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Hermione Granger

The train was quivering as it sped along the tracks, and the Scottish countryside was a blur of colors and shapes outside their windows. The heavy, stuffy air inside the compartment was bothering Hermione as she pondered the dangers Sirius was now facing and the possible ways to help him. The Ministry couldn't track Buckbeak, so he had a good head start… Maybe…

"Come on, Harry, just for a bit…"

"No. It hurts my ears."

She ignored them both. For some reason, Harry was insistent on forbidding them to open any windows. It didn't matter. Sirius…

"Mate, I can't breathe."

"If you can breathe while you eat, you can breathe now."

"That's completely different…"

Hermione sighed and glared at them. "Will you two shut it?!"

Harry put his hands behind his head. "They're already shut."

Ron pinched the bridge of his nose. "We can't breathe in here!"

Just as she turned to stop Harry from being even more annoying, Hermione froze and looked him up and down. She hadn't noticed it before, but she couldn't unsee it now…

She frowned. "Harry, why have you grown taller?"

"I have no idea what you're talking about."

Ron scratched his temple. "Um, mate… She has a point. You're taller than me…"

"I've always been taller than you."

Hermione pinched her lips. "You used to be among the shortest in our year."

"That's what the Ministry wants you to think."

What was up with him today? Tightness stared squeezing her chest. They were supposed to be his friends. She was supposed to be his friend! Why had he started keeping secrets? When had he started keeping secrets? Also, what the f-word was up with that damned smirk? It was like it had sucked all his other emotions into it, so all he could feel was sarcasm… He wasn't being her Harry at all…

"Hermione, are you ok? Are you going to have a heart attack? You look like you're going to have a heart attack." He turned to Ron. "Why are you letting her be like this? That's some bad friend behavior."

"Hey! What's that supposed to mean?"

"You upset Hermione."

"I am not upset." She leaned forward. "I am frustrated because you won't tell me what's going on."

He straightened his back and cleared his throat. "I can't be held accountable for my actions, I'm under the Imperious curse."

Ron shook his head and quieted his voice. "That's really not funny, mate."

She crossed her arms. "You really shouldn't joke around with things like that."

It was so insensitive! Did he have any idea how many people suffered under that curse in the first war? They called it unforgivable for a reason!

Harry looked at her with a frown and a set jaw. His expression tightened and turned serious. All the levity disappeared. It was a creepy change if she was being honest. Since when was Harry so intense?

He reached inched into his robe and took out a handful of galleons. "Hey, Ron?" Even as he spoke, his eyes never left hers.

"Yeah?"

"I'm horribly hungry, mind going to look for the trolley and getting us all some stuff?"

Ron frowned for a second, and his face scrunched up as if pondering some horrible math's problem. However, his insatiable hunger won out in the end. He took the money and left.

Harry, though, for whatever reason, pointed his hand at Ron's back as he departed. It was almost as if there was a whoosh of wind, or a quick rise and drop in temperature. It was over too quickly for her to be sure, but she had a feeling that Ron wouldn't be coming back until Harry allowed it.

Can he perform wandless magic?

Hairs lifted on the back of her neck, and her stomach quivered. His gaze hadn't moved. Why was he staring at her like that?

They both kept quiet for a few moments, and he continued watching her.

Chills slid down her spine, and she squirmed. "What is it? Why are you looking at me like that?"

"Can I trust you?"

She blinked. "What?"

"It's a simple question, Hermione."

The train wheels clicked and clanked on the railway, and wind blew past the clear windows. She remained silent. As simple as it sounded, this question carried with it a weight. A load of responsibility and obligation. There was an importance to the answer she couldn't quite grasp yet.

"With your life."

He hummed and nodded. "What if I were to make you choose between me and Ron?"

Her stomach fluttered. He… he wasn't being serious, was he? They had been friends for three years, all three of them… Why…

She stared at the ground and bit her lip. "Why would you ask something like that?"

