And When The Dawn Begins
Chapter 7 - A Friend in need…
If the Quidditch match was anything to go by, then things were much as they ever were at Hogwarts, but if you were to spend five minutes with some of the castle's inhabitants, it would become painstakingly clear that everything was not what it seemed. The tension, which had been created within the walls, albeit by an unseen force, was unmistakingly affecting people's day-to-day lives. While it was not the case that Voldemort had made a public appearance himself, he was having an effect - one which was widely enough spread, thanks to his growing numbers of followers - to not need to be seen. The people who generally made decisions of the sort had decided to be extremely truthful with the students, and whilst this meant the young pupils were not in a state of falsified ease, they were slightly, to say the least, terrified. At this time in the predicament, nothing had really happened within the school, but the three remaining houses treated the Slytherins with a larger amount of fear than they had in the past, knowing full well who Voldemort was more likely to gain as followers.
If the Slytherins were treated more carefully, Harry found that he was being followed around by an increasing number of students, and in particular, the 1st Years. He tried upon several occasions to avoid them, or to explain that wherever he went, trouble was more likely to follow than anywhere else, but they were having none of it. However, if he couldn't get rid of the younger students, Harry had certainly succeeded in his plan to put distance between himself and his 'friends', namely Ron and Hermione, along with most of the other Gryffindors for safety. Ron and Hermione, although completely mystified by their friend's actions, had given up, and stayed away, as it seemed to be what he wished for. They had tried on several occasions to fix whatever the problem could be, but not knowing exactly what the situation was made this a fairly difficult task. Harry sat by himself at breakfast, lunch and dinner, as well as in the common room. Several people had tried to involve him in things, but Harry was having none of it, and so the students had decided that he wanted to be left alone, Quidditch being the only reason he talked to anybody at all.
Harry had, eventually, although reluctantly, accepted the fact that he was captain, and, with the help of the other members of the team, was becoming quite good at writing plays. He still, however felt a little awkward ordering around the players, the majority of who were two years older than him. They seem to take it well though, and encouraged him to take more control over situations. It was the team, and only the team, who seemed to see the normal side of Harry on a daily basis, as well as, perhaps, the first years that seemed to have placed themselves in his care, which he didn't have the heart to shout at. Both these parties were more than a little puzzled at the way Harry was acting towards everyone else, especially the two people who were formerly his two best friends, but didn't like to interfere.
**
"Same time tomorrow, Harry?"
"Yup – sure, actually – make it half an hour later, I've got potions, and no doubt the lesson will carry on past the end."
"Right then. Ah – the tour group has arrived, Mr. Potter – are you ready?"
Harry threw a glance over his shoulder, and, upon seeing the small gaggle of first years which had taken to following him, groaned and threw an annoyed look at Fred.
"I wouldn't mind, but they don't seem to get that they're probably in more danger following me than anybody else!"
"Don't worry, Harry – they'll disappear eventually, give it some time."
"Yeah, well, maybe I'll go this way, and avoid them for a bit."
"What you doing for Lunch?"
"Dunno – I've got these plays to work on, as well as a Divinations Essay. I'll probably grab something an then head for the library."
With that, Harry set off, heading vaguely for the hall, whilst trying to avoid being spotted by his very persistent followers. Fred and George stood and watched as he walked off, a small gaggle forming around him.
"He's being very patient with those kids, isn't he? If that were me, they'd all have seen my ugly side a long time ago.."
"Well, at least he's being nice to somebody."
"I don't get it, really. He's so happy around us, but he seems to go into some sort of stupor around anybody else."
"I always thought Quidditch was just a sport, but it seems to be sort of a separation from the normal world to Harry – don't you think?"
"I guess – although it seems a lot more obvious recently – I guess all of what's going on is really putting a lot of pressure on him."
"Maybe that's why he's so distant from the others?"
"Maybe."
"You know what."
"What?"
"This has got to be the first serious conversation we've ever had."
"Scary."
"True."
"True."
( Does anybody else have that damn Budweiser advert constantly stuck in their heads?)
"Maybe we are getting too old for messing about."
"Maybe."
They looked at each other.
"Nah"
Following this, the twins ran back to the castle, laughing maniacally all the way.
