A/N: Sorry for not updating as quick as I usually do, but my mom went in for surgery on Thursday
and I've been extremely busy with homework. Now it's the weekend, and I'll be able to
write a lot, so hopefully I can write enough to stockpile extras for the school week.
Disclaimer: Harry doesn't belong to me, blah, blah, blah. I only own Amelia and Ebony-Crested Dragon snakes. Oh, and I do use some of the same techniques Rowling uses with some fun lines I always enjoyed, so please don't sue me! I need all the money I can get for my student ambassador trip!
Oh yeah, Parseltongue will be signaled by "~....~"
Chapter 6: "Salazar's Vengeance" and Halloween Mysteries
-------------------------------------------------
The first week of school went surprisingly fast for Harry and his friends. Harry found all of his classes interesting, from Charms to Transfiguration to Herbology, he loved them all. He was with more children his age than in his whole life and was extremely happy.
Not to mention he was making more friends. Against Draco's words of caution, Harry had been speaking quite frequently with Hermione Granger from the train and the Weasley twins Fred and George. Hermione was quite a nice person, and they never ran out of topics to talk about and study. After her initial shock on the train, she had said she had wanted to find out more about him, and Harry was happy to find someone outside of Slytherin who was actually interested in him as a person. Fred and George had congratulated Harry on thoroughly confusing Ron after Harry's outburst at dinner that first day, and they were always interesting to hang out with, to put mildly.
Today was Friday and according to his, Draco's, and Blaise's schedules, Potions. After the bell rang signaling the end of lunch, those three almost ran to the dungeons and were the first there. In fact they were ten minutes early. Professor Snape came in shortly afterwards, and Harry jumped up at the sight of him, or rather his face. His cheek was quite swollen and purple and could only be quite painful as the man flinched as he gingerly touched it.
"What happened, Uncle Sev?" Harry asked in a horrified tone. The addressed Professor turned around and faced the voice.
"I was having a row with Lupin on Monday night and that damned dog of his knocked me over and into a desk."
"Why didn't you go to the Hospital Wing, Professor?" asked Blaise, violet eyes showing concern.
Snape just laughed bitterly. "Madam Pomfrey, the nurse, said if I let myself get into a fight, I'll just have to let it heal the Muggle way."
Harry sneered, "That's rubbish!" as he pulled out his wand and pointed it at his professor's cheek while muttering a healing spell. He turned to the man and asked, "Why didn't you just use a healing spell?"
Snape felt his now normal cheek. "I've never been good at any spells in the way of healing."
Harry sat down next to Blaise and Draco as the rest of the Slytherin and Griffindor first years filed into the classroom.
Dinner had come, and Harry with Draco's help had devised a plan to get back at the two that had caused their favorite professor's swollen cheek. It was discovered that as all he did in his childhood was read, the Dark Heir known as Harry knew quite a few nasty charms and hexes. Half of dinner passed before the two started on their plan.
Harry pulled his wand out very carefully, not needing to be noticed by anyone. He took careful aim at Lupin first, and when the man wasn't looking, fired. Then, as quickly afterward, shot the well-placed curse at the bear-like Snuffles under the staff table.
Ten minutes later, Snuffles and Lupin were itching horriblly at themselves, and their noises of horror brought the entire Hall's attention to the two, and the Slytherins burst out laughing while Snape hid his own laughing by drinking from his goblet.
Lupin and his dog Snuffles were completely covered in snake scales from head to toe, Lupin silver and his once black dog green. All hair and fur had disappeared, and each had slits for pupils.
In the cover of their housemates' laughter, Blaise asked Harry where he had gotten that curse and how long it would last. Harry just laughed.
"Tom used to use it when he made public appearances as Lord Voldemort. As for how long it lasts, they'll be stuck like that for a week. I decided to show a bit of mercy as it was their first offence."
"Harry?" said Blaise.
"Yeah?"
"Remind me never to piss you off."
Harry and Draco laughed even harder and watched the snake man and snake dog quickly run from the Hall.
-----------------------------------------
After the event that was quickly named "Salazar's Vengeance" by the trio, the castle seemed to get back to order. It was Halloween day, and they were playing a game of Exploding Snap at their house table, waiting for the feast to begin. However, something, or someone, was missing from this picture in Harry's mind, looking at the full tables.
Walking over to the Gryffindor table, he found Ron.
"Hey, have you seen Hermione? I haven't seen her all day."
Ron just shifted uncomfortably, but a giggling girl down a few spots replied.
"She's been in the girls' bathroom ever since Charms, crying. She won't come out."
Harry thanked the girl named- wasn't it Lavender Brown?- and sat back down next to Draco.
