Disclaimer: FMKitsune says 'I do not own Harry Potter. J.K. Rowling does.'
Authors Note: I just posted (literally) the first chapter and the first reviews were nice! The I watched the TV show extras. I watched the Dan episode and that made my night. It was so awesome I had to watch it (thrice!) hehe. It fortunately inspired me to do the next chapter. And the reviews too!
Chapter Two: Frosting Over (The mirror incident)
Harry was staring straight ahead, oblivious to the stares Ron was giving him throughout Christmas dinner. Fred and George went off somewhere probably to bother Percy. Harry didn't care too much about that. He just cared about that crayon. Why did Tracey send it? Did she really care about him? He knew, without a doubt, that the crayon was from her. What did she want from him? He just couldn't picture someone from Slytherin not wanting something in return. She did give him that crayon though. For some reason, he wanted to talk to her. He had no clue how to do that and not make it suspicious. Harry turned his head and noticed that Ron was almost done with his food. "Done Ron?"
"Yersh, Jush a mun Herry." Ron grumbled, spewing a few chunks of turkey across the table. Harry stared at the bits of food and said to Ron in a very slow and quiet voice,
"Ron, what if Hermione was here…" He let his words trail off as just the thought of Hermione being here caused Ron to open his mouth, showing Harry partially chewed food. "Ew! Ron seriously…" Ron gulped his bite immediately and blushed. Harry just took a wizard cracker from the middle of the table and pulled it. Harry knew it would diffuse the tension as it exploded in a blast of blue smoke- what absolute fun… and where did the mice come from? There were white mice everywhere all of a sudden and Harry noticed that Ron was no longer embarrassed. He just stared at the mice. Harry looked at the wizard cracker in his hand. Had it spewed smoke- and mice?
"Yeah, I'm done Harry." Ron got up from his seat and brushed a few crumbs off of him- ignoring the mice. "What do you want to do now?"
Harry thought about it for a few seconds and came up with the answer that Ron would like. "Let's play chess." Ron beamed and almost started skipping to Gryffindor tower.
Harry sighed at his back as they climbed the stairs. Ron was going on and on about how he was going to win. What Harry really wanted to do was find out what his dad's cloak was about. He wanted to explore with it so bad. The anticipation was eating him. It almost gave him a headache thinking about it so much. He sighed. He knew he could play chess with Ron and look at the cloak later. Tuning Ron out, Harry just stuck his hands in his pockets- the left one grasping onto a certain green crayon.
OOoo00ooOO
Harry was glaring at his curtains until he heard Ron's rumbling snores coming from beyond them. He had decided to wait for Ron to be asleep so he could move about without him asking questions. Harry sat up slowly in his bed and peeled off his covers. The bed squeaked as he leaned over the edge. When his bare feet touched the cold floor, Harry drew in a quick breath. He squared his jaw and flew towards the nearest pair of socks and yanked them on. Ron rolled over and made a particularly loud snore. Harry watched him for a moment then flipped open his trunk and pulled out the cloak. Wrapping it around his small frame, he started to descend the steps into the common room. He quickly crossed the room and darted out the entrance, ignoring the squawking "Who's there?" of the Fat Lady. He crept down the staircases, his heart pumping. He was sneaking around after curfew. However, Harry had no clue where to go. He didn't want to chance the library and he definitely did not want to go back to the third floor corridor. Where to go? He couldn't think with his heart going so fast. Harry finally settled to just wandering the halls. At one point he had thought he had heard Snape but when he peered around the corner he was gone.
It was about a half hour into his invisible wanderings that something brushed against his leg. Mrs. Norris! He heard her meow and bat at the cloak. Footsteps from behind him startled him into action. He ran off down the hallway only to come to a door; it was left open quite a ways. He ducked inside and heard a faint, "Did you find something my sweet?". He closed the door with a soft click and turned, resting his back on the wooden door.
It was a classroom- an unused classroom. But as Harry turned towards the corner, his eyes caught something strange. A tall mirror was resting in the corner of the room. Harry stepped towards it. It was awfully dusty. He flipped off the cloak and set it on the floor and went up to touch the surface. Out of the corner of his vision, something shifted. He looked up and gaped. Before he could only see his reflection and now people stood by him. He turned around- no one there. The mirror showed people? They looked like him. The woman had his eyes and the man had unruly hair- wait, his parents? This thing showed his parents. A warm feeling burst out of him and he touched the mirror as if it was something absolutely precious and extremely fragile. "Mum?" He looked towards the woman and she nodded. "Dad?" The man nodded also. The woman waved to him with dainty hands. He instinctively waved back. She used the same hand and placed it on his reflection's shoulder. Harry knew at that moment that he didn't want to move from his spot.
