Clues and Signs
It was that time of year when Hogwarts resembled a gingerbread house thanks to its snow-covered turrets. Harry and Draco were sitting on the quidditch spectator stand. The pitch felt like a ghost town. Harry longed for his broom but that would involve flying against the wind's chill. The one part of quidditch he didn't miss.
Draco adjusted his scarf eyeing the path to Hogwarts. "She's heading our way."
For a moment Harry hoped to see Hermione, but no, it was Parkinson. She seemed to be frolicking on her way over. Crabb and Goyle followed behind barely keeping up her.
Harry grabbed his bag and stood. "Let's go."
Draco followed his lead. They attempted a quiet exit. Unfortunately, Pansy made herself unavoidable. On the open path, Harry was captured in her arms. Draco was unable to do anything. He was barricaded by Crabb and Goyle as they begged for study help.
Harry broke free of her arms. Draco refused to listen earning confused looks from Crabb and Goyle.
"Gee, lighten up." Crabb shuffled his standing, eyes searching for comic relief. "You two are acting like someone has died."
Goyle gave a broken chuckle. "Yeah. We're just playing. You know that Draco?"
Draco coughed into his glove. "It's been an exhausting morning. We want to be alone. Understand?"
Goyle looked to Crabb who just shrugged. Pansy innocently tucked her hands behind her back. "Do you need to talk about something, Harrison?"
"Don't call me that." Harry turned his back. Well-mannered wizards didn't break their composure. That's was what Mr Gaunt kept insisting. Words were slime and he had to let them slide off him. After a calming breath, Harry diligently returned his attention. "Pardon. Only Mr Gaunt may call me that."
That was his third slip of the day. The first was at Ron who had chosen to explode in his face over breakfast. Fists were exchanged as he reminded Harry about how everyone supposedly cared. On compulsion, Harry felt it necessary to remind Ron why Mr Gaunt was better at that.
The incident resulted in a lecture for McGonagall. She looked ready to shed a tear when she remarked what good friends used to be. Fifty points were taken from gryffindor and Harry was forced to spend detention with Ron.
Afterwards, he decided to visit Hagrid. Harry had not expected a confrontation to be waiting there also. After all the favours he had done for Hagrid. The groundskeeper decided that Mr Gaunt was trouble.
Apparently, Hagrid had been seeking Dumbledore's opinion on it for some time. He said the headmaster was indifferent but he couldn't shake a gut feeling.
Yer' can't be sure 'arry, a shady type that man is - as Hagrid put it.
The sentiment was as gentle as naked flames to gas. Rage surged into Harry's blood. He didn't even give Hagrid a chance to respond. He slammed the door leaving the half-giant wide-eyed with the aftermath.
Bizarrely, calm was found with Draco. Since it was a Hogsmeade day, he said the quidditch pitch would be empty. Harry went along with it. Once out in the cold, his mind was able to empty itself.
Draco crossed his arms. "What brings you out here, Parkinson? Wouldn't it be much nicer inside the three broomsticks."
Pansy averted her eyes. Her foot crunched the snow. "I was just wondering…"
Harry wasn't paying any attention to them. His thoughts were battling everything people were saying about Mr Gaunt. Then about the man himself. He was just mentoring Harry. Mr Gaunt was nothing more than a friend.
A friend that was a dark wizard.
With high expectations.
Every so often, Harry felt himself wanting something more from Mr Gaunt. It seemed if he achieved Mr Gaunt's requests perfectly there would be a reward.
There never was. Mr Gaunt would pat his back, say 'excellent' and nothing more. It wasn't that he was expecting a chocolate frog for every new spell. But he was in suspense for more. Without knowing what that more was.
"We haven't got the whole weekend, Pansy. Out with it." Draco moved himself closer to Harry.
Pansy brushed back her wind-knotted hair. Crabb bumped Goyle's side. They all grinned.
"The Yule Ball. You know, because of the tournament. I wanted to know who Harrison was going to ask." Pansy said.
Crabb straighter his posture. "I'm asking Alice Goldie-something. The one with that curly hair. She's pretty."
Draco rolled his eyes. "You and a Beauxbaton's girl. Doubt it."
"Then what about yourself?" Goyle stepped closer, Crabb did the same. Like eager dogs waiting for a treat.
Draco dug his heel into the snow. "I don't know. Maybe Greengrass?"
Crabb looked at Goyle. Childish grins spread across their faces.
"What about you?" Pansy sheepishly looked at Harry. Everyone else looked too.
A ball was the last thing Harry cared about. Frocks and robes wouldn't change his situation. People still thought he was turning into the next dark lord. All while competing in a tournament he didn't sign up for. "Who cares."
He began to walk away. The conversation was exhausting.
Draco walked after him. "Ignore her. She's too caught up in those delusions of romance that girls have."
They entered the courtyard. Groups had already returned from Hogsmeade. Students had cluttered the area showing off their new things and exchanging gossip.
Harry kept his head low. He could feel eyes watch as he and Draco passed. Halfway inside the castle's foyer, Harry's head jolted up.
"Cho." He instantly wanted to smack his head for croaking out her name. Even worse, he had almost walked right into her.
Her friends giggled at him. Cho gave them looks for it. The gesture made Harry's posture a little straighter.
"I didn't see you in Hogsmeade?" said Cho.
Harry rubbed the back of his neck. "Ah, me and Draco were on the quidditch pitch."
"Oh." Cho's eyes flicked to Draco. "I miss Quidditch. Shame they won't let us play but I suppose it makes sense given everything."
The slightest mention of the Tri-Wizard Tournament killed most conversations for Harry. But he forced himself to push through the reawakened worries. "Extra time to practice for next year?"
Cho smiled. "Yeah, I guess."
Harry counted her reaction as a win. Draco bumped his shoulder, shaking him out of his semi-victorious daze.
"Weasley, twelve o'clock."
Cho and her group turned to look behind. Ron was walking straight towards them. He didn't quite know what expression was on Ron's face, but at that moment it looked smug.
