Chapter Seventeen

The White Room

:.:.:

As much as I would've loved to have stayed in the Astronomy Tower the previous night and woken up next to Cedric, we both decided that might not be the best idea in case we were caught. But despite waking up in my bunk on the ship, I still couldn't stop smiling. It was also rather early when I woke up because I wanted to send a note to Sirius before breakfast. And although I was absolutely positive that's exactly what Harry would be doing, I also wanted to tell him that it might not be best for me to visit so frequently considering my run-in with Dolohov. I also took that opportunity to finally gather up George's clothes and return them to him. And speaking of George, I ran into the twins before I'd even arrived at the Fat Lady...

"Good morning, Your Highness," said Fred, bowing excessively low. George eyed me carefully to see if I was okay with the royalty joke; I smiled to assure him that I was. "What brings you to Gryffindor Tower so early?"

"I thought I'd finally return your brother's clothes," I said, holding up the bag in my hand.

"Oh, you've been borrowing Ron's clothes? Couldn't even tell a difference, honestly, you two've got the same style," Fred said in jest.

"You do, it's remarkable, really," George joined in. I tossed him the bag, smirking. "Thanks, Tri."

Hearing that nickname always gave me a weird feeling in my chest, but it was wonderfully weird, sort of like butterflies or something. And though I was sort of expecting some comment from Fred on the nickname, I figured by the way he looked at George that he'd already told his twin about it.

"I'll just bring this back to our dormitory and then we can go," George told him, rushing down the hall to enter the common room.

"Where're you off to?" I inquired.

"The Owlery," Fred replied.

"Ace, me too," I said, grinning. "I'll go with you."

"I dunno, Dem, it's top secret business," Fred spoke in a way which actually made me think he might not have been kidding.

"What're you on about, Weasley?" I eyed him curiously.

"All right, enough with the interrogation, I'll tell you," he said fervently, feigning defeat. "Georgie and I made a bet with Ludo Bagman at the Quidditch World Cup on the game's outcome. He lost and has been refusing to pay us. Well, technically, not refusing, just not responding to us at all."

"He didn't pay you?" I asked, incredulously.

"Oh he paid us...in leprechaun gold," said Fred, bitterly. I nodded in understanding; leprechaun gold disappears after a few hours.

"How much does he owe you?"

"Thirty-seven Galleons, fifteen Sickles, and three Knuts —"

"And a joke wand," added George, back from his dormitory. "We were hoping to finally start up the joke shop with that money." I remembered they'd told me about their pranking business.

We began walking to the Owlery together.

"Y'know, I reckon we've searched nearly every inch of this castle, including all the secret passages," said George to Fred. "and yet we've never stepped foot in any other common room but our own. Demetria's only been here a few months and she's already practically been everywhere."

"I really haven't been to that many places around here," I insisted. "More so the hospital wing than anywhere else."

"Yeah right," teased Fred. "Tell us, what's the Hufflepuff common room like?"

"I've actually never been there," I admitted.

"You're joking!" said Fred. "Pretty Boy's never invited you over?"

"Pretty Boy's also Prefect Pretty Boy," George joked. "He doesn't break the rules like we do."

"I'll have you know he's broken some rules with me," I said, smirking. I thought back to the previous night and hoped I hadn't grown as noticably red as George's ears when he was embarrassed.

"That's only because you're such a bad influence," said George, mirroring the smirk. I thanked Merlin my blush wasn't noticable.

"I just can't believe you've been in our room more than your boyfriend's, Dem," Fred joked. "I take it that means you two haven't —"

"Fred!" George shouted; my face really began to heat up and Fred practically exploded with laughter...until he caught sight of my blushing.

"Princess!" Fred exclaimed before whistling. "Y'know, I thought you seemed rather chipper this morning."

George's expression immediately soured and I rushed to change the subject.

"So if Bagman's been ignoring you, why would a letter get his attention?" I rushed out.

Fred replied with, "Can't say, love, that's the top secret business."

"Fred, you're not really going to send that, are you?" said George, suddenly very serious.

"Why not?" he asked, casually.

"That's blackmail, that is," George told him. "we could get into a lot of trouble for that —"

"— we've tried being polite; it's time to play dirty, like him. He wouldn't like the Ministry of Magic knowing what he did —"

"I'm telling you, if you put that in writing, it's blackmail!" George pressed; I decided it was better to just not even ask.

"Yeah, and you won't be complaining if we get a nice fat payoff, will you?"

