
"-Reducto!"
Harry whirled around, whipped out his wand and conjured a shield.
He had been too late however, turning around, pulling out his wand and conjuring the shield had taken too long. The Curse was already past the minimum range of his barrier, forcing him to look on helplessly as it collided with Luna's lower back. She had been targeted from the beginning. Not him.
Luna only had time to look surprised before giving a yelp as she was blasted forward, her back bending backward as if a troll had clubbed her, sliding and tumbling a few times across the floor before coming to a stop face-down, moaning softly in pain.
In the corner of his eyes he saw Nott standing there with his wand raised. Smiling.
"You coward!" He yelled. The calm smile only adding to his anger, causing it to surge through his body, encouraging him to make Nott pay for it tenfold as he flung the same spell back at him.
Duels immediately ensued, with pairings that went for each other as if predetermined from the start. Ron took his wand up against Goyle, Neville went for Crabbe, and Hermione engaged Malfoy.
Nott deftly sidestepped his Curse and returned fire with a Confundo followed by a Diffindo.
Harry stepped away from the first and raised a shield for the latter, letting the Curse rebound and slice off an appendage of a nearby statue which crumbled into multiple pieces after making contact with the floor.
He stepped forward and banished the broken pieces toward Nott before adding in a Confringo and Scalpere with a shout, making a hasty dodge to avoid a stray spell from Ron and Goyle's duel as soon as he had fired his spells.
Harry was disappointed to see Nott take care of it by using a Reducto again and sweeping his wand in a wide arc, destroying the rumble that he had sent flying to him before raising a shield to absorb both of his spells with little damage being done to the shield he had raised.
Harry wanted to continue his assault but was forced to sidestep a Curse that had already been sent back to him in retaliation, letting it harmlessly fly past him while carefully taking note of his surroundings. He didn't want stray spells to hit him or his friends.
He didn't like admitting it but Nott posed much more of an challenge than Malfoy, he could already notice by the way he took on a stance, moved around and made use of spells in a variety of ways that he was no newcomer to duels and likely got training or lessons of some sort.
Harry batted a Bludgeon Curse aside with his want before returning fire again with a Expulso and Stupefy again. Gritting his teeth in frustration when the shields Nott conjured simply absorbed or rebounded each of his spells with a look of passive concentration.
"You shouldn't take honorable combat for granted, Harry! It's a sign of the weak." Nott called out from behind his shields as he fired a Diffindo in the small window of time that he lowered them. It was completely off-track however as it was aimed toward an entirely different direction Harry currently was.
A spike of panic shot through him when he saw that it was aimed toward Hermione's back whom was busy fighting Malfoy, she would never sense it coming from behind and was left wide open.
This time was different however, he was prepared for it and quickly conjured a shield for Hermione's exposed back letting the cutting curse rebound into a nearby wall as she continued in uninterrupted concentration with her duel against Malfoy.
Harry momentarily had to switch focus by doing that however, and paid for it with his own body as a new Reducto slammed into his chest like an oversized hammer, making him grunt in pain as the feeling of a sickening crack went through him.
"I'm your opponent, you little shit!" Harry roared in now boiling anger before advancing to Nott's position. Feeling his chest burn from his shouting as he firing new spells at Nott, only to see them rendered useless as the same durable shields were raised in response.
"I'm very much aware of that, Potter, but everyone should keep track of their surroundings and use whatever openings occur to their advantage. I simply made use of such an opportunity." Nott responded as he emerged from behind his shields again to fire a new Reducto at him.
Harry only seethed, this was the second time he tried such an underhanded trick to win. Targeting someone utterly defense just to gain an advantage in his own duel. He didn't even bother himself with dodging or shielding himself from Nott's incoming Reducto as he raised his wand.
"Reducto!"
His own Reducto Curse collided with that of Nott, resulting in a small, white explosion that thundered through the long hallway, causing Nott to fall backwards on his back from the force as he was hit by most of blast while everyone else was momentarily staggered.
Having expected the blast to occur, Harry only momentarily stopped to steady himself before marching on again, intent on his target.
"Os Fractionis!" He bellowed, thrusting the spell at him with a violent and concentrated jab. Let's see how those shields of yours handle this. He thought spitefully as he fired the Bone-Breaking Curse.
Nott, who was already on his feet again, albeit a bit unsteadily in his haste, erected a new shield to absorb his incoming Curse. But looked visibly surprised from behind his transparent barrier when the sound of breaking glass signified the damage on his shield.
Harry didn't wait for him to make another move as he starting firing a stream of Bone-Breaking and Bone-Splintering Curses, feeling exhilaration when surges of magic passed through him with each spell that was being generated. It was a feeling he had felt a few times before during his practice sessions, and always motivated him to do more.
Nott had to take a step back and strengthen his shield in the effort of keeping It intact after each ringing blow bashed against it. A quick and calculative look on his face in search of opportunities and solutions as he withstood the assault of Curses.
It did less to cool Harry's anger however, he didn't want to see Nott in a calm and collected state. He deserved to be in panic, chaos, and pain for what he did to Luna and tried to do against Hermione.
'Harness your hate.. make it useful!'
