Disclaimer: J.K. Rowling is in full ownership of all things Harry Potter.
A/N: Hello again everyone. I do hope you are enjoying my story. I hope it does much better than my last Harry Potter fic. Only got nineteen reviews.
Phoenix - "Thanks to HarryPotterFan17 for his (or her) review.
Vincent - "And this is me having tea with the Yeti." (Showing slides from his vacation) "He and I used to play together when we were children. Though you would think that those Tibetan monks would learn not to scream. Yeti has very sensitive ears."
Kev - "Fascinating."(Being very sarcastic)
Phoenix - "Ooooooh! What else did you do?" (Actually interested in the slides)
Kev - "I'm sure you don't want to hear about Vincent's vacation so here's Chapter Seven."
Chapter Seven: Supernatural Slide
"Harry!" Professor Rai Warren placed a hand on Harry shoulder, "Just the man I was looking for." Rai began to steer him up the stairs as he spoke. "Please follow me to the Headmasters office. Harry didn't know what to think. Surely he hadn't done anything wrong, had he? He didn't voice his question, deciding that he would find out soon enough. He walked silently with his professor's arm around him up the halls. Some of the paintings began whispering as the duo walked by. Soon they came to the stone gargoyle that guarded the entrance to Professor Dumbledore's office.
Rai whispered "Peppermint Humbug" to the statue. The gargoyle sprang to life and stepped aside, allowing teacher and student access to the moving stairway. Rai stepped on pulling Harry up with him. Rai's face was completely unreadable as they rode the stairs straight up. The silence was eerie. The only sound was the feint grinding of the staircase as it moved.
They soon reached the top and before either of them moved to knock they heard the headmaster's voice beckon them in. The large mahogany doors swung open to reveal Dumbledore sitting behind his desk as usual. Rai ushered Harry inside and they both sat down in the two chairs that appeared out of nowhere. The headmaster smiled. "What was it you wanted to tell me about Mr. Potter, Rai?"
At this Rai's face broke into a broad grin. "My good man Dumbledore. It is a rare thing that I have found today. I do believe Harry is one of the Half-Elven." Harry was puzzled. What in the bloody hell was a Half-Elven? Dumbledore must have understood because he seemed quite shocked.
"How did you come to this conclusion?" the headmaster asked.
"I was talking to Hagrid and he told me the names of Harry's ancestors. The man who first announced himself as 'Alan De' Marqi Solophero Potter' and his family were all elves. His real name was Alín Felic Solophero Balor. He was a radical and a revolutionist. He left the realm of the elves when the king declared war on the Nerecon race." Harry had no idea what anyone was talking about but it sounded as if the subject was important.
"I see," Professor Dumbledore seemed to understand, "Is this all?"
"Not quite," Rai said, "About a thousand years ago an elven princess ran away from an arranged marriage. Since there are literally infinite realms it was impossible to find her. It would seem our famous Princess Liyallen married one of Harry's ancestors." All this talk of Harry's family was starting to eat away at his nerves. Still no one had told him whether this was a bad thing or not and his imagination was having a field day coming up with ways this could turn out punishable or favorable. Harry noticed that many of the portraits that hung all around the room were now staring so intently at him that he could almost feel their eyes burning holes in him.
"This is most interesting Rai. I am curious as to why this seems so important to you." That damn twinkle in Dumbledore's eyes was now at record high levels. Fawkes, the headmaster's phoenix, must have sensed Harry's nervousness as the magnificent bird gently settled into his lap. It eased his senses just to stroke the beautiful red, orange, and gold plumage.
"As a close friend of the royal family I have an obligation to oversee Harry's weapons training. After anyone with elven blood comes of a certain age, in this case sixteen, he must be trained in the art of armed combat." This got Harry's immediate attention. Arms training?
"Excuse me?" he spoke up. "I have a full enough schedule as it is. I have classes, quidditch, and occlumency to deal with. I don't need anything else to worry about."
"I do believe Mr. Potter is right. He does have a bit much on his plate as it is." That wasn't something he had expected from Dumbledore. Harry had expected his headmaster to jump in and agree that it was "just the thing he needs to better defend himself."