"Well, I should get going." Harry was already making his retreat. "See ya around."
Cho didn't say anything back but sent a timid wave. Harry wanted to hit is head and curse Ron. It had been going so well until he showed up.
Draco remained quiet until they rounded the fourth corner. His expression said plenty. Harry did his best appear oblivious.
"You better act soon, a lot of guys like her." That was all Draco said.
-~o~-
The lavish décor of Malfoy Manor did little to lift Hermione's mood. She was bedridden thanks to the after-effects of Lucius's Jinx reversal. It was like a sudden waking after falling in a dream. Except, it physically felt like she had made impact. Narcissa assured her many times that her bones were still whole.
Full body aches were one thing, the series of following revelations made her want to bang her head against the headboard. She had been aware about what was happening around Hogwarts, but she never gave it an ounce of thought. You could say, she was unable to. That was the whole purpose of the Kyototon's note. Ignorum Obvaous - Ignore the Obvious.
When Lucius explained it, she wanted her bedsheets to consume her. Then she wouldn't have to face the embarrassment of her shortcomings. The reason she read the note in the first place was to confirm if it was a jinx or not. Well, she certainly found out. It explains the teacher's behaviours too. Professor McGonagall seemed unaware of Fred and George's existence, Dumbledore seeing no wrong with the Triwizard tournament and Snape looked straight through Harry like he didn't exist.
The guestroom door opened. Hermione wanted to eat her pillow and suffocate. She had visited enough times to know the rhythm of Lucius's footsteps.
"Good, you're properly awake."
Hermione made no response. Whatever Lucius was after, she wasn't going to indulge it. Enough damage had been done. She'd get Ron and Harry back together and destroy the note.
Lucius took the chair by her bedside. "Yesterday, you were so out of it, some would have thought you were under the imperius curse."
She hoped Lucius would cut the fluff and kept thing snappy. "What do so desperately want to talk about?"
"Mr Gaunt."
Their eyes met.
Lucius leaned closer. "I'm well acquainted with him." Lines formed across his forehead. "Or I was acquainted with him."
Hermione's head remained somewhat foggy. She wasn't travelling with Lucius's train of thought.
He fiddled with his signet ring. "It's a fake name, a persona probably. The man is from the past. I can't think how."
"What?" Like Hermione needed another mystery to resolve. She buried half her face in her pillow, back turned to Lucius.
Lucius took a deep breath, coughed, then muttered something.
She lifted her head, squinted at him and thumped back down. It was a case of ignoring him. He was a cauldron stirrer, not worth the time of day or even the midnight hours.
He cleared his throat. "Mr Gaunt is Lord Voldemort."
The word yanked Hermione attention's back. She was upright, eyes wide. Impossible. Ridiculous. How and Why? There's was no way such an idea or rumour could benefit Malfoy.
Although… if it was a true statement, she couldn't deny that of all people Lucius Malfoy would know who Voldemort was. Hermione herself had never come face to face with Voldemort. The only person she knew who had was Harry. But Voldemort was a disembodied spirit and Mr Gaunt was a man, flesh, blood and bone. Nonetheless, the look in Lucius's eye gave wind to speculation.
Her imagination toyed with the idea more than it was deserving. She wanted to speak a question but it answered itself. If Harry had faced Voldemort so often, why hasn't he realised who Mr Gaunt is? Unless the note Jinxed him from seeing what Mr Gaunt was.
Even though, she only had Lucius's statements to fuel the notion. Some of the things Harry mentioned about Mr Gaunt were inclined to support it. That 'movement' was a definite red flag and the man's insistence that pursing the dark arts was fine.
There was one detail that was in Mr Gaunt's favour. He looked nothing like how Voldemort was described. Blue eyes, nose and a full head of hair, that was not the Darkest Wizard to walk the earth. She dismissed the idea. Deal with the note first, approach Mr Gaunt later. Why trust Lucius's word before Harry's? If anything, Lucius was doing a powerplay to turn her against Harry.
Lucius sat back looking a bit defeated. "It sounds farfetched, believe it on your own accord. However, I have these memories of a young boy that was closely mentored by the Lord. He did not live a long life. I thought you should know that, considering the similarities."
He extended a photograph to Hermione. It was yellowed with age with a wine stain on the corner. Lucius's words were starting to ring some truth. Inside the picture a boy remarkably similar to Harry stood beside a thin, haunting figure with narrow scarlet eyes. She turned the photograph to see it was dated 1981. She flipped picture back around. A proud grin was spread wide across Voldemort's face as he pulled the boy into his side. A bizarre image to say the least. Very out of character to what Hermione knew of the dark wizard.
"You can keep that if needs be."
Hermione flipped back to the date. "How? Are there time turners that go forward?"
Lucius stopped his fidgeting and sat back. "I don't know. But I do know that Kyototon contributed, so they must have a motivation for it."
Of course, it would've been impossible for Harry to befriend Voldemort unless he was jinxed. The scarier thought was how Voldemort from the past convinced a Kyototon to fool Harry of the present.
Or was Voldemort equally as clueless to the meddling?
Hermione emptied her head. It was too much. Sleep was calling for her return. She eased back into bed. Deal with the note first. Everything else can be discussed with Harry and Ron.
-~o~-
"Time's a ticking Potter."
Catching Moody's words, Harry stopped dumbfounded in the corridor. He nearly bumped shoulders as Moody marched past for the staff room.
"And I'll be needing those books," the Professor called back.
Harry was thrown into a panic. Some stupid part of his head thought Mr Gaunt was going figure out the clue for him. The ear aching noise seemed to mean something to his mentor. Or that's what Harry assumed judging from the look Mr Gaunt had when they opened it.
The desire for food left Harry. He walked for the common so fast people gave him looks about it. Calm found Harry once he was cross-legged on his bed, shuttered behind his four-poster curtains.
Two books were clenched in his hold. Nerves tingled in his fingers. If Mr Gaunt did this stuff, then Harry could do it without becoming the next Voldemort. He eyed the books. They looked far too innocent. Words printed on paper, bound under a bland cover. It wasn't even enchanted like most books from the restricted section.
