Disclaimer: This is a work of fanfiction. I own nothing, all characters belong to JK Rowling.
An - So I thought I'd only have to split this into two chapters. Turns out I had to split it into three, apologies if I have missed anything - typos etc this is still the alpha version.
The Whore of Abbadon – Part II
Deliverance
Two weeks, it had been two very short weeks since the first task, since his fight with Ron, since his encounter with the mysterious Ghostscale. Already the customary excitement that came with the steady approach of Christmas filled the halls of Hogwarts. He too was looking forward to the break, but thanks to Professor McGonagall's detentions he was completely drained.
Now though the Gryffindor champion could feel just how close to freedom he was. He could just about taste the crisp winter air; and as if on cue, December decided it was time for the first snows of the season. Outside the library window, Harry could just about see the flurry of white flakes falling gracefully.
He stole a glance at Daphne. The candle between the two dripped with wax, a milky drop trickled its way down the stem before it cooled and froze. She was sat silently as he read his interpretation of 'Völuspá', the prophecy of the seeress. It was a Norse poem first spoken from elder to audience and later recorded in Elder Futhark with varying translations and interpretations. It was the story of both the creation and the end.
"Three there came,
from the house of Aesir,
The mighty and gracious,
to two without fate.
On the land they found,
Askr and Embla,
void of destiny."
When they had begun Daphne had been stoic and short, motionless, calm and still as water. There were no affirmative nods or reassuring smiles. Her grey eyes were unyielding and sharp as ever. She had no concern for the blinking shifting looks that spied on them behind the bookshelves from afar.
"Now Garm howls loud,
before Gnípahelli;
Fetters will burst,
and the wolf runs free.
Much I do know;
and more I can see of Ragnarok;
The mighty in fight."
Since he started reading however, her black nail polished fingers began to tap the pages of her book rhythmically.
"Brothers shall fight
and fell each other,
may sisters' sons
kinship stain;
hard it is on earth,
whoredom severe;
An axe-age, a sword-age,
shields riven.
A wind-age, a wolf-age,
ere the world falls;
No men shall know mercy.'"
Her other hand began to play with her hair, strands of white lazily wrapped around her finger. Even though she was probably still annoyed with him, he was beginning to suspect she didn't mind the way he watched her. He really didn't understand girls. Daphne tilted her head and a wordless stare prompted him to finish, there was no smile hiding behind the hard line of her lips.
"From below a dragon
Nidhogg rises
From Nidafjoll.
The corpses of men,
his wings he bears:
The serpent bright and pale,
and now I fall."
He knew it was no coincidence that she had picked this piece of text for him, but he didn't ask her about it. Daphne was both pragmatic and mindful, but he could tell this was no ordinary teaching exercise. Not now he had seen the side to her that she hid so well. But asking would mean opening a door better left shut.
"Terrible." She said before cracking a smile. "Did you use a theasurus?"
"No.." Harry said with an all too serious shake of his head and equally unconvincing expression.
"So Ragnarok, do you know what it translates to?"
"Mm that one was probably the easiest."
"Break it down for me."
Harry answered coolly and confidently. "Ragnarok, the end of the world, also known as the Fate of the Gods. Ragnarr translates to reign and rǫk meaning judgment."
"And Gnipahelli?"
His mouth twitched. He had spent hours trying to figure out what Gnipahelli meant without result. He really wished he had just asked Hermione.
The witch couldn't help but smirk "No? It is a tough one, if you had employed the same method but compared it with the Icelandic language you would have found 'hellir' means cave. Gnipa's Cave."
"So it's a location."
"It's the name of the place where Garm guards the gates of Hel."
"The Norse realm of the dead."
"I see you did at least some background reading, and you certainly have a grasp on the more literal translations at least. Not bad for a first attempt I suppose Harry, prophecies aren't easy to decipher." Daphne mimed applause.
"I thought this was supposed to be about learning runes."
"True, but you should always be willing to expand your knowledge base. I had expected you to already know a thing or two about divination." She countered.
"Enough to know that divination is a load of bull."
Daphne couldn't stop a smile from appearing on the edge of her mouth. "You should not so easily dismiss prophecies. Surely after everything even you believe in the impossible?"
Harry sat thoughtfully, chewing on his tongue as he was reminded of Ghostscale and of the many other impossible things he had witnessed since he learnt he was a wizard.
