Title: Wisdom From The Dark 20
Author: Jyrnn
Spoilers: All four books. Wait, can't say that now can I? Okay, PS, CS, PoA, and GoF. I'll probably pilfer whatever bits I can from The Order of The Phoenix. Incidently some of it can fit. Thank you J. K Rowling. Well except the part about Sirius.
Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter nor any of its characters. They are the sole intellectual property of J. K. Rowling and Bloomsbury Books, Scholastic Books and Raincoast Books, and Warner Bros., Inc. I gain no monetary reward for this exercise and do not intend any copyright infringement.
Summery: A child has suffered enough, an intruder encounters unexpected resistance, and the careless words of Voldemort have the most unexpected results. Harry Potter is about to take a stand.
*...* Direct thoughts
Chapter 20: What Lies Inside
He gazed at his minion through the slits of his serpentine eyes. *Lucius is nervous, how refreshing.* Voldemort thought as he sat veiled by the dim shadows of the lightless room as he looked down upon the prostrate form of his most influential Death Eater.
"The message was given to the child?" Voldemort rasped through tight lips.
"As you commanded, my Lord," responded a humbled Malfoy in his meekest tone.
"He knows unequivocally that he lives at my leisure?"
"Yes, My Lord."
"And you shared no private discourse with the boy?"
"As I stated before, I left with the others, my Lord," Lucius replied with his forehead pressed to the cold, dank tile of Voldemort's throne. He didn't look up at his master but from the sounds emanating from the raised platform it was feasible that the master was stroking Nagini again.*He's thinking. Pondering... He knows!* Lucius thought frantically. The hazards of serving Riddle was that there was no certainty in his favor.
Slytherin's heir rose quickly from his ornate throne and closed the distance between himself and his servant. "Hmm...Crucio!" He declared suddenly. The curse lashed out and delivered bouts of intense agony to the head of the Malfoy line. His body convulsed on the on unforgiving stone floor as his mind raced with the unearthly torture of the Cruciatious Curse. Voldemort held the curse in place for quite sometime until eventually he grew weary of the strangled moans of the twitching man. He knelt beside the man and, in a mocking semblance of compassion, smoothed the perspiration damp platinum locks of the prone man.
"Shh... Lucius, my old friend. It is alright now." He said as if he hadn't been grinning seconds before. "I ask for total truth. Always. Your creature Falstaff was quite upset; he said you were late in reaching the first rally point. Now, for you own sake, I ask again: Did you converse privately with the Potter child?" With the question his soothing movements ended and he roughly dug his fingers into the Lucius' temple. The man could only cry out as a single rivulet of blood traced the contours of his cheek.
In that breath he gasped out "Yes!" The pressure of his Lord's claw on his cranium ceased and Voldemort stood once more and ascended the dais to his cruelly wrought iron throne. He sat and slouched in the symbolic seat of power and brought his hand to his lips. The subtlety forked tongue slipped out and licked Malfoy's blood from the stained claw. The effect was altogether unnerving as Voldemort stared down at him with those baleful red eyes. They glowed crimson in the dark and seemed to invade Malfoy's very soul. Voldemort simply looked and waited for Lucius to regain his lost composure.
Rising to a bow, Lucius shivered as he began his supplication. "I beg your forgiveness master; I remained with the child to taunt him further, to claim a debt he owed me." Lucius said weakly.
"A debt? Interesting. Proceed." The Dark Lord commanded in an imperious tone.
"My interference in the attack was the only thing that kept the child alive. Some of the more...zealous...of my brethren felt Potter should befall a terrible "accident" during the course of the assault. My presence prevented that because I reminded everyone that his blood was sacrosanct until you see fit to spill it. I told Potter as much in an attempt to wrest concessions from him. He was unresponsive." The desperate Malfoy blurted.
For a moment Voldemort sat immobile and then his face split in gruesome grin. "Very well Lucius, my old friend, you have served me well in this. You may leave." Voldemort said as he sank into a contemplative trance. Lucius did not need to be told twice.
***
The corridors were very narrow, allowing no more than one person to pass at even the widest of places. The door in which Harry had entered was located at the very corner of the building. So far Oblanskov had led him in spiraling line, circling ever gradually towards the center of the building. Thus far they had been walking for ten minutes.
"Durmstrang offers unequaled instruction in the ancient arts of magic," Oblanskov boasted.
*Oblanskov, that name is familiar* "How do you mean, Headmaster?"
The old man laughed heartily and began to list some the schools more obscure areas of expertise. "No other institution in the world offers such detailed and expert lectures on binding circles and other magical artifice. Our Potion's lab is unparalleled and most of our wizards need very little secondary training when they finish their program."
