18
Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince
By: Fred and George Weasley are MY kings
DISCLAIMER: (I have decided to change this up a bit) I own all of my OC's and the plot. Otherwise nothing else is mine! (Creative, huh? Just kidding haha!)
Chapter 11: The Real Weapon
FIRSTLY REVIEWS: (Thanks so much… I love you all! Because I got so many reviews on this chapter I decided to write this really fast and full of tons of good stuff. You all rock!)
n6uos: All right well that disappoints me a lot to hear it, but I do invite criticism because I don't look at it personally. I know that the story isn't by any means perfect, but I at least hoped it was entertaining… Oh well. You can't win them all right? I hope you did continue reading to Chapter 8, because the plot does begin to pick up a bit then. I will keep in mind to liven things up a bit. Nonetheless, thanks for the review.
Blue mittens: Haha! I can always count on your review to put a smile on my face :) See there it is… haha! I am glad you gave me those words of wisdom… They really picked up my spirit! Thanks for the review – I fixed the parenthesis thing… Yay!
Eagle-Eyes: Hey thanks for the review. Luna: Yeah, I honestly forgot about that… You are right she IS in Ginny's grade. I had her choose a career and everything. Whoops! Thanks for bringing to my attention. Glad you liked the chapter and again thanks for the reviews!
Ice-Phoenix-Tears: You are the bomb! As always you never fail to review! Thanks so much! You rock my socks! Haha, that's such a dumb saying, but I like it!
Nandhp: Thanks for the review! Glad you like chapter 10 and hope you enjoy chapter 11! I hope the chapter will bring a lot of new things into light. I guess we'll see.
Mystic Child: Hey, I am really glad you liked the story and hope you got to continue to chapter 2, haha. If not, then you probably won't read this anyway… but I don't care much. I vow to always write an individual review response to EVERY reviewer (no matter what they say), and I am a person of my word. Thanks for the review! (Hey I looked at your profile – And my name is Rachel too! Sweet, huh?)
Benwa: Hey! Glad you continued reading! Thanks about Angelina, Alicia, and Lee's ages. I can't believe Lee is gone… Who am I going to have say the commentary? Any suggestions? Glad you found Malfoy's accident enjoyable… I found it funny too… Serves him right the prat! Glad you liked the story and as always thanks for the review!
Chapter 11: The Real Weapon
The week started of with a morning quidditch practice. Katie hadn't been satisfied enough with a defying win over Ravenclaw when they were due to play Slytherin next week. "Look," she said after practice was over and everyone was trudging back slowly to the locker rooms to change and shower, "Malfoy got out of the hospital wing earlier this weekend, so all of their players are restored, meaning that we now share the favorite spot with Slytherin. They've got some new hotshot chasers so we are going to have to watch out for them… But we easily have the best team in this league, and have had the best team for years. We have to win this one guys… It's my last year, and you don't know how much it will mean to me." She looked up with a meaningful glance at all of her teammates, whom all nodded and smiled. They would win this year… For Katie and for Gryffindor.
After quidditch the whole group trudged back up to the castle to again begin classes. Harry and Ron happened to be on their way to Defense Against the Dark Arts Class when Professor McGonagall approached them with a bright face. "Potter, Weasley. Professor Dumbledore wishes to see you immediately."
"Professor, we have class," Ron said.
"Weasley, you have already been excused from Professor Hall's class. This is more important right now." Harry and Ron exchanged glances. Was Dumbledore going to tell them that he hadn't told Harry all of the prophecy? Were they about to really learn what the weapon was? They both followed Professor McGonagall, each of them eagerly awaiting the new information that would be bestowed upon them. They reached the gargoyle, which sprang open after the password was spoken and Harry and Ron were left to climb the stairs and enter Dumbledore's office. They walked in, still eager, and again saw the portraits of former headmasters all sleeping. Harry was also delighted to see Fawkes, sitting on a perch behind Dumbledore's desk, looking radiant.
"Harry, Ron… please have a seat." Ron and Harry nervously sat down. "You aren't in trouble," Dumbledore said with a kind smile, his eyes twinkling as he noticed their nervous expressions. "I have called you two in here today to talk to you both about the little club you started last year."
"You mean the D.A?" Harry asked, his spirits falling. Here he thought he would actually get some answers from Dumbledore.
"Ahh, yes of course. Well, if you are both still up to directing the club and it's meetings, I think it would be delightful to make it a legal organization… Wouldn't you?"
