Harry Potter and the Curse of the Gypsy
Author's Note: I know this story is a tad cliché in some places, I hope you can forgive me. It's taken a long time to get to this point but things are going to seriously speed up after this, starting after my Christmas chapter. This fan fiction is most likely going to end at thirty chapters, so I've got about two-thirds of it done. Hope you've like it so far!
Disclaimer: If Harry Potter was mine I'd be rich. I'm not rich.
Chapter Twenty-Two
Harry returned from Christmas break quite happier than he had been when he left. He was more rested than he had been for several weeks, and even Ron remarked that the shadows under his eyes (which he had gotten from lack of sleep) had faded mostly away.
Ron himself couldn't have been more thrilled and couldn't wait to tell Harry about his Aunt Cassy, who despite being a bit of a bookworm, had taught him several new curses she herself had learned with the aid of her friends in her own school days.
Hermione seemed rested herself, and nobody was in doubt why. Upon returning to her muggle home, she had been taken from anything remotely related to her school atmosphere...in fact, Cory had taken it upon herself to remove several textbooks from Hermione in secret. Hermione had later become quite angry with Cory because of this, but had finally it hadn't mattered much because she had had all her homework done before break anyway.
In fact, out of every person coming back from the holidays, the only two who didn't seem to have had a good time were Cory and Neville. Harry, who knew, of course, why Neville wasn't in high spirits like the rest, gave him an encouraging smile at every opportunity, and politely asked him for help with a Herbology essay.
Though both knew Harry didn't really need the help, to Neville it was a big compliment and they spent nearly an hour revising Harry's essay...to both of their surprise, it turned out much better than it had been when Harry started.
Cory, though, didn't seem to want to share with anybody the cause of whatever upset she had suffered. She seemed dazed at times as to what she was doing, and when brought back would smile slightly, without telling what was the matter. Harry had grave suspicions as to what the matter could be, and tried to engage her in any conversation he could think of, but often she would just shake her head and walk away.
"What is it?" Harry asked Hermione one day, about a week after term had started again.
"I don't know." Hermione whispered---they were in the middle of potions and nobody was too keen on letting Snape or Malfoy in on a private conversation. "She seems upset about something, but I'm not sure what it is."
Harry leaned back, tossing a bit of dried dragon skin into his cauldron, and looked through the purplish smoke that emanated from his potion at Cory, who was sitting at the next table with Ron, making her own potion. She hadn't sit with Harry much since they returned, and hadn't even sit with him at all in the past few days.
Nervously, he thought that perhaps she was trying to break up with him. All those thought were banished the next day when she showed up for History of Magic, looking perfectly cheerful. Harry glimpsed what he believed to be the reason for this sudden upswing of mood...a piece of scribbled on parchment was stuck in her back. She sat down by Harry's side and kissed him quickly on the cheek, shoving the paper back down into her bag.
"Class." White clapped her hands and everybody glanced up. She smiled. "Today we are learning about the history of the Gypsy wars in the regions of Albania." Everybody glanced up. "Who can tell me the origins of the first gypsies in this region?"
Hermione's hand shot up immediately. White smiled and pointed at her. "The first gypsies appeared in Albania around a thousand years ago...mostly, they were those that were exiled from the various schools...many came from Hogwarts, themselves, drawn out by Salazar Slytherin."
"Exactly." White smiled. "The gypsies were those who were considered the most unworthy of magic-peoples. Now, we know that to be untrue." She opened up a large text on her desk. When she reached a certain page, she picked up the book and turned it to the class. "This is who is largely considered the ancestor of the largest group of gypsies in Albania...the Roshani." Everybody gasped, including Harry.
The picture in the book...it looked almost exactly like Cory. She blushed as she looked at it. "That's not a funny joke, professor." Cory said. "I'm only part gypsy..."
"Oh, I'm not joking." White said. "You are of this group are you not?" Cory nodded. "Well, dear, I do not hesitate to say that you are very likely related to this woman." Everybody jumped when she slammed the book back down on the desk. "We don't know much about her, not even her name. But we do know that she sought to punish Salazar Slytherin for banishing her from this school...a deed which she was never allowed to carry through."
White sighed and sat down on the edge of her desk. "These gypsies lived in relative peace until He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named came to them. It is said he stole many of the gypsies secrets, secrets that had been kept in the family for many hundreds of years, and that previous wizards, dark as they might have been, had never been able to touch."
