Recap: Hermione headed for Arithmancy, Ron for Muggle studies (much to his displeasure) and Harry to Wandless magic. To his immense surprise, his schedule directed him to the headmaster's office. As he stood in front of the stone gargoyle and argued for it to let him pass, he wondered what was waiting behind that door.
Chapter 12
He soon found out.
The password, as it turned out, was "ton-tounge-toffe". Upon knocking and opening the door at the top of the stairs, Harry found the headmaster waiting for him.
"Ah, yes. Harry. Do sit down. Would you care for a lemon drop?" Harry politely declined and sat on the sofa in front of the headmaster's desk. Dumbledore smiled and popped one of the candies into his mouth.
As Dumbledore dealt with his candy and stared at Harry, Harry looked around the room. He hadn't had much time to study it on his previous visit, so he did so now. The office was much the same as it had been on his last visit the past year. The only differences were a few new instruments that had replaced the irreparable ones Harry had destroyed. After a few moments, Dumbledore, having finished his lemon drop, spoke.
"Alright Harry, I imagine you would very much like to know what this class is and why you're taking it."
"Yes professor."
"Well, to start off, wandless magic is just what it says, magic without a wand. While almost all magical beings with the ability to use a wand have this type of magic, after all, you didn't jump on to the roof of the kitchens or turn your teacher's wig blue using a wand, very few witches or wizards are able to master this ability."
Harry had a question already.
"Excuse me sir, if you don't mind?"
"Not at all."
"It's just that, isn't seeing wandless magic? I mean, we don't cast spells over our crystal balls."
Dumbledore's eyes twinkled.
"Quite right. Seeing is a type of wandless magic. It is not, however, the type you will be learning. Ever since the incident just before your third year when you inflated your aunt, I have thought that there was a good chance that you would able to master another type of wandless magic. This type uses the spells you know already but without the wand." Before Harry could get in his next question, Dumbledore answered him.
"Lord Voldemort cannot use wandless magic. Once, before the night in Godric's Hollow, he could. But that particular gift, magic without the aid of a wand, occurs solely because of the body. Wizards have been studying it for a long time but we still aren't sure why. We believe it reacts to the magic of the parents, but we don't know. At any rate, Voldemort cannot now use it in his new body. If you can, all the better."
And so, Harry began his training in wandless magic.
There were one or two other interesting things that occurred that day. First, they all had Defense against the Dark Arts that afternoon. Their new Professor surprised them all.
"Put avay your books. All you vill be needing is your quill and parchment for the taking of notes."
Quickly, the class complied. There were five, four person long tables in the classroom. They were arranged with two in the front-most row, two in the middle row, and one in the back. The two front-most tables were about as far apart as possible, with the next two only half as far apart and the last table in the middle, such that there was a large, V shaped area in the center of the classroom. Harry, Ron and Hermione were sitting in the front row on one side of the classroom with Neville. At the mirror table on the other side, sat Malfoy, Crabbe, Goyle and Zabini. Lavender, Pavarti, Jesse and the remaining Gryffindor girl sat behind Harry with the table on the opposite side holding Pansy Parkinson and all the Slytherin Girls save Millicent Bullstrode who was sat at the back table with Dean, Sheamus and Theodore Nott. Needless to say, none of those four were pleased with the seating arrangements.
"Thank You. First, I vould like to take the roll, then I vill tell you vy I am having this job." Krum then proceeded to read off names and, Harry noticed, he took a few seconds after every name to stare at that person, apparently trying to fix their face to memory.
"Vonce again, thank you. To begin, it vould be all right if you were to call me Krum or Victor. I believe I am too close to your own ages to be called 'Professor'. You may still call me that if that is vot you are vishing, but I vill not force it on you.
You are all probably vondering vy I am your new Defense against the Dark Arts teacher, right? Vell, I vill tell you. After I left school, I decided to travel the vorld. It ended up vith my staying in the United States of America, in an area called Texas, for a year and a half. During my travels and the time vich I spent in Texas, I learned much about the magic in this vorld. That, coupled vith my schooling at Durmstrang, made me a very good candidate for this position. It also happens, that I vas the only candidate as everyone else is thinking this position vas jinxed." Everyone laughed at that.
"I am understanding, from notes left by other professors, that you haff covered many magical creatures. You haff also covered many curses in your fourth year. Some of you, the headmaster says, covered even more last year in your DA. Am I correct?" The Gryffindors nodded. The Slytherins scowled.
