Harry Potter and the Mind Mage

By James Milamber

A/N: For those of you who don't already know, I posted a revised version of chapter 60 the other day. I'd suggest you read it – it's much improved over the previous version, mostly in the conversation between Arthur and Harry, and the very end. Thanks to everyone who gave honest criticisms – you helped make the chapter much better, IMHO.

Also, I have a new Beta! Since Creative Quill seems to have at least temporarily left the world of fan fiction behind – and I know I, for one, am greatly saddened by one of the finest writers on this site – I have been compelled to find someone new. Three cheers for dress-without-sleeves! Of course, she's just gone away for five weeks with no Internet access…so it's kinda moot for the moment, but still. Of course, the obligatory shameless plug – she's brilliant at everything from the weird and wacky to deeply emotive stuff, although mostly one-shots. Anyway, go read her stuff! I command you! Go, my minions! After you've read this chapter, of course. :)


Harry wasn't exactly sure when he dropped off to sleep – it seemed to happen in an instant, between one breath and the next. He had a brief flash of pure darkness before he opened his eyes again – only he was no longer sitting in Gryffindor tower with the others.

It was the same room – the one he had seen months ago, in his dreams at Privet Drive. The distinctly serpentine form of Lord Voldemort sat on his massive granite throne, gazing imperiously at several Death Eaters gathered in the room.

'We are almost prepared, my Lord,' one of them said smoothly. 'A couple of months to refine and counteract anything the Old Man might come up with, and we shall be ready to begin.'

Voldemort smiled humourlessly. 'Excellent. I must applaud your efforts, Williamson. It is nice to finally see some competence among those who serve me.'

Several of the other Death Eaters visibly winced as the one called Williamson bowed sinuously. 'I live but to serve you, my Lord.'

'I can only hope your loyalty is contagious,' Voldemort stared pointedly at the assembled black-robed men. 'What news on the traitor?'

'My Lord,' Harry recognised the silky voice of Snape as he stepped forward and bowed. 'We have made little progress so far, although there are a few leads I am currently investigating.' Harry couldn't help but be amused at the irony of the traitor being appointed head of the inquiry to locate himself.

Voldemort nodded slowly. 'I have every confidence in your abilities, Severus. Do not disappoint.'

The Dark Lord gestured dismissively, and the Death Eaters left the room. 'Make sure Malfoy knows what is required of him,' he said to Williamson, who alone of the group remained in attendance.

'It will be done, my Lord,' the Death Eater bowed again. 'I shall see to it myself.'


Harry blinked as his eyes snapped open, revealing not a cold room somewhere in Voldemort's lair, but the welcoming red and gold of the Gryffindor common room. It was rather late, and the younger members of the earlier gathering were taking advantage of the fact that the adults had all retired for the night. He was half laying on Ginny, whose fingers were absently stroking his hair as she talked to Charlie. No one seemed to have noticed that he had not been awake.

He debated with himself briefly whether he should say something of his vision, but decided against it. He would speak with Dumbledore first – maybe the Headmaster would have some information about the plan Voldemort was concocting.

'Where's Fred?' Ron asked suddenly, looking up from where he'd been watching Hermione and Isabelle talking quietly.

'He was here a minute ago,' George shrugged.

'For that matter, where's Cassie?' Isabelle narrowed her eyes.

'Dunno,' Alex replied with slightly exaggerated casualness.

'Bollocks,' Isabelle gave a very un-ladylike snort. 'You always know where she is, just as she knows where you are. Now, where are they?'

Alex and George glanced at each other, and both shrugged. 'We have no idea,' they said in unison.

'Do I detect a whiff of collusion?' Percy said with a faint smile.

Just then, the Fat Lady swung outwards, and Fred and Cassie climbed through. As they made their way over to the fire, Harry blinked in surprise.

The fact that they were together was not all that unusual – they could have been out pranking someone. What was unusual, and drew the attention of everyone in the room, was the fact that they were holding hands.

