Chapter 9 – The Plot Thickens
Right after everyone returned from Christmas Break Harry and Daphne met with Sera and Hermione upon Sera's request in the same classroom as last time.
"So, what'd you want?" Harry asked the Griffindor's
"Did you get a gift from Wendy too?" Sera said getting to the point.
"Yeah and I assume you all did too?" Harry responded
They all nodded there heads in agreement when Sera spoke up "Harry I'm just getting to the point here, do you know a Charles Potter by chance?"
Harry's eyebrows shot up in suspicion. After months of trying to learn his family's past, he still hadn't found a thing about Charles Potter.
"I had a great Uncle called Charles Why?" He responded.
"Well my book was written by Charles Potter," Sera responded as Harry looked shocked by it "Judging by your face I'm gonna guess not."
"That would explain why I didn't find anything about him," Harry responded, "Most Elementals do live reclusive lives due to how people want to use Elementals."
"Well, I just thought you should know," Sera said. She was acting a bit weird around Harry like she was trying to friendly to him.
"Thanks, I guess, not much of a big deal though is it," Harry stated.
"No offense but we do have something bigger to talk about," Hermione piped up irking Harry a bit.
"And that is?" Harry said sternly.
"We're going to need somewhere to train our powers otherwise what's the point in having them," Hermione stated which annoyed Harry cause she was right which made her smug which made her annoying.
"She makes a good point we can't very well practice out in the open so we need somewhere to train in secret," Daphne added in knowing Harry was far more likely to listen to her than Hermione.
"Any ideas?" Sera asked.
"It needs to be somewhere in Hogwarts as Dumbledore can sense when people come and go from the Hogwarts," Hermione explained, "But it needs to be really secluded as we can't be caught."
"Any ideas oh brightest witch of our age," Harry asked sardonically making Hermione scowl.
"Not yet I don't," Hermione said with steel in her voice "I was just explaining that we have to find somewhere in the school where we can practice in private."
Harry sighed as the group became silent in thought.
"How about we meet up later when we have some ideas rather than trying to come up with ideas on the spot," Daphne said diplomatically.
"That seems to be the best idea we have," Sera said, "How about we meet in a month?"
"That seems fair," Daphne said.
"By the way could you keep your pet Weasel on a shorter leash for me," Harry stated.
"Hey don't insult our friend!" Sera said in anger.
"Then tell him that if he talks to me again I'm gonna end up ripping his throat out," Harry fired back.
"Aw did he hurt your feelings I know how sensitive you can be," Hermione mocked.
"What that moron did was compare me to Voldemort so yeah he pissed me off," Harry explained.
"And you didn't provoke him?" Sera asked skeptically.
"All I did was talk to the twins during Christmas dinner but apparently that meant that I overstepped my bounds according to that prick so let me be clear, if he pisses me off again I'm gonna rip his throat out and shove it down his mouth in an attempt to shut him up," Harry said as his anger began to rise.
"Wow man calm down it was just an insult," Sera said holding her hands up.
"Yeah well I don't like being compared to the person who murdered my family so tell him to stay away," Harry responded hotly.
"Err by the way Harry thanks again for your help with Nicholas Flamel," Sera said eager to change the subject.
"What you told him?" Hermione screamed at Sera.
"Yeah, she told me and guess what now she knows what's going on with the third-floor corridor so your welcome," Harry responded still a little miffed.
"Wait what's going on?" Daphne asked completely lost.
"Quick version, Dumbledore's hiding the Philosophers stone there which is guarded by a Cerberus and both Snape and Quirrel seem to want it," Harry said trying to catch his friend up. Daphne tried to quickly process all that Harry said and quickly got the feeling that she had been thrown into some bad news.
"Wait why would Quirrel want it? He's harmless?" Hermione asked.
"Then I suppose I didn't stumble across him trying to get there before Snape stopped him one night?" Harry added sarcastically.
"Wait you saw them? How?" Sera asked intrigued.
"I have my ways," Harry added cryptically making Sera and Hermione scowl and Daphne chuckle.
