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Chapter 25: Whereabouts Known
"He sure has some nerve, attacking people like that," Harry growled as he sat in the common room with his fellow Gryffindors.
"Don't worry, we'll get him eventually," Ron said.
"Eventually? When's eventually?" Neville asked. Harry looked up.
"Now," he stated.
"What?" Neville asked.
"Now. Tomorrow or the next day. I don't know; the next time I see him," said Harry. Hermione's eyes went wide.
"No, absolutely not. Harry, it was only a short while ago when he beat you," she said.
"I wasn't focused then, I know I can get him now," he said. Hermione still looked uneasy.
"You could get sent to St. Mungo's or worse…" she said.
"He wont die, Hermione," Ron said. "Unless you mean he could get expelled," he joked. Hermione laughed.
"Well Harry, you know how I feel about this, but Malfoy has to be stopped. I just wish there was another way," she said. "Besides, you haven't learned an ounce of Light Magic. How do you expect to do any better?"
"I can feel it, I know I can do it," he replied.
"Don't go alone then," she said. "At least let us be with you just in case." Harry gave her a reassuring smile.
"Of course," he said. "Hey, we better get going, we've got another meeting tonight." Everyone rose and followed him from Gryffindor Tower. Luckily, none of the teachers noticed the enormous mass of students going to the Room of Requirement.
Harry was surprised to see that everyone from the previous night had returned, with the exception of Zacharias Smith. The students obediently took their seats and pulled out the book that they had used the last meeting.
"Take out your wands," said Harry. They looked up at him and closed their books, taking out their wands. "I think it's time to try out of few of these simpler spells." Neville looked nervous while everyone else seemed excited. "Alright, I want everyone to pair up and try out this Defying Dark spell."
The point of this spell was to deflect Dark Magic, Harry thought of it as a good place to start. He teamed up with Hermione, and together, tried to master it. It was hard work, mostly because they didn't have any real magic to deflect. But within a few short minutes Harry and Hermione were able to conjure what looked like a shield. Only a small time later, other students were asking for help. "Make you you're pronouncing it right: Defendarcia. Pretty simple: defend-dars-sia," he'd pronounce clearly. Then he'd leave the pair, now clearly speaking the incantation, to move on to other struggling groups.
Harry was thrilled with the progress the club was making; by the end of the class everyone was able to perform the spell correctly.
"Hey, what's this group called anyway?" someone asked. Harry shrugged, looking at Hermione.
"We can keep our old name," Neville piped up. More than a few people looked utterly confused.
"We had a small club last year in this room," Harry explained. "We called it Dumbledore's Army." Some of the students laughed.
"I like it!" someone shouted.
"You all want to be called Dumbledore's Army then?" Harry asked. A majority of people cheered while some of the younger ones raised their hands as if they were voting. "Then it's settled," he said, writing the name in large letters across the chalkboard.
When the meeting had ended, Harry walked slowly back to Gryffindor Tower with Ron, Hermione, Neville, and Ginny hoping that he would run into Malfoy. Harry got his wish.
"Well look who it is, Potty and his muggle-loving friends. Did you want another duel?" he sneered at Harry. Saying nothing, Harry took out his wand and waited for Malfoy to do the same. They bowed, took their paces, and turned to face each other again. Harry didn't wait a second.
"Rictusempra!" he cried. Malfoy easily deflected it
"Still using those pathetic spells?" he sneered. "Fiertegata!"
"Defendarcia!" Harry's shield worked Malfoy's spell ricocheted back to him, setting his robes on fire.
"You were lucky, Potter," he said, putting out the flames. "Dielas!" Harry could feel the spell hit him, and his energies felt suddenly depleted. He tried to focus his mind to overcoming the spell. Harry then felt strange, he could feel his energy returning rapidly then becoming more than he had ever had before. Harry wasn't afraid of this unbelievable sudden feeling of absolute power; he embraced it. Somewhere inside him he knew that this was Light Magic. Without thinking, Harry lifted his wand and cried out the first spell that came to his mind.
"Lieticolma!" Malfoy, caught completely unaware was hit with a massive white light and was sent soaring through the air. He lay on the floor and tried to cast a spell back at Harry, but the only thing his wand did was throw a few sparks each time he uttered an incantation. Refusing to admit defeat, Malfoy picked himself up from the floor and charged at Harry. Harry, realizing this, was ready when Malfoy tried to tackle him. Harry ducked down and flipped Malfoy over his back. Malfoy landed hard, but was quick to return to his feet.
"This isn't over," he said, running his hands through his platinum blond hair and turning to run. Harry didn't even try to stop him as he dashed down the corridor and out of sight.
"Harry! What was that spell you used?" Hermione asked.
"I don't know…I just thought of it," he said. He continued to explain to them everything that had gone on inside of him during the duel.
"That's amazing!" Ron said. "You should tell Dumbledore or something."
"I don't see a need to," Harry said.
"Harry, you just found some kind of extremely powerful magic in you. You should be careful," Hermione said. "Telling Dumbledore would be for the best. He could help you harness this power and use it properly."
