Harry Potter & the Power of the Eclipse
"Like this is speech." Like this is written words. Like this is thoughts. Like this is telepathic. Like this is different language.
Chapter 8
Ginny sat on the Hogwarts Express staring out the window at nothing. She had not heard the voice that spoke to her for a long while. She had hoped it would speak again as it seemed to know where Harry was even though the a lot of people thought him dead after so long. She was still hoping that the voice was right about him being alive, though the part about not seeing him again wasn't that nice for her. But it was the thought of Harry not being there that had helped her tame the wolf that was in her. Sure it still was in control when the full moon rose but it was more docile then when she first changed. During school she would sneak to either the room of requirement or the shrieking shack. When in the room of requirements she would put the strongest locking spells she knew and have the room supply a wall right in front of the door. No one had ever found out and most mistook her depression to be caused by Harry disappearing. Which half of it was. Hermione came in from her patrols as Head Girl and sat down.
Before school had ended she had finally gotten Ginny, Remus, and Tonks to listen to her and even used a pensive, supplied by Remus, to show them what happened in the office.
"Hey Ginny. How are you doing?"
Ginny just shrugged and stayed silent. Hermione sighed and pulled out a thick book and started reading. Ron, unlike Hermione, had not tried to prove his innocence in the matter. In fact he had almost become a poor, redheaded Gryffindor version of Draco Malfoy. He was arrogant, snobbish and boastful. He had abandoned his old friends and now had a gang like group that hung on to his every word. Thankfully he had not become Head Boy. From what Hermione had said when she had first stopped in the compartment it was some guy in Ravenclaw with the last name of Samisen or something.
The two girls continued like this until the train began to slow, at which time they changed into their robes and waited for the train to stop. As they got off the train they passed Ron and his new gang which included Pavarti(?spelling?) and Lavander. He didn't seem to see then as he walked right next to them, which only made Hermione wince at what he had become. Ginny was unaffected because she seemed to be on a different track of mind. They road up to the castle with Luna and Neville who couldn't find them on the train because Neville kept loosing Trevor and having to go look for him. It had gone on the whole train ride so he was glad to finally sit down. In side there was still no sign of Harry so Ginny's head dropped as she continued walking.
Maybe this year I should stop hoping and just move on. That voice said he was happy and well but that I would never see him again. I just hope the voice was wrong.
Sitting down she zoned out every thing around her, even as Dumbledore stood to get their attention.
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Dumbledore stood and began his normal speech about the Forbidden Forest, Filch's list of rules and school contraband items that hung on his office door. He introduce Tonks and Remus, who was 'feeling ill' was not there, as the first teachers to last more than one year as DADA teacher, which most were happy about and soon the feast began. Except for one young man who stood just out side the wards of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry.
He smiled. It had been a long time since he last saw this castle, the one that was his first home in England, his refuge from the torturous # 4 Privet Drive. Shadow stood black jeans as always and today's shirt said 'If you're going to break the rules…' in a almost warning red on the front, and 'Then have fun shattering them' in a mischievous green on the back as well as his trench coat with the hood up, blocking the rain that had started shortly after the students entered the building. The scar that had hindered his forehead when he left Europe that night so long ago, had been surgically removed just two months ago. It still hurt but that was what his tylenol was for.
I wonder how they will react. I mean for them I will be a stranger who just walked in the door.
But when he thought of the best way to find out, his only answer was to just go in there. And so in a split second the human that stood in the open area was replaced with a large black wolf with glowing green eyes.
This will be fun.
And with that thought he disappeared into the dark shadows of night time, and reemerged in side the entrance hall.
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All of the sudden Dumbledore stiffened visibly.
"Albus, is something wrong?" Asked the transfiguration teacher.
"There is an intruder on the grounds, but the wards can not seem to pinpoint his location."
"What do you mean?"
"Just that, that the wards are only giving me a general location and that is impossible."
This caught the attention of Professor Snape. "What is impossible headmaster?"
Before Albus could answer the door opened and a young man slipped inside, as if trying not to interrupt a party. All eyes went straight to him though, as soon as the door began to move. The figure wore what looked to be a long black coat that had a hood which covered his face. Albus stood with god like speed, pulling his wand out and standing in less than half a second.
"Who are you and why are you here?" He shouted at the intruder.
The man lifted his hands to his hood and lowered it before taking off the trench coat to reveal a shirt that would have been the envy of the Weasley twins black spike hair with red tips. The teen walked forward, seemingly oblivious to the wands trained on him. There were whispers all around the hall as he strode towards the teachers table. At the front he stopped and pulled off the backpack. He stuffed the coat inside an outer pocket before unzipping a pouch on the front, where he pulled forth a folder. He set it down on the table in front of the headmaster.
