Chapter 7 – I thought I was dead
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I took a swig of the Gillywater and two seconds later I could feel my magic doing something weird. I must have exclaimed a "Wow" or something and Hermione snatched the Gillywater out of my hand and took a smell. Passing it to Daphne, "What do you think is in it besides Gillywater?"
"Smells like Amortentia."
"What's that I asked, while my magic was doing a dance in my stomach."
"Love potion." Daphne answered.
"Is that why I want to snog you Daphne?" I thought it was a good attempt at some kissing and not get slugged.
"Mmm, it could be a 'Kissing Concoction' included." Hermione said very seriously.
"Oh! That's why I want to kiss you Hermione." Maybe this attempt would work on one of them.
"Well let's see which potion it is, come give me that kiss Harry." Daphne purred. Here was my chance to light a fire I thought and gave her my best. Not that I had any experience at kissing girls.
"Daphne it's my turn to see which potion it is or isn't." Hermione interrupted.
Who was I to complain so I gave Hermione my best; after all I had experience now. I almost missed Ron and Ginny stomping from the compartment.
"Ok you two, break it up, the game is over. Harry how did you over come the Amortentia it's a strong potion." Daphne asked.
"Aw, just a game, I was enjoying myself. I think my magic didn't like it and got rid of it for me."
"Hermione are you with us or what?" Daphne started snapping her fingers in Hermione's face.
"Err, yes, can we let Ginny give Harry some more so we can test the results?" Hermione asked.
While Daphne was rolling her eyes I figured this was a good time and, "I'm available any time you want Hermione I would enjoy being your test subject if it ends in a good snog."
"No you don't Potter it equal time with me and Hermione or you can go kiss Neville's toad." Daphne growled.
That started a serious discussion about feelings. I was unsure about just about everything but I knew I was lust driven for both of them. That got my mind to working in over my status. I was dead and they were still attracted to me. I had body heat and a pulse but no blood, I wonder if I was pumping magic through my veins or something. So far in the discussion I didn't hear "Her or Me!" but then Draco and groupies arrived.
"Greengrass get back to our compartment and quit mingling with a half-blood Griff. You should know…"
"I will sit with my boyfriend when and where I wish." Well that slowed me down for a second.
"What about the mudblood Potter I thought she was more your type?"
"Harry is my boyfriend also Draco, he's just so sexy." Hermione was laying it on thick.
"You…him…both?" Draco was slightly taken aback.
"Yes Draco my girlfriends and since they are I will hold you personally responsible if either one has any problem from you or your friends. Am I clear Draco?"
"Yea, whatever" Draco turned and left.
"Do you have the feeling that this year is not going to be a happy one?" I asked no one in particular.
/Scene Break/
Now that things had quieted down I found that I really had two girlfriends, at least they wanted to give the relationship a try. I had a warm glowing feeling in my chest and this gave me an incentive to protect and defend. That incentive some how got translated by my magic into some muscle but mostly strength. I was glad that Hogwarts robes covered so much as some of that strength got translated into a bit of body size. I noticed it when I put on robes upon arriving at the Hogsmeade station, my new robes had to auto-resize when I put them on, the strength I noticed a bit later. The fun year had just started.
As the Hogwarts express was pulling into the station a conversation was being held in the Headmasters office. "Severus welcome back, any news over Riddles plans?"
"None as he is getting paranoid beyond what he normally is, he has been having me brew some strange potions. Potter has spooked him."
"How is that Severus?"
"He has spells and potions as you know. Some are to make sure he knows who and what is around him. Potter just walked up and tugged on his robes. The Dark Lord had no idea Potter was there. He has ordered a kill on sight order on Potter. I am exempt as he does not want to lose me as his Hogwarts spy, yet"
"We will just have to make sure Harry doesn't have any problems. Is your house included in that kill order?"
"No he doesn't think they could do it and he is not inclined to loose future servants. Speaking about Potter how did the Amortentia I brewed for you work?"
"That Severus we will see at the welcoming feast."
The welcoming feast was as it always is, students catching up with one another and wondering what the toad woman would be like as the new DADA professor. One odd thing was that there were twenty transfer students that needed to be sorted which gave me chuckle inside. That is until I heard Draco literally screaming at Daphne at the Slytherin table. It was his usual type rant over me and her being a blood trader. From the looks at the Slytherin table people were not happy with Daphne.
I stood and walked over to Draco. When he saw me he jumped up and drew his wand. His mistake was letting me get close to do an unthinkable thing. Instead of dueling with wands and words I walked up and slugged him in the jaw muggle style. Whether it was the act or the sound of breaking bones I had their attention so I made my declaration.
