One step further

The training session with Salazar didn't differ from the last one. However, maybe it was because he had practiced the breathing exercises during Umbridge's detentions, or maybe because it was the beginning of the weekend, but Harry felt more relaxed and was able to get results faster than last time. Moreover, if getting his thoughts under control was still a fastidious and painful experience, at least it gave him the ability to think quickly and clearly afterwards. On the night between Friday and Saturday, he was able to catch up with his homework. He slept through breakfast and lunch but woke up in time to accompany Ron and Hermione to Hogsmeade.

When they got back to their common room, they sat on the couch in front of the fire. Hermione opened a book while Harry and Ron started a chess game. For the first time since the beginning of the year, Harry felt at ease. His homework situation was in control, his detentions with Umbridge were over and the Quidditch season was about to begin. There was just this tiny detail about Hogwarts coming destruction, but for one night, Harry decided to push this dreadful future away from him.

'Harry, what's that on the back of your hand?' asked suddenly Ron.

Harry, who had been so careful to hide his scarred hand, cursed himself silently and tried to conceal it.

'It's just a cut. Really, it's nothing, it's…'

But Ron grabbed Harry's forearm and pulled the back of Harry's hand up level with his eyes. The silence that ensued froze Harry. Ron and Hermione stared at the words carved into his skin, looking sick. Harry finally came to his senses and pulled brutally his hand back.

'I thought you said she was just giving you lines!' Said Hermione with a blank voice.

Harry gave Ron a dirty look and the red-haired boy withstood it, impassive. He finally sighed and explained to them what had really happened during his detentions.

'You've got to go to McGonagall,' said Ron once he was done.

'And give her the satisfaction of knowing she's got to me?' Retorted angrily Harry. 'No way!'

'Got to you? Harry this is torture!' Exclaimed Ron on the same tone.

Even if they were trying to keep their voices down, they were lucky that the common room was almost empty. Ron had never seemed so outraged.

'Thank you, I hadn't noticed,' replied Harry with an acid tone. 'Anyway, it's over now. And I promised Hermione it wouldn't happen again. I consider the case closed.' He reported his attention on the chess board. 'Knight to b5!'

But Ron remained silent.

'I think that this is way past McGonagall,' said suddenly Hermione with the most peaceful voice she could manage. 'Between this and your scar that is hurting you more than usual, you should go see Dumbledore.'

'Dumbledore has better things to do than to talk to me obviously,' muttered Harry his eyes still fixated on the board.

'You know it's not true,' started Hermione.

'But I don't care!' Harry cut her off while finally raising his gaze to look at Hermione. 'I don't care. I don't know the reason why he avoids me but at this point I am tired of trying to get his attention. He doesn't want to see me? Fine! I'll leave him alone and get through it on my own!'

Without waiting for any answer, he stood up and stormed out of the room. He was furious. Against himself for having been caught after concealing his wound the whole time, and against Ron and Hermione for…

'For what exactly?' Asked the voice. 'For caring about you? For trying to help you?'

He opened one of the windows in the corridor and breathed the fresh air of the coming night. It calmed him a bit and he started to regret his outburst against Hermione. Why was he so angry all the time? It was difficult to cope with all the whispers and pointing of the other students but it's not like it was something new. He had endured the same treatment from his peers last year. Maybe he was starting to find this behaviour really annoying?

The suspicious looks behind his back, the half-worded insults from those who didn't believe him, it would have driven anyone crazy. He felt his hands gripping around the window frame and refrained a whimper. His wound had reopened, and a few drops of blood fell on the wood. He took a deep breath and focused like Salazar had taught him.

Why was he reacting differently from last year? What had changed?

Ron and Hermione were prefects but not him

Dumbledore was ignoring him

Cedric had died

Voldemort was back

Lord Voldemort was back… He quickly touched his scar. He knew there was a connection between the Dark Lord and him. He didn't know the extent of it but his scar was hurting whenever he was close to Voldemort or his followers. However, since his rebirth he had noticed that it was hurting more frequently and… differently. Could it be the cause of his constant anger? Could it be that, somehow, his link with Voldemort was the reason of his bad temper? Was he feeling angry simply because… Voldemort was feeling angry too?

This theory and its implication made him dizzy, and he had to lean against the wall to avoid falling. He heard footsteps from behind him and he quickly pulled his sleeve above his wounded hand.

