Harry Potter and the Soul Shifter

By: Alex Lyons3


Disclaimer: J.K. Rowling owns Harry Potter and everything in the wonderful world of Hogwarts. Disney owns Brooklyn, the gargoyle. I own Jessica "Jess" Cotten.


Author's Note: Originally, I started on a story about Harry's sixth year before J.K.R. released OotP. Sadly, when Sirius died, so to did my ability to write that fan fiction. So, I've salvaged some characters and added some cross over points and re did the whole thing. I really didn't expect Sirius to die. Truthfully, I should have. Just for the record, the time line is going to be a bit iffy since most people put it up as Sirius died in 1996. I'm going to say that Harry didn't even start Hogwarts until 1997, so Sirius didn't die until 2002. Did I lose anyone? *A few hands are raised* Okay! Simply, first book published in 1997. So, that's when Harry starts as far as I'm concerned. Harry's fifth year would be 2001-2002, so Sirius (at least in my mind) does not die until 2002. Okay? Anyway, on with the story.


Chapter 13: The Soul Shifters


Harry awoke the next day no one else was in the dormitory so they must all be down at breakfast. Harry quickly got dressed and went down the stairs. Ron and Hermione were in the common room.

"Bout time mate. We were just going to come up after you. Come on, let's go get breakfast!" Ron said really fast as he started towards the portrait hole and went through.

Hermione followed and soon Harry went through as well.

When they got to the Great Hall they sat down in their seats at the Gryffindor table and filled their plates up with food as Professor McGonagall went along handing out their timetables. Harry looked at his and his heart fell to his feet. Ron had a horrified look on his face and Hermione practically fumed.

"H-harry!" Ron said in a gruff whisper, "Tell me my timetable is wrong! Tell me we're not having Defense with the Slytherins!"

"I would Ron, but I'd be lying if I did." Harry said his heart pounding so hard he could hear it.

"I just can't believe it!" Hermione snarled indignantly, "Of all the houses they could put us with, why them?"

Ron and Harry shrugged.

"Did you notice that we've got Potions right after that? Then Care of Magical Creatures and Herbology?" Hermione asked as both Harry and Ron looked down At their timetables to see if it was true. Sure enough, every class that was a double period had been scheduled for the very same day. Three of those classes were with the Slytherins which made Harry and Ron want to retch.

"Well, let's get this day over with!" Hermione said curtly and left to go to the Defense Against the Dark Arts room. Everyone started filing in and the class could catch snippets of conversation coming down the hall from both of their Professors.

"...if you weren't so busy stuffing your face..." Jess said.

"I know! All right woman! Leave me be!" Brian said as he opened the door to the class room.

Jess marched in rather indignantly as Brian gave a rather playful smirk to the class. She turned, the robes she was wearing flared and spun around her legs dramaticly as she flipped her waist length hair over her shoulder. Brian just turned and raised a brow at her and then spoke his mind.

"You know you could give Professor Snape lessons on how to be dramatic?" Brian said grinning.

"I know. Now, this class is sixth year Gyffindors and Slytherins, right?" Jess said curtly.

The class nodded.

"Very well, Professor Brooks will teach you first and I will return later." Jess said annoyed at Brian because he was mouthing along with her. "If any one needs me I'll be in the staff room working on my lesson plan."

The class nodded and Brian stood from the chair behind his desk.

"Well, I talked with Professor Dumbledore earlier this year. It seems you've had a very interesting six years with each Defense Professor leaving you high and dry after only a year. Well, let's say I and Professor Cotten were quite appalled so we'll be beginning where you left off with Professor...er...Crouch-Moody. Now, I've recieved a letter from Professor Lupin saying that you studied most of the Dark Creatures with him. While the fake Moody taught you curses. You're behind quite a bit and I really am quite empressed that all of you were capable of getting Outstandings on your O.W.L.S., given the irregularly of the situation. Now, my job is simple, I'm to teach you about Dark Beings, while Professor Cotten will teach you how to use magic to Defend Against them. Everyone alright with that?" Brian said to them as he watched each of their heads nod.

