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Chapter 30 NEWT's
The day passed slowly and nervously for Harry, it seemed all around him the other students were falling apart. Their fears were tainting their auras a deep purple and Harry could almost feel the nervous energy they were exuding. The classes were a mixture of nervous chatter as the students tried to revise and apathy as many of them believed with Dumbledore ill, the school would surely fall into darkness.
By dinner time, Harry was almost too nervous to sit still. He knew all the students were waiting for Dumbledore to appear and were disappointed when he didn't. After he had eaten, Harry went to his room and locked himself in. Connecting with air, Harry listened sadly to the many voices of the students, they spoke of their fears in whispers and Harry felt their fear keenly.
The next day was not much of an improvement, Harry went to visit Dumbledore and found him still in his office and as healthy as ever.
"How are you feeling?" Harry asked.
"Confined," Dumbledore replied. "I am concerned that the students need me, they are losing faith in their own abilities, and a tangible air of fear is permeating the castle."
"I know, I feel it too," Harry replied, "But it is what we hoped would happen."
"I know," Dumbledore replied, "But it does not make it easier for me."
"I have brought something for you to witness for me," Harry held out a parchment to Dumbledore.
"Harry…." Dumbledore started to say something but then changed his mind and signed the parchment. "Do you wish me to keep it safe for you?"
"No, I have arranged for it to be sent to Gringotts along with a few other things, with the necessary instructions."
"Very well," Dumbledore replied. "Now, do you have plans for this evening?"
"No."
"How would you feel about a little trip?" Dumbledore smiled. "I believe you wanted to visit a few European destinations."
"Sounds like a good idea," Harry replied.
So an evening of meetings followed, by the time they had finished, Harry was exhausted but happy. He felt better when he was able to take a positive step against Voldemort. The next day he stumbled through his lessons and watched as the rest of the students spirits slumped lower, when once again Dumbledore did not appear for dinner.
Harry locked himself away and took out the parchment he had asked Dumbledore to sign.
The contents of my vault at Gringotts should
be divided equally between, Ronald Weasley,
Hermione Granger and Remus J Lupin,
to be used as they see fit.
Signed by Harry Potter
Witnessed by Albus Dumbledore.
Harry knew that he should have used official sounding language but somehow he had not wanted to research too deeply into the correct wording. It seemed too morbid, but then, he was actually preparing to face death, so maybe arranging to leave his money to his friends was not morbid at all.
The other letters he had written were addressed to each of his friends, three of them were almost the same, one each for Ron, Hermione and Remus.
Well, if you're reading this, then I'm dead.
I hope that I killed Voldemort before I died.
I hope that you can now live a life free from
his evil. I've left you a share of my money and I
want you to spend it all with a smile. Don't
mourn for me, I was always destined for this.
Besides, now I am with my parents for the first
time in seventeen years and I am probably happy.
Also Sirius, I will se him again. So, none of this
was you're fault and thank you for helping me.
I am honoured that you were my friend, I never
knew how much friends could mean until I met you.
So go on and enjoy life.
Your friend Harry
Harry reread them, trying to decide if they sounded too pompous, but he couldn't think of any other way to word the things that were crowding into his heart. So he sealed them and put the names on the outside. The next letter to Dumbledore had been even more difficult to write.
Professor Dumbledore
Since the first time I heard your name, I knew that you were
a great wizard. Thank you for all you have done for me,
you have protected me since before I was born.
I was lucky to be allowed to attend Hogwarts, especially
with you as its headmaster, those were the happiest day
of my life, I have lived in your enchanted world for seven years
and it was an honour. Thank you.
I am probably at peace now, happily reunited with my family.
We both knew from the beginning that this was the most likely
outcome of my fight with Voldemort, so do not mourn me and
do not blame anyone but Voldemort for this.
Finally PLEASE do not let them build some hideous statue
of me! Let them forget about Harry Potter and live their lives in peace.
Your grateful student,
Harry Potter.
The fact that he may only have eleven days to live sharpened Harry's perspective on life. He sat at his desk and thought about all the wondrous things he had seen in the last seven years. He had made more friends that he could ever have imagined, even throughout all the difficulties, he had lived a full life at Hogwarts and he could make his peace with this. Folding the last parchment he sealed them all and addressed them to Gringotts bank, placing a strong enchantment on them, so they could only be unsealed on his death.
He wrote a last letter to the Daily Prophet that would only appear after the eleventh, when it was all over and only if Hogwarts was destroyed.