Three chapters in, he fell under some trance. Time stopped existing while Harry read. When his needs got a hold of him it was three am. He had binge read the entirety of Gemini Magic: The Missing Other.
His stomach grumbled with annoyance but his brain was in no state to satisfy hunger. Harry was already on the path to sleep. His eyes stared off at nothing. Blurs of knowledge weaved in and out of his conscious. They were like distant teachers invisible to his eye. Harry longer saw his bed canopy. He wasn't seeing. There was only feeling.
It was like a narrow alleyway, leading him somewhere. Except it wasn't a place. Not like a vision. He was moving through a void. A place without colour or form. A place where thoughts lingered.
He drifted into a place that was water but a room. A contained bubble of free-floating things. Thinking objects Harry guessed were inside all minds. They did not resemble any item that he knew. Constructed from impossible shapes without depth or definition.
"Welcome."
The voice came from below, disrupting the little sense of direction Harry processed.
"Come."
That time Harry swore he heard two voices. There was little chance to think more about it. He had been sucked down. A sensation akin to apparating. Contorted into a toothpick sized hole and slurped liked a noodle.
Harry wasn't confident but he had a feeling that he wasn't dreaming. The reality he was within had an inescapable solidness. It contained his full awareness. Yet, he was simultaneously certain his physical body was in Hogwarts, lying in his bed.
He did a quick look over. There was so little to see and too much to observe. The room only had space for three objects, a chair, love seat and coffee table. It felt as though the sole reason for the room's existence was to contain the furniture. No door, no windows, no light source. Harry took the chair. There were no shadows either. It was a half-imagined reality.
Sharing the across him love seat, two people stared unblinking. They were identical. Harry couldn't tell who they were or what they were. Any cue to identity was absent. No gender, facial expression or posture quirks. The pair only breathed. But maybe Harry imagined that for his own sake.
"I am Mikaela." The voice inserted itself into Harry's mind. "This place exists in your mind. However, I being the more capable, constructed it inside you so we could talk. Apologies for the headaches induced."
Harry studied the pair. Their mouths didn't twitch. It was like sitting before two dolls. "There's two of you. I hear two voices. Who's the other one, your twin?"
"I am Mikaela." "But Mikaela is split." Their eyes contained exhausted loathing. "The separation is unbearable."
Harry had no words. He had plenty of questions. Too many. He couldn't catch one long enough to speak it.
The pairs' eyes rolled back, turning full circle and returned emotionless "You've been contemplating Gemini Magic. I came to offer an explanation."
For his own sake, Harry sort for some clarity. "Wait. You came into my head, built this weird room, to tell me about the magic that is considered worse than the unforgivables."
"The art which you couldn't resist reading in a sitting. Yes."
Harry sunk into his chair. A move he regretted. He felt overly heavy. All he could move were his eyes, and somehow that movement was wrong. He caught a glimpse of his hand. It was a strange limb, that was as lively as the coffee table in front of him. He guessed it was another copy of the bodies on the love seat. Dummies to contain minds.
"What you are experiencing is Gemini magic. I practice the art, Harrison."
Only Mr Gaunt called him Harrison. Within the grounds of Hogwarts Mr Gaunt was the only man to call him Harrison as a causal name. Everyone else used it to tease him. Like Harrison was a pet name. If anyone had an actual conversation with Mr Gaunt, they probably get formalised names too. Mr Gaunt did it to everybody. How Mikaela knew about that was questionable.
Rodolphus called him Harrison, so did Barty. solely because Mr Gaunt had introduced him as Harrison Porter. Before adding some sentence about Harry being a distance nephew to Jain or someone. The probable explanation was that Mr Gaunt had mentioned him to Mikaela without Harry present. Nevertheless, it was odd of Mikaela to see out someone he had briefly heard about.
There wasn't much Harry could about the situation. "Alright, only because I'm stuck here. What's Gemini Magic about?"
"Union and manipulation."
Harry felt he was listening to two voices again.
"Gemini Magic is emotional and personal. You enter another and manifest with their desires, love and fears. A complete contrast to mass-connected magic, a power that forces commands."
"Wait." Harry remembered how Mad-eye Moody that said mass-connected magic was Voldemort's specialty. "That would make Mass-connected the worst of the two?"
"The power is equal. The user dictates harm. I have only brought pieces together."
Harry was grasping at nothing with Mikaela's vague explanations. "It doesn't seem that gemini magic is bad. How can it be?"
His words were wasted. Mikaela was no longer before him. The room was melting. He had no idea how he was going to return.
Shape disappeared. Colour and light too. His consciousness was suspended in a swirl of nothingness. His body too far away. He didn't know how to move in such space.
Everything sloshed from side to side. In the motion, he heard thumping. Harry focused in on it. He was tousled harder. The thumping was louder, pounding inside his ears. His own heartbeat.
Another shove. Realisation woke him. He stared up. Mr Gaunt looked down.
Harry brought himself up and rubbed his eyes. It wasn't possible. Mr Gaunt knew approaching the castle was a risky thing to do. There was no way to act it off without looking suspicious.
Harry put on his glasses. Mr Gaunt was still there. He barely understood what had happened with Mikaela, but the look on his mentor's face forebode a difficult day.
"What are you doing?" Harry tried to keep his surprise quiet.
Mr Gaunt looked exhausted, the opposite of his normal self. "I understand your surprise but I can't disclose this in writing."
Harry was about to ask why he couldn't wait until later but Mr Gaunt's hand clamped Harry's mouth.
"It's urgent." Mr Gaunt struggled with his words. "I've taken down the ministry. It's gone. We're free."
Mr Gaunt words trembled in his fingers but his eyes were beaming. He pulled Harry into an embrace. "Harrison, you won't have to live with those muggles. In fact, you won't be to competing in that silly tournament. No, I'm taking you to high places. You and me, we'll rebuild wizarding Britain for the better."
