AN: First off just to calm those who were worrying about it, I'm not dropping this you all for the support you all sent it means a lot. I hadn't planned on putting Lily and Harry's talk in this one, but a lot of you were wanting to see it so I added it as a flashback that will come later on in the chapter. Also the first duels of the year are in this chapter, I don't feel like explaining how they work again so if you need a refreasher go to CH14. Thanks go out to Joe Lawyer for Beta-ing.
"Potter," called a high pitched voice, "you know it's expressly forbidden for first years to have brooms at school." Percy stood over Harry, trying to look imposing as he glared down at the broom in his hands.
Harry had been sitting in his usual chair in the common room a few minutes prior doing a relatively short essay for Snape when Hedwig and the Potter family owl had flown through one of the open tower windows carrying his Nimbus. After untying the two birds and thanking them for a job well done, Percy had stormed over to him looking as if Christmas had come early. It had been a while since the older boy had any reason to call Harry out on anything and it looked as if he was ready to make up for lost time.
"Hey Percy," Harry greeted him cheerfully, paying the older boy's earlier words no mind. "How have you been lately? I heard you have a sister that will be showing up next year, how's she doing?"
Percy's lips thinned in a very McGonagall-like manner. "Did you not hear me? I said you can't have that broom on school grounds. Hand it over!"
Harry chuckled lightly as he stood up. He took a step toward Percy like he was going to hand the broom over to him, but walked on by him before the redheaded prefect could take the flying aid. It was a move that reminded him of how he had acted in a similar way when Snape had asked for his and Cho's bags the day he had given her the dagger. Crossing the room he came to a stop in front of the Head Girl and seventh year prefect, Alice Wynter.
"Here you go Alice, happy birthday... or Christmas, whichever one comes first." Alice took the broom from his grasp and ran an appraising finger over the polished wood.
"It's beautiful Harry, thank you," she gushed, pulling him into a hug.
Pulling back just far enough to look her in the eye, he smiled knowingly down at her. "If you don't mind, I was hoping that I could borrow it... um, oh, I don't know, maybe three times this school year?" Harry's voice had taken on a tone that sounded like he was reading what he was asking from a book. It was clear to those listening in that he had set this all up in advance with Alice and wanted it to be known.
Releasing him from her hold she beamed at him, making sure as she did so to catch the now red faced Percy's eye. "Of course you can," she said, sounding like Harry had. "Anytime you want to use it just come tell me and I'll fetch it for you. In fact, I won't have any use for it after this year, so how about I give it back once the school year comes to a close? We wouldn't want it going to waste, now would we?"
"Really, that would be great," Harry replied, very much aware of how Percy was seconds away from attempting to commit murder. "I just recently found myself without a broom; my last one was just like yours. Now I won't have to worry about finding one next year."
"Fine," Percy snapped, throwing his hands in the air. "Don't follow the rules, what do I care?! If the Head Girl is going to help you break them, then why should I try? Have fun!" Harry slid into the empty spot next to Alice, watching Percy as he stormed off to his dorm room.
"That kid needs to get laid!" Alice was so shocked by the young boy's statement that she started coughing violently. "What?" Harry asked, looking to the wide eyed girl. "Like you weren't thinking the same thing!"
"Behave," Alice chided lightly after gaining control of herself. Taking out her wand she pointed at what he had been working on moments ago and summoned it to him. Taking this as an invitation, Harry set to finishing his essay at her side.
"You seem happier as of late," Alice commented without looking up from her book. "Any reason behind that?"
"Yeah... I was finally able get my head back on straight." Alice could tell there was a story behind his words, and even though she wanted to know what he had meant by them, she didn't press the issue. She was just happy to see he was back to his normal self.
After that, silence descended between the two as they both became absorbed in working on their homework. Time passed and with it those around them drifted off to bed until finally it was only Alice and Harry left in the common room. She had yet to finish working on her paper for Herbology, while he had taken to reading a book some time ago that had yet to lose his attention.
"You know you could have just asked Professor Flitwick for permission to have a broom?" She had just finished the last of her assignment and was fixing to head to bed when the thought of why he hadn't gone to their head of house for help instead of her popped into her head. "McGonagall received permission for Longbottom to have his, Professor Flitwick could have easily done the same for you."
"I'm not so sure." Closing his book he gave his full attention to the older girl. "At first I only wanted to mess with Percy," he chuckled, making Alice roll her eyes at his antics but smile nonetheless. "But lately the professors have been watching me like they're looking for me to do something wrong. If I had gone to them there would have been a small chance he would have said no. This way, I not only get to use my broom, but I also ticked Percy off."
Alice gave a small laugh. "What is it with you picking on Percy? If I didn't know any better I'd say that you have a crush on him and that's why you're always teasing him." Her laughter was renewed when Harry started sputtering.
"Do you not remember how we met?" He asked in mock outrage. "I guess destiny's guiding-hand leading us to one another on that fateful day, was only special for me. Who is he - this man that has stolen my year round Wynter from me?" Alice sent him and his dramatic act, a dry look.
"Trust me," she said, rising to her feet, allowing a smile to peak through as she gathered her things. "There is no man in my life. Good night, Harry." It struck him as very odd, the way she had just spoken. It was like there was something more that she wanted to say, but that she didn't know how to or didn't know if she should tell him. Before he could ask her if she was alright, she had disappeared up the stairs to the girl's dorms, forgetting to send him to his own.
He released a deep sigh as he sprawled backwards on to the couch. Without moving from his spot he reached into his pocket and grabbed his wand to tell what time it was. He chuckled lightly as he gazed at the suspended glowing numbers.
There was one good thing about her being in a hurry to leave; now he didn't need to fake a trip up to his dorm. "Let's go see if he'll be there tonight." Keeping his wand out and leaving his book where it was, Harry rose to his feet, making for the exit.
The halls were sparsely populated with Professors and Prefects on their last tour of the night in search of any out of bed students. Now that he no longer had his invisibility robe to rely on, Harry had taken to using a Disillusionment Charm when wanting to move around without being seen. He was proud to know that his charm was as strong as Dumbledore's had been once he graduated from Hogwarts. He could walk right by a person in broad daylight and not be seen, not that it would be a smart thing to do of course. Even with silencing charms placed on your body and clothing, there was always the chance of you stepping on something that would give away your location. And while you could sometimes silence a floor or an entire hallway, it was impossible even for someone with as much magic as Harry to silence every floor in the castle.
Reaching the door he had been searching for, he dropped the charm he had placed on himself and entered the room where the Mirror of Erised was stored. Making his way to the bewitching item, he kept a discreet eye on all of the room, looking for any sign of Dumbledore's hidden presence. Coming to a stop in front of the magical object, Harry fought the siren like call to look into the mirror as he had every night for the past week.