Harry and Ron both smiled and nodded. "I was hoping you both would be happy to hear it. I think it is an excellent program and compliment both of you for coming up with the idea. You can hold the meetings whenever you like, and will have to read these rules before holding meetings," Dumbledore said pointing to a small list about Hogwarts clubs and other organization requirements, "I have also informed Professor Hall about the D.A. He is very delighted that you two have both taken your interest in the defense department outside of the classroom and said he would love to stop in during one of the meetings and perhaps give a few pointers, or else just supervise. I trust that this will be a very big success with you two leading it."
"Professor?" Ron asked.
"Yes, Ron?"
"It was mostly Hermione's idea… I mean I don't feel right taking all the credit for it," Ron said awkwardly. Harry realized that Ron was right.
"I talked to Miss Granger earlier and she asked me that you two be given the position. She didn't want to have to over burden herself. I believe she is doing quite a lot these days." Dumbledore concluded. Harry, on the other hand, had to wonder whether or not this was another exploit to keep Hermione out of the circle of trust that seemed to be engulfing Hogwarts. "Well you two best be off," Dumbledore then stated, "I believe Defense Against the Dark Arts class will be over by the time you get there, so get a head start on your next class. And Harry, Professor Hall was wondering if Friday night would work for Occulmency practice?" Harry thought and then nodded, dreading it. With that, Ron and Harry got up and left the office. Harry thought about confronting Dumbledore about what Hermione, Ron, and him had all discovered Sunday night but decided against it. If Dumbledore wouldn't tell him before, Harry doubted that he would now. Harry would just have to find out himself.
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The rest of the week was full of rumors and excitement about who was going to the dance with whom. Harry still hadn't mustered up the courage to ask whom he wanted to go with, but he had at least confided in Ron. "Well, I don't see why not." Ron replied cheerfully when Harry asked if he should.
"You guys… err… are kind of close I suppose. At least that's what I keep on hearing. It's about time you told me something about it."
"Luna and me are… err…we're just friends," Harry said nervously. Truth be told, he really didn't know what he wanted him and Luna to be anymore.
"Nothing wrong with that… Hermione and I are just friends too," Ron said in fast paced chatter that would've put Gretchen Meadowes to shame. "Friends, nothing more at all." Ron continued, in a slower pace this time. Harry had to wonder when all of Ron's denial was going to stop… but then another thought came to him. Am I in denial, too? Do I really like Luna? He had been spending a lot of time with her, and he had even put his hand on hers without even thinking. He always thought about her, even after winning quidditch. But none of that really meant anything, did it? Did it?
After Harry had talked to Ron a bit about Luna, he felt more up to asking her to the dance as he strode to the library where it seemed Luna always was. This time she was, but she was sitting with Elizabeth Conners, Blaise Zabbini, and Hannah Abbott. Harry had never seen a stranger group of friends. Two were fifth years, two were fourth years, and all were from different houses. Harry, no matter how brave he was feeling before, pretended to go about his business like he was there to do homework. He would've been fine if she had been alone… but he couldn't very well ask her in front of all those girls. If she said no, it would be mortifying enough, without three other girls on looking the whole incident. Within ten minutes, they each left, much to Harry's surprise. Elizabeth Conners (A/N: She is going to be Gryffindor's new chaser, well one of them anyway. I have to finish revising chapter nine, then you'll have more information on her) even gave him a wave, which he returned, as she left, as if she knew why he was there.
When they all left he sat down across from Luna where Blaise had been before. "Hey," she said casually, looking up from her potions homework. "Hey," he said back. He didn't know what else to say. He sat there pretending to be finishing up some Charms homework.
"So…err… Did you hear about the Halloween Celebration that they are having?" Harry said almost kicking himself after how stupid he sounded.
"Of course,"
"Going with anyone yet?"
"I've had a few offers… but I turned them all down."
"Oh," Harry said flatly. Was he going to be another among the denied?
They sat in silence for a few moments while Harry worked up his courage again. He didn't know why this was so hard. "Well if you want to go, I was…err…wondering if you would want to go with me."
Luna looked up her face bright and a bit pink as she asked "As friends, or as a real date?"
Harry decided to play it safe, "As friends."
