Another one out. Remember to review!
Chapter 5
"Expelliarmus!" Daphne shouted, the red beam shooting straight to Harry, who dodged it easily.
Grinding her teeth at the fact that he hadn't shot a single spell at her, she started throwing all the curses and jinxes she knew. He again swerved out the way for most of them, some he formed a shield, but mostly moving. She finally let up after a few minutes, her magical core exhausted; collapsing on the closest chair to her.
"Well that was pretty good", Harry exclaimed, taking a seat next to her.
"Good?" she scathed. "I didn't even come close to hitting you once. You dodged like it was child's play", she said, breathing heavily.
"Yeah, but this was our first lesson. I just wanted to duel you first to see how far along you were with your spell knowledge, and you're good! You knew more jinxes and curses than me when I first started training. Give it a few weeks and you'll be fine", he said confidently.
"Yeah", she chuckled. "You don't stay in the same common room as Malfoy without learning a few curses for the little ferret", her joke making Harry laugh.
"Well, I think you're done for the day", he said, examining her as she still took deep breaths.
"What! No! It's only been an hour. How long are you usually here for?" she said, standing up.
"Usually around two hours. But this is your first time, and I don't want you to get hurt by training for so long." The genuine care in his voice, made her stomach tingle, but she ignored it.
"Look I'm fine. How about we don't duel and you can just teach me a spell?" she pleaded, pretending to pout.
He chuckled at the face. "Ok, I'll try and teach you something simple but could be used effectively in a duel. It's basically called the 'seize and pull charm'. The incantation is Carpe Retractum." He showed her the spell, which produced a rope of light from his wand, using it to grab a table and toss it onto the other side.
"It's great for distractions, because they'll spend their attention trying to destroy the object, and while they're distracted you can fire another spell", he explained.
She nodded quietly and started practicing the spell. Harry sat in the corner, pulling out a Transfiguration book and studying it, occasionally helping her form and wand movement.
"I did it!" she exclaimed half an hour later; the light of rope, holding onto the chair which she threw to the other side.
"Well done!" Harry said, laughing at the unusual excitement portrayed on her face. "But now you really are done. You're going to be aching like crazy tomorrow if you don't stop now", he warned her.
"Alright then", she spoke, stowing her wand into her robes. She walked to the door, but before stepping outside, she turned to him once more. "I'm curious Potter. What's the most complex spell you know?" she inquired.
He thought about it for a few seconds before the answer came easily to him. "Has to be the Patronus. I haven't experienced anything as difficult as casting and sustaining that spell before."
"A Patronus?" she replied shocked. "Like a corporeal one?"
"Corporeal?" he asked bewildered.
"It means that your Patronus has a form, as in the shape of an animal", she answered.
"Oh yeah, it's a stag!" he replied.
"I'm sorry Potter, but I'm not going to believe it until you prove it", she replied unabashedly.
He started at her for a few moments, before taking out his wand. Taking a deep breath, he closed his eyes, the most powerful memory he had coming to his head. He didn't even think it was a memory, it was the feeling; the feeling of his parents being there. "Expecto Patronum" he whispered; a mass of white energy bursting from his wand in the shape of a massive stag.
"It's… It's just breathtaking", she responded, her eyes wide, and mouth hanging open. She put her hand through the animal, only for it to go through, but it felt warm and radiant. It was emanating power before it finally dissolved. She looked to Harry who was panting, the duration of the spell taking its toll.
"How do you know it?" She inquired.
"Professor Lupin actually taught it to me. I don't know if you remember, but the Dementors seemed to have a big effect on me, and Lupin helped me", he answered.
"Yeah, I do remember. That Quidditch match where they came swooping down on you. I remember Tracey telling me something came out that helped dispel them, but I didn't believe her at the time. It truly is amazing Harry" she repeated, still looking to the empty space where the stag had been.
"Harry?" he replied confusedly.
"Why are you saying your own name?" she laughed.
"Because you called me Harry, and it just surprised me," he replied, laughing too.
"Oh, I guess I did. I tend to call my friends by their first name; it's a bad habit", she answered. Looking at her watch she spoke once again- "but you're right. It is late now and I do need to leave", she said, waving goodbye.