He sighed, and his eyes finally moved away from her. "Ron… has been a good friend. He's been loyal, stuck with me through thick and thin, and never betrayed me…"

"Then why…"

"However," His voice quieted, and he frowned. "Hold on."

He stood up — Good God, he had gotten tall… — and waved his hand around the compartment. The same sound and temperature as before blew past her. She'd been right, there was only one explanation…

"Are you using wandless magic?"

He chuckled and sat back down. "Yes. I wanted to make sure no one could listen in on our conversation."

"How can you use wandless magic?"

It was supposed to be a feat of unparalleled will and control. To channel magical energy without a conduit, and he had done it so effortlessly…

"I can't be Ron's friend anymore, Hermione."

"Harry, you're not making any sense about anything."

His voice quieted. "You never answered my question."

"About Ron? How is that important right now? Why are you even making me choose?"

A sigh escaped him. "I'm not, but he will. He's going to start hating me eventually and, when he does, he'll demand that you pick one of us."

"I'm sure we'll be able to smooth everything out. Even he can't be that unreasonable."

"I still need to know who you'd choose if he did. I need to know if you'll keep my secrets from him. From everyone."

"Of course!"

He glared at her. "You're still not taking me seriously, Hermione! This isn't about schoolyard fights and crushes. This is life and death. It could get me killed."

The movement of the train became muted, and the compartment stilled. The floorboards no longer vibrated in tandem with the wheels. It was as if space and time were frozen, and a chasm had opened beneath her to swallow her whole. She didn't even dare ponder the ramifications, for there was only one place they would lead…

Nausea creeped its way up her throat, and her eyes watered. "Harry… what have you done?"

"Answer me."

All energy abandoned her, and she barely kept up her gaze. She didn't want to think about it… She didn't… but she had to. The Ministry pursued only users of Dark Magic… and only one kind of magic could create lasting changes on the body…

She looked down, and her voice quieted. "It was a ritual, wasn't it?" Lead filled her limbs. "A dark one…"

The air within the compartment chilled, and the little hairs on the seats prickled her back. They were standing on the precipice. One step in the wrong direction, and they were both falling into an abyss…

"It wasn't dark."

Stinging needles were stabbing into her quivering muscles. It wasn't dark… That was all he had to say to her? After doing something so irresponsible, reckless, ludicrous…

Her lips flattened together, and her voice tightened. "How could you be so stupid?"

"What?"

"Why did you perform it alone? Do you have any idea what could've happened to you?"

He took a deep breath and looked down. "I was prepared to die."

The train walls were quivering, and the floorboards were shaking. They were rushing down the tracks like a raging river, and her heartbeat pulsed in tandem with the vibrating metal. Her ears heard the words he'd said, but her brain refused to process them.

"Selfish prat! You were prepared to die? What about me?"

"What about you?"

"I can't believe this… Do you not get it, you clueless idiot?!" Lava ran through her veins, and fires burned under her skin. "What was I supposed to do without you, you moron? You're the only one I have!"

"No, I'm not…"

"I'm just the mudblood! The bookworm!"

He winced. "Hermione…"

Her heart was pounding in her tightening chest. "Ron doesn't insult me, but we both know he doesn't take me seriously either." Water welled up in her eyes, and her lips curled downwards. "You wanted to know who I'd choose? Not him!"

For the first time since they entered, his face adopted a truly slack expression. He'd really believed it, didn't he? That no one would ever choose him? Then again… No one ever saw Harry Potter. He was always a savior, or an enemy. A grand figure to admire or hate. Even she had looked up to him…

She had never truly noticed… How alone he was.

Sobbing reverberated through the compartment as she cried. "You're my best friend… I'll never abandon you…" Her face dropped into her palms. "You, though… you were just ready to… to go off and die!"

The final rays of dimmed sunlight filled their cold compartment before the sun disappeared behind the mountains. The curtains on the door quivered, and their seats were shaking as if lulling them to sleep.