Harry didn't catch what Mr Gaunt had said. His mind was away down the yellow brick road imagining life beside Mr Gaunt as they fixed the wizarding world. It made Hogwarts seem dull.
"There's one major issue, Harrison."
He met Mr Gaunt's now doubtful eyes.
"Dumbledore. He won't allow the necessary changes to happen. I need you to deal with him."
Mr Gaunt slipped a long metal object under Harry's blanket. He didn't need to check what it was. It had a particularly sharp point.
"He wouldn't suspect you."
The wooden staircase groaned. Mr Gaunt jumped up. "I must leave. Do it now, Harrison. And for the better, waste no time."
Half an hour of silent panic passed. Harry forced himself to get ready as usual. Except everyone was asleep and Dumbledore's to-be murder weapon was stashed in his bed. Once he finished cleaning his teeth, Harry splashed down his face. Whatever was to come, he needed to be certain of it.
He returned to his bed and slid his hand under the sheet. He couldn't find the weapon Mr Gaunt had slipped him. Harry steadied his thinking. It was early morning, Ron and Neville were snoring away. Nobody would see anything. He lifted the blankets. There was nothing but crumpled bedding. He checked around the bed and under. Nothing.
Harry kept replaying his memory. Maybe Mr Gaunt had only shown him something then hid it away. Unlikely but he searched anyway. His search brought him into the common room, where he rummaged through couch cushions and clutter. Harry began to question if he knew what he was looking for. He hadn't seen it, only felt it.
He washed his face off again. Despite it being late November, Harry found it hot that morning. He decided searching was a waste of time. Dumbledore had to be dealt with. Harry didn't know in what sense. It sounded as though Mr Gaunt wanted the headmaster dead, but Harry felt that was out of Mr Gaunt's character.
Wand in hand, Harry left through the portrait hole. The fat lady was fast asleep. She barely stirred at his footsteps. It was about halfway down the stairs that Harry stopped. Hogwarts was a pretty old place, groaning and creaking all the time. He knew it better than the Weasley twins. An invisibility cloak couldn't hide noise. It had been the cause for his many close calls with Flitch.
He hadn't heard Mr Gaunt enter his dorm or leave. And come to think of it, for Mr Gaunt to approach his bedside, he'd have to wake the fat lady and say the correct password. With proper wakefulness clearing his mind, Harry was convinced it had been some strange waking dream.
If it was then Harry was still scheduled to have his training with Mr Gaunt. He could ask about it then. Together, they'd have a good laugh about it. To think he was about to fight dumbledore because dream Mr Gaunt said so.
-~o~-
Recently, Hermione wasn't around so much. Even when Harry talked with her, she was reserved. That unsettled Him. Like he needed to lose another friend. A part of his mind had already decided she was lost. He caught enough glimpses of her with Ron, talking while side-eyeing him.
On the topic of Ron. He no longer glared at Harry like he was dumb. Now whenever their eyes met, Ron looked at him with pity. It was aggravating enough that Harry actively sought for Draco's company. Hence why was sitting with the Slytherins for breakfast
"Harry, eat something." Draco yanked Harry out of his thinking. "Your dark under-eyes make you look dead."
Harry broke his gaze from the Gryffindor table. There were enough Slytherins glaring at them anyway. Pansy slid herself between Crab and Harry's side. It was a squeeze but it was clear she liked that. Harry ignored her and began plating his breakfast before Draco did it for him.
"Have you figured that egg out?" Goyle's not-so-quiet whisper got the attention of all the nearby Slytherins.
"Wait and see." Sitting at the serpent's table was Harry worst idea.
A wave of gossip rippled around them. Harry took a large bite of toast intent on being unable to talk.
Draco pretended he didn't notice except for a brief look at Harry which said all. You haven't done a damn thing, have you?
Harry had not. The screechy object was the last thing he wanted to spend time with. He'd choose a month of detentions over solving the clue.
Pansy pressed against Harry's arm. "Have you thought about potential dance partners?"
Harry's eye easily found Cho Chang. She was laughing with her friends, somehow making her more radiant than normal. "I don't dance."
"Well, you better start. Champions dance first." Pansy buttered a scone. "If it helps, I can teach you."
Draco snorted at Pansy words. The gross looked she sent back at Draco solidified her as Harry's last choice for a dance partner.
If anyone was going to be Harry's partner, it would be Hermione. They were friends and, to Harry's confidence, nothing more. The tournament was enough pressure on its own. Adding a deadline to find his first girlfriend was its own trial. Hell, for all Harry knew, it was the second trial. Cho was still having a fun time with her friends. He could ask her.
"Harrison!" Pansy tugged his shoulder
"What?" He watched the Ravenclaw girls chat with each other.
"You're not going to ask one of them?" Pansy leaned over the table. "Those Ravenclaws are doing this thing where they kiss as many guys as possible then write a list of the best kissers."
Harry looked to Draco desperately. He shrugged back unhelpfully.
Another girl leaned in. "It's not just kissing. They're compiling lists on looks and funniness too. I bet its all research to figure out who the hottest guys are."
Draco and Harry ate their breakfast like it was classwork, ignoring everyone and getting on with the task.
Pansy narrowed her eyes and smirked. "Makes you wonder if they have any other lists."
To Harry's dismay, the Slytherin girls turned to sneer at the direction of Cho Chang. Right when she, by pure misfortune, was looking towards them.
Relief came with a quick retreat. Harry and Draco powerwalked to their next class, Charms. Professor Flitwick asked them to form groups so they could practice the counter-charm for the summoning spell. Usually, this meant pairs of two but Flitwick decided on groups of four. The idea being students would teach each other.
That was far from the case for Harry's group. Hermione and Ron stitched themselves with Harry and Draco. A swirl of dread stirred in Harry the moment Flitwick confirmed them as a group. He was about to spend the class having to defend Mr Gaunt's good intentions. An all too frequent discussion.
The four of them cluttered a nook at the back of the classroom. Each either holding or sitting on a pillow they had been given.