"Goodnight… Daphne", he spoke, to which she turned, giving him a small smile and walking out.
The next day, Harry and his friends walked from breakfast to the dungeons, a day Ron and Harry dreaded as it meant having Snape first. They arrived early, waiting outside the door until Snape came, other Gryffindors and Slytherins also piling into the corridor. The scene was quiet, people peacefully talking with each other. Of course, that meant someone had to ruin it.
"So Weasley", Malfoy said loudly enough to draw the attention of all the students. Harry spotted Daphne rolling her eyes at the Slytherin boy, while Tracey was making rude gestures being his back.
"My father tells me they're making cutbacks in the ministry. Apparently, they're getting rid of everything non-essential. Hopefully, that means your joke of a father will get the sack", he finished cause snickers from some of the Slytherins, with Crabbe and Goyle just making non-human grunts.
Ron turned red with embarrassment, the colour matching his hair. Before he could speak, Malfoy continued- "Although they probably could keep him. I bet his salary doesn't make a single dent to the ministry's finances" he sneered.
"Shut-up Malfoy", Harry said speaking up, stepping in front of the Slytherin.
"Oh, Potter! I was wondering when you'd interfere. Don't worry about Weasley's father, I'm sure with my father's power he could keep him on if he wanted to", he smiled cockily.
"I don't give a damn how much so called power your father has. You on the other hand have nothing, just hiding behind daddy's big bag of gold", Harry smirked at the anger flush in Malfoy's face.
"You'd better watch what you say Potter!" he whispered menacingly.
Without warning, Malfoy shouted firing a sickly green coloured curse. Without even thinking, Harry pulled his wand out, and slashed down producing a shield, not noticing that he had done it wordlessly.
"Ahh, Potter what do we have here", Snape said, entering the corridor, somehow seeming to blend right out of the shadows. "Duelling in the halls. Let's see. That'll be 30 points from Gryffindor for once again not following school rules" Snape sneered, gesturing for the rest of the students to go into the classroom.
Harry didn't argue with him walking quietly to his desk, Daphne already there. Snape had been even worse to Harry, if that was even possible after the prank. At least I didn't get a detention from the bastard.
"Potter what the hell!" Daphne whispered, her tone showing she was annoyed.
"What? I didn't start anything, and he tried to hex me!" Harry argued.
"I'm not talking about that. You've been holding out on me!" she retorted.
"What do you mean?" he asked, this time confused.
"You blocked his hex. Wordlessly! That's NEWT level. You told me you were just starting the fifth year stuff for DADA!" she replied back haughtily.
Harry was about to retort back when he realised he had done it like that, but it wasn't on purpose.
"It wasn't anything like that Daphne" he lowered his voice as he said her name. "It was just in the moment, my body just dove into reflex mode, like some kind of fight or flight response. I swear I haven't been hiding it from you" he replied sincerely.
"Oh" was her only reply. Fidgeting with her cauldron, she apologised- "Sorry Potter, I should have asked you first instead of demanding."
"It's not a problem", he replied, waving her apology away. "But it's Potter now I see. What happened to Harry?" he smirked.
"I change it accordingly. Right now I'm in a Potter mood", she replied.
"You're weird", he softly laughed. "How're you feeling after yesterday?" he inquired.
"Damn you were right. I was so sore in the morning. Tracey basically had to dress me because I couldn't bend", she groaned causing Harry to laugh once more.
"I told you, but you were stubborn" he answered, looking to the instructions on the blackboard.
"But even with the pain and fatigue of my muscles I did think of an idea that could help you with your training", she remarked, purposely acting dramatic.
"What?" Harry asked, interested.
"Well back home, we have a basement where we have a space for duelling because my father likes to practice. And he has these training dummies which basically can shoot spells at you with varying speeds and difficulty. It's a really useful piece of equipment to have if you're training", she answered.
"That does sound helpful. But firstly I don't think there's stuff like that here in Hogwarts. Also, there isn't a room big enough" he sadly remarked.
