Disclaimer : I don't own Harry Potter!!!!!!!!
Thank you to:
Lil Lupin: glad you liked it! Thank you for reviewing!
Centra-gal86: I agree! Sequel is one of the best words in the language... If it's good. I just hope that this one is.
Samantha: thanks for reviewing my other fics! Most appreciated.
The tome of Merketh
CHAPTER 2
After charms class, Harry had divination. He and Ron went up to the tower to find Professor Figg already there. She handed the class text books and told them that this term they were going to use their own powers of intuition to get visions.
The class all sat down and began to read. Harry was astounded by the change in the room. it looked the same, but it felt different. It was no longer stifilingly hot, no more mind-numbing fumes coming from the fire. There were just a couple of scented candles dotted around the place. Harry wasn't sure why, but he had expected the room to smell like cabbage like Mrs Figg's house.
Parvati and Lavender kept shooting cold glares at their new teacher. Harry supposed that they still hadn't got over Trelawney, their hero, being a deatheater that would have been only too happy to kill them if ordered to.
At the end of the lesson, Figg instructed the class to practice clearing their minds in order to open themselves to visions by following the techniques in the textbook. If any visions actually did come to them, they were to go to her for help with interpretation. As the class began to file out Harry told Ron that he would meet him in the great hall for lunch and hung around in the classroom.
Mrs Figg was arranging the furniture (probably for her next class).
"uh, Professor?" Harry asked nervously. Figg jumped and spun around to face him
"Harry!"
"I didn't know you were a witch." He blurted out suddenly, feeling slightly foolish
"I'm sorry I didn't tell you."
"Why didn't you? You saw what it was like for me with the Dursleys. If you had said something, I could have coped better."
"Dumbledore thought you weren't ready."
"hmmm." Harry said dubiously.
"I wanted to. In fact the only way I could stop myself was to show you photos of my cats over and over again." Figg smiled "I always loved it when you came round. You were so cute as a small child."
Harry backed away, suddenly feeling slightly afraid that she might pat him of the head or pinch his cheek.
"Anyway. Aren't you supposed to be at dinner now?"
"yes Professor. Um, I'll see you later I suppose."
Harry then literally fled from the room. What was done was done, no need to worry about how it could have been different. Besides he had Sirius now.
That evening in the common room, after a lengthy discussion of that year's quidditch try-outs, Harry went upstairs for an early nights sleep.
//it was swelteringly hot. Flies buzzed around lazily in the heat.
Two men who had obviously just felled a large, ancient tree were digging in the area underneath where the tree had been.
Eventually one of them pulled out a large metal box. It was sealed by locks and magical runes carved into the surface of it.
One of the men read an incantation to open the box. They peered inside for a moment before shutting it with a snap.//
Harry potter sat up in bed. His heart was racing. Sirius and another man had been looking for something. When they had opened the box, Harry was overcome by such a string feeling of dread that he woke up. He DID NOT want to know what was inside.
Harry got up and went to the common room where he stared into the dying fire. Although it was rare for Harry to have a pleasant dream, this was really scary. Partly because of the potent evil within the box but mostly, because the dream involved his godfather.
It was just a dream. It had to be. The visions he had of Voldemort, along with memories of being tortured were bad enough, but this - this was something very different and Harry didn't like it one bit.
At around three in the morning Harry eventually dozed off. The next thing he was aware of was being poked awake. He blearily opened his eyes. Sirius was standing there, looking concerned.
"Sirius?"
"I'm just doing my rounds. Making sure you are all okay. Why are you sleeping down here?"
"I must have dozed off. I came down here after-" Harry broke off suddenly
"What? Was it a nightmare?"
"I don't know. I mean, it was just really weird."
"What was it about?"
"You were there, and someone else. Mundungus Fletcher I think."
"what did we do?"
"you were looking for something."
Harry felt Sirius snap to alertness "What?"
"I don't know it was in a box. Anyway, it was just a dream."
