Chapter 11 Auras
A voice broke into Harry's dreams the next morning, "Harry, Harry, wake up."
"Morning Neville," Harry grunted. "Did you sleep ok?"
"Yes, but its morning and we're still in the DA room," Neville sounded worried.
"It's alright. I let Dumbledore know we were here." Harry said sitting up, "besides I'm Head Boy, that's got to be useful for something."
"Thanks Harry," Neville seemed a little embarrassed. "I think that's the first night I've slept and actually woken up feeling better."
"Any time mate," Harry smiled. "You should keep it up, the more you practice the easier it gets."
"I will, thanks," Neville smile, "You know what, I think I'm hungry, lets go get some breakfast."
They made their way down to the breakfast and were immediately pounced upon by Hermione, "Guys where have you two been? I was so worried."
"We're fine Hermione, stop worrying so much," Harry replied pointedly.
They all sat down to eat, Neville actually managed to eat a sausage sandwich and drink some tea. Smiling a little awkwardly at them, he excused himself to go shower and change. Hermione watched him walk out the hall before rounding on Harry, "Well, what did you do?"
"Nothing much, I just showed him a way to relax before he slept, to help cut down on the nightmares," Harry replied. Glancing up, Harry spotted Dumbleodre watching him, from the top table. Dumbledore raised his goblet of juice in a silent salute to Harry, and then resumed his conversation with Professor McGonagall.
Harry felt proud of himself, he had helped Neville a little and yesterday he had helped Hagrid. And for once, knowing he was different from the others, actually felt like a good thing. "I think I'll go for a walk, see you guys later." Harry went to shower and change, and then went out to the grounds for a walk.
Eventually he found himself near the edge of the Dark Forest. He stood and looked into its depths, thinking about what he had done the day before. With a glance over his shoulder, to make sure no one was watching, Harry walked into the Forest. He listened to the sounds, birds singing, wind blowing through the trees and the sounds of water running somewhere from the darkness.
Spying the clearing he had visited with Dumbledore and Hagrid, Harry found a seat on a tree stump. Taking a deep breath, he savoured the smell of fresh pine and a slight floral bouquet; he had never really paid attention to before. It was peaceful here, and Harry closed his eyes and felt the energy beginning to throb all around him. He was aware of the air flowing around him.
Harry opened his eyes and looked at a different world. His senses sharpened and his mind clear, he could see a great many things that normally he would not. Thinking about the spells he had been practicing, he raised his right hand and let a small ball of fire appear. Glancing around for a target, he decided on a tree in the distance. Throwing the fire ball he watched it strike the tree. The tree cracked and fell in half.
Harry looked around quickly; the noise hadn't attracted anyone so he tried another spell. Holding his hand out over a near by rock, he transfigured it into a dog, and watched as the dog bounded around the clearing, barking loudly and chasing its tail. Trying to decide what he wanted to try next, Harry closed his eyes momentarily; he heard a crack from behind him.
Someone was looking for him, he could sense it. Hagrid, Harry's heightened senses told him. Looking for a moment to see if Hagrid was in sight, Harry transformed into his Eagle form and soared into the skies over the Forest. Below he watched as Hagrid continued his search, checking that there were no Centaurs near by, Harry flew away.
Hogsmead looked very pretty from this angle, Harry decided. All the little houses making a trail along the winding path, Wizards down below were getting on with there everyday business. Harry returned to Hogwarts, flying down to a quiet spot just behind one of the green houses. Harry transformed back and made his way into the castle for lunch.
He was just finishing his dessert, when Hagrid rushed in and headed for the top table, he whispered urgently to Dumbledore. Smiling Dumbledore said something in reply and Hagrid turned round to stare at Harry for a moment, a look of relief on his face. Then he took his seat and began to eat. Harry tried hard not to look smug. He felt that he had surely had earned some privacy in his life. They didn't need to watch him 24 hours a day; he could take care of himself.
By the time his lesson with Dumbledore arrived on Monday, Harry was determined to get the Green Torch from Dumbledore. Surely he had enough control to use it, or at least to have it explained properly to him. But Dumbledore didn't agree.
"It is too soon Harry, you shouldn't rush these things," was the answer.
"But I finally connected with Earth, and over the weekend I managed to do it several times more," Harry protested.
"Yes Harry, please remember that the Forest is out of bounds to the students, for their own safety," Dumbledore countered.