Upon reaching the Owlery, Fred banged the door open. The three of us came over the threshold, then froze at the sight of Harry, Ron, and Hermione.

"What're you doing here?" Ron and Fred said at the same time.

"Sending a letter," said Harry and George in unison.

"What, at this time?" I said with Hermione.

The twins and I grinned.

"Fine — we won't ask you what you're doing, if you don't ask us," Fred said, shifting his hand to cover the name on the sealed envelope he was holding.

"Well, don't let us hold you up," he said, making a mock bow and pointing at the door.

Ron didn't move. "Who're you blackmailing?" he said.

The grin vanished from Fred's face; George gave his twin half a glance before smiling at Ron.

"Don't be stupid, I was only joking," he said easily.

"Didn't sound like that," said Ron.

Fred and George looked at each other, then Fred abruptly said, "I've told you before, Ron, keep your nose out if you like it the shape it is. Can't see why you would, but —"

"It's my business if you're blackmailing someone," Ron insisted. "George's right, you could end up in serious trouble for that."

"Told you, I was joking," said George. I didn't believe him, and I was sure Ron didn't either, but I wasn't going to say anything. I just hoped those two knew what they were doing.

When the twins began attaching their letter to the leg of the nearest barn owl, I did the same, mostly because the focus was still on them and the trio wouldn't ask about my own letter.

"You're starting to sound a bit like our dear older brother, you are, Ron," said George. "Carry on like this and you'll be made a prefect."

"No, I won't!" said Ron hotly.

George and I were both at the window, then, our owls taking off through it. For a split second, he seemed distracted by me, but he quickly recovered, turning around and grinning at Ron.

"Well, stop telling people what to do then."

"Oh, sod off, you two," I said as light-heartedly as I could manage. I'd never realized how mean-spirited the twins could be to their younger brother. I didn't have any blood-related siblings, but that didn't seem like playful banter. After all, he was just worried about them, he cared about his older brothers, what was so wrong with that?

"Ignore them, Ron, you're nothing like Percy," I assured him; he gave me a thankful smile.

"Oi, whose side are you on, Dem?" said Fred.

"Ron's," I told him honestly. "You better not be getting yourselves into trouble... Wow, that was a stupid thing to say to you two."

They were both smirking at me now.

"You know what I mean," I said. "I know you don't mind breaking rules, but this is the law."

The twins exchanged a look.

"I reckon we know who the other prefect is going to be," Fred teased.

"I don't go to this school," I reminded in sort of a lofty tone. He'd have to try harder than that if he wished to get under my skin. "And I'd rather enjoy being chosen to have some authority over everyone."

"You already do, Your Majesty." Fred smirked.

"You should go to this school," Hermione chimed in, changing the subject. "I'm sure your classes at Durmstrang would transfer over."

"We've been trying to convince her to transfer since she first stepped off the ship!" George exclaimed. I rolled my eyes at him. "Alright, maybe since a few days after you first stepped off the ship..."

"Even if she did transfer, we probably wouldn't get to see her much," said Ron. We all waited for an explanation and Ron looked to me when he spoke again. "You'd definitely be a Ravenclaw. Ginny told me you're actually taking the fifth year Potions class."

"Just because she's really smart doesn't mean she'd automatically be in Ravenclaw," said Hermione, voice on-edge. "There are some rather intelligent Gryffindors."

"That's true," I immediately chimed in before Ron could do anymore damage. "And my mum was actually a Gryffindor, so who knows." As though I'd ever even transfer in the first place...

"What about your dad?" Harry inquired.

"Slytherin," I told them. And though I'd expected some sort of comment from the twins or perhaps just a disapproving look from one of the Golden Trio members, nothing of that sort happened.

"No wonder you're so good at Potions," said Fred.

"Speaking of Potions," Harry's voice was calm but his eyes were looking at me sort of urgently. "Demetria, d'you reckon I could get some of that tutoring you mentioned?"

The tutoring I'd made up when Karkaroff was passing by us so we could look engaged in a normal conversation? Why would he . . . Oh, he wanted to talk about last night . . . Sweet Circe, that kid just never gave up...

"Actually, Harry, I don't reckon you really need any tutoring after all," I told him, keeping my tone casual.

"She's right, Harry, you're not even that bad at Potions," said Ron, patting his mate's shoulder.

"There's nothing wrong with wanting to improve your skills," said Hermione, clearly irritated again.

"No, there's not," I said, rushing to Hermione's aid once again. "but Harry's asked me to teach him how to concoct the Draught of Living Death. It's a rather advanced potion and he hasn't got any real use for it."

