Yo! Thank you to all readers so far!
When Ron and Hermione returned to the compartment, they didn't seem particularly pleased to see that Harry was not only awake, but conversing contently with Neville and Luna. They also didn't seem too pleased to see how close Harry and Luna were sitting beside each other. And that was only made all the more obvious when Ginny dropped by the compartment some time later, and immediately tried to squeeze in between them. Harry casually shifted even closer to Luna instead, and with a pout she no doubt thought was cute (it was childish, not cute), Ginny forced her away into the seat across Harry instead, which made Neville have to move aside.
Since Ginny couldn't sit beside Harry, she instead spent the entire train ride flirting with Harry. Finding the entire thing to be incredibly annoying, Harry just ignored it and allowed himself to fall into his thoughts-mostly since all the flirting was preventing him from having a proper conversation with his actual friends.
He was going to wait until Neville could get him that book on those Pureblood things he'd been talking about, and he also needed to get to Gringotts at some point soon. Oh, and there was also the whole love potion thing that he needed to deal with. He had approximately a month before he had to worry about that, but the sooner he found out how to nullify its effects, the better. Though he supposed that could be said for everything he was dealing with right now...
The group split up in the Great Hall some time later, with Luna heading off to Ravenclaw Table as the others made their way over to Gryffindor Table. Harry sat down at the table first, and though Neville was about to sit beside him, he was quickly blocked. Hermione and Ginny sat down on either side of Harry, and Ron sat down directly across Harry.
Hiding a frown, Neville made his way around the table to sit beside Ron and across Hermione instead, pretending like he hadn't noticed anything strange. Now that he knew what Ron, Hermione, and Ginny were really like, he was beginning to remember all of the other strange things they had done over the years. Ensuring no one but them sat next to Harry at Gryffindor Table was only one of those things.
Harry, irritated by being trapped between Hermione and Ginny, clenched his jaw and looked over at the Head Table, trying to see if there were any new faces up there. Umbridge, thank Merlin, was gone, which meant they were going to have to have a new Defence Against the Dark Arts professor. The thing was, the only new person at the table wasn't exactly new to him at all.
"What the hell is Malfoy's dad doing up there!?" questioned Ron the instant he noticed.
"I'm-I'm not sure," said Hermione with a frown. "The Headmaster didn't mention this at all."
"Well he should have!" Ginny exclaimed indignantly.
Saying nothing themselves, Harry and Neville exchanged a look of confusion, and then Harry glanced over at Draco at Slytherin Table. When their eyes met, Harry shot him a questioning look, and received a half-shrug in return, something in Draco's expression telling Harry that he didn't know anything about his father being here either. How strange. ...Did Voldemort have anything to do with this?
A moment later, McGonagall entered the hall, followed by a line of the new first years. They came to a stop near the Sorting Hat, and as the Sorting began some minutes later, Harry suddenly noticed something a little strange. Was it just him, or was Dumbledore glancing his way a little too often?
Harry's eyes narrowed slightly before he allowed himself to relax again. The old man was probably just trying to figure out whether he was about to start rebelling against him or something like that. Either way, the Headmaster was definitely in for a surprise...
It felt like hours went by before Dumbledore finally dismissed them, and Harry was quick to get to his feet. Ron and Hermione couldn't follow him right now since they had to deal with the first year Gryffindors, but irritatingly enough, Ginny was still clinging to him. Fortunately, Neville had decided to walk on his other side, and that was nice, even though they couldn't actually talk because a certain someone just wouldn't shut up.
"Oh! 'Mione told me the password!" Ginny exclaimed once they were standing outside the portrait of the Fat Lady. "Persona."
"Welcome back, dearies," greeted the Fat Lady, her portrait swinging open.
Harry paused as the others entered the common room, and frowned slightly. "Persona, huh? Well that's weirdly fitting."
"Harry?"
"Oh, sorry." Climbing through the portrait hole himself, Harry entered the common room too, and glanced around. The room was packed with students of all years, and most of them seemed to be lounging about and chatting with the friends they hadn't seen all summer. Ginny seemed to be one of those students, because she looked to have disappeared.
"Shouldn't Dumbledore be called you over to his office soon?" Neville asked quietly.
Harry nodded once. "Yeah, they said it'd be after the feast. You remember the plan, yeah?"
