Will I find this place where I belong? (Find this place where I belong) Can you protect me from my troubles? Keep my safe from harm? Will you help me carry on? -Dropkick Murphys-The Outcast
Chapter 7
Outcast
After a few days he was out of the hospital wing, and back in classes. Dumbledore halted his Occlumency lessons for a few weeks or however long Harry doesn't feel up to it. Ron and Hermione were helping him out with his homework more then normally, but Harry had no problem with it.
For the last couple of days Harry's temple's have been throbbing, he asked Dumbledore and he said that would go away in a few weeks. He was improving in potions and his Polly Juice Potion was almost perfect.
He wasn't allowed to do what the rest of the class was doing in Transfiguration nor Defense against the Dark Arts. Charms were the only class he was allowed to do magic in, because they were just reviewing from last year.
In Transfiguration they were starting human transfigurations. Harry was forced to do a 5,000-word report on human transfigurations and what happens when someone is an animigus illegally.
In Defense against the Dark Arts he spent the whole period defining curses and counter curses.
He walked out of Defense against the Dark Arts, his books in his bag that he slung over his shoulder. He set off for Dumbledore's office for his training against the Dark Lord.
"You're not making the circle with your wand, this way," he took his wand and made a perfect circle and then flicked his wand and lavender light came out of Dumbledore's wand.
"Ok," He did the same as Dumbledore and though of something dark happening to Dumbledore, but only a purple vapor escaped his wand.
"Concentrate... Imagine Voldemort in pain; imagine all the pain he caused you to be inflicted upon him."
"I'm trying!" Harry yelled, and then he dropped his voice lower, "Sorry." He muttered embarrassed at his actions.
"It's all right. Try again," Dumbledore urged.
He thought of Voldemort feeling his pain, and Voldemort feeling the power of the Cruciatus curse. He pulled up his wand and made a circle and then flicked it harder then he intentioned to do. There was a bright neon purple he heard Dumbledore yell, "Stop!" Harry threw his wand to the ground and the purple dimmed. Dumbledore was standing behind his desk.
"You need to learn to control your spells. That could of killed someone, even yourself. I want you here tomorrow after classes, we'll work on the philosophy of some of these spells. I don't want you to practice this spell unless you can control it, fully. Now, I'm going to teach you a popular Legitimist charm. If you were facing the Dark Lord, I'd like you to be prepared to read his mind if he could read yours. It would make Occlumency easier. I daresay you'll find it useful."
"When do I have time for homework?" Harry asked Dumbledore.
"I'm giving you exemption from homework until you finish training. And you are to do normal classes, no more defining terms," Dumbledore said.
"Professor, can I ask you something, about my scar?" Harry asked Dumbledore and saw that the twinkle behind his half-moon glasses extinguished.
"I believe you just did, but you can ask me one more," Dumbledore said looking at Harry.
"My scar's been hurting, really bad... and. it hasn't been bleeding, but like when I'm sitting in the middle of a class, I'll see Voldemort... and I don't know what's real or fantasy any more... not after... Sirius died, anyway. Before I thought anything, I dreamt was real... but I don't know what is real and what isn't..." Harry started.
"Believe only what your heart truly believes. As for your scar, I think I may know, or I may not, I can only build on the theories I made when you were a child. Voldemort's growing stronger, on the verge of immortality. But he can't go yet, without bringing you with him, you'd become Immortal without knowing it. And every step he takes you can feel his pain. Voldemort is still human, and as long as you are here he can't become immortal, no matter what."
"Ok, one last question, What if the prophecy wasn't meant for me at all, but Neville?" Harry asked Dumbledore.
"As I said before, Voldemort chose you finalizing the prophecy. The Dark Lord will mark him as his equal, and he did. Thus, fulfilling the prophecy. So there's no doubt in my mind that it is you that the prophecy speaks of."
"So I'm going either be a murderer or the one murdered?" Harry asked, bowing his head a little.
"Yes, I'm afraid so," Dumbledore said. Harry nodded and then turned on his heal and walked out of the room, somehow knowing he should. At a last glance Dumbledore looked older and wiser then he normally did.
He walked down to the "D.A." common room and sat onto one of the couches.
"Mate, what's up? You look depressed," Ron said taking a seat next to him. Harry sighed.
