Harry Potter and the Curse of V'Ardian

Chapter 32

Of Seventh Year and Secrets

Standard Disclaimers Apply

A/N: Some people asked about how Harry had changed when he got a bit of Voldemort's soul. Well, the answer is - not much. Harry's soul is Harry's soul, and Voldemort's is separate. But don't worry- I'll get into it a bit later. Also, Harry is not going to be evil! Sorry for all those who wanted him to be, but Harry's just too much of a goody-goody for that to happen- Wujjawoo.

oOoOo

The summer holidays passed all too slowly for Harry. He couldn't stand just waiting, for that was what he had to do. Only when he was back at Hogwarts would he be able to complete what Dumbledore and Regulus Black had begun. Half of him wished that it was all over, and time would just hurry the hell up and move more quickly, but the other half of him wished that it would stop altogether and he would never have to face his destiny.

It came as a surprise to him when the letters from Hogwarts arrived and he found himself with a badge that said Head Boy. He felt guilty. He thought about his father and how he had been Head Boy.

The Weasleys came to stay, and other members of the Order, and Harry kept mostly to himself. Ron confronted him over the presence of the filthy Slytherin, but Harry just told him he had his reasons and that she was trustworthy. He didn't speak to anyone much. He avoided Katherine and Emily, and they him, though they all loathed the gap between them.

He had no doubt that they would sort it out eventually.

Two days before they were due to return to school, Harry again found himself on the bench in the garden. He was sitting staring at the ground when he felt a presence across the clearing, and when the bushes rustled he looked up to see Katherine there. With a small smile and without meeting his eyes she came to sit next to him. She didn't say anything, and he wondered why she was even there.

"We met here, remember," he said eventually, feeling stupid for being so sentimental. Sentimentality was such a simple and foreign emotion that it felt almost wrong for him to be feeling it.

"I remember," she murmured in her matter-of-fact way. They stared at their respective patches of ground for a bit longer.

"I wanted to say I'm sorry," Katherine ventured after a few minutes. She went on when Harry didn't answer. "I'm disappointed, I won't pretend I'm not, but…I know you had to do it. I think that's what I'm disappointed about, not the fact that you actually killed him. So I'm sorry for being mad, and Emily is as well and…I love you."

Harry smiled despite himself. It felt good to be forgiven.

He stood up and held out a hand, drawing her to her feet. They strolled along a path, away from the house, hand in hand. They talked about small, silly things, and Harry suspected that she was trying to keep his mind off of things. He was glad for it.

"I got a letter from my dad," she said abruptly. She looked sad, but Harry looked at her sharply.

"He shouldn't do that! What if someone intercepted it? You could be in danger!"

Katherine smiled sadly again.

"He said I was in enough danger being around you, Harry. And he's not stupid; he knows how to hide things."

"I hope so," said Harry softly, staring into the trees. Covering the ground between the tree trunks and shrubs was a bed of white flowers, and Harry recognised them from the night in the park. He shivered and put an arm around Katherine, drawing her closer.

She saw where he was looking.

"What's wrong?"

He flashed a brilliant smile at her.

"Nothing's wrong."

It had been a long time since he had thought about that night, but suddenly it all came back to him and he felt a flash of frustration.

"Let's just go back to the house."

She frowned at him, but turned with him and they started back along the path.

"I have some potion back up at the house," she said. "You might feel a bit better afterwards."

And she was right. He did feel happier, but the frustration lingered. He didn't want to have to rely on this for the rest of his life.

oOoOo

The next day the Weasley's and a few other members of the Order arrived to stay. They celebrated his birthday, and Emily's too, but it wasn't the same. He had been a vampire for a year. He felt cut off from everyone else, as though he had no right to be amongst such good people. He brushed off the questions about Katherine's presence and ignored Ron's complaints about her being an untrustworthy Slytherin, and before he knew it the holidays were over.

As they packed their trunks into the Ministry cars and set off, Harry felt a looming anxiety fill his chest, but it seemed to give relief. He knew that soon it would all be over.

"It's not going to be the same without Dumbledore," lamented Ron. Harry looked out the window at the platform. "And we probably won't be able to do anything. There'll be all new restrictions and curfews. Mum said that they nearly decided not to open Hogwarts again."

