Harry Potter and the Rise of the Dark Lord
by: LogicalRaven

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Sorry I didn't get to update the past couple days. Mondays and Tuesdays are quite busy for me.
I really like this chapter though I'm worried about how it is going to flow since I didn't write it at once.

I'm so happy that everyone is so please with the way this story is going. I know everyone is wondering what I'm plotting, but all I can do it promise everything from my four stories will come together in one grand ending.

I'm hoping that after I finish this particular piece of my obession, that my muses will take pity on me and allow me to write something original. I'm good at features and articles, but I want to write something more meaningful. Something that might make a difference. I know, wishful thinking. I think everyone of use who write on these sites has the same dream, God willing a few of us will suceed.

Read and Review
Nothing is My Own



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In A Broom Closet



Harry narrowed his eyes as Draco Malfoy snickered something behind Hermione's back. It was useless making a scene right now, this was Snape's class and he never would take a Gryffindor's side or a Slytherin.

Harry glanced at his potions book, he wish Hermione was still allowed to sit next to him. The two had been separated during the second day of class when Hermione had tried to help Harry correct his potion. They each had lost fifteen points from Gryffindor.

He finally sighed in frustration and attempted to measure out his willow wax weed. He only need a pinch, but whenever the potion called for a pinch, he would always add too much. He closed his eyes and dropped his finally ingredient into his caldron hoping it wouldn't explode, as so many of his previous potions had done.

The red boiling liquid sent up a small cloud of pink dust which tickled the end of his nose, but it looked like his potion was at least partially right. When he saw Hermione's shoot up a similar cloud of pink dust he cracked a grin. His eyes darted over to Malfoy and Goyle as they added their final ingredients. Harry shielded his face as a large piece of Goyle's caldron came whizzing my Harry's head.

"I bet Snape still gives him full marks," Michael Corner snickered from the table in front of Harry.

Professor Snape rose from his chair eyeing Malfoy's table suspiciously.

"Obviously the problem is quite simple, hair will ruin the Hungaithous Potion if it comes into contact. Miss Granger twenty points from Gryffindor, perhaps next time you'll remember to pull back that out of control hair of yours."

Hermione's eye filled with hurt, but she didn't flinch. She wasn't going to let Snape get to her. Snape turned to Goyle explaining that he would get full marks for his potion for the day, while Miss Granger would only receive half credit.

"Her potion was perfect, like her hair had anything to do with that oafs potion exploding," Michael sneered, staring at the protruding piece of cauldron in the wall.

Harry sighed again, pouring his sample from his own cauldron into his test vial. Snape had his ways of getting under his skin.

"It's alright Hermione," Susan Bones whispered as she walked by with her own sample to turn in.

Harry shot Hermione a sympathetic smile, but he knew it would do little to lift her spirits.

"Mr. Potter, please remain after class, I need a word with you," Snape spat as Harry placed his vial into its proper holder.

Harry cringed with hate as he walked back over to his books to collect them.
If he knew his luck, Snape would probably find a way to blame him for Goyle's potion, and assign him a detention.

"What does Snape want?" Hermione whispered.

Harry shrugged, "I'll see you guys at lunch. I have a feeling this could take awhile."

Harry approached his potions master with a deep feeling of loathing in his stomach. He hated Snape's slimy demeanor as he cut his cold eyes across the vials of potion.

"You wanted to see me?" Harry said, trying to control his hateful tone.

Snape narrowed his eyes, "Indeed. It has come to my attention that being a clever as you are, you've probably fingered out exactly what my assignment is…"

Harry raised his eyebrows in confusion, he didn't have the slightly inkling what Snape was doing for the Order.

"Perhaps not. I've always told Dumbledore you weren't as intelligent as you were given credit for," Snape grinned, picking up his quill.

"Maybe I do know," Harry said narrowing his eyes.

Snape continued to grin, curling his lip slightly, "Obviously."

"You're spying," Harry dared.

Snape's grin faded, "You have no idea how confidential the information you know is then. I imagine Black told you before, well…."

"He was murdered," Harry hissed.

Snape narrowed his eyes, "Sirius Black got what was coming to him, Dumbledore is a fool to have trusted him. He was too unstable."

"Dumbledore was a fool for trusting you," Harry continued.

Snape eyes went wide, "Was? What do you know Potter?"

"Thought you didn't think me clever enough," Harry said, starting to lose control of his temper.

Snape gritted his yellowing teeth, his right eye twitching slightly, "I've been using a potion to disguise myself as a well distingue Death Eater in the Dark Lord's inner circle. If my cover is blown, my life isn't the only one that will be lost."

"Crouch," Harry said bravely, remembering the Death Eater that told him and Cho to run the previous year during the attack, "You're using polyjuice to disguise yourself as Crouch."

"Don't try to impress me with astuteness Potter, nothing you could possibly do would ever impress me," Snape warned, rising from his seated position.

"So what's the point? Surely you didn't keep me from lunch to discuss you mission with the Order," Harry said growing madder by the second.

"I just wanted to make sure we're clear Potter. You are to keep your mouth shut. Your father learned the hard way that those you think are the closest to you cannot be trusted," Snape warned, narrowing his eyes wildly.

