"What do we do when the boggart kills himself?" Harry asked. He tried to make it seem like nothing was wrong despite the dead man on the floor. Harry saw nothing funny about it, and couldn't think of anything to make it funny. Moony appeared baffled, and seemed to be scratching for ideas.
"I think this one is gone. We better get the one in Minnie's office before she get rid of it then." Moody started shuffling the second years out of the room, until only he and Harry remained. "It'll get better Harry, you had no choice." Harry just watched the body. This could have been someone's father, someone's brother, someone's husband, someone's child. Maybe Harry didn't really have a choice, but that still didn't make it alright. "Harry, yer friends are in potions, with Snape. You can find 'em there." Moody shut the door softly and followed his students up and out of the dungeons. Harry stood for a while longer. What was so spiritual about life that made it so fantastic? What, in the end had he taken from this man. Had he really done a sin, in defending himself? What separated a living man from a dead one? Brain activity? A heartbeat? Had he really taken anything significant away? If the man had a soul, and if there was a god, wouldn't he be better off free from the bounds of life? And if there wasn't, in who's eyes had he sinned? If there was no god, who was there to punish him? Other people? People who knew no more than he did? People who felt they were right, in enforcing their own beliefs onto him? Who did these people think they were, to try to mold him into their perfect little model? He decided he would no longer live by the regulations of others. He needed to find his own path.
Harry picked up his head and approached the body. He transfigured a particle of lint into a day lily, and placed it on the man's back. If he could ever make it to heaven, perhaps he would deserve it. Harry turned slowly, and grabbed the torch which had Firesnake on it.
"Why did the creature kill itself?" Firesnake asked. It seemed almost in euphoria while it enjoyed it's flame.
"Because it was what I feared most" Harry respond as they exited into the hall. Harry took a second to gain his orientation. He started walking towards the potions classroom.
"Why do you fear a dead creature?" asked the snake. It was a good question.
"Because I killed it, and I don't like to kill" Harry explained.
"Why did you kill?" the snake asked. Harry was thinking of naming this snake Hermes, after the most inquisitive person he knew. He then realized, that he didn't know if the snake had a name or not. How rude of him not to ask.
"He was going to kill me. Do you have a name?" The snake uncurled itself slightly from the torch.
"Yes. The other Firesnakes call me Agni. He was a god of the Hindus, who specialized in fire. Other snakes call me Firesnake." Harry nodded in understanding.
"I am Harry. Harry Pot-"
"Harry Potter," hissed Agni.
"You know me?" Harry asked. He wasn't aware that the snake had caught up on what others had said.
"Yes. All snakes know you. Some like you, others despise you. You destroyed the evil serpent, but he has come again, and now he wants his vengeance." Agni said. Harry was very taken aback.
"How do you know about me?" Harry didn't want everyone to know him. Where was the mystery? Where was the 'getting to know people' part of life?
"We speak to each other. We know what happens, and we pass the information along. It is not fast, but it is reliable. A snake has a hard time lying. We are not able to make up stories easily. That is why it was hard for my five greats, Aunt to make up a song. She was very imaginative. Anyway. I know you destroyed him once, and he is back from the dead. He wants you to die. Some snakes join him. Most just ignore him and stay under the brown giants until spring."
"Brown giants?" Harry asked.
"Yes, in some places there are too many to be counted, in others there are none. They turn green in spring, and many different colors in autumn. They go deep into the earth, and keep us warm in the winter" Agni explained. Harry understood, but only because of the 'many colors in autumn statement.
"Trees. Agni, we call them trees." Agni nodded slowly. As Harry took his last few steps towards the potions classroom. Agni was mumbling 'trees, trees, trees, trees-" over and over again. He was once again reminded of Hermione. Harry left Agni to remember the new word, and he entered the classroom and placed the torch near the door. A few people looked up, but Harry had already slipped into the shadows as to not be seen. Even Snape's keen eyes never saw him. Snape however did see the torch and went over to put it out. He wore a smiling knowing he could always blame it on the Gryffindors.
Snape drew his wand and was about to speak when a shrill yell wracked Harry's head.
