Disclaimer:
J.K. Rowling is the owner of Harry Potter. Stories she has written and characters that she created are not mine. I don't take credit for any of her work. I do thank her for providing such a wonderful universe to dream about and write in.
Harry Potter and the Shadow of Evil
By: Starwin
Chapter 23 – Nightmare
The next day was not something Harry had been looking forward too. He hadn't been able to sleep all night long. His conversation with Ginny bounced around in his head invading his other thoughts. Harry had tried to sleep, he really had, but every time he closed his eyes there she was, standing with the strange black tattoos all over her body and giant red eyes hovering behind her.
As soon as the sun was visible outside his window Harry left for breakfast. At first he wanted to eat quickly to avoid bumping into Ginny, however he found himself waiting all the way up till the last bell rang, telling him to get his ass to class.
Ginny had not arrived for breakfast nor had Hermione. Harry was wondering if they were avoiding him. Had Hermione told Ginny about what had happened in her room last night? Did she know? Was that what this was all about? Harry didn't know.
"Mr. Potter!" Professor McGonagall said hitting the edge of his desk with her wand. "You could at least pretend to pay attention!" Harry sat back in his seat. He had been resting his head on his desk, lost in his own thoughts.
"Now, the steps for self transfiguration are very difficult," Professor McGonagall continued as she walked down the rows. Harry glanced after her. Sitting in the back of the room was Hermione. Her eyes were trying to avoid Harry, she looked very nervous. Sweat was running down her face and she bounced in her seat like she couldn't sit still. She had to know. He had to talk to her, to explain it had been an accident.
Professor McGonagall's waist suddenly blocked Harry's view. She looked sternly down at him.
"I'm not sure what has come over you of late Potter," McGonagall said, "but this behavior is not acceptable. Stay after class, I would like a word with you." Harry turned and looked forward slumping in his seat. It was already starting out to be a prefect day.
---
Harry walked with his hands in his pockets. He had been able to 'explain' that he was just having issues at the moment, what with Ron attacking him and all. McGonagall bought it, which made Harry feel bad. It was only sort of true but that wasn't what was bothering him.
Being kept after class Harry had missed his chance to talk to Hermione. The moment the bell had rung she sprinted out of the classroom. Hermione was not in any of his other classes that day and Harry briefly had a flash of her up in her room crying. Luckily the rest of his teachers didn't seem to notice that he was not paying attention to them and Harry was able to make it though the rest of the day.
At last dinner came, Harry saw it as his only chance to find Hermione and talk with her about what had happened. But Harry never made it to dinner. Ginny cut him off outside his last class and held him back until the hallway was clear.
"Ginny," Harry asked. "Where've you been all day, you weren't at breakfast or lunch and I couldn't find you between class."
Ginny looked around. "I had to get something," Ginny said. "It took a lot of time," she pulled from her pocket a small vial filled with a pink liquid. Harry looked at it and realized what it was.
"The animagus potion? Ginny where did you get that?" Harry asked.
"Nicked it," Ginny giggled. "From Snape's office, he put up a lot of magical protection because people have been stealing from him, and this was really hard to get to, but he shouldn't be any wiser to it missing." Ginny pushed the vial back into her robe.
"Harry," she said very seriously, "are you ready?" Harry swallowed hard and nodded.
"I want to be with you Gin," Harry said. Ginny nodded and grabbed Harry's hand pulling him along behind her.
The two of them ended up outside. The sun had just set and it was becoming dark. Ginny pulled Harry all the way to the edge of the forbidden forest.
"We should be safe here, no one comes out this far, especially at night," Ginny said. Harry nodded as he shivered slightly. It was a bit cold out tonight. Ginny put her hands on Harry's arms. "Harry I need you to focus, I need you to help."
"Need me to help do what?" Harry asked confused. Finding an animagus form was up to the person becoming an animagus, Harry wasn't sure what he could do to help.
"Once I drink this potion you need to enter my mind. Because you're already an animagus you can ward off any form I don't want and help me find my magical form." Ginny said. Harry wasn't sure if he had any clue how to do that.
