Chapter 7
Separated in darkness they shall grow
Of each other they shall not know
Prospering apart, until their ready
Together they will keep the dark steady
Then they will defeat evil with his own way
But not before in darkness they shall lay
Harry opted to go to the library after showering, instead of hurrying to the common room, trying not to look anxious as Draco posted the list; like the rest of the house. Another reason for going to the library now, was to avoid Hermione. Normally if he wanted to go study there, it would be impossible not to run into her. But right now the Gryffindors had quidditch try outs. It turns out they also wanted to get a head start on the season. So Hermione would be there, cheering Ron on, as he tried out for the now vacant keeper position. Harry idly wondered who would be trying out as the new seeker. He wondered if they all assumed that he would now be the Slytherin seeker. Hmm the object of surprise would help the Slytherin team against them, assuming they were their first match. Yes that would be great, the Gryffindors training to block the seeker at all costs. Presuming Harry would be their toughest opponent. Meanwhile not expecting the Slytherin chasers to pound them, they'd be lost. Ahh yes, Harry liked that.
Happily Harry entered the library and stayed there for the two hours till it closed. As Harry sauntered back to Slytherin common room, immensely pleased with himself, he heard the Gryffindor tower partying. Probably from announcing a new captain, and two new players. Funny, they should be mourning the loss of their great seeker. At least that's what Harry expected them to do. Maybe he should investigate. If Rose could get him in, then he'd spy a bit. Learn their players, and plans, and voila. Slytherins win, Gryffindors lose. Maybe they could do that with every common room. Ignoring the Gryffindor part of him that said it wasn't right, Harry sped to the dungeons.
As he entered he saw a group by the fireplace, with Rose and Draco in it, dispersing. Probably the new quidditch team, Harry summarized as he made his way over to them. Rose's eyes were dancing excitedly when Harry reached her, while Draco looked disapprovingly at him.
"Potter, your on the team, but I don't know for how long. Missing your first meeting isn't going to help make a good impression with me." Draco barked.
"I'm ever so sorry captain, but I was detained by an idea." Draco's eyebrows lifted curiously at that. "As we speak, the Gryffindors are partying."
"Tell me something I don't know." Draco drawled .
"Oh goody, can we crash it?" Rose piped expectantly.
"No, we're going to use it as a spying mission. All the dunderheads are in their common room, no one will notice if their bumped into or not. And since their celebrating the hope of a successful season, we'll find out their players, plans, and practice times. Their practically handing us their schedule to spy on." Seeing that this had set the wheels turning in Draco's head, he continued. "I also believe we should let them think I'm the new Slytherin seeker. This way they'll plan to knock out me, and work the rest of the team on offense. But when Rose and I show up, they'll be forced to play defensively." Draco's face had taken on the look one would see on an insane man. Meanwhile Rose pouted over the loss of a chance to terrorize.
Harry raced to get his cloak after Draco had consented to the idea to spy. He and Rose where to accompany him too. Rose at first had protested, saying that she wouldn't get the password if she couldn't have any fun. Harry shook his head in wonder, over the workings of his sister's mind. But he had finally agreed that she could explode something at the end to assure them that their escape would go unnoticed.
After listening to Rose and the Fat Lady swap gossip for twenty minutes, they were finally allowed in. One look around told them this was indeed a brilliant plan. No one appeared to be in their door rooms, it was too crowded for anyone to be missing. Rose stared in wonder at the small explosions taking place in a group huddled around the twins. Now she just had to think of something great, she wouldn't want to be showed up by some Gryfindors. And it had to be something destructive, so Fred and George wouldn't be able to take credit. But would get the blame from the teachers. Rose choked back a cackle, ohh this was gonna be good.
Draco heard Rose choking and decided to head for the team huddle that seemed to be taken place without the twins, before she blew their cover. Harry and Rose where forced to follow, or else the cloak would fall off. But rather to be safe than sorry, the Potters both whispered crysius before disappearing. Not bothering to wonder what they were doing, Draco continued.
