Title: Chaunt du Cygne
Author: illusory
Disclaimer: Harry Potter is the property of J. K. Rowling and I'm just playing for my own amusement. I don't own anything except the little original things in this story and well the story it's self. Any spells, books, or original characters that I come up with are mine, please respect that.
Rating: R (I think not sure where the line is crossed)
Warning: This is pre-slash, but will not even show a hint of it (sorry). There will be violence, gore, angst galore, contemplative and attempted suicide, language, and death.
Author's Notes: Just so that everyone knows there will be many consistencies with the fifth book. I want to keep some of the tings that happened the same, but as you can already see there will be differences. Just to let you know I will be taking excerpts from the fifth book, such as the little speech Umbridge gives the Great Hall during the Sorting Feast.
Punctuation Notation:
parseltongue
Coming Night
After changing into my robes I settle into one of the back compartments with a book to wait for the train to start. I figure that it'll be awhile yet, seeing as I appear to be the only student on the train. Not that I mind. It gives me plenty of time to take care of the few still visible bruises and my haggard appearance with a well-placed concealment charm. Hedwig takes her place on my shoulder as I sit down to continue reading the book Sirius and Professor Lupin gave me for my birthday this year.
"Harry?" A soft voice startles me awake and I realize that I must have fallen asleep. The thought sends a shiver of cold dread down my spine. "Harry, are you alright?" It's Hermione sitting beside me with a hand on my shoulder and a concerned look in her eyes.
Hedwig is gone, perched above on the racks.
"M'fine." I mange to say though my hands cover my face. I rub my eyes trying to dispense the groggy feeling of sleep and to gain time to recompose myself. She still looks worried and I can practically feel the self-restraint it must be taking her to remain silently perched beside me. I suddenly feel guilty for not having reassured her some how that everything was alight.
"Harry, why didn't you ever owl? You never sent any replies to the letters Hermione and I sent!" My gaze snaps from Hermione to Ron whose sitting forward in his seat across from me. He looks worried too, but defiantly extremely upset, almost trembling in his seat. Any guilt that I may have felt about not contacting Ron is quickly dissipated.
"Ron! You shouldn't scold Harry like that! I'm sure there is a perfectly good reason for why Harry couldn't get a hold of us. Right Harry?" Hermione's eyes plead me to say yes and just agree with her. She really does want to believe that I would owl if I could. My throat tightens while my gut clenches hotly in guilt for being so selfish. How could I have just ignored my best friends?
"I couldn't bring myself to owl anyone. I just wanted to forget for awhile and I'm sorry, but anything that I would have written would have been utter nonsense." It was as honest an answer I'm willing to give at the moment and I hope they'll accept it.
"Oh Harry, but it's not good to keep all those things to your self. You should know that Ron and I will always be there if you need us. We were worried about you and honestly I'd think that letters of some sort, no matter how nonsensical, would be a great deal better then nothing at all. For all we could have known the Dursleys may have had those horrible bars on your window again. Please don't shut us out Harry. I know we may not be able to understand what you're going through, but that doesn't mean we can't be there to help you." Hermione says before pulling me into a loose hug, gently rocking me back and forth while one of her hands runs soothingly on my back. Ron joins the hug and I'm blanketed in warmth. I must have been cold before, for my skin burns where their warmth seeps through; I relish the feeling.
"Well isn't this just precious." Draco Malfoy stands in the compartment doorway sneering down at us with his two cronies behind him.
Ron stiffens behind me and I turn to give him a look before laying my head back down on Hermione's shoulder.
"Yep Malfoy, I'd have to agree, it's rather the Kodak Moment." Hermione giggles and Malfoy just stares at me as though I've lost it. "You may leave now, Malfoy. Unless that is, there's something worthwhile you came to say. Wait scratch that. I forgot nothing you say is worth hearing. In that case feel free to escort yourself to another compartment, that is if you're able."
"Think you're something, don't you? Well you just better watch it Potter." Malfoy glances at Ron with a blank look before sneering at him. "You never know who might stab you in the back." With that Malfoy spins on his heels stalking off with Crabbe and Goyle following behind.
Ron stiffens against me. "What I wouldn't give to get that slimy bas…"
"Ron! You shouldn't say things like that. We don't need to sink to his level of mentality." Hermione tersely says while pulling us closer as though for reassurance that Ron and most likely I won't do anything rash.
"Besides Ron," I say quite sarcastically, "people like that normally get their comeuppance. You know the whole evil always loses thing and everyone's alright in the end." in hopes of turning the mood into something a bit more positive. Instead though I'm met with silence. Perhaps I said something wrong? I lift my head just enough to make out the expression on Ron's face. Well his shocked look quickly turns into a scowl and I realize that what I said isn't really something anyone would expect from Harry Potter the Boy-Who-Lived, Gryffindor's Golden Boy. Oops. Perhaps if I close my eyes and just wish it away they'll forget. Not likely, I let out a sigh and turn to look at Hermione. Eck, she's concerned and she has that look in her eyes that tells you she is going to get to the bottom of whatever the matter is.
"Harry, is something bothering you that you can tell us about?" Hermione asks gently.
"No, everything is fine, really it is. I was trying to lighten the mood a bit, you know?" I hadn't meant to get Hermione worried again and yet there she was worrying her worrying lip, a habit she'd formed over the years before she'd tricked Madam Pomfrey into fixing her teeth at the beginning of fourth year. The guilt is slowly crushing me. Out of my four years at Hogwarts these are the only two people whom I've really gotten to know and I care about them more then what's safe. They have risked so much for me over the years without once saying a thing about it. Yet still I can't do right by them in anyway. They trust me so much, but I still keep secrets from them and I worry them all the time. They're kids and deserve to have fun and enjoy life, but I always bring trouble wherever I go. I'm worthless. It seemed as though there is nothing that I could do right. Not even something as simple as this! I'm worthless.
"It's just that, well Harry the way you said it was kind of creepy. Umm… and just… well not something that I would think you'd say, mate." Ron stutters, trying to get his point across, and he does.
