A/N:Hello again everyone. Thank you once more for your continuing support of this story. 77 favorites 138 follows 43 reviews and over 8000 views; Wow. You really know how to stroke a guys ego lol. Thank you all for your continued support. Yes, I know I said Bi-Weekly. Yes, I know it hasn't been two weeks. Are you really going to complain about an early update? I thought so. While I'll be holding true to the new deadline, if I manage to complete a chapter and edit it, I will update early. That being said, I want to give a shoutout to a reader who helped me get in touch wit my feminine side. I didn't get permission to say her name, but she knows herself. I just hope I was able to translate it onto print. As usual, I apologize for any grammatical errors, that I may have missed. I'm still looking for a beta reader to proof read, if anyone is interested.
Please Enjoy.
Disclaimer: I own nothing of Harry Potter or anything dealing with its franchise.
Chapter-8
Into the Forest, and Confrontations with the Black, Grey and White
Dumbledore walked briskly into his office, though to others it may be considered storming into a room. As he approached his large desk, in the room filled with odd collections of instruments, books and tomes, and the portraits of past headmasters and mistresses, he absent noted the presence of his familiar, Fawkes; an ancient looking phoenix that feathers were currently a dull plume. As he sat, he contemplated everything that had happened moments ago.
He was made aware of a possible confrontation between Harry and the now young Lord Malfoy, from Severus, as he helped the young boy in planning it, in order to gain his trust like he planned. He had taken into account Malfoy's arrogance and tendency to rush things to be his own ruin, which it did in the form of the boy not properly issuing the challenge, and making the situation degrade to just a school brawl. His target was not the young Harry, as he had already gotten a measure of the boy and knew how he would react…No; he used this opportunity to see how Mr. Cunningham reacts when pushed into a corner.
He had watched the boy stay in the shadows, like a Slytherin; however, when a known companion was faced with a threat, he had acted in the defense of that person. An admirable quality, but he had watched as the boy didn't react to anything else. Not when Harry was being curse at when his back was turned; not to Mr. Weasley being savagely attacked, or Mr. Goyle being sent head first into the wall from the spell Mr. Longbottom used, and not when Ms. Granger placed herself in danger and began dueling herself. No, he had only reacted when Ms. Granger faced a threat that would've caught her unaware and was potentially lethal. His reaction showed Dumbledore much, and he tested his theory when he showed himself as just arriving to see the spell used by Ms. Parkinson. He allowed the young Slytherin's plan to play out like how Severus instructed them, and was about to react like how an informed party would to see how Mr. Cunningham would react.
The boy did not disappoint, and had stepped into the defense of his sister, when she once more faced a threat she couldn't handle. It had brought him hope that the boy could be used for the light; what a wonderful tool he would have been for the greater good given his natural talent and intelligence. But that had been destroyed when he heard the boy quote almost the exact words once used by Tom in his later years. With him possessing the same philosophical views of magic like Tom had; he fears that the boy would take the same path. As he mused on how to handle the boy, Severus walked into his office, and took a seat in front of him.
"How are your Slytherins doing?" He asked the man in front of him.
"No injuries that couldn't be fixed with an overnight and Malfoy's ego is now thoroughly stroked with the small win he achieved over Potter." Severus answered in a monotone.
"Good. Continue to earn his trust" Dumbledore said with a nod.
"And was what you found about the muggleborn boy worth it." Severus asked.
"Believe it is…but first, what have you found out about the boy." Said Dumbledore, hoping for more information.
"As I've said before, the boy is a Slytherin; he has managed to use his connection with Penelope Clearwater to teach Marcus Flint. In return, his time in the house has been spent none of the typical harassment you would think a muggleborn would face, due to Flint deterring potential attempts. The boy has also gained the attention of the Greengrass heiress; I haven't been able to find out how that started, but she seemed infatuated with the boy for some reason. He's the most socially accepted Slytherin with the other house members in his year, with the exception being Gryffindors, not that anyone with more an a brain cell would want to associate with those dunderheads…and as you already know, he and that Li girl are being trained by Flitwick." Came the reply.
Dumbledore thought for a second on what he was told. His ability to manipulate those around him was something he had seen in Tom, and it reinforced his theory of the boy as a potential threat to 'The Greater Good'. Also, Mr. Cunningham's association with Ms. Greengrass was worrying; and would explain the boy's knowledge of certain laws and traditions of the wizarding world. If Ms. Greengrass was anything like her father, she would be driven and power hungry; she would do what was necessary to ensure someone as magically powerful and cunning as Mr. Cunningham, would be at her beck and call. It would be a huge boost to the girl, among other potential things for her future if the boy meets her father's expectations of a husband. And finally, the boy's training in dueling with Filius…that had caught him off guard. It still was a mystery how both Mr. Cunningham and Ms. Li gained the attention of the famed duelist. Filius was notorious for turning away students who wanted to be trained by him; yet he accepted the two with opened arms. He was on amiable terms with the man, but he was not close enough to dissuade the man from training the two, more specifically, Mr. Cunningham. It wasn't against the school rules; he was doing it on his own time and it was not interfering with the schooling of either the two or other students. Even his attempt to gleam some understanding in what was being taught and how well they dueled was debunked with Mr. Cunningham getting Filius to swear an Oath.
