Harry Potter and the Soul of the Serpent
Chapter 10
Attack
Standard Disclaimers Apply
oOoOo
"I fear for Harry's well-being," said Dumbledore, hands clasped on the desk in front of him.
"I'm sure Potter can work through it," Snape replied.
"Maybe so, but you cannot deny that he has changed. That he has become so strong surprises me. I would have thought a year in Azkaban would have weakened his powers."
Snape's lip curled.
"Unless there is something he is not telling us."
"Perhaps," replied Dumbledore softly, stroking Fawkes. "Perhaps."
oOoOo
It was true that Harry had changed. Everyone noticed it. He had thrown himself into his work, and was often seen wondering the corridors alone. He spent little time in the Gryffindor common room, and seldom spoke unless spoken to. Malfoy of course, was the most vocal in his opinion of the change in Harry. One particular evening, Harry had returned from the chamber and without thinking had found himself in the dungeons. He decided he would simply walk, as he was in no hurry to return to the common room yet.
He was walking slowly up a long corridor when Malfoy and co walked around the corner ahead of him. He stopped, and a grin split his face as he saw Harry.
"Fancy meeting you here, Potter," he sneered.
Harry slipped the book he had been carrying discreetly out of sight, but Malfoy had seen it. He swaggered up to Harry, grinning.
"What have you got there, Potter? A book, I see. Care to show it to me?"
"No." How could he have been so stupid? He should have gone straight back to his room.
Malfoy's face hardened into a glare, and he resulted to flinging insults.
"I'm surprised you didn't go insane, Potty. After all, didn't my father put you in there for a year?"
Harry glared at him. I feel lucky compared to what he's going to go through before I kill him," said Harry quietly. Malfoy's eyes widened, if only for a second. He leaned forward.
"What did you say, Potter? Did you just threaten to kill my father?"
"Yes."
Malfoy's face grew red and he reached behind Harry and grasped the book. Harry didn't let go, but it was in front of him for long enough for Malfoy to see the cover. He stepped back in surprise, a flash of fear flitting across his face.
"That's Dark Arts, Potter. What do you have that for?"
Harry smiled coldly.
"That's how I'm going to kill your father, Malfoy."
Malfoy's jaw clenched in anger. He blinked, and Harry was gone.
oOoOo
Snape looked up in irritation as the door to his office burst open. Malfoy appeared looking red and flustered.
"Sir!"
"What is it, Malfoy?" Snape asked, standing up.
"It's Potter. I met him down- down in the dungeons."
Snape glanced up as Crabbe and Goyle lumbered through the door, before looking back to Malfoy.
"And why would Potter be down in the dungeons?"
"I don't know ,sir," Malfoy gasped, "But he- he threatened to kill my father, and he had a book of the Dark Arts!"
Snape stood up straighter, his brow creasing.
"Where did he go?" Snape asked sharply.
"That's the thing sir, I don't know. He apparated!"
"You can't apparate within Hogwarts," Snape snapped.
"I know that, sir, but he did! I blinked and he disappeared!"
Crabbe and Goyle were nodding dumbly behind Malfoy's back.
Snape's voice was deadly silent.
"You mean to say, that Potter simply vanished into thin air, when that is something that is entirely impossible?"
"I swear it's the truth, Professor."
"Very well. I will see to it that something is done about this."
Snape stormed through the castle. The portrait of the Fat Lady sprang open before him and he entered the Gryffindor common room. He sneered as everyone stopped talking to turn and stare at him. And then he yelled.
"POTTER!"
The students in the common room jumped in shock.
"POTTER GET DOWN HERE NOW!" Snape yelled. He stormed up to the boy's dormitory, meeting Harry half-way down the stairs.
He grabbed his arm and pulled him roughly back down the stairs. Students gaped as he pushed Harry out of the portrait hole and down the corridor. Once a suitable distance from the common room, Snape opened a door and pushed Harry into the classroom. Harry wrenched his arm out of Snape's grasp and turned to face him.