Oh, yes I understand that I'd hardly said something that people would expect The-Boy-Who-Lived to say, but it surely isn't that big of a deal, is it? Does it really matter so much that I should watch the things I say or else others might think there is something wrong with me? Well it's not as if I can really deny that things aren't quite right, but it still isn't that bad and nothing that I can't handle on my own.
"Well, no matter." Hermione says and after a moment, as though thinking upon what she should say, she goes on. "If something is really wrong or if you do need help I expect you'll tell us when you're ready, Harry." She pauses again and glances Ron's way as though waiting for something. I watch curiously as Ron nods his head and Hermione begins to talk once more. "There is something that you should know Harry, and I'm rather surprised that Malfoy hadn't mentioned anything about it, though I expect he will later. The Daily Prophet has been saying some truly awful things about you and they aren't the only paper; it seems that the Minister is hoping to discredit you and Professor Dumbledore. Minister Fudge has issued a series of statements that, well he's making it appear as though you're turning dark."
I stare blankly for a moment at Hermione. Surely I hadn't heard her right. She continues to look at me, nervous and a bit apologetic. Slumping in their embrace I let my head fall back and groan in dismay. Hermione is serious. It would figure that Fudge would do something like this. Getting my act together I pull my head up and look into Ron's eyes before turning to Hermione. "Do you know how people have responded to the…" I impatiently gesture my hand trying to find a word that encompasses all the damage Fudge has likely to have caused. "…well just everything!" I finally huff out in exasperation.
"There haven't been any articles on people's reaction, but I'm not sure Harry. All I know is what I get from the papers that I've subscribed to. I'm sorry." I can tell Hermione is frustrated with her inability to come up with a good answer and she pulls me closer. "I really am sorry Harry, but you know Ron and I don't believe any of that garbage and we'll be there for you."
"I've heard from my dad that reactions at the Ministry have been fairly mixed, but Harry there are many people who'll be convinced by the Minister. He kind of has some things on you that look pretty bad." Ron moves in closer to us as he says this but looks away from both Hermione and I.
"Ron?" Hermione questions, but Ron wouldn't turn to look at her. "Ron, what's wrong? Why won't you look at me?" She sits there looking intently at Ron a frown on her face. "What aren't you telling us?" She asks softly as she reaches out to him and gently soothes some of his bangs back. Ron clenches his eyes closed and flinches from her touch, which causes Hermione to hesitantly withdraw her hand.
"It's nothing. I just… wish this wasn't happening. I wish the Minister would just believe Harry. I wish people wouldn't so blindly believe Fudge." Ron trips on the words, but they were laced with sincerity and yet, are tense and stressed as though getting these things out are wearing on Ron. We sit there for a moment more before I decide that whatever is torturing Ron can be left to deal with later when he will hopefully be willing to tell us. With a huff I pull Ron back toward Hermione and I from where he'd shrunk away.
"It'll just take time for people to see the truth. After all Voldemort won't stay quite forever." Ron flinches at the name and Hermione shivers, but they both stay silent and let me continue. "Eventually he's going to do something that the Minister won't be able to cover up. He isn't one to let others take credit for his handy work for long. After he has enough of his forces gathered, he will make his show. Till then we have to wait and hope that something will come up and we can expose him or better yet get rid of him altogether." Ron perks up a bit and finally turns to face us.
"That's right he'll not stay hidden forever. So it's just a matter of time, right? Before you know it people will find that the Minister is lying and then no one will believe you're going dark." Ron looks so happy. I didn't really say anything comforting. People believe what they want to believe and chances are that just like in second year people will think that I'm going dark. This isn't the first time and I doubt it's the last, but if it makes Ron feel better then I'm not going to be the one to break the truth to him.
"Ron…" Hermione begins before she trials off. "Ron! We're going to be late!" That's a surprise. What's Hermione talking about.
"Late for what?" Ron and Hermione are already getting up and getting their onboard bags together. They both stop and turn toward each other before turning back to me. Ron is blushing brightly and Hermione is worrying at her lower lip again.
"I'm sorry we forgot to tell you Harry, but you see Ron and I were chosen to be the Gryffindor fifth year prefects and there's supposed to be a meeting that we have to attend."
"Yeah, we knew we had some time because it isn't scheduled till a little after the train leaves the station, but the train left awhile ago and we didn't notice till now."
"We'll be back if there's any time left after the meeting, Harry." They say all this quickly, picking up where the other left off. I sit in stunned silence; I'd completely forgot that they picked prefects for fifth year. Too many other things were on my mind I guess, though I'm a bit surprised that Ron is a prefect. I instantly feel bad for thinking that and smile up at my friends. "Does this mean that we'll be able to get away with more things now that the two of you are prefects?" I turn my tentative smile into a toothy grin and Ron brightens up immediately and Hermione merely shakes her head and rolls her eyes in exasperation.
"So you don't mind us being prefects?" Ron asks with a hopeful tinge lacing his voice. I feel doubly bad for my previous thoughts and get up and give Ron a pat of the back and smile.
"Of course I don't mind the two of you being prefects! How could I?"
"Well I always thought you'd be the one who'd get chosen to be a prefect." Ron says hesitantly.
"Nope couldn't imagine myself as one. I mean after all I've gotten into too much trouble over the years to become a prefect. Now, aren't the two of you late for a meeting?" That gets Hermione's attention and she grabs Ron by the collar and pulls him toward the door.
"See you later Harry!" She says as she drags a stunned Ron behind her.
I chuckle at their antics and close the door behind them. The compartment is suddenly very silent and I look around it for the first time since Hermione had awoken me. It's rather bare and empty, and Hedwig is still perched above on one of the racks. She stares at me intently for a moment before gliding down and landing on my shoulder. A sigh escapes me and I sit myself back down. Pulling out my wand I cast a spell on the door and ward it so that only Ron and Hermione may enter. With that out of the way I pick up the fallen book, Splendid Isolation, and continue reading. It not only contains information about rare magical creature, but also about powerful magical beings that are seldom seen and not always of this realm.
