NOTES: I would like to say thank you to all of those who reviewed, not just the last chapter, but those who have reviewed more than once showing such interest in this piece. Those of you who write know how much feedback is valued and enjoyed. Thank you for your comments, criticisms, praise, questions, concerns, and opinions. They mean more than I can say. Everyone in the Hp fandom has made this experience great and a whole lot of fun.
Once again due to ff.net peculiarities, words between // // count for letters sent.
Some of the dialogue included herein is taken directly from JKR book. That makes it NOT MINE. Just FYI
Now read and enjoy!
*****
CHAPTER IX: The Midnight Snack Club
*****
"Watch it!" Ron yelped as he helped Harry steady himself and the tower of books the black haired boy was returning to the library. Ron winced at the sight of the titles Harry was returning. "Who knew Hermione could be catching?" he said to himself taking a few of the tomes out of Harry's arms before his yearmate was squashed.
"Next thing you know you'll be living in the library," Harry teased.
Ron shuddered in revulsion.
"Using color coded inks," Harry continued with a grin "organizing your notes, staying awake for History of Magic--"
"Okay, now that's not funny, Harry," Ron said scowling. "Not even you manage that most of the time."
They entered the library and placed the books on Madam Pince's desk. "What on earth is so fascinating about this?" Ron asked with a disgusted look on his face as he picked up one of the books to stare at the cover. "I can understand some of those elf wars and really ancient magical battles you told me about-- those sound incredible, especially the way you tell it --but the history of alchemy?"
Harry shrugged, not meeting his best friend's eyes, knowing he wouldn't be able to hide the truth and knowing Ron would want to help.
They searched among the stacks, finding Hermione buried in exam preparation despite the first test being ten weeks away.
Ron shot Harry a look that quite clearly said *that girl's mad* before he slumped down beside her with a sigh. Harry was about to take a seat across from the both of them when someone bumped into him from behind, nearly sending him sprawling.
A massive hand steadied him and Harry looked up and found Hagrid was already offering apologies.
"It's all right, Hagrid," Harry said. "I should have . . ." he trailed off as he noticed the book clasped in Hagrid's other hand.
Dragon Breeding for Pleasure and Profit
Looking up with wide green eyes, he met the groundskeeper's worried face. That book could only mean one thing. "Hagrid, where did you get one?" Harry asked in a whisper.
"Get what? Harry are you all right?" Hermione asked abandoning her studies, curiosity piqued at the sight of the Gamekeeper in the library.
Hagrid hid the book in his moleskin coat's voluminous pockets.
"A dragon," Harry said in amazement. "You've finally got a dragon."
"A WHAT?" Ron exclaimed.
"Keep yer voices down," the bearded man waving a hand at them to keep quiet lest they attract the attention of the librarian. "Won it off a stranger in the pub last night. Got to keep the egg all toasty warm till it hatches," he said with a pleased smile.
"But breeding dragons is illegal in Britain. It has been since 1709," Hermione said in a familiar strangled tone that she got every time someone did something against the rules.
"I ken keep it safe, I know dragons. And I got myself the book," Hagrid countered patting his pocket. "Always wanted a dragon, yeh know. Raise it up right, take care o' it, teach it like a good mummy."
Ron and Hermione were staring at the giant man like he'd grown a second head.
"I'll let yeh know when it hatches Harry," Hagrid said, eager no doubt to share his impending joy. "Yeh can even bring yer friends along. Jest-jest keep it a secret, eh?"
Harry didn't have to think about it. No matter how unwise it was to not report Hagrid's illegal breeding activities, he knew how important it was to the man, and just having the egg could get Hagrid the sack. Harry promised his friend. "I will."
Hermione let out a gurgle of disbelief behind him.
Nodding and smiling in relief, Hagrid left the library.
"Harry!" Ron hissed as he helped Hermione take her seat; the poor girl was beside herself with the rule breaking conversation that had just happened in her presence. "I get that Hagrid is your friend, Charlie used to have tea with him too and discuss things like, well, dragons . . ."
Hermione managed a weak sputter.
"But," Ron continued "Perhaps keeping this a secret is, well . . ."