"Right." Sirius replied, looking dubious. "maybe you should try to get more sleep. Go upstairs. I'll be here or in my room if you need me."
As Harry made his way back to bed, he cast a backwards look over his shoulder at his Godfather, who had concern etched on his face. Harry flopped back down onto his bed. Sirius knew what the dream was about, Harry was sure of it. He had felt Sirius's surprise and fear at what Harry had said.
Harry sank onto the pillow and curled up into a ball under the covers. He had hoped that this year he could relax. Apparently not.
As the days slipped past, Harry noticed that Sirius was casting Harry frightened looks whenever he thought Harry wasn't looking, however, due to work Harry hadn't had the opportunity to be alone with Sirius since that night in the common room.
Luckily, Harry hadn't had that dream again, and had gone back to his usual dreams (often nightmares about previous encounters with Voldemort). Ron and Hermione were being so nauseatingly affectionate to each other, that Harry had decided not to tell them about his fears. Instead he confided in Ginny.
"Well?" Harry asked, after telling her
"is it possible you were just feeling insecure about your relationship with Sirius now that you have to 'share' him?"
"that doesn't explain how he was feeling though."
"Doesn't it. Maybe he was surprised because it is not what you normally dream about."
"what about the fear?" harry said, determined to find another argument.
"Harry, Sirius has seen you go through so much. Not least of which finding you in the middle of Azkaban, with your throat cut. Of course he was scared."
"maybe your right."
"Sirius loves you Harry! Just ask him." Ginny said firmly.
"ask me what?" Harry stood suddenly. Sirius was standing next to Harry's chair.
"Sirius! I - er- can I talk to you in private please?"
"of course."
Harry followed sirius out of the tower into his rooms.
Once there, Harry sat sown on the worn sofa next to his godfather "Do you remember the dream I had?"
"you haven't had it again have you?" more fear.
"No. I just wondered, you know, about your emotions when I asked you about it. You were surprised, but like you knew what it was about."
There was a silence where Sirius frowned at Harry trying to decide what to say.
"Harry, do you remember last year me saying that I had to go on a mission with Mundungus for Dumbledore to find an ancient tome?"
Harry thought. Yes" he remembered now.
"I was surprised that you would have a dream about it, that's all."
"what was the book? You were going to tell me before but I wouldn't let you."
"It bears great power. That's all I can say. Harry, please forget about the dream. That's probably all it was. You've only had it once right?"
that question again. "yes I already said."
"Then drop it please. I don't want to keep things from you but there are some things that are secret for a reason."
Harry supposed Ginny was right, Harry had been worried about Sirius and had attatched the dream to the mission sirius had been on. After all, there was a war on. Some information needed to be secret. That was the way of things. Still, Harry couldn't resist asking,
"What if I dream of it again?"
"Come straight to me!"
"is it to do with the war?"
"yes. Don't ask me anymore."
Harry left the room unsure whether he was comforted or not.
Seemingly satisfied, Sirius stopped looking at Harry in fear, and almost immediately Harry's relationship with Sirius returned to its 'normal' state.
On Sunday evening, Harry visited Bill with Ron and Hermione and Ginny. Bill had made Ron and Hermione sit at opposite ends of the room, which actually allowed Harry to have a decent conversation with his friends for the first time since term began.
During the evening Remus and Sirius turned up with Fletcher for a short while, so a party soon developed.
On the Monday, Harry went to his second divination lesson of the term. He had been practicing the meditation techniques that Figg had set for homework. The class sat on the floor, and Figg began to play some music.
Harry closed his eyes, and thought of the most relaxing place he had ever been to (Harry's favourite spot by the lake). He pictured the feeling of the light breeze; the sound of the water lapping on the shore, eventually, Harry was very relaxed. Oblivious to the giggles around him as others in the class fought to relax.
Suddenly, as though hit by a bolt of lightning a picture formed in his head.
//Sirius carried the box as he and Fletcher walked away from the felled tree. Dumbledore apperated in.
"is this it?"
