CHAPTER 6: CONSCIOUS THOUGHTS
A week passed and so did another and another. The boy showed no changes to the world around him. Newspapers got a hold of his condition and announced it to the whole wizarding community.
Headlines with cruel words about Harry flashed some days and other days they perfectly made Harry look like a coward using phrases like 'Seems like that scar of his seeped into his brain finally.'
It was fifth year all over again. Fudge, a fool as he is, never made another recognition of Voldemort coming back. So all of the wizard's and witches didn't believe their wizarding hero's words.
Funny that they turn for Harry's help when it was needed.
Snape, the Hogwarts Potion's Professor, was sitting besides Harry's bedside like he always did. He was happy to admit that Lucas never showed his face after that evening in the Hospital Ward.
He scowled as he thought about the Daily Prophet. They would be damned if Harry would help them again. The Potion's master took a hesitant hold of the child's hand and started to talk softly.
"I know you probably cant hear me Potter, but I feel that I owe you an explanation on why I act the way I do." He paused and considered his words, knowing full well that he sounded soft and mushy.
"I wasn't always an old snarky bastard, I once had a wife. She was beautiful her name was Maria Barter, a Gryffindor." He snorted at this and looked down at the young man's hand that was rough from labor from his childhood.
"We loved each other dearly and I found out she was pregnant with our child. I was so proud the day I found out... it was going to be a boy. One day I went to visit Albus to find out he wanted to hire me as the Potion's Professor and head of Slytherin. I accepted right away and went home to find my whole life turned upside down.
"My wife and unborn child were murdered." His voice cracked and he scowled at himself. He told himself he got a hold of this already.
"You see Potter, she had beautiful emerald green eyes. You remind me of my unborn child, and my wife's personality. She was strong, brave and very stubborn. I wanted to show you that fame wasn't everything, to show you that I saw you just as... Harry not the boy-who-lived. Or you father for that matter but I'm afraid it turned out opposite of how I wanted it to.
"I can see now that you never wanted the fame. All you wanted was someone to love you. If you think you can just hide here forever, I'll personally come in your head and deduct points." He paused and stood up.
"You think that no one is here to want you to come back. I hate to tell you but you are incorrect once again Potter. The Headmaster needs you, your trouble side kick Weasley, and maybe your Greasy Git of a Potion's Master. So come get your sorry hind back here, or I wont have anyone to deduct points from." He brushed a strand of hair away from the lightning shaped scar.
The Vampire turned and walked away.
"Thank you." A soft voice floated through the room. The older wizard jumped and turned around to find emerald green eyes watching him.
"50 points from Gryffindor!" He hissed to try to cover up his shock. The small boy smirked and pulled out the wires that were attached to him.
"Thank you though, for telling me all that. It must have taken a lot from you." Snape raised an eyebrow and sniffed indifferently. His dark tunnel eyes studied Harry as the boy sat up and stretched, looking like he only had a short nap.
"How many hours was I out?" Harry asked looking at Snape with large green eyes.
"You have been out for more than a couple of hours." The boy raised his eyebrows in surprise.
"You've been out for three weeks; school is starting in a couple of days." Harry sat there stunned and then it looked like he got hit in the head by a buldger. (SP)
"Oh... Remus, he's gone... so many are gone." He spoke softly and slumped back in his pillows. It was impossible to hide his tears as memories came flooding back to him, it felt like it was all just a dream.
"O gods." The young but old willed child put his face in his hands.
'No, I can't show my true feelings. I have to stay strong.' Harry thought stubbornly. Sliding his hands down his face, he looked up at his Professor with emotional eyes.
"Where's Lucas?" His tone was hard and had no feelings at all.
"I have no idea where that bloody Vampire is. The Headmaster, in all his glory, kicked him out three weeks ago. We haven't heard from him since." Harry's jaw clenched.
'So he doesn't care.'
"May I leave now?" He asked shortly, looking ahead at nothing in particular.
"I'll go get Madame Pomfrey." Snape replied, sensing that Harry shut down again.
Harry sat there sitting silently watching a piece of white cotton float through the air.
"Good to see you up Mr. Potter. You can leave shortly; I just have to do a check-up." She probed, poked, and mumbled to herself before she announced,
"Alright, you can go Potter. Your trunk and other instruments are up in your Gryffindor dorm. Password is Quidditch. If you have any problems, any at all, talk to someone, don't bottle them all up." With a sharp glance at her charge she walked off and Harry stood up weakly.
Snape left before hand to leave Harry to deal with his problems.
One, two,...three, his steps were shaky and weak, yet he sucked it up and made his way up the stairs to the Gryffindor common room.
Opening up the 6th year dorms he found his trunk and smiled. It sounded odd that he missed an old brown trunk but it made him feel complete.
The raven haired wizard jumped on his bed and immediately fell asleep as his head hit the large stuffed pillow.
A jumping motion was disturbing his deep sleep by the foot of the bed. Groaning, he turned his head and saw Dobby jumping up and down happily. It felt like he slept for a few moments, but looking outside at the dark sky, he slept for more than four hours.
