Summary: After being hit by the killing curse for the second time in his young life, Harry finds himself trapped in another body. He finally gets the chance to see how his life would have been like without his popularity, and where is friends loyalties lie.
Disclaimer: All characters belong to J K Rowling and Warner brothers.
The Boy Who Lived Again: Switch
Chapter 20: Sanctus
Saturday came all too soon for the trio, but they were waiting for it with arms wide open. Hermione had come up with a great plan to get them all into the hospital wing together, but like most plans, it had a fatal flaw. She was to go into the Hospital wing appearing to be a visitor of Harry's, and let Ron and Harry in behind her under the individually cloak. This part of the plan went flawlessly, but Madame Pomfrey spoiled this by making Hermione leave.
Right after they all arrived in Harry's room, they started to get ready, but Madame Pomfrey came in to check on her ten minutes later. Ron and Harry barley made it under the bed before she came barging in the room. Madame Pomfrey came to tell Hermione that she did not think it was wise for her to stay much longer by herself. To make sure not to raise any suspensions, Hermione left with Madame Pomfrey, but she made sure she had the invisibility cloak with her.
By the time she came back, Harry had already placed a forgetful cruse on Madame Pomfrey to make sure she would not disturbed them again, and he also placed silencing charm on the room so noise could be heard from the outside. When Hermione finally sat back down in the room, it was already four o'clock meaning they had already lost half of their day.
"Ok, now that we finally all are here, and we will not be disturbed, lets go ahead and get started. I was not able to find out how long this is to take so I guess we should go ahead and find out. Harry... I need you to lay down on the floor."
Harry complied with Hermione's requested and laid down. Ron stood beside Harry's body liked planed to make sure it does not rejected the soul. Hermione brought out the big book and laid it open on the table. Harry gave on last glance over at Ron before the process began.
With a look of concentration, Hermione went into a trans like state. She started to chant something that both Ron and Harry could not understand. "Accedo clueo olo divinitas dumtaxat apex." After Hermione finished her chant for the third time through, she brought out her wand, and pointed it straight at Harry's chest.
Harry closed his eyes in anticipation of what was to come while Ron looked on wide-eyed and in shock.
She started speaking again, but this time it sounded like Latin. "Licentia id sanctus somes everto intus." Neville started to levitate from the ground, and he did not stop rising until he came horizontal to Hermione's eyes. Hermione's chant started becoming louder and louder. "Licentia id sanctus somes everto intus." The room became eerily silent with only the monotonic ring of Herminie's voice. "Licentia id sanctus somes everto intus."
Neville's body that was still suspended in the air became limp and lifeless. His arms and legs dangled by his side, as he was lifted higher and higher into the air.
As she finished the third repetition of the chant, a bight white light burst from her wand hitting Harry directly in the chest. The room went silent as the eliminated beam engulfed Harry's whole body. The light brightened and brightened until both Ron and Hermione had to turn away, no longer able to sustain the light.
Suddenly the room was plunged back into darkness, and Neville's body fell to the floor with a "thud". Hermione and Ron slowly creped up to Neville who laid unconscious on the floor. Hermione immediately went by his side, and cradled his head in her lap.
"Ron, where is Harry? It said that he was to be concentrated in the light, but the light went out..." She looked down on the unconscious boy.
Ron's face went pale, and all he could do was stare at the boy on the floor. He did not respond. He could not respond. He was in a state of shock.
"Does that mean, that I have extinguished Harry? Why did I have to be so stubborn about doing this so fast? Oh why did the light have to go out? ... Harry." Hermione leaned down and embraced Neville as she started to weep.
Neville stirred causing Hermione jump back from her hold on him. His eye fluttered open and he looked around confused.
Hermione and Ron stood in silence not knowing what to say, and not knowing if they wanted to hear it.
Neville sat up, and cradled his hurt arm.
Hermione kneeled down and asked with a worried expression, "Neville, is that you?"
* Will Neville be ok? Is Harry lost forever? Will I ever stop talking? Wait and see just about another white page to go. :) (I always wanted to do this)
Neville preoccupied with his bleeding arm did not answer. Ron decided to take a try, "Neville."
Finally, Neville looked them in the eyes and said, "Why did you drop me?"
Hermione's eyes went wide with questions, "Harry?"
