Disclaimer: I own only the story
Author's notes: see bottom of page.
Every Time I Close My Eyes - Chapter 8
"Harry! Did you need to speak to me?" asked Dumbledore. Harry looked
from one to the other. Dumbledore looked his usual self, blue eyes
twinkling, a stark contrast to the cold smirk on Mortority's face.
"Harry?" Dumbledore's voice was tinged with concern. Harry realised
he'd just been staring at them. Mortority put his hand on Dumbledore's
shoulder, staring at Harry. Harry, throat dry, finally said,
"Um...I just, I just wanted to check you were getting all my letters."
"Ah, yes. Well, all were received, thankyou, even though they might not
seem it to you, the information was very helpful."
"Oh. Er,...good." What was he going to do now? Could Mortority hurt
Dumbledore? or, even worse, was Dumbledore in on it? Mortority
interrupted his thoughts.
"Well, we were just about done here. Why don't I walk with you to your
dorm, Harry?" Before Harry could object, Dumbledore said,
"Excellent. I'll see you in the morning Harry." Harry didn't answer as
Mortority walked to the door and held it open. Harry glared at him as he
passed, then Dumbledore's voice mad him turn.
"Harry, if you need to talk to me, come at any time." Those blue eyes
seemed to look right through him. Harry nodded, and felt himself go cold
as Mortority gripped his shoulder and steered him from the room.
They walked down the corridors in total silence, Harry gripping his wand
in his pocket the whole time. Heart hammering as they approached the Fat
Lady, he pulled away from Mortority. Mortority grabbed his arm and spun
him around. Harry pulled out his wand and it's point rested against the
Death Eater's neck. Harry felt a similar pressure at his own neck. They
glared at each other, inches apart for a minute, before Mortority began to
laugh. He let go of Harry, and laughed so hard Harry was sure Filch
would be along. Wiping a tear from his eye, Mortority said,
"Oh, I can see why he picked you, Potter. You really do have that spark in
you." Harry backed away towards the portrait. Mortority got control of
himself. "But," he said, " We can't have disobedience." He raised his
wand and Harry ducked. "Muteosia!" Nothing happened. As Harry looked
at him, Mortority raised his wand again. He opened his mouth, and Harry
saw him mouthe the word "Crucio!", before the pain hit. He couldn't even
hear his own screams. He was released from he curse and lay panting on
the floor. Mortority stood over him.
"A simple spell. Just muted the sound for a few minutes. Wouldn't want
to wake everyone up on their first night would we? Don't try to disobey
again. No-one is safe from me, because I have their trust. Trust is a very
useful weapon, Harry, one I will teach you to use." He stood straight
again.
"Until tomorrow then!" He said brightly before striding away.
Half an hour later, Harry felt strong enough to get up. He had been left
weaker then before, and felt shaky. His one hope, Dumbledore, was gone.
Either he knew what was happening and was doing nothing, or Mortority
was close enough to him to be able to hurt him. Harry refused to believe
the first one, but it left him in no better position. He slowly walked the last
few yards to the Fat Lady, then said the password, "Horntail". As the door
swung open, Harry heard someone giggling, or more, precise, two
someone's. He looked around, and sat on one of the squishy couches by
the fire was Ron and Hermione. They seemed oblivious he was there, and
were still laughing at something Ron had said when he got next to them.
"Harry!" Explained Ron. Harry noticed him inch away from Hermione.
"Er....we waited up for you, but you were gone so long...." Ron trailed off,
ears tinged pink.
"Yeah. I had to talk to Dumbledore."
"Everything alright?" asked Hermione, also a bit pink. Harry thought to
himself how completely un-alright he was, how shaky he felt from the
curse, the fear he had for everyone, and the anxiety over Sirius's
disappearance.
"Everything's fine." he said, then walked straight to bed.
Harry was woken up by Ron the next morning.
"Wow, you never sleep longer than me!" said Ron, laughing. Harry almost
said he had never felt so tired as last night, but stopped himself.
