Chapter 16
Dark Times
March passed by quickly, as did April, even without as heavy of a load on Harry. He knew Dumbledore had meant for him to not think about his Auror training in March and his Quidditch training in April, but that did not stop him from it. He constantly practiced his spells without Tonks and even though there weren't any Quidditch matches scheduled for a month, he had the team practicing at least twice a week to keep in shape; Gryffindor had made it once again to the decisive game for the Quidditch Cup against Slytherin in the middle of June.
"I don't know how you do it, mate," Ron told him one day as he faithfully watched his best friend work one Saturday.
"Do what?" Harry asked, looking up from his Potions homework.
"Everything. I'm under enough stress and I don't have half the amount of homework as you nor the Auror training. How do you do it?"
"To tell you the truth, I don't know," Harry said thoughtfully. Lately he had been on a study schedule frighteningly similar to Hermione's: first one up in the morning, last one to bed at night and somehow managing to remember everything in between.
"I'm afraid you're becoming a workaholic, Harry. Before we know it, there will be another Percy wandering through these halls."
* * *
"Transformation potions. Extremely complex, extremely difficult, and, to some," Snape took the opportunity to sneer at Harry, "extremely confusing. This week we will be creating one of the simplest of transformation potions—which also takes the least amount of time to make: a human to animal potion." Snape sneered at the side of the room the Gryffindors, Ravenclaws, and Hufflepuffs sat.
"Now, I ask you all to take extreme caution this week. On Friday we will be—testing someone's potion. They will drink it and if it's right, will turn into the respective animal of their potion." Snape's gaze fell on Harry again, who knew he had once again been the subject of the Potions master's hatred. "The instructions are written here on the board," he said as he pointed his wand to the blackboard. "And the ingredients you do not have in your regular potion kits are located on the table in the front. Get to work."
Hermione read the board immediately and went to gather her ingredients. Harry however had absolutely no idea what he was supposed to be doing as he read the ingredients. Powdered talon of a bezoar...three dried Billywig stings...powdered Erumpent horn... He had no idea what most of them were. A swift knock interrupted the class's thoughts. "Enter," Snape said lazily. Professor McGonagall entered the room, gestured to Harry to follow her to Snape's desk, and started to talk briskly to the both of them before Harry had even approached the desk.
"...I must take Harry so Professor Dumbledore can talk to him at once."
"Potter has to start his potion and complete his lesson. If this is another photo shoot..."
"Severus! Of all people I thought you would understand. You have spent part of the summer with Harry and fully know about the Abyss of the Enemy and the Order." She lowered her voice as the subject matter grew even more secretive.
"Yes, but Potter cannot miss out on my class! He has over an hour to complete yet."
"I am aware that he has class, but this is urgent; it could lead to a life or death situation."
"Fine. Fine...Potter, leave my class at once! I expect you to make up this lost work time within the next two days."
Harry mouthed a quick "see you later" to Hermione and followed Professor McGonagall out of the dungeon. He almost had to run to keep up with her quick strides. "What is this about, Professor?"
"Professor Dumbledore will explain everything in detail once we reach his office, but for now all I can tell you is that the Ministry sent twenty Aurors to explore the Abyss of the Enemy and keep it under control. None returned."
Harry's heart sank. "You mean they—they—died?"
"I'm afraid so." She quickened her pace even more, and more lines appeared to be spreading across her face. "I cannot tell you anything more than that."
After five silent minutes, they were entering the headmaster's office. Seated next to his desk were Mr. and Mrs. Weasley, Mad-Eye Moody, Professor Dumbledore, and Sirius in ghost form. Immediately, Harry's godfather glided over to him, checking him over thoroughly. "Are you all right?"
