A/N: I'm sorry for taking so long on this, school did pummel me some more. Man, junior year's gonna suck! *grumble* I'd also like to congratulate anyone who made it this far on having an open mind! I think I lose all my readers after Harry's escapades. I'm writing this for myself though, so whatever.
Anyway, on with the show!
Chapter 11: The Trouble with Confessions
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Anywhere Harry went on Friday, everyone seemed to be wishing him luck for the upcoming Quidditch match taking place that next day. Everyone had been looking forward to seeing his Dark Flame in action, as it was supposed to have far surpassed the Firebolt in speed and agility if that was possible. He was just pleased to be kicking back in his room and looking over his incantation notes.
"Hey, Harry," said a familiar voice behind him. Smirking from his position in front of the fire, he turned around to stare into the gray eyes of Draco Malfoy.
"Hello, Draco, have a seat."
"Thank you," said Draco, taking the seat. "So how have you been? Anything interesting going on in the world of the famous 'Harry Potter'?"
Harry ruffled his hair and sighed," Not much, if you don't count the fact that every bloody student in this school has been asking why you and me are so buddy-buddy lately. I've even heard rumours that we're supposedly seeing eachother romantically. Isn't that ridiculous?"
Draco blushed a bit at this last comment. "Really? Who started that rumour?"
"No idea." Harry let out a little sigh that sounded like "ho" and then turned to Draco. "So, did you get the roses?"
Draco pulled out his bag and brought two exquisite roses, one white and one black. He summoned a slender crystal vase onto the desk with water in it, and placed the flowers into it with an eloquent flourish. Harry laughed. Draco mock glared at him and headed off to the hidden door which would lead to the cobweb wall on the sixth floor. He needed to go do his homework that they had gotten in Charms.
Harry called to his retreating figure. "Remember, 7:00 at the Room of Requirement tonight, okay?"
"Sounds good."
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As Hermione and Ron walked down to dinner at about 6:45 that night, an unwelcome sight caught their attention. Harry and Draco walking toward the grand staircase and talking quietly between themselves. Nowadays, they didn't even bother to try and talk with him as it was useless. With each passing day, they grew more and more resentful toward him. To them, he not only gave up their deep friendship, but placed Malfoy's above it. Ron took Hermione's hand briskly in his own and walked into the Great Hall for a broody dinner.
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Shivering from nerves, Remus Lupin, escorted by Albus Dumbledore, walked into the Room of Requirement at the decided time. Harry and Draco, who had been practicing for the complicated movements and chants, looked up. Both were surprised to see Dumbledore there. Dumbledore's eyes twinkled as though reading their emotions, which Harry remembered was quite possible, and responded.
"Remus here told me of what was going to take place tonight, and I insisted I be there to supervise if only to help subdue the werewolf once it takes its own body."
"No worries, Professor," said Harry cheerfully, getting over his surprise. "Once I get done with my half of the incantations, I will be able to control the werewolf quite well. Now, Professor Lupin, could you possibly make that stuffed wolf there look like you as a werewolf?" He pointed at a large grey wolf, mounted in a position so it looked poised to attack.
Lupin, now physically shaking, changed it to resemble the thing that had been the source of nightmares ever since he was bitten. He looked into the creature's eyes. Was he sure he wanted to do this? After all, he thought, I have grown up with this creature inside me. I almost don't remember a time of not knowing it. If I did this, would I lose part of myself?
'No,' a tiny voice answered, sounding confident. ' This beast has caused far more troubles than are worth counting. Because of it, you have never been able to lead a normal life, have a steady job, or ever settle down. You deserve a chance at a new life.'
Lupin had only just realized he was being talked to and quickly came out of his self-reflection.
"Professor?"
"Sorry, Harry," he smiled warmly at him. "What were you saying?"
Smirking (he noticed a bit ago he had picked this trait up off of Draco), he said," Professor, if you could just stand in that circle of white rose petals there next to the black ones, please."