"Thank you Severus, that was most helpful." Dumbledore answered, after a few minutes spent deep in thought. "It is becoming clearer to me that Mr. Cunningham is losing himself from the path of light."
"And how did you reach that conclusion from the little information I've gathered, and his actions in protecting the Know-it-all Granger and the Potter brat." Severus said with a raised eyebrow.
"That was the same mentality I had with the Dark Lord as he grew up. The little things when observed separately do paint the picture of a young boy who is ambitions and charismatic, but when you connect them, and step back, you can see the bigger picture; there, you will see a young boy, with a desire for power, and has no qualms with using anything and everyone to get it." Dumbledore said solemnly, and then continued in the same tone," I will not allow another Dark Lord to rise under my nose, and I will do whatever is necessary to ensure the safety of the Greater Good."
"What are you going to do with the boy" Severus asked.
"For now, there is still hope for the boy, and he can still be saved, so we will continue to watch him. However, should he fall to the dark, I will be there to stop him for the Greater Good…permanently if necessary." He replied.
That caught Severus by surprise. 'Second-chance-Dumbledore' was willing to end the boy at the first sign of his descent in the dark arts? "Why?" he asked, he had to know.
Dumbledore sighed, taking off his glasses and rubbing his eyes," If you think I plan to kill him, then you have greatly misjudged me, Severus. I intended to remove him from endangering the wizarding world the same way I did with Grindelwald." He said while placing his glasses back on, while he opened a draw in his desk and took out a phial containing a clear liquid and passed it over to Severus.
"Phoenix Tears?" Severus asked as he placed the phial to his eyes for closer scrutiny.
"Yes. Given the circumstances of Lucius' death; it is best to have safeguards in case it was not an isolated incident." Dumbledore replied.
"So the results are out, then" said Snape.
"Yes. While the person remains unknown; they were able to determine that Lucius die by basilisk venom." He replied.
"Deadly, rare, and resistant to all cures except the equally rare 'phoenix tears'; Only someone with a large sum of galleons and connections could afford to use that, which limits suspects to Malfoy's rivals, though most don't have the mind to have prepared something like that, and given the origin of the murder weapon, puts some doubt in it being one of them." Severus stated.
"Be that as it may, keep it on you at all times my old friend; you are too valuable to be lost over a petty grudge." Dumbledore said and watched as Severus nodded, get up abruptly, and walking out of his office.
Three people occupied a magically sealed room filled with debris and with the temperature biting coldly on two of the three's skins, though it was more focused on the smallest of them; not that they noticed any of this as they were in constant motion, trading spells and curses at each other.
"William" a soft, yet firm and determined voice said as she moved to left and behind her partner, and began to cast sliently," Ignis Lanceam; Quinque Sagittas Ignis; Ignis Eructo;" she launched a medium sized lance of fire, and following with the spell she learnt from the professor; fire arrows that would hone in on the enemy by the use of her will, and then following with the spell she had finally mastered a few days prior. She aimed the medium size jet of flames that issued from her wand three feet above William, and awaited his follow up spell.
"Animalia igne lupivis" she heard him cast aloud, while he could manipulate the conjuration better than she could at her current level, he had told her that he found using fire affinity spells to be difficult and taxing on his concentration. As she watched her spells box the professor in and stopping him from avoiding them, she marveled at the medium sized wolf that was barreling down on the small man. It was a combination that they had worked on under the guidance of the professor, and to cut the concentration needed between them, William focused on animating the flames, while she supplied him.
She heard the cornered man chuckle at his predicament and then casted at the wolf, ignoring the other spells as they landed around him, creating a fiery blockade, "Aqua Eructo". A large jet of water erupted from his wand and head for the wolf, however as they reached midway, It began to split abruptly into five different directions, as if they had hit a wall. Su heard William give out a painful grunt, and though she couldn't see his face, she could see the excursion he was under as he had the wolf to maneuver through the splits, and reach the professor.
As they watched their victory close at hand, they heard a squeal voice of the professor call out from behind the now large pouncing fiery wolf, "Inanitas". She stared wide eyed as the wolf hit something invisible and broke apart around it.
"You have got to be kidding me." She heard William mutter under his breath." Su." He then said, issuing a silent command.
She looked around for what he could be ordering, and she saw the still burning flames around the professor." Right… Animalia igne avis" she said, going through the wand movements, and then pointing her Cedar wand at the flames. They came alive in the form of birds, and fluttered around the professor, as his spell finished consuming the fire wolf.
Su watched as William swished his wand in the direction of most of the debris, and watched as they then formed into wolves, and then became twice their size when he swished his wand again. The room became increasingly cold again, however all she felt was the gently caress of his magic as it followed through the room, which caused a delicious sensation to run down her spine and through her body. "Good," they heard a jovial voice say as they saw the diminutive professor's eyes take in the room, "never waste a single moment or opportunity to get the advantage over the enemy; I am quite impressed with your ability to manipulate my own spell like that, William; how did you do it?" the professor asked in a curious voice.
"I'm not about to let you get the drop on me again, you bloody dwarf-bastard" she heard William's replied.