"Suicide!" Hermione managed. "Or worse, worthy of expulsion!"
Harry turned to face them. "Look," he said sharply, surprising them with his slightly forceful tone. "Just having that egg could get Hagrid in all sorts of trouble, probably cost him his job. We should help him try and figure a way out of this, not go running off to tell just because it's a little risky."
Ron was reluctantly nodding in agreement with Harry's reasoning. Hermione on the other hand . . .
"A little risky?!" Hermione screeched. At Ron's hissed "shhh!" she dropped back down to a whisper. "A little risky? The man wants to raise and hide a dragon in his wooden house!"
Hermione did have a point. Harry bit his lip as he tried to think of some way to get Hagrid out of this situation, before the eventual fire ensued. "Charlie!" he said suddenly turning to Ron.
Ron looked at him as if he'd just lost all his Exploding Snap cards. "Harry, I'm Ron remember?" he said slowly. "Are you sure you're getting enough sleep lately?"
Harry waved away his dormmate's concern absently, "No, Ron, your brother Charlie. He works with dragons in Romania right?" At the redhead's nod, Harry continue. "Well, what if we owl him and get him to take Hagrid's egg before it hatches? We can do it without letting the teachers or the Ministry know Hagrid ever had it in the first place."
Hermione was struggling not to hyperventilate. "That could work, but if we get caught--!"
Ron rolled his eyes at her hysterics. "It's a good plan. We just need to keep this quiet and hope we can get this sorted out before it hatches. I'll write the letter and we'll send it off with Hedwig right now. Better to use her than school owls, someone might notice if we send one of them all the way to Romania."
"And if we don't get this cleared up in time and it does hatch?" Hermione said as she gathered up her books and notes. Both boys stood, ready to head back to the Gryffindor tower where Harry had left Hedwig this morning.
"It won't," Ron said in exasperation. "We'll send off the egg and Hagrid will be in the free and clear. What could possibly be simpler?"
They turned to leave their alcove when they heard a thump and hurried footsteps running for the library entrance. Sharing a shocked glance they realized they had had an eavesdropper.
Scrambling, they ran after the spy. Amid the stacks of books Harry, who was the fastest, managed to catch sight of a distinctive head of silver blond hair just as the figure escaped from the library.
"Who?" Hermione wheezed beneath her back as she managed to catch up to him.
"Malfoy," Harry said with dread. The boy would go straight to Professor Snape, Harry was certain.
Ron moaned. "Bugger, we're doomed."
*****
But the axe did not fall. For the rest of the day, the three Gryffindors walked cautiously, but they were not stopped by any teacher, they were not dragged summarily to the Headmaster's office. In every class they shared with the Slytherin, Draco made a point to smirk at the three of them.
Often.
It made them realize that their stay of execution was a temporary reprieve only.
Ron struggled not to pound the other boy into the ground. Hermione was so nervous she spaced off for five minutes in class no doubt missing key notes. Harry could only think that Draco had something worse planned if he was holding back with information this good. What would soon follow? Harry thought with a sinking feeling growing in his stomach. Blackmail? Public humiliation? What would happen to Hagrid who loved Hogwarts, who was one of the most gentle men Harry had ever known?
Whatever game he was playing at, Harry refused to let Malfoy win.
They'd sent Hedwig off and Harry knew it would take quite a few days for her to return, and during that time he couldn't write a reply to Padfoot's and Moony's latest letter. He wasn't too worried about his guardian's reaction about impending dragon smuggling, but they would grow concerned if Harry didn't reply soon and he couldn't use a school owl.
He pushed away his doubts; Harry had learned that they served no purpose. If you were going to do something against the rules like sneaking out, or stealing food from Dudley, it was best to go all the way and accept the consequences as they came.
Besides this was Hagrid, who had been a good friend this term, always inviting him down for tea, rock cakes, (thought he could do without those) and exciting stories.
And there was something else, something . . . off about the whole situation, beyond waiting to see what Malfoy had up his sleeve. Harry struggled to wrap his mind around it, this nameless anxiety that rose upon learning that Hagrid had found a dragon egg, (beyond the obvious of course) but his worry was faceless, nameless.