"I've seen Trelawney have a vision. Her eyes rolled into the back of her head, her voice sounded like something unnatural. What she said came exactly true... but prophecies until they have come to happen can only be unreliable, you might try to work against it and end up being the cause, you might do nothing and end up with the same result. Trelawney is a medium no doubt. But I'd bet my trust vault that her abilities are triggered by her drinking, or something to do with helping to get her mind to open up and because of that she can't even remember what she sees."
Daphne smiled with interest. "Witnessing a prophecy? You still continue to surprise me."
"A gift like hers must be hereditary, right?"
"It's quiet a well known fact."
"Which doesn't make her a mistress of divination. She can't teach and she can't exactly pass her own talents on to someone else. Because of that there is no point learning a subject with such little substance in the first place makes it bullshit." Harry said with some finality.
To be special or of use only when drunk... add a little low-self esteem and that's probably what turned Trelawney into an alcoholic in the first place.
Harry wondered if wizards even knew what alcoholism was. He doubted it.
"It appears you do know some things. Everyone has their own talents and gifts, their own fields they excel in but they can't be good at everything." Daphne said with a smirk.
"Are we finished?" He asked still thinking about things the wizarding world still probably didn't have.
"Nearly, some of your pronunciations were are off. Nidhoggr and Nidafjoll are n-id-th-hog and n-id-th-fjoll. Other than that I don't think I have enjoyed a reading like that in a long time. Melancholic, rich but just the right amount of reverence. It fits perfectly, really."
"I'm glad you enjoyed it." Harry said uncomfortably, caught off guard by the praise.
"I trust you didn't rely on Granger too much?"
"Depends on your definition of a thesaurus." He smiled wryly.
"Aside with the jokes, let's be serious Potter." Daphne chastised.
Harry lent back in his chair. "You'll be happy to hear I didn't. Hermione's been as busy as me these past two weeks between detention with Snape every night and not getting buried in homework."
"I see. Here are my notes for you to improve and your next assignment. Babbling was impressed with how much progress you made when I showed her last week's." She handed him two sheets of parchment.
Harry took them both with a grave look in his eyes. "More poetry?"
"Eddas. And yes, as I've said you have a wonderful voice for it." Now it was Daphne giving him a wry smile.
"Either you're a sadist or you really enjoy listening to the sound of my voice." He commented lightly.
At first Daphne said nothing, the faintest blush appearing on her cheeks. Then she gave him an eerie smile.
"Watch." She instructed.
Slowly, without breaking eye contact, she raised her hand over her inkwell and quill. After a moment she took a deep breath and began to wave her hand in a circular path.
"Double, double toil and trouble; Fire burn, and cauldron bubble." She chanted in a eerie voice. Her fingers moved with mesmeric grace, as if she were playing the keys of a piano. Nothing happened.
"For a charm of powerful trouble; Like a hell-broth boil and bubble. Double, double toil and trouble; Fire burn and cauldron bubble." She repeated in same ghostly tone.
Harry watched in awe as Daphne's eagle feather quill slowly began to whirl in the well. While the ink inside began to simmer and gurgle with gushing black blots.
"Wandless magic? Daph that's seriously cool."
The blonde witch blushed but smiled all the same.
"A parlour trick, believe me. It's from Macbeth. You see Harry, poetry has its own magic. That little performance was only possible because of the spell I was casting. Can you distinguish how I was simultaneously controlling the quill and boiling the ink?"
"Well the ink was your little rhyme." He said obviously.
"It's Macbeth, but otherwise correct, generally speaking."
"And you were rotating the quill by waving your hand?"
"Trick question. Unfortunately telekinesis is not one of my many talents." Daphne smirked. "It may sound like just a silly rhyme but there is more to it than that, it is actually a two-part component spell. My quill moved in response to Shakespeare's use of the trochaic tetrameter."
"The what now?"
"Number of syllables in a line. While the gesture helped the waving of my hand was merely theatrics because the art of true witchcraft is both magic, misdirection and deception. You are aware that verbal spells are the product of what we call root languages?"
"Languages like Latin."
Daphne nodded, "If you travel the world you'll find most native tongues that have gone unchanged are root languages, single word spells are more powerful and exact in their primary functions. Spells you should know by now are-"
"Directives that guide magical output. We may use our wands as a focus but it is our magical core that recognises spells and their meanings, which in turn gives direction to the magic within us." Harry recited.
"Very good, you actually paid attention in first year. You're theory appears to be more thorough than most people's thanks to Granger's influence. But can you guess as to why the English spells don't work the same way as Latin?" she asked.