The professor laugh jovial at that, and replied," My mother was a goblin, thank you very much."
"Still makes you a bastard trying to get us to drop our guard" she answered softly.
"Yes. Yes I suppose it does" The professor said chuckling at his students' antics as they kept both their wands and spells at the ready," however, curfew is fast approaching and I think you've been distracted long enough." Su watched with wide eyes as the professor they were talking to dissolve into flames.
"What!?" she heard William say in disbelief, the same time she felt like a giant body slammed her from behind, and decided to use her as seat. The pressure was unbearable, and she called it quits.
"I yield!/ I yield!" she screamed out the same time William shouted out, and felt the pressure disappear.
"What the hell was that!" William shouted at the chuckling professor who stood some ways back behind them. It was out of character for him, but she couldn't blame him; that spell bloody hurt.
"A spell of my own invention, I call it," The Hand of God", it's a powerful modified 'Wind Jinx: Ventus' with the applications of the 'Pressure Charm: Deprimo".
"And the Doppelganger?" Su asked.
"A simple 'Illusion charm' mixed with a 'Ventriloquist charm' for the voice" the professor said jovially.
"Will you be teaching us?" Su asked softly while massaging her back.
"Hmmm…Not just yet; we need to focus more on your creativity in using what you know than expanding it any further…but in the future, yes…I may teach you that, and other things" he said after thinking on it. "But for now, you still have classes in the morning; off you go. Chop chop." He finished rushing them to leave.
They slowly got up off the floor and left the room together. As they walked in companionable silence, Su spoke softly, "I want to wipe that smug look off his face."
"You and me both. I could've sworn we had him cornered with that last combination…" William answered.
Su walked a bit closer, and then spoke softly while she hesitantly took his hand into hers," We'll get him next time for sure." He didn't reply to her, but she felt him give her hand a squeeze. She turned away from to hide the smile that broke on her face.
The walk was much too fast for her, as see saw that they reached the Grand Staircase, she heard him speak to her, "I'll see you in class tomorrow. Night Su."
"Night…" she said softly while still holding his hand.
"You're going to have to let go of my hand, if you want to head to bed." He said jokingly.
"And who said I wanted to go to bed?" she said softly while looking up into his eyes.
"And what would you be doing to cause you to stay away from which a wonderful thing like a soft bed?" he said while she felt his thumb rub the back of her hand.
"This and that" she said cryptically as she stepped a bit forward to him. She watched as he stepped forward too; she could feel the heat radiating from his body, and feel her own face heating up as her heart began to speed up.
As she was about to tiptoe to meet him halfway, there was a loud trash, and a voice a floor below that caused them to jump apart, "PEEVEES!, WHEN I GET MY HANDS ON YOU."
Her heart was still beating rapidly, and there was now an awkward tension in the air between them as they avoided each other's eyes. She was startled slightly when she heard William speak in a slightly cracking voice, "I guess I'll seeing you in the morning."
"Y-yeah" she replied, still trying to get her heart to slow down. She didn't turn around to look at him as she walked briskly up the staircase, despite her sore body.
It didn't take her long to get inside her common room after answering the riddle and walk into her dorm room, to meet the sounds of squealing and giggling coming from her dormmates as they grouped together on Padma's bed, much to the visible annoyance of said girl. They all turned to her as she closed the door, and her friend Lisa Turpin spoke up as she went to get her bath things, "Hey Su…you look like hell!, are you alright?".
"Nothing a warm shower won't cure; what are you bothering Padma about now?" Su asked, as she went through a closet that stood beside her bed for her things.
"Well Mandy and I were talking about which boy we'd rank as the Hottest to Nottest, but she won't tell us who she thinks is hot." Lisa said pouting at the Indian girl, and then turned to look at Su as she walked towards the bathroom, "What about you who'd get what rank for you?"
"Harry, William, Zabini, Nott and Boot as my top five in that order" she said softly as she closed the bathroom door, while not looking back at the two squealing girls as she heard Padma speak over them.
"Would you stop doing that?"
She didn't know how long she stayed in the shower letting the water run down her body. She couldn't get over the moment between her and William that was now forever gone, and she quietly cursed the poltergeist's name for interrupting them when she was about to get her second kiss. She could feel the tingling sensation growing within her, and she got out of the shower before she succumbed to the temptation. Penny had warned her against enjoying herself in the only available bath. As she walked out of the bathroom in her pajamas, she heard Mandy call out to her.
" Su, guess what, Padma likes your Slytherin friend, William too.", causing the other two to giggle loudly.
"I did not say that!, all I said was that he was kinda hot, and I liked how he went out of his way to protect me from Malfoy's spell earlier today, and he could possibly make a good boyfriend." Padma replied, though her dusk toned skin darkened around her cheeks.
"So Su, you think he'd make a good boyfriend?" Mandy Brocklehurst spoke teasingly from beside Padma as she hugged a pillow against her chest.
"Yeah…he would" Su said softly while blushing as the two girls giggled at her reddening face.
"But you said Harry was hotter." Lisa spoke.
"It's his eyes and hair that he does it for me." Mandy spoke clutching her pillow.
