Chapter 11: At the shrieking shack
Disclaimer: I do not own Harry potter. The almighty JKR does.
A/N: I don't know if anyone is actually reading this, but if you could drop a note (review) to say if you liked it or not, and I would be happy! Also, if you have been bothered to read up to here, then read my other story – The battle after the final – because that's a lot better than this. A lot.
The next few days were full of horrible incidents. A Gryffindor first- and third-year went missing, Madame Pomfrey's mother was reported dead; none of the healers could revive her, although they insisted she was still breathing; Dumbledore was still missing, and, worst of all, Hogwarts was no longer Hogwarts.
The corridors were littered with the injured; nearly every other classroom was set up as first-aid; only half the school students were branded as 'good'; the rest ran amok, cursing people, and causing damage to the school using the darkest of magic. None of the classrooms were tidy any more, and Argus Filch resigned his job; the library was in a shambles, books every where, pages torn out of them; most of the chairs wobbled, and fires were repetitively extinguished, leaving most corridors in darkness. Everyone thought it was a miracle that they could even go to Hogsmeade, let alone walk across the grounds. Although Harry suspected the Dark Magic working, he was glad to get out of the castle; he was beginning to hate it.
'Harry, what are you doing?'
'Eh?' said Harry confusedly; he had put on his t-shirt – back to front.
Ron laughed, and helped Harry take the robes off. Once Harry had dressed, they went down to the gates, where Hermione and Andrea were chatting spiritedly. They both waved them over.
'Good luck,' muttered Ron.
'And you,' said Harry.
'Hey Harry – Ron,' Hermione said. 'Let's go,' she added to Ron.
'Come on then,' he said to Andrea, and they walked in. Unlike his date with Cho, Harry had no problem talking to Andrea, to which he was very thankful for. After they went to Honeydukes, Harry suggested getting a drink.
'Sure,' she said, and Harry was worried if she would suggest Madam Puddifoot's, a small café which Harry hated. To his immense relief, she said, 'But can we not go there,' she pointed to Madam Puddifoot's, 'I hate it in there.'
'That's a relief,' Harry said, 'so do I; let's get a butterbeer.'
'Three Broomsticks?' she asked.
'Yep,' said Harry.
'I haven't been that many times, I can never remember where it is. You do know where it is, right?' she asked him, as Harry took her hand, and started leading her through the crowded streets.
'Oh yes,' said Harry, in a voice not his own. 'I know just the place, I know where I'm going,' he said in a steely voice. In truth, he didn't; but, again, the voice whispering in his ear told him to take her up to the shrieking shack. Harry obliged the sound.
'Are you sure it's up here – you're – you're all clammy and pale – Harry? Can you even hear me? Hello?'
The voices in his head again … Harry pushed Andrea down onto a tree stump.
'What the hell are you doing?' she yelled. 'Get off of me – Harry! No!' she cried, as he kissed her … he must obey the voices …listen to the voices…oblige the -
SMACK!
Andrea had slapped Harry, but Harry was too wrapped in his body … he kissed her again … abide by the master, the voices … the master … comply with his … he must do it …
Andrea screamed, and Harry threw her onto the dirty floor. She pulled out her wand just as he did. Harry grinned.
'Nice try,' the voice in his head said … repeat it, repeat it…
'Nice try,' he snarled.
Silence her … silence her … oblige the master … he must he must …
'I MUST!' yelled Harry. 'Silencio.' He laughed and gripped her again … he was doing the right thing … listen to the voice … hear the master …do as he pleases…
Andrea struggled, and Harry held her closer; she tried to scream, but couldn't.
Instead, she shot him a very hurt and upset look, and, in a second that lasted much longer than it should Harry looked into her eyes … and sunk into a dead faint, whispering, 'Obey the master…'
Harry snapped his eyes open.
'Where am I?' he asked to himself, but Ron answered.
'One of the temporary Hospital Wings. Are you –?'
'Do you remember what happened, Harry? Think carefully,' said Hermione.
'I don't, I honestly don't.'