Harry made no move or sound at first, but then his lips stretched into a smile.

Warmth perfused his tone. "You know, it's kind of a dick move to make this about yourself…" His face beamed even as a hint of rosiness appeared and disappeared on his cheeks.

"Sorry, I just…" Her stomach was tense and hard. "I just…"

How do I put it into words?

How was she supposed to explain it to him? That she'd been worried about him… That she was afraid of… of…

His knees and forehead touched hers. "It's alright. I understand. I wouldn't be able to handle losing you either."

She hugged him. Squeezed him so hard he might've burst. Tears kept raining down her face, and words kept pouring out of her mouth. Explanations of how sorry she was, insults of how he was a reckless idiot, and gratitude that he was alive for her to yell at him. Like rain and thunder at the same time, she wept, yelled, and whispered. Yet, through it all, she was just glad she still had her friend.


After a while, once she'd calmed down, they both went back to their seats. Across each other, like before. Their gazes met.

Hermione sighed. "Why did you do it?"

"Dumbledore and Voldemort. One needs me dead, and the other wants to kill me."

"Harry, you can't mean that!"

This was Dumbledore they were talking about! The greatest wizard ever. The man that defeated Grindelwald and singlehandedly saved all of wizarding Europe…

"I figured it out yesterday. It's painfully obvious once you realize his plan."

"Harry, Dumbledore is the Leader of the Light… He fights for good."

"The Greater Good." His jaw clenched, and his teeth were grinding. "In his mind, it's acceptable to sacrifice one life to save a thousand. If the life weren't my own, I might've agreed."

"He's been protecting you."

Harry's eyes widened, and his nostrils flared. A roar came out of his mouth, and his muscles started trembling. "He left me with the Dursleys! To groom me!" His entire body quivered, and his lips pulled back to reveal his fangs. "To make sure that I would willingly step before Voldemort and die!"

The air chilled, and frost crept up the window. A pressure pushed down on Hermione's shoulders, and the train shook on its tracks like a kitten under a dog's paw. Magic. Pure, raw magic was filling every inch of the compartment. It was a burning, shining weight strangling her. A maelstrom raging unchecked upon a defenseless sea. All she could do was shiver.

"Harry, please…" She gulped. "You're scaring me."

Veins throbbed on his neck, and the muscles on his face trembled as he struggled to reign himself in. "Sorry…"

"What… What happened there? With your family?"

"They are not my family! They're my wardens! Their home is my prison!"

She raised her hands. "I didn't mean to provoke you."

He calmed down and started telling her about his time with the Dursleys. He left nothing out. As much as she hated hearing about his suffering, she didn't interrupt. She listened about the starvation, the neglect, the abuse… How he remained short and weak because they malnourished him. That he was certain that the only reason he even survived was his magic. About the cupboard under the stairs…

As he conveyed his tale, all she could do was sit there impotent. Powerless, unable to rewind time and help her friend. Incapable of hurting them until she turned seventeen. Unable to do anything…

Her gaze wandered through the window, and she forced the words out of her gritting teeth. "We need to do something about this. We need to contact…"

"It's useless."

"What?"

He chuckled and shook his head. "I actually called Child Protection Services on the Dursleys multiple times. It never did anything. I always thought no one wanted to help me. The freak."

That was impossible… The Child Protection Services took their jobs seriously. There was no way they'd leave a case of possible abuse alone and unsolved. Unless…

Oh, God, please let me be wrong…

He chuckled. "Only now do I see that they must've been obliviated of the knowledge the moment they left the house."

Dumbledore alone had the power to do that… Harry's claim that their headmaster wanted him to sacrifice himself was making more sense by the minute. Why else would anyone purposely leave a child with abusive relatives? If not to crush their confidence and self-esteem?

She forced herself to take a deep breath. Anger was useless right now…

"What do we do?"