**
Harry reached the hall and sat down, helping himself to a sandwich. He noticed, sadly, just how well his plan had worked. He was given a clearance of a seat on either side, and sat in silence. This is for the best, he told himself for the thousandth time, the best for everyone.
"Except you," a small voice inside his head said.
Harry ignored the voice, and, taking a sandwich 'for the road', he got up quickly to avoid being noticed, and headed for the library, where he had to sit in silence as a rule, not just because nobody was talking to him.
**
The following weeks came and went without anybody noticing, and suddenly, Christmas snuck up on Hogwarts, taking many students by surprise. Harry, as per usual, was staying at Hogwarts for Christmas, although this time it was through lack of options rather than choice. Ron, perhaps because he wanted to see his family, but more likely because of the arguments with Harry, had opted to go home this Christmas. Hermione, however, had been forced to stay at school, as her parents were visiting her sick grandmother, and wouldn't be able to take her.
"You could always come to our house for the holidays, Hermione."
"I don't want to impose, Ron – Christmas is a family time."
"I just don't know what you'll do around here. Hardly anyone is staying – there's only Harry from our year, and he's hardly going to be good for a conversation."
"Ron – I'll be fine – you never know, maybe Harry'll come around during the holidays, he's always liked Christmas before."
"I didn't get him a present – it's really odd, I almost bought him something, but then I remembered."
"I know. The thing is, I don't even know what we've done – Harry never argues with us – ok, occasionally – but it's usually us two."
"Why don't you try talking to him during the holidays, it's probably me he's really mad at."
"I will do, but, make sure you owl me lots – I don't want to live in silence for 2 weeks."
"Don't worry – I will, I'll send Pigwidgeon."
"And make sure you get all your work done, I won't be there to make sure that you.."
"Ok, Hermione, I will – honestly – don't you think of anything else?"
"Well we've got our Owls this year – you don't want to fail….Ron?..Are you listening?.."
**
By the time everybody had left that day, it was almost 11 o'clock, and most people were considering going to bed. Harry, however, ever the exception, was avoiding sleep as long as was humanly possible, knowing the kind of dreams it brought, having been doing so for weeks. He was currently sat in a large chair in the common room, curled up in an effort to stay warm, the room being particularly cold as it was the middle of December. (If any of you have spent a winter in Britain, never mind Scotland – you'll know what I mean. I'm frozen now, it's October, and I'm sat by a heater.) He was desperately trying to stay awake, and in an attempt to do so, had turned to the last resort, reading Hogwarts: A History. He was currently reading the section on its apparition wards, which made him think of Hermione, and her constant insistence that he should read this book. He smiled at the thought, and wondered what she would say if she knew he was finally getting around to reading it, or for that matter, what Ron would say if he knew Harry was reading it.
Half an hour later, and Harry realised just why he had never got around to reading this particular book, although he clearly wasn't thinking about that as he drifted off to sleep.
**
"Is the plan ready, Wormtail?"
"Yes, Lord, all is ready. We just await our 'helper' from within the castle, to be told of his mission."
"Ah – yes, our assistant. He will not be willing, I suppose?"
"No, my Lord, but that can be easily been fixed."
Voldemort's lips twisted into what could vaguely described as a smile, of sorts.
"Excellent. Soon, all will be right with the world."
"Of course, master."
"Bring my loyal servant in now, Wormtail."
"Yes, master."
Bowing quickly towards the throne at one the end of the room, Pettigrew scuttled to the grand door at the opposite end. He swung the heavy door on its hinges, and cringed as it squeaked - like something out of one of those old horror movies. He called to someone outside the door, and stood aside as Severus Snape entered.
"Ah, Snape, is there any news from the castle that old fool calls a school?"
"Very little, my lord, they are constantly vigilant, ready for an attack, but are yet to plan anything in retaliation."
"How very typical of Dumbledore, two wrongs do not a right make, one could say. Well, it will all work to our benefit in the end. Is that all?"
"I am afraid so, my Lord."
"Then leave us."
Severus bent low, and then swept from the room, closing the doors behind him.
"Fool." Voldemort said to the absent Snape. " He thinks he has me fooled, Wormtail, but remember this my servant.
