I do not own Harry Potter, only the OC

Hello guys, Badger here. Back again with a new chapter for you all today. I hope you guys are well and keeping yourself safe and drink water, it's good for you. Anyway, I'm glad people seemed to enjoy the previous chapter and I hope they enjoy this one. This one is a bit shorter then some of the previous chapters before it, I felt like the ending would be a good place to end it. Whilst writing this chapter, I came across some more of my old Fanfictions and, Jesus I was so bad at writing. Not that I'm a professional now, but I cringed when reading some of my old shit. Again, if you think it will be fun to post and react to my old, never seen before, fanfiction let me know. We can cringe together.

Anyway, that is all for now. Read on enjoy and I will see you at the end.

Chapter 78

A poisoned glass

Harry's eyes narrowed with cold fury, as he watched each and every training dummy shatter in front of him. He and James were in one of their private lessons and he thought now would be a good time to try out some of those spells he had found in that book. He enjoyed the results from the spells he used. There was a lot of power in them. James and Lupin, however, weren't as thrilled. They stood by a far wall, watching Harry with concern.

"I'm worried about Harry, Remus" James whispered "The spells he's using, I've not seen them before"

"You mean they aren't yours?" Remus asked, surprised "I thought they were spells you taught him, back during the Tournament"

"No, but I've never heard of the spells he's using, though they do seem similar to some of my families magic" James replied "And I'm sure you've noticed, he's becoming more brutal"

"Yes, I've noticed that" Remus sighed "I'm not sure what it is, but the werewolf in me can sense something in him, something dark and foul"

"Is it something to worry about?" James asked, keeping his eyes on Harry, as he blasted another training dummy apart

"Honestly, I can't say" Remus said "I'd say its not a problem at the minute, it's faint, but it's there, so I think we should keep a closer eye on him"

"I plan to" James said "I may have been in a dark place at one point…but with the way Harry is acting at times…it scares me"

Voldemort paced back and forth in his throne room, as the rest of his inner circle bowed before him, keeping their eyes on the ground, whilst Michael Badger stood in the far corner, twirling his wand in his hands. After a few seconds of silence, Voldemort stopped pacing as he turned to face Snape.

"Severus" He drawled "No doubt, you have kept an eye on Malfoy and Nott since they were tasked to kill Dumbledore…tell me, how are they fairing?"

"There hasn't been an attempt just yet" Snape replied, keeping his gaze on the ground "However, the two of them seem to be planning between themselves, whenever I've seen them"

"I hope, for their families sake, that they succeed" Voldemort said, causing Lucius and Nott Sr to shiver "Now, I hope to storm the school when the boys succeed in their mission, however it won't be possible to get through the wards…"

"Dear friend, I may have the answer for that" Michael spoke up "When I was a student, there was a lesson about a Vanishing Cabinet, a method of transport where you can hop through one and come out the other…the lessons stopped when one of the cabinets broke and was placed in an area called the Room of Requirement"

"The Room of Requirement?" Voldemort asked

"Yes, not many people know about it" Michael nodded "It's a place which comes and goes, creating a room depending on what the user requires"

"And where is the other Cabinet?" Voldemort asked, intrigued with the idea

"If I remember rightly, I saw it in Borgin and Burkes when I went there last time" Michael replied, after a moment's thought

"My friend, you have intrigued me" Voldemort smiled "Send a letter to the boys about the room and the Cabinet, if they can fix the Cabinet no one will know about an ambush until it's too late"

"So, Remus feels there is something dark festering inside Harry?" Daphne asked

James nodded, as she and James did their Prefect Patrols across the corridors. James had informed her everything Harry had said about the Horcruxes and what Remus said in their private lessons. Needless to say, she was just as pissed as he and Harry were.

"Yes, he's unsure on what it could be" James replied "I can only hope it's not connected to the Dark lord"

"You don't think that he is…" Daphne's voice trailed off

"I don't know" James interrupted "I have my suspicions, I just hope I'm wrong"

"I hope so too" Daphne replied "Whatever it is, I hope it clears soon, even Susan has said Harry's been a little distant"

Nott looked up from his parchment, when the dorm room door opened, and he saw Malfoy come in.