As he approached the group of players, he noticed now Ginny and Ron Weasley were part of the team. Hmmm, he'd have to watch out for Ginny. She had the perfect build for a seeker. Small and light. Another reason why Harry had switched, he no longer fit that description. But as long as she didn't get a good broom, Draco wouldn't worry. If she turned out to be decent, he'd just tail her, then grab it before her broom could move. Yes, he liked that. Now Ron on the other hand was going to be difficult. He was lanky. His arms promised to be perfect to grab anything, even on a slow broom. Which was also a bad sign. If their chasers feinted one way, he wouldn't get it until they were back again. Maybe this was where they were to cheat. Draco seemed to recall Weasley be scarred of spiders, yes they could definitely use that to their advantage.
After noting their practice schedule, and the fact it was more grueling than the Slytherins, Draco left. Having no idea where 'his' twins where, he slipped out of the portrait hole unnoticed. Harry had been watching Hermione, who had begun talking with Ginny after her meeting had broken up. After supposedly congratulating Ginny, Hermione had retired. Not wanting to see what Rose planned, he too left.
Rose on the other hand, was having the time of her life. She was learning loads, she could get into the Gryffindor tower for years with all the gossip she heard. Apparently she and her brother were a hot topic, among both sexes. If she wasn't so interested with ruining the room while everyone was in it, she would have stayed and followed the guys to bed. Who knew what they talked about then? And yes she would have the privilege to see them undress, but she doubted any had a better physique than her brother.
So once she noticed a few 1st years drifting off to bed, she began to take action. After successfully locking all the dorm doors, with things more powerful that your alohamora, she put a silencing charm on the tower, so no pleas of help would be heard. Then she locked the windows, and put unbreakable spells on them, no owl would get out either. The beds had already been set with waking charms on every hour starting at 1. Assuming a teacher would somehow be reached, and would figure out how to open the dorms. The showers were filled with wart spray, guaranteed to cause warts within 5 minutes. The sinks now had blood coming from the faucets, and the mirrors were charmed to show old hags that did resemble you enough to believe it was your own reflection.. Seeing her worked here finished, Rose left. But not before also sealing the portrait hole shut. Tomorrow would be very exciting indeed. Even if she was caught, which she doubted, she couldn't be expelled. Dumbledore wouldn't allow that. So merrily Rose made her way to her bed.
The next morning Rose was awakened by her bed alarm, set by Draco for five bloody thirty in the morning. Grouchily Rose crawled out of bed, taking care not to look at Mandy, who slept in the nude, as Harry had discovered. Rose had seriously considered hexing some clothes onto her, but decided that wouldn't go too well with her making friends. She grabbed her broom, now also a Cobra, and ran towards the locker rooms. She was late. If only she didn't have to avert her eyes, she could have dressed faster.
Once Rose entered the field she saw her brother lazily tossing the quaffle back and forth with the other chaser Ferley. Draco said it would help with their arm strength, and hand eye coordination. Now they were forced to do it for thirty minutes as a warm up. Rose personally, would have preferred to be a beater, they got to hit a hundred balls, as hard as they could, at a moving Draco. The Keeper sat in between the chasers on a hovering broom, and was told to intercept every fifth throw.
When the team had finished with Draco's warm-ups, they began laps. Draco wanted a fast team, and one good at cutting people off. One player was it, and their job was to cut everyone else off at least once, before they could finish two complete laps. Harry put up with Draco's bizarre drills just so he could get to the scrimmages at the end. Rose was the opposite. She thrived on knocking people off their brooms, and throwing ball at the keeper, so that they were forced to let it go by, or let it hit them in unprotected areas. Rose was also the only female member on the team, and was by far the smallest. So the others were hesitant to injure her. Which only further incensed Draco.
"If you can't hurt her, what are you going to do when we face the girls on Hufflepuff, or Ravenclaw!" Rose just smiled innocently at them all. "You should be dying to get a whack at her, she just kicked your bloody arses." Too furious to continue Draco stormed to the locker rooms. Harry looked at the other boys curiously, they had no problem in the past pounding other opponents, no matter what their sex. After Rose had left, he talked to the players also making their way off the pitch.
"You guys are going to have to stop ogling her if you want to get Draco off your back."
The other players stopped short at this, "We weren't-" Ferley begun, but Harry interrupted.
