Chapter 12
Disclaimer: I have no ownership over Harry Potter, I'm just borrowing
The corridor was eerily silent after the chaos which had reigned only moments before. Harry walked forward and held out a slender hand for Arsinoe, who slithered smoothly across his shoulders.
He was joined by Draco and Theo on either side, staring down at the still form of Alastor Moody. Harry crouched and pressed his forefingers to the auror's neck, feeling the subtle flutter of a pulse there. Good. He would live just long enough for what Harry needed.
The Slytherin hadn't much practice with the mind arts, but that hardly mattered now. Harry lifted the gently fluttering eyelid of Moody's good eye and stared into the unseeing pupil.
Legilimens.
Harry was less than careful in his entering of the man's mind, and he supposed that it wouldn't matter if Moody survived – his mind would be completely gone.
The boy watched as all around him the auror's thoughts and memories seemed to disintegrate into sand. All the knowledge and hard-won information he had were falling victim to the magically enhanced venom.
Harry reached forward with his magic and tried to grasp onto a memory, but it was gone in a million pieces before he could view it.
Ah well, such losses were to be expected, and at least the man would no longer pose any sort of threat. Harry could get information from someone else.
He retreated from the mind swiftly, not wishing to be pulled into the decimation which was occurring there. There was no doubt that it would be too cruel to keep the auror alive with his mind in such a state, so without a second thought, Harry cast a wandless suffocation spell.
Such a spell would not be picked up by the headmaster, as the killing curse would, and there would be no way to trace it back to him. For all intents and purposes, Mad-Eye Moody had died from a mysterious magical creature attack. Or, at least, that was what would be assumed when his body was inevitably and eventually found.
Harry turned to his companions, who stood solemnly on either side of him, dutifully keeping a look out. They had already proved themselves to be trustworthy and loyal, but today confirmed their real value. The Slytherin prince was rather pleased with their performance.
"Now," He spoke, catching their attention immediately, "We must get rid of the body – somewhere it won't be found any time soon. Let them think he's missing or something."
Theo nodded, "We'll need to cast a preserving spell. And then find a secluded part of the castle somewhere near here."
"It must be somewhere that won't be discovered for several months."
Draco looked thoughtful and paced his way down the length of the corridor, "We can't hide him somewhere too good. They are going to have to find him eventually… preserving spells don't last that long."
"Perhaps somewhere on the seventh floor?" Theo suggested, "People don't go up there and walk along the corridors too often, it's mostly just dorms."
Draco nodded, but said, "Yes, but how do we transport his body all the way up there. It's two floors up, and we can't exactly go waltzing up the grand staircase."
Harry looked up at that, and then walked purposefully toward a painting a couple feet down the hall. He felt around the seam of it for a bit, before shaking his head and moving to the one next to it. The painting, featuring a lovely young witch posed with a similar-looking girl who must be her sister, swung open after a moment of fiddling from Harry.
"Here. This will take us up to the seventh floor."
Draco and Theo hurried forward to peer into the shadowed staircase, "How on earth did you know this was here?" Theo asked.
"I didn't spend every second of the last three weeks brewing one potion and feeling sorry for myself," Harry responded dryly, "I was studying the various maps and layouts of the castle."
Draco looked impressed and asked, "So where does the one Moody was messing with go then?"
Harry smirked, "Nowhere. It's all caved in a couple dozen feet in. I cast a glamour over it when I did the wards, so Moody didn't know that."
Theo nodded appreciatively, "Ok, so now we've just got to move the body up this staircase. Should be easy enough."
It was indeed, with Harry going first to clear out any obstructions in the passageway, and then Theo, levitating the body, followed by Draco, who sealed the passage behind them.
The passage opened to a deserted corridor featuring an obnoxious tapestry of Barnabas the Barmy. Harry curled his lip as he entered the corridor. Why couldn't the school put up distinguished witches and wizards on the walls? If he had to deal with one more dancing troll or pixie, he would curse something.
Refocusing on the task at hand, Harry helped Theo guide the now-preserved body into the deserted hall. The trio now looked about, searching for a place to deposit the auror which would be hidden, but not too hidden.