"What the hell was that?" Harry shouted.
"Shut up, Potter. You are not to speak. You are to listen to me."
Harry stared at Snape, fighting to stay calm.
"Mr Malfoy has just been to see me, Potter. Would you care to explain your side of the story?"
Harry rolled his eyes.
"I was taking a walk-"
"In the dungeons?"
"Yes. I wasn't paying attention to where I was going. I ran into Malfoy and those two oafs he hangs around with, and Malfoy started insulting me."
"About what?"
"Just about anything you can think off. Something about Azkaban."
"And then you threatened his father?"
"Yes."
Snape was becoming irritated at the boys' lack of remorse.
"And why did you do that, Potter?"
"Because it's no less than he's done," Harry spat.
"That must be quite hard for him, Potter, your father is dead," hissed Snape.
Harry blanched and stepped back from Snape, anger clouding his features. Snape immediately regretted the hasty words, but the damage was done.
Harry stepped around him.
"If you're done…"
"No, Potter, I am not," said Snape, preventing Harry from opening the door.
"Then get on with it!" Harry snapped.
"What is this book Malfoy says you have?"
"I didn't have a book."
"I can easily find out, Potter."
"I didn't have a book."
"Be warned, Potter, if I find out you have books on the Dark Arts, be sure that I shall go to Dumbledore."
"Maybe you should be asking Malfoy how he knows so much about the Dark Arts," Harry replied.
"So you admit you had one?"
"Yes. But I won't tell you where it is."
"I see. What interests me is why you have it in the first place."
"Why do you think?" snapped Harry.
"They are called the Dark Arts for a reason, Potter. And I suspect they are far out of your league anyway."
"Shows what you know then. I've told you before. Love is not going to help me defeat Voldemort. None of the stupid curses we're learning at the moment are going to help me. Dumbledore isn't interested in teaching me anything, so it seems I have to do it on my own, just like I've always done."
"Stupid child, you have never been alone!
"Yes, Snape, I have. I finally realised that when you all left me in the place to rot. I was alone. No one but me helped me get through it. There is no one I can rely on!"
Snape grew angry at Harry's words, maybe because they were partially right.
"We are here for you now, Potter! Everyone bends over backwards to ensure your safety!"
"NO!" Harry yelled. "To ensure their own safety. I'm just here to do their dirty work. Nobody even knows who I am! They don't see past the scar on my face. Look at you! You can't even see past the name! And you expect me to believe that I'm not alone?"
"What about Weasley and Granger?"
Harry snorted.
"They gave up on me just like everyone else. And you know what? Ron can't get past the fact that I've got more money than him and Hermione can't accept the fact that I think there are more important things than getting good grades! How pathetic is that? You act like your life is so damned bad, but I don't complain about mine so why can't you just leave me alone?"
"Because obviously you are not fit to be alone. You start turning to the Dark Arts and threatening people with death."
"He deserves it, you know that! He's the one that sent me to Azkaban," Harry hissed. "His stupid 'Potter task-force' was all it took to beat Dumbledore. Malfoy and his father will both get what's coming to them!"
"Not from you they won't. Now calm yourself Potter. Tell me how you managed to apparate within Hogwarts."
"Malfoy must be hallucinating."
Stupid, stupid, stupid! Why had he done that, and in front of Malfoy of all people! Protect the Chamber!
"Do not lie! Malfoy is not stupid. I do not believe you apparated, though I believe you did disappear. You must have some other means on you, something that can breach the wards of Hogwarts. Can you not see how dangerous this would be if the Dark Lord got his hands on it?"
"There is nothing!"
Harry knew he was caught.
Snape adopted his familiar sneer and looked over Harry. He caught sight of a thin silver chain descending into his robes.
Before Harry could do anything, Snape had grabbed it and pulled the pendant into view.