Harry thought very long and hard for a moment "Because it has influences of several different languages?" he guessed.
"Precisely. Thanks to invaders throughout history our root language changed."
"So why during the renaissance did witches and wizards favour the imperial form of magic again?"
"It was easier to learn, more practical and had a more comprehensive framework to work with. In short, it was just more reliable, less time consuming and less energy draining. Not to mention it didn't help that the druids and our pagan ancestors were killed off. This was before even the worst series of witch hunts, that was when our kind had only begun to recover the old ways. But that doesn't mean it is impossible to cast in English." She shifted in her chair.
"It all comes down to the right combination of sounds, tone and context. What you saw was the ink boiling upon my repeated command and the reference to fire. With the enunciation of the syllables in each line the quill rotated."
"Still…"
"I admit any form of wandless magic still takes quite a bit of power and focus for it to be possible, it isn't something any average witch or wizard can accomplish." Daphne winked. "Unfortunately it is about time we finished here. It wouldn't be wise to keep a Professor waiting. Not to mention you'll make me late."
"And what are you going to be late for?" Harry asked as the two of them left their table.
"The occult club."
Harry did a double take. "You're messing with me aren't you? I've never heard of Hogwarts having an occult club."
"It wouldn't be an occult if everyone knew of it now would it?" Daphne flashed him a smile. "Yes I am 'messing' with you. I promised to help Tracey with her music practice after we finish here."
"Well uh apologise to her for me, for keeping you. I'll see you tomorrow?" He asked.
Daphne nodded with a sincere smile. "I imagine so."
"Right." Harry said embarrassed, he felt like an idiot. Of course they would, they saw each other everyday. Even so it was starting to feel like it wasn't enough.
He wanted to say something else but struggled to find the words. They stood facing each other in the corridor in sudden but clumsy silence.
"Um… I'm this way." he pointed in the direction away from the dungeons.
"I know." Daphne ducked her head with a smile. "Goodnight Harry."
"Goodnight Daphne."
She gave him a small wave as he began to walk away. The witch lingered outside the library watching him as he made the turn from the corridor and out of sight. She let out the breath she had been holding and made her way in the opposite direction.
When Daphne reached the dungeon floor she rested her head on the stone wall behind her. She could hear the approaching footsteps.
Her hand flew out into the darkness and grabbed the front of someone's robes. She pulled hard slamming them into the wall, forearm pinning their throat.
"Just what do think you're doing?" She demanded.
"Eavesdropping." A strained smirk appeared on his face.
"I don't appreciate being spied on Draco. Leave Potter and I well alone." Daphne hissed and let go of her hold on him.
"Do you really think he is going to fall for such obvious advances?" Draco said, dusting himself off.
"He doesn't play games, unlike the rest of us. You'd be surprised with how refreshing it is be around someone like that."
"Don't tell me you actually like him?" The witch said nothing and Draco's eyes gleamed victoriously. "Pathetic." He folded his arms.
"Do you want something or are you going to just stand here and continue to make baseless assumptions?" Her voice became short and her tone viscous. "You know one word to Tracey and she'll spread a rumour about you and him being lovers faster than the plague. I mean the way he saved you… some would say there was more to that broom ride than would meet the eye."
"Hollow threat. You've forgotten I know you better than you think Daphne." Draco growled. "The only two people who were at the north tower that who didn't get detention with Professor Snape for being out past curfew were you and Potter. There is no chance Snape would have passed over Potter to McGonagall if he was to grass everyone up, so that only leaves you who tipped off our head of house."
Daphne's eyes narrowed at him, he was testing her. "And if I did?" She asked nonchalantly.
"Just think if everyone knew... Selwyn was lectured by Snape for the first time. Or better yet I let it slip to Potter and he realises how you're alienating him further, pulling him closer to you. Because I know that's what you're trying to do." Draco wore a cruel smile. "Perhaps then he will see you for what you are."
Daphne looked him dead in the eye. The fact he hadn't told anyone about his suspicions was because he had no proof, it was pure speculation on his part.
"Let us not forget why it is you have it easy yourself Draco. It is only because Potter is protecting you from the backlash from your stunt with King the night before the first task that you aren't in detention with him and McGonagall, without any of Snape's preferable treatment. Yes, I heard what an ordeal Peeves put King through. It appears you both inherited that vindictive streak mother says all Blacks have." She said silkily.
"Like you are one to talk about vindictive." Draco's eyes narrowed, his hand on his wand in his pocket.