"Vell, this year, I plan for you to learn about the more complex dark creatures, the part human kinds. You know the vons. Vampires, verevolves, shape-shifters, veelas, giants, dementors, trolls and others. These are the vons you vill haff to deal vith in later life. Ve vill start with verevolves as you already know something about them. Vonce I believe you all know enough about them, I vill invite Professor R. J. Lupin to join us for a few classes."
The rest of the period was spent taking notes on what Krum told them about werewolves. It was mostly just review stuff about the basic physical characteristics, but Krum assured them that, if they were all able to answer the questions he asked the following day, they would be able to get into the mental part of the werewolf.
Two other interesting things happened that day.
After dinner, at about 8:00, Harry, Ron and Hermione headed for their common room. Upon entering (Harry was killing time before Occlumancy and Hermione was preparing for ancient runes, Ron was free) Harry was ambushed by the Creevey Brothers and most of the fifth, sixth, and seventh years. Through the shouting, applause and backslapping, Harry understood that he had been made Quidditch Captain. There was a note from McGonagall asking Harry to contact here with the date for the tryouts. After a quick conversation with the remaining team members, Harry decided to hold tryouts that Saturday, as they needed to start practicing as soon as possible.
The last thing, was Occlumancy. The surprise waiting for him in there was greater than any other surprise that day.
You see, when Harry knocked and entered the Potions Master's office, sitting in a chair in front of the desk, speaking to Snape... was Malfoy.
::::::::::::: A/N: I wish I'd added this on to the previous chapter and made this next part the start of this chapter. Oh well::::::::::::::::::::::
"Potter. At last. Do come in, we're late as it is."
Harry glanced at Snape's clock in time to see it change to 9:01.
"Don't just stand there, come in. Now, Potter."
Harry, very warily, stepped into the office. With a single scathing glance at Harry, who leaned against the wall in the corner furthest from Snape, The potions master resumed his conversation with Malfoy.
"I will perform Legilimens on each of you separately and when you, Mr. Malfoy, have gained enough experience at repelling me, you will be allowed to perform it on Potter."
Harry did not like the sound of that.
He found out later, that he was quite right to dislike having Malfoy present during his Occlumancy sessions. It appeared that Snape was even more caustic when he had an audience with which to smirk at Harry.
The main problem was, though, that while Malfoy would emerge from the spell perfectly fine, with no sense of even being ruffled, Harry would have to fight his way out and would usually end up either on his knees or, sometimes, face first on the floor.
He didn't understand it.
He needed to talk to Hermione.
That first night, Harry and Malfoy walked back to their rooms without comment, prepared for bed without comment and as little interaction as possible, and fell into their separate beds without comment.
Seeing as his barriers were weak from the previous hour, Harry dreamt again.
He was riding on an owl again. As with the dream in divination, they sailed through the window, the owl dropped a letter, and the owl sailed out again. Harry looked around, waved his wand, and the letter rose into his long pale hands. He opened it,
My Master,
I have re-established my previous relations and have put those relations in their place. Your present was difficult and has been edited as such. I eagerly await your next command.
Your most devoted servant
He placed the letter on the desk in front of him and reached into a drawer by his right hand. Pulling out a piece of parchment, a quill and an inkbottle, he quickly drafted a response.
My servant,
If my present is more than you expected, view it as less. It is nowhere in your vicinity. I will deal with it when the time comes. I tire of my current entertainment, my present will... increase the appeal. Do nothing save await my next command.
Your Lord
Harry snapped his fingers and, a few seconds later, a dark gray owl, the sort that blends in anywhere in the late hours of the night, appeared.
"Crucio. " The owl had taken too long.
After a moment, he ended the spell and tied the letter to the owl's leg.
"Malfoy Manor." He almost-hissed in his harsh, high, cold voice. The owl flew, shakily, out the still-open window.
Harry turned to the mirror beside the desk. His red eyes glared back at him.
"Sleep well." He hissed.
::::::::::::::::::::::::::
The next morning, Harry missed breakfast. He had tossed and turned and practically strangled himself with the blankets until, at about six-thirty, Malfoy came in and drenched him with water from one of the bathroom taps. Afterwards, Malfoy simply went to breakfast while Harry, who didn't need breakfast anyway, dressed and went to the headmaster's office.
After informing Dumbledore of his dream, Harry went to see Madam Pomfrey. She doused him with numbing potions (she couldn't actually heal the gashes he had caused himself) and gave him something for the headache (which didn't work by the way).
At any rate, it was half past eight before he could actually head for his first lesson.