"We have a problem though," Harry said pulling out his school wand. "This piece of junk doesn't work most of the time." Ginny nodded and pulled out her wand.
"You can use mine, it's not the same as your old wand but it should do better. I find it especially good when working with dreams." Ginny said handing her wand to Harry. Ginny's wand was a little too small for Harry's hand but as he took hold of it he could instantly feel the difference from the school wand. "Alright, ready?" Ginny asked pulling the vial out of her robe and sitting down against a tree.
"Ready," Harry said pointing Ginny's wand at her. Ginny uncorked the bottle and downed the concoction inside. Harry waited a moment. Something in his mind told him it wasn't a good idea to mix magics like this but he didn't have much of a choice now.
"Legilimens!" Harry said. For the first time since his wand had been broken Harry felt real magic flow from his fingers. He felt himself rush forward. Ginny was very tall, she was standing next to Harry, who realized, wasn't Harry any longer. He had become Talon at some point. With a flap of his wings Talon hovered up next to Ginny.
She seemed very focused, much more so than Talon remembered himself being. The area also seemed different. When Talon had done this there had been no terrain, just black fog, but here there seemed to be forest everywhere. Animals began to appear. Each colored much like one another, having some part of their fur or feathers bright red.
"No," Ginny said looking at all of them. "I don't want any of these." As though the animals had heard her they began to move closer trying to press themselves upon her. "Harry, up! Take me up!" She reached out and caught one of his legs.
With a powerful flap of his wings Talon pulled her away from the ground breaking through the top of the trees. Some of the birds followed them but weren't able to keep up with Talon as he flew across the treetops.
"Over there!" Ginny said pointing off into the distance. Talon was able to make out a trail of fire moving across the top of the trees. At first he thought it might be a phoenix but whatever was making the flames didn't seem to be flying it seemed to be running.
"Faster!" Ginny cried. "Don't let it get away! I only have one shot to catch it." Talon wasn't sure he wanted to catch it, or that he wanted Ginny to catch it but he wasn't going to ruin this for her. He owed her too much.
Talon beat his wings faster. The trail of fire changed directions trying to get away. What kind of animal left trails of fire in the sky?
Talon was almost on top of it now. The animal had a large black body and mane of flickering red flame. It looked like some kind of a stallion but Talon had never seen anything like it. Suddenly the animal leapt from the top of the trees and began to run on a trail of fire up into the sky. Harry couldn't see any wings but it flew all the same.
They were almost on top of the beast then suddenly there was a stab of pain. Talon's wings began to change back into hands. Ginny was becoming heavy. Harry shuddered and fell to the ground dropping Ginny's wand, his scar searing with pain.
"Not now damn it!" Harry hissed. His hand flew up to press against his scar knocking the glasses from his face. The pain was almost overpowering but Harry had to fight it he had to get up, he had to help Ginny. Harry's hand fumbled around as he tried to find the fallen wand or his glasses, but he couldn't see the ground. Everything looked like the same black blur.
At last his fingers touched the cold metal rim of his glasses. Harry pushed them onto his face. Ginny was still leaning against the tree, her eyes were closed and she was breathing softly. Maybe he still had time. Harry looked around and found her wand a short distance away. Harry stretched out his arm and picked it up.
"Legi…" Harry began but Ginny opened her eyes. Harry lowered the wand. "Ginny, I'm so sorry, it was Voldemort… and my scar it…" Ginny smiled at him.
"I did it Harry, I caught it!" Ginny said weakly a smile on her lips. Her eyes were half closed and she looked as though she was on the edge of sleep. Harry moved over to her. "Thank you," Ginny whispered as she closed her eyes.
---
Harry carried her in his arms back to the Gryffindor tower. She was breathing softly against his chest and for a brief moment he wondered what she was dreaming about.
To Harry's surprise Hermione was waiting in the common room for them. She looked very worried and was pacing back and forth as they entered. As Harry aproched she looked up, startled by his presence. She shook her head but didn't say anything. With a forceful hand she took Harry by his bicep and pulled him along behind her up the girl's stairs. Harry waited for the horrible moment when a wailing would come and they would slide down but nothing of the sort happened.