'What?' Cassie asked quizzically as they approached the fire. 'Have we suddenly sprouted another head or something?' She checked herself and Fred over.

'Zaphod Beeblebrox!' Alex said with a grin. Everyone bar Cassie, who instead returned the grin, turned to stare at him with blank incomprehension. 'I really must introduce you lot to the wonders of Douglas Adams,' he said with a sigh. 'So, I take it you found the cupboard handy then?'

'Very,' Fred smirked. It was only then that Harry noticed Cassie's lips were looking rather…swollen. So were Fred's, for that matter. He couldn't quite stop the smile from crossing his face.

Ron was spluttering incoherently. 'What…but…Fred…'

'As verbose as every, Ronnikins,' Fred rolled his eyes.

'Would you mind sharing what you were up to, before Ron has a fit?' Hermione asked pointedly.

Cassie and Fred glanced at each other. 'You know, for a genius, she's remarkably dense sometimes,' Fred said conversationally.

'I've noticed that from time to time,' Cassie agreed.

Alex grinned at the bushy-haired girl. 'If you can't guess what they were doing, then quite obviously dear Ronnikins has been sorely neglecting you.' Both Hermione and Ron turned bright red, and Harry had to fight down another laugh. Beside him, he clearly felt Ginny shaking in silent giggles. Bill and Charlie were grinning openly, and even Percy was smiling.

'I thought you were going out with Angelina!' Ron protested to Fred.

'Just because I was going out with Angelina when I left Hogwarts doesn't mean I was going to marry her, Ron,' Fred said coolly.

'But…' Ron spluttered.

Alex rolled his eyes at the redhead. 'Ron, seriously, do you want to be the target of the next six months of pranking? Shut up while you're still ahead – or have a head.'

'So are you two an item, or what?' Charlie asked, an odd twinkle in his eyes.

'Oh, I think I can put up with him,' Cassie said with exaggerated nonchalance.

'She has her moments,' Fred grinned.

'Isn't she too young for you?' Ron tried another tack. For some reason, he seemed to be rather against the pairing.

Now it was Cassie's turn to roll her eyes. 'Ron, you moron, I'll be seventeen in February. Fred is only nineteen in April, you know. That's less than two years.'

'But you'll be stuck at Hogwarts! How are you even going to see each other?'

'What is this, the Spanish Inquisition?' Isabelle asked, one eyebrow raised. 'Leave them alone, Ron.'

Ron threw his hands up in the air. 'Fine!' He crossed his arms across his chest, muttering to himself under his breath.

'Besides,' Fred said smugly to his younger brother, 'she's a great kisser.'

'Of course I am,' Cassie said loftily. 'I'm a Milton.'

'Does that mean Alex is a great kisser too?' Bill asked, a smirk crossing his features.

'Oh, absolutely,' Isabelle grinned at the eldest Weasley, linking her arm with Alex's possessively.

'Can we please change the subject,' Ron pleaded. Harry looked at him quizzically, wondering what on earth had him so against the match.

'He's afraid they'll start using him for experiments,' Ginny breathed in his ear, seeming once again to read his thoughts. 'He's seen what they're both capable of, and if you put both sets of twins together…' She left it hanging. Harry had to wince.

'Alright, new topic,' Isabelle said as Cassie and Fred sat – the former almost on top of the latter. Fred didn't seem to mind. 'I think it's time for another explanation from Gryffindor's resident super genius. What the bloody hell was with that phoenix?'

Hermione straightened in her chair, and Harry immediately recognised the signs of her "lecture mode". 'According to legend, Hermes was the messenger of the Greek Gods, who were actually very early wizards. Supposedly he was a handsome, athletic man who flew through the air with winged sandals, and carried a herald's staff given to him by Zeus, the leader of the Gods.'

'The story might have been twisted along the way somewhere,' Charlie said. 'I've never seen that sort of Phoenix before, but I've read about them. Unlike normal Phoenixes, like Fawkes, the Royal Phoenix can continue to regenerate itself indefinitely.'