"I don't care who looks, just don't do anything else. Try no to do it in practice or in a game, that could cause some problems." Harry said the first bit with a glare that could freeze a phoenix.
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Breakfast that morning was……weird. Judging by the absence off all the Gryffindors, apparently none of them had been able to find a way out of their predicament. So when none of the people that the Slytherins loathed the most showed up, they were the first to notice. But being Slytherins, they didn't mention it to anyone. Eventually somebody would come to rescue that poor house that had undoubtedly been put into some sort of trap. It was probably their own fault after all. Even if it wasn't, they deserved it. Well, that's what the Slytherins thought anyway.
About ten minutes into breakfast the teachers and the Ravenclaws began to note the absence of the fourth house as well. Assuming that they were up late partying over the upcoming quidditch season, or over something the Weasleys did, nothing was done. So merrily the fifth year Slytherins made their way to charms, which they had with the Hufflepuffs. During the lesson, they were all too happy over the disappearance of the Gryffindors to torment the Hufflepuffs. Even Draco remained quiet.
Their euphoria was short lived though. The teachers had managed to figure out that something was wrong. And after a half an hour of investigating by McGonagall and Flitwick, the Gryffindors were freed. All looking murderously at the Slytherins as they entered the Dining Hall. Rose started to pout, "Damn, they managed to get out!" She said angrily to anyone who was listening.
"No they didn't, they were let out. They weren't able to get themselves out." Draco pointed out. This seemed to cheer Rose up a bit, and her smile widened when she saw how hungry the Gryffindors were. Showing no manners, they dug into the sandwiches prepared, like Vikings. Smearing sauce all over their faces. And spilling pumpkin juice on the table, and their robes. The napkins laid out, sat forgotten next to the silverware. Which also wasn't being used.
"Rose this is disgusting. Promise me next time you lock them up you'll give them some food." Draco said to Rose, who was watching the Gryffindors with fascination. After a few more minutes, Rose returned to her own meal. As the dishes began to clear, Dumbledore stood.
"As you all saw, the Gryffindors were stuck in their tower since last night. And were finally let out little more than an hour ago. Though I'm not sure whether this was accidental or not, it was dangerous. If this was a joke, or an accident, it matters not. It will not happen again." Dumbledore finished as he looked towards the Weasley twins, then the Potters.
The Weasley were too busy whispering to note his pointed look. Rose certainly wasn't. She looked right back at Dumbledore, her eyes challenging. Harry just collected his books, and left the Hall. Wondering what would happen to the Slytherins today. There was no way the Weasley were going to let this one slide. It was only a matter of time before retribution was taken. Yes, it was official, war had begun. They only thing left was which side the other houses would be, that is if they chose to join at all. Most likely they would stay back, and only be spectators.
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After a few pranks on the Slytherins, nothing major happened. Rose was severely disappointed. But she remained hopeful that they would retaliate soon. She desperately needed an excuse to do something to them. Life was no fun if you couldn't have a little mischief in it. So she resignedly made her way through her classes, wishing it to be the one were the Gryffindors would strike. Rose was left wishing, as the Gryffindors apparently took Dumbledore's warning seriously. So once again, she was left to plan, alone. For Harry was far too busy to help her.
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Harry had successfully been able to avoid Ron and Hermione over the past few weeks, but he would soon have to face Ron in the upcoming quidditch match. The Slytherin Gryffindor match was set for October 14th, in two days. Ron had also been avoiding him, so there had been no problem there. But Hermione, had proved difficult. It seemed her new goal this year was to stay friends with Harry, not be top in the class. Harry had planned on making good use of the library this year, but that plan had been quickly squashed by her too. When she wasn't stalking him, that's where she was. So Harry had obtained a table from the library, and had it moved to the Slytherin common room. In a corner that was quickly named Cobra's corner.
Apparently ever since Rose had remolded his broom, that was his nickname. Which had surprisingly stayed behind his back until some 3rd year Ravenclaw had let slip. And now he was openly referred to as Cobra, Rose was delighted to say the least. His fellow Slytherines had kept it up with relish, charmed that they now had someone in their house that was so popular. Usually they only had people that were either despised or feared, never both. Harry, after first ignoring it in hope that it would die down, soon grew to like it. Now even a few teachers had caught onto it, and had called him it. Mostly everyone but Snape and McGonagall. The transfiguration teacher had acted coldly told him ever since the switch in houses. And it seemed to irate her even more that he was now top of the class in that subject, even over Hermione, who was second.