Harry could merely grunt in reply. Sirius appeared to have understood, as he led Harry over to a seat in between him and Mrs. Weasley. Harry smiled at her and she squeezed his hand in a worried manner. Dumbledore began to speak. "The Ministry of Magic sent twenty Aurors to keep the Abyss of the Enemy under control. None of them returned. It appears Voldemort is gaining even more power than we originally anticipated, even though he himself is steering clear of the actual fighting. He is gaining power, therefore gaining supporters. Whether or not this sudden increase in support of the Dark Arts is a forced act we do not know.
"Fear has caused terror throughout the Wizarding world. No longer do people feel safe when they go to bed at night. No longer is there peace and prosperity. And no longer do we have a line of eager students wanting to pursue Aurorism.
"Harry, you are approximately halfway through your training. I hate to call on you when you haven't yet completed it, but I am afraid we have no choice. Next month, we will be sending all of the Aurors we can spare to the Abyss. I am afraid you will have to go as well. We need your help to put more Death Eaters in Azkaban."
Harry couldn't help himself from interrupting. "But isn't Azkaban still under the control of the dementors?"
"Not anymore. Just last night I managed to convince Cornelius to place Aurors to stand guard at the gates, at least temporarily. They will be the best of the best and we will not put up with any more breakouts. I am afraid our attack on the Abyss will lead to consequences, however. There cannot be a victory for us without great loss."
"Not that we haven't suffered great loss already, eh, Dumbledore?" growled Moody.
"I am aware of this, Alastor, which is why I am taking charge of this situation. Cornelius appears to have his eyes set on other things. The more Death Eaters we put into Azkaban, the better."
"But, Harry isn't done with his training yet!" Mrs. Weasley objected. She had gone pale. "You shouldn't send him out unprepared."
Dumbledore turned towards her with a kind face. "Molly, you must understand. I know you consider Harry part of your family, but he must go."
"As his godfather, I think I should have a say in this," Sirius said from Harry's left side.
"I am open to any suggestions," Dumbledore replied, listening intently.
"How about Harry goes to the Abyss, but doesn't necessarily fight? He could stand on the sidelines and jump in when the time is right."
"That would never work," Moody replied irritably. "Potter can't just dance around the Dark Lord forever. He's faced evil many times before and he's still here, all in one piece, isn't he?" The aging Auror gestured in Harry's direction and gave him a twisted grin, which Harry returned.
"I am afraid, Moody, that Harry is simply too young," Mr. Weasley interjected, agreeing with his wife.
"Wasn't too young to face him before now, was he?" Moody growled. "Wasn't too young when he only had a year in his favor?"
"Those were...mandatory circumstances."
"Can I please have a say in my fate?" Harry said, stopping the argument before it got worse.
The tension in the room was so great that few had even heard him. "Go ahead, Harry," Dumbledore said, gesturing for him to continue.
"I will go to the Abyss of the Enemy and I will fight against the Death Eaters. I've faced death many times before and if Voldemort isn't even prepared to face me yet, I am in no extreme danger."
"But the Death Eaters--" Mrs. Weasley started.
"The prophecy from last year said only Voldemort can kill me and only I can kill Voldemort. His followers are dangerous, yes, but not powerful enough to kill me."
"It is decided, then," Dumbledore said, standing up. Looking disheveled, Sirius stood up next to Harry and gave him what he apparently thought to be a comforting smile.
"Can we talk in private?" Harry's godfather asked him as everyone started to leave.
"Sure," Harry replied, excusing himself from the group and followed Sirius to the corner of the room.
"I'm really proud of you, Harry, you know that right?"
"Yes."
"Well, I was going to take part in the debate so I could tell you what to do until I realized you are almost a full-grown wizard. You need to start making choices on your own. I really want you to go to the Abyss. Not necessarily fight, but just to be there on hand. I have a feeling you will accomplish more by actually being there than sitting idle here at Hogwarts. I of all people would understand the feeling of confinement," he added bitterly.
"Thanks, Sirius."
"No problem. Listen, I have to leave, but ask Dumbledore to summon me if you need me. Bye, Harry."
"Good-bye Sirius," Harry replied as the ghost form of his godfather disappeared.
