leggylover03, Iniysa, Drajjen, Doma the Angel of Silence, Rhinemjr, Ash Knight, harrycrazy432, saxistwriterchick, thank you for your reviews!
Chapter 10 Hagrid
Wednesday's lesson with Dumbledore arrived, and Harry was anxious to hear what he had done wrong the last time he attempted a water spell.
"Harry, you allowed yourself to be a separate entity from the water, and so when you lifted it, you were trying to carry the full weight of it," Dumbledore explained. "You must be a part of it completely, before you can lift it. The pressure will crush you otherwise."
He moved to stand beside the water and said, "This time try to stay merged completely with the water, I wouldn't advise trying to lift the whole lake however, that is too great a volume."
Harry tried again, this time taking a smaller amount of the water and lifting it, he managed to produce the same effect he had at Redwood. He now looked as though he were holding a sword of water; it was larger than before, but still not too large. After an hour he managed to increase the volume of water he could work with, and also could build a wall of water between himself and the headmaster, that only let the most powerful hexes pass through it.
"Well done Harry, now you have a lesson tomorrow with Hagrid, and then with me on Friday morning. We will meet at Hagrid's hut for that one," Dumbledore told him.
Harry cast the charm to dry his clothes and headed for his next lesson.
It was with great trepidation that he sought out Hagrid the next day. His dreams had been filled with Fluffy, Hagrid's three headed dog and Aragog, the overgrown spider. For some reason his subconscious mind had no trouble imagining battling with them.
"Right oh Harry, ready to begin?" Hagrid greeted him. "I meant to tell you to meet me in an empty class on the second floor, let's go there now."
As they walked Harry asked, "So what are we doing today?"
"Well Dumbledore thinks you should understand more about Giants, how to knock them out and stuff," Hagrid told him. "And he wants me to help you." Hagrid looked very proud of himself.
They entered the empty class and Hagrid asked Harry to put a silencing charm on the room and seal the door.
"Right now you know you can't just walk up to a giant a stun him," Hagrid began. "You can use your magic on them, but a lot of the normal spells won't affect them much."
Harry nodded; a strange worried feeling was brewing in his stomach.
"So the best thing to do is concentrate on their week points. Like their eyes for one thing." Hagrid stood in the centre of the empty room and said, "Try and stun me with a normal stunner."
"What are you mad?" Harry exclaimed. This was getting ridiculous; Dumbledore had him attacking all the teachers in turn.
"Go on, you won't hurt me," Hagrid said.
Shaking his head at the madness of it all, Harry drew his wand and tried to stun Hagrid. Hagrid grunted as the stunner hit him, but otherwise stood still.
"Right now try aiming your stunner for my eye," Hagrid told him.
"Yeaw, I don't want to stun you in the eye," Harry answered, appalled at the idea.
"Come on, you might as well practice on me, its not as though any other half giant is going to offer you the chance to practice."
Harry slowly pointed his wand at his friend, giving him time to change his mind, before he cast the stunning spell. Hagrid roared and then keeled over unconscious. Harry bent over him and said "Enervate."
Hagrid sat up and shook his head for a moment, then grinned at Harry, "See! Well done."
"That's it, everyone in this school has gone completely nuts," Harry said, "Next they'll have me attacking the first years!"
"Don't be such an arse; you know you need to learn how to protect yourself. What if he has Giants with him next time you meet him?" Hagrid replied. "You didn't even hurt me that much."
They spent the next hour with Hagrid explaining different ways to attack a giant, then letting Harry try it out on him. It was a very disturbed Harry that made his way down to dinner that evening.
Ron and Hermione were waiting to hear about his extra lesson, and Harry let vent his feelings about the teachers' sanity. Hermione of course thought it was an excellent way to learn about giants, and Ron thought it was brilliant that Harry was allowed to attack the teachers.
Friday morning Harry made his way down to Hagrid's hut and found Dumbledore waiting for him, with Hagrid, who was carrying his crossbow.
"We will go a little way into the forest Harry, Hagrid is going to keep a look out. Just in case," Dumbledore told him.
They ventured in a ways and Dumbledore stopped them in a clearing, "Right, now you have had most trouble with the earth Element Harry. Here you should find it easier to connect."
Harry was surprised when Dumbledore sat on the ground opposite him. "Close your eyes Harry and take deep breaths, feel the strength of nature that surrounds you."