Harry stroked his chin. "You lie low over the summer. Don't owl anyone, don't meet anyone, don't talk to anyone. You have no idea where I am, or what I'm doing."

"What if Dumbledore comes? He'll check on me if the Weasleys ask him, and Ron might be worried if I don't respond to his letters."

Which will all be about doing his summer homework for him, but that's beside the case…

"Play clueless and, for Merlin's sake, never look into his eyes. No matter what he says or does."

She sighed. "I'm not going to like the reason, am I?"

"He's a master of legilimency."

"What?"

"He can basically read your mind."

"What?!"

He shrugged. "You'll never be able to prove it though, so don't bother."

I can't believe that old, meddling… criminal! I can't believe this… I really am bad at choosing role models, aren't I?

She shook her head. "Alright. What are you going to do?"

"Sorry, Hermione. Deniability."

"What…?"

He jumped up and moved to the door. "I just remembered. I have a little… errand to run before we get to London. Save my seat, will you?"

"Um…"

"K, thanks, bye."

With that, he left.


Harry Potter

The train was quivering as it sped along the tracks, and Harry wobbled in tandem with it. The blur of colors and shapes blasting past the windows outside hurt his eyes. The incessant clanking of the wheels upon metal tracks were explosions blasting in his ears.

The worst of it all, though, were the tremors. Quakes of power coursing through his body coming with each fluctuation of Nature magic his system hadn't yet purged.

Of course, he was still going through with his plan for this ride. After all, his target would hide away behind heavy wards for months after this. Waiting for the next school year just wouldn't do. So, ignoring the quakes and pretending he was just peachy, he made it to the compartment he was looking for.

A smile stretched on his face as he opened the door. "Hello, Draco."

Malfoy's face scrunched up. "What do you want, Potter?"

"What? I can't just want to see my good, slippery, Slytherin friend and wish him a good summer?" He giggled. "Can't want…"

"Are you drunk?"

"Love drunk. Love drunk for…" Harry pursed his lips and threw a quick glance around the compartment.

Malfoy wasn't here with just his two gorillas, Crabbe and Goyle, and that moronic twig Nott. His compartment contained, for whatever reason, the delectable Mrs. Greengrass. Harry had no intention of offending her.

Would it be too impolite to ask her to leave? Then again, even if it wasn't, she'd be curious why… Oh, he could place a deafness charm on her… No, he couldn't just cast deafness charms on people, it was rude… Maybe conjuring some earplugs…?

"Potter!"

"I had nothing to do with the dead acromantula!"

Harry shook his head. Everyone was looking at him funny, and Malfoy's face was awfully red. Maybe they saw through his clever lie and figured out that he had, in fact, killed that acromantula?

Daphne sighed. "Potter, are you alright? You zoned out for a bit there." Her voice was soft and velvety. She spoke slowly and with clarity, as expected of a lady of her standing.

Harry made a mental note to cast an impotence spell on Dudley for keeping him away from girls for so long. God only knew how long it would've taken him to notice Daphne if he hadn't done the ritual. She was shorter than him and had long golden hair that reached her mid back.

"Ah, Mrs. Greengrass… Just who I wanted to talk to! Would you mind covering your ears?"

Her amber eyes narrowed. "What? Why?"

"I wish to unleash a barrage of 'yo' mama' jokes on Draco"

Zabini shook his head. "Potter, none of them will even get that reference."

He was a thin fellow, and tall too. His cheekbones were high, and his almond-shaped eyes were always alert. That, at least, was something Harry could respect. He'd never thought much of Slytherins before, but now… He could appreciate talent and intelligence.

"Silly Zabini. They aren't supposed to get anything. The insults are meant for Draco."

Malfoy, being Malfoy, jumped up with his fists balled. "You think you can just waltz in here and insult me, Scarhead?"

"Of course not."

Malfoy frowned and blinked twice.

"I don't dance. Also, Scarhead? That's the best you have? Aww, daddy didn't teach little Draco any good insults?"

