Hello my beloved readers. Rachel here back in business.
Camp was quite fun and realized that it was a good decision to go. Thankfully, they released us early because of the weather. There was a storm yesterday where the camp was located and almost overfilled the river. To avoid accidents, the Camp Director released us early since there was a possibility of more rain tonight. I got home this morning and immediately worked with my brother to improve and edit the latest chapter.
Anyway, before you read the fic, let me address some of the reviews.
DZ2: I have some plans for Hermione but it won't be until later in the story. She's not really a bad girl. She just needs a serious attitude adjustment. Something will happen in the story that will improve her relationship with Harry but not much that they would be buddy-buddy like in Canon.
Yana5: Not sure yet if Harry is going to craft wands for some characters in the story. Hopefully but I don't know yet.
Merlyn1stClass: I'm happy that you found my story to be yummy, deary. Here's another chapter to glut yourself on. Mwah! Don't eat too much now. Don't want you to get fat. Tee hee hee hee
xSmittenKittenx: I hope you're still alive. If you are then please enjoy the chapter. Tee hee hee.
Aetheogh: NOOOOO! This isn't a slash fic, definitely not a Harry/Albus pairing. If you read this chapter, you will notice that they have a student-mentor relationship. Eewwwwwwww Pedophile much. Ewwwwww (Obliviate me please!)
Dark Neko 4000: Hey Dark, what's the youtube link for?
ElDani: It is part of the plot for Harry to confront Hermione. Don't worry, it is part of the story. You will see the development later on.
konatachan603: You're detailed review is sooooo appreciated. Mwah!
jabujabu63: No worries, girl. My brother is getting some... trust me. They are at it almost everything. Ewwwww.
Mahjong King: I pray for your improved health. From a fellow writer such as yourself, good luck and thanks.
REVIEWER: Thanks for the head's up. My brother already made the changes as to Durmstrangs exact location. Thanks to your suggestion, I'm now using Harry Potter wiki to make sure I get the facts straight.
wevieRbackdeeF timbuS: No, this is not a Hermione bashing fic. Mostly, there would be disagreements between the characters due to their personality clashing together. It guess that is normal for a school that hosts to different personalities. I guess that is what you call human nature.
shadow patronus: Thank you for the glowing review. Your commendation just pushed me to increase my writing speed for Chapter 16. Bwahahahahahah
dreamsfate: Only two are mentioned (Gryffindor and Ravenclaw) because I was discussing about the wards of Hogwarts. Don't worry though, some facts about Slytherin and Hufflepuff will surface as my story progresses.
sarah-rose76646: Thanks for the heads up regarding the 'Attention' I posted. My brother sends his thanks too since he didn't know about it.
I think that's it for now. Though there are some thing I would like to clarify and announce:
1. Thanks to those who commented on the many errors me and my brother made as we wrote this fic. Thanks to you guys, me and my brother learned what errors were made and how to correct them. It doesn't mean that this fic will be free of errors. To err is to be human after all.
2. While I was away at camp, my brother saw fit to edit the 15 chapters already uploaded on the site. He told me that he made sure that the grammar and tense errors were corrected (those he saw as an error anyway) and made sure that some plotholes are properly filled to further improve the story. You might want to check out the previous chapters to see these changes.
3. Again, this isn't a SLASH fic. If you don't understand then this is NOT a YAOI fic. Harry and Albus will be maintaining a mentor-student relationship.
4. To those who reviewed that my story is so cliche, I can only say that I don't care. This story was created because I wanted to share my story to those who wanted to read it. If you don't like it then just keep silent and don't say anything that I already know. There are thousands of HP stories here in and I'm sure that most of the plots are already overused. I know since I already read through most of them since i started FF 3 years ago. The challenge here is how you make it unique to not slight those who used the plots in their fic. So flamers, please moderate your flaming.
5. Those who don't have a fic of their own, please don't make it sound like you know what you're doing since you're only a reader. You MAY criticize me if you have SOMETHING to show. So there.
Well, I'm done ranting. Have fun y'all. Me and brother is working on Chapter 17 now and I'm starting on Chapter 18.
Rachel, the Sorceress of Stories
Disclaimer: I don't own Harry Potter
Harry Potter: Shadow Sorcerer
Chapter 16: Revealing the Stone
September 5, 1991 (After Midnight, Friday)
Harry opened his eyes after exiting his mindscape and talking with Hogwarts. His palm still on the stone, the young Potter Lord could still feel some of his energy being diverted towards powering the wards. He checked his magical reserves and found that he was still safe from being too drained, though he kept a close eye on it since he didn't want to make the same mistake as what happened back in Potter Manor.
Taking a deep breath, Harry steeled himself, preparing for the task ahead of him.
He extended his senses and linked it with the consciousness behind the enchantments of the Hogwarts Ward Stone.