Harry shivered and gulped, as did a majority of the class. Cory was watching intently...Harry felt her skin go cold and clammy, like ice. "But Professor...the gypsies weren't...killed, were they?" She said. White turned to her.
"No, they weren't. That is because they were betrayed by one of their own."
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"That lesson was fascinating." Hermione said. "I never knew that much about the gypsies."
"It's odd." Cory said, looking at the floor.
"What is?" Harry asked, looking at her intently.
"It's just...I was told once the same story, but I never thought it was true. I just...couldn't imagine such a thing."
"I can." Hermione said. "I mean, You-Know-Who has gotten lots of people onto his side you never would have thought of. He's gotten a lot of people to betray their friends and family. Like last year, Barty Crouch..."
"Peter Pettigrew." Harry said darkly. "The rat himself."
Hermione paled. "Yes...exactly." she stammered. "Even...well, in a way, he even got Ginny in the Chamber of Secrets..."
Harry nodded. "Of course, yes. He's good at making people think he can give them what they want...he told me that back in school, Dumbledore was the only one who suspected him of anything. Because he had a 'tragic' past, and because he was so bright and noble and all that other rubbish."
"Well, it's obvious to me that the gypsies weren't nearly as bad as people thought they were." Hermione said resolutely.
"They never were." Cory sighed. "Of course, people believe it now. I don't know why it gets me worked up...I'm only a quarter gypsy. It was my grandmother. My mother was half...my father wasn't gypsy at all."
"Oh, really?" Hermione asked. "Did you say your mother was gypsy? I thought she was still alive?"
Cory turned red suddenly. "Listen, forget I said anything, all right? My mother...she isn't exactly a mother, you know?"
"Oh." Hermione turned red also. "Right."
"Listen, we have to go." Ron said, glancing at Harry's watch. "Defense against the Dark Arts starts in a couple of minutes." The four of them made their way to Figg's classroom. As always, Figg gave Cory a wary glance as she entered. When they had all taken their seats she cleared her throat.
"Class, today we will be studying one of the most potent and powerful of all defense charms...the Patronus." Harry glanced up quickly---both Ron and Hermione gave him smug looks. "Now, this is highly advanced magic, and I would not expect you to be able to perform it in the short time we will be studying it. I would be surprised, in fact, if any of you could learn it."
"Doesn't she know about you?" Hermione whispered to Harry from two seats over. Harry shrugged as Figg launched into an explanation of the Patronus and it's ability to drive away dementors, as well as any other creature that fed on happiness. Harry was the only person who didn't appear nervous at having to try this spell...Hermione appeared pale to be facing something she was sure she couldn't do, and Ron was shaking his head.
Cory was hastily scribbling down notes...it appeared as if she were trying to find a happy memory. To his surprise, she didn't appear to have that many.
"As I said, this is highly advanced magic." Figg said when she concluded the discussion part of her lecture. "I am teaching you this for two reasons...because your O.W.L.S. are coming up, and the better understanding you have of defenses the better. And also because, and Dumbledore agrees, it is best you have the knowledge to use this spell if, in an emergency, you find you need it." Everybody gave one another sly looks...they knew that, with Voldemort returned, there was likely going to be such occasions for many of them.
"Now, who would like to try it first?" she asked. She pointed over at Harry. "How about you? You didn't appear to be paying much attention, Mister Potter. That may cost you."
Harry glanced up quickly. "Excuse me?" he said cautiously. "You want me to try it?"
Figg nodded. "That is what I said. Come up here, please. We will pretend that the far wall is a dementor...now, do you know the incantation, Potter?"
Harry nodded absently. "Sure...Expecto Patronum."
Figg gave him a suspicious look. "You know it already? I didn't tell the class the words for this spell." Harry glanced around...much of the class was holding in laughter. Of course, only two of them knew that he could perform this spell."
"Now, are you concentrating on a happy memory?" Figg asked.
'I don't really need to.' Harry thought with annoyance. 'And when I do this, everybody is going to think I've been showing off. Just something else for Malfoy and Snape to torture me with.'
"Potter?"
"Oh, yes Professor." Harry shook his head and readied his wand. He felt his heart lighten when he thought of the silvery image that would any moment come bursting from his wand...the silver stag, Prongs.