His vision reddened for a split second and Harry felt a spike of shock run through him as he heard the voice again, he knew as to whom it belonged to and what it wanted, but he had no time to think his actions through lest Nott recover his shield again in the downtime he would show hesitation.
He simply acted and listened, putting all his fury behind his next Breaking Curse, feeling it sing and crackle with power in his hand and vibrate in slight discordance against his wand. Harry ignored it however, he was already used to it acting this way and forced his wand to obey. This wasn't the time and moment for disobedience.
Harry took another step forward with his right foot and steadied his left foot behind him, sinking low before thrusting the empowered Breaking Curse forward, resulting in a sudden rush of power speeding through as he felt his arm and shoulder jerk back in recoil when the spell left him in an aggressive rush to be released.
He felt himself grin a bit when Nott lost his collected expression for a more panicked one as he saw the spell coming at him with high velocity, quickly trying to strengthen his shield before it would collide, realizing that he wouldn't be able to dodge it in time.
The sound of glass breaking loudly ringed one more time again as his shield was shattered into a million pieces that glittered in blue and white colours as they were scattered around. Nott himself was flung backwards and got the air knocked out of him when he harshly collided with the wall behind him, sagging in on himself after he slid down, arms hanging limply by his sides with his wand rolling out of reach.
He advanced on Nott and kicked his wand further away when he got closer. The grin on his face already having fallen away, as it made place again for simmering emotions.
"..Heh, look at me.. how disgraceful.. thinking that it would be easy to subdue you all... I didn't account for the fact that you just might be able to beat me.. I underestimated you." Nott wheezed out when he got enough control of his lungs again.
"Learned your lesson?" He asked simply as he stared down at the defeated Slytherin. Daring him to say otherwise, daring Nott to give him a reason to use force again.
"Heh, where is the fun in that, Potter? Your friends are your weakness. It was the most effective way of hurting you. Don't blame me for your mistakes, you should have listened to me in the first place." Nott laughed weakly after a moment of silence. "But you could say that I did learn my lesson, since I'll do things a bit differently next time I go after you all. Rest assured about that."
"Wrong answer." Harry hissed, pointing his wand at Nott's hand and firing a Bone-Splintering Curse point-blank at it, hearing the sound of multiple bones rapidly cracking and breaking in the affected area, the effect being intensified by the close proximity in which he fired.
Nott gave a short scream as he doubled over his hand, giving new cries when he instructively cradled it against his chest in pain before letting it lie still on his lap again, every movement his hand made being hurtful to him.
"It.. doesn't matter... Expect proper r-retaliation for this.. Potter.…." Nott breathed out in a hissing voice as he tried to keep the pain out of it.
Harry felt his anger surge again at the continued threats and raised his wand again as he narrowed his eyes at Nott's dark ones. "You don't learn, do you? Maybe one hand simply isn't eno-"
"-What is going on here!? Cease fighting this instant!" A stern and angry voice exclaimed, causing him to jump out of his induced state and realize what he was doing. He immediately made use of his Occlumency to try and control his emotions, only to notice that it took a great deal of effort and time before his cold and vengeful feelings were contained. He always had been bad at controlling his emotions and likely always would be in the future.
Harry turned his head to see McGonagall's imposing posture and expression not too far down the corridor as she ended Ron's duel by stunning Goyle, letting him drop down limply with a heavy thud as Ron removed the Sticking Charm that seemed to have been cast on his feet.
The other duels had already ended or stopped as Crabbe seemed to have been bound by Neville while Malfoy had only just been disarmed by Hermione. However most of his friends weren't looking at their enemies or even McGonagall for that matter as she inspected Luna's now silent form. They only looked at him with a mixture of shock and surprise on their faces.
"I came here expecting a fight with all the noise, but this is pandemonium! Granger, Weasley explain what happened here, you are the prefects here!" McGonagall sternly commanded when she rose again.
That seemed to snap them out of it as Hermione quickly turned to the Professor.
"Professor! It started when we passed by here and heard that Nott, Malfoy and the others were bullying Luna. We confronted them about this, they turned away but attacked Luna from behind when we weren't looking anymore, she had no chance of defending herself from Nott's Reducto. We all started dueling after that." Hermione explained in her rush of adrenaline that was still present.
"Is this true, Mr. Malfoy? Was Miss Lovegood dishonorably attacked by any of you?" She asked, staring down her square spectacles at Malfoy as he came to his feet again and snatched his wand from Hermione's hand.
He glared at Hermione for a moment, the vile word he had for her already on the top of his tongue before stopping himself and replying to the Professor. "No. They tried to provoke us and started attacking when that didn't work. Looney simply lost her duel, she was too weak to defend herself."
McGonagall looked down at him for a moment longer, obviously not believing him but seeing that it was simply their word against those of Malfoy's. Choosing their side would only show favoritism.
"Watch your language around me Mr. Malfoy. I do not condone degrading nicknames against any students in this castle. However, whether or not Lovegood was attacked from a blind spot or simply lost, the fact that multiple duels were held in the hallways, with her ending up as a casualty remains unchanged." McGonagall reprimanded steely. "Thirty points from Slytherin for landing a student in the infirmary. You and the others will report to your head of house for further punishment. Right now."