Harry's mind was immediately bombarded by information from the castle and the amount being pushed into his head was staggering - he saw Mr. Filch prowling the halls with his trusted aid, Mrs. Norris; Professor Snape brewing a potion in his office down in the dungeons, Professor Sprout tending to a plant in the greenhouse, Professor McGonagall sleeping, and more. These images assaulted Harry's mind while the young Potter Lord tried his best to maintain a semblance of control over his consciousness. The whirlwind of information continued to swirl in his mind until the voice of Hogwarts punctured through the storm.
"Calm, my Lord. Retreat into your dwelling inside your mind before we continue." instructed the voice of Hogwarts in his mind.
"Hogwarts?" asked Harry as he tried to swim through the storm that his consciousness was currently in.
"Yes, my Lord. Now I will teach you how to control the flow of information the ward stone holds. Retreat into your mind and create a manifestation of the castle's mind. Will it to appear and divert the stream of information into it. This will give you control over the information provided by the castle."
Not seeing any other option in the matter, Harry took control of his mind and delved deeper into his consciousness towards his center, his mindscape. It wasn't easy because entering one's mindscape required absolute concentration and the deluge of information ramming him from everywhere was making it hard for him to do so.
It took Harry a few minutes to safely arrive in his mindscape and took a bit of time to relax before proceeding with the next step. He looked around and sighed in relief since his inner library was untouched behind his mental barrier.
"Hmmm…so this means that the information overload is outside where my surface thoughts are located…interesting." mused Harry as he scanned his shields, sensing the essence of the ward stone outside flooding his conscious mind and with it, the information of the castle. "I think I understand what Lady Hogwarts wanted me to do."
Using his control over his mind, Harry turned one of the barren walls of his mind library into a very large mirror. He then opened a small hole in his Occlumency barrier and linked the mirror to the essence of the Ward Stone outside – like plugging a telly to an antenna.
Immediately, the mirror flashed with various images that Harry guessed to be the information that the ward stone was feeding him through his connection with the ward stone.
"Lady Hogwarts?" asked Harry, expecting an answer from the castle's essence since he was deeply connected to the stone.
"Yes, my Lord?" came the reply, surrounding him, though Harry noticed that the manifestation wasn't present but it was good enough.
"I did what you asked, my Lady." said Harry to the voice. "But it seems that the information coming from the ward stone is still unsorted. It's giving me a headache just looking at it."
This was quite true since the mirror was flickering from one image to another so fast that his eyes were losing focus trying to catch up.
"You have to direct your control on what information you wish to see, my lord. Your shields will automatically filter it while the ward stone and by extension, me, will direct it to the mirror."
"Interesting." said Harry in awe. This was his first time to actively use his mindscape for something other than sorting and recalling memories.
"Let me see… show me the Apprentice Dorms." Harry commanded as he faced the flickering mirror.
Immediately, the images in the mirror stopped, flickered a bit before showing Harry his living room in the Apprentice Dorm. Please with the results, Harry tried again.
"Show me my bedroom please." Harry commanded, getting excited at the possibilities of this ability.
The mirror flickered again before revealing his bedroom with Hedwig sleeping peacefully on her perch. Harry wondered where Flippy was since he knew that the elf was somewhere in the castle.
As if listening to his thoughts, the mirror flickered before the image of his bedroom changed to the Hogwarts Kitchen showing Flippy helping the elves prepare breakfast for the students later in the morning. From the looks of it, his personal elf was teaching some of the Hogwarts elves his personal recipes.
He snickered at the scene in front of him. Trust his elf to make sure that his needs were followed to the letter.
"You don't have to say the command out loud, my Lord. As you can see, it responds to your thoughts. All you need to do is think what you want to see and it will reflect on the mirror."
"Thanks you, Lady Hogwarts." said Harry as he mentally flipped through different locations in the castle while the mirror doing the same. The mirror showed Harry the Black Lake from the castle's point-of-view as if there was a camera somewhere on the battlements when he realized something. "Lady Hogwarts, is this only possible if I touch the ward stone or can I also do this when I touch the walls of the castle."
"Yes, my Lord, since you've bonded with the stone, you are effectively bonded to the entire castle. The ward stone can sense your touch anywhere as long as your skin is directly touching the surface."
Harry looked at the mirror for a few moments before deciding to start with the Ancient Wards.
"Lady Hogwarts, tell me what the Ancient Wards can do once fully activated? What's the status of the activation anyway?" asked Harry as he created a couch to sit on as he faced the mirror, might as well work in comfort than standing around the whole time.
"The Ancient Wards are already activated, my lord. Your commune with me and sorting through the information provided by the castle are part of the schematics of the wards designed by Rowena Ravenclaw."
"Wow." said Harry in awe. Potter Manor might have a state-of-the-art wards with Godric's essence guarding the place but this capability seems to be only unique to Hogwarts itself. "Wait, you mean that I'm already done sending my magical energy into the stone?"