Daphne remained cool and ignored the affront. "Now. Believe me when I say my interest in Potter is nothing more than business." Daphne continued in a more serious manner. "He is a foul mouthed liar, granted he has some above average magical abilities, but still, he is nothing but an uncouth scoundrel that stumbles his way through his successes. You know that more than anyone. That does not mean I like or dislike him in any regard. I'll still do what I promised."
"That's cold and just like you Daphne. But I really don't believe you. You want him." Draco shook his head with another smirk.
"Believe it." She glared. "Know this, while I feel nothing for Harry, I truly hate you Draco, very deeply. You will do well to remember that." She said quietly holding her books closer to her chest.
"Which is exactly why I don't believe you." Draco muttered his smile flickering in the torch light.
It took very little time at all for Harry to make his way to the old gargoyle statue. It stood over him tall, frightening and grim.
"Oh it's you again." It grumbled, opening one stony eyelid. "Password?"
"Gobstoppers."
"Go up he's expecting you." The gargoyle yawned as it spun around revealing the staircase to the headmaster's office.
Harry walked up and knocked on the double oak doors trice. They opened up automatically it seemed, revealing Professor Dumbledore sat behind his desk smiling serenely at him.
"No need to knock Harry, you are always welcome." He said.
"But I still need a password to get in?"
Dumbledore chuckled as if it was a clever joke. "I'd change the rules if I could, but Hogwarts has its own way of things. Can I tempt you with a wine gum?" He gestured to the bowl on the desk.
"No thank you Professor. Hello Fawkes." Harry turned from the ageing headmaster to his phoenix who chirped back to him.
"Now you probably have a good idea as to why you will be serving detention with me instead of Professor McGonagall this evening."
Harry nodded, shifting uncomfortably in his chair. It had been two weeks since he and Draco survived the first task, since that fateful encounter with the Ghostscale. Much had happened that night and now Dumbledore wanted a full explanation.
"Please relax; I think enough time has passed. It is unprecedented but as of today by legal rights Lady Snowheart as the Goblins named her, is yours. It took some time but the arrangements with the ministry and Gringotts have all been taken care of, both Bill and Charlie Weasley have been very helpful."
"I'll be sure to splash out on their Christmas presents."
"And I am sure they would appreciate the gesture. Now, I would very much like to hear the full story." The headmaster began to rummage through his desk draw. "First however your detention which I am confident you will be able to handle, please take out your ink and quill." Dumbledore smiled, taking a scroll of parchment and laying it on the table in front of Harry.
After he complied Harry quickly scanned the parchment; there were numbered questions on dragon care, biology, feeding habits, migration patterns and the twelve uses of dragon's blood. Harry was no idiot, it was an exam paper.
"Indulge an old man and his curiosity; you have an hour, remember to just do your best." Dumbledore flicked his wand and an hourglass appeared on the table. Purple sand began to trickle into the bottom chamber.
Does Dumbledore know I found out before the task? I hope he doesn't think I planned everything.
Harry shook himself off those thoughts and got to work. As he wrote he still could not help but wonder what the headmaster's game was with this test. He felt he really should have known, Hagrid wasn't the best at keeping secrets all too well. In fact he wouldn't put it past Dumbledore to be the one who put Hagrid up to telling him, only letting Harry think he had pushed groundskeeper into it. In the same vein the headmaster probably asked Madam Pince what books he checked out of the library. And with whom.
Fuck that's too paranoid even for me.
He knew he needed to put some distance between him and Daphne. He had always really known it. But she had made it quite impossible. They had at least one lesson together everyday without the tutoring and quidditch. It didn't help whenever they were together she taught him things he was sure even Hermione didn't know as much about.
When he was finished Harry silently pushed the parchment back to headmaster.
"You still have ten minutes left are you sure you are finished?"
"I'm not being graded on this am I?"
But Dumbledore gave him no answer making Harry stare harder. "Just bear with me one moment Harry. Do help yourself to tea." He offered as he carefully examined the parchment.
As he sat back Harry noticed a china cup and a pot of tea appear on the table along with the unmistakable ring of a bell.
Though he did help himself to tea, adding extra milk and three sugars.
Fuck you Aunt Petunia. He thought, in his mind the sour memory of her throwing everything sweet and fattening out of Privet Drive returned, all because of the diet she put Dudley and Vernon on. It would be about six months into that diet now. If it wasn't for the years of neglect and torture he might have felt sorry for them.