"Yes. Professor." Malfoy replied with a barely restrained sneer before enervating Goyle and unbinding Crabbe.
Harry grimaced as he watched them leave the hallway, already knowing what further punishments would be handed out to them by Snape. None.
Ron seemed to think so too as he burst out of his controlled silence with a fuming expression. "What!? This is bollocks, Professor! Snape won't give them any punishment. Hell, he'll probably even award them with the same points they just lost for it! They blasted Luna right off her socks when we weren't looking!"
McGonagall briefly gained a conflicted look in her eyes as she likely agreed with him but refrained herself from voicing it in any way.
"Granger, Weasley, Longbottom." She said in a less stern voice as she conjured a stretcher and slowly levitated Luna onto it. "Please see to it that Miss Lovegood arrives at the infirmary while I finish things here."
"Yes, Professor." Hermione timidly responded, saddened at the state in which Luna was in and the injustice of it all. Helping Neville pull a protesting Ron along as Luna floated in front of them toward the infirmary.
"And what in Merlin's name happened between you two? Potter seems to have an injury to his chest while your hand looks like a centaur recently stomped on it." McGonagall asked Nott after she had come closer to them and taken a glimpse of Nott's limp hand.
Harry ignored the stinging pain is his chest and looked down at his feet with a sinking feeling settling in his stomach. He hadn't been thinking at all, he had stuck Nott when he had already been down and defeated, maybe even with the intention of doing more if she hadn't interrupted. Nott's hand was a deformed appearance of what it once was as the bones that would normally give it shape were now either disconnected, splintered or broken, giving it a mangled and gangly look. Pomfrey would easily be able to heal it, but that wasn't the issue all that much.
"The same as what happened to the others, Professor.. ours just went a little bit differently. With more force namely." Nott tried to gloss over despite the pain in his voice.
"I see." Was all McGonagall said as she cast a spell at Nott's hand, making if go stiff and slightly blue. As if she had frozen it. "Go tend to your hand in the infirmary Mr. Nott, I take it that this will suffice for the journey there until Pomfrey can help you."
"It will. Thank you, Professor." He replied after slowly standing up and inspecting his stiff hand, seeing that it was completely immobilized and numbed down.
'I take it that the proper penalties will be implemented for this wrongdoing?" He stopped to ask after having taken a few steps toward the infirmary. The obnoxious smile back in place again as the pain was greatly diminished.
"I will do my role as a Teacher, Nott. You should do yours as a student by listening and heading toward the infirmary already as per instruction." McGonagall slightly snapped, showing that she as usual, had little patience for these kind of things.
"Then I will take my leave." He silkily added, letting his gaze linger on Harry as he adjusted his messy tie with his undamaged hand before turning on his heel and walking away.
"Thirty points from Gryffindor for needing to send a student to the infirmary." McGonagall said primly before her stiff posture seemed to relax ever so slightly when they were alone. "I won't give you or your friends any detention Mr. Potter. I fully understand that they won't get any further punishment from Severus either as Mr. Weasley noted, and that Miss Granger's story is most likely the true one."
"Thank you, Professor." Harry replied a bit surprised at her actions, moments where she let him of easy were rare. It was likely due to the unfairness of it otherwise. She had a tendency to become lenient during such instances.
"Walk with me to the infirmary, I can see that you are also hurt." She said before turning around and walking off, obviously expecting him to follow, which he did." Sadly I have no quick remedies for chest damage. You'll have to endure it until then." McGonagall continued when he had fallen in step with her.
"It's okay Professor, I've had worse." Harry said truthfully as the Cruciatus came to mind.
She gave no direct response to his answer and kept on walking, whether that was because she understood or merely thought that he was acting tough he didn't know.
"What spell did you use, Mr. Potter?" The Transfiguration Professor asked, more out of confirmation than anything else as she had recognized the effect all too well when she saw Nott's hand.
He wasn't surprised at her question after seeing his hand and answered. "Bone-Breaking and Splintering, Professor."
McGonagall's posture and walking speed didn't change, her lips however, seemed to thin out slightly more as she seemed to accept the fact.
"You realize that the only reason such a spell isn't declared illegal is because of the fact that it can be blocked by using a shield or mended by various healing methods?" She asking giving him a look out of the corner of her eyes.
"I do, Professor." Harry said simply.
"And do you also realize that such a spell can also prove fatal if used on the head and neck?" She continued.
"I do, Professor, but a simple cutting Curse could also be fatal if it happened to hit an artery. It's about how we choose to use them." He replied carefully in his defense.
"Indeed Mr. Potter, the only difference between those two however, is that in most cases there would still be enough time to close the wound and replenish the lost blood. A Bone-Breaking Curse striking the head or neck does not give the same leniency. The person will be dead instantly. Please remember that as fatal accidents can happen that way." McGonagall said seriously as she did her best to convey the importance of her words.
Harry silently nodded signaling that he understood. He could understand her concern, he had been fully aware of the strengths and weaknesses when he started learning the spells and knew what would prove fatal and what wouldn't. But knowing the dangers and being careful to avoid them didn't necessarily guarantee anything, things could have gone very wrong in his duel with Nott with dire consequences being the result. He had come to hate Nott just as much as Malfoy but that didn't mean that he wanted either of them to take a fatal spell and die on the spot.