'It's immortal,' Alex translated.

Charlie nodded. 'Supposedly, they were all hunted centuries ago – apparently their feathers made nearly unbreakable quills.'

'This would seem to disprove that theory,' Isabelle said dryly.

'It would make sense for early wizards to use a phoenix as a messenger,' Harry put in thoughtfully. 'They can travel instantaneously to anywhere they want, I've seen Fawkes do it. It would be much quicker than owls, and probably even Apparition.'

Hermione nodded her agreement. 'So, if we're correct, this Phoenix would have to be at least five thousand years old, maybe much more.'

Bill let out a long, low whistle. 'That's an old bird,' he noted. 'I have to admit, I've seen pictures in old tombs in Egypt that might be the same thing. They're always of a blue bird with parchment in its talons, surrounded by fire. I never really took much notice until now.'

'So both the Egyptians and the Greeks used these special phoenixes as messengers,' Harry summed up. 'So why would one appear at Hogwarts now?'

Hermione shook her head. 'I don't know, you should speak with Professor Dumbledore. The phoenix – Hermes – said it was asked to come by him, so he must know. Maybe it has something to do with this second prophecy?'

Harry shrugged non-committedly. He had so far been unable to draw the prophecy out of James, who seemed to be the only one besides Dumbledore who knew it.

'There's one other thing,' Hermione added. 'The herald's staff I mentioned was also called Caduceus. It was a winged rod that was often depicted with two serpents entwining the shaft, representing the primordial elements of order and chaos. Harry, that's what's on your amulet!'

Startled, Harry withdrew the piece in question and studied it. As Hermione had said, the winged rod – Caduceus – formed the centre of the amulet, only it had the basilisk wrapped around the shaft instead of two snakes. The twin emerald eyes of the serpent glinted in the firelight. Yet another question that needed answers.

'You seem to have this thing for attracting weird animals, mate,' Ron grinned, seemingly over his earlier sullenness. 'First the snake, then Padfoot, and now a bloody phoenix!'

'Ron! Don't swear,' Hermione scolded, slapping him lightly on the arm.

'Snake?' Percy asked apprehensively.

Harry nodded at Ginny, who rolled up the sleeve of her left arm to show the small, bright green snake wrapped tightly around her wrist and lower arm. 'I keep forgetting she's there,' she admitted with a small smile.

'She?' Percy's voice shook slightly.

'Her name is Zith,' Ginny extended her arm so her brothers could get a good look. Charlie seemed fascinated, leaning forward to get a closer look, while Bill watched interestedly. Percy pulled back almost unconsciously, staring at the serpent wrapped around his sister's arm with caution clearly written on his face.

'She won't bite, Perce,' Ginny rolled her eyes at her brother.

'How do you know?'

'Because I asked her not to, that's why.'

Silence greeted her remark.

'Oops, did I forget to mention I'm a Parselmouth? How forgetful of me.'

The silence grew almost palpable. Of all her brothers, only Ron was unaffected – he had been around in the weeks where Harry and Ginny had chased off all the students flocking to the Boy-Who-Lived by holding extended conversations in the speech of snakes. He had grown used to it fairly quickly.

'Gin,' Harry said reprovingly, tucking his amulet away. 'Stop teasing your brothers.' Secretly, he was far happier than he let on – the fact that she could joke about her gift was an indication she had come to fully accept it.

Typically, it was Charlie who recovered first. Being around dragons all day tended to remove your fear of anything unusual. 'How long have you been able to speak Parseltongue, Gin-gin?'

'Since about last summer,' Ginny lied easily. She wasn't about to tell them the real source of her so called "gift". 'Dunno where it came from.' Hermione's eyes widened in shock briefly, obviously wondering why she wasn't telling her brothers the truth. She shared a quick glance with Ron, who shrugged almost imperceptibly.

Percy, on the other hand, had an odd look on his face. 'Isn't that about the time you…ahh…got together with Harry?'

