A/N: Sorry that took so long, but, for some reason, my teachers have gone crazy and assigned lots of HW and tests! Aaaaaahhhh...... Anywaz! Sorry if you find this short, but I only have an hour to type this, and I have a history test tomorrow. Thanks for reading and please review!
Chapter Seven
Betrayal
Harry spent the next few days in a state of shock. He, Harry Potter, a part of an ancient prophecy? Impossible! But something deep down seemed to feel that this all was right. Harry had analyzed this part of himself whenever he felt he had nothing else to do. It seemed an extension of himself, but.....foreign at the same time. How could that be? With a start, Harry realized this feeling of acceptance, of age-old wisdom, had begun with his first meeting with the man who had claimed to be Merlin. Harry, tired of lounging around Madame Pomfrey's spotless office, decided a trip to the library was in order. Maybe he'd be able to dig something up on Merlin and this Order of the Phoenix.
Harry hopped out of the clean linen bed that Madame Pomfrey had insisted he stay in, though he felt perfectly fine. "Harry? Where are you going?" demanded Madame Pomfrey. "Just to the library," said Harry calmly. "Just the library, huh?" Madame Pomfrey smirked. Harry felt a pang of regret. Had he developed that strong of a reputation for disobeying rules? Really, each time he had broken some restriction, it had been to save the school, or a life, or something like that. Heroic stuff. "Just the library," said Harry uprighteously. "You shouldn't be up and running about so soon after your....er....episode," Madame Pomfrey hedged. She was referring to Harry's brief "zoning out." "Let him go," rumbled a voice from the door. Both Harry and Madame Pomfrey turned their heads. It was Professor Dumbledore. "I'm sure he must be curious about the turn of events," said Dumbledore kindly with a nod toward Harry. "Thanks!" stammered Harry and, without further ado, rushed out of the room.
"Really! Was that necessary?" said Madame Pomfrey. "The boy needs rest, maybe a walk around the gardens..." "Poppy, you know we must keep him indoors, especially with Voldemort around," said Dumbledore seriously. "You should be thankful Harry doesn't feel an urge to visit the Weaselys, or go for a walk in the Forbidden Forest! He's best protected within the castle walls. After all, it is the place where Merlin drew his last breathe..." Madame Pomfrey gasped. "Here? In this castle? How extraordinary." She mumbled to herself. "I still think he needs a walk around the grounds" she said stoicly before quickly leaving the room, and Dumbledore gazed thoughtfully after her before going off to search for Harry.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Harry was ecstatic. He had previously been sifting through a few harmless books that had told him absolutely nothing when Dumbledore had arrived and allowed him access to a few books in the forbidden section. "Really?" Harry had gasped. "You need to know more about your past and future," Dumbledore had stated. Harry couldn't have agreed more.
Harry had gathered up quite a pile of usually restricted books when Dumbledore motioned for him to stop. Harry eagerly sat down and opened a particularly ghastly looking book. The book was bound in worn, cracking leather, and a strange symbol that seemed oddly familiar glowed an unearthly blue. "What's this?" Harry asked, his fingers lightly tracing the symbol as he did so. It felt so good, and filled him with a sense of peace...with a jolt, Harry's eyes turned inward and his body slumped. "Harry?" Dumbledore gently nudged Harry before taking a good look into his face. With relief, Dumbledore noted that Harry's pulse was strong, though he was unusually pale. "How strange," Dumbledore thought to himself. "It's happening quicker than foretold."
Harry found himself, again, in a strangely familiar room, lighted by an odd torch or two. Rubbing his eyes, Harry was surprised that his glasses didn't get int he way. Harry catiously touched his own hand and felt it pass through. "Am I a ghost?" he mumbled out loud. "No Harry, you're very much alive," laughed Merlin. Harry looked up and wasn't surprised to see the old man again. "Merlin, right?" said Harry. "Correct, and you are Harry Potter. Now that we are, again, acquanted, take a seat," he motioned toward an elaborate wooden chair. Taking a seat ("Good, I didn't fall through, that would be embarrassing!" thought Harry), "How did I get here? One moment I was touching that strange symbol, the next, I'm here! Where is here anyway?" "So many questions, so little time," Merlin shook his head. "Harry, the danger is lurking closer than ever before. You must be prepared. The evil strikes soon. I'm about to teach you much in a short span of time. However," Merlin motioned about him, "time here is not the same as time in the real world, the world you live in. A mere minute here is an hour in your time. Therefore, I'll have to resort to quicker means."
With his head bent, Merlin muttered a shaky incantation, and Harry caught but a few words of it, spoken in a language he couldn't understand. With a sudden shout, Merlin's gaze met Harry's startled eyes and a connection was formed of silvery blue light between their two gazes. Harry, frightened, could not turn his head, or even blink. "What's happening?!" he cried as knowledge suddenly came into his mind. Charms, curses... it all lept into his brain, but he understood none of it. After a few minutes of this, both Merlin and Harry slumped. As Harry felt himself spiral toward unconsciousness, he heard Merlin whisper, "You now have the knowledge, and it will reveal itself in time."