"I'm sorry Albus, but I'm afraid I must insist. I'm sure if his father were alive he would have had some training over the summer. As it is he knows nothing of elven society, less even than he knows about the wizarding world." Harry was about to argue but something distracted his attention. Fawkes began to softly sing. It was just enough to divert his attention from the debate that his professors were having.
Harry looked down at Fawkes then to where the bird seemed to be pointing it's beak. At first he didn't see it, but he became startled to see a ghostly figure, pearly white and almost completely transparent. It was a man of medium height and strong build. Before he could react he felt, rather than heard, a voice in his mind. He became completely oblivious to the discussion at hand and focused solely on the figure.
'Who are you?' he thought.
'I am the first Potter,' the figure responded. It was odd to note that the figure had an ancient Irish/Celtic accent.
'Are you really?' Harry asked.
'Yes, and Sir Warren is correct. Had James been alive you would have started your training the day after your birthday.'
'Sir Warren?' Harry queried.
'That is not important. You need to tell the other that you will undergo the training. I promise you it won't be boring. It may even be the most fun you'll ever have. All Elves are warriors at heart and delight in combat. You will be an exceptional fighter and the thrill of battle is something you will most enjoy.'
'Alright,' Harry thought, 'But one last question before you go.' The apparition nodded and smiled. 'If you're dead how can I see you?'
'It is because Elves never die. We live on as unseen faerie creatures. Some are reborn as other creatures and live to help others. You may only have a small amount of Elven blood in you but when you die you will live on as I do. Now please inform the others of your decision.' And with that Alan De' Marqi Solophero Potter was gone.
Harry shook himself out of the trance and looked back to make sure the apparition was gone. He then spoke to the debating elders. "I've changed my mind. I will go through the training." Rai turned to him with a huge smile on his face. Dumbledore looked at him skeptically.
"Are you sure you are up to it Harry?" the headmaster asked. "You will be able to handle the training along with all of your other duties? I know that you have experienced a lot of trauma in the past five years and I don't want you over exerting yourself."
"I'll be fine Professor," Harry responded, "Though I would like to wait until after Halloween to begin the training."
"Perfectly all right Harry," Rai said cheerfully, "I understand. And I think you might even like this."
"Stand up Potter," came the deathly quiet voice of Professor Snape, "Even though I am loathe to admit it you should be doing much better than this." Harry had only been able to successfully block Snape out when he had come to the memories of this afternoons discussion in the headmaster's office.
"I'm sorry sir," He gritted out from behind clenched teeth. He stood and prepared himself for another assault.
"Don't be sorry Potter just do better. Legilimens!" Harry once again felt as though a rather large something was being forced through his skull. As he pushed feebly against the massive presence of the Potions Master. He could see some of his worst moments flying past in a stream. He almost blacked out for the fourth time that night. Harry felt the force of the curse drain away as Snape once again berated him about his inferiority. It seemed blasphemous to think it, but he was starting to sound a little like Moody.
"Stand up and we'll try it again." Harry stood once more and braced himself. On an impulse he began to think of something totally irrelevant. He forced all thought aside except for the taste of a chocolate frog. He heard his Professor shout the spell again and then the massive weight. This time however the force stopped at the boundary of his mind. He could feel it pushing against his previously nonexistent shield. After about thirty seconds Snape broke through. Harry felt the all too familiar presence again except it wasn't as painful or humiliating. Snape cut the spell almost immediately after he broke through, leaving Harry a bit dizzy.
"Chocolate Potter?" Snape queried in a puzzled tone. "How in the world could the thought of a chocolate frog help put up even that weak of a shield?"
Harry grasped his head to stop the room from spinning about him. "I don't know sir. I tried it on an impulse." Snape sneered at his 'pupil' and snorted.
"While it is very interesting to note," he said using a very condescending tone, "Occlumency, especially in my classes, is not a subject for experimentation. You are dismissed Potter and don't forget to show up on Wednesday."