"How come…" Harry started.
"Because I am escorting you," Hermione said, her voice sounded strained. Harry nodded. He wasn't sure why he had asked. He had already known the answer. They arrived at Ginny's room and Harry set her down in her bed. Hermione closed and locked the door. Luckily, all of Ginny's roommates were elsewhere at the moment and they had the room to themselves.
"I know that you helped her become an animagus tonight," Hermione said turning from the door to look at Harry, her face looked very panicked. For a brief moment Harry thought she might burst into tears. "Which means that at some point she's going to transform into her new form, right here in this room. You're lucky she didn't transform on the way up."
"Hermione," Harry blurted out, "I can explain." Harry said.
"That's the problem," Hermione said, she sounded annoyed. "You don't think about the things you do, you just do them."
"Hermione, I'm sorry I…" Harry tried. Hermione closed distance with Harry and did the last thing he was expecting, kissed him full on the mouth. There was a long moment of silence as her fingers dug into the back of his skull. At last Harry broke the kiss. His face was full of surprise and his face was red. "Hermione what's gotten into you!" Harry said searching her face. She didn't look at all like herself.
"You have," Hermione said backing away and running a hand through her hair. She began to pace. "And I can't get you out. I can't stop listening even though I want to. You're there, all the time, talking in the back of my mind."
"What?" Harry said. He didn't understand. Hermione was starting to frighten him as she paced back and forth like she had done down stairs. She looked like she was about to have some sort of a nervous breakdown.
"Don't you understand!" Hermione said. She looked crazed with madness now. "Something… connected…. us." She waved her had between herself and Harry to emphasize her point as if words had failed her. "But you don't understand …. of course." Harry shook his head. He had never seen her like this before. It was like she had total lost her mind. Her emotions seemed to cycle from one to another in seconds.
"When I was in your head," Hermione said grabbing the sides of Harry's face, "something happened, somehow our minds were connected." Hermione said looking into Harry's eyes as though she were trying to beam the information into his mind. To Harry's surprised it felt like that was exactly what she did.
"Like me and Voldemort," Harry said with realization. "Except with you and me the door to you is always open. You can hear everything, all at once, all at the same time?"
"Its like you're shouting into my head," Hermione said shivering and looking away. "At first I thought it was just an aftereffect of the accident. I was able to block it out to ignore it. But it's become worse, Harry, and some times, like right now it's too much for me. Harry I can hear everything! You're shouting into my head." Hermione clapped her hands over her ears and fell to her knees. Harry stood shaking. He could hear her, he could feel her pain. It hadn't been Voldemort that had caused his scar to hurt it had been Hermione. She was terrified.
Harry knelt down next to her wrapping his arms around her. How could he have done this to her? How could he have let this happen? He had to make it stop, there had to be a way to break the connection.
"You can't!" Hermione said pulling away and pushing Harry off her. She backpedaled away almost running along the floor on her butt, finally colliding with the side of Ginny's bed. "I've already tried! You can't make the voices go away and I'm not strong enough to keep them quiet!"
There was a sudden burst of pain in Harry's scar. "Hermione," Harry said pressing his hand against. "You need to calm down."
"Look what I've done Harry, I'm so sorry!" Hermione cried as tears began to roll down her face. She held out her hand towards Harry as though trying to reach for him. The pain was enormous. Harry had never felt anything like this before save for the curisatus curse. Hermione might have him screaming inside her head but it was like she was driving a spike into his. "I'm so sorry, I'm so sorry!" Hermione coughed as she cried. Her hand fell slowly down as she watch Harry wincing in pain.
Harry fell to his side. Blinding white pain was pushing the life out of him. Harry's eyes began to close. He couldn't keep conscious anymore. A black tunnel began to engulf the room. The last things he saw before the darkness of pain overtook him were Hermione crying and a burst of flame erupting from Ginny's bed.
---
"Harry?" Harry opened one eye. Everything seemed so bright. Harry opened his other eye. The pain in his scar was gone. Harry sat up and looked around. He had expected the hospital wing, or even the floor of Ginny's room but he hadn't expected this. White clouds surrounded him and a very bright sun was gave everything a surreal glow.
