Chapter 13
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Warning: Strong Language
It had been a month since Albus Dumbledore's now famous disappearance.
Oh what could change in only a month.
Instead of the tight knit and family-like environment students had grown used to, a new military like aura had enveloped the school. It seemed that Headmistress Umbridge (or Dictator Bitch as students called her when no one could hear) enjoyed coming up with rules that took away any and all activities that were not 'sanctioned by the ministry'. Apparently this was everything.
Three fifth year students stood as part of a crowd watching Filch hammer up yet another ridiculous rule on Umbridge's wall of depression.
"Well there goes our last bit of enjoyment at this bloody school," muttered Ron under his breath, "what's she going to do next? Ban color?"
A few students snickered at this, but were immediately silenced when Umbridge came clicking down the corridor.
"Excuse me," she said in mock politeness, "I believe students are to be back in their common rooms by 4:30. The time now is 4:25."
Some of the younger students shot each other panicked looks before running from the hall, but their older counterparts simply gave the pink woman looks of pure hatred as they slowly shuffled out, with the odd insult muttered once she was barely in ear shot.
Harry, Ron, and Hermione all walked silently up to their designated area. Although students hated her, no one dared defy her. As soon as Dumbledore was gone, the truth about her detentions came out; not that anyone could do anything about it.
Every so often a student would accidentally break one of her ridiculous rules and receive detention so even the most troublemaking of children were quickly whipped into shape.
Fred and George continued to make their products but were too afraid to use them on anyone but close friends after she had kept them both in her office until 6 in the morning writing with her cursed quills.
Although there wasn't much to look forward to in day to day life anymore, the creation of the DA had brought a little joy back to a few.
Although Harry had been tentative at first, the overwhelming enthusiasm the idea had received pushed him to begin his private lessons. Hermione thanked Merlin himself when Neville had stumbled across the Room of Requirement and finally given them a safe place to practice.
A select few teachers had begun to piece together what the Golden Trio was up to along with their little band of troublemakers, but none of them was inclined to do anything about it. Either because they still wanted the students to learn, they themselves had concocted the idea, or they found they hated Umbridge more than Harry Potter.
Harry and Ron always had a good laugh as soon as they reached the common room safely each Tuesday night. Fooling Umbridge must have been one of the most satisfying things they had ever done, and both had a newfound respect for Hermione after she had presented an idea that broke 90% of the Headmistress's new rules.
Although Harry sessions with Umbridge had ended a few weeks prior, he went out of his way to help those who still suffered through them each night. He would sit outside the Head office with his invisibility cloak until a poor soul would come stumbling out and he would immediately offer them a bowl of murtlap essence and a cup of tea. Ron had taken to calling him Grandmother Harriet.
As many risks as the students took trying to help each other, McGonagall and Merlin took one hundred more. The students had started to see them as small spots of light in the darkness Umbridge had created. Even the Slytherins had begun to go to Merlin for help after the burden of her detentions got too much to bear within the house. Merlin suspected the only reason they had finally begun to trust him was that someone had slipped the fact that he had belonged in Slytherin house once upon a time. He wasn't complaining if it helped him tend to the students.
It was nearing Thanksgiving and the sky outside was dark and overcast. Merlin felt a small rush of adrenaline as he packed some papers and books into a worn leather bag. The only light in the room came from the crackling fireplace and a few small candles. Although the room may have been neat originally, but now clothing and papers were scattered about the stone floor and rugs.
Merlin reached up and tapped the handle of Excalibur with his middle and ring fingers for good luck. He wasn't superstitious, but it was a habit he had picked up from his time in the dark ages and he never felt the need to get rid of it.
Making sure the proper locks were latched on the door, he grabbed his wand and put it in the pocket of his overcoat. He took the medium sized pouch of green powder out from the secret compartment he had installed in his wall before removing a handful and replacing the bag. He extinguished the fireplace with a wave of his empty hand and stepped onto the ashes.
"Number Four Grimmauld place" he said clearly and disappeared into the wash of green fire.
About a dozen people were seated around a large circular table and were all talking rather loudly when the fireplace roared up once again. Minerva had told them that Dumbledore had recruited the newest teacher and they were all rather curious to see the newest member.
Most had to admit he was not what they expected.
A tall, lean man stepped from the large fireplace from across the room. He was dressed in well fitting black dress pants and a grey overcoat. He had extremely angular features, which made him rather resemble a muggle model although his face was somehow also kind and inviting.
