Chapter 31

Colorful World

"Ornatasulvis!" said Harry, and doing his precise wand movement, a jet of color shot out of his wand, went through the windows and hit upon a rock next to the lake. Everyone watched with bated breath as it had collided with the large boulder.

Instantly, the once black snow turned brilliant white, glowing for several seconds until fading back to normal gleaming snow. The charm didn't stop there, but continued on well past the peaks of the mountains. Harry blinked, amazed at the dazzling sight. Everything had glowed and was back to normal. Everyone in the common room cheered even more loudly than they had for Harry's return. Harry had to grin, the colors were back.

"You did it Harry!" exclaimed Hermione, grinning happily.

"No Hermione, you did it," said Harry, grinning back. "Without you, we would not have restored things back to normal in less than six months."

Hermione flushed at this praise. They heard the portrait door opening, and in came Professors Conan, Snape, Hagrid and McGonagall. They were closely followed in by a beaming Professor Flitwick, who was looking around curious as to who had done it.

"Who restored the colors?" demanded McGonagall with a smile. Everyone immediately pointed their fingers at Harry, smiling.

"Harry did!" exclaimed most of the Gryffindors.

"Ah, I should have known," said Snape neutrally, staring at Harry.

"Yes, we should have known," said McGonagall, nodding.

"Could-Could you demonstrate?" asked Professor Flitwick, unable to contain his excitement. Harry shook his head.

"Not me professor, I'm not turning this world back to black just so that I can show you," said Harry, smiling faintly.

"Of course. Miss Granger?" he asked, looking at her.

"Of course," she said, taking her wand out and pointing it at the table nearby. "Ater atra atrum!" The spell hit the table and was covered in the perfect shade of black. "Okay Professors, here you have to be very precise with your wand movement, one wrong jab and you will have leaves in your mouth... no, don't ask Professor Conan, now watch my wand."

She did the Countercharm of the Black Area Charm without words to demonstrate. "If you give a big jab here," she showed the jab before going back the other way, "which is a very common mistake, as most of the second years who tried it did and got their mouths covered in leaves."

"Now, the incantation for this countercharm is Ornatasulvis," she said, pronouncing the words carefully.

"Ornatasulvis?" replied Flitwick, then he nodded. "Interesting, very interesting... well, show us the actual use of the charm," squeaked the small professor, excited. Hermione smiled and nodded; she turned to the table again. Aiming her wand at the table and repeating the incantation, she caused the area to return to normal colors.

"Very good! Very good, Hermione Granger!" squeaked Flitwick.

"Yes, that is a very good job of you Miss Granger, I think 100 points to Gryffindor will do," Professor McGonagall said, smiling. Snape's eyes widened in horror, and he tried to protest. "Never you mind Severus, they deserve it, for all their work for the past month."

Snape quietly growled, glaring at no one in particular as everyone in Gryffindor cheered once again.

"This calls for an all-night party!" yelled a fourth year boy. Everyone agreed, but Professor Conan shook his head.

"No, not all night, you have classes tomorrow. Only celebrating till midnight will have to do," said Professor Conan, grinning, though he was trying to glare but all the more failed.

"At least we have colors back," Professor McGonagall said, sighing as she looked out the window. "Granted, I thought grey snow looked nicer than white snow..." Everyone laughed, except for Professor Snape who had left the room. "Well, we'll leave you to celebrating for the many things tonight. Today is a historical day, Miss Granger. And Mr. Potter, I do hope that you will stay here and not hide from the world again." With that, all the rest of professors left the common room.

"She's right, it's a historical day and we'll finish it with a bang!" yelled a fifth year girl. Several wands exploded with booming noises. Everyone was celebrating Harry's return, the success of the new charm and the world back to normal colors. The Gryffindor tower partied well into the dead of the night, when Professor Conan had finally had to come back in to scold everyone and send them all to sleep.

The next day, Harry sat down next to his friends and dug into his breakfast. Then he heard a whistling sound and looked up and saw Professor McGonagall holding her wand, causing the noise.