"Honestly, Harry," said Draco, "Why do you care about that-"
"Don't say it, Draco," warned Harry. "I care because she's a friend. Yes, I know she's Muggleborn, but even Tom has respect for them if they're really intelligent like Hermione."
Blaise looked uncomfortable during this conversation, but Harry didn't notice as his attention was currently focused elsewhere.
He knew something emitting Dark magic was in the castle. He could feel it as he had learned to do with months of practice.
He stood up, and signaled the other two to stay at the table. It would look suspicious if they all left.
No one noticed him leaving but three beings in the room, and they left by a side entrance.
Amelia hissed as Harry stepped out into the main hallway and looked around.
"~What's wrong, Harry~?" she asked, coiling tighter around his wrist.
Just then a student ran past him and to the feast. As Harry took off tracking the feeling of darkness, he heard the kid yell, "Troll! Troll in the dungeons!" and the resulting panic. He scoffed.
He knew there was no troll. This was only a distraction; he doubted that kid was anything more than an illusion. His feeling was becoming stronger, and he realized where he was. He was beginning to run down the third floor towards the forbidden corridor. Dumbledore had warned against this corridor at the welcoming feast, but still.... wait! There! There at the door! A figure was stepping out of the shadows!
Harry pulled his wand out and quickly yelled, "Stupefy!" Harry mentally thanked Tom for forcing him into archery as a child as the spell hit the target dead center in the back. The ebony haired boy quickly ran over to the stunned man and pulled him over to see his face... only to meet a stunned Lucius Malfoy.
The boy turned hurriedly around. People were coming up the stairs towards the third floor. He turned back to Lucius and whispered, "Enervate!", watching the man regain consciousness and look at Harry.
"Young Master?" Lucius asked as Harry helped him up. The people were coming closer.
"Yes, it's me. Question is, what were you doing here?" said Harry, pulling the man back into the shadows he had appeared from.
"The Dark Lord sent me here on a mission to retrieve something."
Harry looked at the man suspiciously. "What is he needing from Hogwarts he can't get anywhere else?"
Lucius looked around anxiously as he too heard the footfalls now.
"Go! Now, Lucius!" Harry whispered, and he watched the man disappear through a passage obviously hidden in the wall. He stepped out of the shadows, already irritated with the lack of information provided....
...only to meet Severus, Lupin, and Snuffles.
"Harry, what are you doing here?" asked Severus. "You're not supposed to be anywhere near this corridor."
"What does Tom need from Hogwarts, Uncle Sev?" growled Harry.
Severus stole a glance at his companions; the dog, Harry noted, looked about ready to bite Severus, and Harry glared at it. "The Dark Lord hasn't told me of any sort of thing he needs from here."
Harry, quite past the point of irritated and visibly seething, looked at the Potions professor and said, "I shouldn't have expected him to tell you, though, as you still are the spy. Next time you meet with Voldemort, tell him to at least veil the Dark magic coming from the followers; I could feel Lucius from the Great Hall. That will be all, Severus."
Severus, noting Harry's rare but commanding presence, fell to one knee and bowed his head, "Yes, Young Master."
Harry nodded goodbyes to the other two and strode off towards the dungeons, clearly emitting a Dark, dangerous aura around him. When the boy had gone, Severus stood up and faced a pale Remus and a normal, also pale, Sirius who were both looking at Snape as though seeing him in a new light. Severus sneered.
"You really thought he was fibbing? You really thought he wasn't raised by the Dark Lord? He has been brought up in darkness and is the heir of Voldemort, and therefore our young master. He will never be the Harry you want him to be."
And Snape glided off down the corridor, not even bothering to look back.
----------------------------------------
Harry's mood wasn't much better than the night before's. He sat at the Slytherin table, slowly turning his poor waffle into puree, with Draco and Blaise. The rest of the Slytherin house were sitting as far away from him as physically possible, some even sitting with friends in other houses.
"It's not my fault that ignorant fifth year thought it amusing to trip me in the common room when I got back," muttered the dark haired boy to no one in particular. Draco glanced up, amused.
"Yes, but you didn't have to turn him inside out with that curse, now did you?" asked the blonde, arching an eyebrow while the few Ravenclaws sitting near them flinched and swiftly moved.
Harry yawned, breaking his Dark stupor, and lightly said, "Well, he should be feeling lucky Tom hasn't taught me Unforgivables yet, now shouldn't he, Draco?"
Blaise seemed distracted by something in front of Harry, however. It looked like an owl, but it seemed to be missing its feathers and flesh. Its eyes were a vibrant red as they stared up at Harry. Harry, however, looked quite happy, not even noticing the looks the bird was drawing.