His hair was a dark brown and rather curly and his eyes shone electric blue. As Sirius looked the new man up and down before smiling a bit. He looked like someone he and James would have been friends with, although for some reason Sirius was reminded of Remus ten years ago.
Merlin stopped in his tracks as the scene in front of him was replaced with another from a time long ago. The round wooden table turned stone and all he could see was long gone friends smiling and saying things in voices he knew he would never hear again. A tear pricked at his eye as Arthur stood to kiss Gwen and Gwaine motioned for Merlin to sit next to him. Although Merlin had never been truly one of them, the Knights of the Round Table were his brothers and friends. He blinked rapidly as his mind was torn back to the present and he looked into faces both new and familiar.
"Ben I'm glad you've made it," said Minerva nodding at a seat between a man with long black hair and a stout man with a receding red hairline. Merlin looked at the Order of the Phoenix and smiled at them all. He took his seat and listened as Minerva continued to introduce him, although his mind was still a thousand years in the past. The members of the Order seemed weary of him although they were as polite as British Royalty. Merlin mostly listened to their conversation and only added the bare minimum.
Most of the wiser members noticed him learning as much about them as they were trying to learn about him. The new man did not seemed confused, although he did not say much during the duration of the meeting.
Molly Weasley could not help but notice an intense type of sadness in the man's eyes. Although his face was bright and youthful, his eyes seemed to hold a million years of loneliness and sorrow. She could not help but stare at the strange new man that had just entered all of their lives.
Merlin stood slowly as the meeting ended; he felt a bit emotionally drained at the moment. As he turned to leave someone tapped lightly on his right shoulder. He turned to face a kind yet worn looking man.
He extended his calloused hand to Merlin with a smile, "I'm Remus Lupin."
Merlin smiled brightly at the man, "ah yes. Some of my students have spoken of you before."
As the two talked, Remus couldn't help but notice as the man's features transformed as he spoke. When he had first seen him, the man had looked painfully nostalgic but now his features radiated youth and he almost seemed to glow.
"So Ben, what's it like spending your days teaching hormonal teenagers?" asked the long-haired man whom Merlin had sat next to during the meeting, "Remus said he loved it but the man's completely batty."
Remus rolled his eyes, "this is Sirius Black," he then turned to Sirius "I may be batty but at least I have manors."
Ben laughed at the exchange between the two. The three of them hit it off and talked for quite a while.
"You know, I used to have a friend that sounds a lot like James" said Merlin with a small smile. Remus noted how the lonely nostalgia returned to Merlin's face.
"Did you now?" asked Sirius, suddenly extremely invested in the conversation.
"Yes, his name was Arthur. Quite the prat when we first met but turned out to be a half decent bloke. Although it took me around five years to actually figure that out" said Merlin with a halfhearted laugh.
As Molly listened to the men's conversation while she cleaned the table, she couldn't help identify the tone Merlin used to talk about his friend as the same one Sirius used when he talked about James. She felt a pang of morbid curiosity as she wondered what Professor Emrys had been though.
"Oh really?" Sirius laughed, "you'll have to take us to meet him sometime!"
Merlin laughed sadly, and looked away from the two men awkwardly.
"He died didn't he?" asked Remus quietly and placed a light hand on Merlin's shoulder when he nodded in return.
"If you ever need someone to talk about it with you have us" he comforted in a way he had done a million times before.
"Thank you. He passed...a very long time ago. Time has taken away a lot of the sting" Merlin said with a kind smile towards the graying man.
Sirius shifted awkwardly, "so, are you free this weekend?"
Merlin gave him a curious look, "I believe so."
"Well than how about the three of us meet up at the three broomsticks Sunday afternoon" he suggested with a trademark smile, "I'm sure we could all use it."
"That sounds nice" said Merlin with a large smile.
"We should probably get going Sirius," said Remus, glancing at the clock, "see you Sunday mate?"
Sirius nodded and Merlin turned to grab some flu power.
"Hey mate, I think I know exactly what you went through with this Arthur bloke...so anytime you want to talk about it I'm here" Sirius said quietly.
"Thank you Sirius, that...means a lot" answered Merlin kindly before disappearing from the room.
Once back in his quarters he slumped slightly as he turned to face Excalibur. He hadn't felt this emotionally drained in a long time. Although he supposed it was rather pleasant, but exhausting.
