+ parseltongue
thought sending
Time of Change
Chapter 7: Room of Requirement, part 2
-Secrets Revealed and Lessons Learned
'They shouldn't follow me!' 'That is their decision to make. They will die with you and die for you. You are a natural leader. Be a leader to them. It is time for them to know.' 'You're right. They have to know why things are the way they are.'
Harry blew several times on a whistle hanging from around his neck. "There is something I need to tell you guys. It is hard to say even after everything that has happened." Harry added with a pain expression before taking a deep breath.
"What is it Harry? You can tell us anything." Dean yelled from the throng before him. Harry muttered a 'thank you' at the encouragement.
"Those of you who went to the Ministry with me already knows this but for those who don't, Voldemort tricked us…tricked me into going there to retrieve a prophecy from the Dept. of Mysteries. What you don't know is that even though the prophecy was destroyed there was still a record of it in the mind of the person who first heard it. Dumbledore was that person. The one with the power to vanquish the Dark Lord approaches... Born to those who have thrice defied him, born as the seventh month dies... And the Dark Lord will mark him as his equal, but he will have power the Dark Lord knows not... And either must die at the hand of the other for neither can live while the other survives... The one with the power to vanquish the Dark Lord will be born as the seventh month dies." The group stood quietly before him. There were mixed looks on each of their faces. Neville had paled but was quietly trying to accept the words he was hearing. Harry slowly continued. "This is the reason Voldemort wants me dead…needs me dead. He cannot finish what he started; while I'm alive he appears weak. Dumbledore once hinted that Voldemort might one day want me as an ally…" There was a great intake of air. "Not that that would happen. Whether I am good or evil doesn't matter to Voldemort."
Every one knew this to be true; Harry was a powerful wizard with great potential. A light side Harry is a thorn in his side a dark side Harry is competition. They trusted Harry light or dark they trusted him and would follow him anywhere.
"Now that you all know the prophecy you must hide it within your minds. Voldemort is powerful Legilimens. He can read the truth in your words and access your minds. He has been known to possess people and animals. He was once able possess me before Dumbledore saved me. We should all begin to practice legilimency."
"How hard is it to learn?" Hannah asked.
"It all depends on the teacher. The better the teacher the better the student." Harry winked at Ron and Hermione. Hermione's face was a mask of skepticism. "Lady Ravenclaw has offered to instruct me properly and believes that I will be able to pass on the skill fairly easily. Although some may have more of an aptitude for it than others."
"Captain, If Lady Ravenclaw could instruct us all we'd definitely be much stronger."
"That's true but only one or two people can interact with her journal at a time."
"I think I have an idea that might allow all of us to use the journal at the same time but I'll need Ginny, Dean, Colin, and Hermione's help."
"What do you have in mind Susan?" Ginny asked.
"Do you remember Professor Flitwick's lecture on Illudere (Illus) and Vox charms?"
"Yeah the illusionist charms but what does that..."
"Dean, I know you and Colin have been studying wizard's portraits and photography. By now you've probably learned the animus imprint spell right?"
"Yeah…" Harry was just as puzzled as Dean and Colin were watching Susan gesticulate and speak with such speed it made them dizzy. Hermione's eyes brightened as she caught on.
"Susan! You really think it's possible. I've never heard of it being done."
"Well if it's possible it'll be a first."
Harry had had enough he wanted to know what they were getting on about. Raising his wand he fired off red sparks with a loud boom to get their attention. "Now will someone please explain what you're talking about to the rest of us?"
"It's absolutely brilliant. Susan is suggesting we transfer Ravenclaw's imprint from the journal into an illusion. It would be like a muggle hologram."
"A hollow-what?"
"Never mind." She said to the confused purebloods. "We'll need to gather some items and talk to Lady Ravenclaw but I believe it will work."
Hermione and Colin rushed off to gather supplies from the potion lab while Susan took the opportunity to explain her idea to Rowena. She not only thought it was an ingenious but offered her own input. Dean, being the most artistic member of the group, with some help from Luna set to work transfiguring a new vessel. The glass beakers melted into globules of light that flowed across the table into the shape of a small pyramid. When they were finished they placed permanence and two separate unbreakable charms on it. Along each side were runes the first set was the Ravenclaw motto and the second Rowena Ravenclaw.