"Yes, my Lord. Due to the activation of the wards, the castle is already siphoning energy from the Ley Lines to amass into the reservoir. It would take two months before it is at full capacity. I suggest that you only do minor changes to the castle until such time that the reservoir is at its maximum. This way, it would lessen the drain on your reserves."
Harry pondered this new information for a moment before realizing something.
"Let me see if I get this straight, if the reservoir is not yet full then whatever changes I do in Hogwarts will drain me. But if it is at full capacity then we will be working in tandem to make sure that I'm not drained dry for whatever it is you are going to do. Is that correct?"
"Yes, my Lord. Rowena Ravenclaw was indeed intelligent. Her mastery over Runes and magic allowed for the creation of the enchantment that birthed me. This enchantment also ensures that the Heir is not harmed by protecting the castle, making Hogwarts truly the only safe place for them if there is need. To answer your question, my Lord, the Ancient Ward's capability allows you to create your own ward schematics using my accumulated knowledge to let it come to pass. This is unique to Hogwarts and nowhere else."
Harry wanted to deny that claim since Potter Manor also offers the same but it was irrelevant. Not wanting to have a heated debate with a thousand year old entity, the young Potter Lord let it pass unopposed. He simply nodded at the information as he cycled through the different parts of the castle via the Hogwarts-mirror as he started to call it.
"Before we go into the creation of the wards, let's check the castle of anything that might threaten the inhabitants within."
Harry shifted his thoughts to command the ward stone to show him what it believed to be a threat to the castle and its students. The mirror flickered before separating into different locations in the castle – the Forbidden Forest, the Whomping Willow and its passageway underneath, a hidden passageway behind a statue, a room in the third floor corridor in the west wing of the castle with a large three-headed dog, an image of the DADA classroom, a sleeping Professor Quirrell in his apartment, and lastly, the image of Ron Weasley and his pet rat sleeping snugly on the boy's pillow.
"Bloody hell!" Harry exclaimed as he saw the images Hogwarts was showing him. "Why in the world did the Headmaster allow a Cerberus in the castle?"
Harry knew that the Headmaster was eccentric, but it seems that the Headmaster's quirks were too extreme for his taste. Really…bringing a three-headed guard dog inside a school full of children with only a warning? He was about to go into another rant when Hogwarts interrupted him.
"A suggestion, my Lord." the voice of Hogwarts echoed around his mindscape.
"What is it?" grouched Harry as he stared disbelievingly at the image of the Cerberus on the mirror.
"I have picked up your thoughts and I suggest that we bring the Headmaster into this. It seems that he had a hand in bringing the creature into the school. Due to my inactivity at that time, I could not determine its purpose. He might also shed some much-needed insights as to the other threats that Hogwarts sees inside its premise."
Harry pondered Hogwarts' suggestion and weighed the advantages and disadvantages of getting the Headmaster involved with this knowledge.
For starters, it seems that the school had a complete trust of the Headmaster and the presence of a phoenix under his banner was proof enough that the aged wizard, though misguided, was of good intention.
Besides, the eccentric wizard was the Headmaster after all so it's only a good idea to have him on board. Also, he was curious as why there was a Cerberus inside a school full of children. The grounds were extensive after all and he was sure that the dog would feel at home in the Forbidden Forest so why keep it in a small room?
"Is there a way for him to communicate with me? I'm not that keen on letting anyone into my mind no matter how much you trust them, my lady." Harry asked warily.
"Don't worry, my Lord. I will use my limited link with the Headmaster to bring him here as a spirit. He can see the mindscape but he can't touch you or any of the memories sorted within." Hogwarts assured him.
"Alright, my Lady, please do what you must but make sure to explain it to him before bringing him here. I don't want to have to explain everything all over again." said Harry before going back to the mirror when he felt Hogwarts leave his mindscape. He checked the images of places that Hogwarts thinks that needs his attention. His eyes strayed over to a particular image that he found odd.
"Weird. Why is a sleeping rat beside Ron Weasley a threat and why is that rat familiar for some reason?" Harry thought out loud as he eyed the grey rodent with a raised eyebrow.
Albus Dumbledore was woken from his slumber by a tug on both his mind and magical.
He immediately traced the source and found it to be in his link with the school. He was about to stand up from his bed to find out what the problem was but was unprepared when he was yanked into his mind.
The aged wizard appeared in his mindscape but what he found odd was a presence that he couldn't feel but definitely hear.
"Hello, Headmaster." said the voice. "We have much to discuss, you and I."
Albus could only nod and made himself comfortable, preparing for a revelation with a potential to rival any experience in his hundred years of life.
Harry snickered as he watched some of the students roaming the halls after curfew. He found out that Hogwarts was the ultimate spy game – using his connection with the castle, he could literally see and hear anywhere in the castle though he couldn't see ALL of them at once.
