Chapter 4- Halloween
The next day, when Ron came down to the common room he found Harry and Helena asleep in a chair. He smiled and waited. Soon Hermione joined him and Harry, who was already awake but didn't want to bother Helena, heard her saying:
- Well, it was about time that happened...
- Yeah...answered Ron.
- Well, let's wake them up!
- No... Hermione, Harry had a nightmare last night. I heard him whisper Voldemort and...
- And? Hermione asked impatiently.
- ...And Crouch.
- Good.
- What's good about that?
- Well, guess! It means that it was only a bad dream It couldn't have been real if Crouch was in it. Duh!
- It was real...Harry whispered making Ron and Hermione jump.
- Harry, you're awake?
- Yep...
- But then why...
- I don't want to wake Helena up...
- Don't worry, I've been up for about an hour... answered Helena sleepily.
They looked curiously at her but soon realized that she was actually asleep and burst into laughter.
The next weeks passed unnoticed by Harry who was in love. He liked to spend his evening talking to Helena about unimportant things. Soon, they were very close. Harry told her a week before Halloween about Sirius. She was very impressed about his fate and almost cried.
And then, one saturday, it was Halloween!
The whole school was boiling and looking forward to the feast and Harry, Ron, Hermione and Helena decided to sneak into the kitchen to see Dobby and to ask the house elves about the meal they were preparing. Unfortunately, Dumbledore had put a spell on the door to the kitchens and they weren't able to enter. Slowly, time crawled and then, finally, the bell that announced the beginning of the feast rang. The Gryffindors all stormed out of the common room, causing the Fat Lady some kind of stroke. Madam Pomfrey was called and Neville received detention for some unknown reason. Soon, the Great Hall filled with students and, at Dumbledore's sign, the plates filled with food. No one noticed. The decorations had exceeded all expectations. The giant pumpkins, the flying bats were nothing compared to the shadows that had been somehow painted upon the walls. Also, the dim light and the distant howls contributed to the shocking effect. Soon, Dumbledore had to summon some curtains to hide the walls and remove the howls. Only then, shivering slightly, the students began to eat.
Harry was talking happily to Helena when his look drifted over to the teachers table. There he saw Snape watching him, his face pure loathing. Suddenly, Harry scar exploded. The room was suddenly a blur again, and slowly it disappeared and was replaced by another room. Harry's mother was still there, the four doors too, and Harry realized it was time for his first test.
- Harry! I didn't expect you so soon!
She smiled and hugged him:
- You are progressing faster than anyone could have expected!
- "Anyone"?
- Yes, well, there are certain... groups who are watching you.
- Like the Order of the Phoenix?
- Precisely!
- I forgot about them...
- Well, it doesn't matter. There's no time. Go now.
Harry looked at her questioningly.
- Go...where?
- You have to know that! I can't tell you!
Harry looked at her. Then he looked around. His eyes fell on the metal door with golden marks on its edge. He looked at the marks and he suddenly understood they were letters. Unfortunately, the words were in some unknown language. Harry turned around and looked at his mother:
- Do you know what those words mean?
- Words? What words?
- The ones on the door.
- What door?
Harry looked at his mother. She was looking at him attentively. Then she began looking around. Harry's eyes widened as he realized that his mother was somehow blind. She could only see him.
- Mom...don't you see the room? The doors?
- No my dear. You are the only one who can see this place. That's why you're so special. That's why you have to move on.
Harry turned around. For a moment he thought: "Why me?" And then Ron's voice whispered in his head: "Don't be stupid! Accept your mission, your purpose in life!" And Harry suddenly understood the strange language and the words on the door. He approached it and whispered "Alohomora". The door opened slowly with a rusty squeak and Harry entered a dimly lit corridor. The walls were a greenish-blue and Harry felt a smell of iron coming from somewhere above. Slowly he advanced along the corridor until he reached a large, silver wall. He thought for a moment and then he touched it. The cold surface of the wall seemed to talk to him in that unknown, strange language, and suddenly Harry knew what he had to do. He stepped back and then concentrated on the wall. "Expelliarmus!" he whispered and the wall moved a few meters back. "Expelliarmus!" Harry whispered again and the wall moved again. And again. And again.
