Chapter 17 Back to work
By the end of the next day the holidays were like a long forgotten dream, Harry had Transfigurations, Charms and Potions homework, all over 2ft of parchment. Ron was complaining that the animagus lessons were too difficult and he didn't have time to finish all his essays and study for it.
Hermione sat quietly across from the two of them looking as calm as ever. Harry threw down yet another piece of parchment and said, "There, another one done! Only the Potions left, have you done it yet Hermione?"
"Yes, but I still won't let you copy it," She replied, without even glancing up from her Herbology essay. "Neville, did you include all the potions that 'Gerbent' can be used for, or did you just right about its properties and instructions on care?"
"Potions as well," Neville replied from across the room.
"Right, that's what I thought we should do," Hermione said, "Thanks."
"So you're pretty good at Herbology?" Blake asked Neville. "Do you think you could read my essay on Herifin, and see if I put everything in, Please."
"Sure, chuck it over here," Neville replied. Before he could move, Neville found himself surrounded by a group of 6th years begging him to explain Herifin, so they could all finish their essays. Neville good naturedly responded by listing the properties and care instructions and then telling them which books to check for the potions that it could be used for.
Ron sighed, "You know I don't think I ever included the Potions a plant could be used for, unless Sprout asked for it."
"And that is precisely why you got an E instead of an O for your OWL," Hermione replied.
Harry laughed at the pout on Ron's face, "Now you know why I never took Herbology NEWT, too much information to remember."
"Maybe I should just drop it," Ron groaned, but caught Hermione glaring at him and quickly returned to his essay.
"Finally, done all these stupid essays," Harry stretched, and looked at his watch, "Time for bed I think, how can I be so tired after just one day of lessons?"
"Too much brain activity involved," Ron said.
"Hoy, at least my brain is active," Harry replied.
"Shut up and go to bed Potter," Ron answered, with a laugh.
"Alright, Goodnight all," Harry gathered his books and newly finished essays and went to his room. He changed into his pyjamas and lay on his bed. His mind was overly active and Harry lay focusing on his meditation techniques for a while. For some reason he found himself focusing on the air element. Gradually his breathing slowed and his mind cleared, he lay listening to the sound of the air flowing in his room.
The more he relaxed his mind the sharper his focus became, then a low murmuring started, and Harry tried to pick out the words, eventually he heard.
"Oh come on, the others are all still down stairs, you can come in for a minute."
"No, I really am tired, I have to get some sleep, tomorrows my busiest day."
It was Ron and Hermione, and it sounded as though they were in the room with him. Harry opened his eyes and the sound faded, he was alone in his room, but how could he hear what his friends were saying so clearly. Harry closed his eyes and started to listen again.
"I'm never going to get this stupid matchstick to change into a needle," Harry recognised the voice of first year, Craig Hutchinson.
"Course you will, just don't panic about it so much, you have to relax," was that Blake's voice?
Harry was fascinated, he could hear things from several floors down; the sound must have been travelling through the air towards him. Harry remembered the raid on St Mungo's, he had been meditating and he heard voices. Letting his focus go further, Harry could suddenly hear hundreds of voices humming in the distance. He could hear the whole school.
Suddenly someone said his name, it sounded like Snape. Harry focused on Snape and listened to what he was saying.
"That is ridiculous, I have nothing against the boy. I just think you have allowed him to become too arrogant." Harry snorted in the distance; imagine Snape calling anyone else arrogant.
"He is one of the most powerful wizards of his age, and he carries a greater burden than most men double his age."
"That's as maybe, but he is allowed too much leeway."
"Would you prefer I locked him in his room, and treated him like a spoilt prince?"
"Of course not, but all I am attempting to do is stop him from becoming too conceited, yet I am constantly criticized for my harsh treatment of him."
Harry's eyes snapped open. Snape was talking to Dumbledore, telling him how he thought he was helping Harry. Well Harry didn't care how Snape justified his actions; he was still a greasy git. With that Harry closed his eyes and tried to block out anymore voices.
In Harry's next potion lesson, Snape was being his usually nippy self. He criticized Harry's essay and his latest Potion, but the crunch came when he announced, "Is that why you didn't bother to come back and finish your Redovelin potion? Did it look as bad as today's offering?"
"I did finish that Potion and put a labelled vial on your desk with the others," Harry said calmly.
"Well I did not receive it Mr Potter, you realise that the potion accounted for ten percent of your practical NEWT exam," Snape replied coolly.
"Yes I did, that is why I made sure I came back to finish it," Harry snapped.
"Watch your tone Potter, you have already lost ten percent of your test work, you will have to work especially hard to make that up," Snape replied.
"You know what; you lost my potion on purpose didn't you?" Harry stood up, "how did you put it, you think that you are teaching me humility?"
Snape looked at Harry and growled, "You have been sneaking out again, twenty points from Gryffindor."
"I was in my room all night, I didn't sneak out anywhere," Harry replied, his voice rising, "however for you to say that must mean I'm right, you do think you are teaching me humility don't you?"