I quickly became absorbed in the book till the trolley lady comes by with sweets and I decided to take a break and buy a few Cauldron Cakes and Pumpkin Pastries. At the last moment I get a few Chocolate Frogs for Ron and Licorice Wands for Hermione, she always likes to suck on them while reading of working on her schoolwork though personally I prefer Sugar Quills. I pull out a few owl treats and watch as Hedwig devours them greedily, which causes me to chuckle.
"I know you're glad that we don't have to ration food anymore, but slow down Hedwig before you choke." She barely spares me a glance before going back to eating. I shake my head and bite into a Pumpkin Pastry. My eyes slide closed and I let out a slight moan. If there is one thing that should always be appreciated in life, it's food. I glance at Hedwig again and I swear her eyes laugh at me. I just stick my tongue out at her and continue to eat in silence.
The train ride passes quickly as I eat my sweets and continue reading my book. Before I know it the Hogwarts Express pulls to a grinding stop in front of the train station just outside of Hogsmead. Ron and Hermione have yet to return and I suppose they might be waiting for me at the horseless carriages. So I put away my book and the sweets I got for my friends. Hedwig stays on my left shoulder and I swing my bag onto my other one. The wards fall apart with a flick of my wand and I exit the compartment door. The hallway is busy with the commotion of people leaving their compartments and I silently slip through the crowd trying to go unnoticed. This is one of those times when I'm thankful of my small stature. People don't notice as I make my way though.
I arrive at the carriages without incident and quickly look around for Hermione and Ron. As my gaze sweeps across the area something tethered to the carriages captures my attention.
Huge horse like creatures with strangely dragon heads are tied to the carriages. One of the animals shakes its reptilian head to and fro. Muscles bunch and tense throughout its powerful body and it flicks large leathery wings impatiently in the air snapping at a child who momentarily steps to close. But the jaws snap at nothing but air as the child moves away just as quickly not once turning to look at the looming creature above. The creature swishes its head in further irritation, causing a long silky black mane to whip about, as more children run wildly around it. Still though no one takes notice of the irate creature and they continue on.
There's no doubt that these creatures with their distinct features are anything other then thestrals, which I've read about shortly in the book the Sirius and Professor Lupin had gotten me. Found mainly in the forests of cool and moist climates. 'Only those whom have seen the face of death may lay eyes on them and truly see.' The book had explained that only those who have seen death can see a thestral, which would explain why the students don't notice any of them.
Calm settles upon the creature and for a moment it totally stills all movement, wings still arched toward the evening sky. Its head slowly moves, not another muscle twitching, its powerful slim head turns my direction. Obsidian eyes stare blankly at me and I'm frozen still, all other things around seem to fade into nothing.
"Beautiful, aren't they?" A quite voice drifts slowly through my mind.
The thestral blinks and I blink. It turns away and continues its irritated snapping at passing children.
"I've not met anyone else who's been able to see them. Though I suppose I shouldn't be surprised. After all I believe you about what happened at the end of the Triwizard Tournament last year."
My head snaps quickly to the soft voice at my side. There I see a Ravenclaw girl about my age gazing longingly at the tethered creatures. Long flaxen hair rustles in the slight breeze, shimmering gold and red strands appear as the setting sun shines lightly on her. Light sky blue eyes turn toward me framed by flowing hair and a gentle heart shaped face. Bottle caps dangle from her ears in some imitation of earrings and she smiles softly at me. None of that matters though. I'm much more interested in what she'd just said.
"So, you believe that Voldemort's back?" I ask softly, almost afraid to speak too loudly at the calm girl in front of me, whose eyes widen at my words.
"So you say his name with no fear? Yes, I do believe you. How could I not? The Daily Prophet and all those other papers and magazines have no idea what the truth is." She smiles happily closing her eyes for a brief moment as though savoring something or truly in joy over something. She looks back at the creatures and giggles slightly. "Aren't they beautiful though? "
I too look back upon the tethered animals and the one in particular that had caught my eye earlier. It's shaking the carriage tied to it and the students make sure to not enter the mysteriously moving carriage. It really does seem as though no one can see them. Again the creature stops for a moment and looks at me briefly before thrashing about the carriage behind and causing its companion to sway slightly in its position. The powerful muscles bunch and strain as the creature becomes more agitated when student try to enter the moving carriage.
"We really should be getting on a carriage before they all leave." Beside me the girl sighs and starts walking toward the few carriages left.
I snap out of my daze and hurry after her. Some more students fill up the carriages scattered around and they take off. There's only this one left with the still thrashing creature. Two children stand to the side staring apprehensively at the rocking carriage. They almost look as though they could be first years, but they have their house badges pinned on their robes showing Slytherin on the boy and Ravenclaw on the little girl. They stand there holding hands and glance at the older Ravenclaw girl and I as we come over with twin sapphire stares. They look to be twins, both with chestnut brown hair,standing at nearly the same height.
"Come Emma, we can't be late." The older Ravenclaw girl addresses the small one grabbing her hand as she walks past pulling both the children along.
"Bu… but Luna! Look at that… that thing attached to the carriage! It won't stop moving the carriage and it looks so upset and mean!!" The little girl struggles a little to get away from… Luna. The boy just scowls at Luna before turning and glowering at me.
"Potter isn't coming with us is he?" He plaintively asks Luna as she drags them along a smile on her face the whole time.
"Yes, he is."
We reach the carriage and the creature stops thrashing for a moment to watch Luna, Emma and the little boy, before shifting its stare to me. We lock gazes and the world starts to funnel down to nothing again. A hand waves in front of my face breaking whatever daze I was in. Luna looks at me with concern in her eyes and glances at the creature before turning back to me.
"Come on Harry let's get inside the carriage." Luna grabs my hand with her other one and leads us toward the carriage.
The thestral watches us till we reach the door and as the little boy and girl began to climb the steps the creature starts thrashing violently again. Emma, who was already inside is thrown back into the interior of the carriage and the little boy quickly latches on to the wildly swinging carriage. Luna and I watch aghast as the child is jerked horribly forward and loses his grip and smacking into the side of the carriage. When the carriage rocks back I rush forward from where I'd backed away as he's thrown off the steps. I catch him just in time before he hits the ground. The weight throws me back a little and I trip, falling with a thump on the ground the child sprawled on top me. I turn toward the creature and glower at the wayward thestral.
