Last Time on Black and White:

"Hey, I was going outside for a bit of a cool down, would you like to join me?" he asked with a smile.

Su responded with her own smile and linked her arm through his, surprising him slightly.

"I would love to." she responded.

"Well then, my Lady Li, shall we?"


Book 4 – Chapter 24: Cursed Conversations

Wotcher Harry!

So sorry for the late response! I feel horrible, I've just got a lot on my plate right now. Bones finally let us go for the hols! Yay! I've moved in with Sirius which is fun most days, and annoying most others.

Harry, I'm really happy you thought of me when the ball was announced, but I can't be your date. You need to let this crush go, I really want you in my life but only as a friend. I'm too old for you, I really don't want to lose you as a friend so I hope we can move past this.

Ugh, now I feel awkward and I'm not sure how to get on with the rest of this letter, I suppose I should say that Sirius is getting a lot better. He's actually been to Gringotts and has taken to having dinner with my mum and dad more often.

I really do miss you guys, how's Andrew doing with the tournament so far? Do you know if he's gotten a date yet? I really hope so since according to the rules he's required to.

I really hope you guys have a great night. Let me know how it goes, yeah? I'm really interested in hearing about who gets drunk. (And yes, trust me, someone will be drunk.)

Miss you loads

Tonks.

Harry read the letter and put it down with a sigh, of course she'd turn him down and of course Andrew and Ron were right. He read his rejection form once more before putting the letter down. Tonks was right, he had to move on, and he made a mental note to consciously respect her decision and find a new date to the ball.

Only problem was that the ball was in a few days and he had absolutely no prospects. He got up from his place on the couch and walked out of the common room when he was bumped into by Ron, sporting a huge smile.

"You look happy." Harry commented with a smile.

"That's cause I managed to land myself a date to the ball!" he answered with a giddy expression.

"Really? Who is it then?"

"Lavender"

"Really?!"

"No need to sound so surprised." Ron responded defensively.

"No, no, no, I just... I didn't think you two would be a match." Harry answered quickly.

"Yeah, honestly, neither did I at first, but we started talking and things just... progressed, you know? She's not really into Quidditch as much as I am, but she loves chess, which was surprising, cause I didn't really think she had much going on... up there." Ron said gesturing to his head.

"Well, to be fair, most people would say the same about you." Harry laughed.

"Oi! At least I have a date, what about you? Did Tonks get back to you?"

Harry's demeanour changed and Ron noticed it.

"Oh, I'm sorry mate."

"No, it's alright, you and Andy were right, I should have known, but now I do, and I'm going to move on."

"Good on you, mate. But, there's only a handful of days left, what are you going to do?"

"That... is a very good question." Harry answered while rubbing his face tiredly.

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Andrew sat along against the large tree beside the black lake and stared at the frozen body of water, a warming charm on his jacket and scarf, keeping the winter chill at bay. His egg was getting on his last nerve, he did so much bloody research on Banshee's he was certain he knew more than what was necessary, but the bloody clue might not even be about banshee's for the love of shit!

He sighed, producing a huge puff of smoke and readjusted himself when someone spoke behind him.

"Figure out the egg yet?"

He turned and saw Fleur standing just beside him, he assumed she used the silencing charm on her feet so that she could get the jump on him.

"Banshee's?" he asked with a raised brow.

Fleur paused, her face showing her shock, before she burst out laughing.

"I'll take that as a 'no' then. I've spent so much time, studying up on bloody banshee's!"

"Desolee, I was just shocked. I would suggest putting your egg in some water." she told him once she calmed down.

Andrew sighed in resignation. "Yeah, might as well... Anyway, any luck finding a date to the ball?"

"Oui, I 'ave been asked by many, zo, I find them... unsuitable." she answered with a light sigh of her own.

"Well, that sucks, sorry."

"I am used to it, what about you? Have you found yourself a date?"

"No, I've been... kinda preoccupied..."

"Why not ask your leetle friend, Su, was it?"

"I don't know, we're friends and she's brilliant, but I don't know if she's interested in things like balls and dancing."

Fleur had a small smile on her face. "Why not try? You never know, she may just be waiting for you to ask."