"I don't need his help," Harry said. "I don't want his help." They looked at him, confusion and concern in their eyes. "Remember how he was when we rescued Percy? I don't want him to help me if all he would want me to do with it was nothing."
"Don't be like that," Hermione said. "He was trying to look out for the best interests of all of us."
"My interests are my own," Harry stated, walking faster to Gryffindor Tower. Ron caught up to him.
"That was brilliant, though. The duel, I mean. But what'll stop Malfoy from talking?"
"His pride," Harry said. "He'd never admit that I beat him."
"Good point, but I think he'll tell his dad or something. You should definitely keep your eyes open, I reckon the Death Eaters are going to be happy with you."
"Yeah," Harry said, walking through the portrait hole.
Harry went up to the boy's dormitory and fell asleep almost immediately.
"Hello, young Potter," came the high-pitched voice of Voldemort. Lord Voldemort materialized in Harry's dream, his eyes red and nostrils slit. "I have just received word of you attacking Draco Malfoy. I am not pleased. However, that is not what I am here for."
"What do you want?" Harry asked fiercely.
"The Serpent's Stone, of course," he sneered. "My, you are much more stupid than I remember."
"You're not getting the stone," Harry said. "Never."
"That's where you're wrong," Voldemort said.
"Oh yeah? How exactly are you going to get it? You don't even know where it is," Harry retorted.
"Wrong again!" Voldemort shrieked happily.
Harry snapped awake in an instant. He was breathing heavily and his scar was burning in agony. Harry screamed and rolled from his bed, clutching his scar. Ron woke with a start and crouched beside Harry.
"Harry! Harry! Neville, go get Dumbledore…c'mon Harry!" he said, shaking Harry's shoulder. Harry was writhing in pain, yelling; hands clasped over his forehead. Harry could feel a sudden relief flow over him; he opened his eyes and saw Dumbledore standing over him. He was in his pajamas with his robe firmly tied around him, his half-moon spectacles resting lightly on his large nose.
"Come with me, Mister Potter," he said, turning around and leading the way out of the dormitory. Harry followed closely behind him. They didn't speak the entire journey to Dumbledore's office; Dumbledore gave the gargoyles the password (Fizzing Whisbee) and led Harry up the revolving staircase. Dumbledore sat behind his desk and motioned Harry to a seat.
"Now," he said, "care to explain your dream?"
Harry told Dumbledore the entirety of the dream and waited for him to give his opinion.
"Well, I guess this means that the Serpent's Stone has been found out," he said. Harry waited for him to continue, but he didn't.
"What are we going to do?" Harry asked after the awkward silence. Dumbledore casually popped a lemon drop into his mouth, and surveyed Harry carefully.
"There is no place safer than Hogwarts," he said. "There is no time to move the stone. It is heavily guarded even against me; I cannot get it. There is nothing we can do expect hope that Voldemort was bluffing." Harry was in shock.
"You're not going to do anything?" he asked in disbelief.
"There is nothing we can do," he answered as if this was by no means anything to worry about. Dumbledore had another lemon drop, and Harry was filled with rage.
"NOTHING? HOW CAN YOU DO NOTHING? PEOPLE WILL DIE IF VOLDEMORT ATTACKS!"
"There is nothing to be done. Don't you see? We put the stone in Hogwarts expecting Voldemort to never find out. It's protected far better than the Philosopher's Stone was. No one can get to it, not even those you are protecting it." Harry sincerely doubted this.
"You…" he started. "I can't believe you."
"If you can't believe me then there is nothing I can do to change your opinion on the matter."
"You sure can do a lot of nothing," Harry spat. Instead of Dumbledore getting angry, he smiled.
"Don't be angry, Harry. I am sure that Voldemort will strike, but I believe that we will be prepared. We will not be alone when the time comes for battle and the students will be far away in a safe place. Besides, I have a feeling that the magic that you're practicing is not what is taught." How did Dumbledore know about Harry's Light Magic? Harry voiced his question. "I could feel it radiating from you," he answered. "It's powerful, be careful with it."
"I don't understand how it happened," Harry said. "It just did."
"You're no ordinary wizard. You were born to perform either Light or Dark Magic; no one was sure which side you'd eventually fall into. That is, until I saw you tonight. Though the world expected you to go into Light Magic, it was not for certain. Everything you have gone through in your life has brought you to the point of what side you wished to fight on. Tonight, you chose Light."
"That makes no sense," Harry said. "My parents were killed with Dark Magic, how could I ever use it?"
"Dark Magic is addicting, it can take hold of even the most powerful witches and wizards. The horrors you have seen could have easily thrown you into Dark Magic." Harry nodded in understanding.
"Which is stronger: Light or Dark?"
"That, I do not know. It solely lies on the factor of who is using it," he said. "Now, go to bed. You must prepare your mind and body for Voldemort's attack, whenever he strikes. We'll be ready for him, though, thanks to your dream."
"You're wrong. He'll attack us when we least expect it. There isn't 'getting ready' for it," Harry said, getting up. Dumbledore said nothing as Harry strode from his office, not looking back.