"Hermione we're done. How are you and Colin coming along?"
"We've just finished." Her words were punctuated by her shaking a vial of thick iridescent blue liquid. "Susan is everything ready?"
"As ready as it'll ever be." She passed around a piece of parchment. The others read over it quickly before passing it back.
The group gathered into a circle just as a pedestal sprouted from the stone floor. 'Perfect.' Susan placed the journal in the center of the pedestal. Her actions were followed closely by Dean who placed the crystal pyramid on top of the journal. Colin poured the blue solution over the pyramid. Each drop fell like blue diamonds.
"I hope this works." Colin sighed heavily before beginning the incantation. "Transferres animus Ravenclaw…" white light shot from his wand.
Ginny and Hermione picked up right after him. "Illus corporeus…Vox crystallis…" Waves of blue and purple light wound around the crystal adding to the white light.
"…Empriente Rowena Crystallis." The remaining members of the group intoned. Their silver and gold beams formed a tight band around the object at its center. The solution seeped into the crystal making the runes glow along its surface. The beams of light had long since faded and in their place was a blazing heat which ignited the journal. Everyone jumped back to avoid the flames. Someone shot a jet of water from their wand but the pedestal continued to smolder. The flames finally died down an hour later but no one had hazarded to venture near the object. Finally Luna and Neville stepped towards it.
"Lady Ravenclaw, are you okay?" Neville said as he brushed the ashes aside. Nothing happened for quite some time and then a voice like none ever heard before broke the silence. Harry could only describe it in his mind as phoenix song from human lips.
"I am fine Neville." They turned in the direction of the voice and saw a tall woman of immense elven beauty. Her skin in contrast to her long dark brown hair was so pale it gave her an ethereal quality. Her turquoise eyes were shot through with gray like small stones within shimmering ponds. She appeared before them; they noticed that she didn't walk she glided across the floor as if on ice. "You truly are the best witches and wizards of your age. You have accomplished much but there is still more left to accomplish. I will help you in any way that I can. The best advice that I can give you is to cater to your strengths. But first, we must work on your concentration and the powers of the mind."
Time ticked away slowly for the DA. Although to them time really had no meaning, they were almost through with their second year within the Room of Requirement or as Lady Ravenclaw called it the 'mens mentis oculus'. Since her new incarnation Rowena had had them working 21-hour days. She had kept her promise to Harry about imparting her mental abilities to him and now he was working on instructing the others. He now had mental shields that should keep Voldemort at bay.
'Come on Nev you can do it.' Once again Neville's eyes rolled back into his head and blackness overtook him. Harry broke through his shields there was a bright flash then darkness. The memory was fragmented always ending the same way.
"It happened again." Harry said to Rowena as he took deep ragged breaths to push the pain aside and clear his mind. "Enervate." Neville stirred from his place on the ground and crawled to his feet. He leaned on Harry until he found his footing. Neville rediscovered his balance and went for water.
"Harry, what did you see?" she asked her train moving like the wind. Harry muttered a quick privacy charm.
Ernie, Katie, and Ron look on in curiosity as they practice thought sending. What was that all about? Don't know. You know Harry if it is important he'll tell us when he's ready.
He and Rowena began to speak in silence. "As I moved passed Neville's shields I was struck by a very strong but fragmented memory. It was an early memory I think but all it was of was a flash of bright light then everything goes dark."
"It sounds like there is an artificial memory block within his mind."
'A memory block. What could cause…?' He thought. All of a sudden an image from his second year flashed through his mind. "I've got it. He has to have been obliviated at some point."
"That is quite possible. If it is true then you need to help Neville forge ahead. The block needs to be removed or he will never be able to reach his full potential. The fact that there are fragments shows that the block is beginning to weaken."
"How will I be able to view that particular memory if it has such an affect on me and Nev?"
"Remember what I told you when I first began to instruct you."
"Work from the familiar to the unknown."
"Finite." Harry dropped the privacy charm and yelled for Neville to join him. A row of cushions appeared. Neville sat beside him with Rowena looking on. "Nev we are going to try a deep Legilimency scan. Someone placed a memory charm on you Nev."
"When?"
"I'm going to attempt to break it."
"What do you think will happen?"
