Harry Potter and the Real Dark Lord
Chapter 9
Reflections of the Past and Future & GET CEDRIC!
A/N: And it's finally here! Brief and I mean brief scenes of boyfriend/girlfriend abuse here. Not really worth a mention. But the Mirror of Erised is. Also, someone realizes who the Heir of Slytherin is. Well, on with it!
Pheonix39 A/N2: Do ya'll want us to keep with the longer chapters or shorter ones more frequent? Inquiring minds wanna know. Oh yeah…this chapter is a tad off… two separate writers wanting to take the plot in different directions and working part –by-part.. (AHHH!) So forgive us and review! Oh...note to Saerry…damn you! Ya made me cry on the Harry/Lily thing during the coma…just too dang sweet (sniff-bless you lassie!)
Jjhboy A/N3: Can't you see the poor woman is losing her mind without reviews? Review or I'll release my demon half on you!
When Draco came to the common room the following morning, he stopped dead in his tracks. There lying on the couch looking quite cozy were Pansy and Harry. Harry still had her wrapped up in his arms protectively and Pansy was nestled in the crook of his arm, her head resting on his chest. Harry opened up an eye and looked over at Draco and whispered. "Well, I found her to say the least; she's not doing that great." Draco nodded, still a bit shocked to see his two best friends lying together on the couch. He wasn't quite sure how he felt about that one yet. With a quick shrug of his shoulders he asked him "Is she okay?" "Not really, but I think she will be, just don't ask her any questions about it, she'll let you know when she's ready." Harry spoke with a touch of sadness and bitterness in his voice. "This has something to do with what that weasel said to her yesterday, right?" Harry nodded and winced, trying to get more comfortable without disturbing the sleeping beauty lying on him. "We really need to get him back for this…this is going to take a lot of thought though." Harry had a strange gleam in his eyes; they had flashed a brilliant green, as he spoke. Draco eyed him warily.
Draco sat down in the chair across from Harry and said, "Well, we'll come up with something, in the mean time, what do want to do about Cedric?" Harry chuckled softly and replied, "Well, I've had a bit of time to think about it, doesn't Ravenclaw and Hufflepuff have a match this weekend?" Draco had a gleam in his eyes…"Tell me more." "Well, here's what I found while doing research for DADA." Harry explained his theory. Draco let out a huge burst of raucous laughter that woke up Pansy. She started, looking at where she was and started blushing profusely. Harry gave her a quick, gentle look and asked "Sleep all right?" Then smirked, raising his eyebrows suggestively and gave an exaggerated wink. She blushed even more. "It's ok; I was just teasing you-honestly." It would have been a sweet statement but for the barely contained smirk lingering behind his eyes. "Now…what do you think about getting some breakfast?" Draco jumped out his chair and said "Let's go!" He pulled Pansy off of Harry and gave her a quick hug, not saying anything. As the trio headed down to eat Harry and Draco filled Pansy in on there plans for Cedric. By the time they reached the Great Hall Pansy was quite thrilled with the idea and she slowly got back to normal. As they entered, Harry spotted Ron. "I'll be right back," he told the other two, "I just have something to take care of." He walked quietly over to the youngest Weasley boy and leaned over and hissed in his ear "If you ever say anything like that to Pansy again, you will regret it." Ron looked up at him a retort ready on his lips when he saw the blazing green emeralds flash back at him. He swallowed nervously and nodded, not wanting to admit that he was afraid. Harry walked over and joined his friends.
The week passed by quickly as both prank teams were both trying to out do each other… It was not uncommon for the staff to enter a room to find desks on the ceiling, blackboards turned into murals, and the corridors filled with the stench of dung-bombs and stink pellets. Filch was in such an uproar, he finally had a fit in the teachers lounge, demanding that the teachers put an end to it. Tom watched on in amusement, knowing full well who was behind the whole thing. He got a bit concerned at breakfast that Saturday, knowing of the Quidditch game later on that day, and the challenge to get Cedric. The trio had much bigger grins on their faces than normal and he watched them sneak out early, before most of the other students. At lunch that day he walked over to Harry and whispered quietly so no-one else could hear, "I hope that whatever you have planned does not end in injury or I will have to put a stop to all this." Harry just shook his head, "It will be ok, I promise."