Stop this immediately! I demand in an angry hiss. Parseltongue, I hadn't meant to say in that language, but it just came out. The thestral stops though and turns to stare at me. Our gazes lock again, but this time I refuse to fall into the nothingness that claws at the edges of my sight.
What are you that can speak in this tongue? It hisses at me skeptically. The ebony eyes swirl in some unknown emotion and the thestral stomps one of its hooves when I don't answer immediately.
What do you mean, what am I? I reply, confused at the thestral's meaning.
The weight on top of me shifts and I glance down at the little boy, who really isn't as little as I had though. Well at least not compared to me. He lefts his head and looks around unsettlingly till his gaze meets the thestral.
What creature are you, for no human speaks the language of the snakes. The hissing vibrates through me sending a shiver down my spine.
When the thestral spoke the little boy backed up into me and turned around while I let my eyelids drop leaving them open just enough to see the creature in front of me. I know the child is staring at me, but at the moment I can't be bothered enough to care.
But I am human. One that can speak the language we call Paseltounge, the language of the snakes. I hiss back in reply letting the syllables glide slowly out of my mouth.
There is movement from inside the carriage and both the thestral and I turn to watch as the little Ravenclaw crawls toward the door. From where she sits leaning against the doorway I can see a trickle of blood running down the side of her face. I grab the child on top of me and stand up as quickly as I can, carrying the boy with me. Luna has already made it to Emma's side and as she wipes away the blood with a handkerchief, I turn once again toward the thestral.
You'll not move as we tend to the children? Though I ask this of it, I put a commanding edge to the question letting it know that there isn't a choice.
I'll let you tend to the children in peace, childe. But then we talk.
I nod once in agreement and turn back setting the little boy just inside the carriage.
"I don't want to be in here and you shouldn't leave Emma on the carriage while that thing is still attached to it!" The Slytherin snaps at me when I set him down.
"The thestral won't shake up the carriage anymore so you needn't worry." The child frowns at me, but I ignore him in favor of helping Luna with his sister.
Lightly I take the child's chin and move her head to the side to get a good look at the wound. There's a slight gash along her hairline and it travels down to her eyebrow. It isn't that bad, but since it's a head wound its bleeding quite a bit. I take out my wand planning to use a clotting spell that I'd read about in one of the potion books. There are two parts to it. The first is the spell, which will stop bleeding by forming a thin but strong blood clot over the wound; its incantation is casein. The second step is the potion, which dissipates the blood clot and closes the wound at the same time on such a level that there won't be any scaring unless the wound is massive in which case a healer or mediwitch would be needed.
"What do you think you're doing?!" An outraged voice cries and a hand grabs my arm so that I can't point my wand.
The carriage moves a little and I turn to look at the thestral and see it staring at the little Slytherin who froze the moment the thestral moved. He stares at the thestral with an apprehensive look on his face. The child was the one to grab my arm.
Is the human threatening you? Hisses the thestral in obvious aggravation.
For a moment I just stare blankly at the thestral not quite sure I heard it right. Why would it care if the child is threatening me?
No the child is not threatening me. He is no doubt just worried about his sister. I pause for a moment unsure if I should say more, slightly afraid I might be stepping out of bounds if I do. You have no need to worry. I'll take my chances that I might offend the thestral's sensibility. Better, that then have a jumpy thestral.
Then hurry childe the day wanes into night and it is not always safe out in the open when night falls.
I nod once and turn to the little Slytherin. He turns reluctantly away from the thestral to face me once the thestral turns from us. The child glares at me though and I sigh in frustration.
"I'll not have you pointing your wand at my sister." He says his voice hard and determined.
I raise an eyebrow and he intensifies his glare. He has nothing on Snape or either of the Malfoys for that matter.
"Perhaps Harry means to help Emma." A soft voice says at my side and we both turn to look at Luna.
"Why can't you?" The Slytherin asks.
"I unfortunately do not know of any spells that might help."
"We're wasting time. All I'm going to do is use a spell that will stop the bleeding, which needs to be done because she's losing a lot of blood." I'll try reasoning with logic. Even a Slytherin should be able to understand that. For a moment, I wait, making my stare as weighty as possible as the Slytherin tries to tell if I'm speaking the truth.
"How do I know you aren't lying?"
"Why would I be lying?" I try to keep my frustration in check. His sister needs the bleeding to be stopped. She's already lost a lot of blood as is and her eyes are starting to get an unfocused look. The child glances at his sister and I know he's noticed his sister's condition too.
"Fine, but you better not try anything, Potter."
Merlin help me a twelve year old is telling me what to do! I don't waste my time though and turn back to Emma as her brother lets go of my arm.
"Congelo!" I say with the appropriate flick of my wand.
The wound starts to change from the shiny bright red of blood to dark dull brown of dried blood. Luna whispers a cleaning charm that gets rid of all the blood and I leave Emma in the care of her brother and Luna.
Cautiously I approach the thestral where it stands waiting beside another like wise tethered thestral. Now that I'm closer, I can note differences between the two. The one, which has been causing all the trouble, is a fair bit taller and more graceful in the way it moves. There is also a scar on the side of its neck that I hadn't seen earlier. It's an old scar from the looks of it, but it must have been a deep and serious wound. Its eyes are also a deeper richer ebony then the other thestral, which stares dimly ahead barely sparing me a glance as I come to stand in front of the other thestral.
Is the injured child taken care of?
The question catches me off guard. I didn't think that the thestral cared that its actions had hurt Emma.
Yes, she should be fine, but we need to get her to the infirmary so that Madam Pomfrey can do something about the amount of blood she has lost. Are you willing to take us to the castle?
I prefer to be asked whether or not I'll pull someone as though I were nothing more then a horse. Since you have I don't have a problem with helping you out. I have a question for you though, childe.