"Well I wanted to practice alone and I didn't really want the entire student body watching me," Harry muttered.
"Well, would you like to show me what spells you have practiced?"
Harry showed Dumbledore all the things he had been working on, and Dumbledore was able to suggest ways to improve some of them. He also had Harry try a few others as well. Harry was pleased to see that most of his magic was improving, he found Transfiguring things easier and his charms were gaining strength.
"Harry, your abilities are almost unrecognisable, I am very proud of your work," Dumbledore said.
"But?" Harry sensed that there was one.
"But I don't want you to rush into anything. Practice your control, and live your life," Dumbledore told him. "When was the last time you enjoyed a free day with your friends?"
"I spend time with them, and I am living my life," Harry replied, "But I also have this feeling that I don't have much time left to learn this."
"Very well, I hope you are wrong and I understand that you must listen to your instincts," Dumbledore said. "But I would like to see you relax some of the time please. Don't make me set a tickling charm at you!"
Harry smiled, remembering the day of fun Dumbledore had arranged the year before. They made their way back up to the castle and Harry set off up the stairs to Transfigurations. He turned and set a quick tickling spell at the headmaster, then raced away up the stairs to class, listening to Dumbledore laughing.
He was the last to arrive at class and quickly sat down next to Ron. They were working on transforming multiple subjects now, Ron was making a chess set. Hermione was making a dolls house with little people moving about inside. Harry had decided to make a tiny replica of the circus they had visited during the summer.
Professor McGonagall was pleased with her seventh years; she had praised all of their work, most especially Neville's. It seemed that Neville's troubles had actually made him a better wizard, his angry determination to prove himself had translated into his work. He was controlling his temper better now and was more like the Neville that they all knew, but he was still very determined to learn all he could.
September past and Harry found himself almost at Halloween, strange things happened to Harry at Halloween. Hoping that this time would be quiet, Harry watched as the rest of the senior students buzzed about, making arrangements to go to Hogsmead.
Harry didn't really mind too much, he had visited Hogsmead frequently this year; all he had to do was transform into an Eagle and fly there. On a few occasions he had made use of his ability to put a glamour charm on himself, and had wandered around as a tall, blonde boy, never attracting much attention.
"Harry, are you going to Hogsmead?" Neville asked one morning on the way down to breakfast.
"No, not allowed," Harry replied.
"Do you think I could talk to you about something later?"
"Sure, I'll be hanging around all day," Harry replied.
Ron and Hermione left for their day out, promising to bring Harry back some sweets, and Harry and Neville wandered out to sit by the lake. Pulling his robes a bit tighter, Harry wondered why on earth they couldn't talk in the warmth of the common room. Harry muttered a spell, while pointing at his robes and suddenly they were much thicker material.
"So what's up?" Harry asked.
"Well, I don't want you to laugh or anything, I think I may have finally cracked," Neville said quietly. "I can't believe I'm even asking you this. But you know the meditation you taught me?" Harry nodded. "Well since I started it, I've noticed a few odd things."
Harry suddenly realised what Neville was so worried about, he remembered how he had thought he was going mad at first, grinning he said, "You can see the Auras, can't you?"
Neville looked at Harry sharply, "Auras?"
"Yes, after you meditate, people have little glowing halos around them," Harry smiled.
"You can really see them too?" Neville asked.
"Yes and its dead useful." Harry told Neville all about how he was able to read the changes in colour, helping him know if someone was about to attack him, and about Malfoy and the imperious curse the year before.
"Wow, but does every one see them?" Neville asked.
"I think if they try, they can, but I don't think that anyone learns it too much anymore," Harry replied. "Besides we all see them differently. What colour is mine to you?"
"Blue, with a silvery outline, but most of the other's are blue with a green tinge," Neville replied.
"Wonder why I'm silvery," Harry thought aloud. "I see them as blue with pink."
"Thanks Harry, you know I really needed help, you know… with taking that potion too much and all," Neville stammered suddenly, "You're a good friend. I'm glad you made me listen." Then he stood up looking a little embarrassed, "I've got some homework I should probably do, I'll see you later."
Harry called out after him, "Anytime Neville." Smiling to himself, he sat for a while and watched the lake, then deciding it was too cold to sit outside, he retreated to the castle. Once inside, he changed his robes back to normal and went up to the common room. The common room was filled with the younger students, playing various games or studying. So he went up to his room to complete his homework and wait for lunch.