Returning his attention to the charms lesson, Harry faked the correct wand movement, reaching out wandlessly to complete the practical portion of the class, ignoring the surprised look from Seamus.
*****
Sirius stood by the post basket, tea cup in his hand, staring out of the window for the familiar white form of Harry's owl.
"No letter?" Remus asked from behind him as a way of morning greeting.
"Harry always sends a reply. It's been a week," Padfoot said distantly. "Suppose something's happened?"
"There's been no contact from Dumbledore or any of the other professors?"
Sirius shook his head. "None."
Remus frowned. Abandoning his breakfast preparations he ducked into the living room to stare at the clock. Harry's hand was firmly set on School where it had been since term had resumed. Wandering back into the kitchen, the werewolf finished pouring his tea absently.
"Maybe he had to send Hedwig off on an errand?" he offered, grasping at straws.
Sirius didn't answer, simply continued to pace in front of the window. Finally giving a snarl of defeat, the black haired marauder slammed his cup down on the counter and headed for the clock, wand drawn. With a complex wave and an incantation the area on the clock designated School split off into several smaller sections not used, no doubt, since Sirius's own childhood.
Harry's hand wavered for a moment between Class and Mischief and then settle firmly on Mischief.
"Ha! Well, well, so Mr. Talons is up to something, is he? And he hasn't deigned to share it with Messrs. Padfoot and Moony?" Sirius said with a delighted smile. He rubbed his hands together with glee. "I bet he's waiting for it to come to its final, hilarious conclusion before writing back."
"It's so comforting to know that the younger generations have not forgotten the old ways, isn't it Mr. Padfoot. Mr. Prongs would be so proud." Remus said coming to stare at the clock with a relieved smile.
"Quite, Mr. Moony."
*****
The note was only two words but it was more than enough.
//It's Hatching!//
Ron gulped noticeably, suddenly put off his breakfast. Harry folded the note up quickly and put it in his pocket. The smaller boy was very glad that Hermione had decided to finish breakfast early and was in the library. Their plan was not going well so far. The egg was hatching. Hedwig had not returned from Romania, and even now Draco Malfoy was staring at the Gryffindor table with an expression of smug superiority.
At least Harry thought the look was because of the dragon. It was hard to tell; Draco often wore a look of smug superiority. It seemed to come naturally.
"What do we do?" Ron whispered.
Harry worried his lip nervously. "I suppose we go and watch it hatch."
The red head goggled at him in disbelief. "Harry, this is a dragon we are talking about. It's one thing to keep an egg secret till we can smuggle it out, but a dragon? Charlie showed me some of the burns and bite marks he had gotten from the wild ones at Christmas. Those things are dangerous."
"We have no choice," Harry said "Hagrid's my friend, but if you want to back out, I-"
"Don't even say it," Ron said angrily, pointing his fork at Harry. "Just don't. We're in this together, even Hermione. We're not going to abandon you to do this all by yourself. Hagrid's your friend so that makes him mine too. We'll just sneak down during morning break."
Feeling shyly pleased but also dreadfully guilty for getting Ron and Hermione into this mess, Harry nodded his thanks at his best friend. "Let's go tell Hermione."
*****
Norbert, Hagrid's pride and joy, was spindly, vicious, black, violent, flammable, and now apparently, poisonous.
"Hold still, I've almost got it," Harry murmured.
Ron moaned as Harry managed to leech off the rest of the infection by focusing all of his magic on his friend's bitten hand. Holding it gently under the tap, Harry finished washing out the injury and wrapping it, weaving healing into the strips of bed sheet they'd torn up to make the bandage.
"It should be fine by morning," Harry told him in a whisper not wanting his voice to echo loudly in the darkened boy's bathroom. He watched the redness and swelling that had spread up his friend's arm vanish.
"Yeah. Thanks, Harry. Can you imagine showing up in the infirmary with this?" Ron said raising his tender hand gingerly. "Oh, Madam Pomfrey it was a dog that bit me," he said dramatically. "Like she'll believe that!"