He had gained control of his emotions and violent tendencies since starting his physical and mental training with his mother, and this was exactly why he had denied himself the pleasure of seeing what his deepest desire was now that he actually possessed a family. He didn't know if it would be his want shown in the reflective surface, or if the old Harry's would be there facing him. It wasn't so much his desire not being there that would have bothered him, it was what the old Harry actually would have wanted that scared him.
Now that his mental shields were up and working, he could tell just how much of the old Harry had been surfacing as of late, taking advantage of his storm like mind. Sure, he still enjoyed flirting and messing with people as he had when he first arrived at Hogwarts, but no longer did he feel as if there was a chip on his shoulder - like he needed to lash out at others and destroy anyone who wronged him.
Harry failed to notice Dumbledore arrive, as he was too lost in his own thoughts to hear the opening and closing of the chamber door.
"How are you this fine evening, or should I say this morning, Mr. Potter?" Harry tensed, making Albus think he was shocked to be caught out of bed, but in reality he had been fighting the instinct to hex the aged man.
Turning around, he smiled sheepishly at the Headmaster, unknowingly reminding the man of his father with his actions. "Morning Professor," he greeted in a small voice that fit the scene around them. A dusty and barren classroom, the moon's silver beams shining through the windows, and the Mirror of Erised gleaming brilliantly even in the still of night - yes, anything above a whisper would seem too loud.
"I admit myself surprised at finding another here," Dumbledore told him as he made his way to his side. Unlike Harry, the man had no qualms about staring directly into the mirror. "Do you know what it is that this item does?" He asked after a time where neither of them had spoken.
"Why ask me, Professor? You could have your answer so much quicker had you attempted to read my mind again." Harry smiled knowingly up at the now solemn faced man. "There's no need to look so upset Professor, no harm was done."
"I would like to express my sincerest apologies to you Mr. Potter for my inappropriate actions. I'd like to say that I didn't mean for it to happen, but I know that such words, even if they hold truth, cannot make up for my attempt to invade your privacy." The sincerity in his words was clear for Harry to hear.
"Like I said, there's no need to worry about it. We all make mistakes," Harry stated wisely as he started walking aimlessly around the room. "You can make it up to me by getting me a Butterbeer some time. It's been far too long since I last had one. And to answer your question, yes, I know what the mirror does."
"If you've figured out what it does, then you must be aware of why it is so dangerous." Harry didn't say anything, instead he nodded that he was right. "I've known that you've been coming here every night for the past week. I myself came here tonight to move it to a more secure location... Somewhere you should not attempt to go in search of it again."
Harry smiled, gazing up at the writing at the top of the mirror. "Don't worry, Professor; I think getting caught out of bed once is enough for me. I'll stick to browsing the common room bookshelves from now on when sleep evades me. No more roaming the halls in the dead of night in search of the castle's many secrets... Did that sound as much like a lie as I think it did?" Dumbledore chuckled softly at the question.
"Whether or not it's true or false doesn't matter, to deny those in the prime of their youth the ability to explore their adventurous side is something I myself have never seen the benefit of. All I ask of you is to be careful," Albus said, looking away from the mirror. "Hogwarts is one of the most magical places that you can find in this world, and for that reason it can be both a wondrous and treacherous place. You're obviously a smart boy, do as one of my dear friends has a frequent tendency to say, and stay ever vigilant!"
"I think Madeye would be proud that you're passing on his hard earned words of wisdom, even if you are paraphrasing slightly." Dumbledore blinked owlishly and looked to be about to ask how he knew it was Moody's catchphrase that he was using, but was stopped when Harry cut him off. "As you know my father is an Auror, Headmaster." Albus nodded. "Well then sir, I have to get going. I've got to be up early in the morning, the first duel of the year is taking place right after breakfast. And in advance, I'm sorry for the upcoming loss of your old house. I'm sure they'll put up an admirable fight in the end."
Dumbledore shook his head in mirth. "Had any other said those words to me Mr. Potter, I would have been sure they were setting themselves up for failure. Good night and good luck tomorrow."
Harry sent him a smile and a tilt of the head before turning and leaving the room in a sprint, slowing down just enough to open the door and glance back to see that Dumbledore was once again gazing into the mirror.
When he reached his dorm room he stopped at his desk instead of continuing on to his bed. There he started two letters, one to the Daily Prophet for a subscription to be sent off with Hedwig to keep her busy, while he sent the second one off with a school owl. The letter that he didn't want Hedwig to deliver was to be taken to Mundungus Fletcher. The reason behind him not wanting her to take the letter was that she stood out far too easily and would take little effort on the man's part to find out who her owner was.
He and his mother both were looking into ways to rid him of the 'Trace' and while Lily had contacts in the Ministry she could go through, Harry had Dung... It was the best chance he had and it was better than nothing, even if only just slightly.
S2ndC
"Wakey, wakey, Potter!" Kevin yelled obnoxiously loud as he entered the showers.
Harry groaned into his pillow. "I hope you run into a frisky Centaur in there, you arse!"
"It's been my immense pleasure to watch you become such a kind morning person," Blaise commented as he exited the showers in nothing but a towel. "You know all these cheerful moments you grace us with." Harry didn't pull his face away from his pillow to respond, something which Blaise felt grateful for as he knew there wasn't any type of filter on the redhead's words when he first woke up. "By the way Sleeping Beauty, someone sent you a gift."
This grabbed Harry's attention and had him up and looking to his dark skinned friend expectantly seconds later. "Where and who?"
Blaise didn't turn from his wardrobe to answer. "On your side table and I have no idea. I'm not nosy enough to read the note on the bottle."
Like he had said, sitting there on his bedside table was a bottle of high-brand Butterbeer with a note attached. 'I was joking when I asked for one,' Harry thought as he tore the note off the drink.
Good luck in your match and your future explorations!
Harry smiled at the note. The man may have messed with his life in the past time line and may have tried invading his mind, but there was no other like him. Popping the top on the Butterbeer he made for the showers with his drink still in hand.
"Blimey mate, that is disgusting," Anthony groaned as he came out of the showers to see Harry about to enter with a drink in hand.
"What? I need a pick me up," Harry defended. He didn't see anything wrong with taking his drink with him; it wasn't like he was going to take it into the actual shower with him or on to the toilet.
Before Anthony could reply Kevin came out of the showers dripping wet and apparently already done with his morning wash. "Just an update Potter, there are no frisky Centaurs in there, sorry!"
Harry slipped his wand from his sleeping shorts without anyone noticing and pointed it into the showers. "Are you sure about that?"
"Of course I'm sur-"
"HELP!" Terry screamed, cutting Kevin off mid-sentence as he ran out of the bathroom with his towel barely covering his front. "THERE'S A BLOODY CENTAUR IN THERE!" Four boys stared back at him like he was crazy.