Draco then cast a simple levitating charm and placed the wolf down in the circle of black petals. Albus was standing next to the wall, wand out in case something should go wrong.
Draco then addressed both parties. "Okay, we'll just give you a brief procedure of what will happen here so there won't be any surprises. Harry will begin the incantations and most likely you will see magical energy emenating from us, so don't be alarmed. The rose petals will come into affect and remain active until we detain the wolf. At this point, Harry will transform-"
"Transform?" asked Dumbledore.
"Yes, Professor, I am an Animagus and take on a form more than capable of holding back the wolf."
Harry said, looked at his friend. Lupin still didn't know who that white raven belonged to that brought Harry mail in the Hospital Wing. In truth, it was Draco. Draco was an Animagus as well, though as Lupin and Dumbledore didn't need that information, he omitted that part.
"Well, I must say Harry that I am impressed, though I doubt you taught yourself." The headmaster's eyes sweeped over Remus, who flushed slightly.
"Anyway," started Draco again, who seemed a tad irked that he had been interrupted,"after Harry transforms, I will finish off the transfer and the two entities shall take seperate bodies. Professor Lupin, I must say, as we have not had the opportunity to test it, we don't know if it will hurt or not. However, you may feel as if your mind and soul were being split two ways. When that feeling occurs, give in to it fully. Are you ready?"
Putting on a confident smile, Remus nodded and smiled determinedly.
"Harry, if you would get in position and begin please."
"Alright, here we go."
Harry closed his eyes and took on a look of complete and utter concentration and control in a matter of minutes. He opened his eyes, which glowed a flourescent onyx, as did the waves of magical energy coming off of him. So powerful was his aura that even Snape down in his dungeons felt it and looked up in wonderment at what was causing such a force.
As Harry began to chant the incantation and his eyes became half-lidded, the white rose petals around Remus began to emit a soft sparkle, lightly swirling around his body as it moved upward in a spiral. Harry's incantations and wand movements became quicker and complex, and in time with him, the sparkle emitting from the pearly petals were now acting in a tight whirlwind and all that could be seen was a blinding white wall behind which Remus was waiting.
Harry stopped quite abruptly, though energy still flowed from him and the shimmering wall remained steady. Draco took Harry's former position and gave him a small nod. Harry stood between the wolf and Professor Dumbledore and transfomed into the mighty thestral which snorted and stood ready for the wolf when it became animated.
Draco began a new chant, and bright white waves of energy came off of him as he followed the same steps as Harry. As they watched, Remus suddenly felt a tug and pull, as though a part of him was trying to get somewhere else and gave into that. 'Yes,' he thought. 'Go to your new body. I've given you my life for far too long.'
Through the white wall swirling around Lupin came a red spirit which then entered into the body of the wolf. Draco, upon seeing the transfer was complete, stopped the incantions and moved back toward Dumbledore with his wand out and aiming at the newly alive creature.
The thestral Harry watched as the new creature began to get up and scan the room, as though wondering why it was here and not in Remus. It spotted Albus and Draco and moved to bite them. The thestral, seeing what was going to happen, let out a high screamlike screech and brought its hooves into the side of the werewolf, which sent it flying into the side of the stone room. It was knocked cold and ready to be shipped out of school.
As the rose petals died out, Remus emerged from the circle and looked at the werewolf, then at Harry as he transformed back. Looking into Harry's eyes, he noticed they were still slightly black and foreboding.
At this moment, Remus felt a rush of exhilaration as he looked back at his reflection in a mirror above Harry's head. What a change! His hair no longer had gray streaks in it and the worn face with dark shadows he knew so well was gone. A man he didn't know stood in front of him, and he couldn't be happier.
"Thank you, Harry, and you too, Draco," said Remus, turning towards where they now stood next to Dumbledore. "I don't believe I could ever show enough thanks for what I now feel."