At least that was how he thought about it now that he could think clearly again. Not much of those thoughts had been present during his duel, and that worried him a bit.
"You will report to the Headmaster after your chest is healed, Mr. Potter." McGonagall said breaking the short silence that had settled in as they walked to the infirmary.
"Professor Dumbledore? Why?" He asked surprised that it was Dumbledore he had to go see.
"To talk about this of course, that and the fact that Albus has more business to talk about with you. Rightfully so if I do say so myself, we already have our hands full without you spreading information about the resistance around for everyone to hear." She said softly, throwing a glance of accusation down at him.
"They can be trusted, besides they would have been doomed if I didn't." He said looking back.
"Regardless, I hope this is a one-time thing. You can't always help and save everyone, Potter. Every day the papers continue to show those who have been 'doomed' as you put it." McGonagall replied gravely.
Harry silently followed McGonagall into the Headmaster's office after his visit to the infirmary. Madam Pomfrey had proceeded to nurse him back to health as she complained about students turning into warmongers these days. Stating that he had a fractured rib after her diagnosis spell and proceeded to give him a foul tasting healing potion again coupled with a few healing spells.
She also told him that Luna's spine had taken quite a beating in that blast and needed to spend a night in the infirmary for observation and recovery. Luckily she wasn't in need of regrowing them. Pomfey had said that she would be able to mend the damage without the use of Skelegrow.
His other friends luckily had no such injuries and were free to go after a few bruises and stinging spots from hexes were removed. Neville told him that he would go back to the supplementary lesson to go tell Daphne about what happened to them. Since she was likely worried about his absence as she is likely to notice that something is amiss when all his other friends also don't show up to the lesson.
One of the first things he noticed when entering the room was that Marvolo's Ring was no longer on Dumbledore's desk, causing him to no longer feel the feelings of longing and familiarity toward it like when he had been in the office last time. He could only assume that Dumbledore had managed to destroy it since then.
Not too far he saw Fawkes on its perch, his crimson feathers gleamed prettily in the warm light of the candles that were lit throughout the room. His black eyes were looking curiously at the new visitors before giving a soft thrill when he recognized Harry.
"Evening Albus, I have brought Mr. Potter here." McGonagall greeted as they entered the item filled office.
"Ah, Minerva. What brings you here? With Harry too nonetheless." He asked from behind his desk as he saw who entered, putting his long red quill back into its ink pot, stopping with whatever document he had been busy with.
"Mr. Potter here just got from the infirmary after healing a cracked rib he had sustained in his fight with Nott. Mr. Nott himself was worse off however, as every bone in his right-hand was either broken or shattered. I believed this to be something that required your attention as it was achieved by using a Bone-Splintering Curse." McGonagall said giving a quick summary of what happened. "Not to mention that you have other business to discuss with Potter." She finished with a clear hint to Dumbledore.
"You are right in both aspects, Minerva. Thank you for bringing Harry here. There are indeed many things that I need to discuss, my own tardiness delayed the appointment however." The Headmaster replied with a small smile, motioning for Harry to sit in the armchair opposite from the desk to which he quietly complied.
…
"Do you wish to speak in private with Mr. Potter?" McGonagall asked a bit prickly after Dumbledore didn't make a move to address him. She was likely not feeling much for being left out when it entailed business on The Order.
"I'm afraid so, Minerva. Multiple subjects will be breached some of those being private between Harry and myself, I will relay information to you later. Please forgive my rudeness." Dumbledore said apologetically, moving to grab a Lemon Drop with his right hand, stopping however as if he realized something and instead reached out with his other hand into the bowl before holding it out to her. "Lemon Drop before you go?"
Harry saw her looking at the candy for a moment and knew that she had once tried one. To her regret.
"No thank you, Albus. I have my health to watch out for and so should you." She said in a voice of slight distaste before turning to leave the office. Letting the door automatically close behind her with a click, leaving him alone with the Headmaster.
"First things first, Harry." Dumbledore began with a sigh as he closed his eyes. opening them again to reveal that his twinkling blue eyes had been replaced for steely ones as the smile had vanishes for a thin line. "I am a bit incensed."
Harry could immediately feel every bit of the strongest Wizard alive that was Albus Dumbledore as he sat at the opposite end of the stare, feeling his power and temper shining through those metal like orbs. The ancient Wizard didn't have to elaborate for him what he was talking about. It was about him relaying information of The Order to Tracey and Daphne without their-his consent.
His gaze was intimidating but Harry didn't wilt or falter in his own either. He still didn't regret what he did and likely never would in the future. Trying to convince The Order to let them join for their safety would either have resulted in a long and drawn out argument between both sides until an agreement was finally made, or even The Order's declination to their pleas, especially against Daphne's family, which would have been no surprise with their history.
"Do you understand what kind of damage your actions could have inflicted? You delivered some very sensitive information to people you hardly knew anything about." Dumbledore continued.
"I only gave them a couple of words. It doesn't matter whether or not they, or the Death Eaters heard about it. It doesn't mean anything to them. Voldemort already knows about the Prophecy and is coming either way."