After lunch he went to the library, sitting reading a book on Advanced Dark Magic, he suddenly realised that he hadn't written to Moony since he started. Drawing out a parchment, he thought about what to tell him. Harry knew he was not supposed to discuss his training in letters but he wanted to tell someone of his achievements. It took a while, but eventually he was happy with what he had written.
Dear Moony,
How are you? Things here are alright, loads of studying this year, I suppose it's because it's our final year. I'm learning lots of new things and my big friend helped me to study loads of new tricks to play on his cousins, which was helpful. Though he did have an accident last month but I was there to help him, so that was lucky. My other friend Snowy and I have lots of lessons together this year, but he's still a lot smarter than me, it annoys me sometimes, but what can I do, I have to work hard to keep up with him.
Anyway how are you doing, hope you're not too bored now that I'm back at school, it would be nice to see you over the Holidays, but I guess we'll see closer to the time. Oh and there's this girl, I don't know if she likes me, but I catch her looking at me a lot, don't know what that's all about. Do you reckon I should ask her?
Hope to hear from you soon,
Migizi.
Harry took the note to the owlery and gave it to Hedwig to deliver. He knew that it wasn't much, but he was afraid to put anymore information in it, just in case. The rest of the afternoon he spent in his room, on the pretence of doing his homework. But his attention was caught by the book Dumbledore had given him last year, "The Green Torch Flame," he took it from his book shelf and began skimming over the notes that Hermione and Ron had helped him to make the year before.
He kept coming back to the volcanic eruption in Romania in 1136; for some reason he felt that it was an important date. Something about the year 1136 stuck in his head. If only he could figure out what it meant, maybe it was another clue about his elemental magic.
A loud knock on his door distracted him and Ron's voice called, "Harry, are you in there? We're back, and we brought you some sweets."
"Coming," Harry replied, replacing the book on the shelf, he opened the door to meet his friends. They went down to the Halloween feast, and in the back of Harry's mind he hoped that they could get through it this year without any Trolls or Basilisk attacking, or worse Voldemort making an appearance.
The chatter in the Great Hall was louder than normal. The floating candles with their pumpkin faces, cast an orange light around the room. Harry sat opposite Ron and Hermione, next to Neville and Ginny. Harry was soon joined in the silly joke telling and feasting with the rest of the students. Most of the Auras were bright tonight, and Harry wondered if Neville could see it too. It crossed his mind to ask Dumbledore what colour he saw Harry's aura. Why did Neville see it different form everyone else.
Megan was sitting at the Hufflepuff table and now and again Harry would catch her watching him. It made him uncomfortable, he really wasn't sure he wanted to get involved with a girl yet, look at the disastrous date he had had with Cho Chang.
Amazingly, the feast ended without incident, if you didn't count Peeves the poltergeist throwing water balloons at them on their way out of The Great Hall. The students were heading up to their common rooms. Megan brushed past Harry and with a delicate blush on her cheeks, she handed him a box of chocolates.
"I noticed you didn't go to Hogsmead to day. I figured you might have had detention or something," She said quietly, "So I bought these for you." Before Harry could think of an answer, she had run off to join her friends.
"Well, looks like you've got an admirer," Ron looked smug, "Told you she fancied you."
"Cut it out, you bought me sweets," Harry replied, "Does that me you fancy me?"
"You're not that good looking," Ron laughed.
"Don't forget we've got rounds tonight Harry," Hermione said, stepping through the portrait.
"Yeh, we'll start in half an hour," Harry replied, "let's give all that food a while to settle."
"Are you going to open those?" Ron looked at the box of chocolates with interest.
"Ronald Weasley, you just ate a huge dinner and two desserts," Hermione said in a strict voice, "It's bad for your teeth to eat so many sweets."
"Yes Mum," Ron replied, and took one of the chocolates Harry offered him. "Mmm they're nice. Try one Hermione, you could use sweetening up a little."
Hermione looked hurt by her boyfriends joke, and replied, "No thank you."
Harry, not being able to eat anything else, put the chocolates on the table beside his chair. He noticed that Ron's eyes suddenly looked a little glazed.
"Are you ok Ron?" Harry asked.
"Yes, I feel quite nice actually, a little floaty," Ron replied.
"You probably had a sugar overdose," Hermione replied.
"Don't nag Hermione, we're not married yet," Ron answered, his eyes closing slightly.
"Ron," Hermione looked at him sharply.