"Okay, then." She nodded. "On the count of three...one---two---THREE!"
"EXPECTO PATRONUM!" Harry bellowed. Suddenly, most of the class shrieked in alarm as the silver stag erupted from Harry's wand. He glanced over at Hermione and Ron, who were grinning. Cory was staring, mouth wide open.
He then glanced over at Figg. She had managed to keep her mouth shut, but her eyes were wide open. She didn't appear to be blinking. He turned back to the Patronus. The stag was circling, making a wide arc around the room. It turned back to him and bowed its head gracefully. Harry grinned and nodded back as the Patronus vanished into thin air.
"Very...very good, Potter." Figg said, holding her hand over her heart. "You may sit down, now." He took his seat and glanced around the room. Every student was craning his or her neck to get a better look at Harry. He sunk down into his seat.
"Brilliant, Harry." Hermione said proudly.
"How did you do that?" Cory hissed. Harry shrugged.
"I learned it in third year." Harry said quickly. "I guess I'm talented at Defense charms."
Cory shook her head in disbelief. Spurred on by Harry's brilliant display, the rest of the class was eager to begin making their own Patronus. However, they soon found it was much harder than Harry had made it look.
By the time the bell rang, only Hermione and Cory had managed to have any effect at all...Hermione could make a silvery cloud that hung in the air for a few moments, and Cory's emerged in some sort of shape that seemed to scamper away in an instant.
As they made their way from the room and down to lunch, Harry told Cory the story of his anti-dementor lessons in third year, and his final mastery of the spell the night he had helped Sirius escape. By the time the end of dinner came, she was staring at him in shock.
"I knew you were talented, Harry. But you're amazing." Harry blushed. It appeared that the word had spread around the school quickly about Harry's incredible Patronus. He had already been approached by two Hufflepuff fourth years and a Gryffindor third year asking him if he could help them learn to control a Patronus...Harry cautiously tried to explain to them that he didn't know if he could help them, because it was practically a miracle he even knew how to do it.
Nothing could have been more interesting, though, than his encounter with Malfoy in the hall. He had come up to Harry, sneering. "I suppose you started the idiotic rumor about that Patronus yourself, did you Potter?" he said icily.
"It isn't a rumor." Harry sneered back. "And if you don't mind, I'd like to see yours."
Malfoy got a dark look on his face and raised his wand. "Expecto Patronum." He hissed. A shimmery and dark silver shape came from his wand...it was a two headed snake, and might have been impressive if it had been more than two feet long. It disappeared in a couple of seconds. He gave Harry a cold look. "Do you think you can beat that, Potter?"
He looked with irritation at Cory, Ron, and Hermione when they burst out laughing. Even Harry found himself grinning madly. "I think I might be able to do better than that, Malfoy." He said. He grinned as he raised his wand.
"EXPECTO PATRONUM!" For the second time that day, Prongs emerged from Harry's wand. Malfoy gave a very high-pitched scream as the Patronus ran straight at, and then through, him. Crabbe and Goyle both jumped out of the way, pulling Malfoy with them as the Patronus turned back and vanished.
"That is enough showing off. You are not allowed to do magic in the halls." They all turned when they heard Snape's voice. He was looking icily at Harry. "Come with me Potter."
"Professor, Harry didn't show off, Malfoy forced him into it..." Cory said quickly Snape turned his icy glare on her.
"You to, Johnson." Harry and Cory shared dark looks as they made their way after Snape to his office, which was filled with all manners of slimy, horrible things. Harry and Cory sat as Snape leaned over his desk, glaring at them.
"I see there is a new member to the Potter Fan Club." He said icily. "It's nice to have so many fans, isn't it?" Snape said coldly.
"I don't need to join his fan club." Cory smirked. "I have enough fan clubs of my own, thank you."
"Quiet!" Snape hissed. He turned to Harry. "I have put up with many things from you Potter, but using such advanced magic to show off to your little friends is ludicrous, especially when it is done in the halls of our school." He sneered.
"Blame Figg." Cory said with irritation. "Nobody would have ever known he could do it if it hadn't been for her!"
"Did I ask you to speak, Johnson?" he growled. "I did not think so." He said smugly when she did not answer. "Now Potter, I believe that doing highly advanced magic without reason and forsaking all school rules merits a detention...and one also for you, Miss Johnson, for speaking back to a teacher."