OOoo00ooOO
Harry had trouble sleeping that night but he functioned normally the next day. Ron didn't question him. He didn't even know about him sneaking out with the cloak. The next few days passed with little fanfare and soon everyone came back to Hogwarts. Classes started up again and Harry could hardly concentrate. His mind was somewhere else- on that mirror. He had been back to see it three more times.
Hermione wanted to go to the library to study and dragged him along. He didn't really pay attention to what she was trying to tell him. He did notice when she left to do some light reading. His arms flopped on the hard wood of the table- his head resting between them.
"What's the matter Potter?"
Sitting up too fast, he fell out of the chair with a thump. A loud girlish chuckle could be heard from above him. He opened his eyes and groaned. There was a dull throbbing pain in his right arm. He must have banged it when he fell. His gaze shifted to the figure bending down in front of him. Part of her face was obscured by her long strawberry hair but he would recognize it anywhere- Daphne. "Potter, what are you doing?"
"Nothing."
"Why did you fall over?" She smirked. "You weren't daydreaming were you?" The smirk grew wider. "By the way, Happy New Year. We haven't seen each other in a while."
"Yeah…" Harry could hardly speak. Was she making fun of him- for falling down? All he could do was stare straight at her face.
"Are you trying to look stupid Potter or are you going to continue your nap on the library floor?" she drawled out. Daphne put one hand on her hip; the other held out to him. He quickly grabbed it. She yanked him on his feet and then promptly sat down in the chair he was using. He rubbed his arm where he banged it. The throbbing was going down a bit. He spotted the chair Hermione vacated a few minutes ago and sighed as he sat in it.
"Don't scare me like that." He scowled. He tried to look angry but it was hard with his arm hurting.
"Oooo, he's angry. Someone help." She just continued to smirk at him. He replied with another scowl.
"What do you want?" He inwardly winced at the tone of the question. Either Daphne didn't notice or realize it for she just shrugged and opened her mouth,
"You were thinking quite deep there to not notice me coming towards you. I may be in Slytherin and you Gryffindor but I think I know what you're thinking about. It's something I think about as well."
Harry's mouth opened to an 'O' shape. He opened and closed his mouth a few times. "Y-you do?" he stuttered.
Daphne's eyes shadowed over. To Harry they appeared really dark. She was frowning and her head was lowered to the table. She started tracing designs into it with her fingers. "Yeah, your mum and dad."
His left hand gripped the table with such force that his knuckles turned white. "How?" He didn't care if he looked stupid- asking all of these questions. He just wanted answers. How in the world could Daphne know what he was thinking about? How?
"I think about her sometimes. I get the same look in my eyes when I think about her."
What? Her mum? Was she-
"Yeah, she died." Harry's throat constricted. He didn't dare ask questions about it. He didn't like getting asked questions so he thought he would treat her with the same courtesy. But- he licked his lips, "You're right."
"Of course I am." She was smirking again as if the depressing topic had no effect on her.
Something in Harry twisted and he suddenly blurted out things he didn't think he would ever tell her. "I saw them- my parents." Her smirk vanished and in its place, a look of astonishment. "They were right there… I could almost touch them. They were in this mirror…"
"Really? You saw them? You're not having me on are you?"
"No. I- I could show you."
Daphne sat back in the chair and threw shocked looks Harry's way every now and then. "You would?"
Now he felt slightly uncomfortable. Why did he just do that? Harry had no idea- but it felt right. "Yeah… Meet me here after dinner and I'll show you."
