Title: The Herald of Truth
Pairing: DM/HP, RW/HG... so far
Spoilers: SS/PS, CoS, PoA, GoF, OotP
DISCLAIMER: Me? Own Harry Potter? Laughs hysterically, tears pouring forth from eyes Oh gods! Ahahahahahahahaha! If you don't get it, that's a no. I don't own Harry Potter. I only own the plot and any characters you don't recognize.
Summary: It's the middle of the war and the casualties are amazingly high on both sides. There isn't a reason to laugh or be happy anymore. But suddenly, the Secrets of Hogwarts are being revealed one by one. Everyone is paranoid and everything is in disarray. Who's doing it? What are they trying to accomplish and who's next? SLASH. R/R
yah de yah Parseltongue
Blah Flashback
Chapter Six: The Obsidian Scroll
Harry trudged through the darkness of the Forbidden Forest determinedly. So what if he had been in here for six hours already with neither rest nor food? So what if he had been chased by all manners of creatures? And so what if he yearned for Draco's strong embrace? He was a man on a mission and he had a strong will dammit! He would not be defeated by homesickness. He felt something dig into his back.
"Throw your wand to the ground." But he just might be defeated by Death Eaters. Harry calmly did as asked.
"Hah, Potter! It seems as if we've got you now. You won't be able to slip through any holes and Dumbledore isn't here to save you."
"Yes, you're right about one thing. Dumbledore isn't here to save me." The Death Eater's eyes glowed with misplaced accomplishment.
"Stupefy," Harry whispered. The Death Eater fell to the ground in shock. "I don't need Dumbledore to fight my battles." Making sure to mask his magical signature he tied the Death Eater up and transported it to the Ministry. He had a long journey ahead of him and if there were anymore Death Eaters out here, he'd take them on. After all, he had a schedule to keep.
!THOT.THOT.THOT.THOT.THOT.THOT.THOT.THOT.THOT.THOT!
Draco woke up later that morning, realizing that he felt rather cold. He turned over, one hand searching blindly for his lost lover and best source of warmth. Realizing that he was hitting nothing but air, he cracked one eye open and then, realizing that he was in bed all alone, slowly levered himself up. He didn't hear any sound coming from the showers and didn't hear anything in the common room, so he was very perplexed. Harry was not a morning person. What could have dragged him out of bed this early? Draco didn't think he had any extra lessons today. Shivering a bit, he wrapped the covers around him. Why was it so cold? The covers didn't help much. Draco sighed. He was over worrying really. There was nothing wrong. Harry was safe and somewhere within Hogwarts. Probably with Dumbledore or another teacher doing whatever he did in those lessons of his. At least he hoped so. With that troubling thought, he got up to prepare for the day.
!THOT.THOT.THOT.THOT.THOT.THOT.THOT.THOT.THOT.THOT!
In the Great Hall, students sat down to their breakfasts somberly. They all felt as if something was missing, but they did not know what. They walked in and sat wherever they ended up, not caring that the person next to them was wearing green, or yellow, or blue, or scarlet. They were simply too tired and confused to care. They didn't talk, finding it hard just to open their mouths and fit a spoon or fork inside. As they woke up, they realized what they were doing but could not find it within themselves to care. Grudgingly, they began making conversation with whoever was sitting next to them. Of course they all had ulterior motives. The Slytherins just wanted the scrolls to go away before it got anymore of their number. The Gryffindors also wanted this, but they also wanted the new moves that Slytherin was forming in their daily practice sessions. The Ravenclaws wanted to know what made each house tick. And the Hufflepuffs... well... okay... the Hufflepuffs had no ulterior motives, but that's not the point.
Draco Malfoy walked into this scene and stared dumbstruck for a few minutes before his mind started working. This was his chance to figure out where Harry went. He spotted a few Seventh Year Slytherins at the Gryffindor table and wandered over there. He sat down, pretending to be still half asleep and started eating his food with a one mindedness. He didn't notice the hush of the Hall as they realized where he was sitting and waited for the onslaught of rage that was sure to ensue. Blaise Zabini, catching a whiff of that Gryffindor courage that seemed to saturate the air at this table, tapped Draco on the shoulder.
"Um, Draco." Draco blinked twice and focused his pretend hazy attention on the boy in front of him.
"Yes, Zabini?"
"Do you realize that you're sitting at the Gryffindor table?" Draco blinked and looked around taking in the scarlet and gold about the table. He stared intently at it and the people staring at him before switching his gaze back to Blaise.
"Yes, and -what is your point?" The hall was struck silent. What did the Draco Malfoy just say.
"This is the Gryffindor table. GRYF-FIN-DOR."
"Yes, well, I understand all of that, but I'm simply too tired to move. You're all just going to have to deal with me," he said addressing the Gryffindors who were all staring at him in shock. He took a sip of his coffee.
"So, where is the Golden Boy?" Draco asked startling the Gryffindors around him. Ron and Hermione appeared to be ruffled.