"yes Albus" Fletcher replied.
Dumbledore took the box, his beard sparkling in the sun and he too opened it. Within the box lay a book. On the cracked leather cover 'Merketh" was engraved in large letters, in black writing.
Dumbledore closed the box and wrapped it in an invisibility cloak//
Harry opened his eyes. The class were still struggling to relax. The girls breaking into giggles every few seconds.
"Everything alright Harry?" Figg asked
"yes."
When the bell rang at the end of class, Figg let them go with the same homework, after saying that she didn't expect anybody to have a vision in the first class anyway.
Harry told Ron He'd see him at dinner and went directly to Sirius's rooms. He knocked gently.
"Come in" Sirius called
Harry pushed the door open, to find his godfather battling a boggart that was in his cupboard. Harry barely had time to register the image of his 'corpse' when the boggart transformed into a dementor. Quickly Harry bellowed "Expecto Patronum!"
The large stag bounded from Harry's wand making the boggart reverse. Sirius wrestled the thing back into it's cupboard.
"Wow. Cool Patronus."
"thanks."
"What can I do for you?"
"You said if I dreamt of the book again to come and see you."
Sirius sat down. Looking defeated
"What?"
"Tell me about the dream."
"actually it was a vision. I was in divination trying to meditate." Sisius nodded for Harry to continue "I saw inside the box. There was a book."
"oh no. Harry, could you read the title?" Sirius asked urgently
"Yes. It said 'Merketh'. I don't know what that means though."
Sirius put his face into his hands "I was afraid it would be you."
Harry was totally confused now. Sirius was pale and looked as though the world was about to end. "what do you mean? Sirius please. Tell me the truth. What is that book? I know it's evil, but why? I have to know!"
Sirius looked up at Harry. "We need to go to Dumbledore. He'll make sure it really is you then explain. We'll get through this together."
Harry, wishing that he'd kept his mouth shut, mutely followed sirius up to Dumbledore's office, confusion and fear flooding him.
A/N: another cliffie (sort of). I'm evil aren't I?
Thank you to:
Lil Lupin: glad you liked it! Thank you for reviewing!
Centra-gal86: I agree! Sequel is one of the best words in the language... If it's good. I just hope that this one is.
Samantha: thanks for reviewing my other fics! Most appreciated.
The tome of Merketh
CHAPTER 2
After charms class, Harry had divination. He and Ron went up to the tower to find Professor Figg already there. She handed the class text books and told them that this term they were going to use their own powers of intuition to get visions.
The class all sat down and began to read. Harry was astounded by the change in the room. it looked the same, but it felt different. It was no longer stifilingly hot, no more mind-numbing fumes coming from the fire. There were just a couple of scented candles dotted around the place. Harry wasn't sure why, but he had expected the room to smell like cabbage like Mrs Figg's house.
Parvati and Lavender kept shooting cold glares at their new teacher. Harry supposed that they still hadn't got over Trelawney, their hero, being a deatheater that would have been only too happy to kill them if ordered to.
At the end of the lesson, Figg instructed the class to practice clearing their minds in order to open themselves to visions by following the techniques in the textbook. If any visions actually did come to them, they were to go to her for help with interpretation. As the class began to file out Harry told Ron that he would meet him in the great hall for lunch and hung around in the classroom.
Mrs Figg was arranging the furniture (probably for her next class).
"uh, Professor?" Harry asked nervously. Figg jumped and spun around to face him
"Harry!"
"I didn't know you were a witch." He blurted out suddenly, feeling slightly foolish
"I'm sorry I didn't tell you."
"Why didn't you? You saw what it was like for me with the Dursleys. If you had said something, I could have coped better."
"Dumbledore thought you weren't ready."
"hmmm." Harry said dubiously.
"I wanted to. In fact the only way I could stop myself was to show you photos of my cats over and over again." Figg smiled "I always loved it when you came round. You were so cute as a small child."
Harry backed away, suddenly feeling slightly afraid that she might pat him of the head or pinch his cheek.
