Harry Potter and the Emerald Raindrop
AkashaWinters
Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter or any of the Harry Potter world. JK Rowling owns the Harry Potterverse anyone who doesn't know that should be exiled to Mars, I make exceptions only for poor penniless people in remote corners of third world countries, who cannot read and don't have the money to buy the overly priced one – thousand paged books. I make no money from my poor attempt at fanfiction. A necklace of raindrops was written by Joan Aiken, I do not own any of the rights etc.
A/N: I now have four pieces of fanart to go with this story, two charcoal sketchs, one of Pasco (Sir Michael's horse), one of Megan's two tabby kittens, and two acrylic paintings; one of Harry riding Taz on Hogwarts grounds and another of Megan in her patch work dress. If anyone would like to give his or her opinion of them please leave a review with some way of contact. Thanks for all your support!
VERY IMPORTANT A/N: I have to apologise for my lateness of this chapter, I have two reasons for this, firstly I have an ongoing illness which means I have to spend a lot of time at Doctors and Hospitals and don't get as much time as I'd like to do stuff like this. Secondly, I have a pony! You heard it! My 14hh Bay Welsh Cob mare called Jessica, love you lots!
Chapter 17
Lucius Malfoy
Having decided that there was little hope of getting back to sleep, Harry took a long cold shower and changed into his Hogwarts robes before making his way down to the great hall for breakfast. It was still very early when he arrived and there were very few people up yet; one or two Slytherins and a few Ravenclaws, but Harry was the only Gryffindor about, and there was not a single Hufflepuff up yet. In fact the only teachers at the staff table where Mr.Petasus, the new Defence against the dark arts teacher and a member of the travelling group who was reading a newspaper, and Professor Snape, who was drinking an awful lot of what Harry suspected to be coffee, and wincing as though he had a migraine. Harry smirked at the idea of the slimy bastard not being a morning person, until he remember the reason why he himself was up so early and quickly dragged his eyes away blushing, he was not quick enough as Snape looked up and caught him staring.
Harry spent the rest of breakfast with his eyes firmly fixed on his plate until Hermione and Ron finally arrived.
"Morning mate" Ron yawned dropping into the seat next to Harry. Hermione took her place on the other side of Harry, nose down into a book.
"What's that you're reading?" He asked interested. Ron snorted and gave Harry a look, he did have a point Harry thought, lessons hadn't even started yet.
"Old wizarding folklore. After you told us about you dreams and what Mrs.Thyme told you, I've been researching folklore. This is, I can find very little, most of the great events of the wizarding world were always well documented or recorded, so folklore simply doesn't exist as it does in the muggle world." Hermione explained frowning as she shut the book. "The only reference I can find to a messenger is Mercury, the winged daemon messenger who supposedly existed around Merlin's era, the same winged messenger of the Greek muggle myth. And there are no references to any Laura's at all!"
Harry smiled relaxed, "The dreams didn't seem threatening and if they were trying to warn me of something then it didn't seem to be too urgent so I wouldn't worry about it Hermione".
Hermione was about to reply when McGonagall came round with the timetables. All three Gryffindor pounced on them at once. There came a load grown from Ron and Harry.
"Double potions first thing on a Monday!" Ron cried, horrified.
Harry held a similar expression of despair and voiced all the six-year Gryffindor thoughts, "this is Voldemorts doing!"
Snape stormed towards his classroom, black robes billowing behind him. He was seething, staff timetable crumpled in one hand. 'How dare he! Albus was so…so…! ERG!' He had done it deliberately, Severus was sure, just to make sure his life that mush more miserable.
Ah yes, a small voice replied at the back of his head, but it could be worse, Longbottom, Crabbe and Goyle could still be in that class if it weren't for their dismal OWL results. Could be worse!
He silently snarled to the voice, 'Potter's in that class, or had you forgotten? Potter! That arrogant, insufferable brat!'
But that's not what you really think of Potter is, it Severus? The voice replied slyly.
'Of course it is!' Severus thought, slightly panicked and flustered.
Remembering that wonderfully erotic dream from last night are we? The voice smirked.
'Potter is a student!' He thought frantically, appalled at himself.
But he is a very sexy student… the voice suggested …and not a student for much longer…
'SHUT UP' He yelled as he stormed through the door of the potions room, slamming it behind him and yanking his chair out from under his desk and waved leaving instructions on the board as he took his customary seat glaring at nothing in particular.