"We don't know, Malfoy. What is it to you?" Draco put his cup of coffee down and looked at them. "If I were you, I would keep an eye on him. He's not as strong as he looks." With that he stood up and left the hall with most of the Gryffindor table staring after him.
!THOT.THOT.THOT.THOT.THOT.THOT.THOT.THOT.THOT.THOT!
Draco Malfoy was pissed. He had looked all over this Merlin forbidden school and had not found Harry. Instead, he found this… this… he didn't even know what to call it.
Dear Draco,
I am sorry, but please do not come look for me. I need to do this Draco and I need to do it alone. I'm sorry if I'm hurting you, but Draco, if I don't make it… if I don't make it, I'm sorry. You should know that I love you with all my heart. I love you more than you could ever know. You changed me, Draco, and I'm grateful for that. Now you can change someone else.
Love,
Harry
Draco stared at the letter once more, crushing it within his fist. If that Gryffindor thinks he can get away with this idiocy, he's got another thing coming. With that he prepared to set off, not realizing he was acting a bit Gryffindorish himself.
!THOT.THOT.THOT.THOT.THOT.THOT.THOT.THOT.THOT.THOT!
The Hall continued their breakfast behavior in lunch, finding that they actually had enjoyed sitting with different members of rival houses. Yet, there was still a throng of students who absolutely refused to mingle. No one noticed the two missing students.
Suddenly, a great rumbling sound was heard. The doors to the Great Hall were on the floor in the next second and in the second after that, a great glimmering obsidian marble was barreling down the aisle towards the staff table. Seeming as if struck by an Impedimenta curse or a super-powered Stupefy, the marble came to an abrupt halt. The over-sized marble began shaking and imploded upon itself. Fine obsidian dust covered the hall.
As if by some other force, the dust began to collect near the ceiling. An obsidian black scroll was formed from the dust. It expanded into a scroll screen and half of Hufflepuff fainted.
Tsk. Tsk. Tsk. Did you think I was gone? Did you really believe I would disappear so easily? Frankly, I am not happy with the results. Is it really so much to ask? You think that a threat to one's privacy would be enough, but it obviously isn't. Or maybe you think it is because you have nothing to hide. That is not the case, eh? Trust me. I can find it. You will unite. What? Are you just too bloody thick headed to follow simple instructions? Only unity can save Hogwarts at this point. No one is alone. No one should be forced to fight alone. No one. I am convinced, though, truly I am, that you will overcome your petty differences or else brain impairments I fairly titter at the thought of the power that this school will have access to at that moment. So here is something to get you going. A kick in the arse to push you along. Please get the hint so I won't have to play my bomb card.
The Scroll went blank. It was a few minutes before the image appeared on the screen after shifting through a number of students' faces. It finally settled. White shadowed words filled the screen.
Colin Creevey
Sixth Year Gryffindor
Loves to Indulge in Stalker-like Activities
Secretly desires to begin his own magazine named "Harry Boy"
I bet you never saw this coming, but for all of you who have gotten too close to Colin recently… Have you ever wondered why so many of the people he takes pictures of mysteriously disappear? He's a contract killer, ladies and gents. Dead useful, but dead dangerous.
The action picture that was shown was of Colin smiling manically and developing pictures in his basement. Half of the pictures were on the wall with either swords or daggers through them and X's across them in a shade of red that could only be associated with blood. The Gryffindors around Colin promptly moved closer to him. Whispers of "Hey, Colin, can you visit my mom?" could be heard.
Albus Dumbledore
Headmaster
Loves Sugary Confections
Secretly desires to take over Muggle candy shops and become the ultimate Candy Man. Also to melt down 100 tons of chocolate and create a swimming pool of it. Flubber. Tink. TickerTape.
Dumbledore twinkled. A smile filled his face as he began to chomp happily on a lolly.
Although not a secret from the well-trained, Dumbledore is an exhibitionist. The portraits of Headmasters-past never used to be in his office. They were moved there so he could fulfill all of his scandalous needs.
The picture changed to show young Dumbledore sneaking around in the dead of night and coming into the Great Hall, which was filled with portraits. He removed each one from the wall with a wave of his wand, twinkling madly. "I'll show you something better," was whispered before the scroll screen went blank. The hall was mildly mortified. Their esteemed Headmaster? They looked to him and he didn't even seem fazed in the least. Really. They all should have known. The scroll screen began sifting through pictures once again.
Severus Snape
Professor
Loves Potions and the torture of First Years and the torture of Harry Potter…and Gryffindors in general
Secretly desires to see Harry Potter on hands and knees worshipping him
I bet a lot of people have been wondering this for a very long time. Why exactly does Severus Snape hate James Potter so very much? Well, let me shine a light on this very dark path. Snape had a crush on Sirius Black and Remus Lupin. He had followed them to the Whomping Willow that night hoping to see both of his crushes in the nude at the same time. James Potter ruined that for him.