He collapsed on the bed and fell asleep almost immediately as the fireplace continued to crackle across the room, lulling him into peace.
(A few hours before)
Harry smiled broadly as he watched his classmates laugh and beam brightly. Silvery blue wisps of light filled the room of requirement, reflecting off the stained and shattered glass that lined the walls.
It was a beautiful sight.
"Expecto Patronum!" shouted Hermione with a laugh as a bright and almost solid looking otter burst from the tip of her wand.
"Wow Hermione!" gawked Parvati. Hermione blushed softly as some of the other girls approached her for help.
Harry looked down at his watched and felt his stomach drop. It was way past curfew, and lesson was supposed to end half an hour ago.
"Alright everyone!" he shouted to grab his classmate's attention, "that's it for tonight. We won't have another meeting for a while..."
"Aw c'mon really Harry?" whined Fred.
"This is so much more fun than normal classes" finished George. Some of the other students nodded in agreement.
"Well I'm sure you're all just as excited for Christmas break" smiled Harry.
He waited as everyone filed out of the room before he started to leave. He glanced over to the corner and saw one last person, staring into the stand-alone mirror that was adorned with random photos.
"Cho?" he asked quietly as he came up behind her. She quickly whipped her eyes and turned to face Harry.
"Sorry Harry..."
"Don't apologize. Are you okay?" he asked awkwardly, feeling his heart start to beat faster.
"I just...miss him you know?" Cho said, as she looked at a handsomely smiling picture of Cedric attached to the rim of the mirror.
"Yeah...I miss him too" answered Harry quietly. He quickly glanced at the door.
"Oh don't leave!" Cho said quickly following his eyes, "You must feel awful, me bring him up like this when you saw him die." She mopped her eyes on her sleeve and looked up at Harry.
Her dark brown eyes shone slightly green while her almond cheeks still shown wet with tears. Harry found he couldn't draw himself away from her face.
They stared at each other for what seemed like an eternity before Cho finally broke the silence and glanced upward.
"Look...mistletoe" she said quietly and she moved her eyes back to Harry.
She looked perfectly calm, even if she was still a bit wet. Harry on the other hand felt his stomach churning and his hands sweating. Finally realizing that this was a now or never situation he leaned in and slowly closed his eyes.
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Five hours later the kiss was completely out of his mind as he was rushed down the corridors, Ron at one side and Professor McGonagall at the other. He was drenched in a cold sweat and his hands were shaking violently.
In what seemed like seconds, the trio arrived at Professor Emrys's door and McGonagall rapped loudly. The knock seemed to echo throughout the empty halls and Harry felt his head pound heavily. Images flashed before him in rapid succession as he almost passed out once again; most of the images were too blurry to make out.
But there was blood.
So much blood.
After a few moments the heavy door opened slowly and Professor Emrys peaked out wearily from around the corner.
"Minerva? What in the...oh Christ" he muttered as he noticed Harry. The normally pale boy was almost transparent in the dim candlelight.
Harry was brought into the room as Professor McGonagall shooed Ron back to his room.
"But I..." Ron protested.
"You are not needed here at the moment Mr. Weasley" she said seriously, "please try to get some sleep." Her eyes softened slightly at this and Ron reluctantly agreed.
"Harry, what happened?" asked Merlin softly.
"We need to send help now! He's...hurt" Harry finally managed.
"What? Who?" asked McGonagall, her already pale skin was almost translucent in the candlelight.
"Mr. Weasley, I saw it, he's been attacked. He's dying!" Harry yelled hoarsely.
"Harry where is he? What attacked him?" asked Merlin gently.
"A snake; Nagini. But I was the snake...I-I...I think I attacked him" stammered Harry, his sleep deprived mind working as hard as it could.
"Harry where is he?" asked Merlin again urgently.
"It was a big black room with thousands of shelves with millions of glowing orbs on them...I don't know where it was" Harry said, close to tears.
Merlin gave McGonagall a look before she rushed from the room. Merlin gripped Harry's shoulder in a calming gesture.
"It'll be alright Harry, I think we should start teaching you an...extracurricular" Merlin said wearily, dread building inside him.
"What?" asked Harry, still looking horrified.
"Occlumency."
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Okay I will not abandon this story. I know it's literally been forever since I last updated, but my life has been absolutely insane the past month or so. Now that it's spring break I'll have more time to write so another chapter should be up soon.
Again, so sorry for the wait 3