HARRY POTTER AND THE SEERS' TRUTH
By Lady Lestrange
Chapter 51
Nothing Hallowed
10 REVIEWS. I really hate blackmailing you into reviewing, but hey, I'm a Slytherin. It's in my nature, so when there are 10 reviews for this chapter, the next one will magically appear. Love my readers and reviewers. Answers to reviews follow the story.
Disclaimer: The Harry Potter characters and previous situations belong to JK Rowlings. No infringement is meant or implied. No money is made from this Fanfic. THANKS JK.
--LADY LESTRANGE
(A/N: I've been reading a number of fanfics in installments like this one myself, and find it is sometimes hard to remember exactly what has happened before-In a fic as complex as this one is, I thought having a reminder may be helpful for you. If you want to skip it, just page down FIVE times. --Lady Lestrange)
UP TO THIS POINT: Parvati has been having dreams and visions about the Dark Lord, Harry and a Prophecy Child. So far, they are not sure who the prophecy child is, and it is important for them to find him/her. The Sorting Hat is not sorting, so the students have "little brothers and sisters" to show around. The dream team thinks that The Sorting Hat failing is a plot to hide the Prophecy child from the teachers and anyone who can help insure that he/she stays on the side of light. No one is sure that the brothers and sisters actually belong to the house they are currently in.
The Hogwarts Express has been attacked. Dark Marks have been in the sky. The floo network is compromised. The Minister of Magic has been turned. Snape is now teaching both Defense and Advanced Defense, but it looks like Advanced Defense is just an excuse to let the Slytherins and Ginny and Edward visit the Dark Lord. Mrs. Figg is teaching potions and we know very little about her so far, except that she was against Dumbledore's suggestion to make Poly Juice Potion.
Beatrice is an animagus, a bunny. Edward's granny looks like she could have given the Dursleys a few pointers on cruelty. Slytherin is a house at war according to Snape, divided between Death Eaters and those who want to stay on the side of light. Harry uses his Invisibility Cloak and finds out when it is ripped, the Invisibility spell ceases. There is an unwelcome addition to Myrtle's bathroom, Olive Hornby. Peeves is his usual annoying self, but the Baron seems to have a little less control over him.
Samara, for some reason, lofts some wicked, powerful curses. She doesn't look like she has total control over them, which isn't really surprising since she's learned magic on her own from a book, that Harry is sure is a dark book. She seems to like Draco, but don't assume this is a romance. It is not. Ginny is still hearing voices in her head. Harry's scar is hurting more, and neither he nor Ginny know what this means. Ginny is closer with Harry this year, but again, not romantically. There is Edward, the new Gryffindor, who seems interested in Ginny, but Ginny really hasn't gotten over Tom.
We find out about Neville's powerful auror parents. We learn that Neville has a memory charm that was put on him as a baby. He's a more powerful wizard than anyone ever thought as evidenced by his yew wand and the way he reacts to Snape's ministrations in trying to remove the memory charm. We might wonder why Snape is trying to do this himself, instead of enlisting the help of Madam Pomfrey. Sirius and Lupin are on "fieldtrips" with the sixth and seventh years.
Of course we can also wonder why Snape is so determined to teach his classes advanced spells like the Patronus, or we can just chalk it up to Snape, being mean. The Fifth year class starts apparition classes and we meet Professor Sinistra. We also visit Hufflepuff, where we see The Wall, and Slytherin house, where we discover, to our amazement, a magic room that Draco shares with Samara, but Samara has a very unslytherin use for the room. Ravenclaw to come next weekend.
The chapter, CHAINED AND CHARMED, takes place at the same time as DANCING IS AN OUT OF BODY EXPERIENCE-when Samara was in Slytherin, dancing. It is Saturday afternoon. Harry and the Gryffindors examine Samara's Dark Book, after they come back from lunch. They find an extreme potion, and decide they need to make a trip to the Chamber of Secrets. Ghastly Ghostly Dinner is when Gryffindor's meet with Samara after her little trip to Slytherin. Samara and Beatrice are persuaded by Edward to help him steal his snake back from his brother Ethan. Things get a little out of hand, and Samara learns more about Slytherin than she ever wanted to know.
Now the Gryffindors are mad at her. Samara wants to make up and be friends with them, but is it possible to befriend both Harry Potter and Draco Malfoy? How far will she go to make up, or will she just find some valuable information to store away for future use? (So, don't you want one of those Tee shirts?)
LIONS AND TIGERS: We see a very stressed out Snap both in Harry's memory of what happened with Snap and Neville and in the actual DADA class. We find out Trelawney doesn't want Samara in her class and Samara decides to take Ancient Runes instead. McGonagall assures Samara that Trelawney has done her a favor. McGonagall further talks to Samara about her experiences in Gryffindor, opening the door to give Samara someone to talk to, if she so chooses. We also learned lots more about animagi in McGonagall's class. Snape dismisses the Gryffifndors and keeps the Slytherins after class. We find out it's because Snape wants them to practice their patronus because the Slytherins are so lousy at the spell. Could it be because there are so few happy memories to chose from?
In DRAGON BREATH AND BLUDGER BATS, Ginny and Edward set the Slytherins up with fire mints, and Samara gets extremely angry at them both because they hurt her friends. In an effort to contain her anger, she goes to the Quiddich pitch where she meets Fred and George. After lobbing a few quaffles at them in her anger, they decide to ask her to be a Beater for Gryffindor. She refuses, but later when she talks to Draco, he is not very nice to her, (hey, who said Draco was a nice guy?) so she wonders whether or not she should take the Beater job.
In WISH IT REAL; WISH IT NOT we see into one of Ginny's dreams. If you don't remember this dream, go and re-read chapter 28. In Chapter 29, THE SPELLING BEE, Samara is feeling homesick and friendless until Draco invites Samara back to Slytherin. Also, includes a short intro into what's coming up in potions class.
In Chapter 30, CHILD OF GRYFFINDOR, Neville and Snape break the Imperio part of the Memory Charm. The trio discusses the Founders' spells, which put their gifts in the Sorting Hat; however they do not have the original parseltongue version of Salazar's spell. Ginny also sees Edward painting and the reader sees a bit of Ginny and Tom's relationship. In SLYTHERIN GAMES—Well, if you don't remember it, you better re-read. Voldemort is finally out and angry—burning and pillaging and we see a little-known inside version of Slytherin through Ginny's eyes. In STICKY SITUATIONS, Samara uses her adhere charm on the Weasley twins, Neville sticks Beatrice's wand to his with bubble gum, and Edward is sticking in Gryffindor.
In OW POST the Slytherins get even for the Dragon Breath Mints, among other things—
In the Ravenclaw chapter—I'm still trying to think of a good name for it—Help me please—we meet a number of Ravenclaws and find out a little more about the characters, in Ravenclaw as well as Edward and Samara. So do you think either of them are really Ravenclaws? Hmmmm? In chapter 35 we meet Sirius again who plans to have a talk with Dumbledore about his keeping Harry safe and of course what that nasty Snape is doing to poor Neville. The Quiddich Game and then more of Neville's awesome Auror parents.
The war is heating up and touching the lives of the children. This story is rapidly approaching –nasty things. Not for the faint of heart. Last chapter, we had a relaxing time at Hogsmeade. Samara bounces from friend to friend and Harry has some nasty dreams, and Harry is shocked to find out that Ron and Hermione are a couple. We knew that already though, right?
In THE CHAMBER OF SECRETS the trio did some exploring, but failed to find the basilisk eggs. They found other things though. Obviously, they have to go back, but first Ginny gives them some instructions.