"Expelliarmus!" But this time it didn't work. "EXPELLIARMUS!" Nothing. Harry approached the wall. He calmed down and then he touched it again. And he felt something...something blocking the way. He concentrated hard. It was something big. A door. Harry thought for a moment. He had never tried his powers on something he couldn't see. He concentrated. The keyhole was there. He only had to imagine it. He began to feel the door with his mind. It was a big, mahogany door. And it had no keyhole. But there was something else. A small pin was holding the door onto the ground. Harry felt the pin. It was so small, so easy. He just had to make it float for a few moments. For a few moments, everything seemed to be frozen in time. And then Harry unleashed his power upon the pin. "WINGARDIUM LEVIOSA!!!" On the other side of the silver wall, the pin moved a little. Harry concentrated harder, and harder, and harder. He remembered the Defense against the Dark Arts lesson, and he concentrated his whole power upon the pin. And it gave away. The pin flew into the air and the mahogany door opened with a loud crash. Harry fell to his knees panting. And then he heard a clock ticking. He was almost out of time. "Expelliarmus!" The silver wall moved forward slowly. But soon, another obstacle blocked its path. Harry scanned the area behind the wall with his mind. It was suddenly easy! Behind the silver wall he felt the end of the corridor. It was a small room and someone was there. It was a wizard...And he had his wand out. Harry realized the man was holding the wall back with his wand. For a moment he thought of trying to dispose the man of his wand. But then he realized the wall would crush him. Harry thought. The wall was blocking the way. So the wall had to go. For a moment he thought of going back and summoning the wall into the room with his mother. But the he realized that the wall was much bigger than the door, so there was no chance to get it out. The only thing that remained was to get rid of the wall...to destroy it. It was a pretty stupid idea. He had no wand, how could he destroy a silver wall with his bare hands. An energy curse would've been great...if only he would have his wand! And then he realized. Mariko-San, Helena...They didn't need a wand! Harry stepped back. He raised his hands and closed his eyes. He could do it, it was easy! He concentrated. He had to bring his power to his hands. He felt his palms, their round shape, their lines, the little bruise he got in Potions a week ago... Slowly, his power went down his arms, past his elbows, it reached the wrists and then finally the palms. Harry couldn't see it but he felt the energy sphere floating in front of him. "Vis Orbis!" he whispered and released it. "Praesidium!" he said fast and felt the man on the other side of the wall doing the same thing. It was so easy! He didn't need a wand! The energy sphere hit the wall. Behind his shield, Harry closed his eyes. The sound of the explosion roared past him and bounced away down the corridor. And when the smoke cleared, Harry opened his eyes. In front of him, the road was clear. And there, crouched behind his shield was Harry's father, James Potter.
- Father?
- Harry...
Harry couldn't move for a moment. He remembered the screams, the green light, Voldemort. And then he ran towards his father and hugged him tightly. But soon, James pushed him away and said:
- Harry, there is no time now!
- Yes, I know...
- Do you realize what you have just succeeded?
- Yes. I passed the First Test.
- Yes... Harry, you have to prepare! You have to get ready for the next Test!
- I'll see what I can do... Father...
- Yes, Harry?
- Is there any way...
- To bring us back to life? No Harry. We are just... illusions. Almost like ghosts. But we lack emotions. We are pure rational.
- But then, the hug...
- It was only an action to an opposite and equal reaction...
Harry stared at him for a moment, and then he remembered his old Muggle school... The had taught him something like that there... He looked at his father. On his chest, he saw an emblem with a phoenix rising from its ashes and the words" Order of the Phoenix- Archmage" written on it. And then the room became a blur and Harry soon found himself facing Helena's white face.
- Harry! Harry!
- Don't worry, I'm fine...
Harry's head had fallen onto Helena's lap and no one had noticed his "absence".
- Harry! What happened? Helena asked.
- I can't tell you here. Come, let's go take a walk.
Followed closely by Helena, Ron and Hermione, Harry went out of the Great Hall. The feast was almost ready so no one noticed them leaving. But before closing the door, Harry looked towards the teacher's table. Snape had disappeared.