The three each walked a little way down the corridor, checking for hidden alcoves and forgotten rooms. They then trekked back, searching either side of the corridor as they went. Harry began to grow frustrated; this wasn't supposed to be this hard. Not to mention he had to get ack to the common room soon or his guards would grow suspicious.
"Draco, stay here with the body, Theo and I will go check the adjacent corridors for good hiding places," Harry ordered, finally having enough with the obvious lack of good this hall was going to do them.
The blond boy nodded and the two Slytherins stalked off in opposing directions, leaving Draco to pace back and forth, watching for any unsuspecting students or professors.
Harry hadn't walked more than ten paces down the next corridor when he heard a startled shout from where he left Draco. Rushing back, he nearly collided with Theo as he too hurried to Draco's side.
The three stared in shock at what had appeared before their blond friend. Where before had been only cold stone wall, now rested a large, ornate door.
"Wha-" Theo gaped at the wooden structure.
Harry turned expectantly to Draco, who wasted no time in rushing into an explanation,
"I don't know what I did! I was just pacing, watching for anyone who might be coming, when all of a sudden this just materialized from the stone wall."
Harry stepped forward and raised a hand to hover just ahead of the door, not quite touching it. He didn't detect any wards or offensive magic emanating from it, and soon dropped his hand to his side. Gesturing to his friends to draw their wands, he reached out and grasped at the handle of the door.
It turned easily and the massive door swung inward, revealing a colossal room which seemed to hold every possession ever owned by every Hogwarts student ever. The three boys, hardly over their shock from discovering the door, were once again fairly floored by the revelation.
Theo stumbled back a step while Draco seemed drawn to the immeasurable number of artifacts which were housed in the room. Harry stood still, mind racing over all the information he had read over the past month about Hogwarts and its secrets. The only thing even remotely like what they had found were rumors of the Room of Requirement, but that was supposed to supply one with their specific needs, not an oversized lost-and-found.
Shaking his head Harry followed Draco's lead and stepped into the monolithic room. As he gazed about Harry revised his earlier thought, this had to be the Room of Requirement, for it had indeed supplied them with just what they needed – a perfect hiding place.
"Theo, go get the body," Harry commanded as he walked further into the maze-like room. There were mountains of artifacts and trinkets; the pathways were strewn with everything from muggle playing cards to Bertie Botts boxes and chocolate frog wrappers.
"Where do you want him?" Theo's voice echoed off the cavernous ceilings, and Harry turned to face him, regarding Mad-Eye's limp body suspended behind the other boy.
"Somewhere near the entrance, where it'll be found easily the next time someone enters the room, but also obscured enough that it isn't discovered too quickly."
Theo nodded as he guided the form up an adjacent path, perhaps couple dozen feet back from the doorway. The three then exited the room, pulling the door shut and watching as it faded back into stone.
Just as the three started their trek back to the Great Hall for lunch, they heard several pounding footsteps on the stairs ahead of them. The three looked at each other before Draco and Theo dashed back to the passage they had originally emerged from and ducked back into the dim corridor, leaving Harry alone to confront the two Order members who approached.
"Boy!" Kingsley authoritatively spoke, "Stop right where you are."
Harry ignored the command and instead continued forward until he was just a few feet from the aurors.
"Harry," Remus spoke next, "We need you to come with us now, and tell us where you were for the past hour – we've been searching everywhere."
The boy in question rolled his eyes, "I've been right here, in the castle, as I am supposed to be."
"You are supposed to be within sight of an auror at all times, as you well know."
"That sounds like more your responsibility to ensure than mine. I don't care whatsoever if your people have any clue where I am or what I'm doing."
Remus was about to respond when Tonks came hurrying up the stairs behind them.
"Kingsley, Remus," she puffed, "have you seen Mad-Eye anywhere? We were supposed to check the dungeon wards thirty minutes ago, but he never showed."
Kingsley turned to her and said, "I believe the headmaster asked him to secure a passageway. You might check there, and then go see if Professor Dumbledore has any idea. I'm sure he's just tied up in something at the moment."
Harry almost chuckled aloud at Kingsley's choice of words – the auror was indeed tied up at the moment – and would likely remain that way for some time. However, rather than stay to torment the aurors, Harry made use of their distraction to slip past them and make his way to the Great Hall, pursued not thirty seconds later by rushing footsteps.