"Hedwig's back and Saturday is only four days away," Harry reminded him. "We just have to convince Hagrid it's for the best, and get Norbert to the highest tower at midnight."
"Good luck," Ron snorted in amusement. In the days the three of them had taken to helping Hagrid feed and tend to the baby dragon both Ron and Hermione had grown fond of the Gamekeeper, even with his odd predilections for dangerous fearsome pets. "I heard him singing to it, singing that poisonous thing to sleep like it was a baby," Ron confided to Harry "He even bought it a teddy bear. He thinks it's a cute and cuddly kitty cat not a vicious, fire breathing, evil, bottomless stomach."
Harry laughed softly and shook his head. "We'll just tell him Norbert will be happier with other dragons to be friends with. About how much he'll learn at the colony, how he might have relatives there, how wonderful it will be for Norbert."
"And what about Malfoy?" Ron said as he paced back and forth anxiously. "He's been keeping an extra close watch, and I could have sworn I saw him peeking through the curtains spying on us."
"He hasn't said anything yet. And he has no proof as of now, and in four days he won't be able to find anything anyway. Half of pulling off a good plan right under someone's nose is keeping your head."
"How can you be so calm?" Ron groused under his breath following Harry out of the bathroom. "Learn that from your godfather, did you?" Ron asked in a whisper as they made their way back into the dorm and to their respective beds.
"Sirius is brilliant at plans," Harry said with a smile. The happy look faded as he came face to face with his bed. He hadn't been spending much time there with helping Hagrid with midnight feedings of Norbert, but what time he did spend was not restful.
Harry rubbed his forehead absently, a ghost pain flashing briefly from his scar. For a moment he wanted nothing more than to put back on his father's invisibility cloak and wander Hogwarts till morning.
"Hey," Ron said quietly, his hand shaking Harry out of his thoughts. "You've got to sleep, Harry. I'll wake you up if you, er, dream again," the redhead said tactfully. He cut of Harry's protests by pushing him towards the bed. "Sleep," he ordered.
"Night Ron," Harry whispered.
"Night Harry."
*****
The three Gryffindors stood watching Hagrid's tearful goodbye to Norbert who was savagely biting the man's arms as the gamekeeper hugged his baby to his chest.
"Yeh take care now," Hagrid said with a large sniffle as he placed the Norwegian Ridgeback in his crate. "Play nice with all the other dragons and make sure yeh eat well," he said, wiping his nose on a large red handkerchief as he placed the stuffed toy in with his precious hatchling.
Norbert hissed and started mauling the teddy bear as Hagrid closed the lid of the massive crate.
Stunned by the display Hermione and Ron stood there while Harry took charge, placing his hands on the crate ("Wood!" Hermione had muttered upon seeing it. "He transports a flame breathing animal in a wooden container!") making it feather light, floating, and inflammable.
"Come on, it's nearly midnight," Hermione said as Harry threw the cloak over all three of them and they hurried, hands linked, back towards the castle, the crate floating along behind them.
They were in luck, or more likely, Harry thought, the castle was working for them. They managed to avoid Peeves and Mrs. Norris as they climbed staircase after staircase, puffing for air as they ran.
"Hurry!" Ron said between gasps as they reached the base of the final staircase up the turret.
A sudden noise in the dark nearly sent them falling back down the way they'd come. Shrinking back into the dark, hiding the crate in the shadows, the three Gryffindors watched as the most pleasing sight since this whole adventure began came into view.
Dressed in a tartan bathrobe, dragging one Draco Malfoy by the ear, was Professor McGonagall.
Hermione slapped her hand across Ron's mouth before the boy could descend into fits of laughter.
"But Harry Potter's coming! He's got a dragon and-"
"Detention! And twenty points for making up such stories, Mr. Malfoy," the Head of Gryffindor scolded furiously, dragging the boy away. "Straight to Professor Snape with you!"
The three waited and watched as the two disappeared from sight. Quickly now they dashed up the final spiral staircase and out into the night air and threw off the invisibility cloak.
Hermione did a little dance of glee. "Malfoy's got detention! I could sing!"
