AUTHOR'S NOTE:
Right so it's been a long time, why? Well first of all my muse ran off on a bunch of tangents, second, I have had classes this term and that's been taking much of my time, and third? Well this chapter SHORT THOUGH IT IS, fought me every bitter step of the way. I've found that I'm no good at interstitials so I think I'll handle the up coming events in detail instead. This will likely piss off a couple readers who I promised I intended to get right into the meat of things coming up. I'm sorry, I apologize.
THAT SAID. I have something important for you the readers. I need you all to vote on something. As I have two possible directions with which to take this, and I have no personal preference as to which one considering the plans I've drawn up, I need you to decide something big for me.
Option A) Pairing is only Harry/Hermione, no additional people added in.
Option B) Pairing is Harry/Hermione + one as yet unnamed member
Submit Votes via review or personal message to me. The Poll system hates my guts so I can't seem to post one right now.
Alright, that's all for now. You voting on that will really clear up the way forward for me and HOPEFULLY get me back on track for writing. Again sorry for this chapter being so short.
—-
Chapter 28: Dreams and Nightmares
Harry was sifting through the tomes he had yet to hand off to Professor Babbling. More from curiosity than through actual desire to fully learn their secrets or work on them in any meaningful way at this point. They were surprisingly detailed, especially by the standards of most magical texts. And very complex, page after page of complex arrays, ritual circles, diagrams and phrase sequences stretched before him.
The tomes were notable for being literally step by step, and was very good about explaining the reasoning behind seemingly superfluous additions and modifications.
When drawing the horizontal line in the "Shield Rune" remember, adding a slight three spike "lightning bolt" effect to the line invokes additional protective energies. This modification dates back to Norse rune masters who used that symbolism to pay homage to the protector god Thor. This effect can be further enhanced in step 4 when…
Still, he'd prefer to go over this with Professor Babbling or Hermione. They had been making remarkable progress the last few classes and…
There was a knock at the door and he looked up before calling out. "Come in?"
The door cracked open as he tidied away the tomes. Daphne and to his mild surprise Tracy wandered in, though the later was burdened with scrolls a stack of parchment the other was not.
Harry chuckled to himself at Daphne's sense of propriety, "You know Daphne, you could just come on in? Your room is on this floor too."
She nodded primly "I know, but I haven't moved my things up yet. Besides, you never know what people will be up to. Its more polite to knock." She noted pointedly. He rolled his eyes good natured. It wasn't like he and Hermione were snogging relentlessly up here.
"Fair enough, so what brings you up here Tracey? Here to see Daphne's new place?"
She smiled shaking her head. "No, actually we're here to talk to you about an Idea I had." She said strolling over to the table he'd set up in the centre of the common room. She dropped the stack of parchment on the table but didn't organize it just yet. "So—Um, we…I was thinking. This new group. The tower and everything? This isn't the usual stuff that a study group earns at Hogwarts."
Harry snorted. "No, it's definitely not. Dumbledore thought it would breed camaraderie." His tone adequately expressed his doubts on that front. Tracey and Daphne easily picked up on it.
"You sound skeptical?" Daphne noted, cocking her head curiously.
He clarified. "Not of that in particular, the camaraderie part I mean. I just do not believe that it is the real reason he offered the tower for our use."
"Do you think he's spying on us?" Tracey asked sounding startled.
He shook his head. He'd made sure he wasn't going over the tower with the others to clear surveillance charms. "No, not so much. I would however be prepared to bet my last galleon that he's given this over for the purpose of in-debt us to him."
The others were silent for a time considering this. "Anyways—" Tracey said nervously getting back on track. "We…I, was wondering if we could get away with uniforms too!"
Harry and Daphne shared an amused look at the way the other girl was just about vibrating with anticipation. "Uniforms?"
She nodded firmly. "Yes, two of them in fact, for everyone in the group…"
He cut her off briefly. "Why two?"
"One for school, one for fighting" She said happily, shuffling some sheets around as she prepared her plans.
He looked them over as she stood aside proudly. The drawings were surprisingly good, and detailed, she'd even gone out of her way to colour them in. Eye-wateringly in the case of one of them. Parts were labeled and there were suggestions and notations everywhere.
He pointed to the first two, shaking his head. "I hate to say it but I think these ones are a bit too complex, lovely as they are…" Tracey nodded easily, shifting those two aside. He continued pointing to the one which made his eyes want to bleed a little. "This one is too…flambouyant…" It had ruffles, bells and pantaloons among other things, in day glow orange.
Daphne smirked in satisfaction at Tracey. "Told you," She got a tongue stuck out at her in return.
Harry tapped the last set. "These two though…" He considered them "I like these two. They're fairly versatile, and it looks like your battle gear here is just a fairly simple set of additions to the normal set.