"I'm not going to lie Nev. I have no idea what will happen. All I do know is that the memory block has begun to weaken which means that the memory charm is very old. There will probably be some pain."
"Do what you have to Harry. I trust you."
Harry stared deep into Neville's eyes before shouting, "Legilimens!" Images flash before his eyes. 'Neville falls from the broom but catches his robes on an outcropping stopping his plummet to the ground…His arm and wrist snap as he hits the ground…Hermione cast a full-body bind on Neville…A young Neville falling to the ground and bouncing back up into his Uncles arms…' He hit the mental block with full force. There is blackness deep and cool. Bright cracks of light spider web throughout the darkness; then like the shattering of glass the pieces fall away. The images play in reverse before righting themselves.
'Where is our Lord you Muggle-loving bitch?' Rodolphus said his fist striking her across the face.
'I don't know.' Alice spat back blood spattering Rodolphus' robes.
'Where's the boy? Where did Dumbledore hide him?' Barty screamed at the woman on the ground as he drew back and kicked her in the ribs. A satisfying snap was heard.
She took a deep gurgling breath. 'You'll never find him!'
Rabastan pulled the woman up by her hair and pointed toward the corner. 'Looky what Bella found.' Bellatrix sat in the lap of a groggy Frank Longbottom. His robes were ripped open long slash marks adorned his chest. His arms bound with shackles behind his back. 'He looks like he's enjoying himself. Maybe Bella can show him a better time than you ever could.'
Bellatrix cackles as she plants a sloppy kiss on Frank's lips. He shakes his head away from the foul woman before spitting on her face. 'Now that's not vewy nice.' She gets up backhanding the restrained auror across the face. 'I'm growing tired of this. Snapey did you bring in Veriteserum?'
'No I didn't Lestrange and do not call me Snapey if you wish to continue breathing.' Snape bit back.
'Well I guess we'll just have to find another way to loosen their tongue.'
'Crucio!' The curse hit Alice. Her screams were deafening as she writhed on the floor in agony. Snape repeated the process with Frank.
'Where is our Lord?' Rodolphus stopped to ask.
Alice was bleeding from her nose and mouth as she spoke, 'ROASTING IN HELL!' Alice and Frank both began to laugh. Barty, Rodolphus, and Rabastan seethed with rage before screaming.
'Crucio!' 'Crucio!' 'Crucio!'
'Their screams are beginning to annoy me.' Snape said in a bored voice. 'Silencio! Ah, now that's better.'
From a nearby wardrobe watched a young Neville. Tears streamed down his eyes as he looked on never turning away.
A group of aurors showed up, soon after the Death Eaters left, and found Neville huddled over his parents' bodies. The memory ended at the point of an Obliviator's wand.
Harry dropped the connection. He was breathing heavily. When he looked up Neville was gone. No one moved to stop him although Pavarti and Padma followed him. Harry moved to follow.
"Harry leave him be. He must work through this in his own way plus the Patil sisters can handle him. You have other things you need to attend to."
"Oh and what would that be Rowena?" He said giving her an innocent smile.
"You know perfectly well that you and Ron are supposed to research battle magics and stratagems used in the Magi Wars. Remember cater to your strengths. Every spell has its use even the Dark Arts."
"Hogwarts isn't exactly known for its Dark Arts curriculum."
"A lot of knowledge has been lost over the centuries much of what I learned in my day would be considered Dark in your time. Inevitably every age makes such distinctions in the use of magic so that they can appear more civilized than those of the age that came before. As for Hogwarts curriculum, just because the Dark Arts aren't taught here doesn't mean we don't have an extensive section on the subject. I saw to it. The only subject Salazar and I agreed on was that of knowledge for knowledge sake."
The second year ended with as little fanfare as the first. The door to the room had yet to appear and many were starting to believe that it would never appear again. They would just live out their lives and die all within that room. The prospect of leaving it really should appealed to them. For all they knew Voldemort had taken over the wizarding world in their absence. As soon as that door opened, if it ever opened, they must be prepared to fight. They had to make sure that the Death Eaters felt the sting of their presence before they made their escape. 'Whenever that door opens I have no doubt that we'll be ready to face whatever awaits us.' Harry's eyes drifted up from his book, Apparation and Its Use in Dueling: A How to Guide in Advanced Apparation, as Ron ran by dodging several hexes.
