Author's Note: It occurs to me that in the first two chapters I posted no disclaimers or anything. I apologize and make amends for this oversight now.
Disclaimers: We all know none of this is mine, right? I am a poor student with no money please don't sue me. You will get diddily and squat anyway. (couldn't put bad words because of the kiddies. ^^) Likewise, Cendre De L'Enfant is entirely my own creation. Her name is obviously French and for those interested, it translates to: Ash of the Child. This wasn't intentional but it has spawned many of the nasty thing that begin to development in this chapter.
Well, enough of my babbling. On to the story. :]
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Harry dreamt of being held in his mother's warm embrace as the young man he had become, not the barely aware infant he had been. He smiled wistfully at his father's retreating form. How was it that dreams could be so cruel?
In a blaze of green-black streaked flames, his father vanished dissolving into a pile of glittering ashes.
His strangled screams of terror were lost in his mother's sobs as she shielded him with her own body to prevent Voldemort from engulfing him in the jet black flames. She dissolved into ashes as well as Harry could only watch.
He howled at the sight of pale-faced Voldemort through his tears helpless as his dark wand, twin to his own, touched his brow.
He gritted his teeth and waited for the scar to burn his flesh. He gasped as the emerald green and ebony flames began to cover his arms, his legs, his face. He screamed until he faded way into ashes as well.
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Harry jolted awake and let out panicked whimpers into his pillow until the fear subsided.
He was still here...still alone...but still here.
No one else had seemed to notice his cries of distress. His eyes wandered over to Neville who was whimpering timidly in his sleep.
He grabbed his robes from the end of the bed and sat by the window for a few minutes watching the far away stars in the sky before he left the tower for Gryffindor and went out into one of the long winding corridors. He certainly couldn't sleep after that unpleasantness.
A figure entered the corridor he was in making only a small sound as whoever it was moved a large door aside and stepped out into the faint moonlight. He caught a wisp of ghost-pale hair before he moved behind a bust of an old wizardly gentleman.
"Who's there?" A melodious voice asked somewhat timidly.
He came out from where he had hidden and tried to look apologetic. "Sorry....Professor De L'Enfant..."
She shook her head and smiled pulling her white velvet robes around her and clutching the small lantern in her hands.
"I'm sorry. I thought you were Filch. I almost forgot that I taught here now. If you can believe it. I couldn't sleep so I was going to sneak into the library for some reading material," she confessed slightly embarassed before regaining a more somber expression.
Harry blinked. She was worse than Hermione. "I..I couldn't sleep either."
She cocked her head for a moment studying him. Are you alright, dear?"
He nodded shakily not trusting himself to speak.
She frowned and then smiled gently. "Well, since you're up, you can help me carry the books to my room then."
Harry chuckled despite himself. "Ummm...if you like, Professor."
"It means more books for me. Then I can make you some tea or something so you can go back to bed," She smiled and headed off towards the library.
He shrugged and followed her looking back every now and then hoping Filtch wouldn't come upon them....he didn't like that man or his cat.
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Cendre gathered some books and began filling in date cards for them among other things. She had spent so much time here that she knew exactly how to do everything that was required.
Harry oofed as he tried to lift the stack off the table. She chuckled turning around after finishing her paperwork.
"You don't need to carry all of them..." She bit back the "Mr. Potter."
She enjoyed formality but...it seemed rather out of place in this setting. Especially in regards to the young man in front of her who looked rather wane and scared by something. Perhaps bad dreams? She didn't pry though.
It had to be hard growing up with Muggles. Her stepmother and sisters had all been hideous examples of their cruelty. Yet he would make something of himself. If he was anything like his father or mother. She envied them both for their strength. Mostly Lily who hadn't needed to hide behind books or anyone else for that matter.
She took a good portion of them off of his pile and gently placed the lantern on the small stack he was left with. She hefted the rest and chuckled as Harry looked a bit surprised. She imagined he would be. She was a bit stronger than she looked although not much.
"And now on to tea and sleep for you."
"Okay," Harry said waiting for her to lead the way.
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Harry decided that he rather liked his new professor. She seemed a good deal more approachable than most. He gently set the books on the small table near the door looked around him.
There was a small hearth over which hung a large painting that struck him as being of Greek people. He didn't really know. He wasn't too much into art. Hermione would have he was sure.
Over the hearth were some scrolls with small--what he presumed to be--Chinese characters on them and small urn-like vases.
