Chapter 24: The Darker Side of Hogwarts

Harry's mind was racing as he sat in the Common Room; suddenly he felt overwhelmed with everything around him. The day he arrived back at Hogwarts from the winter holidays Cho Chang gets not only attacked, but also sent to St. Mungo's. Now he also had to deal with a new meeting for teaching himself and others the aspects of Light Magic. He heaved a heavy sigh and put his face in his hands. Hermione's hand was on his shoulder in a second.

"I thought you went to bed…it's late," Harry mumbled, not looking up.

"And leave you here wallowing in your own misery? I don't think so," she said.

"I'm not wallowing," Harry defended. "Just…thinking." Hermione let out a soft chuckle.

"Harry, you are one terrible liar; don't even try to tell me that you're fine with everything that just happened," she paused for a moment, clearly thinking carefully about what she was going to say next. "I know that you and Cho err…dated. So, I mean, um…you must be-"

"It's okay, 'Mione, I'm fine," Harry said.

"As long as you're sure…goodnight," Hermione sighed, heading towards the dormitories.

"I just-" Harry suddenly started. Hermione whirled around, waiting for him to continue. "I don't want this."

"Don't want what?"

"All of this, this pressure. I'm sixteen years old, but I don't feel like it. I just want to not have to worry about these things. I wish Voldemort never existed and I wish that my parents had never died. I want to be teenager, not some savior." Hermione sat down next to him on the couch.

"Oh Harry, I'm so sorry. I can't imagine what this all must be like for you. But just remember that you're never alone, even though you lost your parents you still have family in us," she said.

"That's different…" he whispered.

"I know," Hermione said awkwardly. Harry cleared his throat and rose to go to bed.

"Goodnight," he said. Before she had the chance to respond, Harry dashed up the stairs to the dormitories, wiping his eyes.

Harry had no idea who would be coming to the meeting that evening. As he sat in Transfiguration he glanced around the room, seeing if he could tell by the expressions of the students if they were coming or not. All of them were staring attentively at Professor McGonagal who was going over changing cats into footrests. Harry was suddenly struck by the idea that maybe nobody was interested in the idea of learning Light Magic. It was plausible, since what had happened to Cho, others would think it was dangerous to join leagues with Harry. Harry was barely concentrating as he waved his wand over a stubborn black cat.

"Too bad Crookshanks isn't here, eh Hermione?" Ron joked as he placed his feet on the rest that was still meowing. Hermione gave him a warning glare, then turned to Harry.

"Harry, if you're not careful you're going to poke that cat's eye out," she said, placing a hand on his wrist.

"Oh, sorry," he said, focusing just long enough to successfully transfigure his cat. "Who's coming tonight?" he added.

"I'm not sure, word passes fast through Hogwarts," she said.

"I don't know Light Magic; how am I supposed to teach it?" Harry asked.

"We're all going to learn it together. Besides, you're probably a natural," she said.

"Hope so," Harry said as the bell rang.

When the time finally came to go to the Room of Requirement, Harry left well ahead of time so he could get everything prepared. His thoughts as passed the stretch of corridor were: A place where everyone can fit to practice Light Magic…He passed it three times and stood back as the mahogany door appeared. He opened it and gawked at the room. It was easily the size of the Great Hall. Hundreds upon hundreds of books lined the walls, and cushions were scattered about the floor, which was covered in dark rugs. It was well lit and warm, the walls were made of stone and the floors of hardwood. Torches lined the walls and the ceiling, like the Great Hall, reflected the sky. At the far end of the hall there were what must have been hundreds of desks all facing to a large chalkboard.

Harry picked up a random book and flipped through it, looking at the pictures and the captions beneath them. He didn't notice when the others started to arrive.

"Harry, we're here," said Hermione from behind. Harry gave small jump and turned around. Hermione was standing with what must have been the entire Gryffindor House; Harry gulped.

"Is this everyone?" he asked.

"No, I have a friend coming from Ravenclaw," said a small second year boy. Others nodded that they too had friends from other Houses who were planning to come as well.

"Um, okay…just go take a desk, I guess," he instructed, pointing to the desks. Everyone except Hermione and Ron did as they were instructed. Harry was anxious, never before had he tried to teach so many people and there were still many to come.

"Nervous?" Ron asked with a small grin. Harry gave a small nod. "Don't you worry about it, we're here to help you."

Slowly, other students started trickling in from Ravenclaw and Hufflepuff. Harry couldn't believe how many people were coming; he also began to wonder if the sudden absence of students would alert the teachers that something was going on. Finally, the last few students arrived; one of them was Zacharias Smith. Hermione's eyebrows rose into her hair when he walked into the door; apparently, he noticed.

"Surprised to see me? I'm not a bad guy just because I'm in Slytherin," he said strolling over to a desk and sitting down.

When Hermione and Ron sat down all the desks had been occupied. Harry, taking this as a sign that everyone had arrived, walked in front of the chalkboard.

"Er…hi," he said. "I guess you all know why you're here?" Everyone nodded. "Okay good, I'm Harry in case you didn't know that." A few people laughed. Feeling better, Harry continued. "Now I know many of you haven't seen this room before. It's called the Room of Requirement and it transforms itself into a room that someone needs. Right now it's unique to our need: learning Light Magic. The books that are everywhere are all about it and the cushions can be used when we practice. To be honest with you, I don't know Light Magic, but I'm going to learn it with you. I think we all agree in saying that it's important to know it." Some students nodded. "I think that we also agree on that we shouldn't tell anybody about this club, especially the Slytherins. I know some Slytherins may be better than others, but I don't want to risk it. I also think that the teachers shouldn't know about, they could be working for You-Know-Who. Now, I think it'd be best for us to learn about the spells before attempting to practice them. Everyone, take a copy of…" Harry glanced at the book he was holding. "The Practical Spells of Light Magic and turn to chapter one."