"That's ridiculous," said Hermione. "Hogwarts is the safest place to be, even if Dumbledore isn't there. Besides, how are we supposed to defend ourselves if we don't learn anything?"

"Are you going to keep the DA going Harry?" asked Emily.

"You should, Harry," said Hermione seriously. "Goodness knows what teacher we'll get. I heard Professor Sinistra quit because Dumbledore's is there to protect the school, so I imagine it would have been really difficult to fins a teacher."

"I was planning to keep it going," said Harry, his mind flicking briefly to one of its members.

"Good," said Ron, "because I think we're going to need it."

"So do I," murmured Harry. "So do I."

The train pulled out of the station and Hermione and Ron jumped to their feet.

"We'll see you two later," said Hermione. "We have to go to the Prefect meeting." Harry looked guiltily at Emily and stood up.

"Ah…so do I."

Hermione and Ron gaped at him.

"McGonagall made you a Prefect?" Ron asked, uncomprehending.

"Er, kind of," Harry muttered.

"Head Boy," Emily put in. Harry scowled at her, but his view was blocked a second later by a joyous Hermione, as she lunged forward and hugged him.

"Congratulations, Harry!" she squealed. "Why didn't you tell us?"

Harry shrugged.

"Slipped my mind," he mumbled. Hermione stood back, looking annoyed.

"What's wrong?" asked Harry. He looked over at Ron when Hermione didn't answer. Ron rolled his eyes behind Hermione's back.

"Hermione's got herself all annoyed because McGonagall didn't give her Head Girl."

Hermione shot Ron a filthy look.

"I am not! If someone else deserved it then-"

Harry grinned.

"Come on, Hermione, we all know you deserve it. Obviously McGonagall had her reasons. Goodness knows why she picked me to be Head Boy."

"You're right," said Emily. "No one in their right mind would want the Boy-Who-Lived to be Head Boy."

"Let's just go," he growled, stomping out of the compartment with a half-hearted glare at Emily. Ron and Hermione grinned at Emily and followed him out.

When they arrived, Harry saw that Theodore Nott had replaced Malfoy as the Slytherin prefect, and to his chagrin Pansy was still there. The two of them shot him a filthy look as he sat down.

The last to arrive was Padma Patil, and Harry saw Hermione shoot her an irritated glance. Pinned to her shirt was the shiny Head Girl badge.

They settled into the meeting, and thankfully it didn't last too long. Harry decided in the first five minutes of the meeting that if he had never done anything so boring. But of course it was all very serious, as they were brought up to speed on new procedures and safety measures. When it was over, Hermione and Ron went off to do their rounds, while Harry headed back to the compartment.

He sat and talked with Emily until Ron and Hermione came back, and they played Exploding Snap.

"We should get changed," said Harry eventually. They reluctantly abandoned their seats and found their robes, and a few minutes late the station came into view. Harry was relieved to see its lights through the darkness. A year since Hagrid's death, he thought. Hermione saw where he was looking and smiled sadly.

"You miss him, don't you?" she asked, laying her hand on his shoulder.

"Yes," said Harry shortly, turning away. He didn't want to talk about it.

oOoOo

As Hogwarts strengthens from within,

His legacy will show,

But if your will should dim and fail,

Then enmity will grow.

A leader greater than us all,

A light through dark and pain

Remember what he taught you all,

Lest he have died in vain.

Now one must lead us in his place,

He sits before me now,

A soul so dark and light at once,

His sign upon his brow.

Listen to him; heed his words,

He will protect you all,

If die he must, then die he will,

To save the members of this school.

For times are dark, and rough and cold,

And I fear for what will come,

If you do not unite as one,

And forgive what once was done.

For Slytherin, so shrewd and sly,

Was firm in his beliefs,

But underneath, his heart was good,

And his loss brought only grief.

Fair Hufflepuff, she saw the truth,

That lay in doing kind,

And hated nothing more than when

Good friendships did unwind.

But it was Ravenclaw, so calm and smart,

Who saw what would result,

And passed along her gift of sight,

So that one day the feud might halt.

