Disclaimer: I don't own anything. That's it.
The Hero Complex
Chapter Four
For the next few days, Harry started to become quite distant with everyone and everything. It was the effect the school had on him; everywhere he turned, something would remind him of some horrible memory. Just like whenever he had to work in the Auror offices (which wasn't that often) and he had to go down to a hearing or had to go to the Department of Mysteries because he often worked close with them. For the first few times he had to take a calming solution afterward because – even though it had happened may years ago – his godfather's untimely death still disturbed him.
Harry wasn't the only person who was becoming more distant and withdrawn. Trey Reed, the seventh yea Gryffindor who reminded Harry of himself at times, was starting to become very quiet in class, and quite frequently started to blank out.
After having a long talk with Harry about his problems of being stuck in the past, Hermione voiced her concerns about Trey.
"I'm very concerned, Harry. I took Professor Flitwick's class yesterday and he couldn't manage a simple sticking charm! His box didn't stay stuck to the wall for more than 10 seconds!" she said, her face full of concern. "Have you noticed anything in your class?"
Harry paused for a moment before answering, "Well, his last essay did seem a little distracted… but as for spell work, we've been learning the Patronus Charm in class which is extremely difficult. Though, mind you, we've been learning it for two weeks and he hasn't even produced a mist yet." Harry answered.
Hermione looked thoughtful, "That is odd. I remember even Neville had produced mist by the end of the first week in the D.A. and he wasn't exactly the greatest at spell work. Maybe we should talk to Dumbledore." They had both just pushed open the portrait when they saw the very person that they were going to see standing outside the entrance.
"Ahh, Professors. I was just about to come have a small chat with both of you – well more particularly you, Harry. May I come in, or are you both just on your way out?" Dumbledore asked, eyes twinkling behind his half moon glasses.
"No, no. Come in, Professor! We were just about to come see you!" Hermione said, standing aside so Dumbledore could get through.
Dumbledore sat down on one of the chairs and Harry and Hermione perched on the couch opposite him.
"What did you want to see us for, Albus?" Harry asked, giving Dumbledore his full attention.
"Two things, actually. The first concerns both of you. Many students have been asking about having a dueling club this year, and I figured that you two would be the best to organize it considering your past with organizing such clubs." His eyes twinkled mischievously and the corner of his mouth twitched. "That is, if you're interested and willing to help."
Harry and Hermione looked at each other and then back to Dumbledore. "We'll do it." They answered at the same time. Dumbledore grinned happily.
"Good, good. Now, this next bit just concerns Harry and it is quite a private matter. So, Professor Granger, if you wouldn't mind leaving us for a few moments…"
Hermione looked somewhat surprised for a moment before she got up and said, "Sure, no problem. See you later then, Harry." And she left. Dumbledore waited until the portrait hole closed before continuing.
"Now, this matter is a matter that concerns one of the students – Trey Reed…"
Harry cut him off. "That's actually what Hermione and I were going to come talk to you about. He's been acting quite withdrawn as of late, and his grades have been dropping quite a bit."
"Yes, I've noticed. Harry, I need someone to talk to him so he'll open up and talk about his problems. Harry, I want you to talk to him." Dumbledore said, gazing at Harry.
"Me? Why me?"
"Because he looks up to you. Trey wants to be an Auror and he needs a mentor. I was thinking that perhaps you could be his mentor while he is at Hogwarts." Dumbledore shrugged.
Harry squinted his eyes at Dumbledore. His Auror training was starting to kick in. He could tell that Dumbledore was leaving something out of his explanation and that there was a second reason why Dumbledore would want Harry to be Trey's mentor. Figuring it was something to do with Trey and that Dumbledore probably had a reason for not telling him, Harry let this one slide.
"Harry, I can tell that you can tell that I'm leaving something out of my explanation. But I am afraid that I can not tell you. That is up to Trey to decide.
"But I will tell you this: Trey's fate and Trey's being - is exactly like yours when you were here." Dumbledore said cryptically.
"Alright," Harry answered, "I'll do it."
"Good. I think this'll be good for him." Dumbledore said.
"It will be," Harry assured him, "It was good for me." The two then made their way to the Great Hall talking animatedly like old friends. Which, in reality, they were.
"OK, class. That will be all for today. Pack away your things and you may leave." Harry told his seventh year Gryffindors and Slytherins one Thursday afternoon after teaching them about the effects of the Crucatious curse. "Mr. Reed, can I speak to you privately for a moment, please?" Harry called to him as he was about to leave. Trey Reed doubled back and walked over to Harry's desk looking rather nervous. Harry waited for the last person to leave the classroom before he waved his hand toward the door to close it.
"How do you do that?" Trey Reed asked, looking at Harry with wide eyes. Harry just grinned secretively.
"First and foremost, Mr. Reed, I wanted to ask how you were doing. You've seemed quite out of sorts as of late." Harry said, inviting Trey to sit down.
"I'm fine." Trey said in that same tone that Harry himself used to use whenever someone asked if he was OK and he lied about it.
"Uh-huh. OK." Harry cleared his throat.
"Well, on to business. Trey, I have a proposition for you. Now, Professor Dumbledore has made me aware of you ambition to train as an Auror when you get out of school. Now, what I am offering is to be your mentor. You would train with me before and after classes on Wednesdays, Fridays and Sundays. Of course, it's just a suggestion. Think it through-"
"I'll do it." Trey answered immediately, surprising Harry. "When do we start?"
Harry grinned. "Tomorrow. Seven o'clock, my office. Oh, and Mr. Reed, it would be appreciated if you kept this to yourself. I don't want this floating all around school."
"Yes, sir." Trey nodded and left.
The following day, Harry was sitting in his office - the same office that he had visited many times before when he went to the school – grading papers.