Lord Voldemort knows all. Once the plan is finished, Severus will have outlived his usefulness, and can be disposed of."
Peter grinned. "Excellent, My Lord"
**
Hermione walked into the common room, late, as ever, coming from the library. She entered quietly, so as not to wake anybody. She was just heading up the stairs, when she noticed something in the common room. She realized with a start that it was Harry, sat in the chair furthest from the door, fitfully sleeping. She walked silently towards him, not wanting to wake him, even though it didn't look like he was sleeping particularly well. She sat on the sofa, watching, as Harry seemed to frown within his dream, and continued to struggle against something. She had only been sat there for a very short space of time when Harry sat up in the chair with a gasp, his glasses falling to the floor, his hand reaching for his forehead, hi face scrunched up in pain. He sat still for a minute, seeming to adjust to being awake, before reaching for a large book that was on his lap.
Hermione grinned, forgetting her concern slightly, when she saw what it was Harry was reading. She coughed, and then smiled as Harry's head snapped up. She innocently held out his glasses.
"If you're going to read it, I suggest you use these."
Harry grinned at her. Hermione blinked. That was the first time she had seen him smile like that in weeks, and she realised that it was something she had missed.
"How come you're down here?" she asked testily, hoping his good mood would continue, and that he wouldn't shut her off again.
"I couldn't sleep, so I was sat down here. I started reading this book, and I fell asleep – I think it means something."
"What?"
"This book is not one to read when you want to stay awake – it is far, far too boring."
Hermione looked at Harry, extremely surprised at his supposed turn in character.
"What do you mean, ' when you want to stay awake'?"
Harry shifted uncomfortably in his seat, and avoided looking at her.
"Harry? Look at me, Harry!" He turned his head. Hermione noticed for the first time, the dark rings under his eyes, and how pale his skin was.
"How much have you been sleeping?"
"Not much - I try to avoid it," Harry mumbled.
"Why?"
"The nightmares – I constantly have nightmares, with Voldemort, saying things, about his pla…"
He suddenly looked up at her, his face blank with surprise. He stood up quickly and walked towards the portrait hole.
"Harry! Where are you going?" HARRY"
When he refused to turn around, she walked up and grabbed his arm, spinning him around herself.
"Why do you keep acting like this? Why aren't you talking to us – to anyone?"
"You don't understand, Granger" he spat the words out, his face showing none of the anger his voice did. "Nobody understands – now excuse me, I have to go."
With that, Harry jumped through the portrait hole, leaving Hermione stood in complete bewilderment. Having just see the normal Harry for about 10 seconds, he had changed completely again. She held back the tears, and walked slowly up to her dormitory, aiming to fall asleep, not knowing whether she would be successful.
**
Harry leant up against the wall outside the portrait hole, smacking himself in the forehead.
"I nearly gave it away then", he grimaced. "Sleep obviously dulls your thinking."
He suddenly remembered the dream he had whilst sleeping, and rushed towards Snape's office. When he got there, he found it empty, and, after panicking for a short while, remembered that the professor was at Voldemort's hideout until a few minutes ago. He silently paced the floor outside, waiting, until he heard the door down the corridor open, and looked up.
"What are you doing up at this hour, Potter? I shall be telling McGonagall about this!"
"Sorry, Professor, I just thought you'd like to know what I found out in a dream."
Snape's face lost it's frown, and instead turned to a look of annoyance.
"You still believe in those dreams then, Potter? I never thought that you in partic-" "And I quote 'Very little, my lord, they are constantly vigilant, ready for an attack,' get the general idea?"
Snape's face was ashen, his mouth opened and shut several times before he seemed to regain control of his jaw.
"H-how-did-"
"I told you – my dreams are what is actually happening, I am not going through all of that again."
Snape's shocked look left his face, and one of frustration returned.
"What did you want to tell me then?" he snapped.
Harry's hardened look softened, and his eyes betrayed sadness.
"He knows. About you. After you left, he told Wormtail he knew, and that once the plan is finished, you can be disposed of."
All of this came out in a great rush of air, after which, Harry span around and walked briskly off. Snape stood in a state of shock, before he seemed to come to his senses.
