Chapter Thirty-Eight: The Second Student
Harry awoke suddenly upon something flicking his ear.
"What!" shouted Harry as he sat up with a start and grabbed his wand.
Relax, Harry. It is just me, Euryx.
Please don't do that, I almost cursed the entire room.
Why not? It is rather… gratifying to see you squirm like that.
Hah, hah, you startled me. Well, I'm up and after that foul awakening, I won't be going back to sleep anytime soon.
By the way, nice hair, Harry.
What're you talking about?
Look in the mirror.
Harry walked over to his mirror. His hair was a mixture of colors. While it was still primarily black, there were streaks of red, green, yellow, and blue. It also hung to his shoulders.
'Not what I was thinking…I'm a bleeding mascot for Hogwarts…' thought Harry.
Harry heard some rustling of sheets and saw Ron's face poke out from his bed.
"N-n-n-nice hair, mate," yawned Ron as he failed to stifle a laugh.
"Spiffy, ain't it?" replied Harry as he pulled his clothes on.
Harry went down to the common room and sat in a very comfy armchair as he slowly awoke from his slumber. Students slowly began to fill the common room, many openly gaping at Harry's hair.
"Harry, did you get into my hair paint?" asked Ginny as soon as she realized that it was Harry underneath all the hair.
"No," said Harry, "My hair's always kind of acted on its own."
"If you wanted to be the talk of the school, you could have gone with a more subtle approach," said Ginny.
Ron came down followed by Hermione.
"Hermione, aren't you going to comment on Harry's hair?" asked Ginny.
"Huh?" asked Hermione as she yawned, "Harry! What in the name of Merlin did you do?"
"I thought I could be the Hogwarts mascot," said Harry casually as Ron burst out laughing.
"Nice hair, Harry, but if you wanted to get all the girls attention, there had to have been other ways," said Katie as she placed her arms around Harry from behind.
"What, you don't like it?" asked Harry in mock distress.
"Don't get me wrong, the length isn't that bad," said Katie as she tried not to laugh, "but the colors are just wrong."
"All right, all right," said Harry as he concentrated, "Is that any better?"
Harry's hair lost all of the color and returned to its original black. It was still messy and it fell to his shoulders.
"Harry, you're a Metamorphmagus?" asked Hermione with great interest.
"Yeah, didn't you all know that?" asked Harry, bemused
"No, we didn't know, mate," said Ron.
"Well, now you do, I guess. No questions please Hermione," said Harry as he cut her off, "We've got to get to class."
The group traveled down to Hagrid's hut for Care of Magical Creatures.
"Gather 'round, gather 'round," called Hagrid, "I got a great lesson planned today. Nothin' dangerous, mind you. More listenin' than handlin'."
Hagrid let out a long trill.
"This is going to be a great lesson," said Harry as he leaned over to his friends.
Just as Harry finished, a long song erupted onto the grounds. A large bird flew and landed on Hagrid's outstretched arm.
"This is Fawkes," said Hagrid, "Who can tell me what sorta creature he is?"
"Fawkes is a phoenix," said Harry immediately.
"Right yeh are, Harry," said Hagrid, "Ten points teh Gryffindor. Now, phoenixes got a number of uses. Can anyone give me any examples? Harry?"
"Their tears can cure most physical ailments," said Harry.
"Good, Ron?" asked Hagrid.
"They can carry heavy loads," said Ron.
"Right, anyone else? Well, they got another important trait: they can tell if a person's morals are good or bad," said Hagrid.
Hagrid spent the rest of the class teaching them about the habits of phoenixes. Towards the end of the class, Hagrid let them test their morals with Fawkes. Harry was happy to see that Fawkes immediately flew to him without hesitation. As Harry and his friends were crossing the grounds, Harry heard someone mentally calling to him.
'Harry, can you hear me?'
'Ginny? What do you need?'
'Could you apparate to me?'
'Sure, it's no problem, I'm there.'
"I'll see you guys later," said Harry, "Ginny ran into some sort of problem. I'll see you guys later."
Harry thought of Ginny and apparated to her side. When he arrived, he found himself surrounded by five Slytherins.
"Potter! What're you doing here?" yelled the head of the group.
"That must make you Nott. As for what I'm doing here, I could ask you the same question," said Harry, "You look a lot like your father; he's an ugly git."
'Let me guess, it's a long story, right, Ginny?'
'Yeah, should we retreat?'
'No, I've been waiting to have some fun with them. Let's do a little disfiguration. Immobulus on three.'
"Are you listening to me, Potter?" yelled Nott.
"I'm sorry, what were you saying?" mocked Harry, "Three! Immobulus!"
The five Slytherins stopped in shock as they froze in place. Harry walked up to Nott.
"If you ever threaten anyone else and I find out, I will complete you transformation," threatened Harry, "Hablas Perro."