In THE CHAMBER, THE WALL, THE WAND AND THE WINDOW, Ginny gives the trio some instructions about the Chamber, the Gryffindor boys are having trouble sleeping and Harry's talking to the Snake, Kauket. Parvati has yet another vision, about a muggle and the earlier one about the wand is explored. Trelawney tells Ginny she will open a window to the past—Didn't she already do that? Is Trelawney a little late with this prediction, or does it mean something else?
In NO MORE GAMES we return to ADADA class and Ginny finds out by using the Quick Quotes Quill that the class is more than she planned, but the notes are stolen, so she has no proof to go to Dumbledore with—So she takes matters into her own hands. In PERVIGILO ARMARO, we see part of Ginny's awesome ward. Doors are opened and Tom is out, but he isn't everything we thought he would be. Could it be that he's keeping secrets from us? Puppy Puffs and the Hufflepuff/Ravenclaw Quiddich game offer a little comic relief.
Chapter 44, MORS MORDRE. Ginny gets a dark mark. nouf said. BLOOD AND MAGIC MINGLED is Ginny reaction to Voldemort's Imperio curse, and a trip to the Chamber. In THE SEVENTH SUFFERING, We leave Ginny in the Chamber, while we go off with Samara to find out what happened to Ginny in Slytherin this morning, but Samara gets side-tracked, and she learns a personal secret of Draco's—so when is she going to share her secret? Speaking of secrets, Snape has a few, which he unwittingly shares in SNAPE'S SECRET AND SALAZAR'S TREASURE. In SECRETS KEPT AND THOUGHTS SHARED, we at last know what side Snape is on--almost—
And for all those Ginny lovers--awesome Ginny in WHAT IS A DARK WIZARD--where we at last, rejoin the Dark Lord. After that, aren't we all ready for a little fun and games with the Gryffindor/Slytherin Quiddich game? Harry finally confirms Edward's evil intent, although no one believes him, and now, once again Harry is privy to Slytherin secrets in NOTHING HALLOWED, on Halloween night.
Nothing Hallowed
By Lady Lestrange
Halloween morning found Harry Potter in the infirmary with Ron and Hermione.
"I told you, Parvati will be fine," said Madam Pomfrey. "Sometimes this sort of thing happens with Seers who try to push themselves too far to fast. She will have no more visions or dreams for at least the next three days. She will be sleeping with dreamless sleep potion much of that time, so there is no point in you hovering around her. Go on—shoo!"
Lavender, determined to stay with her friend, was the only one who braved Madam Pomfrey's wrath. Even Dean decided that it was better to avoid Madam Pomfrey right now.
Harry suffered through class, trying to concentrate, but with Parvati in the hospital wing and all of the other goings on, he was hard put to study. When Trelawney started to tell them how she Knew that Parvati would be taken ill, Harry got up and walked out of class.
"What do you think you are doing, Mr. Potter?" Trelawney scolded him.
"Don't you know," he said. "I've taken ill."
Harry spent the rest of divination class in the library trying to discover something about the Prophecy Child's powers. One of the things Parvati had said was that the Prophecy child was "__"From what he found out, the prophecy child was empathetic towards others. The books in the regular section of the library were rather vague on exactly what an empath could do, but from what Harry read, he discerned that they were in some respects very powerful, but in other respects very vulnerable. They could be used and manipulated because they reacted to the emotions and feelings of those around them.
Another fact that he had learned from Parvati about the prophecy child was that she was of Slytherin and Hufflepuff blood. Although both he and Ron thought that fact was exceedingly strange, Hermione was not surprised. She had quoted several lines from the book, Helga Hufflepuff: Gifted or Cursed which described Helga's gift of empathy, explaining that she had already looked at the volume herself.
When Harry asked Hermione why she didn't bring the book out of the library, she said she didn't think it would help them much anyway.
A little annoyed, Harry had said they used to decide this sort of thing together.
"It's so much easier though now that Hermione is a prefect," said Ron. "She can get anything we need out of the restricted section and we don't have to go sneaking under the Invisibility cloak and risk getting detention."
Harry frowned, thinking that never bothered Ron before--
Another quality of the Prophecy child of which they had been aware since the beginning was that she was a mixture of all four houses. It made sense to Harry that the Prophecy Child was a mixture of all the houses, but it seemed that the effect wasn't necessarily a quarter to each house as they had assumed. Instead, the prophecy child would be totally compatible with the house that he or she was in while in it. He wondered if the book in the restricted section entitled Helga Hufflepuff: Gifted or Cursed, really had nothing more to add to his study. It certainly sounded like it would go into more depth about the gift of empathy. Perhaps he would try to look at it tonight, even though Hermione thought it was useless.
Once the great feast was over, Harry returned to the common room. He mentioned going to the restricted section of the library later tonight, but neither Ron nor Hermione volunteered to go with him. Hermione stating once again that the book was not that helpful. However, Hermione finally dragged Ron off to the library to pick up just one book, making Harry wonder if Parvati's comment that the Dark Lord had released him, made Ron and Hermione distrust him. He remembered how much they had distrusted him when they first learned he could speak parseltongue, but seriously, he thought they had all grown up a little in the succeeding years. Surely, they didn't believe he had anything to do with anything dark. He hated Voldemort. Harry rubbed his scar self-consciously and tried to hash out just what clues they had about the prophecy child. Honestly, this was so much easier when you could share it with someone—with Ron and Hermione. But Hermione and Ron had not come back from the library yet, so Harry was sitting alone.
The Common room was surprisingly empty. Ginny was studying in the corner. The Weasley twins had another portion of the room. Perhaps it was because there were rumors that Voldemort had big plans for Halloweeen that the Common room was emptying out so early. Truthfully, when Harry thought of it, Halloween was the time when a number of unexpected events had occurred: The troll was loosed in the Dungeon, The Chamber of Secrets was opened, Sirius broke into Hogwarts and The whole Tri Wizard Tournament fiasco started.
Harry watched as a group of first years—he didn't think there were that many first years--came into the common room dressed as fairies, angels, and a superhero. Harry had to smile. It reminded him of muggle trick or treat night. Of course, he never got to go. He had to stay home and hand out the candy, when the Dursleys even bought any. Most of the time, he had to hide in the dark cupboard and pretend he wasn't home, while the Dursley's took Dudley out to collect his candy. Still, it was fun when they left him out of his cupboard to sneak peeks out of the window. That was before he knew he was a wizard. He remembered seeing the muggle children dressed up like witches and goblins and wizards. They had never had trick or treat night at Hogwarts, probably because the fall equinox, meant different things to different witches and wizards here, but Harry thought it was a fun idea and they really needed some fun lately.
Edward came into the common room and nearly bumped into the children. One of them, smiled brightly at Edward, but he scowled at them and walked around them to join Ginny in the opposite corner.
The first years stood uncertainly in the common room. Harry looked at them appraisingly. Maybe some of them were second years. They were well disguised. He couldn't recognize any of them. Harry made his decision. "Come here," he said.
They came to him, a little hesitantly. Digging in his bag to find several packages of Bertie Bott's Everyflavor beans. He opened the beans and gave a few beans to each child.
"What's that for?" asked the superhero.
"Well, it's trick or treat. A muggle custom of giving out candy." Said Harry.
The Weasley twins decided to get into the act. "I've read about that," said George. "The muggles dress up like witches and wizards—"
"Or angels and fairies" said Fred, looking at the children.
"Then they go door to door "said George
"In their neighborhood to collect candy." completed Fred
"You should go to Dumbledore's office," said George.
"He has the best candy," agreed Fred.
"I--we don't know where it is," said an angel.
Fred and George exchanged glances and seemed to take this on as their personal mission.
"Well, being an angel," said Fred "That's understandable."
"You wouldn't have had to um-visit there." Said George.
"Like some of us little devils," said Fred.
"I'm not an angel; I'm a sprite," corrected the child.