In the far corner of the room was a desk heaped with books and near the edge of it facing the room was a picture of a woman that reminded him of the Professor on the wall. Only her eyes were of a paler blue than any he had ever seen and her hair was so pale it was almost a glittering silver. She smiled wistfully at him and bent to pick up some small white flowers.
"Ah. I see you've found the picture of my mother." Professor De L'Enfant said as she set her books down.
"She's..lovely," he said softly.
"Yes, she was."
"Oh. I'm sorry," Harry said feeling a tad guilty for instigating sad memories. Or what he thought would be sad memories.
"It's all right," she said smiling at him and patting his shoulder.
She slipped a kettle over the hearth and motioned him towards one of the chairs next to it. He noticed a small tree just outside of the room. Its leaves were beginning to turn a light gold and he was startled to see that her hair in the firelight seemed about the identical color.
She smiled sitting down and nodded noticing his observance.
"I should probably explain to all of you at some point. I am not completely human. I am part nymph. I am reluctant however in lieu of creating problems."
"Wow. I mean, oh." Harry said flushing a bit.
"It's quite all right. I just undergo changes as the leaves change. I won't loose my hair of course but there will be small ones. My eyes, my hair. My mother underwent massive changes. Some were rather frightening I thought when I was little."
Harry mused that the position of Defense Against the Dark Arts Professor seemed to attract a lot of odd ones...but...then again that probably came from living with dreadful Muggles like his uncle, aunt, and Dudley.
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"Are you feeling a bit better?" She asked him tending to the now boiling water and carrying the kettle to the small table between their chairs to make them both some tea.
"Yes, thanks." He said softly.
"I'm glad." She said pouring the water into a teacup. "Would you some sugar or honey for your tea?"
"No, thanks."
"Don't be nervous, you can ask questions if you have them or talk if you like," she replied handing him the saucer and a small spoon.
He was so polite and sweet. It was rather nice. He reminded her so much of James.
"I can't think of anything at the moment," Harry said with a small shrug. "Thank you for the tea though."
"You make me feel like I'm back home in Japan with all of your 'thank yous'," she chided teasingly. "Since its just the two of us, how about you call me Cendre and I'll call you Harry?"
"I....Okay. If it's all right with you."
"It is. It would put me more at ease," She said with a pleasant smile.
"You're from Japan?" Harry asked after nodding.
She chuckled. "Most recently. Originally from France. At least my mother was. My father is a rather unpleasant story."
"I've never been....well, anywhere," Harry said feeling a bit ashamed. "Except stupid zoos with my cousin Dudley." He added gloomily.
"You will, dear. I imagine you'll go just about everywhere if that's what you want," She said smiling. "Though sometimes I wish I had somewhere to stay more permanently."
"I guess. Just not with my family," Harry said darkly.
Cendre chuckled in spite of herself. "You sound so much like Lily."
"Like mom?" Harry said with increasing interest. "Really?"
"Really," Cendre said nodded. "She loved her family as best she could except your aunt I'm afraid. Though mostly I think that was Petunia's fault."
Harry nodded. "I believe it."
"Don't worry. You have so much ahead of you. I wasn't nearly as strong as your mother or your father and I didn't do too bad. You'll do so much. Maybe even more than them. They'd be so proud of you, Harry."
She stopped herself. "Oh...dear..I'm sorry."
He smiled. "No it's all right. Thank..thank you."
"You're quite welcome, but look at the time," she said glancing up at the small green dragon-shaped clock on the table beside the door. "You ought to sleep. You have class tomorrow come to think of it so I have to teach tomorrow."
Harry finished his tea and set the empty cup and saucer on the table. "I'll try."
"See that you did," she said affecting sternness.
He smiled at her cheerfully. "Okay, Professor De L'Enfant."
She chuckled and motioned him out the door.
She shook her head closing behind him. She could imagine he was having bad dreams at times what with the tragic death of his parents. She hoped it would rest easier now.
She looked over at the picture of her mother, but it was empty again. She never saw her in the picture anymore. She was surprised that Harry had seen her, but not too much. She missed her so very much as she looked out the window at her small tree bending gently in the wind.
She sighed softly and went over to her bed. She took her wand from the drawer next to her bed and chanted a small charm to insure that Harry got at least some pleasant dreams before nodding off herself.
The poor thing had enough problems without nightmares to boot, she thought tucking her wand beneath her pillow.
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