"I may still have a bit of a 'Boy-Who-Lived' complex from when I was growing up and playing pretrend with him as my Knight in shining armor, so that could be it. But as Mandy says, he does have charming eyes that you could get lost in." Su answered softly.
"Top five best kisser list…go!" Lisa shouted, and the other three answered at the same time
"Harry. Terry. William. Corner. Neville." Mandy said.
"Harry. William. Zabini." Padma said.
"William" Su said softly.
"Neville, Mandy?" Lisa asked curiously.
"What? He's cute, and you could teach him the way you'd like to be kissed." Mandy defended her choice.
"And only three Pad?" Lisa spoke.
"Only three I'd allow anywhere near my lips, thank you very much…could you imagine kissing Weasley? Him kissing like how he ate; all that food everywhere" Padma said shuddering visible as the other girls grimaced.
"And only William,Su?" she asked the quietly blushing girl.
"I already know he's a good kisser…" Su muttered out softly, but it was loud enough for the three to hear, causing Mandy and Lisa to squeal, while Padma looked incredulously at the girl.
"Merlin! When did this happen? Does that mean you're with him?" Padma asked her.
"It was a few weeks back; we made a bet where if I won I'd get to kiss him…I won" Su said with a small smile as the two girls squealed again while Padma just rolled her eyes at the two." We're not together though…William isn't the type to rush things and is pretty guarded with his emotions, so I'll have to let him grow into it."
"Listen to her: 'William isn't the type to rush things and is pretty guarded with his emotions', She's practically his girlfriend already" Many teased.
"Well, you better hurry. I heard that Daphne Greengrass fancies him, and that he spends most of his time with her and her friends." Said Lisa.
Su narrowed her eyes, "Where did you hear that?" she asked softly.
She leaned forward and spoke conspiratorially," I overheard Susan Bones talking to Hannah Abbott about her overhearing Daphne and her best friend Tracy Davis talking about him. She said that she heard Daphne saying that, "though it was going slow, she was getting to know William better and she was going to ask him to join her at her house over the summer"…it sounds like she and William are closer than you think Su"
Su sat there as the other girls looked at her for a reply. She didn't believe it…or least that was what she was telling herself. She knew William usual was with Daphne, but he was using her for some plan or scheme he had, she had since the look in his eyes when she mentioned the girl. Could she be wrong and that girl was working her way through like she had..."She's his friend; I'm not surprised she'd offer him to visit her." She replied. The other girls must have picked up on something, as they quickly changed the topic to something else; Allowing Su to sort through the sinking and churning feeling that had formed in her chest.
The following day for Harry was a slow and brutal one. He, Hermione and Nevile had spent it going to classes and lunch with the glowering looks from their fellow housemates and the taunting from Malfoy and other Slytherins as they thanked them for the good job they've done in securing the cup for them. It was currently night time, as the three of them walked down to the Hagrid's hut to serve their detention with the giant. As they were about to knock on his door, the large man stepped out with a crossbow and a large boarhound at his side.
" 'Arry! 'Ermione! And you must be Neville; yer right on time for the 'unt. 'His 'ere slobbering beast is Fang, 'e'll be 'elping us in the forest." The large man said.
"Hunt? Forest? Hagrid, we're here to serve detention. We're not suppose to go into the Forbidden Forest…it's Forbidden" Hermione said weakly, not being able to help herself.
"Right, and ol' Dumbledore suggested I take yeh all with me to find whatever been 'unting down a 'erd of unicorns." He replied.
"H-headmaster D-dumbledore told you to t-take us into the F-forbidden Forest! T-there could be monsters a-and-"there was howl that caused Neville to pause in his speech, "and wolves."
"There's nothin' that lives in the forest that'll hurt yeh if yer with me or Fang" He said confidently," Now come along yeh lot, let's find this brute."
The four travelled in relative silence as they made their way to through the forest whose trees became thicker at the trunk as they made their way along a natural path. They came upon a bush that looked to have been trampled, and Hagrid bent down and placed his hands on a slivery substance." This 'ere's unicorn blood, and it looks like it 'eading in two different directions, we'll need separate to find the poor thing. 'Arry, 'Ermione. Yeh two will take Fang and follow this one. Neville and I will check the next." He got up, towering over them and continued in a serious voice," yeh two stick to the path. If yeh run into trouble, yer shoot red sparks into the air and I'll come get yeh. Fang will protect yeh till then."
Hermione watched as the great man and Neville walk off to the left, and followed Harry and Fang as they took the other path. It was a long walk as they followed the trail of sliver blood by wand light, she had the odd feeling that they were being watched as they walked the path, causing her to look around every now and then, something she notice Harry doing also. However, after awhile, Harry spoke to her," Hermione…I've been wondering about what William said to me yesterday…about knowing my history…what do you think he was talking about?"
She bit her lip while she thought about how to phrase her answer, and then she spoke, "Harry, your family is an Ancient and Noble House. I don't know much since 'Nature's Genealogy' only gives synopses of a House's History."
"What? Hermione, please tell me whatever you know" Harry said to her in way that Hermione could hear the plea and desperation in his voice.