The young Potter Lord was currently watching a pair of students, a Slytherin and a Gryffindor running away from Filch. The Hogwarts Caretaker found them in one of the broom closets on the fourth floor and immediately gave chase. Harry wondered if Filch could catch them though his bet was on Mrs. Norris, Filch's cat.
Harry was brought out of his amusement when he felt Hogwarts' presence enter his mind with a passenger.
"Oh my, where in the world are we?" asked Headmaster Dumbledore as he appeared in Harry's mindscape like a specter since he was somewhat transparent.
Harry stood from his chair and surprised the Headmaster with his presence.
"Good evening, Headmaster, or is it morning already. Welcome to my mind." greeted Harry as he faced the aged wizard.
"Indeed it is, Apprentice Potter." said Dumbledore as he looked around the library in amazement. He knew that the boy was talented but he didn't know the extent of such talent. The organization of the boy's mind was quite uncanny for someone his age and the boy could only grow from there. "Hogwarts informed me of what happened and I can only say that I'm quite surprised. Nothing is ever normal with you is it, my boy?"
Harry just shook his head and conjured a chair beside his own before beckoning the Headmaster to sit. Despite being somewhat transparent, the Headmaster was also solid at the same time since he sat without any problems. It put him on the edge but he trusted Hogwarts to act just in case the aged wizard decided to tinker around though he could protect himself if needed.
"Nothing is ever normal in my life, Headmaster." Harry said as he smiled sadly to the aged wizard, which caused the same wizard to do the same "Anyway, did Hogwarts explain to you what happened?"
"She did, Mr. Potter…"
"Please, professor. I already offered before to call me Harry when we're not in public company."
"Thank you, Harry." said Albus with a smile. "Now, Hogwarts told me that the Ancient Wards are now alive to protect the school and you're currently in the process of rooting some problems out. Is this true?"
"Yes, professor, but there are a few that eludes me as to why it is considered a threat." said Harry before indicating the mirror showing various images both in and out of the school. "As you can see, professor, this mirror here is connected to the wards and shows me those that Hogwarts deems a threat."
"Indeed." murmured the Headmaster as he checked out the various locations in the school depicted on the mirror. He recognized most of them being unused areas of the castle though he was slightly curious as to where the room that holds a lot of junk was located. However, he paled slightly when he saw the Cerberus shown on the mirror. "I am quite confused as to some of these images as well but maybe we can discuss that later. Show me those that confused you, my boy, maybe we can shed some answers together."
Harry nodded and made a mental command to focus on images that he wanted to discuss with the Headmaster, mainly the Cerberus which caused the Headmaster to pale slightly since the aged wizard didn't want to explain to Harry as to why a potentially dangerous creature was inside the castle though the Headmaster was resigned to the fact that the young Potter Lord would pick on that first than everything else.
Of course, Harry saw the Headmaster's reaction when the image was magnified on mirror.
"Headmaster, would you enlighten me as to WHY a Cerberus is inside my ancestors' school within easy access by the students?" Harry asked coldly towards the Headmaster.
Albus sighed. It seems that all he was doing with Harry James Potter was explaining his actions. He couldn't erase the boy's memories of this or lie to him with the abilities he possessed. Again, it was time to explain his side of the equation. The Sorting Hats warning regarding Harry's trust issues came to the forefront of his mind which made the Headmaster concede that it would be more forthcoming to be honest with the boy. He already made a mistake twice, the Dursley and the letter last summer, so wasn't too keen to make any more.
"Before we get into that, Harry, let me explain to you what happened this summer."
"Of course, Headmaster, we have all the time in the world right now. Please continue." asked Harry in a deceptively calm voice which made the Headmaster wince. Albus knew of Harry's connection with the Founders, which made the boy the owner of the school by technicality. He just didn't know the extent of such ownership and what it entailed though he could see some of the extent of it with the current situation he found himself in with the boy.
"This summer, a friend of mine by the name of Nicholas Flamel approached me for help." started Albus but was interrupted by a curious Harry.
"The alchemist?" asked Harry curiously.
"You know of him, my boy?" asked Albus in surprise. It seems that nothing escapes Harry James Potter which made Albus mentally smile at the child's mental capabilities.
"Of course, Headmaster, Nicholas Flamel is quite a famous name in Wizarding History. If I recall, his name and achievements are also noted in the Chocolate Frog cards, namely the Philosopher's Stone and your work with him to determine the 12 uses of a dragon's blood." Harry explained, showing to the Headmaster his knowledge of wizarding factsa.
"Indeed. You surprise me yet again with your knowledge, Harry, but I digress. Nicholas approached me this summer to ask me to protect his most prized possession."
This made Harry's eyebrows rise in surprise. Considering this was Nicholas Flamel they were talking about, it could only mean…
"Don't tell me this is about the Philosopher's Stone, Headmaster?" Harry asked incredulously.