"WELL?" He yelled as the frozen class of six years, "GET ON WITH IT!"
Despite the fowl mood Snape had been in, double potions hadn't gone too badly for Harry; in fact Harry had found it almost enjoyable. The memory modification potion there were making had come very easily to Harry, he just seemed to know when the potion needed an extra stir or what ingredient came next even without looking at the instructions on the board. Well, he thought to himself, if Potions was going to be like this from now on, Harry was in for a laughable year. When Snape had finally come round to check their finished potions he could not find fault with Harry's and simply sneered before turning to the unfortunate Weasley next to him, whose potion was a violent red instead of the pale yellow he had expected.
The rest of Harry's morning lessons continued with as much ease as Potions; in Defence Against the Dark Arts Harry had managed to conjure up a shield of raw blue magic without using his wand that no hex or curse from Ron could breach. He then threw miniature bolts of lightning and flame balls at Ron as he practiced shielding with little success, complaining that Harry was cheating by not using spells or hexes, the consequence of which Harry returned to using spells with his wand and Ron's shielding ability somewhat improved. Transfiguration was an even bigger success as Harry now found that with the right concentration, he could manipulate living things to change into something else, provided they had enough atoms. Although, Harry suspected that he could easily pull stray atoms from the surrounding area should he even need to. The result being that Harry had not only transfigured the feather on his table into a white bunny rabbit but the table and Hermione's feather too. Much to Hermione's aggravation Harry had not only managed this before her, but he had done it with out even toughing his wand or so much as lifting a finger.
Harry's new power and magical ability had not gone unnoticed by his teachers or his fellow students as while, as gypsy himself Mr. Petasus was extremely impressed by Harry's level of ability with natural or 'elemental' magic as Dumbledore had called it and Professor McGonagall very excited by this new found ability, they had both reminded Harry that he was meant to be practicing both subjects threw wizarding magic. However, after using such powerful magic, Harry was beginning to find wizarding magic very tame, taking mere seconds to complete the tasks set by his teachers using wizarding magic channelled through his wand. If anything, he was beginning to find his wand a hindrance.
As they returned to the great hall for lunch, he Ron and Hermione stopped short of the doors as the Headmaster, the Minister Fudge and Lucius Malfoy rounded the corner, an argument-taking place. The Golden Trio moved a bit closer to listen in, even though with the volume the men were shouting at, this was not altogether necessary.
"Appalling having such creatures near a school full of vulnerable children!" Lucius Malfoy spat out the word 'creatures' a look of complete distaste covering his porcelain face. Fudge did not look much happier with the situation.
"I quite agree, Lucius, I'm sorry Albus but it is quite inappropriate to allow such people to stay here, the Ministry cannot approve it!" Fudge concluded, making his way towards the castle doors.
"The ministry does not NEED to approve it, as Headmaster of the school I am in complete control of everything that happens within here grounds. This includes giving sanctuary to those in need; particularly groups of people who have already suffered a great loss caused by Voldemort's followers and may be convinced to join the war effort and fight for the light side in the near future." The Headmaster replied swiftly a dangerous gleam in his eye.
"You cannot possibly….!" Fudge began, only to be interrupted by the Malfoy Senior.
"You really think such worthless beings can be of use in a 'war effort'?" Lucius laughed coldly. "They are little more than rats, Dumbledore. The live in filth, with no estate or worth…and as for education, take a look for yourself! The children run round barefooted in dirty clothes, playing on the backs of muggle animals while pretending they understand the workings of magic! It's disgusting!"
A twinkle returned to Dumbledore's eyes. "Ah, Lucius, such a noble cause, I should have realised, you being the head of the governors! Of course, you a re right. How negligent of me! I will make sure that those children of Hogwarts age receive proper education in the appropriate subjects immediately." Fudge seemed a little flustered, and Lucius completely thrown of course. So Dumbledore continued in a business like manor as he herded them towards the door. "I'll have their timetables made this evening and they can be enrolled tomorrow morning. We have plenty of spare supplies including uniform and books and this is exactly the sort of this the Hogwarts trust was set up for."
As they reached the castle threshold a small blonde girl in a multicoloured dress came careering threw the doors two tabby kitten clutched in her tiny arms. Lucius raised an eyebrow and sneered at the young girl who had bumped into him, who froze looking at the scary blonde man towering over her.
"An what of these…children…who are not of Hogwarts age" He questioned, his gaze never leaving Megan.