Malfoy's face turned the loveliest shade of crimson, and his nostrils flared. His mouth kept opening and closing, and veins bulged on his neck. Then, he gritted his teeth and narrowed his eyes. "Don't you ever mention my father again, you son of a mudblood whore!"

Harry froze, and the air within the compartment chilled. His jaw tensed, and growling rumbled in the back of his throat. Raw magic, as grim and omnipresent as the black mist of the Forbidden Forest, filled every inch of the compartment. Eyes glowing with magic, he glared at the pale and shaking Malfoy, whose mouth was open in a soundless scream he either couldn't or didn't dare utter.

Harry approached him and hugged him with one arm. His lips stood right next to Malfoy's ear. "Never insult my mother again."

"What… what the hell?"

"I was going to do this peacefully, Draco, but you had to be… you."

"You… you won't dare hurt me, Potter… When my father hears…"

Slam!

Bleurgh!

Harry's fist smashed into Malfoy's stomach with the force of a falling boulder. He bent over Harry's arm and threw up over the compartment floor. Harry let him fall and kicked his face with the sole of his foot, knocking him out.

His lips pulled back. "This reminds me of why I came here. I meant to tell Malfoy, but seeing as he's rather indisposed, you'll have to give him the message. Alright?"

"I asked you a question!"

They all gulped and nodded.

"Good. You are less than the dirt beneath my shoes. I have grown above you, with a purpose you cannot fathom. Don't bother me, and you live in peace. So much as look in my general direction, and I'll make you wish you've never been born. Clear?"

Five voices whispered as one. "Transparently."

"Good. Now then…" Harry took a deep breath. "Mrs. Greengrass, would you please accompany me for a walk through the train?"

"Um…" She pursed her round lips — she knows just how much lipstick to put on — and paled. "Sorry, Potter, but I really don't want to be alone with you right now…"

Harry frowned. That just wouldn't do. With a sigh, he raised his hand and grabbed her in a telekinetic hold.

"Potter, what the hell are you doing?!"

"We need to talk."

Zabini stood up holding his wand. "That's enough, Potter. Let her go."

Nott and the monkeys followed his example. All four of them were shaking like leaves in the wind. Their wands quivered in their hands. Yet, they stayed their ground. He could respect that.

"Guys, this is completely unnecessary. I just want to have a quick chat, after which I'll return her to you unharmed."

"Are you mad?" Nott's eyes were bulging. "You already beat up Draco, and now you want to kidnap Greengrass? Do you have any idea about the repercussions…?"

"I can't be made accountable for my actions. I'm under the Imperious curse."

Zabini's nostrils flared. "I've had enough of this. Stu–…"

Harry shook his head and blasted the compartment with a wide range stunning spell. All four of them went down like lead balloons.

"Honestly, what did they think would happen?"


Harry left the compartment, levitating Daphne beside him. "Sorry about this, Greengrass, but I really do need to speak to you."

She sighed. "Do you really promise not to hurt me?"

"I swear it."

"You may let me down. I'll walk with you."

"Thank you."

Then again, if he let her down, she could try to run away. He could subdue her of course, but that would create a commotion. That could attract a teacher. Though, if he didn't let her down, she could get angry. Maybe he should…

"Potter!"

"I didn't spike Snape's drink!"

"Sweet Merlin, was that you?"

Harry blinked slowly. "I specifically said I didn't do it."

"Yeah. Sure."

"You're awfully not-afraid of me right now."

"Do you realize the blackmail potential I have with this?"

"None."

Her straight eyebrows squished together. "What?"

"Your blackmail potential. It's none."

"Do you have any idea what Snape is going to do to you if…?"

"Nothing."

"What?"

Harry sighed. Why was this so hard for people to understand? He expected the Slytherins to get it, at least, but maybe that was too much to ask for. Not that he understood why, considering their parents used the exact same strategy.

Ooh… I should prank good ol' Lucius!