The next few days Harry spent as much time as he could with his friends, they were studying, but Harry sat with them enjoying their silent company, his books open and ignored in front of him. Finally on Sunday night he bid them good night, everyone nervous about their exams which would start the next day.
The seventh year students waited outside the Great Hall before the start of the Transfiguration exam. Harry filed in to the room and sat at the back, he looked around and felt guilty, none of the students were going to do well, they were distracted by Dumbledore's mysterious illness.
Quietly breathing in and sitting down a bit in his chair, Harry concentrated on the feelings of the student filling the room. He felt their fear and nervousness filtering through to him. He concentrated on hope, imagining the feeling that filled him whenever he heard the Phoenix song, gradually he released the feeling and let it spread warmly around the room, he sent a message with it; 'Dumbledore has faith in you. You can do this.' There was a shifting in the room as the students pulled themselves a little straighter and the faces around him shone with determination. Harry smiled and turned over his paper.
At lunch break the students were chattering and comparing notes, and then it was back outside to wait for the practical section of the exam. Of the three, Hermione was first to be called, she returned looking flushed, yet happy and told them she had managed to do all the set exercises and the three she had chosen herself.
Harry was next, he managed all the standard transfigurations and then the examiner asked for his three choices. Harry began by conjuring a piece of wood; he transfigured it into a flute and then charmed it to play a tune. The examiner smiled and indicated he should show her the next spell. Taking a quill from her table he transfigured it into a Golden Eagle and commanded it to fly around the room. Finally he chose a small pebble which he transformed into a life size replica of himself that walked around him singing the Hogwarts song.
The examiner actually started to clap and the rest of the hall looked around to see what the disturbance was. She let Harry go, telling him he would receive extra marks for his silent casting and he went out to meet a pale looking Ron.
"I hate being a W," Ron was saying, "I always have to go after Harry, and he's such a show off."
Harry grinned and shoved his friend, he let a little heat travel out of his hand as he said, "You can do this." Ron gave a nod and went in to the hall.
Hermione was watching Harry closely, she leaned in and whispered, "You know, just before the exams started I could have sworn I heard a voice say that to me."
Harry looked at her, then grinned and said, "Hearing voices is not a good sign, even in the wizarding world."
Hermione looked surprised at first and then she grinned and Harry knew she was remembering saying those words to him several years before. They were still smiling when Ron returned, shaking his head saying that he was sure he hadn't done any of it right. But Harry wasn't worried; he knew Ron always felt like that after sitting an exam.
The Charms exam went the same way, Harry let the hope fill the room and then they started their written papers. They stopped for lunch and then returned to perform practical demonstrations of their work. Harry was actually enjoying using his skills, the look on the examiners face was priceless when he began silently casting his charms. He chose a disillusionment charm, a glamour charm and a charm to create a small forest around the examiners table.
Defence against the Dark arts saw Harry in front of the same examiner that had tested him at OWL level. He told Harry that he should include his patronus, even although the examiner had seen it before. But he could get marks for doing it a NEWT level as well, so Harry conjoured the silver Prongs and let it gallop up and down for a few moments. Then he tied a chair with his magical ropes and called the fire wall that guarded Harry against attack.
The examiner stood and shook Harry's hand saying, "Mr Potter, you are truly a gifted young man and I'm sure you will do very well."
Harry thanked him and left thinking, maybe he should have had Voldemort attack him in the middle of the exams every year; he might have been top student then.
Care of Magical Creatures was easy and the Potions written exam was not too bad but when Harry was almost finished his potion, during the practical session, he saw that it was a dark green, when it should have been a dark blue colour. Trying to remember what he had done wrong, Harry stood staring at it. Instinctively, he closed his eyes and imagined the list of ingredients and measures in his mind. His eyes snapped open as he realised he had added double the amount of ground hemplegrass, his potion was useless.
Sighing he stared at it and pondered what to do next, without consciously deciding he put his hands over the cauldron and felt the heat, suddenly he found him self holding half the hemplegrass he had added and his potion turned deep blue. Glancing around to see if anyone was watching, he grabbed a vial and filled it, then cleared his workspace. He had cheated, but no one caught him and he hadn't actually meant to, he reasoned with himself.
It was Friday and Harry's exams were over, he hadn't been particularly nervous about them, he had too much on his mind, but he was still glad they were over. Professor McGonagall called him aside after dinner and asked him to visit the headmaster. Harry made his way to the office and found Dumbledore looking very tired.
"Are you feeling alright, Sir?" Harry asked.
