Clay Pinions
By Lochar
Disclaimer: If I owned it, JKR wouldn't and I probably wouldn't have created a kid named Harry Potter. Or given him these interesting abilities. So that's why this is called fanfic. I don't own it.
A/N: This is chapter 19, and I posted 18 when our favorite hosting site was having all those lovely issues. If you haven't read 18 yet, I suggest hitting the story back button first.
Chapter 19
The peace lasted another four days. Harry, Ron, and Hermione were eating dinner in the Great Hall, waiting for late evening to come so they could go to the Astronomy Tower and have their Wednesday night class when it happened.
The doors leading into the Hall were opened, and Hagrid, as quietly as he could, walked in. Harry noticed that it looked like he was carrying something decently big. While it was a little hard to tell with Hagrid's large arms in the way, looking closer he could just make out a person.
He nudged Ron and pointed to Hagrid, also getting Hermione's attention. "What do you think is up? Who's Hagrid have I wonder?"
Hagrid walked up to the Head Table, where all of the staff were currently enjoying dinner as well. He stood in front of Madam Pomfrey and said something to her that Harry, way down at the Gryffindor table, could not hear.
"Could it be the Pogrebin, Harry?" Hermione whispered. Her voice was almost lost in the rest of the whispers going around all four of the House tables.
"Hey, yeah, that could be it. Maybe Hagrid couldn't control it." Ron's voice was a whisper as well, noticed by no one else.
Harry bowed his head for a moment. "Probably. I hope the student is ok."
Madam Pomfrey by this time had stood up, and was leading Hagrid out of the Hall and towards the hospital wing.
Hagrid turned and followed her. As he passed by the Gryffindor table he gave Harry a single, quick look, before continuing to follow Pomfrey out of the Hall.
Slowly, the whispers died out, leaving the students speaking in a normal tone of voice, but the question everyone was asking was, 'What happened?'
Harry looked at Ron and Hermione and quietly said, "I'm going to have to skip class tonight."
"No Harry, you can't skip class." Hermione immediately objected.
Sighing, Harry shook his head. "Hermione, it's more important then class. If it was Hagrid's pet that hurt whoever he was carrying, it's probably recovered and is trying to drain Chi again. Either I try to stop it for good this time, or Hagrid's going to have to lose his pet, maybe even kill it."
"And since Pogrebins are actually Dark Creatures, Hermione, Hagrid could get into a lot of trouble for having one." Ron spoke up, reminding Hermione.
Hermione slumped in her seat. "Fine. I won't tell, but I'm not helping you either, Harry. You have to get back to the Astronomy Tower by yourself, you hear me? I am not missing class."
"Fine by me." Harry shrugged. "You go to class too, Ron. I'll be back as soon as possible."
Ron nodded, and the three resumed their dinner.
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The Gryffindor class was about halfway to the Astronomy Tower when Harry fell back. "Dang it, forgot my notes. I gotta run back and get them. Don't worry about me, ok?" He looked expectantly at Ron and Hermione.
Ron nodded and kept walking. Hermione's eyes held him for a moment, and then she nodded as well. "Be careful coming back by yourself. Mr. Filch probably wouldn't believe that you're running late for class, alright?"
Harry gave her a smile. "I'll do my best to dodge him then. He'll never see me."
Harry turned around and ran back towards Gryffindor Tower, stopping once he got out of sight of the rest of the class. He looked around, making sure no one was there, and reached into his pack to pull out a folded, shimmering cloth. Unfolding it, he threw the Invisibility Cloak around him and pulled the hood up, disappearing from view.
Harry quickly made his way past the staircase leading up to the Gryffindor common room, heading instead towards the main hall. Slipping out through the smaller door off to the side instead of the giant main ones, Harry ran across the grass towards the Forbidden Forest and Hagrid's hut.
Halfway across the grounds, the attacking energy of Hagrid's pet Pogrebin hit him. Lord in Heaven, it's reaching out further than it was last time! Harry ran as fast as he could, already starting to create the barrier of Chi in his mind. When he got to Hagrid's hut, the creature's blue energy was already heavily surrounding his Chi, and he quietly opened the door.