"Good! So, we'll start today by discussing Soul Shifters. Can anyone," Hermione's hand came into the air, "besides Ms. Granger, tell me what a Soul Shifter is?"

Everyone looked around, this was new. Hermione stretched her hand up way high. Malfoy raised his hand up.

"Yes, Mr. Malfoy?" Brian said pleasantly.

"A Soul Shifter is a being that can remove its soul from its own body and possess another beings or creatures body. Therefore, making such beings highly dangerous because the soul of the one possessed might accidently be sucked out of the body while the possessor is freed to go back to his own." Malfoy said.

Brian nodded and then said, "Well, that's close enough. That is what your book says anyway. Five points to Slytherin. Now, there are three sorts of beings that can become Soul Shifters and are usually ones that are highly dangerous to begin with. The first one being the vampire, its aversion to the sun and its nocturnal habits make it a prime candidate for being a Soul Shifter. Most vampires possess the dead which makes it necessary for them to drink blood since the body has none of its own. The second being that can be a Soul Shifter are ghosts or other restless spirits. The spirits most notorious for doing this are not here at Hogwarts! They are known as banshees. Most banshees will possess someone they knew before or they might enter a soon to be mothers womb and possess the unborn infant. They are known to leave the child's body as soon as the mother is ready to give birth leaving the child soulless. Therefore effectively killing the child. The last being that has the possibility to Soul Shift are called gargoyles. These are real gargoyles and not the magically animated ones you have here at the school. They turn to stone during the day and come alive at night. Most gargoyles that are Soul Shifters do not realize that they are in fact capable of this complicated act. Many leave their bodies when they first turn to stone and enter a human's body until they are alive again during the night. There are some who due to ignorance and loathing will become trapped in their stone casings even longer than just during the day. It is said that in New York City that there is a small clan of gargoyles that had a magical spell put on them by a young wizard who was maddened by grief because he thought that their showing up to save the humans had killed the princess of the castle. They were said to have been a sleep for a thousand years before a muggle man came and moved the castle to the top of a giant skyscraper, literally, moving the castle above the clouds which the terms of the spell put upon them said that they'd sleep until the castle was indeed above the clouds. Those few, though I'm skeptical on whether or not they really exist, might have been capable of going into a mothers womb and becoming her child until that child was destined to die. That being the time for the soul of the gargoyle to leave the human body and find a new one or return to their stone casing."

Hermione was writing furiously as the bell that signaled that the single classes were over and that the second part of the sixth years double period would soon be beginning.

Brian stood up straight because he'd been leaning back on his hands which were on top of his desk. "Okay, class for homework I want you all to do a three foot essay on the different types of Soul Shifters and the different ways they can Soul Shift and what you think about them in general."

Professor Cotten came in and assessed the situation.

"I take it that there were no problems?" She asked.

"None at all, if you have any troubles let me know. I'll be in the staff room. They're all yours." Brian said as he flipped his waist length ponytail over his right shoulder and left for the staff room.

* * * * *


Cool! I'm absolutely loving the excellent reviews ya'll are giving me.


To Mella deRanged: I highly doubt that Harry's going to go out with Cho or even fantasize about it anymore since OotP made it pretty clear that Harry no longer liked her. As for Harry/Luna, nope not going to go there. I truly doubt Harry's going to be with anyone in this fic.


To dreamer43: *chuckles* Well, I definitely made your day! I guess this chapter gives away the how, but that's okay. Since I only wait for three reviews, sometimes I do get more in at a time, I'm able to insert my thanks into the end of these chapters. I like the fact that ya'll are reading them since it makes these statements that much more meaningful. I know it let's the fans know that I listen to them and that's important. Thanks for your coment and don't worry this fic will continue.