"LADIES AND GENTLEMEN! WELCOME TO QUIDDITCH!
UP TODAY IS HUFFLEPUFF VERSUS RAVENCLAW! AND HERE THEY COME NOW! THE HUFFLEPUFF TEAM LEAD BY SEEKER AND CAPTAIN, CEDRIC DIGGORY! AND RAVENCLAW LEAD BY CHASER AND CAPTAIN ROGER DAVIES!" Lee Jordan bellowed this out to start the game. "Now I want a nice clean match, from all of you." Lectured Madame Hooch, as the captains were shaking hands. She released the bludgers and snitch. However, when the Quaffle was thrown into the air, beginning the game, Cedric suddenly felt an odd sensation underneath himself when he kicked off. "And it looks like Diggory's broom has turned into a rubber chicken!" bellowed Lee, with barely suppressed laughter, throughout the pitch, "was this you Fred and George? Very funny! Ver-y funny!" However Fred and George were looking in shock at their diaries. They read, "Turn broom into funny muggle object during school Quidditch match 1,000 points. Get Cedric first, 300 points." Cedric looked up into the stands and looked directly at Harry and Draco and gave them a slight bow, which the two boys acknowledged, grinning delightedly. Anyway, Lee's commentary was already barley audible because of all the laughter emulating throughout the pitch. Cedric's broom quickly turned back into his original one. The match finally got underway. Harry and Draco were laughing the hardest saluting Cedric. Harry stopped when he saw Hermione coming towards them in with a fit of rage. Draco just kept on laughing though. "Oh honestly I don't see what's all that funny about it." She yelled. "It's not that the joke is funny, it's just the fact that we did it before Fred and George," said Harry, who was still laughing, then paused slightly at the look on her face. "Anyway I thought you were with Ron, what happened?" He asked, his laughs becoming laced with concern. "He was just being really stupid so I thought I'd sit with you guys. But I guess since you're the cause of all this rubbish-" "Oh, honestly Hermione," started Draco, "Don't call our new spell rubbish. We spent a lot of time trying to get to Cedric before the twins"
Hermione did not have a chance to yell or say how impressed she was for Ron had come over. "What are you hanging out with these Slytherins for" he demanded. "I'll hang out with whomever I want to and for whatever reason I wish to thanks!" she spat back. "NO! You'll hang out with whoever I tell you to dearest!" And he made a grab to take her hand. Hermione however, had not been quick enough to avoid him, and he grasped it, far too firm to be comforting. "Stop!" she yelled, "Stop! That hurts!" However, Ron in his irrationality and anger, bent it back much too far. "AHH!" she screamed, as a very audible SNAP! Could be heard. It was clearly broken. "You'll pay for that Weasley!SERPENTENSORPIA!" Shouted Harry and Ron became covered in scales spouting a forked tongue. Hermione looked at Harry incredulously and forgetting the pain in her wrist, realized something with a shock. Something was very wrong about Harry. His eyes had turned into a piercing green hue. She began to move towards the hospital wing. "Yeah, go on you filthy mudblood!" Shouted scaly Ron, (albeit…hissing in his speech.) She then ran off with Harry right behind her into the castle towards the Hospital Wing.
"And, oh my goodness, it seems that Cho Chang has gotten the snitch for Ravenclaw!" Bellowed Lee, "And Ravenclaw wins 160-30. Very quick and quite unfortunate for Hufflepuff. Well good luck to Miss Hermione Granger anyway. Ron is such a prat at times. Honestly…his own house-mate!" Lee had expected to be told off by Professor Weasley, but she was siding with him. Both had witnessed the incident in the stands. "Mr. Weasley! I'd take points from Gryffindor but that would be terribly unfair to Ms. Granger and the rest of your house. 1 week of detentions with me will be sufficient." said Ron's mother with a stern look on her face. Ron paled at the thought. Harry ran off after Hermione and to see why she was so mad at him.