"Attention everyone, thank you. I know all of you heard about our unfortunate nurse of Hogwarts. I know many of you miss her terribly. However, we have finally found a temporary mediwizard for now. Please, Professor Snape?" Snape stood up stiffly, glaring at everyone but the professors.

There was a sudden outburst of anger and shock. Harry simply stared at his potion's master, unblinking. 'I really don't want to get hurt anytime soon...'

"What? That git!" whispered Ron angrily.

"Ron!" exclaimed Hermione.

"But him? Hermione, we must be desperate!" said Ron, paling sickly white. Harry sighed, blinking again as he shook his head. He drank his pumpkin juice, thinking of the new... circumstances that could arise. He softly chuckled, setting his cup down.

"What's so funny?" asked Ron, furrowing his eyebrows.

"Snape, a mediwizard. I pity all the younger years..." Ron only stared at Harry.

"Harry, have you... have you gone mad? The first years will be coming to us and crying!"

"Well, I suppose you're right, but we'll live. She did say it's temporary," said Hermione, as Harry nodded.

"Well, one thing we all know, is that we better not get hurt horribly bad," said Ron darkly. Ginny, Mark, Harry and Hermione only sighed in irritation.

"Well, classes are starting, let's get going," said Hermione as everyone finished their meals and left the Great Hall.

"But why Snape? Of all people! What getting someone from St. Mungo's?" asked Ron, still complaining.

"I suspect it is because he deals with potions. A lot of the potions that Harry usually drinks, Snape makes them," said Hermione, using her logic.

"What, you mean... no!" said Ron, shocked.

"Oh honestly Ron, do you think Madam Pomfrey had the time to brew a lot of potions?" asked Hermione, rolling her eyes. This silenced Ron for few minutes. Blissful ones they were; they turned at one corner toward the Transfiguration class and met Malfoy and his goons.

"Hello Malfoy," said Harry, almost too brightly.

"Potter," he drawled. "You've come back."

"Of course I've come back," said Harry. "I had meant to come back three weeks ago but I had lost track of time," he said, shrugging his shoulders.

"Did you do the charm last night, causing all," he waved his hand around, "the colors to come back to normal?"

"That's right, Hermione helped in creating the new spell, I am sure we will learn it in Charms sometime later," said Harry.

"Interesting..." drawled Malfoy. "Now, see here, Crabbe and Goyle have been bugging me to ask you to invite them to the D.A. meetings," said Malfoy. Harry frowned, looking at the two. He remembered that Goyle's father had taunted him and nearly got himself killed because of it.

"Alright, I'll let you know the answer tomorrow," said Harry as the group trooped inside the Transfiguration classroom.

That evening, Harry and the Quidditch team went out for their practice. After about an hour of practice, Harry turned around just in time to see the yelling Ron. The beaters yelped in surprise as the Bludgers made their way toward Ron at top speed and trapping Ron in the middle.

"Ron!!" yelled Harry in horror as the Bludgers made a sickening noise, cracking of his bones, as Ron lost grip of his broom. As if it was in slow motion, just like with the remembrall back in first year, Harry began chasing toward him; he didn't have his wand with him. He kept berating himself for not carrying his wand as he narrowed the distance between himself and Ron. He grabbed Ron's crook of the shirt from behind and the weight dragged Harry down further, until he finally slowed the fall down.

He set Ron on the ground, careful of his injuries. "Guys go get Mada—shit, oh just go get Professor Snape!" Jack Sloper tore off to the castle for help as the rest of the team surrounded Ron and Harry. "Ron, looks like we'll be visiting Snape today..." said Harry, wincing at Ron's appalled face of recognition.

"No! I'm not going to—!" started Ron weakly.

"But Ron, you have several broken bones! You can't even sit up, so just bear with Snape for now, okay? I told you many times in the past. He's not so bad when you get to know him."

"Easy for you to say!" gasped Ron, wincing in pain. "Oh Merlin, this hurts!"