Ginny was standing next to him. She was dressed all in black. Her hands and feet had flames wrapped around them, but she was smiling. Her red hair wasn't just red it seemed to be made of flames.
"I'm not sure I want to ask what's going on," Harry said. Rolling his feet over the edge of the cloud bed. "I'm not dead am I?"
"Of course not," Ginny giggled. "You're in a safe place. I'm trying to sort out the mess in your head."
"The mess in my head?" Harry asked confused.
"So many people have tampered with you that your thoughts are falling apart." Ginny said.
"And you tampering with it more is going to help how?" Harry asked. Ginny continued to smile.
"Thanks to you it's something I am quite suited for now," Ginny said. Harry looked at the fire on her hands, feet and hair.
"What's with the fire?" Harry asked pointing. "It's kind of creeping me out." Ginny remained perfectly still but her eyes looked down at her hands.
"Its part of my animagus form, I can move between dreams as an ethereal being," Ginny said. "The fire just sort of comes along for the ride. Hold on, brace yourself." Harry was about to ask, 'brace myself for what?' but he hadn't had time. The ground was no longer solid, not that clouds were solid to begin with, and Harry felt himself fall through them. The clouds rushed away. Below him was the ground. He had been here before, falling like this before. But when, he couldn't remember.
Harry's eyes snapped open he was laying on his side. Hermione had her head back against the bed, her eyes were closed. Harry pushed himself up quickly his heart was beating very fast. The dream had been so real.
A sound turned Harry's head and standing next to him was a small horse. Its hoofs were ablaze with flames and its mane flowed with red fire. For a moment Harry felt an overwhelming fear though he was not sure why. The fear passed quickly.
The horse turned its long head and its eyes looked down into Harry. Even though there was fire there too Harry could see something familiar in the horse's eyes. Something he knew, something he had seen many times.
"Ginny?" Harry asked the blazing horse. There was a pause as the horse watched Harry for a long moment and then the face began to shrink the hoofs came up from the ground and Ginny stood before Harry. She had a smile on her face and the fire in her hair and on her hands remained only a second before vanishing.
"What, what was that!" Harry said. Ginny's smile wavered a bit as she saw the fear on Harry's face.
"My animagus form is… now don't take the name the wrong way… a Nightmare," Ginny said trying to smile.
"A Nightmare?" Harry asked in disbelief.
"Nightmares just have a bad reputations," Ginny said quickly. "Because dark wizards used to use them. But they are a lot like the Thestrials really. Once you look past what people have made them out to be they really are amazing creatures." Harry nodded his head was a little wavy.
"I had this strange dream about you, saying something about my head," Harry said.
"Ah, well that wasn't a dream," Ginny said with a weak smile. "That's sort of the other reason why the magical animal Nightmare and the reference to a bad dream are the same word. Dark wizards used to use Nightmares to carry them into people's dreams at night and inflict horrible images upon them. Thus the word mare, meaning horse, and night, as the in the time they appeared, became associated with bad dreams. Nightmare.
"But Nightmares have been extinct for more than two hundred years. They were hunted to death for a bone that let them jump into people's dreams…"
"Ethereal connectors," Hermione said. Harry turned quickly to see her watching them and listening. There was a weak smile on her face. Harry knelt down next to her.
"Hermione," Harry said. "You're alright." She closed her eyes, smiled and nodded slowly.
"I can't hear you any more," Hermione said.
"I was able to close the door as it were," Ginny said. "The same for your connection with Voldemort. But I couldn't remove, and they won't stay closed forever."
"Thank you," Harry said standing and embracing Ginny. He felt her arms wrap around him. "I would be lost without you Gin."
---
Harry and Ginny had helped Hermione back up to her room and after Ginny helped her into bed she walked Harry back to his room. He wasn't sure how late it was but the common room had been empty. The two of them stood outside the door. Harry held Ginny in his arms, his chin resting on the top of her head.
"Thank you," Ginny said. Her arms wrapped around Harry. Harry smiled.