She appeared skeptical for a moment then relaxed and stood up. "Good, do that. I'll be here waiting for you Potter. Don't be late." She glared at him then waved and turned around. She walked down the long aisle. Harry followed her movements with his eyes. He didn't really pay attention to her. He was just worried about the fact that he actually invited her to go see the mirror with him. Daphne reached the end of the aisle. She turned and-
"What are you looking at Harry?" Harry ended up on the floor again. He groaned. "Oh my gosh, Harry! Are you ok?" Hermione knelt down and started to help him sit up. She seemed to be staring down the aisle he had been looking before. Hermione turned her attention back to him and patted his robes- some dust flew off. "Oh I'm sorry Harry. I didn't know you weren't paying attention! I had just come back to talk to you about the charms assignment we were supposed to do… Oh!" She noticed he was holding his arm. "Oh you got hurt! Harry you need to-"
"Hermione!" he ground out. She stopped talking. "I'm fine Hermione- just banged it." He sighed. "I don't need to see Madam Pomfrey." Harry sat up on the floor. Behind Hermione Harry could see the form of Madam Pince coming down the aisle. She took one look at him and said,
"Mr. Potter, the floor isn't meant for sitting. That is what the chairs are for." She turned down the next aisle. Harry never thought his face would return to the same color again.
OOoo00ooOO
Harry's arm stopped hurting awhile ago. Now he was sitting at the Gryffindor table next to Ron. Hermione had her nose in a book while ignoring her food.
"Aren't you going to eat something?"
She looked up to Harry and closed the huge book with a snap. "Really, Harry you know we need to find out about this Flamel character…" She grabbed her fork and stabbed some vegetables. Harry's face was blank. He didn't tell them? Really? He thought he did. Tracey told him a month ago and he forgot about it? How did that happen?
"Uhh… About that…" Hermione's head snapped up and looked at his face.
"Do you know who he is?" Her innocent question seemed to make him feel guilty- he thought as much. Ron paused in between bites and looked at Harry. Both of his friends were watching him and he felt nervous. How was he going to explain how he knew and didn't tell them? Nothing was coming to him so he thought he would just say it.
"Yeah, I found him on the back of my Chocolate Frog card- Dumbledore's. I didn't tell you guys?" here he tried to look sheepish. He did not want Ron to find out about Tracey and Daphne. "I thought I did. It must have slipped my mind… with all the studying…" Ron appeared horrified at studying and didn't think less of him for it. Hermione, however, kept staring at him.
"Really? He's on Dumbledore's card?" Ron looked as if he wanted to go check his collection to see if Harry was right or not. Hermione had a contemplative face on. Harry was worried. Did she know about Daphne?
"Wait Ron. Let's check it after dinner." She stared straight at Harry. He leaned back in his seat as if to get away from her eyes. Ron was oblivious. He just kept on eating.
By the time the three of them were done Harry was really worried. Hermione had to know. Ron was talking to Neville about something. Harry thought he overheard the word 'Malfoy' but he couldn't be sure. Hermione came up next to him and tapped him on the shoulder with her book. She glanced around and spoke, "Harry you know I don't care too much about that stuff, right?- the houses and everything?" She looked at his face. "You can tell me…" Apparently he was silent far too long for she huffed and put her hands on her hips. "I know you were talking to that girl- Daphne Greengrass."
Inside, Harry was panicking but he kept his cool. "Hermione, I know… I didn't think that you would-"
"Yes, Harry!" She tossed her hands up. "You didn't think about us…" Harry saw a blank look flit across her face. "Wait, forget about Ron. He would yell at you." She waved her hand as if dismissing Ron in the conversation. "You could have told me…" She seemed to be hurt.
Harry felt really bad for not telling her about Daphne and Tracey. He should have told her. Harry lowered his head and murmured a soft, "I'm sorry, Hermione." She firmly grabbed his arm which caused him to look up.
She said in a caring voice with no hints of the bossy tone she usually spoke with. "It's fine Harry. I was upset for a bit but I got over it. You're allowed to be friends with other people. What I want to know is how did it happen? When did you meet her? Did she help you with finding Nicolas Flamel? How long have you known her? Why did-"
"Hermione!" She slapped a hand over her mouth to stop anymore questions. Harry managed a bit of a smile. She had forgiven him for not telling. With the way she was spouting off questions she looked as if back to normal. "I met her on the train. She came into my compartment for a bit. Then I met her friend-"
"Tracey Davis?"
"Uhh, yeah. Anyway, she was the one who told me about Flamel. Tracey's not mean like most of Slytherin is. Daphne's just cold to other people… I don't really know why…"
"Really, Harry?"
"Yeah that's it."
"What are you meeting Daphne for?"
"Oh that, well…" He watched as Ron approached; Neville was heading through the hall doors.
