A/N: A reviewer wrote me confused on how the crown now works with Harry and Gabriel merged. It does not interfere with Harry coming In or Out. Silas can come and go as he pleases. But when the headmaster activates it, the crown locks Harry Out, not allowing any of the alters to come Out and it keeps Harry from going In until the release command is spoken, which is "rest with ease". It will be gone in the next chapter, so bear with me.
A/N2: Another reviewer questioned how Dumbledore could summon Silas Out. He can't force Silas Out. In the last chapter, Dumbledore released Harry with the "rest with ease" and the backlash made Harry go unconscious in his office. He stood there and called Silas' name like you would call someone's name to wake them up. Silas chose to come Out on his own. He could hear the headmaster because even when their shared body is unconscious, he can still use the body's senses. If that makes sense.
Reap What You Sow
Harry woke the next morning with a groan. Rubbing his head he looked around and was only half surprised to find himself on Severus' couch. His Occlumency shields were still down and he could feel the sedate and dreaming-like emotions coming from his mentor's bedroom. Luckily, he couldn't feel anyone else in the school through the powerful wards Severus always kept around his rooms.
Checking with the Tempus charm, Harry realized it was only five in the morning. He curled up against the side of the couch and began to Occlude. It was hard. As Gabriel, he hadn't really cared about Occluding. As Harry, he found it difficult but necessary. A clear blue sky with fluffy clouds to protect and conceal his mind wasn't working as well as before. With a scowl, he opened his eyes. If he couldn't Occlude, going to classes was going to be very unpleasant.
Your image doesn't fit you anymore, Silas said and Harry could hear amusement in his tone. Try picturing something different.
You're great at this; can't you do it for the both of us? Harry whined.
No. Now shut up and find a better image, Silas scolded.
Yeah, yeah. Harry closed his eyes again. He still liked the idea of a sky, but maybe fluffy clouds weren't exactly what he felt like. Something more energetic… The image of smoky gray clouds came to mind and he let them boil through his mind. He could smell the rain they carried, could feel the soft drizzle as they hid and protected his mind from outside influences. A summer shower. Perfect. He grinned and opened his eyes.
Not bad, Silas admitted.
Thanks, Sy. I could tell you helped.
Only a little. You're maintaining them all on your own, Silas pointed out.
Still… How's the damage in there? It's really annoying that I can't come In and talk to you face to face, Harry huffed.
Almost better, and you know why the Host can't have access to the Outside when forced In.
I know. Harry got up and went to Severus' desk. He pulled a piece of paper and quill toward him and began to write. Sirius would be mad as it was that he had waited so long to contact him. He found himself grinning as he described in detail his battle with the dragon. He left out mention of how he helped the others. He didn't want anyone to know and the letter be intercepted by Dumble-dick.
You're hopeless, Silas said in exasperation.
Shut up, Harry grinned. The dragon was a lot of fun. It would have been even better if I didn't have a headache.
How is it now?
Still sore, but nothing like yesterday.
Good. Silas scowled. We're going to have to get that crown off as soon as possible.
I know.
"Who are you writing?" Severus asked, coming into the room fully dressed.
Harry turned and smiled at him, loosening his shields so he could get faint empathetic readings. Determination and concern came through. "Sirius about the first task. I told him I would and I don't want him to worry that I died or something."
Severus glared, irritation flaring bright. "Come eat breakfast."
"Yes, sir." Harry signed his name and folded his letter up before joining his teacher at the small table. "No wonder you don't eat in the Great Hall and only glare around at us. You eat early."
"The student's behavior at breakfast is a very good indicator of mischief later in the day. Most come in barely awake, but if any are excited or energetic it is a sure sign they are planning trouble," Severus answered casually, sipping at his tea.
Harry laughed and they ate in their customary silence. Severus read the paper as he ate and Harry just enjoyed his teacher's solid presence. When they were finished, he wasn't surprised when his teacher gestured him back over to the couch. He smiled in bemusement, feeling like he was back at home.
"Have your feelings changed about the memories Rose provided you?" Severus asked as he settled in his chair.
"Yes and no," Harry shrugged. "I still feel like I use to, confused about the mixed feelings the memories invoked, but now I'm also angry at my aunt. And I just couldn't manage that before. It still hurts, of course, and makes me feel really embarrassed, but mostly I want to move past it. I can't ever forget how I was treated and what that treatment did to me, but… I don't want to dwell on it. I've got a lot going on now and, really, I'm too busy and interested in other things to dwell on it."
"That's surprisingly mature," Severus said teasingly.
Harry laughed and shrugged, "I guess."
"Did you want to spar?" Severus raised an eyebrow in question.