"Mr Potter, sit down and stop shouting in my class," Snape growled, "You may have been allowed to return once, but I will not make the same allowances twice."
Harry sat down in his seat with a knowing smile on his face, his anger suddenly spent as he said, "Professor Snape, is it still possible for a student to submit potions directly to the Ministry examination board?"
"You can not reproduce that potion and submit it Potter, they are time sensitive, one simple test will tell the examiner that it has not been bottled long enough, they will know that you are cheating," Snape replied.
"That's alright, I have a spare vial of the original potion, I had a feeling I might need to keep it," Harry looked down at his work, effectively dismissing Snape, who was still standing in front of him. Gaping at Harry, unsure of what to say next, his usual sour expression returned and stalked away.
Hermione leaned over and whispered, "What was all that about?"
"Tell you later," Harry replied.
The bell to signal the end of the class and Harry grabbed his bag and rushed out of the door. As he dragged Hermione up the stairs he told her about his sudden urge to keep some of his original batch of potion, just in case Snape 'lost' the official vial. Then he told her how he had been talking to Moony during the holidays and Moony suggested he submit his potions directly to the Examination board, that way Snape couldn't interfere with whatever marks Harry would earn.
"You should still tell Dumbledore though, he will be angry with Snape if he finds out Snape is still picking on you," Hermione replied.
"No, I can handle Snape," Harry replied, "Anyway, I'm sure that he won't interfere again, because he knows I'll be ready for him."
"But that's terrible, I mean he's supposed to be your teacher," Hermione muttered, "to sabotage one of your own students work, I'm sure he could get fired for that."
"Hermione, you may be very smart, but there are times when you're still naive," Harry told her, "Snape has been sabotaging my potions for nearly seven years, a kick of my chair here, a knock on my desk there, always when I was about to add the most essential ingredients."
"Harry, why didn't you ever complain?" Hermione asked.
"Because it was like a challenge between us, he would try to get me to fail and I would try harder so I didn't," Harry laughed, "you know in his own twisted way, he was right, he did teach me a few lessons. But he taught me another significant one, you can't always rely on the Teachers to do what's right Hermione, their people too, and people make mistakes."
"Harry, you know I didn't really notice it happening, but I guess you grew up," Hermione said.
"It had to happen some time," Harry smiled and they went into dinner to meet Ron.
"Hey Ron," Harry greeted him, noticing the way he was bolting down his food he asked, "Advanced Transfigurations again tonight?"
Ron nodded and continued to stuff his food into his mouth.
"You know that's disgusting don't you?" Hermione said, serving herself some Fish and chips.
Ron took a great gulp and answered, "Sorry, but I was starved, and you know what McGonagall is like about being on time."
"How's it going anyway?" Hermione asked.
"It's really boring actually," Ron said, "all we've done is take notes and read up on the theory. She hasn't even let us try to transform yet."
"It takes a while," confirmed Harry. "But it shouldn't be too long now, I think you've covered most of the stuff I did last year."
"Here comes Susan, I have to go," Ron stood up grabbing his bag and called up the table, "you ready Neville?"
As the three potential Animagus left for their extra lesson, Hermione and Harry finished their meal at a slower rate. Afterwards Hermione wanted to go to the library and Harry agreed to go with her. They worked on their Potions homework in silence, when Hermione finished she went to get an extra Ancient Runes reference book. Harry looked up and she dropped it on the table.
"What is it?" Harry asked.
"Trouble," Hermione hissed, indicating towards the door.
Harry looked around to see Nott, Crabbe and Goyle enter. The idea that Crabbe and Goyle could be coming in to the library to study was laughable.
"What are those goons up to now," Harry wondered aloud. "Look their going to the restricted section."
"Maybe we should just go to the common room to study," Hermione said. "There's no point in getting into a fight here."
"Hermione sit down and do your homework," Harry said quietly, "I refuse to hide from idiots like that."
Hermione sat and keeping one eye on the other boys, she opened her book. Gradually she seemed to become absorbed in what she was doing and Harry went back to his essay. He was aware of them whispering in the background but they didn't seem to want to approach or cause trouble for the moment.
Harry finished his essay and sat back from the table to stretch. From the corner of his eye he noticed Nott sitting at a desk furiously copying notes from a book as Crabbe and Goyle stood nearby keeping a look out. After several minutes Nott slammed the book shut and wandered away to put it back. They were heading out of the door as Blake was coming in.
"Move out of the way scum bag," Nott growled.
"Don't you call me a scum bag," Blake retorted.
Crabbe grabbed Blake by the collar and flung him several feet across the room, where he landed with a clatter. Hermione immediately jumped up from her seat and ran over to them. Harry sighed and stood up to follow.
"What do you think you're doing?" She demanded. "Stop fighting in the library before I report you all."
"Shut your mouth, mudblood!" Nott replied.
"That's enough," Harry said quietly, "get back to your common room."