Harry went back to reading, with a smile on his face, as the twins explained the finer points of trick or treat. As Fred talked, Harry got the distinct feeling that the twins had participated in this muggle custom. George returned from the dorm with pillowcases that he had apparently taken from off of several of his roommates beds, and passed them out to the children.
"Remember," said Fred as he placed several Puppy Puffs, Canary Creams and Ton Tongue toffees in each bag, these are for those annoying prefects."
The group of children nodded seriously.
Laughing and talking, Fred and George led the children out of the Common room, apparently to collect candy from unsuspecting wizards and witches.
==
Finally, there was only Edward and Ginny in the common room with him. They were sitting on one side of the room and Harry was on the other. Ginny had just gone up to bed, after kissing Edward goodnight. How did that happen? Harry wondered for the thousandth time. Somehow, he had always thought Ginny would be there, waiting for him. He even thought they were closer this year. He sighed. What did he do wrong? Hadn't she just told him that she and Edward were just friends? So what had happened in the last two weeks? And Samara was no where in sight, again. He didn't' know if she was asleep, or with Draco somewhere. Her too, he had waited too long to approach. Why was it, he could jump right into dangers like the Chamber of Secrets or the Sorcerer's Stone, but with girls he couldn't. How did Edward get that easy attitude around them? Of course, Harry had always been able to talk to Hermione—Well, until lately he sighed. Now that she was Ron's girlfriend even that was a little awkward. When he tried to get her to tell him what she found out about the Prophecy Child's powers, she said she didn't know anything helpful.
"It's nothing that's really going to help us to identify the child. If it's what I think it is, it's not something we could see, Harry."
"Well, what do you think it is?" asked Harry.
But before Hermione could answer, Ron burst into the Common room, yelling, "Come quick, Hermione, Harry. I think Snape's gonna kill a couple of Slytherins! They were puppies--"
The trio had skidded into the corridor and peered around a pillar in time to see Snape, growling at four little Slytherins in a low tone. "No, I'm not taking house points from the rest of the Slytherins," he said. "I'm going to see my quarters cleaned and my robes cleaned and my shoes cleaned, and if I smell one drop of dog piss in that room, I'm going to rub your noses in it, turn you into dogs permanently and send you to the Muggle dog pound! I would have expected this of a Gryffindor--"
"B-but," one of the little Slytherins, interrupted.
The other one, bouncing on the balls of his feet, blurted, "McGonagall said, teachers aren't aloud to use transfiguration to punish students."
Ron gasped and clapped his hand over his mouth.
Harry thought, you could almost feel sorry for the little guy—even if he was a Slytherin.
Snape's scowl became murderous. "I don't recall mentioning transfiguration," growled Snape, "and anyway, McGonagall is not your head of house," Snape roared. "I am! Move!"
"Does Snape seem a little more testy than usual," asked Hermione.
Ron shrugged. "He was always a bloody git."
The two of them walked off together arm in arm, leaving Harry feeling awkward. He went back to the Common Room.
Harry decided that he had put off following up about the Prophecy Child's powers long enough. It was a great night for a midnight excursion to the library. Everyone was tired from the feast and would be in bed. Filch would have his hands full with Halloween pranksters and wouldn't even check the Restricted section of the library. Harry got his invisibility cloak, his Maurader's map arranged pillows on his bed and headed out.
He couldn't find the book that Hermione had mentioned. He looked for over an hour before Peeves began flying around the library, chanting, "Students out of bed. Students out of bed."
Of course there were students out of bed, thought Harry. Even though it was late, it was Halloween. He rubbed his eyes and headed back to Gryffindor Tower. He expected most of the Gryffindors to be in bed by now. He didn't expect to see anyone in the common room.
When he returned to the common room, he had the shock of his life. There was a Halloween party in full swing, and all the Gryffindors were dressed in costumes, but costumes of Slytherins. It took Harry a full minute to realize that these people were not Gryffindors, they WERE Slytherins—in the Gryffindor common room. How did they get in? With a sinking feeling, Harry noted the little group of giggling angels, only they weren't dressed as angels now. They were in Slytherin robes and talking excitedly about trick AND treat night. Crookshanks was meowing loudly and rubbing up against them in his most welcoming manner. Bloody traitor thought Harry.
As Harry stood transfixed in front of the portrait hole, Edward came down the stairs from the dorm. "All asleep," he said, slipping his wand into his robe pocket, which now carried a Slytherin crest. Confused, Harry glanced across the room at Ethan to just to be sure there were really two of them. Edward crossed the room to his brother who was complaining about the décor.
Draco was sitting comfortably in the center of an overstuffed chair by the fireplace, and a roaring fire was lit. "Where's Ginny?" Draco asked Edward. Draco was absently petting Crookshanks who had jumped up on the top of the chair and was now sitting near Draco's head. He batted a soft paw through Draco's hair and then rubbed himself against his ear.
"Warded in a bomb shelter," said Edward. "Elementals."
"Why would Ginny be so concerned that she used wards to sleep at night," thought Harry, and then another more disturbing thought entered his mind. "How did Edward, a pure blood wizard know anything about bombs? Unless he was involved in setting one—Images of Euro-Disney and the muggle bombs set by use of a portkey, flashed through his mind. No doubt McGonagall and even Ron and Hermione would say he was over reacting, but he couldn't get the thought out of his mind.
"So you couldn't break it?" asked Draco, picking up Crookshanks and putting him on his lap. He continued petting the cat., who kneaded Draco's lap and laid down.
"I didn't try. She said she wanted to sleep," said Edward.
Harry was numb. He couldn't believe this was happening. Once he would have just started cursing the nearest Slytherin, but he had matured a little in his years at Hogwarts. He needed a plan.
"Way too much red," Ethan said, and with a wave of his wand he changed the sofa to a pale green color.
"No!" said Edward, changing it back to marroon. "Ethan, we can't change the colors. We want the Gryffindors to get in trouble. If we change it Dumbledore will know it was us.
"Is this carpet supposed to represent the blood shed by some brave, dying Gryffindors or is it just your typical whorehouse red?" said Ethan. "It's giving me a headache."
Try studying in this colored room," moaned Edward.
"Too bad, you're stuck with it. You lost the duel," said Ethan.
"You cheated."
"So. We agreed on first hit," sneered Ethan.
"I should have said duel to unconsciousness."
"Only because you punched me like some damned mudblood—I think you belong in Gryfffindor."
Edward launched himself at Ethan, and the Slytherins moved out of the way of the fight. A table got overturned and a lamp shattered on the floor as the boys wrestled. Crookshanks darted across the room and out of the melee.
Harry stood open mouthed. It was a good thing the Invisibility cloak hid him from sight. Why couldn't McGonagall walk in and see this?
Some of the Slytherins started to take bets and in moments, sickles and knuts were flying as well as fists.
"Ethan will use his wand first," said one of the former angels.
"Edward will." Said the sprite.
"Ethan doesn't need a wand."
"Edward's been in Gryffindor too long," said the superhero. "He's cool, but he's lost the touch. He hasn't even been able to locate the prophecy child."
"That's just Draco's opinion," said another Slytherin.
"So that was Edward's plan?—speaking of plan," thought Harry. "What was his plan for getting the Slytherins out of here? Maybe he should just go for Dumbledore."
The momentum of the wrestling knocked Crabbe into Harry. "Without looking behind him," Crabbe murmured "Sorry." And went back to cheering the combatants.
Harry realized that he had just barely avoided being discovered, and Crabbe was now standing directly in front of the doorway that led out of the common room. He would have to wait until Crabbe moved before he could go to summon McGonagall or Dumbledore. This was a nightmare. Another lamp and a décorative lion statue broke and a wand clattered across the floor before one of the twins set one of the sofas on fire.
