The Nature Of A Man
Disclaimer: The usual. The characters in this story belong to J.K. Rowling and this work represents a poor fumbling attempt at a Harry Potter story. I really wasn't sure where the story was going but it's rated PG-13 just in case. Read and review. You like it or you don't, just drop me a line at jadewing@hotmail.com if you want to rant or praise longer. I don't really know what you guys are going to think about the story. Thanks to all those who have reviewed and said nice things – however true or not they may be. I still think it needs work. Two updates again. Can't promise that in the future since I need to actually spend some time writing but not getting much inspiration these days. So, bear with me.
The apparent change in the school roster was immediately discernible during the first dinner at Hogwarts. The Slytherin table seemed rather thinned down with only a handful of students sitting there. Harry caught a glimpse of Draco Malfoy, looking rather lost and alone without either Crabbe or Goyle at his side. Another handful of Slytherins were grouped together, casting sharp looks at the other tables. Everyone seemed to have caught the news since students from the other three Houses would turn to glance at the Slytherin table from time to time before whispering to a friend about the decided betrayal by the Slytherins. Tonight, the enchanted ceiling mirrored the sky above Hogwarts and dark clouds seem to hover in the Great Hall. It hadn't started to rain yet but any moment now, it seemed. Flashes of lightning streaked sullenly across the ceiling and it was so disconcerting that it took Harry a while to realize that something was different about the staff table tonight.
Albus Dumbledore tapped a goblet lightly with a silver spoon, the melodious chiming instantly dispelling all conversation, bringing a sudden silence. The Headmaster of Hogwarts stood up, his face a little grim and serious this time. Professor McGonagall had the same serious look on her face but she was always serious anyway. But as Harry looked at the other staff, all had the same serious look on their face. Professor Sprout kept glancing at the Slytherin table and Professor Sinistra, the Astronomy teacher, was fiddling nervously with her hair. Where was Hagrid? And where was Snape? Both teachers were missing and there were two new teachers instead.
"Welcome, students, to a new year at Hogwarts," Dumbledore's voice rang out through the Great Hall. "We have some news for all of you, some sad and others not so sad." He glanced at the Slytherin table where the remaining Slytherins stared back at the other students defiantly. "A number of the students from Slytherin have decided to continue their studies elsewhere. It is a great loss to Hogwarts but if they believe they have made the right choice, so be it. I would like to take this time to remind the remaining students from Slytherin that they will continue to do well here if they apply themselves." Now, the Slytherins looked angry and a few had rebellious looks on their faces. Malfoy was one of the few whose face was blank of any emotion at all. Harry watched him discreetly but perhaps Malfoy somehow sensed his attention because those silver-grey eyes turned to fix upon him. Harry offered a tentative smile but Malfoy simply gave him a look of disdain and turned away.
"Some other news. Our game keeper, Hagrid, and our Care of Magical Creatures teacher, has been called away due to unforeseen circumstances." There were restless murmurs at this but Dumbledore raised one hand to silence the students. "I assure you that Hagrid will return but he will be late. Thus, his classes will be take over for a month or so by our temporary teacher, Professor Twiddle." He gestured to a white-haired old witch, one of the two Harry had noticed, who stood up and bowed. There was some scattered applause which ceased immediately as Dumbledore began speaking. "I also regret to inform you that Professor Snape will not be with us this year. He has some more important business to attend to and his classes will also be taken over by Professor Twiddle who has agreed most obligingly to help us with this. What's that commotion there? Is everything all right?"
There had been a thump at the Gryffindor table. "It's all right, sir! Neville's just fainted!" Dean shouted to Dumbledore. There was a burst of laughter and even several of the teachers smiled.
"I wonder where Snape's vanished to," Hermione whispered to the other two.
Harry shushed Ron just as Dumbledore continued speaking, his eyes twinkling. "Well, I expect Mr. Longbottom was overcome at the news." There was another burst of laughter. "At any rate, the last bit of news before we start our dinner. The post of Defence Against the Dark Arts has always been filled only for a year and this time, I hope that our new teacher will stay with us longer. Please welcome Professor Grey." The other new addition stood up. He was a tall, good-looking wizard with shoulder-length gold-silver hair. Well, he would have been good-looking but the serious look on his face only made him look quiet and studious. He stood up and bowed to the students before resuming his seat. Dumbledore smiled. "That done with, let the dinner begin!" And food magically appeared on the table.