The three boys looked from Hermione, who had aimed her wand at them, and Harry, who was standing with his arms crossed. Then it seemed Nott thought better of challenging them, he signalled to the other two and they left quietly. Madam Price arrived with an annoyed expression on her vulture like face. Harry returned to his desk and Hermione went to check on Blake.
"Are you alright?" He heard Hermione ask.
"Yes Thanks, don't know what I did to piss them off," Blake replied.
"You got sorted into Gryffindor house so they take it as their duty to punish you," Hermione explained. Then she returned to her place beside Harry and sat down. "Honestly, I don't think they'll ever grow up."
"You're probably right," Harry replied. Standing up he added, "I'm just going to look something up." He headed towards the restricted section to the shelf he had seen Nott looking for a book. Harry held out his hand in front of the shelf and whispered, "Reveal." A book slide out slightly from its space and Harry lifted it from the shelf. He said, "Reveal" again and the book flipped open.
Harry read the two potions on the page, one was a potion to suppress a persons natural abilities and the second was a potion to enhance them. Harry stood for a moment and then called a parchment from the table and scribbled down some notes on both. What was Nott up to this time, Harry wondered. Which of the two potions was he intending to make. And what was he planning on using them for. Harry replaced the books and went back to the desk.
Ron had arrived and looked quiet worn out as he sat with his head on the table beside Hermione's elbow.
"What's up?" Harry asked his friend.
"Nothing," Muttered Ron, without looking up, "I reckon McGonagall doesn't want to have any new animagi this year, she's trying to wear us down with paper work."
Harry laughed, "You know that's what I thought at first, but in the end she just wants to make sure you don't get stuck once you change. It's a really weird feeling at first; your brain can't understand what anyone's saying."
"I guess, but I really wanted to know what its like," Ron sighed, "You know?"
"Yeh, but you will if you keep at it."
"Well Susan Bones decided today that she can't afford to waste the time on extra lessons," Ron told them, "She says she can't keep up with her subjects and spend the evenings with McGonagall."
"What did McGonagall say," Harry asked.
"She said that if Susan decides to try and learn after she graduates, that there are special tutors that will work privately," Ron told them. "But Susan said she wasn't too excited at the idea of turning into someone's pet."
"What was her animagus form anyway?" Hermione asked.
"A mouse," Ron replied. "Don't know if I'd want to change if I was going to be a rodent either," Ron laughed.
"Well, your going to be a dog, just think of all the disgusting things you might do," Hermione shivered slightly.
"Yeh, I'll be able to lick my own b…" Ron began with a laugh.
"Ron Weasley!" Hermione interrupted. "Don't you have some homework to do?"
Harry had burst out laughing at what Ron nearly said, and the look of horror on Hermione's face, then he said, "Listen, I'll see you two later, I've finished my homework." He packed up his things and headed out of the library. He was half way down the stairs when Blake fell into step beside him.
"Thanks for before Harry," Blake said, "Are you going back to the common room?"
"Yes," Harry replied, slightly annoyed that Blake had decided to walk with him. He had wanted to think about the potions Nott had been copying, he knew that there was a high possibility that Nott intended to use them against Harry somehow.
"Do you mind if I walk with you, just in case those three haven't gone yet," Blake asked.
"No," Harry replied and kept walking.
They finally reached the common room and Harry didn't even stop, he went straight up to his room. Drawing his notes out of his bag, he sat at his desk and reread them. If Nott was going to make the potions then he obviously wanted to bind Harry's power somehow and enhance his own, that way he might actually have a chance at taking Harry own.
Harry decided to see if he could hear any of their plans, the way he had heard what Snape had been saying the day before. Lying on his bed, he took a deep breath and concentrated on the air around him. After about five minutes he began to hear voices, jumbled at first then clearer. He searched mentally for Nott's snaky voice, but couldn't focus on it, either Nott was not talking or Harry couldn't pick out which voice he wanted to hear.
After a while Dumbledore's voice floated around.
"Are you positive about this?"
"Absolutely, he has called the giants and the dementors here; they will attack within the week."
"Will he command the force himself?"
"That I am unsure about, he was giving out instructions to us, and from them I gathered that he would not be with us, unless the attack was successful."
"This doesn't give us much time to prepare."
"Will you send the students home?"
"I think that could be what he is hoping for; his recent attacks have all seemed designed to disrupt the normal running of the school."
"I have been told to hand over information of the schools protections and how far they stretch on Wednesday evening; my contacts will be in Hogsmead that night."
"Very well you may write down the apparation wards around the grounds but I will not tell you the ones around the castle."
"Do you wish me to join the attack forces?"
"I think it would be prudent for you to appear to be still supporting him, for now."
"Very well."
"I know how hard this is for you Severus, but I ask you to be patient for a little while longer. I have the feeling that this war is almost ready to come to a conclusion."
"But what will the conclusion be?"
Dumbledore must have made some silent signal, because Harry didn't hear the answer that he so desperately wished to. So Voldemort was sending his army to try and attack Hogwarts, Harry thought. Dumbledore was right; it surely meant that Voldemort was stepping up his campaign.