Crookshanks scampered after the wand like it was a plaything.
Immediately the sofa was drenched with water from the other twin.
"You stupid prat. What did you do that for, now the sofa's all wet!"
"You were the idiot that set it on fire!"
"Well you took my wand, what did you expect?"
There was a flash of light and one twin stood triumphantly with his wand in his hand and his brother stunned on the floor. He was dusting off his Slytherin robes. Harry realized he didn't know which twin was the winner: Edward or Ethan.
Wand drawn, Harry crouched behind the smoking sofa and leaned his head against it. He needed to get these Slytherins out of his common room. But there were too many of them. Ironically, Snape's words came to mind. "That's the problem with you Griffindors—more bravado than brains. A dead hero is still dead."
A soft sandpapery tongue touched his wand hand, and Crookshanks began to meow at him.
"Sh-h-h. Get out of here, Crookshanks," whispered Harry pushing the cat away.
"Told you Edward would win," said the sprite to the superhero. "Pay up."
What would Hermione do? Make a plan, Harry thought.
He didn't have a plan.
Money began to exchange hands.
What would Ron do? Take out as many as possible before going down.
Edward spoke "medicor," and reached down to help his brother to his feet. Laughing, and healing each others bruises, they leaned on each other. "At least I can sleep at night," Edward said. "It's awesome. No wards. None at all."
Some of the Slytherins started to pair off and seek the shadows. Edward called after one couple, "Millicent and Greg, check the forth and fifth year girls if you are going upstairs."
"I don't know where they are." Millicent replied obviously unconcerned.
"Never mind," said Edward. "I'll check them myself."
Crookshanks was wrapping himself around Millicent's leg. She hissed at him and pushed him away with the toe of her boot. "Put him in a room somewhere, too," she said to Edward. "He's annoying."
Edward picked up Crookshanks and turned toward the stairs.
"The rigors of being the host," Draco drawled. "It's such a bore. Why do we have to check the Forth and Fifth years anyway, don't you know how to set a sleeping net?"
"I do," said Edward, "But you forget who sleeps there."
"Oh yes," said Draco. "The mudblood prefect."
"She's not the problem. She and the bunny sleep like logs." said Edward. "It's Ginny. She has nightmares and sometimes wakes up right through the wards. If she's awake, she can join the party."
"She still has nightmares? You never told us that. There would be Parvati too. A vision might interfere with the ward."
"No," said Edward. "Parvati's sleeping over with Trelawney these days, and her friend Lavender, well she just sleeps over. I don't think she'll be back tonight. And then there's Samara. Unless you want to wake Samara?"
Edward headed up the stairs to check on the rooms. Crookshanks was meowing on his arm.
"No," interrupted Alvin Nott. "I'm still the senior prefect here, and I say no Gryffindors."
"OO-oh," intoned Draco to Alvin in his laziest drawl. "Looks like the prefect has left his house get a little out of hand—or maybe out of Hall," laughed Draco.
"Anyone up for a game of Truth or Dare?" asked Ethan. Some of the Slytherins started to gather around him.
"We've got a problem!" yelled Edward, as he sprinted back down the stairs, carrying one of Harry's pillows. "Harry Potter isn't in his bed."
"We should leave," said Alvin. "He could have gone to get Dumbledore."
Draco glanced at Crabbe who was still leaning against the portrait hole. "No," said Draco. "Crabbe's been watching the door. My bet is that Potter is standing right here, under his invisibility cloak, listening to every word we've said." Draco smirked and motioned the Truth or Dare, group a little closer to the portrait hole to block the entrance better. They scooted over obediently although Ethan grumbled. "Now, about that game," said Draco. "Won't you join us, Potter? What happened to all that Gryffindor bravery? A few Slytherins and you have to hide under your invisibility cloak? For shame. Now, if you and your friends were in my common room, I'm sure I'd confront you. I certainly wouldn't slink around invisible."
Only because you don't have an Invisibility Cloak, thought Harry.
"We can't play truth or dare," moaned one of the angels. "We don't have any veritaserum."
Harry caught his breath. Surely they heard him gasp, but they seemed not to—"
"Gloria, I thought angels always told the truth," said one of the other first years with a snigger.
"Shut up, Graham, or I'll curse you," said Gloria. "It's not my fault that the stupid Weasley's don't know the difference between an angel and a sprite."
Draco reached into an inner robe pocket and drew out a small vial about the size of Harry's thumb. "Always be prepared," he said.
Harry noticed that two other Slytherins also had vials out of their pockets: Ethan and Blaise Zambini
"You're a prefect," Alvin scolded Blaise. "You can't get caught with that"
"So, I won't get caught," purred Blaise. She tossed her vial to the angel. "Careful, she hissed. "That stuff is expensive."
Draco shrugged. "I'm going to go wake Samara." He said. "I think she'll want to play."
"Draco," Alvin Nott said moving in front of him. "Let Samara sleep. She'll need to be asleep—tonight."
Draco raised an eyebrow, and started past Nott.
"I really have to draw the line." Nott continued angrily. She's a Gryffindor. She needs to stay asleep tonight of all nights."
"First of all," drawled Draco. "You don't make the rules here. Secondly, she's not a Gryffindor. The only reason she's in Gryffindor at all is because Weasley stood up for her, and not just any Weasley—Virginia Weasley. And who knows how much of HER is still Virginia—" Draco pushed Alvin away against the wall.
"What are you saying?"
"I'm saying Alvin, you close your eyes to Dark Lord's power, You're afraid of it: afraid of the power, afraid of the power of his artifacts, afraid of the power of those he chooses, and the power of how he communicates with those chosen. You are a pitiful excuse for a Slytherin." Draco's voice was low and vicious. "You were left behind before and you'll be left behind again, maybe permanently. Now, get out of my way." Draco pushed past Alvin and went up to the girls' dorm.
"I'll go first," said Edward. "Greg, I dare you to put—um five large tarantulas in Ron Weasley's bed."
"Done." Said Greg, who sprinted up the stairs faster than Harry had ever seen him move.
I've got one," shouted Lauren. "Who's taking Advanced Charms?"
"Pritch is," said a Slytherin. Harry didn't know, but he recognized Owen Pritchard from his Advanced Charms class.
Harry found himself hoping that Edward's sleep wards were good enough to keep Ron asleep until he could get the spiders out of his friend's bed.
They did another dare, which Harry missed because his eyes were on Samara heading sleepily down the stairs in her night clothes. Draco had a possessive arm around her. As she realized the room was filled with Slytherins, her mouth dropped open. "Oh my Gawd." She looked around in amazement.
"I don't think I've ever seen you speechless," said Draco in a lazy drawl. "I like it."
Unlike Harry, Samara didn't seem overly concerned. "Did you do this, Draco? This is incredible," she said softly.
"I'm incredible," Draco corrected. "Give the lady a butterbeer."
"So where am I putting this?" asked Owen Pritchard.
"Fifth year Girl's dorm," said Lauren. "Between say—8 and 9."
"What?" Samara asked. "What did you do, Lauren?"
"Don't worry about it," Draco said, "You get up early."
They moved over to the game. "Won't Professor Snape miss you?" Samara asked. "It looks like the whole house is here."
"Well, we're missing a few dogs—"Draco smirked knowingly.
"And some of the sixth and seventh years," said Edward. "They are out to do their duty for the light."
"Some of them are light," said Lauren Avery softly.
"Snape?" asked Samara.
Draco rolled his eyes. "I took care of Snape."
"What did you do to him?" asked Samara.
"Nothing, my blood thirsty little Gryffindor. I just told him that some of us wanted to turn in early to be well rested for tomorrow. Truthfully, he was so thankful that Nott and I were taking care of things. He looked like he was desperately in need of some sleep. Of course the puppies were helpful--"
"What's tomorrow?"