'May I ask what a Gryffindor is doing wandering alone in the corridors?' Asked a drawling voice he immediately recognised.

'It's not forbidden, is it?' He replied as casually as possible while turning to face the Potions Master of Hogwarts.

'No, but when it comes to you, it isn't unwise to assume you are up to no good,' said Snape with a suspicious look.

'I was just in need for fresh air,' said Harry trying to hide his irritation.

'Understandable, especially after an afternoon spent at Hogsmeade,' replied Snape sarcastically.

'Excuse me, Sir,' said Harry as politely as possible, 'but I don't think I am breaking any rule. Now, if you don't need me for anything I'd like to go back to my dormitory. Please.'

Snape glared at him and finally nodded. The arrogant brat was right.

Harry did not wait for him to change his mind and took the direction of the stairs as quickly as possible. Snape watched him turn at the corner of the corridor and was about to go his own way when a reflect caught his eye. The wooden frame of the window, near which Harry had been standing, was stained with a red substance that was glowing under the light of the torches. Snape quickly glanced at the corner behind which the boy had disappeared and muttered a few words. When he turned his heels to go back to the dungeons, the frame was clean again.

When Harry reached the stairs, he glanced behind him to see if Snaped had followed, and climbed them up to the seventh floor. He arrived in the Room of Requirement in which Rowena was patiently waiting for him. She politely greeted him and pointed the Apeiron. Harry sat and pulled the silver object so it would stand right in front of him and… looked at it. He felt so weird sitting in front of an inanimate object, fixing it like it could burst into flame any moment. Some time, maybe an hour, passed and Harry felt the need to stretch. He stood up and walked a bit to ease the tension that had built in his lower back. When he focused again on his task, he decided to consider the problem differently.

He shifted his focus on his breath trying to get it under control. Once he felt more relaxed, he started to focus on his thoughts. He eliminated everything that wasn't related to the Apeiron. Rowena, then the room, the desk and the Apeiron. It took him some time, but he finally found himself in this strange void that was starting to feel familiar to him. Then, he started to add the details that interested him.

What was the word Salazar had employed? 'Visualize'. He had to visualize the sphere sliding.

That sounded easy… it wasn't. In his mind, sure the ball was doing all the loopings he wanted, but in reality, it was always motionless, taunting, and frustrating. He held his hand in front of him, pointing at the sphere. He imagined the sphere sliding a fraction of an inch to the right. It didn't happen and he didn't move his hand. He wouldn't move it unless the sphere was already moving. He didn't know how much time he had stayed in this ridicule position, but at some point, he started to feel tingling in his arm. The tingling moved to his hands and fingers. Harry wasn't sure if the pain was causing sensorial hallucination, but it felt just like he was touching the sphere. He moved his fingers a bit, but the ball didn't move. However, Harry was now sure that he was touching it and his fingers had just got through it while trying to push it. He had to materialize the sphere. The surface was cool and soft like a polished stone. But it was also brittle, so he had to proceed carefully. He pushed it gently like a caress. That was it, gently to the right, then a bit up, left now. He felt the balance point when the sphere got to the dropping part of the shape.

'Not so fast,' he thought. 'I am in control of the speed. I won't let it fall.'

He kept the sphere a bit more at the balance point.

'Control,' he muttered, 'focus.'

Obeying his will, the sphere motioned delicately, descending the shape and went on the other side. When it got back to its starting point, Harry released the tension in his arm and he almost collapsed on the desk.

He was exhausted but he had done it. He exploded with inner joy as he had rarely felt as proud as this precise moment.

'If I have to be honest,' said Rowena Ravenclaw, 'I didn't expect you to succeed so soon in this task.' The witch was looking quite intrigued.

'You did well,' continued Rowena. 'Do you feel tired?'

Harry nodded.

'That is normal. You are using your magic in a completely new way, and you will need time to adjust to it.' She considered Harry a few seconds. 'I think it will be all for tonight, young man. You may go.'

She observed the boy leave the room. It was the first time she was seeing him smile. It had been a long time since she had taught anything to anyone, but she had rarely met so much potential in a student so young. She hadn't anticipated the power the boy was demonstrating, and it would be interesting to follow its development. She smiled softly and disappeared with the room.

Hi everyone,

I am having a bit of trouble to get inspiration for this story but I think I am on the right path. I hope you are liking it so far.

Take care of you and thank you for the reviews and everything!

See you next chapter.