At the sight of Hermione skipping about both Harry and Ron let go and laughed till tears ran down their faces.
"Did-did you see? She had him by the ear!" Ron managed to gasp out.
"But Harry Potter's coming! He's got a dragon!" Hermione mimicked Draco's tone of voice perfectly prompting further fits of laughter.
"Harry Potter's got a dragon?" an amused voice asked. All three of them turned around and saw a red head young man and another dark faced wizard on brooms smiling down at their antics.
"Charlie!" Ron called out in greeting as both of the men landed. He introduced them to his friends, and Harry found himself peered at with slightly awed expressions as he shook hands with Charlie and one of Charlie's fellow dragon handlers, Kurt Wimble.
They managed to hook up a harness between the brooms and get a squirming, unhappy Norbert situated in between them.
"Now don't go breeding any more creatures, all right?" Charlie said messing up his younger brother's hair. "I don't want to have to receive a letter from you three about finding a pet chimera. Merlin only knows what mum would say," he said drolly.
"You won't tell her, will you?" Ron said anxiously.
Charlie laughed. "Never. But you should be proud. Not even Fred and George ever tried anything this ambitious. Now get back to bed and take care you don't get caught."
"Bye Charlie! Bye Kurt!" they called as the two men kicked off.
The three of them watched as Norbert disappeared from sight.
Hermione let out a colossal sigh of relief. "Thank heaven that's over with."
"You know, I think I'm going to miss him," Ron said.
Harry and Hermione exchanged an incredulous look and Hermione reached out and smacked the Weasley boy upside the head.
"Are you mad? Good riddance to bad rubbish!" Hermione said firmly.
"And good riddance to bad students," a raspy voice cackled.
Whirling around the three came face to face with Mr. Filch.
"Little firsties out of bed after hours?" he murmured to Mrs. Norris in his arms. "Oooh we are in trouble, aren't we?"
*****
//Dear Padfoot and Moony,//
//I lost 50 house points from Gryffindor. So did Ron and Hermione. Professor McGonagall is furious. We were caught out of bed after hours by Mr. Filch. Our Housemates aren't very happy at the moment but it could have been worse. You could be receiving a call from the Disposal of Magical Creatures department about me being in arrested for smuggling.//
//We've also got detention tomorrow night. I'm not sure what we'll be doing but Malfoy got detention too for being out of bed trying to spy on us. Professor McGonagall dragged him away by his ear. It was very funny.//
//It looks like Gryffindor won't be wining the house cup because we're in last place. I'm sorry if I disappointed you, but it was important. But there is still Quidditch Oliver says, and we could be back in the running if we beat Slytherin in the final.//
//Love,
Harry//
*****
"Aren't you worried at all about what our detention will be? She's might make us owl our parents," Hermione wailed. "Plus all of those House points. We'll never catch up."
"Are you kidding? You did see Harry's godfather on the Platform at Christmas, didn't you?" Ron exclaimed as they trudged tiredly to class the next morning. "He'll probably be thrilled Harry smuggled a baby dragon out of Hogwarts. Harry will be okay, but the rest of us are doomed though," Ron said, face falling. "Mum'll kill me," he said mournfully. "At least it's only detention. We're still students."
Their detention turned out be better than expulsion, but not by much.
"Detention in the Forbidden Forest? I thought it was Forbidden!" Ron groused into his lunch.
Harry shrank in his seat at the red head's words. The three of them were sitting ostracized by most of their House at the Gryffindor table. "I'm sorry," Harry whispered. "I shouldn't have gotten you involved. It was my fault."
"Don't be silly Harry," Ron said. "Hagrid's your friend, an my friend now and Hermione's too. We stick together."
Hermione nodded. "That's right. Don't even think about apologizing. We made the choice ourselves. I could have chosen to go to Professor McGonagall from the beginning and reported the occurrence, but we work better together. Remember the troll?" she asked trying to coax a smile out of the smaller boy.
Harry nodded, raising his head to meet her eyes.
"There, see?" Ron asked, in slightly better spirits. "We've taken down a troll and smuggled a dragon though no one knows. Detention isn't so bad, it's just that why do we have to have it with Malfoy? Are they trying to kill us?"