Dumbledore, spotting the two students' exhaustion, replied,"They know, Remus. They know." With that said, he conjured a strong steel box and placed the werewolf's unconscious form into it. Sealing the lid tight, he added," Forgive me, Remus, but would you mind coming with me? We need to ship this fellow off to the werewolf preservation in Germany."
Lupin nodded, and hugging Harry and Draco very quickly, he levitated the steel box and followed the headmaster out of the door.
"Well, that was exhilarating," said Draco, turning to the still dark figure of Harry. "Are you alright? You don't look so well."
He placed his hand on Harry's cheek; it felt like ice. That wasn't the only thing wrong. His cheek, though appearing smooth, had what felt like a gouge line across it. Tracing it with his finger, it went right over his right eye and connected with his lightning scar, making it feel like one long continuous scar. Coming out of his stupor, Harry quickly flinched away from Draco's touch.
"Harry?"
"Come Draco," Harry murmured, sitting down on a new couch the room provided. "Come and I'll tell you everything that happened this summer. Things the others don't even know. Things I myself have only found out about recently."
They talked late into the night. Not only about Harry's experiences, but of Draco's similar ones. Draco, Harry learned, was brought up much the same way as Harry was with the Dursley's. The only reason they let him live was so the Malfoy line would continue. However, what Harry told Draco about the gouge on his cheek, how and why he got it, and what he had only found out recently, made Draco gasp.
"Seriously? And the others don't know?" he said, as Harry finished his story.
"Seriously. I think anyone in the Order who knew my parents know, but they've never said a word to me about it. I looked it up in the library archives when I got to school. Anyway, we should get to bed. We're facing eachother in that match tomorrow." He yawned widely with Draco flashing a quick look into Harry's mouth and paling slightly. "Come on."
Harry and Draco walked out of the room and towards their dormitories. They had a big day tomorrow.
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A/N: Don't worry everyone! We'll soon find out about the scar and what Harry told Draco soon enough, maybe next chapter. Oh, and I had to have Harry make that little "ho" sigh. That's what I do when talking about something I have no power over. Anyway, next chapter will be the Quidditch match, a Revealing potion, a package from a pen pal, and a mad Harry. Hope you enjoyed this chapter, and keep reading!
Anyway, on with the show!
Chapter 11: The Trouble with Confessions
---------------------------------------------------
Anywhere Harry went on Friday, everyone seemed to be wishing him luck for the upcoming Quidditch match taking place that next day. Everyone had been looking forward to seeing his Dark Flame in action, as it was supposed to have far surpassed the Firebolt in speed and agility if that was possible. He was just pleased to be kicking back in his room and looking over his incantation notes.
"Hey, Harry," said a familiar voice behind him. Smirking from his position in front of the fire, he turned around to stare into the gray eyes of Draco Malfoy.
"Hello, Draco, have a seat."
"Thank you," said Draco, taking the seat. "So how have you been? Anything interesting going on in the world of the famous 'Harry Potter'?"
Harry ruffled his hair and sighed," Not much, if you don't count the fact that every bloody student in this school has been asking why you and me are so buddy-buddy lately. I've even heard rumours that we're supposedly seeing eachother romantically. Isn't that ridiculous?"
Draco blushed a bit at this last comment. "Really? Who started that rumour?"
"No idea." Harry let out a little sigh that sounded like "ho" and then turned to Draco. "So, did you get the roses?"
Draco pulled out his bag and brought two exquisite roses, one white and one black. He summoned a slender crystal vase onto the desk with water in it, and placed the flowers into it with an eloquent flourish. Harry laughed. Draco mock glared at him and headed off to the hidden door which would lead to the cobweb wall on the sixth floor. He needed to go do his homework that they had gotten in Charms.
Harry called to his retreating figure. "Remember, 7:00 at the Room of Requirement tonight, okay?"
"Sounds good."
----------------------------------------------------
As Hermione and Ron walked down to dinner at about 6:45 that night, an unwelcome sight caught their attention. Harry and Draco walking toward the grand staircase and talking quietly between themselves. Nowadays, they didn't even bother to try and talk with him as it was useless. With each passing day, they grew more and more resentful toward him. To them, he not only gave up their deep friendship, but placed Malfoy's above it. Ron took Hermione's hand briskly in his own and walked into the Great Hall for a broody dinner.