Andrew had a small look of thought on his face before he turned to face his older, French friend.

"Yeah, sure, why not, even if she isn't into the whole thing, I'm sure we can have some fun." he answered with a grin. "Oh by the way... do you know how to dance? I need a tutor."

"Zere are only a few days left and you choose now to ask?!"

"Well, I did ask someone else but... that kind of... it didn't work out."

Fleur palmed her face and smacked the back of Andrew's head. "Fine, but we start now. We cannot have you embarrassing us with your lack of skill."

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After an excruciating hour of non stop dancing, Andrew stumbled into the entryway of the front doors and made his way towards the Charms class for his lessons with Flitwick, the tiny Professor was not pulling any punches and forced Andrew to duel until his arm couldn't extend any longer. On the upside, the boy had to admit that he had never felt more aware or in tune with his magic before.

Just as he rounded a corner he ran into someone.

"Ow... sorry." he apologized.

"Oh, hi Andrew. Sorry, I was lost in thought."

Looking up he saw Su and smiled. "Hey Su, don't worry about it, I was kind of out of it as well." he admitted with a small laugh.

"So are you headed to Flitwick for your extra lessons?"

"Yeah, actually, after the ball we should all probably get started on those spells."

"I agree." Su responded with a nod before reaching up and pulling a small strand of her midnight black hair which lay on her shoulder. "Speaking of... did you manage to find a date yet?"

Andrew sighed slightly. "No, I haven't really... made any progress on that, what about you?"

"Uhh, no, I haven't really been asked, so I might just skip it."

This made Andrew stop in his tracks and turn to face her. "You're joking right? How could you not have been asked? That's insane, well hell I know this may just stroke the fires of whatever rumour we had about us going around, but would you like to go with me?"

Su's head dipped as she stared at her feet, avoiding eye contact with Andrew.

"Yes, I- I think I'd like that a lot." she responded in a soft tone.

"Brilliant, then should I meet you at Ravenclaw tower?"

"Um, no I think I'll just meet you at the entrance to the Great Hall." she answered softly.

"Great, um, then I guess, that's that?" Andrew responded with a nervous smile.

"Yeah, seems like it."

"Awesome, I'll- uh, I'll see you then?"

"Looking forward to it."

"Me too..." Andrew said while backing away from Su and smiling, he walked into a wall, causing the smaller girl to giggle before he turned the corner and gave her one last wave before disappearing.

Su gave a small fist pump and sighed happily before she turned to leave and was caught by someone, a boy she knew from Ravenclaw; Louis Otunje, a sixth year. He appeared around the same corner Andrew had just disappeared from.

"Li, hey, so... you have a response for me yet?" he asked with a charming smile and gentle look.

"Hmm? Oh right! I'm sorry Louis, but I don't have any interest in accompanying you to the ball. I'm very happy you asked me, but I don't think we would be a great match." she told him as gently as she could. He had approached her about a day ago and suddenly sprung the question on her, completely blind-siding her.

"Really? Damn, well alright, I guess I should ask someone else. Thanks for your time Li." Louis was nearly unanimously liked by the older years and Su could see why; his easy personality, calm demeanour and charming smile, he made friends with many of the boys and had the hearts of many of the girls. She watched the boy leave but felt happy she was no longer in his targeting sights, she had landed her prize and was more than happy with her current date.

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Harry entered the Headmaster's office and was greeted by Dumbledore who smiled at the young boy.

"Ah, Harry, thank you for coming, I do find myself in quite an interesting read, if you'd be interested in learning what, I've discovered, please, take a seat."

When Harry took the offered seat Dumbledore continued.

"I have found a few interesting points in history of the course of my studying. One of the more intriguing is the fact that your family and Andrew's are as I have stated linked, this seems to be out of a sense of loyalty rather than some malicious curse."

"Loyalty?" Harry echoed with a frown.

"Yes, so as I have discovered this curse follows the bearer; in this case, Andrew and there is a slight case of compulsion tied to you as a Potter. Now, this isn't as serious as an Imperious curse but, I do believe it makes you susceptible to his wishes and his ideals."

Harry frowned once again and looked down in thought. "Does this mean, that if Andrew chose to go on a murderous rampage, I'd agree with him?!"