"You can't be serious," Stephen denied from where he was standing by his wardrobe. "Centaurs are very private creatures who prefer the forest over wizard dwellings."
"Then you go in there and tell me there isn't a randy horse-man in the showers!" Terry hissed at the boy.
It was at that moment that all conversation stopped as the 'clop clop clop' sound of hooves on a stone floor reached the ears of the first years. "Kevin!" Called a deep, husky voice that drew closer with the sound of the hooves hitting the stone. "Kevin, come out and play!" Sang the voice excitedly.
Blaise, Kevin, Terry, Stephen, and Anthony watched the door with bated breath. Each 'clop' was louder than the last, increasing the boy's fears to new levels with each step. Just as the creature should have stepped into sight it stopped moving at all. The only reason they could tell it was still there was by the heavy panting coming from around the corner.
"Kevin," it sang out in a breathy voice making said boy's eyes tear up. "Come here so I can look AT THAT SWEET ASS!" Screamed the creature as it burst around the wall and into their dorm room making all but Harry scream in terror.
As the group of boys fought one another to get to the door, they were able to catch sight of a wild haired, bare-chested Centaur, who had a crazed look in his eye. "WHERE ARE YOU GOING? WE HAVEN"T GOTTEN TO PLAY YET!" This was all the encouragement the group needed to make a final push to get them all out of the room.
Due to his laughter, Harry struggled to make it through the door after the others had raced down to the common room. When he arrived, his roommates, all of whom were in varying states of undress, were yelling at the top of their lungs about horny Centaurs to anyone who would listen. It was as he was leaning against the railing at the top of the stairs to keep from falling from his body shaking laughter that he felt the sharp chill of something cold touch him on the side. Glancing down he realized that all he had on was a pair of sleeping shorts and that the cold thing that had touched him was the bottle of Butterbeer Dumbledore had sent him.
Harry turned to head back to their room when out of all the chaos that was happening in the common room, Percy spotted him about to leave. "Potter, get down here now." He yelled over all the commotion. "I know you had to have something to do with all this!" Harry paused for just a second before changing his mind and headed to get his shower.
S2ndC
"If our house didn't need you for your duel today, I'd kill you." Kevin growled much to the amusement of the group of Raven first years, as they made their way to the Great Hall. "I'll have nightmares about that damn Centaur chasing after me for weeks."
"Can you girls believe them," Harry asked, playing hurt as he hid behind the smallest of their group, Sue Li. "They don't believe me when I said I had nothing to do with their shower games. It's not my fault I don't enjoy pretending to be chased by big wet horse-men."
"There, there," Sue Li told him, patting him on the head as she turned to look at the males of their group. "Don't be mad at Harry because he didn't want to go streaking with the rest of you." The boys' of the group glares became venomous from Sue Li's support.
"You know..." Blaise said, gaining everyone's attention. "I bet we could find someone to replace him if he were to have an accident before his duel."
"You're right, we could..." Kevin agreed, smiling brightly as he turned to where Harry had been seconds ago only to find him gone. "Where did he go?" He asked looking up and down the hall. The only one to see Harry take off had been Sue Li and she wasn't saying anything. "He disappeared," Kevin growled, taking off in the opposite direction Harry had escaped to.
Unaware of his roommates' antics, Harry entered the Great Hall only to falter at the sight that greeted him. All along the walls of the room with the exception of the one behind the professors' table were bleachers. But far more surprising than the sudden appearance of the spectator stands was that there were already parents and siblings, both older and younger, already filling them up with more showing up by the minute.
Spotting a headful of long raven colored hair draped over the shoulders of a girl in Ravenclaw robes, he made his way over and placed his chin on her shoulder. "Morning, Cho." Having not been expecting it, she jumped at the sudden and intimate contact.
"Oh, Harry, you scared me," she gasped, her hand placed to her chest as he circled around her and took a seat facing away from the Ravenclaw table.
"Sorry about that, I'm just excited is all." Poring himself a glass of orange juice he glanced around the room looking for her mother. "Are your parents coming today?"
"Yes, they are," she beamed. Harry watched as she stood on tip toes and turned in place.
"Cho, I believe that you can do whatever you want in this world, but we have our first duels of the year coming up and I don't think it's wise to start practicing to become a ballerina at this time." She stopped her searching to send him a small pout that had him grinning like mad.
"I'm not trying to be a ballerina," she denied cutely. "I'm looking for family. I don't know if my mom and dad are here yet or not."
"MayLin is coming?" Harry looked excited until Cho fixed him with a raised eyebrow.
"You're not into my mum are you?" Cho asked in a mix of shock and panic.
"No!" Harry denied, snickering at how relieved she looked at the news. "How about I help look for them?"
Cho opened her mouth to respond, but was stopped as he jumped on to the bench he had been sitting on moments before. "MAYLIN! MR. CHANG! ARE Y-" He was stopped from yelling anything further when a scarlet faced Cho jerked him down from the bench.
"What are you doing?" She whispered at him, as if doing so would take away from the fact he had just yelled out for her parents in the middle of a crowded Great Hall. "You're going to get in trouble." When Harry didn't say anything, choosing to smile at her instead, she slowly ended up smiling back at him shaking her head at his playful behavior.
It was with them smiling at each other that her parents found them. "Cho," called a short Asian man his voice full of amusement. "We heard our summons and came quickly."
"Mum, daddy," Cho exclaimed, running to them to be hugged by both. "I've missed you both."
"As we have you," MayLin said, as she ran a hand through her daughter's long hair. Looking up, the older woman sent Harry a knowing smile. "Thank you Harry for helping us find our daughter."
"No problem Mr. and Mrs. Chang." It was as he spoke that he spotted Snape headed their way looking way too pleased for Harry to want to stick around. "I don't mean to be rude, but I've got to go find my own parents."
After grabbing some breakfast that he could eat while moving, he set out to find if his own parents had shown up yet. He easily found them within five minute's time. Together they sat on the back row of one the bleachers looking out over the crowd for what Harry assumed was him.
"Hey all," he greeted, his family instantly getting climbed over by an excited Ivy.
"Harry," Ivy squealed, burying her head in his hair. Chuckling, he turned to the rest of his family and greeted them. When he reached his mother his eyes met hers, the memory of their talk flashed through both their minds.
FLASH BACK
"How are you feeling?" Lily pulled slightly away from her son who was still wrapped up with her on his bed. They had been like this since he had woken up over an hour ago and neither showed any sign of leaving where they were.
"I'm sore... feel like Hagrid has been jumping on me." Lily smiled softly at his attempt at humor; she took it as a sign of the potions working. "How is it that you know about any of it?" As he had spoken he had placed his head once again on her chest, allowing her to stroke his now clean hair.