----------------------------------------------------
Shivering from nerves, Remus Lupin, escorted by Albus Dumbledore, walked into the Room of Requirement at the decided time. Harry and Draco, who had been practicing for the complicated movements and chants, looked up. Both were surprised to see Dumbledore there. Dumbledore's eyes twinkled as though reading their emotions, which Harry remembered was quite possible, and responded.
"Remus here told me of what was going to take place tonight, and I insisted I be there to supervise if only to help subdue the werewolf once it takes its own body."
"No worries, Professor," said Harry cheerfully, getting over his surprise. "Once I get done with my half of the incantations, I will be able to control the werewolf quite well. Now, Professor Lupin, could you possibly make that stuffed wolf there look like you as a werewolf?" He pointed at a large grey wolf, mounted in a position so it looked poised to attack.
Lupin, now physically shaking, changed it to resemble the thing that had been the source of nightmares ever since he was bitten. He looked into the creature's eyes. Was he sure he wanted to do this? After all, he thought, I have grown up with this creature inside me. I almost don't remember a time of not knowing it. If I did this, would I lose part of myself?
'No,' a tiny voice answered, sounding confident. ' This beast has caused far more troubles than are worth counting. Because of it, you have never been able to lead a normal life, have a steady job, or ever settle down. You deserve a chance at a new life.'
Lupin had only just realized he was being talked to and quickly came out of his self-reflection.
"Professor?"
"Sorry, Harry," he smiled warmly at him. "What were you saying?"
Smirking (he noticed a bit ago he had picked this trait up off of Draco), he said," Professor, if you could just stand in that circle of white rose petals there next to the black ones, please."
Draco then cast a simple levitating charm and placed the wolf down in the circle of black petals. Albus was standing next to the wall, wand out in case something should go wrong.
Draco then addressed both parties. "Okay, we'll just give you a brief procedure of what will happen here so there won't be any surprises. Harry will begin the incantations and most likely you will see magical energy emenating from us, so don't be alarmed. The rose petals will come into affect and remain active until we detain the wolf. At this point, Harry will transform-"
"Transform?" asked Dumbledore.
"Yes, Professor, I am an Animagus and take on a form more than capable of holding back the wolf."
Harry said, looked at his friend. Lupin still didn't know who that white raven belonged to that brought Harry mail in the Hospital Wing. In truth, it was Draco. Draco was an Animagus as well, though as Lupin and Dumbledore didn't need that information, he omitted that part.
"Well, I must say Harry that I am impressed, though I doubt you taught yourself." The headmaster's eyes sweeped over Remus, who flushed slightly.
"Anyway," started Draco again, who seemed a tad irked that he had been interrupted,"after Harry transforms, I will finish off the transfer and the two entities shall take seperate bodies. Professor Lupin, I must say, as we have not had the opportunity to test it, we don't know if it will hurt or not. However, you may feel as if your mind and soul were being split two ways. When that feeling occurs, give in to it fully. Are you ready?"
Putting on a confident smile, Remus nodded and smiled determinedly.
"Harry, if you would get in position and begin please."
"Alright, here we go."
Harry closed his eyes and took on a look of complete and utter concentration and control in a matter of minutes. He opened his eyes, which glowed a flourescent onyx, as did the waves of magical energy coming off of him. So powerful was his aura that even Snape down in his dungeons felt it and looked up in wonderment at what was causing such a force.
As Harry began to chant the incantation and his eyes became half-lidded, the white rose petals around Remus began to emit a soft sparkle, lightly swirling around his body as it moved upward in a spiral. Harry's incantations and wand movements became quicker and complex, and in time with him, the sparkle emitting from the pearly petals were now acting in a tight whirlwind and all that could be seen was a blinding white wall behind which Remus was waiting.