Hermione sighed, "Tell me later Harry. I didn't expect you to come with us to check on Flamel. I just wanted to know what you were up to."
"Who's up to what?"
Hermione rolled her eyes, "Honestly Ron. I just told Harry that he had to go to the library. I forgot that I had to look something up and he kindly volunteered to go look for it!" She had said that with a big smile on her face. Her lying was really horrible. Her smile was too plastic. Ron didn't notice.
"The library! Harry we were just about to go check up on Flamel!" he whined.
"Hermione can go with you Ron. I'll be back soon but I have to look for something in the library too."
Hermione kept smiling. Ron seemed a bit wary to him. They walked out of the Great Hall and Harry split off from the scowling Ron and Hermione to head to the library. He was at the top of the stairs when he heard,
"Remember Ron, bring down your card to the Common room. I don't want to go in the boy's dorm."
"I know, Hermione. I know."
Harry rounded the corner and spotted the library. He entered and quickly trotted towards where he was before. He found Daphne sitting down in one of the chairs. Her expression was sour,
"Potter, I never knew you were the type to leave a lady waiting. I've been here for almost fifteen minutes."
Harry stopped short. "You're-"
"Potter if you finish that sentence with 'not a lady', I'll leave." She stood up and walked right up into his face. Harry felt depressed at the fact that she was taller than him.
"No, I was going to say you were lying. I saw you leave the Great Hall just before I did." This time her smirk was large.
"Nice observation skills Potter." She brushed past him and started walking out of the library until she noticed he wasn't following. "I haven't got all night you know." Harry quickly caught up to her. He had already been to the mirror a few time so he knew where to go. Daphne was following at a safe distance for her. It was, of course, because she didn't want to be seen with a Gryffindor. Harry's mind was whirling. Did she actually complement him? For as long as he's known her she had just been aloof. She actually complemented him? Harry stopped himself from thinking anymore about it for they had reached the room.
"This it Potter?" her eyebrow rose, appearing skeptical.
"Just go in." Harry pushed the door slightly and it groaned. Daphne darted in and looked around. Harry closed the door but left it slightly open. He turned around and spotted Daphne in front of the mirror. She just stood there staring at it. A look of wonder upon her round face. He slowly walked up behind her.
"Potter!" She whirled around at him and grabbed his shoulders. "What is this mirror?" She hesitantly tuned her head back to the mirror; her hands still clutching his shoulders. "You see your parents in this mirror?... It has to be magical… It's not normal- not normal… I see… I see…" by now she had unclasped his shoulders and appeared to be kneeling in front of the mirror. Harry couldn't see her face but if he could he would have to guess it was awestruck. He stepped back a bit and waited for her to get up. After a few minutes she stood up with a slight shake in her legs. "P-potter." She turned around and Harry had to keep from drawing in a breath. Her eyes were glistening and her cheeks were red. Harry was really concerned. Why was she crying? "Th-thanks. This means a lot." She gave him a very small smile- her lip twitching with pent up emotion. She ran out the door and tore off down the hallway. Harry stood before the mirror looking stupid. What had just happened? She just ran out of here crying. Did he cause it? Harry glanced at the mirror where his parents materialized into view. He stared at them for moments wanting them to give him the answer to why Daphne was acting weird.
"They cannot give you the answer you seek, Harry."
He whirled around so fast he tripped on his feet and crashed into the ground. Why did he keep tripping? Why is Professor Dumbledore here? Harry desperately wanted the floor to engulf him. He felt dread wash over him. Was he supposed to be here? This room is off limits- he knew that. Was he going to be in trouble?
Professor Dumbledore walked towards him and helped Harry up. "There you go, Harry. Watch your feet in the future." He said in a grandfatherly voice.
"Yes, sir." Harry was really embarrassed but found he couldn't blush because he was absolutely terrified by what Dumbledore was going to say next; Fifty points from Gryffindor Harry; Detention with Snape, Harry; I'm sorry Harry but you're expelled-
"Harry, it appears that you have found the wondrous Mirror of Erised. Do you know what it does?" Harry shook his head no. He didn't trust himself to speak at the moment. "It shows our innermost desires- what we long for most in the world. I trust it shows your parents?" Harry nodded. "Yes, what you long for the most is a family."
He kept on looking at Harry with a twinkle in his eyes. Harry pushed down the nervous feeling in his stomach and spoke, "Sir?"