Dumbledore slowly shook his head and closed his eyes for a moment. "It isn't necessarily about what you relayed to them but more about the fact that you gave it to them because you felt obligated to help Young Miss Greengrass and her friend in their time of need without our permission or consult. It is for this very reason that you and the others were not allowed to join The Order and attend its meetings. You prove to be unreliable with information that could mean life or death."
"I know very well what I did. It would have been a different story if it had actually been something important for the enemy to know, but it wasn't and I had the opportunity to give their lives more protection." Harry said in his defense.
"..I've come to learn after various conversations with Lord Greengrass and Mr. Davis that they've had multiple visits of Voldemort's recruiters in the past, where they expressed that they either didn't have an answer yet or didn't want to join him in his crusade. And I mostly believe them by now but let's just make a hypothesis here; what if that was all a lie and they all worked for Voldemort since the beginning of his return? We would've had a family full of spies on our hands with information on The Order." Dumbledore said looking pointedly.
"That would have been a mistake, yes" Harry admitted, understanding what could have gone wrong as he kept his own gaze locked on Dumbledore. "But I know that Daphne spoke the truth. I could see it in her eyes and hear it in her voice, she meant every word that she said."
"That maybe so, but there is a different between trust and blind foolishness, Harry.. What if even one person in her family worked for Voldemort as a spy? Miss Greengrass would have had no idea about it then, allowing her words to convince you in the same heartfelt honesty. Resulting with us yet again having a spy in our midst with only a general idea as to who it might be... Sadly it isn't that unusual for a family member or friend to betray their close ones for the promise of having their own wishes fulfilled." Dumbledore said urgently before losing his steely gaze for a more pained one. "Your own family is a tragic example of that, Harry.."
Any argument he would have had was lost there. He hadn't stopped to consider that possibility. The possibility that Daphne or Tracey's families too might have a betrayer in their midst like he and his own friends and family had in the past that led to all this in the first place hadn't come to mind. He felt stupid and could already hear Hermione's words repeat themselves in his head.
'Feeling isn't always enough, Harry.'
It had been rash and incomplete decision making of him again, he had put the people in The Order at risk because he followed his heart more than his head, because it felt like the right thing to do... However, the right thing didn't necessarily mean the best thing in the end. Harry felt sorry for his hasty decision making and lack of safety precautions, but didn't feel regret over his decision of having helped Daphne and Tracey, and wondered if that was bad thing. His heart said it had been the right thing to do, but his mind said that it had been stupid if seen in a logical and statistical sense.
"I can see that you now realize your mistake." Dumbledore said as his eyes twinkled again. "It really does please me to see you follow your heart so much, Harry. But don't forget what you have upstairs." He said tapping his temple. "Try to take both the things your mind and heart says in consideration when you make such important decisions."
Harry silently nodded in response, not knowing what to say in response instead of a simple yes.
"In any case, I have had long conversations with both Lord Greengrass and Mr. Davis in which we could reach agreements that were safe and beneficial to the both of us."
Harry looked back up as he gained a curious look in response to this. "Such as?"
Dumbledore lightly shrugged. "Pretty basic, aid and supplies when we need it from them and The Order's protection and support when they in turn need it. So far not much of the informational side, which pleased both of us in regards to the safety we seek."
"Sounds like a good deal for both parties, even when in doubt of the Greengrass family." Harry said with a small smile, glad that in the end it went well for everyone involved.
"Yes I thought so too. I don't necessarily suspect any spies in either the Davis or Greengrass family but one can never be too cautious. In any case, I am glad that you learned of your mistake and that we can leave it behind us for the next topic." He said in a pleasant tone.
"Because you know, the thing is that." Dumbledore began casually as he made to grab a Lemon Drop out of his bowl with his hand before stopping again as if catching himself and switching over to his left hand again instead. "Minerva never liked my Lemon Drops, simply from the very moment after having tried one many years ago, however I think that tasting bad candy is good for you once in a while, don't you think so too?"
"I guess it is... If only for the fact that it helps you understand what kind you like and dislike." Harry replied with a shrug, wondering whether or not something was wrong with Dumbledore's hand. The way he stopped himself from using his right hand was quite strange.
"Exactly, it helps distinguish. But what if you continue to digest and taste something that tastes bad for you? Time after time, again and again?" The Headmaster asked as he stopped his inspection on the sweet and popped it in his mouth.
".. the taste would become less noticeable because we grow accustomed to it?" Harry said remembering the cold leftovers he always got from his relatives, over time it had become a dull taste. Not likeable nor dislikeable, just there for him to eat.
The Headmaster nodded in agreement to his words. "Indeed, Harry. I like to think that the same principle applies to other undesirable areas too. If we stand in the dark our eyes too for example grow accustomed to the darkness. The same applies to pain too as sad as it is, enduring stronger effects will allow you to stand through more difficult and painful ones in the future. Or when we have to perform an dreadfully boring task every day. Over time we grow accustomed to these unpleasantries and are able to deal with them a little better each time."