Ginny's eyes narrowed dangerously. 'And just what are you implying, Percy?' she asked icily. Her tone quite plainly said that she hadn't entirely forgiven her brother, despite the encounter earlier. Ron also glared at his brother.

Percy looked at her helplessly. 'I'm just saying, Gin. Don't you think the timing is a bit peculiar?'

'You don't know all the details, so butt out,' Ron said bluntly. 'If you hadn't been out gallivanting around with the Ministry, you'd probably know.'

'You don't need to rub my face in past mistakes, Ronald,' Percy said stiffly. 'I am fully aware I blundered.'

'Both of you, shut up,' Bill said, wearily pinching the bridge of his nose. 'Ron, stop attacking Percy. Percy, butt out. If Gin says it's fine, it's fine.'

'I never thought to ask, is she poisonous?' Alex asked Harry.

'I have no idea,' Harry admitted. 'I'm not about to have her bite someone so I can find out.'

'One happens to be quite deadly, Master,' Zith hissed almost proudly. 'It takes but a minute for my venom to still the heart of my target, be he man or animal.'

'She says she usually kills something in about a minute,' Harry translated.

'That's pretty deadly,' Charlie noted.

Zith raised her head and regarded the red head through dull, serpentine eyes. 'Does this one honestly think one would be sent to be guardian for the Light One if one was not equipped to protect him?'

'Sent? Sent by who?' Ginny asked curiously.

'One may not say, mistress,' Zith shook her head in a peculiar gesture from a snake.

'I hate it when they say that,' Ginny muttered, slumping back into her seat.

Fred and George shared a look, and both turned to Harry. 'Translation?'

'She said she was sent to protect me, but wouldn't say who sent her,' Harry said with a slight frown.

Isabelle scowled. 'More riddles,' she said sourly.

'What, you were expecting them to just come straight out and tell us anything?' Alex snorted. 'That would make things too easy.'

'Well, while this conversation is absolutely fascinating,' Cassie said as she rose to her feet and pulled Fred up after her, 'I have some important business to attend to. Mind if I steal one of your brothers, Gin?'

'Go ahead,' the youngest Weasley smirked. 'Although why you'd settle for one of those prats, I'll never know.'

'Aww, she loves me!' Fred pretended to cry as he was dragged through the portrait hole by his new girlfriend.

'I knew it!' George sobbed, throwing himself across the room and hugging Ginny tightly. Harry had the sense to dive out of the way before he was swept up too. 'Our ickle sister wuves us!'

'George!' Ginny tried to scold her brother, but it was somewhat marred by the fact that she was trying very hard not to laugh. 'Get off me, you great prat! Harry, help me out here!'

'Oh no,' Harry shook his head. 'I'm not getting involved.'

'Traitor,' Ginny pouted as she shoved George away from her.

Bill chuckled as George fell to the floor with a dull thump. 'Well, I don't know about you lot, but I'm going to bed. We have a big day tomorrow.'

'We do?' Harry asked curiously.

'Yes. We do,' Bill said firmly. 'Now, everyone off to bed before Mum comes down here and starts yelling.'

That caused a scurry from the Weasley's. Bill, Charlie and George left the common room via the portrait hole, destined for the rooms Dumbledore had set aside for their use. Isabelle and Hermione climbed the stairs to the girls dorms after saying good night to their boyfriends, while Harry, Ginny, Ron and Alex headed up to the boys dorms.

'Nice to be able to do this without an invisibility cloak,' Ginny muttered in Harry's ear as they entered the dorm.

'Just be glad Mum hasn't found out about this,' Ron said sourly. 'She'd have your head, you know. Both of you.'

Ginny waved him off airily. 'Dumbledore told me that he's already told Mum about it. She wasn't happy, but she knows it's necessary.' Her eyes hardened. 'Besides, if she thinks anything is going to stop me, she's sorely mistaken.'

Ron held up his hands in surrender. 'I'm just saying, is all,' he said placatingly.