Harry matched his look, "I'll try to remember that….Professor."

"If you let that busy mouth of yours slip up, you'll have me to deal with. Get out of my sight," Snape snapped, as he pointed his finger towards the door.

Harry stormed through the halls from the potions dungeon. He was swelling with hate, Snape had played him just like a well executed chess move. Even if he wanted to tell Ron and Hermione about his unpleasant conversation with Snape he couldn't. Snape was right, if he was discovered, he wouldn't be the only one killed.

The rain was pouring hard against the castle walls, and Harry stopped beside a large glassless one in the main hall that over looked the ground. He could see Hagrid gathering wood outside his hut, the game keeper and Magical Creatures Professor looked lonely these days, and although Harry couldn't see his face, he knew he had probably been crying.

"Harry!"

Harry spun around quickly expecting to see someone quite different than her voice revealed. Tonks s approached of him beaming like it was her birthday, but her smile soon faced as she forced it off her face.

"So, what are you doing?" Tonks asked, blushing slightly.

Harry looked at her suspiciously, Tonk's hardly ever blushed. He had seen her red with rage, but never embarrassed.

"I'm staring out a window," Harry said sarcastically.

"Oh, why aren't you at lunch," Tonks continued, looking like she was ready to engulf him into a hug.

"Professor, is there something wrong?" Harry asked arching his eyebrow.

Tonks frowned suddenly, "No, I was just curious why you were all alone, that's all."

"I've gotta go," Harry said quickly, flashing an uncomfortable smile. He found his feet carrying him quickly away from the frowning from of his Transfiguration teacher. It was possibly one of the weirdest encounters with a teacher he could ever remember.

He had just about shrugged it off when he entered the Great Hall. Harry smiled as Parvati waved him over towards her.

"I've got everything in place, just have Hermione near the broom closet in the South first floor corridor around eight," Parvati whispered, "Leave Ron to me…."

"Broom closet?" Harry asked nervously, remembering very vividly what Parvati thought broom closets were used for.

"Trust me. Lavender and Seamus are going to make a mess in the North third floor corridor with Seamus's bulk supply of dung bombs. That will keep Mr. Filtch busy. Padma and Ginny are going to lure Ron to the broom closet, I'm not sure exactly, but Padma says her idea is brilliant. Then, you're going to get Hermione in that corridor and I'm going to hit her with a spell that should render her unconscious for fifteen minuets or so. We shove Hermione into the broom closet with Ron, or vise versa, take away their wands and lock them in. They'll be a couple by morning."

Harry sighed, "Or they'll both be dead, and haunt me until I die."

"Either way, they'll be together," Parvati shrugged.

****



Harry glanced at the clock in the Gryffindor common room, he swallowed hard. He didn't have much confidence in Parvati's plan but it was going down regardless. He could always say he couldn't get Hermione to corporate, but Parvati would just come up with a different scheme for them to try tomorrow. The new rules were quite simple, you could be in the hallways if you were a fourth year or above up until ten at night as long as you had at least one person in your company. You could be in the corridors until six without any restrictions.

"Hermione, I need to go to the library to get a book on tranfiguration, would you come with me?" Harry stumbled, trying not to look suspicious.

Hermione eyed him carefully, "Where is Ron?"

"Patrol duty with Padma I think," Harry said with a forced smile.

Hermione sighed, "Alright, but lets hurry. I have four scrolls due in Ancient Runes tomorrow."

Harry tried not to look to pleased with himself, he had accomplished the first part, now it all depended on how good Parvati's aim was.

Harry walked grinning as he thought about Ron's expression when he discovered he'd been locked in a broom closet with Hermione for an entire night. He didn't even stop to think that the library was nowhere near the South first floor corridor.

"Harry, where are we going?" Hermione finally asked, noticing their path wasn't going towards the general direction of the library.

"Oh, I guess I wasn't thinking. It just feels nice to get out of that common room you know. Do you mind if we go on a short walk?" Harry said quickly, trying to sound casual.

Hermione gave Harry an exasperated look but shrugged. Harry forced himself not to quicken his pace, he couldn't act like he was anxious to get to the broom closet. When they finally reached their destination Harry stopped abruptly and looked around.

"What are you doing?" Hermione asked, watching Harry as he searched the corridor.

"Thought I heard something," Harry said flatly.

Hermione sighed, "Not you too."

"Not me what?" Harry said forcing himself to look innocent.

"Listen Harry, I think of you as a brother. It would be too awkward between us," Hermione started.

"Hermione, what in heavens are you talking about?" Harry asked, he had a looking of honest confusion on his face.

Hermione rolled her eyes, "You're staring at the broom closet and searching the corridor to make sure nobody is around. You're trying to make a move on me."

"What?" Harry asked completely taken back.

"Well, why else are you acting all funny?" Hermione demanded.

Harry voice must have caught in his throat because the next moment a yellow flash of light erupted from behind a suit of armor in the passageway and Hermione slumped into an unconscious state.

"What the bloody hell took you so long?" Harry said coldly as Parvati appeared with her wand still drawn.