"Where'd you learn that?" asked Ginny, "What did it do? Where'd it come from?"
"I found it in one of the books in my library. It forces the victim to growl and bark like a dog when they try to talk. It lasts for a whole twenty-four hours. It's Spanish," said Harry as he walked up to Vincent Crabbe, "Onia Anusia."
Ginny watched in shock as a long pointed appendage protruded out of the back of his robes.
"Is that what I think it is?" asked Ginny.
"If you mean a horn, then yes. It's sticking out of his you-know-where," said Harry with delight.
"Brilliant!" commented Ginny as she placed a Bat-Bogey hex on a Slytherin.
Harry walked up to the final Slytherin, Gregory Goyle.
"I think I've got just the remedy for you," said Harry, "Parecersas Cadáver."
Goyle's body began to thin and his skin looked as if it was falling off. He reminded Harry of Sirius when he escaped Azkaban.
"Harry, that's foul," said Ginny as she caught a whiff of the Slytherin, "He smells like a rotting corpse."
"That's good, it means I didn't screw up," laughed Harry as he released the Immobulus spell.
Nott tried to yell something at Harry but all that came out were a series off barks.
"I guess his bark is worse than his bite," chuckled Harry, "So, what happened?"
"Well, he tried to walk through me as if I wasn't there and I retaliated by insulting him. Before I knew it, he and his lackeys had me cornered, so I called you," said Ginny, "I've got to get to Transfiguration, bye Harry."
"Bye," said Harry as he went to the Great Hall for lunch, "Hey, guys."
"What was that about?" asked Katie as Harry took a seat next to her.
"Ginny had a problem with Nott and his goons, so we took care of them," said Harry.
Halfway through their meal, a brown owl landed in front of Harry. Harry picked up the letter and read it.
Mr. Potter,
We have finally been successful in removing all the curses placed on the objects in the Black family vault. We will immediately begin to combine the Black family vault with the Potter family vault. If this is against your wishes then please send this owl back immediately. If it returns without a letter, we will begin immediately.
Good day,
Ragnok Gringotts
"That's not too bad," said Harry as he tossed the letter down and his friends gave him confused looks, "The Black Family vault has been purified and Gringotts is merging it with mine."
Just as Harry finished, a brown lump collided with the of Ron's head. It was the Weasley family owl, Errol. Ron picked up the letter and read it. When he let it fall from his hands, he looked relieved.
"They found Percy," was all he said as he ran to find Ginny.
"Does it say who had him?" asked Harry as Hermione picked up the letter.
"No, only that they found him and that their trying to piece together his story. It must be rather uneven," said Hermione.
"I'd better get those books. Dobby?" called Harry as the house elf appeared, "There are a number of books that are going to be added to my vault. Could you please bring them to my dormitory?"
"Certainly, Harry Potter, sir," said Dobby as he vanished.
"I'm so glad he doesn't try to 'save' me anymore," chuckled Harry.
"I had best be going, I want a good seat for Script class," said Hermione as she stood and left.
"Bye," said Harry and Katie.
"So, how's Euryx doing?" asked Katie.
"Fine, I guess, I've been meaning to ask him about his little excursion into the Forest last night," said Harry.
Hey, Euryx, getting comfortable in my robes?
Quite comfortable, your body gives off an excessive amount of heat, especially when talking to your snake tongued she-devil friend. It helps keep me warm.
Hey! The term she-devil is degrading to all women, said Katie.
Forgive me, I take it that you don't mind the term 'snake tongued', then?
Why? It's true; I am a Parseltongue.
Euryx, did you meet any potential mates last night? asked Harry.
I found that there is a small clan of coral snakes on the far end of the Forest, away from the school. I met a nice female who led me there. She called herself Euranus. I do hope she likes me, she seems quite nice. (A/N: Euranus is pronounced Er-on-oos.)
Good luck, mate.
"So, what do you think we're going to be doing for the rest of Dueling? I mean, we can't be taking notes the whole year," said Katie.
"I heard that there might be tournaments held at the end of each month," said Neville as he took a seat.
"That should be fun. It would be better if there were other Gryffindors in the class though," said Harry.
Just then, Dobby appeared.
"Dobby's task is complete," said Dobby, "Is there anything else Harry Potter, sir, is wanting?"
"No, thank you, Dobby," said Harry as the house elf bowed and disappeared, "I know what I'm doing with my free time for a while. I've got some books to move. Would you guys want to join me?"
"Sure," said Katie and Neville.
The trio went to the Gryffindor sixth year boy's dormitory and found a multitude of books throughout the room.
"Wow, there's more than I remember," said Harry as the trio scanned some of the titles.