"I can't be held accountable for my actions. I…"

"I swear, if you say…"

"Was under the Imperious curse."

"Merlin's beard, Potter, it wasn't funny the first time!"

Her expression pinched, and her soft jaw clenched. Harry was honestly confused with her reaction. Did he say something to offend her? Though, maybe girls just had a lower tolerance for what they perceived as bad jokes. Harry wouldn't know.

I should turn Dudley into a flobberworm.

"Who's trying to be funny?"

"Aargh!"

"Did anyone ever tell you how cute you are when you go 'aargh'?"

"Seriously?"

A shiny, rosy light penetrated the windows of the compartment as the sun set outside. The train trembled as it glided towards London, and its wheels created a clinking sound similar in tone to someone giggling.

Harry froze for a moment and tilted his head. What was he doing? He knew he'd had a point when he brought her with him, but for the life of him, he couldn't remember it. Regardless…

"Jeez, Greengrass, take a compliment." He looked at her with squinted eyes. "Or else."

"Or else what?"

"Or else I'm going to make it my personal mission to get people to start calling you 'The Ice Queen of Slytherin'."

"That's stupid."

"Yo' mama stupid."

"Are you drunk and/or high right now?"

"I'm honestly surprised you know what that is."

Is that racist? I mean, if one can be racist against purebloods… Aw, shit, is that racist?

If there was one thing Harry didn't want to be, it was racist. That would lump him in too close to Voldemort and his ilk for his liking. Besides, he was going to judge people based on their cleverness and stupidity. It was a much more reliable measure scale.

"Let's just say one of dad's friends is a very relaxed muggleborn."

Oh, that's it!

Harry stopped and pulled her down so that their eyes were staring into each other.

He tilted his head. "Your dad's an Unspeakable, correct?"

"What?"

"Your dad. He works for the Department of Mysteries."

"How do you even know that?"

"Because shut up."

He'd just paid Lavender a galleon to find him a student with an Unspeakable parent. It took her less than a day to sniff Daphne out. That girl was frightening. She called it gossiping, but Harry knew better. It was information gathering at its purest form. He had no idea why no one had weaponized her yet.

Daphne sighed. "What if he does?"

"Nothing major. I only need to meet with him."

She squinted. "Why?"

"Can't tell you."

"Not arranging it."

"Trust me, you need plausible deniability."

"I'm not letting you pull my dad into anything illegal!"

"It's not."

"Then why…?"

"For him." He cleared his throat and looked away. "It would be very illegal for you."

Her brow wrinkled and jaw set. "What do I get in return?"

"A lunch date with yours truly for my birthday."

Daphne chuckled and shook her head. "How very Slytherin of you…"

Back in the day, he would've taken that as an insult. Now, he saw the virtues of Slytherin House for what the social advantages they were. The hat had been right, he would have done well in Slytherin. Well, this him anyway.

He winked at her. "I know, right?"

"Say, Potter?"

"Yeah?"

"Will you ever put me down?"

"Sure, I'll…"

A final charge of Nature magic, which he just realized he'd been ignoring, charged through his system like a rampaging bull. With his veins on fire, his skin straining and squeezing, and his muscles cramping, he lost consciousness.


"Potter!"

Harry forced his eyes to open. Someone had been shaking him. The visage that welcomed him was Daphne's face mere inches away from his own. Her eyes were scanning him for injuries, and her hands were holding his head. Her skin was so smooth

"Are you alright? You just fainted…"

"Harry."

"What?"

"My name is Harry."

She smiled. "Mine is Daphne. Are you ok?"

He shook his head and stood up. "Yeah, yeah. It's been a long couple of days. I'm just exhausted."

A long couple of days filled with dangerous rituals, sacrifices and a lot of dead acromantula. All of Nature's magic was finally gone from his system though. At least he could function again.

She frowned. "If you say so…"

"Aw, don't be so paranoid, Daphne. It's going to give you wrinkles."