"Yes sir," he replied. He gathered up his things and trudged back up to the seventh floor. On his way it seemed that several paintings were staring at him. Harry even thought he caught one following him. Several of the armors made an awful racket turning and bending to follow his progress down the hallways with their 'eyes'.
All of this sent a shiver down his spine. It was starting to creep him out. For some reason the trip from the dungeons seemed to be taking three times as long even with taking a few shortcuts. The hallways seemed to go on forever and the stairs looked to be almost endless. When Harry finally reached the portrait of the Fat Lady he was 'as jumpy as a salmon in spring'. He gave her the password (necronis dominus) and climbed through the portrait hole.
Once inside he was met with a sight almost as terrifying as a dementor. Ginny Weasley was livid. Dean Thomas was cowering in a corner of the common room under the intense scrutiny of a very angry redhead. She seemed to be speaking to the poor fellow in a whisper. No one could hear what was being said, but there was an unmistakable look of terror in the boy's eyes as the youngest Weasley finished her rant. She whispered one last thing to Dean before storming up the dormitory staircase. Poor Dean was left shaking horribly. He stumbled past Harry muttering something about the Hospital Wing and Dreamless Sleep potions.
Harry walked up to Ron and Hermione, who were looking very nervous. He asked, "I don't suppose either of you could tell me what that was all about?"
Ron shakily turned his head to face Harry. He swallowed once and said, "They've broken up." It was said in a very quiet voice and it was almost inaudible.
It was Saturday. Harry had been looking forward to every Saturday. Today he would spend the entire day in a private location with Remus Lupin. Harry had been in several of his occlumency lessons already and he had taken to calling his ex-professor by his nickname. Harry was up in a flash. He had found himself sleeping a lot more now. He had six weeks total of training and it was starting to pay off. Snape would never admit it but Harry was definitely getting better. He could go almost a whole night without having nightmares. And even the ones he did have weren't very bad anymore.
Harry stepped out of the shower and began to dress. His eyes came to rest on Neville. Neville Longbottom's skills had been improving as well. Ever since the events at the end of the previous year he had been working extra hard on everything. He had even raised his Potions grade from a D to an A. His eyes roved over Ron, who had always been able to sleep like a rock, and Seamus Finnigan, who was also a heavy sleeper. His eyes finally came to rest on Dean. In the five and a half weeks since his breakup with Ginny he had gotten back to sleeping and eating regularly. Ginny had began amusing herself with some Hufflepuff boy in her year.
He glanced at his watch, which read five-forty-five am. He had ten minutes until he had to be in Professor McGonagall's office. He was flooing to Moony's home. There he would be going through his extra occlumency training. Remus always promised a snack if he did well in his weekly sessions and a story about his parents if there was any improvement. Harry had been practicing every night. As Remus was the only one of his father's close friends left (he refused to think of Peter Pettigrew as alive) he was the only one who could tell of their escapades.
Last time Moony had began telling him about how his parents had gotten together. Most of the time it was hilarious to hear about his father's pranks. He also loved hearing about his mother. Lily had been one of the most beautiful witches at Hogwarts, as well as the smartest, during her time.
Harry rushed down the stairs, wand and school bag in hand, and hurtled out the portrait hole. He only said a passing 'Good Morning' to the Fat Lady as he jumped onto the banister of the staircase and slid, skateboard style, quickly down to the next floor. He literally had to hurdle Mrs. Norris, the caretakers dusty looking cat, as he hurried through the fourth floor corridor. He came to a screeching halt in front of the Deputy Headmistress's office. Professor McGonagall was waiting inside.
She offered him a cookie. He politely declined. Moony always cooked breakfast before training. "You're here early as usual Harry." A hint of a smile touched her usually stern face.
"Yes Professor. I'd kill myself if I were late. Moony is a wonderful teacher." Minerva's small smile became a full-blown smirk at this comment. She walked over to her fireplace and held a pot of floo powder to him. Harry grabbed a handful and prepared to step into the fire.
"Oh Harry," Professor McGonagall said, "Before I forget, you will be going to Grimmauld Place today." Harry grimaced.
'No,' he mentally scolded himself, 'I won't let that spoil the day!' "All right Professor," he said. He took a deep breath, threw the powder into the fire, stepped in, and shouted "Twelve Grimmauld Place!"