So it looked as though Harry had turned over a new leaf after all, even those who had been skeptical over his change at first, where now wondering why he was placed in Gryffindor in the first place. That is, all but Hagrid and Hermione.
Hagrid had just returned to report to Dumbledore on how his mission was going, when he bumped into Harry. He immediately stopped short at the patch on his robes, and then stood there stunned when Draco had yelled, "Cobra, we have practice in five minutes. Be there for once!" After Harry had let him stand like that for about three minutes, he finally broke the spell.
"Er, hello Hagrid. How's your work with the giants going?"
"What the bloody hell happened to you?!" Hagrid boomed. Pointing at his robes, and shaking his head. "I leave for one summer, one summer. And you turn into a Slytherin? Oh no, I need to sit down." Hagrid flopped down onto the steps going down a stair case and moped for a bit.
Harry was lost as to how to explain things to the half giant, but soon found his way of escape. "Uhh, as you know I gotta go practice, but here's Hermione. I'm sure she'll explain things to you." With that Harry jumped on his broom and flew to practice. When he had seen Hermione racing towards him, he knew he couldn't out run her stunning spells. She had been trying to hex him, just so she could get a hold of him. And right now there were no teachers in sight, so Harry was open game.
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"C-C-C-Cobra!" Rose chanted. She had just learned how to cheerlead me from a 1st year muggleborn, and now it was impossible to shut her up. And quidditch practice was the perfect place to test it on her unwilling victims. Resignedly Harry flew to were she was passing the quaffle with Ferley.
"You're beginning to sound like Colin Creevey." Harry pointed out after she had just done another cheer. Rose let that pass as though she hadn't even heard him.
"Tell you what, I promise to be quiet for the whole practice…"
"If?" Harry asked impatiently.
"If you help me with a prank" She finished simply.
"Why would you need my help, you know more about pranks than the Weasleys." Harry asked.
"Ah, dear brother, you flatter yourself. I don't need your help with the actual prank, but with getting the supplies. You can get me into Hogsmeade, and help me carry my supplies." Rose replied.
"Oh alright, deal." Harry stuck out his hand.
"Splendid." Rose said as she sealed the bargain. Just as their hands started to break apart, Harry heard a noise, actually many noises to be exact. As they got louder, Harry began to understand them. Harry looked up into the stands with dread, fearing and knowing what he'd see there.
Yes, standing there, were girls. All shouting at the top of their lungs. Now normally Harry didn't mind girls, in fact he down right enjoyed them. But he didn't enjoy their opinions, and annoying chants. And lucky him, they were doing all of that. Harry looked to Draco for help. Draco, who was too busy laughing and crawling on the field at the same time, wasn't about to offer any assistance. Harry didn't find this amusing in the least. In fact he was considering murdering Rose, who seeing she had gone too far, squeaked, and ran to the castle. Knowing that he was about to do something he would regret, Harry walked as calmly as he could after Rose. Showing levels of control he wasn't aware he had.
By the time Harry had disappeared, Draco had recovered. "All of you lovely ladies not in Slytherin, please leave. Nothing personal, but we can't have you spilling our secrets can we?" At that all of the girls, clearly upset, exited the stands. Then, turning to his team, "Let's try the defense drills, since the Potter's have left."
"How'd you know that would get them to leave?" Asked Hennis tentatively.
" Simple. No Slytherin, except Rose, whose sanity is in question; would be caught dead making that big of a fool of themselves." Not seeing a look of understanding on any of his players faces, he explained further. "We cheer, but not to a distraction, and we most certainly would never do organized cheering." Finally seeing the looks of comprehension he had been waiting for come over their faces, he shot up into the air.
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"ROSE GLADY POTTER!" Harry bellowed as he entered the 5th year Slytherin girl's dorm room.