Feeling a little smug, he watched Dumbledore write a swift letter and attached it to Fawkes' leg along with the test he had just completed.
"Letters to the Bureaux of Dragon Research?" He asked as Fawkes burst into flame and disappeared without a trace. He wondered what else a Phoenix could do exactly, impressed by the bird's many extraordinary abilities. It was all so blindingly obvious now.
"I see you are as pertinent as ever Harry." The old headmaster chuckled softly.
"And you're dodging questions as usual." Harry countered right off the bat. And people called Harry evasive, if he had learnt it from anyone it was definitely the headmaster.
"I am afraid tonight it is I who gets to ask the questions. So tell me, what happened the night of the first task?" Dumbledore's eyes twinkled at him.
"Where do you want me to start?" Harry asked uncomfortably.
"Where ever you think it appropriate to start from."
"I guess the after party is as good a place as any then." Harry said wishing to avoid telling Dumbledore about his confrontation with Ron.
"The party you mysteriously disappeared from half way through the night?"
"The very one. Me and Hermione were doing our homework in my dorm while everyone ate dinner, that was until Neville came to collect us. To be perfectly honest I didn't really feel like going to start with but I had to make an appearance really. It was technically my party." Harry shrugged.
Luckily Neville had only just walked into the dormitory to retrieve Harry and Hermione after Ron went to go clean himself up which saved him having to explain what had happened and Ron's bruised face and split lip.
"Surprise." Neville gave Harry a nervous smile after a short walk through the castle. Slowly he opened the entrance of the north tower and Harry looked into the large circular room.
"Well… fuck me." Harry breathed, his eyes widening as he saw what was inside.
Plush red sofas and fireplaces lined the walls, everywhere tables were overloaded with foods, butterbeer and glass bowls of red and amber liquid filled with ice and fruit, with groups of Gryffindors, Ravenclaws and Hufflepuffs all stood around them.
The twins really didn't do things by half measures. Circling the tower's ceiling were two large model dragons, one painted white and one black and under them a dance floor crowded with more students. Near the wall behind two strange looking gramophones and a box of records was a grinning Lee Jordan who gave Harry the thumbs up.
When everyone saw the Gryffindor champion practically everyone roared. The eruption of joy and applause drowned out the chanting from the twins and the two dragons spat out fireworks, showering everyone in sparks of red and gold.
Harry forced a smile as a group of girls looked at him blushing and predacious, Ginny staring at him intently at the back. He turned away, trying to seek an exit.
"Oh no you don't." Hermione pulled on his sleeve.
Harry found himself pulled into the centre of the hall waylaid with congratulations and showered with people expressing their admiration. Many just seemed to want to touch him, some said a quick 'well done' and grasped his hand, while others even went into detail of just how incredible he had been, desperately asking what was said between him and the dragon.
"Come on everyone, give him some room to breathe and get back to enjoying yourselves." George announced loudly to the mob of students.
"Even champions need to relax too you know." Fred added. "C'mon let's go find a seat oh great one." he said as he turned to Harry.
With a few unhappy mutters and nods but the crowd understood and soon began to disperse.
"Thanks." Harry sighed sinking into a sofa, still feeling the discomfort the attention brought.
"Ah it must be tough finding yourself back in everyone's favour." Fred gave a pretend gloomy sigh.
"Well Lockhart did once tell me that fame was a fickle friend, who knew he'd actually be right about something. " Harry rubbed his eyes and hung his head. "This has really blown up in my face hasn't it?" He asked.
"Certainly has, gone are your days of blissful peace, quiet, resentment and the occasional photograph. Now your days as Harry-The-Legendary-Dragon-Whisperer have just begun." Fred cracked a wide grin handing Harry a drink of amber liquid.
Harry took a sip and immediately opened his mouth to release a long stream of flames. The liquid burned his throat making him choke.
Fred and George both burst into a fit of laughter. "Firewhiskey. How do you like it?" They asked both waggling their eyebrows.
"Fuck. You." Harry choked tears still stinging his eyes.
"You two are the worst." Hermione scolded, her eyes glaring. "I can't believe you managed to smuggle in alcohol. How?"
"Like we'll be telling you that." Fred cackled waving her off while George gave Harry a sly wink.
"You've really outdone yourselves." Harry admitted bitterly his voice still slightly hoarse. They must have been planning the party since he was announced as champion, they really did have too much faith in him.
"Well it wasn't just us so we can't take all the credit, Oliver and Alistair helped inviting the Claws and Puffs, they really got into the spirit of school unity. We like to think we did a good job, and the elves were all too happy to cater for us." George said proudly.