"What do you think you're doing?" Harry sneered.
Snape picked up the pendant and dropped it when he saw what it was, his eyes widening in shock.
"Where did you get this, Potter?"
"I found it."
"Where?"
"I can't remember."
"You are lying to me. Agsain. Do you know what this is?"
"It's a pendant, obviously."
Snape picked it up and tried to examine it more closely, but Harry stepped out of his reach.
"You will not touch me again, Snape, or I will not hesitate to curse you."
Snape looked like he was going to pop. His face had gone red.
"That is the personal crest of Salazar Slytherin, Potter. It has not been seen since his death."
"Well lucky me."
Snape loomed closer.
"If you refuse to tell me, Potter, I will take this to the headmaster."
"And I'll tell him that you're an ignorant, clueless git. I tell you, it's just a pendant."
Snape's eyes flashed and he lashed out at Harry, grabbing the pendant.
Harry barely had time to think before he found himself standing next to Snape in Dumbledore's office, Snape still holding the pendant.
Harry looked over to see Dumbledore staring at them with concern and surprise. He stood up to greet them.
"Severus, Harry, to what do I owe the pleasure of this visit?"
"Look at this," Snape hissed, dragging Harry over by the pendant.
Dumbledore raised his eyebrows when he saw it. He took it from Snape and examined it.
"Where did you get this, Harry?" Dumbledore asked quietly.
"I found it," Harry repeated. "I can't remember where."
"Potter is lying. He uses it to apparate inside the school."
Dumbledore released the pendant and gestured for them to take seats.
"Harry, this is the crest of Salazar Slytherin."
"Yes, I know. Snape was already kind enough to tell me that."
"Professor Snape, Harry.
"Whatever," snapped Harry rudely, glaring at Dumbledore.
"Harry, is there anything you wish to tell me?" Dumbledore asked. Harry suddenly realised Dumbledore was searching his thoughts and stood up.
"Get out of my mind!" Harry yelled. Dumbledore turned to Snape.
"You were right, Severus. He has improved. Please sit down Harry."
Harry knew he had no choice.
"Draco Malfoy came to see me before, quite distressed. Potter apparently threatened to kill his father and then apparated, using this pendant. According to Malfoy, he also had a book on the Dark Arts."
"Is this true, Harry?"
"Yes."
"How long have been using this pendant?"
"Since I came back."
"And you don't remember where you got it?"
"Strange. Obviously Salazar Slytherin made it in order to breach Hogwarts' walls. Where do you think he would have wanted to go?" Dumbledore questioned quietly.
Harry could tell Dumbledore knew.
"The pendant is mine," Harry said stubbornly. "I found it."
"Magical objects are no things to be played with, Potter," said Snape.
Dumbledore was still staring at Harry.
"Severus, did you ever wonder if that chamber that Salazar Slytherin built was the one Harry went to, or if there was more?" Dumbledore asked.
Snape looked up in amazement.
"You think Potter found the Chamber of Secrets?"
Dumbledore shook his head.
"I think we need to ask Harry that."
They both looked at him, and Harry jumped up in anger.
"You can't take this from me! I need it!"
"Why do you need it Harry? Do you feel that you need space, or is it something more?" Dumbledore gave him a searching look. Snape spoke up.
"Is this where you got the Dark Arts book, Potter?"
"Yes."
"What was the book on, Harry?"
"The soul?"
"Why would you want a book on the soul?" Snape asked.
"Was it a book about the soul, Harry, or about possession of the soul?" Dumbledore asked.
"Possession," Harry answered slowly.
He thought he saw understanding in both men's eyes.
"Harry, the soul is a dangerous thing to mess with. I urge you to find a different path to defeat Voldemort."
Harry felt his anger rising again, but Dumbledore went on.
"I have spoken to you before, of a strength you have. I want you to understand-"
"SHUT UP!" Harry yelled. "I will not listen to this anymore! Love is not going to help me defeat him. That's the trouble you have, isn't it? You think everyone will just bend to your will!"