"It's also the most expensive." Daphne cautioned.
He nodded, tapping his finger on the figure Tracey had scrawled at the bottom right hand corner. "I can see that, you've named some rough figures here…I think I could swing that though."
"Excellent." Tracey gushed, beaming happily at her creations.
"You do know it may be a little bit before we can see about sorting this out though." He warned, but she just nodded undeterred.
"You are out for that trial this saturday are you not?"
He nodded agreement. "But after a trial I may or may not be feeling up to running off for a spot of shopping."
Whatever Tracey might have said to that was interrupted by Hermione bustling in, only to freeze when she saw them gathered at the table. "Oh! Sorry, are you busy?" She asked.
A quick glance at the others was met with shaking heads as Tracey gathered her creations. "No, I think that about covers everything. We'll just leave these for you to examine shall we?" Tracey asked, holding out the finalists to him.
He took them with a nod of thanks. Daphne and Tracey left a few moments later. Hermione made a face. "Sorry, I didn't mean to interrupt." She apologized.
He smiled comfortingly. "It's okay,"
She waved around them vaguely. "Your note said you wanted to see me?"
He nodded, he'd sent a note along with Kara earlier, they'd been headed to the library at the time. "I always want to see you."
She rolled her eyes playfully. "Har har, yes very cute, very smooth Harry. Now what did you want? We've only got a few minutes before today's study group." She reminded him.
He settled, leaning against the tables, smiling benignly at her. "Actually we have all the time in the world. I put off the group for tonight."
She blinked in surprise. "Oh, why?"
"Well, first off the others need time to officially move in. But more importantly, I booked the room tonight. I wanted to show you something." He offered his hand and she took it gently. "That is, if you're free?"
She smiled, uncertain what he was planning but hopeful that it would be good. "Of course."
He pushed to his feet and the two of them walked down and out of the tower. They paused only briefly to talk with Luna who was busily priming one of the walls in the main common room for a painting.
The Snorkack, who very recently had been dubbed by the group as "Little Moon" had stepped in the pan of primer and was happily tracking foot prints across the floor.
From their tower it was a thankfully short trip from the room of requirements.
He stopped before the location where the door was due to appear. "I was thinking about asking you to dress differently for what I've got planned, but I didn't for a couple reasons. First it would've given away the surprise, and second because I like you just fine as you are…"
This of course received a small smile. "So what are we doing?"
The door appeared as he stopped pacing and he pushed the door open, bowing aside to allow her to enter first. She had to gape a little at what he had prepared. The room, must have been domed now, or at least that's how it appeared. A vast expanse of stars stretched from horizon to horizon. Each providing illumination which nevertheless failed to reveal the invisible floor, making it appear as though she were stepping into open space.
At the centre of it all floating above it all was a recreation of the planets floating around a small glowing star. Off to the side sitting on a small but beautiful pedestal was a phonograph.
"What is all this?" She asked, awed by it.
"I asked it for something appropriate." he explained happily. "For what has become one of my fondest memories. Despite how awful that night was in other ways, I have something which always stuck with me about the night of the Yule ball." He smiled as her mouth opened in a small oh. "I've found myself often wishing it had been me who had gotten to take you dancing." He offered her his hand. "So, milady Granger…may I have this dance?"
She smiled brightly, accepting his hand and pecking him on the check. "Harry you big goof…of course you can."
The two of them pulled out onto the dance floor as the phonograph began to play a slow but happy tune. "What is the occasion?"
He chuckled, a slightly rueful sound. "You know, it really is a sad statement on what kind of friend I've been when you forget this. September 19th is your birthday." He smiled as she gave a start of surprise. "So, happy sixteenth birthday Hermione Granger."
They danced to the music for a time, just clinging happily to each other, Hermione silently thrilled he had remembered. "You know, I spent the last couple days trying to think of something you might want for your birthday." He noted as the songs switched. "I mean of course I thought of books of some kind. But that just seemed so easy. I wanted to do something special, so what was I to do for you, the most special person in my life? The answer seemed obvious to me. I take you dancing."
She smiled laughing, "So, I'm special am I?" She asked pausing to cock a hip and provide a demanding expression, before laughing again.
He nodded, "Yes, the most special girl in the world." He said sincerely. "Not just anyone would stick by me through so much. But it's more than that…You're beautiful, you're funny and your brilliant." He explained, and she smiled. "Even more than that, you, crazy girl that you are, told me you cared for me. You, who know me better than anyone else, wanted me…despite everything."
She looked a bit misty at this, "There is no despite Harry. I—you know, you said it to me, but I can't recall if I remembered to say it to you. I love you."
He stopped dancing and held her close against him "You can't imagine what it means to hear you say that." He mumbled. He'd never had anyone tell him that they loved him before, at least not in his memory.