"Merlin's beard, you're like a muggleborn sometimes…"

"Um… I…"

"Honestly, when have you ever seen a pureblood woman with wrinkles? Two words: Cosmetic charms."

He shook his head. "I pretty much am a muggleborn."

"Huh?"

"Daphne… where do you think I was raised?"

"Um… with a wizarding family in a hidden away location? Being taught battle magic ever since you could walk…?"

E tu, Daphne?

"Really…?"

She sighed. "I might've…"

"You read the books. I get it. Everyone read the books." Harry pinched his lips together and clenched his jaw. "They're not real."

Greedy, opportunistic sons of bitches. Lockharts, all of them. — Who rips off a child? Seriously… — He'd always known wizards weren't the smartest folk, but this was just absurd. Even if he hadn't had someone to stand up for him then — Thanks, Dumbledore… — he was going to grow up eventually. Did they think retribution wasn't going to reach them? That his vengeance wouldn't be grand?

Daphne's gaze fell, and her voice quieted. "I'm sorry…"

"I should really look into suing them…"

"I shouldn't have assumed…"

"Do wizards even have lawyers?"

"I should've known better…"

"Oh my God, I should totally sue Voldemort for trying to kill me!"

"Harry!"

"What?"

"You can't sue dead people."

Says Daphne! Voldemort was a criminal and dead-ish, but he owed Harry reparations for killing his parents! There had to have been some property the goblins could collect…

Hold on, I'm forgetting something important here… Crap. Whatever, I'll remember.

Harry frowned, as another thought popped into his head. "Shouldn't you be angry that I wasn't listening to you?"

"We both know you were listening to me."

"No, we don't."

"You listen to everything. I can tell."

She would be so observant with her Unspeakable dad… Hold on, that was it!

He sighed. "Look, Daphne, as fun as this was, there was a point as to why I took you out here."

She blinked slowly. "Oh, the meeting with my dad? Sure, I'll arrange it."

"Great. Send me an owl?"

She smiled. "Of course."

"Also, nothing of what I said in the compartment applies to you." Harry scratched his chin. "Zabini either, but don't tell him I said that."

Daphne chuckled. "I sure won't." Her voice was light, and she nodded. "Thank you."

Harry grinned. "Unfortunately, I have to go now. Hermione will be waiting for me, and Ron's still lost somewhere in the train, looking for the trolley…"

"Of course. I need to go salvage Zabini's pride. Later, Harry."

"Later."

As Daphne went back to her compartment, Harry went searching for Ron. They'd be arriving to London soon, and he had an uncle to meet.


Albus Dumbledore

The lighting in his office had dimmed as the candles started going out. He neglected to get up and light them again. Whether illuminated, or in darkness, the questions remained the same. What had Harry done? How did he best help him?

Crackle…

A green glow spewed from the fireplace, and two people came out of the Floo. Both tall and in their early twenties, and both wearing white robes unblemished by stains or filth. A dark-haired man with an elongated, diamond-shaped face. A platinum haired woman, with a heart-shaped face and strong cheekbones. The Flamels came to stand before Albus.

A grim expression sat on his face. "Professors… thank you for coming on such short notice."

Though, I wish it were on a happier occasion.

Nicolas' stance was stiff and unmoving. "What is this about, Albus?"

Perenelle went to stare through the window. Her ice-colored eyes were searching for something, though he couldn't say for what. He was far too young to comprehend the workings of her mind.

"It's Harry… Things aren't going according to plan."

Nicolas wrinkled his brow. "How so?"

Heaviness flooded the air of his office. The clinking and clacking of his gizmos and tools were muted and slowed down. The portraits of the previous headmasters remained silent, and their gazes were dense with judgement. Even Fawkes turned away, unwilling to look at him.

"He did something… I don't know what. It caused a huge magical backlash."

"Ah… So, it was him?"

"You felt it too?"