"I am unaccustomed to being stuck in my office, while my students are taking such important exams," Dumbledore answered.
"It's not for much longer," Harry replied.
"I have called a meeting tonight, you can tell the teachers your plan," Dumbledore said.
"I thought you already told them," Harry said, nervously.
"I decided to tell only Professor McGonagall so far, their reactions would be more believable to the students then."
Harry gulped, he did not like the idea of telling the teachers his plan, because he knew many of them would oppose him, maybe even mock him. They trusted Dumbledore, but not many of them would be willing to trust a seventeen year old boy.
"Are you sure it wouldn't sound better coming from you?" Harry finally answered.
"You are not afraid of facing Voldemort and countless unknown death eaters," Dumbledore looked at him, "Yet you are afraid to tell your teachers?"
"I never said I wasn't afraid," Harry replied quietly.
Leaping at this opportunity, Dumbledore replied, "It's not too late Harry, we can stop this."
"No, it has to be done," Harry replied. "I just don't think I can face their doubts, they would agree if you explained it as your idea, but some of them still consider me an impudent child."
"Professor Snape," Dumbledore filled in. Harry nodded.
"You may be right, I will tell them, but I will not say it was my idea," Dumbledore said, "I think it's time we tell them the whole truth."
"About the prophesy?" Harry asked.
"All of it, the Elemental magic as well," Dumbledore confirmed.
"Even Snape?"
"Professor Snape already knows about the Elemental magic Harry."
Harry thought back to the incident at the lake, of course Snape knew. A knock on the door prevented Harry from commenting on this as it opened to reveal Snape, sneering as usual.
In the next few minutes, McGonagall, Flitwick, Bill Weasley, Madam Pomfrey and Professor Sprout arrived and Dumbledore's office looked very crowded. Dumbledore conjured chairs for everyone and they sat down, Dumbledore and Harry on one side of his desk and the teachers facing them.
"I would ask you all to refrain from comments and questions until I have finished," Dumbledore said quietly. The teachers nodded their understanding and looked briefly at Harry, obviously wondering why he was being made privy to a private meeting. Dumbledore explained the Prophesy and Harry's gift of Elemental magic, most of the teachers stared openly at Harry while he suddenly found the toes of his trainers very interesting.
Then came the worst part, Dumbledore explained his mysterious illness and Harry's plan to face Voldemort. Chaos erupted, the teachers all started to talk at once, none of them it seemed were particularly enamoured by the whole idea.
Dumbledore held up his hands and silence returned. "I predicted your reaction to this, but let me tell you that I have already agreed and I will help Harry to carry out his plan," He looked at each one in turn, "What I need to know is who will join us?"
Professor McGonagall stood up and said, "I can't say I agree with this whole idea, but you will have my support, you know that already, headmaster."
Madam Pomfrey nodded, "You know what I think about this whole thing, but I will do what you need me to."
Harry looked up and watched the other teachers fidget in their chairs. McGonagall and Pomfrey already knew about this and had had time to consider it, the rest of the teachers had not. Harry thought Dumbledore was expecting a lot from them, to answer immediately.
Flitwick stood and said, "If you had told me about this a year ago I would have laughed. But I have seen Harry perform this year and I think that this news explains a lot of things. I will support you."
"I hope you always knew I would help you Harry," Bill added, "just don't tell my mother." Dumbledore smiled and Harry nodded.
"Why can't we send all the students home before it begins?" Professor Sprout asked.
Dumbledore caught Harry's eye and indicated that he should be the one to answer. Harry cleared his throat and said, "Many of the death eaters have connections to the school and so if we send them home, Voldemort would hear about it and the plan to bring him here would fail."
All eyes now went to Snape, the only one not to comment so far. Snape sat there, sneering and then with a sigh said, "I think it is a stupid, ill thought out plan. To strip the headmaster of his powers and destroy the wards, which I may remind you have held us safe for centuries, on the word of an overconfident unreliable child, is ridiculous."
You could have cut the tension with a knife, finally Harry replied, "Everyone in this room knows you hate me because of who my parents were. But the point is will you deliver the necessary messages to Voldemort or not? What you think of me is irrelevant." Harry squared his shoulders and waited.
"I will do as the HEADMASTER asks of me Potter, but I still think you seem very keen to meet your own death," Snape replied.
"Then you should be happy to help, after all if I die you will be happy," Harry replied with barely contained anger.
"Headmaster, I will not be spoken to this way by an ungrateful student!" Snape turned his attention to Dumbledore.