Draco's expression closed her out. "Let's just play the game," he said. "It's your turn."
"What's tomorrow?" thought Harry Potter.
"Samara," said Ethan. "Truth or Dare?"
"Have you played this game before?" asked Draco.
"Oh yeah." Said Samara. "Truth."
"Not with veritaserium," thought Harry. He had to find a way to get the Slytherins out of the common room. He glanced at the fireplace. It was blazing brightly—figures--If only McGonagall would decide to use the fireplace for a message tonight, but now that the floo was fixed she'd probably just use her own fireplace.
"How many dark wizards are in your family?" asked Ethan.
The crowd moaned. "No," said Pansy. "Last time you asked that question we were counting for hours."
"It's a waste of veritaserium," said Edward.
"You have to limit it," agreed one of the angels.
"Good idea, Gloria. We could count light wizards instead," suggested Lauren.
"Last four generations," agreed Ethan.
Draco handed Samara the little vial.
"What's this?" she asked.
"Veritaserium." Said Draco. "Do you have a problem with that?"
"Oh," said Samara. "I've never seen veritaserium. I've heard it's very strong. Doesn't look like much does it?"
"Quit stalling," complained Ethan nastily.
Without looking up, Samara flicked her wand and removed Ethan's mouth.
Ethan's eyes widened in horror, and then narrowed in fury.
Several Slytherins, including Draco, burst into laughter.
Harry wondered where on earth she had learned that spell—probably Slytherin.
"I'm not stalling," said Samara. "I'm just trying to remember where I saw a recipe for this stuff—in Ravenclaw, I think." She began reciting ingredients, counting on her fingers—licorice, dragon tongue, fluxweed, unicorn milk,
Pansy chuckled. "Oh, she can cook!"
"Draco doesn't care if you can cook," mocked one of the Slytherins that Harry didn't know.
Draco glared at him. "Like this," he said to Samara, and then he stopped as he remembered Ethan's predicament. "Ethan will need his mouth back," he said.
"Oh, right," she said returning Ethan's mouth with a wave of her wand.
Draco put her finger on the opening of the veritaserium bottle and holding her hand, turned it over once. "It's strong stuff," he said, now holding her wet finger to her mouth. "You only need a drop to answer truthfully. Lick."
Samara licked her finger, which was wet with the veritaserium. "It tastes like water," she said. "You guys are joshing me, right?"
The group began to laugh.
"It was you!" Ethan blurted, flames in his hand. "You cursed me! I damned near died!"
"When?" Harry wondered. "When had Samara cursed Ethan, not that he didn't probably deserve it."
"Hurry up and ask your question, Ethan," said one of the Slytherins. "You just lost your voice, not your life!"
"It wasn't the loss of his voice that bothered him," said one of the sprites. "It was the loss of his lips." She smacked her own lips together in a loud kiss.
And the group laughed. "You should know, Gloria," said one of them.
"Cr—" began Ethan, but Samara was quicker. "Testudo!" she pronounced and a shimmering shield of power appeared behind the wave of her hand, and she pushed it toward Ethan. Immediately, his unsaid curse was reflected back upon him, and he collapsed on the floor—his mouth opened, and Draco pronouned "Mutus!"
His face contorted in agony and his silent scream was more than Harry could take. He strode forward several steps before he realized he couldn't do anything, even if he revealed himself, but Samara was already moving, pronouncing "Finite Incantum!" and ending the spell. She rushed to Ethan's side.
"Are you alright?" she asked Ethan.
"What happened?" asked Pansy.
"Samara blocked one of Ethan's nastier curses—" answered Lauren. "Apparently she threw one back too, but I didn't see what it was."
"He's had worse," said Draco, in a bored drawl.
Worse? Thought Harry. Worse than crucio? He looked from Samara to Ethan in confusion. Ethan was the one who was holding the crucio spell, and Samara did nothing but block. He knew the only spell she spoke was Testudo, but somehow she reflected the spell. Testudo shouldn't have held it at all. It certainly shouldn't have reflected it. No one could block, let alone reflect an unforgivable curse like crucio with a single word spell. Samara would have had to have done a complicated enchantment, and even then—well, maybe it wasn't crucio after all--
"What was your spell?" Pansy asked Samara, but Samara ignored her and Lauren, instead, putting her arm under Ethan and helping him sit up. "I'd say either she's improving," Draco drawled. "or you're improving, Ethan," Draco continued at a whisper. "At least, there was no blood to clean up this time."
"You knew? All this time--" croaked Ethan. "You knew it was her that almost let me bleed to death?"
"Almost," said Draco reminded him softly. "and you're lucky it wasn't me. You'd still be lying there bleeding. I told you before, Ethan. Nothing happens in Slytherin without my knowing about it." Said Draco coldly. More loudly, Draco asked, "Should we skip your turn, Ethan?"
Looking at Draco's face, Harry knew without a doubt that Draco was aware what Samara had done. Worse, he seemed to know what that meant, and he was quite pleased about it.
"No." Ethan took a deep breath and pulled himself to his feet. "I'm fine."
"Damn. For half a minute there, I thought she did crucio on him," muttered Pansy. "It looked like the other curse—"
Draco silenced Pansy with a glance and turned back to Samara, his lips curling into an ear to ear smirk.
"It wasn't me," began Samara, but Draco hushed her, and handed her the bottle of veritaserium. and again Samara put her finger on the opening of the veritaserium bottle and turned it over once. She licked her finger and nodded.
"How did you—" seeing Draco's scowl, Ethan hesitated, and rephrased his question, choosing to go back to his original one. "How many dark wizards are in your family back four generations," repeated Ethan quickly.
"One," Samara answered unhesitatingly. The effects of the veritaserium immediately started to wear off.
"One! What kind of answer was that?" said Crabbe.
"I'm a Gryffindor, remember," said Samara.
"And so is Edward," muttered Owen Pritchard with a snigger. "Is that veritaserium expired, Blaise?"
Blaise just rolled her eyes.
"Anyway, not truth or dare, or anything, Ethan," continued Samara. "but would you mind, just for curiosity's sake, how many dark wizards are in your family?"
Harry listened carefully. This was not only Ethan's; it was also Edwards. Maybe he'd hear something he could tell McGonagall.
"You don't have to answer," Samara said.
"30" said Ethan "to four generations."
"And you would think one of them could have taught you—"Began one of the Slytherins, but Harry missed the comment. He was counting on his fingers. Parents, Grandparents, That's probably every single one of them, he thought.
Alvin Nott suddenly turned into a large canary—a very angry canary who was glaring at one of the angels.
"It's not my fault," said the little girl. "The red haired Gryfffindors said they were especially for stuffy prefects."
Draco burst into laughter. "Oh, Gloria! That's perfect," he said. "Who can argue that this was a Griffindor party when there's yellow feathers all over the place. How many do you have?"
Draco dug through the children's candy bag and passed out Canary Creams and Puppy Puffs Without another thought, he popped one into his mouth and turned into a canary. "Eat them," he ordered and soon the Common room floor was littered with Dog hair and Canary feathers as well as spilled butterbeer, glass, and food.
"We should bring down some Gryffindors to make the party look complete," suggested Goyle. "Someone always passes out in the Common room at our parties."
"Gryffindors don't play Quit," said Samara.
"How about Hermione?" suggested Vincent.
"It has to look real," said Draco. "Weasley?"
"But then, I'll have to move the spiders," Greg Goyle complained.
"OK, Neville then, and maybe one of the first years—"
Edward shook his head. "Neville has a ward."
Draco guffawed. "I can get Neville's ward down. What's wrong with you, Edward? Living with the Gryffindors too long?"
Edward and Draco started to do that task while Alvin Nott continued the game.