"After I stunned you... all I could think about was how to keep my family whole. I didn't want to lose you and the happiness we had achieved as a result of your behavior over the last couple of months. So I decided to enter your mind to see if there was any way to hide all you had done... and to see if I would be able to look past what you had done." Harry looked to be close to falling asleep as he listened to Lily's soft voice and felt like it as well, but the truth was he was paying the utmost attention to every word she said.
"It was in your mind that I met Karma. He told me of who you are and where you came from." Lily pulled him closer to her when she felt him stiffen. "It's alright honey; you're my son, no matter where or when you come from. I'm so proud of all you've done and sacrificed. I'm sorry that you had to go through all you did with my sister's family and your years at Hogwarts."
"The Dursleys aren't worth wasting time speaking about," he stated firmly, his voice bordering on angry. "Tell me more about what he told you."
"He did tell me some things... but all of your past life and the time you've spent in this world he showed me. He gave me the memories of it all."
Harry was at a loss for words. The thought of anyone seeing all that he had done was frightening - the thought of his mother seeing every detail of his past life and what he had done in his short time in this world was so much worse. He was a teenage boy at one time; if she had seen every moment of his life then she had seen him... And then there was the time he was dating Ginny, sure, they hadn't gone all the way, but the thought of his mother watching him as he felt her up was cringe worthy. But just as bad as all that were his actions in this time line. Stealing a time turner from one of her favorite teachers, using an unforgivable on a Ministry employee, what he had done to Mundungus, his attacking Malfoy, and even what had happened the day she and his sisters had come to visit him in the infirmary... she had seen his reaction to Iris.
Harry let out a long, drawn out groan as he pondered if there was a way to Obliviate himself.
Lily knew that learning that every private moment you've ever experienced had been exposed to someone would be hard on anyone, but when the person had a tendency to keep everything they could about themselves close to their chest, as Harry did, she knew it would be beyond overwhelming for him. In an attempt to draw his attention away from the knowledge that his every action had become known to her, she chose to start telling him things that would distract from his distress.
"I'm sure you've realized how odd your behavior has been of late. The reason behind this, contrary to what you believed, is that you were doing exceptionally well in your meditation." This was enough to momentarily draw him away from his self-pity as he had been sure that the reason behind how... extreme, his behavior had been, was because he was failing at meditation. "Before you leave to go back to Hogwarts I'll be showing you the proper way to form shields."
Lily paused, taking a deep breath. She knew the next part was going to be a hard blow for him and didn't look forward to telling him any more news that would add to the already heavy load on his shoulders. "Kar informed me of something that will affect the war in this world if it breaks out again." Hearing this, Harry sat up to better give her his full attention. "I saw from your memories that you've yet to go after the Horcruxes."
He looked at her with bewilderment, nodding that she was right. "I didn't go looking for them because..." Harry tore his eyes away from his mothers to stare at his lap. He was too ashamed of himself to look her in the eye. "I kept putting it off because I knew that once I started killing them off, then it would be real. That it would be the start and that from that moment on there would be no turning back even if Neville turned out to be the chosen one."
"It's fine," she told him honestly, taking him by the hand. "Even if you had gone to look for them, you would have found out that they're not the same as last time."
"What do you mean they're not the same?" He snapped, his jaw clenching painfully as his emotions shifted from shame to anger. All he could think about was all the hard work and sacrifices he had made the first time around to find them and how he was supposed to do it a second time? "And where in the hell is Kar at anyway? With just a few words from him, I could have avoided being that sadist bitch's plaything!" It wasn't until he had finished speaking that he realized he was doing to his mother exactly what she had been talking about minutes before.
"I-I'm sorry mum, I didn't mean to go off like that." He looked to her pleadingly, hoping his overreaction wouldn't drive away the only person that truly knew him. The woman who had seen him at his best and worst and yet didn't hate him, even after he had basically killed her true son and had taken his place. If she turned him away, he didn't know what he would do.
"It's okay," she told him soothingly, as she crawled over and pulled him into a warm embrace. "Just try and remember that I'm here to help you. There's no need for the anger you're experiencing. I love you and together we will finish off Voldemort once and for all. And when it's all over, you can go on and live a long, happy life - a life that you should have had from the very start."
Harry relished in the feeling of his mother's embrace. It was so warm and inviting, and most of all it was filled with the love and acceptance she had for him. "Do you hate me for taking his place?" He asked her suddenly. Lily pulled back with a stunned look and was about to tell him that she had just told him she loved him and that she had meant it wholeheartedly, but was stopped by him before she could do so. "I know that you love me, every word you've spoken has been heartfelt and I could feel that... What I want to know is do you resent me for taking away your chance at having a relationship with your real son?"
"I may not be the one who gave birth to you, but there is no way I could love you anymore had I been. I watched you take your first steps, heard your first words, and have seen you both succeed and fail. It would be impossible for any other mother to know more about their child than I do about you, and all I can say is that I've never been more proud to know someone as I am you. Your will to never give up and to protect those around you make you the best man I've ever had the pleasure of meeting. But to be able to call you my son far outshines anything else. I love you and nothing will ever change that my son!"
"Thanks mum." He whispered into her shoulder, inhaling her scent as he did so.
For a time the two set there holding one another. It was clear to both of them that embracing each other was something both had craved for far too long a time. As they came down from their emotional highs, Lily realized that she had yet to answer his questions from when he had exploded in anger.
"Before I tell you about the horcruxes, I should inform you about Kar and why he didn't come to warn you about the Royce family," she offered.
"I'm listening."
"From what little he told me, there are rules that are in place for his kind. One of these laws is that they are not to directly involve themselves with the day-to-day lives of humans as he has been."
Harry once again felt like an ass when it came to dealing with the childish god. Just moments before he had been ready to rip the man apart and here it was that he had been breaking the law of the gods just to help him. Kar was truly a good man. "Is he in trouble because he chose to help me?"
"No, he would have been had he continued to do so, but was able to get away with one final act. He knew you'd need help after he was gone and chose me to be your guiding hand," Lily declared with a hint of pride in her voice, stemming from the fact that she over all others was the one chosen to be her son's confidante.
Sighing deeply he replied, "Kar is way too good of a person."
"He also informed me about a loophole you made in the contract the first Harry signed when you worded the second one." Lily giggled slightly when a wide grin split his face.
"How is that?" As she told him how his choice in phrasing his contract had saved him from being their slave for a year, his smile grew, until he was reduced to a laughing mess. "Oh, that's rich," he gasped, partly from his laughter and partly from the pain said laughter was causing his aching body. "It makes all the crap I just went through worth it. If only I could see Vega's face when she finds out!"
