Disclaimer: I don't own Harry Potter. That would violate anti-slavery laws.
In addition to the whispers flying around that Harry had single-handedly taken on ten 6th years and the Dark Arts professor at the same time without getting so much as a scratch, Harry had to contend with the Wards. Harry knew that they were the exact same wards as before, but having to do them day after day after day was getting tedious. It also seemed there wasn't anyone at the school to talk to.
He had just finished leading a group of Hufflepuff and Ravenclaw 2nd years back to the Great Hall, when Parvati Patil ran in screaming, "Someone help! Madame Pomfrey has been attacked!"
Harry looked around and noticed that Professor Snape had already left his shift – Harry was guarding the Great Hall, and was in charge. "Everyone, please calm down!" Harry yelled over the din. The students all made their way back to their seats, and Harry loudly said, "Please, remain calm." In a quieter voice, he said, "Parvati, I need your help. Will you?" Parvati nodded nervously, and Harry said, "I need you to go to potions class. Tell Professor Snape to lead the class back up here. Then, while I'm guarding everyone, he can ascertain what happened to Madame Pomfrey. Got it?"
Parvati nodded, and ran out from the hall. A long ten minutes later, Professor Snape stormed into the Great Hall followed by a frightened group of 1st years. "Stay here!" he hissed, and then ran back out the doors.
Harry looked around at the Great Hall. Almost all the students were terrified. The 1st year potions class Snape had brought back looked about ready to break down after a few students told them what had happened. I've got to calm these people down! Harry thought.
"OK! Everyone, we're going to play a little game…" Harry yelled, as everyone looked at him like he was crazy. Pomfrey was attacked, and he wanted to play a game?!
McGonagall didn't know how much more she could take. Teaching 1st year transfiguration was bad enough to begin with. Making it a double class combining Slytherin and Gryffindor made it ten times worse. After reverting Linda Simpson back from a gopher – her lab parter was even worse than Neville – she sighed as the class ended.
However, as she led the two classes back into the Great Hall, she was amazed by what she found. There were 20 large bright pink beach balls flying through the air, being whacked across the room by two different sides. And in the center of it all was Harry Potter.
"Potter! What is the meaning of this?" McGonagall yelled.
Harry looked a little afraid, but yelled, "Keep playing! Slytherin over here, Gryffindor on that end," and beckoned McGonagall over.
"What are you…" McGonagall started before Harry interrupted her.
"There's been an attack on Madame Pomfrey. Snape is investigating. But Parvati Patil yelled what happened to the whole hall, so they were all about ready to panic. I needed to calm them down and this was the first thing I thought of."
McGonagall looked around and had to admit the students didn't look too panicked. "Well," she replied, "couldn't you have just told them to calm down? This is ridiculous!"
Harry angrily replied, "There were over a hundred students in here, with no teacher! Do you think all of them will just listen to me and calm down?" Harry cooled himself a little and then asked, "Can I please go?"
McGonagall looked at him and admitted to herself that maybe they were asking a little much of Harry. Besides, he did manage to calm the students down. She nodded, and Harry let out a sigh as he left the Great Hall.
Harry walked away from the Great Hall, not really with a destination in mind. In the rush of events within the Great Hall, he hadn't really comprehended that there was another attack until now. It doesn't make much sense, he thought. Sure, Madame Pomfrey was outside the protection by the wards. But she was immune to Voldemort's possession. So she must have been attacked by someone else. But none of the students, well, none of the non-immune ones, were outside the care of the wards. Wait! What about Hannah Abbott? She hadn't been seen in awhile. She was skipping all her classes, and was no longer staying in the Hufflepuff commons. Did she attack Pomfrey?
Harry thought it certainly fit. But what did Voldemort hope to accomplish? He doubted whether Voldemort hoped to be able to kill him anymore. After all, Harry had to be one of the hardest targets to attack at the moment. He was one of only six people in Hogwarts that could create the ward which would protect a large area. He knew the Exorcism spell. And he could create a shield which would block spells from almost every wizard. Only one spell had ever penetrated his shield to date.
If Voldemort wasn't trying to kill him, what was he doing? There were far more susceptible places to attack than Hogwarts. Voldemort must want either someone or something within Hogwarts. But what?
Harry realized he certainly didn't have enough information to figure out what was going on, and sat down in a deserted corridor. On a whim, Harry summoned his trumpet and Hermione's music box. After starting Hey Jude up, Harry started playing the trumpet. Two hours later, Harry still hadn't managed to figure much of the song out. Groaning with disgust, Harry set the trumpet down and stopped the music. He sighed, and closed his eyes.
"Rough day, Harry"
Harry opened his eyes, and saw Dumbledore smiling down at him. Harry managed a weak grin and nodded. Dumbledore slowly sat down next to him. The two sat there for a minute before Dumbledore said, "So you found something to do alone?"