"Ummm. Weird." Ron wandered back to his bed. Harry heard the sounds
of the other boys getting up, sounds of "I don't want to get up gran!" and
covers being pulled over heads. Ron pointed to Harry's bedside table.
"What's that?" He was pointing at the strange glowing crystal that Hagrid
had given Harry for his birthday. Harry told Ron he didn't know what it
was.
"Well, we could go visit him later and ask."
"Ok." Ron gave him a searching look.
"Is everything ok with you? Are you worried about Sirius?"
"I keep telling you. Everything's fine, I'm just tired is all." Ron looked at
him a moment longer then shrugged and went to get dressed.
Breakfast was very noisy that morning. The rules for the Geolite
competition had been posted. Harry wasn't very interested, he didn't feel
like being in another competition. Even so, Ron told him excitedly about
the rules.
"So all the people from each house compete against each other in the
separate years. Duels and stuff. Then the people that win each year go up
against each other till there's a person from each house. Then they fight it
out for the wish!"
"You don't have to sound so excited about fighting, Ron." Said Hermione.
Ron stuck his tongue out at her, and instead of scolding him, she laughed.
Harry glanced between them, wondering if they knew they were behaving
differently, but Ron saw him and just said, "What?!?" Further up the
table, Dean was telling Fred how he'd revised really hard that summer,
and was going to compete. Fred said he'd use what he'd been working on
that summer to compete. Harry thought of all those joke wands, it would
be pretty easy to win a duel against a rubber chicken. Ginny said she was
going to enter as well.
"I don't think I'd be very good." Said Neville.
"Sure you would!" Seamus was saying. "You just need some practice!"
Hermione turned to Harry. "Well I'm not entering. We need to study for
the O.W.L's!" You aren't entering are you Harry?"
"No."
"Oh come on Harry it'll be a laugh!" Ron had already told him he was
entering.
" I don't think so." said Harry in monotone. Hermione jabbed Ron in the
ribs. Seamus had apparently been listening because he then said,
"See Neville! Plenty of people to help you prepare! Harry's not entering.
You'll help won't you Harry?" Harry looked between them, Seamus
looking pleading, Neville looking embarrassed.
"Um.....sure."
"Great!" Said Seamus and Ron together.
Conversation was stopped as the delivery owls flew in. Harry looked
around for a flash of white or for any tropical birds, but saw nothing.
Hermione gave him a sympathetic look, then reached for her Daily
Prophet. When she read the front page the colour drained from her face.
"Herm?" asked Ron. "What is it?" Harry wasn't sure he wanted to know.
She handed him the paper wordlessly.
*SIRIUS BLACK ONCE AGAIN EVADES MINISTRY!!!
The infamous murderer, Sirius Black, was spotted last Sunday
by a member of the public, who immediately informed the
Ministry. Magical enforcers were on the scene seconds later and
a dramatic chase ensued. Unfortunately, the criminal once again
escaped. However, the means of this escape remain a mystery.
The enforcers were only a few steps behind Black when he
rounded a corner. He had gone seconds later. It was not possible
for him to apperate as an anti apparition charm had been set up
as soon as the call was received.*
Harry scanned the rest of the article, but it told him nothing. If Sirius had
transformed, would they have overlooked a big black dog? Maybe. Then it
could be true, maybe Sirius was fine, he really was just hiding out, his
disappearance had nothing to do with Voldemort. Even as he told himself
this, he remembered he'd had no letter, and he could feel Mortority
watching him.
SSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS
Author's notes: Oooooo, things are getting complicated. Thought I'd
forgotten Hagrid's present didn't you? Well, believe it or not that is, or at
least will be, a very important part of the story. I now there wasn't much
action in this part but in later parts there will be big dollops of it. Also will
be some different points of view and more R/H. Anyhoo, please R&R, I
like to know at least someone is interested! Oooo, and once again thanks to
all the lovely reviewers.