"HE WEARS THE SERPENT. I CAN SMELL IT ON HIM. HE WEARS THE SERPENT. STOP HIM. KILL HIM!!!" Harry saw that it was Agni. He was hissing loudly and snapping at Snape, who was caught totally by surprise, and stumbled into the nearest table. The potion the Slytherins at the table were making quickly spilled onto Snape's clothes, which immediately unraveled themselves off of his body. Snape knew what was happening and covered himself in a clean apron before anything of significance was shown.
As soon as Snape recovered, he approached the hissing animal slowly. He seemed slightly in awe, and more than a little surprised. He had his wand drawn and was ready to kill the creature if necessary.
"My, my. What a treasure we have here…" Snape smirked, "and to think, I have just the potion to put you in."
"He doesn't like you, you know. He says you wear the serpent." Snape spun around his wand still drawn. Hermione spun around as well at the voice, effectively spilling her potion onto Neville's pant leg. It unraveled as well. Harry figured they were working on relaxing draughts. Harry stepped into the light. "You know, Severus…" Harry sneered his name, as he knew that he could show total disrespect without any harm coming to him. What a perfect class to do it in front of as well. "…That snake is not yours to put into a potion. Agni was given to me by a very kind man who needed my services. If you even attempt to steal it from me, I have the records to prove the transaction, and the punishment for trying to steal a creature of such worth is very, formidable." Severus almost had color go to his cheeks as his face sneered with hate and disgust.
"I don't need the blasted creature anyway." Snape roared.
"Ah, I know, but that doesn't stop you from wanting it. Is that jealousy, in your eyes, Severus?" Harry almost lost control laughing. Snape quickly returned to his calm demeanor, and flashed his prize winning grin. Most Evil Grin award. It was given by the students every year, secretly. Harry knew what was coming, and he was happy to hear it.
"Twenty Points from Gryffindor for your lateness, Potter. Twenty for bringing a dangerous creature with you. Twenty more for insolence. Twenty, again, for rudeness, and Twenty for, how shall we say it, insulting a teacher." Snape smiled actually he was victorious. At least he thought he was victorious.
"So that comes to, what? One hundred points from Slytherin?" Harry said innocently. He was already receiving death glares from the Gryffindors.
"No, Potter, from Gryffindor, and you cannot stop me from doing it." Snape felt all cold and hard inside. It was a pleasant cold.
"I dare to object, because, as it is clearly described in the recently updated Hogwarts: Rules and Regulations for Staff and Students, on page 4,984, paragraph three, that any professor who is head of house, and deducts points from a rival house for a student who is not a member of that rival house, the points are to be deducted from the professor's house. Any retribution as a result of any above mentioned incident, will be taken from the professor's house at twice the cost. So, as I was saying Severus, because I am not currently a member of Gryffindor house, you just deducted one hundred points from Slytherin, and there is nothing you, can do about it. Next time you want to be the bully, you may want to have the balls and the brain to back it up." Harry couldn't help the smug grin which graced his features. A cauldron next to Snape on a nearby table suddenly melted. Snape actually turned blue from hypertension, and began to sway.
"Everybody, leave……NOW!!!" Snape screamed. That was all it took. Every student fearing for their own lives grabbed their materials and ran. Harry picked up his torch and was the last to exit. Before he left he had one thing to say.
"Don't be mad Severus. Anyone who was small enough to need to take off points from a rival house would surely make the same mistake." A minor pain curse hit the wall inches from Harry. Harry didn't even have time to react. A ball of flame left from near Harry's left ear and struck Severus in the leg, he howled in pain and started rolling over to put it out. Not wanting to wear out his welcome, Harry quickly closed the door, and started out of the dungeons. It was kind of funny, that the people he went there to see had left and he had to catch up with them. He found Hermione at the back of the pack, struggling to get all of her supplies into her rucksack while still walking at everyone else's speed. Harry felt slightly awkward, being now significantly shorter than her. She appeared too concerned to notice him. He took her cauldron from her, so she had a free hand. She said her thank you as an automatic response, and finished packing her bag. Harry handed her her cauldron, and she said another 'thanks.' Harry walked with her as she secured her cauldron, until she finally turned to him.