Neville started to smile, "That's my name."
"How can that be?" Hermione said, "I did the whole spell right. I even triple checked the chant." Ron went over and started looking in the book that Hermione had been speaking from. "I studied that chant for hours. I can't be wrong. It just can't, but don't get me wrong I am glad you are still here. I was so worried we had lost you."
Harry tried to bring in a light of hope saying, "We can always try it again.", but Hermione just kept on rambling. "Why did the light go out? I don't understand. The light was supposed to engulf your body, but it was not suppose to go out. In the book it said, the light of the good will go through the subjects body and drive the demon's soul out causing the aura to transform into a silver metallic shade."
While still looking in the book, Ron interrupted, "Hermione, I don't think it will do any good if we try this spell again."
Hermione with a discussed look on her face asked, "Why prey tell would you say that? Don't you want the old Harry back?"
Ron now starting to get perturbed, "Of course I want Harry back to normal, but I am just saying that I think this way will not work."
Hermione tried to protest his last statement, but Ron beat her too it. Ron said, "Hermione, did you even know what a demon is?"
Hermione rolled her eyes. "Of course, Ron. A demon is a mass of dark magic that can poses people at will."
Ron interrupted her before she could spout out more, "Exactly, But I think you have failed to notice that Harry is not a demon."
Hermione crossed her arms over her chest, "Ron, I know Harry is not a demon please get to your point."
Ron handed her the book with his finger marking the spot where he wanted her to read. "Here Hermione read this. The spell you cast was to get ride of the dark magic that posses the soul not another soul."
Harry with a blank expression on his face said, "Since I am not a worker of dark magic the spell could not detect the difference of my soul from the other."
While still trying to come up with another answerer, Hermione started to lose her composer. "Well... Well... we could change the spell, so it would banish white magic and..."
Harry interrupted her, "It will only banish both mine and Neville's soul from his body, and we did not know in the first place if I was going to get back to my body. I would not want to risk it on him too."
There was a silence in the room, as their failure became apparent. Hermione looked between both of their dejected faces. "We can't give up... We just can't... I know I can find other way."
Harry got up and rapped his arms around Hermione. Silent tears were falling from her eyes, as Harry cradle her. "We have looked everywhere. I guess I just have to accept it."
Then out of the silence came a large "BOOM" with screams to follow. The trio went straight to the door and pressed their ear against it even though they could here the voices from where they were standing.
They could hear people screaming and running into the hospital wing. Out of the commotion, two voices were clearly distinguishable; Madame Pomfrey and Professor McGonagall were both in the hospital wing speaking. "Poppy, the death eaters have attacked. We though they would not be able to get through the protective shields, but they did."
"Minerva, what do you think they are after? They have already took our poor Harry."
"I don't know... But, I do know that with He-Who-Most-Not-Be-Named powers back, Hogwarts does not stand a chance."
With those last words, Harry went over to his bedside and took is real wand from his table. "I knew he would not stay quite for long. I just knew it. Now he is coming after my school. I am not going to take this."
While tried to block his way, Hermione said, "No way Harry, I am not letting you go out there. You know you don't have a chance with Neville's powers. Plus, think of all the people that will get hurt if you get hurt. If you don't care about yourself, care about them."
Harry took Hermione's hand, and said softly, "Hermione, I have all my powers. I can't just sit back, and watch as my school is being destroyed around me." Harry put on a very determined face and looked toward the door. "If I have to live as Neville, then I will fight as Neville."
With a last nod to Ron, Harry brought Hermione's hand up her his lips and lightly kissed it before rushing through the door that magically opened for him.
Hermione and Ron stared dumb found at Harry's retreating figure. Hermione was the first to come to her senses. "Well, what are we waiting for? Lets go help Harry."
Ron responded with a nod, as they both rushed out into the chaos that they once knew as their school.
*
I have deleted two scenes from this story. One of which, Harry and Hermione have a talk about going to Dumbledore. In this conversation, Harry tells Hermione that he no longer trust Dumbledore because he believes that he is trying to help Voldemort. In my story, Harry believes that Dumbledore knew that the defense against the dark arts teacher was not the real mad eye moody because Dumbledore knew the real man for so long. In consequence, Harry believes that Dumbledore let Voldemort come back to life. Sorry for the confusion. I might write the scene over at the end of this story, if you want me to. Thanks for the Reviews, and I hope that helps.