"It's not that dangerous," Harry protested softly.
"May I remind you of Malfoy?" Ron said archly.
Harry though about this for a moment before conceding the point. "Great annoyance can lead to death. It's happened before," he said seriously.
"That's not very comforting Harry," Ron grumbled.
"No it hasn't. There hasn't been a single death with annoyance as the cause," Hermione said scathingly.
"It's not that bad," Harry tried again fighting down a yawn, rubbing his eyes tiredly. "There are paths and safe trees and groves in the forest. If you're careful and avoid the nastier surprises and pay attention to where you are it's fine. The forest is old, the trees like their privacy as do the monsters living there."
"Monsters?" Hermione whispered before shaking herself. She stood, abandoning her lunch. At the boy's questioning looks she explained. "There's probably a book in the library about the forest."
"You're going to get it now? What about lunch? You'll be late for Potions too," Ron pointed out.
"We have the detention tonight. A prepared person is less likely to be harmed than an unprepared person. I intend to be prepared."
Spinning around on her heel she marched out of the Great Hall.
"Like anyone's ever written a book about that awful place."
Harry shook his head at his friend's morose tone. "Hagrid is going to be with us. It's-it's going to be all right."
Ron took a deep breath and nodded. "Right." He raised his glass and tipped it at Harry. "Here's hoping Draco gets eaten by something nasty."
*****
They met in the dark at the edge of the Forest. Hagrid was still moping over the loss of his precious Norbert and snapped at Malfoy for whining, much to Ron's delight.
For Harry's part his eyes were drawn to the blackness of the Forest. The uneasiness he'd felt all term was pressing down on him with a vengeance, recent nightmares of dreaded green and that woman's voice only fueling his feelings.
Something was coming.
No, something was already here.
Hagrid strode into the Forbidden Forest and they followed, clustered behind him like ducklings. They all jumped out of their skins when the first and then the second centaur greeted them with their odd pronouncement.
"Mars is bright tonight."
Frustrated by non answers, as well as Draco jumping out from behind trees frightening Hermione, Hagrid paired them up to go searching for the killer of unicorns. He offered Harry an apology for sticking him with Draco, and added his huge boarhound Fang to their little group.
They wandered deeper into the forest, Malfoy holding the lantern high as they followed a trail of unicorn blood.
"This is all your fault, Potter," Malfoy spat. "Just wait till my father hears about this."
"You mean you haven't already told him that you got dragged before your Head of House by your ear and lost twenty points from Slytherin?" Harry asked with false solicitness as he peered around the massive ancient tress for unicorns or unicorn killers.
"Still much better than you! 150 points in one night," Draco smirked with glee. "Gryffindor is in last place and none of your housemates are talking to you."
"You could have got us expelled and thrown in jail for illegal dragon breeding and yourself hailed as a hero. I'd say that house points are a pretty poor substitute as far as rivalry goes," Harry replied sharply.
Growling under his breath, Draco kicked at a tree root that now tangled into the barely traversable path. Looking up they realized they had found the unicorn at last.
Fallen in a crumbled heap, luminescent amid the tangled roots of an ancient oak tree lay the beautiful creature.
There was a noise, a sort of slithering rustle to the side and Harry, Draco, and Fang watched in petrified horror as a cloaked figure crept along the forest floor towards the fallen beast and lowered its head to drink of its blood.
"AAAAAAAAAAARGH!"
Malfoy had found his voice and dropping the lantern, fled with Fang at his heels. Harry could only mutely watch as the Slytherin and dog vanished between the trees. He whirled back around to see if the . . thing . . . had see them.
The cloaked figure raised its head and wiped shiny glowing blood off its mouth onto its cloak.
Pain exploded on Harry's forehead. His scar burned and it felt as if someone had taken a pickaxe at his skull, driving the blade deep between his eyes. Pressing his hand to the mark, he stumbled back over tree roots, fighting for breath as his lungs constricted under the onslaught of pain.
