Feasts, Dreams, and the First Day
Harry waited anxiously at the table fidgeting slightly in the new uniform robes that the Order had required he wear to emphasize his new position. Over the last week, Dumbledore had had the house elves set up a table for the Guard and the Order members that were staying at Hogwarts.
"Stop fidgeting, Aeter," Terran muttered, glancing around at the members of the Guard that were also seated. "It doesn't leave a good first impression."
"You sound a bit like your master," Harry sniped, before sighing. "When do you think they'll arrive?"
"Ten minutes, at most, Aeter. Have you seen Ferraldin? He's going to be late."
Harry shook his head, sighing. "He's still only talking to me when it's required. I wish I knew what I could do."
"You can't do anything, Aeter. Ferraldin will come around eventually. It's harder for you to see, but being surrounded by powerful, intelligent men can be hard. Just give him time."
"What do you mean I can't understand?"
Terran was spared from responding as the doors opened and the students stormed into the Great Hall. Harry waved happily at Hermione, Ginny, and Ron. While Ginny and Hermione looked as though they were ready to throw themselves across the hall, they restrained themselves. Harry had sent a letter earlier in the week to warn them that he was expected to maintain his composure, but that if the feast went well, he'd been granted permission to spend the night in Gryffindor tower.
It took about a half hour before all of the students had settled, just as McGonagall led the new first years into the hallway. As the first years were sorted, Harry thought about Terran's words about being surrounded by powerful men. Really, he wasn't sure what Terran had meant, because Harry knew better than anybody what it meant to follow Snape at Headquarters.
Harry shook himself out of his thoughts as the sorting finished. Following the first years, Ferraldin finally made his way into the hall, settling smoothly at the end of the Order's table, beside Snape, who glared at the boy.
As the applause quieted and the first years settled nervously into their seats, Dumbledore stood and waited for McGonagall to remove the stool and hat and take her seat again. "To our returning students, welcome to another year at Hogwarts. To our new students, welcome to your first year at Hogwarts.
"Now, before we eat, I have several announcements. First, for those of you who were here last year, you will remember the presence of the Order of Masters here at Hogwarts. Of course, we have our resident Potion's Master, Professor Snape, and his Apprentice, Aeternus. We are also welcoming the Order's Guard to help protect Hogwarts, led by Master General Silverwood, to whom Apprentice Terran reports. Finally, your new Defense Against the Dark Arts instructor, and his apprentice, Ferraldin. All will be permanent residents of the castle this year.
"Now, as a part of the Guard, Apprentice Aeternus is Junior Commander. In this role, Aeternus will be working closely with your Prefects, and Head Boy and Girl to ensure the safety of the castle. Please know that you can trust Aeternus with any concerns you have as students of Hogwarts.
"Now, as you have all no doubt read in the papers, Lord Voldemort has returned. I would like to remind you all of the safety of Hogwarts, for all of her students. Any students found performing Dark spells, or harboring dark artifacts, will face the strictest of circumstances. But be assured that Hogwarts remains firmly committed to the Light. To that end, Fletcher's course will now be made compulsory, as is Defense Against the Dark Arts, even beyond your OWLs.
"Because Masters Snape and Saldor have increased responsibilities to the Order's war efforts and to the Guard's responsibilities, their apprentices have graciously agreed to assist in instructing their junior courses. You will find further information when timetables are distributed tomorrow morning.
"Now, how about we eat," Dumbledore clapped his hands and the tables were suddenly filled, to the cheers of the student body.
As the feast ended, Harry waited beside his master as they waited for the hall to clear. "Well, Aeternus, as promised, you may spend the night in the dormitory. Sleep in tomorrow, but I expect you back in our quarters at 6:30 tomorrow morning. Please be dressed and ready for your morning lessons."
"Yes, Sir, thank you, Sir," Harry smiled widely.
"I'd say don't stay up too late tonight," Snape muttered wryly, "but I'd rather not know about your deplorable sleeping habits when you stay in that dormitory."