"But I..." Cory stopped when Harry prodded her in the arm. She settled for giving Snape a very cold look.
"Now, you two have been perhaps the most troublesome lot I've had this entire year. And I..." Snape froze suddenly. He appeared to have gone quite pale and quickly clutched his left arm. Harry jerked back...he knew what that meant...
"Go now." Snape shouted. "GET OUT!" Harry shot up and backed away...Cory appeared frozen and did not move. Harry jerked her up by the arm and pulled her with him out the door. In a moment, the both of them were running down the hall. They collapsed against a wall, panting.
"What was that?" Cory said, looking back. Suddenly, her face went white. "He's a Death Eater." She said stoutly.
"A former Death Eater." Harry hissed. "He's, like, a spy for Dumbledore now."
Cory went even paler at that information. She has just opened her mouth to say something when they heard a voice from across the hall.
"Miss Johnson, are you all right? And you also, Mister Potter?" They both turned when they heard White making her way towards them.
"Yeah...of course." Cory muttered, though she was shivering slightly.
"Can I have a word with you, Miss Johnson?" White said. Cory nodded.
Waving goodbye to Harry, Cory followed White into her office. Harry waited a moment before heading back towards his room. His mind kept returning back to the lesson in History of Magic class...and Cory's supposed ancestor.
The woman had declared that one day she would punish Salazar Slytherin...and certainly, this year was all about heritage, and the past. What if Cory Johnson was here to finish what her ancestor started? What if she was here to try and defeat Voldemort, Slytherin's heir?
Was that why somebody wanted to keep Cory away from him? Was that why, in dreams, he kept hearing them say they wanted Cory Johnson dead?
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Hey! So, what do you think of this chapter? Interesting, isn't it? I'm sorry if it is a bit odd, but oh well, I am leading up to something big and a revelation that will blow everybody away will be made in three chapters. This story will end somewhere between thirty and thirty-five chapters, it depends on how much room I need. I hope you've liked it! I am guessing it will be done in one to two weeks.
Thank you so much for reading! Please review...please? My ego starves without them.
Author's Note: I know this story is a tad cliché in some places, I hope you can forgive me. It's taken a long time to get to this point but things are going to seriously speed up after this, starting after my Christmas chapter. This fan fiction is most likely going to end at thirty chapters, so I've got about two-thirds of it done. Hope you've like it so far!
Disclaimer: If Harry Potter was mine I'd be rich. I'm not rich.
Chapter Twenty-Two
Harry returned from Christmas break quite happier than he had been when he left. He was more rested than he had been for several weeks, and even Ron remarked that the shadows under his eyes (which he had gotten from lack of sleep) had faded mostly away.
Ron himself couldn't have been more thrilled and couldn't wait to tell Harry about his Aunt Cassy, who despite being a bit of a bookworm, had taught him several new curses she herself had learned with the aid of her friends in her own school days.
Hermione seemed rested herself, and nobody was in doubt why. Upon returning to her muggle home, she had been taken from anything remotely related to her school atmosphere...in fact, Cory had taken it upon herself to remove several textbooks from Hermione in secret. Hermione had later become quite angry with Cory because of this, but had finally it hadn't mattered much because she had had all her homework done before break anyway.
In fact, out of every person coming back from the holidays, the only two who didn't seem to have had a good time were Cory and Neville. Harry, who knew, of course, why Neville wasn't in high spirits like the rest, gave him an encouraging smile at every opportunity, and politely asked him for help with a Herbology essay.
Though both knew Harry didn't really need the help, to Neville it was a big compliment and they spent nearly an hour revising Harry's essay...to both of their surprise, it turned out much better than it had been when Harry started.
Cory, though, didn't seem to want to share with anybody the cause of whatever upset she had suffered. She seemed dazed at times as to what she was doing, and when brought back would smile slightly, without telling what was the matter. Harry had grave suspicions as to what the matter could be, and tried to engage her in any conversation he could think of, but often she would just shake her head and walk away.
"What is it?" Harry asked Hermione one day, about a week after term had started again.
"I don't know." Hermione whispered---they were in the middle of potions and nobody was too keen on letting Snape or Malfoy in on a private conversation. "She seems upset about something, but I'm not sure what it is."