"I know Ron, two Bludgers collided with you, at unbelievably top speed..." he looked at the other beater of the team who flushed deep red. "I won't lecture you for now as I can see how bad you must feel, just be more careful next time."

Andrew nodded numbly as Harry spotted Snape, and a trailing Jack not far behind. When he arrived and saw the scene, he sneered. "What is it you have done now you bloody Gryffindors?"

"Two Bludgers hit him at high speed sir," replied Harry, containing his impatience with the now mediwizard.

"I see, well then," he conjured a floating stretcher and levitated Ron onto the board. The team followed Snape back inside the castle. "You do not have to follow me, you Gryffindors," he drawled waiting till Harry only remained. "Very well, come along Potter."

When they got to the hospital wing, Snape surprisingly set Ron onto the bed carefully. "Headmistress McGonagall," he began stiffly. "She said that I cannot take points off while I'm a mediwizard, nor can I... lecture students for their stupidity," he said to Harry as he worked with Ron, after sending him into an induced-sleeping mode.

"How long before you can go back to Potions full-time, sir?" asked Harry tactfully.

"Until we find a mediwitch or wizard, St. Mungo's aren't very keen on sending any here. Said that Hogwarts is... too rowdy for their taste," he sneered as he healed Ron's bones the best he could. Harry frowned, rowdy? Sure, at times, but...

"I know you may think Hogwarts is not very rowdy, but you students.... Do get rowdy at times," he drawled, checking things over with Ron. Harry nodded in understanding.

"Who's teaching potions for now, sir?" asked Harry.

"No one, so I am putting more, much more homework on all of you," said Snape. Harry nodded in understanding.

"What about me, sir?" asked Harry. Snape looked up at him straight in the eye. He stood up straight stiffly, 'Wow, he must be very stiff today... wonder why?' wondered Harry, almost in sarcasm.

"Headmistress McGonagall said that you will be... exempted... however, I suggest you know your materials lest you fail the exams in your seventh year."

"I intend to know them, sir," said Harry as Snape woke Ron up with a wave of his wand.

"Weasley, are you feeling any pain at all?" asked Snape without emotion. Harry strongly suspected that he wanted to ridicule Ron to no end. Ron blinked at Snape, wary of the Potions master.

"F-fine, sir..."

"Then get out! You do not need to stay if you are feeling fine," said Snape, turning on his heels to head back to the office in the Hospital Wing.

"How long was I out, mate?" asked Ron, blinking his tiredness away.

"About twenty minutes, he healed you while we had... a chat," said Harry, staring after Snape in thought.

"What about?"

"Oh just several things, come on Ron, you do feel better don't you, Ron?"

"Yeah..." said Ron as the two left the Wing, but he was limping slightly so Harry watched out for him lest he fall down the stairs. Which is the last thing Ron wanted to do or he would wind up in the Wing—again.

For the next several days, Harry saw a great number of students looking around in fear. He knew why this was as Harry looked to the High Table. He saw Snape leering at the students as he ate his breakfast; the students who looked scared had ended up in the Wing. Rumors were abound that the students weren't treated very kindly in the Hospital Wing, and everyone wanted a new mediwitch or wizard soon. Harry felt that he agreed with them, he wanted Snape out of the Wing as soon as possible. He just was not meant to be... a Healer.

Shaking his head sadly, he felt pity for the students who ended up in the wing, for one thing or another. For some odd reason, he wanted some action soon; it has been dull ever since the night he returned to Hogwarts. Sirius and Remus were not at the castle anymore. And then, there was that D.A. meeting several nights ago concerning the invitation with the goons.

Flashback

"So, should we invite Crabbe and Goyle?" asked Harry to the original members of the D.A. as everyone looked around the room nervously.

"Why? They're stupid for all their worth!" said Zach and everyone murmured in agreement. Harry sighed, hanging his head.

"At least give me a good reason why, so the Slytherin trio won't be out to get me," said Harry.

"Well, for one, I don't think they can tell one end of the wand from the other," said Michael, and everyone laughed. Harry frowned but chuckled slightly.