"Now the aim is to have most pillows buy the end of class. The winner gets twenty house points." Flitwick's announcement meant little to the group.
Hermione and Ron were eyeing out for any listeners. Draco tried to take a pillow. Hermione half-heartedly countered it.
When pillows started flying across the room, Ron broke the suspense. "Harry, we need to fill you in." Ron gave a Draco a glare. "Him too, I guess."
Draco wasted no time whisking away Ron's pillow.
"I'm done hearing about whatever rumours you've made up about my friend." Harry pretended to aim so Flitwick wouldn't come and inspect.
"It's not that." Hermione went to take back Ron's pillow but Draco countered it. "Remember the letter that Kyototon gave you?"
Harry tried to take Hermione's pillow. "Yeah, I gave it to dumbledore he said it was safe, you even checked it?"
Hermione countered his attempt. "Can you remember what was written on it?"
"No. It was a while ago." Harry let Hermione take his pillow.
With her arms around Harry's pillow, Hermione cast her eyes over the classroom. Everyone was busy collecting or stealing pillows. Professor Flitwick was helping Lavender Brown with her dictation. Her attention returned to their group, earning Draco's keen ear. "It contained a written spell tricking people to ignore the obvious. Draco's Dad figured it out and unjinxed me."
Draco was unsurprised as if there was no other man who could discover it.
"So what? Doesn't sound dangerous." Harry summoned back his pillow.
"Harry, it's extremely dangerous. You gave it to Dumbledore, the one person who keeps the school safe, and now he won't bat an eye at the most blatant of threats!" Ron went to grab Harry and shake him but Draco forcefully returned Ron's pillow to his face.
Hermione took both of their pillows before a fight started. "Both me and Lucius agree that that Kyototon is up to something. Since we played a part in bringing the trouble to Hogwarts, we have to do our part fixing it. Which means we have to find that note."
"One question Granger." All eyes fell on Draco. "Why of all people would father seek you out to help him?"
"Why don't you ask him," Ron said.
The four looked at each other. Nobody said anything but their silence was thick. A bang erupted from behind and feathers began raining down. When feathers were settled in students' hair and over nearby desks, all eyes were on Neville who stared wide-eyed at a ripped pillowcase. Then the bell rang.
Harry dashed after Draco who was the first to leave the classroom. Behind, he heard Hermione chase after him. Draco was too fast for the both of them.
Harry broke into a jog. Draco took a sharp turn. Behind Hermione's quick-stepping was growing distant. Harry rounded the corner and found himself staring down a dank dead-end corridor. Only one classroom door was slightly ajar. Harry checked over his shoulder. Hermione was out of sight. He quietly entered the room, ensuring to close it behind him.
The classroom was more dust than room. The only furniture was five rotting desks pushed against the wall. Draco stood at the far end, facing a cracked chalkboard, hands clenched.
"The nerve of Weasley. Like I haven't already asked Father." Draco threw hexes at the wall. No marks were left. It was as though Draco's spells had touched nothing.
"We should find a better place to hide. I think Hermione saw us come in." Harry eyed the door.
Draco lowered his wand. "She won't. You only find this place by mistake. I don't think it technically exists. There's no mention of such a place in rumour or book."
Harry looked over the room, searching for anything that amiss. Other than a musty smell, nothing stood out. "What's so special about it?"
"You're right, let's get out of here. We've got a clue to figure out. Dance partners to find." Draco patted the dust off his robes and made his way for the door.
His act didn't convince Harry. "Draco, what is this place?"
Draco gave him a harsh look. "Drop it, Potter. I just come here to vent."
"Draco." Harry grabbed Draco's robe stopping him from leaving.
"Bloody Gryffindors." Draco pried Harry's hand off and faced him. "Don't get curious. You don't want to be in this room for long."
Harry didn't ask any more questions. He sensed Draco's warning came from experience.
"Come on."
Together Harry and Draco left the room and returned to the normal corridors of Hogwarts castle. They combed the library for anything helpful until Harry had to break away to meet Mr Gaunt.
Thanks to Hagrid's change of heart, Harry changed his tactics. Hagrid probably tipped off Flitch to stop the meetings. Time would be tight but Harry needed to see his mentor.
With his pendulum clenched in hand, Harry paced the hallways until he was outside in the courtyard. On the other side, the mouth of the bridge opened. But before it was Cho Chang.
She was with her friends sitting on centuries-old rumble. There was something about the way her hair lazily drifted in the winter breeze that made Harry unable move.
It dawned on him that many eyes were staring at him, Cho's included. And there he was, awkwardly standing in the courtyard, making no effort to hide his gawking. Nobody said anything. Not even a giggle. Some second years exchanged shielded whispers but mostly everyone was waiting for his next move. It was like Harry was a mouse being eyed by a cattery worth of felines.
He coughed into his glove, blinked a few times and made an incredible effort not to look in Cho's direction. When his feet got moving, he felt incredibly dumb. He should have said something. Especially after how Pansy behaved. Apologise? But it was Parkinson's poor behaviour, not his. He wanted to beat his head with a rock. Even a shy wave would be a vast improvement on staring and walking away as if nothing happened.
His logic lectured him the whole walk along the bridge. Once off the bridge, some clarity returned because Mr Gaunt was there, happily leaning against a rock waiting for him.
"Are you alright?"
Harry was more than alright. Real progress could be made with Mr Gaunt around.
Mr Gaunt made his way to Harry. "You look as though you haven't slept."
Harry realised that he hadn't said anything, let alone a simple greeting. His mind was currently busy organising all the questions he needed answers for. Events of the morning returned and slapped his conscious. He grabbed Mr Gaunt's arm making the man flinch.
"Harrison?"
"Sorry." Harry tried to get his thinking straight. "Uh, did you come into my dorm this morning, in the very early hours."
Mr Gaunt's eyes drilled into Harry's. "Not at all, why?"
Harry gave a half-relieved laugh. "Oh- that's good. I swore you came up and told me to kill Dumbledore."
