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Chapter 4
Cold Winds Blowing
Disclaimer: Yes, I am Jo Rowlings. :sigh: I couldn't even convince myself of that. I make an awful cruddy liar.
Thanks to crazy, Tidmag (he'll get the answers eventually!), Prophetess of Hearts, and Polgara for reviewing!
******
Harry shivered slightly as he, Ron and Hermione walked back from Hagrid's hut after class. It had been a little stilted, since Malfoy hadn't shown up for class. He wondered what was happening, and not just for the first time. The Christmas holiday started tomorrow, and the young Slytherin, bane of Harry's existence in school, hadn't been seen in two days.
From what he'd heard from in the common room everything from the rumor that Draco had been expelled to being in the hospital wing due to an accident in Charms was the reason that he was missing. Harry's chest hurt as he thought about it, but he didn't think that the Slytherin had really had to leave school. For one thing, though, Lucius Malfoy hadn't shown up. That meant he was still being held. He just wished he knew what was going on.
A sigh slipped from his lips as he dropped his books down on his bed and he followed them.
"What's wrong, Harry?"
He looked over at Ron and shook his head.
"Too much thinking, I guess." Harry sat up and noticed a letter addressed to him on the table next to his bed. Curious, he slit the wax seal and read it. Black brows furrowed in thought as he looked over the letter a second time. Why would Dumbledore send him an invitation to a private holiday party in the teacher's apartments? And for two nights from now?
He thought about and realized that the Headmaster knew he was going to be the lone Gryffindor left in the school. Hermione had to go home for the holiday because of some relative coming to stay with her parents, and they hadn't seen her since she had started school here. She had been excited when she had gotten the letter and Harry had known that he couldn't ask her to stay here once he knew he would be alone. At that point he had known that Ron was leaving to meet Charlie's fiancée. Harry had been invited, but Dumbledore had suggested he stay here to be safe.
"What's that?" Ron asked as he looked up from the invite.
"I got invited to the staff Christmas party," Harry said slowly, still trying to figure out what he would have to do. According to what was written there, they would be drawing names for a gift exchange that would happen at Christmas dinner. He wrinkled his nose when he reread that part. It would be his luck if he got Snape. He would just hope that he didn't get the Potions teacher when they drew names the day everybody left that was going home.
"At least I won't be the only student going," Harry said as Ron finished reading it.
"I still think you should be able to go home with me and Ginny," Ron said indignantly.
"Professor Dumbledore has his reasons, Ron. Besides, I need you to take a couple pictures of Percy's new girlfriend." Harry felt a quirky smile cross his lips as Ron's eyes grew wide. Both burst into laughter as Neville came into the room.
"Hey, Neville," Harry said. Ron waved at the other boy, who smiled in greeting. Harry had made it a point to talk to Neville at least once a day after the third and last task of the Tri-Wizard Cup. It hadn't been conscious at first, but he had realized that he really liked to talk to the normally silent boy. And he had an extensive knowledge of plants that had amazed Harry when he had learned of it.
"I heard we have a substitute for Defense Against the Dark Arts for today and tomorrow," Neville said as he put his books in his trunk.
"What?" Both Harry and Ron jumped off the bed.
"Just for two days," Neville reassured them.
Harry nodded. He knew that Neville really liked Professor Steele and her style of teaching. He had started to answer more things in class and was really competing with Hermione for top marks in the class. The competition between them was starting to become funny, especially as Harry didn't even try and he was keeping pace with both.
"So who is it?"
Neville shook his head. "I don't know. I only know we get a substitute because Professor Sprout was wishing Professor Steele good luck and that she would see her at the staff party next week."
"Hm, I wonder who it could be?" Ron thought out loud.
"We'll see after lunch, which we should be getting to," Harry reminded him. They met up with Hermione in the common room and were soon joined with the other seventh years as they made their way to the Great Hall.
~
Harry shifted in his seat as he waited for class to start. Even the Ravenclaws were a little restless at the delay that their substitute teacher was causing. Almost five minutes had passed since the class was to begin and there was no sign of anyone.