"Yes, Harry?"
"Why did Daphne…"
"Ah, yes, Ms. Greengrass." He clasped his wrinkled hands in front of his robes and smiled a kind smile. "I have been here the whole time Ms. Greengrass and yourself appeared inside this room. I was invisible, much like yourself when you used your father's cloak to sneak out. I do not need a cloak to be invisible however." He winked at Harry. "I wanted to talk to you about this mirror and alas, I did not have a spare moment over Christmas break. Ms. Greengrass's reaction towards the mirror was understandable. Do not fret over it Harry. She was extremely happy when she left." Only Harry's extreme control prevented him from rolling his eyes. She was crying! How could she have been happy? "I ask you not to press her into the answer. It will come in time." He stared at Harry right in the eyes and explained with a gentle voice, "Harry, this mirror shows us not what we have. I ask you not to go searching for it for it will be gone the next time you try to look. The strongest of men could waste away their lives before this mirror. It does not do to dwell upon our fantasies for when we do- most forget to live. Now Harry, head on up to Gryffindor tower. I'm sure your friends are waiting." With that last bit of wisdom he turned and casually walked out the door. Really? Did that just happen twice in a row? People just kept on walking out on him. Well, Daphne sort of ran but that wasn't really the point. Did he really mean it- It would be gone? Harry turned and looked at the mirror for what would be the last time.
"Bye." He waved at his parents- they waved back. Harry felt something rise in his throat. He turned and scurried out the door, eyes glistening. He ignored the thought of the mirror and walked towards the tower. Dumbledore said that Daphne was happy. Harry couldn't see it. He was almost to the portrait when he realized that Dumbledore had forgotten to take points. Did he actually forget? Was he really in trouble in the first place? He said the password and found Hermione on the couch by the fire place. Where was Ron?
"Hey, Hermione where-"
"Oh! Harry!" She stood up from the couch, her book falling from her lap. She scooped it up and darted towards him. "So? How'd it go?" Her face was excited.
"How'd what go? And where's Ron?" Hermione pointed somewhere behind him where he found Ron, Seamus and Dean playing Exploding Snap. "Ok."
"Honestly, Harry. How'd it go with Daphne?"
Harry thought about it carefully and said, "She ran away crying." Well maybe he wasn't careful enough.
Hermione's eyes were shining with sympathy. "Oh, what did you do Harry?"
"I didn't do anything! She just started crying…"
Hermione sighed and said, "Harry if you are going to go out with a girl you can't have her cry on you! That's horrible! You should apologize to her. You were the one who asked her out!"
Harry's mouth didn't work. He had to open and close it a few times before he squeaked out, "W-what?"
"Really?"
"No! Hermione you've got it wrong! I- I didn't ask her out! I was just showing her something that I found…"
Hermione looked as if she wanted to continue the conversation until she saw that Harry was uncomfortable. She took the hint and started a different topic. "Well Flamel created the Philosopher's stone. I found out that much."
OOoo00ooOO
Harry, Hermione, and Neville were walking towards the entrance hall for their detention. Malfoy had caught them after curfew trying to get Norbert to Charlie and now all four of them had detention with Filch. Ron had said goodbye to them earlier and headed up to Gryffindor tower. They stopped in the hall and spotted Malfoy and Filch.
"Come with me." He sneered and lit a lamp while heading out the doors and across the grounds. "You'll think twice about breaking school rules after this, eh? Too bad they let the old punishments die out."
They neared Hagrid's Hut and Harry felt great. If Hagrid was going to give the detention it wouldn't be horrible. Neville kept on standing behind him as if to shield himself from invisible foes. Filch left them with a dark chuckle.
Hagrid spoke up, raising the lantern by his side a bit, "Well, yer goin' in the forest."
"What? The forest- we can't go in there…" Malfoy was looking hesitant.
"O'course yeh can! I'll be there an' Fang'll protect ya. Well, as much as a coward can do, right?"
Harry smiled a bit at Malfoy's fear. He was scared of the forest? Hagrid wasn't scared and Hermione wasn't shaking, only Neville continued to clutch his robes.