"Harry!" She said loudly, while stepping back from him. He hadn't expected this and stopped next to her. She seemed panicked and looked around, probably for back up. When she found no one to help her, she took the risk of talking with him. "I…You…What happened?" He knew this had been bugging her a while, and as she hadn't started walking in any particular direction, he told her as simply as possible everything he could remember. She noticed he hesitated when describing the 'killing' to her, but he soon overcame any sensitivities he may have had. Her eyes turned to the snake, which seemed happy enough to be slithering in circles through the flames of the torch. Harry noticed her fascination.
"It's a Firesnake, from China. The predecessor of the Dragon, and a very wise snake indeed. They are quite rare, you know." Hermione nodded in understanding.
"You said that it said that Snape wore the serpent." Hermione expressed her thoughts.
"Yup, the dark mark, I assume. This is a very powerful creature. It can do many things." Harry smiled kindly on his scaly friend.
"You shouldn't be up Harry," claimed Hermione after turning sharply towards Harry. They had somehow started moving in the direction of the library. "You are hurt. Madame Pomfrey was saying that you had a concussion, three broken ribs, a broken wrist, and numerous other serious injuries. You have to go back to the Hospital Wing!" She hadn't changed.
"Calm down, silly girl. I am man. Man no need healing. Man only need food" Harry said in his best neanderthalic voice. A smile flashed across her face before a sad persuasive expression returned.
"Harry, you are very hurt, and if you don't go back now…I'll go and get Madame Pomfrey" she said resolutely. Harry put on a serious face for once, and waited until her eyes saw it.
"Hermione, there is an amazing talent in creatures of fire. I have learned that they have the incredible ability to heal" Harry stated softly. She seemed confused until he showed her his wrist, where the two holes from earlier in the morning were nearly healed. She looked up with a doubtfully. "Hey, if you could talk to him, I would have you do it." She frowned.
"But you can, so ask him to heal this." She held up her hand revealing a particularly large paper cut. Harry sighed. He really didn't feel comfortable asking his snake for help. Not yet at least.
"Can you heal the cut on her hand?" Harry asked. The snake slithered from the flame of the torch, and remained on fire until it was on Harry's shoulder. The snake, however was not hot, and the flame was not igniting anything it it's path. It just seemed like in the flame of the snake was a pocket of warm air. The snake seemed to examine the skin closely.
"I usually don't heal for such small injuries. I do not know if I am needed." Harry tried to think of a viable way to get the animal to do it.
"She claims it hurts a lot, and I told her that the absolutely amazing creature which I have been blessed to receive has the capability to take the pain away. Are you going to turn me into a liar?" Harry said. He hoped he had sucked up enough. The snake mumbled about that 'she doesn't look in discomfort' before springing forward and sinking it's two razor sharp fangs into Hermione.
Hermione hadn't expected it to be so sudden, and the snake had pulled back before she could scream. She dropped her books as a reflex and they fell on her feet, causing her to jump and yell. Harry quickly put a hand over her mouth.
"Quiet, you said you wanted it to heal you." Harry justified. Hermione was breathing quickly and appeared to be on the verge of fainting.
"I, I just, didn't expect for it to- to- to bite me." She slowly gained her composure, and leaned against the wall as Harry picked up her books and rucksack. She had turned a deathly pale.
"How are you feeling? Is your hand alright? Are you feeling ill?" Harry shot at her, while she closed her eyes and breathed. She fingered her hand, and she watched as the paper cut visibly closed itself up.
"I'm alright. Just a little lightheaded, really. I think I need a nap." Hermione looked utterly exhausted. Harry carried her things for her as, surprisingly, they passed the library instead of entering it, and continued on route to Gryffindor tower. Harry turned his head toward her very suddenly.
"You don't need a nap" Harry said. He was firm in his words, but they were not unkind.
"What? I'm a little tired. I just need a short nap" Hermione persisted.
"No. That's not why you're tired. You're tired because you're not eating enough" Harry said. He knew he was treading on thin ice, but he even if the ice cracked, he wouldn't allow himself to fall in.
