Harry Potter and the Curse of V'Ardian
Chapter 9
Of Death and Deception
Standard Disclaimers Apply
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Quidditch try-outs were amazing. Harry was well received as the new captain of the Gryffindor team and the news spread fast. About thirty students turned up as hopefuls, but Harry had no trouble choosing the new team. Ginny, of course, was a chaser, as was Katie. The third chaser turned out to be a surprise, but was skilful nonetheless. As Harry watched him zoom around the pitch, Harry quickly realised that Seamus was extremely gifted on a broom, and had a deadly aim. Ron scored the keeper position again, and the beater positions went to a seventh year name Morgan Tibbs and a third year name Amelia Tudor.
Harry felt the happiest he had been in ages as he soared through the air, though the brightness of the sun irritated his eyes a bit. After the team was decided they had a short practice, only finishing when it got too dark to play. As the rest of the team headed back to the castle, Harry stayed in the air, enjoying the peace and quiet. He looked out over the forest and stared in surprise. It looked different. Nothing he could pinpoint directly, it just seemed to have a different…feel about it. A different aura.
Curious, he changed direction and, with a last glance back at the castle, shot off over the trees. He skimmed low over the treetops, revelling in the quiet. It was absolutely silent- not even a breath of wind disturbed the leaves of the vast trees. Ahead of him were the remnants of the sunset, brilliant reds streaking the sky like blood. Above him a lone star shone through the waning light, its glow obvious even at this time. Maybe it was Mars.
Suddenly ahead of him, Harry saw a magnificent sight. He gasped as he shot over a sheer cliff, rock walls tumbling down for hundreds of metres. Slowing down, he circled around the vast expanse of open space, taking in the beauty of it. Small trees, like bonsais sprouted out of the cliff face, and there seemed to be a narrow track leading down to the bottom. On the side he had come over was a magnificent waterfall, it clear water tumbling straight down. The opposite end of the canyon was open, allowing the water to run through.
Harry turned again, but stopped when he saw a distant figure hovering over the forest. He was low in the treetops and Harry wasn't even sure he ahd seen him. However, with a last look at the oasis in the middle of the wild forest, Harry shot towards the figure. The figure turned on their broom and dashed away, but even at this distance there was no mistaking that blond hair.
"Malfoy!" Harry bellowed, but the wind was not in his favour. By the time Harry got back to the castle, Malfoy was nowhere in sight. Sighing, he hurried up to his dorm and locked his Firebolt in his cupboard. Running a hand through his sweaty hair, he headed for the showers. He sighed in relief as he remembered he had the same privileges as prefects and headed off to the prefects bathroom. He ran a deep warm bath with plenty of bouncing purple bubbles, ignoring the giggling mermaid on the wall. The warm water soothed his aching muscles, relaxing him.
He had been so tired lately, probably from keeping the glamour up all the time. But as much as he tried to tell himself he was fine, he knew he wasn't. He knew what he needed, and he knew why he was constantly craving something. He knew he needed blood, but he couldn't bring himself to do it.
It unnerved him in the corridors when he was walking along and he would suddenly smell the scent of fresh, healthy blood. The urge was animalistic and instant and many times he had nearly given into it. But he wouldn't. He couldn't. Couldn't be evil.
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He must have fallen asleep, because when he came to, all of the bubbled had disappeared and the water was cold. Heaving himself out and pulling the plug, Harry dried himself off and dressed quickly. It would be just his luck to get caught out after curfew by Snape.
He grabbed his stuff and hurried up the corridor, racing for Gryffindor tower. He had barely turned the first corner however, when a sharp pain pierced his forehead. He gasped in sudden pain, letting images flood his mind. He knew that this was what he was learning Occlumency for, but right now he was tired and the curiosity overwhelmed the urge to avoid danger. He felt his knees give way and hit the hard stone floor as he glimpsed a place he was sure he'd seen nearby. He heard screams, explosions, bright light. And then he saw a building, the door open and the inside a mess. An old man with a long bear stood stoicly aat the counter, wand outstretched as three Death Eaters bore down upon him.