"Great! Tom's sent me a letter! I had hoped he'd reply soon!" said Harry and quickly took the letter from the bird which quietly took off through the rafters. His friends watched as Harry read through the letter and as the boy ignited the parchment when finished.
"What's the matter? Bad news?" queried Blaise, already knowing the answer.
"He didn't tell me anything I wanted to know! Like, why was Lucius attempting to go through the door to the forbidden corridor, or a reason as to why I shouldn't be worrying about it. Although, he did thank me for sending him a letter about this matter and how he will try next time to dispense of any signals." finished Harry with a bitter laugh. He turned serious again in the blink of an eye, however, and turned his attention toward his sleeve. He quietly hissed to it, and Amelia stuck her head out.
"~What do need, Harry?~"
Harry looked around to make sure no one was watching and quietly hissed, "~I need you to follow Severus around, Amelia. Pretend to be his pet or something. Spy on him for me and bring back information that could relate to the mystery at hand, alright?~"
"~Of course, Harry. I'll see you soon.~" And with that, she stealthily slid down Harry and out of the Great Hall.
"Be safe," he said and went back to his breakfast.
----------------------------------------------
A/N: So Tom's trying to get something out of Hogwarts, is he? I wonder what it could be? (Really, if you don't know, I would advise you to finish the Philosopher's Stone before you continue.) What do you think of Harry's approach of getting information, and do you think it will be successful? I'll leave you to your pondering. Goodbye!
Review responses:
hermionegreen- You want more? Here ya go!
Elssha- Then again, Harry is pretty skewed, too. Besides, I myself am skewed and therefore everything is
skewed. Wait, I've confused myselves.
ReflectionsOfReality- You thoroughly confused me, but then again my brain's dead after a mountain of
homework. Yes, I like irony, too!
Shorty- I'm going to be questioning you tomorrow! Thanks for the comments, though!
Stupid Gryffindor- If I don't have a nervous breakdown between noe and tomorrow, I might actually pay
attention to your song. Then again, I might just sing the Goldfish jingle anyway.
Falafal- People really seem to enjoy Ron's use there. hehehe I hope everyone enjoys updates!
Shorty (again)- Really? I kill off your brain cells? Glad to know I'm doing a good job terrorizing the mortals.
(November 23, 2003)
(November 21-23, 2003)
and I've been extremely busy with homework. Now it's the weekend, and I'll be able to
write a lot, so hopefully I can write enough to stockpile extras for the school week.
Disclaimer: Harry doesn't belong to me, blah, blah, blah. I only own Amelia and Ebony-Crested Dragon snakes. Oh, and I do use some of the same techniques Rowling uses with some fun lines I always enjoyed, so please don't sue me! I need all the money I can get for my student ambassador trip!
Oh yeah, Parseltongue will be signaled by "~....~"
Chapter 6: "Salazar's Vengeance" and Halloween Mysteries
-------------------------------------------------
The first week of school went surprisingly fast for Harry and his friends. Harry found all of his classes interesting, from Charms to Transfiguration to Herbology, he loved them all. He was with more children his age than in his whole life and was extremely happy.
Not to mention he was making more friends. Against Draco's words of caution, Harry had been speaking quite frequently with Hermione Granger from the train and the Weasley twins Fred and George. Hermione was quite a nice person, and they never ran out of topics to talk about and study. After her initial shock on the train, she had said she had wanted to find out more about him, and Harry was happy to find someone outside of Slytherin who was actually interested in him as a person. Fred and George had congratulated Harry on thoroughly confusing Ron after Harry's outburst at dinner that first day, and they were always interesting to hang out with, to put mildly.
Today was Friday and according to his, Draco's, and Blaise's schedules, Potions. After the bell rang signaling the end of lunch, those three almost ran to the dungeons and were the first there. In fact they were ten minutes early. Professor Snape came in shortly afterwards, and Harry jumped up at the sight of him, or rather his face. His cheek was quite swollen and purple and could only be quite painful as the man flinched as he gingerly touched it.
"What happened, Uncle Sev?" Harry asked in a horrified tone. The addressed Professor turned around and faced the voice.
"I was having a row with Lupin on Monday night and that damned dog of his knocked me over and into a desk."
"Why didn't you go to the Hospital Wing, Professor?" asked Blaise, violet eyes showing concern.
Snape just laughed bitterly. "Madam Pomfrey, the nurse, said if I let myself get into a fight, I'll just have to let it heal the Muggle way."
Harry sneered, "That's rubbish!" as he pulled out his wand and pointed it at his professor's cheek while muttering a healing spell. He turned to the man and asked, "Why didn't you just use a healing spell?"