Harry leaned back, tossing a bit of dried dragon skin into his cauldron, and looked through the purplish smoke that emanated from his potion at Cory, who was sitting at the next table with Ron, making her own potion. She hadn't sit with Harry much since they returned, and hadn't even sit with him at all in the past few days.
Nervously, he thought that perhaps she was trying to break up with him. All those thought were banished the next day when she showed up for History of Magic, looking perfectly cheerful. Harry glimpsed what he believed to be the reason for this sudden upswing of mood...a piece of scribbled on parchment was stuck in her back. She sat down by Harry's side and kissed him quickly on the cheek, shoving the paper back down into her bag.
"Class." White clapped her hands and everybody glanced up. She smiled. "Today we are learning about the history of the Gypsy wars in the regions of Albania." Everybody glanced up. "Who can tell me the origins of the first gypsies in this region?"
Hermione's hand shot up immediately. White smiled and pointed at her. "The first gypsies appeared in Albania around a thousand years ago...mostly, they were those that were exiled from the various schools...many came from Hogwarts, themselves, drawn out by Salazar Slytherin."
"Exactly." White smiled. "The gypsies were those who were considered the most unworthy of magic-peoples. Now, we know that to be untrue." She opened up a large text on her desk. When she reached a certain page, she picked up the book and turned it to the class. "This is who is largely considered the ancestor of the largest group of gypsies in Albania...the Roshani." Everybody gasped, including Harry.
The picture in the book...it looked almost exactly like Cory. She blushed as she looked at it. "That's not a funny joke, professor." Cory said. "I'm only part gypsy..."
"Oh, I'm not joking." White said. "You are of this group are you not?" Cory nodded. "Well, dear, I do not hesitate to say that you are very likely related to this woman." Everybody jumped when she slammed the book back down on the desk. "We don't know much about her, not even her name. But we do know that she sought to punish Salazar Slytherin for banishing her from this school...a deed which she was never allowed to carry through."
White sighed and sat down on the edge of her desk. "These gypsies lived in relative peace until He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named came to them. It is said he stole many of the gypsies secrets, secrets that had been kept in the family for many hundreds of years, and that previous wizards, dark as they might have been, had never been able to touch."
Harry shivered and gulped, as did a majority of the class. Cory was watching intently...Harry felt her skin go cold and clammy, like ice. "But Professor...the gypsies weren't...killed, were they?" She said. White turned to her.
"No, they weren't. That is because they were betrayed by one of their own."
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"That lesson was fascinating." Hermione said. "I never knew that much about the gypsies."
"It's odd." Cory said, looking at the floor.
"What is?" Harry asked, looking at her intently.
"It's just...I was told once the same story, but I never thought it was true. I just...couldn't imagine such a thing."
"I can." Hermione said. "I mean, You-Know-Who has gotten lots of people onto his side you never would have thought of. He's gotten a lot of people to betray their friends and family. Like last year, Barty Crouch..."
"Peter Pettigrew." Harry said darkly. "The rat himself."
Hermione paled. "Yes...exactly." she stammered. "Even...well, in a way, he even got Ginny in the Chamber of Secrets..."
Harry nodded. "Of course, yes. He's good at making people think he can give them what they want...he told me that back in school, Dumbledore was the only one who suspected him of anything. Because he had a 'tragic' past, and because he was so bright and noble and all that other rubbish."
"Well, it's obvious to me that the gypsies weren't nearly as bad as people thought they were." Hermione said resolutely.
"They never were." Cory sighed. "Of course, people believe it now. I don't know why it gets me worked up...I'm only a quarter gypsy. It was my grandmother. My mother was half...my father wasn't gypsy at all."
"Oh, really?" Hermione asked. "Did you say your mother was gypsy? I thought she was still alive?"
Cory turned red suddenly. "Listen, forget I said anything, all right? My mother...she isn't exactly a mother, you know?"
"Oh." Hermione turned red also. "Right."
"Listen, we have to go." Ron said, glancing at Harry's watch. "Defense against the Dark Arts starts in a couple of minutes." The four of them made their way to Figg's classroom. As always, Figg gave Cory a wary glance as she entered. When they had all taken their seats she cleared her throat.