The last of them was Gryffindor,

Whose courage could not be faked,

And now today, as it was then,

The lion will fight the snake.

But history is not set in stone,

And fates are now in play,

And of the Dark Lord's sound defeat,

We all await the day.

So heed my words, I ask of you,

Find friends in those who once were foes,

And remember those who fought for you,

And those who came to blows.

Remember those whose lives were lost,

And carry on in their stead,

Unite together, be as one,

Until the Dark Lord is dead.

oOoOo

True to his word, Harry continued to run the DA. It was a welcome distraction from his worries. At the times when Harry was not with the DA or at and Order meeting, he would be at Quidditch practice or studying or busy with Head Boy duties. He had little time to spend with his friends, but he reminded himself time an again that it would all be over soon.

He spoke once with the leader of the V'Ardian clan, but little came of it. He received notes from Snape, and sometimes Draco, and would pass them on to the Order. They wanted to know who his contact was, but he wouldn't tell them. Mrs Weasley and Remus worried for his safety, but he reminded them that his contact was the Order's only contact from the Inner Circle, and that their safety was more important than his.

It was in the fifth week of term that Harry finally gained the courage to destroy the fourth Horcrux. It was late, and they had just finished their DA meeting. The students were filing out of the room, and Harry told Ron and Hermione that he would clean up by himself.

"Augustus," he said, signalling to the tall Slytherin student. "A word, please."

Caydon Augustus broke off from his friends and walked over to Harry with a backwards glance. Harry waited until all of the students were gone and shut the door. Caydon looked at him suspiciously.

"What do you want, Potter?" he asked, a defensive sneer flickering quickly across his face. He seemed nervous.

"I wanted to ask you something," said Harry, picking up a cushion and laying on a chair.

"What?"

"Augustus," said Harry. "Is that your mother's name or your father's?"

Caydon looked confused.

"My mother's," he replied. He scowled. "Look, what's this about? I have stuff to do. My friends will be-"

"Screw your friends," spat Harry. "This is more important. Tell me, who is your father?"

Caydon flushed.

"I don't know. My mother refuses to tell me. And I don't see how it's any of your business anyway!"

Harry gave a satisfied murmur of assent.

"That's what I thought," he said. He stepped in front of Caydon. "Just relax, okay."

"Why? What are you doing?" he asked in alarm. Harry ignored him, and closed his eyes. He took a smaller step forward and reached out to grip Caydon about the head. Caydon moved to step back, spluttering in anger, but Harry tightened his grip.

"Stay still," he hissed.

Harry took a deep breath and let go of his magic, feeling it spread over Caydon, and he stilled.

"Good," he whispered. And then he saw it, deep inside Caydon, at the core of magic. Caydon's own magic was normal, coursing through his body, but cocooned within it deep in his chest was a darker magic, pulsing and growing. Harry stretched out his own magic and touched it, registering the slimy darkness of it. The moment Harry touched it Caydon stiffened, and his breath began to come in short, sharp bursts.

Slowly Harry wrapped the darkness within his own magic and drew it out of Caydon's body and into his own. Caydon fell to his knees, but Harry ignored him and forced the ball of dark magic back inside himself, locking it in with the rest of it. It felt so wrong, and he closed of his feelings, Occluding his mind. He opened his eyes and released his vice-like grip on Caydon's head.

Caydon looked up at him with wide eyes.

"What was that?" he breathed.

"How do you feel?" asked Harry. Caydon blinked and swallowed convulsively. He looked down at his hands in amazement, as though he expected to see something else.

"I feel…great." He struggled to his feet, and his breathing was calm once more. "I feel better than I've felt…ever. What did you do?"

Harry turned away, pulling out his wand.

"I removed a…presence…from inside you. A segment of your father's soul."

"My father? How did you…Who? And how?"

Harry turned around to face Caydon again, hiding his wand surreptitiously behind his back.

"The first day I met you I felt like I could identify with you on some basic, intimate level. For a while I wasn't sure why, but then I figured it out." Harry looked down. "People have been trying to destroy Lord Voldemort for a long time, but he hasn't been exactly mortal, because he split his soul, and hid the pieces of it. I recognised his presence in you, because I already had a piece of him in me."