Most of the books appeared to be on Dark subjects. When they finished examining the books, Harry slowly began to bring the books into his trunk while Katie and Neville went to the common room to do homework. Harry decided that, once he was finished, he would check his plant. Harry began to talk with the plant as he trimmed the leaves and added water. Harry could feel his anger and sadness being alleviated as he talked. He could feel his magic flowing into the plant as he spoke, kind of like his emotions were absorbed into the plant. Just as Harry finished, he heard a faint singing.
"Carry on my wayward son… There will be peace when you are done… Lay your weary head to rest… And don't you cry no more…"
Harry exited his trunk and found the Monk sitting on Dean's bed.
"What was that that you were singing?" asked Harry.
"That was a 1970s rock and roll song from America. I felt that song would fit you rather well," said the Monk as he continued to hum the tune.
"What do you want?" asked Harry.
"Each time I take on a pupil, I take two. It seems that a pattern has arisen. While one student fights for the Light, the other fights to plunge the world into Darkness," said the Monk.
"Who was Voldemort's peer?" asked Harry.
"If you mean Tom Marvolo Riddle, then I would tell you that he has no peer. I was hoping to be able to tip the balance of the world into that of the Light. It would seem that he has grown so powerful that my next two students will be the ones to return the world to its natural grey. I have finally found my second pupil," said the Monk, "I found it odd that it has taken me this long. Were I to watch you closer, I would have found them sooner."
"Who did you choose?" asked Harry as his curiosity grew.
"I… don't know," said the Monk vaguely, "I will when I see them or are in their presence."
"You have to be even vaguer that Dumbledore," said Harry.
"Where do you think he got it from?" chuckled the Monk, "I do know this: the pupil is female and spends an inordinate amount of time near you. I could feel her at the beginning of September."
"That has to be Katie," said Harry, "I'll go get her."
Harry went to the common room and brought Katie to his room for her 'surprise'.
"Harry, look out!" shouted Katie as she sent a curse at the Monk.
"Another one…," said the Monk as he stopped the attack, "This shall be an interesting two years."
"Katie, this is the Monk. He's my soon-to-be mentor," said Harry as the Monk approached Katie and brought himself eye level to her.
"I have my other pupil…" said the Monk as he faded.
"What was that all about?" asked Katie.
"Next summer, I'll be off somewhere with the Monk. He's going to help me harness my ever increasing power. He has chosen you to be his other student," said Harry as he sat on his bed.
"If this is to happen next summer, what did he mean by 'two years'?" asked Katie.
"I don't know. Other than what I've told you, I know nothing about him," said Harry.
"What do you think this training will be like?" asked Katie.
"Long, hard, and worthwhile. It'll be better now that I know you'll be with me," said Harry.
"Thanks. I think I need a walk to clear my head and find out what this has to do with me. I'm no where near as powerful as you," said Katie, "Besides this is a lot to take in."
"Hey, he tried to break the news to me as my dead father," said Harry, "I'll join you. I could use a walk."
The duo began walking to the common room and made their way to the grounds in silence. As they walked, Harry started a conversation.
"So, are you excited about the training?" asked Harry.
"Kind of. What do you know about it?" asked Katie.
"Well, I think that it's supposed to be individualized. On Christmas, Dumbledore performed a test that gauged my powers and my strengths. You should expect that soon," said Harry.
"I'm scared, I mean, what if I have nothing to offer? What if I'm too weak for him to train? What if he made a mistake?" asked Katie.
"This is what he told me: every time he has chosen a set of pupils, he's chosen two. One will fight for the Light while the other will inevitably allow Darkness to consume them-" said Harry.
"What if I am too weak? What if the Darkness overpowers me?" asked Katie hysterically.
"It won't, you didn't let me finish," said Harry as he placed her hand in his, "The last pupil he taught was Voldemort. In an effort to break the equilibrium of power in support of the Light, he taught only him. That's where we come in. The two of us will are here to balance him out."
"And what happens when we do?" asked Katie.
"I think that the future Light pupils will be considerably weaker than the Dark. According to the information I got from the Monk, I'm to live for a long time. I think that you'll probably be there next to me," said Harry as he leaned over and kissed Katie.
This seemed to comfort her as she made no attempt to stop him. In fact, she wrapped her arms around his neck.
"That definitely made me feel better," said Katie when they finally parted, "That makes this summer look a lot less bleak. Promise me you'll always be with me?"
"Always," said Harry, "As long as you do the same for me."
"Always," said Katie as she placed her head on Harry's shoulder and they walked back to the common room.
A/N: Well, that's all my prewritten stuff, so there won't be anymore updates on an everyday basis. Also, I have found a beta, so I'll be emailing her the chapter and then updating. Should be about once a week. The color change from last chapter was meant as a joke. Yes, the length is longer but the hair is still black.
This note is for all the super-Harry haters: If you don't like the story, THEN DON'T REVIEW! It's a waste of your time and mine. Besides, this isn't a normal super-Harry; it's an über-Harry story.