DISCLAIMER: I DO NOT OWN HARRY POTTER OR ANY OF THE SONGS SUNG HERE IN THIS FIC!
THE BOYS WHO LIVED
Chapter 12: Dark Lords and Elvin Concerts
SOMEWHERE UNKNOWN
A small form scurried across the darkness as it found its way through the forest towards a deserted hut but even appearances can be deceiving. Running along on all forms a rather large rat made his way towards the basement of this abandoned house. Running down he avoided various traps set out to kill him and the occasional snake or cat. When he finally made his way into the most inner part of the basement it turns out not to be a basement at all but a long dark passageway that leads deep underground. The ground under the paws of the rat was cold and uninviting, but the rat having run these halls before knew every crack and crevice to be had. He ran off to find that spot where he knew would be the fastest way to the chamber he sought.
When he finally got there the room opened up to a vast chamber with vents going above ground. The ceiling was around as high as a cathedral with torches magically burning without any smoke and air flowed through the room from an unknown source. There was no one in there save a lone occupant, two in fact the first being a serpent curled around the legs of another form. The other was a man a rather tall man dressed in dark robes with his hood down. His graying hair and deep red eyes would make any man squirm in his seat but the rat knew the man well. His pale skin combined with his reptilian face gave him the look of a serpent as he turned his sort of Elvin features towards the rat. "What have you got for me Wormtail?" the man hissed and the rat slowly shifted his form to that of a rather fat and cowardly man.
The man in turn would remind you of a rat with his overly large incisors and long and obviously cracked nails. His features were falling apart with his shabby robe and large belly. The man sniffed as he kneeled and turned his eyes to the ground as if addressing a god. "My lord I bring word from Hogwarts," he said, "What of the Malfoy boy?" the man hissed. Wormtail cringed as he said in slow syllables, "He is a traitor my lord he has forsaken his mission and sided with Potter and Dumbledore," he said and the man growled, "Bring me Narcissa Malfoy NOW!" he barked and shadows ran into the darkness from which Wormtail watched as they returned with another form.
Narcissa Malfoy kneeled in front of the dark lord and removed her hood but her mask remained on her face, "Remove your mask," he commanded and she did so. Her face held fear as the dark lord walked over to her, "Did you know the penalty for betrayal Narcissa?" he hissed and she went pale, "My lord surely I have done…." SLAP! He backhanded her and she flew through the room and landed on the ground with a crack. She tasted blood in her mouth as he walked over to her and sent a Crucio her way. She screamed and flew again at the amount of force used for the spell. "I gave your son explicit orders to kill Dumbledore in any means possible and what I got is a traitor!" he screamed, "Your loyalty is unbound that amount I know but there are others like your son for example who have turned their backs on me," he said and she bowed low on her knees and sobbed, "I don't know my lord he was so loyal and excited by this mission I know not what came over him this year," she said honestly and the dark one looked at her, "Well we shall see WORMTAIL!" he hollered.
The man in question flew himself forward towards his master's feet and groveled. "What is it my master wishes," he said, "You have more news I hope from Hogwarts," he said and the man nodded "Yes apparently there has been an accident involving blood magic my lord," he said, "Blood magic?" now the dark lord was interested, "Yes my lord Potter and his friends including young Malfoy was involved and now they all bare the dark mark," he said and the dark lord turned to him, "Who was involved?" he asked, "Of course Potter was involved along with his two friends Granger and Weasley a couple of Potter's fellow dorm mates, Malfoy's boy, the Longbottom boy and a Muggle," he said and the dark lord raised and eyebrow, "interesting" the dark lord said as he walked towards the groveling man. "You say a Muggle is with them?" he said, "Yes master," Wormtail replied shaking uncontrollably.
"Tell me Wormtail I am curious as to why a Muggle is with them," the dark lord said, "My lord the Muggle carries the dark mark and from what I have learned has been doing so for as far as she can remember. Either she is actually a squib or she had been adopted sir," Wormtail replied shaking, "Where did this girl come from?" the dark lord demanded, "It seems form her accent American sir," he said and the dark lord hissed so low that everyone bent over in pain as the dark mark burned into them. "AMERICAN!" he hissed and they all cowered into the shadows leaving Wormtail to fend for himself.