"Yeah, you're right. If only there was. Well, we better continue with the potion, this one's a bit tricky…"
Albus Dumbledore was tired. It was the first time in many years he had felt this sort of fatigue. Not that running a wizarding school wasn't tiring, but that added with his extracurricular activities had exhausted the man. It had all started with Harry's dream, many who may think it inconsequential. However, he had been here long enough to know that it has serious meaning. Voldemort was coming. He didn't know when, or he didn't know how, but the greatest dark force of his life time was coming back.
The other teachers had started noting his absence, but he in no way was going to tell them the threat upon them. He couldn't worry his staff like that, fearing some may leave their job. He had started amassing his own gathering, spreading a slight word to his closest advisors. The only member who could and would thwart his plans was Cornelius Fudge. The Minister of Magic was not known for his pragmatism in times of trouble, and he was already cutting expenditure, mainly out of the auror forces.
But gathering forces wasn't the most pressing issue on his mind. He had already ordered Sirius to do that, keeping him in the country. Sirius was to meet the original Order of the Phoenix. Alone at first, also having to convince them of his innocence. He still chuckled at the ex-prisoners' encounter with Auror Shacklebolt. Sirius had basically kidnapped the man, given himself veritaserum and gave the auror the entire story. But Dumbledore's problem was trying to find out information on the man who used to be Tom Riddle, and at the moment he had nothing. His clues left him at dead ends, but he was nothing if persistent, and he had a job to do. For the Greater Good.
He put down the school report he was 'reading'. Leaving it as a bad job, he got up from his seat, about to leave to bed when there was a knock at his door. Sighing, he said- "Enter", revealing Severus Snape, who looked agitated. "Ahh Severus, what can I do for you?" he asked the potions professor.
"Quit the formalities Albus. You've been training the Potter boy, and I want to know why" he spoke, taking a seat opposite to Dumbledore's desk.
"Severus I'm afraid you're mistaken. I have not corresponded with young Harry since he's come to school. But please, explain what has come about you?"
"The boy got into a conflict with Draco today. Draco fired a spell, and Potter shielded it."
"So Harry did a fifth year charm. That's not really a reason for accusing me of teaching him anything", Dumbledore replied.
"He did it without saying a word. That's far advanced for a fourth year, especially someone as mediocre as Potter. It could only mean you're teaching him for some reason" he retorted.
Dumbledore chuckled, setting his glasses down on to the table. "Severus I have not taught the boy a single spell. However, I did advise him before school, that it would be better if he took his training into his own hands. From what you've told me I can deduce that he has", Dumbledore said, a hint of pride in his voice.
"I don't believe it. Potter couldn't have trained himself that fast or even taught himself alone" he argued.
"Severus once again you are putting your prejudices' in front of reality when it comes to Harry. Do you forget who his parents were? You know firsthand the talent of Lily, especially in charms. And no matter how much it loathes you to admit, his father was an incredibly powerful wizard in his own right. I believe Harry has gotten the best of both worlds, and with the more effort he's put into this year you can see the outcome" Dumbledore concluded.
"Fine, the boy has taught himself one subject" he conceded.
"From what I hear, Harry is progressing excellently in most of his subjects. Minerva just told me a few weeks ago she's starting to see his father's talents. Just yesterday, Alastor mentioned that Harry was the only fourth year able to ward off his imperius when teaching about the unforgivables. Severus, if you could just see past the James Potter in Harry's external looks, you'd learn he is more like his mother in most ways", Dumbledore finished his blue eyes piercing Snape's gaze.
Snape shifted uncomfortably at the headmasters gaze. After a few seconds he spoke again- "Yet does that not explain why you have asked him to train himself", he inquired.
Dumbledore proceeded to tell him about his preparations the past few weeks, realising his plans to sleep were now mute.
"So you're basing all of this on some dream Potter had", he said sceptically.
"You yourself told me that your mark had started to irritate you. That with the subtle events going on right now, I can guess that he is somehow making a way back. And now while we're on this topic, I have to ask you to put one more prejudice aside this evening" Dumbledore continued.
Rolling his eyes at the remark, Severus answered, "and what would that be?"
"You must work with Sirius Black."
