Return Of The Elemental


Chapter 21 – Shadows


/ Who's the note from/ Hermione asked Harry as she watched professor McGonagall stalk back to the head table at breakfast the next morning.

/ Professor Dumbledore. He's asked me to see him after breakfast. / Harry replied, folding the note back up and hooking back into his eggs.

'Hey Hermione, where were you last night? I don't think I saw you once.' Crystal asked curiously from across the table.

'Just some head girl duties,' mumbled Hermione. She then stood up. 'I've got to go to my study group, I'll see you at lunch.' / And tell me everything that happens in your meeting. / She added to Harry through their link.

/ Alright, have fun with the Ravens. / Harry then also got up and started making his way to the headmaster's office. Giving the password to the stone gargoyle, Harry made his way up the stairs by two's, coming to a stop in front of the two huge oak doors that led to his rendezvous. Knocking once and hearing the call to enter Harry made his way into the room to see that he wasn't the only who was called for the little get together.

Besides Dumbledore there was also Professor's: McGonagall, Snape, Kingsley and Flitwick. All acknowledged Harry in some way or another.

'Ah Harry, so glad that you could make it, here have a seat. I've called you people together to speak about the incident involving Cenius Flitwick yesterday.' At hearing his great nephew's name, professor Flitwick let escape a little sob. Dumbledore went over to comfort his old friend.

'There, there Filius, we will find out what is wrong with Cenius, you will see. Now, as I was saying, this meeting has been called so that we might come up with some idea as to what has happened, for I think that we can all agree that Cenius was not acting of his own accord.'

'Sir.' Harry interrupted. 'I don't know if it's anything to worry about but after the match I saw Draco Malfoy run away from the stadium very hastily. It almost looked as if he fleeing from the scene.'

'Predictable Potter, always first to the wrong conclusion. What do you have against Master Malfoy Potter, hmm?' Snape sneered from his position next to the fireplace. Harry shot him cold glare.

'Nothing Snape-.'

'That's Professor Snape to you Potter.' Snape whispered dangerously, his right hand twitching toward his pocket.

'Severus, Harry, please. To solve this mystery we are all going to have to work together.' Dumbledore said with warning in his voice, striding between the two enemies.

'As you wish headmaster.' Snape said with a mocking bow.

'Yes professor.' Harry said with a cool voice.

'Now I've spoken with Poppy this morning and the news I'm afraid isn't good. She has run every test possible with her abilities and can't seem to find what is ailing young Cenius.' He sent a sympathetic look towards professor Flitwick who had started crying again.

'Therefore she has called some of her friends from St Mungo's who should be here some time next time week. Yes I know what you're thinking, but that is the quickest time that they can arrive. Due to Voldemort becoming more active there have been more victims of his attacks, which have caused all staff of the hospital to been on call all time of day. Now what I would like from you,' he said meeting each person's eyes. 'Is to keep both your eyes and ears open. It is unfortunate but likely true that the attack on Cenius has come from within the walls of Hogwarts. Now I am afraid that I have taken enough of your time so I will let you go so you can enjoy the rest of your weekend.'

Harry got up and moved to the door with the rest of those present but stopped as he heard Dumbledore call him back. He turned making sure to bump his shoulder into Snape as he passed. He heard the potions professor stumble into professor McGonagall.

'Do watch where you're going Severus, if you can't see I suggest you get a haircut, Merlin knows you could use one.' Harry smiled as Snape turned around to glare at him. Harry's reply was to shut the door in Snape's face.

'Yes, professor?' Harry asked, taking up his seat once again.

'Harry. I've asked you back so that we can speak in private about what you saw.'

'That's fine sir. What would you like to know?'

'Well, first Harry I would like you tell me if you remember anything unusual about Cenius whilst playing yesterday? He might have been acting under the Imperious so try to search back in your mind and see if you noticed anything wrong with his eyes.'

Harry scrunched up his face in concentration and tried to remember anything that would help. He snapped his eyes open sharply.

'Professor, perhaps we could use your pensieve. That way we might be able to spot something?'

'Ah, a perfect idea Harry, just one moment.' Dumbledore then shuffled over to a big brown cabinet and pulled out an old rusty basin that was his pensieve. He brought it round and placed it in front of Harry's seat. 'Now, you already know how to use this so just concentrate as hard as you can on your memory.'

Harry first called for his staff and then concentrated on the match against Ravenclaw. Finding the memory he brought his staff to his head and placed the tip of his gold stone to his temple, feeling the staff jerk he pulled it away from his head and watched dazedly as it brought a thin white strand that was the memory, with it. He then lowered his staff and placed the thought into the pensieve.