With a grunt of effort, Harry wrenched his mind away from Voldemort's, banishing the sick happiness he was feeling. He lunged to his feet and ran, heading for the staff room. Before he got there, he met Professor McGonagall.
"Professor!" he gasped, skidding to a halt in front of her. "There's been an attack! In Hogsmeade!"
Professor McGonagall stared at him.
"You're sure, Potter?"
Harry nodded.
McGonagall's lips formed a taut line.
"Very well, Mr Potter. Return to your dormitory."
Harry nodded and waited as Professor McGonagall swept away. Harry's good mood quickly plummeted and he did as he was told. He glumly turned around and began heading back the way he had come, but bumped into someone.
He looked up, about to apologize, but smiled instead.
"Tonks!"
"Wotcher, Harry," she replied, but she didn't sound her usual cheerful self. In fact, Harry thought she might be sick. Her eyes were bloodshot and her skin looked clammy.
"Are you okay?" he asked in concern.
"Fine, Harry. Just had a lot of work to do. How about you? Are you okay?"
Harry nodded.
"I think there's been a Death Eater attack in Hogsmeade," he said quickly.
Tonks eyes flew open.
"What?"
"Just now, I um, well I kind of saw it."
"Have you told anyone?" Tonks asked, agitated.
"I just saw Professor McGonagall," Harry replied.
Tonks looked alarmed.
"I have to go, Harry. I'll se you later!"
"See you."
Strange, thought Harry. Tonks seemed a bit out of it, not her usual vibrant self. Then again, who was he to be the judge of that when he wasn't himself either?
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"I regret to inform you that there has been a Death Eater attack on Hogsmeade," said Professor McGonagall to the assembled Gryffindors. Harry reclined in a lounge chair, eyes closed. "There were…a number of deaths. The full amount has yet to be decided, but we are sure that nobody of any relation to a student or teacher at this school came to harm.
Except Aberforth Dumbledore, Harry thought to himself.
He waited until Professor McGonagall had finished and hurried up to the dormitory. Pulling the curtains around the bed firmly closed, he pulled the book towards him.
I need to know what's happening to Dumbledore, he thought. He opened the book slowly and found the answer on the first page. A picture showed a weary-looking Dumbledore lying in bed. The caption below it told Harry all he needed to know.
Albus Dumbledore was injured by a minor necrocurse in a battle against Lord Voldemort at the British Ministry of Magic. His health is steadily growing worse.
The book went on to describe the details of Dumbledore's illness, but Harry didn't bother reading it. He closed it.
I need to know how to apparate.
He opened the cover quickly this time and saw a step by step guide on how to apparate. It looked hard. He turned the page to find a detailed history on apparition. With an irritated sigh he flipped through the notes until he came to the very last page of the book. It seemed to be an alternate method for apparition, and Harry read through it, intrigued.
It was a spell, but it was not an ordinary one. It was a parseltongue spell. He lowered the book to the mattress and raised his wand.
"Intransio," he muttered, but it came out as a hiss. He blinked and stared at the bed where he had been sitting a moment before.
"Interesting," he muttered. This form of apparition was possible within Hogwart's ward, while the normal form was not. Harry doubted that Voldemort had knowledge of this charm, as he had yet to penetrate Hogwart's barriers in any way. This spell could be very useful indeed.
He apparated back to the bed but heard someone coming up the stairs. He quickly shoved the book away and looked up to see Ron.
"Hey, Harry! Ginny told me that you're starting up the DA again!"
"Yeah, I am," Harry replied, stretching out on his bed. "Thursdays, do you think? And Saturdays?"
At Ron's assent, Harry set about changing the time and date on the large gold coin that Hermione had supplied him with.
Minutes later he fell asleep, tired but pleased.
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A/N: Exciting chapters to come! Please REVIEW!
Chapter 10: Of Discussions and Daydreams