"A good reason, please," said Harry.

"What if they're Death Eaters? Do they know about the Room of Requirement? If they are Death Eaters, shouldn't we have a hiding place when V-Voldemort attacks?" asked Cho, putting on a brave face but clearly scared.

"Yeah, that's what I thought too," said Dean, and soon everyone nodded in assent.

"Hmm, there is that," said Harry quietly, thinking. "So, how do I tell them without the Death Eater part?"

"Just say that we don't trust them," said Hermione.

"Yeah, if they fight about it, let them," said Ron darkly. "We can fight back just as easily.

"Okay. Now let's talk something else, do you think you all can help teaching the rest of the D.A.? Since I've taught you all quite well so far and I feel that you can help me teach," said Harry, changing the topic.

"Really? That sounds like a good idea, more time to help with other students," said Hermione.

"And so that we can go back to our Houses at reasonable times," said Hannah, and everyone laughed, agreeing. Then Harry spoke about how to do such things as teaching other people.

Flash forward

To say that Goyle and Crabbe weren't happy is a great understatement, as Harry looked to the Slytherin table. He saw the glaring looks that hadn't been let up since Harry told them they weren't joining. Harry felt slightly uneasy about them; sure they looked and acted stupid all their years at Hogwarts. But that doesn't mean they can't attack or report to Voldemort...

His eyes traveled to Malfoy who was amiably talking about one thing or another, he really needed to do his discreet Legilimency soon. He couldn't risk his D.A. with Malfoy anymore. Despite all the time they spent time together, training.

"Well, thank Merlin it's Friday," said Ron, sighing.

"Why?" asked Harry in an almost far off voice.

"Because there are less classes today as we don't have Potions, and then it'll be the weekend," said Ron. Harry nodded, half listening, and studying the Slytherin table. He saw Malfoy looking up and staring straight back at him.

'Is he really loyal? Why does he want Goyle and Crabbe into the D.A. club?' wondered Harry, working his discreet Legilimency straight away. But to no avail as the three stood and left the Great Hall. Sighing, he went back to his meal. Some other day, he supposed.

That night, after finishing his homework and going to sleep, a dream came, starting with black cats walking all over the place in the Great Hall as Hermione was screaming for help to get rid of the cats. Then the dream sequence changed, and many black cloaks with white masks appeared.

"Luciusss..." Harry felt himself saying, and he realized that he was in another vision.

"Yes, my Lord?"

"I see you have brought your son tonight..." he said softly. Harry realized in among the crowd, only one was without a mask—Draco Malfoy. He watched him as Voldemort spoke to Lucius, with half an ear listening.

"You said that we needed more followers—"

"Crucio!" yelled Voldemort, and for a brief moment Harry saw shock upon Draco Malfoy's face. "Listen Lucius," he began after ending the Cruciatus curse on Malfoy Senior. "I request who shall join me..." Harry saw panic on Malfoy junior as well as the senior. "However, do not worry if I will kill your son or not. I am sure he is going to be very valuable. We already have several students who are my loyal followers at Hogwarts."

"My Lord? May I speak?" asked Lucius warily.

"Then speak!"

"At Hogwarts, my son is what you call, a ring leader in Slytherin... if my son joins, then he can be an even greater asset for you," said Lucius.

"Mmm, there is that... Draco," he spoke softly, as Malfoy junior nervously walked and stood by his father. "Is it true that you and Potter are ... archenemies?"

"Yes, it is true, s-sir," said Draco, terrified.

"I will let you get away with the sir for today," said Voldemort almost too lightly. "Would you like to follow me, child?" Harry realized that Malfoy's eyes widened and took his chance at discreet Legilimency. "Or would you like time to think? Of course, you wouldn't tell what offers you have been offered now, would you? If you come with me, then all the powers you can imagine will be for you..."

Harry realized, with fast thinking and discreetly finding out in Malfoy's mind, he didn't want to join forces with Voldemort, and he felt terrified emotions way too strong for Harry's liking.