She wrapped her arms around him and breathed in his scent before murmuring back. "I think i can. After all, you said it to me too."
He shook his head, smiling fondly. "You never have seen yourself clearly. Any man would be fortunate to have you."
They returned to dancing, songs changing one gently fading into another, the night swelling to swallow them both.
Hermione awoke, they had danced until they were to tired to return to the tower. Harry had shifted the room around them until it resembled the Gryffindor common room instead. Though it lacked the hordes of noisy students and it had provided comfortable couches instead which they had fallen asleep on.
Hermione had seldom been so content, and thus was confused when she awoke, it clearly still being night time. It took a moment for her to unravel the mystery of what had awoken her, the answer becoming obvious when Harry shuddered in her arms.
She peered confused up into his face, his eyes were screwed tightly shut, and he was sweating as he twitched. He was having a nightmare.
She knew such things plagued him from time to time, it was hard for this not to be the case considering the life he'd lived. Still, she'd yet to witness one herself. "Harry?" He didn't react, continuing to shudder his way through the night terrors. "Harry?" She urged again, a bit louder.
But still he continued, oblivious to the world. She fretted, she couldn't spare him his nightmare if he wouldn't wake up. So she did the only thing she could think of, and held tightly to him brushing a hand soothingly through him hair, and began whispering encouragements to him.
She was beginning to wonder if this was something far worse, and if she should call for help, when he suddenly seized before slumping, the tension leaving his body all at once, a relieved breath escaping his lips. "Harry, are you there?"
This time he stirred at her words, his eyes fluttering open weakly. "Harry, are you okay? I couldn't wake you…" She probed, concerned for her boy friend.
He took a minute to parse what she was saying. "Not really, we need to talk to the others when we get a chance." He sighed.
She blinked in surprise. "Why, what happened?"
He hesitated, clearly loath to worry her, "Voldemort just tried to gain access to my mind again." He admitted grudgingly. She gasped, but he pressed on. "I held him off, this time at least. I had to pull out a few dirty tricks to manage it though. He's determined, I'll give him that."
She shook her head. "I'm sorry Harry."
"It's okay," He soothed "I knew it was coming eventually."
"Should we head back right now then?"
He considered that then shook his head smiling slightly, "No, why don't we just stay here for now."
"Are you sure, I mean…" She asked, uncertainly.
"Yes, It'll keep till morning, and he's highly unlikely to try his luck again so soon." He assured her. "I made sure of that."
—
Tom Marvolo riddle sat quietly in the cold silence of his throne room. He wasn't about to admit it, least of all to his followers, but he was now nursing one hell of a headache.
That Boy, that filthy cretin, had managed what no other had in many years. He'd managed to eject him, HIM, from his pathetic little mind.
Clearly his foe was taking steps to improve himself. Which, in and of itself, was not necessarily something of which Voldemort disapproved. After all, who had gone as far as he, to improve themselves? Who had dared the things he had?
It was nevertheless irksome, that Harry Potter had managed to stymie his efforts. The boy was…proving more capable than he'd anticipated. When he had sensed the boys connection to his mind, he had of course followed it to it's source eagerly. The chance to sow confusion and chaos in the boy's mind was too good to pass up.
Instead of an open an undefended teenage mind, he had instead run headlong into the boys marshalled defences. He'd struggled against them to gain ground to no avail.
The two of them had soon become locked in a stalemate, until finally the boy had gotten lucky and cast him out with a burst of raw magical energy.
He would need to try again the next evening he supposed. Despite everything the new opportunities provided by this were tantalizing. The promise of retribution alone was enough to assure his plan of action. But it did little to soothe his growing disquiet.
He knew now that Potter was aware, at least on some level, of his Horcruxes.
Though he was reasonably certain he was unaware of their locations…Or was he? He had assumed that he was, but his assumptions in regards to the boy were consistently proving flawed of late.
He shook off his doubts, no, the boy couldn't possibly know where they were secreted. If he had the boy had but one path open to him, to move against them. And he would have sensed their loss…
Wouldn't he?
Somewhere his master was laughing his arse off he was sure. That did nothing for his mood. Where was Peter? He needed to crucio someone, that never failed to raise his spirits.
—-
"Are you sure Little Moon?" Xenophilius asked Luna tearfully as he clutched her tenderly.
She nodded against his chest, smiling to herself, "Yes daddy."
Harry and Hermione had wandered back into the tower the following morning just in time to find Luna and her father speaking in the common room. Apparently he had come in search of his daughter as soon as the missives requesting his presence had reached him.
He shook his head uncertainly. "But Little Moon…you—" he choked, trying to come to terms with what had happened to his daughter in his absence.
"It's okay daddy, I'll be alright now, I have friends here now." She comforted.