"Did you?"
Harry violently shook his head. His heart was beating fast and he gripped Mr Gaunt tighter. "I seriously thought about it. Because you had said and we would fix everything and I don't know. What happened?"
Mr Gaunt guided Harry into a hug and hushed him. "Had anything strange happened beforehand?"
Moved out of Mr Gaunt's hold "Moody, the DA professor, let me borrow some books from the restricted section. He wanted them back but I hadn't read them. I sort of read one in a single take then had a weird dream."
Mr Gaunt gave Harry's hair a good ruffle – which he then had pat-down. "So, you didn't sleep well."
Harry pulled out. "It didn't feel like dreaming. I was in this odd not-quite-real room with Mikaela. It's hard to describe."
Mr Gaunt led Harry away from the castle. "Just out of curiously, what book were you reading?"
Harry couldn't fully recall. "Gemini, the missing something? I need to re-read it. The information feels like a blur."
"Right." Mr Gaunt was quiet for a moment then grinned. "I see you've mustered the courage to jump into the deep?"
"More like dipped a toe." Harry hadn't preformed any gemini magic. Even with Mikeala's explanation, someone who claimed to be a user, Harry couldn't grasp what it was about. Not that he wanted to do dark magic. He was only curious. And even if he did, it wouldn't make him bad. Mr Gaunt was a prime example of a good dark wizard.
Mr Gaunt took Harry by shoulders. "I'll tell my old friend Mikaela to give you some space. They're just a little keen to pass on their knowledge."
Harry was about to say something but remembered he originally found the book in Mr Gaunt's things. A gifted copy with a message from a Mikaela. Mr Gaunt had quite some connections. Though Harry supposed he'd have to in order to broker antiques.
They approached the tree line of the forbidden forest further on from Hogwarts than Harry would normally go.
"I think they might have given you a taste of Gemini Magic. Tricked you into thinking I needed you to harm the headmaster," Mr Gaunt said. "I'm flattered you considered, by the way."
Harry smiled. "Of course you are."
They walked until the trees were dense enough to block the sun's rays. In a small clearing that housed a silvery pond, they stopped and rested on a decaying log.
There it was again, in the back of Harry's mind, waiting for something to happen. Sitting together, Harry under Mr Gaunt's arm, watching the unmoved water, suspense lingered. It couldn't solely be friendship. Spending time with Mr Gaunt was like visiting Hagrid and getting wisdom from Dumbledore from one person.
Mr Gaunt was off, talking through minor troubles he was having with his movement. Nothing too deep. He kept saying that he didn't want to involve Harry until he finished study. It was both understandable and a shame.
Harry began to feel Mr Gaunt was the one making the most effort for wizarding kind. More than the Ministry or Dumbledore, who's current attitude was 'wait and see'. Harry wanted to contribute to change but he was stuck in Hogwarts. A place that attracted danger more than it protected from it.
The conversation switched to Harry's school performance. He had improved but felt he still wasn't up to scratch. "I got some high E's in Astronomy."
Mr Gaunt was nodding along. "Good. Over the Christmas break, you'll have time to work them up to outstanding."
Christmas Break. The phrase punched Harry in the gut. Two whole weeks in Hogwarts. Undoubtedly with Ron because it would be a prime time to yank him away from Mr Gaunt. Or to 'find out what Kyototon was up to'. For once Harry didn't want to pursue mysteries. There were too many already. The person who put his name into the goblet of fire for example.
"Speaking of which, there's something I wanted to run by you." Mr Gaunt turned to face Harry more directly. "I was planning for you to come spend Christmas break with us. The Lestranges I mean, in their summer house on obsidian bay. You remember the one?"
"Yeah." Christmas with Mr Gaunt. Christmas with Mr Gaunt away from Hogwarts. He could feel his load lighten. "Absolutely. Please. I'd love to."
Mr Gaunt laughed and patted down Harry's hair. "Fantastic. It'd be incomplete without you."
The smile upon Mr Gaunt mirrored the one Sirius had when he offered to take Harry in. It was progress. Harry was certain of it. Proof that Mr Gaunt wasn't just a friend. He might be a person Harry could count as family. Like an uncle. With Sirius stepping in like a father and Dumbledore as a grandfather.
Harry thought he saw Mr Gaunt's eyes flash red. On second look they were normal ice blue. However, those eyes were locked onto Harry's and Mr Gaunt's smile was forcefully wide.
He constricted Harry in a firm embrace. "I'm going to give you a proper wizarding Christmas, Harrison. It will be perfect."
Mr Gaunt was all affection with back pats and nuzzles. Harry wasn't complaining. It was a nice change of pace compared with how things were going amongst his Hogwarts. His old friends were pushing him whereas Mr Gaunt pulled him close.
Pansy Parkinson's voice interrupted his thinking. Harry moved to pull away but he found himself locked in Mr Gaunt's hold.
"What is it, Harrison? You can tell me." Mr Gaunt pressed Harry tighter.
Never in his life had Harry been so close to someone that he could hear their heartbeat. He felt like Dudley being coddled by Aunt Petunia. And through embarrassing if anyone saw, he liked being encased in the protective arms of a caring wizard. Even if was a bit sudden and out of the blue.
Harry turned his body to the side so his face wasn't pressed against Mr Gaunt's chest. "I just remembered the Yule ball. It's a Triwizard thing, all champions must attend."
Mr Gaunt gave a curt huff. "Inconvenient."
"Understatement. I have to find a date. We're expected to dance." In the scheme of things being caught snuggling in Mr Gaunt's arms was less embarrassing than asking a girl to the ball.
"We'll make it work." Mr Gaunt released his hold and let Harry part. "I suppose you need dance lessons more than spell practice."
Harry didn't say anything but the truth was as obvious.
"Come on then. There's an easy way about it." Mr Gaunt ushered Harry towards even level ground.
Mr Gaunt directed Harry to stand beside him and look out at the pond. "Straight back Harrison."
Harry stiffened his spine and immediately felt pompous.