"So they both want it and seem to be against the other from having it for some reason," Sera said.
"It seems so but why?" Hermione asked
"I presume that it has something to do with You-Know-Who," Daphne said quietly.
"That's what I'm thinking," Harry added.
"That's why he's hiding it at Hogwarts," Hermione said, "Dumbledore is the only person You-Know-Who feared."
"Maybe, but I imagine that after 10 years he will be desperate enough not to care about the risk," Harry added with a smile.
"And why are you smiling about this?" Sera asked Harry.
"Oh no Harry no, outright no!" Daphne said passionately.
"What?" Harry asked coyly.
"Please tell me you aren't going to go after him I know You-Know-Who was weakened but you're 11, there is no way an 11 year old can take on a dark lord," Daphne said looking straight at him. There was a long pause as the two Slytherin's stared at each other until finally, Harry spoke up.
"I never said that Voldemort himself was going for the stone, in fact, I imagine that he sent Quirrel to get it," He explained.
"Still he is a fully grown wizard while you've known about magic for only half a year," Daphne retorted "Don't get too cocky just because you're an elemental."
Harry just groaned at her. She was right and he hated it.
"Alright, alright I won't go after him until I'm ready, happy?" Harry said holding his hands up in surrender.
"Good," Daphne said with a huff, clearly frustrated by him "Now how about we all look for somewhere that we can train in private and meet again in a month."
"That sounds good," Sera said as she and Hermione left to head up to the Gryffindor common room.
"So how was your Christmas?" Daphne asked Harry as they made their way down to the Slytherin common room.
"Eh, not so bad how about yours?" Harry responded casually.
"Not so bad but my little sister Astoria was annoying me," Daphne said.
"How come?" Harry asked to which Daphne just sighed.
"She kept asking about you and it got annoying very quickly," she replied.
"Why was she asking about me?" Harry asked confused.
"It's obvious, it's cause you're the Boy-Who-Lived," Daphne replied which made Harry groan in annoyance.
"How old is she?" Harry asked expecting to see her at Hogwarts eventually.
"She's 9 and what's with all the questions this isn't like you?" Daphne replied.
"What, I can't ask my friend how she's doing?" Harry responded with a smirk.
"Yes but like I said this isn't you. It's making me think that something did happen over Christmas with you," Daphne said making Harry sigh.
"I guess being alone again made me realize what I would be missing without my friends," Harry replied looking downwards with a small frown.
"And that's why you're trying to be a better friend?" Daphne replied getting only a nod from Harry "You're so silly sometimes, you're already a great friend to me and to Tracey and Blaise you don't need to try."
"Err thanks I guess," Harry replied feeling really awkward with the conversation.
They were both saved from the awkward moment as they had reached the common room and began to talk with Tracey, Blaise, Sylvia, and Zoe about their Christmas holiday's but Daphne was thinking about what Harry said.
'What did he mean about being alone again' She thought as concern for her friend began to creep into her mind. The more she thought about Harry the more she realized that he had quickly become very important in his life yet she knew so little about him hell no one knew anything about Harry especially his life before Hogwarts as he so rarely talked about anything in his past and she didn't like the potential reasons why. She would have to think more about this before moving forward. Her thoughts were interrupted by the sound of Malfoy's voice.
"I actually feel bad for those poor kids who stayed at Hogwarts, it must be tough for them to be unwanted at their homes," The blond Ferret said sarcastically before looking at Harry "Though for some I don't blame them."
"Is there a point to your speech Malfoy cause you can skip right to end if that's the case," Harry replied locking eyes with the annoying boy.
"Oh no point I was just remembering the Ball, my family, though, everyone was there, well everyone important," Malfoy retorted.
"Gee I can't believe I missed the chance to see the entire Malfoy family entertain everyone by acting like peacocks," Harry replied sarcasm dripping with every word making Daphne and Tracey giggle.
"Well, it was good to see my parents again …" Malfoy began before Harry cut him off.
"And this is the part where you make a joke about the fact that my parents are dead," Harry said darkly looking at Malfoy with anger making the onlookers look nervous now "Carry on talking Malfoy, it will end with you on the floor crying for your daddy like the worthless bitch that you are."