Harry opened his eyes to find himself again with Dumbledore and Madame Pomfrey. "Professor! I need to talk to you!" Harry's voice sounded hoarse to his own ears. His temples pounded from a montrous headache. Even an especially bad dream about Voldemort had never resulted in this sort of pain.
Madame Pomfrey leaned forward, eyes bright. "Well, speak up! What happened to you?"
Harry looked at her curiously. Madame Pomfrey had never displayed such interest before. "Poppy, please wait outside," said Dumbledore softly. Something flickered in her eyes. Harry thought, "Could it be anger?" But it was gone so fast, Harry could have forgotten what he had seen in seconds. However, he didn't... couldn't. That odd part of himself that had awakened only days ago told him this was important.
Once Madame Pomfrey had left, Harry began to ramble out what had happened. "....and then he started mumbling some charm of sorts. At first, I thought he was transferring some knowledge to me, because I felt all these spells I've never even heard of come to my lips. But it all faded quickly and I couldn't remember a thing. What does it mean?" Dumbledore thought hard to himself. "I believe," he stated, "it's time for you to actually get some research done."
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Madame Pomfrey, once expelled from the room, quickly ran to the kitchen, now devoid of those helpful house elves. Poppy sighed to herself. It had been Dumbledore's idea to send the elves to a summer home, insisting he and the few other teachers staying in the castle over the summer could cook their own meals. If she had her own way, this place would be teaming with house elves, at all times of the year. "Dumbledore's a fool," she thought to herself spitefully.
Poppy quickly reached for a bag of magical dust she kept hidden on her upper arm under her robes at all times. "If Dumbledore ever found it"....she shuddered. "But he won't" she corrected herself. Casting a quick peep around, she quickly performed a sealing charm to keep unsuspecting teachers away while she dashed a small pinch of the dust into the kitchen fire. She was relieved when the green flame flared.
"He hasn't abandoned me," she thought, a gust of feeling rushing through her body. A face had appeared in the flames. "What news have you, my sweet?" questioned the man. Though his words were kind, it did nothing to hide the harsh coldness of his voice. "Oh, Lord Voldemort! The time is at hand!" cried Poppy raptuously.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
A/N (2) Hahahahaha! You guys thought the last chapter was a cliffhanger.... Once again, sorry it was soooooo short.
Chapter Seven
Betrayal
Harry spent the next few days in a state of shock. He, Harry Potter, a part of an ancient prophecy? Impossible! But something deep down seemed to feel that this all was right. Harry had analyzed this part of himself whenever he felt he had nothing else to do. It seemed an extension of himself, but.....foreign at the same time. How could that be? With a start, Harry realized this feeling of acceptance, of age-old wisdom, had begun with his first meeting with the man who had claimed to be Merlin. Harry, tired of lounging around Madame Pomfrey's spotless office, decided a trip to the library was in order. Maybe he'd be able to dig something up on Merlin and this Order of the Phoenix.
Harry hopped out of the clean linen bed that Madame Pomfrey had insisted he stay in, though he felt perfectly fine. "Harry? Where are you going?" demanded Madame Pomfrey. "Just to the library," said Harry calmly. "Just the library, huh?" Madame Pomfrey smirked. Harry felt a pang of regret. Had he developed that strong of a reputation for disobeying rules? Really, each time he had broken some restriction, it had been to save the school, or a life, or something like that. Heroic stuff. "Just the library," said Harry uprighteously. "You shouldn't be up and running about so soon after your....er....episode," Madame Pomfrey hedged. She was referring to Harry's brief "zoning out." "Let him go," rumbled a voice from the door. Both Harry and Madame Pomfrey turned their heads. It was Professor Dumbledore. "I'm sure he must be curious about the turn of events," said Dumbledore kindly with a nod toward Harry. "Thanks!" stammered Harry and, without further ado, rushed out of the room.
"Really! Was that necessary?" said Madame Pomfrey. "The boy needs rest, maybe a walk around the gardens..." "Poppy, you know we must keep him indoors, especially with Voldemort around," said Dumbledore seriously. "You should be thankful Harry doesn't feel an urge to visit the Weaselys, or go for a walk in the Forbidden Forest! He's best protected within the castle walls. After all, it is the place where Merlin drew his last breathe..." Madame Pomfrey gasped. "Here? In this castle? How extraordinary." She mumbled to herself. "I still think he needs a walk around the grounds" she said stoicly before quickly leaving the room, and Dumbledore gazed thoughtfully after her before going off to search for Harry.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Harry was ecstatic. He had previously been sifting through a few harmless books that had told him absolutely nothing when Dumbledore had arrived and allowed him access to a few books in the forbidden section. "Really?" Harry had gasped. "You need to know more about your past and future," Dumbledore had stated. Harry couldn't have agreed more.