"Nothing... Just thinking," Harry said softly.
"Is is about You-Know-What?" Hermione asked him.
"Yeah," Harry replied. Ron looked baffled.
"You-Know-What?" Ron asked, looking at Harry. And Harry broke his eye contact and looked to Hermione. She nodded.
"Dumbledore told me what was hidden in the bowls in the Department of Mysteries," Harry said quietly and then told him exactly what he told Hermione. "And I asked Dumbledore tonight if it was possible that it wasn't me, and he said it is me and he's sure of it."
"What does, 'Either must die at the hands at the other-'"
"'For neither can live while the other survives,' it means I either have to murder Voldemort or he'll murder me," Harry said stressed he stood up, "I'm going to bed." And then he left. He walked up to the dormitories and changed into his pajamas. As he lay there he wondered, where is Voldemort? He closed his eyes and imagined doorway open to Voldemort's thoughts. And a voice came to his mind...
"Harry Potter is as good as dead... I will regain immortality and I will be unstoppable... The werewolf venom will soon enter his immune system and he will receive the werewolf powers...."
Harry jolted up and looked around. Did I just read Voldemort's mind? Am I a Legitimenthist? Am I going to die, for the third and final time soon? Will Voldemort be unstoppable like he thinks? Can I stop him? Am I a werewolf, and not safe, like Lupin? Were just some of the things that were going through his head. He never knew that so few words could mean so many different things... It was so confusing.
He laid back down and tried to empty his mind of all thought, and for once he succeeded and fell into a deep sleep.
"HARRY GET UP!" Ron bellowed, and Harry jumped.
"Ron.... W-what time is it?" Harry yawned, sitting up.
"Nine. I brought you some breakfast, it's downstairs... Oh, yeah and Dumbledore told me to give this to you," Ron handed Harry a piece of parchment that was sealed with the Hogwarts crest. He opened it and read:
Harry, I am giving this to you to read because there is a traitor among us. There isn't anything within my power that I can do and no evidence. The traitor is Draco Malfoy... stay away from him. He is a trained animigus and trained at the unforgivable curses. If you do happen to come in contact with him, use your training.
What I am to teach you is for you to know only. Do not teach anyone in the D.A. or Ron and Hermione.
I've changed your schedule thusly:
Monday:
1&2 Potions, N. Tonks
Lunch
3&4 Dark Training, A. Dumbledore
5&6 Quidditch Practice
Tuesday:
1&2 Defense against the Dark Arts, R. Lupin
Lunch
3&4 Occlumency, A. Dumbledore
Wednesday:
1&2 Transfiguration, M. McGongall
Lunch
3 Quidditch Practice
4 Theory of Magic, F. Flitwick - A. Dumbledore
Thursday:
1&2 Charms, F. Flitwick
Lunch
3&4 Legitimacy, A. Dumbledore
Friday:
1 Care of Magical Creatures, R. Hagrid
2 Divination, S. Trelawney
Lunch
3&4 Quidditch Practice
Also, by order of myself, you are to be the Captain on the Gryffindor Quidditch team and you are to redeem your position of seeker. You need to find two chasers and two beaters Mr. Kirke and Mr. Sloper resigned this morning. And Ginny Weasley would like to try out for Chaser.
P.S. After you read this letter burn it with the Flame charm.
"Who's it from?" Ron asked, trying to peer over Harry's shoulder to read it, but Harry took out his wand and burned it before Ron could see anything.
"Dumbledore, of coarse, I'll be back later... I've got to do something;" Harry said and then walked out of the room. Ron followed him.
"What's up? What'd the letter say? Why are you acting so strange?" Ron asked him.
"Look, I can't tell you everything the letter says, but all that I can tell you is I have a new schedule and I'm Gryffindor Quidditch Captain, and Seeker. Do me a favor and tell Katie that we have practice Monday for two hours after classes, Wednesday third period, right after lunch and Friday last two classes. Monday will be Try-outs for the two chasers and beaters... Kirke and Sloper resigned." Harry took out a piece of parchment and sat it on the table and wrote.
Gryffindor Quidditch team Try-outs
Monday evening-After Classes
Two Chasers and two beaters
Sign your name along with the position wanted under this sign. Then meet on the field of the Quidditch pitch right after classes. Brooms are not required.