"Tell ferret on the floor when he wakes up that I warned him and now I am warning you. She is my girlfriend, you bother or upset her and you will find me in your face and you may not live to regret your actions."
Then it was the teachers turn to start yelling, Snape was the most enjoyable.
"You have done it now Potter I will have you expelled…" I cut him off before he could get his recorded message going.
"Can it Snape, go tell Peeves if you're peeved but get out of my face with your hate for my father."
Instead of turning to the Headmaster and demanding my expulsion he laid his hands on me. My magic revolted and sent him flying the length of the Great Hall before he landed on the Gryffindor table sending plates and food flying.
The Toad started screeching for the Aurors and my being sent to Azkaban but settled for a detention after extensive yelling in the Headmasters office. I was laughing until Minerva stated that she was disappointed in me and my actions. That made me sad inside.
After everyone left, "I see you have your magic back Harry, care to explain how that happened?"
"Sorry, it's none of your business. I'm actually surprised you let a squib back for this years schooling, so what are you up to Headmaster?"
"Harry you must let this anger go, you are too important to our society to turn dark."
"Would you care to tell me why I am so important to this society of yours?"
"I will when the right time comes, as of now you are too young and should be enjoying life. Speaking of which how did you and Miss Greengrass become a couple? I thought you would have chosen someone from your own house."
"Oh Daphne is only one of my girlfriends, my other girlfriend is in Gryffindor house."
"Ah, Miss Weasley I would guess."
"Nope Miss Granger, Ginny's love potions didn't work for her but they did wonders for me and my girlfriends. Is that all Headmaster?"
"Yes Harry, enjoy yourself and try and control your anger."
/Scene Break/
Snape got a stay with Madam Pomfrey and Draco got a stay in St Mungo with a broken jaw. Well it was a bit more than broken but that was his problem.
The detention was more fun. "Mr. Potter I will teach you to strike an upstanding member of our society you little half-blood. You will take this quill and write 'I will not strike a pureblood'."
"How many times and where is the ink?"
"You will write until I tell you to stop and you will not need ink, so write."
It took awhile before she started screaming for me to leave and holding her bloody hand. Seems my magic established it was a blood quill and since I didn't have any blood my magic took it from the nearest source.
/Scene Break/
While the year was passing a bit quieter it all changed when Snape and Draco returned. Snape started to pick on both Daphne and Hermione. Draco was just angry and if looks could kill I would be…right I am already dead.
Hogmeade Village weekend finally came and we headed into the Village for a good time. The girls had set up a snogging schedule for me at school but both had warned me to keep my hands to myself. A village weekend was great to head out with both girls so the three of us could do things together. Being in different houses caused problems and studying in the classroom or the library was not having real fun. We had stopped at just about all the shops and were loaded down with Honeydukes candies. The book store was of course a planed stop where I figured I could relax my tired feet. Thankfully Hogwarts had a large library so after much time looking they only bought a couple of books each.
The day was about over, shortly we would finish our butter beers in The Three Broomsticks and then we would head to Hogwarts for the evening meal. It had been a great day. An adult raced in the front door screaming Deatheaters all over the main street before he collapsed to the floor, his back smoldering from a curse.
I am no hero and there was not much I could do but I could keep them from coming into this building. I headed to the bathroom and as soon as I was alone I 'faded' to the front to see what was going on. I stayed in my spirit form and walked around and by a few Deatheaters. They seemed more like kids just throwing curses around with no purpose just because they could. I saw Voldemort down by Honeydukes. He seemed to be looking for someone and I though it might be me so I 'faded' to an alley near Honeydukes and became solid. I stepped out and yelled, "Hay Snake Face looking for someone?" I reentered the alley and turned into my spirit form.
It was fun playing fox and hounds with me being the little red fox and the Deatheaters the hounds. Voldemort was totally into the hunt and had all his Deatheaters chasing me around town within minutes. I would pop out of an alley and yell 'over here' and pop backing to 'fade' to another alley. Jolly good fun.
Not to long into the game I 'faded' in behind Voldemort in my invisible spirit form. I was waiting until the Aurors arrived which turned out to be only about a minute later. Voldemort port-keyed away but unknown to him he had a hitch-hiking spirit holding his coat tails.
/Scene Break/
As we arrived and I let go of his cloak. Wow! what a place, there sitting on a platform, over the dance floor, is a golden throne in a plush ballroom. All of the windows surrounding the ballroom are covered with heavy velvet drapes making the room dark and gloomy.
"Wormtail get in here!"