Harry and I were staring at one another, the only ones aware of what this conversation was really about. He was trying just as hardly as I was to keep his tone light, but I could tell he was growing upset with me.

"I'm sorry, Demetria, but who are you to decide whether or not I've got a use for it?" he said.

"Harry, trust me, you'll learn to make the Draught of Living Death if the time comes." I was growing rather annoyed with him as well.

"I reckon that's a sixth year potion, mate," said Ron softly.

"I have reason to believe I should know how to make it now." Harry's eyes never left mine.

"If that were true, someone would've taught it to you already," I said, irritation just barely in check. "You don't have to go poking and prodding around, learning about every potion. Sometimes it's just better not to know. And y'know what? There are dangers about the Draught that you know nothing about. Meanwhile, other people's lives are at risk just for simply knowing about the Draught, not to mention the risks involved for the one bloody person who was daft enough to make it!"

Harry's green eyes lightened up a bit, they weren't so harsh anymore. It seemed he understood what I meant, that I'd ultimately put both myself and my grandfather at risk for telling Dumbledore what I knew. Hermione, Ron, Fred, and George were all still looking at me like I was mental, though. After all, I'd just completely exploded over what appeared to just be a potion...which really wasn't all that dangerous.

"You're right, I'm sorry," Harry whispered.

I nodded and simply left. I didn't really want to walk back down with the twins, I knew they'd only ask me what happened back there. Thankfully, if they did leave after me, which I was sure they did, they didn't try to speak to me. There was, however, someone else who did want to speak to me, though this was someone I never expected.

"Demetria Harris," growled Moody. His magical eye rolled every which way, probably to ensure no one else was around.

"Er, Professor Moody." I wasn't entirely sure what to call him. I wasn't really sure what to call any of the Hogwarts staff when I came in contact with them. After all, they weren't my professors.

"Walk with me."

I thought I had a fairly good idea of what this was about, but I was still sort of anxious, probably simply due to Moody's rather intimidating appearance. His face looked as though it were carved roughly from stone, covered with scars. Regardless, I walked alongside Moody and his clunking wooden leg.

"Told Dumbledore you think Crouch's son is alive, did you?"

That had been the conversation topic I was expecting.

"I have reason to believe he is," I said finitely; we began descending down a number of connecting staircases.

"Dumbledore mentioned you had reliable sources..." he said airily.

"He told you it was me?" I was hoping he would've left my identity out.

"No."

I waited for more of an explanation, but he didn't give one.

"How'd you know it was me then?" I pressed.

"You're not the only one with reliable sources, Harris," he said. Moody was a rather hard character to read. I wasn't entirely sure what emotion was attached to his words, and that began to worry me even more. But even so, an Auror knowing I was on the Dark side . . . that couldn't've been good . . .

"I'm afraid I'll have to know who these sources are," he growled.

I looked him right in his good eye, although it could really only be considered good in comparison to the magical one. "I'm afraid I can't say."

He took a long draw from his hip flask before telling me, "You'll be needing protection, no doubt. I can provide it if I know who I'm looking for."

The bell sounded for breakfast.

"You're right," I said, Moody perking up to listen. "Be on the lookout for someone whose not a student or a staff member," His expression immediately soured. "If they don't look like they belong at Hogwarts, Durmstrang, or Beauxbatons, it's a good bet that's who I'll need protection from."

People began making their way toward the Great Hall, while Moody and I remained in the entrance hall.

"Your father had that same attitude," he said, taking another swig of his flask. "I'd drop it if I were you. Get yourself into trouble with the wrong people if you're not careful."

"I'm already in trouble with the wrong people, remember?" I said, unphased by his comment.

Just as I was about to walk away, Moody spoke again.

"Reckon I know whose side you're on."

"Is that s'posed to scare me?"

But he didn't reply, just twisted his face up into a smirk and clunked off toward the Great Hall.

Truth be told, though, it did scare me a little.

–

When I'd gotten Sirius's reply (the very next morning after I'd sent mine, by the way), he was rather upset, mostly at himself, not me; said he should've known better than to let me travel to the cave and back by myself. He also agreed it would be best for me to stop visiting for the time being, to practice some hexes for the third task, and then also suggested I keep an eye on Harry. As it turned out, however, there was no need to babysit The Boy Who Lived, because every time I saw him, he was guarded by Ron and Hermione; I knew he was already in good hands. It also helped that Dumbledore was enforcing restrictions on the grounds.