Caydon paled, then laughed nervously.

"You're saying that you think You-Know-Who is my father? That's ridiculous! My mother would never-"

"No, but Voldemort isn't the kind of person who would ask a woman if she wants to sleep with him. If Voldemort wanted a child to store a part of his soul in, then you were probably conceived specifically for that purpose. I have no doubt that Voldemort held no love for either you or your mother."

Caydon's face flushed in anger.

"How dare you speak of my mother that way, Potter! This is completely and utterly ludicrous and you have no right to say such a thing! What did you do to me?"

Harry smiled sadly.

"I'm sorry, Caydon." He raised his wand. "Obliviate."

Caydon blinked and Harry put his wand back in his pocket and smiled brilliantly.

"Thanks for staying back and helping me clean up Caydon," he said, turning away to pick up his bag. "Maybe next week we can try that shield you talked about."

Caydon blinked in confusion before giving a hesitant smile.

"Er…that's okay."

Harry walked to the door with Caydon, and when it came time to part ways, Caydon turned to him.

"You know I really like these DA meetings. In fact I feel really good."

Harry smiled and bid him good night, wondering if he would ever be free of the growing darkness within him.

oOoOo

It seemed that the more of Voldemort's soul that lay within him, the stronger their connection grew. It was rare now that he would pass a night without dreaming of the Dark Lord, and during the day his scar ached and the Dark Mark itched continuously.

"You right mate?" asked Ron, for the fifth time that day as he saw Harry rubbing his left arm under the table.

"Yeah," muttered Harry. "Yeah I'm fine."

The two of them met up with Hermione and Emily and headed for Defence. Their new teacher was an old wizard by the name of Martin Matheson, thin and of average height. His hair was neatly cut, his dress impeccable, and he conducted the lesson with an air of impatience and detachment that bordered on boredom. He was unenthusiastic, and the students even more so. He looked down upon them with an air of superiority and Harry hated him.

The new Potions Master was not much better, and Harry wasn't quite sure how they had even managed to attain a Mastery. Tonks had returned to the Auror office, and in her stead the school hired Professor Celine Perry. She was young, much younger than any other Professor Harry had ever known, and seemed not to have progressed past adolescence. She would laugh without the slightest provocation, and Harry dreaded the high-pitched giggle. Her manner was far from serious, and the cloud of perfume that constantly surrounded her was nauseating.

Harry forced his mind away from her and focussed on the lesson. They were learning about werewolves…again…and Harry found himself drifting off to sleep. His scar itched madly and he jerked awake, forcing himself into alertness for fear of encouraging a dream.

He began to plan his next move.

oOoOo

"You-Know-Who moved against the Ministry last night in one of the largest attacks since the war began," reported the journalist on the wizarding wireless. "In the aggressive assault during the early hours of this morning, Aurors were ambushed when they received a tip-off, and were unprepared for the relentless and carefully prepared strategies of You-Know-Who's followers. In what was believed to be a diversion, three Aurors were killed while a further five are now in critical condition at St Mungo's Hospital. At the same time as the attack, a number of Death Eaters breeched the security surrounding the Ministry of Magic and entered the building. Death Eaters now have control of the facility, along with a number of hostages including the head of the Department of Mysteries.

"Among the captured Death Eaters are Alectus Carrow, Adolphus Staten, and Draco Malfoy, who is believed to be one of the Death Eaters responsible for the murder of Albus Dumbledore. They will be tried by the Wizengamot over the coming week and sentenced to Azkaban."

Harry turned the radio off and lay back in his bed with a deep sigh. He needed a drink.

He closed his eyes and ran over the list again in his head. As far as he knew there was only one Horcrux left. Regulus had destroyed the one within Hogwarts, and Dumbledore had destroyed the ring. Harry had destroyed the locket and the one within Caydon Augustus. Well, disabled them anyway. The soul itself still existed, locked safely within Harry. The fifth was Nagini.

Unfortunately, Harry thought, unless he could somehow influence Voldemort's actions through their connection, he would have to kill Nagini at the same time he faced Voldemort.