"Yes, sir!"
Harry rolled his eyes, but smiled nonetheless. His smile, however, was quickly wiped off his face when he saw Ginny approaching him again. He hoped she wasn't about to start flirting with him again. He wasn't in the mood for that, not that he had been before or anything.
"Harry! I totally forgot to tell you that the Headmaster said he wanted to see you after the feast!"
Harry frowned. "Really? That's a bit weird. I wonder what he wants...?"
"Well? Go see him!"
"Right, yeah, alright. Er, see you guys later, then..."
Harry stood in front of the gargoyle that guarded the staircase to Dumbledore's office, with a scowl on his face. He knew he had no choice but to go in there, but that didn't mean he wanted to. Really, all he could do was hope his plan would work. If it didn't...well, he didn't want to think about what he was going to end up doing under the old man's influence. Again.
Trying his best to empty out his mind like Snape used to order him to, Harry gave the password, made his way up the stairs, and then knocked on the door.
"Come in, dear boy!"
Trying not to roll his eyes-he didn't really care to be called that, Harry opened the door and stepped into the strangely decorated office. It looked pretty much the same as always, but he noticed that everything he had destroyed in his sudden rage last year hadn't been repaired. Or so he was assuming, since he couldn't see them anywhere. It was very...satisfying, actually.
Dumbledore was seated behind his desk, blue eyes twinkling, and a smile on his face. It took all of Harry's willpower to ensure he didn't lash out at him again. Instead, he tried his best to look a bit embarrassed. Considering his behaviour the last time he had been in here and seen Dumbledore, it was something that would only be expected.
"Come, have a seat, Harry."
Harry did so, keeping the embarrassed, hesitant expression on his face. He glanced around the room, like he was stalling, and made a mental note of which portrait people were watching him and which frames were empty. When Fawkes the phoenix flew off his perch and landed on his knees, Harry couldn't help but smile as he stroke the bird's beautiful feathers. "Hullo, Fawkes," he said in a murmur.
The phoenix trilled in response, nuzzling the hand petting him. "I am here to aid you, Harry."
Harry blinked. "F-Fawkes?" he thought hesitantly-because he was pretty damn sure he had just heard a voice in his head.
"Yes, child, it is me. Your mind was blocking me before, so I was unable to speak to you. The recent change in you has gotten rid of the block, enabling us to speak to one another."
Feeling incredibly confused, Harry said, "You said you were here to help me, right? What did you mean by that?"
Fawkes trilled again. "We can converse properly later, as I realize you have little time at the moment. Simply know that you need not be concerned over the compulsions and obliviates the Headmaster is about to place on you. I will nullify them before they touch you. All you must do is keep me where I am, and pretend as if they have affected you."
"I'm going to hold you to that conversation later, Fawkes, because I'm seriously confused right now. But if you can help me without Dumbledore finding out what's going on, then I'm definitely open to it."
"Very good, child."
"I see Fawkes is pleased to see you again," said Dumbledore with a smile.
"Yeah, I guess." It was suddenly and without any warning at all that Harry found himself unable to move. His green eyes locked onto the Headmaster in surprise and confusion, while mentally, he told himself to calm down.
Fawkes seemed to be on the same page, for-"Calm yourself, little one. It is mere a petfrification charm-it will not harm you."
"Petrification? ...Oh, Petrificus Totalus?"
"Yes, he needs you to remain still and does not believe you have the magical strength to break through this. He will force you to take a calming draught now, and will then begin placing the compulsions on you, before obliviating this meeting from your mind."
"So sorry, dear boy," said Dumbledore genially, "but I need you to drink this now, and I know you would never do it on your own. You never do." He began preparing a cup of tea, and added almost an entire vial of calming draught into the tea. He then waved his wand in a strange, complex pattern, and the liquid in the cup rose up into the air and flew directly into Harry's stomach.
It was an uncomfortable feeling, having hot liquid inside his stomach so suddenly, and if Harry could have shown discomfort he definitely would have. Instead, he felt the potion take effect immediately, and barely noticed the petrification charm be removed from him. Fawkes remained on his knees though, and luckily, Dumbledore didn't think that was weird or anything, which was probably a good thing.
"Now then..." Wand in hand, Dumbledore got to his feet and focused his attention on the drugged teenager before him. And drugged was the correct term here, especially since he'd put in a bit too much calming draught. Not that putting in a normal amount would have been okay or anything.