Lily smiled lovingly down at her laughing child. "While you were out, I sent off letters to all of my old contacts and some of those who owe me old debts." Harry nodded, but suddenly stiffened as her words reminded him of what he had done just before being stunned.
"Merlin," Harry gasped suddenly, looking very worried. "Is Remus alright? I had to stop him; I couldn't let him expose me like he was planning to. I hope I didn't damage his memory or erase too much."
"He's fine, and though memory charms can be useful, to use one on someone you care for is very irresponsible. The only reason I'm not furious with you is that I know with how your mind is at the moment, with your almost shields making everything a mess and the added stress you were going through from the fear of losing us, it was fueling all of your rash and idiotic choices."
Harry bowed his head sheepishly for a moment before a look of curiosity crossed his features. "How was it that Remus can control when he shifts? In my world..." Harry stopped as embarrassment overtook him as he realized that she knew everything about his old world that he did. "Sorry, you know why his ability to turn would seem strange to me."
"It's fine, honey. You have nothing to be embarrassed about. We're in a very strange situation; it's bound to be a little awkward at times." Harry nodded that she was right, feeling better about his mess up. "Getting back to your question, werewolves in this world are different from your own. They have the ability to change at will. The more they exercise this skill, the easier and faster they can do so. Remus has never been the type to turn unless he had a real reason to; it's why he suffered so much when he changed in front of you."
"Man..." Harry could just picture the type of repercussions there would be if someone like Bellatrix were to gain the ability to become a big bad wolf any time she desired. "With that type of ability, I'm surprised more don't let themselves be turned."
"Many have," Lily said, staring off into space as she recalled the war and how many would end up showing what they were by phasing in the middle of battle. "In our world, however, the prejudice far outshines even that in your original world, not that it's totally unwarranted. Their power is one that could all too easily be abused and should be approached with caution."
Harry nodded, becoming quiet for a time, enjoying the feel of his mother's embrace. When he did break the silence it was to ask about what had originally set him off. "And what of the horcruxes? Did he tell you what they are this time around?"
Lily shook her head. "For him to tell us what they were would have made him lose his title of god. All he could tell us was that they were different than last time and that when the time came you would know where they are."
"I guess it's good that I haven't gone into the area of the Room of Requirements used for hiding items, in all my times using the room for my workouts. If I had shown up there only to find Rowena's Diadem missing I would have gone off the edge."
"While we're talking about it, we should plan in the future to go search that room top to bottom," Lily said, sounding excited at the prospect. "There's no telling what is in that room. There could be magical artifacts in there that date back to the time of the Founders or even further back. What we don't want to keep we can sell off and use the earnings to invest in companies that we know will do well in the future."
Harry raised an eyebrow at the direction she was going with this. Lily had never seemed like the type to become money hungry, always seeming very humble about what she had. So why was it she was suddenly looking to make a lot of money? Seeing his look she understood what he was thinking and chose to explain her motives to him. "If war is to break out again it won't be cheap. During the last war many a wealthy and powerful family ended up broke. This money can go toward potions, training, medical aid, and even be used to sway people like the Royces. And if in the end a second war is avoided, then it's yours."
He sent her a pondering look. "Why would I end up with the money if we have any left over? I have more Galleons inside my pouch than most families have in a vault at Gringotts."
"Any profit gained will be because of you and your knowledge of the future. It's only right the money would go to you." Lily smiled as a doubtful looked crossed his face; she was pleased that he did try to oppose what she had said. "We'll also need to kill the basilisk before next year. Even if the horcruxes are different in this world, it's too dangerous a creature to be left unattended. Once its dead I can start to harvest its parts, the venom alone will be a huge asset once we find out what the horcruxes are."
"Mum," Harry said suddenly, the urgency in his voice taking Lily by surprise. "I think - no, I know we should start moving against known Death Eaters before the war starts."
Lily was taken aback by the sudden direction the conversation was taking, but didn't disagree with what he had said. "Go on."
"If we take out known supporters of Voldemort now, then when war does come, there will be far fewer killing curses we'll have to dodge once things start to pick up. I know it sounds awful, but you and I both know it's the right thing to do." He looked to her pleadingly and was surprised when she smirked back at him.
"You don't have to pretend that you feel it's bad to kill Death Eaters to me," Lily stated knowingly. "When I received the memories of your time spent in this world, I picked up on a number of your emotions, including those that you had whenever you thought of Lucius Malfoy and other well-known Death Eaters. I know that it's in you to kill them and this was before your emotions were running rampant."
Harry didn't try and deny her words; instead he nodded to them, knowing that she had him. "Fine, I do think that they should be killed without mercy before they can harm anymore innocent people. Dumbledore is a good man, but that bullshit about everyone having good in them is rubbish. Why should the good die at the hands of the trash of this world, just so they can have a second chance!"
Lily wore a slightly evil smirk as her son finished speaking. "You did gain one thing from the old Harry that you needed." She didn't give him time to question what she was speaking of before she continued. "A killing instinct! It is something you will need to survive the front lines of any war." It was a strange sight and an even stranger moment as mother and son smirked at one another as they realized they would be taking the fight to the Death Eaters this time.
"I have only one request," Harry said, meeting his mother's gaze head on. "I want to be a part of it... Don't treat me like Dumbledore did in the last timeline, I want to be able to contribute to the effort this time. I want to make those who have committed the worst acts humanly possible pay for what they have done!"
Lily lost her smirk fixing him with a searching look in its place. "You're not strong enough," she stated bluntly. Harry recoiled from her words as if he had been slapped. For a second he felt his anger rise as he had taken what she had said as an insult, however, he was able to recall how he had snapped at her earlier for no reason and didn't want to do the same again now. "After I train you then we will start, but there's no way I'm going to take you to fight against Death Eaters if your skills don't improve from what I saw you use against Necro today."
"For you to be the age of someone who had just graduated, your fighting abilities are impressive. That coupled with your having the body of an eleven year old makes you a deadly combo. However, I noticed when living through your memories that the skill level of Death Eaters and people in general are higher in this world than your own. I have a lot to teach you before you're ready to start waging war against our mask wearing friends."
Harry conceded her point, even if he didn't like it, he knew she was right. While he was strong, he needed to be so much more before he took on cold blooded murderers.
Not for the first time since he had woken up a deep silence fell between the two of them. For a reason that was beyond him, he couldn't fight the feeling that when it was finally broken, that he'd be wishing that they were once again absorbed in silence. How right he was.
"Harry... I've put this off since you've woken up, but I feel that it's time we spoke about it." Harry was swallowed by apprehension as his amazing mother was reduced to fidgeting like Hermione during the end of year exams, at the prospect of bringing up the next topic. "We need to talk about you and Iris." It was as her words penetrated his mind that he realized he'd rather be spending time with Vega's wand turned on him than sit where he was and talk about his feelings for his sister.