Hagrid was still awake and playing with his pet. He slipped his Invisibility Cloak off and stuffed it back into his pack. "Hagrid, hey, what happened?" He whispered.
Hagrid turned to face Harry, blocking the Pogrebin's view of Harry. "Hiya Harry. Wha'ever yeh did ter me pet seems to hav' worn off. You saw the girl I carried ta Madam Pomfrey at dinner. Do yeh think yeh can do it again? Maybe this time make it permanent?"
"That's what I'm going to try Hagrid. Hermione read that it might be possible."
At hearing this, Hagrid let out a huge sigh of relief. "Thank yeh, Harry. I didn' want ta get rid of 'em."
"I'm glad to help, Hagrid. Let him see me, please." Harry took a deep breath, fully dropping himself into the Void, ready for the attack.
Hagrid took a step to the side and Harry noticed the creature had grown a little since he'd last seen it. Once the creature focused on him, the blue energy surrounding his Chi coalesced again into the blue lance, which immediately drove at his Chi barrier.
Harry, ready for the thing's immediate attack, attacked right back. He reached out inside his own mind with his Chi, imaging grabbing hold of the lance. The Pogrebin immediately started squealing on the table when it couldn't remove the attack from Harry's mind.
Alright, I blunted it once and it quit doing it for a few days. This time, I'm getting rid of it. The thought went through his mind, and thought became action. Closing his eyes to fully see what was happening, Harry's hands rose in time with him grabbing the lance again, this time with two hands. He started to bend the energy lance, and the Pogrebin screeched. The lance seemed to waver in his mind, and Harry immediately held onto it tighter.
But instead of trying to escape, the lance changed. It seemed to thicken, becoming harder. Almost as hard as the barrier he had created to stop it from attacking his Chi in the first place.
"Harry? Wha's happenin?" Hagrid's voice sounded in Harry's ears.
"Heh…" Harry laughed slightly, still holding onto the lance turned rod. "It…doesn't want…to play." Harry got out, and then shut Hagrid out again, focusing on the Pogrebin.
Channeling more of his Chi into the grip he had on the Pogrebin, Harry again attempted to bend and break the energy rod. The almost constant shrill screams from the creature were now echoing inside of his mind, attempting to distract him. The rod barely bent though, and Harry pushed even harder.
Inside of his own mind, Harry raged. I can't break it! It's too strong to even bend much. It seemed he could even feel the rod in his real hands.
Hagrid took a step back, staring at Harry. "What in the name of Merlin?" He whispered, as a faint blue glow flickered in and out of Harry's hands.
Harry channeled even more of his Chi into the grip against the creature's energy; failure no longer an option. It had become more than just trying to save Hagrid. It had become his own personal challenge. His eyes flew open to stare right back at the Pogrebin, and in making eye contact with it, he saw the energy flickering inside his hands.
"So, that's what it is, huh?" Harry grimaced at the creature, which had stopped screaming now, its entire power focusing on Harry as well. "I'm going to have to physically break it too, huh?"
Delving back into his Chi, Harry drew almost half of what he had left, channeling it into his hands now. The amount of Chi going through his hands actually seemed to crackle in his skin, and a luminous silver energy started fading in and out around his hands. The blue energy Harry held seemed to become completely visible, and Harry grinned at it. "Got you now." Pushing as hard as he could, both in his mind and physically, the rod quickly started bending. All of a sudden, the rod broke, shattering into thousands of tiny flecks of energy, which quickly faded from view.
The Pogrebin screamed again, and fell down on the table. Hagrid checked it as Harry stood there. "E's still breathin', Harry."
"Good." Harry let out a long breath, then sunk down into one of Hagrid's chairs. "That wore me out."
"Thank yeh, Harry. I think he'll be good now, and he won' 'ert anyone." Hagrid grinned at his temporarily comatose pet. "Ain't that right, Nibbler?"
Harry blinked at him, his eyes questioning. "Hagrid, do you name all your dangerous pets like that?"
Hagrid turned from the little creature and looked questioningly at him. "Hmm?"
Harry motioned to the Pogrebin. "Nibbler the people-eating Pogrebin, Fluffy the three-headed dog of doom."