- So, what happened? Ron asked as soon as they were out.
- Let's go out. I'll tell you there, answered Harry and then headed for the exit. Outside, a chilly breeze caused the girls to shiver slightly. Harry put his arm around Helena and Ron gave Hermione his cloak. Then Harry told them everything. After he finished, Ron, Hermione and Helena looked confused at him, not knowing what to say. And then Harry felt something. Someone was there. He turned around slowly and then, the biggest energy sphere he had ever seen appeared out of thin air and started towards him. The sphere was moving so fast that Harry had no time to think. He raised his hand and screamed: "NO!" Again he felt the mysterious power within him as it was released upon the sphere. And as the power touched it, the sphere disintegrated. For a few moments, Harry couldn't do anything. He just stared at the darkness of the night, panting. And then he felt tired. Incredibly tired. Ron succeeded to catch him just in time before he hit the ground.
- Someone tried to kill him.
Hermione's voice reached Harry from somewhere far away.
- Yes, we were outside talking, and then this energy sphere came out of nowhere! said Ron.
- Professor, I felt the aura of the caster. He or she was very evil. And the sphere... Helena stopped.
- The energy sphere was very powerful. I have never seen such power... Not to mention the speed! continued Mariko-San
Harry opened his eyes slowly. Nobody noticed as they were all looking towards Dumbledore who said:
- And Harry just looked at it and it vanished?
- No, he also raised his hand, as if to stop it.
- He progresses faster than we expected... Dumbledore had a dreamily expression on his face.
- Professor.... asked Ron almost whispering. Do you think it could be... You-Know-Who?
- No, my informants tell me he's still in Azkhaban.
- Harry! You're awake!
Helena jumped and hugged Harry tightly. Madam Pomfrey appeared soon with a green potion that Harry had to take and then drove the others away, saying he needed rest. Harry soon remained alone in the hospital wing with only Malfoy to keep him company. Unfortunately, Malfoy was still in a state of shock and was rather unapproachable. Time crawled and Harry couldn't sleep. And then, around 10 o'clock, the door slowly opened with a squeaky sound. Harry felt something like a bucket of ice down his spine. The door closed. There was no one there. And then, out of thin air, Ron's head appeared, followed shortly after by Helena's and Hermione's. Hermione took out her wand, walked over to Malfoy's bed and muttered something.
Then Ron said:
- How are you, mate?
Harry had to breathe deeply before answering:
- You almost scared me to death! Never do that again!
- Sorry... We thought you were sleeping.
- Nah... I couldn't. So, what happened?
- Nobody knows. Mariko-San was there first and was followed by Snape. Then Dumbledore appeared and conjured a stretcher. How the hell did you stop that sphere?
- I have no idea...
Helena looked at him admiringly:
- You are great, you know that?
- Oh, I whish I wasn't... answered Harry tired.
They all looked at him and then he asked:
- What did you do to Malfoy, Hermione?
- Nothing, just a sleeping charm.
- It's strange, you know...
- What's strange?
- That Malfoy's back. I thought his father was going to keep him home now that Voldemort's back...
- Yeah...
- Oy, Harry! said Ron suddenly. Guess what!
- What?
- We're not playing against Slytherin in the first game!
- What? Oh, I should've known... Harry giggled madly.
- What's so funny? Helena asked.
- Malfoy... He's refusing to use the toilet. Madam Pomfrey brought him a small pot, but he refused to use it too... Harry couldn't continue as his eyes filled with tears from laughing.
The others laughed too, without being sure why. Then Harry continued:
- And finally he had to do it... In his bed! And...and... Madam Pomfrey made him put dippers on so that he wouldn't get an infection or something like that...
It was already too much. Harry fell backwards laughing and the others were already on the floor. Suddenly the door opened and a very furious Madam Pomfrey appeared in its frame. Harry had never seen her so angry. For about an hour she screamed at them, finally waking up Malfoy in spite of the powerful charm Hermione had put on him. That distracted madam Pomfrey's attention for some moments. When she came back, she told them to come to see her the next day and then literally kicked them out of the hospital wing.