"I would love to." Harry stood and followed his teacher into a nearby classroom that Severus had emptied for their defense lessons.
xXxXxXx
Severus carefully fought with his pupil, their daggers sparking as they struck each other. Harry hadn't lost any of his skill as a fighter, but the intensity was different. Where Gabriel went into every spar needing to win like it was a real battle, Harry didn't carry that intensity. He didn't pull any of his blows, but his goal had shifted to learning all he could instead of just winning. He would ignore an opening so that he could put into practice a new move he was being taught, whereas Gabriel went for every opening no matter what.
Severus was pleased with the change because Harry would learn more things more quickly than Gabriel would have, but he hoped that in a real battle, Harry would keep Gabriel's intensity and instinctual aggression. Any hesitation or over-planning in a fight could get him killed. Another thing that had changed with the merge was that Harry wanted praise. Gabriel was satisfied with the win, needing nothing more from anyone else. But Harry lit up when Severus remarked that he had done well.
He'd have to keep watching for other consequences of the merge, but over all he felt that it was a good thing for Harry's state of mind and emotional health. The way he looked at his past was much stronger and healthier, for certain. And he had lost his fearful insecurities about being Host and not Core. He was comfortable with who he was, and that included acknowledging his softer, loving side.
xXxXxXx
"Will you send this off for me?" Harry asked as he held up his letter to Sirius. "I have to get to the Great Hall and don't have time to stop by the Owlery."
"If I must." Severus took the letter with a look of disdain.
Harry smiled at him fondly before hurrying into the hallways and up to the Great Hall. When he got to the Gryffindor table, they all demanded to know where he had been the night before. Silas whispered to him the cover story he had thought up and Harry blushed, That's embarrassing!
But it will work, Silas said smugly.
"Dumbledore wanted to talk to me about the Tournament and I kinda fell asleep in his office."
"Awww, Harry, was the dragon too much for you?" one of the twins cooed.
"Shut up, Fred." Lee Jordan shoved him. "You would have been a dragon snack if that had been you."
"Awww, that's not nice," George pouted for his brother, who was too busy laughing on the floor.
"Have you looked to see what's in the egg yet?" Ron asked.
"No. I have it here, too." Harry pulled it out of his bag and the whole table leaned in to see. Some were even standing on their seats.
"Open it, Harry!" a seventh year encouraged.
"Yeah, open it!"
Harry did so and a screaming wail roared through the room. Everyone flinched back and away with their hands clamped to their ears and Harry hurriedly shut it. There was absolute silence and the other Houses turned to glare at them. Even the teachers were looking on with frowns.
"What do you think that was?" Hermione asked once the Hall went back to eating and ignoring them.
"I have no idea," Seamus shook his head. "But it was awful."
"Maybe it was a banshee." Dean looked pale as he considered that.
"Mr. Potter, I hope you return that egg to your dorm before class," McGonagall said sternly as she came up behind them. "Don't forget you are to work on the clue by yourself."
"Yes, ma'am." Harry smiled up at her sweetly and she huffed before walking away.
"See you guys in class!" Harry said to his friends and hurried from the Hall.
xXxXxXx
Harry blinked as he came awake already sitting in Charms. Sy? What did you do?
Had to take care of something, the Slytherin alter answered and wouldn't say anymore.
Harry smiled and turned his attention back to Professor Flitwick's lecture. He knew it probably had something to do with Serpentine and didn't push for more information. And besides, they were learning about heating charms and even though he already knew how to do that, it was funny watching his classmates. Seamus had already exploded his pot of tea and Hermione was lecturing Ron. He smiled and helped Neville when his wand began to smoke and he dropped it in panic.
xXxXxXx
That night Silas and Neville snuck down to the dungeons. Severus had subtly told them during dinner to come down. It was late; the Gryffindor's kept Harry up with talk about the second task, class, and the foreign students. They knocked and Severus let them in. Remus was there and the teens went to sit by him. He smiled tiredly. The full moon was coming soon.
"We need to discuss ways to protect ourselves from the various threats that have revealed themselves of late," Severus began. "The biggest threat at the moment is Dumbledore."
"Agreed," Remus growled.
Severus sneered at him in disgust, "With the Tournament and the political distractions the foreign schools provide, Dumbledore is busy. Unfortunately, he's not busy enough, so I propose launching a third distraction by getting the Ministers from Germany and France to cause trouble about Hogwarts having two Champions."
! (A/N: It has been pointed out that Viktor is from Bulgaria and is a Bulgarian and plays on the Bulgarian Quidditch team, but let's just say Durmstrang is a German school. Viktor has a scholarship to go there. This will become important later.
"But they had all this time before now, why would they start now?" Remus frowned.
"It's only been five weeks. Politically, that's not that much time," Severus argued.
"How are we going to get the Ministers to object?" Silas asked.
"That won't be difficult. I have resources, but in order for this to work best, Harry has to pretend he did put his name in the goblet. If Harry keeps saying it wasn't him, then the Ministers will have to consider who did and admitting to the Death Eaters becoming organized, or Merlin forbid actually acknowledging Voldemort might be back, is something none of them are prepared to do. So they'll avoid confronting the fourth Champion issue."