As for practicing hexes, I mentioned it to Viktor who, of course, was teaching me some more advanced spells. It wasn't nearly as tedious or difficult as self-Transfiguring though, so there wasn't any need for really vigorous training. Unfortunately, that meant I was back to having nothing to do...

"Maybe you could try and ask your grandad if he knows where Remus is," Finn suggested during one of Karkaroff's "lessons." I used that term very loosely because he seemed particularly distracted today and wasn't doing much teaching at all. No one was really paying much attention, except his aide, Sasha, of course.

"I know you're not really on speaking terms, but —"

"Or I could just see if Benjamin knows," I said. "Maybe have him ask Carlisle."

"Yeah, maybe." Finn frowned. Being the family-oriented bloke that he was, he didn't really approve of me shunning my grandfather, despite my reasoning.

"Right, so, now on to . . . er . . . Jupiter's moons —" Karkaroff kept fidgeting with the sleeve on his left arm. I knew it had to be the Dark Mark that was giving him so much trouble.

"Professor, we haff already learned that," said Sergei, a sixth year.

"Ve haff not!" came Aleksander, a fellow fourth year.

That was also why Karkaroff's lessons didn't always work out. He was trying to teach fourth through seventh years the same course material.

"Klasse avvist!" said Karkaroff abruptly, rushing off to his cabin and slamming the doors behind him. (Class dismissed)

Some of the blokes chuckled as we all moved to find new activities to engage in.

"What's with him, d'you reckon?" Finn nudged my shoulder.

I gave a shrug. "Karkaroff's a nutter."

"Demetria, should ve perhaps practice some more?" said Viktor after joining Finn and I near the ship's railing.

"I dunno, Vik, aren't you blokes tired of being tossed around like a rag doll?" I teased. He, Grigor, and Finn had been the targets for my training.

"I am!" Grigor groaned.

"Well maybe we could make it a bit more interesting," Finn suggested before hoisting himself up on the rail and whistling. All of the other students on deck turned their attention to him. "Which of you strapping young lads has what it takes to beat the Triwizard Champion in a duel?!"

Apparently, they all thought they did...except Sasha. He probably just didn't want to, he seemed far more interested in keeping an eye on Karkaroff, anyway. So that was exactly what he did while I began duelling my first opponent — Aleksander.

Aleksander was a fairly easy victory for me, being that he had not yet been taught the spells which Viktor taught me. He was still rather skilled, though. Next, I took down Oskar with relative ease, as well. He was a seventh year, so he knew a rather wide array of jinxes as well, but it wasn't anything I couldn't handle. Marcus Azarov, a fifth year, followed. He admitted defeat after I'd filled his face with rather nasty boils just as I'd seen Grigor do to Nikolai once. And speaking of Nikolai, that was exactly who stepped up next.

"Ready to —"

"It was Demetria Harris, my Lord!" someone hisses, face concealed by a black cloak.

"Harris, did you hear me?"

Nikolai's voice brought me back to reality. I wasn't sure what had just happened... It was like having a thought, or...a vision that I couldn't push aside...

"What? Yeah, fine, let's get on with it," I said.

"No, please!" Grandad cries; he's beaten and bloody. "Leave her alone!"

When I snapped back from that vision, I found myself laying on the deck. Viktor and Grigor rushed to help me up.

"Dem, are you okay?" Viktor asked gravely.

I looked and saw Nikolai standing a ways away, wand extended. He must've Disarmed me or something...

"Yeah, I'm —"

"What is the matter, Harris?" Nikolai mocked. "You cannot beat me without the help of your storebror?" (big brother)

"Stupefy!" I tossed at him.

A flash of green light and then my mother's body is lifeless. Another flash and I see my father drop to the ground. After a third flash, Grandad is gone as well.

I came back just in time to protect myself from Nikolai's Stinging Hex.

"That is the best you have got?!" he scoffed.

"The very last Harris," someone whispers. "What shall we do with you?"

I shook my head.

"Death would be too kind, I reckon."

They make a sudden, slashing movement with their wand, a purple flame flying from it. It hits me. I immediately crumple to the floor, screaming in agonizing pain...

...pain that I could almost really feel... Or was that just another hex from Nikolai? I found myself kneeling on the deck, hunched over, clutching my side.

"Wh-what's happened?" I tried to ask someone.

"Bloody fucking traitor," they say.

More green. Benjamin drops dead.

"Vi-Viktor!" My head was pounding, I could hear my heartbeat in my ears.