"Do we have to?" He winced when Lily nodded and almost burst out laughing when her long, red hair bounced wildly as a result. The action reminding him of Ivy when she was experiencing one of her shy streaks and would only answer with nods and shakes of the head. "Where are the girls at? I don't want to start this and have them over hear any of it."
"They're both spending the night at the Greengrass' and won't be home until tomorrow at the earliest." Lily went quiet after answering him. She was dreading the approaching conversation and the consequences that could come of it as much as he was. "The entire reason Kar let me experience your feelings from your memories of your time in this world, and not the original, was, I think, to let me know how much you truly love and care for her... And to show me how deep your lust for her truly goes." Lily swallowed painfully as her mouth had become rather dry. She really didn't want to cross this road, but knew if she didn't now that she would come to regret it later on. How she could grow to regret it more later, than she did now she didn't know, but she supposed it was possible.
"I can't help how I feel for her," he blurted anxiously. He was feeling extremely fearful and twitchy, and any time one of them stopped speaking it only succeeded in making them both worse. Lily may have forgiven all he had done during his time in this world, but this was a totally different matter. Iris was only ten years old and yet he was drawn to her unlike he had ever been to anyone else. He was ashamed of what he felt for her and the only person he could think of that it would be worse to find out about his feelings, besides Iris, was the woman across from him who loved him despite all his flaws. What would he do if she told him he had to stay away from Iris? How badly would it destroy their relationship when he went against her wishes? "I know it's wrong - disgusting even how I need her, but I can't stay away from her. You say you've experienced firsthand what I feel for her, then you should know I would never hurt her in any way."
"I know all this," Lily admitted quietly. "Your feelings for her may stem from the obsession the old Harry had of wanting to cause her pain, but what you feel for her isn't all that different from what your father and I share. You love her with all your being... But would you allow her to be happy and not interfere with her life if someone else made her happy?"
Harry opened his mouth to say of course he would, but stopped, as he remembered what he had thought the day of the Ravenclaw's first flying lesson. Could he be happy for her? Let her go off with someone that wasn't him?
A picture of Iris wrapped in the arms of a faceless stranger appeared in his mind. The thought of this happening had him clenching his teeth painfully and unknowingly cutting the inside of his mouth. He knew the answer and as he refocused on the woman sitting across from him, he knew that she too knew what the answer to her question was.
"No - hell no," Harry stated. His eyes had become hard as stone and were glaring at Lily, showing her that he would never give her to anyone else. "It's more than likely I would kill anyone that tried to take her from me..."
A pregnant pause descended between the two, as they as one both realized that even had his mind been in the right place his answer would still be the same.
Lily sighed, she had expected such an answer from him, and still it made hearing it no easier. She knew that even after he gained control over his mind that he would still have traits of the old Harry. He'd still be a flirt, still be a trouble maker, still have a fascination for blades, and the thing that was most troublesome and the strongest of all that he had inherited from the original, still have his obsession with Iris.
She cringed as a plan crossed her mind, instantly hating herself for even thinking of such a thing. However, as more time passed, she knew it was the best option and solution to their current and future problem. But with all that said, Lily still didn't like the idea of her son and daughter together. It was just so... wrong! Her personal beliefs and feelings aside, she knew that if they did end up together that they would need her on their side, as it was a given that James was going to flip out on any man who tried to be with either of his daughters. It would only be harder on him and everyone else when he found out that his children had feelings for one another.
Her eyes closed as she rubbed circles on her temples, releasing a deep breath before she spoke. "She obviously has feelings for you as well. If it was anyone else's child I'd say that they were too young to know how they really felt, but she is James' girl and he knew how he felt about me when he was only a year older than she is now. If you truly want her then you need to..." Lily stopped to blow out another long and tired breath. What she was about to say was obviously getting to her. "You need to get even closer to her than you are now. Make her feelings for you grow, so that when she is old enough to make a move on her feelings, it will be you she comes to and not do what James did and throw herself into a number of meaningless flings that I know for a fact would tear you apart and more than likely drive you to do something that would affect us all." She didn't think Iris would turn into a female version of James, but all it would take was one relationship to turn Harry into a green eyed beast.
"You're telling me to draw her in?" The disbelief coloring his voice made the emotionally exhausted Lily chuckle softly as she nodded. "I can tell that you don't approve of my feelings for her and that you think hers are just as bad. And if I'm guessing right you feel there's a small chance hers would fade after a time if I were to distance myself from her. So why tell me to make a move - to claim her as my own when you don't want this for either of us?"
"Because I know that it would hurt you beyond repair to see her with another. That you would do something irrational and dangerous as a result of it. Because I want you both to be happy and that I know you two would make each other exactly that, even if it is wrong for siblings to love each other that way." As she spoke she resigned herself to what she knew would be a hard path, not only for her children, but for the rest of their family as well. "All I ask is that you wait a while before anything physical happens, a long while!"
Harry nodded rapidly as a smile threatened to split his face completely in two. "Thank you for being so understanding. I promise I won't push her into anything she doesn't want."
"For some reason that doesn't relieve my worries in the slightest!" Lily said, trying to look disapproving, but failed as the warmth and happiness radiated from his pearly white smile. "We'll have more time later to speak on what we need to do in the future. Right now, we need to figure out what we should do about healing you the rest of the way and getting started on your mental shields."
"It's Friday and I know you don't have any classes after potions, so we're clear on that front. Blaise will cover for you if you don't show back up tonight, giving us the chance to finish healing you here before you go back to school."
"If I'll be staying here tonight I'll put up a silencing charm to keep dad from hearing me." Lily nodded to his idea. "Not that I snore or anything like that, but it's better to be safe than getting caught here with no way to explain myself."
"You'll also need to add a monitoring charm, keyed to him, so that you can tell when he's near so you can hide just on the off chance he chooses to come in here."
"Now then, are you prepared to learn how to take back control of your mind?" Lily asked, fixing him with an appraising look. "You'll fail to succeed if you don't put your all into this."
FLASH BACK
"Hey mum," he beamed up at her. Reaching out with his free arm he gave the smiling Lily a hug.
Taking the chance with him so close Lily placed her lips next to his ear. "How are you doing, honey?"
"Perfectly fine," he whispered back. With Ivy still on his hip he slid on to the bench in front of his parents and next to Iris who bumped shoulders.
"We've come all this way to see your duel," Iris said, giving him an impish look. "You better not lose, or I just might never let you forget it."
"As evil as ever I see. Why can't you be more like my sweet, little Ivy?" He asked, as he pulled the giggling redhead into a tight hug that she returned with gusto. "See, this is a good girl," he said, making Ivy squeal happily and Iris stick out her tongue.