Albus nodded with a grave look on his face.
"Yes, Harry." Albus confirmed Harry's suspicion with a nod. "Nicholas asked me to safeguard his prized achievement to make sure that it doesn't fall into the wrong hands. For two years now, Nicholas and his wife, Perenelle, informed me that some shady characters had been keeping a lookout over their actions, as well as their home. Considering that the bulk of their possessions are in Gringotts for safekeeping, it only stands to reason that these characters are after one particular item that holds so much value to our world."
Harry nodded in understanding. No thief would ever pass up the opportunity to steal the Philosopher's Stone. Not only was its creation an absolute secret, its capability of turning lead to gold, as well as prolonging one's lifespan through the creation of the Elixir of Life, was a trap for anyone who wanted to have that much power at their disposal.
"I immediately agreed to accept Nicholas' request and took the stone under my protection. At first, I placed the stone in one of my old vaults in Gringotts but news came to me that someone was planning to steal it from under the noses of the goblins so I took the next logical step."
"Wait, stealing from a goblin, especially for a high-security building such as Gringotts is tantamount to suicide. The goblins would never allow it." said Harry in conviction. His foray into the Potter Family Vault cemented Harry's trust in the goblin race's method in safekeeping the riches under their building. Aside from the protective enchantments on the vaults, there were also goblin guards and dragons guarding the catacombs. A thief who manages to enter Gringotts and down into the vaults would either get hacked to pieces or become lunch for the waiting dragons.
Albus nodded at Harry's description of the goblin bank.
"Correct, of course, but I didn't want to take that chance. Keep in mind, Harry, that a resourceful witch or wizard can do anything if they put their mind to it. I don't want to take that risk so I immediately dispatched Hagrid to take the stone from Gringotts and bring it to me here in Hogwarts, the only place I know that would be safe from anyone attempting to steal it."
Harry nodded in understanding. Hogwarts was well-known for being one of the safest places in all of Wizarding Britain. Aside from the protective enchantments of the castle, the professional witches and wizards residing in the place would surely provide ample protection for anyone, or anything, in it.
"I understand where you're coming from, Headmaster. So I take it that the Cerberus is guarding the entrance to the chamber holding the stone?" asked Harry as he eyed the trapdoor the dog was sitting on.
"It is one of the protections, yes." agreed the Headmaster.
Harry's eyebrow rose at the admittance. Harry saw the slip that the stone was guarded by something else other than the Cerberus. He mentally pushed that aside to be asked later.
"So you let a potentially lethal creature inside the school to protect the chamber leading to the stone. A creature, I might add, located in a room within easy access to the student?" asked Harry, disbelief marring his voice.
Albus looked at Harry in exasperation, a look that Harry found refreshing and amusing.
"Harry, I think you have me in the wrong light. Even I'm not that desperate to guard the stone at the expense of the students' safety. The room where the Cerberus is housed is heavily enchanted so the dog couldn't get out without my express permission. It is relatively safe, I assure you."
Harry immediately saw a weakness in that statement.
"Really? But what IF a student enters the room where the Cerberus is keeping guard?" Harry saw the dawning of a realization on the Headmaster's face. "Let me guess, there is no enchantment whatsoever keeping the students out of the room if they wanted to go in?"
Albus paled at the slight oversight which Harry saw. Sighing, Harry turned to the mirror before speaking to the Headmaster.
"Headmaster, I think you're getting too old at this planning thing." chided Harry with a slight twitch on his lips.
Albus didn't say anything but leveled Harry a mock-glare. Harry raised both his hands in surrender.
"Fine! You're not that old even if you really are." joked Harry which made the Headmaster's eye twitch in annoyance. It was amusing for Harry to see the famous wizard showing human emotions for a change. "Joking aside, what do you think is necessary to make sure that the students won't make their way to the room?"
Albus scratched at his almost transparent beard, deep in thought.
"As far as I know, there is only one way going into that corridor and that is through the Grand Staircase, of course, it is always moving so the stairs would have to move to that specific area in order for any student to reach the place." said Albus, eyeing the mirror while deep in thought.
Harry rolled his eyes and decided to make sure that there was no other way in that wing of the castle.
"Hogwarts, could you please show us all the possible entrances to the third floor corridor on the west wing?" asked Harry.
"As you wish, my Lord." was all Hogwarts' reply as the image of the third floor corridor minimized while three more images appeared.
"You recognized these places, Headmaster?" asked Harry, trying to determine where the other two areas where in the castle. He recognized the one as the Grand Staircase of Hogwarts that was perpetually on the move.
"Hmm…yes I do recognize them. This one over here is the portrait on the second floor, practically below the same portrait on the third floor a few room away from the Cerberus' chamber. The second one seems to be a secret corridor behind a tapestry similar to a hidden alcove located in the Restricted Section of the Hogwarts Library. Lastly, the Grand Staircase." explained the Headmaster as he pointed to each one. A frown marred his face. "I didn't know that these passages exist. I wonder if there is a way to remedy this oversight."