"Okay," Luna said smiling, as Harry got up to leave. "See you later then," He said leaving and turning the corner and go out the door only to run into Blaise, Elizabeth and Hannah all wearing rather guilty expressions. Had they been listening this whole time? "Hey Harry," Blaise said sheepishly before leading the others and walking past him. He blushed a bit, but the continued on, thinking. He felt disappointed even though she had said yes. I think I know why, He thought to himself as he climbed the staircase, it's because she is happy to go as JUST friends… and I am not.
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Friday came up quickly, meaning that Harry was going to have to go through another Occulmency lesson. The bright side was of course that Snape would not be teaching. In fact, Snape always seemed to be preoccupied in his class and never paid much attention to Harry, which was fine by him. Harry knew the loathing and hatred still existed, but was glad that it wasn't always scorning him everyday. Harry walked into the Defense Against the Dark Arts Room at four 'o'clock, and saw that Professor Hall was already set up, having cleared all the desks to the left side of the room. "Ahh, Good afternoon, Mr. Potter." Hall said as he saw Harry enter the room.
"Good afternoon,"
"Well, we best get started. Dumbledore told me that you had been practicing with Professor Snape last year, correct?"
"Yes."
"Well, Professor Snape is very busy this year and won't be able to teach you any longer. He is much better at this than me, but I guess I'll just do my best."
"Alright so let's have a go at it then. I am assuming you already know what to do. Just remember to keep your head clear of emotion, and think of calming thoughts only… slightly like meditating. Dumbledore informed me that you and Voldemort can enter each other's brains when you are both at your weakest points… or most emotionally distressed points. Calm is the key. All right ready then, I'll give you a minute to calm down. You can do this by just thinking of calm thoughts. Your minute begins…now." Harry scanned his brain for a calm thought knowing that the man across from him was about to enter his mind at any time. He cleared his mind as best as he could and thought calming thoughts, doing a meditating type thing, just like Hall had suggested.
"All right minute is up," Hall said while Harry tried to concentrate. "1…2…3!" Hall shouted as he flung his wand in the direction of Harry's temple. Pictures flooded Harry's mind causing him to break his concentration. He saw Cedric looming closer…he was in a field with long grass with the wind sweeping the grass making it appear as though it was dancing… Cedric was smiling and reached out a hand that Harry took without hesitation. Harry felt calm, and had not a care in the world as he and Cedric walked through the grass and turned back. They saw spells flying as well as bodies laying in heaps…but the shocking thing was that Harry saw himself, trying to revive a dead body near him… All of the sudden he was back in Hall's class room on the ground with his scar prickling slightly. He looked up to see Professor Hall wearing a worried expression as he helped Harry up off the ground. "Harry…What were you thinking about?" Hall asked.
Harry slightly shaken from what he had just seen looked up to see Hall's honest face. "I wasn't thinking about anything," Harry lied, "I just cleared my mind."
"I saw that just as well as you did…I didn't get any further into your memories… but Harry have you ever seen that vision before?" Hall asked with a serious voice.
"Well, not that exact one… but I saw one in that same field before." Harry said quietly, deciding that he could trust this man after what Lupin had told him in the letter.
Hall sat down as he stated, "That was the strangest thing I have ever seen… it looked as though it was an insight to the future and not a memory at all. Has that ever happened before?"
"No… I don't think so. I had a dream about that same field, though like I said before."
"Yes, but is extremely odd that when I go to enter your thoughts, you see something that has never happened… Look, Harry I think that is all we will do for today. I'll talk to Dumbledore and I'll look into it some more, so don't worry about. We'll get to the bottom of it," Hall said with a smile, "Same place and same time next week."
Harry left still thinking about what he had seen. He knew Voldemort had not put the vision there because his scar would be throbbing if Voldemort had. So how did it get there? Was it possible that he had another connection with someone else? Yeah right, Harry though to himself as he made his way to the common room. But nothing else seemed to explain it. Maybe Hermione will have a theory about it, Harry thought as he climbed through the portrait hole. The common room was suspiciously empty besides for Ron and Neville who were both sitting in front of the fireplace. Ron was reading the rules that Dumbledore had given them and Neville was busy doing some Herbology IV essay. "Where is everyone?" Harry asked. On Friday nights the common room was normally packed.
"Well, I guess there was a third and second year dueling competition tonight, so that's were all the young ones are… then Professor Flitwick needed help decorating for the dance tomorrow, so everyone left to do that… then I think some people were planning on having a mock quidditch game."
"Oh," Harry said flatly, "Where is Hermione?"