"That's enough!" A strange, female voice sounded down the hallway, along with a scuffling noise that bounced off the stone walls. The door flew open to the classroom, revealing a woman with tousled shoulder-length, dark blond hair tugging on a leash. "Get in here!"
A frazzled look crossed her face as she pulled harder on the lead before a body came flying across the threshold. Harry was taken aback by the creature that stood in front of the classroom as his nose was assailed by an awful stench.
"Yes, I know it smells bad," the woman said, waving her free hand in front of her face. She pushed the creature over to one of the corners and wrapped the lead around a hook in the wall, securing it tightly. She crossed to the middle of the front of the desk and shook her head. "I apologize for being late but that," she pointed to the creature, "was being fussy."
She shook her head and laughed, a rich sound that echoed pleasantly around the room.
"I am Professor Aeryn Negre, lately of La Incendio Montagna, and am, thankfully, only here to teach for two days." She gave a crooked smile as Harry looked at her carefully in puzzlement. "I was recently the Potions Master there, but unfortunately our Defense Against the Dark Arts Professor decided it would be a good thing to let that loose," here she pointed to the creature again with a look of disgust on her face, "and now half of the students refuse to step foot in the castle until no signs of the destruction remain. Many of you might find my name familiar as I am the author of your current potions book."
The class groaned. "Don't blame me. I put the information there. It is up to your instructor to find a way to turn it into a practical study, although all of you would benefit from reading the lesson beforehand." Professor Negre had a large grin on her face when the students groaned again. "Now, have any of you read a book called The Hobbit?"
Hermione raised her hand, as well as a couple of the Ravenclaws. Professor Negre nodded.
"This is a Yrch, or an Orc, as described in that book." She went over and pulled it close to the window where the sun was faintly shining. The creature cowered away from the rays of light and tried to run back into the corner. "It doesn't like sunlight, and if the light's strong enough will burn the skin. This thing is very dangerous, and I wouldn't even be bringing it into this place if it hadn't been given a charm by Professor Flitwick.
"The best way to get away from this thing, and I highly recommend you run after seeing it, is to use 'Stupefy' or another stunning spell; the more powerful the better." Professor Negre led it back to the corner where it made grunting noises and tried to grab her. She leapt back and tugged hard on the leash and quickly tied it up and left it alone.
Harry had watched her the entire time and wondered if he had heard her name correctly. Two nights ago he had met someone with the same name as the teacher and there was a huge age difference between the two. The more he thought about it, the more confused he ended up being. He also felt oddly safe in this classroom, though, even with the strange creature grunting in one corner.
A headache was starting to pulse when the class ended with no acknowledgement from him.
"Mr. Potter? Are you ok?" Professor Negre's question was dim against the roaring pain that seemed to shatter his brain.
"Harry?" Ron's panicky voice sounded distant.
"Harry? What's wrong?" Hermione's questions seemed even further away than Ron's.
In the dim recesses of his mind he could feel himself fall forward before darkness swept over him.
******
A ray of winter sunshine battered against his eyelids as he slowly woke up. Blurry figures stood to his left as soft voices spoke in a language other than English. Harry could tell from the smell that he was in the infirmary and he reached over to the table he knew would be next to the bed.
"Ah, Mr. Potter, I see you've woken up finally," Professor Steele said as he put his glasses on. He saw her and Professor Negre next to his bed, the DADA standing while the other sat.
"You were in my dreams," he said, his voice still sleepy sounding.
Professor Negre nodded, her face looking exhausted.
"She's a shadowwalker, Harry." Dumbledore's voice held a worried tone to it as he walked further into the room. Behind him stood Snape and McGonagall.
Harry cringed as Snape walked up to the bed where he lay before he moved on to another one. He watched with curiosity as he saw the head of Slytherin stand next to a bed that held Draco Malfoy. McGonagall went into Madame Pomfrey's office and closed the door. Green eyes glinting, he didn't notice that the two women and the Headmaster were carefully watching him.
"Mr. Potter, do you remember what you saw?" Professor Steele asked.