The dark lord then grabbed Wormtail and held him up to eye point, "Tell me Wormtail what does she look like?" he asked his face shown with anger beyond reasoning. "She is American with long black hair unless angry then it turns white…..dark brown almost black eyes but again changed to gold and almost demon-like when angry sir," Wormtail said and Voldemort looked at his servant with fire in his blood red eyes, "She is here! " nearly bellowed, "Who is she my lord?" another asked and Voldemort sent a Crucio in her direction. The woman in turn fell to her knees in pain as the bolt of magic hit her square.
"That my dear Bellatrix is the soul reason for my fowl mood," he said as he paced, "Do you recall the thunderbird project?" he asked and she instantly stiffened, "Is that the operation you were working on my lord all those years ago?" she said and the dark lord sent another Crucio in her direction. The witch fell to her knees in pain.
"Yes my dear Bella that is the exact project I was working on all those years ago. The original thunderbirds were killed and I sent their chick to live in the States I had transfigured her into a human with a sealing mark on it as to prevent it from becoming its true form. I sealed the power that, that creature contains and from what you are telling me…" he said walking towards the cowering crowd, "is that the chick has returned to England?" he said his voice dangerously low. Wormtail backed away his face pale as a sheet and the others backed away from their lord's wrath as he sent a crucio to everyone of them.
"I want you to find out as much as you can about this girl Wormtail and when you do return to me with the slightest news of the ought most importance understood!" he said and Wormtail nodded as he backed away from the group disappearing into the shadows and the scurrying of feet could be heard and the slight chattering of a rat.
WINCHESTER HIGH SCHOOL
Harry woke with a headache after returning to the school a few nights before and the new term began with a bunch of exams. He and the others also felt the events of the previous day come crashing down. Christmas was a disaster with them feeling the effects of the blood oath as well as other problems that came with associating with Hakkai. The main problem came when Hermione and Dean adjusted a few of the instruments due to cracks and bends. They were able to practice again.
As the days into the new semester kicked in the group began to grow tenser as the year swung by. Pretty much nothing happened till April when the year was beginning to come to a close. The contest and the assignment due date for music class grew closer as May approached and then the first week of June. Hakkai became more then brutal with practice but the boys by now were used to her methods and thus adapted. Hermione being their tutor for their classes helped them through their subjects. Hakkai also being good in her classes helped them with study hall.
It was around the last week of April when the teacher announced the day of the contest.
"Alright class settle down!" she said and the class settled down. "As you all know the Annual Spring Bazaar is coming up on the 20th of May so I hoped you've all been practicing your parts and your music pieces. There will be a lot of people turning up for this event so I hope you all are ready. As you know this event is given every year by the Art's and Performing Art's department. Your families will be there to see you perform at your best so I best let you know you will be performing your best," she said and wrote the lesson plan of the day and she wants everyone to practice.
"Bloody hell can't she be any worse then she already is!" Ron grumbled as they sat at the lunch table. "Look at it this way mate when the contest gets out of the way we can be our normal selves," Seamus said. "You can say that again!" Draco complained as he ate his sandwich. "Oh yeah I forgot," said Neville said glancing at his arm. "My father was furious before I came back here with you lot and about the mark. You see the mark changed so it means something to Voldemort……" it was then that Kai held up her hand and they all silenced. She hissed softly to them, 'put the past behind you all for this Voldemort you keep talking about seems like nothing more then a spoiled child that needs a spanking.' She hissed and they all laughed at the vision that produced.
'Now onto further matters as you all know the concert is not due for another three months so practice will increase to four out of the seven days a week with three days off. Unlike other people I don't want to wear out my players. And the week before the concert you will take a break. That way no one will be able to give me any excuses for tiredness or over practice. In that time I want you to rest and do homework if you are tired for that time then Dean will take one of your places since his job is also second player of any instrument it is in his job description. Now any questions?' She said and they all looked at her amused. Ever since they were assigned to have her help those with their music Hakkai had warmed up a lot towards them and only them. Others she will treat accordingly as she would tolerate nothing from others.