"Let's ask Hogwarts, Headmaster, since I'm sure that she could do something about them." suggested Harry before addressing the school. "Hogwarts, is there a way to block these entrances to the third floor?"
"There is, my Lord, but it would take some of your magic to power these changes since the reservoir for the Ancient Wards are currently unavailable to you while they are being recharged."
"How much of a drain it would take to make these changes? And what would these changes be?" asked Harry since he wanted to protect the stone as well since it was within his power to do so. The Philosopher's Stone was a prize he didn't want anyone other than its creator to have.
"At your current level, my Lord, I would say a third of it to make these changes come to pass to ensure the safety of the Cerberus' chamber. The Grand Staircase needs to be re-programmed, specifically to change the enchantment of the staircase itself to divert one to a tapestry and temporarily stay there unless the change is lifted. The two hidden passageways can be easily blocked. I can command the castle's structure to place a wall inside these passages to block any entrance to and from the third floor."
Harry looked at the Headmaster who was looking at Harry in amazement.
"Are these measures to your liking Headmaster? Considering what Hogwarts told us, the drain on my core isn't much and would only take a night's rest to recuperate." asked Harry, raising one of his eyebrows as a silent question if the Headmaster wanted to go through with it or not.
"If you think that it is safe for you to do so then you may proceed, Harry." Albus said in happiness. He was right, working along with the young Potter was much better than keeping him in the dark but there were some secrets too early to tell and he vowed to only discuss them IF Harry confronted him with them.
Harry nodded before addressing Hogwarts.
"Hogwarts, please enact these changes you suggested." Harry commanded the castle's manifestation.
Immediately he could feel the drain on his magical core through his connection with the ward stone. He saw in the mirror that the changes were being put into effect. The staircase leading to the third floor corridor moved until it stopped leading to a wall with a portrait of a young woman picking flowers on a summer day. A solid wall of grey stone was being erected brick by brick in the middle of the two passageways which glowed a bit before going back to normal.
"Why did the walls glow?" asked Harry in curiosity while he was examining his magical core. He could see in his mind's eye the amount drained from him to the stone but he could see that it was slowly being recharged. He might not need a full night's sleep after all.
"I placed an enchantment on the walls to make sure that they are indestructible to most spells, my Lord." replied the school's manifestation.
Harry nodded before looking at the Headmaster who was looking at the immediate change in the school in awe.
"Outstanding, my boy. It seems that you have complete control over Hogwarts physical structure. I think it would be safe to say that the school would be quite safe with you around safeguarding the defenses." Albus exclaimed with excitement in his voice.
"Thank you, Headmaster." Harry said with a nod. "Now that's over and done with, the next agenda on the list is to ask you what other defenses you have for the stone."
Albus nodded before launching into an explanation.
"The faculty decided to lend a hand in providing the ultimate protection for the stone while it is residing in Hogwarts. As you can see, the Cerberus was provided by Hagrid since that is his pet. The next defense is a tangible mess of Devil Snare provided by Professor Sprout, followed by flying keys – one of which is needed to open a heavily-locked door to gain entrance to the next set of protection, Professor McGonagall's animated chess set. You need to beat it in order to pass unmolested. Professor Snape provided the next protection, a logic puzzle involving potions, one of which holds the correct formula to bypass the intense flames guarding the chamber housing the Philosopher's Stone. I am still undecided as to what protection to add as a final deterrent to any thief who may want to still it."
While Albus was listing down the various defenses protecting the Philosopher's Stone, Harry instructed Hogwarts to show these protections to the mirror. Harry studied them intently as the Headmaster continued his explanation. He found one single flaw in them.
"Headmaster, I can see a single flaw to these protections. From the looks of it, you made the protection possible to bypass if they know how it is done. Does this mean that you are aiming to lay a trap for the thief?" asked Harry.
Albus nodded, caught red-handed with his plan.
"You're correct, Harry. Protecting the stone forever in the school is not a good idea since the location would be revealed to the public once the thief is discovered, prompting others to give it a try. So I intend to trap the thief and avoid having it leaked to the public to keep it a secret. Once the threat to the stone is neutralized, Nicholas and I can devise another method to safeguard it but if that is impossible then the only recourse is to destroy the stone."
Harry frowned at hearing the last part since destroying an alchemical treasure trove was a slight to his aim to acquire knowledge to further expand his growing abilities. Such is the case, he needed to make sure that such a thing doesn't happen. He could help in the future once the thief is caught but he needed to concentrate in coming up with a way to trap the thief and make sure that there is no way out. An idea popped into his head that made him grin.
