Chapter Two: Holding On To Slivers of Happiness
A/N: Well flashback time!!!! Please note all even chapters will be flashbacks, odd will be present time! With that, time to enjoy the show!
Grief, how it can consume you, eating your soul until it consumes you. The hidden demon of hatred, it can cause your happiness to be ripped up and spat in your face. Happiness, so easily stolen away, gone before you know it was even there.
Anxiety was suffocating the wizarding world. People were looking over their shoulder, untrusting of new and old and dark magic slithered everywhere. Dumbeldore was tired and time was consuming him. The Order was growing but still was vastly out numbered. Harry was hiding inside of his mind and only surfaced to learn new ways to arm himself against the Dark Lord. Harry hadn't wanted to return for his seventh year and had come back against his wishes, he began to resent Dumbeldore and Dumbeldore began to fear this. People were dying and the wizarding world quaked with fear.
The light shone outside the classroom and the class was stiffingly hot and people's blood began to boil in Defense Against the Dark Arts classroom, seventh years were anxious to pick sides and arm themselves. This was the War, the time for dark and light to conquer one another. The seventh years new this, Harry Potter new this more than any other. "The simplest spell is often the most effective, Unforgivables are not the only way to rid yourself of your enemies. In this dark time we must arm are selves in all ways possible, the spell I will teach you is, 'Inselayus,' can anyone tell me what this spell can do?" Professor Flett asked. Professor Flett, was from Scotland, a member of the Order, but was severely injured in battle.
"Make the demons of your mind consume you," Hermione Granger whispered, "in a matter of minutes." The Professor nodded and the students exchanged glances, 'your worst demons...'
"What if the demons of their mind are already unleashed? It won't do much good against someone who's friends with their demons now will it?" Harry Potter uttered. The class was filled with hushed whispers they knew who Harry spoke of. The professor turned and faced Harry and stared him in the face.
"You can not know the demons until they are all that is left to whisper to you in the dead of night, believe me Mr. Potter no one can escape the demons. No one," Professor Flett said. He turned back to the class and stared at them as if daring them to question him. It was then understood by all that Professor Flett was not an ignorant fool, he had fought evil. "Take out your wands all that we will work on is proper wrist action, if a soul even mutters the incantation they will wish they were never born. This spell is easy to lift but once it has been done it leaves it's mark. It is not considered an Unforgivable only because it causes no physical pain, but mental pain often makes you wish it was physical. Some say it is Dark magic, it can be but only if they themselves are fighting inner demons."
The class began swishing their wands but many students were at unease, they wanted to fight but really it was all a game to them. They could not see themselves harming another living person, they would learn over the next two years there was never really a choice. Hermione continued to drop her wand, as if scared it would explode in her face. Neville was trembling all over, but kept hearing the voice of Bellatrix Lestrange echo in his mind and his lost parents. Ron was swearing gripped his wand so tight his knuckles were turning white. Only two remained steady while holding their wands, Harry Potter and Draco Malfoy. People could understand Malfoy, it was a common fact that he was bred to use the Dark Arts. It was Harry that scared them, the way his brow was scrunched in concentration. The way his face held pure loathing, he was their saviour, he was the Light. Yet, he looked so dark.
The students did not stay any longer than they had to .The days classes over. Mentally exhausted, it was decided to skip supper. Harry knew that Ron and Hermione were worried about him, but he could care less. He saw their anxious stares and laughed inside, if only they knew, then they'd have a reason to worry. "Mate, let's go down to the lake have a breath of fresh air. It'll be good," Ron half-pleaded, half-asked. Harry shrugged and they began to head towards the lake. Walking the well worn paths of their memories, after facing the troll and Voldemort for the first time. Where they hid away when the Chamber was opened. When they snuck away under the cloak to see the stars when Sirius was a wanted criminal. Where they had practiced spells for Harry to learn for the maze. Where they had come the last day before they left for home, to mourn together. The day Hermione didn't want to leave, the day she was tired of people dying. They sat by their oak, watching the ripples splash the shore. Watching the sun burst into the sunset and the stars dance. Wishing for their innocence and childhood.