"Black!" Snape scoffed, standing up enraged. "I won't do it; you cannot expect me to work-"
"Enough. I can and I will." Dumbledore interrupted firmly. "You are not children anymore. Get over your issues. I will repeat the same to him. This is about getting a start on Voldemort, and you can't let some childish feud get in the way of it. He has already talked to some old members, even recruited two aurors, his cousin Nymphadora Tonks and Kingsley Shacklebolt to our cause. With your help, he can do it faster. I need you Severus" Dumbledore pleaded.
Knowing it would be pointless to argue, because the headmaster would win, he conceded. Bidding Dumbledore a farewell, he walked out of the room.
Finally, Dumbledore got up to prepare for bed. No matter how anxious he was about his preparations, the fact that Harry was training, brought a smile to the old man's face. Maybe I will test him soon.
At the same time as the headmaster's heated discussion with Snape, Harry and the twins were also in a tense situation. It was their eight round of explosive snap and the stakes were heating up. Harry had already lost and been forced to give away two of his rarest chocolate card wizard collections.
Fred slowly pulled out a card from the deck, saying a silent prayer; he looked at it, only for to omit a blast which singed his left eyebrow off. "NOO!" Fred shouted as Harry and George simultaneously shouted yes.
"Enough of this game", Fred said tossing the deck over to the side. "I'm hungry", he said, standing up. "I think I'll get some food."
"Good idea", George said. "I'll come with you"
"How are you guys going to get food at this time of the night", Harry inquired confusingly.
"Harry, for someone with the map of Hogwarts, I'm surprised you haven't seen its greatest room yet", Fred replied, acting mockingly shocked.
"Well, then Fred. Let's show ickle Harrykins the way to the kitchens", George answered, ruffling up Harry's hair in a childish manner, causing Harry to glare at him.
The three walked out the common room, Harry using the map to avoid detection from teacher and prefect patrols. Reaching the Great Hall, they took the staircase down, until they reached a broad stone basement corridor. The twins guided Harry over to a painting of a basket of fruit.
"Watch this!" Fred whispered. Reaching up, he tickled the pear in the basket. The pear giggled giving way to a door handle, which Fred pulled open.
Harry gasped out loud as he walked into the Hogwarts kitchens. The room was as massive as the Great Hall which was directly above. It also adorned five tables, four for the students and the staff table, which he guessed used some sort of magic to transfer the food to the tables in the hall. He finally understood how Dumbledore clicked his fingers and the food appeared out of nowhere.
The second they walked in they were surrounded by numerous elves, asking what they wanted to eat, pure happiness in their eyes as the twins kindly asked for food. Harry noticed they each wore clean white covers, with their names embroidered in gold stitching.
"MASTER HARRY POTTER HAS COME TO SEE DOBBY", Harry turned to look at the direction of the noise, but as he turned a blur of an object smashed into his body, grabbing him and hugging him tightly.
After the initial shock of Dobby's jump, Harry hugged the elf back, causing him to burst out in tears. "Master Harry Potter is too good too Dobby. No human has ever shown such kindness like Master Harry Potter", he wept causing the other elves to turn and look on in shock.
Fred and George were in splits of laughter as they saw the excited elf. Introducing the elf to the twins, he asked Dobby to join them while he ate, which led to another round of crying by the elf. To stop his tears Harry asked how he ended up here, with the elf explaining how Dumbledore gave him a paid job.
Harry was in the middle of a turkey sandwich, when a strict elf approached Dobby. The elf's name on the cloth read Trixie and while she had the same cloth as the other elves, in the middle it read "Head Elf".
"Dobby. That's enough free time!" Trixie reprimanded the excited little elf. "I need you to go to the Come and Go Room. We need more cleaning supplies", she demanded.
Dobby nodded his head rapidly, and answered. "Yes, Ms Trixie. Dobby will be doing that now"
Trixie nodded sternly back and went to talk to another elf.
"Sorry Master Harry Potter", Dobby remarked, his eyes downtrodden. "Dobby needs to do his work now. Would Master Harry Potter think about visiting Dobby again?"