"Aren't you worried about us being discovered?" Hermione asked unable to help but worry.
"Teacher's won't be a problem; they'll be in the staff room having little drink themselves. I guarantee it. It also helps that we have about half the prefects here 'patrolling'." Fred snickered.
"And what about Mad-eye?" Harry asked, but as he did the door opened again.
One by one everyone fell quiet and Harry watched the group of Slytherins who had entered. At the front stood the head girl Stephanie Selwyn coupled with two boys Harry recognised from the Slytherin quidditch team, Adrian Pucey and Terrence Higgs. But Harry's eyes were drawn to who was stood behind them; Daphne, Tracey Davis, Sally Anne-Perks, Blaise Zabini and Draco, who was looking more sour than usual.
There was a long silence until someone shouted out "Who invited the snakes?" and murmurs of uncertainty rippled among the other houses.
"Er, that would be me!" Oliver answered loudly over the whispers, scratching his head nervously.
The unrest grew with more angry mutters. Stephanie's eyes flickered over everyone as she walked further in, as if daring anyone to challenge the head girl. The rest of Slytherins stood firm.
"Hey." Harry spoke up, unsure what to even say. The entirety of the room fell quiet once more and turned to look at him with their full attention. "Today was a Hogwarts victory, last time I looked Hogwarts had four houses." He announced icily.
In the corner of his eye he saw Daphne's lip curl into a smile and Stephanie inclined her head. Cedric, Alistair and Oliver all started clapping slowly in support.
The party continued on but the tension in the room didn't entirely dissipate after the Slytherins integrated themselves into the celebration. Stephanie seemed to fit right in with Cedric, Sophie and Oliver, talking in a group with other sixth and seventh years.
Using the distraction of the new arrivals Harry and Hermione went to get some drinks. Catching Malfoy's brooding gaze Harry gestured for him to come and join him. With a shrug Draco made his way over.
"The Slytherins given you much trouble?" Harry asked his fellow champion as Draco sat down opposite placing butterbeers on the table for them.
"Greengrass was pain, but nothing else I couldn't handle. This is Blaise by the way, forgive me if I skip your introduction Potter. It isn't like you really need one." Draco said lazily.
Harry nodded. "I suppose not. Nice to meet you Blaise." Harry nodded curtly.
"Likewise. And this must be Hermione Granger." Blaise flashed a brilliant smile.
Hermione answered him with a suspicious look.
"That was a good deed you just did for us back there Potter, I think you made quite an impression on the head girl." Blaise continued easily.
"Just tired of the bullshit, besides Draco is a champion too." Harry stated, with one eye he saw Daphne with her friend talking with Neville, Susan Bones and Hannah Abbot.
"If you believe that you really are as foolish as Draco tells it. As far as the school is concerned he is less of a champion now than he was at the start of tournament."
"And I suppose I'm to blame for that?" Harry looked pointedly at Draco.
"That's not your responsibility to bear Potter. There was no telling how today would have played out. We're alive which is still more than what everyone was expecting." Draco said while looking around the room bitterly.
Harry just nodded in silence.
"Besides wolves shouldn't concern themselves with the opinions of sheep." Blaise said with a grin.
"I'll drink to that." Harry said with a faint smile clinking his glass with Blaise and taking a swig of the warm sweet beverage.
When Harry left Draco and Blaise it seemed Hermione had disappeared without a word. Unsure of what actually do at a party he drifted from group to group looking for Hermione until he found himself in the company of Dean and Seamus who were playing a drinking game with Lavender and Pavarti.
He only had a short reprieve with his housemates when a girl with chestnut hair and rosy cheeks appeared on the arm of the sofa he found refuge in.
"Hi Harry." She greeted him with a coy smile.
"Er.. hi?" Harry said with a look of confusion. Though he did recognise her, he was certain she was a Ravenclaw in the same year as them.
"It's Lisa." She shifted closer to him, putting a hand on his knee. Seamus and Dean both snickered.
"Lisa. Right," He said through gritted teeth. Lisa Turpin, charms, arithmancy and transfiguration. Damn that is forward. "What can I do for you?"
"I wanted to ask you something, it is kind of embarrassing really but I'm curious…" Lisa blushed as she leaned over and began to whisper in his ear. Her hand moved from his knee to up his thigh.
Harry groaned internally. He grabbed her hand, stopping her from reaching any further, her palm was slightly damp. She wasn't lying about being embarrassed if her nerves were anything to go by. But for a Ravenclaw she definitely had steel.