He looked at her. "Yeah," he said, rubbing one temple. "Professor Negre and..." He was silent for a minute.
"It's okay, Harry," she said. "Call me Aeryn." She turned to Professor Steele. "Don't be pushy, El." Harry looked up to see a slightly cheeky grin on Professor - Aeryn's face as she looked up at Professor Steele. He couldn't help the small laugh that escaped him as Aeryn turned and winked at him.
"Harry," Dumbledore said with an amused tone in his voice before it drifted back into sadness. "Please tell us what happened."
"Why can't Aeryn?" Harry asked with confusion.
"I can only take you places and bring you back. It takes all my focus to get you to where *you* want to go, enough that I can't concentrate on anything but the person that is with me." He looked in her eyes and saw a flicker of hurt and confusion in them. "I can feel the emotions, but I can't see what's happening. I felt it, too." She gave a great shudder. "I don't want to go back there."
"Please, Harry." He turned to Professor Dumbledore.
"Voldemort was at Azkaban," he said in a hushed tone. "He was doing... something, I don't know what, to Fudge." Bright green eyes were briefly covered as he blinked. When he opened his eyes they were a dulled grey-green. A shudder ran across his body as he realized what else had been going on. "Most of the prisoners were given the kiss, as well as the people from the ministry."
A silence filled the infirmary for several minutes before being broken by the door opening. McGonagall and Madame Pomfrey came out of the office attached to the infirmary, along with a man, long black hair held in a series of shining black bands, and a young man around Harry's age with straight black hair hanging to his knees.
"Dad!" Aeryn stood up and hugged the man. "Ray!" She turned and hugged the young man, who was almost as tall as Professor Steele and a couple of inches taller than Aeryn.
"Great-grandfather," the man said to Dumbledore.
Harry watched as Professor Steele stiffened and Snape strode over to the man.
"It seems as if you have family crawling out of the woodwork, Albus," McGonagall said.
Dumbledore chuckled. "They're here to help," he said to the Transfiguration teacher before turning to the strange man. "Were there many other of those... What did you call them, Aeryn?"
"Yrch." Aeryn wrinkled her nose.
"Yes, there were, and they are now gone, but the damage...." said the older stranger. Harry watched him as he came closer to the bed. The man looked a lot like Sirius except for his eyes. They were the same blue as the Headmaster's. As he looked the man seemed to notice where they were. "How about we let these boys get some rest, no?"
"I agree, Michel," Professor Steele said.
Harry could have sworn that he heard Aeryn mutter, "A miracle! They agree on something." The group left him with only Dumbledore and Malfoy in the infirmary.
"Harry," the Headmaster began. "Get some rest today. Walking through dreams can drain you of energy."
"A shadowwalker?" Harry asked. "I don't understand."
Dumbledore shook his head. "It will be explained tonight." He gave a small nod and smile to him before walking over to Malfoy's bed. "Mr. Malfoy?"
Harry watched as Draco gave a small nod of acknowledgement, but didn't say anything. This was a first for him to see. The blond boy was very outspoken, even to the teachers. Something seemed wrong with the picture, but he wasn't sure exactly what it was for the moment.
"Harry?" Ron's whispered voice barely reached his ears.
Turning his head, he found his two best friends standing by the door. A smile crossed Harry's face at the sight, glad for some company now that he didn't feel quite so sleepy. "Hi."
Both of them shifted uncomfortably for a couple of seconds before Hermione spoke. "Do you want us to stay here? For the holiday, we mean."
Harry looked at them. A warm feeling blossomed in his chest at the thought that his friends were willing to give up their holiday plans for him. But he couldn't let them do it. He wanted them to have fun.
Shaking his head, Harry eyed each of them. "No. Go be with your families." Hermione opened her mouth. "I mean it. Besides, Madame Pomfrey wants to keep me here another day or so." He gave a slightly disgusted look, making Ron burst into quiet laughter before a "shush!" came from the office to the right.
