Part V
The next day went as normal: students wake up and get ready; eat breakfast at the Great Hall; go to their lessons where they learn another spell of Witchcraft and Wizardry.
Notices were on every single bulletin board of the Prefect dormitories: a meeting is held on Thursday evening after dinner in the library. Curious as to what this meeting will be, the prefects all waited and continued on with their lives.
Hermione and Ron started to bicker at each other about what the meeting might be, as they and Harry exited the Great Hall, on their way to their potions class. Harry rolled his eyes at the argument and let out a sigh. He tuned his friends out and let his mind drift of to wonderland as he subconsciously walked down the dungeons.
He let his mind wonder to the past events since his sixth year began: several projects; revision for the upcoming NEWTs (even if it's too early. Hermione wouldn't stop badgering him); Ten being unconscious and her several kisses… Ten… how her long brown hair flows to her waist; her bright sapphire eyes sparkling with happiness and humor; her skin white (not too white) and fair; her figure, slim and athletic and her lips… so red… he just want to taste it.
"Harry?" someone called but it sounded so distant. "Harry!" There it was again. Then he felt a small pain on his arm and let out a small yelp, getting out of his trance. He turned around to see the corridor empty except for himself and his dream-girl.
"Are you alright, Harry?" the heiress asked.
"I'm fine. Perfectly fine," he grumbled. Ten giggled.
"Come on. We're going to be late," she said, gently pulling him into the potions class. Just as they sat down in their place did Professor made his appearance. Ten let out a quiet sigh of relief.
"As you should know by now that every potion lesson will be a project that will go towards your NEWTs exams. You will brew these potions, experiment them, report them and I'll be grading them, giving you the mark that the NEWTs examination would give," he said slyly.
"Since you have finished the Veritserum potion and working on the report for homework, you will be working on a dreamless potion for the next month," he explained. "The instructions and the ingredients are up on the board. Copy them down as they are part of your report, and get to work."
With that he went to his desk to mark the first-years essays.
There was scraping noises as some of the students got up and collected the ingredients while their partner wrote down the ingredients and the instructions. After what seems to be half an hour, the Potion Master got up from his 'royal' seat and walked around the room, examining the potions and criticizing each one of them. Not to mention taking the chance to blame the Gryffindors. Surprisingly, that never came.
"Before you leave the room, all the mess must be cleaned up and collect your veritserum potion from the desk beside the cupboard," announced Snape.
"For once, he doesn't sound grungy," grumbled Ten as she got up after packing away her stuff. Harry nodded in agreement. They went to the desk and grabbed their vial of potion that has their name on it and exit the dungeon as quick as possible.
"I'll copy the ingredients and the instructions on another piece of paper for you," suggested the heiress.
"That would be great, thank you," smiled the boy-who-lived and pecked her cheeks (they've been doing that to each other a lot lately…).
"OK. Now about the project," trailed the brunette.
"I'd say tonight after dinner. Around 8.30," spoke Harry.
"That sounds fine. Bye," and with that she joined the Slytherins to Divination.
-00-
Dinner came and went with lots of chattering and laughter. Eight o'clock came and went as the students went to the library for homework and trudged to their common rooms.
But Harry didn't join his friends back to the common room as he bid them goodbye for the time being. He sat on the window sill of the Entrance Hall near the Great Hall, giving him a good sight to see students slowly filing out. He has nothing except his robe and cloak, the potion vial in his pocket, safe and sound. He turned his head to look outside the dark grounds, the moonlight half covered by the dark clouds.
Giggling made its way to his ears and he looked away from the darkness and into the light of the Entrance Hall. There she was. Tenebrae Dumbledore was walking out of the Great Hall in her school uniform, walking alongside Iris Koltchak and Draco Malfoy, laughing and talking.
'Wait. Malfoy, laughing?!' The boy-who-lived, thought. He saw the three of them separated, Iris and Malfoy down to the dungeons and Ten towards him and for some strange reason, he felt his heart beating fast.
"Evening, Potter," grinned the heiress.
"Evening, Ten. Shall we get going?" he greeted.
"Of course."
"Where do you want to go?" asked the green-eyed boy
"I'd prefer by the lake."
"Are we allowed outside at this time?" he quirked an eyebrow.