"Anyway. Aren't you supposed to be at dinner now?"
"yes Professor. Um, I'll see you later I suppose."
Harry then literally fled from the room. What was done was done, no need to worry about how it could have been different. Besides he had Sirius now.
That evening in the common room, after a lengthy discussion of that year's quidditch try-outs, Harry went upstairs for an early nights sleep.
//it was swelteringly hot. Flies buzzed around lazily in the heat.
Two men who had obviously just felled a large, ancient tree were digging in the area underneath where the tree had been.
Eventually one of them pulled out a large metal box. It was sealed by locks and magical runes carved into the surface of it.
One of the men read an incantation to open the box. They peered inside for a moment before shutting it with a snap.//
Harry potter sat up in bed. His heart was racing. Sirius and another man had been looking for something. When they had opened the box, Harry was overcome by such a string feeling of dread that he woke up. He DID NOT want to know what was inside.
Harry got up and went to the common room where he stared into the dying fire. Although it was rare for Harry to have a pleasant dream, this was really scary. Partly because of the potent evil within the box but mostly, because the dream involved his godfather.
It was just a dream. It had to be. The visions he had of Voldemort, along with memories of being tortured were bad enough, but this - this was something very different and Harry didn't like it one bit.
At around three in the morning Harry eventually dozed off. The next thing he was aware of was being poked awake. He blearily opened his eyes. Sirius was standing there, looking concerned.
"Sirius?"
"I'm just doing my rounds. Making sure you are all okay. Why are you sleeping down here?"
"I must have dozed off. I came down here after-" Harry broke off suddenly
"What? Was it a nightmare?"
"I don't know. I mean, it was just really weird."
"What was it about?"
"You were there, and someone else. Mundungus Fletcher I think."
"what did we do?"
"you were looking for something."
Harry felt Sirius snap to alertness "What?"
"I don't know it was in a box. Anyway, it was just a dream."
"Right." Sirius replied, looking dubious. "maybe you should try to get more sleep. Go upstairs. I'll be here or in my room if you need me."
As Harry made his way back to bed, he cast a backwards look over his shoulder at his Godfather, who had concern etched on his face. Harry flopped back down onto his bed. Sirius knew what the dream was about, Harry was sure of it. He had felt Sirius's surprise and fear at what Harry had said.
Harry sank onto the pillow and curled up into a ball under the covers. He had hoped that this year he could relax. Apparently not.
As the days slipped past, Harry noticed that Sirius was casting Harry frightened looks whenever he thought Harry wasn't looking, however, due to work Harry hadn't had the opportunity to be alone with Sirius since that night in the common room.
Luckily, Harry hadn't had that dream again, and had gone back to his usual dreams (often nightmares about previous encounters with Voldemort). Ron and Hermione were being so nauseatingly affectionate to each other, that Harry had decided not to tell them about his fears. Instead he confided in Ginny.
"Well?" Harry asked, after telling her
"is it possible you were just feeling insecure about your relationship with Sirius now that you have to 'share' him?"
"that doesn't explain how he was feeling though."
"Doesn't it. Maybe he was surprised because it is not what you normally dream about."
"what about the fear?" harry said, determined to find another argument.
"Harry, Sirius has seen you go through so much. Not least of which finding you in the middle of Azkaban, with your throat cut. Of course he was scared."
"maybe your right."
"Sirius loves you Harry! Just ask him." Ginny said firmly.
"ask me what?" Harry stood suddenly. Sirius was standing next to Harry's chair.
"Sirius! I - er- can I talk to you in private please?"
"of course."
Harry followed sirius out of the tower into his rooms.
Once there, Harry sat sown on the worn sofa next to his godfather "Do you remember the dream I had?"
"you haven't had it again have you?" more fear.
"No. I just wondered, you know, about your emotions when I asked you about it. You were surprised, but like you knew what it was about."
There was a silence where Sirius frowned at Harry trying to decide what to say.