Author's notes: see bottom of page.
Every Time I Close My Eyes - Chapter 8
"Harry! Did you need to speak to me?" asked Dumbledore. Harry looked
from one to the other. Dumbledore looked his usual self, blue eyes
twinkling, a stark contrast to the cold smirk on Mortority's face.
"Harry?" Dumbledore's voice was tinged with concern. Harry realised
he'd just been staring at them. Mortority put his hand on Dumbledore's
shoulder, staring at Harry. Harry, throat dry, finally said,
"Um...I just, I just wanted to check you were getting all my letters."
"Ah, yes. Well, all were received, thankyou, even though they might not
seem it to you, the information was very helpful."
"Oh. Er,...good." What was he going to do now? Could Mortority hurt
Dumbledore? or, even worse, was Dumbledore in on it? Mortority
interrupted his thoughts.
"Well, we were just about done here. Why don't I walk with you to your
dorm, Harry?" Before Harry could object, Dumbledore said,
"Excellent. I'll see you in the morning Harry." Harry didn't answer as
Mortority walked to the door and held it open. Harry glared at him as he
passed, then Dumbledore's voice mad him turn.
"Harry, if you need to talk to me, come at any time." Those blue eyes
seemed to look right through him. Harry nodded, and felt himself go cold
as Mortority gripped his shoulder and steered him from the room.
They walked down the corridors in total silence, Harry gripping his wand
in his pocket the whole time. Heart hammering as they approached the Fat
Lady, he pulled away from Mortority. Mortority grabbed his arm and spun
him around. Harry pulled out his wand and it's point rested against the
Death Eater's neck. Harry felt a similar pressure at his own neck. They
glared at each other, inches apart for a minute, before Mortority began to
laugh. He let go of Harry, and laughed so hard Harry was sure Filch
would be along. Wiping a tear from his eye, Mortority said,
"Oh, I can see why he picked you, Potter. You really do have that spark in
you." Harry backed away towards the portrait. Mortority got control of
himself. "But," he said, " We can't have disobedience." He raised his
wand and Harry ducked. "Muteosia!" Nothing happened. As Harry looked
at him, Mortority raised his wand again. He opened his mouth, and Harry
saw him mouthe the word "Crucio!", before the pain hit. He couldn't even
hear his own screams. He was released from he curse and lay panting on
the floor. Mortority stood over him.
"A simple spell. Just muted the sound for a few minutes. Wouldn't want
to wake everyone up on their first night would we? Don't try to disobey
again. No-one is safe from me, because I have their trust. Trust is a very
useful weapon, Harry, one I will teach you to use." He stood straight
again.
"Until tomorrow then!" He said brightly before striding away.
Half an hour later, Harry felt strong enough to get up. He had been left
weaker then before, and felt shaky. His one hope, Dumbledore, was gone.
Either he knew what was happening and was doing nothing, or Mortority
was close enough to him to be able to hurt him. Harry refused to believe
the first one, but it left him in no better position. He slowly walked the last
few yards to the Fat Lady, then said the password, "Horntail". As the door
swung open, Harry heard someone giggling, or more, precise, two
someone's. He looked around, and sat on one of the squishy couches by
the fire was Ron and Hermione. They seemed oblivious he was there, and
were still laughing at something Ron had said when he got next to them.
"Harry!" Explained Ron. Harry noticed him inch away from Hermione.
"Er....we waited up for you, but you were gone so long...." Ron trailed off,
ears tinged pink.
"Yeah. I had to talk to Dumbledore."
"Everything alright?" asked Hermione, also a bit pink. Harry thought to
himself how completely un-alright he was, how shaky he felt from the
curse, the fear he had for everyone, and the anxiety over Sirius's
disappearance.
"Everything's fine." he said, then walked straight to bed.
Harry was woken up by Ron the next morning.
"Wow, you never sleep longer than me!" said Ron, laughing. Harry almost
said he had never felt so tired as last night, but stopped himself.