"Potter!"
Harry turned around, expecting some sort of questioning.
"What?"
"Thank you, Harry."
And Harry would remain completely bewildered by those 3 words for the next few days.
**
On Christmas day, Harry received an owl from Sirius, to which he sent no reply. He knew that Sirius was in the building, in hiding somewhere, but he had no intention of excluding Sirius from his plans to separate himself from people.
He also received a small pack of chocolate frogs from Mrs Weasley, he expected Ron had tried to stop her from sending anything, but that she had sent him something anyway.
At the feast, all the teachers could be caught shooting more than the occasional glance towards Harry Potter, who, as he always was recently, was sat by himself at the end of the table. Harry was oblivious to all of this, of course, as he constantly stared at the food on his plate, perhaps wondering whether he was actually going to eat any of it. He was thinking of the dreams he was constantly having, trying desperately to put all the pieces of the puzzle together. What was the plan? Who was his helper? And why did Harry seem to spend most of his time talking to himself nowadays, or talking about himself in the third person? Wait. Scratch the last one.
Harry shook his head, and returned to concentrating on the food.
**
As Christmas finished, and students returned, Hermione couldn't help but notice that the numbers of students seemed to have increased. Perhaps more parents had sent their children for safely, she mused to herself. She was relieved, to say the least, when Ron returned, and finally provided some sort of conversation. She told him about Harry's odd turn, but he simply shrugged it off.
As glad as Hermione was to see Ron back, she couldn't help but think that he was acting strangely. He sometimes came over with a strange glazed look, or would disappear for periods of time. She didn't have long to think about this though, as she set to the task of the looming OWLS with much gusto.
**
"Things are coming to a head, Albus – don't you think we should tell Potter?"
"I think that he is well aware of the situation, Minerva, perhaps more than the rest of us."
"How long have we left?"
"Who knows, a month, a week , a day?"
"Could it really be so soon?"
"Voldemort has waited long enough, it seems. Dark force movements have increased, and people grow afraid."
"He couldn't get into the castle though?"
"Minerva, we thought he couldn't do last time, all it took was one person inviting him in, Quirrel, and he could come and go as he pleased."
"Surely, no-one would?"
"He has his ways, Minerva, he has his ways."
**
With all the students returned, the first few days were fairly hectic, but, soon, things returned to the same state of normality they had been in before the break. It was on a perfectly normal evening, a full moon, incidentally, although it had no bearing on events, when the events everyone had been fearing, came to take place. Harry was sat in a chair in the corner of the common room, keeping to himself, whilst most people around him talked happily.
He was just putting the finishing touches on his potions essay, when his scar first twinged. However, having grown used to it, he ignored it. He rolled up the parchment and put away his quill, sighing as he spilt a blob of ink on the floor. It was then that the second shock through his scar came, and this time, he noticed it, in fact, this time, he fell off his chair. The common room span around, to look at Harry, who was sat on the floor, a hand to his scar.
Fred walked up slowly, "Ok, Harry?"
"Y-yeah, fine – it's nothing, really."
Hermione turned to comment to Ron, but found that he was on another of his strange absences, and instead, looked at Harry, slightly concerned. Her thoughts were interrupted as Professor McGonagall's voice echoed through the room.
"All students are to remain in their common rooms, nobody is to leave – NOBODY!" There was a slight pause. "This means you, Potter."
Everyone glanced at Harry.
"I haven't moved – honest – I won't!"
The students looked at one another in amazement, excited and scared whispers spreading throughout the room.
The pain in Harry's scar doubled, and he bent over in agony.
"Out," he croaked, as everyone turned to look at him. "Everyone, get upstairs – NOW!"
Nobody moved.
"Get moving, come on – go!" He urged them to leave. "Fred, George, look , trust me – OK? Get everyone upstairs"
The twins looked at each other, and turned to usher people upstairs.
"I wouldn't do that if I were you."
Several screams echoed through the room, and all heads turned in the direction of the voice.
"No , I wouldn't do that, for I want everyone to be here, I want everyone to watch Potter's final downfall."
Harry walked calmly over to stand in front of Voldemort, acting more bravely than he felt, and spoke harshly
"Leave them out of this – this is between us."