"Now, yer gonna help me with somethin'." He ignored Malfoy and continued into the forest- Harry following quickly, the other three a ways behind. "Yeh see this then? Somethins been killin' these poor animals." He kneeled down and touched it. His hand drew back up with something silvery running down it. "Unicorn blood." Harry felt dread creep up upon him. Unicorn were getting killed? Why would something do that? "We haf'ta find it, put it out of its misery." He turned towards them, his figure looming. "Now, we split up. Me, Hermione an' Neville. Harry an-"
"I want Fang" Malfoy spoke up.
"All right. If any of yeh are in trouble, shoot up some red sparks, green if yeh find the unicorn." He turned away from Harry and Malfoy and walked away, his lantern light fading behind the brush.
"Well, Malfoy-"
"Don't talk Potter!" Malfoy spat at him. He was looking wildly around trying to spot anything in the thick bushes.
Harry's jaw clenched, "Malfoy are you scared?" He glanced at his face. It was whiter than usual. Malfoy apparently didn't hear the jib for he just kept slowly walking into the forest, Harry right beside him. Fang was a ways ahead sniffing a tree.
"What was that?" Malfoy's voice shook. Harry strained his ears. He heard a branch break. Then a rustling noise. The light they had couldn't pierce the thick darkness all that far and it was bobbing up and down- from being held by a fearful Malfoy.
"Malfoy, hold it still! I can't see." Harry was squinting in the darkness. It was hopeless he knew but he had to try. Fang came up to them out of nowhere and barked. He turned around and headed towards the sounds. Harry followed him. Malfoy was hesitant. Harry knew just the thing to get him moving, "You don't want to be left alone in here?" Malfoy was past him already and following Fang. Harry caught up quickly. They all rounded the cluster of trees at the same time and spotted something on the ground. "What's that?" Harry approached to investigate. Of course Malfoy stayed behind- he still held out the lantern. Harry found what he was looking for- the unicorn. Its silver blood was pooled around it like a distorted wreath and its mane and tail hair sticking up at wrong angles. He took a step towards it to see if it was breathing when he heard something coming from beside him. It was moving the in bushes. Whatever it was it was large. Harry stood still. Had whatever attacked the unicorn been here the whole time? Was it right behind the bushes? Out of the darkness emerged a hooded figure. It seemed to slither across the ground like a snake. It leaned over the unicorn and drank its blood. Harry was mesmerized. What was it?
"Ahh!" Malfoy screamed and ran off, Fang hot on his heels. His scream made the figure look up and spot Harry. Harry stood frozen. His heart, stomach- all his insides seemed to be fighting one another to see who would get to come out of his throat first. The figure glided towards him speedily. He stepped back, his foot caught on a root and he fell to the ground. A prick then a very sharp pain came from Harry's scar. The pain caused his vision to swim. When it faded he realized the figure was gone and in its place was a centaur.
"Are you all right?"
"Y-yeah…" Harry sat up and the centaur held up a hand to him. Harry grabbed it and hoisted up on his back.
"My name is Firenze, Mr. Potter." Harry held on while Firenze was making his way through the trees towards Hagrid.
"Do you know what that thing was Firenze?"
He didn't turn around but Harry could hear him clear as day. "When you drink the blood of a unicorn you become cursed to live a half-life. It is all that is needed until you can find something else to sustain you." He paused.
Sustain your life? Wasn't that just like- "The Philosopher's stone?"
"Yes, Mr. Potter. Only someone truly desperate will drink unicorn's blood. Can you think of anyone like that?"
Harry wracked his brain. Who would be that desperate to limit themselves to a half-life? He unconsciously brought a hand up to rub his scar, the pain from before long gone and a dull throb in its wake. His scar… scar… No, it couldn't be! "That was Voldemort?"
Firenze didn't answer for Harry could see Hermione come up next to him. Hagrid's booming steps followed.
"Harry are you ok?" He nodded and slid off Firenze's back. Neville ran up next to Hermione and Harry could see Malfoy standing further away with Fang at his side.
With a "Good luck, Harry Potter.", Firenze galloped back into the darkness. Harry watched him go, still shaking from his encounter with Voldemort.
"Come on Harry." Hagrid said as he herded his friends and Malfoy back to his hut. "I think it's time ter go. If yeh found the unicorn that's all we need."
Harry didn't pay attention to what Hagrid or anyone else was saying. He just wanted to go to sleep and if he felt as disturbed as he did now he knew he wouldn't be getting any sleep. Voldemort was here. He almost attacked him. He was drinking unicorn blood. Firenze had rescued him.