'Think harder,' Hermione pressed, and Harry was reminded of Dumbledore asking him for information on the night he and Ron were attacked by centaurs...
'I – we were in Honeydukes – yes – I remember – I got a bag of toffees, and I've eaten half of them … then we were going for a drink, I think. Yes! That's it – we wet to the shrieking shack, I've no idea why, though. Then I fainted.'
'I think we're missing a bit,' Hermione said calmly. Harry was confused; he couldn't remember anything else. 'I asked Andrea what had happened – she was running up and down the streets, but she couldn't talk, but she was miming something, with, er, you. I calmed her down, and took the charm off of her. She said you attacked her. She cried a lot.' Harry's heart was sinking; it was slowly coming back to him; he had cornered her, thrown her … he felt sick thinking about it.
'Harry?' Hermione said slowly. 'I think this time it was the voice in you head. That's probably why you don't remember it. You mustn't listen.'
'Is Andrea OK? Did I hurt her?' he asked, with a sinking heart; how could he have messed his first date with her up?
'Well, she's pretty bruised and she's still crying.'
Harry sat bolt upright in his bed.
'Where is she? I want to see her.'
'She's not here, mate,' Ron said at last.
'She hates me, doesn't she?' Harry said.
'Well, once the shock wears off…'
'I suppose she'll hate me even more. I'll see you tomorrow,' he said to Ron and Hermione, who both looked confused, but Hermione bade Harry goodnight, took Ron by the hand, and left Harry alone to wallow on how he suddenly hated his life.
Why did I do it? He kept on asking himself.
Why does Voldemort want to influence me?
I don't have the prophecy …
He still wants to kill me, though …
He won't stop until he has …
Harry didn't move from his temporary bed for another day and a half. Hermione came to get him.
'Come on, we're just having lunch,' she wheedled.
'Where?' said Harry.
'Um, that doesn't matter, just come.'
Harry got up slowly and followed Hermione dimly. He knew Andrea could never forgive him, he had been just as bad as those two boys, like the one he had saved her from … Harry hated his new, second voice. He wondered how to get rid of it. He was on the verge of throwing himself in the lake, but Hermione just led him to the Common Room. Andrea leapt up from Ron and went to the girls' dormitory.
'Hello Ron.' Harry said, and Ron looked up from his homework, his ears red. Harry didn't even attempt his homework, but just gazed into the fire, wishing, like he had done last year, that Sirius could give him some advice on girls, even though he knew his behaviour was out of order. He looked at the rug in front of the fire, remembering when he had comforted Andrea there, promising himself not to take advantage of her …
Ron pulled Harry back from the fire, where he had been inches from having his head burned off. Harry struggled pointlessly, and Ron put him down in his chair, well away from the hearth.
'You know, what Hermione?'
'What?' she said.
'You're right, we are going to have to keep a closer eye on him,' Ron said, dodging a blow from Harry's flailing arms and legs.
When Harry woke up the next day, it took him a few seconds to realise why he felt so bad. He stuffed his clothes on, and was surprised to see Ron waiting for him.
'What day is it?' he asked Ron.
'Tuesday,' Ron said. 'But we have double Defence against the Dark Arts, and we know Snape won't be there, so …'
'I suppose so. Where are we eating?' he added, as their eating place had to change; many people took this further and camped outside or in more secret passage ways.
'Today? Er,' Ron consulted a long bit of parchment on the wall. 'Well, breakfast's in classroom fifty-two, lunch and dinner in this place by the lake. McGonagall made it for us, you know.'
Harry nodded dimly.
…Go to breakfast …go to breakfast …fourth floor …
'Come on Ron, let's go!' Harry said in a very cheerful voice.
'If you say so,' said a bewildered Ron. Harry grabbed Ron's wrist.
'I hear the voices,' he said, and he started rocking back and forth … he had to tell Ron before the whisper took him over … 'Don't listen to me, mate, please don't, I'm mad,' he concluded. He heard Ron say sorry, and then felt a blinding pain on the side of his head. He fell on the floor.