"And how would you know, Mr. I-know-everything-because-I-can-trick-Snape" Hermione scoffed. Harry grabbed her wrist and ran his hand up and down it. Again he was firm and gentle.
"I shouldn't be able to feel your bones like this. You're too thin. You're not eating enough. After we drop off your things I am taking you to lunch, and that's final" Harry said. He didn't say it in such a 'that's final' sort of voice, but she knew, and he knew, she couldn't argue him away. She showed her concurrence with a small nod, just as they made it to the portrait of the Fat Lady.
"Lion's den" Hermione said as she approached the painting expecting it to open.
"Absolutely not, dearie. Not with that ruffian here." Hermione was caught totally off guard and stumbled into the painting. Harry wasn't going to tolerate any of this in Hermione's weakened state.
"Listen, little miss plump," Harry said, his irritation very obvious, "open up, or I will open you up, just like last time." Hermione just stood and watched.
"Ha!" the Fat Lady said, "You can't get in that way any longer. The most honourable Minerva McGonagal saw to that."
"Really," Harry said, "We'll just have to see about that then." Harry approached the smirking portrait, and placed his wand against the keystone. Hermione watched, still as stone, as the keystone disappeared, and the arch cave in onto the Fat Lady. She seemed to take the pressure for a short second, until it forced her out of the way. With a violent 'pop' she opened, revealing the Gryffindor common room, and a few very confused looking students.
"How did you learn to do that?" Hermione asked, as she walked in.
"Voldemort." Harry said shortly. Hermione tripped and fell. Her arms broke her fall, and she slowly got up. She was really in a poor state. Harry took his trunk out of his pocket and enlarged it, While Hermione found the nearest chair. She watched Harry rummage around in it until he extracted a small vile of a translucent green potion. He handed it to her. "Take a sip. It'll get you enough energy to get down to the Great Hall." She obeyed him, and he sealed the vile and returned it into his trunk. He shrunk the trunk and returned it to his pocket. Now nearly the entire common room was watching them.
Harry didn't know this, but Hermione and Ron had been dating, and Hermione had recently broken it off, after only one month. Everyone was looking for any reason to believe that Harry was behind it. Everyone but Ginny. As Hermione regained her strength Harry took her supplies up to her dorm, and returned to see her standing and examining her arm.
"Wow, that really is incredible. Your snake, I mean." Hermione said, as she fingered where the paper cut once was. Her skin was a little sore, but there was no evidence of the cut ever being there.
"I know. I was thinking of trying to harvest some from Agni. Maybe I could donate it to Madame Pomfrey for special cases where it could be helpful." Harry said as they exited the common room, and started down to the Great Hall. Hermione turned to try to close the Fat Lady's portrait. "It's no use, Dumbledore has to do it. Come on. The potion I gave you won't last that long." Hermione consented, and after sending the Fat Lady an apologetic glance, she jogged up to where Harry was and they continued on their slow march to lunch.
"Giving some of it to Madame Pomfrey would be really kind, and thoughtless, Harry." She didn't mention that that was what she thought of him.
"I suppose, I just don't think that she would know when to use it, and I really don't know when it should be used either. It's very strong, and even more rare. Who knows what kind of side effects it may have on people that don't really need it" Harry smiled when Hermione sent him a worried glance. "'thought that would catch your attention." She slapped his arm playfully, and noticed it was lower than it had been last time she'd seen him. She was getting taller that was it. There was no possible way Harry could be getting shorter. As they entered the Great Hall, Harry saw Snape complaining to Dumbledore, accentuating his points by waving a knife around in the air.
"Harry, is it possible I could borrow Hogwarts: Rules and Regulations for Staff and Students, from you?" Hermione didn't really know it existed, but upon thought, she realized that it was foolish to overlook such a thing.
"I suppose, but you would never need it. Fred and George, now I'm sure they could use it" Harry let a smile twitch at the corners of his mouth. "Did anything ever happen with the, ahhh, picture of Malfoy, you know…" Harry asked, wanting to know what he'd missed Hermione let out a soft snort as they seated themselves at the Gryffindor table.