"Make another one and put it in the Gryffindor common room." Harry instructed Ron.
***
Monday's class went by in a flash and soon he was in the locker room, with his Firebolt sitting beside him. Dumbledore had taken it from the Security Trolls and escaped without a scratch. He walked out onto the field with Katie and Ron by his side and saw that about 50 people showed up.
Ron handed him the sign up sheet and both were filled up. He looked up and then said, "OK, now could you split into two lines? Those of you that want to try for Chaser."
They did and Harry sat two school brooms down on the pitch. "If you have your own broom you don't have to use the schools. OK, now I want two of you and Katie to try to get the most goals out of 20 Quaffles." He opened the crate and took the Quaffle out. He threw it to Katie and she caught it. "First pair come up here and write your name down on this list so we know who you are."
The first pair did so and they were Alexis Arnold and Ginny. Ginny had her own broom, which Harry thought it was Fred's, or George's. They both kicked up off of the ground and Ginny was a brilliant flier and Alexis wasn't that great. Katie passes the Quaffle to Ginny and she caught it and scored. Ginny got all 20 in. Alexis got only one in and it looked by accident.
The tryouts went on for about an hour. Finally the last group came up. And it was Hermione and Mark Evans. Hermione was an OK flyer but Mark was really great. Hermione got 19 in and Mark got 20.
All of the people that tried-out formed a circle around him Ron and Katie. Katie and Ron both agreed on Mark and Ginny.
"The new Gryffindor Chasers are Ginny Weasley with a score of a perfect 20 and Mark Evans also with a perfect score of 20. Now we need those of you who'd like to be beaters." The line was shorter only of about 10 kids. Hermione was in this line too, along with Dennis Creevey, and Lavender Brown.
"This is how this is going to work: you pick your partner and you have to control the bludgers and get them through the rings, which ever group gets the most in are the new Gryffindor beaters."
The first two were Seamus and Neville. Seamus wasn't that bad, but Neville was. Neville kept hitting himself with the beater bat and missing the Bludger. They got three through the hoops, while Dennis Creevey and one of his friends who Harry didn't know their name got nine. Hermione and Lavender's group was up next. They were superb. They got all ten. The other groups must have been a joke or something, because the other four groups only got from zero to two.
The beaters circled Harry and he announced, "The new chasers are Hermione Granger and Lavender Brown." There were alot of disappointment in the air, and the people that didn't make it for either Chaser or Beater walked up to the castle. An owl flew down and landed on Harry's shoulder. It was Hedwig.
"Read it Harry!" Ron said.
Harry took the letter from Hedwig and read,
Mr. Potter
Since you have drafted half of the team tonight, I would like the whole Gryffindor Quidditch team to select new uniforms. As long as they have Red and Gold on them.
We will be starting a Hogwarts International Varsity and Junior Varsity Quidditch Teams this year. The winners of the Quidditch cup (Which will be held in November.) will be our varsity and the runner's up will be the junior varsity.
I'd like to see Gryffindor have the Cup and the spot of Varsity this year, and that is why I am sending this. You may get seven new brooms from Quality Quidditch Supplies when you go there for your uniforms.
I'm getting quite accustomed to seeing the Cup in my office; Potter and I don't want to see it go to Professor Snape. Good-Luck this year.
Professor M. McGongall
"We're getting new brooms and uniforms!" Harry said to all of the Quidditch team. Harry didn't really like the idea of getting a different broom. Sirius had given him his Firebolt...
"Brilliant! Is there a limit? Can we get Flame Torch 5000's? Or could we get the Moon Trimmer 2004?" Ron said, ecstatically.
"We can get what ever we want," Harry replied, faking a grin.
And at that moment he realized something.... I'll always be the outcast... I'll never fit in... I'm tied to Voldemort through my scar... I'll never be normal.... I'll never fit in....
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First of all.... I'd like to thank all of my reviewers
Kurbani
Mella DeRanged
ParanoiaIn2005
RowlingFan1
Anne Phoenix
Thanks! Review more and I'll type up Chapter 8 as quickly as I can! It'll be easier because I only have band practice twice a week now instead of five.
The more you review the faster I type!