"Harry, do you remember last year me saying that I had to go on a mission with Mundungus for Dumbledore to find an ancient tome?"
Harry thought. Yes" he remembered now.
"I was surprised that you would have a dream about it, that's all."
"what was the book? You were going to tell me before but I wouldn't let you."
"It bears great power. That's all I can say. Harry, please forget about the dream. That's probably all it was. You've only had it once right?"
that question again. "yes I already said."
"Then drop it please. I don't want to keep things from you but there are some things that are secret for a reason."
Harry supposed Ginny was right, Harry had been worried about Sirius and had attatched the dream to the mission sirius had been on. After all, there was a war on. Some information needed to be secret. That was the way of things. Still, Harry couldn't resist asking,
"What if I dream of it again?"
"Come straight to me!"
"is it to do with the war?"
"yes. Don't ask me anymore."
Harry left the room unsure whether he was comforted or not.
Seemingly satisfied, Sirius stopped looking at Harry in fear, and almost immediately Harry's relationship with Sirius returned to its 'normal' state.
On Sunday evening, Harry visited Bill with Ron and Hermione and Ginny. Bill had made Ron and Hermione sit at opposite ends of the room, which actually allowed Harry to have a decent conversation with his friends for the first time since term began.
During the evening Remus and Sirius turned up with Fletcher for a short while, so a party soon developed.
On the Monday, Harry went to his second divination lesson of the term. He had been practicing the meditation techniques that Figg had set for homework. The class sat on the floor, and Figg began to play some music.
Harry closed his eyes, and thought of the most relaxing place he had ever been to (Harry's favourite spot by the lake). He pictured the feeling of the light breeze; the sound of the water lapping on the shore, eventually, Harry was very relaxed. Oblivious to the giggles around him as others in the class fought to relax.
Suddenly, as though hit by a bolt of lightning a picture formed in his head.
//Sirius carried the box as he and Fletcher walked away from the felled tree. Dumbledore apperated in.
"is this it?"
"yes Albus" Fletcher replied.
Dumbledore took the box, his beard sparkling in the sun and he too opened it. Within the box lay a book. On the cracked leather cover 'Merketh" was engraved in large letters, in black writing.
Dumbledore closed the box and wrapped it in an invisibility cloak//
Harry opened his eyes. The class were still struggling to relax. The girls breaking into giggles every few seconds.
"Everything alright Harry?" Figg asked
"yes."
When the bell rang at the end of class, Figg let them go with the same homework, after saying that she didn't expect anybody to have a vision in the first class anyway.
Harry told Ron He'd see him at dinner and went directly to Sirius's rooms. He knocked gently.
"Come in" Sirius called
Harry pushed the door open, to find his godfather battling a boggart that was in his cupboard. Harry barely had time to register the image of his 'corpse' when the boggart transformed into a dementor. Quickly Harry bellowed "Expecto Patronum!"
The large stag bounded from Harry's wand making the boggart reverse. Sirius wrestled the thing back into it's cupboard.
"Wow. Cool Patronus."
"thanks."
"What can I do for you?"
"You said if I dreamt of the book again to come and see you."
Sirius sat down. Looking defeated
"What?"
"Tell me about the dream."
"actually it was a vision. I was in divination trying to meditate." Sisius nodded for Harry to continue "I saw inside the box. There was a book."
"oh no. Harry, could you read the title?" Sirius asked urgently
"Yes. It said 'Merketh'. I don't know what that means though."
Sirius put his face into his hands "I was afraid it would be you."
Harry was totally confused now. Sirius was pale and looked as though the world was about to end. "what do you mean? Sirius please. Tell me the truth. What is that book? I know it's evil, but why? I have to know!"
Sirius looked up at Harry. "We need to go to Dumbledore. He'll make sure it really is you then explain. We'll get through this together."
Harry, wishing that he'd kept his mouth shut, mutely followed sirius up to Dumbledore's office, confusion and fear flooding him.
A/N: another cliffie (sort of). I'm evil aren't I?