'Well done, Harry. Now to see if we can find out anything.' Dumbledore then grabbed Harry's arm and plunged it in the swirling mist of the pensieve. Feeling himself being pulled into the pensieve for the second time in his life, Harry waited it out until his world stopped twirling and he was placed firmly in his memory of the quidditch match. What he also noticed was that he was flying on the same broom as himself. Looking behind himself he saw that professor Dumbledore had also hitched a ride with his memory self.

'I must say Harry, that you're quite the flier. I haven't seen anyone fly like you since the great Murray Fields. Of course he flew a lot slower but you both share the same skill with a broom. Now, where be Cenius?' Harry accepted Dumbledore's praise graciously, even if he didn't know who Murray Fields was. Coming back to the topic at hand, he too started searching for the half dwarf.

'There he is sir.' Harry yelled, pointing about 50 feet above their heads.

'Well, this doesn't help, I can't see anything from here, we will have to wait till you are chasing after the snitch.' As soon as Dumbledore finished, the memory Harry started rising through the air at a quickening pace. The real Harry looked over his memory shoulder and saw the speedy snitch ahead of him.

'Shouldn't be long now sir.' Harry called over his shoulder as he continued to watch the action around him as they chased the snitch. They pulled out of a dive and as Harry looked ahead he saw Cenius get into a position so that he was right in front of the memory Harry. The real Harry and Dumbledore gasped as they saw the half dwarfs eyes. Black. Blacker than black. That was all that was to be seen of Cenius Flitwick's eyes. They were so shocked that they didn't even notice the memory Harry duck the beaters bat that slashed through their heads.

Reaching the ground they jumped off and watched as the memory Harry smiled with pleasure. It was then that they heard hurried voices to their right. Turning around they saw Malfoy talking to Crabbe and Goyle.

'-No you idiots, you stay here. It'll look to suspicious if we all leave. Wait 5 minutes then leave with everyone else.' Malfoy said hurriedly.

'What are you going to do?' Grunted Goyle.

'I'm going to talk with Him, I hope he doesn't punish me again-.' Malfoy's voice trailed and Harry wondered why, till he noticed that his memory self had flown back up to the bruhah in the sky.

'He's working for Voldemort?' Harry said, watching Malfoy run back to the castle.

'It looks that way doesn't it' Dumbledore said curiously.

'I must say that I agree with you but we can't do anything until Cenius is healed and can tell us what he remembers, now how about we return to my office, I hate looking at myself in memories.' Despite the situation Harry released a chuckle at Dumbledore's antics.

They returned to his office and Harry left shortly after, promising to return tomorrow night for the next Order of the Phoenix meeting. It was about lunchtime so he decided to head down and wait for his friends in the great hall.

It wasn't long till he was joined by Ron and Crystal, then Ginny and finally a book laden Hermione.

'How was the study session?' Harry asked, leaning over to remove some of the books from Hermione and giving her a kiss on the cheek.

'Oh it was fine.' / How was your meeting/ She added. Harry waited until the others were occupied and then leaned his head towards Hermione.

/ It looks as though Voldemort and Malfoy had something to do with what happened yesterday. I suggested that Dumbledore and I should visit my memory of the match in his pensieve. When we saw Cenius's eyes they were black. I told the professor that I believed it was Voldemort and his power of the deceiving shadows. / Harry said quickly.

/ That sounds logical, but what does Malfoy have to do with it/ Hermione growled.

/ When me and Dumbledore were on the ground we heard Malfoy talking with Crabbe and Goyle. He said that he was going to talk to Him, and told those two ogres that he hoped that he wouldn't get punished again. All roads point to Malfoy serving Voldemort. / Harry said tiredly. / But professor Dumbledore said that we can't do anything about it till Cenius wakes up. /

/ Well, we're just going to have to wait aren't we/ Hermione said sending a glare over at Malfoy.

/ I hate waiting. / Harry also sent a cold stare to the oblivious Slytherin.

But wait they did. Fortunately the week passed quickly and as Harry sat down for lunch the following Monday, he was glad to see three people in bright green robes sitting at the head table talking to professor Dumbledore and Madam Pomfrey.

'There here.' Harry said to Hermione.

'Who's here? Who are those people in the green robes?' The always inquisitive Ron asked.

'There Healers from St Mungo's, they've come to look at Cenius Flitwick.' Harry answered.