"Class, today we will be studying one of the most potent and powerful of all defense charms...the Patronus." Harry glanced up quickly---both Ron and Hermione gave him smug looks. "Now, this is highly advanced magic, and I would not expect you to be able to perform it in the short time we will be studying it. I would be surprised, in fact, if any of you could learn it."
"Doesn't she know about you?" Hermione whispered to Harry from two seats over. Harry shrugged as Figg launched into an explanation of the Patronus and it's ability to drive away dementors, as well as any other creature that fed on happiness. Harry was the only person who didn't appear nervous at having to try this spell...Hermione appeared pale to be facing something she was sure she couldn't do, and Ron was shaking his head.
Cory was hastily scribbling down notes...it appeared as if she were trying to find a happy memory. To his surprise, she didn't appear to have that many.
"As I said, this is highly advanced magic." Figg said when she concluded the discussion part of her lecture. "I am teaching you this for two reasons...because your O.W.L.S. are coming up, and the better understanding you have of defenses the better. And also because, and Dumbledore agrees, it is best you have the knowledge to use this spell if, in an emergency, you find you need it." Everybody gave one another sly looks...they knew that, with Voldemort returned, there was likely going to be such occasions for many of them.
"Now, who would like to try it first?" she asked. She pointed over at Harry. "How about you? You didn't appear to be paying much attention, Mister Potter. That may cost you."
Harry glanced up quickly. "Excuse me?" he said cautiously. "You want me to try it?"
Figg nodded. "That is what I said. Come up here, please. We will pretend that the far wall is a dementor...now, do you know the incantation, Potter?"
Harry nodded absently. "Sure...Expecto Patronum."
Figg gave him a suspicious look. "You know it already? I didn't tell the class the words for this spell." Harry glanced around...much of the class was holding in laughter. Of course, only two of them knew that he could perform this spell."
"Now, are you concentrating on a happy memory?" Figg asked.
'I don't really need to.' Harry thought with annoyance. 'And when I do this, everybody is going to think I've been showing off. Just something else for Malfoy and Snape to torture me with.'
"Potter?"
"Oh, yes Professor." Harry shook his head and readied his wand. He felt his heart lighten when he thought of the silvery image that would any moment come bursting from his wand...the silver stag, Prongs.
"Okay, then." She nodded. "On the count of three...one---two---THREE!"
"EXPECTO PATRONUM!" Harry bellowed. Suddenly, most of the class shrieked in alarm as the silver stag erupted from Harry's wand. He glanced over at Hermione and Ron, who were grinning. Cory was staring, mouth wide open.
He then glanced over at Figg. She had managed to keep her mouth shut, but her eyes were wide open. She didn't appear to be blinking. He turned back to the Patronus. The stag was circling, making a wide arc around the room. It turned back to him and bowed its head gracefully. Harry grinned and nodded back as the Patronus vanished into thin air.
"Very...very good, Potter." Figg said, holding her hand over her heart. "You may sit down, now." He took his seat and glanced around the room. Every student was craning his or her neck to get a better look at Harry. He sunk down into his seat.
"Brilliant, Harry." Hermione said proudly.
"How did you do that?" Cory hissed. Harry shrugged.
"I learned it in third year." Harry said quickly. "I guess I'm talented at Defense charms."
Cory shook her head in disbelief. Spurred on by Harry's brilliant display, the rest of the class was eager to begin making their own Patronus. However, they soon found it was much harder than Harry had made it look.
By the time the bell rang, only Hermione and Cory had managed to have any effect at all...Hermione could make a silvery cloud that hung in the air for a few moments, and Cory's emerged in some sort of shape that seemed to scamper away in an instant.
As they made their way from the room and down to lunch, Harry told Cory the story of his anti-dementor lessons in third year, and his final mastery of the spell the night he had helped Sirius escape. By the time the end of dinner came, she was staring at him in shock.
"I knew you were talented, Harry. But you're amazing." Harry blushed. It appeared that the word had spread around the school quickly about Harry's incredible Patronus. He had already been approached by two Hufflepuff fourth years and a Gryffindor third year asking him if he could help them learn to control a Patronus...Harry cautiously tried to explain to them that he didn't know if he could help them, because it was practically a miracle he even knew how to do it.
Nothing could have been more interesting, though, than his encounter with Malfoy in the hall. He had come up to Harry, sneering. "I suppose you started the idiotic rumor about that Patronus yourself, did you Potter?" he said icily.