Dumbledore began chanting in Latin, saying words Harry had never heard before and had no way of understanding. However, a strange feeling soon came over him. It was both like and unlike being under the Imperius curse, Harry noted. His head felt very fuzzy, and it was hard for him to focus. But he didn't have much time to dwell on the strange feeling before it disappeared completely, leaving him feeling completely normal-even the calming draught effects were gone.
"I have nullified the effects of the potion and spell, but you must continue to behave as if you are still under the influence of them both."
"Okay." Harry allowed himself to remain as relaxed and limp as possible, trying to make his eyes stay unfocused.
Dumbledore didn't notice a thing, and continued on, listing orders for Harry to follow, though as this too was in Latin, Harry didn't actually understand them. Hopefully Fawkes would be willing to translate for him.
"Do you understand, Harry James Potter?"
"Yes."
"Yes," Harry repeated, his voice a low monotone.
"Good. Obliviate!" With that, Dumbledore flicked his wand, a cheerful smile returning to his aged face. "You're looking tired, dear boy. Why don't you head up to bed now? Classes start bright and early tomorrow morning! Oh yes, one more thing. I'd like to give you some private lessons this year-"
But Harry was only half listening, choosing instead to focus on the phoenix in his lap instead. Fawkes was in the middle of telling him what the compulsions were supposed to make him do.
"Listen carefully, young one. 'You will obey and listen to the Headmaster of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. You will obey and listen to the Order of the Phoenix. You will sacrifice yourself for the Light. The Dark is evil and wrong. You will despise the Dark Lord and do whatever you must to fight against him. Slytherins are your enemy. You will listen to your friends.' This is the gist of what you are being spelled to do. The compulsions and the obliviate will not affect you, but I pray you have a plan."
"I do, Fawkes. Don't worry. And thanks!"
"It was nothing, child."
Refocusing on the Headmaster, Harry allowed himself to yawn. "Alright then..." He ran his fingers through the Fawkes' stunning plumage, before the large bird flew off his knees and back to his perch. Getting to his feet, Harry headed to the door and opened it. Then, glancing over his shoulder at the Headmaster, wished him an awkward sounding good night. Just as would be expected of him.
"Good night, Harry!"
The moment the door shut behind him, a rather vicious look appeared on Harry's face. He had been hoping that his guess about this betrayal had been wrong. That Dumbledore was just going to ask him if he was alright after all that had occurred a few months back. But the old man hadn't mentioned the Ministry, or Sirius, or even the prophecy or Voldemort.
Harry frowned, recalling Fawkes translations, then smirked when he thought of a couple of obvious loopholes old Dumbledore had left in those orders. He was going to have so much fun with this...
When Harry returned to Gryffindor common room, he found that it was mostly empty. Very few of the other students were still around, most still tiredly chatting with friends. The two Weasleys and Hermione were still there too, likely waiting for him. Neville, as they had planned before, was there as well, pretending to look for his pet toad Trevor.
"Harry!" Ginny was the first to spot him, waving him over.
Hiding a scowl, Harry approached, deliberately yawning. "Hey," he said in greeting, making sure his voice sounded tired, not that he needed to fake it all that much-he was honestly exhausted right now.
"How did the meeting with the Headmaster go?" asked Hermione.
"What'd he want?" asked Ginny from his side.
Harry had no doubt that they already knew exactly what that meeting had been about, he yawned once again, answering anyway. "Dumbledore wants to give me private lessons."
"That's Headmaster Dumbledore," Hermione corrected.
"Really?" said Ron, sounding excited.
"Yeah," said Harry with a nod and another yawn.
They chatted for a few minutes until Ginny excused herself to head to bed, and Ron and Hermione busied themselves by twining together in an armchair and, well, no detail needed. Harry just sat there, staring at first, wondering when exactly those two had even gotten together, and then pushing that thought out of his mind and instead waiting for the next part of his plan to be put into action. And sure enough-
"Hey, Harry?"
Harry glanced over. "Oh, hey, Nev? Still up?"
Neville sighed and nodded. "Yeah, Trevor got away again. Anyway, Luna's outside the Tower. She's asking for you."