The next day, when Ron came down to the common room he found Harry and Helena asleep in a chair. He smiled and waited. Soon Hermione joined him and Harry, who was already awake but didn't want to bother Helena, heard her saying:
- Well, it was about time that happened...
- Yeah...answered Ron.
- Well, let's wake them up!
- No... Hermione, Harry had a nightmare last night. I heard him whisper Voldemort and...
- And? Hermione asked impatiently.
- ...And Crouch.
- Good.
- What's good about that?
- Well, guess! It means that it was only a bad dream It couldn't have been real if Crouch was in it. Duh!
- It was real...Harry whispered making Ron and Hermione jump.
- Harry, you're awake?
- Yep...
- But then why...
- I don't want to wake Helena up...
- Don't worry, I've been up for about an hour... answered Helena sleepily.
They looked curiously at her but soon realized that she was actually asleep and burst into laughter.
The next weeks passed unnoticed by Harry who was in love. He liked to spend his evening talking to Helena about unimportant things. Soon, they were very close. Harry told her a week before Halloween about Sirius. She was very impressed about his fate and almost cried.
And then, one saturday, it was Halloween!
The whole school was boiling and looking forward to the feast and Harry, Ron, Hermione and Helena decided to sneak into the kitchen to see Dobby and to ask the house elves about the meal they were preparing. Unfortunately, Dumbledore had put a spell on the door to the kitchens and they weren't able to enter. Slowly, time crawled and then, finally, the bell that announced the beginning of the feast rang. The Gryffindors all stormed out of the common room, causing the Fat Lady some kind of stroke. Madam Pomfrey was called and Neville received detention for some unknown reason. Soon, the Great Hall filled with students and, at Dumbledore's sign, the plates filled with food. No one noticed. The decorations had exceeded all expectations. The giant pumpkins, the flying bats were nothing compared to the shadows that had been somehow painted upon the walls. Also, the dim light and the distant howls contributed to the shocking effect. Soon, Dumbledore had to summon some curtains to hide the walls and remove the howls. Only then, shivering slightly, the students began to eat.
Harry was talking happily to Helena when his look drifted over to the teachers table. There he saw Snape watching him, his face pure loathing. Suddenly, Harry scar exploded. The room was suddenly a blur again, and slowly it disappeared and was replaced by another room. Harry's mother was still there, the four doors too, and Harry realized it was time for his first test.
- Harry! I didn't expect you so soon!
She smiled and hugged him:
- You are progressing faster than anyone could have expected!
- "Anyone"?
- Yes, well, there are certain... groups who are watching you.
- Like the Order of the Phoenix?
- Precisely!
- I forgot about them...
- Well, it doesn't matter. There's no time. Go now.
Harry looked at her questioningly.
- Go...where?
- You have to know that! I can't tell you!
Harry looked at her. Then he looked around. His eyes fell on the metal door with golden marks on its edge. He looked at the marks and he suddenly understood they were letters. Unfortunately, the words were in some unknown language. Harry turned around and looked at his mother:
- Do you know what those words mean?
- Words? What words?
- The ones on the door.
- What door?
Harry looked at his mother. She was looking at him attentively. Then she began looking around. Harry's eyes widened as he realized that his mother was somehow blind. She could only see him.
- Mom...don't you see the room? The doors?
- No my dear. You are the only one who can see this place. That's why you're so special. That's why you have to move on.
Harry turned around. For a moment he thought: "Why me?" And then Ron's voice whispered in his head: "Don't be stupid! Accept your mission, your purpose in life!" And Harry suddenly understood the strange language and the words on the door. He approached it and whispered "Alohomora". The door opened slowly with a rusty squeak and Harry entered a dimly lit corridor. The walls were a greenish-blue and Harry felt a smell of iron coming from somewhere above. Slowly he advanced along the corridor until he reached a large, silver wall. He thought for a moment and then he touched it. The cold surface of the wall seemed to talk to him in that unknown, strange language, and suddenly Harry knew what he had to do. He stepped back and then concentrated on the wall. "Expelliarmus!" he whispered and the wall moved a few meters back. "Expelliarmus!" Harry whispered again and the wall moved again. And again. And again.