"As long as we are back in our common room before the curfew ends, we're fine," she giggled, already walking through the doors out to the grounds. Shaking his head to get rid of any thoughts that his hormones are playing, Harry Potter followed the girl to the lake.
Once there, they sat down in front of a large tree, their backs against it, having a great view of the moon reflected by the surface of the lake. Harry took out his parchment and ink and his vial of the potion as did Ten, placing them in the middle.
"So… who's first?" said Harry, taking a deep breath.
"I'll go," was the girl's answer.
She picked the vial that has her name on it while Harry picked up his parchment and ink, ready to write down the side effects and the result. Opening the lid, Ten smelled the substance and stated that 'it has no smell'. Harry nodded and wrote it down. She then took a deep breath and drank the whole potion in one gulp, as it was only about a teaspoon. She grimaced at the taste.
"Taste like… I dunno… foul that's for sure," she commented. And then her eyes lost its pupil. Harry's eyes widen until Hermione's voice popped into his mind.
"When a drinker's eyes lost its pupil after taking the potion, it means they are under the spell."
'That means the potion has taken effect. Guess I should start my first three questions.' Thought Harry.
"Practice: What is your full name?" he said.
"Tenebrae Angel Dumbledore," she answered emotionlessly.
Harry noted and wrote down that the drinker's voice becomes emotionless under the influence of the Veritserum. 'With this I can find out information about her.'
"Question one: What do like the best in the world?" he asked.
"My grandfather. He's like any grandfather a girl could ever have and more. He spoils me with candy and toys and entertainment when I was small. He's always there for me when I'm lonely and hurt and always giving me advice. He's like a brother; a father to me… you name it. He's one of a kind," she answered
'Of course he is. I experienced that in a way. Dumbledore was like a grandfather to me. And no doubt that he's like a part of your soul since you share the same flesh and blood and was raised by him throughout your life.' Harry mused.
"Question two: What are you good at outside of school?" he asked.
"I love Quidditch since I learned how to fly, and that was at a very young age
since I was homely educated before going to Russia to start school. Apart from that I can dance and sing very well. Iris thinks I could be professional at it, if I keep practicing and make a few debut albums," she chuckled. "I love reading muggle books. They're so fascinating. In fact it was because of those muggle books that inspired me to write my own books. I've completed a few novels, but I haven't had the time to edit it all and rewrite some parts to get them published. Maybe after I graduate would be a good idea."
'Maybe if I ask her nicely some time later, if I could read some of those books.'
"Last question:" he spoke. "What do you plan on being after you graduate school?"
"That's a hard question to answer," the girl answered dully. "There are numbers of ideas I could do when I leave school. But the most specific is becoming an auror or be the headmistress of Hogwarts. You know, take over Grandfather's post when it's time. But I'll do a bit of writing during my spare time. That always helps whenever I'm frustrated or tired…"
And then her pupils returned.
-00-
As the events of the first project went well with Dumbledore and Potter, the next day was bright and sunny with a chill in the breeze. Winter was getting closer everyday and the temperature dropped by a degree every day. Students were now walking around in their thick cloak, scarves around their neck and gloves on their hands and continued with their school lives; eating and drinking; learning new levels of magic; homework; chattering and gossiping; and even practicing Quidditch strategy.
Usually everyday after dinner, the students retreat to their common room, sitting in front of the fire, eating snacks, chattering, doing homework, but one girl went to her common room and into her private bedroom, changing from her robes to her usual baggy pants and turtle neck top. She tied her long, brown hair into a high ponytail, letting a few strands frame her face before stepping out onto the corridor and making her way to her DADA class.
She knocked on the door when she arrived there and the door creaked open as it was unlocked. She entered the dimly lit room and saw David lighting up the torches one by one.
"Hey," she spoke softly.
He turned to her. "Evening,"
"How are you?"
"Still feeling regret about what happened to you but better than before," he smiled.
She smiled back softly and gave him a hug in which he happily returned.
"One more thing before we begin. You affection…"
"For you is of a brother," the girl finished.
"Because if you still have a crush on me…"
"I'll be more broken. I know."
David let out a sigh of relief.
"Shall we get started?"
"The sooner the better," nodded the heiress.
They both stood in the middle of the classroom, the tables all against the wall.