"Pansy. Truth or Dare."
"Dare."
After a few minutes, Draco called down the stairs, "Lauren, come up here." She went up, but a few minutes later, all three came back down.
"I can get Neville's ward down," mocked Edward in a falsetto as they walked down the stairs.
"OK Edward," said Draco. "But I could have gotten it down if I could have figured out what it was—"
"Banish that bloody Keisel," said Alvin Nott.
"With pleasure," replied Pansy.
"To the forbidden forest—" someone yelled, but Pansy didn't answer.
"Who was a kiesel? Thought Harry. "Was it a slang term like mudblood?"
"Vincent," said Millicent Bulstrode.
"Dare."
"Throw the bunny out the window."
Silence greeted the request.
"No," cried Samara. "We're in a tower. You can't throw someone out a window."
"There's a ledge, isn't there," said Millicent. "Put her on the ledge."
"Why don't you pick something else," Vincent said miserably. "Beatrice has always been nice to me."
"And she's Sally Anne's friend," said someone else.
Vincent shuffled in his chair. "Can I change to truth?"
"No."
"You know the rules," said Pansy
"Oh this is ridiculous, said Ethan. "Imperio!"
Harry couldn't have heard right. First veritaserium, two unforgivable curses—and one by Samara--in a game!
He looked around at the Slytherins. No one had even blinked at Ethan's curse—except for Samara.
"Draco," Samara said wide eyed. "You can't let them do that. Draco!"
Draco shrugged, unconcerned. "You did one."
"What!" cried Samara grabbing the lapels of Draco's robe. "You didn't speak to me for a bloody week because of that Imperio and now they're using it in a game?" Her voice rose an octave. "And that's fine with you?"
"Mutus," said Draco.
"She imperioed you?" questioned Ethan.
Samara had pulled her wand.
"Uh-Oh—trouble for the love birds," said Millicent. Her eyes sparkled with mirth. "I'll help you to turn him into a mouse—if you'll let me play--"
Draco ignored her and pulled Samara into a corner and whispered furiously to her.
"Hey, Ethan," Millicent, said. "I get to do the Imperious curse."
Vincent stood hesitantly and headed up the stairs. Harry sprinted after him.
The sprites were whispering. "I'll bet Samara could Imperio him—"
"No way—"
"5 knuts—"
In the fourth and fifth years girls dorm, Hermione and Beatrice were sleeping peacefully. Hermione, in her prefect's room blissfully unaware of the turmoil in her common room. Beatrice lay curled on her bed in a tiny fur ball in her animagi form. Ginny was tossing restlessly on the bed and mumbling to herself.
Vincent hesitated, obviously fighting the imperious curse. "Fight it," Harry whispered, wondering if there was any possibility of wrestling Vincent to the ground. "Fight it, Vincent. You will go to Azkaban if she dies. You have to fight it."
Vincent put his hand on Beatrice, but she didn't wake because of the sleeping ward.
"OK, OK," muttered Harry. "Just put her on the ledge." I could get her off. Accio Firebolt, thought Harry. "No, just accio bunny."
"Stop," said Ginny very plainly in her sleep. Vincent hesitated and looked at Ginny, but the imperious curse would not let him leave the bunny. He picked the little brown animagus gently into his arms.
"She's my friend," Ginny muttered, pleading. "I won't hurt her. I can't. Don't make me--" Tears were coursing down her cheeks as she whined in a pitiful eleven year old voice. "Please I won't—You said you wouldn't hurt me. You said!"
Her voice suddenly deepened into a rough, desperate and powerful anger, as she sat up in bed, lifted her chin defiantly and shouted.
"I said, Get OUT! Pervigilo Armaro" Her eyes were wide, but unseeing. Her hands stretched out to him. Magic crackled like a golden rain all over the inside of her ward, even though she didn't have a wand.
Vincent dropped Bunny back on the bed with a thump as the Imperious curse was broken. Harry got the feeling that Ginny had also thrust the Memory from her with the full force of her will. The magic glistening around her made her freckles look like some one had sprinkled her skin with liquid gold dust, and for just a moment, her hair was caught in the storm of her magic. She looked beautiful.
Downstairs, Harry heard cheering. "You did it Vincent. You broke free!"
Vincent, stumbled back down the stairs to the cheers of his Slytherin gang.
"Bloody hell," Greg congratulated him. "That was wonderful."
"He's never gotten out of my impervious curse," drawled Draco. "You must be out of practice, Ethan."
"I could practice on you," Ethan said in a low voice.
"I doubt it."
"Let Samara do it," said one of the sprites.
Harry sat on the bed and put his head down, trying to keep from being sick. Samara, thought Harry. A Gryffindor, using an unforgivable curse. Was she really a Gryffindor? He took a couple of deep breaths trying to calm himself.
Bunny wriggled her nose and snuggled under the covers.
Ginny was still crying, but seemed somehow, more relaxed. "Harry—oh, Harry--" she muttered. "I tried to tell you at b-breakfast, but I c-couldn't say in front of Percy."
Harry listened to the exact same words he had heard her say second year. He knew where Ginny was—on the cold stone floor of the Chamber, and he was holding her. He could remember every detail from her tears, to his shaking and his sticky, blood-soaked robes, only now, she wasn't eleven.
"I should go," he thought, heat coursing through him, but he was riveted to the floor, listening—looking. He couldn't leave her now, any more than he could have left her in the chamber.
"--It was me. Harry—but I—I s-swear I didn't mean to—R--Riddle made me, he t-took me over--
and--how did you kill that--that thing? Where's Riddle? The last thing I remember is him coming out of the diary—
She sighed deeply and muttered into her pillow. The dream was over. Harry had turned to go, when she spoke again, her voice frantic. "Tom? Are you there, Tom? Did we do it?" She wrapped her arms around her pillow, clutching it close. "I wish you could hold me, Tom. I'm scared. I wish—"Her voice was muffled in the pillow. Harry tore out of the room.
He stopped at the top of the stairs. He sighed as he noticed Samara was back in Draco's lap. Well, he didn't have a plan, but perhaps Ron's way was better. Take as many as possible with you. "Somnus," he thought, taking out his wand. One at a time, very quietly, he started with the younger ones. Soon two were asleep, then three, and four. He took a deep breath. No one noticed yet, but there would be too many left at the end for him to succeed. It was a plan, but a doomed one.
The portrait hole to the Common Room squeaked slightly as it opened. "Yes!" thought Harry Potter. "Be McGonagall. Who else could it be at this late hour?"
"Draco, you so set us up," complained one of the little Slytherins at the doorway. They were the four that Snape had been angry with earlier, the puppies. The other three pushed into the Common Room. Harry wasn't sure if he was starting to see auras or was there a sprinkling of flame around one of the Slytherins. "Who trashed Snape's room?" she asked.
"Gryffindors," said Draco. "At least that's what he assumed. He was marching over here to find them. We couldn't have him over here, now could we?"
Suddenly, a ball of fire, flew from one of the Slytherins. Draco blocked it, protecting him and Samara, it splattered like fireworks, burning tiny holes in the carpet.
"We missed the whole bloody party and had to spend the evening cleaning," complained one of the others.
"I'll make it up to you," promised Draco.
"How," demanded the third Slytherin.
Draco thought about it for a moment. "Trip to Knockturn alley?" he asked.
The four young Slytherins looked at each other, and nodded. "Ok, when?"
"Before Christmas break," said Draco.
"Good, now that's settled," said Edward. "Come on, Samara, your turn."
OK. Ethan—"
"Dare of course," he interrupted.
"Let me think of something good. I know. McGonagall likes to sleep in her cat form, but I think she's lonely."
Sniggers from the Slytherins.