'Oh, him. I don't know why you're so worried about him Harry, I mean, he did try and take your head off after all.' Ron said, glaring at the whole Ravenclaw table.

Harry frowned behind Ron's back. Professor Dumbledore had asked him not to tell anyone except Hermione, who already knew thanks to being a member of the Order, about what theories they had come up with over Harry's attack.

'I'm not, I just want them to fix him so I can have a go at him.' Harry told Ron manlily.

'That's the spirit. I'll help if you want.'

'No, I think I'll be right.' Harry trailed off as he saw professor Dumbledore come up to him.

'Mr Potter, I trust your lunch is going down nicely.'

'Yes sir.'

'Mr Weasley, how goes that pudding?'

'Err, de-delicious sir.'

'Excellent, well I mustn't disturb you all any longer, enjoy your meal.' Dumbledore then, as he was leaving, very craftily placed a piece of paper in Harry's hand.

Harry waited till Dumbledore and his guests had left the hall to open his message.

Please join us in the Hospital Wing.

Bubbling with excitement but not wanting to show it, Harry sent a quick message to Hermione explaining what had happen and slowly made his way out of the hall. As he was leaving he was curious to see that Malfoy was fidgeting in his seat rather nervously.

Seeing this only made him quicken his pace to the Infirmary. He was so quick that he arrived at just as professor Dumbledore was closing the doors.

'Ah Harry, good of you to come so quick, come in, come in.' He shut the doors with a locking charm and turned round to introduce Harry to the three Healers.

'Gentlemen, I would like you to meet Harry Potter. Harry, these three men are from the Dark Arts Unit in St Mungo's. The man on your left is Healer Turner, the one in the middle is Healer Johnson and last but not least is Healer Ethelbert.' Harry shook each of their hands and shared a few bits of small talk but when he kept sending impatient glances at Dumbledore, the old man decided to save him.

'Now Harry if you come this way, you'll see the newly recovered Cenius Flitwick.'

'What was it professor? What was wrong with him?' Harry asked excitedly.

'If I may Albus?' said Healer Turner, receiving a nod he continued. 'When we checked Cenius this morning we were to say the least baffled. Never had we come across such a brilliant mind control spell. But you'll be happy to know that we cracked it. You see, my friends and I have been working on a new way to diagnose and remove those patients who have come across the Dark Arts, only finishing it last month we decided that Cenius would be the perfect victim to use our invention on.' Turner then made a small flourish and pulled a small little cylinder type container out of his pocket.

'Do you like? We call it the Vacuum. It does pretty much what a muggle Vacuum does. It searches the body for the dark curse and will then suck it up into its containing area were we can then test what type of new curse He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named has come up with. Would you like a demonstration?' He finished breathlessly.

Harry was disgusted by the way that the man talked about Cenius. "The perfect victim", what the bloody hell was that. And the way he talked about the dark arts was just upsetting. All in all Harry just wanted to hit the man on the nose. Dumbledore noticing this quickly intervened.

'Harry, you should no that when briefly waking before, Cenius was able to tell us the last thing he remembered in vague detail.'

'Oh, what did he say?' Harry asked, sending a scathing look at Healer Turner.

'He says that he was in the dungeons when he last remembered anything.'

'What was he doing down there?'

'He says professor Snape had asked him to stay behind after a potions lesson so he could give him a message to give to his Uncle, meaning professor Flitwick.'

'So he was hit coming back from the dungeons.' Harry said, hoping Dumbledore would catch his undertone. He wasn't disappointed.

'Yes. That still doesn't help us Harry, now let's see if Cenius is fit to be asked more questions maybe we will get some clues to who his attacker was.' Dumbledore then moved forward and slid between the curtains that surrounded Cenius's bed.

But Cenius was not fit for questioning as Harry found out as he made his way through the curtains. Lying peacefully on his bed with blood pooling in the centre of his chest around a black dagger, was Cenius Flitwick… Dead.

Harry sat down for dinner that night stunned. He didn't talk to anyone or even look like he knew someone was there. He had been like this ever since the events this afternoon. As he sat there around his friends that were throwing him worried glances he thought about the things that transpired earlier…

Harry walked up to Cenius's corpse and retrieved the dagger from his limp body. He thought about the way he felt when his skin touched the hilt of the shadowed dagger. For that is what it was, Harry believed it now. Voldemort had somehow become a Shadow Elemental, and someone in the school was working for him.

He was still in this thoughtful mode even when he was sitting in Dumbledore's office with the rest of the staff of Hogwarts.