He lowered his voice to a deadly hiss.
"Well that's the mistake you made with Riddle, isn't it? You thought you could control him, and just to prove you couldn't, he defied you. You told him not to turn to the Dark Arts, but he did. Do you want me to go the same way? Because right now, I have nothing left to lose! Nothing. And you know what? I think I understand what drove him to do the things he did."
With that, Harry turned on his heel and strode from the room, but before he could reach the door his head exploded in pain. He fell to his knees with a strangled gasp, his hands going to his scar. Within seconds Snape and Dumbledore were at his side as he started to gasp in pain. The view of Dumbledore's office swirled away as Harry was sucked into a vortex of strange shapes and distorted lights.
oOoOo
A house burned, and several figures wearing dark cloaks strode over the charred ground, laughing. The remains of several bodies littered the ground, but Harry's attention was drawn from them as one of the cloaked men approached him.
"Master, it is done."
"Good. You have the woman?"
"Yes, Master. We will bring her now."
"Very good."
Harry apparated and found himself in a dark room with a rug on the floor. A fire place stood in the far wall and a single chair sat on the wooden floor. He recognised this place. Moments later a Death Eater appeared in front of him restraining a panicking woman.
"You may go," Harry said coldly.
He advanced on the woman, who cowered in fright.
"Do you know who I am?" he asked in a cruel whisper.
"Y-yes. Please don't hurt me! Please!"
Harry stood up in disgust.
"Only the weak beg. Only mud-bloods are weak. That is why you must submit to me."
"No, please!"
"Quiet!" Harry ordered.
He picked the woman up and she began to struggle. Harry threw her down when she attempted to fight back.
"You will learn quickly to obey me!" Harry hissed. "Crucio!"
oOoOo
The room spun as Harry staggered to his feet, his scar aching. He tried not to think about what was happening to the woman right now. He shrugged of the hands that tried to grab him.
"I don't want this anymore," he said bitterly and stormed out of the room. They let him go.
Harry went to the chamber and fell asleep. He awoke the next morning and hurriedly made his way to the Great Hall. Eyes turned to him as he entered and took his place next to Ron. Hermione deftly pushed her paper onto the seat beside her, but Harry saw.
"Show me," he commanded. She responded to something in his voice and passed him the Daily Prophet. Harry read the article.
…13 muggles dead, 3 Aurors and 4 wizards dead.
…Dark Lord returns with a vengeance.
…Proclaiming death for any who defy him.
And of course, the obligatory mention:
…Is Harry Potter willing to save us again?
Harry calmly passed the paper back to Hermione and left his seat. The eyes followed him again as he left the Great Hall. He heard Malfoy make some smart remark as he passed but ignored it. He walked around the lake, the cool morning air a welcome distraction. He saw someone in the distance walking the opposite direction around the lake and sighed. He wanted to be alone. Instead, he turned and sat on a flat rock, waiting for the figure to come to him.
When she did come, she didn't say a word, just sat beside him until he talked.
"I saw it," he said. "I saw everything. And then, he took a woman, took her… to Riddle Manor. I left before I saw what he did to her, but I know. I can feel it. It's like…like I can feel everything he's feeling, and it's getting worse. One time, I saw him torturing one of his followers, and I woke up, and he was so happy. And I laughed, because it felt like I was enjoying it. And sometimes, it's so close I don't know whether it's him or me who's enjoying it."
He paused and swallowed.
"And I can't keep doing this, Katie. I can't stand everyone looking at me, judging me. They look at me like I'm an extension of him, and I feel like I'm an extension of him. But I can't get out of it, because if I do, then everyone will die. Everyone says they understand, but they don't. They don't know what it's like to have the burden of saving the whole world on your shoulders."
He fell silent.
"You don't have to save the whole world, Harry," Katie said softly.