"I understand." Silas glared unhappily. "We have an interview with Ms. Silverwood on Saturday. We'll change our stance then."
"Good." Severus nodded.
"I have a question…" Neville spoke up. "What about Harry's Animagus form? Now that he and Gabriel are the same, will he still be able to transform into a puma as well as the deer?"
"Probably not," Silas answered. "Rose did not have an Animagus representation. There was only Harry's, so I think there will be only a single animal for Harry still."
"And you were only a snake even though you are also Kitten," Severus drawled.
Silas glared at him as both Remus and Neville looked at him with wide eyes. Severus kept his face blank, but Silas could tell the man was grimly pleased. He was just so damn stubborn sometimes! He wouldn't let go of his belief that Silas needed to confront the horrid issue. But if Severus thought bringing the fact that Silas was dealing with the sexual abuse and not Harry to the attention of Neville and Remus was going to change his mind, he was sorely mistaken.
Looking coldly at everyone there he said a simple, "Yes". But it spoke volumes however and the subject was quickly changed.
"Well, you brewed the Animagus potion and there's some left. It shouldn't have gone bad yet, so you can take it again this weekend if you want," Remus suggested. His eyes were fully gold and no matter how hard he tried to appear calm, Silas was aware that the man was on the verge of a fit of rage.
"How's the transfer spell coming?" Neville asked, desperately trying to calm the tensions rising in the room.
"We've got most everything figured out, but there's still something missing." Remus sighed and ran a hand roughly through his hair. His eyes dimmed a bit and his shoulders relaxed. He nodded once in Severus' direction and the dark-eyed man stood, taking it as a cue.
"Things will fall into place soon, I believe," Severus spoke decisively. His hands were folded at the base of his back and the teens knew the sign that he was not going to give up and failure wasn't an option. "I don't think we can do much more tonight. Both of you should meditate and then go back to the dorm."
"Yes, sir." Neville got up and sat in front of the fire. Silas rose gracefully from the couch and sat across from him. They both closed their eyes and began to clear their minds.
Severus and Remus left them to go into the study. There they got everything they had carefully hidden and returned to dissecting the spell Dumbledore made and trying to build their own to counter it.
xXxXxXx
The next afternoon, Harry leapt over the side of the staircase and fell ten feet. He landed in a crouch and immediately rocketed forward. His eyes were wide with panic and worry, his breathing was harsh as he raced through the halls. It was Thursday. And every Thursday Neville had his lesson with Rowena from lunch time until dinner. Harry had been distracted with everything going on and he had asked about the lessons, but never pushed for details. Guilt clawed at his throat and equaled the wave of utter despair he new was Neville's.
He careened around the corner and came to a first floor boy's bathroom. At this time of day, it was completely empty and so were the surrounding classrooms. Harry threw the door open and stood there panting as he took the sight of his brother sitting in the corner, his bloody arm in his lap, a razor in his other hand.
"Nev…" Harry swallowed. He walked forward slowly, softly and knelt a few feet away. "What's wrong, brother?"
Tears filled Neville's pained brown eyes and he gently caressed the blade to his skin. Harry bit his lip, but didn't move to stop him. He could feel the sharp edges of Neville's emotions rising up and cutting deep, startling his friend was the last thing he wanted to do. They sat in silence. Sometimes looking at each other, sometimes looking away.
Eventually, Neville began to shudder, as if he were coming awake. He looked down at his arm as if it were the first time he had seen it. Resignation lay heavy on him, disappointment, but also a pained defiance that gave him the courage to meet Harry head on. "I'm sorry for worrying you. I'm fine now."
"No, you're not." Harry disagreed gently. "I'm so sorry, Nev. I should have realized things have gotten bad again. I…" He looked down and twisted his hands fretfully. "It doesn't seem like I can be a good brother to you."
"Stop it," Neville said sharply. He stood and began roughly rinsing off his arm and muttering cleaning and banishing spells. He didn't mess them up once. "This isn't anything about you."
"I'm sorry," Harry didn't know what to say. He didn't know what to do to make it better. "Please… Please, Neville… Don't push me away. Talk to me. I'm here now."
Neville sighed and turned around. All evidence of what he had done was gone. "I don't know if I can explain it."
"Try," Harry whispered, practically choking on the tears Neville refused to show.
"I can't. Just…" He covered his face with his hands tiredly. "Just go away, Harry."
Harry laughed and the sound made Neville look up. "That's what you said to me last year. Do you remember? I caught you killing yourself after that fiasco with Sirius and leaving the passwords out. You told me to go away, but I couldn't. And I can't now." He stood and reached out, not daring to actually touch him, but offering support. "Please, you have to tell me or I can't understand."
"Harry…" Neville shook his head hard. He turned his back and leaned against the wall as he began to cry.