They talked in hushed voices for a couple more minutes before Professor Dumbledore walked over to them. "Miss Granger, Mr. Weasley, are you going to join us for the holiday?"
Ron shook his head. "No, sir. Harry wants me to get pictures."
A twinkle shone in the Headmaster's eyes for a quick second before it was hidden. "I see. Well, you'd better get your things together. The carriages will leave for the train shortly." He turned and left the infirmary. Ron and Hermione soon followed, leaving Harry to his thoughts until sleep returned.
******
Harry looked up and down the table, trying to see everybody's reactions to him were. From the scowl on Snape's face he wasn't exactly wanted here, but everybody else wasn't paying much attention. Three other students were here as well: a very quiet Draco Malfoy and two fifth year Hufflepuffs. The Slytherin hadn't said one word to him all evening, and only a couple to Aeryn, who was sitting next to him. Snape couldn't even seem to drag a word out of him.
As soon as the dishes were emptied, Dumbledore stood up. A large smile was on his face as he looked over the table. "I see that the holiday is off to a great start," he said. "And I am pleased to say that this year has gone very good so far.
"Some of you have noticed the new faces at the table tonight," he smiled. Harry saw his eyes were twinkling madly, as if he knew a secret and couldn't wait for everybody to cheer when it came out. "As many of you know, Aeryn Negre filled in these last couple of days for Professor Steele as a favor to me. I am also pleased to introduce her again, but this time as my great-great-granddaughter."
Aeryn rose, an embarrassed flush spreading across her thin cheeks, giving a rosy glow to her skin. 'Down Harry.' He looked at Draco, who hadn't even noticed this.
"Also," Dumbledore continued. "I have two others to introduce. First is my great-grandson, Michel Negre, and my great-great-grandson, Raymund Negre."
The two strangers from before stood and were much more imposing than Aeryn. Harry studied Raymund for a moment. He was around five years younger than the substitute DADA teacher, and looked much more like their father than she did.
The teachers started chattering excitedly and began to mill about the hall to talk to the newest people to arrive. Harry watched Draco carefully as he seemed to pull out of his reverie when Aeryn left his side. Then the blond looked slightly panicked. Taking a deep breath, he made a decision.
Standing, Harry made his way to where Draco was sitting. The other boy's eyes looked at him in surprise and confusion before becoming blank.
"What do you want?" Draco asked in a rough, quiet voice.
"Why didn't you go home?" Harry asked in a curious tone.
Draco gave a slight snort and looked around the room. "What home?"
Harry didn't know how to respond. He couldn't answer that question at that moment himself. An uncomfortable silence fell between them before he thought of something.
"Who do you think you'll get for the gift exchange?"
Light grey eyes bored into him for a quick second before they fell to his hands as they lay in his lap. Draco shrugged and licked his lips nervously before quieting once more. Not sure what to make of it, Harry looked around the room. He spotted Snape, who sat in a corner with his usual sneer on his face. Hiding his study, he was surprised to see something other than Snape's regular disdain flash across the face of the Potions teacher as laughter floated through the air.
He almost missed the laughter as the person doing so sat next to him.
"So, Harry," Aeryn said as she made herself comfortable in the next spot on the large bench. "Ready to pick names?" She leaned in close and whispered, "I don't know about you, but I don't want to get Mr. Grouchy over there."
Harry and Draco looked at her in surprise as a gamine smile spread across her lips. This was something quite new in terms of a teacher confiding in students like this. Even so, both found themselves smiling at her as she gave a cheeky wave to the Potions teacher. Snape glowered at her for a sharp moment with a look that would have paralyzed the two boys, but the woman next to them playfully stuck her tongue out at him.
"What is that?" Draco broke the silence surrounding him with the question.
Aeryn's eyes lit up. "Very good question," she said with another smile. She leaned over in a confiding matter. "I know it's not very professional of me but I like it."