"Program, what is the significance of that?" *Geez, were have I seen this man before.*
"Your study focus is the area of magic you will devout yourself to while attending Durmstrang. The curriculum is not standardized like in the western schools, but more diverse so as to allow each student to excel in the area appropriate for his or her own needs and desires."
"So, I choose a single topic like Charms?" *Was he in Diagon Alley one time?*
"No! No, it is nothing as simplistic as that. Charms and History are required course material so as to produce a capable and knowledgeable sorcerer. The rest is completely up to you. Within certain reason, anyway."
"But I heard rumors that students here learned..." started Harry.
"The Dark Arts. It is more than rumor Master Potter but a reality. Ancient accords demand we provide whatever subject matter a student requests. Whether that is the proper way to heal a wound, or maybe how to use the less savory aspects of magic... The depth of our instruction coincides with what the student can safely handle. There are valid reasons for a student to learn foul magicks." He stopped when the spiraling hallway ended putting them in front of another nondescript door of old oak. He rapped on it with his cane and the door swung open.
Inside was a large, nay, huge, chamber. Cavernous was the only true way to describe it. The shrieking chorus of bats could be heard in echoing across the high ceilings. From where he stood on rough hewn stone, Harry could see very little. The circumference of the room was dotted with torches and a faint flame could be seen in the distance. The stone floor ended about a meter into the room and from the scant light the streamed from the wall fixture, a dull iron plate with bolts and rivets spread out into the unfathomable darkness.
Harry looked toward his new headmaster with a baffled expression. "Not what I had imagined." That warranted a chuckle from his guide.
"Come now Mr. Potter, you don't really think this is it do you? Not by a long shot." His words reverberated through the stillness of the dark. "The external structure is merely a facade from days long past. A gateway, if you will."
"Wait an external structure. Then..." Harry pondered aloud.
"Indeed. The substance of Durmstrang, like most important thing in life, lies buried beneath the surface." With that he rapped noisily on the metallic construct. The rhythmic thumping resounded like the ringing of gong and a metallic groan shook the darkness. The walls trembled and a groan of mechanical stress answered the gong of Oblanskov's cane. Then, ever so slowly, the plating split visible. A thin line widened and light filtered through from behind the massive door of Durmstrang.
It was a solid minute until the unseen gears finished revealing the entrance. Harry broke his silence with a simple, yet expressive, "Cool."
"Yet ridiculously ostensive. The wizards of past ages seemed to enjoy such displays. Not that we are much better. Last year's Quidditch world cup was such a fiasco I am of a mind never to go again."
"I kind of enjoyed...That's It!"
Oblanskov blinked owlishly and coughed. "That is what Mr. Potter?"
"Where I remember you from! It was the top box at the World Cup. You were the Bulgarian Minister of Magic and Fudge couldn't name you properly. You seemed awfully excited about my scar then also if I remember correctly." The man looked a bit sheepish.
"You came out of nowhere. I expected the usual officials and society members and not the boy who survived the Killing Curse. And as to my office, I retired when the post here was vacated my Karkaroff. Poor man just dropped out of sight. But that is the past now, I am interested in what you will do here with unfettered teaching. Durmstrang may be scorned by polite society and its history may be bloody, but it instills a sense of greatness in all who walk its halls. No, Mr. Potter, what is 'cool' is not the opening of this door, but the opportunity before you." The Bulgarian tapped Harry on the shoulder with his cane and pointed towards the dim corridor exposed by the opened door. "Come, we are letting the heat out."
End 20: Beta Reader- Xirleb70
Author's Notes:
I really meant to have this out sooner but was never really satisfied with what I had written. I've taken liberties with the "Oblans...something" character from the Goblet of Fire just as I have with Durmstrang. A five story castle just didn't do anything for me when compared to the sprawling heights of Hogwarts. Specifics of Durmstrang will unfold in further chapters.
To my reviewers I must bow and offer my most profuse thanks. That means you all: Nighttime Sunshine, peeweepotter Relle, AJaKe, cricket, sil, Zaln, Lady FoxFire, Them Girl, fan, Otaku Freak, Saiyan Seker88, bostonian, ADJ, Webster, Star Mage, Lilybee2003, ZeonReborn, gallandro-83, Paul, pablo5280, Imaginaryfriend, Destruxion, kapies, rosie. Bill Weasly, Myrddin Ambrosius Jr.book worm, litine, clingon87,Siri Kat, pan, potter-man, DaBear, Potatoes, PheonixMan,GREENDAY 9829, Elessar, Jason Gregory, Ides of March, Orion, I)ark/-)ngel, keebler-elmo, Angelis, lollipozz, Sophie W., Sarah Rochester, azntgr01, Facade, Klover, Renee Fay and Rachel A. Prongs. You feedback is greatly appreciated and if I have missed anyone you have my apologies. I consider all of you suggestions and you support makes me want to write more. A special thanks to Xirleb70 for being the beta of this chapter. Later
Author: Jyrnn
Spoilers: All four books. Wait, can't say that now can I? Okay, PS, CS, PoA, and GoF. I'll probably pilfer whatever bits I can from The Order of The Phoenix. Incidently some of it can fit. Thank you J. K Rowling. Well except the part about Sirius.
Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter nor any of its characters. They are the sole intellectual property of J. K. Rowling and Bloomsbury Books, Scholastic Books and Raincoast Books, and Warner Bros., Inc. I gain no monetary reward for this exercise and do not intend any copyright infringement.
Summery: A child has suffered enough, an intruder encounters unexpected resistance, and the careless words of Voldemort have the most unexpected results. Harry Potter is about to take a stand.
*...* Direct thoughts
Chapter 20: What Lies Inside
He gazed at his minion through the slits of his serpentine eyes. *Lucius is nervous, how refreshing.* Voldemort thought as he sat veiled by the dim shadows of the lightless room as he looked down upon the prostrate form of his most influential Death Eater.
"The message was given to the child?" Voldemort rasped through tight lips.
"As you commanded, my Lord," responded a humbled Malfoy in his meekest tone.
"He knows unequivocally that he lives at my leisure?"
"Yes, My Lord."
"And you shared no private discourse with the boy?"
"As I stated before, I left with the others, my Lord," Lucius replied with his forehead pressed to the cold, dank tile of Voldemort's throne. He didn't look up at his master but from the sounds emanating from the raised platform it was feasible that the master was stroking Nagini again.*He's thinking. Pondering... He knows!* Lucius thought frantically. The hazards of serving Riddle was that there was no certainty in his favor.
Slytherin's heir rose quickly from his ornate throne and closed the distance between himself and his servant. "Hmm...Crucio!" He declared suddenly. The curse lashed out and delivered bouts of intense agony to the head of the Malfoy line. His body convulsed on the on unforgiving stone floor as his mind raced with the unearthly torture of the Cruciatious Curse. Voldemort held the curse in place for quite sometime until eventually he grew weary of the strangled moans of the twitching man. He knelt beside the man and, in a mocking semblance of compassion, smoothed the perspiration damp platinum locks of the prone man.
"Shh... Lucius, my old friend. It is alright now." He said as if he hadn't been grinning seconds before. "I ask for total truth. Always. Your creature Falstaff was quite upset; he said you were late in reaching the first rally point. Now, for you own sake, I ask again: Did you converse privately with the Potter child?" With the question his soothing movements ended and he roughly dug his fingers into the Lucius' temple. The man could only cry out as a single rivulet of blood traced the contours of his cheek.
In that breath he gasped out "Yes!" The pressure of his Lord's claw on his cranium ceased and Voldemort stood once more and ascended the dais to his cruelly wrought iron throne. He sat and slouched in the symbolic seat of power and brought his hand to his lips. The subtlety forked tongue slipped out and licked Malfoy's blood from the stained claw. The effect was altogether unnerving as Voldemort stared down at him with those baleful red eyes. They glowed crimson in the dark and seemed to invade Malfoy's very soul. Voldemort simply looked and waited for Lucius to regain his lost composure.
Rising to a bow, Lucius shivered as he began his supplication. "I beg your forgiveness master; I remained with the child to taunt him further, to claim a debt he owed me." Lucius said weakly.
"A debt? Interesting. Proceed." The Dark Lord commanded in an imperious tone.
"My interference in the attack was the only thing that kept the child alive. Some of the more...zealous...of my brethren felt Potter should befall a terrible "accident" during the course of the assault. My presence prevented that because I reminded everyone that his blood was sacrosanct until you see fit to spill it. I told Potter as much in an attempt to wrest concessions from him. He was unresponsive." The desperate Malfoy blurted.
For a moment Voldemort sat immobile and then his face split in gruesome grin. "Very well Lucius, my old friend, you have served me well in this. You may leave." Voldemort said as he sank into a contemplative trance. Lucius did not need to be told twice.
***
The corridors were very narrow, allowing no more than one person to pass at even the widest of places. The door in which Harry had entered was located at the very corner of the building. So far Oblanskov had led him in spiraling line, circling ever gradually towards the center of the building. Thus far they had been walking for ten minutes.
"Durmstrang offers unequaled instruction in the ancient arts of magic," Oblanskov boasted.
*Oblanskov, that name is familiar* "How do you mean, Headmaster?"
The old man laughed heartily and began to list some the schools more obscure areas of expertise. "No other institution in the world offers such detailed and expert lectures on binding circles and other magical artifice. Our Potion's lab is unparalleled and most of our wizards need very little secondary training when they finish their program."
"Program, what is the significance of that?" *Geez, were have I seen this man before.*
"Your study focus is the area of magic you will devout yourself to while attending Durmstrang. The curriculum is not standardized like in the western schools, but more diverse so as to allow each student to excel in the area appropriate for his or her own needs and desires."