"As you know, you are going to have a session with me a few times a week to help you to get used to the power of the wings and to control it, and when I think you have learnt almost everything you need to know then we will stop. The first thing we need to practice is to bear the pain when the wings sprout out of your back and back in again. You were having some trouble with that," the dark brunette said.
Ten nodded and closed her orbs, taking several deep breaths. Before starting her practice she let her mind wonder, go through some of the memories and wiping them put, pushing them to the back of her mind, leaving her mind empty and clean. Using that empty mind, she traveled down her body: her eyes closed; her nose breathing deeply; mouths close; face in a calm expression; shoulders making small circles before relaxing; arms by her side; hands slightly curled into a fist; her legs straight.
She then let her mind traveled her inner body; her brain empty; her heart beating in a normal rate.
She now reached the place where the abdomen was and went deeper into what seems to be a hole. But the hole was black, it was somewhat gold mixed with white: her inner ka.
Using the power of her inner ka, she let her mind went straight to the task. She imagined her back, and the lack wings coming out from there. The heiress felt the pain and knew that the wings were sprouting. She used her inner ka to help her bear the pain. She felt the weight on her back and opened her blue orbs.
"How do you feel?" the professor spoke.
"The pain was slightly bearable than last time," she answered. David nodded.
"Bring the black wings back in. then after five minutes of rest do it again. Continue doing the process until it is fast, and bearable. You should be able to do it in about an hour or maybe less according to your abilities."
The heiress smiled. "Thank you for having faith in me," she whispered. The dark brunette shot her a smile.
The girl closed her eyes and let the wings returned to the body. Her mind was flooded with memories of her own past, an indication that the black wings are secured and she opened her eyes once again, slightly brimming with tears. With several blinks, it was gone.
"Take some rest," she heard her mentor say. He was bending over something. He stood and turned. Ten saw that he had a bottle of butterbeer in each of his hand. Thanking him gratefully, she took one and drank at least a quarter of it.
"So, tomorrow will be your third night, for the potions?" asked David, sparking up a conversation.
"Yes. Quite entertaining for the past two nights," she giggled. "This way, we get to know each other without any embarrassment.
"Any ideas of what you are going to ask him?"
"I have a few, but I'm not sure if I should use them. Even though you are under the potion's spell, and you speak emotionless, the answer you give still effects you… you still feel what you feel. You cry when something hurts you, you smile when something nice and happy has happened… etc…" she answered softly.
There was clapping in the doorway and the two young teens turned to the source of the sound. There stood the greasy-haired, potion Master, Professor Snape.
"Congratulations, Miss Dumbledore. You have found the secrets within the potion," he said slyly. "I hope you don't forget to write that up in your report. It would be… a tragic if you get anything less than E."
Ten could only glare at him.
"I think we should return back to your practice," David spoke up, stopping the glaring competition as Ten looked away and nodded at him. She got up and took her spot back in the middle and went back to her process. This time without using her inner ka, she summoned her wings and to her delightfulness, the pain was getting lesser and lesser.
"Well done. Half an hour and you completed your mission for today."
"Thank you," she smiled brightly. "I found a lesson I learnt. Practice makes perfect. The more you practice the better it will be. As so in my case: I practiced more and the pain became bearable."
"An excellent lesson learnt," he chuckled. "Goodnight, Ten."
-00-
In the next night, they met at the same place. And this time, they got there practically at the same time too.
"How was your session yesterday with Professor Kolchak?" asked the green-eyed boy.
Blue orbs widen. "You knew?" she gasped.
"Knew what? All I heard when I was walking pass was that you finished your session, whatever that is." He muttered the last part as it was an afterthought but he said it anyways. Ten visibly relaxed.
"OK. Me first," she chirped as they lay against the trees, taking their stuff out. Harry had to chuckle and opened his vial of potion, drinking it all. Then the process began.
"What was the happiest thing ever in your life?" the heiress asked.
There was silence before the boy-who-lived answered.
"There are several things that are the happiest for me. I have the most wonderful friends a guy could ever have and even though we have a few fall-outs, we still needed each other. Another thing was the strangest thing of all. And it only just occurred to me now that I am in love with the most beautiful girl in all of Hogwarts. And she's sitting there in front of me," he answered quietly.