"Where'd yeh hear about Fluffy?" Hagrid's small eyes were wide and staring at Harry in shock.
"Ron, Hermione, and I have seen it Hagrid. And we heard Snape arguing with the Headmaster about trying to get rid of it. We think he wants what's behind that trapdoor." Harry gave a small, seemingly nonchalant shrug.
"That's nonsense Harry, Professor Snape's one o' the ones that's helping protect what Fluffy's guarding, along with the rest of the staff; he wouldn't want it."
"Just because he's protecting it, doesn't mean he can't want it. It's just one less person he has to worry about." Harry shrugged again, then stood up. "I'm sorry to run, Hagrid, but I have got to get back to the Astronomy Tower. Supposedly I'm just looking for missing notes."
"Then ye'd better get, Harry. Have a fun time." Hagrid stood also, opening the hut's door and shooing Harry out.
Harry yawned. "As long as I don't fall asleep. I'm dead on my feet now, after that."
Not feeling up to running back again, Harry quickly walked back towards the castle. He managed to get back into the castle with no problems. Looking down at his watch, he quietly cursed to himself. "I am in so much trouble. There's only a few minutes left of class. Might as well head back to the Tower." Maybe I can get in bed before the rest of the class gets back and say I fell asleep looking for my notes.
He quietly made his way back towards Gryffindor Tower, passing by the library when he heard voices around the next corner. It sounds like Snape and Professor Quirrell, great. And this is the quickest way back to the Tower. He quickly thought about backtracking and going another route, but discarded the idea. They shouldn't take too long hopefully. And then I can get by them.
Pressing his back to the wall to avoid his shadow being cast where either of them could see it, Harry listened and waited for them to move.
"So Quirrell, have you managed to find a way past that mutt yet?" Snape wasn't even attempting to keep his voice down.
"I-I-I might h-h-have." The DADA teacher managed to stutter out.
"Time grows short… so if an attempt is to be made, haste is required." Snape's voice was quieter now, apparently talking more to himself than to Quirrell. After a few seconds Snape spoke again and his voice was back to its normal level. "Bah, I don't have time to waste with you. Leave me be. I will find out on my own soon enough, and then you will be in serious trouble."
Harry heard Snape turn and start to walk off, and then Quirrell's voice spoke up. "S-S-Severus, I have reasons."
"Oh? Do tell."
There was a rustling of cloth, and a moment of silence, and then Snape's voice could be heard again. "I… see. I will maintain my path then. Should something… fortuitous… happen, I will be available."
There was another rustling of cloth, and then Harry heard Quirrell's voice again. "G-Good eve-n-ning to you then, S-Severus."
Quirrell's footsteps withdrew, but Snape's started moving towards him. Silently cursing himself for staying around, Harry quickly backpedaled to the end of the hallway. If I get caught back here, maybe he won't think I heard his conversation at least.
Harry had gotten to the end of the hallway just as Snape had turned the corner and spotted him.
"Potter! What are you doing here?" Snape's eyes narrowed. "One hundred points from Gryffindor for being completely out of bounds this late at night. Alright boy, come with me. We'll see what else your Head of House will do to you. You're getting detention, but unfortunately, it falls to her to assign it. How… unfortunate for me."
Shuddering slightly, Harry quietly followed behind the Potions Master. They walked towards the base of Gryffindor Tower, and stopped at one of the main staircases that headed up. Snape tapped a nearby portrait, waking it up.
The woman in the portrait glared at him, but Snape paid her no mind. "Go wake up McGonagall, I found one of her students extremely out of bounds and I will have him dealt with now."
The portrait yawned and then nodded. She quickly left the frame of the portrait.
Snape glared down at Harry. "If I have my way, Potter, you will be expelled."
"Being out of bounds once can't be that bad of an offense, Professor Snape. And who's to say I wasn't on my way back from the Astronomy Tower class?" Harry defended himself, remembering the letter from Snape's uncle.
"As the Astronomy Tower is on the other side of the school, away from where you were and no where near the path between the Gryffindor and the Astronomy Tower, I sincerely doubt it. Unless you have a very good excuse for being so far out, the only thing in that direction would have been the front doors... Wandering outside, perhaps?" Snape's face grew into a malevolent smile.