"Yes master."
"Bring me some ham sandwiches and my wine."
"Yes Master immediately."
I wonder where this place was, so I floated thought the ceiling and found Mrs. Malfoy sitting at a desk. Looks like Malfoy Manor is the rat's nest. I floated around and found Lucius Malfoy and a number of Deatheaters killing time.
Well I think I will just liven up this place a little. Floating to the ballroom I saw Wormtail is just leaving so I slid behind a set of heavy drapes. I turned solid and gave the evil laugh, "MuWhahaha". I turned back to spirit form and headed to a different set of drapes.
Voldemort was startled and his wine glass flew into the air sending its contents down his shirt. His wand flicked into his hand and he scanned for someone who would soon be dead.
I gave another "MuWhahaha" but I was slow or he was faster. He hit me with a blasting curse as I was transforming out of my physical state. Whether it was because I was in-between states or some other reason I found myself in a different realm. The place was peaceful and relaxing and a spirit could spend some real time here. I decided to kick back and spend some time as the serenity was seeping into me in a most pleasant fashion.
You would think I could stay in this nice feeling realm but no, in flashes Dumbledore's Phoenix and snatches me up and out and poof I am in what looks like Dumbledore's office. I got the impression that we had not completely arrived as everyone in the office looked like statues and were not moving. Zap I am hit with a blinding white light and find myself in an office that Minerva could have designed. I was sitting in a straight back wooden chair in front of a worn but functional desk. The place could be called differently but drab came to mind. I saw a door behind the desk and a door behind me, otherwise the room was bare. I started to 'fade' and found that I couldn't. Seconds later the door behind the desk opened and a guy dressed in a white business suit entered; quit a distinctive being with white wings.
"Ah, Mr. elusive Potter, I have finally caught up to you."
"And who may you be?"
"Thanatos, Samuel, Peter Pan or if you like Death, pick a name."
"If I have to pick a name…what did your mother call you?"
"Now let's not become vulgar."
"Fine Thanatos, what do you want?"
"You of course, you died and are dead so I have come to collect you. By the way where is your mortal soul hiding?"
"You're a little late to come calling, what did you do make a wrong turn in Kent?"
"That's neither here nor there as you are here now so why don't you just follow me and we will fix you right up."
"Ah, Dumbledore's apprentice, what are you not telling me or what are you hiding?"
"You don't have a choice, you will follow me through the door behind me and we can talk later." Yep Dumbledore trained.
"No thanks I don't care to join you." Several things were happening about this time. Thanatos stood and turned towards the door indicating I should precede him. I jumped up to make a mad dash to the door behind me as a bolt of what look like lightning struck Thanatos on the head from above. The ceiling had disappeared revealing a black nothing. I made that so called mad dash as fast as I could, threw open the door and raced forward. Somehow going with Death was not a way to end the day so I took the other opinion, door number two.
/Scene Break/
Two Ministry employees from the Department of Mystery were doing their daily check on the Veil of Mystery. "Pete did you just see that?"
"Err, only if you did."
"I retire in three months so I say I saw nothing."
"I know what you mean, if we saw anything strange the paperwork could keep us occupied for six months or put us in the long term care ward in St. Mungo."
"Right, same report as yesterday, nothing new or unusual."
What the two workers saw or didn't see was Harry Potter running out of the Veil of Death mumbling, "Get my ass kicked because I got smart-ass and that other door definitely sucks" and then he 'faded' into nothing. A blink later a Phoenix flies out of the Veil and 'flames' away. A skeleton with a scythe then stepped out yelling, "Potter get your skinny butt back here." The Veil then seemed to suck the skeleton back into the flapping curtain.
/Scene Break/
I was upset with myself, as I 'faded' to unused room at Hogwarts. I wanted to have some fun with Voldemort and got myself blasted, almost picked up by Dumbledore's chicken and dragged who knows where by Thanatos. That lightning strike is another mystery, was it my magic or Thanatos boss sending him a memo. Now I am going to give myself a headache mulling over what Thanatos wants with a spirit, didn't he get the rest of me when I died or is it hiding from him also?
Now that's odd. Apparently there hasn't been a lot of time passed since I grabbed a ride with Volde because everyone is just now heading for dinner. I'd best let the girls know I am alright. They were sitting with Susan at the Hufflepuff table.
"Harry" they screamed and I had two hugging me and then, "Where did you go Potter, you scared us to death." Hermione growled. I spent most of dinner trying to calm the snarling beasts, err, girls. I did see Snape grab his arm and after a word with Dumbledore Snape rushed out of the Great Hall.