"Harry!" Ginny called from the Gryffindor table as she made her way toward the two. "Ron and Hermione had to escort the first years to Gryffindor Tower, but I thought I could wait for you. Hullo, Professor Snape. It's good to see you again."
Snape's lips curled upward, as close to a smile as Harry had ever seen Snape give one of the students. "Miss Weasley. Make sure Aeternus doesn't get into too much trouble tonight, please? He's got a busy schedule ahead of him tomorrow."
"There'll be no trouble from Aeter tonight, Sir. He'll be ready for tomorrow."
"You?" Harry snorted. "I think you purposely get into trouble sometimes." Snape ignored the bantering, giving a final nod, before leaving the Hall.
Ginny pushed Harry lightly as they climbed the stairs, "Of course I don't know what you're talking about. I have no idea who hid all of Ron's socks last night!"
Harry laughed as they got to the Gryffindor portrait hole. "Methinks, Miss Weasley, that you spend far too much time with Gred and Forge."
"We've been summoned, my good twin," one of the twins announced loudly, suddenly on the heels of Harry and Ginny as they entered the common room. "Harry, my good chap, good to see you!"
"Say, Harry, did you test any of those products that we gave you?"
Ginny laughed. "Do you want to see Harry murdered by Snape?"
"Snape loves Harry, he'd never murder him!" One of the twins argued.
"He could also be murdered by Professor Saldor," Hermione pointed out as she joined the group that had just sat on the sofa. "Have you spent time with that man? He's terrifying!"
Ginny poked Harry. "What about Silverwood? Would you get killed by him?"
Harry was incredulous. "Are you all trying to get me killed? They're all cut out of the same cloth, those three. They aren't so bad, once you really get to know them."
Ron came down from the stairs, having just showed the first years their dormitory. "Say, Potter! What's with those robes? Even stranger than last years', I reckon."
"Ron!" the two boys shared a half embrace. "Robes of the Junior Commander, as required by the Board."
"Tell us more about that," Hermione pressed. "Does that mean that those nightmarish punishments are over?"
Harry shook his head. "If only. The position, and the war, mean that there are far more expectations for me to perform well. Unlike a year ago, though, the consequences could mean life or death."
Ginny sighed. "That's heavy, Harry. I can't imagine."
"Perhaps. But it is what is right. Hogwarts is the best place to be. And honestly, I'm not sure there's anybody better to have on my side than the team I have. Now. Happy things! What kind of jokes do you have, Fred, George?"
As Harry let the pranks of Fred and George entertain him, he turned and smiled as he glanced at his friends around him, content in that moment in the Gryffindor Common Room. Finally, realizing it was well past midnight, Harry yawned. "My bed still in the dormitory, Ron?"
"'Course it is, Harry! Let's get you to bed before you turn into a pumpkin, huh?" Ron and Harry stood, and Harry hugged Hermione and Ginny, yawning again as he turned to head up the stairs.
Harry threw his robe on the bed, sitting on it to untie his boots. He nodded absently as Ron continued to talk about the Cannons' quidditch season. Harry laid back into the pillows, his eyes falling closed almost immediately.
Harry's eyes were adjusting to the darkness as he watched several Death Eaters- he startled himself- what was he doing in a room full of Death Eaters? He felt his heart begin to pound as he realized that he was sitting in a hard-backed chair that was uncomfortable. "My loyal servants," Harry panicked, realizing that the high-pitched voice was coming from himself, at the same time he realized that he did not have control over his own body.
"Pettigrew," his voice- no- Voldemort's. Harry was simply viewing events from Voldemort's mind, something that made him shiver. "What have you been able to find out from Hogwarts?"
Pettigrew stumbled forward, seeing him caused rage to seep through Harry. "S-sir. The Order's Guard is there. Potter is named Junior Commander."
"I knew all of that from the newspaper, Wormtail," Voldemort hissed. "Tell me something worth knowing?"
Pettigrew stuttered. "I will find out more this week, my lord."
"Crucio," Voldemort cast on the pitiful man. The longer the spell was cast, the more Harry realized he felt the aftermath of the curse, despite not inhabiting Pettigrew's body. He was confused, and the pain was wracking his body, and he shook, the world suddenly becoming dark.