"I think you should give her some company. Yes. I've got it. Put a pit bull in McGonagall's living quarters."
The Slytherins had gotten very quiet.
"You're joking right?" asked Ethan.
"No. That's the Dare. A hungry pit bull."
Harry had stopped his somnus spell to listen. It appeared the Slytherins were as terrified as McGonagall as most of the Gryffindors were of Snape. It was something to think about.
"I don't know where McGonagall's living quarters are," said Ethan nervously.
"I'll show you," volunteered Edward. "First floor. It's right behind her office."
"Where's he gonna get a pit bull?" asked Pansy sarcastically.
"We could use one of Nott's custom puppy puffs," snapped Millicent.
"You can't have my rotweiller puffs," said Nott. "Fred and George would tell McGonagall it was me."
"How many more do you have," complained Millicent and Alvin smirked at her.
"I could wake Beatrice and have her transfigure one, if you want me to," said Samara. Her eyes sparkling with mischief. "If none of you can handle that transfiguration."
"I can do it," said Pritch and Millicent together.
Ethan glared at both of them.
Several "so can I's" were heard murmured behind Ethan.
"What about the magical signature," said Ethan. "She'll know it was a Slytherin. I'll get expelled."
"No," said Draco. "You'll just have to practice your little boy innocent' look."
Ethan looked at the ceiling as Draco continued in a high pitched confused voice. "Professor Snape, I don't know why Professor McGonagall was so upset. I was so proud of the transfiguration. I was hoping for extra credit—"
The Slytherins were howling with laughter by now. "You need it too, Ethan," laughed Millicent.
"I didn't know she sleeps like a cat!" Draco put his hand over his mouth in mock horror. "Oh professor, I never thought of that!"
"Ethan," Edward said. "If you do this right, I don't think she'll stay around the pit bull long enough to get a magical signature."
"You're agreeing with a Gryffindor!" accused Ethan.
"Samara is not a Gryffindor," said Draco.
"It's a good dare," said Lauren.
"Of for goodness sakes," Samara pulled her wand from her hair and twirled it in her hand.. "Draco you may have to help me with this. You know how I tend to over extend—
Vincent choked spewing butterbear all over Gregory and Millicent. "Yeah," Vincent muttered "Fifteen hours is a bit over extended."
"And who knows about the last time she did Imperio," muttered Gregory.
Draco glared at them, and then addressed Samara. "Well," he said, taking the wand out of her hand. "First of all, you can't use your wand for an unforgivable if it is avoidable."
"Why?"
"The Ministry checks wands—"
"Only Slytherin wands," Samara smirked.
Draco rolled his eyes.
"I'll do it," growled Ethan.
"Here's your pit bull," said Pansy, hurling a cushion off of the sofa toward Ethan. The cushion, well aimed toward Ethan, bounced off of something about half way there—something invisible—"
"Potter!" yelled Draco, and both Crabbe and Goyle reached forward to grab him. With their hands around his arms, there wasn't much Harry Potter could do to save himself, and there wasn't much point in trying to remain invisible. The Slytherins pushed the hood off of his head, and like in second year, they were treated to the sight of Harry Potter's head suspended about six feet from the floor.
"Well, Potter," Drawled Draco. Starting to unwrap the cloak from Harry's shoulders. "How nice of you to finally join us. Or have you been here sneaking around like a little rat the whole time. May I take your cloak?" Draco sneered. "Very nice cloak, by the way."
"Draco," said Samara softly. "Please don't do this."
"Shut up, Samara, I've been waiting forever for this day," he said. "The day I can best, the great Harry Potter."
Harry fumbled with the edges of the Invisibility cloak. He knew there was no way he was going to be able to keep it with all these Slytherins around him and he could see that Draco had coveted the robe for too long to let this opportunity slip by. "Dissolvo reparo," Harry muttered, his fingers just barely brushing his wand in his pocket. "Accio gry." With relief he felt the tiny scrap of liquid-like material fall into his hand. He closed his fist around it.
Draco turned around and looked at the youngest Slytherins who were somewhat in awe of Potter. "He defeated the Dark Lord," one of them whispered.
"He must be a very powerful wizard," another said.
Draco sneered at Potter. "Truth or Dare, Potter " he said. "I dare you to not move a muscle until morning. Petrificus Totalis!"
"Come here," said Draco to the younger Slytherins. "I want you to see the great Harry Potter, bane of the Dark Lord's existence. Dumbledore has sent Harry after the Dark Lord because he is much too old and much too cowardly to go himself. One wonders how the old coot ever got sorted into Gryffindor."
Harry seethed in the body bind.
"Now, children," Draco said, imitating a classroom professor. "Who knows what this curse is called?"
"A full body bind," said the one Harry recognized as the superhero.
And now, please raise your hand if you could block this curse when you were—five—no four."
All but one of the children raised their hands.
"And you my little Sprite?" asked Draco. "Can't you block this curse?"
"Oh, yes," she replied, "But I could block it when I was 3. I could do it when I was 4." she grinned.
"Terrance Higgs is my older brother."
"Terrible Terrance," muttered Pritch.
From far away, Harry heard a voice. "Come out, Come out where ever you are—"
"It's Peeves." Said Lauren.
"Where's that slimy Slytherin?
Do you know the mess your in?
McGonagall's in such rotten shape.
"He did it," said Draco amazed. "Ethan did it."
I'm calling Filch and calling Snape
Get the thumb screws. Get the noose.
Get the dog that's running loose.
"We need to go," said Nott. "Now."
Peeves was still chanting:
Will you beat the Slytherin brat?
If I tell you where he's at?
Will you beat them with a stick?
Will you beat them slow or quick?
Will you have them in a stew?
Will you have them black and blue?
Some of the smarter Slytherins sprinted right for the Portrait hole, including a black cat and Harry blinked. Several other animals. Could they be animagi? Thought Harry. They weren't registered.
"Good night, kiddies," murmured the Fat Lady sleepily. "Thanks for the rum candies."
Will you tie them in a knot?
Will you leave them out to rot?
Draco turned, pulled Samara tight up against him and kissed her. Harry felt sick. Trapped. Stupid.
Will you drown them in the lake?
Or leave them for the squid to take?
"Draco," she whispered frantically. "Please don't take the cloak. It's not yours. Don't do this. It's wrong. Just go. You're going to be in enough trouble."
Will you see a taffy tongue
Or moulting feathers on the run?
Harry felt rather than saw Draco stiffen. "Don't ever tell me what to do," he said between clenched teeth. "Remember that." He bent his head and kissed her again.
Doggie hairs upon the floor?
A drunken lady on the door?
Draco took the cloak from Harry's petrified hands and patted him on the head. "Very nice party, Potter.
Thanks for the hospitality. Oh and the cloak of course."
Snapie's lost his little house
Won't you find that Sythie louse?
The other Slytherins took their cue from Draco and each came up and thanked Harry. Some of them patted his head, others kicked him or picked at his clothing. One of the little ones spat a lemon drop on his head. "I don't like lemon drops," Graham Pritchard said. "Tricks And Treats."
Draco turned at the door. "Crabbe! Goyle! You can leave Potter go now."
"Oh," they said together and dropped Harry unceremoniously on the ground.
"Draco," said Alvin as he tried to awaken one of the sleeping Slytherins. "I think they've been cursed."
"Nice try, Potter," said Draco. "But not good enough." He and Nott pointed their wands at the students one at a time. "Enervate!" he pronounced, and with Nott, Crabbe and Goyle urging them forward, they all stumbled from the Gryffindor Common Room.
Harry could still hear Peeves singing. He had switched songs:
Tom, Tom, the muggle's son.
Tomorrow's kiss will make em run.
When the Slyths come out to play
Askaban will have its day.