Harry had gathered up quite a pile of usually restricted books when Dumbledore motioned for him to stop. Harry eagerly sat down and opened a particularly ghastly looking book. The book was bound in worn, cracking leather, and a strange symbol that seemed oddly familiar glowed an unearthly blue. "What's this?" Harry asked, his fingers lightly tracing the symbol as he did so. It felt so good, and filled him with a sense of peace...with a jolt, Harry's eyes turned inward and his body slumped. "Harry?" Dumbledore gently nudged Harry before taking a good look into his face. With relief, Dumbledore noted that Harry's pulse was strong, though he was unusually pale. "How strange," Dumbledore thought to himself. "It's happening quicker than foretold."
Harry found himself, again, in a strangely familiar room, lighted by an odd torch or two. Rubbing his eyes, Harry was surprised that his glasses didn't get int he way. Harry catiously touched his own hand and felt it pass through. "Am I a ghost?" he mumbled out loud. "No Harry, you're very much alive," laughed Merlin. Harry looked up and wasn't surprised to see the old man again. "Merlin, right?" said Harry. "Correct, and you are Harry Potter. Now that we are, again, acquanted, take a seat," he motioned toward an elaborate wooden chair. Taking a seat ("Good, I didn't fall through, that would be embarrassing!" thought Harry), "How did I get here? One moment I was touching that strange symbol, the next, I'm here! Where is here anyway?" "So many questions, so little time," Merlin shook his head. "Harry, the danger is lurking closer than ever before. You must be prepared. The evil strikes soon. I'm about to teach you much in a short span of time. However," Merlin motioned about him, "time here is not the same as time in the real world, the world you live in. A mere minute here is an hour in your time. Therefore, I'll have to resort to quicker means."
With his head bent, Merlin muttered a shaky incantation, and Harry caught but a few words of it, spoken in a language he couldn't understand. With a sudden shout, Merlin's gaze met Harry's startled eyes and a connection was formed of silvery blue light between their two gazes. Harry, frightened, could not turn his head, or even blink. "What's happening?!" he cried as knowledge suddenly came into his mind. Charms, curses... it all lept into his brain, but he understood none of it. After a few minutes of this, both Merlin and Harry slumped. As Harry felt himself spiral toward unconsciousness, he heard Merlin whisper, "You now have the knowledge, and it will reveal itself in time."
Harry opened his eyes to find himself again with Dumbledore and Madame Pomfrey. "Professor! I need to talk to you!" Harry's voice sounded hoarse to his own ears. His temples pounded from a montrous headache. Even an especially bad dream about Voldemort had never resulted in this sort of pain.
Madame Pomfrey leaned forward, eyes bright. "Well, speak up! What happened to you?"
Harry looked at her curiously. Madame Pomfrey had never displayed such interest before. "Poppy, please wait outside," said Dumbledore softly. Something flickered in her eyes. Harry thought, "Could it be anger?" But it was gone so fast, Harry could have forgotten what he had seen in seconds. However, he didn't... couldn't. That odd part of himself that had awakened only days ago told him this was important.
Once Madame Pomfrey had left, Harry began to ramble out what had happened. "....and then he started mumbling some charm of sorts. At first, I thought he was transferring some knowledge to me, because I felt all these spells I've never even heard of come to my lips. But it all faded quickly and I couldn't remember a thing. What does it mean?" Dumbledore thought hard to himself. "I believe," he stated, "it's time for you to actually get some research done."
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Madame Pomfrey, once expelled from the room, quickly ran to the kitchen, now devoid of those helpful house elves. Poppy sighed to herself. It had been Dumbledore's idea to send the elves to a summer home, insisting he and the few other teachers staying in the castle over the summer could cook their own meals. If she had her own way, this place would be teaming with house elves, at all times of the year. "Dumbledore's a fool," she thought to herself spitefully.
Poppy quickly reached for a bag of magical dust she kept hidden on her upper arm under her robes at all times. "If Dumbledore ever found it"....she shuddered. "But he won't" she corrected herself. Casting a quick peep around, she quickly performed a sealing charm to keep unsuspecting teachers away while she dashed a small pinch of the dust into the kitchen fire. She was relieved when the green flame flared.
"He hasn't abandoned me," she thought, a gust of feeling rushing through her body. A face had appeared in the flames. "What news have you, my sweet?" questioned the man. Though his words were kind, it did nothing to hide the harsh coldness of his voice. "Oh, Lord Voldemort! The time is at hand!" cried Poppy raptuously.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
A/N (2) Hahahahaha! You guys thought the last chapter was a cliffhanger.... Once again, sorry it was soooooo short.