"Harry…from what I read, your family was the paragon of what light sided families should be. They were known to coming to the defense of those in need, and were champions for muggle-rights. Potters have always stood against the dark, like for instance…your grandfather stood against Grindelwald when he reined over most of Europe during the Second World War. Your family also was for the charter for the creation of the Statute of Wizarding Secrecy. But that is all public knowledge, and as I've told you…William always means more than he says…I think he was talking about you taking up your history… and become the Head of House." She answered.
"Head of House?" Harry asked while internally he was reeling with what Hermione just told him.
He was surprised, when Hermione suddenly stamped her foot hard on the ground," Arggh, This is what I've been trying to ask you about since I read that book William gave me Harry! This society is stuck in medieval times, and they have laws pertaining to Nobles; laws like the one Malfoy tried to use. " she said to him," Harry, a Head of House is the male, or in very rare occasions female, in charge of the management of their House; You qualify to obtain such Lordship for your House. There are laws for circumstances like yours where you can take it up if you're the last surviving male of your House. It gives you a lot of benefits and responsibilities in regards to both the Lordship and House."
"What sort of benefits and responsibilities?" Harry asked.
"Well I'm not sure what your House responsibilities would stipulate on you as the Head, since that would tie to what the book calls 'Family Magic', and the Ministry can't interfere with that, but in general, you'd be emancipated and be legally an adult, so you could use magic freely; you'd be exempted from certain laws, and qualify for another set of laws, like the allowance of an 'Honor Duel' and 'Blood Feuds', which magically obligates you and those in your house to kill the ones the feud is against, and you'd be exempted from any murder charges. It hasn't been done in centuries of course, but it's still a Right allowed. And given your Family has the status of an 'Ancient and Noble House', you have a seat in the Wizengamot, which is like the muggle House of Parliament" said Hermione.
"How do I become a Head, Hermione?" Harry said, thinking about a life where he would be free of the Durselys.
"I-I don' know Harry...but you can the Headmaster. He's the Chief Warlock in the Wizengamot, so he must surely know the legal procedure for you to become one." Hermione said as they followed Fang into a clearing.
"Thanks for the hel-" Harry said, but stopped suddenly at the sight before them. In the clearing, which was surrounded by thick roots of the large trees around it making a slight incline, was the unicorn they were searching for. However, there was a figure covered in a hooded robe, with its head bent over the whining mare's neck. As Fang gave out a fearful whine causing the thing to look up at them, it's face hidden in the shadow of the hood. As it looked at them, Harry felt a crippling pain surge through his head, causing him to grip his scar as it continued t burn.
"Harry! What's wrong?" Hermione asked in nervous concern as the thing stood up and continued to face them.
"My s-scar's burning" he managed out through the pain.
"Just hold on Harry." She sent red sparks into the air, and then Harry saw her point her wand in front of them and cast at the thing that was steadily walking towards them like it didn't have a care in the world, "Confringo" . An orange bolt shot from her wand and made a small blast in front of the figure. "S-stay back" she said, trying hide her nervousness.
§Such filth dare order me. I will take pleasure in killing you after the boy§ Harry heard the thing say softly though its voice carried in the eerie silent woods , it seemed to be talking more to itself than them. Then suddenly, Harry heard a female voice issuing from Hermione that sounded nothing like hers answer.
§Try it, Corrupted one, and I will take pleasure in my fangs digging into your flesh§. Hermione must've heard it too, given that she jumped closer to him.
Before the thing could answer however, a large horse-like figure jump over their small frames and charged the figure. It backpedal quickly before disappearing before their eyes. The horse-like figure came closer to them, and Harry realized it was a centaur. It was chestnut in skin tone which was visible in his wand light, and as it spoke, it had a baritone quality to his voice," The forest is a dangerous place for students, especially for one such as you, Harry Potter."
"How do you know my name?" Harry asked as he walked towards Hermione, who had gotten out of her stupor at seeing the centaur, and ran towards the unicorn, dropping to the injured animal's side.
"Even among the Herd, your name is well known; and Mars is bright tonight, as evil lurks in this forest" The centaur answered. Harry realized Hermione was crying, and he realized that the unicorn mare didn't survive the attack. "And it is always the innocent are the first victims"
"Who would do such an evil thing" Hermione said crying, her hands now marred sliver.
"To drink Unicorns is said to keep you alive, even if you are an inch away from death, but at terrible price. You have slain something pure and defenseless to save yourself, and you will have but a half-life, a cursed life, from the moment the blood touches your lips. Can you not think of a person who would be so desperate for life?"
"Voldemort" Harry whispered as he rubbed his scar.
"There is nothing we can do for it now, little one." The centaur said as he looked down at the girl who was still clutching the unicorn. When she got up, he noticed her hands were the color of mercury. "The stars have a stranger way in giving my people guidance little; the passing of Mercury has been overshadowed by the glow of Mars, but it gives me the right in saying this to you. Saturn, Uranus and Pluto have been growing brighter and closer to an alignment. A great change is approaching, one that will affect us all. You have received my message I must ask you to deliver, servant of Mercury."
Hermione had a perplexed look on her face, and spoke," Deliver to whom?"