He clasped his hands behind his back and started pacing around Albus' office. "It affected Raw Magic itself. Everyone as steeped into it as we are felt it. This wasn't something that could remain a secret."

"Do you know what…?"

"Imago Dei." Perenelle's voice was quiet and trembling. "A ritual to change reality. Though, it requires a commensurate price."

How is that even possible?

Albus gulped, and his eyebrows shot up. "Are you sure?"

Her gaze never moved from the window. "What have you done to him, Albus? Why has he been desperate enough to attempt that ritual?"

He had stood by… Perhaps the greatest of all crimes. He had stood by and let others hurt the boy, hoping beyond hope that it would enable his survival. Though, his teachers would never see it that way…

A cold tension seized his chest. "I wanted to ensure his survival… I…"

I just wanted to do right by everyone…

Nicolas glared at him, and his voice boomed. "We did not ask for excuses!"

Tightness constricted his wife's jaw. "None of that matters anymore."

"Perenelle…"

The lights dimmed further, and no one re-ignited them. Iciness settled in the air, and all sounds went silent. A pressure of raw magic sat upon them, pulsing along with Perenelle's racing breathing.

She clenched the windowsill, and her knuckles turned white. "Albus did what he did, and it forced Harry into this ritual. What's important is what we do now. Can't you see the possibility, Nicolas?"

He blinked and shook his head. "What possibility?"

"That Magic deigned to give Harry one of the Forgotten Powers."

"Oh, good God…"

Albus frowned. "I'm afraid I'm not following…"

It had always been a humbling experience, to be in the presence of the Flamels. Two thousand years older than him, they had forgotten more knowledge and experience than Albus had ever learned. Few things could have spooked them this much.

Pale and trembling, Nicolas stared off into space with bulging eyes, haunted by some memory unknown to Albus.

"It's not something many know about, Albus." Perenelle's voice was almost inaudible. "The powers of the Old World when gods still walked among us. We do not speak of it, lest they hear and remember we exist."

A gust of wind swept through the office, despite the windows being closed. Hissing and growling reverberated from everywhere. A pressure of trembling Magic descended upon them all.

"Merlin's beard…"

Nicolas' voice was trembling. "Do you see our worry now, Albus?"

"What do we do?"

Perenelle shook her head and sighed. "We find a way to approach him. Hopefully, we can undo any damage you did before he becomes unstoppable."

They both went to the Floo without looking at him.

Nicolas' voice was devoid of emotion. "We have preparations to make, and we suggest you make yours. Also…"

Perenelle growled. "For God's sake, do not, under any circumstance, antagonize that boy further. I don't care if he spits in your face. Are. We. Clear?"

Albus' voice was barely a whisper. "Transparently."

With a whoosh of activating magic and an explosion of green light, they left through the fire.

He approached it as well. The situation was direr than he could've ever expected… The damage that Harry suffered was supposed to save him, but now… It would make him bitter. At Albus. At muggles. At wizard kind. At life. If that bitterness turned to hatred… He couldn't bear the thought of another Tom Riddle, this time with no prophecy to stop him.

No. He couldn't let that happen. Harry's wounds had to be healed. There was only one method Albus knew how to do it. It was risky. It could push him even further down. Yet, they had to try. He was running out of time and ideas.

I have another call to make…


The Dark Lord

In a dilapidated cottage, made of rotting wood constantly trembling under the assault of high wind and rain, the Dark Lord opened his eyes. Not a misshapen, baby-like creature unworthy of someone calling it 'life'.

The Dark Lord opened his eyes in his own body.


That's it for chapter one! I hope you enjoyed it. Leave a favorite/follow to know when chapter two comes out, and leave a review to let me know. I read and answer all of them. Have a great day until chapter two!

A/N: A short author's note just for this chapter. I'm aware that Harry and co. don't learn about Unforgivable Curses until Moody's class in year 4. However, for the purposes of this story, Lupin told them about the curses at some point in year three.