"Harry you're the Heir of Slytherin aren't you?" Asked Hermione coldly when they were finally alone in the Hospital Wing, Madame Pomfrey had fixed her up in as jiffy. "Well yes but don't be so angry about it. I know it may be a big deal-" "A big deal? A big deal?" Hermione practically screeched. "Harry, do you know what this means? You're obviously not supposed to be trusted." She frowned, confusion etched on her face. "Oh come off it now Hermione. You didn't think any less of me before you knew. Why is there any difference now? I was the Heir of Slytherin before, and I still am now. Just because you know now doesn't make it any different than before." Harry spoke these words calmly although his insides were in turmoil. "But Harry, what about that time when you snapped at me in the bookshop?" "Well," said Harry with a smirk forming on his face, "My dear great-great-great-great-whatever- grandfather Salazar was well known to snap at times." Hermione laughed, feeling more assured. "Okay, I guess there are no hard feelings. I should have left this place ages ago anyways." She nodded in Madame Pomfreys office, "she said I could go". "Oh and Hermione," Harry asked, remembering something from the truth potion incident, "You wouldn't know about what a Sorcerer's Stone is would you? I may have come across it once or twice but I don't really remember what it does." Harry expected her to say something like "No I'm sorry," or even "You're the Heir of Slytherin why wouldn't you know?" but never "Yes Harry, of course! It turns metal into gold and provides-" "THE ELIXER OF LIFE!" Harry finished. "Yes, but why would you need to know?" "Because Hermione, a three headed dog on the third floor is protecting it." "Protecting it? Who would want to steal it?" "I have a hunch," said Harry thinking of the extinguished Dark Lord, "I just hope I'm wrong. They both just looked at each other in silence.
Christmas was fast approaching and with it, Harry decided he needed to find out more about this dog. Donning his invisibility cloak one night he set off towards the third corridor. He had his Marauder's map in one hand and a light in the other. It was slow going. Not paying attention to where his steps were, paying too much attention to the map, Harry crashed into one of the suits of armor that lined the corridor. A humongous CRASH! Echoed down the hallway. Harry stood frozen in his place. Before he could get his bearings again he heard Filtch rushing as fast as his knobby knees could carry him. Harry quickly extinguished his light and moved as fast as he dared towards another corridor. He tried not to be heard. Spotting a semi-open door, he went into the darkened room silently locking the door behind him. He could hear Filtch just outside the door, muttering to his cat. "We'll find the intruder my sweet, don't you worry about that. If it's that pest of a poltergeist Peeves, well that's even better." He cackled. Harry didn't move as he was in fear of being overheard. He waited until he heard them continue down the corridor, Filtch still muttering to his cat about what he would do if the intruder was caught.
When Harry was sure that they weren't coming back, he slowly turned to purvey the room. It looked like this was where all the unused and broken furniture was held. He put on his light and looked closer. As he shone his light around, an odd reflection caught his eye. He moved towards it. As he got nearer, he realized that it was just some old mirror reflecting the light back. Something about it though caught his eye and he moved towards it for a closer look. At his first glance into the mirror, all he saw was himself. There were odd markings around the edges of the mirror. Harry squinted to get a clearer look. It was: Erised stra ehru oyt obe cafru oyt on wohsi. As He moved closer and in front of the mirror, he was stunned. Looking back at his reflection, not only did he himself, there were others standing behind him. He whirled around, looking to see who else was there, standing behind him, but saw no one. Bewildered, he shook his head and gazed into the mirror again. They were all still there, beaming at him, smiling and waving, all looking quite happy. Harry realized that this was his real family. He recognized his parents Lily and James, looking very proud and as young as ever. As Harry stared at the rest of the people he saw, he began to recognize that in some way or another, they all bore a resemblance to his parents and himself. Harry just stood there in awe, stunned by what he was seeing. "How can this be?" he wondered, they are all supposed to be dead. "Does this mean that I'm dead too?" He mused, and then pinched himself hard on his thigh. "OUCH!" He exclaimed, realizing that he was definitely NOT dreaming. Harry stayed there for a very long time, just gazing at the family he so desperately wanted to know but knew he couldn't. Tears fell silently down his face as the sun slowly grew in the sky.
