Chapter Four- Painful State
The feast was solemn. No one stirred and no noise was made Albus Dumbledore stood before the hall of students.
"Alas, I stand before you all, again with an empty space. A student was killed in the holidays and we must treasure her memory as a martyr, fallen before the darkness. Let us stand in a toast to Cho Chang. Let us drink to her courage to stand against the darkness and honor her memory as she was in times of peace."
Harry felt cold anger run through him. A martyr? She didn't die for her beliefs. She died because Voldemort had ordered her dead. If Harry had destroyed Voldemort properly the first time maybe then she'd still be alive...
"Harry what are you doing?" whispered Hermione, snapping Harry from his thoughts.
Harry looked around the hall noticing every eye on him as he stood alone. 'I need to pay more attention' he thought sitting down.
Sitting down many of the eyes never left him. Some held looks of worry or confusion but most held the fire of anger or fear. A fear that had grown over the last year as he continued to speak against the Ministry, trying to prove the return of Voldemort.
'Good,' he thought 'Hate me, fear me just don't befriend me. It will make you all the safer.'
Harry looked Dumbledore in the eye as he dismissed the hall feeling a hand clutch his shoulder.
"Potter the headmaster would like to see you in his office." Mcgonnagal told him. "The password is Tobacco Toffees."
Harry rose and walked silently through the crowds of students. Harry made his way to the second floor, walking through in the crowd as students moved to give him a wide berth.
"Tobacco Toffees." Harry muttered to the statue before stepping onto the moving staircase.
Harry stepped toward the large oak doors of the headmasters office as they opened graciously before him. The headmaster sat behind his desk looking to the door as two others stood with their backs to the doorway.
"Harry I have asked you here on a matter of importance. Minister Fudge and young Mr. Weasley have come to have a word with you." Dumbledore explained. "Please take a seat."
Harry sat in the chair stiffly as he looked at the two visitors.
"What is this about?" asked with no hint of respect.
"This Mr. Potter is about your disappearing this summer. It was not only your family who was affected by this rash action but also the Ministry. We must ask you to tell us of your activities during the summer holidays." Percy stated in a pompous tone.
"It has nothing to do with you. Besides I did nothing wrong so I cannot be charged for anything." Harry knew this was definitely not true but relied on the fact that the Minister knew nothing of this.
"It has everything to do with us since a greater concentrate of magical aura has been picked up around the Surrey area in the time that you were supposedly missing. Do you care to explain this?" Fudge asked an annoying grin at Harry.
"I wasn't in Surrey. I don't know what's going on there and I don't really care. Minister are you saying you believe that I was making this 'magical aura' whilst I was hiding away? Not likely, I would have been found straight away and sent back to the Dursleys." Harry answered glaring at the Minister of Magic.
"As I already explained to you Cornelius Harry was not in surrey at that time. The sort of magic that was being used was not something that Harry would aspire to use. I think you should think of the accusation you are making Minister." Dumbledore said coldly.
"With Potter you would never know. This is no more an accusation than a simple questioning of a suspect. I told you what happened to those muggles…" Fudge yelled.
"What muggles?" Harry roared. "You think I've been attacking muggles? What is your problem?"
"That is no way to talk to the Minister Potter. I demand you apologize or I will charge you for disrespect shown towards a Ministry official." Percy shouted back.
"Shut up Percy or I'll hex you for disrespecting your family." Harry shot back.
"STOP!" Dumbledore roared. "Cornelius you heard Harry, he had nothing to do with it. Now I must ask you to leave."
Fudge glared at Harry before walking out the door. He knew his games would not work here.
"Harry that was not wise." Dumbledore said sitting down. "Did you have to yell at them like that?"
"He was accusing me of attacking people, attacking muggles! I couldn't just sit here and let him convict me." Harry said angrily.
"Yes I know, but there are other ways around it." Dumbledore told him.
"Yes I know." Harry admitted. "May I go?"
"Not yet Harry. I must discuss something else with you first. I would like you to be trained by Professor McGonagall to become an Animagus." Dumbledore said seriously.
"Really. That will be great." Harry said amazed.
"On one condition. You must continue Occlumency with Professor Snape."
Harry gaped at Dumbledore.
"How can you hold something like this over my head?" Harry asked. "That man wants to help me no more than I want to help Voldemort. All he did last year was tell me to close my mind, not how just to do it. You expect me to do it again?" Harry raged.
"I'm sorry Harry you must learn it." Dumbledore sighed.