'Harry, it's OK, don't listen, it's alright…'
Harry started – that was Hermione's voice.
'You're fine … Fight it, Harry.'
… Obey the master…
'Get off of me!' he exclaimed. 'What are you doing here? Its defence against the Dark Arts, isn't it? We should be in class.'
''S'ok Harry, we're here,' came Fred's voice.
'I am fine,' Harry said.
'Really?' said George.
'Yeah, honest, look, I look fine, don't I?' George leaned in closer to Harry, peering at his dark circles and pale complexion.
…Hurt the blood traitor…
I don't want to, though, said Harry in his head.
… Hit the blood traitor…
He's my friend, Harry said, equally as angrily.
…Do it NOW!
WHACK!
George staggered back, clutching his head.
'Told you it hurts, didn't I?' Ron said, appearing at the door way. Harry, who had shut his eyes, opened them.
Harry swore. 'I am – I mean, I didn't mean, oh,' he swore again.
'It's fine. You must've resisted that time, though,' Hermione said quite calmly.
'Huh?' said Harry, but even as he said it, he remembered fighting with his own self. 'Sorry,' he said again.
'You mustn't listen, Harry, you mustn't. You'll kill yourself.'
'Or someone else,' George muttered in the corner.
'Let's take a day off today,'
'Off of school?' Ron said incredulously.
'Well, we're not going to learn anything, are we? We just can't stay here for too long, though, the centaurs know where all the common rooms, are, don't they? They did Slytherin,' Hermione said, glancing over to where Malfoy was sitting, talking to himself.
'Are you alright, Draco?' Hermione called.
'What? Yeah, I'm great,' he replied, looking around confusedly. 'Is this the Slytherin Common Room?'
'Er, no. Sorry about that,' Harry said.
'That's OK,' said Malfoy, and he went strait to sleep. He had been like this for a few days, so Harry wasn't too troubled.
'Hey Harry,' said Ron, 'you know we have the Quidditch finals soon, are we going to practise?'
'Dunno,' said Harry unhelpfully. 'I don't really want to be captain anymore. You be captain,' and he tossed the badge over to Ron.
'Are you sure?'
'Why not? I'm doing a rubbish job as it is. Have fun, and remember; three practises a week.'
'Sure,' Ron said, and he pinned the badge to his cloak. 'Everyone free tonight? Well, we'll have our first practise then,'
'OK,' said Fred and George. Harry nodded.
'We'll need a new chaser,' George said.
'Why?'
'D'you really think that Katie's going to play?'
'No,' everyone chorused.
'Well,' said Ron, that keeper girl can be chaser. You still up for seeker, Harry?'
Harry shrugged; he was missing Sirius, but he had suspicion this was to do with the voice, but he didn't mention this to Hermione and Ron, or any of the others; he didn't want them to think he was going mad.
They spent the rest of the day playing cards games, including Exploding Snap. After Harry was caught unawares for the third time, he went to bed, very early, and much burnt. He then spent the rest of the day there, without hearing his stomach rumble, and only listening to the distant rumble of centaurs, and the influence in his head.
'Oi, Harry, wake up, I said Quidditch practise, remember?'
Harry got up sleepily, and stared around cautiously.
'There's nothing there, mate,' Ron said with a laugh. He seemed in a very good mood; the opposite to Harry. He would be seeing Andrea for the first time since the Hogsmeade incident, and he was wondering how much she hated him. He changed into his Quidditch robes in silence, staring out at the pitch.
'Right, can you two get the crate, Alice, you're now chaser. Er, two laps of the pitch, top speed. Let's go,' Ron said.
Harry mounted his broomstick, and zoomed twice around the pitch, and, even though the others cheated by cutting corners, Harry still went twice round without the others even doing one. The closest to him was Andrea, though. Harry ignored her, to simplify things, and she ignored him completely. Harry's heart sank.