"Headmaster, would it be alright with you if I use my connection with Hogwarts to create my own set of protections for the stone? I will leave the current defenses in place. I am just going to add something to them to make sure that the thief is properly detained before or after the stone is acquired." asked Harry, plans already formulating in his head to make sure there were no loopholes that the thief could exploit.
Albus was momentarily shocked at the offer and couldn't help but smile at the willingness Harry would go through to help those in need. It seems that the boy was the perfect combination of his parents – James' stubbornness and Lily's kindness, partner that with the boy prodigious mind, Albus pitied the thief if he or she ever came in contact with the young Potter's protection towards the Philosopher's Stone.
"Be my guests, my boy." Albus gave his blessing causing Harry to release a mischievous grin on his face. The grin made the Headmaster give a silent prayer to the survival of the thief, whoever they may be. "Would it be safe to say that you already have an idea on what to do?"
Harry nodded, grin not leaving his face.
"I have a rough idea in mind, Headmaster, and it will take a few days of proper planning to make sure that its foolproof. I'll keep it secret for now as a surprise."
Albus gave off a merry chuckle.
"Indeed. I'm looking forward to it, my boy. Now, why don't we go over the rest of the threats that Hogwarts showed you since it's getting a bit late for the both us though I daresay you don't need it since you only have Flying lessons and Potions tomorrow."
"Yes, Headmaster. We can discuss the others at a later time since we can't do anything about it with the lack of power from the wards but there are only three that I need your help with since I am of a loss as to what they may be." said Harry while willing the mirror to show him the three images that he wanted to discuss with the Headmaster.
"As you can see, Headmaster, we have here the DADA classroom, Professor Quirrell, and finally, we have Ron Weasley and his pet rat."
Harry then proceeded to explain his observation when he scanned the DADA classroom and Professor Quirrell during his class with the man. Dumbledore had a thoughtful look on his face when Harry finished his explanation of his first DADA class. He even told the Headmaster that he found the rat familiar but couldn't place it at the moment.
"Did you know, Harry, that there is a curse on the Defense Against the Dark Arts position?" asked the Headmaster finally after spending a few seconds of silence gathering his thoughts.
"A curse, professor?" asked Harry in surprise. Albus nodded. "If that is the case then that would explain the tendrils I sensed from the classroom reaching out to the professor. The question is…who created the curse and why the DADA classroom?"
Albus gave Harry a proud smile which made the young Potter Lord blush a bit.
"You asked the right questions, my boy, but I digress. The curse was created by Voldemort when I rejected his application as a teacher for Defense Against the Dark Arts. His retaliation was in the form of a curse. The curse seems to target the teacher themselves, making sure they don't last a year under the position. They mostly suffer accidents that forced them to resign." Albus said tiredly.
The DADA position was a constant source of headache for Albus. No matter how hard he tried, he couldn't get rid of the curse. He tried changing classrooms in theory that the curse was centered in the DADA classroom but it didn't work when Professor Whitmore was physically attacked by a boggart and boggarts don't attack physically, only mentally and emotionally.
"If that is the case, then do you think that there is a connection between the Voldemort and Quirrell since the curse on the DADA classroom and the latter seems to have the same magical signature." asked Harry while narrowing his eyes at the sleeping professor on the mirror. Even now, he could feel the curse from both subjects through his connection with the ward stone.
"I'm not quite sure, Harry, but there is something different about Professor Quirrell when he returned from his sabbatical in Albania. Before, he was an astounding DADA professor. Now, he is a stuttering man afraid of his own shadow. I can only surmise that Quirrell encountered something in that forest that caused him to be what he is now." explained Albus, also eyeing the sleeping man on the mirror.
"He did mention in class that he met a vampire in Albania." Harry told the Headmaster the stories from the man during his class with him.
Albus shook his head.
"I doubt it if that is the case. I know Quirrell when he was a student here in Hogwarts. He was a talented student back then, exception in Transfiguration, Charms, and Defense. I'm sure that an altercation with a vampire would not result to such a change in a person. I believe it is something else. I have my suspicions though."
"Suspicions?"
"It was during the war with Voldemort that I heard a rumor. The Dark Lord left Wizarding Britain and went on a journey to learn the magicks of the world. I heard from a reliable source that Voldemort holed himself in the Albanian Forest for two years. He went in as a human and came out as what people saw him as…a Dark Lord." Albus said sadly.
"So it is quite possible for Professor Quirrell to be in contact with Voldemort? I thought he is dead Headmaster. Does this mean that he's still alive?" asked Harry with a desperate tone in his voice as if urging Dumbledore to tell him otherwise.
"I have my theories on what happened that night back in 1981 when you defeated him. However, I need more proof in the matter. I will try to do a little research and get in touch with the old crowd if they hear anything out of the ordinary that might hint of Voldemort coming back. However, let's focus on the now instead of the future. If Professor Quirrell is really in league with Voldemort then it is necessary to take action since I don't want such a threat looming above the students when they consider the castle as a safe haven." said Dumbledore in a determined voice.