"You ready for today?" James questioned, gaining his son's attention. Harry could tell right away that his father was excited to be here to watch his duel.
It felt good to know he was happy to be here and hadn't shown up because he felt it was an obligation. "I'm sure I'll do alright. I just hope I can live up to your and mum's past victories." It was as he said this to his father that he let his gaze travel around the room when suddenly he caught sight of Snape standing by the Slytherin table. The man had frozen in place and had turned whiter than he normally was as he stared at something behind Harry. Following the line of the man's sight Harry had expected to see him looking at his mother, but instead found him to be staring at James.
Harry didn't know what to make of this. Was Snape afraid of his father in this world? Had James and the Marauders done things to the man that exceeded the back and forth between them in his original world? The thought of asking his mother crossed his mind at the same time Snape snapped out of his trance and turned and left the Great Hall.
"I'm sure you'll do superbly," James said, recapturing his attention. Reaching out he patted Harry comfortingly on the head. "In my first year I only lost to one person, and he beat me twice. Once when Gryffindor faced off with Slytherin and the second time was during the end of year tournament. But you're far better with magic than I was at your age; I know you'll kick butt, even though the butt you'll be kicking is my old house's."
Harry spent the rest of the time before the match speaking with his family. As they talked the bleachers continued to fill with family members and students that had finished eating and were waiting on the matches to start. Once all of the house tables were cleared of all persons, Professor Flitwick vanished them with a flick of his wand, replacing them with a raised dueling platform that was as half as long as the house tables were and twice as wide.
"Flitwick is calling for us," Harry observed. Giving Ivy a kiss on the forehead he handed her off to their mother as he stood up. "I'll come back up after my match is over. Wish me luck!" Doing as he said, all four of the Potters sent him off with their best wishes.
He arrived at Flitwick as the man continued calling for his house duelist at the same time as Blaise. "Did you get to see your mum and dad?"
Blaise nodded. "They're over there," he said, pointing to a dark skinned couple.
"Wow mate, your mum is hot!" Harry grinned evilly at a now pissed looking Blaise.
"Shut it or I'll start talking about how pretty I find your mum," he growled. Harry went pale at the thought.
Shaking his head negatively, he held out his hand as he choked out his reply. "Truce!"
"That's what I thought," Blaise said smugly, as he took the offered appendage. As the two shook hands agreeing to never speak of the level of attractiveness the other's mother held, Daphne walked up and stood next to Harry. Seeing her, he nodded and gave her a small 'hi' that she returned before focusing on their miniature Head of House.
It had been a while since the day she had spoken to him in the Room of Requirement and since that time the two had only exchanged superficial greetings with one another. The air between them could only be described as a mixture of tense and awkward. Harry knew there was still something bothering her and planned to confront her about it when and if he saw her over the holidays. As it was now he was too busy being trained by Lily to focus on much of anything else.
"Attention everyone," Flitwick called to all of his duelists at the same time that Professor Sprout called out to all of those gathered. "You all know the rules and what order you'll be fighting in..."
At their last duel team practice, each year had drawn slots to see if they would be the first, second, or third in their year to duel. Harry had joked with Blaise that when he had drawn the third slot it had meant that he was the main event for the first year duels.
Flitwick gave them an uplifting pep talk before handing them over to the duel captain Carter Kirkwood. "Alright you lot, we Ravens may not be known for our Quidditch skills, but we are the house that rules dueling platform! Every year for the past four years we have won the Hogwarts Dueling Cup and a majority of the age bracket tournaments. We will be continuing this winning streak today, no exceptions allowed. Show those act first, think second kittens why we Ravens are to be feared!"
Harry and Blaise stood next to each other as they watched Daphne climb onto the platform to the crowd's applause, at the same time Seamus Finnegan did. The Irish born boy was to be her opponent in the first duel of the year, leaving the two other first year Gryffindor duelers, Neville and Zacharias, standing on the opposite side of the platform glaring at Harry.
Daphne and Seamus moved to opposite ends of the raised platform before turning and bowing to one another. Professor Sprout called out the facing off first year's names for the spectators, earning cheers from all around the Great Hall that caused both Daphne and Seamus alike to tense slightly at the realization that all those in attendance were focusing solely upon them. If they messed up or lost too spectacularly, then they would do so in front of not only their family, but the entire school and some of their families as well. It would be a nerve wracking experience for anyone and doubly so for two fresh faced first years.
"Duelist ready?" Seamus nodded jerkily at the same time Daphne gave the smallest of tilts of her head. Professor Sprout gave her own nod and stepped backwards off the platform and onto the stairs leading onto it. "Begin!"
It was over before it ever truly began. Seamus didn't have time to do anything besides step out of the way of a hex Daphne had sent at him and into a second one she had sent a mere second after the first. His arms and legs snapped together and his entire body stiffened, sending him crashing painfully to the platform floor.
Cheers broke out from all around the room for Daphne and her performance. Sending the still motionless Seamus a quick bow Daphne made her way off the platform and toward her cheering teammates. Right away she went straight to a grinning Carter who told her something that neither Harry nor Blaise could hear over the cheering and excited chatter that filled the hall, before she turned and made her way up into the bleachers to where her family sat cheering.
"I wonder if you'll get to duel the great and powerful Boy-Who-Lived, or get the honor of going against his number one fan girl." Harry asked, in what was obviously fake excitement. Blaise rolled his eyes at the sarcastic remarks his friend was sprouting. "Either way, show them how skilled a duelist you are!"
"Thanks man," Blaise replied absent-mindedly. Already he was getting mentally ready for his duel. When the time came for him to climb on stage, he did so with an air of unwavering confidence that wasn't shaken when he saw that his opponent would be Neville.
Harry cursed as he realized that he wouldn't be the one to duel Neville, but his disappointment was replaced with anger when he saw Neville say something unintelligible to Blaise that had the dark skinned boy clenching his jaw angrily. Harry wasn't the only one to notice this as Carter came up next to him looking worriedly at his best friend.
"Zabini is playing into Longbottom's hands," the seventh year hissed to Harry. "Neville obviously wanted him mad knowing it would affect his dueling abilities and provoked him hoping to get what he wanted. And lo and behold it worked!"
Harry grimaced up at his friend and the stage he was standing on. He didn't know what Longbottom had said, but it was clear that it had affected Blaise greatly. His entire being was tense, where it had been loose and ready to go minutes before. If he continued this way then there was no question that Blaise wouldn't last long.
"The second first year duel will be between Blaise Zabini of Ravenclaw and Neville Longbottom of Gryffindor." The cheering of the crowd was louder than it had been before. All were excited to see what the Boy-Who-Lived could do. "Duelist ready... Begin!"