"Dobby...what in the bloody hell are you doing?" His voice came out hoarse from not using it for so long.
"Oh! Harry Potter sir! Dobby's so glad master's up! Headmaster Dumbledore sent Dobby sirs to come tell Harry Potter to meet him in the Great Halls." Harry slumped down with a pout on his face.
"Alright Dobby, thank you." He grumbled putting a pillow over his face to stop the irritated scream coming out from his mouth.
"Your welcomes." With a snap of his fingers the small house elf disappeared.
Despite the warm summer weather, he was freezing and the bed he was lying on was warm and soft to the touch. Why did Dumbledore need him now of all times?
Closing his eyes he jumped out of bed and went toward his trunk. Pulling on a pair of khakis, a black polio shirt and his Hogwarts cloak he grabbed his wand and went toward the mirror.
The first thing he noticed was he looked very weak and tired by having black circles under his eyes.
Sighing, he ran down toward the great hall wondering what the world Dumbledore needed.
The young man opened the Dutch doors and looked around to see a bizarre sight.
The dueling table was set up with chairs around it; Dumbledore was talking to Snape and a hooded figure while the second group of wizards consisted of three Ministry officers talking to... Lucas?
His bright purple eyes were locked on Harry's vivid green stare. The young wizard glared at him, ignoring the odd sensation in his stomach.
He walked over to Dumbledore and cleared his throat to get his attention. The old wizard and the others turned their eyes toward Harry and the Headmaster gave a warm smile.
"Harry glad you could make it child. There seems to be a problem that has come up. You see, Mr. Pierce took it upon himself to enroll at Hogwarts." Harry's eyes widened in horror, although the man in front of him showed no reaction, his usual twinkling blue eyes were dim.
"I thought he couldn't do magic?" Harry asked uncertainly. At this the Headmaster sighed and gave a small smile.
"It would seem that Lucas has kept yet another secret from us." Harry's eyes turned stone at the revelation.
"So...why does this have anything to do with me?" Dumbledore sighed and look at Harry warily.
"You see Harry; the Ministry has to see how much magic he's learned in order to put him in his sixth year. The only way to do that is in a duel. Since you're the only one here around his age..." Harry gapped and turned his eyes to Dumbledore toward Snape who had his sneer firmly locked in place, and the mysterious hooded figure seemed to be looking at Harry intentionally.
"Albus, please...can we get this over with?" A Ministry worker asked impatiently from his chair.
Lucas was already waiting in the middle of the dueling table for Harry. The young raven haired wizard frowned and stepped up on the table and faced his opponent.
Green met Purple.
"Bow!" The prince of the Blended Vampire's bowed and Harry inclined his head slightly never taking his eyes off the vampire. They turned their backs on one another and walked seven paces and faced each other once again.
"One!...Two!...Three!" Neither of them moved and Harry realized Lucas didn't want to harm him.
"Expelliarmus!" Harry yelled, Lucas easily sidestepped it and yelled his own curse.
"Furnunculus!" His fifth year taught him how to block spells squarely.
"Protego! Diffindo" Harry grinded his teeth as the vampire dogged Harry's spell once again, using his Vampire reflexes. Time to try a new approach.
"Reducto! Expelliarmus!" Lucas shouted. Harry's protego shield held the Expelliarmus curse but he wasn't prepared as the Reducto hit him. His body flew through the air and he landed painfully on the table.
He saw regret in Lucas eyes as he called Expelliarmus once again, but Harry rolled sideways just in time. He stood up in a defense stance.
"Serpensortia!" A black cobra slid from Harry's wand and hissed.
"What can I do for you Master?" It hissed over at his 'master'
"Slither silently behind the man and wrap yourself around his leg."
"Yes master."
"Evaneso." Harry yelled toward the serpent and it became invisible.
Lucas, thinking it was gone, started shouting spells at Harry and looked down at his leg in shock as he felt something wrap painfully around it.
"Expelliarmus!" Harry hissed in Parseltongue. It hit Lucas and his wand flew in Harry's hands.
Out of the corner of his eye he saw the Ministry shift uncomfortably at his use of language. Lucas stood up and walked toward Harry with something in his eyes that Harry couldn't recognize.
Without warning, Harry's whole world spun around and he fell to the floor, but not until strong arms wrapped around his waist, holding him up. He heard someone in the distance yell for Madame Pomfrey, he looked up at the person holding him to find concerned purple eyes looking down at him.
"What in Merlin's name are you thinking! This boy had an emotional breakdown, and you expect him to duel!" The nurse yelled at someone.
He felt himself being lowered to the floor and Madame Pomfrey's face swarm in his vision.
"Alright Potter, tell me how many fingers am I holding up?" Four fingers shot up.
"Four." Harry slurred.
"No, two, drink this." A vial was pressed to his lips and Harry drank the potion.
After a couple of seconds the boy's vision corrected and Harry left the hall without a second glance, hearing many voices arguing in his wake.