"That is something that has yet to be revealed little one. Come, I will lead you out of the forest and to safety." He replied.
At the same time else, down in the dungeons in the Slytherin dorm room, lied William with his eyes closed as he watched the events that transpired in the forest.
'So that was the supposed dead Dark Lord Voldemort' he thought to himself still feeling his magic rushing inside him as he thought about the man threaten his sister. He wasn't entirely convinced that it was him, given the fact that the man ran from an opponent that should be easily handle if what was said about him was true, but that could be due to his weakened state if he had to start using unicorn blood to survive. There were too many unanswered questions to just assume it was him, but he would operate with the assumption. Meaning that Voldemort was in dire need of the stone to regain his strength, and Quirrell was on a time limit, especially with the school year ending. Not to mention Potter would be more persistent in the stone now that the person who killed his parents was after it, which meant his sister would be dragged into a confrontation with the adult wizard eventually.
The next week for William and his fellow students was filled with exams. Though his mind was on looking out for signs of Hermione and her friends making a move for the stone in case they decided to preempt Quirrell in getting the stone; he was able to focus and complete his exams. He and Flitwick even had an animated fight with the pineapples during his practical exam. With all his exams completed for the day, he returned to his dorm room to turn in early. As William was lying in bed, Sashet started sending him live memories of what was happening around her.
He could see the legs of Hermione, as she stood in front of the door and casted an 'Unlocking spell' at it, causing an audible click."Come on." She said to two others that Sashet could see to be Harry and Ron. She heard a musical note playing from a animated harp as the cerebus was lulled to sleep by the sound.
William got up and summoned his school robe, and transfigured his pajamas to more suitable attire and his slippers into sneakers, and began to run up to the third floor from the dungeon common room. As he reached the Entrance Hall, he focused on what Sashet was showing him, while he tried to keep moving despite the dual visions.
Hermione and the others were now in the room of keys, watching as Potter raced above them to catch the right one, all the while trying to avoid the ones that were following him.
It wasn't how he would have done it, but it would by him time, as he stood waiting for the incoming staircase that would lead to the third floor. As soon as it was within range, he jumped onto it, and ran up it as it continued to move into place. As he entered the room, he notices the harp was no longer playing, and the Cerberus was awake. He silently animated it again, and waited as the beast started to nod off, which was costing time, but it was necessary if he wanted to avoid fighting the thing and waste even more of it.
Sashet watched as the three were crossing the checkered marble floor and were met with the statues animating themselves and drawing their sword, barring the way.
"We'll have to play and Checkmate the King. Once we've done that, we should be able to cross" Ron said, as he began moving to an empty spot among the pieces they just passed.
"We don't have time for that. Snape already got pass here and could have the stone right now" Said Harry.
"You're right Harry" Hermione said as she pointed her wand at the King and casted, "Reducto". The spell hit the King directly at its marble head, causing it to topple over and the other pieces to part, giving them way. She turned to the two flabbergasted boys and said, "Checkmate".
"Bloody hell…you can be downright scary sometimes Hermione" Said Ron.
William smiled proudly as he watched his sister, while he landed on the cushioned floor that he had charmed before jumped down the trap door and the previously destroyed Devilsnare trap. He walked briskly as he walked to the now unlocked door of the key room, and through the statues. He smelled it, before he saw the large mountain troll, which was knocked unconscious. Wanting a quick escape route, he conjured a metal rod, and magical scoured it through the eye. As he approached the room with his sister and the other two, he could hear her arguing with Weasley. He decided to stay back and observe the three.
"-ou should be the one to go back and warn the teachers, Hermione. It's too dangerous." Ron said loudly.
"You'll have to fight a teacher Ronald, what spells do you plan to use. And would you stop shouting, you're going give us away and let him know we're here" Hermione whispered, but he was able to hear from where he was using Sashet.
"I-umm, I could-ummm…" Ron said unsurely.
"Exactly; Harry has better chance at beating him with me, and we all have a better chance of surviving with you getting a teacher, than if you came with us." Hermione reasoned.
"Fine" Ron said grudgingly, taking a potion she had in hand, and disappeared suddenly.
William heard Hermione speak," Bottoms up,Harry", he used Sashet's memories to see them take sips of a potion in a small phial, and Hermione putting it back on the rack containing other potions on the table. As Hermione grew closer to magical flame, he sensed Sashet instincts flare, and she slithered out of his sisters extended shadow as she was in front of the flames, and coiled her large body, waiting for him.
He walked up to her and extended his hand to his familiar, allowing her to slither up it, and begin wrap around him. §I'm sorry Pet, I sensed that I wouldn't be able to pass the flames even using her shadow§
§Think nothing of it Sashet; you safety is what is important§ he replied, stroking her scales as he approached the table to get the phial which contain a small amount of the potion left in it. §Stay in the table's shadow and keep watch for me§.
He watched as she slithered into the shadow, disappearing, and then he took the potion himself and followed after his sister. As he walked down the flight of steps, he heard Potter say," Professor Quirrell? What are you doing here?"
William magically silenced his shoes, and ran down the rest of the steps until he reached a door frame, and leaned against it as he heard Quirrell answer, " Potter. And his mudblood friend; I really shoudn't be surprised."