Voldemort's attacks began to increase and so did the nightly pains the others receive and so they decided to comfort Hakkai when she felt them for she and Harry have received them the worst. Harry's is mostly through his scar and Hakkai through the dark mark.
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It was well into April when a loud 'pop' could be heard one morning and they looked up to see Dobby the house elf standing above Harry's bed. "Is the great Harry Potter glad to see Dobby!" the elf said enthusiastically as he jumped up and down on Harry's bed. "Potter will you shut that bloody house elf up!" Draco complained as he rolled over in his bed. "Master Malfoy should wake as well," Dobby said and with that he snapped his fingers and Draco flew out of bed.
Landing on his bottom Draco glared at the elf, "What do you want Dobby?" he asked nicely while glaring daggers. "Well Draco Malfoy sir Dobby was sent by other house elves to ask a favor of the great Harry Potter and his wondrous band sir," Dobby explained, "Well what do you want to tell us?" asked a now awake Seamus, "Well Dobby was asked to ask yous to perform for us sir….at Hogwarts," Dobby said, "What? Why?" asked Neville looking nervous, "Well we heard your strange but awakening music sirs and well we house elves seemed to like it sir. We understand if you can't perform it……" Dobby said shyly and the boys looked at each other. "Who else would like this concert?" asked Ron before Harry could say anything. "Well sir that is just the thing it seems that everyone at Hogwarts the portraits, ghosts, house elves and well a few others would like to hear your strange music," Dobby said, "Well some of it is rather screechy and not really your type Dobby," said Harry, "It is alright Harry Potter sir, Dobby does not mind at all," the house elf said to him and Harry felt grateful.
Dobby it turns out explained that the other permanent inhabitants of Hogwarts asked for them to do a special concert for them during the last week of term preferably the last full day before the students leave. It was a request from most of the Hogwarts body, not just the elves, ghosts and portraits; but from the student body as well. It turns out that the students who were at the school during the winter break had heard the practice sessions, and most being Muggle born explained to their pureblood counter parts what rock and roll is. It was also discussed with the headmaster and he allowed it just because it would give the students a sense of relaxation after their exams sir," Dobby said and the boys raised their eye brows in a classic Snape-like fashion. "Hold on a second Dobby while we discussed this," he said and the house elf waited while the boys gathered at the far end of the room.
"A concert at Hogwarts!" squeaked Seamus, "But are we ready for one yet?" asked Ron, "I don't know," Replied Harry, "We will have to discuss this with Kai," said Dean. They then turned to Dobby, "Well we can't come to a full decision without telling our coach and manager Hakkai," said Harry and Dobby nodded, "Dobby will wait here sir till you return," he said.
Walking down the corridor the boys managed to make it to the lunch hall where Kai was waiting for them. She made a motion for all of them to sit and while they sat they explained to her about Dobby's request.
"I see so you were asked by an elf to perform for a magic school eh?" she said amused, "Yes ma'am," said Seamus, "Well when do he proposed we do this?" Hakkai said, "When we return to Hogwarts in June," said Harry, "Then we will agree to those terms and on what day do you expect to perform?" Kai was truly curious now, "The night before term ends and everyone leaves," Harry replied. "Alright that leaves us three weeks after the official performance to do this," she said eagerly. "Tell Dobby we will do it but on the condition that we do it our way and will oblige by any rules. The spells for the equipment must be put on so they will work and your headmaster must give us at least two to three days prior so we can set up," Hakkai replied and Harry nodded.
Dobby waited patiently his uneven socks and funny dressed outfit and was fiddling with making another sock. He had already cleaned the room and prepped the instruments when the door opened and in walked the boys. "Well do you have an answer for Dobby?" the elf asked, "We accept your offer," Harry said, "We will perform for Hogwarts on the last full day of term on the condition that you give us two days prior to set up," he said and Dobby nodded, "Dobby will pass this one to Master Dumbledore sir," with that he vanished with a soft 'pop'.
TBC