Damn it. Fine Lisa if you want to play we can play.
"We'll be right back." He said to Dean and Seamus who were now trading smirks. Lavander and Pavarti looked as if Christmas had come early.
Without a word Harry took the girl by the hand, dragged her out of the hall and up the stairs to the next floor where there was a broom closet.
When Harry returned it was after Lisa scurried back in, her face still blushing madly. He headed straight for the drinks table and leaned over it exhausted. His cheek was now red and stung, his arm was in pain and he was tired. He knew he needed to wrap things up and soon. Still the slap to the face was worth it. If word spread out like he hoped it would, perhaps girls would think twice before trying to get him in broom closet again.
"Wow. You really know how to work a room don't you?" An auburn haired Slytherin appeared next to him, smiling at him with gleaming hazel eyes. She had mischief written all over her.
"What do you mean?" He asked rubbing his his face where it was still stinging.
"Come on. Have you seen the look Turpin has been giving you since you got back? What did you two do? Or should I be asking what did you do to her?" She waggled an eyebrow.
Harry looked over to Lisa, who appeared to be quite feverish, downing a glass of water. He could tell she had just turned to her friends at that moment in order to avoid his gaze. He silently cursed himself, he had been trying to scare her off.
"She got exactly what she asked for. You're not trying to get me alone too are you? Think you can last longer than she did?"
"Heaven forbid. From the way Lisa is walking bow legged flushing red with embarrassment I'd say it was something dirty. I have a little more sense than that, besides Daphne warned me that you're troublesome."
Harry smiled, he was sure there was going to be a lot worse said about him now anyway. "Which makes you Tracey Davis."
"You would be correct, but you already knew that." She nodded still grinning. "Nice flying show, and whatever the weird mind control you did on the dragon." She smiled sweetly at him.
"Mind control? No one has accused me of that one yet." He raised an eyebrow in amusement.
"It is what it is, right?" Tracey a shrugged.
"Well it's cool of you to say so." Harry said slightly amused and just as he did Daphne appeared alongside Tracey a plate of cake in her hand.
"You are very full of surprises." She looked at him seriously twirling her fork between her fingers.
"Just adding more to the mystery." He said dryly.
Daphne rolled her eyes in retaliation but proceeded closer.
All of a sudden she leant in close, her cheek lightly brushing against Harry's. He could feel cold silver teeth pressing into his neck. "We need to talk. I'm about to walk out of this happy little get together, wait a few minutes and come meet me in the astronomy tower. It's important. " She whispered into his ear.
Daphne gave him a scornful look and as soon as she had appeared she was gone again. Tracey shadowed behind with a quick cheerful wave. Harry could only stare dumbly for a moment, damning her demanding nature.
"So that is how Miss Greengrass came to be involved." Dumbledore said stroked his long silver beard.
"In all honesty she just helped me finish what I started in the arena." Harry was stood by the headmaster's window watching the snow cover the school grounds even heavier.
"An interesting young woman and a talented witch. I am happy to see you are not so blinded by prejudices. I understand your paths began to cross with the changes to your timetable but how it is you and miss Greengrass came to be… friends? Seeing two of opposing houses become close hasn't been seen in a very long time." Dumbledore drummed his fingers together and then proceeded to hold his chin thoughtfully.
It's not going to be that easy old man. Harry thought closing his eyes. "I'll say to you what I said to everyone else..."
"So since when have you been on speaking terms with Daphne Greengrass, Harry?" Parvati asked him with interest only matched by the prying eyes and ears of Lavender and Seamus. Hermione watched him silently.
"Does it matter?" Harry was beginning to get irritated but tried not to let it show.
"She's got her nickname for a reason. Michael and Terry both tried asking her to Hogsmeade only to get rejected in a way that reduced them into a pair idiots." Pavarti explained.
Harry smiled to himself, he hadn't known that.
"Don't you think she comes off as a little stuck up?" Lavender asked.
"Well she has been fine tutoring me in ancient runes - and don't call her that." Harry cautioned her, making Lavender's and Pavarti's frowns deepen.
"So, what was with the secrecy then? Certainly looked like she was trying to get close from where I was standing." Seamus gave him a mischievous grin.
"When in fact she accused me of holding back on her at quidditch practice. Apparently if I do it again she threatened to take several of my fingers, and promised I'd never ride a broom again." Harry lied easily. Seamus snorted with laughter, the girls all paled, only Hermione looked at him skeptically.