"Harry, hurry up." Hermione's voice cut through his musings. He realized they were standing in front of the Great Hall. Harry turned to follow her, Neville right behind him. He had vaguely remembered climbing through the portrait hole and Neville saying goodnight. Hermione's voice distracted him again.
"Are you really all right, Harry?" She was sitting on the couch in front of the fire, watching Harry pace back and forth. Harry couldn't sit still. The image of the figure- Voldemort, flashing through his mind every few minutes. Harry didn't answer her question. He lied the first time he told her and he didn't want to lie again. Of course he wasn't all right. Voldemort was out in the forest right now. He could get in the castle. He could come and finish what he started when Harry was a baby. He could-
"Harry! Were you listening?" Hermione huffed. Apparently she had been speaking for the past minute and he hadn't heard her.
"No, sorry." He mumbled.
Ron, who had waited up for him and Hermione, groaned. "Of course he isn't ok Hermione! He just ran into You-Know-Who in the forest!"
Hermione frowned at him and turned her attention to Harry, "Was it really him?"
Harry nodded vigorously, "Yeah Hermione. It was Voldemort." Ron hissed.
"Ok, Harry. I believe you." She had been watching him pace back and forth for a few minutes now. Harry was extremely agitated.
"Do you think Voldemort will come inside the castle?"
She scoffed at his question while Ron sunk deeper into the couch. Hermione drew up a finger and went into lecture mode. "Remember Harry, who is the only wizard he fears? Dumbledore, of course. As long as Professor Dumbledore is here he wouldn't dare do anything." Harry thought that was good. Dumbledore wouldn't be leaving anytime soon.
"So Voldemort will stay out there with Dumbledore here. Do you think Voldemort-"
"Stop saying the name. He might find you!" Ron burst out, looking frantically out the windows as if to see if Voldemort was looking in.
"Ron it's only a name…"
"No it's not Hermione!"
"Ok! Let's just go to bed." Harry interjected. He wanted to prevent a fight before it got started. Ron seemed to agree with him because he turned around and stomped off up the stairs to the boy's dorm.
Harry was about to turn in for the night but Hermione stopped him. "Harry?" she asked in a quiet voice.
"Huh?" Her eyes shone with excitement.
"You should tell Daphne and Tracey about this. They would have a different perspective about it being in Slytherin. Talk to them in the morning. Then tell me about it. We can compare notes." She headed up the girl's stairs. Harry thought that was a great idea. Maybe not Daphne but Tracey might give him the time of day. He would have to speak to them tomorrow- wait. Exactly how should he do that? He can't go up to them and say hi. What would Malfoy say- better yet- Snape? He couldn't chance it. How to do it though. Should he just try and run into them? No- that wouldn't work. He didn't know their schedules.
Harry trekked up the stairs and took off his shoes. He changed into his pajamas and snuggled into his bed. He still had no clue how to contact Tracey and Daphne. He sighed and turned over. "Ow!" Something stuck him in the side. He reached under the covers and drew out the green crayon Tracy gave him as a present. How'd this get in his bed? He was too tired to care at this point and just stuffed it under his pillow. Wait- That's it! The green crayon! He would write a note to Daphne and Tracey with the green crayon. Tracey would know it was from him so he wouldn't have to sign his name! Smiling, Harry leaned back into his pillows. I'll tell them what happened- Harry shivered. He had momentarily forgotten why he had wanted to talk to them in the first place. He wished the thoughts of Voldemort away and tried to get some sleep. He didn't get much.
OOoo00ooOO
Authors note:
6,024 Words Published 1/24/11, Monday.
I can't believe I got this done so fast! Geeze! Anyway. I guess you sort of noticed how it's really canon in some places, well, give it time. The next chapter will be almost no canon! Omg! Why did I have to leave it on a cliffhanger? I have no idea! Well, next chapter will be out sometime… And it will introduce a few people you'll find surprising. Yay! (Not really surprising just that you think you would see them in a few years not the next chapter) I had originally planned this chapter to go the rest of first year but now I saw that would be too long. Next chapter first year finishes! I hope! :) Please Review. All of you were so nice thankfully. I've read some pretty bad ones on other stories and don't know why someone deserves to be ranted at. So thanks for being so nice! And also if you are a native Spanish speaker and didn't review because your english isn't very fluent please feel free to do so. I did take 4 years of Spanish class. I shouldn't put it all to waste…
Since this is my first fanfiction, I wanted to write out all of my responses here so everyone could read them. I won't do this all the time as it takes up space. And words!