"Alright on one condition." Harry said.
"State it." Dumbledore said almost disbelievingly.
"Allow my friends to become Animagie too."
Harry woke the next morning to the normal rush of the first day back in classes. Hitting Ron in the head with a pillow to wake him as he slid out of bed Harry quickly changed and walked into the common room.
He sat in an armchair in front of the empty fire waiting for the others to come down.
"Morning Harry." called Ginny as she walked down the stairs. "Where's Ron?"
"Where do you think?" Harry asked raising an eyebrow.
"I'll go get him." Ginny answered with a mischievous giggle.
Shaking his head Harry stood as he saw Hermione enter the room.
"What's Ginny up to?" She asked.
"Just wait and see." Harry answered.
"Ahhhh! What the hell?" Harry laughed as Rons voice carried down from the dorms and Ginny came running out with a maniacal grin on her face.
"What did you do?" Hermione asked wide eyed.
"I hung him upside down on his four poster and turned his bed into a tub of jelly." Ginny answered laughing, just as a jelly covered Ron ran down the steps.
"Bloody Fred and George, how the hell did they get in here?" He shouted before storming to the bathroom.
Even Hermione laughed at this and they all laughed until a now clean Ron walked into the common room with an angry glare set to his features.
"Its not funny, I'm going to kill those two." Harry, Hermione and Ginny exchange a knowing glance as they fought off more laughter.
"Don't worry about them." Hermione said softly. "I'm sure they won't do it again, will they Ginny?"
"No Hermione I'm sure they won't."
Entering the great hall Harry heard the flutter of wings as an owl landed on his shoulder, sticking out its leg to be freed of its burden. He took the letter off its leg and shook his head as he noticed the ministry seal.
"Bloody Fudge." He muttered as he sat down.
"What's that Harry?" Hermione asked leaning over to see. "Why is the Ministry contacting you?"
"I dunno, but I will in a moment." Harry answered ripping the envelope open.
Dear Mr. Potter,
This letter is a declaration to alert you to a fine of eight thousand Galleons for disrespectful conduct towards ministry officials. You have two weeks to pay the debt or will be taken to a ministry holding facility where you will serve a one month punishment.
Yours sincerely,
Minister of Magic
Cornelius Fudge
Harry's eyes bulged as he read the letter. He stood quickly after finishing it and stormed to the staff table.
"Headmaster look at this!" He thrust the letter towards Dumbledore and watched as the old man read it.
"This isn't right." Dumbledore muttered. "A standard disrespect fine is only three hundred galleons at most. Don't worry Harry I'll have this fixed immediately."
Harry could see the headmasters eyes turn the icy blue of anger before he walked purposefully out of the great hall.
Sitting back down at the Gryffindor table he explained to his friends what had happened.
"That's ridiculous!" Hermione raged. "How can they fine you for standing up for yourself."
"I did kind of disrespect him Hermione. I yelled at him and asked him what his problem was." Harry said quietly.
"Harry what were you thinking. Thank Merlin you didn't go any further than that." Hermione said shaking her head.
"Actually," Harry began as he received an angry glare from his bushy haired friend. "I kind of yelled at Percy to."
"What did you say?" Ginny asked looking excited.
"He told me to apologize to the minister or he would fine me for disrespect, so I told him to shut up or I'd hex him for disrespecting his family." Harry said shyly.
Ron and Ginny burst into laughter.
"I bet that shut him up." Ron laughed.
"Harry I'm surprised at you." Hermione said.
"I'm not, I'm pleased someone did it." Ginny said happily.
They all had a good laugh as Hermione glared around at them, shaking her head.
"Its not funny you know." She stated.
"Mione, of course its funny or we wouldn't be laughing." Ron said lightly.
"Don't call me Mione!" Hermione yelled before storming from the hall taking her timetable from McGonagall on the way past.
"What's gotten into her?" Harry asked Ron.
"Dunno must be that time of the month." Ron said receiving a punch from Ginny.
"Don't be such a git." Ginny growled.
"Yes Mr. Weasley comments like that are not needed." McGonagall said strictly appearing behind him.
"Here are your timetables, I'll see you all soon." She said knowingly.
"What does she mean by see you all soon?" Ron asked. "We haven't got transfiguration until Friday, that's three days away."
"Dunno maybe we'll find out soon." Ginny said. "Well I better get going, its Potions first and we don't want to get old Snape cranky."
"We better get going too we have defense first. Hopefully its better than last year." Ron grumbled.