Right away Blaise sent a number of spells at Neville's head that the boy simply knelt down to dodge. From his place on his knee, Neville sent a quick disarming spell at Blaise's legs that Harry knew, had he not been so tense, the boy could have easily avoided. Everyone in the hall knew the match was already over as the rules stated that anyone who was disarmed automatically forfeited the match, but as the wand flew from Blaise's hand Neville grinned cockily and let a knockback jinx fly.
Harry growled as the orange light of the spell hit Blaise in the chest and sent him flying over the edge of the platform. It was lucky that Flitwick had been standing by and was able to stop Blaise from slamming into the cold stone floor of the Great Hall. Even if the move was beyond dirty, Harry hadn't expected to hear as many cries of disgust as he did. He had figured that since it was Neville that most would turn a blind eye to his actions, but here they were, even members of Gryffindor House who were calling him out on his distasteful move.
"As a result of Neville Longbottom's rule breaking, Gryffindor will forfeit the win leaving the score for the first year bouts two to zero!" There were cheers and shouts of approval for Professor Sprout's rule calling. When the noise had died down some, she continued. "We will be taking a short five minute break before we start the final first year duel and move on to the second years!"
Harry was at Blaise's side as soon as Flitwick had lowered him to the ground. "Here you go." Harry handed the boy his wand. "What happened up there?"
"He," Blaise spat, "made a comment about my mother and her looks." It became glaringly clear the boy was protective of his mother, not that Harry had any room to talk. His and Lily's relationship had become closer than ever since she had started training him using the communication mirrors. He'd likely lose all control too if Longbottom or anyone else said anything about his mother.
"Be ready," Blaise warned him, knocking him from his thoughts. "Smith is just like Longbottom, he'll try the same thing or something like it to try and get to you too."
Harry nodded, already knowing this. Together they walked back to where they had been standing before. As they walked Blaise received a number of claps on the shoulder and words of encouragement not only from their fellow teammates, but from people in the stands as well. Harry didn't say anything, but knew the actions of those around them were meant to make the boy feel better, but were serving to only fuel his disappointment.
The five minutes had yet to pass when Carter came up to them. "Zabini, you had lost before you knew the match had even started. The duel doesn't begin when the ref tells you it does; it starts as soon as all of the matches begin. You don't know who you will be going against so you have to appear ready for anything, so that when your possible opponents see you, they see someone whose ready for a fight and that is willing to give one."
Blaise gave a curt nod of the head that he understood, making Carter's focused eyes lessen in their intensity. "I know you can do better and that you will next time." Harry smiled at the older boy for his attempt to cheer his friend up. "Now then, go see your family. I'm sure your mum and dad are waiting for you to come to them." Giving his final order Carter turned and walked away, being sure to send Harry an encouraging nod.
"Look at the bright side mate." Pointing, Harry showed Blaise where Neville stood being chewed out by McGonagall and his duel team captain. Both boys smiled at the sight, but only Harry noticed that Neville's parents were glowering at McGonagall and the duel captain for talking to their child as they were.
"Maybe losing once isn't so bad!" Chuckling softly Blaise wished Harry luck as he left to go to his waiting parents.
Before he knew it he was climbing the stairs onto the platform. He stepped onto the stage at the same time as Zacharias Smith. The blonde haired, big eared boy smirked at Harry like he had already won.
"Should I finish you as quickly as Neville did your girlfriend or should I toy with you first?" He and Harry both hadn't moved once they made it onto the platform and were inches from one another.
Harry let out a small laugh at the boy's cockiness taking Zacharias aback by his lack of reaction at his taunting words - if only the boy knew. "Tell you what, if you can get me into a position where you can humiliate me then be my guest - have fun." Without waiting to hear what he had to say, Harry walked to his end of the platform and stood at the ready.
"The final of the first year duels will be between Harry Potter of Ravenclaw and Zacharias Smith of Gryffindor." Smith had yet to move from where Harry had left him and turned a deep shade of red when Professor Sprout shooed him down to his end of the platform, making a majority of the audience laugh at him. "Now that we're all where we belong, duelist ready?" Harry with a look of calmness gracing his features nodded at the same time as the pumped up Smith did. "Begin!"
Smith wasted no time before he cast his first spell, Professor Sprout had barely finished telling them to start when a blue spell passed in front of where she stood. Harry allowed a small smirk to make its way to his lips as he lazily side stepped the spell. His lack of taking the threat of the sent spell seriously resulted in Smith becoming angry and sending as many spells as he could without regard to how he was wasting his magic.
Harry started out slowly by simply side stepping the spells Smith was sending at him, but quickly his simple steps morphed into spins and leaps as he weaved in and out of the barrage of spells in a way that made him look like he was dancing. Unknowingly, he was reminding those who had fought in the war of Bellatrix and the way she dueled. Lily had noticed his style of fighting when she was training him, but had thought better of bringing this up to her son as she could see him trying to fight it - his natural form of fighting, since it so closely resembled the female Death Eaters'.
A wide smile now gracing his face, Harry came out of one of his spins and started shooting each of Smith's spells with his own. Each time their spells would collide it would result in loud and colorful explosions that vibrated the dueling platform and the very air. Green clashed with orange, purple hit blue, pink into white and many more would collide and leave the smell of ozone lingering in the air. By now those watching the two first years were cheering for the amazing display of accuracy that Harry was showing them.
Spotting the professor's table still at the back of the room and all the objects still upon it, he knew how he wanted to finish the fight. "Avifors!" He whispered the obscure spell, aiming its vivid blue light for the candle holder sitting in the middle of the table behind Smith.
Zacharias smirked when he thought the gasps from the crowd were caused by his opponent missing him by such a wide margin. What he had failed to see was the candle holder turn into a flock of birds the same color as the spell Harry had cast. Harry's intentions for the spell became clear to the boy when the flock of birds started dive bombing him, leaving nasty scratches all over his face and hands where he had tried to shield his face. No longer was he able to cast spells as he was too busy trying to protect himself.
As Harry raised his wand to end the duel he looked straight at Neville where he sat between his angry looking parents. Giving him a superior look he cast the knockback spell and sent the boy's best friend flying just as he had Blaise.
AN: So how was it? Did any of you find this chapter in the slightest bit funny? I tried to make the first part light hearted because I had no idea how the talk between him and his mom would go. Also Christmas break will either begin next chapter, or the one after that. All those of you who are telling me I should get a move on should know that the second half of the year will be much shorter than the first half. After I finish up this school year I'll be starting the second under a different story - book2 type of thing. I tell you all this because I wonder what the next story summery names should be? Harry/? If you haven't, check out my new Harry Potter story. Til next time!