After the incident with the mirror, Harry had become even quicker to anger when someone attacked his parents and it was already his weak spot but now it truly enraged him when people mocked him for the fact that his parents were dead.
"How come you didn't go home for Christmas, do even the muggles not want you?" Malfoy said and Harry found himself letting Malfoy continue as he dig his grave even deeper "Now that I think about it you were rather scrawny when I first saw you, what does your family hate you as well? do they beat you, it was well deserved if that's the case."
Harry just smiled. Not a happy smile but a menacing even mad smile. It was the type of smile reserved for madmen and psychopaths and it terrified the entire room so much that no one noticed that he had his wand in his hand.
Harry shot out his chair and fired a Flipendo at Malfoy taking him by surprise. Harry was known to be a powerful Wizard already but the sheer power behind the spell was ridiculous. Flipendo was considered a very weak spell as it was just a knockback jinx that sent them back a few feet but Malfoy was pushed all the way across the room and crashed into the wall with a sickening crack. Malfoy was breathing hard grasping for air as blood began pouring from the back of his head and his mouth making a crimson pool on the floor. No one dared to move as they watched in both awe and fear of Harry as he was glaring at Malfoy who was beginning to pull himself up.
"This is the part where threaten to tell your daddy on me," Harry said sinisterly as he glared at Malfoy who was being pulled up by Crabbe and Goyle "Just remember Malfoy, you asked for it."
Crabbe and Goyle had dragged Malfoy's broken body out of the common room which was now silent.
"You are going to be in so much trouble Harry," Blaise said gravely "Like, SO much trouble."
Harry just sighed "Yeah I know," Then he just shrugged "Oh well, worth it."
True enough minutes later Snape burst into the common room looking furious.
"POTTER," Snape screamed, "DETENTION TOMORROW NIGHT WITH FILCH."
"Whatever," Harry said dismissively "I'm going to bed night, everyone."
Harry just walked up to his room ignoring Snape and made his way up to his room.
"What no whining? no pathetic attempt to get your way?" Snape called out.
"No, I lost my temper so I accept the punishment," Harry replied as he left leaving the common room bewildered at his actions. If that was Harry when he lost his anger then they really didn't want to see him angry when he older cause if him using a first-year spell could physically destroy Malfoy then what could he do when he could cast a seventh-year spell?
OoO The Elemental Order OoO
Harry showed up the next night to Filch to serve his detention which surprisingly included Sera, Granger, and Weasley with Hagrid who was looking depressed about something.
"What are you doing here Harry?" Sera asked surprised to see him.
"Serving my detention," Harry replied, "What are you here for?"
"We got caught smuggling a baby dragon out of Hogwarts how about you?" Sera replied.
"Snape took exception to me putting Malfoy in Hospital wing for a day," Harry replied smiling as he remembered seeing the broken body of Malfoy.
"That was you? What did you do to him?" Sera asked.
"Overpowered Flipendo," Harry answered, "Slammed him into the wall crushing his ribs which had to be regrown."
"Why would a Slytherin attack another Slytherin?" Ron asked.
"Because I don't like him, Weasley and people that I don't like often end up getting hexed by me," Harry responded sharply. Weasley looked to be struggling with it. On the one hand, Malfoy was hurt but it was by another Slytherin so he didn't know what to think.
"Why are blubbering man, get a hold of yourself," Filch said looking at Hagrid who had tears in his eyes.
"Okay, I've gotta ask what did you three do?" Harry said now curious as to what he had been dragged into.
"We got caught trying to smuggle a baby dragon out," Sera told him and Harry looked at her not really believing her "It's true McGonagall caught us after curfew."
"Okay that last bit I believe," Harry said and was going to continue when Filch interrupted him.
"Enough talking you're in detention which means you'll be going into the forest," Filch explained, "I do wonder if you'll all come back though."
With that, he left cackling like a madman making Harry smirk. 'As far as evil laughs go, it wasn't that bad.'