Disclaimer: All characters belong to J K Rowling and Warner brothers.
The Boy Who Lived Again: Switch
Chapter 20: Sanctus
Saturday came all too soon for the trio, but they were waiting for it with arms wide open. Hermione had come up with a great plan to get them all into the hospital wing together, but like most plans, it had a fatal flaw. She was to go into the Hospital wing appearing to be a visitor of Harry's, and let Ron and Harry in behind her under the individually cloak. This part of the plan went flawlessly, but Madame Pomfrey spoiled this by making Hermione leave.
Right after they all arrived in Harry's room, they started to get ready, but Madame Pomfrey came in to check on her ten minutes later. Ron and Harry barley made it under the bed before she came barging in the room. Madame Pomfrey came to tell Hermione that she did not think it was wise for her to stay much longer by herself. To make sure not to raise any suspensions, Hermione left with Madame Pomfrey, but she made sure she had the invisibility cloak with her.
By the time she came back, Harry had already placed a forgetful cruse on Madame Pomfrey to make sure she would not disturbed them again, and he also placed silencing charm on the room so noise could be heard from the outside. When Hermione finally sat back down in the room, it was already four o'clock meaning they had already lost half of their day.
"Ok, now that we finally all are here, and we will not be disturbed, lets go ahead and get started. I was not able to find out how long this is to take so I guess we should go ahead and find out. Harry... I need you to lay down on the floor."
Harry complied with Hermione's requested and laid down. Ron stood beside Harry's body liked planed to make sure it does not rejected the soul. Hermione brought out the big book and laid it open on the table. Harry gave on last glance over at Ron before the process began.
With a look of concentration, Hermione went into a trans like state. She started to chant something that both Ron and Harry could not understand. "Accedo clueo olo divinitas dumtaxat apex." After Hermione finished her chant for the third time through, she brought out her wand, and pointed it straight at Harry's chest.
Harry closed his eyes in anticipation of what was to come while Ron looked on wide-eyed and in shock.
She started speaking again, but this time it sounded like Latin. "Licentia id sanctus somes everto intus." Neville started to levitate from the ground, and he did not stop rising until he came horizontal to Hermione's eyes. Hermione's chant started becoming louder and louder. "Licentia id sanctus somes everto intus." The room became eerily silent with only the monotonic ring of Herminie's voice. "Licentia id sanctus somes everto intus."
Neville's body that was still suspended in the air became limp and lifeless. His arms and legs dangled by his side, as he was lifted higher and higher into the air.
As she finished the third repetition of the chant, a bight white light burst from her wand hitting Harry directly in the chest. The room went silent as the eliminated beam engulfed Harry's whole body. The light brightened and brightened until both Ron and Hermione had to turn away, no longer able to sustain the light.
Suddenly the room was plunged back into darkness, and Neville's body fell to the floor with a "thud". Hermione and Ron slowly creped up to Neville who laid unconscious on the floor. Hermione immediately went by his side, and cradled his head in her lap.
"Ron, where is Harry? It said that he was to be concentrated in the light, but the light went out..." She looked down on the unconscious boy.
Ron's face went pale, and all he could do was stare at the boy on the floor. He did not respond. He could not respond. He was in a state of shock.
"Does that mean, that I have extinguished Harry? Why did I have to be so stubborn about doing this so fast? Oh why did the light have to go out? ... Harry." Hermione leaned down and embraced Neville as she started to weep.
Neville stirred causing Hermione jump back from her hold on him. His eye fluttered open and he looked around confused.
Hermione and Ron stood in silence not knowing what to say, and not knowing if they wanted to hear it.
Neville sat up, and cradled his hurt arm.
Hermione kneeled down and asked with a worried expression, "Neville, is that you?"
* Will Neville be ok? Is Harry lost forever? Will I ever stop talking? Wait and see just about another white page to go. :) (I always wanted to do this)
Neville preoccupied with his bleeding arm did not answer. Ron decided to take a try, "Neville."
Finally, Neville looked them in the eyes and said, "Why did you drop me?"
Hermione's eyes went wide with questions, "Harry?"
Neville started to smile, "That's my name."
