Chapter 7. Chains and pawns

"DEPARTMENT OF MINISTERIAL LOGISTICS ESTABLISHED! TAXPAYERS' MONEY INTO FUDGE'S TEA!"

"TAXES RISING, COMPREHENSION GOING DOWN!"

"MINISTRY OFFICIAL MISSING IN ALBANIA!"

"CHIEF WARLOCK'S OFFICE UNDERGOING MASSIVE EXPANSION! NEW BOYS FOR DUMBLEDORE!"

"FUNDS CUT DOWNS FOR AUROR OFFICE!"

"NEW BUDGET: MORE GALLEONS FOR THE WIZENGAMOT!"

"BREAK-IN TO THE MINISTRY ARCHIVES!"

""TRADE MURDER" BILL APPROVED! MAGICAL BRITAIN TO FACE ISOLATION!"

Harry looked at the results of his handiwork. Needless to say he was very satisfied. As the train sped on, he read all the articles from the Daily Prophet and couldn't help a small smile forming on his face. He put down the Prophet and took out a muggle newspaper.

"SITH-TECH CORPORATION – A PATH TO FUTURE?"

xxx

The welcoming feast was just as good as usual in Harry's opinion. Plus, after two month of alien cuisine tasting something he grew used to during his life on Earth was good. Ron and Hermione sat on either sides of him, engaged in their usual activities: Ron was wolfing his food down while Hermione was admonishing him for his poor manners.

"Ron, Hermione, you know I saw and heard you one day before summer break." Harry said lightly and quietly, not willing to attract attention from anybody undesirable, "and I know you agreed to spy on me."

Both Ron and Hermione froze, their faces white as ash. Harry kept his face carefully blank, while on the inside he was feeling rather smug. Step one of his plan was enacted. Time had come to move forward, but first all leashes on him must be broken. Being who he was, Harry would turn all of his opponents' moves and pieces against them. He spent the entire summer preparing the soil for this year. A dark chuckle was heard in his head.

"I certainly didn't like it." his whisper sound like thunder, dwarfing the noise of the great hall. "How can I trust anybody with wonders of the force if my two supposed best friends agreed to spy on me for some old fool?"

Oh, Harry did confirm that everything his friends saw in their dreams about him was truth and nothing but truth. It worked flawlessly. Hermione with her thirst for knowledge and recognition was fascinated by the dark side and everything it had to offer (Harry wisely kept his mouth shut about sacrificial rituals and more brutal applications of sith alchemy). Ron, being an ambitious young man he was, wanted all the tremendous power the dark side promised. Of course, neither of them knew yet, that they were introduced to the dark side of the force. That was the moment Harry won, now was just the tidying the ends as far as making Ron and Hermione his loyal pawns was concerned.

"But Harry-" Hermione wanted to speak, but was silenced by Harry's raised hand.

"Later, we will talk about this later, Hermione, when you have had the chance to think about your actions." the sith spoke softly. Both Ron Hermione felt her soul burn with unholy fire because of his words.

xxx

"It is my solemn duty to inform you, that Quidditch season is cancelled this year." Dumbledore spoke. The Weasley twins' groans interrupted him.

"You're joking!" they both shouted.

"I am afraid I'm not, Messrs. Weasleys." Dumbledore chuckled. "Though I heard this funny joke about…" This time the headmaster was interrupted by McGonagall, who cleared her throat rather loudly. "Ah, perhaps another time then. Back to business. This year Hogwarts will be hosting the legendary Triwizard tournament!"

Whispers broke out in the hall. Harry listened to them avidly, hoping to catch some useful information. Whatever Dumbledore says at this point could be found in the library, but people's opinions and unofficial facts were truly unique and deserved to be committed to at least Harry's short-term memory. He would separate gold from dirt later.

"Two other schools will arrive on October, 31st. I expect you all to give them warm welcome." Dumbledore continued. "However, we had to change the original rules for the sake of safety. Only students of age can participate." Another round of groans filled the great hall. "Now off to bed with you!" the headmaster finished jovially.