The boy shook his head; honestly, he thought, they are so close in all the times they really don't need to be, and as soon as I'm actually up to something they're nowhere to be found. What a ridiculous guard system I have.
Harry's quill scratched at the parchment in front of him, much like every other student's in the classroom. They were supposed to be transcribing the formula for transfiguring a snail into a gourd… because that was a useful thing to learn. Regardless, it was a complete waste of his precious time.
Harry continued his way writing out words across his parchment. He wasn't doing the assignment, of course, but rather devising a way to inconspicuously alert his father to the fact that Alastor Moody was currently pickling in a body-preserving spell within the Room of Requirement.
The Slytherin scratched out another line of code, trying to find the most secure combination. It was a pity that parseltongue wasn't a written language. Perhaps mermish or goblin would do, though. He would have to find a book in the library.
Harry was just about to jot down his latest idea when a shadow fell upon his desk.
"Mr. Potter, is this the reading you were assigned?" the stern woman asked.
Without looking up, Harry replied, "Yes."
"Mr. Potter, I can see your parchment, and it is very obviously not the assignment," she replied.
Harry didn't react, but across the room he heard an irritated huff. Turning his head a fraction, he saw the bushy-haired Granger girl stare at him, obviously annoyed. Of course she would be upset with him for being disrespectful to the old woman. He raised an eyebrow before finally met the eyes of the professor in front of him.
"I assure you; I already know everything in this chapter."
"We shall see about that," McGonagall's voice raised to an irritated tone.
Green eyes narrowed a fraction of an inch as he muttered, "Perhaps we shall."
Hermione stifled a gasp, and Ron turned a shade redder than his hair. Everyone else, however, was utterly oblivious to the danger and merely covered smirks at Harry's antics.
The professor turned a delicate shade of red, but did not dare push the issue further, as she was acutely aware of who this boy was and what he could, and almost certainly would, do if pushed too far.
Instead, she pivoted and spoke as she turned, "there will be a test on this material the next time we meet. Any student who fails to pass will be assigned a 3-foot essay on the subject."
Harry scoffed at the weak attempt to make him do as he was told and went right back to his codes.
Several days passed in this manner, with Harry ignoring instruction and assignments, but performing perfectly on every exam or practical. None of the professors or aurors knew what to do with him – he wasn't technically breaking any rules.
Now it was the weekend again, and Harry was holed up in his dorm, dreading the moment he knew was coming, where he'd have to go out and face the Potters. He glanced at the ticking clock on the fireplace mantle and sighed. It was quarter to 11, when he was supposed to be outside.
Lifting himself out of the armchair he had sunk into, Harry straightened his robes and treaded towards the door.
Once he had made it to the main entrance, he spotted the cluster of four adults and one child, waiting for him with bated breath. The Riddle heir contemplated making a run back for the Slytherin dorm, but shook himself – he had to do this if he wanted any chance of getting information out of the family.
As he drew near, he tensed, preparing himself for the sure-to-be excruciating hour he would spend with these people. Arsinoe felt his tension and anxiety and hissed a soft, comforting sound from beneath his collar. Right as she did so, Remus looked up, almost as if he had heard the tiny whisper. The werewolf's movement altered the rest of his company to Harry's approach, and they immediately started towards him.
"Hiya Harry!" Leo was the first to greet him, running right up and grinning at his older brother.
Harry promptly ignored the child, instead focusing on the adults in front of him, all of whom were smiling widely and practically bouncing in excitement.
"Harry!" Sirius was practically grinning ear-to-ear at the sight of his godson, "Are ya ready for an hour of Potter family fun?"
"Thrilled," Harry replied, "In fact, I cannot think of one singular thing I would prefer to do than spend my time with you."
Sirius grinned even wider, apparently oblivious to any negative inflection from the younger wizard. Remus, being a tad more perceptive than his friend, pulled hum back a couple steps, before speaking.
"We thought today would be a great day for a little flying – after all, pretty soon it'll be mid-November and be way too cold."
Harry nodded as Leo chimed in, "yeah, and I'm great at flying – I'm gonna be captain of the quidditch team when I'm older!"
James practically glowed at his son's words, "Yep, just like your dad! C'mon Harry, lets go get some brooms."