"I assure you, all the children a home schooled and have very good level of intelligence…" Dumbledore replied coldly, the twinkle leaving his eyes, his statement seemed more like a warning.
" And who is this?" Fudge asked, having pulled himself together slightly, "What's your name, young lady?" he asked, in a voice that yelled forced politeness.
The young child hesitated, unsure at first, until one of her kittens let a meow, breaking the silence. "Megan…" She replied slowly.
"And where are your parents Megan?" Lucius asked, in a fake sweet voice, an evil smile began to form from the edge of his mouth. "They don't let you wander around on your own I hope, that could be very dangerous you know…" He trailed of giving Megan 'that look'. Harry knew 'that look', as his heart leapt into his mouth, he didn't like 'that look'.
The hall was now full with an audience, both students and teachers on the way to lunch and as Harry broke away from Ron and Hermione and made his way towards the three men, as he did so he was aware of Snape to his left, heading in the same direction. He moved to stand next to Megan opposite the three men as Snape and McGonagall joined them.
"Megan's family are no longer with us." Harry replied coldly, a look of mock sadness passed over Malfoy's face, while one more akin to surprise passed Fudge's. "Megan's mother died a year ago and her Aunt and Uncle died in Friday's attack, while her Grandmother, who was badly injured in the same attack lies very ill in the Hospital wing" Harry continued throwing a look of loathing towards Malfoy, while gently holding Megan's shoulder.
Malfoy looked a the child pityingly then crouched down next to her, "No father to look after you?" He asked gently, and then as Megan shook her head, he reached out a hand and stroked her delicate cheek. "How about you come stay with me for a while, you'd like to have a father wouldn't you?" Lucius asked in that same, gentle voice, but his eyes gave him away, he was giving her 'that look' again. Harry shivered as the rage built up in him once again. Magic was coiling up out of him and in an instant Malfoy found himself thrown across the room connecting with the wall at the far side of the hall, as Harry pushed Megan behind him protectively. There was a shocked silence, not a single noise could be heard, Harry was seething, his whole body shaking in fear and rage, he eyes were glazed over he was breathing heavily, and everything seemed muffled. Soon rage gave way to plain fear as Harry began to register a gentle voice somewhere on his right, it was soothing, calling to him and as the fogginess began to lift he realised it was talking to him.
"That's right Harry, listen to me. Put Lucius down now. The child will not be going anywhere." The silky voice told him. As he relaxed and realised, true to what the voice said, Malfoy Senior was still suspended twenty feet up in the air next to the far wall of the hall, he seemed somewhat flustered and his usually pale complexion had more than a little pink in it. Letting out a shaky breath, Harry let go of the bastard. As Lucius plummeted towards the ground Harry was aware of the Headmaster casting a levitating charm, allowing Malfoy Senior to return to his feet with nothing but his pride injured. Pity, Harry thought.
All the way threw lunch and his afternoon lessons Harry was aware of teacher and students watching him, while Ron and Hermione tried to act as though nothing had happened. After shooing the two men quickly out the Headmaster had suggested that everyone make their way to the great hall for lunch. Harry was sill in somewhat of a daze by he noticed Snape on his right lift an eye questioningly and the headmaster shake his head. Probably wants to take points, Harry though miserably. He didn't let Megan go the whole way threw lunch and she sat on his lap as they ate tuna and corn pasta and after lunch he walked Megan all the way back to the campsite, not letting go of her hand until they had reached there safely and he had asked Jacob to keep a close eye on her. When he arrived back at the castle, Harry noticed Snape lurking by the entrance of to the Dungeons, seemingly waiting for his return. Harry Scowled, it seemed like Megan wasn't the only one being carefully watched. It wasn't until dinnertime that Harry the earlier incident in the hall was mentioned at all.
As Harry was eating his beefsteak a charms textbook open in front of him, Professor McGonagall approached him and informed him that the Headmaster would like to see him in his office straight after dinner. Ron and Hermione eyed him up carefully but wisely decided to keep their mouths shut as Harry Harry's Golden plate burst into magical crimson flames. Harry jumped in surprise, and then sighed. After waving a hand to extinguish the flames Harry picked up his things and made his way to Dumbledore's office. When he arrived, he realised he had no idea what the current password was after reeling off a list of wizarding sweets, to no avail Harry Gave up an let out another, long suffering sigh.