The picture changed to show young Severus Snape sneaking over the grounds of Hogwarts with a smirk on his face. He crept up to the base of the trunk, easily immobilizing it. He had one eye up to the trunk. The perspective changed then and the hall could now see what Severus saw.
"Don't worry, Moony," a young Sirius Black began as he undressed. "James and I have been practicing and with both of us here, your transformation will be smoother than ever!" Remus simply smiled at him weakly, beginning to undress also. He didn't get far as he began to transform.. At that moment, Severus was torn away from the peep hole. He looked up at James Potter with complete and utter loathing.
The Hall gasped in shock. The picture disappeared and was soon replaced with another.
Minerva McGonagall
Professor
Loves Catnip
Secretly Desires to test each and every one of Weasleys' Wizarding Wheezes on Professor Trelawney.
You wouldn't believe this, but there is documented proof. McGonagall used to be a stripper in Muggle London, stage naned 'Vixen' and she hasn't lost her touch. There is more than one reason for the twinkle in Dumbledore's eyes.
Panicked screams were heard through the hall. One Ravenclaw ran into a wall screaming "My God! My eyes!" Every boy in Slytherin who had nicked Playboys off of muggle children promptly fainted. The picture changed.
Professor Sprout
Professor
Loves plants… a lot
Secretly desires to cultivate the world's largest Marijuana Field
Now Professor Sprout is an unassuming person. You wouldn't notice her and that is exactly what she relies on. Sprout, believe it or not, has an unhealthy attraction to her Mandrakes. Say it with me now. Den-dro-phi-li-ac.
The Hall was shell shocked. They couldn't close their mouths. They clutched their heads, trying to erase these images from their heads. "Will it never end?" One student shouted. "Will it never end?"
The Scroll Screen blanked out. Words began to appear.
I bet none of you have noticed. Are you satisfied with your minor accomplishments? I look out among you and I see cowards. I'm not going to tell you what you should already know. I suggest you wise up. On yes! Happy New Year's Eve.
With that the parchment began to crumble back into fine dust. A wind from seemingly no where blew it from the Great Hall. The students began to converse. The teachers forgetting their embarrassment and outrage also began to put their heads together. What could they not have noticed? They noticed everything! The Hall began their meals once again in contemplative silence.
!THOT.THOT.THOT.THOT.THOT.THOT.THOT.THOT.THOT.THOT!
Draco stepped into the Owlery.
"Hedwig," he called silently. "Hedwig!" The beautiful snowy white owl glided down from the rafters and landed on Draco's shoulder. She nipped his fingers gently when he began to stroke her.
"Harry's gone missing," he whispered . "The great prat." He began walking out of the castle. He was at the edge of the Forbidden Forest before he spoke to her again. "Will you help me find him?" Hedwig hooted and took off into the skies above the forest. She circled twice before doubling back and swooping low to glide over Draco's shoulder low enough so that he could see her dive back into the woods.
"Oh Potter. If you're dead when I find you, I'm going to raise you from the dead and then kill you again." With only those few seconds of hesitation, he entered the forest.
!THOT.THOT.THOT.THOT.THOT.THOT.THOT.THOT.THOT.THOT!
Harry spat on the floor, only mildly disturbed when he saw that a great quantity of the liquid was his own blood. He tried moving his hands. No, still shackled. He needed to concentrate more. He closed his eyes. How did he come to be in this situation? Oh, he remembered now. Lucius Bloody Malfoy! He had just been finishing up his second batch of Death Eaters and had tied them up and sent them off to the Ministry when the slimy git attacked. Harry berated himself. He should not have let his guard down. Just how stupid could he have possibly been? That was the most idiot thing he had ever done and it had ended him up Merlin knows where; bloody and abused. On the upside, Lucius had no idea about his wandless capabilities as he had taken care of the Death Eaters easily with his wand. He heard a click and sighed in relief as the shackles fell from his wrists.
He sighed in relief. He cracked his back, wincing as he heard pops in all the wrong places. Wandlessly, he summoned his wand and then with it began checking his prison for wards and alarm spells. With all of those dispelled, he was silently out. Walking through the dungeons, he realized something. There were etchings of snakes everywhere so there was only one place he could be. Voldemort's Fortress. He smiled. Well, that certainly made his job a hell of a lot simpler.
!THOT.THOT.THOT.THOT.THOT.THOT.THOT.THOT.THOT.THOT!
Phew! Well, that took a while. But look! Just in time for CHRISTMAS! Happy Holidays everyone!
Author Responses:
Jujube15: Heh, that was completely out there wasn't it? I congratulate myself on my far out brain.
theTigersFire: Yeah, Draco was pissed and he's going to be even more pissed next chapter. -
dracoroxmysox: Well, now we know where Harry is, but tell me… will he make it our?
serena23: Hmm, soulmates? Yes I like the sound of that. They shall be soulmates! Harry left because he's a Gryffindor and don't worry Draco will only cause minor harm to Harry before they get back together.