"You did it on your own, Gin," Harry said. "I just stood by your side." Harry leaned her back, his hands clasped gently on her shoulders, and looked down into her eyes. He finally knew what the look in the back of her eyes was. It was love. Love only for him. Harry leaned forward and kissed her passionately. Tonight would be the night he would tell her everything. Tell her exactly how he felt about her.
A beeping noise sounded. Harry tried to ignore it. This was one of the first truly romantic moments of his life. The beeping noise sounded again. Harry broke the kiss. Ginny looked a little put out too. Harry reached into his pocket and pulled out the black muggle device. He wasn't sure how to work it but since there was only one button on it couldn't be that hard to use. Harry pressed the button.
"What?" Harry said annoyed.
"Sorry if were interrupting anything kid," the voice said on the other end. "but were moving tonight, and we need an answer." Harry hadn't had time to talk it over with anyone yet. Hermione was most likely asleep by now, and Ron was mile away. Ginny was the only person here he could talk to about this.
"One second," Harry said releasing the button. Harry let out a sigh. "Ginny I meant to talk about this earlier with you but I couldn't find you and I didn't want this to interrupt us and…" Ginny put a finger on Harry's mouth and gave him a look that said 'slow down and explain.' "Remember the group called ELF?" Ginny nodded.
"My brother's stupid comic books," Ginny said.
"Well they're real," Harry said pointing at the handheld device. "They are offering us training in muggle fighting and special equipment but I haven't accepted. I wanted to see what you and Hermione thought first but I just didn't have time to ask!"
Ginny thought for a long moment. "Do you trust them?" She asked.
"I don't know," Harry said honestly. "I only met them yesterday. But I think they were the ones that attacked Voldemort in Nocturn Alley a month ago."
"Well I think we need all the help we can get," Ginny said seriously. "If you think they can help us then we should accept." Harry nodded.
"Alright," Harry said pressing down the button, "we accept. Our next meeting is this Friday."
"Glad to hear it, take care buddy." The voice said. Harry put the device back in his pocket.
"Gin," Harry said apologetically. "I'm sorry I didn't think, I didn't know they would call right now." Ginny put her arms around Harry's waist and leaned against him. Harry put his arms behind her back. He wasn't sure how long they stood like that but Harry felt Ginny beginning to slide down his body as she drifted off to sleep. Harry gave her a little shake
"Sorry," Ginny yawned smiling up at him.
"I think we both need to get some sleep." Harry said with a weary smile. "Want me to walk you back to your dorm?"
"Oh don't be silly, the moment you let got of me the walls will start shrieking." Ginny giggled.
"Well," Harry said slyly. "You could always stay here."
"Are you asking me to sleep with you?" Ginny asked in mock surprise. Harry's face turned red. That wasn't what he had meant at all. He was trying to be romantic and meant she could stay here in his arms. Ginny pushed herself up on tiptoe and whispered into his ear. "I won't tell if you don't." Either because his brain had frozen from lack of sleep or from some primal lust he put up no resistance as Ginny pulled open the door to Harry's dorm room and pulled him inside behind her.
---
It had been another night without sleep for Harry, two in a row. But he wasn't feeling tired. Ginny had fallen asleep in his arms as they lay together in his bed. It hadn't been more than cuddling but Harry had been so excited he hadn't been able to fall asleep.
Ginny on the other hand had been so comfortable that almost as soon as she was in bed and Harry's arms were around her she had drifted off. Her body was warm against his as they lay under the covers together. It was a warmness Harry had never felt before. And it was something he never thought he would feel. Not with anyone, not with Ginny.
That had been the thing that had kept him awake. Her presence was both soothing and frightening at the same time. The image of Ginny with fire on her hands kept replaying through his mind. It was what he had seen in the future. But it wasn't the future Harry reminded himself. Still, why was he so afraid of it?
Ginny was not going to become evil. Voldemort was not going to win. Harry hugged Ginny tighter against him. She moved slightly at his embrace but did not wake. Like the vision on Avalon Harry had seen something in the dream about the future. He had seen something he would ensure would never come to pass.