Harry knew that Neville didn't want him to touch him or comfort him, but he didn't want him to leave either. His emotions were distressed and desperate, so he did the only thing he could. He gave him space and pressed his back to the wall, silently telling him he was there. As he waited, he wondered angrily how he could have missed Neville's pain. Was he so torn up because of his Elemental lessons or was it something else? He was so furious with himself he wanted to scream.
"It's the… the Earth inside me…" Neville finally spoke. His voice was lost and groping. "I've been pushing it away so long because… because it was this huge gaping presence that… that wanted to swallow me." He sighed and slid down the wall. Harry sat next to him, gently pressing their shoulders together. "And now… now I have to notice it. I have to… work within it and… It's so hard, Harry. It's so hard to fall inside this… awareness so much bigger than me… Bigger than magic, even… and then be expected to crawl back up."
He laughed and it was a broken sound. "It's… like nothing I can describe. I guess it's like dieing. Like every time I am forced to leave that place, I'm giving up the most precious thing in the world. But when I have my mind back and I'm me again and it's just a huge sucking hole again, I have to go back and it's like dying. It takes days… Days to totally shake loose the aftereffects and then Thursday's back again…" He hung his head, tugging at his hair so hard that Harry was sure he was going to tear out locks. "The cutting… It helps quicken the separation. It brings me back to being… human, I guess. Clears my mind and puts all of me back in my body and helps me dance a little further from the edge of the abyss."
"Neville," Harry grabbed his upper arm, squeezing it to convey all his worry. "Isn't there anything we can do? Rowena hasn't said how to make it easier? It can't be right for it to be this… horrible for you!"
"I don't know." Neville sighed and dropped his hands. He turned his head to look at Harry and smiled weakly. "She says it will get better with time. I just have to get use to it, I guess."
"Have you told her how hard it is?" Harry pressed.
"Not in so many words, but she follows my progress and she knows I struggle." He pulled away. "Look, Harry… I… I know you mean well, and you really are like a brother to me… But I don't think you can help. I'm sorry you found out at all. Rowena's right. It will get better with time." He stood and Harry could only stare up at him helplessly. Neville had completely pulled away from him emotionally. "I'm tired. I'm going to bed. Don't…" Neville lowered his head and clenched his fists. "Please, don't tell Remus that you found me cutting. He… He thinks I've gotten better and stopped. I'd really appreciate it if you didn't say anything."
"But Nev…"
"Please, Harry. It's all I'm asking of you."
"Alright," Harry conceded. He hated it, but felt he had no other choice. If Neville wasn't confiding in anyone, the worst thing he could do was betray his trust and leave him with no one to turn to. "I won't tell him, but will you talk to me about this more later?"
"Sure." Neville smiled tiredly and left him alone in the bathroom.
Harry sat numbly. His first reaction was a want to go see Severus, but he was pretty sure that wouldn't be a good idea. Severus would just tell Remus and that would be indirectly betraying his promise. Neville would be hurt and would stop trusting him and Harry didn't want that. But he had to do something! Neville was suffering! He had to get him help!
"Good evening, Harry."
Harry cried out in shock and jumped about a foot in the air. He spun, glaring, at the smiling little phantom. "Rowena! You scared me! Make some noise next time!"
"Sorry." The phantom had the grace to blush. "I was just so eager to talk to you. I heard what Neville told you. I've been keeping an eye on him. I knew he was cutting again, but he never vocalized what was wrong, so I didn't know what was hindering him and he was never willing to open up to me at all and I've been waiting for him to break and tell someone and now that he has…"
"Whoa! Slow down. I can't hardly understand you." Harry said soothingly. "You know it's weird. I can't feel any of your emotions."
"Well, I'm not really here. This isn't my body, Hogwarts castle is my true body, and this is my projection. I think my emotions are too thinly dispersed and even if you could feel them, the others would counter act them." She shook her head hard. "That's not the point! The point is Neville."
"Do you think you can help him?" Harry asked hopefully, his green eyes bright.
Rowena frowned and brought up a strand of her black hair to her lips to chew on. It was a sure sign of her distress. She was usually quite calm and collected, as well as logical. "I'm not sure. The problem is Neville is the first Elemental wizard in almost two hundred years. At least, the first I've come across or heard tale of. In the old days, Elemental wizards were valued and taught to embrace their gift. They were raised with love and encouragement and by others who had the same gift from a very young age.
"Neville is very, very strong in his Elemental magic. I don't know if it's because he refused it for so long and it kind of concentrated within him, but I do know it's the source of his troubles. He fears it and doesn't feel comfortable with it. The Earth possesses him because it's the only way. He won't relax and let it touch him gently, he forces it to overwhelm him in order to be exercised and it's desperate to be released, Harry."
"Has the pressure let up at all since he's been working with you?" Harry asked desperately.
"It's like a house is sitting on him and we've removed the roof," she said and bit more anxiously at her hair.
"So not much, then." Harry took off his glasses and rubbed at his eyes. "What can we do?"