What is it that you would like to know? I didn't think that it would be that easy to get the thestral to take us up to the castle.
What are you called by little one?
I stand there and blink at it for a moment. It tilts its head and stares steadily at me. That's all it wants to know?
My name is Harry Potter, you may call me Harry if you want though.
It nods its reptilian head once and then lowers its head to where it can stare directly into my eyes.
I have something to ask in return.
I knew that had been too easy. What is it that you would have of me?
Only that you find me once you have the chance when at the castle. Speak to the one that is not wholly human and lives on the edge of the dark forest. He will know how to find me.
That's not totally unreasonable. I will do as you ask of me.
It moves its head closer and I freeze. When it gets close enough it nudges the side of my head softly. I hear it let out a puff of breath, like it's scenting me before it draws back. As its head passes by I notice for the first time its teeth. They're like fangs, but rows of sharp teeth and for a moment an image of a dragon flashes in front of me eyes. Yes, its muzzle is like a dragon's and briefly I hope never to be on the receiving end of a thestral's anger.
Now go little one and get the injured child to your Madam Pomfrey.
With that the thestral nudges me again, this time pushing me in the direction of the carriage. I go happily and turn back around before getting inside.
Thank you for taking us.
The thestral looks at me for a moment before giving a graceful nod. I turn around to face the others waiting just outside the carriage.
"Well lets get going. We'll have t stop by the infirmary to let Madam Pomfrey take a look at Emma and … um…" I turn to look at the Slytherin boy. "I don't believe I caught your name."
The boy just glares at me instead. But luckily Luna takes pity on me.
"His name is Adrian Dobbs and his sister is Emma Dobbs they're twins. This is also their second year at Hogwarts." Luna gives me a gentle smile and I smile back before turning to Adrian.
"We need to get both of you to Madam Pomfrey."
"I can get Emma there by myself. I don't need your help, Potter."
The boy sits there glaring at me and with a shrug of my shoulder I turn away. If he wants to be stubborn that's just fine. Unless one of the professors has noticed that we're missing, Luna and I will have to get the two of them to the infirmary. It's not as though the boy could even get there by himself. He had hit his head against the carriage hard enough to be knocked unconscious for a moment. I'm not about to let him go off on his own.
"What do you think of the articles that have been written over the summer, Harry?" Luna asks me in that soft and gentle voice of hers.
That's awfully blunt. "Since I have to have read any of them I'm choosing to reframe from judging, but from what I've heard about them from my friends, the articles are garbage."
Luna smiles at my reply and Adrian continues glaring at me tucking his sister's head below his head and hugging her tightly.
"What part do you find garbage Potter? The part that says your turning dark or the part that all but accuses you of killing Diggory. Or better yet, that you're going stark raving mad."
Luna stops smiling. I feel my face go suddenly blank. The look I always have around the Dursleys so they can't tell how I really feel.
"I'd have to say I find the whole lot complete and utter rubbish. It's not really surprising either considering that most of the information is coming from Fudge." I know my voice is emotionless and that it won't help any, but I want to rant about what really happened so bad that the want become a heavy weight as the back of my throat.
He stops glaring at me.
"You aren't quite like I had thought you'd be, Potter."
"And what did you think I'd be like." I continue in the emotionless monotone for safety's sake.
"A prejudicial and hypocritical Gryffindor for one, and I thought you'd be stupid too or at the very least dense. And if nothing else I thought you'd act like a Gryffindor."
That is surprisingly unexpected. I'm supposed to be acting like the perfect Gryffindor, yet this little Slytherin says that I'm not. I'm going to have to work on that then. Can't have me being anything other then the perfect Gryffindor, after all I'm Harry Potter. I have to be the perfect little Gryffindor and defect Voldemort and all that other rubbish. I don't want to though. I'm tried of this act.
"And what makes you think that I act like anything other then a Gryffindor?"
"No Gryffindor would calmly have a conversation with any creature that speaks Parseltongue as though it were the most natural thing to do. On top of that you've helped me and I'm a Slytherin in case you're blind, Potter. I never thought I'd live to see the day a Gryffindor helped a Slytherin in anyway. And what makes the least sense is that you have far too much control of your facial expression. You've managed to stay calm no matter what I've said to you. Gryffindors aren't necessarily known for their fabulous control of their temper, more like they're known for their lack there of control. Do I really need to give you more examples then these, Potter."
"Not all Gryffindors have a temper."
"You've never been known to control yours in front of your friends. I wonder are you trying to hide something from them?"
That hit way too close to home for my comfort.
"Not to mention your comment on the Minister is to be commended." Adrian says this with a sneer on his face and I'm really not sure whether or not to take what he says at face value any more.
"What is it with you Slytherins? I swear you have some kind of cynicism complex!" Merlin the child can be as annoying as Malfoy!
"As interesting as this conversation is, which it is. We're about at the entrance to the castle." Luna interrupts us before things can go any further.
Sure enough when I turn to look out the window there Hogwarts is in all her glory with the streaming banners hung from the tower points and the inside all a glow with warm firelight. The moon is absent from the sky above, but the stars play brilliantly in the sky almost making up for the lost moonlight.
The carriage comes to a stop at the main entrance and I move to help the two children out of the carriage and down the steps. Adrian lets me help him out and as I move to grab Emma from Luna he sways where he stands and I rush to catch him as he falls. Gently I lower him to the ground.
"Let me help Luna with your sister and then we can go into the castle, okay?" I ask gently. I shouldn't have gotten so upset at the kid earlier. He probably feels horrid and I wasn't making it any better.
"Sure, Potter. Whatever let's just get Emma to Madam Pomfrey as fast as we can." He's sweating and he's paled. That must have been some hit. I can't help but wince in sympathy. I know the feeling.
Luna carries Emma on her back and I pick up Adrian and let him rest his head on my shoulder. We start walking up the stairs and I'm so glad that I'm finally here. At Hogwarts. In the end I don't think it matters what I have to go though just as long as I can come back here in the end.
Harry.
I stop and turn to look at the thestral.
I am known as Cimmerian, childe.