"He wasn' lyin though, we are going in ta the woods for a bit o huntin," Hagrid said making Harry looked puzzled by him.
"So our detention is to wander around in a dark, cold forest that is home to all sorts of magical creatures?" Harry asked sarcastically.
"That's right," Hagrid replied missing the sarcasm.
"Couldn't you just make us do lines or something else that a normal detention would be?" Harry asked realizing the need to be blunt about this.
"Where's ya sense of adventure?" Hagrid asked, "Ya father used to sneak in all the time and he was fine."
"Yeah, Potter are you scared?" Ron sneered.
"By the way your hands are shaking I'd say you're the scared one," Harry said as he had noticed that the boy was trembling slightly.
"Shut up Potter," Ron retorted
"Good comeback," Harry said smirking.
"Enough wer goin come on," Hagrid said as he made his way towards the forest with the kids following behind him reluctantly and Harry questioning Hagrid's sanity though he was the idiot following him so who was the most insane? Ah well, insanity is his thing might as well go along and who knows he could probably get a laugh out of scaring Weasley so that could make this worthwhile.
Trailing through a dark forest at night in the cold was even worse than Harry thought it would be. He could barely see a thing outside of the light that Hagrid's crappy lamp could emit and the forest was actually creepy in the darkness with an ominous mist surrounding the group. They stopped when they saw what looked like a dead horse. Hagrid began to inspect it and as Harry got closer he saw that it had a horn and seemed to have silver blood.
"A Unicorn," Harry said.
"Yep an somethin's been drinkin its blood," Hagrid replied making Harry and Hermione pale a little.
"Why?" The Weasel asked stupidly. Seriously how could someone who grew up in the magical world not know how bad it is to drink Unicorn blood.
"Drinking Unicorn blood can lengthen your life but you will live a cursed life because it is seen as a crime against nature," Hermione replied.
"Thas right," Hagrid told the girl "An thas why we're here. We're gonna find whas doin this."
"Okay it was one thing to send four kids into the woods at night for a detention its another thing to ask us to hunt down who or what is deciding to drink Unicorn blood," Harry replied hotly.
"He has a point," Hermione said shocking Harry "You may be the biggest arse in the world but you're not stupid at least."
"It doesn't seem that bad I mean whatever drunk it is cursed so we have that on our side," Sera piped in.
"I'm more concerned with why someone is drinking Unicorn blood considering what's being stashed in the castle," Harry stated.
"How'd yo know whas in the castle?" Hagrid asked.
"Sera asked me who Nicholas Flamel was so I told her and then she told me why she wanted to know," Harry responded and Ron looked angry.
"You asked a Slytherin Sera? What if he lied to you?" Ron yelled.
"Wow man, what did a Slytherin do to you to make you hate them so much?" Harry asked.
"You're all dark wizards that's what you all did, you all evil," Ron yelled his answer out.
"Seriously? That's it?" Harry said dumbstruck "you do realize that Merlin himself was a Slytherin don't you?"
"Liar!" Ron yelled.
"He's actually right Ron," Hermione answered, "Merlin was sorted into Slytherin."
"How could anyone know that?" Ron asked angrily.
"He has a portrait at the bottom of the grand staircase so ask that," Hermione replied.
"Wer getting off topic," Hagrid said as he readied his crossbow "Sera an Hermione will come with me this way down the left path while you two boys take the right path wit Fang."
"You're sticking me with Potter?!" Ron asked furiously.
"What? Worried that they won't find your body?" Harry asked sinisterly.
"Stop playin round, Harry you'd be expelled for killin him," Hagrid said.
"Good point, he's not worth being expelled for," Harry said as he grabbed the lantern and set off "Keep up Moron."
"Oi stop calling me that," Ron yelled back at him as he caught up.
"Why? Isn't that your full name?" Harry asked smiling.
"No you git it's Ronald," Ron retorted.
"Hmm I prefer Moron, it's more interesting," Harry said.
"Shut up you slimy git," Ron fired back.
"Snakes aren't slimy dumb arse," Harry stated.
"Takes one to know one," Ron said making Harry facepalm.