"Its Moody Ron. Its going to be great." Harry grinned.
Harry and Ron rounded the corner into the defense rooms with moments to spare. Because not as many people took defense against the dark arts as a newt class the four houses were together.
Harry was pleased to see all of the Gryffindors along with all in the year that had been in the DA lining before the door, waiting to be let in.
"Potter, don't tell me their letting you in this class. Its bad enough the mud-blood must join us but at least it was her marks and not her fame that has brought her here." Malfoy sneered as he approached.
"Would you like to test that appraisal Mr. Malfoy?" Moody asked opening the door. "This year we are studying dueling so it would be good to start off with you demonstrating to Mr. Potter how to defend yourself effectively."
Harry turned and looked at Moody. Was he setting a fight up for Harry and Malfoy?
"Um Professor I don't think it's a good idea to let those two duel." Hermione said quickly.
"That's Moody's decision Hermione so you should respect it." Ron said a look of glee on his face.
"Fine Professor I'll duel Potter just don't expect me to do it again once I beat him." Malfoy said arrogantly.
"I wont ask you to do it again Mr. Malfoy." Moody growled before muttering. "I wouldn't put anyone through Potter's temper twice."
The class walked into the classroom and was directed to the back by Moody as he waved his wand to banish the tables to the edge of the room.
"This duel will run by the simple rules of anything goes. Except for the unforgivables of course." Moody announced.
"But Professor I think these two should have some guidelines at least." Hermione called nervously.
"Don't worry about it Hermione, Harry's gunna put old ferret face in the hospital wing." Ron cheered.
"I wouldn't be so sure Weasley." Malfoy drawled. "I think Potter will get a big surprise."
"Harry's dueled and won against real deatheaters Malfoy, what makes you think a wannabe will beat him?" Ron laughed.
"You'll see." Malfoy growled back.
Moody was standing in the middle of the room waving his wand in a circle a shimmering light appeared in a large circle over a large portion of the room.
"This Magical Circle I am constructing will fully activate when Mr. Potter and Mr. Malfoy are the only two in it. It is a way of making sure the duel stays between only certain duelsists and will only allow them to exit once someone is unconscious. If anything begins to go wrong or one of you use an unforgivable the circle will disappear and I will be able to enter." Moody looked at the two as he exited the circle.
"In you go boys. Malfoy you better hope you were right." The ex-Auror growled.
Stepping into the ring Harry watched his opponent. He felt the heat of magic as the circle flared to life around him.
"Ready to lose Potter?" Malfoy sneered.
"Not to you." Harry growled dangerously. "Ready to be blitzed by a half blood?"
Malfoys eyes widened slightly at the obvious joke on his purist beliefs. The surprise was short lived though as he raised his wand in an arc above his head.
"Breachus Corpus!" Malfoy yelled letting a brownish spell burst from his wand.
Harry dove to the side as he heard the beginning of the bone breaking curse leave Malfoys mouth. Rolling out of his dive Harry rested on one knee as he took aim.
"Confuserus Desperado." Harry let his spell lose watching it speed toward its target. Malfoy jumped to the side at the last second letting the jinx that caused acts of desperateness hit the circle and smolder to nothing.
"Flammare." Harry growled not allowing his enemy time to regroup.
"Protego!" Draco yelled trying to hold his shield as the flame charm burnt against it.
"Expelliarmus!" Harry yelled, moving continually.
"Reflecto!" Harry dove out of the way as Malfoy sent his disarming charm back at him.
"Abolitio!" Harry yelled as he stood, causing the ground in front of Malfoy to explode. "Pulsus."
The pushing jinx flew into Malfoys legs as he jumped back to avoid the destroying jinx, making him fall on his face.
"Stupefy." Harry growled pointing his wand at Malfoy.
"Expelliarmus!" Draco yelled suddenly rolling away from the stunning spell.
The disarming charm hit Harry in the chest making him fall back as he watched his wand land on the floor behind Malfoy.
"It seems I have disarmed the great Potter. I will finally get my revenge for my father." Draco pointed his wand at Harry's leg. "Breachus Corpus!"
Harry dove away from the curse.
"Stop moving Potter I will get you eventually." Draco continued to throw bone breaking curses at Harry as he dived around trying to stop his bones from being shattered.
"You talk to much Malfoy. Not enough action and too many threats." Harry grinned at his enemy, one more roll and he would be close enough to his wand….
"Morsus dolor!" Malfoy jerked his wand at Harry.