I nod once and then the thestrals take off toward the side of the castle. Luna and I continue on our way up the stairs careful not to jostle the children more then necessary. We enter into the hall and make our way toward the infirmary. It doesn't take anywhere near as long as I'm sure it should have taken to arrive at the ward. We quietly make are way inside and see Madam Pomfrey bustling around putting things in order for the school year. She hears us enter and looks up in surprise. The surprise fades and she moves over to Luna and I as we take the twins over to the beds.
"What happened?" Madam Pomfrey wastes no time and begins checking over first Emma and then Adrian as the sit next to each other on one of the beds.
"When we were getting into one of the carriages one of the thestrals started thrashing. Emma was already inside and Adrian was on the stairs. Emma must have hit something inside the carriage, but Adrian hit his head on the outside of the carriage before being thrown off the steps." Luna explained to the busy mediwitch.
"What spell did you use to close up the wound?" Madam Pomfrey asked as she went back to Emma checking over the wound again.
"It's a spell called, Casein." I tell her.
She stops what she's doing. "You know how to use that spell?"
"Yes, I figured It would be the best spell to use in that situation."
"It is. You know where my potions storage is Mister Potter?"
"Yes, Madam Pomfrey."
She glances once at me then nods her head in the direction of the storage area. "Then go get me the potion that will complete the spell Mister Potter."
Immediately I head over to the potion storage area and open it to find a very extensive array of potions all stocked and categorized neatly with clear labels. They aren't however organized by names, but rather uses, which makes sense. That way Madam Pomfrey could come in and see everything she has in stock for any certain treatment in order to pick the best possible option. I make my way over to the right section and start looking for the brown potion with red swirls. It's hardly within arms reach, but I manage to just barely grab it and head back outside once I take one last look at the extensive array of potions.
Madam Pomfrey has Adrian and Emma lying down in separate beds. I take the potion over to Madam Pomfrey who glances at it once before going over to Emma and severing her a portion of it. After a few moments the wound begins to close itself till nothing can be seen of it.
"Madam Pomfrey, will we be able to take the children down to the feast?" Luna asks from where she sits at the foot of Emma's bed.
The mediwitch looks over the children again and then turns to Luna. "Miss Dobbs will have to spend the night here seeing as she lost a fare amount of blood and needs a chance to recover. It's fortunate that she didn't lose anymore more. Mister Dobbs should be fine though and as long as he doesn't excite himself too much I don't see why he can't enjoy the feast."
"I don't want to leave without Emma. I'm going to stay here until she gets released." Adrian replies, a stubborn lilt to his voice letting us all know he is prepared to argue with us if we say no.
"Adrian." Luna begins only to have him glare viciously at her. "We're not saying that you shouldn't stay here with your sister, but I do think that you should come to the Great hall if only for a moment to reassure your friends and your head of house that you're alright. I'm sure Emma's head of house would feel better too if he saw you because at least he'd know that Emma isn't in any serious danger if you're there. Afterward you can come straight back. I'm sure Madam Pomfrey wouldn't mind at all."
The boy actually stopped and considered what Luna had told him before answering. With a quick glance at his sister he turned to Madam Pomfrey.
"You will let me stay with Emma, won't you?"
"If Professor Snape doesn't mind I don't see why you can't stay with your sister, but only if you go and eat something, you better eat something Mr. Dobbs I'll know if you don't." The mediwitch says as she shacks her finger at Adrian making sure he takes her serious. "Now the lot of you get out of here and head to the feast. I'm sure your friends are wondering where you are."
Luna grabs a hold of Adrian and the three of us made our way out of the infirmary ward. The walk to the Great Hall is quick and before I know it we're standing in front of the double doors. I pause at the doors hesitant to enter. I know that we're going to be the center of attention when we walk in and I don't want to enter knowing all those people will be staring. Maybe it would be better to go to Gryffindor tower and wait for everyone. Or maybe I could go down to the kitchens and visit with Dobby.
My stomach tightens in knots and I think I might get sick. I really don't want to go in there knowing that they'll all turn to look. Merlin, who knows how the professors will react. Snape will probably come sweeping down like the over grown bat that he is and chew my head off. Not a pleasant thought.
But I don't get a chance to choose because Luna swings open the doors and grabs our hands tugging both the reluctant Slytherin and I inside.
Silence descends upon the hall and withers upon those inside like a living thing as Luna continues to tug the both of us inside till the doors swing shut behind. She turns around to face us, finally letting go of our hands. Adrian rubs his hands on his robes and glowers darkly in irritation.
"Perhaps I'll see the two of you later." Luna smiles that peaceful smile at us. "Take care of your sister, Adrian." With a swirl of robes Luna turns and goes the Ravenclaw table.
Adrian just shakes his head and walks off. I decided that that's my cue and walk briskly over to the Gryffindor table looking for Ron and Hermione. They're down by the end. Did they deliberately pick the end furthest from the door? Either way they quickly make room and I slide in a quickly as I can, though defiantly not gracefully.
"Where were you?" Ron hisses in my ear as I try not to look at anyone and focus on the returning noise.
I look up glancing around. Luna is sitting next to… Cho. She looks upset and Luna is just laughing. Cho glares in my direction and I quickly look away. Adrian is still standing. I look closer and see that Crabble is holding his arm as Malfoy speaks to him. The second year is openly glaring at Malfoy and he says something before wrenching away from the burly Slytherin's grasp. Adrian walks away from Malfoy and his cronies, but even though his head is held high and he sneers to the world in general I can see the fine tremor of his slight frame. Whatever Malfoy said was enough to shake up the small Slytherin.
"Harry." I turn to look at Ron who sits like he's waiting patiently for something.
"What is it, Ron?"
"Didn't you hear me?" He looks confused. A bit upset.
Oh, yes. I remember now. "It's kind of a long story. I'll tell you later."
Ron doesn't look too happy at that, but he nods anyway and goes back to his food.
"Oh Harry, but you missed the Sorting Hat's song." Hermione whispers to me as though it's a big secret.
"And. It's not the first time I've missed the song."