Harry stopped quite abruptly, though energy still flowed from him and the shimmering wall remained steady. Draco took Harry's former position and gave him a small nod. Harry stood between the wolf and Professor Dumbledore and transfomed into the mighty thestral which snorted and stood ready for the wolf when it became animated.
Draco began a new chant, and bright white waves of energy came off of him as he followed the same steps as Harry. As they watched, Remus suddenly felt a tug and pull, as though a part of him was trying to get somewhere else and gave into that. 'Yes,' he thought. 'Go to your new body. I've given you my life for far too long.'
Through the white wall swirling around Lupin came a red spirit which then entered into the body of the wolf. Draco, upon seeing the transfer was complete, stopped the incantions and moved back toward Dumbledore with his wand out and aiming at the newly alive creature.
The thestral Harry watched as the new creature began to get up and scan the room, as though wondering why it was here and not in Remus. It spotted Albus and Draco and moved to bite them. The thestral, seeing what was going to happen, let out a high screamlike screech and brought its hooves into the side of the werewolf, which sent it flying into the side of the stone room. It was knocked cold and ready to be shipped out of school.
As the rose petals died out, Remus emerged from the circle and looked at the werewolf, then at Harry as he transformed back. Looking into Harry's eyes, he noticed they were still slightly black and foreboding.
At this moment, Remus felt a rush of exhilaration as he looked back at his reflection in a mirror above Harry's head. What a change! His hair no longer had gray streaks in it and the worn face with dark shadows he knew so well was gone. A man he didn't know stood in front of him, and he couldn't be happier.
"Thank you, Harry, and you too, Draco," said Remus, turning towards where they now stood next to Dumbledore. "I don't believe I could ever show enough thanks for what I now feel."
Dumbledore, spotting the two students' exhaustion, replied,"They know, Remus. They know." With that said, he conjured a strong steel box and placed the werewolf's unconscious form into it. Sealing the lid tight, he added," Forgive me, Remus, but would you mind coming with me? We need to ship this fellow off to the werewolf preservation in Germany."
Lupin nodded, and hugging Harry and Draco very quickly, he levitated the steel box and followed the headmaster out of the door.
"Well, that was exhilarating," said Draco, turning to the still dark figure of Harry. "Are you alright? You don't look so well."
He placed his hand on Harry's cheek; it felt like ice. That wasn't the only thing wrong. His cheek, though appearing smooth, had what felt like a gouge line across it. Tracing it with his finger, it went right over his right eye and connected with his lightning scar, making it feel like one long continuous scar. Coming out of his stupor, Harry quickly flinched away from Draco's touch.
"Harry?"
"Come Draco," Harry murmured, sitting down on a new couch the room provided. "Come and I'll tell you everything that happened this summer. Things the others don't even know. Things I myself have only found out about recently."
They talked late into the night. Not only about Harry's experiences, but of Draco's similar ones. Draco, Harry learned, was brought up much the same way as Harry was with the Dursley's. The only reason they let him live was so the Malfoy line would continue. However, what Harry told Draco about the gouge on his cheek, how and why he got it, and what he had only found out recently, made Draco gasp.
"Seriously? And the others don't know?" he said, as Harry finished his story.
"Seriously. I think anyone in the Order who knew my parents know, but they've never said a word to me about it. I looked it up in the library archives when I got to school. Anyway, we should get to bed. We're facing eachother in that match tomorrow." He yawned widely with Draco flashing a quick look into Harry's mouth and paling slightly. "Come on."
Harry and Draco walked out of the room and towards their dormitories. They had a big day tomorrow.
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A/N: Don't worry everyone! We'll soon find out about the scar and what Harry told Draco soon enough, maybe next chapter. Oh, and I had to have Harry make that little "ho" sigh. That's what I do when talking about something I have no power over. Anyway, next chapter will be the Quidditch match, a Revealing potion, a package from a pen pal, and a mad Harry. Hope you enjoyed this chapter, and keep reading!