"So, I choose a single topic like Charms?" *Was he in Diagon Alley one time?*
"No! No, it is nothing as simplistic as that. Charms and History are required course material so as to produce a capable and knowledgeable sorcerer. The rest is completely up to you. Within certain reason, anyway."
"But I heard rumors that students here learned..." started Harry.
"The Dark Arts. It is more than rumor Master Potter but a reality. Ancient accords demand we provide whatever subject matter a student requests. Whether that is the proper way to heal a wound, or maybe how to use the less savory aspects of magic... The depth of our instruction coincides with what the student can safely handle. There are valid reasons for a student to learn foul magicks." He stopped when the spiraling hallway ended putting them in front of another nondescript door of old oak. He rapped on it with his cane and the door swung open.
Inside was a large, nay, huge, chamber. Cavernous was the only true way to describe it. The shrieking chorus of bats could be heard in echoing across the high ceilings. From where he stood on rough hewn stone, Harry could see very little. The circumference of the room was dotted with torches and a faint flame could be seen in the distance. The stone floor ended about a meter into the room and from the scant light the streamed from the wall fixture, a dull iron plate with bolts and rivets spread out into the unfathomable darkness.
Harry looked toward his new headmaster with a baffled expression. "Not what I had imagined." That warranted a chuckle from his guide.
"Come now Mr. Potter, you don't really think this is it do you? Not by a long shot." His words reverberated through the stillness of the dark. "The external structure is merely a facade from days long past. A gateway, if you will."
"Wait an external structure. Then..." Harry pondered aloud.
"Indeed. The substance of Durmstrang, like most important thing in life, lies buried beneath the surface." With that he rapped noisily on the metallic construct. The rhythmic thumping resounded like the ringing of gong and a metallic groan shook the darkness. The walls trembled and a groan of mechanical stress answered the gong of Oblanskov's cane. Then, ever so slowly, the plating split visible. A thin line widened and light filtered through from behind the massive door of Durmstrang.
It was a solid minute until the unseen gears finished revealing the entrance. Harry broke his silence with a simple, yet expressive, "Cool."
"Yet ridiculously ostensive. The wizards of past ages seemed to enjoy such displays. Not that we are much better. Last year's Quidditch world cup was such a fiasco I am of a mind never to go again."
"I kind of enjoyed...That's It!"
Oblanskov blinked owlishly and coughed. "That is what Mr. Potter?"
"Where I remember you from! It was the top box at the World Cup. You were the Bulgarian Minister of Magic and Fudge couldn't name you properly. You seemed awfully excited about my scar then also if I remember correctly." The man looked a bit sheepish.
"You came out of nowhere. I expected the usual officials and society members and not the boy who survived the Killing Curse. And as to my office, I retired when the post here was vacated my Karkaroff. Poor man just dropped out of sight. But that is the past now, I am interested in what you will do here with unfettered teaching. Durmstrang may be scorned by polite society and its history may be bloody, but it instills a sense of greatness in all who walk its halls. No, Mr. Potter, what is 'cool' is not the opening of this door, but the opportunity before you." The Bulgarian tapped Harry on the shoulder with his cane and pointed towards the dim corridor exposed by the opened door. "Come, we are letting the heat out."
End 20: Beta Reader- Xirleb70
Author's Notes:
I really meant to have this out sooner but was never really satisfied with what I had written. I've taken liberties with the "Oblans...something" character from the Goblet of Fire just as I have with Durmstrang. A five story castle just didn't do anything for me when compared to the sprawling heights of Hogwarts. Specifics of Durmstrang will unfold in further chapters.
To my reviewers I must bow and offer my most profuse thanks. That means you all: Nighttime Sunshine, peeweepotter Relle, AJaKe, cricket, sil, Zaln, Lady FoxFire, Them Girl, fan, Otaku Freak, Saiyan Seker88, bostonian, ADJ, Webster, Star Mage, Lilybee2003, ZeonReborn, gallandro-83, Paul, pablo5280, Imaginaryfriend, Destruxion, kapies, rosie. Bill Weasly, Myrddin Ambrosius Jr.book worm, litine, clingon87,Siri Kat, pan, potter-man, DaBear, Potatoes, PheonixMan,GREENDAY 9829, Elessar, Jason Gregory, Ides of March, Orion, I)ark/-)ngel, keebler-elmo, Angelis, lollipozz, Sophie W., Sarah Rochester, azntgr01, Facade, Klover, Renee Fay and Rachel A. Prongs. You feedback is greatly appreciated and if I have missed anyone you have my apologies. I consider all of you suggestions and you support makes me want to write more. A special thanks to Xirleb70 for being the beta of this chapter. Later