Parvati smirked, "I was amused."

"Glad one of use was enjoying themselves," Harry groaned, lifting Hermione by her arms.

"Quick throw her in here," Parvati instructed opening the broom closet door.

The two barely got her inside the broom closet when they heard distinct voices wandering down the hall. Harry and Parvati ducked behind the suit of armor once again as Ginny, Padma and Ron made their way down the corridor.

"Oh bloody hell. I've spilt my pumpkin juice all over myself," Ginny said hatefully, as the goblet she was carrying slipped from her hand.

Padma went to help Ginny pick up the glass and dust the juice off her robes, "Ron, why don't you see if there is a mop in the closet over there?"

"Just leave it, Filch will clean it up," Ron said, looking slightly annoyed at the suggestion.

"Ron," Ginny snapped, she glanced around, obviously wondering when Hermione might be stirring.

"Get it yourself if you want to clean it up," Ron spat, clearly defiant of any suggestion involving cleaning.

"You really are a pig," Ginny spat as she marched over to the closet door and tore it open.

Parvati gasped, "What is she doing?"

"OH!" Ginny said looking completely shocked.

"What now?" Ron bellowed, walking over to the closet. "HERMIONE!"

Ron knelt down next to the fallen bushy haired girl to make sure she was still okay when Ginny gave him a swift kick in the arse, making him tumble in on top of her. She then slammed the door and placed a quick locking spell on it.

"GINNY, he still has his wand," Harry warned, but Ginny was already answering his worries as she dangled Ron's wand playfully from her finger.

"That's why I'm going to make seeker next year, I'm good a nicking thing," Ginny teased, as her brother banged on the closet door in protest.

"HARRY! IS THAT YOU?" Ron yelled, pounding louder, "LET ME OUT OF HERE!"

Padma waved her wand casting a muting charm on the door so you couldn't hear Ron's cries for help.

"Neither of you are getting out until you confess that you like each other," Ginny warned beating on the door from the outside.

Harry could just imagine Ron's raged face right now. He knew he and Ginny were both dead when the two got out of the closet.

"Well, let's leave them be," Parvati nodded as the four of them left the muted broom closet.

"Do you think they'll actually get together?" Padma asked with a frown.

Ginny shrugged, "I don't know, but at least they might be able to sort out their differences."

"Or kill each other," Padma offered, looking worried about the plan they had just enacted.

Harry glanced back over his shoulder, "I agree with Padma, maybe we should just let them out and forget this whole stupid idea."

"Harry, have some faith. If there is one thing I know it is how to get couples together," Parvati bragged, looking quite pleased with herself.

****



Harry yawned as he pulled back the covers of his bed. He was so tired, and the cool crisp sheets looked very enticing. He let his head fall back onto his pillow as the moon light filtered down onto his bedroom floor.

'I wonder what Ron and Hermione are doing right now?' Harry wondered to himself.

He tried to force his eyes shut but they refused. He couldn't get the image of a furious Ron and Hermione out of his head. Then another thought crossed his mind, what if Filch caught them, surely it wouldn't look proper for two seventh year Prefects to be caught in a broom closet, even if they were in there against their will.

Harry groaned at the thought as he pulled himself out of bed. He carefully opened his trunk at the foot of his bed and pulled the Marauder Map.

"I solemnly swear I'm up to no good," Harry muttered touching the map with his wand.

The map spread out into little lines and dot revealing the secrets of Hogwarts before his eyes. He yawned again before letting his eyes linger over the south first floor corridor broom closet. Sitting in very close proximity of one another were two dots labeled R. Weasley and H. Granger. Harry grinned as he contemplated if they were sleeping or plotting his death.

The Marauder Map was always interesting to examine, and over the past years Harry had spend many hours studying the complex charmed piece of parchment. He glanced around to each individual house, two were incomplete due to the fact the map makers probably never made it inside those particular areas of the school, but every other square inch of the school was drawn out perfectly.

Harry gave a quick stretch as he took a seat at his desk. He sat the Marauder Map down on his desk as he started off out the window thinking. It had been a while since Cho had written him. He couldn't help but wonder where she was or what she was doing. He figured she would write when she left her parents. Her father probably wouldn't approve of her writing to him while she was visiting.

He turned his head back towards his desk as his eyes stop to linger on the silver pensive on his shelf, his parents pensive. He hadn't let himself look into the silver liquid since that day the previous year he had snuck a peek in Professor O'Riley's office. There had been moments since it was given to him that he wanted to just let himself fall in. He had no explanation why he hadn't taken a look, but something stopped him.

That same force caused him to look away from it again, now wasn't the time to get lost in forgotten memories. With one final yawn he decided it was time to finally hit the sack. He pulled out his wand to wipe the map clean, "Mischief…"

He froze blinking hard to make sure he was reading one particular dot that had caught his eye correctly. It couldn't be. There was no way that C. Chang could be in the castle and he not know about it.

"Mischief managed," Harry said quickly, "I solemnly swear I am up to no good."

The map erased and recreated itself revealing the same dot that Harry found so unbelievable. It had to be wrong, then something one of it's creators had once said played over in his head.

"The map never lies."