Harry stayed quiet, knowing there was nothing he could say that would appease Snape.
After a few minutes, McGonagall came downstairs. "What in the world is the matter, Severus, that you have to wake me in the dead of night?"
"That is the whole reason. I caught Potter here down past the library while the other Gryffindor first years have Astronomy. He was obviously skipping class, and the only thing beyond where I caught him would be the Great Hall and the main doors. Outside the school as well, I am assuming."
Great, paint me in the worst light you can, why don't you? Harry grumbled to himself. He looked up when Professor McGonagall spoke though.
"Well, Mr. Potter? Anything to say in your defense?" Her voice was stern, demanding an explanation.
Harry sighed. "No, Professor." I am not going to prove Snape right.
He heard Snape chuckle darkly, but McGonagall did not seem to notice. "Alright then, back to the tower with you." She looked to Snape. "I know you want him expelled Severus, but for a first offense I will not suggest it to the Headmaster." She looked down at Harry again. "Fifty points from Gryffindor, and you will be serving detention with Hagrid tomorrow night."
Harry had slumped at hearing another fifty points being taken off in his name, but brightened at hearing about his detention.
"Don't worry, Potter. That oaf is supposed to go chasing into the Forbidden forest tomorrow night, so I can only hope it won't be an easy detention." Snape's voice was practically gleeful, and Harry slumped again.
"Severus, Hagrid does have a name, and I would prefer you not engage in name-calling, it makes you seem…childish." McGonagall's voice was censuring to Snape. After his terse nod, she turned to Harry. "Alright, Mr. Potter. Up to the Tower with you. Report to Mr. Filch at Ten p.m. sharp, understood?" Harry nodded, and then Professor McGonagall turned to the portrait that Snape had spoke to. "Escort him up, please. And tell me if he detours again."
The lady in the portrait nodded, and beckoned to Harry.
Harry took his leave of his Head of House, and trudged up the stairs, the lady flitting between portraits keeping an eye on him. He got to the Fat Lady's portrait and gave her the password. Walking past the entrance into the common room, he was relieved to find that the rest of the first years had not yet returned from the Astronomy Tower. Only good thing to have happened all night. He quickly went up to the dorms, slipped into his nightclothes and crawled into bed. He fell asleep immediately, thoroughly drained from everything that had happened.
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Harry awoke the next morning to bellows and yells of denial. He heard fragmented shouts of "points?" and "Who?" And now, I'm going to be killed by my own dorm mates.
Closing his eyes again, Harry mentally assessed his Chi. After almost completely draining himself the night before, his pool of Chi seemed to be more of a puddle. And then Professor Maison will finish the students' job. He climbed out of bed, still weary and weak.
By the time he had showered and made it down to the common room, everyone had left. He quietly made his way down to the Great Hall for breakfast as well.
Reaching the Great Hall, he walked over to the Gryffindor table, sat down and nodded to Ron and Hermione across from him. Immediately, everyone to his left and right scooted over, leaving enough room for three people on either side of him.
He winced. And they know. He heard a bout of laughter coming from the Slytherin table, and saw Malfoy pointing him out to the rest of the school. And that would be who told them. Two guesses who told Malfoy.
He quietly ate his breakfast, a pariah among his own housemates. Even Hermione and Ron were not talking to him at the moment. A look towards them saw Hermione's frown and censuring look, and Ron's outrage at the almost guaranteed loss of the House Cup.
The rest of the day did not go any better either, although Hermione seemed to eventually forgive him.
Probably because in Charms he managed to win back twenty points from Professor Flitwick for managing to cast a perfect Silencing Charm on his first try, hitting Ron and shutting him up about not being able to manage it yet.
On the way between Charms and Herbology, Harry felt like he was alone in a room full of people. The other Gryffindors chatted amongst themselves, completely cutting him out of their circle.
Once they reached Herbology, it wasn't any better. He was partnered with Ron, who was still angry with him.
"Blast it, Ron, weren't you were the one who supported me going out there last night? What's up now?" Harry hissed at him as they were repotting plants.