"They are getting better at their tricks. The posted it in every common room in the entire school (Wow, all four?), And they even got it on the floor of the Entrance Hall. Malfoy was so humiliated his father sued, quietly of course. I heard it from Professor McGonagal. After five days the pictures disappeared. I know no one could figure out how to take them off, so I think they made Fred and George do it. The have a month of detentions with Filch. The worst of it that Filch seems to really hate all Malfoys, so he warmed up to them, and they sit around drinking and telling stories, according to Seamus who was walking by one night. It's really weird." Hermione filled her goblet with pumpkin juice, and began to sip it slowly. She rolled her eyes when Harry filled her bowl with the roasted onion soup, and filled her plate with the assorted pasta's on the table. It seemed his wand appeared in his hand and he muttered "Supperious Finitum." She didn't feel anything, and looked at him confounded.
"It's very popular with wizarding parents who wand their kids to eat healthy." She still looked funny. It was rare to see her confused. "You can't leave the table until you finish everything on your plate. I mean everything. I have to talk with Moody. I'll see you later, or at dinner if you decide that you've had enough to eat and refuse to finish it." She looked like she had been violated.
"Oh," Harry continued, "and there is no counter curse, so if it takes you till breakfast to finish it, then that's when you'll get to leave. Have fun." He winked mischievously at her and left the Great Hall. She turned to the food he had placed on her plate.
"I haven't eaten this much since I've gotten here." She mumbled.
"What was that?" Asked Parvati, as she sat next to Hermione.
"Nothing. Nothing at all."
Alright. Now a word for my friendly reviewers.
Larrykoopa- I don not know how long this story will be, in words, but I know the upcoming events and the ending. This will not be a "voldie, and everyone had a happy ending" fanfic. It is too cliched. Thank you for reviewing. I know my first review was exciting. Thanks for your support, and I hope you enjoy the rest of my story.
Harry and Hermione's daughter- Don't worry about not reviewing every chapter. As long as I hear from you every once in a while, I'll be ok. BTW, thank you for reading my other fic as well. I'm thinking of doing a 2:1 ratio in updates between them. For every two updates on Like a Phoenix, I will do one on Seven Breaths.
Angel- Hermione really doesn't see it that way. She sees it in the way of 'He can't use me any longer, so he has no reason to like me whatsoever' and from him, it's simply not true. He wants to protect her, but being protected also can feel like being controlled, and Hermione also does not want to be controlled.
NAPPA- So you want revenge on Pettigrew. Don't we all? I have something better for him. He will be locked up for a while, and then revenge simply won't be necessary. BTW, Pettigrew really didn't do those things to Lilly. He was too cowardly to show up when he felt his tattoo vanish. He was just trying to piss Harry off. Make him loose his composure. He didn't expect Harry to snap, and snap was followed by crackle and pop. Peter was caught, and we go on with the story. Harry is only getting shorter till a little before the climax. And there is nothing between Minnie and Moody. Moody is just a tease. He was an auror, and was trained to get a rise out of people. He is just annoying her. We will learn a little of Moody's love life next chapter. Oh, and if you had the time, Nappa, could you read my other fic, I would like to know what you think of it.
Zoot Vampiric Vampire- A dog eat dog world you say. I say that was a damn good song by The Offspring. I think you are missing Harry's deep down personality here when you say he would use something more serious. He just wants to do enough to be safe, and does not want to harm any of them (minus peter) more than he absolutely has to. Plus it was mostly a reflex. You don't plan a reflex with a hard spell. You automatically use the easiest thing that works. And don't worry about voicing your beliefs, at least some one does glares at everyone else but you and Nappa. This will not really be a "dark" Harry fic, more like a Harry on the run, but enjoying the most of life by breaking all the rules, while enforcing some of his own. As we see in this chapter, he already is breaking from the expectations of him from society. Oh, when there is Animagi training, you'll know it. It'll come up shortly. Thanks for reading.
Hillarie- You must remember that when you compliment me on how a "17 yr. old guys can possess the talent to write HP romances" you must understand that I am a romantic. I don't see the world as most guys my age. I know what the normal train of thought is for us guys, but you have to understand, we are all unique just like you girls, and we all see things differently.