There was a cleared throat from the sidelines and the two of them turned their attention to Kara. "She's right sir, we'll do our best to make sure nothing happens to her." She offered.
He looked her over, "You're one of her friends then? I think I remember you now, you came with Lord Potter when he had the interview…"
"Yes sir, that was me." She agreed bobbing her head.
"Have you two been friends long? I mean…" He gestured between the two of them uncertainly.
"We'd met on occasion before the incident sir, but we've been good friends since Harry took her in."
Xeno snorted, a bitter expression falling on his face. "Incident, I suppose that's one word for it…"
Kara cocked her head curiously at him, taking his tone in stride. "Would you prefer I call it what it was sir? Most people find it hard to speak so plainly about such things."
He sagged, conceding the point. "No, I suppose you're right." He glanced around and gave a start when he spotted Harry and Hermione waiting patiently by the door. "Ah Lord Potter, I'm terribly sorry. I didn't see you there!"
Harry chuckled gently, waving that off as he nodded appreciation to Kara for her words of support. "Harry will be fine Mr Lovegood, and Kara's right, we'll all do our best to watch over Luna." he assured the other man.
Xeno nodded, honestly looking a bit lost in it all. "You have my thanks—Harry, I only wish I had been here…" he trailed off despondently.
"I can understand that" Harry agreed. He'd hate to be far away when something was happening to a loved one. Unable to even attempt to help. He smirked slightly as a thought occurred to him. "Luna have you introduced him to Little Moon yet?"
Xenophilius was understandably confused by this question, after all his endearment for his daughter was also Little Moon. So his uncertainty only mounted when his daughter called out the nickname and then waited expectantly.
There was the rolling paddle of little feet before Little Moon ran down the stairs, staggering slightly as she made a sharp right turn at the bottom before making for Luna at speed.
Harry couldn't help but stifle a laugh at the way Xeno's mouth had fallen open upon seeing the little creature his daughter was now cuddling in her arms. "L—Luna, is that what I think it is?"
She nodded happily, scratching at the fur between the little beasts horns behind the brow plate. "It most certainly is Daddy, Harry purchased her for me when the Goblins offered her."
"The Goblins…" Mumbled her father in disbelief.
"Their menageries Daddy, Snorckacks are subterranean. That's why we had trouble finding them on the surface."
He just goggled at her for a time before laughing. "Amazing!"
—-
Xenophilius left later that afternoon, but only very reluctantly. As excited as he was to see the Snorckack, Harry was gratified to see that his primary concern continued to be Luna and her well being.
It was only after dinner, that he, Hermione, Tonks, Kara and Luna were all able to gather in the upper common room for some privacy. It was somewhat ironic, that the gift of their own tower would ultimately make private conversations like this more difficult to arrange in the future.
Not that he particularly distrusted Daphne or the others, it was just that he didn't know her or the others well enough to be comfortable talking about these particular matter in their presence.
"You! You are incredible, you know that?" Tonks demanded skeptically, waving her hands irritably. "I mean really, you get attacked mentally by the evilest bastard I can think of. When he isn't even physically present, something which shouldn't be possible by the way. Not only that! You manage to fend him off, again something which isn't supposed to be possible, and then as if that weren't enough to send your loyal bodyguard for a loop, you decide upon waking up that informing that bodyguard can wait until morning, because you really want to continue cuddling with your girlfriend."
Harry blushed a little at the pointed look she gave him at that. "Well when you put it like that…But honestly Tonks, what do you expect me to do. It's not like you, or one of the professors can do anything about the attacks."
She jabbed an accusing finger at him. "You don't know that!"
He quirked a brow at her "Don't I, you just said it shouldn't be possible to attack me remotely like this. Als, what else could be done than what I already managed? The only way to defend you mind from a mental attack is through occlumency, which I used!"
She sighed, nodding her concession of the point. It nevertheless bothered her. "Fine, but seriously, next time…"
He rolled his eyes. "Fine, I'll come get you, but I'd expect a lot of sleepless nights then."
"Why?"
This time it was he delivering the pointed look. "Can you see Voldemort trying this once and then calling it quits?" he asked ignoring the small twitch at the monsters name. "He obviously wants into my mind for a reason. Either he wants to know something I know, or he just wants to torment me….Well, that or he has some other game which is beyond me." he lied, he knew perfectly well where this was headed.
She nodded weary understanding.
"What do you think he wants Harry?" Luna asked pleasantly.
Harry reflected that Luna was also well aware of the man's plans. But he played along for Tonks sake. "I think he wants to use this connection in some way. Not just to torment me, but for something else…" he shrugged as he paced away towards his bedroom. Call it a hunch."
—-
Afterword: Once again VOTE on the described issue above in the author's note. Otherwise. PLEASE Rate, Review, and comment.