"I don't know!" the phantom practically wailed. "All I can do is teach him how to access his magic. The Earth calls to him. He can't ignore it. He won't even work on his Animagus form now that he knows he's a tree. I can't make him fear it less; I'm not even sure what it's like. I'm not an Elemental wizard, after all. I just study them. He needs someone of his own kind! Or he could destruct!"
"What do you mean?" Harry snapped.
"Elemental magic is difficult. It's powerful and alien to the magic most wizards and witches use. It has force, a will, but it's not at all human with human motivations or consciousness. But it has a being, a presence, and Neville could be lost to it. Every time we practice, he wears himself down. I'm afraid he might just let go and never return to his human self. He could be lost to us and his body would die."
"No!" Harry shook her hard. "I won't let him die! You said he needs help from someone else. Is there anyway we can find another Elemental? There has to be a way!"
"There's not," Rowena put her arms around the distraught teen. "I'm sorry, Harry. I would have done it by now if there were a way, but there isn't. Short of posting an ad and hoping someone who is sincere answers, there's no spell that can locate an Elemental wizard or witch. Their magic is just too different from ours."
"But Neville is one," Harry looked up at her desperately. "Maybe he could work the spell."
"If there is a spell like that, I don't know it." She shook her head regretfully. "And even if there were, Neville is in no shape to be casting Earth spells. He can't think or function inside his Earth magic at all, let alone shape it yet."
"There has to be something…" Harry pulled away and paced. "What about locking it away, like he did before these lessons? It made his magic weak, but he'd still be alive and well. He was happy this summer."
"That might work for the short term, Harry, but his magic won't be denied forever. What would happen if you cut yourself off from magic completely and utterly, denied it violently, and lived like a Muggle? There would come a day where you were threatened or you lost your temper and it would explode, killing you and most likely others," she said gently.
"But we could put it off until we had a way to help him deal with this," Harry continued stubbornly.
Rowena shook her head regretfully, "That might have worked before, but now that he's open and aware and tapped into the Earth magic, there's no going back. It's awake now, Harry. I don't think he could do anything to shut it off again or he would have already."
"You can't tell me that that's it!" he yelled. "You have to do something! This is your fault!"
"I know," she said with tearful blue eyes. "And I'm so sorry."
"It's not her fault."
Harry spun to see Salazar leaning against the wall. The young teen had disdainful brown eyes and thick black hair that he kept tied back at the base of his neck. Harry glared at him and the Slytherin glared back.
"She wanted to help. She didn't know that he was so messed up."
"He's not messed up!" Harry yelled defensively.
"Yes, he is," Salazar said ruthlessly. "He was messed up long before Rowena ever stepped into the picture, so don't take it out on her that he's about to self-destruct."
"Salazar Castle!" Rowena scolded furiously. "You show some compassion and manners! Harry and Neville are both going through difficult times and deserve more consideration from you!" She folded her arms and Harry found himself thinking of Hermione. "Now, I know I'm not the cause of all that boy's troubles, but I didn't help by shoving him into something he wasn't ready for. It was a bad judgment on my part and I do hold blame for that.
"I was so intrigued by him being an Elemental, that I didn't fully consider his emotional or mental state. I also didn't take into consideration that most Elemental wizards grow up with their power active and Neville is fourteen. I've made a dreadful mistake and I've helped harm one of the students. It is incumbent on me to do everything I can, and by extension all of the phantoms must help. We are Hogwarts and we mustn't ever hurt the students. We owe Neville restitution."
"I agree," Salazar scowled and crossed his own arms.
"I agree." A second boy formed beside the black-haired teen. He had a lion's patch and looked sleepy, but he was quickly coming fully awake. He had brown hair of a medium shade and hazel eyes. His eyebrows were heavy and he had thin lips. He was taller than Salazar by a good two inches and taller than Rowena by four. He didn't have a smiling face. In fact, he seemed like a very serious and grim type. Kind of like Percy, but not in a bookish way, Godric looked ready to spring into action at any moment.
"I agree," Helga said as she formed next to Godric. She was the shortest of the group, about five foot. Her long, thick golden hair was still in low hanging pigtails and her light blue eyes were alight with cheerfulness even now. Harry was just waiting for her to break out in giggles.
"Good." Rowena nodded firmly. "So what are we going to do about Neville?"
"Hello, Harry!" Helga gave a wave. "How are you feeling?"
"I'll be better when Neville is," Harry said grimly.
"How's the head?" Salazar smiled knowingly.
"Better." Harry rolled his eyes at them.
"We need a plan, guys." Godric interrupted. "Rowena, what are our options. I don't know what we're dealing with."
"I'm not sure of our options. The goal is to get Neville to honestly, truly accept his Earth magic. As well as help him get a handle on controlling it. It's completely taking over. Can you manipulate the wards to replay the last… oh… half-hour in here?"