---
Ron returned Thursday, just in time to make the final practice before the big Quidditch match next week. Ron seemed much more his old self. Harry guessed that he and Hermione had made up some time earlier that day because they had been much more friendly with each other. Things seemed to finally be going right, for once—back to the way they should be.
Quidditch practice went flawlessly. Ron stopped every shot launched at him and Ginny led the chasers like an admiral commanding a fleet. All in all if everything went as planned they would smash the Slytherins into the ground. Melanie surely would at the very least.
The only dark spot in Harry's Thursday was a return letter from Mr. Olivander, Harry's broken wand halves enclosed within.
Dear Mr. Potter,
I am sorry to inform you that you wand has been damaged beyond repair. It would be best for you to come down and select a new wand at your convenience.
Signed
Odrien Olivander
That was it then, his wand was gone for good. Harry would have to go to Olivander's wand shop in Diagon Alley and find a new wand. But would any other wand work as well as his old wand had? Harry doubted very much that it was so. He had tried many different wands before finding his and it had been the brother wand for Voldemort that had finally chosen him. With the exception of perhaps Voldemort's wand there could never be another one like it. And Harry doubted very much that Voldemort would just give Harry his wand.
And then it struck him. The core had been a tail feather from Fawks. Why couldn't Harry just ask for another feather? And then as though he was blind Harry realized that he was a Phoenix, he could use his own tail feather! Harry wasn't sure if it was even possible to do but he made a mental note to ask Hermione about it at the next DA meeting.
---
Harry paced nervously. Hermione, Ron and Ginny had all arrived early for the DA meeting. Harry had called Lilith on the muggle device, which Hermione had be certain shouldn't work almost an hour ago but she still wasn't here. Members would be arriving at any moment.
"The real ELF?" Ron asked again unable to control his disbelief and excitement.
"Only one member," Harry said. "That's all they could leave behind for us."
"Harry," Ginny said taking Harry's arm to stop him from pacing. "You're driving us crazy hun stop that." Harry smiled down at her.
"Sorry," Harry said and he kissed her on the top of the head. Harry had expected a protest from Ron but none came. Harry looked at him expectantly. "Ron?"
"I've decided mate," Ron said sternly. "It's your business, not mine."
"Well…" Harry started with a chuckle. The door to the DA room opened. Harry spun around. Ginny already had her wand out. Four large black floating crates hovered into the room.
"Sorry I'm late," said a disembodied voice. "Lots of foot traffic around during the day and I couldn't risk being seen." The crates lowered themselves to the floor and a female outline appeared. A moment later the air rippled and Lilith pulled the black mask off her face. "Hope I didn't worry you too much."
Harry hopped off the stage, Ginny following right beside him, and moved over to the crates on the floor.
"How were you able to carry all these?" Harry asked looking at the black plastic crates. Lilith smiled and patted her bicep.
"Exo power suit, makes me about eight times as strong. Not much for battery life though especially with RLCD on."
"But none of those things should work!" Hermione said from Harry's other side. "Muggle devices and such don't function correctly around magic." Lilith smiled.
"That's right, magical energy scrambles most electronic equipment. But this stuff is designed to work with magic—Even draws power from some of it." Lilith said holding out her arm. A small barely visible display was upside-down across her forearm. Harry couldn't make heads or tails of it.
"Don't worry I'll show you how to work this stuff in no time. My dad and I helped build most of it." Lilith knelt down and opened one of the crates. "I don't know how many members you have, but I brought a lot of stuff. It should be enough for everyone. If you need more it shouldn't be a problem."
Inside the first crate there were many tiny silver circles that had circular cuts in them. Inside the next crate were long black gloves that looked almost like dragon scale almost. In the third crate were lots of black shiny squares, made of some kind of cloth. And in the fourth crate were black shiny squares made of rubber.
"Batons," Lilith said pointing at the first crate of metal circles. "Shields," she indicated the second crate. "RLCD suits," she motioned to the third crate. "And power suits," her hand moved over the fourth crate. "Best anti magic gear in the world."
Lilith knelt down and pulled one of the silver circles from the first crate.