"Not sure," Ron said stretching and gingerly standing up. "I think I am going to head down to the quidditch field and join in. Want to come you two?"
"No thanks," Neville responded. Harry normally would've been thrilled, but he needed to do some thinking before he could do anything else. "No… I think I am going to finish up all the odds and ends for this D.A stuff."
"Okay, see you guys later then," Ron said disappearing through the portrait hole. Harry, however, did not even look at the D.A. guidelines but instead began searching for some of Hermione's books that might be able to help him explain what had just happen in his Occulmency lesson. She normally kept a few under her favorite armchair, and Harry searched there immediately, although he got a very odd look from Neville. He opened the most revolting looking one first and began to page through it. However, before he could get too interested in the book's contents, he noticed a piece of worn parchment folded up in between two pages. Careful not to let Neville see what he was doing, Harry unfolded the parchment and began to read. It was a letter from Vicktor Krum.
Dear Hermione,
I am writing to tell you that I am very sad that you no longer feel the way that I feel about you. My heart feels as though it has been broken in two and I don't know if I can go on. I know you said that you have to be honest and say that you are in love with your friend named Ron, but I would rather be lied to then hear that. I miss you, very much and I wish that you will change your mind. I don't think this Ron boy will be able to offer you what I can. Please write me back… just a letter will ease the pain for a little while. Please think about what I said.
Love,
Vicktor
Harry gapped at the letter as it sunk in. Hermione was still talking to Krum? And she told him she was in love with Ron? How long had this been going on? Was this who she had been owling so secretively? He was going to set off to find her, but Neville was gazing intently at Harry looking like there was something he desperately wanted and needed to say. "Err… Neville…Are you all right?" Harry asked.
"No… I… I," Neville said stuttering.
"Go on, Neville… What's on your mind?"
"Harry," Neville started nervously, "I have to tell you something."
Harry looked at him curiously, "What?"
"Well… you know how the prophecy was smashed in the department of mysteries last year?" Neville began uncertainly.
"Yes…"
"Well… I heard it Harry… I heard what it said. When I let it fall, I was right there. I know you didn't hear it… But I did, despite all of the noise." Harry's heart jumped in realizing that maybe Neville might've known what the prophecy really said all along. Harry leaned in closer.
"Neville, what did it say?"
Neville gulped as though he was revealing something that he would be punished for later. "It said… 'In a line not of Voldemort's regime, there comes a valiant one of royal blood, cloaked with the purest heart,' That's all I heard… I dream about it every night, so I know it by heart now. And I think… I think they were talking about you." Harry suddenly realized why Neville had such a hard time telling him… It was the first Neville had ever said the Dark Lord's name. "I just thought you should know," Neville said still uncertain.
"Thanks, Neville… I really mean it, too." Neville just nodded and left to up to the boys' dormitory. Harry started thinking about what Neville had said. 'I think they were talking about you,' Neville had said. Harry had to admit it might sound like him, but then he remembered what Dumbledore had said earlier about Harry playing a different role in the prophecy. Maybe the prophecy was talking about someone else. Then it hit him. Was it possible that the prophecy was describing the very weapon that Voldemort could use to destroy him and vice versa?
At this time, since it was nearing 5:30, everyone reported back to the common room and it was crowded once again. Harry resolved to talk to Hermione and Ron first thing the next morning in private.
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The next morning Harry told Hermione and Ron everything that had happened the previous day in the boys' dormitory, since everyone else was down in the common room. He hadn't yet mentioned Krum's letter because he wanted to only speak to Hermione about it, knowing that Ron would immediately get jealous and that Hermione probably wasn't ready to tell Ron how she felt about him just yet.
"Well, I think that you are right about it talking about the weapon, and not you," Hermione stated referring to the prophecy that Neville had told Harry.
"The only question is what does it mean?" Ron asked as he looked down to where Hermione had written the bit of the prophecy that they knew down.
"It's not that hard to decipher… Look," Hermione said, picking up the parchment and placing it in her hands. " 'In a line not of Voldemort's regime'… that most likely means that the person isn't evil or that they aren't pure blood,"
"How do you figure?" Ron asked confused.
"Because regime I think in this case is taking on a meaning similar to league. All of the people in Voldemort's league are either pure evil or pure blood. So therefore, this person is neither."
"Then there is the part about royal blood," Harry stated.
"That could have many different meanings… royal doesn't always mean king and queens, but it very well could I suppose… I am not sure about that part."