Godric nodded and waved his hand. Ghost images appeared and Harry watched silently. He prayed that one of the others would have an idea of how to make this better. Just the idea of losing Neville made his stomach twist in knots and panic claw at his throat. The images faded and the phantoms stood thoughtfully.
"Poor, Neville," Helga sighed. "Rowena's right. He needs a mentor who knows what he's going through."
"Not possible," Salazar pointed out. He sounded bored and Harry glared at him.
"What about a second best candidate?" Godric said seriously. "He needs someone who has access to powerful magic, but who contains it well."
"Dumbledore?" Harry guessed his meaning. "No way! That bastard's not going anywhere NEAR Neville!"
"It could save his life," Godric said reasonably.
"Dumbledore may be messing up with you," Salazar scowled. "But he's not going to mess up Neville. What would it gain him?"
"No." Harry said firmly, not moving a muscle.
"Alright. Someone else equally powerful." Godric ignored the argument. "Would that even work? I know Elemental magic isn't like normal magic."
"But anything is better than nothing." Rowena sighed. "It might help."
"I know who! Merlin! He was really powerful!" Helga said happily.
"Merlin is dead, Blondie," Salazar sneered.
"We could talk to his ghost," she smiled, not hurt in the slightest.
"Summoning the peacefully dead is no easy task," Rowena chewed on her hair. "It would be dangerous and take time and careful research and effort. But if we're going to do that, we might as well summon an Elemental, although I'm not sure that would work. They could be strange to get a hold of even dead. There would be no calling of sympathetic magic and that's a huge piece of Necromancy. Alright, so that's out. But we could summon someone we know was friends with an Elemental. I could do research."
"No surprise there," Salazar muttered.
"Is that our only option?" Harry demanded.
"At the moment," Godric nodded. "We will continue to think on it, of course."
"I think you should tell Snape and Lupin," Helga added helpfully. "This is really serious. It's not something you have any right keeping from them. Lupin loves Neville very much. He'd want to be here with him with all his heart. And Snape loves you, Harry. He'd want to know about something that's going to affect you greatly. And I think he cares for Neville as well."
"I told him I wouldn't tell," Harry fretted.
"Harry, sweetheart," Helga walked over and wrapped an arm around him supportively. "Neville is dying. Lupin needs to know. How you feel if they kept that from you?"
"Horrible and angry," he admitted.
"Tell them." She pat his hand and smiled before backing away. "They'll help you and him."
"Alright, I'll tell them." Harry gave in, eyes burning as he realized just how fragile the situation was.
"You're in no shape to go like that," she smiled. "Here let me make you a door that will go straight to Professor Snape's room."
"You can do that?" Harry asked surprised.
"Sure. I designed this castle and designed the spells that went into its making. Wizarding architecture is my specialty." She clapped her hands and the stones on the wall melted. "I'm still organizing and building this place. Every summer I make a few changes."
"And she loves playing with the stairs." Salazar glared.
"Wont' that interfere with the wards?" Harry frowned.
"Mediocre wards, maybe," Godric raised an eyebrow. "My wards grow and move. Simply changing the design of the school won't break them."
"Oh." Harry didn't quite know what to make of it.
"There you go. All finished." Helga led him to the door. "And we'll still think about the problem and let you know if we come up with anything that will help."
"Thank you very much," he said and gave a half bow.
She smiled and waved. Harry looked the other phantoms over once more before turning and leaving them. He found himself walking right into Severus' living room and was impressed. He turned around and saw that the door was already melting. He could only watch it, feeling awed.
"Pray tell, why is my wall melting?" Severus drawled from behind him.
"It's not actually melting. It's going back the way it was before Helga made a door grow there." He shook himself and faced his teacher. "Severus, something horrible is happening with Neville and Hogwarts feels like they owe him so they're all awake and going to help without the barter system because he's dying!"
The last part was almost a wail and Severus strode across the room and grabbed Harry's shoulder bracingly. "Tell me what happened."
Harry told him everything, breaking into fearful tears. Severus listened intently and his face grew grimmer and grimmer. By the end, he ordered Harry to calm down and breathe while he went to get him a calming potion. Harry did what he was told, but just barely. He thought he'd claw out of his skin he was so anxious for Neville.
Sy?
I'm here. I just don't know what to say, Silas admitted.
You're smart! Surely, you can think of something.
Not off the top of my head, Silas snapped.
Sorry. Harry hung his head.
No. I'm just as upset as you are. Neville is important to you and that makes him important to me. I may not be as close to him as you are, but I don't want to see him hurt. I'm sure with how many people determined to help as there are, we will come up with something.
Yeah, Harry smiled weakly.
Severus returned and handed him the vial. Harry drank it down meekly. "I am very glad you came to me. You did the right thing."
Harry nodded, exhausted.
"I am going to discuss this with Lupin. You can't do anything right now. Return to the Tower and get some sleep. Take Dreamless Sleep if you have to."
"Yes, sir."