"Have you done it then?" He asked, looking back down at his notes

"Yes" Malfoy nodded "Its where it needs to be"

"Good, we'll see if this plan of yours works" Nott replied, writing on his parchment "Then we'll see if you can prove me wrong"

Slughorn was clearing up a few things in his office, when there came a knock at the door. He answered and smiled when he saw Harry on the other side, alongside James.

"Harry, my dear boy, come in, come in" He said

Slughorn had requested to meet Harry, as a way to get to know him more, seeing as his mother was one of his most gifted students and was wonderful to teach.

"I must say, it is a surprise to see you here James" Slughorn said "Not that I'm trying to be rude, but may I ask the meaning of your presence?"

"I asked him to sir" Harry replied "Considering we had teachers, who turned out to be Death Eaters, try and attack us two years in a row, I didn't want to take any chances"

"Ah, understandable" Slughorn nodded, opening his drinks cabinet "Would either of you like a drink?"

"That would be nice, thanks" James replied, whilst Harry nodded

"It's actually a good thing you are here James" Slughorn said, pouring three glasses of wine, giving two to Harry and James "It would save time sending out the invitation"

"Invitation to what?" James asked, taking a sip of the drink given to him

"The Slug Club" Slughorn replied "Think of it as a social club of sorts…Should a student impress me, or are famous for one reason or another, I invite them to the Slug Club, we also have a Christmas Party every year, you don't have to accept the invitation, but if you change your mind, you can join whenever you wish"

"It does sound like it could be fun, what do you think Harry?" James asked, coughing slightly, as he began to feel a little hot under his collar

"I admit, it is intriguing" Harry nodded, before he turned to Slughorn "We accept"

"Excellent" Slughorn smiled "Your mother was part of the Slug Club, when she was a student, I'm glad you accepted"

"You knew my mother?" Harry asked

"Yes" Slughorn said, grabbing a photo and handing it to him "She was my most gifted student, I was distraught when I learnt what happened to her, one reason why I retired"

Harry held the photo in his hand. His thumb running over the moving image of his mother, standing amongst the crowd of the Slug Club. Seeing Harry was in a moment of deep thought, James turned to Slughorn.

"So, tell me more about…"

He was unable to continue, as he fell to the ground in a coughing fit, his insides burning. This breaks Harry out of his deep thought, as he rushes over to James, where he sees yellow bile and foam spewing from his mouth, as he thrashes on the ground, his veins beginning to turn black.

"What did you do!" Harry yelled, looking at Slughorn

"I did nothing Harry" Slughorn replied, quickly getting a small glass vial "Hold him and keep him still"

Harry uses all his strength to stop James from thrashing, as Slughorn pours the liquid in the vial, into James mouth and moves his head, so he swallows. After a few seconds, James breaks free from Harry's hold, as he gets onto his knees, before vomiting on the ground, spewing out the bile as well as the wine he drank, before falling back down unconscious.

"Professor, what was that?" Harry asked, checking James' pulse

"A small concoction I made, consisting of a Bezoar and a purging potion, so the victim throws up whatever it was that poisoned them" Slughorn replied, grabbing the bottle of wine he poured "We should take him to Madame Pomfrey, make sure there are no permanent damages and I'll inform Albus and Severus, they'll want to inspect this wine…I'm not sure what was in this wine that caused this, but I'm sure Severus will be able to find out, he was much better then I was at such things"

DUN DUN DUN!

I know this doesn't happen until much later in canon, but I thought it would be interesting, because if James finds out it was Malfoy, he may activate the Blood Feud. Do any of you remember the Blood Feud between the Badgers and Malfoys. I forgot about it until a few chapters ago, as I haven't mentioned it in so long. If you remember the Blood Feud let me know down below.

Anyway, yes, this chapter, as well as moving the plot, was also a way to set up a few more things, consisting of, concern as to Harry going more darker, the Vanishing Cabinet and The Slug Club. I currently have drafts for the next few chapters, but who knows, I could choose to do something entirely different. I may do something different, meaning the Deathly Hallows plot line is changed completely, but we will have to wait and see first. Anyway, onto the:

QUESTION OF THE CHAPTER - I'm sure a few of you were paying attention to James and Daphne's conversation. What do you think James is suspicious about, regarding the 'festering darkness' Lupin could sense in him. [Leave a response in the review section down below]

That is all for now. If you enjoyed let me know and if you didn't let me know, just don't be a dick about it. I'll see you next time.

Badger Out.