"I would like that, m-m-my lord," stuttered Draco Malfoy. For a short moment, Harry thought he saw disgust in Lucius Malfoy, but straightened.

"I'm sure you need to go back to Hogwarts, so you can come back tomorrow night for your decision, hmm?" Draco nodded in answer numbly. "Very well, you may leave," he pointed to the fireplace for the Floo Network. "I will see you tomorrow night, same time as your father got you."

"Thank you, m-my lord," said Draco, walking to the fireplace and finally returning to Hogwarts. Harry felt a burning sensation that had been increasing since his vision started. Then growing as painful minutes went by. He knew now, Malfoy Jr. isn't a Death Eater nor does he want to be one. He also realized that the younger Malfoy is now in a sticky situation, he had twenty-four hours to come up with an answer.

The pain in his scar grew even more painful and he heard his name being screamed for him to wake up. Harry gasped, waking up, clutching his scar.

"I... I need to talk to... ... who?" asked Harry in wonder, he wasn't sure about McGonagall or Snape. He was sure that Snape was still at the meeting.

"McGonagall, of course!" said Ron, worried for Harry's health, both physical and mental.

"No... I need to find someone, bye," said Harry, taking his Marauder's map and invisibility cloak. He then left the dormitory, with his worried roommates, behind. He hoped that Malfoy was out and about, walking in the corridor. He knew if he were in his place, he'd leave his dormitory and walk around aimlessly. He looked at the map carefully and he was right. Malfoy was walking about, in the Transfiguration wing. Harry made his way toward Malfoy, keeping his eye upon the map.

He found Malfoy leaning against the wall in the alcove, in thought. Harry whispered to Malfoy, "Hey, it's me," he said. Malfoy looked up, widening his eyes in surprise.

"Potter? What are you doing out?" he asked, almost snarling. Harry sighed, taking his cloak off. "Oh, so I was right, you did wear that in Hogsmeade all those years ago," he said, almost laughing.

"Yeah," confirmed Harry. "Um..."

"I need to be left alone Potter," snarled Malfoy. "Why are you even out anyway?"

"I... erm, saw you at the meeting," Harry looked away as Draco paled.

"What, what do you mean, you saw!? I didn't see you there! I thought you were the savior of the world!" spat Malfoy, panicking at the same time.

"Malfoy just listen, I heard Voldemort offering you to join him, and no, I wasn't there physically. Rather, I watched through Voldemort, see, I had a sort of vision tonight. I... know you don't want to join him. I do realize you're stuck in this situation, whether to join him or not..."

"Shut up your blabbering. Hmm... Yeah... I could talk to Severus about what's good about You-Know-Who's side... and for you, what's so good about the Light side..." mumbled Malfoy. He sighed, hating to be trapped, as that was obvious to Harry. He debated whether or not to tell Malfoy that Snape is a spy.

"Uh, well, did you know we have a spy against Voldemort?" Draco's head snapped up, staring at him.

"We have a spy on our side?" Harry nodded in confirmation. "Perhaps I can do that... Who is it?"

"Can't say, or the person will have my hide," said Harry, grinning nervously. It is true that Snape would have his hide. "Perhaps after what decision you will make tomorrow, that will really depend whether or not I will tell you who is our spy. Voldemort is good at Legilimency, you know."

"If that is true, then why isn't this person found out yet?"

"That's because the spy is really, really good at Occulmency," said Harry.

"Oh, that would make sense, I suppose... well, do you wanna duel practice?"

"Sure, I don't feel like sleeping anytime soon, and I don't want to be out of practice." Malfoy nodded and the two made their way to the Room of Requirement, never noticing the dark figure in a hiding spot, watching them.

Thanks to MoonpoetessZ for beta'ing this chapter!

Also, this is formerly pennamed Rini Saiyan-jin now "Prongs Rini" for my own simplicity's sake. I will take off the Saiyan-jin after two or three chapters are updated of each of my current stories. Thanks and so that I will clear any confusion up. Anyway, reviews are very much appreciated!