Friendship and Beyond 24/?
Rated: R contains mentions of rape and torture, although not actual scenes. Possible HP/SS in later chapters, also HG/RW.
Authors Notes: I do not own Harry Potter or it's characters, that would be JKR. Subject matter not for children, although nothing too graphic, but be careful when reading just to be on the safe side.
The Eye of the Storm
The defense lessons continued rigorously over the next three weeks. Professor Snape continued to drill obscure hexes into Ron, Hermione, and Harry's already overtaxed minds. Including the extra lessons, they were staying up nightly to sneak into the restricted section and research about the prophecy as well.
Hermione had happened to come across a passage making reference to it during a study session a few days before. The book only became visible when it was needed, in it the author made reference to an ancient spell used to eradicate the soul of another living being. It wasn't actually classified as dark magic however, because in the spell had been lost in the passing of time. Only three volumes in the whole of the Wizarding World contained the spell, and one was 'safely' contained in Hogwarts walls.
In the very back of the library, where even the most academic between both the staff and students rarely venture, is a sealed off section containing dangerous spell and dark magic. Since Hermione had a restricted section pass for the last two years to help her with her studies, it was no problem getting inside, with the help of Harry's invisibility cloak.
So it was that after everyone went to sleep in their dorms they would sneak away and spend countless hours researching the various aspects of the soul destruction spell. The information that they happened to come across was few and far between, none of it encouraging.
Hopefully this spell could be cast by anyone well versed in the darker arts, or at the very least extremely powerful. This idea was basically the very last solution if all else failed. During a conversation the night that Hermione happened to come across the spell, the trio talked about the upcoming attack in secret.
"The prophecy said only I could kill him." Harry reminded Hermione once she got through excitedly explaining her discovery.
"Well, here's the means to do so." Hermione answered. "This could finally get rid of V-Voldemort for good."
"There are a lot of problems with this plan." Ron interjected thoughtfully. "The least of which is that it will take longer than a few weeks, or however long we have left for Harry to become proficient in casting this spell."
"We need to at least try." Hermione insisted determinedly. "Besides, we'll never know if we don't try."
"True, but you're overlooking a few important things." Ron said. "Besides the fact that this is all theory and we can't very well test the results on anyone, do you really think Dumbledore will let Harry get close enough to the dark lord to attack him? After all Harry is the Wizarding World's only hope against Voldemort."
"Not to mention the fact that this spell would use all of Harry's magic, leaving him defenseless in the middle of battle. It could very well kill him." Ron continued. "We also promised Malfoy we would protect Malfoy Junior when the fighting started, we can't do that if we're protecting an unconscious Harry."
"Like I said, this would be a last resort if the battle goes terribly." Hermione stated, looking a tad crestfallen. "For all we know Harry may be able to take him out without using this spell. That doesn't mean we shouldn't research all options that could give us an additional edge however."
For the last six days straight the trio ensconced themselves in the library as soon as it was possible. That night however, they decided to leave the library earlier than they usually would, in an attempt to regain some much-needed sleep.
It was only after Harry awoke an hour later from a traumatic nightmare, did he remember that he hadn't gotten his supply of the draught of Living Death restocked. Having used more than he expected, Harry had run out of it last night, after getting three weeks of restful nights. Although this didn't help with the flashbacks, those were gradually getting better as more time went by.
Looking at the watch Harry kept behind his bed he realized it was only half past eleven, so he decided to stop by Snape's office. Harry had noticed that on occasion Snape would be up late grading papers, or wondering the halls.
Harry got up quietly so as to not wake up a sleeping Ron and carefully exited the Slytherin dorms. Harry slowly made his way down to Professor Snape's office, only to find it dark. Harry was still in the process of deciding whether to try Snape's private room, only to be startled by warm breathing on the back of his neck.
"Did you want something, Potter? Or were you too busy staring in fascination at my closed door?" Severus asked sarcastically with a raised eyebrow as he turned Harry around to face him.