His office was decorated as a mixture of what Professor Lupin, Professor Moody and his sixth year teacher, Professor Kortright's offices looked like.
In the corner of the room sat a large tank with the Grindylow he had been showing his third years that week. Then, scattered around the room was various dark detectors that he had gathered and collected over the year. Behind his desk sitting in special hand shaped holders that were mounted on the wall were his broomsticks – his Firebolt, his Firebolt SE and (the newest addition to his Firebolt collection) his Firebolt XL. On the mantle above his fireplace sat a pot of Floo Powder and various framed photos of him and his friends: first year through seventh year; one of Ron's wedding (in which he was best man); the picture of his parent's wedding; a picture taken in fifth year at Christmas with Sirius; and a picture of the Order of the Phoenix after Voldemort had been killed. Harry was absent from this picture.
On the wall opposite his fireplace hung many other pictures; his Hogwarts graduate certificate; his Order of Merlin, First Class; and his Auror training certificate stating that he was a fully qualified Auror who was licensed to kill. Although he never did.
There was a knock at the door and Harry stopped what he was doing.
"Come in!" He called, folding his hands on the desk. The door opened, and Trey Reed peeked his head around the corner before entering.
"Good evening, Professor Potter." Trey said.
"Ahh, Mr. Reed, do sit down." Harry gestured to the seat opposite his desk. Trey sat. "Ok. Good. Well, since today is the first day of you training, I think I'll just start off with a bit of an itinerary so that we know what will be happening.
"Every Sunday, Wednesday and Friday you will get up at four in the morning and meet me here. We'll go for an hour long distance run around the grounds. When we finish you can go shower or go back to bed or do whatever you like.
"Sunday mornings from eight o'clock to ten will be devoted to physical combat. We'll meet up on the seventh floor in the Room of Requirement.
"Monday evenings will be devoted to learning new spells, curses, jinxes and the like. Nothing too strenuous. I don't expect you to master a spell on the first night. That's why we meet on Fridays so that you have the week to practice before we meet Friday after dinner for dueling practice." Harry explained. Trey looked slightly apprehensive.
"I know it seems like a lot, but trust me: if you start training now, you'll be miles ahead of the other Auror trainees and - not to sound big headed or anything - but having the name 'Harry Potter' on you application for training will look pretty damn good for you. So, any questions?"
Trey shook his head but after a moment said, "What is that?" and pointed over to what looked like a very foggy mirror with dark shadows moving around inside it that was hanging above the fireplace mantle. Harry got up to look closer at it and Trey followed.
"That," Harry said, "is a dark detector called a Foe-Glass. My old mentor Moody gave it to me for getting into Auror training." Harry smiled at the memory. "He was a good man. That's him there." He pointed him out in the picture that was of the Order.
Trey studied it then looked at the other pictures scattered on the mantle.
"Is that you?" he asked incredulously, pointing to a picture of Harry when he was a first year.
Harry smiled. "Yeah, that's me alright. A dorky, skinny, short kid with forever messy hair and glasses, that just happened to be famous." Trey laughed. "And that's Professor Granger." Harry pointed out.
"You and Professor Granger were friends when you went here?"
"The best. We started to lose touch when I started training and working. Same with Ron." Harry pointed him out in the picture. "I haven't seen him since his wedding day. And even then - I had to leave early because I was called to go to South America." Harry scowled. "Apparently he said that I was becoming like his prat of a brother Percy. I was letting my job run my life and that I was obsessed with work and that I was forgetting to live. In some ways, I think he was right." There was a moment of silence between the two as they both gazed at Ron's wedding picture.
"What were you doing in South America, Professor?" Trey asked suddenly, turning his gaze on Harry.
Harry sighed. "I was in South America - Peru to be exact - looking for something and keeping a watch on some bad operations over there. No doubt you've heard rumors about a dark witch who has been gaining followers. She was one of Voldemort's death eaters that was determined to follow in her master's footsteps. Lady Marcella she calls herself.
"Anyway, Lady Marcella had been recruiting followers in South America and I was sent there to gain intell on the recruiting processes and training. I was three years deep when they spotted a leak. There was a whole fight scene and chaos broke out. Everyone started cursing everyone else - it was bedlam! I was lucky to get out of there with only an injured leg. So many died that night that I highly doubt that they notice that I'm gone. But if you want to be an Auror you have to get used to death - or so Moody always told me. He said that that was what made a good Auror. I don't think getting used to people being killed around you is necessarily a good thing, but when you're on a job - you sort of detach yourself from it. But it does take its toll on you later." Harry finished.
"Sir, you said you were looking for something too. What were you looking for?"
"Can't tell you."
"Then … then can you tell me about … how you killed Voldemort? It's just that no one knows and I'm really curious myself …" Trey said quietly.
"Not - not today. I'll save that one for another day. OK, well I guess that's all. Remember, here at my office on Sunday, four in the morning." Harry said.
"Yes, sir. And thank you." Trey called as he left.
"You're welcome, Trey." Harry said. But the room was empty of all but himself.
Authors Notes: OK. So I know that I haven't updated in a LONG while but I've been really busy with school work and track so I haven't had time.
I know that this wasn't the greatest chapter ever, and I promise that it will start to pick up as of the next chapter (which I've started to write). I would also like to comment before anyone says anything that this is UNEDITED. Meaning that I haven't even read it yet to check for errors - which there are bound to be. Again, this is due to lack of time. I'm actually surprised that I updated when I did.
Thank you soooooo… much to all who reviewed! You're all very lovely people and I promise when I re-update this chapter (fully edited) that I'll thank you all personally. I also love anyone who have read this but I'll love you even more if you review!
Cheers, mates,
L.O'Neill