This caught the heiress by surprised. Her eyes were wide and she stared at the boy in front of her.
'Is this what mother meant?' she thought. 'Am I in love… with the boy-who-lived? The same guy who defeated Voldemort when he was a little baby? The same guy, sitting in front of me? Am I really falling in love with him?'
Her vision was blurry but she didn't know why until she felt it on her cheek. A tear had dropped. Brushing it away furiously, she wrote down what she noted, her hands shaking.
"If you could change one thing, what would it be?" she whispered.
"If I could go back in time, I would defeat Voldemort there and then. Save my parents. Even though their love is burning inside of me, having them around is what I lack. I had Sirius since third year. But even he's not here." Tears were stinging his eyes and some were falling, but he made no move to brush them away. But Ten did and she did it softly.
'Poor guy… I know how that feels… losing those who loved you.' The girl looked up at the sky. I lost my parents when I was just a few months old, being raised by grandfather. And I discovered my godfather a few years after that, but even he died against a death eater. There are too many deaths… too much blood.'
"Last question: What are you most afraid of?" she asked quietly, her voice cracking at the end.
"At first, I thought of Voldemort, the same thought back in my third year when we were working on the boggarts with Professor Lupin. But then my thoughts turned to the dementors. How they suck out all your happiness and your soul. But as the dark war gets closer and closer, I'm more worried about my friends than my well being. I don't care if I die, as long as they are safe."
He stopped there, as his eyes regained its pupils.
"Why?" a voice asked quietly.
The boy-who-lived looked up at the heiress.
"Why do you want to risk your life just to save your friends?"
"Because," he spoke, looking away. "There is nothing worth living for."
"Yes there is!" the brunette almost screamed. "How can you say that? I know you had a hard past but why waste your life when there is so much to do in the future?"
"What is there to do?" he snapped. Ten got scared. Unable to speak, she looked away as the green-eyed boy glared at her. They stayed like that for a while, Ten still not looking at her partner. Harry cooled down slightly and ran the conversation again in his head. He realised what he had done when he saw her tear glimmering in the moonlight.
'Oh shit!' he mentally kicked himself.
"Ten?" he whispered. There was no reply. He let a tired sigh, looking away and running his fingers through his jet black hair. After watching the lake beside him, he turned back to her, noticing that she had, all of a sudden, seem unconscious. Worried, he the boy crawled towards her and placed his hand lightly on her shoulder. He shook her gently but there was no reply. And then he noticed it: her eyes were no longer blue but pitched black. He didn't understand.
-00-
"Hello?" a female voice called out. "Hello!" she called again. There was nothing but darkness and silence. She couldn't hear anything… she couldn't see anything… she couldn't feel anything at arms length of radius, apart from touching her body.
The heart of the girl began to beat faster and faster as she began to worry. She has never been in this place, nor in this situation, therefore she doesn't know what to do, but she didn't give in straight away.
She looked around frantically… there was nothing but pitch black. She walked a few steps… no sound… nothing in sight.
"Hello!" she called again. Worry was starting to get to her. She reached her hand into her pocket and drew out her thirteen inches, weeping willow with a hair of a unicorn, wand.
"Lumos," she whispered. A ball of blinding illuminated at the tip of her wand, lighting the surroundings at, at least 10 metres radius. There was nothing at first, but the new surroundings all suddenly and slowly became clear. Ten saw black trees instead of the normal green…
"The forbidden forest," she whispered.
She then turned and saw the usual giant puddle of water with a pink squid splashing about.
"The lake and the squid," she brightened.
She turned again and saw a large stadium with six fifty feet high hoops visible.
"The Quidditch pitch!" she cried.
She turned for the third time and saw a large castle made with bricks and stone, standing tall, all windows bright as every single torch were lit inside.
"The Hogwarts Castle!" she jumped, a big, bright smile on her face.
She stopped suddenly as a thought occurred in her mind. 'But wasn't I with Harry, by the lake doing the project? Where is he? What time is it?'
Panic started at the pit of her stomach. The heiress ran all the way to the lake, hoping against all hopes that Harry would be there, waiting. But when she stopped at the exact spot she saw nothing. Just trees and grasses with the lake by her side, the squid splashing about.
"Oh, Harry," she sobbed as she remembered the event before entering the darkness.