"Expelliarmus!" But this time it didn't work. "EXPELLIARMUS!" Nothing. Harry approached the wall. He calmed down and then he touched it again. And he felt something...something blocking the way. He concentrated hard. It was something big. A door. Harry thought for a moment. He had never tried his powers on something he couldn't see. He concentrated. The keyhole was there. He only had to imagine it. He began to feel the door with his mind. It was a big, mahogany door. And it had no keyhole. But there was something else. A small pin was holding the door onto the ground. Harry felt the pin. It was so small, so easy. He just had to make it float for a few moments. For a few moments, everything seemed to be frozen in time. And then Harry unleashed his power upon the pin. "WINGARDIUM LEVIOSA!!!" On the other side of the silver wall, the pin moved a little. Harry concentrated harder, and harder, and harder. He remembered the Defense against the Dark Arts lesson, and he concentrated his whole power upon the pin. And it gave away. The pin flew into the air and the mahogany door opened with a loud crash. Harry fell to his knees panting. And then he heard a clock ticking. He was almost out of time. "Expelliarmus!" The silver wall moved forward slowly. But soon, another obstacle blocked its path. Harry scanned the area behind the wall with his mind. It was suddenly easy! Behind the silver wall he felt the end of the corridor. It was a small room and someone was there. It was a wizard...And he had his wand out. Harry realized the man was holding the wall back with his wand. For a moment he thought of trying to dispose the man of his wand. But then he realized the wall would crush him. Harry thought. The wall was blocking the way. So the wall had to go. For a moment he thought of going back and summoning the wall into the room with his mother. But the he realized that the wall was much bigger than the door, so there was no chance to get it out. The only thing that remained was to get rid of the wall...to destroy it. It was a pretty stupid idea. He had no wand, how could he destroy a silver wall with his bare hands. An energy curse would've been great...if only he would have his wand! And then he realized. Mariko-San, Helena...They didn't need a wand! Harry stepped back. He raised his hands and closed his eyes. He could do it, it was easy! He concentrated. He had to bring his power to his hands. He felt his palms, their round shape, their lines, the little bruise he got in Potions a week ago... Slowly, his power went down his arms, past his elbows, it reached the wrists and then finally the palms. Harry couldn't see it but he felt the energy sphere floating in front of him. "Vis Orbis!" he whispered and released it. "Praesidium!" he said fast and felt the man on the other side of the wall doing the same thing. It was so easy! He didn't need a wand! The energy sphere hit the wall. Behind his shield, Harry closed his eyes. The sound of the explosion roared past him and bounced away down the corridor. And when the smoke cleared, Harry opened his eyes. In front of him, the road was clear. And there, crouched behind his shield was Harry's father, James Potter.
- Father?
- Harry...
Harry couldn't move for a moment. He remembered the screams, the green light, Voldemort. And then he ran towards his father and hugged him tightly. But soon, James pushed him away and said:
- Harry, there is no time now!
- Yes, I know...
- Do you realize what you have just succeeded?
- Yes. I passed the First Test.
- Yes... Harry, you have to prepare! You have to get ready for the next Test!
- I'll see what I can do... Father...
- Yes, Harry?
- Is there any way...
- To bring us back to life? No Harry. We are just... illusions. Almost like ghosts. But we lack emotions. We are pure rational.
- But then, the hug...
- It was only an action to an opposite and equal reaction...
Harry stared at him for a moment, and then he remembered his old Muggle school... The had taught him something like that there... He looked at his father. On his chest, he saw an emblem with a phoenix rising from its ashes and the words" Order of the Phoenix- Archmage" written on it. And then the room became a blur and Harry soon found himself facing Helena's white face.
- Harry! Harry!
- Don't worry, I'm fine...
Harry's head had fallen onto Helena's lap and no one had noticed his "absence".
- Harry! What happened? Helena asked.
- I can't tell you here. Come, let's go take a walk.
Followed closely by Helena, Ron and Hermione, Harry went out of the Great Hall. The feast was almost ready so no one noticed them leaving. But before closing the door, Harry looked towards the teacher's table. Snape had disappeared.