Dark Times
March passed by quickly, as did April, even without as heavy of a load on Harry. He knew Dumbledore had meant for him to not think about his Auror training in March and his Quidditch training in April, but that did not stop him from it. He constantly practiced his spells without Tonks and even though there weren't any Quidditch matches scheduled for a month, he had the team practicing at least twice a week to keep in shape; Gryffindor had made it once again to the decisive game for the Quidditch Cup against Slytherin in the middle of June.
"I don't know how you do it, mate," Ron told him one day as he faithfully watched his best friend work one Saturday.
"Do what?" Harry asked, looking up from his Potions homework.
"Everything. I'm under enough stress and I don't have half the amount of homework as you nor the Auror training. How do you do it?"
"To tell you the truth, I don't know," Harry said thoughtfully. Lately he had been on a study schedule frighteningly similar to Hermione's: first one up in the morning, last one to bed at night and somehow managing to remember everything in between.
"I'm afraid you're becoming a workaholic, Harry. Before we know it, there will be another Percy wandering through these halls."
* * *
"Transformation potions. Extremely complex, extremely difficult, and, to some," Snape took the opportunity to sneer at Harry, "extremely confusing. This week we will be creating one of the simplest of transformation potions—which also takes the least amount of time to make: a human to animal potion." Snape sneered at the side of the room the Gryffindors, Ravenclaws, and Hufflepuffs sat.
"Now, I ask you all to take extreme caution this week. On Friday we will be—testing someone's potion. They will drink it and if it's right, will turn into the respective animal of their potion." Snape's gaze fell on Harry again, who knew he had once again been the subject of the Potions master's hatred. "The instructions are written here on the board," he said as he pointed his wand to the blackboard. "And the ingredients you do not have in your regular potion kits are located on the table in the front. Get to work."
Hermione read the board immediately and went to gather her ingredients. Harry however had absolutely no idea what he was supposed to be doing as he read the ingredients. Powdered talon of a bezoar...three dried Billywig stings...powdered Erumpent horn... He had no idea what most of them were. A swift knock interrupted the class's thoughts. "Enter," Snape said lazily. Professor McGonagall entered the room, gestured to Harry to follow her to Snape's desk, and started to talk briskly to the both of them before Harry had even approached the desk.
"...I must take Harry so Professor Dumbledore can talk to him at once."
"Potter has to start his potion and complete his lesson. If this is another photo shoot..."
"Severus! Of all people I thought you would understand. You have spent part of the summer with Harry and fully know about the Abyss of the Enemy and the Order." She lowered her voice as the subject matter grew even more secretive.
"Yes, but Potter cannot miss out on my class! He has over an hour to complete yet."
"I am aware that he has class, but this is urgent; it could lead to a life or death situation."
"Fine. Fine...Potter, leave my class at once! I expect you to make up this lost work time within the next two days."
Harry mouthed a quick "see you later" to Hermione and followed Professor McGonagall out of the dungeon. He almost had to run to keep up with her quick strides. "What is this about, Professor?"
"Professor Dumbledore will explain everything in detail once we reach his office, but for now all I can tell you is that the Ministry sent twenty Aurors to explore the Abyss of the Enemy and keep it under control. None returned."
Harry's heart sank. "You mean they—they—died?"
"I'm afraid so." She quickened her pace even more, and more lines appeared to be spreading across her face. "I cannot tell you anything more than that."
After five silent minutes, they were entering the headmaster's office. Seated next to his desk were Mr. and Mrs. Weasley, Mad-Eye Moody, Professor Dumbledore, and Sirius in ghost form. Immediately, Harry's godfather glided over to him, checking him over thoroughly. "Are you all right?"