Poor old professor Flitwick was being comforted by professor's, McGonagall and Sprout. Snape, Vector and Sinistra were talking in hushed voices near the fire doing what most of the others present were doing. Trying to figure out what happened. Meanwhile Dumbledore and retired Auror and former DADA teacher Kingsley Shacklebolt were putting their brilliant minds together.

'Someone obviously didn't want Cenius telling anybody what happened.' Kingsley said with a low rumble.

'Yes, I have to say it looks that way. What do you think Harry?' Dumbledore said seriously. Harry didn't answer, he was far away, saying a name in his head over and over again. He finally voiced what he had been thinking when he was touched comfortingly on the shoulder by Dumbledore.

'Malfoy. It had to be Malfoy. It all points to him.' Harry said dangerously.

'Harry we cant prove it?' Dumbledore said softly. Having Dumbledore tell him more than once that it couldn't be proved sent Harry over the edge, that he stood up so fast that it scared the old man.

'How much proof do you want?' Harry shouted angrily, drawing all attention in the room on him.

'Cenius was attacked in the dungeons were it is known that only Slytherins can inhabit the place. He was killed with a weapon that looks remarkably like his broom wouldn't you say professor? Plus Malfoy was also more than a little fidgety at lunch, right before we found Cenius. I swear if you don't do something now professor than I'm going to take things into my own hands and I wont be responsible for my actions.' He let his threat hang in the air while he stared hard at Dumbledore. The old man crumbled under Harry's gaze and he turned his blue gaze away until it landed on the potions master.

'Severus please fetch me Draco Malfoy… and a bottle of Veritaserum.' Snape looked as though he wanted to argue, but turned round and left to get the person who would answer all their questions.

Harry slumped back down in his seat wearily. To have a death in Hogwarts right under his nose upset him terribly. He just hoped that all his theories would prove right once they had questioned Malfoy. He folded his hands over one another and waited for the return of Snape and Malfoy… and waited… and waited. Finally he heard the rumble of the stone gargoyle moving. He sat up a little straighter and perched himself on the edge of his chair. The door to Dumbledore's office burst open and Snape barged in looking ragged and sweaty.

'He's gone headmaster. Malfoy's left Hogwarts!'

Harry shook his head to get rid of all the horrid memories. He looked up at Dumbledore and saw that the old headmaster was currently explaining the events that had taken place, leaving out the murder and coincidental disappearance of Draco Malfoy along the way. Harry looked around the great hall and saw many mixed reactions. The Slytherins looked as if they didn't care. The Gryffindors were sending glares of pure hatred at the snakes. The Hufflepuff table were giving sympathetic gestures to the mourners of Cenius and the Ravenclaw's had there heads lowered as a sign of respect for who was one of their own.

Harry then shifted his gaze to the ceiling were black banners hung from every rafter, not unlike the scene just after Cedric Diggory had died.

'Another one of Hogwarts lost.' Harry mumbled quietly. He jumped slightly when he felt a soft hand touch his own. Looking back down he met eyes with a warm brown pair that was transferring warmth through their stare.

'You'll get him Harry, Malfoy will pay for what he has done.' Hermione whispered fiercely. Harry sent back a small smile, he tuned his mind in for the last part of Dumbledore's speech.

'-And, now children, it is time for bed. I only ask you to remember Cenius, as the hyperactive, gentle little wizard he was and not the deceived puppet of Voldemort that he became.' He then lowered himself slowly into his chair and watched all those that were placed under his protection walk away with heavy hearts.

A fire started burning more ferociously in his heart as he watched all of Cenius friends trudge out of the hall.

He wanted Malfoy's blood… He wanted to do what Malfoy had done to Cenius… He wanted to kill…

His aura rose so that those few that were still in the hall turned to look at what was happening to the Boy-Who-Lived. Harry's eyes became unfocused as he started trembling. Harry was lost to the outside world, ignoring calls made by Hermione and his friends to get him to calm down. Closing his eye lids, Harry welcome the dark as it enveloped him. He embraced it as one would an old friend. The seat that Harry was sitting on started shaking uncontrollably. By now most of the school had come back and were standing outside the hall trying to figure out what was happening with their hero.

An eerie cold voice then reverberated around the hall, shaking the foundations of Hogwarts.

Soon Potter… very soon.

The voice trailed off creepily, whether friend or foe was to be seen. As the last note finished Harry collapsed in his seat into Hermione's waiting arms. Without waiting she called for her staff and apparated herself and Harry away to their bedroom.

Flyin Eagle.