Snape felt his now normal cheek. "I've never been good at any spells in the way of healing."
Harry sat down next to Blaise and Draco as the rest of the Slytherin and Griffindor first years filed into the classroom.
Dinner had come, and Harry with Draco's help had devised a plan to get back at the two that had caused their favorite professor's swollen cheek. It was discovered that as all he did in his childhood was read, the Dark Heir known as Harry knew quite a few nasty charms and hexes. Half of dinner passed before the two started on their plan.
Harry pulled his wand out very carefully, not needing to be noticed by anyone. He took careful aim at Lupin first, and when the man wasn't looking, fired. Then, as quickly afterward, shot the well-placed curse at the bear-like Snuffles under the staff table.
Ten minutes later, Snuffles and Lupin were itching horriblly at themselves, and their noises of horror brought the entire Hall's attention to the two, and the Slytherins burst out laughing while Snape hid his own laughing by drinking from his goblet.
Lupin and his dog Snuffles were completely covered in snake scales from head to toe, Lupin silver and his once black dog green. All hair and fur had disappeared, and each had slits for pupils.
In the cover of their housemates' laughter, Blaise asked Harry where he had gotten that curse and how long it would last. Harry just laughed.
"Tom used to use it when he made public appearances as Lord Voldemort. As for how long it lasts, they'll be stuck like that for a week. I decided to show a bit of mercy as it was their first offence."
"Harry?" said Blaise.
"Yeah?"
"Remind me never to piss you off."
Harry and Draco laughed even harder and watched the snake man and snake dog quickly run from the Hall.
-----------------------------------------
After the event that was quickly named "Salazar's Vengeance" by the trio, the castle seemed to get back to order. It was Halloween day, and they were playing a game of Exploding Snap at their house table, waiting for the feast to begin. However, something, or someone, was missing from this picture in Harry's mind, looking at the full tables.
Walking over to the Gryffindor table, he found Ron.
"Hey, have you seen Hermione? I haven't seen her all day."
Ron just shifted uncomfortably, but a giggling girl down a few spots replied.
"She's been in the girls' bathroom ever since Charms, crying. She won't come out."
Harry thanked the girl named- wasn't it Lavender Brown?- and sat back down next to Draco.
"Honestly, Harry," said Draco, "Why do you care about that-"
"Don't say it, Draco," warned Harry. "I care because she's a friend. Yes, I know she's Muggleborn, but even Tom has respect for them if they're really intelligent like Hermione."
Blaise looked uncomfortable during this conversation, but Harry didn't notice as his attention was currently focused elsewhere.
He knew something emitting Dark magic was in the castle. He could feel it as he had learned to do with months of practice.
He stood up, and signaled the other two to stay at the table. It would look suspicious if they all left.
No one noticed him leaving but three beings in the room, and they left by a side entrance.
Amelia hissed as Harry stepped out into the main hallway and looked around.
"~What's wrong, Harry~?" she asked, coiling tighter around his wrist.
Just then a student ran past him and to the feast. As Harry took off tracking the feeling of darkness, he heard the kid yell, "Troll! Troll in the dungeons!" and the resulting panic. He scoffed.
He knew there was no troll. This was only a distraction; he doubted that kid was anything more than an illusion. His feeling was becoming stronger, and he realized where he was. He was beginning to run down the third floor towards the forbidden corridor. Dumbledore had warned against this corridor at the welcoming feast, but still.... wait! There! There at the door! A figure was stepping out of the shadows!
Harry pulled his wand out and quickly yelled, "Stupefy!" Harry mentally thanked Tom for forcing him into archery as a child as the spell hit the target dead center in the back. The ebony haired boy quickly ran over to the stunned man and pulled him over to see his face... only to meet a stunned Lucius Malfoy.
The boy turned hurriedly around. People were coming up the stairs towards the third floor. He turned back to Lucius and whispered, "Enervate!", watching the man regain consciousness and look at Harry.
"Young Master?" Lucius asked as Harry helped him up. The people were coming closer.
"Yes, it's me. Question is, what were you doing here?" said Harry, pulling the man back into the shadows he had appeared from.
"The Dark Lord sent me here on a mission to retrieve something."
Harry looked at the man suspiciously. "What is he needing from Hogwarts he can't get anywhere else?"
Lucius looked around anxiously as he too heard the footfalls now.
"Go! Now, Lucius!" Harry whispered, and he watched the man disappear through a passage obviously hidden in the wall. He stepped out of the shadows, already irritated with the lack of information provided....
...only to meet Severus, Lupin, and Snuffles.