"The same idea applies to the good things as well, for example if you achieved something you are proud of it at first and can boast about it but over time the feeling of accomplishment and exhilaration might fade for modesty. Or when you taste something delicious and continue to eat it, over time the taste will become dull in the same sense as the bad candy."
"Harry, can you tell me the difference between those two? Between pleasant and unpleasant experiences that will become numb for over time?" Dumbledore asked looking expectantly at him.
"Only that you tend to avoid the unpleasant and reach out for new pleasant ones." He answered saying the first logical thing that came to mind.
"Exactly, Harry!" Dumbledore said smiling at his answer.
"The bad taste, dark nights, pain, and unpleasant tasks are all things you tend to avoid if you can, but when we grow accustomed to them we aren't as bothered by them anymore as in the beginning. We grow accustomed because we don't have a choice, they happen against your will or on accident. You do not actively seek them out nor do you seek new ones, lest you have to go through the process of growing accustomed again."
"Sir, what are you trying to say?" Harry asked not understanding where Dumbledore was going with his story.
"In a moment." Dumbledore said patiently before continuing.
"It's the opposite for pleasant ones however, if you achieved something good you start to work toward something greater for the earlier task has already been achieved and is now nothing special anymore in comparison to your next goal. Or when your favorite treat has become dull after some time you go search for a new delicacy to renew the feeling of satisfaction and pleasure. "
"Now it is exactly as you said. We tend to avoid the unpleasant but reach out for the pleasant. The core question that I have in conjunction to this story is; was your first experience with the Bone Curse pleasant or unpleasant?"
Harry lapsed as the question was presented to him, seeing where Dumbledore was going with this. The Headmaster wanted to know whether or not his first experience with the Dark Arts had felt like a good one for him.
Well Harry wasn't actually correct in thinking that the Bone-Breaker had been his first. The Cruciatus Curse on Bellatrix in the ministry had been his first experience, but at the time the spell had only half succeeded, and only served to silence Bellatrix taunting cries for a mere second before she recovered and returned fire. He hadn't felt anything when he fired it, not pleasant or unpleasant just an empty spell that had failed in his inexperience of the Arts.
Harry made eye contact with the Headmaster and decided that he would tell the truth. His experiences with the Arts as of late might have been good ones but that didn't change him as a person. They were merely a powerful and effective tool for him to use in his-no their protection.
"My first experience with the Breaking Curse was a good one and continued to be after that."
Dumbledore nodded slowly. "I see. In most cases it is an unpleasant one, the majority of those cases being the Aurors and Hit Wizards that use them. For those it causes a dull or no aftertaste at all which leaves little desire for more in the future."
"I'm guessing that Death Eaters and the like make up most if not all of the minority then?" Harry asked with a feeling and grimace.
"Yes, they do make up a large part unfortunately, It was the same for young Voldemort; for Tom. The spells didn't feel negative to him whatsoever. Only exhilaration and lust for more...just like Gellert." The Headmaster said slowly, trailing off into memories that seemingly went back far into the past. "The danger of a pleasant experience with the spells is as I explained with the candy; the feelings of satisfaction and exhilaration will dull over time after seeing a repeated use because you grow accustomed to them. In order to achieve the same result again other and more powerful spells must be used, which sparks the moving of a spiral staircase that only goes deeper downward into the dark."
"And me? Are you thinking that I'm becoming the next Voldemort now because I also have this reaction?" Harry asked a bit incredulous at what he was implying, the mere idea of him becoming like that was absurd to him.
"Oh no, no. I never wanted to give you that idea, Harry, you are fundamentally different from Voldemort or young Riddle. I know that you would never take pleasure in torture and killing, you are an exception in that group. " He said looking a bit surprised that such I thought came to Harry. "I choose to trust you in this matter."
He nodded but felt slightly guilty at the compliment when he thought about his actions against Nott. It was true that he hadn't taken pleasure in hurting him, but as he recalled the end of their battle and how he had acted under the flames of hatred he found that it wasn't something to easily brush off. He couldn't remember himself being like that in his duels with Malfoy in the previous years. Heated and with none too friendly spells, yes. But not continuing to attack with the intent of pain and punishment after he had clearly won.
"Who is this Gellert you also mentioned as an example?" Harry asked after Fawkes give soft thrill of sleepiness.
"Gellert is… a story for another time. Instead I wish to leave you with a message and warning on the original topic. Not a threat of punishment, but a message and warning of an aged Wizard that has seen the downfall of many men." Dumbledore said his intense blue eyes holding his emerald ones. "Harry, you have only seen the tail of the dragon that lurks around the corner, be careful where you trespass. Your affinity to the Arts will make the path to learning easier but the dangers bigger."
Harry gave a single nod in response. "Yes, Professor."
"Even tall men can drown when they slip in shallow waters. I urge you to be careful in the subject and their repeated use, it is a different matter for those who gain an positive reaction out of it." Dumbledore said with an intent gaze. "My own reaction might seem a bit exaggerated, but please consider my paranoid thoughts and feelings to be a reflection of what I have seen happen in the past."
"I'll keep it in mind, Professor." Harry said wondering whether or not Daphne's warnings about people losing themselves in the Arts and Dumbledore's explanations could be linked together. They probably could be and it was true that for him casting the spells felt nice, but he wouldn't actually describe it with a strong word such as addicting. Just nice and maybe a bit distracting.