Harry stood up and went to the dorms, deep in thought. How could he use the tournament in his favor? He could potentially turn it into a tragedy to undermine the ministry, Dumbledore and other figures of authority… Maybe he could turn the champion to the dark side and have him or her go on a rampage? He would have to think about this more thoroughly. There was no need to rush after all.

xxx

Next morning Harry went to breakfast as usual, with Ron and Hermione. The pair seemed a little subdued though, and that was just the way Harry liked it. He struggled to keep his face blank. Seeing his plans succeed always had that thrilling effect on him, like he was on sugar high.

Ron and Hermione tried to ask their friend for a talk, but got a very clear reply, that they would speak only after classes. The pair seemed even more subdued after that.

Classes were just like usual. Hermione, however, noticed that Harry didn't pay any attention to any teachers other than McGonagall. She briefly contemplated confronting him, but thought better of it. After all, she didn't want Harry any madder at her than he already was.

The last period for the day was potions. Ron bemoaned that fact and made his displeasure known very vocally. Harry, who would usually join him, looked as calm as ever. Hermione could swear she saw a spark in his eyes. That spark did not promise anything good.

Snape entered the classroom in his usual fashion: a big bang from the door slammed shut and dramatically billowing cloak. He stood in front of the class and looked first at slytherins and then at gryffindors, sneering at them. Then his gaze stopped on Harry. They stared at each other. In the past Harry would have averted his eyes, since Snape's stare was worse than Hooch's glare (and that woman knew how to glare). To her surprise though Harry seemed unimpressed, calmly looking back into the professor's eyes, not a muscle on his face twitching and ruining his serene expression. That was surprising and unnerving. At last Snape averted his gaze and addressed the audience.

"We have another year together, some will benefit from it," he looked at slytherins, "others will ignore all the lessons and not learn anything again." Snape finished, glaring at gryffindors.

"Potter!" Snape barked. "Let's see if your head is capable of retaining knowledge." Hermione prepared to stop Harry from retaliating, however, when she looked at him, she saw no anger – it was cruel amusement shining through his eyes instead. "What's the primary use of horklump juice?" Snape drawled.

"I have no idea." Harry stated calmly. Hermione noticed that his cruel amusement didn't diminish.

"As ignorant as ever I see." Snape sneered. "Never bothering to open a book."

"If only he knew how right he is." Harry mentally chuckled. "I open books very rarely… After all, sith have datapads and holocrons… And I still know more ways to poison him than Snape knows potions." he chuckled. "As ignorant as ever indeed… Snape."

"Did I say something funny, Potter?" Snape hissed, glaring at Harry, who smiled pleasantly at him. The smile never reached the sith's eyes, that still shined with malice.

"Nothing…" Harry smirked when his professor continued staring at him. He decided to irritate the man a little more. "Professor." was added in a drawl.

"Five points from Gryffindor for your cheek, Potter." Snape hissed. Harry continued smiling serenely. The professor spared one last furious glare at the student and turned around . He stomped to the desk and tapped it with a wand. "Intructions." Snape said shortly. "What are you waiting for, BEGIN!"

xxx

"Harry!" Hermione looked accusingly at him during supper. "How can you neglect your education so much! You did nothing during Potions!"

Said youth just looked at Hermione with malicious amusement still present in his eyes. "Hermione, I can make poisons more potent than basilisk venom, poisons that cannot be countered by phoenix tears. I don't need an amateur teaching me."

"But-"

"The force." Harry cut off Hermione's questions. "It is capable of anything. Don't forget it."

"Alright, but Harry, when will we talk?" she asked uncertainly. Ron stiffened at this. Harry's serene smile never wavered.

"After supper." Harry replied. "Once you are both finished." Ron and Herione looked at Harry's plate to see it clear as summer sky, without even a trace of food on it.

xxx

It was half an hour later that the golden trio could be found in the Chamber of Secrets, right near the carcass of the basilisk.

"I-Is that?" Hermione asked weakly, pointing at the dead body.

"Yes." Harry nodded. "This is Slytherin's beast. But onto the purpose of this meeting."

"We're sorry, Harry," Hermione started apologizing profusely, "Dumbledore told us there was the possibility-"

"And you would believe a century-old man instead of your best friend?" Harry arched an eyebrow. "Does my trust, or I for that matter mean so little to you?"

"No, Harry-" Ron denied vehemently.