The six of them then moved to the practice field, Harry letting himself fall behind with Lily, who looked over at him and smiled gently.
"I hope you're settling in more now, Harry. I know the first few weeks can be tough. I remember I could hardly stand to be away from my parents and sister."
"Ah yes, I can imagine how terribly difficult it must have been to leave your ever-so-charming sister behind," Harry's voice positively dripped with sarcasm.
Lily frowned, "Well of course it was, she was practically my best friend when we were little…" the redhead grew wistful, thinking about the past relationship she had had with her late sister.
Harry internally smiled, getting the woman emotional would suit his needs perfectly – her defenses would be down. "So, what did you do? I mean, assuming you didn't have an owl to send her letters?"
"Oh, it was rather silly, I was embarrassed about not bringing an owl so I would sneak my letters out on someone else's owl. Whenever one of my roommates sent a letter, I would intercept it and tie my own letter to its other leg… they were always smart enough to give the right letter to the right person."
Hmm, Harry thought contemplatively, that would be a plausible way to sneak out a letter. Since the aurors were currently checking every piece of mail sent out by a Slytherin, he would see about intercepting another student's owl.
Lily was lost deep in her memories, so the two walked in silence the rest of the way to the quidditch pitch, where Harry was subjected to 45 minutes of raucously headache-inducing flying from the Potter men and their friends.
When at last the outing was over, Harry departed quickly, rushing inside to grab a quick bite to eat, then beginning his journey to the library. He had discovered that mermish and goblin phonetics were similar enough that he could write out one language using the alphabet of the other. He only needed one more reference book on goblin grammar to make the letter decipherable.
As he stepped through the archway leading to the library corridor, he heard a small cry. Pivoting to his left, he just caught the sight of a flash of school robes around a corner, leaving a blonde girl kneeling on the floor, scrambling to gather her myriad of colorful quills.
Harry stepped up to her and crouched, curious to see what had prompted this attack on the seemingly shy girl. She looked up at him with larger-than-life blue eyes.
"Oh, Hello Harry. Fancy meeting you here, I wasn't expecting anymore company today."
Harry raised an eyebrow at her knowing his name, "Are you normally expecting company like this?" He gestured to the dozens of quills strewn about the ground.
"Oh yes, people think it's funny to knock my things out of my hands; I suppose it makes them feel powerful. I don't mind," she said dreamily, "At lease not much."
Harry frowned at this; he may be a heartless murderer, but even he didn't glean joy from bullying innocent teenage girls. He didn't respond, though, but rather scooped up the last of her quills and helped her to her feet.
"Why do you have this many quills, anyway?" he inquired.
"Oh! Well, each one has a different subject and use. For example, I couldn't possibly use a blue quill for anything but Transfiguration homework ; and you never know what might happen if the honking daffodils saw me using an orange quill in Herbology."
Harry only raised his other eyebrow, choosing not to comment on the girl's strange notions.
"Well, thank you for your help, Harry, I hope I'll see you again! I'm Luna, by the way!" And with that, the blonde skipped away down the corridor.
Harry shook his head in amusement, honestly, she was something else. He frowned as he remembered the bullying, though. He would have to do something about that. And maybe, just maybe, it would be helpful to have a girl like Luna as a friend… you never know when you might need someone to act as a distraction. And there was certainly no one more proficient at distractions than her; he was fairly certain she could come up with hours of nonsense and make it sound perfectly reasonable.
Harry continued on to the library, turning his attention back to the issue at hand – he had to get in communication with his father. After all, there was no guarantee that he had seen anything worthwhile through his son's necklace, and even if he had, he couldn't have held the connection long enough to see the overall outcome.
Harry rubbed his eyes as he finally reached the books he needed – a thick tome filled with nearly microscopic writing… it was going to be a long night.
AN: I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I'm sorry! I know it's been about a million years since I updated. Honestly things have just been extremely hectic and stressful the past year, with my cat needing surgery, my own health issues, and trying to apply to colleges and all of the nonsense that entails. I can't promise I'll have anything close to regular updates for the foreseeable future, but I also am not inclined to abandon this story, so I just ask that you remain patient with me :)
Anyway, I hope you enjoyed this chapter, and please oh please leave me a review! Also, as always, feel free to PM me.