"Harry! Harry!" Somebody was shaking him. Startled to find himself surrounded by scarlet bed curtains, Harry became aware of the Gryffindor fifth year boys staring at him. "Are you okay? You were screaming."
Harry shook his head clear, still feeling sore muscles. "'M fine. I was jus' dreamin," he slurred. "What time is it?"
"Harry, are you sure? You're all clammy," Harry was suddenly aware of Hermione. "Should I get Snape?"
"No!" Harry shouted. "I'm fine. It was just a dream. Please don't tell anybody. What're you doing here, Hermione?"
"Neville got me. You wouldn't wake up," Hermione's voice still seemed slightly shrill to Harry. Harry became idly aware of the window beginning to brighten outside.
"What time is it?" Harry asked a bit more urgently, already throwing the blankets off him, beginning to put his boots back on.
"6:12," Seamus muttered, already back in his own bed. "G'night."
"Shit," Harry stood, throwing his robes back on, not even bothering to fasten them over his slacks and top. "I gotta go. Master Shadowman will kill me if I'm late." He paused, turning to look at Hermione and Ron. "Please, don't tell anybody," he waited for their agreement before rushing out of the room.
He burst through the door of the quarters he shared with Snape. "You're dangerously close to being late," Snape said loudly from the sofa as he read the morning's edition of The Daily Prophet. "You better be presentable when you come out."
Harry did not bother to respond, as he threw off the dirty clothes, cast a quick cleansing charm on himself, threw water on his face, not even bothering to brush his teeth, before throwing clean clothes on. He glanced at his watch as he opened the door to his room, and let out a sigh of relief. "Good morning, Master Shadowman."
Snape closed his paper and looked at his watch. "6:30. I'd be impressed if I didn't see the way you just rushed in here. You look pale?"
"I'm fine, Sir. Just overslept."
Harry, Ferraldin, and Terran were going to be rotating their responsibilities toward the Potions and DADA classes, and the Masters would still be available should there be appeals or calls for assistance. The three stood to the side of the classroom as Master Saldor introduced himself, and then the three to the students.
This would be repeated for each of the classes, and then again with the Potions students, though Harry thought the first and second years to be considerably more cowed during Snape's lecture than they were during Saldor's, despite the fact that both were no-nonsense men.
After the morning classes, the three boys reported to the forest clearing where the Guard had begun training two days prior. "Master Silverwood," they greeted him.
"Apprentices," Silverwood greeted from where he stood before his troops. "Come. Aeternus, a spar with Master Isaacs here."
As the first day continued to drag on, it became abundantly clear to Harry that this was going to be a very long year, and that he would need to be on his A-Game as often as he could. Ferraldin had left the clearing as soon as he could, but Harry and Terran dragged themselves to lunch a bit more slowly. "We're going to die," Terran muttered.
Harry could only murmur his response as he greeted his Master at the dining hall table. "Good afternoon, milord, how was your first day of term?"
Snape raised an eyebrow, "Nowhere near as exhausting as yours, I gather. Fletcher is thrilled to have your help this afternoon, by the way."
Harry withheld the groan he felt rising within him. His sparring with Isaacs had lasted the better part of an hour, and while Harry had come out victorious, within five minutes, Silverwood had insisted they go again, and again, and again. Harry wasn't sure whom the man was punishing: himself or Isaacs.
"Ah, Aeter, good showing this afternoon!" Silverwood slapped him on the back as he pulled up his own seat. "You look tired- are you doing okay? You've sparred like that before."
Harry nodded. "Fine, Sir. Just didn't sleep well last night," Harry ignored his own master's snort. "So, was that my punishment or Isaacs?"
"Isaacs, though it's always fun to see you spar," the older man chuckled. "But I doubt that Isaacs will ever express doubt at the trust we've placed in you. Eat up, I think Fletcher said something about seeing which fifth year could run the furthest this afternoon."
Harry traded glances with Terran, knowing his friend was ready for the first day to settle down, too.