"Milky way" Came a silky voice from behind him, making Harry jump. Harry frowned as he let Snape move passed him and joined him on the spiral staircase; he was sure Dumbledore usually only used wizarding candy for his password. As they arrived at his office the door was already open so they took their seats as they went threw the usual custom of "tea?" and "Lemon drop? They're very good for you".
Harry noted that McGonagall was not present this time, but thinking of that made him think of the reason he was here and the discussion they were about to have, so for stall, "Milky Way?" he asked Dumbledore.
"Ah yes!" Dumbledore cried enthusiastically, "A new invention by the Weasley twins, quite amazing potion work! Creamy chocolate bar that creates the idea of visit to our Galaxy! Hallucinogenic, of course, but apparently a legal one, been finally manipulated. Quite extraordinary! Never did give those two enough credit for their genius!"
Snape scoffed, but Harry notice that there was little force behind it, he too must have been fairly impressed by some of their new inventions, no doubt for their excellent potions work.
"Now Harry," Dumbledore began, drawing Harry out of his daze and fixing his with a penetrating and calculating expression. "Why did you loose you control this morning?"
"Why wouldn't I?" Harry shot back, "Malfoy's a…!"
"Now Harry, there's no need for that" That Headmaster reproached swiftly cutting him off, "We all know Malfoy's a distasteful man at the best of times but you reaction was quite over the top. I had hoped you spat with Draco Malfoy had just been a fluke. Is it something to do with the Malfoys?"
"No!" Harry replied quickly, it was true it wasn't them that was causing the problem…more their behaviour.
"Well then?" Dumbledore prompted.
Harry opened his mouth then shut it again, "I don't know."
"Potter…" Snape snarled, his patience wearing thin. Harry glared at him, there was not way he was telling the greasy git, even if his hair WAS a little less greasy today…
"Well then Harry," Dumbledore sat back looking at Harry thoughtfully. "I suggest you get a move on with your Occulemency lessons with Professor Snape, this should help you with both your emotional control and your night-dreams. Have you had anymore?"
"Not like the future one, but the ones with the girl and the mist, that keeps repeating and its always the same." Harry replied, relieved the Headmaster had changed the topic of conversation, "Hermione couldn't find anything."
"No", Dumbledore agreed eyes twinkling, "Neither can I thus far, but I will continue searching and shall let you know of my progress. You may go now Harry"
Harry rose to leave. Dumbledore looked pointedly at Snape who rolled his eyes but called out over his shoulder. "Eight pm sharp Potter! Do not be late!"
As Harry retreated down the staircase he could hear the murmurings as Snape and Dumbledore conversed quietly.
"Your thoughts Severus?" Dumbledore asked serving more tea.
"Finally cracked and gone insane" Severus muttered picking up his teacup.
"Severus!" Dumbledore chided, "This could be important."
"Of Course it's important! With Potter wielding that much power around he could do a lot of damage. He certainly has enough reasons to kick up a fuss to threats, but still I had thought the boy had learnt to control his emotions better than this." Snape mused.
"Perhaps you are right, it may simply be that one too many unfortunate things have happened to the boy." Dumbledore replied taking a moment to sip his tea. "But he was learning to be much more rational last year, he mastered Occulemency, he learned to pass over insults and the year passed without incident. Even his summer, he informs us, was an enjoyable one. It just doesn't make sense."
"The attack on the travellers?" Severus suggested frowning.
"That is what he told us, but we both know he was being less than honest. He pulled his eyes away from me deliberately" The headmaster frowned, annoyed at his disobedience.
Snape however, snorted. "Potter may be an insurable brat, but he is not without intelligence. He doesn't trust you." 'I wonder why!' he thought sarcastically.
"Thank you!" The headmaster replied sharply, his blue eyes piercing, "I HAD noticed." Then he sighed, as though defeated. "Yes of course, you are right. He will not likely tell me anything and I cannot force him to. You will find out, Severus. If Harry really does have a problem he is not sharing with us, then I fear that it could cause a lot of damage in the near future, both for Harry's mental stability as well as those around him.
Snape glared at the obvious order, but nodded his head in agreement, although he did not think it was anything as pressing as the old coot made out, he too was intrigued to know what potter was hiding, for he was hiding something, of that much he Severus was sure.
Chapter 18…I am not going to give you the name of this chapter as there are a couple of ideas I still need to work out, but I'm half way threw it! I also have the next four or so chapters planned out….hehehehe