"Now that much of that is behind us, is there something else you might want to ask?" Dumbledore said smiling again, making his long beard move a bit.
Harry nodded in confirmation to the question. "Sir, It's been quite some time since we last viewed a memory, are you having trouble with collecting new ones?"
"I do, unfortunately have some difficulties, yes. However I estimate that I will have another memory ready sometime after the Christmas holidays." He replied as he lightly stroked his beard in thought with his hand.
"And after that one we still need to view more? It would only be after we viewed all the memories that you would tell me more about Voldemort's soul anchoring right?" Harry asked a bit impatiently as he brought up the subject again which he had been stranded on for some time now due to the lack of information in Hogwarts.
The Headmaster however, didn't budge again. "You are correct, Harry, I will not tell you until then, the memories are essential to both support my theory and explanations."
Harry sighed a bit as he got the same result as last time. Sure he found the memories interesting, but they only seemed to serve for slowing things down. He wanted Dumbledore to tell him more about the magic that Voldemort used on himself to bind his soul to the earth. Watching the last memories would take weeks or months if he was to understand the Headmaster.
His only option to speed things up was to look into Daphne's book and hope that it offered some kind of breakthrough. He could then figure out more things from there and confront Dumbledore about it for answers.
"It seems that our available time has come to an end, Harry." Dumbledore said as he gestured with his hand to the nearby window that showed the dark castle grounds and star filled sky outside. "We have more to discuss however, so I wish to speak with you again somewhere in the near future."
"Sure." Harry said in agreement, giving a nod of his head. He could've sword that he had just seen Dumbledore's hand pass right through the quill that stood atop his desk in a ink jar when he had gestured to the window. The quill hadn't even wobbled or moved when his hand passed and Harry began wondering whether or not he was just seeing things.
Dumbledore smiled with twinkling eyes. "Excellent, a mutual agreement then."
"Sir, one question before I leave. Your right hand... Is something wrong with it?" Harry asked too curious to leave his question unanswered. Dumbledore's hand looked completely fine but he couldn't help but notice how he kept using his left and seemingly refused to use his other hand throughout the entire evening. As if he couldn't use it. "All evening you seem confused about using your right hand and always stop to use your left hand instead, never your right hand. It's become quite strange to see."
"Oh, this one?" He said nonchalantly, raising the hand in question to which he nodded.
"Well, I was hoping that I didn't need to tell you just yet but I seem to have already been discovered. I should really start on getting used to it but my body still seems to be in denial after having had it for all these long years..." Dumbledore answered, making Harry wonder what he was talking about but refrained himself from speaking up as he continued.
"But yes, you are correct, Harry. There is something wrong with my right hand, no forget that, rather than saying that something is wrong I should say that nothing is wrong at all. For you see... I don't have it anymore." The Headmaster said calmly as he lifted his hand slowly again, after which it seemed to shimmer before disappearing altogether, leaving a round stump in its place where his hand and top of his wrist had been seconds before. "What you saw until now has been a creative illusion Charm of myself. I wear it merely as to not cause unnecessary panic or controversy. Both the public and our adversaries would react negatively if they were to know that one of Voldemort's top antagonists had lost a hand. Luckily I don't come out into the public that often anymore making it less noticeable."
Harry stopped listening however as he gaped and stared in shock at the spot where his hand had been moments before. The stump was round, smooth and bald with slightly pink skin showing that it was still sensitive and healing. A bald man's head was probably the best example to describe it with.
"Professor." He began after looking away from the stump and back to the Headmaster's face. "I would definitely classify that as something being wrong. What happened for you to lose your hand?"
"Marvolo's Ring happened. You have likely noticed that the Ring is no longer here. That is because it has been successfully destroyed by the combined effort of myself and Severus. Much of it didn't go as planned however, as I was sorely tempted by its Dark magic as soon as I removed the protective case which contained it and tried to destroy the ring… Yes, so very tempted and disillusioned that I put on the Ring in an act of pure foolishness." Dumbledore explained slowly, mulling over his actions before picking up again. "I was immediately struck by the Curse that it wielded. Had it not been, and forgive me for a lack of modesty, for my own prodigious skills to deflect the damage long enough and Professor Snape's timely response, I might not have lived to tell the tale."
Harry however, bit back a remark about Snape. He didn't see the man as much of a savior as Dumbledore did. Snape might as well have known a solution to the curse in the instant he saw it but could've decided to lie against Dumbledore so that he could remove his hand and permanently cripple him. it would surely be a move Voldemort could appreciate... Harry didn't voice this out loud however, as the Headmaster had already expressed his complete faith in the greasy bitter man multiple times. Contrary to Harry's beliefs since he found the spy's true loyalties to be unclear at best. He stopped his train of thought however as a new, worrisome realization struck him.
"Did this whole incident happen to be shortly after the first Hogsmeade trip and the accident with Katie?" Harry asked trying to sound calm but feeling an underlying anxiety build up in his stomach as he waited for the answer.
Dumbledore in turn looked surprised at his question and leaned forward a bit. "It did actually, how did you happen to guess it so accurately? Not many have been informed about this."