History of Magical Creatures turned out to be a sort of independent study thing. Harry and Malfoy went to their history of magic class, were given large packets, and were sent back to their rooms. According to the first sheet Harry pulled out, he and Malfoy were supposed to complete the assignments enclosed in the packet. Assignments were, apparently, to read from one of the books discussed in the packet and to prepare and essay on it. They had two periods for each essay (which had to be three feet long) and the week's essay was to be turned in to Victor Krum or Professor Binns on each Friday.
The most interesting thing Harry noticed about this arrangement was that the subjects of the books were all one of two things; a: vampires or b: shape-changers.
::::::::::::::::::::::::: A/N: I wonder why. (wink wink) ::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
By the time 11 o clock rolled around with his advanced defense classes, Harry was both worn out and extremly pissed. See, it turned out that Malfoy had the exact same schedule as Harry save for wandless magic. Upon opening the portrait guarding their rooms, his surly disposition increased.
For his advanced defense classes he had been told to report back there. Malfoy and Krum were waiting for him.
"Come in, Harry. Come in." Krum gestured for him to sit on the couch with Malfoy. They sat at either end.
"Now, ve can get started." Krum began pacing up and down in front of the hearth.
"This class is intended to teach you forms of defense that are particular to your circumstances. I haff learned much about vampires in my travels, Harry, and as for you, Mr. Malfoy, my best friend at Durmstrang vas a shape-changer. I assure you both, I know vat I am teaching about. I vill also be mostly in charge of your History class, so do not be surprised if I include things that belong there.
"Ve vill start vith vat you already haff found out about yourselves. Harry," Krum glanced at him, "Vill you please tell us vat it vas like for you to become a vampire and vat you already know about it?"
Harry nodded and began to speak.
"Well, I'm a born vampire, so obviously I wasn't bitten. I sort of... I was on the steps of the leaky cauldron when I changed. It hurt like hell but that's about all I can remember. When I got my room I checked my mirror and noticed I'd changed but that's about it 'till the next morning."
Krum interrupted.
"How had you changed?"
"I was taller and my hair was longer. I also moved differently. at first, I didn't need my glasses. now I do again, but when I'm under the blood lust, it doesn't really matter."
Krum nodded his head for Harry to continue.
"The next morning I sort of got lost in the blood lust. I accidentally attacked the wizard across the hall, but I don't think he remembers."
Krum interrupted again.
"Haff you lost control like that since?"
"Once, last night."
"Vy?"
"I hadn't fed in a few days and I woke from a nightmare covered in blood."
"Other than the first night and last night, haff you ever lost control or even come close to it?"
"I've come close to it once before."
"Ven and vot happened?"
"Umm." Harry looked at Malfoy. Malfoy looked back with a slight hint of curiosity.
"The second night in the leaky cauldron, Malfoy showed up. He asked me to heal a cut of his and I had a little trouble because it was bleeding." Harry was blushing and looking anywhere but at Malfoy or Krum.
"You mean," Malfoy started in a surprised tone, "That I was in danger of being bitten the entire time I was in there?" Harry blushed some more, and he wasn't entirely sure why.
"No," he responded, "just while your shirt was off and you were still bleeding. That's why it took so long to complete the spell, I was having trouble concentrating."
"Oh. I thought it was just because you were so bad in charms."
Krum interrupted them before it could become an actual fight.
"Vot haff you read about vampires?"
"I know some about their life span, feeding process, and mating habits. Hermione, Ron and I are pretty sure that my father was a born vampire. We're pretty sure he turned my mother less than two years out of school."
Krum nodded.
"Is there anything else?"
Harry shook his head.
"Then Mr. Malfoy, If you vould please explain vot your change vas like and vot you know of shape-changers."
Malfoy took a deep breath then calmly started explaining.
"When I first changed, I was in my room. Like Potter, I don't remember much about it except that it hurt, but when I could think clearly again, I was a lot shorter, my vision was funny, and I was covered in feathers. I was a falcon. I started learning to fly that night."
"Ven vas this?"
"July. About the twentieth."
"Vot is your second shape?"
"A tarantula."
"Vot do you know about shape-changers?"
"I know the history of the Malfoy family shape-changers. I also know about the more prominent ones I'm not related to. Other than auras, which I know some about, there's really not much else, is there?"
"You haff the basics."
"You mean there's more?"
"There is alvays more."
Krum finally stopped his pacing. He looked them straight in the eyes.
"I learned many things vile abroad. Vone of them vas, those vith gifts like yours are lucky. Some vith your gifts end up hating other vizards. They say that anger can keep you alive ven you are persecuted. Others say faith and love can do the same. I'm vith the others. They don't fear or hate normal vizards. They pity them. Do you know vy?"
Harry and Malfoy shook their heads.
"Because most people vill never know anything beyond their own physicality. You, Mr. Malfoy,"
"Please call me Draco."