"How can that be?" Hermione said, "I did the whole spell right. I even triple checked the chant." Ron went over and started looking in the book that Hermione had been speaking from. "I studied that chant for hours. I can't be wrong. It just can't, but don't get me wrong I am glad you are still here. I was so worried we had lost you."
Harry tried to bring in a light of hope saying, "We can always try it again.", but Hermione just kept on rambling. "Why did the light go out? I don't understand. The light was supposed to engulf your body, but it was not suppose to go out. In the book it said, the light of the good will go through the subjects body and drive the demon's soul out causing the aura to transform into a silver metallic shade."
While still looking in the book, Ron interrupted, "Hermione, I don't think it will do any good if we try this spell again."
Hermione with a discussed look on her face asked, "Why prey tell would you say that? Don't you want the old Harry back?"
Ron now starting to get perturbed, "Of course I want Harry back to normal, but I am just saying that I think this way will not work."
Hermione tried to protest his last statement, but Ron beat her too it. Ron said, "Hermione, did you even know what a demon is?"
Hermione rolled her eyes. "Of course, Ron. A demon is a mass of dark magic that can poses people at will."
Ron interrupted her before she could spout out more, "Exactly, But I think you have failed to notice that Harry is not a demon."
Hermione crossed her arms over her chest, "Ron, I know Harry is not a demon please get to your point."
Ron handed her the book with his finger marking the spot where he wanted her to read. "Here Hermione read this. The spell you cast was to get ride of the dark magic that posses the soul not another soul."
Harry with a blank expression on his face said, "Since I am not a worker of dark magic the spell could not detect the difference of my soul from the other."
While still trying to come up with another answerer, Hermione started to lose her composer. "Well... Well... we could change the spell, so it would banish white magic and..."
Harry interrupted her, "It will only banish both mine and Neville's soul from his body, and we did not know in the first place if I was going to get back to my body. I would not want to risk it on him too."
There was a silence in the room, as their failure became apparent. Hermione looked between both of their dejected faces. "We can't give up... We just can't... I know I can find other way."
Harry got up and rapped his arms around Hermione. Silent tears were falling from her eyes, as Harry cradle her. "We have looked everywhere. I guess I just have to accept it."
Then out of the silence came a large "BOOM" with screams to follow. The trio went straight to the door and pressed their ear against it even though they could here the voices from where they were standing.
They could hear people screaming and running into the hospital wing. Out of the commotion, two voices were clearly distinguishable; Madame Pomfrey and Professor McGonagall were both in the hospital wing speaking. "Poppy, the death eaters have attacked. We though they would not be able to get through the protective shields, but they did."
"Minerva, what do you think they are after? They have already took our poor Harry."
"I don't know... But, I do know that with He-Who-Most-Not-Be-Named powers back, Hogwarts does not stand a chance."
With those last words, Harry went over to his bedside and took is real wand from his table. "I knew he would not stay quite for long. I just knew it. Now he is coming after my school. I am not going to take this."
While tried to block his way, Hermione said, "No way Harry, I am not letting you go out there. You know you don't have a chance with Neville's powers. Plus, think of all the people that will get hurt if you get hurt. If you don't care about yourself, care about them."
Harry took Hermione's hand, and said softly, "Hermione, I have all my powers. I can't just sit back, and watch as my school is being destroyed around me." Harry put on a very determined face and looked toward the door. "If I have to live as Neville, then I will fight as Neville."
With a last nod to Ron, Harry brought Hermione's hand up her his lips and lightly kissed it before rushing through the door that magically opened for him.
Hermione and Ron stared dumb found at Harry's retreating figure. Hermione was the first to come to her senses. "Well, what are we waiting for? Lets go help Harry."
Ron responded with a nod, as they both rushed out into the chaos that they once knew as their school.
*
I have deleted two scenes from this story. One of which, Harry and Hermione have a talk about going to Dumbledore. In this conversation, Harry tells Hermione that he no longer trust Dumbledore because he believes that he is trying to help Voldemort. In my story, Harry believes that Dumbledore knew that the defense against the dark arts teacher was not the real mad eye moody because Dumbledore knew the real man for so long. In consequence, Harry believes that Dumbledore let Voldemort come back to life. Sorry for the confusion. I might write the scene over at the end of this story, if you want me to. Thanks for the Reviews, and I hope that helps.