Ron snorts beside me.
"Hopefully you didn't get into a ruddy awful miss like we did that time." Ron says around a mouth full of food.
"Ron, don't talk with your mouth full." Hermione snaps irritably at him.
He just swallows and sticks his tongue out at her. Hermione puffs up like she's about to start in on another rant on manners.
"Hermione why are you so worked up over the song. I know it's different every year, but surely there couldn't have been anything that interesting."
She quickly deflates as her focus shifts from Ron's mannerism to the Sorting Hat's song.
"Well you simply should have been here. It was singing about unity between all the houses. Saying that to stay strong and not crumble the houses have to unite."
"Bloody rubbish."
"Ron shut up." Hermione snaps at Ron and then turns back to me with that look she get when she's really intent on something. "And then after the sorting Nearly Headless Nick came by and told us that the hat occasionally giving warning and advice in times of danger. I'm wondering if the hat means that we'll have to unite and stand as once against You-Know-Who in order to win the war."
"Voldemort." I mutter under breath as Hermione rabbles on. I wish the two of them would get over saying his name. I mean I can kind of understand why Ron has a hard time saying it, but really he grew up fearing Voldemort's name. Hermione didn't she should be able to say it. At least she doesn't flinch when I say it like Ron does.
Hermione continues to ramble on about unity and I tune her out taking this time to look around at the students and professors. The first years look even smaller this year and are huddled in their little groups at each of the tables. Luna is talking to another girl beside her and Cho is glaring at her plate. I look down the head table. Professor Dumbledore is twinkling away and munching on his food while holding what looks to be a lively conversation with Professor McGonagall. There's someone new sitting on Dumbledore's left. A short little squat lady with curly hair and a hideous black velvet bow on top, her face is broad and flabby, and set in it are round slightly bulged eyes and a slack mouth. It, I mean she, reminds me of the toads we use for potion ingredients, pale and kind of dead looking. A sickeningly sweet smile stretches across her face and the insincerity of it makes me want to gag. Merlin, she's going to be our DADA professor this year isn't she?
I'm starting to believe that the position is cursed, but not cursed in the way most people think. Personally I think that the position attracts fucked-up individuals. The only exception is Professor Lupin; well almost he isn't exactly normal. Yeah he is kind of fucked-up, but not like the others were.
"Harry."
Umm… Hermione. Right, I'm listening. "Yes?" I turn to her with an attentive expression on my face. Maybe she'll believe that I was still listening to her.
"Harry I've been calling you for awhile. Are you alright?"
So much for her falling for my marvelous acting. "Yes, I'm perfectly fine." Sarcasm. Yay.
"You should eat something." She starts putting food on my plate and I just stare down at it blankly. That's too much.
"I know you won't… can't eat it all, but try to eat a little. You need to and it'll make me feel better. I hate seeing you go back there every summer, but I'm going to make sure you're all right when I can. That means making sure you eat something, because I know you need to get back into the habit of actually eating meals. So eat. At least a little, if only to make me better."
Well it's times like these that you appreciate that your friends know you so well. Yet at the same time it kind of horrifies me that Hermione can know so much or maybe know so well and that makes me wonder what else she might know. I just nod my head though and spear a carrot on my fork. I've never really cared much for vegetables, but don't get me wrong. I'll eat them, I'll eat almost any type of food, but I know that I haven't had any vegetables since before summer. That can't be good can it and it's not as though I have a choice. Hermione only gave me vegetables. Oh, wait sorry. There are a few small pieces of meat. My mistake. I eat the multi colored vegetables anyway. In small bites, so it takes awhile to finish one piece. I practically nibble at them. Slowly. Hermione rolls her eyes and I grin at her. Ron's still woofing down his food and I have to look away or else I'll be sick. How in Merlin's name can he eat so quickly?
The food on the table begins to disappear and in its place appears all sorts of desserts. I know Ron is going for the Treacle Fudge and I carefully look in the opposite direction. At Hermione who sits there frowning at the sweets. She serves little bits of what I know are her favorites and sits there slowly enjoying them. I know she enjoys getting away from her parents strict control on foods and most importantly sweets.
I look down at my plate at all the remaining food and frown. I'm already full and I haven't had any sweets yet. That okay, I guess. Sweets are good, but too much of a good thing can be bad. I've had way too many sweets over the summer because they keep better them regular food. So I nibble on my vegetables a little more and then on the meat before I push the food aside and wait for the others to stop stuffing them selves.
Finally the sweets begin to disappear and conversations trickle to a halt. The entire Great Hall sits silently gazing attentively up at the rising headmaster.
Dumbledore begins his spiel as he does every year about the forest and other announcements till he reaches the introduction of the new 'staffing'.
"We are pleased to welcome back Professor Grubbly-Plank, who will be taking Care of Magical Creatures lessons; we are also delighted to introduce Professor Umbridge, our new Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher."
There was a brief round of polite applause, but the three of us exchanged worried glances. He hadn't said how long Professor Grubbly-Plank is going to be teaching.
"Tryouts for the House Quidditch teams will take place on the…"
Dumbledore stops speaking and looks curiously down at Professor Umbridge. For the life of me I can't quite figure out why Dumbledore stopped talking, but Professor Umbridge made some odd noise that sounds like "Hem, hem," and I realize that the toad, excuse me, the professor had risen from her chair and looks as though she is intending to make a speech.
Dumbledore has a look of surprise upon his face for a moment before he sits down and gazes at her as though he wants nothing more then to listen to her talk. The other professors look none to pleased with this development and almost all the students are smirking. This women is obviously hasn't a clue as to how things are done at Hogwarts.
"Thank you Headmaster," The toad like women simpers in a high-pitched sugary voice. Personally I'm a bit taken aback. I thought she was going to croak like an oversized toad. "For those kind words of welcome." How fake. Her voice has taken on an almost breathy quality to it. I don't even know anything about her and I'm beginning to loathe her. "Hem, hem" She makes that stupid little sound again. "Well, it is lovely to be back at Hogwarts, I must say!" She smiled, revealing pointed teeth. "And to see such happy little faces looking back at me!"