Darkness swooped over her again and she stopped in her tracks, looking around frantically.
"Not again," she moaned. She continued to look around, her hair flying behind her. She reached for her wand but it wasn't in her pocket. She gasped and patted in every pocket of her robe, trying desperately to find it… but no success. Feeling defeated for some reason, Ten dropped to her knees.
"Help… somebody…" she whispered. She closed her eyes and felt something warm running down her cheeks. She made no move to brush her tears away as she sat there in the darkness, defeated.
Her cries quieten to just tears falling, silent tears. And then she felt it that made her stop crying and look up. Her surroundings came back but it was different.
The trees were no longer there, as half of the forest was burnt. She looked at the lake and saw that it was not filled with water, but with blood, with the squid floating above the surface, unconscious or dead. She felt warm and saw flicker of light playing against the bark of the trees and with a horrible feeling deep down inside of her, she turned around and gasped. The Hogwarts castle that was once standing tall were now all crumpled, a large bonfire flickering in the middle of the ruin.
"No!" she gasped, shaking her head. "No!"
She got up to her own two feet and ran in the Forest direction. Splashing noises were heard with every step she took. Curious, she looked down, and saw more blood flooding the ground. Tears were really pouring down her face; her vision was blurry as she subconsciously ran away from the horrible sight. She tripped over something and fell onto the ground that was filled with ashes… 'Thank goodness'… she turned her head around to find what made her tripped and her heart stopped beating, her voice stuck in her throat.
There, lying on the ground on his side, was Harry, his jet black hair spiked up in all directions, his green eyes empty and plain, his glasses broken and was beside his head. His body was limp as he stared off into space.
Ten tried to call his name but the sound came as a choke, as tears began to get to her once again. She got back up and turned around to run again when there were two people stood in front of her, their eyes gleaming evilly in the darkness. There was something in their hands and when the moonlight hit its surface, Ten noted they were holding a sword each. She reached her hand into her pocket to get her wand, but she remembered it wasn't there anymore.
One of the two warriors smirked, her pale green hair tied up in a high ponytail. She held the hit of the sword tightly in both of her hands and launched forward in fast speed towards Ten.
With nothing at all and frozen in her spot, Ten could do nothing but scream as her vision began to blacken, not knowing if the sword made contact with her skin.
-00-
Harry let out a sigh of relief as the girl in his arms woke up. He saw her feared blue orbs open and confusion was written on his face but he quickly hid that.
"You OK?" he asked.
Ten startled when she heard a voice but relaxed as she recognised it. 'It's only Harry' she let out a sigh.
"I think so. I feel shaken."
"Ten, about earlier on," he spoke softly, not looking at her. Ten got out of his arms and sat crossed legs in front of him, watching him.
"I'm sorry," he whispered.
"Don't be," she shook her head. "I know what you have been going through to think like that. The Durselys abused you, and you didn't deserve that, just because your aunt had a witch for a sister. But you should put that aside and look at all the happiness you gain here at Hogwarts. All your friends caring you and being by your side, having unlimited food to eat, all the fortune in your family vault…"
"Yeah but none of those matters anymore," the boy-who-lived interrupted. "What's the point on living when your death sentence is only a year away? For all we know it could be tomorrow, next week, maybe next month… you'll never know when Voldemort might come and attack. And the prophecy…" Harry trailed off.
Ten watched him, letting out a small sigh through her parted lips.
"So you rather die than live? Rather die and have not a care in the world? Would you rather die, and let Voldemort take over if he survived?" questioned the heiress, voice rising a bit with every word. Harry opened his mouth and closed it again. He did that a couple of more times before deciding to shut his mouth closed completely.
"None of us wants that, Harry," the girl continued. "Grandfather Dumbledore wants you to live… Hermione and Ron want you to live… the whole Weasley family wants you to live because you are like another family member to them… and what about your parents?" Ten had to add that bit in, to make him see reason. Harry looked straight into her eyes, waiting for her next bit.
"You parents sacrificed their lives so that you can survive and fulfil yours… to stop Voldemort once and for all. By just simply giving up, feeling defeated and wanting to die is a poor way to repay them," she whispered. "I know it sounds harsh but you have to understand. We need you…" she looked up, taking a deep breath before she said the next few words. "I need you."