Harry frowned. "Luna? That's weird. What's she doing here?" He was quick to get to his feet. "Hope everything's okay," he murmured. "Thanks, Neville."
"Yeah, sure thing," replied Neville with a worried look on his face. On the inside however, he was grinning. Harry's plan was working perfectly so far. It didn't look like the compulsions had affected him either. He had seen that in his friend's eyes. Glancing over at Ron and Hermione, who were still locked in a rather-erm, passionate embrace, he sneered inwardly and walked away. Time for bed. Harry wasn't going to need him until morning...
Exiting the tower, Harry found Luna outside, staring into space rather dreamily, not that that was surprising or anything.
"Hello again, Harry," she greeted before he could even open his mouth.
"Hey Luna."
The girl focused on him and regarded him rather carefully. "The compulsions didn't affect you, and your memories haven't been tampered with either," she said, though it was really more of a statement.
Harry took Luna's hand, the two began making their way down to the dungeon classroom they had agreed to meet Draco in, and as they walked, Harry quickly and quietly explained what Fawkes and Dumbledore had said and done, wary of the many portrait people. Fortunately, most of them seemed to be asleep. Luna talked when she thought she needed to, but mostly just listened, honestly just glad Fawkes was on their side, rather than Dumbledore's.
The dungeons were empty, all the Slytherin students in their dorm, so Harry and Luna were able to reach the classroom they needed without any problems. Hopefully Draco hadn't already left. They needed to get to Snape, and there was no way he was going to bother listening to Harry without Draco there to calm him down first. Harry really didn't feel like getting yelled at right now. Or at all, really.
"About time," Draco muttered the moment they stepped into the room. He frowned as Harry closed the door, staring at him. "Since you aren't freaking out, I'm assuming the old man either didn't do anything, or..." he trailed off, listening as Harry explained things to him, his eyebrows raising higher with every word he heard. "Wait, his phoenix helped you?" he questioned incredulously.
"Yeah," said Harry with a nod. "But anyway, what's your dad doing here? As the DADA professor no less?"
Draco shrugged. "No idea. Father didn't tell me anything about this at all. All he said was that I would see him sooner than I thought, but he didn't tell me what he meant by that."
Luna giggled softly. "You're pouting, Draco."
Draco blushed lightly. "No I'm not!" he retorted, clearly trying to school his expression back to nonchalance.
Harry rolled his eyes despite his mild amusement. When a slightly awkward silence fell, he said, "Can we see Snape now? I'd prefer to get this over with."
"Oh, right, yeah, sure." And with that, Draco lead the way out of the classroom...
Snape only raised a brow when he saw the three of them outside the door of his private quarters, and that brow only rose higher when he seemed to notice they hadn't been fighting. "Yes?"
"Can we come in, Uncle Severus?" said Draco a little cautiously. "There's something really important we need to talk to you about. ...Well, by we, I mostly mean Harry."
Snape raised a brow, probably surprised Draco had actually called Harry by his first name, but he inclined his head and stepped back, allowing the three students in. Once they were, he shut the door behind them, then turned to face them, arms crossed over his chest. "Well?"
Harry ran his fingers through his hair, not really sure where to start. No matter how much Draco trusted Snape, Snape was still Snape. It wasn't until Luna took his hand, grounding him, that Harry was able to calm down and begin speaking properly. And so he explained everything, and as he did, Snape just listened to him in silence, nothing in his expression even flickering.
There was a long and awkward silence when Harry was done, and Snape just continued staring at him impassively, like he was trying to gauge his truthfulness. Harry just stared back resolutely. Snape could look all he wanted-there was no lie to be found in what he had just been told. Harry was being as honest as he possibly could in these circumstances.
Suddenly, Snape sighed, rubbing his brow tiredly. "I should have expected this," he muttered to himself. "Sit," he said abruptly, gesturing at the nearby couch.
The three teens did so, Harry and Luna settling together on the couch, while Draco sat in the armchair beside the one Snape himself sat down in. But silence fell again at that point, Snape once more just staring at Harry thoughtfully. Finally, he sighed.
"I will help you," he said, his voice firm.
"Without informing the Headmaster?" Luna asked.
"Without informing the Headmaster," Snape echoed with a nod of his head. Then he pulled out his wand and got to his feet. "Come, Potter. Stand in front of me."