Peeves was laughing uproarously at his joke as Samara came over and knelt beside Harry. "I'm so sorry Harry," she said.
When she released him from the body bind, Harry just looked at her, his eyes puzzled. "Why?" he muttered.
"I—didn't do this—" she whispered.
"And the Imperio? The crucio?"
"It's complicated."
Harry said nothing. He just looked at her. One part of him wanted to say this wasn't his business, but another part of him said, It was everyone's business to uphold the law. He remembered he and Neville coming back from Snapes' room, and wondering themselves whether or not they could do the unforgivables. How far of a step was it from wondering, to doing them? Harry thought, it wasn't that far. And if a friend did do an unforgivable curse, shouldn't he try to understand what drove them to that? Wasn't that understanding what friends were for?
He tried to be understanding, but deep inside of him a spark of pure anger burned. Draco had just walked out of his Common Room with his Invisibility Cloak—never mind that he managed to render it useless. It was still his Dad's cloak, and he wanted it back.
"We should clean up this mess," suggested Samara.
"Yeah, we should," agreed Harry.
They worked for a few minutes in silence, doing reparo on the broken lion and lamp, before Samara spoke. "I didn't plan to do an unforgivable curse, you know."
"But you did."
"It wasn't that bad—"
"That bad!" snapped Harry turning to face her. "Have you ever felt crucio!" he shouted at her.
"No—but that curse wasn't mine—It was--"
"Samara," Harry interrupted. "I was right here. I saw—"
"If you saw, then you know it wasn't mine!" said Samara angrily turning away from him.
They continued to clean silently for a while, until Samara said, "You know, I was just thinking, we should get the curses off first. What if someone wakes up--
"You're right," said Harry tightly. Then he paused. "About Draco, why did you—" He shook his head. "Never mind." He was still and silent another moment, and Samara urged, "Are you going upstairs to find the curses?"
"Yes." Harry didn't move.
"Well?" Samara stood looking at him, her face creasing into a smile.
"What is it?" asked Harry self consciously.
"You have a lemon drop, right here," she said attempting to manually take the thing from his hair. "Yuck," she said and pulled her wand. "Pulvereus. Pergo." she said smashing the lemon drop to dust and cleaning the stickiness.
"I was thinking about your putting Draco under Imperious? Did you really do that?"
"It wasn't what you think—"
Harry gaped at her. "It's a wonder he didn't kill you."
"We were just talking," Samara said, "and then there was--this thing that Draco didn't want to tell me, so—Don't look at me like that! I quit anyway. I didn't finish it.
"So you didn't find out what you wanted to know?"
Actually, he told me later," said Samara.
"So if you had a little patience you wouldn't have needed an unforgivable curse."
"Patience isn't my strong suit," said Samara.
"I've noticed."
They worked silently for a while, Harry was searching Ron's bed for the spiders. Samara was trying to locate the one that had scurried under the chest.
"Mine either," Harry said after a while.
"What?"
"I'm not very patient either," Harry said. "But," he turned to her earnestly. "Samara, you're a Gryffindor. Why were you with these people?"
Samara shrugged.
Harry's voice was soft and sincere. "Unforgivable curses—veritaserium—invading someone else's common room—stealing my cloak-- Samara, can't you see that they're all just one step from Azkaban?"
"When you put it like that," said Samara. "I guess maybe you're right."
"So why? Why do you keep going back over there? Is it Draco?"
Samara looked at Harry's aura. She had never seen it like this—so physical—vivid streaks of red through the soft turquoise and healer's green.
"Is it the risk?"
She didn't answer. She wasn't sure she knew.
I understand that," he continued, his aura becoming even more vivid as he spoke. "Some people have said that I'm too full of myself—running off to save the world like some sort of hero—but sometimes I feel like that's the only time when I'm really alive—when I'm risking something dreadful. Everything else is just marking time until I'm faced with the next big move."
"Yes," said Samara. "It is the risk, I guess. At least, that's part of it."
"And Draco," added Harry.
Samara shrugged. "He's always so sure of himself—"
"Even when he's dead wrong," spat Harry.
"Maybe," said Samara. "But you understand what I mean, don't you? You're a leader, Harry. I always seem to find myself in the middle of the crowd, and even if I want to go a different direction, I can't. I just freeze. Like tonight," she whispered. " I'm scared. You have faced Voldemort. I would have been so afraid, especially alone. I couldn't have done it."
"Ha! I wasn't afraid?" He shook his head. "I was terrified, every time. I remember sitting behind the gravestone. If I could have dug myself into the grave fast enough, I would have hidden there until it was all over. I knew I was going to die. I knew with every fiber of my being. I had no control over that. The only thing I had control over is how I would die—would it be cringing by the headstone or standing with my wand in my hand and once I realized what the choices were, it was easy. You would have done the same thing Samara."
"I don't know."
"I do. You were sorted into Gryffindor, weren't you?"
"Not with the Sorting Hat."
"Samara," He turned and grasped her by the shoulders. His green eyes intense. "Do you want to be in another house?" he asked.
"I want to be—just where I am."
==
(A/N: I believe my computer problems are fixed--sort of-- We normally have five computers networked to allow me and my brother and sister to do school work on the Internet. We moved and at the moment have one computer on the Internet, but it does work. Yeah!)
smiles: You are number 10 reviewer, so here's the chapter as promised.
ennui2: Wow! Is that yahoo group awesome. I'm impressed. And very grateful. I was going to make a group when you suggested it, but you
are much better at it than I would be--Everyone please go visit this group at Yahoo. The_Seers_Truth
I know it's not a link. ennui put in her review of last chapter and it is messing up the html after it. I don't know why. Surprizingly, most of the people on the group are not the people who have reviewed.
Parvati didn't poison herself as you see by the chapter you just read, but you were pretty close. I guess she's going as crazy as Ginny.lol
Silverfox1 I understand. Thanks for reading.
Just Kidding Rowling: Glad you are enjoying
Trillium Sorry for getting the name (Carman) wrong. Which myths are these? If I give you a link or even part of a link it messes up the HTML of the rest of this document, so just search google under Celtic goddess Carman.
You were wondering if I've read "Lord of the Flies"? No. Should I?
Sky Yes, I have the whole story written and some ideas for the sequel and who knows, maybe a third book. When you're dealing with prophesies you have to plan ahead. More Ginny/Ed coming.
The Elemental sorceress: Glad you're happy--hope reading this made you happy today too.
ennui2: I don't think I can even begin to answer all of your questions. Why don't you putsome of them on the yahoo group and some of the other readers can consider them--If I answer them I'll give away too much of the story. Let's see, "Love" yes. "elixir" yes. "cunning eye" yes. Can't tell you what they are for yet. That's major in the next book.
Raven173 Itallics. It was a mistake. I didn't want to have to go back home to fix it, and make everyone wait for the update, but now that my computer is on the net again –(Well, not mine, my Dad's and it's much harder to get HTML) I'll re-post the chapter. Ahh--didn't think that much about the mice. You did realize they were people, right? Millicent just likes playing with them. That's something Voldemort can appreciate. If you have a cat, you'd understand. Anyone who wishes to add me to AIM let me know and I'll add you to my AOL or Yahoo. My buddy list is so short it's embarrassing. AIM and YM carman doogle
Kemenran You think Harry's going to solve this? Well OK, maybe—
THINGS TO DO:
1. Review Seers' Truth
2. Go visit this site. on yahoo groups The_Seers_Truth
I'm carman doogle on the site. Lady Lestrange was
already taken at yahoo.
3. Email all of your friends and tell them to check out the yahoo site because ennui worked very hard making this site and of course such loyalty should be rewarded--If only you knew how Valeriana Lestrange's loyalty was rewarded by Voldemort--coming soon--You would NOT delay.
--Lady Lestrange