Krum looked surprised.
"Alright. Draco. You haff a chance to experience life in vays that not even Animagi can. You are yourself but, very soon, you vill also contain six other beings. They are still you, but in other vays, you vill become them. Many do not know this but shape-changers must become their shapes. At some point you vill believe you are, in turn, each of your shapes. Vonce that happens, you haff complete control over your shape. It also, to some extent, controls you. You vill never be the same again. You are changed utterly. But you haff changed for the better and, in time, you may come to realize this."
Draco- No! Malfoy!- Was staring at Krum as if he'd never seen another human being before. Krum turned to Harry.
"And you, Harry. You haff a destiny. You haff a true purpose in your life. You may not like it, you probably vill be hating it, but it's there and you cannot change it. Your inheritance, your talents, vill change your destiny so completely, you vill be able to live. No vampire has ever died vithout living first, and you cannot live until you haff fulfilled your destiny. Ven you finally haff time to live, my greatest vish is to be there, to be able to vatch you glow. It vill be spectacular. Vampires love as no other being, even Veelas, ever can. They claim," and Krum smiled as he said this, "that it is just something in the blood. They mate for life and love long after it is over. I am also vishing that, if I am ever falling in love, I may be granted the privilege of just vone moment of Vampire love."
Krum looked at both of them.
"The two of you haff no idea of your luck. I can never make you see that. I can, however, make you understand your pover. Each of you has the potential to be very poverful in your own right. However, I vould like you to try something. If the two of you ver to vork together, you could, qvite literally, rule the vorld, ver you of any mind to."
Krum glanced at the watch on his wrist.
"Our time is almost over. I haff one reqvest to make of each of you. Mr. Malfoy, Draco, vould you please transform both of your shapes for us and, Harry, vould you please demonstrate the bloodlust for me."
A bit surprised, Dra- Malfoy stood up. With a slight hint of uncertainty, Malfoy closed his eyes and waited.
With a slight pop of imploding air, There stood a falcon.
It strutted over to the couch, climbed on to the arm and took off. It flew once around the room and then settled... on Harry's arm. With a much fainter pop, Harry suddenly felt the bird-turned-tarantula start to crawl up his arm. At any other time he would have shaken it of quickly, no one wants to suddenly feel things crawling on you, but, as Harry knew that it was a person, he didn't shake it off. He simply held very still as it crawled up his arm and settled on his shoulder, so as to give him a good view of its fangs and many eyes. Its gray-black body bristled with thick hairs.
With a last twitch of its fore legs, which caused Harry to shiver, the Tarantula jumped slightly and landed on the back of the couch. It the crawled along the back of Harry's neck, a very uncomfortable feeling indeed, to the opposite arm of the couch, lowered itself to the cushion, and changed in a bang of exploding air into Draco Malfoy.
Harry was speechless. Malfoy was smirking. Krum spoke first.
"Very good. Now, Harry, if you please-"
Harry nodded, closed his mouth, and stood. He closed his eyes and concentrated. He thought of the blood running down his chest a few nights ago. He visualized it again. He remembered what it felt like. He remembered the taste of that wizard's blood.
When he opened his eyes, he had fangs. He looked to Krum. Krum nodded. Harry saw the jugular vein in the defense professor's neck. He watched it throb. Without realizing it, he started to move towards Krum. Krum didn't bat an eyelid. Quite calmly, he said
"Harry, contain yourself. You are not a threat to me. I however, can be a very great threat. I vould like it very much if you ver to close your eyes."
Harry was having trouble. He looked away from Krum. Unfortunately, he spotted Malfoy. He recognized Malfoy. This particular being had tempted him once before. He remembered what Malfoy looked like, dripping with blood. The blood lust drew him towards Malfoy. Harry fought it, fought to push himself back. For a few long moments, he stood there, in the middle of the room, shaking.
Then, ever so slowly, he began to move backwards. He took one step, two, four, seven, he was in a corner. He drew himself into a small ball. With his head between his knees and his arms holding his legs close, he couldn't see Malfoy. He tried to visualize cool, calm things. It wasn't working. All he wanted to think about was blood. He wanted the blood of the wizards in the room with him.
In a last desperate attempt, he visualized Hedwig, the night he left the Dursleys. As he saw the red blood on the white feathers, he felt an overwhelming wave of sadness.
His fangs drew back.
His eyes cooled.
He was Harry again.
A/N: I can't remember if Nott was the last Slytherin boy or not, no pun intended. Sorry this took so long, life's been a bit bitchy. School starts tomorrow, so I can't promise anything.
Thanks.
-Leif