Harry looked over at the headmaster, who was holding Harry's trumpet in his hands. Figuring that the headmaster really wasn't expecting an answer, Harry let Dumbledore examine the instrument in silence. "Well," Dumbledore asked, "do you play it?" and held out the trumpet.
Harry started up Hey Jude yet again. Unfortunately, Harry couldn't play with the song any better when Dumbledore was around.
"Harry, do you know what a scale is?" Dumbledore asked. Harry nodded, and played the simple scale he figured out back at 4 Privet Drive.
"Ok, now play it in a different key," Dumbledore instructed.
Harry was confused and said, "What?"
"Start on a different note. Try to start on D this time." Harry tried the scale, but ran into problems when a few of the notes weren't right. It took a couple of tries, but Harry was able to slowly play the D scale going up. "Alright. Now start on F#."
Harry tried for about five minutes, and still wasn't able to go all the way up the scale. "That key is horrible!" Harry cried.
Dumbledore smiled and said, "That is the scale you need to know how to play this song." The headmaster then closed his eyes and snapped his fingers. Suddenly, lying on his lap was a simple little recorder. Dumbledore started the song over again, and brought his instrument up to his lips.
Harry's jaw fell, as Dumbledore played the song with only a few minor errors. As Dumbledore finished the song, Harry exclaimed, "How did you do that?"
Dumbledore explained, "Harry, like you, I didn't always know I was a wizard. I was 23 before I found out. I had already gone through school and found a job teaching music. Even after I found out, music has stayed with me. Although every year it seems harder to find a time for it."
Harry was turning Dumbledore's words over in his head. That explains a lot! He thought, like why people called him a Muggle-Lover. He actually spent 23 years of his life as one; how could he not be? And it explained why he said that music was 'a magic beyond anything we do here'. Harry wasn't surprised anymore that one of Dumbledore's favorite activities was listening to chamber music.
"Wait a minute! Hermione said that 'Hey Jude' came out around 1970. And you found out you were a wizard long before then. Have you ever even heard the song?"
Dumbledore didn't say anything and gave Harry his customary grin.
"But, how?" Harry sputtered. Dumbledore had played along with the song his first time, with only hearing it once before!
"Give it time, Harry. You'll get there," Dumbledore said. Harry was filled with admiration as Dumbledore slowly got up and walked back down the corridor. Maybe I should do what he says, and learn the scale, Harry thought. Without even realizing it, Harry had got his first lesson on the instrument.
By the next week, Harry had improved remarkably on Hey Jude, largely due to having finally mastered the F# scale, along with several of the simpler ones. As he walked back from yet another session, Harry looked at his watch. 9:23! Curfew is less than ten minutes away! Harry thought, hurrying up.
When he finally entered the common room, he saw Seamus and Dean playing wizard's chess over in the corner. Several of the 2nd and 3rd years were sitting by the fireplace discussing the Triwizard Tournament. Harry decided he didn't want to bother anyone, and would just go to bed a little early.
However, as soon as his head hit the pillow, he heard Seamus downstairs excitedly say, "Hi Parvati!" Harry grinned. Maybe if Seamus asked her out, he wouldn't have to worry about her bugging him anymore.
To Harry's confusion, Seamus's voice called out, "Parvati, is something the matter?"
Dean joined in and asked, "Parvati, you look odd. Are you feeling ok?" Harry sat up deciding to see what was going on.
However, before he could stand, Parvati opened the door and drew her wand. Harry's eyes widened and frantically searched for his wand. Parvati pointed it at him, but before she could say anything, Harry managed to find his and yell, "Repurgare!" Parvati fell into a heap on the floor.
Seamus and Dean entered the room, and grew alarmed as they saw Harry's face. Harry said quietly, "Stay back."
Parvati, however, didn't seem to be inclined to give Harry any more trouble. She shook her head, and said, "What… I… I think I need to go to the infirmary."
Harry was worried and asked, "Are you sure?"
Parvati seemed to recover and said, "Yes. I was… but I almost fully resisted. I think I can make it there. Pomfrey is back on her feet; she'll be able to help me."
"I'll take her there," volunteered Seamus.
"No," Harry replied, "she's in better shape to resist. After all, she was declared immune. You weren't"
"Will you come with me, Harry?" Parvati asked. Ordinarily, Harry would have suspected Parvati of asking him this to get him alone. But she was clearly terrified of what just happened.
Harry put his hand on her shoulder and said gently, "I'm sorry, Parvati. But if the wards are breaking down, I'll be needed here. You'll be safe; trust me."
Parvati still looked worried, but managed a weak smile and walked out of his room and exited the commons.
Seamus and Dean were looking at him, still wondering what was going on. Harry slowly said, "There was another attack. But you need to keep quiet. The last thing we need is the younger students to start panicking."
Harry could tell Seamus and Dean were worried. He didn't blame them; he was worried, too.
"What happened?!" demanded McGonagall, clearly alarmed at what Harry had just told her.