"Yes, Katie. I do." He turned sad eyes on her. "Because someone said I had to. Some stupid woman made a prophecy, and I had to be the one who fit it," he said bitterly. "If I don't kill him, he's going to kill me, and that's the only way it can go."
Katie paused before speaking again.
"What if it isn't you?"
"He marked me as the boy from the prophecy. I have no choice."
"I believe you can stop him Harry."
Harry nodded.
"But I'm going to die too."
"Don't say that."
"I just wish I had someone who liked me because I was me."
"I do, Harry. Remember that. I met you after all of this happened. The only Harry I know is the one I heard about from my father, and the one I made friends with this summer."
Harry looked at her.
"Your father talked about me?"
"Only when I asked him once what you were like. He said you were arrogant, thick and had a hero complex. So you see, I met you with no expectations, but I liked who you were when you weren't putting up an act for the world."
"Katie, it's hard for me to say this, but I can't be your friend. I think you could quite possibly be the first person I've met who doesn't worship me or hate me, and I appreciate that, but it isn't safe for you. Your father would murder me if anything happened because of me, and the truth is, something probably will happen."
"Don't fight it, Harry. We're friends, and that is more important than anything my father can say. Remember what the Sorting Hat said? What other Slytherin are you going to make friends with?"
"The Sorting Hat wasn't talking about me," said Harry stubbornly.
"You know it was, Harry," said Katie purposefully, standing up. "Now come back to the castle with me. Lessons are going to start soon."
Harry stood up and they began following the shore line back to the castle.
"Harry?"
"Hmm?"
"Do you know a quicker way back to the castle?"
"Uh..yeah."
"Thought so. I heard my father talking about it with Dumbledore. He got rather mad at me for listening in."
Harry grinned.
"Do you think you could show me the Chamber of Secrets?"
Different emotions warred within Harry.
"Okay," he said, grasping her hand.
oOoOo
Harry and Katie entered Potions a little late, and took seats together at the back. The Slytherins stared at them in disdain and the Gryffindors looked curious. Snape deducted twenty points from Gryffindor and glared at Harry. Fortunately, the lesson passed quickly, and they moved to Defence Against the Dark Arts. Harry disliked the new teacher. He was an Auror from the Ministry, obviously as an extra safeguard for the students. He taught straight out of a textbook that sounded suspiciously like the one Umbridge had used, and so far they had done little practical work. Harry felt himself become increasingly short-tempered as the lesson wore on. This wasn't DADA, he thought. Since when did ghouls attack people? Knowing how to defend against a mad ghoul wasn't going to help him survive. abruptly Harry grabbed his books and left, the teacher calling out to him.
He had shown Katie the chamber, but only the parts he had explored himself. She had been suitably impressed, and had given her word that she wouldn't tell anyone. He believed her.
Harry didn't attend classes for the rest of the day. He went down to the chamber and read the rest of his book. He recalled his visions, and realised when he had them, it was as if he were Voldemort. If he could find some way to separate his mind from Voldemort's, as the book described, would that help him? He didn't know if it was even possible, but he studied the book carefully regardless.
oOoOo
Snape fumed as he returned to his office. Potter was a no good, arrogant waste of space. He had no idea of what 'working for the good of the community' was, and refused to listen to good advice when it was freely given to him. His 7th year potions lesson was abysmal, and he made Potter stay to clean up the mess. As he left the room, Snape spoke to him.
"Stay away from my daughter, Potter. You'll get her hurt."
Potter had turned to him and smirked.
"Funny, isn't it? That's what I said to her. Obviously she doesn't listen to either of us."
oOoOo
A/N: Thankyou for the reviews…and for those who are going to…
I'm really sorry for not updating for a while, so I'm giving you two at once :) I wrote heaps on the holidays, which is wy I was updating so fast, but now I'm back at school so I can't do so much.
Chapter 11: Betrayals and Unwanted Debts