"It actually hurts me how stupid you are sometimes," Harry said as he began ranting "Seriously, you give Crabbe and Goyle a run for there money as to how stupid you are, in fact, no you are stupider than them at least they're hanging around Malfoy cause he's rich so there's that, you, on the other hand, are literally the most worthless person I have ever seen and your very existence pisses me off."
Harry was breathing heavily after ranting for so long and Ron just stared at him dumbly.
"Well we can't all be the famous Boy-Who-Lived can we Potter," Ron yelled back beginning his own rant "You've probably had everything handed to you from day one with your fame and your money you have everything while I get stuck with nothing but castoffs and scraps so sorry for not being born with everything."
Now Harry was beyond pissed off, beyond furious, beyond even murderous right now but his thoughts were halted by the sound of Fang whining and he realized that they had reached a clearing in the forest where he saw a hooded figure bent over another dead Unicorn with a disgusting sounding slurping noise coming from it. Harry realized that the figure was drinking its blood almost desperately, like someone who was stranded in a desert, but stopped when he noticed the two boys with the silver blood pouring down his face as it shined in the moonlight. He couldn't see the figures eyes but he was sure that he made eye contact and his scar began to burn painfully making him hold it as felt like it was being torn open violently making him realize just who would be desperate and warped enough to drink Unicorn blood. Could this be Voldemort here in front of him? Harry heard Ron scream and he scrambled away trying to run as far as possible While Harry drew his wand as the figure glided towards him quickly.
"INCENDIO," Harry yelled as a great ball of fire erupted from his wand and shot towards the ethereal figure as it drew closer. Thankfully it connected as the figure was set ablaze and began flailing in the air when Harry heard what sounded like a horse galloping closer. A centaur jumped in between Harry and the dark figure and began kicking it with its front legs as the figure floated away screaming in pain.
"Thanks," Harry said panting as Harry realized that he had been holding his breath the entire time.
"Think nothing of it young calf," The centaur said, "My name is Firenze."
"No offense but that wasn't nothing," Harry replied as he tried to calm down.
"I was merely following the guidance of the stars young one," Firenze stated
"Then thank the stars I guess," Harry replied, "Was that what I think it was?"
"If you believe that shadow to be You-Know-Who then yes it was," Firenze said, "Reduced to nearly nothing and living in constant pain."
Harry couldn't help but smile at the thought of the man who killed his parents living in constant pain.
"Something amusing young one?" Firenze asked.
"Voldemort reduced to that and living in pain all the time? It's bloody fantastic," Harry answered.
"What are you doing in the Forest though?" Firenze asked.
"Hagrid's idea of a suitable detention was to have a bunch of kids follow him in the search for who was killing Unicorns," Harry explained.
"You are serious aren't you?" Firenze asked but both of them were interrupted by the sound of people approaching.
"HARRY, YOU THERE?" Hagrid's voice could be heard yelling.
"OVER HERE HAGRID," Firenze shouted as Hagrid and all the kids showed up including Ron who looked terrified.
"Way to show Gryffindor bravery Weasley," Harry said sarcastically as Ron cowered still.
"Still a git so he's fine," Sera said smirking.
"Thanks for the help Firenze but won't this give you truble wit the herd," Hagrid responded.
"I merely followed the stars Hagrid nothing more," Firenze answered as he turned to leave "The creature attacking Unicorns has been stopped so I would suggest you leave. It was a pleasure to meet you, Harry Potter."
"Same to you Firenze," Harry said genuinely.
"All right kids time head back," Hagrid said as they all made there way out of the forest.
OoO The Elemental Order OoO
"So, how was your trip into the forest?" Harry asked as they began walking back to the castle "I know Ron here had a blast."
"Do you ever get tired of hearing your voice Potter?" Hermione asked annoyed.
"Of my voice? I don't know. Of annoying people? no." Harry replied making Hermione scowl "Wow with a scowl like that you could run Snape out of a job."
"Just shut up Potter," Hermione said.
"Just answer the question and I will," Harry said.
"No we saw nothing Potter," Sera replied.