"That's no problem Dobby! Of course, I'll come and visit you again" he said. The elf ran and hugged Harry again, profusely thanking him.
"But Dobby one question. What's the Come and Go room?" Harry inquired. The twins also stopped eating, looking interestingly to the elf.
Dobby looked excited that Harry had asked another question. "The Come and Go Room is a very special room Master Harry!" the elf exclaimed. "It gives the seeker whatever he desires from the room," he said excitedly.
"What do you mean Dobby?" Fred inquired as he ate the last morsel of food on his plate.
"Dobby is not sure how to explain it properly. Would Master Harry Potter and the Weasel twins like to come with Dobby?" the little elf admitted.
Trying to contain his laughter at the twins reaction to Weasel, Harry responded, "Sure Dobby, sounds interesting".
Dobby nodded excitedly guiding the trio out of the kitchen and through the halls. As they walked up the stairs the twins explained their plan for the tournament.
"…So we realised if there's an age restriction, they must have some way of making sure those younger won't enter. But what if we make ourselves older?" Fred theorised.
"So you're talking about some kind of ageing potion" Harry replied, recently reading about it in his potions book.
"Something along those lines. We haven't worked out the specifics, but would you be willing to join?" George asked.
Harry laughed at his question. "Guys I've been enough life threatening situations. I definitely don't need to be in more, especially when it's going to be showcased to the entire school", he chuckled.
The twins laughed at his statement, before Dobby stopped. Harry looked around. There was nothing special about this corridor on the seventh floor. Dobby stopped pointing to an empty stretch of wall. "This is it Master Harry Potter", the elf said, jumping in excitement.
"I don't want to say your elf is crazy", Fred whispered to Harry. "But this is a blank wall".
Harry also looked unimpressed, but the elf was still beaming. "Um Dobby, where is this room?"
"Tis a magical door Master Harry. Just walk past the wall three times thinking and repeating exactly what you need and you will get it!" the elf replied.
"Well go on Harry, give it a shot," George said sarcastically.
"Fine. Let me give it a try." Walking past the door Harry thought of one thing. I need a demonstration of the room, I need a demonstration of the room, I need a demonstration of the room.
And there it was. A door appeared, as if it had been there the entire time. George almost fell in shock at seeing it. The three rushed in and opened it to see a gigantic empty room with a single table on it, and a note.
Ask and you shall receive
"Ask and you shall receive?" Fred asked quizzically. "Ok, I want a fanged frisbee". Immediately a frisbee sprung to the side, appearing magically.
The boys looked in shock at the appeared frisbee and looked at each other in shock. As if they could read each other's mind, each boy smiled. The next ten minutes was filled with them running around thinking of every possible object. Currently, the twins were sitting in a corner, going through a box of magical toys.
Harry was still looking around the area. Trying to understand the room as much as possible. Dobby had disapparated soon after their entry, having to get back to his work. Thinking back to his talk with Daphne, he thought of a training dummy. Instantaneously a magical metal dummy appeared, holding a wand. I also want some books on defence, and again a bookshelf appeared, as if being transported right from the library. I've found my new training room.
I've got to surprise Daphne with this next session.
"Ok well, stop translating your runes now" Professor Babbling told her class. "The other schools will be arriving soon, and we have to be at the courtyard."
Harry waved a goodbye to Tracey and started walking back with Hermione to their common room. He was walking at a quick pace because Hermione was in a bad mood and he didn't want to get the brunt of her temper. Daphne and her partner had finished translating the runes first, followed by him and Tracey. The fact that she didn't finish first was bad enough, but being third had pissed her off completely. He was surprised she hadn't shouted at Susan to be faster at her translations.
He still hadn't had the opportunity to tell Daphne about the room. Even though they had potions the day after his discovery he really wanted to show it to her, because he couldn't do justice to the room by just explaining it. Nevertheless, he had tried it out himself and it exceeded all his expectations. Daphne's recommendations of using the dummy had helped him out immensely. He finally had a proper duelling partner, and he could adjust the difficulty. He had even tried putting it on its hardest setting only for the dummies to disarm him in seconds. There were also potions for any injury he could sustain. If the room could produce food, he would live there.