"Now Hermione just wait a second. What are you so riled up about?" An animated bronze shield moved back and forth absorbing the stray hexes being hurled his way.
"Ronald Weasley! How can you be so sweet and so thick at the same time? Why'd you spend so much time with Vicky?" she said mocking Ron. "I didn't spend all my time with Victor. I spent a lot of time with both you and Harry. You have the gall to speak against Victor when you can't even bring yourself to speak to me properly." The bushy-haired witch was literally frothing at the mouth as she screamed at Ron.
But that all stopped in an instant and no one was prepared for what Ron said and did next. "You're right. I've been a great prat. I just can't stand the fact that you wanted to spend time with someone else. The whole time I wanted you to be with me." With a flourish of his wand rose petals rained down upon Hermione's head. "Will you forgive me?" He said as he dropped his shield and grabbed her wand hand.
Harry snickered at the scene. He looked over at Luna. What are you snickering at Mr. Potter? I'm snickering at the way they're acting. And what's so funny about it, hmm? The fact that I know exactly how they feel because I feel the same way about you. Well all except the cursing you part. They both smiled and went back to reading their respective books.
Three and a half years to the day that they had entered the room a door appeared. The occupants of the room were a flurry of motion. They had been planning for this day for so long that they each knew their job. The supplies were packed quickly while Hermione took her time shrinking the sizable accumulation of books in their makeshift library. They too were packed along with the Ravenclaw Crystal.
Luna moved amongst the group. She could feel the power emanating from the ancient runes. Each member of the DA bore similar markings based on the warrior runes of the ancient magi. They drew their wands and advanced on the door. At the same time a group of men unlucky enough to see the door appear likewise drew their wands. One reached for the door handle.
The man had only opened it partway when all Hell broke loose. A reductor curse blew a hole in the door sending the first man to the floor. It was followed by the Hurricane wave, which tore what remained of the door from its frame and sent it hurtling at the shocked group of men.
"Ekleipsis!" A large field of Utterdark spread throughout the castle. The black and gray cloaks made the cadre virtually invisible. They darted through the darkness with a purpose unhindered by its cloistering cold and pitch. The runes gave them greater sight and they took advantage of it by incapacitating anyone who crossed their path until they found themselves in the main entranceway.
"What is the meaning of this?"
"Dumbledore…?"
Harry awoke as he felt a warm sensation against his chest. From inside his cloak he pulled a galleon. On its golden surface was the word 'Moony'. Harry looked around with a great big grin on his face.
A/N: I figured I'd take the time to reply to the reviews I've received. I appreciate each and everyone.
Darkdragonhime-Thanks for reading I'm glad you enjoyed it.
Gyr-I hope I can continue to depict scenes in such a manner. I was really going for believability.
yeknottemaster-Fudge is definitely stupid.
TheFirstOne-He's a leader of boys learning to be a leader of men. Secrets may arise. Oh by the way 50 points to you even though I don't know which house you belong to.
Silver-Entrantress-Elf-I'll try to update as often as I can.
Goldensong-I'll work on getting stuff out quicker.
CuriosKitty-I hope the scenes from the RoR are enjoyable. I still think the scenes are a bit rushed.
linkyz-Sometimes people die. It's war.
NocturnalFern-So am I. I love a good time travel fic especially if it bakes my brain.
Geloalto-It started out as an experiment that grew a bit beyond me.
ZwngDragon-Fudge is the King of Morons.
Burzrog Gurthiel-Keep an eye out.
psaltino-I'll do my best.
gwen-I'm glad I've been somewhat original.
Myrddin Ambrosius-I'm working on the pace. Sometimes I get caught up in the story blame it on my ADD. Fudge is…yeah. Since Book 5 Dumbledore has gotten me pretty hacked off. I'm glad you like Neville. I have plans for Master Longbottom.
dark-gin-I'm just glad I have a plot to speak of.
possom2009-Thanks.
Dana-Okay, Snape bashing is good. I my tell more about the RoR but even then not all will be revealed…Muwahahaha!
meg-Dumbledore's sanity will be shot before long.
She-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named-Still working on the pace.
Chozen1-Thank you!
LL-I enjoy playing on the desperation.
uten-Time can be loads of fun to play with.
C'mon-I'll be updating soon.