Though blurry eyes, Harry watched as the shadowy figure approached. He saw claw like hands extend for him and raised his left arm to ward the creature off.
He knew this, this was familiar . . .
Light poured from Harry, tracing paths across his hand and wrist, as if he was lit by an inner fire and it shone through his skin and his clothes. The creature recoiled for an instant but then pressed closer. Gritting his teeth against the intense pain, barely standing, Harry drew his hand away from his forehead, reached for his magic, and pushed--
The cloaked figure fled with an inhuman shriek that sounded like air hissing from a puncture.
Gasping, Harry collapsed to his knees, shaking hands pressed into the dirt, very nearly sick. There was the thunder of hooves behind him but Harry couldn't find the energy to look up, let alone face whatever was coming.
A hand on his shoulder got his attention and Harry met the blue eyed gaze of a palomino centaur.
"Are you all right?" he said pulling Harry to his unsteady feet.
"Voldemort," Harry said blankly, the word escaping as if it had been pulled from within him by invisible hands. He remembered. "That was . . . Voldemort."
The centaur looked taken aback. "Yes," he said in amazement. He looked over the boy carefully and reached out to wipe blood off the boy's forehead revealing the lighting shaped scar. "You are Harry Potter," he breathed.
"Yes." Harry blinked dizzily, trying to focus. "Who are you?"
"I am Firenze. You are fortunate that I saw the . . . light through the trees." The centaur stared up at the heavens barely visible through the dense foliage. "Mars is bright tonight."
"War is coming," Harry agreed almost absently, finding it hard to focus on what the centaur was saying. He tried to wipe blood off his face before it dripped into his eyes. "It will be worse this time, much worse."
Firenze stared at the boy in front of him, swishing his tail. "You read the stars?" he asked incredulously.
Harry tipped his head back, nearly loosing his balance and falling if not for the centaur. He stared up at the distant pinpricks. "I dream, sometimes with my eyes open," he murmured. "I see things and then they happen."
"What have you seen?" the centaur asked anxiously, kneeling down so that he could see Harry clearly.
"Ash, green light, fire reflected back again and again . . ." he said muzzily. "I see m-my parents, a room, dusty, dirty . . . he's begging, he's begging him t-to . . . headstones, and—and doors . . ." His green eyes snapped back into focus, sharp, clear, and suddenly he knew.
"There is a traitor at the school."
Firenze reached out and gripped Harry's shoulders. "Mars foretells a blood soaked return, soon, perhaps very soon. If there is a traitor, perhaps no one but you can prevent His rising."
"I know," he said thinly, dropping his head, exhausted. "I must be there for Voldemort to fail." Harry said, voice faint, eyes closing as he paled. The truth struck him like a blow. "And . . . I must be there for him to succeed."
*****
tbc
Dragons and Detentions. I hope you enjoyed the dynamic between Ron, Harry, and Hermione. Hermione may have come off a bit overanxious, but if you read first book she is very tense and rule bound. She is much more relaxed second year. As for Ron, despite the 4th book ff backlash, I think he is one of the most loyal and truest friends to Harry. I love their friendship which like any great one has its ups and downs. I had to really fight to keep Harry in character for this chapter, I did a lot of reworking to keep it so. I hope you liked how Hagrid became friends with Ron and Hermione, I hope it was believable. As for the exclusion of Neville, given that so much of previous chapters had Harry working on his own, I felt the need to establish the trio here in this chapter and the relationship they have. Sirius and Remus had a small part in here, just because I thought it was realistic that Harry would write them often and sending Hedwig away for a long period of time would cause them to worry. As for the unicorn killer in the forest . . . did it come off the least bit suspenseful? Well as suspenseful as it can be given that you've all probably read the books and seen the film. What about Harry's Seeing? Let me know!
Anyway . . . a lot in this chapter, a lot of key character and plot development for the next couple of chapters. Next chapter . . . the truth will out.
Recommendations:
"Extrapolation" by Aedalena is a wonderful Harry piece. Set during Tom Riddle's school years, it is long and just getting started. Serious drama and action here. Very very good.