Harry hesitated slightly, Occlumency lessons with the man from the previous year flashing through his mind. He didn't really fancy having anything like that happen again, but at the same time, he knew he didn't really have a choice right now. He had to do this-for his own sake. So he got up, and stood across Snape, the coffee table between them.
Snape, his wand aimed at Harry, began chanting, like Dumbledore had done earlier, speaking words and incantations Harry didn't understand at all. All he could do was stand there, trying to ignore the strange...invasive feeling he was getting. It wasn't really like his mind was being invaded-like Snape using Legilimency on him. It felt more like...his entire body was being invaded and observed. Harry doubted he would ever be able to explain the feeling to anyone.
A sheet of parchment appeared next to Snape, like it always did when Madam Pomfrey was running diagnostic charms over her patients. Words formed on the parchment on their own, and the more words that formed, the longer the sheet grew. Harry couldn't read what it written on it-it was a bit too far away and the writing a bit too small, but he couldn't deny wanting to know.
Eventually, after many long minutes, Snape's chanting ceased and he lowered his wand as he plucked the parchment out of the air. "You may sit," he said to Harry. Snape did the same himself, dark eyes scanning over the parchment carefully. Then he sighed and passed it across the table to Harry. "Read carefully. Don't rush through it."
Curious, Harry obeyed. Aware but choosing to ignore the way Snape was observing him, Harry turned his attention to the words on the parchment and began to read. But the more he read, the more the expression on his face darkened. And then, unbeknownst to him, his magic sort of exploded out of him, bright tendrils of light twisting and turning around his body, very visible, and very vicious. Snape and Draco both stared, alarmed, but Luna merely blinked and set a hand on Harry's shoulder firmly.
Almost instantly, the tendrils of magic returned inside Harry's body and vanished from view. Harry didn't notice any of this happen, and instead, leaned back in his seat, closing his eyes, clearly trying to focus on his breathing. His expression closed off, as if he had pulled a blank mask over his face.
"I was first obliviated when I was five, Moon."
Luna recoiled, genuinely shocked. "He-he knew?"
"Looks like it." Without opening his eyes, Harry let Luna take the parchment to read for herself, and just clenched his fists. He kind of wanted to hit something right now. Or someone. Dumbledore had known the entire time. He had known what the Dursleys had been doing-how they had been treating him the entire time. Harry having had some of his memories erased when he'd been five was proof enough of that. But there was more than that on the parchment. Much more.
While the first memory charm had been placed on Harry when he'd been five years old, the first compulsions hadn't been put in place until he had first started at Hogwarts. They were mostly the same as the ones that Dumbledore had placed on him earlier that evening, only the old ones had been more specific:
'Obey and listen to the Headmaster of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry
Obey, listen and be loyal to Albus Dumbledore
Sacrifice yourself for the Light
Fight against the Dark
Despise the Dark Lord Voldemort and do whatever it may take to fight him
Listen and be loyal to Arthur, Molly, Bill, Charlie, Fred, George, Ron, and Ginny Weasley (Bill, Charlie, Fred, and George were all removed from the list in later compulsions)
Listen and be loyal to Hermione Granger
Obey and listen to the Order of the Phoenix
All Slytherins are your enemy
You will listen to your friends
Do not listen to Sirius Black
Do not listen to Remus Lupin
Do not listen to Bill, Charlie, Fred, or George Weasley
Never question anything.'
And so on and so forth. Some things were added over the years, others were taken away or edited, but the main point of the compulsions remained the same throughout. In fact, it seemed the compulsions 'placed' on him this year were not only the fewest, but also the least specific.
Harry opened his eyes and looked over at Snape. "Did you know?"
"I did not." Snape regarded him closely, then said, "You are changing your position in the war?" It sounded more like a statement than it did a question.
Well, that was an awfully good guess. Still, Harry said, "Yes. I'm not going to be fighting for the Light anymore, but I'm not helping the Dark either. I prefer to stay neutral for now, but I'll be pretending to still be on the Light's side for now."
Snape inclined his head in understanding. "Then I will help."
"Why?"
"I cannot say."
"Then how can I trust you?"
"You cannot."
Harry sighed. He probably should have been upset at that answer, but honestly, he was more amused than anything else. That was such a Snape-like answer that it wasn't even surprising. He got to his feet again. "Thanks for the help, sir. I think Luna and I should head to bed now. I'd rather we don't get caught down here."