Harry was very quiet that morning at breakfast. This concerned his friends. "Are you okay mate?" asked Draco concerned about his pals silence. He knew that Harry hadn't been in the dorm all night. Harry didn't answer, still lost in his own thoughts. "OI!" Draco shouted, thumping Harry on his arm, "Anyone home?" Harry started, and then replied, "Sorry, mate, just lost in my own thoughts at the moment." "No kidding…really?" Replied Pansy sarcastically, worried about her friend. She and Draco exchanged meaningful looks. "Alright, spill it….what is going on with you?" Draco said. "Nothing, I'll tell ya later when I can sort it out for my self okay." They both stared at Harry not really believing him, but willing to give him a chance. "Alright for now, but don't think we're going to let this go." Warned Draco to him. Harry nodded absently. "Yeah, sure, whatever." Harry never noticed Tom and the Headmaster gazing at him with concern.
Later that evening, after dinner, the trio was found to be sitting at their favorite chairs in front of the fire. "Well," said Draco demandingly to Harry, "Tell us…you barely paid attention in class all day today and now we'll have to borrow Hermione's notes in HOM." Harry began to tell them about his night-time adventure, omitting much about how he felt about seeing his true family. Pansy and Draco sat there stunned as they tried to absorb everything that Harry had said. "Well," said Draco finally, "I want to see this for myself, tonight; you are going to show me this mirror thing." Pansy groaned, "Dammit! I gotta figure out this stupid transfiguration homework!" Both boys had already finished theirs. They quickly made plans to excuse their absence for the night.
"Shhhh," Harry muttered, trying to get Draco to shut up. "We'll be heard!" "Sorry," Draco mumbled, "I'm having trouble walking under this damn thing!" "We're almost there," Harry whispered. "Just a bit further down here." He led Draco to the corridor that he entered not so long ago. When they finally got into the room, Draco stared around in amazement. "Holy Shit!" He exclaimed, not believing what he was seeing. "Is the damn dumpster room or something?" Harry choose not to ask Draco why he even knew what a dumpster was at this time. He merely said, "It's over this way." He led Draco over to where the mirror was resting up against the wall. As he stood there, he saw his parents again, suddenly wishing for a real family that was alive and whom he could talk to about things. "Lemme see" said Draco suddenly pushing Harry out of the way. As Draco stood directly in front of the mirror, his eyes widened in surprise. He was shocked, not even remotely expecting to see what he did. He was speechless. Turning his head slightly towards Harry, not taking his eyes off his vision he hoarsely asked "Is this supposed to be some kind of joke?" Harry looked bewilderly at Draco, trying to fathom the look on his face. "I told you, it's my family, my REAL family." Harry suddenly asked, "What do you see?" Draco just shook his head, "Uh, nothing, just I am looking back at me." Harry eyed him suspiciously and let the matter drop for the moment. "C'mon, we gotta get back before we're missed." Draco simply nodded absently and they headed back to their dorm.
The following morning at breakfast all the Heads of House walked amongst their students seeing who was signing up to stay over the holidays. Harry was quick to sign up as was Draco. Pansy shot the two boys a fleeting look of terror and said "my dad is going to want me home over the holidays." She had tears of fear and shame welling behind her eyes. Draco looked at her inquisitively while Harry just stared at her for a moment. "You will stay here, I promised that you will never go back there." His eyes turned that odd brilliant green once again, startling his friends. "I will take of this for you." Pansy watched in some trepidation as Harry suddenly stood up and moved cat-like over towards Tom. He tapped him on the shoulder and as Tom turned, Harry quickly grabbed the front of his robes pulling his ear close and after a few words, Tom stood for a moment, shocked at the power emanating from his charge and nodded. Harry strode back over to his friends and nodding at Pansy simply said, "We will finish this discussion later. It will be okay." Hermione, sitting over at the Gryffindors table saw the entire events take place. She also noted the odd look in Harry's eyes as he spoke to Tom and felt the power radiating from him. Without hesitation, she quickly signed up to stay as well.
Pheonix39 A/N; gonna end it here and start chapter 10…PLEASE! Vote, longer chapters less frequent or shorter ones fast? Oh, and check out Amara 159-Emeraled and Green Tablet story…Part two is started!