"Ummm. Weird." Ron wandered back to his bed. Harry heard the sounds
of the other boys getting up, sounds of "I don't want to get up gran!" and
covers being pulled over heads. Ron pointed to Harry's bedside table.
"What's that?" He was pointing at the strange glowing crystal that Hagrid
had given Harry for his birthday. Harry told Ron he didn't know what it
was.
"Well, we could go visit him later and ask."
"Ok." Ron gave him a searching look.
"Is everything ok with you? Are you worried about Sirius?"
"I keep telling you. Everything's fine, I'm just tired is all." Ron looked at
him a moment longer then shrugged and went to get dressed.
Breakfast was very noisy that morning. The rules for the Geolite
competition had been posted. Harry wasn't very interested, he didn't feel
like being in another competition. Even so, Ron told him excitedly about
the rules.
"So all the people from each house compete against each other in the
separate years. Duels and stuff. Then the people that win each year go up
against each other till there's a person from each house. Then they fight it
out for the wish!"
"You don't have to sound so excited about fighting, Ron." Said Hermione.
Ron stuck his tongue out at her, and instead of scolding him, she laughed.
Harry glanced between them, wondering if they knew they were behaving
differently, but Ron saw him and just said, "What?!?" Further up the
table, Dean was telling Fred how he'd revised really hard that summer,
and was going to compete. Fred said he'd use what he'd been working on
that summer to compete. Harry thought of all those joke wands, it would
be pretty easy to win a duel against a rubber chicken. Ginny said she was
going to enter as well.
"I don't think I'd be very good." Said Neville.
"Sure you would!" Seamus was saying. "You just need some practice!"
Hermione turned to Harry. "Well I'm not entering. We need to study for
the O.W.L's!" You aren't entering are you Harry?"
"No."
"Oh come on Harry it'll be a laugh!" Ron had already told him he was
entering.
" I don't think so." said Harry in monotone. Hermione jabbed Ron in the
ribs. Seamus had apparently been listening because he then said,
"See Neville! Plenty of people to help you prepare! Harry's not entering.
You'll help won't you Harry?" Harry looked between them, Seamus
looking pleading, Neville looking embarrassed.
"Um.....sure."
"Great!" Said Seamus and Ron together.
Conversation was stopped as the delivery owls flew in. Harry looked
around for a flash of white or for any tropical birds, but saw nothing.
Hermione gave him a sympathetic look, then reached for her Daily
Prophet. When she read the front page the colour drained from her face.
"Herm?" asked Ron. "What is it?" Harry wasn't sure he wanted to know.
She handed him the paper wordlessly.
*SIRIUS BLACK ONCE AGAIN EVADES MINISTRY!!!
The infamous murderer, Sirius Black, was spotted last Sunday
by a member of the public, who immediately informed the
Ministry. Magical enforcers were on the scene seconds later and
a dramatic chase ensued. Unfortunately, the criminal once again
escaped. However, the means of this escape remain a mystery.
The enforcers were only a few steps behind Black when he
rounded a corner. He had gone seconds later. It was not possible
for him to apperate as an anti apparition charm had been set up
as soon as the call was received.*
Harry scanned the rest of the article, but it told him nothing. If Sirius had
transformed, would they have overlooked a big black dog? Maybe. Then it
could be true, maybe Sirius was fine, he really was just hiding out, his
disappearance had nothing to do with Voldemort. Even as he told himself
this, he remembered he'd had no letter, and he could feel Mortority
watching him.
SSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS
Author's notes: Oooooo, things are getting complicated. Thought I'd
forgotten Hagrid's present didn't you? Well, believe it or not that is, or at
least will be, a very important part of the story. I now there wasn't much
action in this part but in later parts there will be big dollops of it. Also will
be some different points of view and more R/H. Anyhoo, please R&R, I
like to know at least someone is interested! Oooo, and once again thanks to
all the lovely reviewers.