"Talk to Neville, but don't push him. And don't tell him about the phantoms crusading for him. Not until we are certain on a course of action."
"Okay." Harry nodded and got to his feet.
"Let's meet again Saturday. Go to the Astronomy Tower and bring Neville. Maybe we can help him forget about it for a while."
"Animagus potion?" Harry guessed.
"Yes. I know he's curious about what your new form will be." Severus smiled sardonically.
"Aren't we all?" Harry laughed.
"Goodnight, Harry."
"Goodnight, Severus. Thank you."
Harry smiled once more and made his way out of the dungeons. It was late, but it wasn't past curfew. Ron, Hermione, and the twins were there, asking where he disappeared off too. He smiled and avoided the question, saying he just had to walk around and think about the clue. Hermione instantly started in on how he should go to the library and research. The boys teased her until she let up and they talked until bedtime. Harry was glad Ron was his friend again. He had missed him, but he wasn't Neville and Harry couldn't stop thinking about his brother.
xXxXxXx
Saturday morning came and Silas made his way down to the Quidditch pitch. The day was very cold and the sleet on the ground made keeping his clothes clean impossible. Despite that, he walked with a calm and confident stride. The day was windy, but not too horribly and there weren't any clouds in the sky. The stands and the pitch were vacant unsurprisingly. It was early and Quidditch was cancelled for the Tournament in any case. But there was someone in the stands and Silas approached her with a courteous expression that he (believe it or not) had practiced the night before.
"Mrs. Silverwood," Silas said softly and bowed over her hand.
The woman was in her late twenties, a few years younger than Skeeter. Her hair was naturally a dark golden, honey color and she had large, dark brown eyes that made her look rather vapid. Her clothes on the other hand were tailored and sharp, showing off her body subtly while still remaining sophisticated. That argued very highly in her favor.
"Mr. Potter, thank you so much for inviting me." She smiled and Silas was very pleased with his choice. Yes, this woman would drive Skeeter up the wall with competitive jealousy.
"No, thank you for this chance to set the record straight." He took the seat next to her and tried to look as innocent and determined as he could. "I will give you, and in extension Witches Weekly, exclusive rights to all of my interviews during the Tournament. I will give you a detailed account of what is happening behind the scenes and with me. I will even give you the truth. If people want to make a story out of my life, I'd prefer it to be accurate and not drivel like that Skeeter woman wrote!"
"I completely sympathize, Mr. Potter," Silverwood practically cooed at him.
"Harry," he smiled as sweetly as he was capable. "You can call me Harry."
"Thank you, Harry." She beamed at him and flashed her perfect delicate white teeth.
"I just hope that when… when I feel uncomfortable with a subject, you'll allow me to move on and wait until I feel more comfortable with the subject to return to it." Silas was starting to enjoy this performance. Silverwood was leaning in, nodding with all the fake sincerity in the world and eating right out of his hand. "Thank you. Skeeter didn't at all feel the same. She attacked me when I didn't… Didn't want to talk about my parents. Headmaster Dumbledore had to separate us!"
"That's horrible, Harry!" Silverwood gasped. "I would never do that to you!"
"I didn't think you would," Silas smiled brightly. "You're much nicer than Skeeter."
"So… Why did you put your name in the Goblet of Fire? Or do you feel like you can't say?" She asked gently, patting his knee.
"I didn't put it in." Silas lowered his head in shame. "But I asked a seventh year to put it in for me. I won't say their name. I don't want to get them in trouble."
"I understand completely."
"I just… I didn't want to let anyone down. It has nothing to do with my parents, I don't even know them! But… In my second year, there was a basilisk running around the school in the pipes. No one knew that of course. They thought it was some attack against the school. Some students were hurt and I helped find and remove the basilisk. It was my best friend's sister who got hurt and so we had to do something. The teachers told us not to because it wasn't safe and we didn't listen. We almost died, but we saved my friend's little sister and lured the basilisk out to be dealt with. And because of that the school wasn't shut down!
"And then last year, with that Black guy after me and the dementors and how I kept fainting around them. I hated being so weak and having everyone talk about me… You know, Black came in the school twice and almost had me. Almost killed that same friend from last year, but then he just stopped coming after he stole my friend's rat. I saw the rat turn into a man who was missing a finger and Black looked right at me and said he had the real traitor now and disappeared."
"No!" Silverwood gasped, practically foaming at the mouth with the story he was handing her.
"Yes." Silas nodded earnestly. "So everyone… kinda looks to me for these kind of stunts. Madmen and basilisks and all. I couldn't not try to get in the Tournament. What would everyone think? But I really didn't think I'd get chosen. I thought I could just say I tried and you couldn't blame me for not being picked, but I was. I could hardly believe it! I had no idea what I was getting myself into.