"It's true, you nag me more than my Mum," Ron continued, oblivious to the fact that Hermione was staring to look annoyed.
"Well just because I worry about you, doesn't mean that I want to marry you," Hermione huffed.
"Course you do, you said so the other night when we were making out," Ron replied.
"Ronald Weasley, what's gotten into you?" Hermione gasped.
"It's true; you said we shouldn't, not until we were married."
Their conversation was beginning to attract the attention of the other Gryffindors. Hermione looked gobbed smacked, "Ron, I don't know what's gotten into you. But that conversation was supposed to be private."
"Hermione, I think there might have been something in those chocolates," Harry said suddenly. The way Ron was acting reminded Harry of the time he had witnessed Barty Crouch Jnr, being questioned under Veritaserum.
"Ron, do you feel alright, try and tell me a lie," Harry leaned closer to his friend.
"I … um … can't, hey why can't I tell you a lie?" Ron asked suddenly looking worried.
"Come on, lets take him up to my room," Harry said to Hermione, "Before he says something he'' regret."
They stood and began to lead Ron up the stairs, but he was already beginning to talk again. "What sort of thing shouldn't I tell everyone, things that we've done since we started school? Like about the time we took Lockheart, down to rescue Ginny and my stupid wand backfired and I was jealous of you for saving my sister?"
Rushing him up the stairs now, Hermione was trying to shush him, to no avail, "Ow, wait, what if I told them about Harry's new superpowers, would I regret it then?"
Finally they reached Harry's room. Harry closed the door a put a silencing charm on it, then turned to Hermione and asked, "Is there a counter potion for it? I think its veritaserum."
Hermione shook her head, "I think it should wear off in a couple of hours, though it could be useful in the mean time." She smiled a little smile before turning to Ron.
"Don't Hermione, you may not like the answers," Harry warned.
"Ron, why did you say we're not married yet?
"Because we're not," Ron answered. "Are you going to ask me loads of questions now?" Ron seemed to be aware of the dangers in this; he knew that he couldn't lie.
"Do you want to get married? Do you think I nag too much?" Hermione asked.
"Well yes, you do nag too much. And you don't respect my opinions. How many times have you asked me something and then gone and asked Harry, because you think I'm wrong?" Ron answered simply.
Hermione looked like she might burst into tears as she whispered, "I'm sorry Ron, but sometimes you don't seem to take things very seriously."
"Just because I'm not All serious all the time, doesn't mean I'm stupid you know."
"I know Ron, I'm Sorry," Hermione replied.
"Okay, I think that's enough, your both going to say something you don't really mean if you keep this up," Harry tried to intervene.
"No, he can only tell the truth, so he shouldn't regret it, should he. Its how he feels," a single tear rolled down Hermione's cheek.
"Hermione, don't cry. Pleas I hate it when you do, it makes me feel guilty. I Love you, and I still want to marry you, even although you nag me," Ron said quietly, "Look at my Mum and Dad, she's always nagging him, and they've been married forever."
Harry was beginning to feel very awkward; he shouldn't be listening to this conversation. Hermione sobbed unevenly and hugged Ron, "I love you too, and I'll try not to nag so much, okay."
"Does that mean we still have to wait until we're married?" Ron asked hopefully.
"Ron!" Hermione replied.
"Right, now you've sorted all that out, can we try and solve the real problem?" Harry said.
"Yes, why did Megan put veritaserum in your chocolates?" Hermione said.
"Did you see anything odd about her Aura with your superpowers?" Ron asked.
"They're not superpowers Ron, any wizard can learn to see auras. But no, hers looked the same as always," Harry replied.
"No yellow this time?" Hermione asked, remembering the imperious curse.
Harry shook his head. Ron however was still thinking about Harry last answer, "So you mean I could learn how to do it?"
"What? Oh yes, all you have to do is learn to meditate, then find your magical core." Harry replied distracted, "I can show you some time, if you want."
"Cool, then I'll have superpowers too!" Ron smirked.
"Right, I think we should keep Mr Honesty here, while I go do my rounds. If Megan wanted to get information out of me, she must be going to try and meet me then," Harry decided.
"I'll come with you," Hermione answered.
"No, she might not want to speak to me if she finds me with anyone. Besides you should stay with Ron, keep him out of trouble."
They agreed on this and Harry left them in his room to go and patrol the castle. Hoping to run into Megan Jones and get some answers of his own.