He opened his eyes and stared at the canopy over his bed. He thought about the sixth and final Horcrux, and hoped he was right.

oOoOo

"My Lord, everything is in place," murmured Snape, bowing before his master.

"Excellent," Voldemort breathed. "Is the army assembled?"

"As per your instructions, my Lord."

Voldemort gave a quiet murmur of satisfaction, and then frowned.

"But of course I have lost the alliance of the vampires, save for one clan. Tell me Severus, have you had no luck in identifying the one from the Prophecy?"

"No my Lord, but I believe he is still loyal to you. After all, he gave you Hogwarts. He gave you Dumbledore's life."

"Ah, Severus, you do not give yourself enough credit. Without you it would not have been possible at all."

"And Draco Malfoy, my Lord," murmured Snape.

Voldemort's acknowledgement was noncommittal.

"I never was sure about that boy. He did not seem to have the strength that his father did, and now of course he is useless to me. When is his hearing?"

"I believe it is to be on the 15th of this month. He will no doubt be found guilty. He will be sent to Azkaban."

"That does not matter. We have the Ministry, and soon we will take Azkaban. But first we will get rid of that fool, Weasley."

oOoOo

Harry looked around the full common room, wondering where all of his friends were. He stomped up to his dorm, scowling. Draco Malfoy's trial was in three days, and somehow he needed to be present, but at the moment it was proving difficult to get permission.

He swung open the door to the dorm and stopped, blushing. Ron and Hermione sprang apart, their faces red and their clothes crumpled.

"Er…sorry," said Harry, stepping backwards. "I'll just go."

"Wait- Harry," said Ron, but Harry turned and left. He felt increasingly but off from the two of them lately, but he supposed it was entirely justified. After all, he hardly told them anything anymore. With a deep sigh, Harry left Gryffindor tower and headed for the library, hoping someone would be there. With great relief he found Katherine, sitting by herself at the back.

"Hey," he said quietly, walking up behind her. "Want to go for a walk?"

She looked around furtively, but no one was watching.

"Yes, alright. Do you need the potion?"

"No, that's okay," he said. "I just need to talk."

She gathered her books and they slipped out of the library, following the less used corridors and shortcuts until they made it outside. He grabbed her hand and pressed his lips to her knuckles, and they set off around the edge of the lake.

"You're upset," she said quietly, gazing at him intently. Half-way around the lake they sat down upon a large flat rock hidden from the castle by a grove of trees, and Harry slumped forward with his head in his hands.

"It's just getting so hard," he murmured. Katherine moved next to him and took his hand in hers.

"It will all be over soon though, won't it?" she asked him, and Harry knew that she too needed reassurance.

"Yes," Harry whispered. "It will all be over soon." His throat seemed to be stuck, and he swallowed hard. "I just- I feel so guilty. You have no idea what it's like to take someone's life and I just keep wondering if maybe…"

He broke off for a moment, unable to continue. He wasn't use to telling people what he was going through, and he felt uncomfortable.

"It's just, the prophecy, the first one, says that I'll have the power to kill him, but it doesn't say that I will. And the second one says that I will help him, and it's already happening, and I can't help thinking that maybe I'm not supposed to destroy him, and maybe in the end I'm going to go dark."

He knew he was rambling, but he couldn't stop. Katherine turned his head and pressed her lips to his.

"The fact that you feel this way is proof that you aren't going to go dark, Harry," she said softly, cupping his face in her hands. "I know you, and you are the kindest, most selfless person I have ever met. I know that you can do this."

She dropped her hands to her sides and Harry smiled sadly, running a hand through his hair.

"I wish I could spend more time with you," he said quietly. "I hate doing it like this, in secret. It's not fair."

She grabbed his hand and squeezed it.

"They say absence makes the heart grow fonder," she said. Harry leaned over and kissed her.

"I love you," he murmured.

"Love you too," she replied.

oOoOo

A/N: Another chapter done and I'm sorry it's taking me so long. I used to be so good! But I promise I'm not giving it up or anything. Please review if you like it or if there's something you don't like. Read my other stories HP and the Strength of White I and II and HP and the Heir of Voldemort.- Wujjawoo

Chapter 33: Of Caring and Consequence