"Very good. Arms out to your imaginary lady. Waist and Hand."
Harry did so feeling like a conductor while doing it.
"Now leading with the right foot with long strides. Step, step, flounce." Mr Gaunt strode out with a spring his step. His every movement intentional and confident, finishing with his robe swooping around like a beat of a wing. He looked to Harry as if to give cue.
Harry made his steps crunching the ground like a clopping horse. Then attempted to flounce, which resulted in him flapping his elbows. His robe batted around like a beaten rug. No grand sweep like Mr Gaunt.
"The flounce leads into the turn, Harrison. Watch again." Mr Gaunt began again, this time so Harry could see from the front on.
After two long purposeful steps, Mr Gaunt's leading foot turned slightly on the third step giving his flounce a gust of air. "Your flounce starts from the shoulders, Harrison. It's a full-body swing"
Harry attempted again, managing a better flounce. However, it was far from being as graceful as Mr Gaunt's.
"Excellent, now do the same but move backwards." Mr Gaunt demonstrated again, stepping back twice and flouncing on the turn. Harry followed along with him, chanting all the flouncing tips in his mind.
"Then forward. Step, step, flounce. Back. Step, step, flounce."
Harry was half-hearing Mr Gaunt's words. His thoughts were busy figuring out what made Mr Gaunt look so elegant.
"That's the way, Harrison. We'll do a turn around the pond." Keeping in time, Mr Gaunt moved to take the place of Harry's imaginary lady. "The Man leads, so look where you're going."
With Mr Gaunt's voice instilling rhythm, the flouncing became easier.
"Keep your strides even, that's it. Now point your toes."
They zig-zagged around half the pond.
Mr Gaunt said it was simple but it wasn't. There was so much Harry had to keep track on.
"Harrison, remember to lead. Always look to where you're going."
Harry couldn't watch his feet. He had to keep his arms up, back straight, steer his partner all while looking like he was enjoying himself.
His eyes broke away from his surroundings. They were just about finished. Mr Gaunt was still counting in rhythm. His eyes met Harry's reassuringly.
"And part with a bow."
They let each other go, stepped back and bowed. It was a start. At least now Harry could somewhat dance. Still, the hard part wasn't dancing. It was finding his dance partner.
Mr Gaunt returned to the decaying log and rested. "You're a bit stiff but with practice, you'll be fine."
Harry joined him but didn't say anything.
"Of course dancing is useless without the girl. Is your Miss Chang available?" Mr Gaunt retrieved his bone-white wand and began cleaning the dirt off his shoes.
It was embarrassing that Mr Gaunt remembered her name. Harry got his own wand out and twiddled with it. "I haven't asked. She's never alone and it's not really my place."
Mr Gaunt sent Harry a look for fiddling with his wand but continued his polishing charm without remark. "It's absolutely your place to ask. She doesn't belong to anyone. If you stay confident in yourself and ask her like it's no life commitment, she'll say yes."
"What if she doesn't, what if she's been asked by hundreds of guys. She probably already has a partner." Harry dug his face into his hands. He could feel how red his face was.
"Ask regardless. And if she does have a partner, she'll regret her choice."
Harry looked up from his hands. He wasn't convinced. Mr Gaunt didn't know what Harry was dealing with. The Yule Ball wasn't some fancy high society auction for charity. It was the most anticipated night of the year, or for most girls. Everyone was after a decent dance partner and nobody wanted to be alone. Not having a partner made it transparently clear nobody liked you.
He stood by his gut, asking Cho was too ambitious. He'd ask Hermione and they'd go as friends. Then it wouldn't feel so weird if they practised dancing together. In a way, it was easier because they were in the same house together.
Mr Gaunt wordlessly froze the pond's surface. "Time is short, we should at least have a practice duel."
Harry followed Mr Gaunt out onto the pond and faced him. The frozen water and dim winter tricked him into feeling that dementors were near.
They bowed.
Hexes spewed from Mr Gaunt's wand. Spell after Spell, completely overbearing Harry. He could only defend himself. There was no opportunity to get an offensive spell in.
It was disorientating. Seconds ago, Mr Gaunt was giving him love advice, teaching him how to dance and listening to Harry's worries and troubles. He had been so affectionate too. After they bowed some switch flicked and Mr Gaunt was hurtling his magic at him.
He should have paid better attention when Mr Gaunt was talking about his movement. There's was a fire crackling behind Mr Gaunt's eyes. He was casting to get a knot out of his back.
Harry lost balance causing his foot to slide the tiniest bit back. He was hit square in the chest.
The surroundings became a blur. He left solid ground. Harry through he heard a manic laugh.
He hit the ground and tasted wet undergrowth. Blackness came and swallowed him in a bite.
"Harrison, wakey wakey."
Mr Gaunt softly patted his cheek. He wasn't wearing his robe and looked concerned. Harry rubbed his eyes. His head throbbed, as did everywhere else.
"Apologies, I was a little too forceful. Didn't mean for you to hit the bank." Mr Gaunt had a tin of ointment open on his lap. He dipped in a handkerchief then dabbed it on Harry's chest. Harry hissed at the sting.
"You'll be fine."
Harry looked around. They were still by the pondside. He was lying on the ground, head resting on Mr Gaunt's bundled robe. His uniform was torn and stained with dirt scuffs. Mr Gaunt was back to his caring self again. Harry almost wanted to ask what that duel was about but decided to forget.
Mr Gaunt would heal him and mend his appearance. Heaven's knew the last thing Mr Gaunt would let slide was a scrappy uniform. Harry wouldn't ask questions.
Done cleaning Harry's wounds and gashes, Mr Gaunt got to healing them with non-verbal magic. "If anything has been learnt it is to not let your defences slip."
Harry had a feeling he'd have to return soon. It hadn't been enough time. He knew shouldn't ask, he didn't plan on asking it, but Mr Gaunt wouldn't refuse to answer. He'd gain a few more minutes away from Hogwarts's fuss. "Hey?"