After a few moments Harry heard: "Hey Harry, do you get this 'Defying Dark' spell?" a nervous looking third year from Hufflepuff asked. A number of the students looked up; apparently they didn't understand it either. Harry did indeed understand it and took the time to teach the class about it. After finishing, he snuck a look at Hermione; she was positively beaming at him. The rest of the lesson went by like that; Harry going over the entire chapter one concept at a time.

Finally, Harry called it to a stop, and made groups of students to leave at different time intervals as to not arouse suspicion. After the last group had left only Harry, Ron, Hermione, Ginny, and Neville remained. As they were walking down the hall, Harry suddenly stopped clapping his hand to his forehead.

"What's wrong?" Neville asked.

"Legilimency! I forgot to go to class!" Harry gasped. "I have to go!" he said, taking off down the hall. Harry couldn't believe it; he forgot to go to Snape's class. It would have already been over, but he thought that it would be better to see him and try to explain some sort of lie to get him out of trouble. When he arrived, Snape was sitting at his desk correcting homework. When he heard Harry enter, he looked up.

"Ah Potter, so you've decided to come to class? Have you looked at the time? It's over. Perhaps you might want to inform me of what could have been so important for you to miss class about. Go on," he sneered, looking greasier than ever. His black eyes were drilling into Harry's.

"Um…well you see, I uh…" Harry couldn't think of anything to get him out of this mess. "It's just that I…forgot."

"Forgot? You forgot? That's your excuse? Fifty points from Gryffindor. Get out of my sight, Potter."

"Professor…"

"I agreed to teach you Legilimency and you repay me by not coming to my class. Do you really expect me to take pity on you just because your memory is sub par?" he said, his voice rising.

"I really didn't mean to forget. I was just…busy."

"Oh really? Would you like me to see where you went? How about I take a stroll through your memories?"

"No!" Snape looked at him, now suspicious of where Harry might have been. "I mean; it's illegal, right?" Snape surveyed Harry carefully.

"No, it's not," he sneered. Harry gulped. "Legilimens!" Harry could feel Snape's rage as he attempted to rip into Harry's mind. Harry had never had this much difficulty fending off Snape. Snape was getting close to Harry's memory of the meeting, so he tried to deflect it to another one. Snape was seeing Harry's last birthday, train ride to Hogwarts, the Knight Bus, and other unimportant memories. Harry knew that much time had passed as he continued to keep Snape at bay. Somewhere far off, he could feel his legs starting to shake and his nose bleeding. How long has this gone on? Harry felt a sharp stab of pain as he fell to his knees, then it happened: he let part of the meeting slip. Snape could see from Harry's point of view the students from the meeting reading from their books. Harry managed to pull Snape away before he had seen too much. Snape let Harry go.

"What was that, Potter?" he asked. Snape was sweating profusely and breathing hard. Harry realized that he too was sweating and was still on his knees, he quickly rose.

"Nothing, Professor," he said, hoping Snape wouldn't attempt to see it again.

"Very well, Potter. Go now before I take more points. But mark my words, I know you're up to something and I will find out what it is."

Harry rushed back to Gryffindor tower and threw himself into a couch the minute he got there.

"Harry! What happened?" Hermione asked as soon as she saw him. Harry looked at his watch; it was past midnight.

"He tried to see where I was," Harry said.

"And?"

"He didn't see enough to know anything," he said.

"So it's still safe to keep doing it?"

"I guess."

"Good, the time for the next meeting is up to you," Hermione said. Harry rolled it over in his mind; part of him didn't even want to keep doing it. He was so tired and Snape is bound to fine out. But another part of him felt that it should go on immediately.

"Tomorrow," he finally said.

Harry went to bed thoroughly exhausted that night and fell into a dreamless sleep. The next morning he woke feeling refreshed and ready for class. As he listened to Professor Edwards in Defense Against the Dark Arts he was thinking about his own meeting that night. Whenever Harry took notes, it was not for Professor Edwards, but ideas for himself. When the bell rang he made his way to the Great Hall to find that the corridor was blocked.

"What's going on?" he heard Neville ask from behind him.

"I don't know," Harry said. Harry was trying to push through the crowd to see what had happened. He finally managed to get close enough to see what had happened. Zacharias Smith was lying in the middle of the hall, unconscious. Harry could hear Madame Pomfrey and Professor McGonagal trying to get to him.

"Out of the way! Let Madame Pomfrey work!" Harry stepped aside and let the nurse get to work, listening as she mumbled to Professor McGonagal.

"Just like the girl…attacked by magic, Dark Magic…not as bad as Ms. Chang…who is this? Ah, Smith from Hufflepuff…should inform his parents…he'll be going to the hospital wing…no need for St. Mungo's," she said, conjuring a stretcher and guiding him to the hospital wing. McGonagal followed closely behind, as if for protection, casting a careful eye over the students.

"Whoever did this…" she started, and then she headed up the stairs saying nothing more.

Harry glanced at Malfoy, who was chuckling to himself. Feeling his gaze, Malfoy looked up at him and gave him a dark smile.