"Harry, what are you doing here?" asked Severus. "You're not supposed to be anywhere near this corridor."
"What does Tom need from Hogwarts, Uncle Sev?" growled Harry.
Severus stole a glance at his companions; the dog, Harry noted, looked about ready to bite Severus, and Harry glared at it. "The Dark Lord hasn't told me of any sort of thing he needs from here."
Harry, quite past the point of irritated and visibly seething, looked at the Potions professor and said, "I shouldn't have expected him to tell you, though, as you still are the spy. Next time you meet with Voldemort, tell him to at least veil the Dark magic coming from the followers; I could feel Lucius from the Great Hall. That will be all, Severus."
Severus, noting Harry's rare but commanding presence, fell to one knee and bowed his head, "Yes, Young Master."
Harry nodded goodbyes to the other two and strode off towards the dungeons, clearly emitting a Dark, dangerous aura around him. When the boy had gone, Severus stood up and faced a pale Remus and a normal, also pale, Sirius who were both looking at Snape as though seeing him in a new light. Severus sneered.
"You really thought he was fibbing? You really thought he wasn't raised by the Dark Lord? He has been brought up in darkness and is the heir of Voldemort, and therefore our young master. He will never be the Harry you want him to be."
And Snape glided off down the corridor, not even bothering to look back.
----------------------------------------
Harry's mood wasn't much better than the night before's. He sat at the Slytherin table, slowly turning his poor waffle into puree, with Draco and Blaise. The rest of the Slytherin house were sitting as far away from him as physically possible, some even sitting with friends in other houses.
"It's not my fault that ignorant fifth year thought it amusing to trip me in the common room when I got back," muttered the dark haired boy to no one in particular. Draco glanced up, amused.
"Yes, but you didn't have to turn him inside out with that curse, now did you?" asked the blonde, arching an eyebrow while the few Ravenclaws sitting near them flinched and swiftly moved.
Harry yawned, breaking his Dark stupor, and lightly said, "Well, he should be feeling lucky Tom hasn't taught me Unforgivables yet, now shouldn't he, Draco?"
Blaise seemed distracted by something in front of Harry, however. It looked like an owl, but it seemed to be missing its feathers and flesh. Its eyes were a vibrant red as they stared up at Harry. Harry, however, looked quite happy, not even noticing the looks the bird was drawing.
"Great! Tom's sent me a letter! I had hoped he'd reply soon!" said Harry and quickly took the letter from the bird which quietly took off through the rafters. His friends watched as Harry read through the letter and as the boy ignited the parchment when finished.
"What's the matter? Bad news?" queried Blaise, already knowing the answer.
"He didn't tell me anything I wanted to know! Like, why was Lucius attempting to go through the door to the forbidden corridor, or a reason as to why I shouldn't be worrying about it. Although, he did thank me for sending him a letter about this matter and how he will try next time to dispense of any signals." finished Harry with a bitter laugh. He turned serious again in the blink of an eye, however, and turned his attention toward his sleeve. He quietly hissed to it, and Amelia stuck her head out.
"~What do need, Harry?~"
Harry looked around to make sure no one was watching and quietly hissed, "~I need you to follow Severus around, Amelia. Pretend to be his pet or something. Spy on him for me and bring back information that could relate to the mystery at hand, alright?~"
"~Of course, Harry. I'll see you soon.~" And with that, she stealthily slid down Harry and out of the Great Hall.
"Be safe," he said and went back to his breakfast.
----------------------------------------------
A/N: So Tom's trying to get something out of Hogwarts, is he? I wonder what it could be? (Really, if you don't know, I would advise you to finish the Philosopher's Stone before you continue.) What do you think of Harry's approach of getting information, and do you think it will be successful? I'll leave you to your pondering. Goodbye!
Review responses:
hermionegreen- You want more? Here ya go!
Elssha- Then again, Harry is pretty skewed, too. Besides, I myself am skewed and therefore everything is
skewed. Wait, I've confused myselves.
ReflectionsOfReality- You thoroughly confused me, but then again my brain's dead after a mountain of
homework. Yes, I like irony, too!
Shorty- I'm going to be questioning you tomorrow! Thanks for the comments, though!
Stupid Gryffindor- If I don't have a nervous breakdown between noe and tomorrow, I might actually pay
attention to your song. Then again, I might just sing the Goldfish jingle anyway.
Falafal- People really seem to enjoy Ron's use there. hehehe I hope everyone enjoys updates!
Shorty (again)- Really? I kill off your brain cells? Glad to know I'm doing a good job terrorizing the mortals.
(November 23, 2003)
(November 21-23, 2003)