"Oh, but it isn't Potter – do you want to now how I got in here? Perhaps we should ask my assistant?" He stepped aside. Harry blinked in horror.
"Ron?"
"That's right Potter – by pushing you friends away, you made it so much easier to use them" Harry stared, not believing what he was hearing.
"You think I didn't know? I have said it before, and I shall say it again – Lord Voldemort knows all."
"Harry?" Hermione asked timidly, "What's he talking about, Harry?"
"Now is not a good time, Hermione."
"You keep it up, even now Potter? Even though, if your friend had been at school, I couldn't have used him? He would have been at school, were you friends wouldn't he?"
Harry remained silent, aware of the danger of speaking out against this madman now. Not only for his own safety, but for that of the rest of the people in the room.
"No matter, I tire of this, and our time is short, no doubt Dumbledore will be along shortly, so we shall get this over with."
The common room gasped as Voldemort, eyes gleaming, pointed his wand at Harry, and formed the words Avada Kedavra. Harry felt the spell hit him, and he crumpled to the floor with a thud. There were several shouts from around the room, but Voldemort calmly walked over, kicking his enemy in the side. "And so it is finished."
No sooner had he spoken these words, than Harry reached an arm out and grabbed his wand. Voldemort looked only slightly surprised, and a little impressed.
"It seems you have overcome two of the three then, Potter, perhaps we should try it on one of your friends instead."
Voldemort nodded to the man on his left, who pointed his wand at one of the first years, shooting the formidable green light towards her. Harry reached out a hand, catching the spell himself. He again fell to the floor, but quickly regained his composure and stood up again.
"Enough of this game." Voldemort sneered, staring behind Harry.
Harry turned around to see the point where the snake eyes were looking.
He faced Ron, who held a candlestick raised in one hand. "Ron? What are you – don't Ron!" But it was of no use.
The candlestick was raised high above Harry's head, and dropped onto it, before he had time to react.
He dropped like a stone, a large slit forming on his forehead, from which blood slowly ebbed. Voldemort waved his hand at two of his 'companions', who lifted Harry's limp form between them, just as Dumbledore rushed through the portrait, followed by Snape and McGonagall.
"Too late, Dumbledore, the apparition fields are lifted, and now, we will be leaving. My thanks to Mr Weasley for his assistance."
With that, the group vanished from the building, and Ron's eyes slowly came into focus.
"What happened?" Dumbledore asked carefully.
There was a stunned silence, nobody sure what to say.
"Why am I holding a candlestick?" Ron asked in bewilderment.
"You just bloody whacked Harry over the head with it!"
"WHAT?"
"George, shut up, he didn't know what he was doing."
The twins continued to argue amongst themselves, whilst Hermione, pale from shock, tried to explain, shakily, what had just happened, to Ron. They were suddenly disturbed, as there was a flash, and a black lump crashed into the room.
"HARRY!" Hermione screamed, trying to rush over, before being stopped by Professor McGonagall.
"Colin," Dumbledore directed at Creevey, "Go and fetch Madame Pomfrey."
Colin slowly moved towards the portrait hole.
"Don't bother," Snape spoke up quietly, from his position crouched next to Harry, ho was still on his back.
"He's already dead."
Hermione shakily spoke, gradually growing slightly hysterical. "Are you sure ? He survived the killing curse twice just now – he can't be dead – it can't kill him!"
"No, Granger, the killing curse can't…."
Snape paused, seemingly gathering his wits. "But it seems a knife can." He rolled Harry over to reveal a small dagger sticking out of his chest.
"HARRY – NO!" Hermione screamed again.
Ron was white.
"Oh God, what've I done? I killed him!"
"That's not it."
All eyes, brimmed to the full with tears, turned towards Snape. "Albus, his forehead – they – they've, they've – his scar – they-"
Dumbledore looked at Harry's forehead, unmarked apart from the usual scar, and the dark mark emblazoned across it. He whisked one hand, and watched sadly as a sheet appeared over the body. He raised his hand over his eyes, and swept quickly from the room, leaving the rest stood in a silence, broken only by quiet sobbing.
Disclaimer – I own nothing – JK Rowling owns all.