"And Cedric was chosen, too. He's a seventh year Hufflepuff. He's popular and good looking; I definitely think he deserves to compete. I don't know why I was picked, too. I mean, aren't there only suppose to be three Champions? Viktor Krum is the best Seeker in the world! And Fleur Delacour is very smart and beautiful. I don't know how I'm ever going to measure up. It was pure chance I did so well in the first task. I could have been killed!"
He went on to describe the first task, playing up the dangerous aspect. Silverwood wrote everything down. She stared at him with large hungry eyes and didn't even blink as he made her into a weapon against both Skeeter and Dumbledore. And as she packed up her things, he promised to talk to her again the Saturday before the second task and the Saturday after. He smiled smugly as he made his way back up to the school. Things were finally working out.
xXxXxXx
After the interview, Harry woke to find himself at breakfast. He ate quickly and promised Ron and Hermione he'd spend some time with him tonight, but that he had things to do that morning and afternoon. They weren't happy, but agreed after some pleading on Harry's part. Finally free, Harry walked quickly from the Great Hall and up to the Astronomy Tower. His teachers were already there and so was Neville. His brother looked pale and distant, but he managed to smile when Harry came onto the roof. Remus looked tense and miserable, but his promise to Severus that he wouldn't confront Neville was holding.
"Are you ready?" Severus asked evenly.
"Yeah." Harry nodded and smiled. "Will you be alright with the werewolf?"
"We are prepared." Severus nodded and handed him a container with his potion stored in it.
"Why did you keep this at all?" Harry questioned curiously. "How did you know I'd need it again?"
"I didn't know," he said with a sardonic smile. "I just cannot bear to waste any potion."
Neville and Remus laughed and Harry grinned. He should have known. Shaking his head, he opened the container and swallowed the potion down. The muddy, bitter fluid wasn't any better than the last time and he made a horrible face that had Neville chuckling again. Harry smiled back and suddenly the world began to melt and shift in a new alignment.
The three watched with rapt attention as Harry's new form was revealed. Within a minute, a young stallion was standing before them. It had dark eyes and a rowan coat with white stalking and a diamond on his wide forehead. He had a long brown mane and he tossed his head with a whicker. He pranced around the room, his hooves chiming on the stone floor. His body was lean and well muscled, obviously built for speed. He was beautiful.
"You're gorgeous, Harry," Remus smiled and held out his hand. The young stallion came over and nuzzled it gently and turned his head to lip at Neville's hair. The Gryffindor laughed and touched the velvety cheek in wonder. Severus watched all this silently. Soon the stallion was melting again and a coiled cobra took its place. It flared up and arched. It was still a magnificent and beautiful creature.
"Come." Severus began to herd the others out of the room. "Next are the wounded dove and the werewolf. We do not need to be present for either."
Remus and Neville left reluctantly. They didn't want to abandon Harry if he needed them, but they knew they wouldn't be able to help the dove and would only upset it with their presence. Severus turned and to shut the door and the snake bobbed its head in a nod. Severus bowed his head in return and locked the tower door.
"A horse is a lot like a deer," Remus mused as they waited. "I wonder what the difference is."
"Probably a lot," Neville said thoughtfully. "A horse is definitely more confident than a deer and less skittish."
"True." Severus looked over the teen and didn't like the air of illness that hung around him. "And what does an oak represent? You have not turned in an essay when Harry did, even though I know Harry believes you did."
"I…" Neville flushed and his eyes grew shiny with panic. "I just haven't had the time to understand how a plant could represent someone's animal."
"The Animagus Form doesn't mean animal," Severus said in a surprisingly smooth tone. "Anima in Latin means soul. Magus is magic. It is the representation of your soul and magic in the most simple way. Animals are more connected to the life cycle and humans clutter up that understanding with morals and personality. That is why most wizards and witches turn into animals. Your case is unique, but not impossible. I suggest you put more effort into understanding what your Animagus form is revealing to you."
"Yes, sir." Neville ducked his head. Remus was practically straining to say something, but Severus cut a dark glance his way and he subsided mutinously.
"Harry will have to do research again. When he turns in his report on the symbology of the horse, perhaps you will turn in one on the oak."
"Yes, sir," Neville said again and this time there was resignation in his voice.
"It won't be that bad, Neville," Remus encouraged. "I can help you if you want. I think the oak is a very good tree and I bet it is rich in meaning."
Neville smiled up at him and gave a nod. "Thank you."
"It's my pleasure, Neville. I haven't gotten to spend as much time with you as I'd like with school and the Tournament taking so much time. This will be nice," Remus said honestly, his eyes bright with care and concern.
"Yeah. Yeah, it will," Neville agreed and they settled in to wait feeling much lighter.
Chapter end.
A/N: Hi! I have one last question for you. Okay, maybe not the last, but it will be for a while at least.
VOTE: Should I bring in a new character to help Neville come to terms with his Earth magic, or use a canon person? Should they be real or ghost? Any suggestions would be helpful. I know Neville needs help, but I'm not exactly sure where to go for it.
A/N2: Thank you, MaireadInish!