"Shame would have loved to have known what else was in the forest and why it's forbidden," Harry replied.
"What was it that was attacking the Unicorns anyway?" Sera asked.
"Voldemort," Harry answered simply making Ron wince "Oh grow a pair, Weasley."
"You're serious aren't you?" Hermione asked.
"Yeah and considering what's hidden on the third floor I'm gonna guess that the Unicorns are merely to sustain himself before he goes for the stone," Harry replied.
"How do you know about the stone?" Ron asked looking angry again.
"Seeing as I told Sera who Nicholas Flamel was it was pretty easy to guess what's hidden in the stone but something isn't adding up," Harry said.
"What'd you mean?" Hermione asked.
"Why a school? Why not Gringotts or some remote place that's booby trapped? That would make more sense but no he chose a school full of children to protect something Voldemort wants, why?" Harry asked ignoring Ron's flinch.
"Hogwarts is the safest place in Britain," Hermione answered as if it was obvious.
"Also Gringotts was broken into recently," Sera added.
"Still why a school? Why is Dumbledore risking the lives of hundreds of kids unless …" Harry said before trailing off in deep thought.
"Unless what?" Sera asked tired of waiting for the answer.
"He's trying to draw him out. He wants him seen," Harry said quietly.
"That would make sense but, annoyingly, he does raise a point that it is dangerous for the stone to be kept in a school no matter how safe it is," Hermione conceded.
"Well it is easier to get an audience here than anywhere else," Harry said, "Maybe he wants a lot of people to see that he isn't dead so no one can deny it."
"That makes sense but it's still risky," Hermione said.
"Probably worth it in his mind," Harry responded.
"Aww look at you two working together it's so cute," Sera said shocking Harry and Hermione.
"Shut up Sera," Hermione said pleadingly.
"Deny it all you want but this is the start of a beautiful friendship," Sera said, "Anyway we're back at the castle so later Harry."
Sera went up the stairs followed by an angry Hermione and a bewildered Ron leaving Harry alone to stew at what Sera said.
"Bitch," Harry said aloud as he made his way down to the common room.
When he arrived he saw Daphne alone and sleeping in a chair by the fire which made Harry smile. Gently he shook her awake.
"Wustha Harry?" Daphne mumbled as she woke.
"Did you really wait for me?" Harry asked, "Seems the Ice Queen is thawing."
"Oh shut up Harry," Daphne responded with a smile.
"In all seriousness, I do need to talk to you about what happened," Harry said as his tone lost it's amusement.
"Okay, what happened," Daphne said rubbing her eyes as Harry retold what just happened in the forest and what his thoughts were about the Philosophers Stone.
"And why are we getting involved in this?" Daphne asked.
"Well, I can't just stand by and let it happen now can I?" Harry replied as if it was simple.
"You do realize that he was the most powerful dark lord of all time right?" Daphne responded.
"He was but now he's weak I mean come on Daphne I took him out with a first-year spell imagine what I can do with my Elemental power," Harry replied trying to reassure his friend.
"You mean what we can do," Daphne replied stunning Harry "Oh come on I'm not letting you do this alone. You'd screw it up somehow."
"Err thanks I guess," Harry said, "Wait what'd you mean I'd screw it up?"
"Considering who we're dealing with do you really think that you can keep a clear head and not run off like a madman out for revenge," Daphne answered and Harry thought about it.
"I suppose not," Harry replied, "Thanks, Daphne."
"Anytime Harry now we should get to bed we have classes in the morning," Daphne said as she made her way to her room.
"Yeah, night Daphne," Harry said as he went to his room.
Authors notes
Okay I finally got this one out and I know it's short but that's how it goes. The reason I have been late to get it out was that nothing was coming to me which led to me just staring at a blank screen for hours until it clicked. Truth be told I'm not happy about this chapter but I don't want to keep you waiting for me to upload so I've been powering through.
Also, I got an idea for year two that meant I had to rework all my plans from that point onwards but I like it and will make things more interesting going forward.
Next chapter – Traps galore. (and maybe a mirror depends how long it gets)