- So, what happened? Ron asked as soon as they were out.
- Let's go out. I'll tell you there, answered Harry and then headed for the exit. Outside, a chilly breeze caused the girls to shiver slightly. Harry put his arm around Helena and Ron gave Hermione his cloak. Then Harry told them everything. After he finished, Ron, Hermione and Helena looked confused at him, not knowing what to say. And then Harry felt something. Someone was there. He turned around slowly and then, the biggest energy sphere he had ever seen appeared out of thin air and started towards him. The sphere was moving so fast that Harry had no time to think. He raised his hand and screamed: "NO!" Again he felt the mysterious power within him as it was released upon the sphere. And as the power touched it, the sphere disintegrated. For a few moments, Harry couldn't do anything. He just stared at the darkness of the night, panting. And then he felt tired. Incredibly tired. Ron succeeded to catch him just in time before he hit the ground.
- Someone tried to kill him.
Hermione's voice reached Harry from somewhere far away.
- Yes, we were outside talking, and then this energy sphere came out of nowhere! said Ron.
- Professor, I felt the aura of the caster. He or she was very evil. And the sphere... Helena stopped.
- The energy sphere was very powerful. I have never seen such power... Not to mention the speed! continued Mariko-San
Harry opened his eyes slowly. Nobody noticed as they were all looking towards Dumbledore who said:
- And Harry just looked at it and it vanished?
- No, he also raised his hand, as if to stop it.
- He progresses faster than we expected... Dumbledore had a dreamily expression on his face.
- Professor.... asked Ron almost whispering. Do you think it could be... You-Know-Who?
- No, my informants tell me he's still in Azkhaban.
- Harry! You're awake!
Helena jumped and hugged Harry tightly. Madam Pomfrey appeared soon with a green potion that Harry had to take and then drove the others away, saying he needed rest. Harry soon remained alone in the hospital wing with only Malfoy to keep him company. Unfortunately, Malfoy was still in a state of shock and was rather unapproachable. Time crawled and Harry couldn't sleep. And then, around 10 o'clock, the door slowly opened with a squeaky sound. Harry felt something like a bucket of ice down his spine. The door closed. There was no one there. And then, out of thin air, Ron's head appeared, followed shortly after by Helena's and Hermione's. Hermione took out her wand, walked over to Malfoy's bed and muttered something.
Then Ron said:
- How are you, mate?
Harry had to breathe deeply before answering:
- You almost scared me to death! Never do that again!
- Sorry... We thought you were sleeping.
- Nah... I couldn't. So, what happened?
- Nobody knows. Mariko-San was there first and was followed by Snape. Then Dumbledore appeared and conjured a stretcher. How the hell did you stop that sphere?
- I have no idea...
Helena looked at him admiringly:
- You are great, you know that?
- Oh, I whish I wasn't... answered Harry tired.
They all looked at him and then he asked:
- What did you do to Malfoy, Hermione?
- Nothing, just a sleeping charm.
- It's strange, you know...
- What's strange?
- That Malfoy's back. I thought his father was going to keep him home now that Voldemort's back...
- Yeah...
- Oy, Harry! said Ron suddenly. Guess what!
- What?
- We're not playing against Slytherin in the first game!
- What? Oh, I should've known... Harry giggled madly.
- What's so funny? Helena asked.
- Malfoy... He's refusing to use the toilet. Madam Pomfrey brought him a small pot, but he refused to use it too... Harry couldn't continue as his eyes filled with tears from laughing.
The others laughed too, without being sure why. Then Harry continued:
- And finally he had to do it... In his bed! And...and... Madam Pomfrey made him put dippers on so that he wouldn't get an infection or something like that...
It was already too much. Harry fell backwards laughing and the others were already on the floor. Suddenly the door opened and a very furious Madam Pomfrey appeared in its frame. Harry had never seen her so angry. For about an hour she screamed at them, finally waking up Malfoy in spite of the powerful charm Hermione had put on him. That distracted madam Pomfrey's attention for some moments. When she came back, she told them to come to see her the next day and then literally kicked them out of the hospital wing.