Ron was quiet for a moment before he spoke. "That was when I thought you'd never be caught. How'd he catch you, anyways? I thought you would have been wearing your cloak?"
Harry groaned quietly. "I was completely wiped last night after what happened. I forgot about it, it was still stuffed in my bag."
"Then that's why I'm mad at you. You were caught. A hundred and fifty points, Harry. There's only a couple of weeks left in the school year. There's no way we can make that many up. We went from just about assured the House Cup to needing several miracles." Ron sighed. "Did you at least fix the problem?"
"Yeah, but it took a lot out of me. I'm probably at Professor Maison's level right now." Ron stopped and stared at him. "Yeah, that low. That's why I forgot." Harry's eyes brightened. "Hey, at least I got something out of it though. Before I got caught, I heard Snape and Professor Quirrell arguing, and it sounded like Snape was trying to force Quirrell to figure out how to get past Fluffy. He's going to go after the stone as soon as he knows how."
Ron had stopped completely now, and was staring at Harry. "You sure, mate?" Harry nodded. "Bloody Hell, we're going to have to tell someone."
Harry shook his head. "No one's going to believe us. I actually talked to Hagrid. Snape is one of the ones protecting the stone, so no one is going to believe he wants to steal it."
"Then we'll tell Hermione. Maybe she can help keep the greasy git away from it."
After class, Ron pulled Hermione over to them and Harry explained what he'd heard.
Hermione's lips pursed as she thought. "I doubt he'd go after it while the Headmaster is here though, Harry. As long as Professor Dumbledore is here, it should be safe regardless of what Professor Snape tries."
"Alright. So are both of you no longer mad at me then?" Harry asked; hope could be heard in his voice.
Hermione smiled and nodded. Ron grinned. "Oh, I'm still mad at you, but I'll get even with you eventually."
Harry's day after that went slightly better. He was still an outcast from most of the Gryffindors, but at least he had his friends back.
Ten p.m. rolled around far too quickly though, and found Harry standing at the door to Filch's office.
"Ah, Potter. Come in for a moment, I have some last minute things to take care of before your detention."
Harry walked into the office, noting the manacles and chains hanging from a wall.
"Notice them, do you? I wish the Headmaster would allow them to be used again as forms of punishment." Filch grinned nastily at Harry. "Nothing like corporal punishment to make a student too afraid to step out of line again. Chain them up or put them in the stocks for a day or so, and they'll never cause problems again." He stood up from his desk. "Alright, boy. Come on, we don't want you to miss your detention, do we? Not after we managed to get Hagrid to take you into the Forest, maybe you'll even get caught by something in there."
Harry followed Filch silently out of the castle and to Hagrid's hut.
"Hello, Harry. How yeh doing?" Hagrid's voice was quiet when he stepped outside the hut.
"None of that now, Hagrid. He's here to be punished." Filch interrupted.
Hagrid glared at him. "And what took 'em so long to get out here? You dally yerself tryin' to make 'em get in more trouble?"
Filch just ignored him. "Go on Potter. Maybe you'll get lucky and not get eaten alive in there." He gave another nasty smile and walked back to the castle.
Hagrid looked sadly at Harry. "Sorry abou' that, Harry. Guess yer in trouble because you came ter help me, aren't ya?"
"Doesn't matter Hagrid. I had to do it. What are we going into the forest for?" Harry looked over to the Forbidden Forest as he asked, staring into the gloomy darkness.
Hagrid hefted his crossbow. "Somethin's in there, hurting 'n killing unicorns. We gotta find it and stop it."
Harry spun around, a look of complete shock on his face. "Unicorns?"
"Aye. Powerful magic creatures. Found som of their blood where one 'ad been attacked. Didn't think anything lived in there powerful enough to 'ert a 'corn." Hagrid explained.
"So it's going to be just me and you, against whatever is powerful enough to hurt a unicorn, Hagrid? You have got to be out of your mind."
"Nah, we'll 'ave Fang with us. We'll be ok, Harry." Hagrid smiled and patted his huge dog. "C'mon, let's go."
Three guesses what they're going to find, and the first two don't count.
As always, read and review. If you've got a question and an email addy I can find, I usually reply back to the review.