"Coming in from the Cold" by ahappyjtm. If you all are good at searching out Sirius and Harry fics you have no doubt found this one, but just in case . . . a very resourceful Harry, Padfoot on the go, a prophecy about the wizards of wizards, and Fred and George are LOST! Rich with detail and very very promising. Each chapter is a wonderful surprise and the author updates rather regularly.
"A Gryffindor Tried and True" by Meercat. A good adventure story where everyone is in character and there is a real sense of anxiousness created by this inventive writer. Also more of the Founder's secrets within Hogwarts.
Reviews: Once again thanks to all of you!
Von- I'm glad you liked Christmas. I didn't want to focus too much about what happened over Christmas, though I did write a few more scenes. I think they'll fit better in second year actually. Snape's a challenge but I'm happy how he turned out. As for Harry's broom being destroyed . . . you'll have to wait for second year which I hope to start typing this weekend. (so yes I do plan to keep going, thanks to reviewer's kind encouragement) I glad that Harry's fondest desire was believable. I wanted that scene to be really as profound and shaking as it was to read in the first book.
Anaxandra- I won't shoot. I can understand people's reluctance to read. I must seem like some kind of interloper on neutral's world, so don't punish yourself! grin I'm glad I in some small way live up to the terrific example she set in her stories. I do like to bring in what motivates Harry, focus in some vague way on the past, though not harp on it. I do hope I've succeeded. The best storytellers can give such hints subtly. I am learning how to do so with every story, every chapter I write. I'm glad you are enjoying this!
homa_24- Sister mine . . . you were exaggerating on the length! evil grin I'm glad I grilled you at the pool after all! As for proper keep left signs, was it really that silly? Is that a good thing?
Liara- Being manhandles as a kid is one of the horrible losses of growing up. SIGH Harry being as small for his age as he is gets to enjoy it longer than most, and doesn't care or feel embarrassed. This is Padfoot after all. As for the Ron-Hermione-Harry discussion about what it means to be a Gryffindor and a friend . . . next chapter you and others who have been missing the trio will get what you have asked for! ;) It will have repercussions into the next year and beyond. I hope you liked their character interactions in this chapter. I'm glad you liked the nightmare images—the green stealing Harry's parents is actually in the book, the other two images are influenced by Clawtracks and Western Stars. Rereading the books in anticipation of book 5 as well as for this story, you pick up so many things! No matter how much I love the films, the books rock.
TeeDee- The best chapter yet? Hmm, how shall I top that!? The train scene I wrote when I first decided to write this fic. It got changed a bit as I worked on it, but the original writing is mostly there. Honestly if I didn't walk around with a pen and a notebook I would never write anything! grin Thanks for the grammar help, the sss and ''' always drive me crazy.
dragongirlG- Someone who likes Harry figuring out things for himself! YES! Thank you. You appear to be in a minority, but I don't care! Oh happy day! grin Thank you for reviewing; I was loosing all hope that I was managing to get my thoughts across through words. And a Snape fan, a fan of Snape as he is in his natural habitat- snarky, rude, caustic, and Slytherin. I shall endeavor to keep writing. I'm planning year two and beyond, each year divorcing further and further from events of the book of course.
NightSpear- Another fan of the mirror scene, I'm so glad. As for the trio vs. independent Harry, I hope you enjoyed this chapter. A lot more interaction between the three, with Harry introducing them due to circumstances to his very good friend Hagrid. The Oliver Quidditch scene was added at the spur of the moment, inspired by the books and quite a few other ff author's description of Harry in flight. I wasn't sure when neutral had him be a hawk/bird of prey as his Animagus but it does fit with his character, flying free, no longer earthbound. Thanks for the grammar help, I shall endeavor to correct! Keep reading.
Riddikulus- ahhh! A motorbike fan. I think Sirius is the coolest bad boy in the HP universe. I'm glad you enjoyed Harry's holiday, such a sharp contrast to his Hogwart's holidays really. The mirror scene "powerful to read" ? Wow! Thank you, I am very flattered. I am so glad you liked it, I worried so much about it coming off as dramatic and emotionally impacting. Thank you! Thank you!
Please review and let me know what you liked! ;)