"But…No! This isn't right; Snape is the one trying to steal stone!" Potter said adamantly.
"Yes, Snape does seem the type, doesn't he? So useful to have the overgrown bat swooping around attracting everyone's attention; Next to him, who would suspect p-p-poor, st-stuttering P-professor Quirrell?" he said with a false stutter. William glimpsed around the corner as he spoke, and saw Hermione and Potter standing further into the room on that had the Mirror of Erised and Quirrel standing in front of it facing them. There were stand-alone columns circling the room with scones hanging from them lighting the large room. William used his magic to wandless knock the furthest one off, causing a loud noise, and drawing all their attention to it, allowing him to run with his silenced step behind another on the right side of the room. He now had an unimpeded view of all three.
" But Snape was the one trying to kill Harry during his first Quidditch game, I even stopped him" Hermione said, her wand at the ready.
"William watched as Quirrell gave a malicious laugh and answered his sister," I was the one trying to kill the boy, mudblood. Severus was trying to save him. Muttering his annoying little counter-curse; I'll give you that he certainly hates the boy, but I certainly doubt it's enough for to want him dead."
"My spell on Snape caused you to become distracted." Hermione said wide eyed.
"What about the troll? Did you let that in the castle too?" Harry shouted.
"Of course and with Dumbledore's approval too; It was additional 'protection' for the stone you see. It was meant as a distraction, though it's an interesting coincidence that it found its way to the mudblood. Her death would've surely given me enough time to get to the stone."
"You-you…bastard!" Hermione shouted with watery eyes as she started casting, surprising William,Harry and Quirrell. This…animal, talked so callously about her death which surely would've happened if it was not for William. She casted shouting the spells," Immobulus; Expelliarmus; Incarcerous; Stupefy". However, despite being caught off guard Quirrell twisted to face her and shielded against her spells then snapped his fingers, binding both her and Harry in ropes, causing William to be amazed internally.
'You can do that?' He thought to himself. How much more hand he been limiting his wandless magic?
"Let…me…speak…to…the boy" a raspy hissing voice echoed throughout the room. Causing the two to stop struggling and William to narrow his eyes as he searched the room warily, gripping his wand tightly, feeling its quiet growls vibrating up his arm.
"Master, it's not necessary, you're not strong en-"
"Silence Quirrell" the voice said, causing the man to stop immediately what he was saying. "I'm…strong…enough…for this".
"Yes, Master." Quirrell said as he started unwrapping his turban. As it fell, William, Harry and Hermione recoiled in horror and harry to give out a painful grunt as his scar flared painfully against his skull.
Protruding from the back of Quirrell's head, as a nightmarish face. Narrow red snake-like eyes; slits for a nose and a mouth that was too wide for a human.
"Voldemort" William heard Potter breathe out as he looked to be in pain.
"Very good…boy. You…have grown…since…last…I've seen…you" he wheezed out.
"H-how is this possible?" Hermione said fearfully, hoping beyond hope that Ron would hurry up with help.
"Too many times…has my servant…failed me…one too many…with Gringotts. He needed…to be watched…and I've…waited too long…weaken…thanks to you…and your cursed…mother…but now…you will help…me get a body…with the stone. Quirinus…use the boy."
William watched as Quirrell flicked his wand at Potter, summoning him towards him, and then grips the ropes around the boy and had him face the mirror. "Tell me what you see!" Quirrell shouted at the boy.
This was what William was waiting for. It hadn't taking him long to figure out that the mirror was the final obstacle, If Voldemort thought that Potter was the key to getting it out, who was he to stop him. They waited a while till Quirrell became impatient and shouted, "Well, what do you see."
"My…my family" Potter said, "I see my mum and dad…and grandparents"
"He lies…" Voldemort rasped out.
"Tell me where the stone is…Or the girl dies!" Quirrell said turning both himself and Harry to face the bound Hermione. William gripped his wand tightly as he tried to control his heart beat. He was pushing things too close to edge now that Voldemort and Quirrell were setting their sights on Hermione.
"Come…Potter" Voldemort spoke in a silky voice, despite the rasping and wheezing, "Tell me where it is…do not be like your mother…and sacrifice the girl…for its safety. I gave her a chance…as I do now with you…I would have spared her then if she had listened…just as I will spare both you and the girl now. Just tell me…where is the stone!"
"Don't tell him Harry! He'll just kill us both either way!" Hermione shouted out despite the tears rolling down her face.
"You have till the count of three, boy" Quirrell said pointing his wand at Hermione.
"Don't Harry!" she said.
"One"
"Harry he'll destroy everything!"
"Two"
"Don't do it Harry!"
"Th-"
"It's in the pocket of my robe!" Harry shouted out.
"Thank you Potter" Voldemort said with a smile on his macabre face, "Quirinus…show the boy my appreciation."
"Yes Master. Avada Kedavra" Quirrell casted at the girl, and watched as the acidic green beam zoomed towards the girl. However, it missed and scorched the floor, as she was sent flying towards a column, which had a boy standing beside it, wand out.