"So, where do you think Snape is?" Ron asked as he helped himself to some whipped potato.
"Where do you think Hagrid is?" Harry countered.
Hermione considered for a moment. "Hagrid could be with Madame Maxime, you know. You did remember that he said he was going for a trip for her?"
Ron's jaw dropped. "You mean, like a honeymoon?"
Harry smacked Ron in the back of the head … lightly. "They're not even married yet."
"Unless he eloped with her or something," Ron pointed out in return.
Hermione shook her head. "You're crazy sometimes."
After dinner, they returned to the Gryffindor common room, speaking the secret password before the Fat Lady ("wisteria blossoms"). The fire was burning cheerily and many of the other Gryffindors returned to their rooms leaving Harry, Ron and Hermione alone. Looking around to make sure no one was around to overhear, Hermione gestured to them to sit at the table closest to the fire. "Did you notice how serious all the teachers looked?" she asked them, looking at each one in turn.
Harry nodded. "Yes, I was wondering about that."
Ron frowned. "But why all the seriousness? Is it because of the Slytherins leaving?"
"No, I don't think so. Didn't you hear what Dumbledore said? He said the Slytherins decided to continue their studies elsewhere." Hermione paused to let the words sink in. "If so, where did they go to continue their studies?"
"You don't think –" Ron stopped, looking troubled.
"What?" Harry asked sharply.
"Maybe they've gone to join You-Know-Who." Ron's words hung in the air and all three shivered slightly.
"If that's true, Voldemort will surely be more powerful than ever with so many wizards and witches working with him," Hermione uttered, looking worried. She looked up at the two of them, and then gazed at Harry. "Harry, you have to find out tonight. Or soon, anyway. You've got to find out from Malfoy."
Harry hesitated for a moment then nodded. "Maybe I should go now."
Ron shook his head. "Nah. He'd be suspicious. Tomorrow, I think, would be better."
"All right then. Tomorrow it is."
The three of them stared at the crackling fire, lost in their own thoughts. And then each bid good night to the other before retreating to their own beds. As Harry settled into his bed, hearing Ron sighing as he sank into his own bed, he closed his eyes and began to dream.
It was the same dream again. He was, once more, in the empty barren wasteland. A part of him remembered that he had forgotten to take the Sleeping Draught but another part of him was eager for the dream to unfold. It seemed different this time. The sky above the dusty plain was now lurid with flashes of red against the ebony black of the night sky. The winds that howled were as cold as ice and the dust that settled around him was half ice. He began walking, knowing that no matter which way he walked, he would meet that same apparition of Cedric again. It appeared almost instantly. But it was different now. Cedric's face was bare this time, his face bleak and sad, his robes whipping about him in the winds.
"This is different." Harry looked at Cedric who gazed back.
Cedric nodded. "You have returned at last. All is different now. The paths between you and I have twisted the words. Only this night and, perhaps, another in the future will I be as clear as I am tonight." He gestured urgently to Harry. "You must find the answer to that question, to this question."
"What question?" Harry asked in a whisper … but he already knew the answer.
Cedric's voice echoed in the emptiness again, ringing against his mind like a physical blow and Harry staggered. "What can change the nature of a man?"
The world around him started spinning and Harry felt sick. That red flash of light burned his eyes and the motion made him want to vomit. But those words! "Remember, Harry!! What can change the nature of a man?"
Harry sat bolt upright, his heart pounding, his pulse racing. That dream again. Why? Why was it troubling him so much? He glanced at his watch. Four in the morning. He sank back again his pillows. I need to sleep. I need to rest. And perhaps his own pleas did work for he fell into a soundless sleep and when he awoke again, it was already six in the morning. The others were still asleep, Neville snoring softly. Ron was murmuring in his sleep but Harry refrained from listening. It was somewhat unkind to listen to someone talking in his sleep. He stretched, feeling the muscles of his lean frame moving under his skin. Maybe a walk would do him some good. He changed into his robes, feeling the material slide almost sensuously against his bare skin in some places. He glanced at himself in the mirror but his hair was as unmanageable as always.