Thank you Njago, Umbra8191, MuggleWarrior, para125, bakapervert, Naginator, sh777, major Wallace, ErikArden, wizmage, nobother, Dragonz5740, call015, and Isabelledward.
Sanbeegoldiewhitey- Really? Bespectacled? Is that how you say it? I was looking for a reference to how you spell that for like an hour! Then I gave up and spelled it the way I wanted to! Hehe. But gosh I mess the smallest up… (and to think I even spelled my version wrong… there was supposed to be a 't' in there…)
Tutenstein- He's only head of two houses if Sirius dies and he gets Lord Black right?… Hmmm… Daphne and Tracy? It could work… If I get more reviews like this one, I'll consider changing it. Or should I put up a poll? Hmm…
Penseln- Honestly I wasn't trying to rush it. The parts that are missing between the 'OOoo00ooOO' are totally canon. It happens just like it did in the book. Since this was the first chapter and they are just getting to know each other, many scenes are canon. So I skipped them. More canon will be skipped in second year and I think it totally skews from there so… no more huge breaks! Yay!
Spear-of-the-doomed- Ahh! Don't spoil my story! Darn you! (Just kidding!) How'd you guess? Hehe! Wow, you're amazing. :D Thanks for the info on Dumbledore. His relationship with Harry will be awesome in the ending. As for the Horcrux? That's a tossup for me. I can do it either way but I'm leaning towards it.
XXPheonixFireXX- Of course it would feel weird. Harry is a really complex person if you consider his home life and everything. I'm trying to write my Harry as JKR did then tweak him with different situations to grow from. The Harry we know and love is very observant. I gave him a tentative friendship with Daphne to spur that curiosity he is famous for and he used his good observation skills to come to that conclusion (of the Slytherins). You also notice how Harry likes to isolate himself a lot. And if you read the first few chapters of the 1st book again you can see a pattern in his thinking. Very pessimistic.
TheMatador & DragonWolf of Chaos- Less than 4 months! Yes! :)
apAidan- Thanks! And when Ron does notice… it will be loud.
Miz636- Yeah, I loved the idea of the domino effect. Go Daphne for starting it!
Lord Lelouch- Yep! Points to confident Harry! And a hint for the courses is that Vector is one of them. More points to Harry! Tracey's present was brilliant? Honestly that idea came to me at 3 in the morning. Well as soon as I thought of it I thought it was awesome too. And it comes in handy later…
Howlermonkey77- Holy shiz-muffins! I literally stared at the screen for a minute after your review. I was like…crap! I spelled her name wrong! Then I looked at my Harry Potter Lexicon and it caused me to want to chuck it through my window (which would be bad because it's really cold). Well, I corrected it. Holy crackers I feel so stupid… spelled her name wrong...
halting-death- Ooh! More people guessing what I am gonna do! Do we all think alike or something? Yes his journey into other houses is slow he meets a new one next chapter! (hint: a Ravenclaw)
Palurien- Angsty? Angsty? Really? I didn't think I could write angst if it came and slapped me in the face. Hey I like angst as much as the next person but NO WAY is this gonna be angst. Nope. That scene with Hedwig was just Harry being pessimistic and confused or… wait now I'm getting confused? Wait… in conclusion, as much angst an in the books? If you count that?
upperbeastsider- I like long chapters but are you talking about what I wrote in the story or what I wrote about what I was going to do with the story? Because I had to do that 'cause I hate it when I'm reading this good story and I have no clue what's gonna happen next and then all of a sudden Ron's evil or Snape is Harry's father! Ug! (No offence to people who like it, but I can't stand it.) That made me put the little blurb about where the story should go. So people shouldn't be horribly surprised.
skowler- Oh, I know exactly when I'm going to pair them up. They have to go through a bit of character building first! Thanks for the suggestion and I agree that is way too fast… 11 year olds? Gosh…
knightwolf20x- I love those stories that why I decided to write one! :)
mwinter1- Ummm… It says H/D doesn't it? Well I can see it from your point of view 'cause it looks H/T but the Harry/Daphne happens eventually… with a slight bit of Harry/Tracey (very slight).