Harry could merely grunt in reply. Sirius appeared to have understood, as he led Harry over to a seat in between him and Mrs. Weasley. Harry smiled at her and she squeezed his hand in a worried manner. Dumbledore began to speak. "The Ministry of Magic sent twenty Aurors to keep the Abyss of the Enemy under control. None of them returned. It appears Voldemort is gaining even more power than we originally anticipated, even though he himself is steering clear of the actual fighting. He is gaining power, therefore gaining supporters. Whether or not this sudden increase in support of the Dark Arts is a forced act we do not know.
"Fear has caused terror throughout the Wizarding world. No longer do people feel safe when they go to bed at night. No longer is there peace and prosperity. And no longer do we have a line of eager students wanting to pursue Aurorism.
"Harry, you are approximately halfway through your training. I hate to call on you when you haven't yet completed it, but I am afraid we have no choice. Next month, we will be sending all of the Aurors we can spare to the Abyss. I am afraid you will have to go as well. We need your help to put more Death Eaters in Azkaban."
Harry couldn't help himself from interrupting. "But isn't Azkaban still under the control of the dementors?"
"Not anymore. Just last night I managed to convince Cornelius to place Aurors to stand guard at the gates, at least temporarily. They will be the best of the best and we will not put up with any more breakouts. I am afraid our attack on the Abyss will lead to consequences, however. There cannot be a victory for us without great loss."
"Not that we haven't suffered great loss already, eh, Dumbledore?" growled Moody.
"I am aware of this, Alastor, which is why I am taking charge of this situation. Cornelius appears to have his eyes set on other things. The more Death Eaters we put into Azkaban, the better."
"But, Harry isn't done with his training yet!" Mrs. Weasley objected. She had gone pale. "You shouldn't send him out unprepared."
Dumbledore turned towards her with a kind face. "Molly, you must understand. I know you consider Harry part of your family, but he must go."
"As his godfather, I think I should have a say in this," Sirius said from Harry's left side.
"I am open to any suggestions," Dumbledore replied, listening intently.
"How about Harry goes to the Abyss, but doesn't necessarily fight? He could stand on the sidelines and jump in when the time is right."
"That would never work," Moody replied irritably. "Potter can't just dance around the Dark Lord forever. He's faced evil many times before and he's still here, all in one piece, isn't he?" The aging Auror gestured in Harry's direction and gave him a twisted grin, which Harry returned.
"I am afraid, Moody, that Harry is simply too young," Mr. Weasley interjected, agreeing with his wife.
"Wasn't too young to face him before now, was he?" Moody growled. "Wasn't too young when he only had a year in his favor?"
"Those were...mandatory circumstances."
"Can I please have a say in my fate?" Harry said, stopping the argument before it got worse.
The tension in the room was so great that few had even heard him. "Go ahead, Harry," Dumbledore said, gesturing for him to continue.
"I will go to the Abyss of the Enemy and I will fight against the Death Eaters. I've faced death many times before and if Voldemort isn't even prepared to face me yet, I am in no extreme danger."
"But the Death Eaters--" Mrs. Weasley started.
"The prophecy from last year said only Voldemort can kill me and only I can kill Voldemort. His followers are dangerous, yes, but not powerful enough to kill me."
"It is decided, then," Dumbledore said, standing up. Looking disheveled, Sirius stood up next to Harry and gave him what he apparently thought to be a comforting smile.
"Can we talk in private?" Harry's godfather asked him as everyone started to leave.
"Sure," Harry replied, excusing himself from the group and followed Sirius to the corner of the room.
"I'm really proud of you, Harry, you know that right?"
"Yes."
"Well, I was going to take part in the debate so I could tell you what to do until I realized you are almost a full-grown wizard. You need to start making choices on your own. I really want you to go to the Abyss. Not necessarily fight, but just to be there on hand. I have a feeling you will accomplish more by actually being there than sitting idle here at Hogwarts. I of all people would understand the feeling of confinement," he added bitterly.
"Thanks, Sirius."
"No problem. Listen, I have to leave, but ask Dumbledore to summon me if you need me. Bye, Harry."
"Good-bye Sirius," Harry replied as the ghost form of his godfather disappeared.