"So it's a half-blood, courageous and good-hearted king?" Ron asked an amused look on his face.
"Not necessarily a king," Hermione stated.
"A half-blood prince then."
"Who says it is even a man?" Hermione asked offended that Ron had automatically assumed it couldn't be a girl.
"How many girls do you know that are valiant?" Ron asked with a smile. Hermione refused to admit that Ron was probably right, but Harry had to agree with Ron.
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After the three of them had their little chat, Harry found Hermione again and talked to her privately. "Hermione, I have to talk to you quick," he said holding up Krum's letter. Hermione recognizing it immediately snatched it angrily out of Harry's hands. "What were you doing… snooping through my things?" She asked him, the anger apparent in her voice.
"Hermione, no. I found it in your book that I was planning on reading… I wasn't looking through your things."
"Well, what about it?" she snapped, flushing slightly realizing that her feelings for Ron were heavily displayed in the contents of the letter.
"I was just wondering if this is who have been so secretly mailing? You really worried Ron and I… We didn't know what you were up to."
"Yes," Hermione said her eyes filling with tears, "Harry, please don't tell Ron. About any of it…it's bad enough that you know. Promise my you won't tell him."
"Okay I promise."
"Thank you,"
"But Hermione," Harry said as he looked straight at her, "You really should be honest with him, you know. It might save everyone a bit of trouble in the end." Hermione looked up surprised and shook her head while she smiled. "You really have to stop being more mature then me," she said jokingly. "After all it's my job to be the levelheaded one, you know."
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That night Harry was thinking to himself before he went to sleep. He normally thought about Sirius and his parents but this time, he was thinking about his vision he had seen during Occulmency practice. Why had he seen that? Was it really like Hall had said… A forecast into the future? He told Hermione and Ron about it as well, and they found it just as odd as Hall seemed to. He noticed that they both seemed to be very overly worried about him, which was probably to be expected. He knew they were still worried about the prophecy and that they didn't want to see him die ever let alone sometime soon.
He hated thinking about it, but it was beginning to take over his mind. He knew he needed to sort things out… yet he hated doing it, knowing that he was doomed no matter which way he went. It was an awful feeling, a feeling that made him feel hopeless. But as he turned on his side, looking at the moon in the sky through the crack in the curtains, he thought of Sirius and his parents again… And he decided with conviction that he would not let them down.
A/N: Chapter 11 is done! Hope you all liked it! All of it is pretty important: We have first Quidditch, then Dumbledore asking Harry and Ron to again start up the D.A., Harry asks Luna to the dance – I bet many of you are probably questioning that. It seems like everyone thinks that Harry and Ginny will get together. I do not. In fact I think there is a lot of foreshadowing in OoP that tells us that Harry does like Luna. Firstly, JKR always paired them together in everything…seeing the therestrals etc. Then right before a D.A. meeting in the RoR where Harry is taking down the Christmas decoration Luna comes in and they both stand under mistletoe. Harry thinks Dobby put up the decorations but how could Dobby get into Harry's RoR. Harry's subconscious put up those decorations as well as the mistletoe over him and Luna. Then Occulmency where Harry sees (He also begins to trusts Hall) his vision – okay as far as that goes it is VERY important and yes it IS a forecast of the future, as well as the dream in chapter 1. Then Neville tells Harry about what he heard the prophecy say – very important obviously (we learn the weapon is the half-blood prince or in Hermione's debate a half-blooded PERSON no gender specified). We find what Hermione has been hiding, and the trio has chat and Harry fills them in on everything that they have missed… We also have Harry being mature – yes the golden hero is growing up! Okay, well hope you liked it! REVIEW! REVIEW! REVIEW!
ANY QUESTIONS COMMENTS SUGGESTIONS COMPLAINTS OR IDEAS? If so, please share! Thanks
PS: I know I said all that stuff about hogsmeade being in this chapter… sorry! I never stay true to those dumb chapter previews. Hogsmeade will come in next chapter as well as Sirius's vault contents, and the Halloween dance thingy. Don't expect 12 for a while though probably around 2 weeks, I know it's a long time and it sucks. I'm revising Chapter 9 right now and will work my way through the rest of them to, going backwards starting with the most recent chapters. If you notice any errors, please tell me. It would really help me out since there are so many! Thanks so much! Love you all! Bye! Oh and if you really want me to write Chapter 12 fast, review. Nothing gets me more pumped to write then those things do! I love them! Bye again!