"It isn't a rumor." Harry sneered back. "And if you don't mind, I'd like to see yours."
Malfoy got a dark look on his face and raised his wand. "Expecto Patronum." He hissed. A shimmery and dark silver shape came from his wand...it was a two headed snake, and might have been impressive if it had been more than two feet long. It disappeared in a couple of seconds. He gave Harry a cold look. "Do you think you can beat that, Potter?"
He looked with irritation at Cory, Ron, and Hermione when they burst out laughing. Even Harry found himself grinning madly. "I think I might be able to do better than that, Malfoy." He said. He grinned as he raised his wand.
"EXPECTO PATRONUM!" For the second time that day, Prongs emerged from Harry's wand. Malfoy gave a very high-pitched scream as the Patronus ran straight at, and then through, him. Crabbe and Goyle both jumped out of the way, pulling Malfoy with them as the Patronus turned back and vanished.
"That is enough showing off. You are not allowed to do magic in the halls." They all turned when they heard Snape's voice. He was looking icily at Harry. "Come with me Potter."
"Professor, Harry didn't show off, Malfoy forced him into it..." Cory said quickly Snape turned his icy glare on her.
"You to, Johnson." Harry and Cory shared dark looks as they made their way after Snape to his office, which was filled with all manners of slimy, horrible things. Harry and Cory sat as Snape leaned over his desk, glaring at them.
"I see there is a new member to the Potter Fan Club." He said icily. "It's nice to have so many fans, isn't it?" Snape said coldly.
"I don't need to join his fan club." Cory smirked. "I have enough fan clubs of my own, thank you."
"Quiet!" Snape hissed. He turned to Harry. "I have put up with many things from you Potter, but using such advanced magic to show off to your little friends is ludicrous, especially when it is done in the halls of our school." He sneered.
"Blame Figg." Cory said with irritation. "Nobody would have ever known he could do it if it hadn't been for her!"
"Did I ask you to speak, Johnson?" he growled. "I did not think so." He said smugly when she did not answer. "Now Potter, I believe that doing highly advanced magic without reason and forsaking all school rules merits a detention...and one also for you, Miss Johnson, for speaking back to a teacher."
"But I..." Cory stopped when Harry prodded her in the arm. She settled for giving Snape a very cold look.
"Now, you two have been perhaps the most troublesome lot I've had this entire year. And I..." Snape froze suddenly. He appeared to have gone quite pale and quickly clutched his left arm. Harry jerked back...he knew what that meant...
"Go now." Snape shouted. "GET OUT!" Harry shot up and backed away...Cory appeared frozen and did not move. Harry jerked her up by the arm and pulled her with him out the door. In a moment, the both of them were running down the hall. They collapsed against a wall, panting.
"What was that?" Cory said, looking back. Suddenly, her face went white. "He's a Death Eater." She said stoutly.
"A former Death Eater." Harry hissed. "He's, like, a spy for Dumbledore now."
Cory went even paler at that information. She has just opened her mouth to say something when they heard a voice from across the hall.
"Miss Johnson, are you all right? And you also, Mister Potter?" They both turned when they heard White making her way towards them.
"Yeah...of course." Cory muttered, though she was shivering slightly.
"Can I have a word with you, Miss Johnson?" White said. Cory nodded.
Waving goodbye to Harry, Cory followed White into her office. Harry waited a moment before heading back towards his room. His mind kept returning back to the lesson in History of Magic class...and Cory's supposed ancestor.
The woman had declared that one day she would punish Salazar Slytherin...and certainly, this year was all about heritage, and the past. What if Cory Johnson was here to finish what her ancestor started? What if she was here to try and defeat Voldemort, Slytherin's heir?
Was that why somebody wanted to keep Cory away from him? Was that why, in dreams, he kept hearing them say they wanted Cory Johnson dead?
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Hey! So, what do you think of this chapter? Interesting, isn't it? I'm sorry if it is a bit odd, but oh well, I am leading up to something big and a revelation that will blow everybody away will be made in three chapters. This story will end somewhere between thirty and thirty-five chapters, it depends on how much room I need. I hope you've liked it! I am guessing it will be done in one to two weeks.
Thank you so much for reading! Please review...please? My ego starves without them.