"Then why did you two betray me?" Harry cut the boy off. "How can I trust anyone with anything if two of my supposed best friends betray me so easily?" his soft voice filled the Chamber with chill, that bit Ron's and Hermione's skin. "I shared so much with you. I saved your sister, Ron, in this very chamber. I saved you, Hermione. How could you two betray me?" On the outside Harry's face was displaying a betrayed expression. On the inside, Harry was satisfied. Ron and Hermione were shaking with guilt, it was eating at them. These two were almost his, one little push was all that was needed for them to become his loyal pawns. "Well say something!" Harry screamed.

"We're sorry Harry." Ron said sadly. Hermione looked at Harry with hope and desperation.

"I want you to decide, once and for all, who you stand with." Harry replied after a minute of silence. "Me or Dumbledore." before both could say something, he continued. "Choose wisely. This is your only chance. You either stand with me or with Dumbledore and against me. If you choose me and betray my trust again… I will never forgive you. We will never even speak to each other again."

"Harry, Dumbledore-" Hermione tried to say, but was cut off.

"CHOOSE!" Harry's voice thundered, amplified by echo.

"I'll stand with you, mate." Ron said. "We've been through so much… Dumbledore never helped me, you though… I can't imagine standing against you."

"Thanks, Ron." Harry smiled and patted him on the shoulder.

"Harry, you should-"

"Come on, Hermione!" Ron burst into brief shout. "What did Dumbledore ever do to you?! What did he ever do to make us turn on our best friend! He insists that Harry must live with the Dursleys, that it's best for him – they put bars on his window, Hermione! And Dumbledore. Does. Nothing!"

"I-I-" Hermione burst out crying.

"Do you stand with me or against me, Hermione?" Harry asked.

"Dumbledore said you were starting to go down the dark path, Harry, he just wants best for you." Hermione said in small voice.

"And what gives him the right to define what is light and what is dark?" Harry asked calmly. "Did you know, Hermione, that the force you saw me using during summer would be classified as dark by the likes of Dumbledoe?" he asked forcefully this time, startling Hermione. "The Galaxy right now is in the state of imbalance because of people like him. They exterminated everyone who dared practice the teachings I know and use. They have been doing so for thousands upon thousands of years!"

"…The Dark Temple…" Hermione mumbled, remembering a small detail from her visions. "You are dark, Harry!"

"What of it?!" Ron exclaimed angrily. "My family is the lightest of the light and they made me report everything I knew of Harry's whereabouts to Dumbledore every day! If they knew of my dreams, they would make me report them as well!"

"Think of it logically, Hermione," Harry put a calming hand on one of Hermione's shaking shoulders, causing her to look at him teary-eyed, "imagine scales." he said. "On one side you put a brick, on another – a feather. What will happen?" she blinked a couple of times and looked at Harry with a raised eyebrow. "The scales will fall on the floor and break. Now imagine for a minute that the Galaxy is these scales."

Hermione gasped. Harry smiled. "I knew you would understand. You have always been clever, Hermione." he chuckled. "Do you know why the dark side of the force is called as such?" Hermione shook her head. "Do you know why the dark arts are called dark?" she shook her head again. "It's because they use our emotions as fuel and source of power. Hatred, anger, fear… but also love, passion." Harry continued, adding just a touch of the force to his words to make the girl more open to his arguments. "The light side of the force denies emotions. It is inherently unnatural… This is why the Republic collapses every time it rises. They follow the jedi. This path leads to corruption and to destruction."

"But the dark side is also destructive." Hermione objected with a small thoughtful frown, making Harry's smile widen.

"Indeed," the sith chuckled, "when wielded by a fool, the dark side cannot and will not bring anything but destruction. The trick is to have a tight leash on emotions you use. The sith – practitioners of the dark side do not suppress or deny their emotions, we control them."

"Besides, have you ever seen Harry act evil?" Ron asked. "Come on, Hermione, he's your best friend."

"Alright, Harry." she nodded. "I am with you."

"Good." Harry smiled, his eyes glowing orange. "But do not betray me. I give second chances, but never third."

"I won't." Hermione nodded resolutely.

"Very well, then." Harry nodded. "Let me start teaching you then: Peace is a lie…"

Replies to your comments:

Yami-Guy: Whyever do you think they have force abilities? I never said that. But to give you a sensible reply, I will ask you just one question: Is it possible to spy on Vitiate/Valkorion/Harry, the master of the force, who has lived for more than a millenia?