"Is there a problem?" Mr Gaunt stop his magic and studied over Harry's wounds.
"No, I…" Harry felt incredibly bad for revisiting the thought. "I just wondered if you knew the difference between mass-connected magic and gemini magic?"
Mr Gaunt returned to healing. The question had brought a smile to his face. "Well, I can't call myself an expert. I tried learning from Mikaela, it's how I know them. However, from my own experience, I'd say Gemini Magic is like creating a hive. These are my emotions and desires, they are ours, we are one."
Harry brought himself to a sitting position. "So two people become one?"
"Depends on the people. Merging minds unlocks another body's worth of magic. In Mikaela's case, it's thousands of minds and bodies owed by a family. Gemini magic can also overpower a soul's control." Mr Gaunt lifted up Harry by the hand. "Sore?"
"I'll be alright." Harry patted off his pants. "And mass-connected?"
"Ah!" Mr Gaunt's eyes went alight. "Well, I struggled with Gemini Magic. I don't have the right kind of heart really. But mass-connected magic is my forte." He waved his wand and tidied Harry's appearance. "You become the puppeteer but on such a grand scale. It's the power to imperius a crowd or even a town. Hell, you could imperio London if you're powerful enough. Better yet, I've recently found that I don't need to persuade my target's mind to get them to obey. Can only do it on a small scale right now. About three people at most."
Harry wished he hadn't asked. The energy around Mr Gaunt was buzzing. The man was lost in the relish of his study. Surely that was all it was to Mr Gaunt, curious study.
They started to walk away from the pond. Harry put a little more distance between him and Mr Gaunt. Just out of hand's grab. "But you've never actually harmed anyone?"
Mr Gaunt slowed his stepping and eyed the gap between them. It seemed like he had just realised something. His smile faded. "It's just fascinating, Harrison. You understand that?"
Harry nodded and shuffled closer beside him. A gesture that visibly released Mr Gaunt's tension. They left the forest and returned to where they had met.
"Now, a plan of action." Mr Gaunt nudged Harry. "First pay attention in class and study, I mean it."
Harry wanted to internally all his eyes, but he knew Mr Gaunt would still see it and scold him.
"Then ask Miss Chang to the ball."
That was unlikely to happen.
"Be confident and yourself." Mr Gaunt gathered Harry into a final hug. "I'll write the details for Christmas. See you in two weeks or so."
They parted and went on their ways. Harry returned to Hogwarts arriving at his defence against dark arts class twenty minutes late. Everyone gave him a look for it. Except Moody, who saw him enter and smirked.
-~o~-
Wednesday evening, the common room was abuzz for the Christmas Break. McGonagall had pinned up the list for students wishing to stay for the break. Many had chosen to spend it at Hogwarts allowing them a curfew free Yule Ball.
The ball wasn't even on Hermione's list of priorities. She blocked out the chorus of chatter to pour over pages. They were not textbooks, or even for study. She had a stack of yearbooks. Each picture, every name, she would read them all. Students included because a clue was a step forward.
Ron was across her. His eye wasn't interested in the class photo before him. He was surveying the common room girls. "How many do you reckon have dates?"
Hermione flipped another page and ran her finger down a list of staff names. Not that anything would come of it. She hadn't heard the Kyototon's name. Nor had Lucius mentioned any kind of title. Maybe if one stuck out in particular way she'd find something.
"I mean how many girls are there? They can't all be taken." Ron shuffled in his seat to get a better look at Parvati Patli.
An impressive thump of parchment turned a few students' heads. Ron sat straight and looked wide-eyed to Hermione. Her eyes burned into the yearbook. It would be easier finding a Demigise. She slammed the book shut and shoved it aside.
Ron's attention fell on Hermione. "If it helps, I know Harry doesn't have a partner. Parkinson's busy scaring them all away."
"Ron! We have far bigger issues." Hermione tidied the stacks around them. "We're probably in the most danger we've ever been in and nobody's paying attention!"
He slouched in his chair and crossed over his arms. "Oh yeah? Who was the one that kept saying Mr Gaunt was trouble?"
"Oh yes, because throwing a tantrum would stop Harry from seeking the one adult actively helping him." Hermione often wondered about Ron's process of thought. As terribly as he handled it, he had done a somewhat right by calling wolf.
After returning from the Malfoy's, the photo was the first thing she told Ron about. "I'm still got feelings about what Lucius showed me. It proves Mr Gaunt isn't who he seems. That he defiantly has death eater ties. But to call him 'you-know', it seems a bit far-fetched."
Ron didn't show any sign of argument. At most, the photo confirmed was that there was a man strikingly similar to Mr Gaunt in 1981. The boy in beside him could have been anyone. The picture wasn't of great quality, blurring any small detail that may or may not be there.
Hermione was wary about trusting Lucius's word. He might be using Mr Gaunt to intentionally provoke mistrust, indirectly isolating Harry. She was adamant a plot was in play and Harry was being stitched into its center.
A loud bang from one of Fred and George's inventions interrupted their thoughts. Eye-watering stench bloomed into the air and forced the common room occupants to flee into the stairwell. The crowds of students coughing outside the portrait caught the interest of Peeves, who harassed them with leftovers from dinner.
Ron ducked a half-eaten turkey leg. "I think you need to show Harry the photo."
Hands protecting her head, Hermione crouched on the step. "It won't do much, he's jinxed. So is Dumbledore and most likely all the professors."
They heard McGonagall approach and ask what was everyone doing like she couldn't see Peeves or smell the sink bomb.
Ron wiped a splotch of graving off his cheek. "I'd say that's a way bigger priority than some Kyototon."
Hermione wordlessly agreed. Tomorrow it'd be back to where crowds of girls went to giggle at Victor Krum, the library.
Eventually, all the mess and stench were cleared and everyone returned for bed. Settled in bed, a thought occurred to Hermione. Harry may not truly know who Mr Gaunt is but did Mr Gaunt understand who Harry was? In Harry's words, the man was bending over backwards for him. No death eater affiliate would do that.