Harry looked around at the fellow Ward Wizards and said, "Another attack. Parvati entered my room and was about to curse me. I exorcised her, and she returned to normal."
McGonagall turned to the headmaster and asked, "Did the wards break down?"
Dumbledore shook his head and said, "No, the wards were up over the entire castle last night. What happened after you exorcised her, Harry?"
Harry answered, "She shook herself, like she was just getting over something. She told me that she almost completely resisted. It was a good thing – if she were any faster with her wand, I probably would've died. She went to the infirmary. I couldn't let anyone escort her, since she was the only other immune wizard in Gryffindor. And I couldn't leave, because I might be needed to cast a ward over the Gryffindor section."
Dumbledore thought a bit and then said, "Interesting. I should point out that Madame Pomfrey hasn't had any patients for the last week. Apparently Parvati was possessed again on the way there."
Harry let out a shiver – what had he put her through? Flitwick replied in a reedy voice, "What are we supposed to do? An immune student was taken over – while a ward was covering the castle."
Dumbledore thought some more. Finally, he ventured, "I believe that we will need to increase the strength of our wards. Larva Propulso!"
At Dumbledore's new spell, Harry felt a definite change come over the area. Instead of the prickling that came with the Exigo Larva, the new spell gave him a small jolt. There was the eerie feeling of magic in the air, which strongly reminded Harry of Olivander's Wand Shop his first year. Dumbledore quietly said, "I suggest you all practice this spell as well." Harry gulped, remembering the struggle his first day with the low intensity ward.
If Harry thought the first day of ward duties was difficult, he was ill prepared for what was in store for him. By the time he arrived at Defense Against the Dark Arts escorting his fellow Gryffindors and Ravenclaws, he could barely stand. Fleur gave him a gentle smile and said, "It's ok, Harry. You've can sit out this lecture and recover. I'll create the ward."
Harry muttered, "Thanks," and fell asleep at his bench.
A few of the students laughed. Fleur stunned Terry Boot and yelled "Constant Vigilance!"
Seamus gently woke Harry at the end of the class. What? Harry thought, It can't be 2 ½ hours already! I just went to sleep! Unfortunately, he had to wake up and escort the students back to the Great Hall and guard everyone there for several more hours.
By 7:50, Harry was completely worn out. He gestured ineffectually to the Gryffindors to follow him several times before Dean said, "Come on, Gryffindors! We need to follow Harry back up to the commons."
Harry grunted his thanks and began leading his charges back. Halfway, he stumbled and felt someone put his arm over their shoulder to lean on.
"Thanks, Seamus," Harry muttered.
"Er, I'm Dean."
Harry could only grunt.
"Man, you really are out of this," Dean muttered. Harry felt himself being gently laid back in his bed. He let go of his ward, which he doubted he could hold up any longer anyway.
Harry closed his eyes and relaxed. "He looks so peaceful there," murmured a voice which Harry barely recognized as Lavender's.
Not far away came a soft agreement, sounding like Parvati. Harry opened his eyes; sure enough, Parvati and Lavender were in his room, sitting down on Ron's bed and looking at him.
Parvati said gently to him, "I understand Harry. You need to get some sleep. We'll leave you alone."
"Wait, Parvati," Harry whispered. Parvati turned around, looking almost hopeful. What a floozy! Harry thought, but said, "What did it feel like? The possession, I mean."
Parvati was clearly confused, and asked, "What?"
Harry shut his eyes, and said, "Last night. You were possessed, and came into my room. I was just wondering what it felt like."
Parvati looked at him strangely and said, "I didn't come up to your room last night, did I?"
As Parvati looked at Lavender, who didn't have any idea what was going on either. Harry murmured, "Oh. You can't remember," before falling to sleep.
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Ariel: Trust me, I'm going to be pushed enough just getting everything done by the 21st. Agh! It's only 17 days! About Dumbledore… I toyed with having him do a shield spell against Harry towards the end of the Two Draughts, but it would go against the main point. The main point isn't that Harry has power, or Dumbledore has power, it's that there are more important things than power itself. That's why Dumbledore didn't test Harry that way, and why I showed at least one way the spells could be defeated (Ginny can create a shield for Harry that Harry's power can't remove). I will say this, if Harry put a shield up, Dumbledore could take it down.
AllAboutMe: Yep, that creed will be the end of me. You should really put some warnings on it, or something… :)
Soccerpunx: (although he reviewed the Two Draughts and not this chapter – I figure he'll get here eventually) You should have sent that message earlier! I've already got the whole thing planned out now. ARGH! Anyways, the couples are most likely staying together, but Ron and Hermione aren't really that close in my stories.
I should point out that many of my friends in highschool did stay together for years. Two of my best friends started dating as freshman, and only broke up when they were seniors. Another two started dating as sophomores, and got married last year. So it is possible…
Anyway, please review! If I don't get enough reviews, I'll cut back on the postings, and the third story will be postponed…