Rated: R contains mentions of rape and torture, although not actual scenes. Possible HP/SS in later chapters, also HG/RW.
Authors Notes: I do not own Harry Potter or it's characters, that would be JKR. Subject matter not for children, although nothing too graphic, but be careful when reading just to be on the safe side.
The Eye of the Storm
The defense lessons continued rigorously over the next three weeks. Professor Snape continued to drill obscure hexes into Ron, Hermione, and Harry's already overtaxed minds. Including the extra lessons, they were staying up nightly to sneak into the restricted section and research about the prophecy as well.
Hermione had happened to come across a passage making reference to it during a study session a few days before. The book only became visible when it was needed, in it the author made reference to an ancient spell used to eradicate the soul of another living being. It wasn't actually classified as dark magic however, because in the spell had been lost in the passing of time. Only three volumes in the whole of the Wizarding World contained the spell, and one was 'safely' contained in Hogwarts walls.
In the very back of the library, where even the most academic between both the staff and students rarely venture, is a sealed off section containing dangerous spell and dark magic. Since Hermione had a restricted section pass for the last two years to help her with her studies, it was no problem getting inside, with the help of Harry's invisibility cloak.
So it was that after everyone went to sleep in their dorms they would sneak away and spend countless hours researching the various aspects of the soul destruction spell. The information that they happened to come across was few and far between, none of it encouraging.
Hopefully this spell could be cast by anyone well versed in the darker arts, or at the very least extremely powerful. This idea was basically the very last solution if all else failed. During a conversation the night that Hermione happened to come across the spell, the trio talked about the upcoming attack in secret.
"The prophecy said only I could kill him." Harry reminded Hermione once she got through excitedly explaining her discovery.
"Well, here's the means to do so." Hermione answered. "This could finally get rid of V-Voldemort for good."
"There are a lot of problems with this plan." Ron interjected thoughtfully. "The least of which is that it will take longer than a few weeks, or however long we have left for Harry to become proficient in casting this spell."
"We need to at least try." Hermione insisted determinedly. "Besides, we'll never know if we don't try."
"True, but you're overlooking a few important things." Ron said. "Besides the fact that this is all theory and we can't very well test the results on anyone, do you really think Dumbledore will let Harry get close enough to the dark lord to attack him? After all Harry is the Wizarding World's only hope against Voldemort."
"Not to mention the fact that this spell would use all of Harry's magic, leaving him defenseless in the middle of battle. It could very well kill him." Ron continued. "We also promised Malfoy we would protect Malfoy Junior when the fighting started, we can't do that if we're protecting an unconscious Harry."
"Like I said, this would be a last resort if the battle goes terribly." Hermione stated, looking a tad crestfallen. "For all we know Harry may be able to take him out without using this spell. That doesn't mean we shouldn't research all options that could give us an additional edge however."
For the last six days straight the trio ensconced themselves in the library as soon as it was possible. That night however, they decided to leave the library earlier than they usually would, in an attempt to regain some much-needed sleep.
It was only after Harry awoke an hour later from a traumatic nightmare, did he remember that he hadn't gotten his supply of the draught of Living Death restocked. Having used more than he expected, Harry had run out of it last night, after getting three weeks of restful nights. Although this didn't help with the flashbacks, those were gradually getting better as more time went by.
Looking at the watch Harry kept behind his bed he realized it was only half past eleven, so he decided to stop by Snape's office. Harry had noticed that on occasion Snape would be up late grading papers, or wondering the halls.
Harry got up quietly so as to not wake up a sleeping Ron and carefully exited the Slytherin dorms. Harry slowly made his way down to Professor Snape's office, only to find it dark. Harry was still in the process of deciding whether to try Snape's private room, only to be startled by warm breathing on the back of his neck.
"Did you want something, Potter? Or were you too busy staring in fascination at my closed door?" Severus asked sarcastically with a raised eyebrow as he turned Harry around to face him.