"Very well." Snape and Draco followed suit, and all four of them made their way over the door. Just as the students were about to leave, Snape stopped them all with a single word-a single name. "Harry."
Surprised, Harry turned back. "Yes?"
"Come to me if you need help." When all the students did was stare, exasperation crossed Snape's face. "Get to bed, brats."
"Good night, Professor!"
Harry didn't feel any better when he woke the next morning. In fact, the moment he woke, he found himself hoping that everything that had happened the day before had just been a bad dream. But deep down he knew that wasn't the case. He knew it was all true. He knew it had all happened.
Sighing deeply, he slid out of bed and began to get dressed for the day, and he had barely made it down to the common room before Ron, Hermione, and Ginny began to drag him down to the Great Hall with them, giving him little chance to say or do anything else.
Harry was trapped between the girls at the table again, Ron once again across him. Wishing he could speak to Neville, wanting to tell him what had happened last night, Harry ate his breakfast in silence, wondering when he would have the chance to do that. Definitely not here in the Great Hall during meal times. They would never be left alone long enough for that.
When the morning post arrived, Harry didn't even bother looking up, not expecting to receive anything at all. Sirius had always been sure to write to him, and now that he was-was gone, well, Harry knew he was going to miss his godfather's letters. Remus was another who had been sure to write to him consistently, especially last year. But after what had happened to Sirius, Harry hadn't heard a word from Remus at all, which hurt. A lot.
Harry was pulled out of his somewhat depressing thoughts when a large bird landed next to his nearly empty plate. It was a stunning creature, with beautiful white and black plumage that quickly caught the attention of not only himself, but a number of people around him.
"Is that a gyrfalcon?" questioned Hermione, her eyes wide. "Why did it land here? Does it have a letter? Who is it from?"
Blinking and pulling his gaze away from the bird's dark eyes, Harry looked down and noted that the gyrfalcon was indeed carrying a letter. One that was, strangely enough, addressed to him. Shrugging away the questions, he took the letter and fed the magnificent creature what was left of his toast-the only thing remaining on his plate. The gyrfalcon didn't seeme to mind, and allowed Harry to stoke its breast before it headed off, Harry watching it fly off out of sight.
Wanting to examine the letter, but unwilling to do so under the scrutiny of so many people, Harry wasn't quite sure what to do. Both Hermione and Ginny, who were sitting on either side of him, made swipes for the parchment, but Harry quickly placed it into the relative safety of his pocket, making a mental note to get back to it the moment he had the chance to.
And that chance arrived faster than he had been expecting, because just moments later, the four Heads of Houses began handing out the new timetables. Hermione quickly dragged everyone in the vicinity into a conversation about what courses they may have, and how many OWLs they had managed to achieve. Seeing that the attention was no longer focused on him, Harry glanced around to make sure no one was watching, and pulled the letter out of his pocket, unfolding it so he could read what it was all about...
'Dearest Harry,
I realize you must be anxious to begin the first lessons of the year, but I cannot wait any longer to express to you how I feel. I find myself wondering whether anyone sees you the way I do. You are so strong, so beautiful, though you hide yourself behind an intricate mask. I wonder what lies beneath it?
I know you, little Lion, but not as much as I would like. It isn't enough, and I wish to learn more about you. I know you enjoy Quidditch and play the part of Seeker on your House team. I know you have a soft spot for your lovely snowy owl too. I know you excel at Defence Against the Dark Arts, and I know you have the habit of getting involved in the strangest of situations. What about you do I not yet know? Will you tell me?
You are wary, no doubt, of a stranger writing to you, no? I cannot, at the moment, reveal my name to you, but allow me to tell you something about myself. I am a man, one who is older than you. I attended Hogwarts in my youth, and did quite well there too. I was sorted into Slytherin House, though I hope you will not hold that against me. I have a soft spot for my own pets as well, and was never interested in playing Quidditch, though I don't mind watching, and do enjoy taking the occasional flight.
I'm afraid this is all I can say to you at the moment. I hope you will give in to your curiosity and write back to me. Enjoy your first day back, little one.
Eternally yours,
M'
Ha! I told you I'd get the letter in this chapter! That's it for now. Looking forward to reviews! Laterz!