Dumbledore leaned back in his seat and rubbed his beard in thought.

"Hmm, I think it would be more like; if he chose to kill those who have wronged others, so for example, if Voldemort and his followers rose once more; I truly believe Andrew would push for a more violent retaliation. His philosophy would be something like: Kill before they do."

"But sir, I don't think I have it in me to kill anyone-"

"Even if they were the cause for you or your brother's pain? You and your brother weren't around for the first war, Harry and yet sadly you have already felt it's affects." Dumbledore peered at the teen over his glasses.

"Our parents."

"Precisely. That alone is enough to generate such a violent outlook. I think this curse, while not making you obey his every whim, would make you see his point more clearly, as though to justify it in your own mind."

"You said this affects me as a Potter, how? I mean, were there cases like this before?"

Dumbledore smiled sadly at the boy before speaking.

"Harry, what I am about to tell you will be difficult, but I wouldn't be doing this if I did not believe in you."

Harry sat straighter and nodded at the older man.

"There are many Dark Lords in the history of the Wizarding World, some greater than others, but no less deadly. The name of Potter, is connected to such Dark Lords, each with a different name, but after studying the curse I believe..."

"That they were Andrew's family." Harry finished with a nod.

"Correct, now the Potter family is vast and wide stretching, of course having many different surnames of the course of their history, changing or altering it for some reason or another, but almost always after a fall or rise of one of the minor Dark Lords or Ladies of the time. It is my belief that they did this in order to distance themselves from their members who stood by the Dark."

"So, my family isn't..."

"Not completely light, no. I would place them more in the Grey block. Now the Dark Lords and Ladies they followed were the interesting ones; Tabitha the Insatiable, known for challenging strong witches and wizards and killing them in a duel, she eventually gathered a following and challenged Dragons. Marcus the Undead, a master necromancer who struck many villages and left thousands dead, he would gather the children though and let them live, telling them to find him once they had grown and attempt to gain vengeance for their dead family members."

"Good God."

"Yes, he was rather cruel, but they weren't the interesting ones, ironic to say I know, but rather it was their generals and advisor's who were more eye catching. Tabitha worked alone but after her there are many to name; John Plight, Eric Pratt, Marsha Pale, Gregory Peyton, Antioch Peverell..." Dumbledore paused slightly at that one and glanced at Harry, almost as if to judge his reaction.

"Sir, I don't understand why these are so interesting. I mean I get that these are my family members probably going back years but... I don't see how... I mean-"

"How they have any relevance in this?" Dumbledore asked with a small smile. When Harry nodded he continued.

"They were all the right hand men and women of the last five Dark Lords and Ladies from Andrew's family. Though according to many records they had just as much if not more sway than their leaders, it is believed that their leaders delegated them so much power due to the fact that they were the only people they trusted wholeheartedly. But here is where everything gets... interesting, they were killed, some by their leaders, others for their leaders but most by the following generations. Their own kin."

Harry's eyes widened in shock.

"So wait, our families attacked and killed the darker ones?"

"Precisely, it is my belief that this is what kept the curse going. It does not infect every generations, in fact there is a 200 year gap between the last two Dark Ladies, but when it does return, the infected usually has a child before the curse takes it's full course, in order to allow it passage into the next generations." Dumbledore told Harry with a sigh. "Now I don't wish for Andrew to remain childless or without a family, so it is my desire to curb this before that time comes."

Harry nodded and agreed completely. He had always had this vision in his head of Andrew kids and his own playing out in the back and being brought up as siblings, but if this curse was real, he and Andrew would more than likely end up labelled as Dark Lords and eventually killed by their own children or grandchildren. He would never allow that to pass.


So this is the shortest chapter I have posted in a while, I just really had to get it done so I pushed through a lot of it.

Now onto lighter news? I started a new story but I will only post it once It's complete, I'm already about 90% of the way through so I am close to finishing the entire thing, I am just wondering how many of you would be interested in reading a Harry Potter x Life is Strange crossover, set in the Life is Strange venue?

If you are, drop a review letting me know and once I complete it and post the entire thing on FFN, I'll make the announcement in the relative chapter.

Thank you all for reading.

Peace, Love and Respect

Zak