Alex nodded approvingly. 'Finally, Ron, you're getting the idea.' Ron hurled his pillow across the room at the other boy, who simply laughed and threw it back.

When they were all firmly ensconced in their own beds, and Ginny had drifted off to sleep, Harry lay awake for some time, reflecting over the odd day. He had hardly expected Percy's appearance, or sudden turnaround, even if Charlie and Bill said it had happened some time ago. A small part of him remained suspicious, but Percy had seemed genuine enough. And then, of course, there was the phoenix…and the odd dream vision. He had thought Ginny's presence was supposed to block that link – evidently this was not entirely the case. The one thing that made this one stand out above all the others, though, was there had been no pain involved at all.

Some hours later, he finally drifted off into a restless sleep, his mind whirling with questions – and no answers in sight.


A/N: And finally, Cassie is paired up. I hadn't really intended for that to happen, but you've all been quite insistant that she get with someone, so I decided to change things a bit. Gods, can you imagine those two together? For that matter, can you imagine the Weasley and Milton twins working together? Hogwarts doesn'tstand a chance…

Review Responses:

MarvinIsMyIdol: Twisted ways of my mind? I think I can take that as a compliment…worry not, I'm not abandoning HPMM any time soon. I've put too much work into it to stop now…

compulsivereader: Sorry I didn't answer your question before – sometimes I miss things. The elements have nothing to do with the Prophecy – you'll find out more about that in a few chapters. And no, the Milton's are not going to replace Gred and Forge – even they aren't THAT good. Things are about to change very drastically for the Milton family…other than that, I'm not saying a word.

charmingly-holly: YES! I AM GOD! BOW DOWN BEFORE ME, INSOLANT MORTAL! LOL…seriously though, I can't do the Pegasus thing. I'm not Hercules you know. I'm much more partial to Anubis, actually…

Monaki-cheung: The last Defense class was before the tournament – Harry cancelled it. It was in there somewhere. The last 15 chapters or so have been either holidays or the tournament, so no classes – and Dumbledore told Harry a few chapters ago that he'd organized someone else to take the classes while Harry trained.

vampiremusician: Of course. It's me.

Priestess of Dan: Of course Percy's comeback was cheesy – PERCY is cheesy.

Jane Average: Cheers. You're right, it is a lot to keep track of, which is probably why I keep forgetting things.

YelloWitchGrl: Thank you for your honesty – you inspired the re-write of the last chapter. I hope it's a bit better this time around.

floyddickey: No, GoF, we can always hope.

Dree: Why yes, I do – I also remember that I didn't used to have a life. Ahh, good times…

Ginny2026: Cheers for sticking with me for so long…even through some rather protracted absences. If you want to re-read, go to my Yahoo! Group (the link is in my Profile) – I'm slowly posting a revised version of HPMM there.

MioNeGr1000: If you still haven't worked out how to sign up, all you have to do is click the "Register" button near the top of the page. The sign up process is fairly self explanatory, especially since has recently revamped everything. Detailed instructions are provided. Good luck!

Kordolin: I was wondering where you'd gotten to…thanks for sticking with me.

Saerry Snape: I'm glad you approve. I just couldn't let that spell slip by…I've been planning that scene ever since I first mentioned Harry and Niamh's little book…(smirks evilly)

YouShouldSeeMyOtherPenName: Thanking you kindly for your wonderful praise. I think creating a set of OC's that actually fit into the HP Universe is my crowning achievement – so many OC's are simply Mary Sue/Gary Stu's or self insertion. That so many people actually like the characters I've created never fails to bring a smile to my face. Cheers!

Lily the klutz: Again, sorry about the last chapter…it's been revamped, and hopefully it's now up to scratch.

Larna Mandrea: I'm getting quicker! Kinda…

dress-without-sleeves: Of course it doesn't…McGonagall wasn't around. ;)

harrypotterfan777777: Hermes has one, very special task – but you'll have to keep reading to find out.