William wrapped an arm around his sister, as he tried to calm his beating heart. That had been too close…he had almost cost his sister her life. As he placed the girl down, he whispered in her ear, "I'm sorry I took so long, rest now." And he casted a stunning spell at her from his wand that was press against her back. He placed her behind the column and stepped forward. He watched as Potter had somehow freed himself and was standing closer to his side of the room, with an injured Quirrell nursing hand that had third degree burns.
"What happened, Mr. Potter?" He said using his occlumency to speak calmly. He would need everything against the Dark Lord, despite his weakened state, and emotions would cloud his mind.
"H-he touched me, and he started screaming, and my scar burned suddenly." Potter answered him. Causing William to think as an idea formed.
"I'm sorry for this Potter. But I suppose it would be part of the mandate of your House; You know…Gryffindors forward" William said.
"Get the stone…you fool!" Voldemort rasped out commanding Quirrell.
"What are you talking about?" Potter asked
"I can't touch him master." Quirrell whimpered.
"This!" William said as he banished Potter towards the possessed man and casted silently, "Avis trochilidae oppungo" Causing a large flock of hummingbirds to blitz pass the speeding boy and converge in front of him as they headed towards their target.
"Then kill them both and take it off his body" Voldemort said.
"Ye-arggh,Damn it!, Fin-Arggggh!" Quirrell said, but was attacked by the large flock as they pecked everywhere, but as he was about to end the conjuration, Harry land bodily on him, and placed his hands on the man's face, causing it to hiss and burn a acidic smell.
William watched with his wand and left hand at the ready to get Potter out of there as he watched him kill the man and the Dark Lord. However, something changed, and he watch as a black miasma was coming out of the man, and three voices were screaming out in pain. Deciding that it was best to act now, he summoned Potter to him, while keeping his focus on the corpse, and the black mist issuing out. It coalesced together and speed straight through the ceiling, screaming in both rage and agony.
William waited a couple seconds for his wand slowly rumbling and stopped vibrating. He gave a great sigh, as his legs gave way, and his hands and shaked. That…he wasn't even sure what that is. He looked at the unconscious Potter, and shakingly searched his pocket. As he felt something and pulled it out…the stone. It was oddly shaped, but almost circular, and was blood red in color. He laughed as he looked at the stone in his hands. It was quite the reward after all that. This celebration was cut short as Sashet sent the memories of her heading towards Dumbledore's shadow as he was standing in front of flames, dispelling them. I panicked slightly, but an idea was forming quickly in his head. Sending a mental command to Sashet, he got up, stood up in front of the mirror; placing the stone beneath his foot. He took a breath and aimed his wand, it glowed as he watched the Headmaster come down the stairs through Sashet. When he was close enough, he casted aloud, "Bombarda Maxima". The light translucent spell exploded the mirror making shards of glass fly everywhere.
"Mr. Cunningham, this is a surprise." William heard the Headmaster. He turned to the ancient man, and saw him standing there, wand pointed at him, and radiating a fiery presence through the room, which caused William's breath to hitch as he felt it wash over him. If his presence was a biting cold; Dumbledore an inferno. "What are you doing here."
"H-headmaster, I followed Hermione-Traps…I was worried. And then P-professor Quirrell-Sir!, the Dark Lord was here! I mean-he was here-possessing the professor-I tried to help…Potter did something-he burnt-the-Dark-Lord-with-his-hands Headmaster! His hands!" William said collapsing bodily to one knee and hyperventilating. It wasn't too hard to accomplish with the guilt he felt in endangering his sister and the adrenaline still coursing through him.
He saw Dumbledore's shadow approach him cautiously, until it connected with his arm's shadow. He watched as Sashet zipped through them and came up behind him, bite the stone in her large mouth and sink back into his shadow. He had to stop himself from breaking into a large victorious smile. "Why did you destroy the mirror Mr. Cunningham" he heard Dumbledore state. He looked up into the stern face of the Headmaster.
"Potter said s-something about a stone professor. The D-dark Lord wanted and said Potter had it… he wanted itbadly sir. When Potter beat him, and then fell unconscious, I checked his pockets, but I couldn't find it. I-I wasn't sure if he was coming back so-I-just-acted-and-destroyed it sir. I was hoping that by doing that the stone would be stuck and he couldn't get it." William answered.
Dumbledore stared hard at the boy as their eyes met. Hardened Blue into Watery and Nervous looking Hazel. Then Dumbledore casted, " Accio Philosopher's Stone" there was silence as they both continued to stare at each other…nothing came. Dumbledore continued to stare with hardened eyes at the boy and spoke, "It appears you were successful; he stone is truly lost."
A/N: And there you have it. I was able to get everything I wanted in this chapter. But was entirely happy with how it turned out.
-Was the scene in the dorm necessary? No, but I like making my characters more human. I was hoping I could show it with that.
-Voldemort apparating? It's known in canon that the wards don't extend all that far into the forest, so it's plausible that they were well out of its range.
-William acting like he did on the third floor? I'd like to think that I've developed him enough thus far to explain that. But let me know what you thought about it.
-The sudden end? I was trying to go for a dramatic end. I doubt I nailed it lol. What do you think?
Please review and let me know what you thought about the chapter and how I can improve.
Till next time.