The Goblet of Fire was blazing in the centre of the Great Hall. The tables had been pushed to the side, and most of the student population watched as the brave eligible students put their names in, everyone getting a huge round of applause for their participation. It was the day after the Durmstrang and Beauxbatons students had come, and Hogwarts was already in its prime gossip mode. Fred and George had already attempted and failed to get pass Dumbledore's restrictions. These were the last hours to enter in the tournament because by night the champions were being selected. No student had any inclination to leave until then.
Harry wasn't that excited as everyone else about the events taking place. He didn't care that a World Cup seeker was here or a girl who was claimed to be a veela. It was Halloween, and it was the time of the year he realised he missed his parents the most.
It hurt. It hurt him every time someone talked about their parents. It hurt when he would look up in the morning to see hundreds of owls delivering letters from parents who cared about them. It hurt when he'd hear people who talked about arguing with their parents because of some silly fight, not knowing how much they had. He never usually talked like this. But this time of year it especially depressed him. He had Sirius and Remus, but even then it came with conditions. Fate made it that the only two good people connected to his parents were wanted for murder and a werewolf. Sighing, he walked out the Great Hall for a walk before the selection.
A pair of eyes followed him as he left. Soon you will be in the hands of my master, Potter and I will be rewarded beyond my greatest dreams.
The Halloween feast had ended, and once again the tables were pushed back, and the Goblet brought forward. The students were still in fits of whispers, only quieting down as Dumbledore stepped up to the podium.
"I know you are impatient for the selection. As am I, so without further ado, let us see our champions for the Triwizard tournament!" the headmaster exclaimed, followed by a burst of celebration from the student body.
Harry watched intently as Dumbledore walked to the Goblet. The headmaster seemed to whisper a few words, before waving his wand in a complicated pattern. The fire increased in size exponentially. The red and orange flames, turning into dark blue and purple swirls. A piece of parchment flew out, Dumbledore catching it.
"The Champion for Beauxbatons is Miss Fleur Delacour!" emitting a standing ovation, primarily of boys with glazed looks in their eyes. Ron even wolf whistled, before Hermione shoved him down. Harry kept sat amused at the reactions. The girl in question walked from the Ravenclaw table, shaking Dumbledore's hands and going to a door behind the staff table.
A few more seconds passed before another parchment fell out. "The Champion for Durmstrang is Victor Krum". If Harry thought the celebration for Fleur was loud, it was nothing compared to this. Girls screaming, boys chanting 'Krum' for the Bulgarian seeker. Before continuing Dumbledore quieted the audience with one stern glare.
"Now for our Hogwarts Champion, we have… Cedric Diggory." No surprise there Harry thought to himself. He was Head Boy, incredibly popular and from what he heard a powerful wizard. Harry knew there weren't many big contenders from Hogwarts to take on the role, but Cedric suited it. Clapping along with everyone else, he turned to the door giving it a longing look. Just wanting to get the day over so he could go to bed, and start November off right. Of course, that didn't happen.
He hadn't noticed he had been staring at the door for a whole minute. Turning his attention back to Dumbledore who was probably giving some speech on bravery, he saw everyone staring at him. Staring wasn't the right word. They looked downright menacing from every student except the Gryffindor table. Fred and George were positively beaming, pushing a confused Harry up from his seat. No. It's not. It can't be.
The walk to Dumbledore took forever; he felt every stare at him. Looking to the Slytherin table he spotted Daphne. Her usual impenetrable mask of a face shattered, as she looked on with her mouth open. He reached Dumbledore, scared to look into his eyes. Taking a peek at the blue orbs of the headmaster, he thought he'd see disappointment or anger. No, what he saw scared him more. Fear.
He took the paper from the headmasters' hand. Two words written on it, but not in ink. He'd seen this writing before. It was blood.
Harry Potter
Ok finally another one finished. Damn I know it's still in character development mode, but it't going to start increasing pace now, with more action and the good stuff. Also, I listened to my reviewers (even though there were only a few, pls review) and didn't Ron bash this chapter, mainly because there'll be a quite a bit in the next one. Well that's all
Again if you didn't listen to the crap up there.
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