Harry did as he was told and as he began his breathing Dumbledore kept talking in a quiet, calm voice. Instead of distracting him, as Harry imagined it would, Dumbledore's voice seemed to lead him; gradually he could feel the energy in the world around him. Cautiously he opened his eyes.
The forest seemed to be a mirage of colours, brighter and clearer than before, Harry could almost see the energy glowing out of the ancient trees around them.
"Harry, the energy of the earth can be harnessed, but you must want to open yourself to it, without draining it, or allowing it to drain you." Dumbledore said.
Harry placed his hands on the soft grass he was sitting on and imagined his magical energy joining with the energy around him. Slowly he took ever deepening breaths and a humming sounded in his ears. Looking towards Dumbledore he noticed the old wizard had paled slightly, and as Harry opened his mouth to speak, he felt a tremor in the earth below his hands.
"What's wrong?" Harry asked as the world shifted back to its normal focus and the humming stopped.
"Could you feel it?" Dumbledore asked slowly.
"I think so, I could almost hear… something … I'm not sure what. Like the energy pulsing around me," Harry struggled to explain the feeling.
Dumbledore nodded and said, "We should go slowly with this Harry, it could be dangerous."
Harry nodded and then replaced his hands and tried to reconnect. Once the humming had returned, Harry reached out a little and touched a small flower growing nearby. The flower glimmered golden then grew several inches taller and blossomed fully. Surprised by this Harry turned his focus to a tree behind Dumbledore.
Without him touching it, the leaves on the tree thickened and became greener. Pleased with this Harry looked up at Hagrid, expecting his friend to be smiling at him. Hagrid stared at Harry, then suddenly chocked and gasped for breath. As he fell, they saw an arrow in his shoulder, blood pouring out of the wound.
Dumbledore and Harry sprang to their feet and found themselves surrounded by Centaurs.
"You are not welcome in our Forest, he brought great danger here. Leave or die!" Bane, the leader said.
"We wish you no harm," Began Dumbledore, trying to step between Harry and Bane.
Harry put his hand out to stop Dumbledore and opened his mouth to speak, anger pulsing through his veins. "Do not threaten us; you have no right to attack an innocent man." Harry's voices boomed unnaturally through the forest. All the Centaurs seemed to take a step back from them.
Dumbledore whirled round to stare at Harry and said, "No Harry. Do nothing!"
But Harry was too angry at the sight of his friend, lying, bleeding on the ground to heed Dumbledore's warning. He raised his hands and a wind built up in the clearing, the trees bending from the force of it. "Leave us, or face the consequences!" Harry roared.
Suddenly the skies above the Forest darkened and thunder rumbled overhead. The ground shook and the centaurs fled, disappearing as quickly as they had appeared. Harry walked slowly over to Hagrid and bent over him. Instinctively he pulled the arrow from his shoulder and placed a hand over the bleeding wound.
Harry felt the energy pulse through him, coming to him from the earth below him, and flowing through his hand into Hagrid. Harry's hand was glowing, a deep red colour, and when he removed it; the wound was healed. Only the torn tunic and the dried blood remained. Harry felt the energy drain from him and then blackness engulfed him.
"You must stop these lessons at once Dumbledore. This boy has been treated far too often in this infirmary for my liking." Madam Pomfrey's voice echoed in the distance. "What happened to him this time?"
Harry turned his head gently towards the voice and peered through half closed eyes, to see Hagrid and Dumbledore standing beside the formidable Matron.
"He over-extended his energies again Poppy. I think that it drained him a little, he should be fine after a rest." Dumbledore told her.
"In the mean time, let me have a look at that Hagrid, it looks to have lost a lot of blood," She was staring up at Hagrid's shoulder.
"No it's alright, we…um…took care of it before," Hagrid was stammering, looking worried.
"You should let her check it Hagrid, just in case," Harry announced.
The three bustled over to his bed, looking at them Harry could read on their faces, Hagrid's relief, Madam Pomfrey's annoyance and Dumbledore's fear.
Harry drank the potion Madam Pomfrey handed him silently, and continued to stare at Dumbledore. Hagrid beamed at him, and then allowed Madam Pomfrey to guide him to a chair so that she could see his shoulder.
"I'm not sure what happened," Harry said quietly.