He felt the now familiar spinning sensation unique to the floo network. He closed his eyes, tucked in his elbows, and kept his mouth shut. He soon felt himself touch-down and he planted his feet firmly before stepping out of the basement kitchen of the Black Family Home. He opened his eyes and saw Remus standing at the stove frying eggs.
"Good Morning Harry. Have a seat."
"Good Morning Moony."
"I know you don't like being here after... well..." There was a long awkward pause. "Anyway there are some things I think we should do today instead of training." Remus looked at Harry nervously as he shoveled eggs on a plate and placed them in front of the boy.
"Just please tell me Kreacher died or something." Remus gave a short chuckle.
"Actually," Remus began, "He died of a heart attack when we finally just blasted Mrs. Black's portrait off of the wall. We used a muggle invention called a flamethrower." Harry burst out laughing at this. They had tried every magical means to get rid of that wretched portrait and all it had taken was a little napalm. Harry calmed himself down and began eating as Remus placed some toast and bacon on his plate. After breakfast he and Remus moved into the den.
The house had drastically changed since the last time he had been there. It wasn't as dusty as it had been and there was bright blue wallpaper all over the house. New carpets had been put in and a comfortable looking sofa set had been ordered. Harry sat down across from Remus. There was a moment of silence before anyone spoke.
"There are some things you need to know," he began. "First, I wanted to be the one to tell you about the reading of Sirius's last will and testament. Dumbledore pulled some strings and got the green light for it. The reading is December fifteenth." Harry nodded and tried his best not to be down. "Second, Your parents left me with instructions to tell you that when you are seventeen you will receive the keys and a map to the Potter family estate. You will also receive all of you parents belongings and your inheritance." He spoke as calmly as possible.
"Finally, I wanted to tell you that if there is anything you need help with," Remus stared directly into Harry's eyes, "I will be here for you. I will do my best to help you with any problem as long as you don't ask me when it's close to a full moon." There were several more moments of silence.
"Thanks a lot Moony." Harry felt really grateful that Remus was willing to do all of these things for him.
"Now," Remus said, "Where did I leave off last time?" Harry perked up immediately at these words.
"You had been telling me about how dad decorated the entire Common Room with posters asking mom out." Broad grins appeared on both faces as Remus recanted the story of James' fourth year.
The Halloween feast was just a day away. Harry was now swamped with his responsibilities. He had been training for quidditch every afternoon after classes. Monday, Wednesday, and Friday he had occlumency with Snape. Saturday's were occlumency and story time with Moony. He had to scribble down essays and schoolwork for all of his classes in the little time he had left. And now he had armed combat training with Rai to worry about. He really hoped that it was as enjoyable as he had been told.
He had just returned to the common room from having another lunch with Cho Chang. When he entered he found his two best friends once more playing tonsil hockey. "Don't you two ever give it a rest?" The couple looked up from their activities and as one, stuck their tongues out at him. He rolled his eyes at them. "Oh, that's really mature guys."
"What's the matter Harry? Jealous?" Harry sighed at the question. They had been asking him that every time he complained. He usually kept quiet about it but today he just felt like answering.
"I'm not really, I just wish you guys would do that in private."
"Oh bugger off mate." Ron thought for a moment and then asked another question. "Where do you disappear to at lunch every day? I hardly ever see you ther anymore." Harry blushed hurriedly gathered up his things, made an excuse about having too much homework to do and bustled up the dormitory stairs.
He had only barely dodged the bullet that time. He didn't think he was ready to tell them anything. He wasn't ready to believe that what was happening, was really happening. He spread his Magical Tracking homework onto his writing desk and began to write his essay on the four Q's of tracking.
A/N: I really feel like I've been neglecting you guys so I decided to post this extra long chapter. It seemed like the right thing to do and I think it turned out pretty good anyway.
Vincent - "It's a great chapter Kev."
Phoenix - "I agree. It is wonderful."
Kev - "Thanks guys. Now tell me what you, the reviewer think. Leave me a REVIEW and Ciao!"