'Here come the Bludgers!' Ron called, and the two black balls rushed out towards. One of them went towards Harry, who was looking in the other direction. Fred whispered some thing in George's ear, and George zoomed off. Fred blocked the Bludger zooming for Harry's skull, and Harry saw Ron let out the Snitch. He watched it zoom around the goal posts and he gloomily set off it. He clutched it in his hand, and then set it free again. After catching it another two times without no one noticing, Harry was getting a bit annoyed…
... You are very mad, why aren't they noticing you?
'I don't know,' Harry said through gritted teeth.
…You're very angry now; very angry…look that blood traitor's circling you…
'Oi! George! I can look for the Snitch on my own, OK?' …he doesn't think you can handle it, does he …come to think of it … you can't – even – control – this – BROOM!
Harry jerked it higher and higher, trying to ignore it, but it was closing in on him like a shroud. He saw people staring at him at he went up – he tried to call out, but he couldn't use his mouth … they won't help you, they don't like you. Not Harry Potter, anyway…they like me…you know who I am, though don't you…
Jump off the little broom, Harry, I will catch you… Harry…Listen to me…
No, Harry thought, NO!
Obey the master…listen to me…obey me…JUMP!
Harry felt himself fall through the sky, crying out 'Obey the master!' he saw Andrea again, and he held out her arms – 'Andreeeeeeeeeeeaaaaaaaaaaaaaa!' he yelled, and he felt a huge hand catch him, shrouding him in darkness.
Harry unbolted his eyes. He was lying down. How odd. Shapes surrounded. They didn't bother Harry; until they started moving – fingers!
Harry yelled very loudly and suddenly.
'Master! Get away from me,' Harry started thrashing in his covers – the master's hand!
'NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO! Get off of me!'
'Harry!'
'HELP! HELP! I'M HERE, SOMEONE HEEEEEEELP!'
'You're safe,' someone said, way above him. 'Master's gone.'
'Gone?' he repeated stupidly. The person took his hand, and Harry looked for a shape; he saw curly hair, and he was shocked.
'Andrea, I'm so sorry, I didn't mean it, ask master, I mean the voice, ask him, he's evil, you don't understand, Andrea, it wasn't me, I swear –'
'I know – Ron's just told me about this little voice. But let me get this strait – the voice in your head told you to attack me?'
Harry felt very stupid; how could she buy his story? He knew it was true, though, and it made him nod vigorously.
'I did tell you,' Hermione said.
'Yeah, that wasn't Harry,' Ron backed up. Harry put his other hand on his head. The he drew it back, and whacked himself as hard as he could.
'Harry!' the room said in unison, but Harry didn't mind… pain was good… pain distracts him… He put his hand on his head again, but Andrea grabbed both of them.
'It's OK, Harry, I believe you,'
'I'm sorry,' he repeated. 'I am, I really am,' he felt two tears running down both of his cheeks. Andrea brushed them away. Harry saw the rest of the crowd move slowly away to the door. Harry leaked some more tears, swaying softly in his bed. Andrea swept the tears off, and squeezed his hand. He felt so guilty, more than he had done in a such a long time … yet all the same he could hear the same nagging voice in his head, telling him to rage at people … and, when doing that wasn't good enough, it reminded him that he had no family … of his parent's deaths, and how he would like to avenge them …
'Harry? You scare me when you do that. Hello?'
'Oh, hi,' Harry said dazedly; Andrea sighed.
'Hermione said you'd be like this, but I didn't know that it was this bad. Oh, Harry,' she said, stroking his fore head, 'I didn't know you'd be like this…' Her eyes look watery too, thought Harry. 'I thought you actually liked me, you know,' Harry tried to say that he did like her a lot, but he couldn't say it; his throat felt clogged up. 'Yeah, I really did, but, I suppose everyone makes a mistake sometimes –' Harry leaned forwards from his bed, held the back of Andrea's head, and kissed her. The voice told Harry to push her to see how far she would go, but Harry told it a very firm no …
'I do like you,' Harry said, letting her go, and seeing Andrea blush, and realising that he felt a bit pink himself. Andrea smiled, and, although a lot had happened in the past few days, and they were both quite alone, none of them talked a lot that evening…
Well, that was chapter 11. Review, please!