The pain was unbelievable. Harry had thought nothing could rival the pain of the Cruciatus, that was until he felt this curse. The searing pain of white hot steel being poked into his eyes as he felt his insides boil made him scream out loud.
"MALFOY!" He screamed lunging blindly, knocking Malfoy over. He could feel the sizzling of magic flowing through him as the spell was removed.
"Accio." He muttered angrily feeling his wand land in his palm. "Now Malfoy, you will see what it is to feel true pain."
"Animus Alieno!" Harry thought of his worst memory's as he pointed his wand at Malfoy, uttering the memory transfer spell.
Harry looked into the boys eyes as he saw visions of Harry's dreams, of fighting a basilisk when he was twelve, of the confrontations with the boys father and saw the blind fear as he watched Harry battle the darklord.
Harry removed the curse and watched the boy collapse of mental exhaustion. He felt the power of the circle fade and flicked his wand at his unconscious enemy causing him to float before him.
"Potter where are you going?" Moody asked looking surprised.
"The hospital wing." Harry said walking out the door.
"Mr. Potter what has happened?" Madam Pomfrey cried as she saw the two come through the door.
"Duelling in defense against the dark arts." Harry answered before fainting on the floor.
"What happened?" The headmaster asked, leveling his gaze on his Defense instructer.
"Malfoy was shooting his mouth off at Potter so I let him try and follow his words with actions. Potter won, but the power that I felt coming off him. Damn it was amazing." Moody explained.
"What do you mean the power coming off him." Dumbledore asked.
"You could feel it as if it was pushing you around, it was there as clear as day." Moody growled.
"How did this occur?" Dumbledore continued to push.
"Malfoy cast the pain jinx on him and Potter seemed to burst through it. He screamed at Malfoy in anger and it just happened. He cast the memory transfer jinx on him and carried him to the hospital wing." Moody explained.
"Memory transfer jinx? How did he know of that? I've got to get down there now."
"Ahh Mister Potter, glad you could join us in the real world." Madam Pomfrey muttered. "First day back and your already in here, should I hang a reservation plaque above this bed or is this just a special visit for me?"
"Sorry Madam Pomfrey, I didn't mean to end up here so early. How's Malfoy?" He asked.
"He will be fine. He will take a few days to recover from the mental drain but no lasting harm has been inflicted."
Harry lay looking up at the ceiling.
"What happened to me?" He muttered to no one in particular.
"You had a spurt in magical powers. Most people have this when they are about fourteen but it seems yours are still developing. Sometimes they can be quite overpowering." Madam Pomfrey explained. "You will be free to leave for dinner in the great hall but only if you stay here and rest until then."
"How long is it until dinner?" Harry asked.
"Only an hour Mr. Potter." The matron answered leaving the room.
Harry thought back to the duel earlier in the day. That was intense. He felt a new power welling through him and knew he shouldn't have lost his temper, but this was nothing to the shame he felt at his retaliation to Malfoy's attack.
"Harry," Dumbledore called pulling Harry from his reverie.
"I'm here sir." Harry called seeing Dumbledore walk down the wing with Moody and McGonagall in tow.
"What happened?" McGonagall asked.
"I snapped. He cast the pain curse on me and all the painful memories filled my mind. I summoned my wand to me and cast the first spell that came to my mind." Harry explained grimly. "I'm sorry, I just lost it."
"It's alright Harry. Everyone gets angry sometime. What I'm curious about is the fact that you said you summoned your wand. Where was your wand Harry?" Dumbledore asked.
"On the ground, about three feet away." Harry told him. "Why? Is there a problem?"
"Not at all." Dumbledore answered, his eyes twinkling. "I just assumed you meant that you summoned it from a holster somewhere on your body which is enchanted to send the wand to some-ones hand when activated.
"You see Harry, wandless magic is a very rare power to posses. Have you ever manifested this power before?" Dumbledore asked.
"Only once." Harry said thinking hard. "When Dudley and I were attacked by the Dementors I dropped my wand. It was too dark to find it so I cast the Lumus spell and it lit up a few feet in front of me."
"We will need to train you in this power Harry. Meet me in my office on Friday night, we should keep this secret." Dumbledore said smiling. "But before I leave, tell me when you learnt the mind transfer jinx."
"From a book." Harry answered with a grin. "I learnt a lot this summer."
A/N: Hey everyone, sorry for taking so long but I have had some real computer problems. I know the chapter is shorter than usual but it couldn't be helped. Please read and review.
Later,
Coopz