He went downstairs to the common room and exited, the portrait of the Fat Lady swinging aside. She was asleep in the frame, snoring gently. She stirred when it swung shut but continued snoring. It was strange to be up so early in the morning. Lessons normally didn't start until later and most students didn't get up until half past seven at the earliest. The halls and corridors were deserted. Even Filch the caretaker was absent from the halls at this time and Mrs. Norris didn't seem to be wandering anywhere. Not this time. Somehow, his steps took him to the lake where the sunrise was just beginning to paint the sky with glorious shades of red, orange, pink, peach and violet – a dramatic swirl of colours that lit up the sky. He smiled in appreciation at the sight. "Beautiful," he murmured to himself.
"I think so, too," a voice remarked so suddenly and Harry jumped, turning around, his hand reaching into his robes for his wand. Professor Grey stood before him, smiling apologetically. "Sorry if I startled you, Harry." That smile was incongruous on his face accustomed as it was to a more serious mien.
"How did you know my name?" Harry asked him curiously.
Grey lifted one hand and touched him gently on the forehead, where Harry's lightning bolt scar was. The smile was gone and he looked as serious as he had last night. "It is something that every story and every rumour mentions. I could not help but notice." Grey looked Harry up and down. "What are you doing up so early? I thought it was only I who enjoyed the mornings here in Hogwarts."
Harry hesitated. "It was … just a dream."
Grey nodded. "Dreams can be very unsettling at times more so when your own feelings are not at peace." He paused to study Harry's face and, for some reason, Harry could feel his face burning. "I sense something about you, Harry. A ---" he hesitated "— lingering feeling of some force. Something has touched you." His silvery eyes were just so intense.
Harry felt wooden and just a little stunned. What was he talking about? Grey saw the confusion on his face and laughed softly to himself. "I apologize again, Harry. The dawn always makes me a little too introspective for my own good. My skills at Divination were never particularly good so I guess I shouldn't mention anything about it at all." He pulled his cloak about himself, a thick dark velvet one. "I guess I should go. Don't stay out too long, Harry. A storm approaches."
Harry looked into the sky but it seemed clear. By all accounts, it boded to be a sunny day. Grey shrugged and turned to walk away. On a sudden impulse, Harry called out. "Wait, Professor!" Grey stopped, turning to fix Harry with a questioning look. "Can I ask you a question?" The Professor nodded.
Harry took a deep breath. "What can change the nature of a man?"
Professor Grey looked sad for a minute as he turned it over in his mind. When he spoke, his voice was filled with a grief that was so palpable that Harry's heart ached a little over it. "For me, it is regret that can change the nature of a man. Regret can make you do many things to atone for your guilt." Then, half to himself, he added, "But is it ever enough?" So saying, he left without another word, his head bowed, never turning around to look back.
Regret, Harry thought. Can regret change the nature of a man? Harry settled on to a nearby rock, thinking about it. He knew guilt was a powerful emotion. But was regret and guilt the same? Regret evidenced that one was sorry for one's actions, for one's mistakes, for knowingly doing something that caused another harm. You couldn't regret doing something that was an accident. Could you?
His thoughts were interrupted by the presence of another. A handsome, white-blond boy, clad in robes, his face looking out at the lake. Draco Malfoy gave a start when he noticed Harry sitting on the rock.
"What are you doing here, Potter?" he growled.
Harry stood up. "Just sitting. Is that a crime now?"
Malfoy snarled wordlessly at him and then turned to stalk away.
Find out from Malfoy. Hermione's words echoed in his mind. "Wait!"
The Slytherin stopped, fixing him with a venomous stare. "What do you want know, Potter?"
Harry bit his lip. "You stay, I'll go. I don't want to bother you anyway."
Malfoy looked flabbergasted at that as Harry began walking up the path towards the castle.
"Potter!"
Harry turned around. Malfoy was looking at him with a strange emotion on his face. "Thank you."
Harry smiled and was startled when Malfoy returned the smile with a hesitant one. "You're welcome." Shaking his head slightly, Harry pondered a world where his greatest enemy was polite to him and where dreams filled his every waking hour.