"Shhh! Who told you my middle name, I'll kill them." Rose questioned from her bed. Harry couldn't help but be amused at that. The sight of little Rose trying to murder Albus Dumbledore, would send anyone into hysterics.
"Dumbledore." Harry replied shortly. Then, "I'm not finished with you yet." Harry said as he saw her making her way toward the door, obviously in pursuit of the headmaster. "Now," he continued once she was settled back onto her bed. "Why don't you tell me what you were thinking when you gathered all those delightful creatures, and sent them to the stands? Just to torture me?" Seeing he was going to be a while, Rose laid down on her back, and began to daydream. Totally ignorant to her brother's ratings. " I mean, not even you are that stupid. Do you realize what you've started. Now this'll be a new club. God woman, you've just taken all the fun out of quidditch."
He went on like this for another five minutes before they were interrupted by Pansy. Who started glancing over at Harry appreciably, and started to walk towards him. "We'll talk later," Harry warned as he made his way passed Pansy, and to the door. Pansy pouted for all of a minute before resuming to do her homework, her original reason for entering the room. While Rose jumped up, determined to find the headmaster.
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Annoyingly Rose wasn't able to locate Dumbledore, even after consulting all the portraits. Apparently he would be found when he wished to be. So the next day at breakfast Rose entered the Hall with a look of purpose upon her otherwise angelic face. Once the majority of the students had settled down to eat, Rose stood. She had been watching the headmaster carefully all throughout breakfast. As soon as she saw that he had received her letter she stood. On her chair, she immediately got the attention of her fellow Slytherins. But seeing that she was still too short to capture the audience of the entire school, she shot out sparks and magnified her voice a bit.
"Ladies and gentlemen, ghosts and Snape." Rose paused to savor the look on her head of house's face before continuing . "As you as my witnesses, I herby challenge Albus Phineas Dumbledore to a duel." The Hall had laughed at her crack about Professor Snape, but then had turned hysterical at the mention of Dumbledore's middle name and the duel. She wasn't sure which. Only Rose and Harry appeared to be serious. Harry, knowing what this was about, was dreading the next few minutes.
Rose had calmly continued after the laughter had subsided. "Tonight, at sunset, in here. Cobra's my second. Who's yours?" Harry's head had quirked up at the sound of his name, before it had been buried in his arms. Dumbledore's eyes had at first appeared curious, now they only showed amusement. McGonagall look furious, as did Snape. The rest of the school seemed to find the proposal uproarious.
"Alright Miss Potter, but we shall have to force the rest of the school to dine earlier than usual of course. The last classes of the day will have to be canceled." This was met with immediate approval by the students. "And as to my second, I choose….." The whole school held it's breath, all curious to who he would name. "Fred and George Weasley" The Gryffindors had erupted with noise at the mention of two of their own being chosen. "Assuming that is allowed, one will be my second the other my third."
Rose pretended to ponder her answer, before replying. "Alright, then my third's Draco." Draco appeared startled for a moment, before quickly recovering. He nodded his consent to Rose, who was totally ignoring him. Draco then turned to Harry, who just shrugged and indicated he should start eating.
Rose meanwhile had bowed to the headmaster, who returned it with his own. Then she merrily hoped to floor, and then sat down. During the exchange the houses had resumed eating. The Weasleys however were arguing over who would compete as the second. "He said me first," Fred informed George who had just proclaimed that he should be the second.
"Yes, but I'm older. And if we were to die, I would have lived the longer life." George persisted. Eventually George won, and they left the hall discussing hexes.
Harry turned to Rose slowly, indicating with his head the door. Getting the message, Rose quickly complied, and followed him out the door. Harry's shoes made a noise each time they connected with the polished floor. Rose's feet weren't heard as they barely skimmed the floor as she ran to keep up with his larger strides. Seeing that they were headed in the direction of their first class that morning, Rose slowed in relaxation. She no longer had to hurry in worry over losing sight of Harry. Eventually they would be in the same place.
Five minutes later Rose skidded to a stop. Something was in the otherwise deserted hall with her. Looking around she couldn't detected anyone, or anything. Hearing a noise Rose whipped around. Nothing. She was alone. Then she felt something on her neck.
AN: review, review, review, thanks Kirby.