Harry didn't immediately answer, instead he stood still for a moment in realization of multiple things before catching himself and replying. "S- Professor Snape found me after I had passed out from one of my practice sessions. Fawkes came flying toward us not too long after that and handed Professor Snape a note; your note. He ran toward your office in a slight panic after reading it. I just connected one and two." Harry said with a frail smile, choosing to go with the same small lie he had told Snape to explain his reason for being unconscious. He couldn't just tell that he had been struck by some dark shade. Especially now that he had an alarming feeling that he knew what it had been precisely…
"Very perceptive of you." Dumbledore said slowly with an inquisitive look. "But please do be careful with how hard you push yourself. Passing out from exhaustion shows your dedication but isn't all that much of a good thing for your body."
"Of course, Professor. It was a one-time thing only." Harry said as he rose from his seat, having asked his last question and preparing to leave.
Dumbledore nodded and waved his wand, letting his illusionary hand shimmer into existence again. "Until next time, Harry. Goodnight."
After exiting the office and shutting the door behind him with a goodbye, he slowly descended the spiral staircase, mechanically feeling his legs carry him as he was lost in his own world. Multiple thoughts whirling around in his head as one after the next revelation unfurled from his conversation with Dumbledore.
His explanation about falling unconscious from exhaustion during his training had been a lie, he hadn't overworked himself at the time, it had been some kind of dark shade that had struck him in one of the corridors, knocking him out as intense pain scorched through him… The entity later explained this shade-or wraith as he called it, to be from a Dark artifact that had been destroyed and then absorbed by them.
Dumbledore admitted to having destroyed Marvolo's Ring shortly after the first Hogsmeade weekend, while Harry also had been struck by the wraith around that time... Snape getting the note from Fawkes had been a plea from Dumbledore to come help him in his office to save himself from the Curse of the Ring. Proving that the attack of the wraith and the destruction of the Ring had been on the same night.
Harry had already asked the entity what the supposed artifact had been but it wouldn't tell him more without getting something for it in return. Harry had refused at the time and it was now, weeks later that he knew what had happened that night and what the artifact had been.
Dumbledore had destroyed the ring that evening, the Dark magic must have escaped somehow, manifested and struck Harry after finding him in the hallway, rendering him unconscious and causing Snape to find him later on. Shortly after that night he had noticed that his spells had become more powerful, which the entity explained to be from the powers they absorbed from a Dark artifact. The same artifact which would coincidentally lead to his awakening of the Gift.
He didn't know what to think about these discoveries nor the fact that the powers he absorbed had been sinister enough to take Dumbledore's hand, or even his life if he hadn't been one of the most powerful wizards alive..
He sighed and rubbed between his eyes with his thumb and index finger. The fact that the whispers of the entity always managed to help him one way or the other was also something he didn't like all that much. It was true that he had won by listening but look where it had gotten him afterward.. He just didn't trust it for one bit..
"Password?" Was what the Fat Lady impatiently asked when he arrived at the portrait and simply kept quiet, too much in thought.
"Oh, uh." He began needing a moment to switch thoughts before remembering the recently changed password.
"Martyr."
BOOM! Long chapter, new record... phew, could have split it into two chapters, which would have been better strategically seen (more updates equals more views/subs) but simply decided not to and won't do so in the future either. This way the chapter is a mixture of some action/info instead of one huge info dump chapter later on.
I'm not really into the idea of becoming a fic with a big following anyway. (Couldn't even become one even if I tried! Ha!) it's enough if the people that do read and follow it are enjoying themselves like I am.
Par76: Implemented a bit of reflection on Harry's part in regard to his entity meetings at the start of chapt 11 and 18. Felt that it lacked a bit and will probably revisit it at the end of the story to improve it more there.
exzachly3: Added it to my to do list when this is all done, thanks for letting me know, saw that it was the case for more people so I can completely agree there. :P
UltimateTouken: Yeah, found love to be a bit strong of a word to use already. And here is a bit of maiming for you.
Agnew: She plans to come back in full swing now that she got the ball
trispectrum: I too look forward to getting to work with those elements.
Next chapter we retrieve the book, but easier said than done, right?
Also.. did we just have our first Daphne free chapter!? Blasphemy!
There was also an old game reference here, simply because it instantly came to me and found it to be very fitting here.
Lemme know what you think of this chapter?
References:
"And now that we are on the topic of advice; did you listen to my mine? The atmosphere was a bit tense, last time I saw you two in class...": chapt 17
Marvolo's Ring was no longer on Dumbledore's desk: chapt 2+6
"My first experience with the Breaking Curse was a good one and continued to be after that.": chapt 7+9
Snape getting the note from Fawkes had been a plea from Dumbledore whom had destroyed the ring that evening, the Dark magic must have escaped somehow, manifested and struck Harry after finding him in the hallway, rendering him unconscious and causing Snape to find him later on: chapt 7
Shortly after that night he had noticed that his spells had become more powerful: chap 9
The Headmaster however, didn't budge again. "You are correct, Harry, I will not tell you until then, the memories are essential to both support my theory and explanations.": chap 6
There were a few more refs but they weren't that important so I left it with this.