Dumbledore looked in question, "You don't remember?"
Harry shook his head, "No, I mean, yes, I remember. But I don't understand."
"You used elemental magic to chase off the Centaurs and to heal Hagrid's wound," Dumbledore answered him quietly.
"But surely that's a good thing," Harry questioned. "I mean, that's what I'm trying to learn to do, isn't it?"
"Up until this moment, I had hoped that I might be wrong about you. Most wizards can learn basic control of the elements the way you have." Dumbledore began to explain, "But this morning, you channelled them with more power than I have witnessed. You became part of them. There can been no doubt that you are indeed an Elemental"
"But why would you hope you were wrong before?" Harry was confused.
"Harry, it is a great responsibility. You must have felt the energy you wielded," Dumbledore said. "If you ever lose control of it, you could ultimately destroy us all. Today you were angry, and you used your power in anger. What will happen when you face Voldemort, how much anger and hatred will you channel then?"
Harry looked down at the blankets on the bed, smoothing imaginary creases out, before he answered in a whisper, "As much as I need to."
"Then you know now why I am afraid." Dumbledore patted Harry's hand gently and went to check on Hagrid.
"This is amazing, Headmaster," Madam Pomfrey was saying, "Not only has the wound healed, but there is no sign that this shoulder was ever wounded. Normally that would take a least several hours." Dumbledore nodded and then without a backward glance left the Hospital wing. Hagrid stood up and came to sit beside Harry.
"Thank you, you saved my life," He said quietly.
"No, Dumbledore could have done it just as well," Harry replied.
"Mr Potter, is there any point in me telling you to be more careful?" Madam Pomfrey asked, as she ran her wand down him, checking him.
"Probably not," Harry sighed, "But I will try."
"Alright, no magic for the rest of the day, you may go to your dorm. And don't forget to eat a decent meal," Madam Pomfrey dismissed him, returning to her office. Hagrid walked with Harry down to Lunch, he didn't speak and Harry was grateful, his mind needed time to sort it all out.
Ron and Hermione entered, looking as though they were arguing again. Harry sighed; he thought that they had outgrown that last year. As they neared he heard Hermione whispering furiously, "yes, but it's not good for him. The human body needs to dream, that's why he's so aggressive, his body is reacting to too much of that potion."
Harry assumed they were still talking about Neville, and wondered what Neville had done this time. He greeted his friends as they sat down opposite him.
"Will you tell her to butt out of others peoples business please, she never listens to me," Ron asked Harry.
"It is my business, when my friend is killing himself, and no one seems willing to notice," Hermione snapped at Ron.
"Who's killing themselves," Harry asked in a neutral voice.
"She insists that Neville is, because he's still taking the dreamless sleep potion."
"How long has he been taking it?" Harry asked.
"Since May at least," Hermione answered.
"You know she does have a point Ron, you're only supposed to use it for a couple of weeks at the most," Harry answered. "And his behaviour has been violent recently."
"But McGonagall knows about it, and Madam Pomfrey is giving it to him," Ron argued, "if it was so bad for him, surely they wouldn't let him take it."
"Maybe he's not told them he was taking it during the summer," Hermione replied.
"Look, maybe if I talk to him," Harry suggested, "Maybe I can get him to cut back."
"Finally, someone agrees with me," Hermione exclaimed. "That's all I wanted you to do Ron, just talk to him."
Ron scowled at her, then at Harry and decided to concentrate on his dinner instead. The three of them ate in silence and left for the common room after dessert. They had almost reached it when Harry spotted Neville going in the opposite direction.
"You guys go on ahead, I'll see you later," Harry said. And set off to follow Neville.
Spying him along the corridor, Harry quickened his pace, and as he approached he called, "Neville, wait up, I need to talk to you."
Neville sighed and stopped, but he didn't turn to face Harry. He said, "I'm fine, please just go away."
"Neville, you're not fine. But I wasn't going to ask you that anyway," Harry replied.
"What do you want Harry?"
"I want to know why you were fighting with Crabbe and Goyle that day," Harry asked.
"Their Slytherin's," Neville shrugged.
"Since when do you attack someone because of what house they are in?"
"Since they started to make nasty comments about my lack of family," Neville snapped.
"What about shouting at that boy in Herbology? Did he say anything about your family?"