"Titanium, Mythiral Extendable Charged Batons, Bats for short." Lilith said, she flicked her wrist and the baton extended out to the floor. Harry heard the same powering up sound and the baton glowed blue. "Light fast and deadly. You have at least ten to twelve charged shots. Baton charges automatically when extended and between hits. Charging takes 1 and half seconds and delivers 700 volts of charge into a target. Enough to knock anyone to the ground. It's still very effective once all the charges are used. To deactivate the charge flick the blue switch on the handle up." Lilith flicked the switch on the side to up and the low humming sound that Harry hadn't been aware of until it now, stopped. Lilith flicked her wrist and the baton shrunk back into a circle. She placed it back in the crate.
"High Power Electro Static Shields," Lilith said pulling one of the long black gloves from the box and sliding it onto her forearm. The glove was large and bulky much like the metal plate gloves on the suits of armor around the castle. "Finger position activates," she squeezed her hand and four prongs like an umbrella sprung out of the glove. A blue glowing circle appeared across the prongs finishing the umbrella with a translucent shield. The humming was much louder this time and Lilith shut it off before talking. "Good for at least five hits from projectile or magical attacks. Not all magic can be deflected so its up to you to know what can and cannot be stopped." Lilith pulled the glove off and put it back in the crate.
"Redirectional Liquid Crystal Displays," Lilith said. "Using advanced imagining technology it literally makes you see through. Less effective at close rage or in brightly lit areas and you'll still have a shadow.
"Power Suits," Lilith said indicating the last crate. "Will make you physical stronger, faster and also has minor protection against projectile weapons. Very heavy and once power runs out you'll have forty pounds extra on you."
"So any questions?" Lilith said beaming.
"Yeah," Ron asked. "Could you explain everything you just said?"
---
It was Harry's turn to be a student again as Lilith, or as she insisted Harry call her, Lil, showed the DA members the basics. Harry explained that this would be part of their training. That magic wouldn't be the only weapon they had now.
Many of the members seemed to take quickly to this. Neville was a bit less adept at using a baton but his shield skill seemed almost natural. He was surprised at how fast the members learned the basics. Lil was a good teacher and knew her stuff.
It was midnight when Harry checked the clock and rushed everyone back to bed. They left the crates of equipment in the room of requirement but Harry kept a baton with him. He had been fairly good with it, not as exceptional as some of the students but still fairly decent. He didn't feel entirely defenseless anymore.
Ginny pulled Harry back as the four of them made their way back towards the dormitories. It was very late but the map showed that the coast was clear.
Ron and Hermione were walking up front. Harry had given Hermione the map to watch out for any trouble. Ginny was walking beside Harry. She pulled something from her pocket.
"I have a present for you," Ginny said holding up a small glass vial. Inside it was what looked like yellow-red fire.
"Uh, thanks," Harry said taking it. The vial was cool to the touch. The flame didn't seem to be burning anything, it just filled the vial like some kind of liquid.
"It's Nightmare flame," Ginny said. "None exist anymore but it's very valuable I was thinking you could use it for you new wand." Harry had told them all before the DA meeting, while they had waited for Lilith, about his idea for his new wand. Ron had thought it was an awesome idea. Hermione seemed impressed but Ginny had just smiled knowingly.
"I don't see how," Harry said lowering the vial, "I was going to use one of my tail feathers, I already told you all that." Oddly enough Ginny smiled.
"Of course you are silly. Nightmare flame isn't used for a wand core, you add it to a magical item to make it stronger," Ginny said shaking her head. "Send the vial and the feather, I'm sure Mr. Olivander will know what to do with it."
Harry nodded and kissed Ginny on the head.
"First thing tomorrow Gin," Harry said.
Authors Notes:
TadDa Chapter 23. Not much on the Authors notes here today because I am a bit busy working on the next couple of chapters. I hope you all enjoyed this.
Readers and reviewers thank you for sticking with me. I am doing my best to provide you all with a story that is entertaining and fun to read.
Remember that reviews help me fine tune my story so don't be afraid to leave more than one. I always enjoy reading reviews.
Coming soon, chapter 24, most likely on Sunday.