Purple flames hit me and I cry out in pain again. Another flash of green blinds me. When it clears, Viktor, Grigor, and Finn are all lifeless.

"Stop it! Stop it! Stop it!"

My friends. My family. All bloody. All dead.

I couldn't stop seeing it. My mind wouldn't let me escape it. But suddenly, I was free, I was back in reality.

"Demi, Demi, answer me." Viktor was staring into my eyes, holding me by the shoulders.

I couldn't find words to say. I looked down to where my hand was still clutching my side. The wound from the lake was bleeding through my shirt. Viktor noticed and immediately scooped me up in his arms.

"Is she all right?" someone asked. I was surprised to see it was Nikolai.

"You must haff reopened her wound," Viktor calmly explained. "But I do not know vot vos happening to her."

It was hard for me to keep my eyes open, so after a while, I didn't even bother to try. My head was still throbbing, my pulse racing...it was like waking up from a nightmare... Well, I sort of was...

"Vik," I whispered, my voice hoarse.

"Do not vorry, Demi," he assured me, voice completely even, no panic whatsoever. "Ve are going to the hospital wing."

I shook my head as much as I could manage. "Snape," I croaked out. "Dungeons."

"Use her," hisses Voldemort from his small, fetal body. "Use her to get to the boy."

I grew foggy, my head feeling heavy as though a great weight was resting inside it.

"After the hospital wing." Viktor was growing worried, then, I could hear it.

"No," I told him. "Now...please...Snape."

"There is no where to run, Demetria," Voldemort whispers. I hear his voice, but I only see the bodies of my friends and family. "You belong to me."

My grip on reality began loosening once again. I had no idea what was really going on anymore.

"Do not resist."

A hooded figure casts the Cruciatus Curse on me. I'm screaming. Something is carving itself into my left forearm. A giant snake crawls out of my mother's mouth. It tangles itself throughout the pile of bodies. My arm holds a bloody Dark Mark.

"Harris!"

I was back...and screaming... When I stopped, I picked my head up and looked around. I was seated in a chair with Snape standing in front of me, Viktor no where to be seen. I didn't recognize the room, but I assumed it was Snape's office.

"Wh-where's — ?"

"Guarding the door," Snape answered my unasked question of where Viktor was. He was examining me rather closely.

"It's him," I said. "He's...in my...mind."

"Harris, you must try and focus, do exactly as I say," Snape said urgently. "Clear your mind, let go of all emotion..."

I tried. I tried to calm myself, steady my breathing before I no longer possessed control of my body. I closed my eyes and tried picturing a blank wall in front of myself, tried to imagine I was standing in an empty, white room, not feeling anything at all...but then I started screaming again.

The snake slithers its way out of the last of my friends' bodies and, in one swift motion, attacks me.

"Focus!" I heard Snape instructing.

It sinks its fangs into my neck. I try and return back to the white room, but I'm still some place dark with the snake hanging on to me...but not for long. I grab the snake and rip it from me, clutching the wound it's left on my neck...

I stopped screaming. I pictured myself back in the safe, empty, room... I imagined holding the locket around my neck...

"Legilimens!" said Snape.

We were both silent for, what felt like, a while... No one tried to take me from the white room, though.

"Congratulations, Harris," he finally said, and he actually did sound a bit impressed. "You have just learned Occlumency."

I didn't dare open my eyes yet, out of fear that if I did, it might bring back the pain and the visions... Instead, I imagined Snape in the white room with me.

"I...thought...Legilimency..." I was shaking my head. "Hogwarts..."

"It is true that Hogwarts has many charms and magical defenses built around it to ensure Legilimency cannot take place," Snape explained. "However, there appears to be some sort of exception made in your case..."

My breathing was returning to normal, my heart rate finally slowly to an even pace. I took that time to slowly open my eyes. Remembering my reopened wound, my hand instinctively reached for it.

"Taken care of," Snape assured me.

"Thank you," I muttered, steadying myself as I tried to stand up. It caused a bit of a rush at first, but when I regained my balance, I began making my way across the classroom.

"Harris," Snape's voice stopped me for a moment. "why did you request to be brought here?"

Honestly, I wasn't entirely sure... I didn't have much time to consider options, but Snape was just the first person I'd thought of...

I looked over at him and, for once, he wasn't looking back at me with his usual discontent. "I s'pose...I trust you," I told him.

Quick as a flash of lightning, Snape's eyes held surprise. But when the moment was gone, he simply nodded before I made my exit.

If Dumbledore trusted Snape, I decided I would to.