Harry nodded. His respect for the Headmaster went up few notches with that statement. However, something snapped in place at the back of his mind.
"Professor, is it possible that Voldemort is trying to get his hands on the stone?" asked Harry immediately.
This question caught Albus in surprise before a frown marred his face.
"I hope that is not the case, Harry, since that would mean that Voldemort is actively manipulating the events which simply points to the direction that he is still alive and roaming the world as it is. If such is the case then it is necessary that you enact the necessary defense to safeguard the students, as well as the stone from him if he ever shows his face." Albus said grimly.
If Voldemort was after the stone then it would only mean that the Dark Lord doesn't have a body and required something to bring him back to full power. The Philosopher's Stone could easily do that and more. The aged wizard visibly shuddered at the possibility of the Dark Lord getting his hands on such a powerful artifact.
Harry agreed with the Headmaster's assessment, a grim look on his face similar to the aged wizard was sporting at the possibility of Voldemort coming back to full power using the stone.
"The reservoir powering the wards is still not at full power. I can command the wards to purge the curse but without a full reservoir then my own magical energy will be drained. A mere change to the staircase and the passageways drained a third of my core. If I enact the defenses required to safeguard the student from him then I'm sure I'll end up in a coma." explained Harry, shoulders drooping.
He really wanted to put up the defenses now but he wasn't foolhardy to do so with the limited amount of magical power he had in his body. He left his suicidal instinct buried deep down into his psyche after the ward stone debacle in Potter Manor. So he needed to wait. No matter how much he wanted to protect the school, he wouldn't do so at the risk of his own life. He learned Godric's lesson well. He would not put his parents' sacrifice in vain just because he wants to be a hero and save the day.
Albus nodded, there was nothing they could do about it now but wait. Hopefully, their assumption regarding Voldemort and Quirrell was wrong. But if they were right, Albus hoped that the current defenses safeguarding the stone were enough to deter him until something permanent could be panned out.
"I see. Then it is imperative that we avoid such scenario. When will the reservoir be filled to maximum capacity?" asked Dumbledore.
No matter how much he would like to get rid of the curse and ensure the protection of the school, Albus couldn't let a child be harmed because of it. He already made a mistake in placing Harry with the Dursleys, he will not make another mistake now that would put the boy's life in danger. He would keep him safe but he would allow the boy to make his own decisions. It was the boy's right to do so.
"Two months, professor." said Harry after a brief mental communication with Hogwarts.
"Good, then we will meet again in two months to make sure that the castle is secure." said Albus as he stood up from his chair. He was about to leave but he paused and turned to Harry with a proud look in his eyes.
"I would like to apologize to you again, Harry. I know it was personal of me to send you a letter last summer regarding your actions but it seems that this old man is wrong yet again. You are far mature than I thought you would be and I promise you that I will never make the same mistake again. In my eyes, you are now an adult, though still young in years, but an adult in mind. Though I know that you can make your own decision, my door is always open to you if you need my help." offered the Headmaster, extending his hand for Harry to shake.
Harry gave the Headmaster a long look before a smile crossed his face. He took the hand and gave it a good shake.
"Thank you, Headmaster. I am happy to hear that you trust me in regards to my decision."
Albus didn't say anything but simply nodded before disappearing from Harry's mind back to his own body.
End of Chapter 16
Edited by Corruptmonk
Original Story by Rachel (Sorceress of Stories)
May 27, 2012
My brother wanted to post Harry's schedule for the year to make sure that some plotholes are covered and questions avoided.
Monday/Wednesday
6:00-8:00 Breakfast
8:00-10:00 Transfiguration (Gryffindor/Slytherin)
10:00-12:00 Herbology (Gryffindor/Slytherin)
12:00-1:00 Lunch
1:00-3:00 Charms (Ravenclaw/Hufflepuff)
3:00-5:00 Free block
5:00-7:00 Dinner
8:00 - Curfew
Tuesday/Thursday
6:00-8:00 Breakfast
8:00-10:00 History of Magic (Gryffindor/Slytherin)
10:00-12:00 Defense Against the Dark Arts (Gryffindor/Slytherin)
12:00-1:00 Lunch
1:00-3:00 Free Block
3:00-5:00 Free block
5:00-7:00 Dinner
8:00 - Curfew
Friday (Free Day for Self-Study or arrangements with other professors)
6:00-8:00 Breakfast
8:00-10:00 Free Block
10:00-12:00 Flying Lessons with Gryffindor/Slytherin (First Week only)
12:00-1:00 Lunch
1:00-3:00 Potions (Gryffindor/Slytherin)
3:00-5:00 Free Block
5:00-7:00 Dinner
9:00-11:00PM – Astronomy (Gryffindor/Slytherin/Ravenclaw/Hufflepuff)
Saturday and Sunday (Free Block or arrangement with other professors)