"Severus, please," Dumbledore replied calmly, "We are waiting for your answer."
"Fine, I will do as you ask, but I am not doing this for him!" Snape spat.
Harry realised that many of the other teachers had been watching the interplay with open mouths; he thought they were shocked by the way Harry had spoken to Snape, then he realised that he had just given away Snape's position as spy, to them.
"I trust that everyone in this room will speak to no one about the things they have heard tonight, any information leaked of this will put both Severus and Harry's lives in grave danger," Dumbledore looked to his staff.
After another two hours, the teachers were satisfied that they had all the information they required and began to leave, Snape hovered, asking to speak to the headmaster in private and Harry stood to leave. As he reached the door he turned and asked, "I would like your permission to visit Hogsmead tomorrow with a few friends. Secretly."
"Honestly," Snape huffed.
Dumbledore stared into Harry's eyes and then said, "You have my permission, do not abuse it and please be back well before dinner. Goodnight Harry."
"Thank you, Sir, Goodnight," Harry replied as he left the office.
"Harry, where have you been," Hermione asked, as soon as he had stepped into the common room.
"Visiting an old friend," Harry replied, "Listen, can you arrange for the DA to meet tomorrow after breakfast?"
Hermione nodded, they all still have their Galleons, it won't take long to spread the word," Hermione replied.
"Are you going to tell us why?" Ron asked.
Harry smiled, "We're going on a field trip," he replied.
At nine o'clock Harry waited for all the group to arrive in the room of requirements. Hermione did a quick headcount and nodded to Harry, "Everyone's here."
"Hi, today I want to take you on a little trip, does anyone know the disillusionment charm?" Hermione and a few of the Ravenclaws nodded. "Right then, spread out and disillusion everyone, we don't want to be seen sneaking around. Keep in pairs and meet at the statue of the Humpback Witch on the third floor." The room started to empty as the students became invisible, Harry recounted all the auras he could see and then said, "right in ten minutes I'll be waiting for you."
Taking Ron and Hermione's hands, Harry led them out and down to the statue.
"Why do we have to be invisible?" Ron whispered.
"Honestly Ron, don't you think someone would notice twenty odd students gathering around a statue?" Hermione replied.
"Sh!" Harry said, "There's Mrs Norris."
They stood still for several minutes until Mrs Norris left again and finally found the statue.
"How will we know when everyone arrives?" Ron asked.
"Can't you still se their Auras?" Harry asked.
"Oh yeah," Ron replied, "There's four of them coming now."
Harry opened the secret passage and let them in, saying "Just wait until we're all here okay."
The group slipped past him and then the next lot arrived, Harry opened the statue for them and waited until he knew everyone was inside before joining them.
"This tunnel leads to Hogsmead, I want you al to be familiar with it, so we will go quietly and I will show you how to open it at the other side," Harry looked about the invisible group.
"I was just wondering," Anthony Goldstein piped up, "Can you actually see us or are you just good at guessing where we are? It's kind of creepy." There was a collective laugh and Harry smiled and answered, "Yes, I can see you, it's a long and complicated story, so let's just get on, okay?"
There was a murmuring of agreement and they set off. Eventually they reached the trapdoor and Harry opened it, a few at a time, the students popped up their heads and looked about.
"This is so cool," Colin Creevey's voice sounded, "You can go to Hogsmead whenever you feel like it."
"Is that how you always seem to have loads of Honeydukes chocolate?" Susan Bones asked.
The group laughed and Harry asked them, "So do you all think you can remember how to get here?"
Again the sound of agreement so Harry said, "Right then, lets get you all back and you can enjoy the rest of your day off, Please don't use this passage until it's time though, we don't want anyone else to find out about it yet."
The group agreed and started the return journey to Hogwarts. Harry turned and grabbed Ron and Hermione and whispered, "Wait here for me, I'll take them back, then we can go out for a while."
Ron agreed but Hermione said, "Do you think this is a good idea, Dumbledore wouldn't be happy if he found out."
"Actually I asked his permission to do this, he said as long as we were back for dinner it would be alright," Harry replied.
He quickly went after the others and let them out in small groups after he made sure they could remove the disillusionment charm. Then transforming into an eagle he flew back to his friends. Their auras looked very close together so Harry screeched at them and they jumped apart. Grinning Harry transformed and performed the disillusionment charm before they crept out of the trap door and out into the street.
A Glamour charm changed his appearance to a tall blonde boy and they made their way to the three broomsticks for a round of butterbeers.