I can't help but look around to see if what she says is anywhere near true. It isn't, in fact they all looked rather stunned at being addressed in such a condescending manner. She has to be blind not to realize that this isn't the best way to go about being liked as a teacher.
"I am very much looking forward to getting to know you all, and I'm sure we'll be good friends!"
I exchange looks with Ron and Hermione, and I know others are doing the same thing. This is absolutely ridiculous.
Professor Umbridge clears her throat again, and then she continues, but unlike last time the breathiness is completely gone and in its place is a more businesslike directness though they hold a dull and droning quality to them.
"The Ministry of Magic has always considered the education of young witches and wizards to be of vital importance. The rare gifts with which you were born may come to nothing if not nurtured and honed by careful instruction. The ancient skills unique to the Wizarding community must be passed down through generations lest we lose them forever. The treasure trove of magical knowledge amassed by our ancestors must be guarded, replenished, and polished by those who have been called to the noble profession of teaching."
She pauses here and makes a little bow to the other staff members, none of whom bow back. Professor McGonagall's dark eyebrows contract so that she looks rather hawkish and when Professor Umbridge is not looking she exchanges significant glances with Professor Sprout. Professor Umbridge clears her throat again and goes on with her speech.
"Every headmaster and headmistress of Hogwarts has brought something new to the weighty task of governing this historic school, and that is as it should be, for without progress there will be stagnation and decay. There again, progress for progress's sake must be discouraged, for our tried and tested traditions often require no tinkering."
I frown at this, for I don't care for the direction this little speech seems to be taking.
"A balance, then, between old and new, between permanence and change, between tradition and innovation must be attained. This is because some changes will be for the better, while others will come, in the fullness of time, to be recognized as errors of judgment. Meanwhile, some old habits will be retained, and rightly so, whereas others, outmoded and outworn, must be abandoned. Let us move forward, then, into a new era of openness, effectiveness, and accountability, intent on preserving what ought to be preserved, perfecting what needs to be perfected, and pruning wherever we find practices that ought to be prohibited."
Professor Umbridge sits then and Dumbledore claps politely, others taking up the clapping as they come out of their daydreams. Just as soon as Dumbledore starts he stops and stands.
"Thank you, Professor Umbridge. Your speech was very enlightening. Now as I was saying Quidditch tryouts will be held…"
"Enlightening indeed."
I turn to face Hermione who is nibbling lightly on her lower lip and gazing intently at the head table.
"You couldn't have found that interesting, Hermione. That has to have been the driest speech I've ever heard. About as bad as Percy giving a speech on the importance of Cauldron bottom thickness."
"I guess it's too much to ask that you pay enough attention to what she was saying to read into, Ron. Don't you know who our dear esteemed professor of Defense Against the Dark Arts is?"
"Should I?"
"She works for the Ministry, Ron. She's Senior Undersecretary to the Minister."
"Well that can't be good. Fudge has it in for you Harry." Ron says while patting me on the back.
"That's comforting. Another DADA professor I have to watch out for."
Hermione frowns, but doesn't verbally refute what I say.
"You know that really is something. You just can't seem to get a break, can you, mate?" Ron tilts his head to the side and smiles lopsidedly at me. I grin back in response.
"I wouldn't be me if I did."
Dumbledore dismisses everyone and I glance over just in time to see Adrian leave out the doors, headed no doubt for the infirmary ward.
"Are you going to tell us why you were late coming to the Feast, again?" Hermione sounds both reprimanding and comforting.
"Yes, but let's wait till we reach the Common Room. It'll take awhile."
We join the masses heading for the door and up ahead I can hear the Prefects calling out to the first years.
"Hey, Harry!"
My shoulders tense up and I almost stop walking, but I continue without a fault hoping the owner of that slightly squeaky voice can't catch up.
"Harry, wait up!"
Colin Creevey is far to close to simply ignore now. I stop and when Hermione and Ron realize that I've given up trying to out run the little bugger they stop too. Slowly we all turn around to face the blond headed camera crazy Gryffindor. Unfortunately everyone else around us is still moving and some one runs into me as I turn around. The person, who ever it is, pushes me away and I barely keep my balance as I crash into Ron who grabs a hold of me.
"Move it, Potter." A voice that I recognize snarls at me. It wasn't said loudly, but it carried as well as if it were shouted. Light hazel eyes glare at me, the owner of those eyes and that voice, Seamus, stalks away without a second glance.
I can't move and Ron is still holding me up. I look up and Colin is standing there a few feet away, wide-eyed. He looks as shocked as I feel.
"Oh, Harry."
I turn to face Hermione who looks into my eyes, her's filled with sympathy. Mine I know only who confusion though, and maybe a little hurt.
"It must be the articles in the paper, Harry. Don't worry I'm sure it'll blow over in a little. Try no to let it get to you. "
"Right." I'm not sure if I can take her advice and really use it. I remember the way it felt in second year. I don't want to go through that again.
"Hey, Harry." The normally squeaky voice is now a hushed whisper of concern and I turn to face Colin.
He stands there taller then I remember, as tall as me. He used to seems so small. Beside him stands his brother, Dennis, an almost exact copy of his older brother, but small still. Both radiate with worry, concern. I smile slightly at them.
"Hey Colin," I nod to him, "Dennis." and his brother.
"We'll see you later, take care." With that the Creevey brothers take off down the empting corridor.
We stand there, I unmoving in the, now small, crowd that makes it's way through.
"Come on Harry. You've still got a story to tells us and there's no way we're letting you go to bed before you tell us everything. Even if we're the last one's up."
And that, I think, doesn't sound that bad, my friend.
The end, of this chapter. Sorry it took so long, but school keeps a girl very busy. Not to mention this chapter just didn't want to end. Tell me what you think, and I take criticism well as long as it's constructive and I enjoy it along with any other comments. It means people are actually reading this monster
Chapter 3 is already under way and luckily summer will give me much more time to work. In chapter 3: What is up with Seamus, and how many others will feel differently towards Harry and first DADA lesson.