"Look, what do you want?" Neville countered. "I thought you said you understood that I wanted to be left alone?"
"That was before I heard that you have been taking Dreamless sleep potion for months," Harry replied. "You're over doing it on that stuff; you have to find another way to deal with all this."
"Back off Harry. I don't need you telling me what to do," Neville turned to walk away.
"I can help you Neville, I've been where you are," Harry grabbed his friends shoulder, to stop him.
"I don't need help! I need to be left alone!" Neville whirled around and pointed his wand at Harry's neck.
"Go on, try me Neville," Harry said quietly. "But you know that I'm right, don't you?"
Neville's wand arm dropped to his side and he avoided looking in his eyes. "Sorry, I don't know what's gotten into me. I lose my temper for the least thing these days."
"It's because you're not dreaming. That's one of the side effects from overuse of the potion." Harry replied.
"I can't sleep without it," Neville muttered. "All I see is their faces, over and over, screaming and crying. They were tortured, and now for some reason, I can remember that I saw it. They had hidden me in a cupboard and placed a charm on it, to stop the death eaters finding me." Neville turned his back on Harry, and continued, "I was stuck in that cupboard, watching for hours."
"Maybe your Grandmother performed a memory charm on you," Harry wondered. "Somehow this latest trauma has broken the charm, that's why you remember it now."
Neville shrugged and Harry awkwardly put a hand on his shoulder, "Maybe I can help you, Neville. After Sirius died, Dumbledore gave me a book on meditation, believe it or not, it helped me. I was able to sleep again."
Neville turned and looked at Harry; he shrugged and then slowly nodded, "Will you show me?"
"Let's go," Harry turned and led Neville in the opposite direction. "I have an idea where we could practice." Harry led Neville to the room of requirements and as they passed the door three times, Harry imagined the room that they needed. Opening the door they found themselves in a room much like the DA had used, but there were two single beds with thick warm quilts on, and the only light was coming from the open window.
"Right, why don't you lie on that one and I'll go over here," Harry began. "Listen to my voice and try to relax."
Neville looked nervous about the idea, but followed Harry's instructions. He removed his shoes and lay on top of the bed. "You know this feels stupid, right?" Neville said.
Harry smiled and said, "I know, but it's worth a shot."
Harry closed his eyes and began to speak in a calm and quiet voice.
"Start by taking deep breathes, hold the first one, count to three and then let it out. Now keep doing that and imagine a window in your fore head."
"A Window?"
"Trust me, keep breathing. Now open the window and let all the tension blow out of it, let all the muscles in your head relax."
Harry waited for several minutes and then said, "Now imagine the sun is shining in that window, and the warmth is flowing round your head. Positive thoughts are filling you; you can feel all the tension leave the rest of your body now."
Harry glanced at Neville and saw his face looked more relaxed, he was breathing normally now. "You can feel a warm glow in your stomach; it feels like a little fire in the pit of your belly. It's your magical core, feel it warm up and begin to flow freely through your blood, reaching your fingertips and toes. Let it fill your head with calming power."
Harry listened quietly and sensed that Neville was asleep, smiling to himself, Harry stood and went to stare out the window. After a while he glanced at his watch and saw it was 10.30pm, they should have returned to the tower by now. Taking his wand out of his pocket he thought of Dumbledore starting a search for him.
"Neville and I are staying the night in the room of requirements. I was teaching him to meditate, and it seems to have worked. He's asleep now, so I don't want to disturb him."
Harry thought the words in his head and then drew his wand and cast a spell that sent a silver light shooting out of his wand, which he knew would find Dumbledore and deliver his message.
Turning back to the room Harry charmed Neville's blanket to cover him, then he climbed into the other bed and began the meditating process again for himself, until he fell asleep as well.
A noise startled him awake at around 3am, and Harry saw Neville thrashing in his bed, muttering in his sleep. Cautiously Harry approached and woke his friend with a shake.
"Neville, open you eyes, your dreaming again." Harry called quietly.
"What… oh … God… it's never going to stop," Neville grunted half asleep.
"Yes it will, control it now. Try to calm down and meditate on your own this time. Concentrate on relaxing your mind, don't focus on the images," Harry spoke calmly and firmly.
Eventually Neville's breathing became deeper and Harry could tell he was relaxing. After a while Neville's small snores filled the room and Harry was able to go back to sleep.