Harry looked at her again. She was very confusing but very likable. Over the last couple of years he had come to trust his instincts about people, the first one he felt about them, and to go with that. The last couple of years had taught him the lesson to go with his initial feeling well enough. He knew instinctively that she was one of the few people he could trust with his life in this room. Harry didn't feel comfortable with some of the teachers, but he knew he could trust her. Maybe it was the way she had looked under the influence of the age potion, but more than likely it was the way she held herself. It reminded him very much of the Headmaster of Hogwarts.
Besides, earlier in the evening he had talked with Professor Dumbledore about what had happened. The Headmaster had told him that his wife had also been a shadowwalker, a fact that had given him more pain than he would tell Harry. Even so, he had seen it for a brief second in the pale blue eyes, but wouldn't bring it up again. Dumbledore had gone on to say that a shadowwalker could take a person to the place they wanted to go to or were pulled by somebody else by traveling through shadows. The walker and walkee (Harry had laughed at this expression) would stay in the shadow of anything, be it an object or person, but more often another person.
It was usually safest to do when the walkee was asleep, as their subconscious knew enough not to get involved in what was going on. If they were awake there was a large chance that the walker and walkee would get separated if the walkee left the shadow, leaving their body back in the starting place. It also left the walker vulnerable to attack from the walkee themselves. When Harry had passed out the day before, they had been unable to wake him. He had an inkling that Dumbledore suspected that Voldemort was trying to do something, but he wasn't quite sure exactly what it was.
Harry had seen a shadow pass over Dumbledore's face as he continued talking. All he had heard up to this point was that he had been married when he was much younger, but nobody had known if he had any children. His wife had died at a young age, leaving him in his single state up to the present. Now he knew that some of it was true with the appearance of the Negres.
"Harry?"
He snapped back to the present when he heard his name called in confusion.
"Potter, pay attention." Harry raised an eyebrow as Draco added his two knuts to the conversation. He looked at the blond boy before turning to the woman next to him.
"Yes?"
Aeryn gave a funny little smile. "I was just asking you if you noticed how much my dad and your..." She stopped when Draco became interested in the question. "Never mind. I'm imagining things."
Harry gave what she *had* said careful thought. Suddenly it came to him what she had been asking. Her father and Sirius did look an awful lot alike now that he thought about it.
He got no further as Professor Dumbledore went to stand up on the small raised platform where the teacher's table stood during regular school time. Harry saw the twinkle in his eye as the Headmaster waited until everybody stopped talking.
"Since we've such a small group here for the holiday this year, I decided to come up with a little gift exchange I read about in one of the newspapers. I've heard it is quite popular in the States," here he shot a twinkle to somebody, but Harry wasn't sure who, "and we don't want to be thought behind them."
He indicated a large purple box with gold lines running along the sides. "In this box I have placed the names of all those here. Each person will pull a name out of it and get a gift for that person." Dumbledore chuckled. "It doesn't have to be big or expensive, but please consider who they are when choosing."
Harry felt a chill run down his spine as the thought of getting Snape ran through his brain again. 'Anybody but Snape,' he thought, as he waited in line behind Draco.
The blond reached into the box and stopped when he read the name. Harry saw him stiffen for a second before his body language shouted for anybody to stay away. Green eyes narrowed in something like concern as he watched him step over to the side.
Shaking the feeling off, he reached into the box. 'Not Snape, not Snape, not Snape.' A piece of parchment brushed his fingers and he scrambled madly to pull it out. Crumpling it up in his fist he strode away from the box and those who had gathered around it. Making sure no one saw him, he carefully pulled open the scrunched edges and breathed a sigh of relief before he choked on it.
'Draco Malfoy.'
Harry stiffened. A small part of him jumped in joy that it wasn't Snape, but the larger part was setting up a wonderfully huge tirade about the injustice of getting the Slytherin boy. He sighed as he thought about it, though. In the ten minutes he had sat next to Draco this evening, he had learned something new about the blond boy. The Slytherin hadn't once insulted him or said anything about his friends. Harry wondered if this had anything to do about his father's capture as a Death Eater.
He realized he was probably right, but only partially. Harry looked across the room and saw that Draco had returned to his seat, sitting sullenly on the sofa-like bench. Well, he would have to think of something, but he would do so in the morning.