Out of the corner of his eye he watched as the last strands of platinum blonde disappeared from the door. He had to admit Daphne may be cold and aloof, but she definitely knew how to get his attention.
Harry waited as he was asked before separating himself from the group. No one could say they actually witnessed Harry leave, it seemed like one moment he was pouring himself another drink but just like that - he was gone.
"I see." Dumbledore said, pressing his fingers together. "So you did not plan prior to the student's celebrations to meet with miss Greengrass about freeing the dragon?"
"No." Harry shook his head.
"And did you expect Lewis King to arrive after a severe lecture from your head of house looking to confront you and claim the duel you promised him."
"Doesn't matter much now anyway since I actually have to duel him." Harry grumbled.
Of course the morning after the first task, during breakfast King had challenged Harry in front of the all three schools. Harry had no choice but to accept. Luckily King had a month's worth of detentions between Mcgonagall and Snape as opposed to Harry's two weeks. Flitwick involved himself and suggested they should duel on Christmas Eve. The very same night as the first rounds of the duelling tournament.
"We all reap what we sow Harry. And the message that was delivered to Severus that led him the north tower, was that not you on your way to meet with Miss Greengrass?"
"You can't prove that was me." Harry waved him off with a sly grin.
"Harry I would like to remind you, you're handwriting and your father's is eerily similar. I am certain Severus almost thought James was back from the grave. Though you certainly have your own flare for mischief." the headmaster shook his head with a good natured smile, though in truth he was actually more like Sirius in that regard.
"Yeah yeah, I am sure Snape was very disappointed not to have caught me out with the others himself without my meddling. It wasn't like I planned it all, things just fell into place and happened that way." Harry shrugged as Dumbledore began to chuckle.
It was true though, he wanted Snape busy and out the way just in case. No one caused him more trouble than Snape and if Lewis King showed up like the though he might, well, that was just unfortunate for him really.
"Indeed. But what I can't work out though is why you go to such lengths and cause everyone so much trouble when they were simply having a good time."
"Everyone knows not to get caught out past curfew, they are as much responsible for their actions as I am mine. What I paid for was quite simple, it was time and space. I also managed to reduce my popularity and distanced myself from my friends so no one causes trouble for them. I knew what the papers would start to say about me as soon as me being a parselmouth came out. It's better this way."
"It served to keep yourself and everyone out of the fallout?"
Harry continued to watch the cascading flakes of snow, his voice growing more serious. "You see, Professor, I wouldn't lower myself that far just for petty reasons like revenge, though I admit sometimes a line must be drawn. All this school drama becomes trivial when you kill a man at eleven, when you decided the man who deserves your vengeance more than anyone should live."
Dumbledore felt pain for Harry, the fourteen year old sounded exhausted. He blamed himself for having allowed Harry to experience too much peril already. Even now he was using Harry as bait. They both knew it but said nothing.
"Quirrel was not your fault and you made the right choice in letting Peter live, do not forget that Harry."
"Did I? Because now Voldemort's returning and it's because I showed Pettigrew mercy, how was that the right choice?"
"We don't know anything for certain."
"I do. We always knew really didn't we? Pettigrew got free and that's what he is doing, the world cup, Bertha Jorkins, the attack on Moody, this stupid tournament. It all points to one thing. It's him moving behind the scenes, Voldemort, with Pettigrew and at least one other."
"Harry you can't know-"
"I do though Professor, I've seen them. I've been dreaming about them since the summer, it isn't a coincidence they began shortly after Pettigrew escaped. The last one I had was the night of the first task, there were three of them again. Hermione has been begging me to tell you... Sirius agreed. These aren't normal dreams. When I see them, it's always Wormtail, sometimes a third though I don't recognise him, and then there is Voldemort. I never really get to see his face but I know his voice like I know my own hand."
"Where are you in this dream Harry?"
"I think I'm mad but... in the dream while they're there plotting, I'm a snake… They are always in this old house, it's big but falling apart. I don't think Voldemort is capable of much movement either, he is weak - barely even human. I can only ever catch fragments of what they're talking about, but then I forget them, and when I wake up my scar is burning." His voice was dead and tired.
It worried Dumbledore, it worried him greatly.
"I do not think you have gone mad Harry. If you could write down what happens in these dreams when they happen, it should help reinforce the memory. But please continue with the events of the night of the first task. This is a conversation we will need to return to later."
I'll try not to miss out too much then Professor.