"My name is Shadow S Grim and I am a transfer student from America. The folder holds all the details, including my permission slip to come here." He kept a straight face, almost seeming bored, but remained standing there as Dumbledore looked through the folder.
"Ah well it seems to all be in order. So if you will sit on the stool to be sorted once one of the staff retrieves the hat-"
"Not to be rude sir, but I would prefer to not be sorted. This school is not my own and thus I should not force which ever house I am put in hinder for my action, be it good or bad. Also I will not take sides inside a school that I only just started at and being sorted would do just that, make me pick a side." Shadow commented. His wisdom shocked some of the teachers.
"You make a fare argument but you need a place to sleep." Replied Dumbledore.
"Again not to be rude in any way of insulting this great school, but I am to sleep out side under my own conditions, as stated in page five, which regards my living quarters, and other school related things such as punishment which is what ever any average student gets for the specific offence."
Albus looked at said page and found that the man was correct. He sure knows what is going on around him that is for sure.
"May I ask what year you will be in and what classes you will take?"
"I will be taking seventh year DADA, potions, charms, transfiguration, CFMC, runes, and if your school has one, an independent study session." This boy seems to be very interesting. I will have to have Mr. Weasley look into him if he can. For that runes class though, I do not know who I have to spy on him with seeing as how Ms. Granger is no longer under my control. Albus thought to himself. He tried to probe the boys mind but felt like he was snapped at by a large canine upon entry, which chased him out.
"Very well. if you will sit down to eat after I introduce you, you will receive a guide and a schedule tomorrow during breakfast." Then turning to the rest of assembly he raised his voice even though the hall had been silent the whole time and every one had heard them talk. The new comer's voice nagged at the back of Ginny's mind for some reason that eluded her. "It seems we have a new student among us. His name is Shadow S Grim," Professor Trelawney fainted having finally paid attention. "and is an exchange student from America. Please treat him with respect and help him if he needs it. If you may mister Grim, take a seat at one of the tables so that you may eat among the other students." Shadow bowed his head curtly and pulled his backpack back on, then turned and scanned the tables. He seemed to spot a seat and head off.
"Albus what was it that was impossible?" Whispered Professor McGonagall.
"The wards say he just appeared in side the entrance hall, with out a trace any where on the premises. I want you to have Ronald Weasley shadow this Shadow person." He whispered back. She nodded and he looked back at the feasting students with a small chuckle at his own joke. Shadow a shadow now that is a hard thing to do.
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Shadow turned to look at the tables and saw an empty seat at the far end of the Gryffindor table. He walked casually down the hall to the spot and discovered that he was sitting down next to a young redheaded girl with waist long hair and chocolate brown eyes. She eyed him curiously while her other three friends did so as well. He could hear some of the girls in the hall talking about him, which made him blush when he heard one of the girls near the middle of the table ask her friend about how good he would be in bed. The girl next to him seemed to hear her as well and shot a quick glare at the offender. The girl sitting across from him with curly brown hair spoke first.
"Hi my name is Hermione. This is Luna, Neville and the girl next to you is Ginny." She point each one out as she named them. "Welcome to Hogwarts."
"Like wise with the greeting and as you heard my name is Shadow, Shade to those who get to know me."
"Is your last name really Grim, and what does the S stand for?" Asked an inquisitive Luna.
"Yeah my last name is Grim. As for the S its just S or what ever I choose it to be, such as-" He was interrupted by a howl like sound. "Hang on." He pulled his mage phone out of his pocket and flipped it open. After a second of his eyes scanning the email that he had just gotten he put it away.
"Was that a cell phone? And how can it work on school grounds?" Asked Hermione.
"Close, but it's a mage phone, which runs off magic."
"Mage?" This time it was Neville.
"Magical people. In America there are the mages and the citizens, who are what you call muggles I think. But the only way to tell the difference is their wand or focus, because they are interrogated so much. It is quite nice, with the only discrimination being of racial color, due to slavery which was abolished in the civil war." He noticed Ginny watching him, trying to recognize him from some where. "May I ask what I have on my head that is attracting your eyes?"
She shook herself and shrugged before going back to eating. Malfoy and his group came over after a while with a sneer towards the others. He stuck out his hand for Shadow to shake.
"Hello my name is Draco Malfoy, and I suggest you choose friends wisely, some filth here should not be associated with." His eyes flicked to Hermione and Ginny.
"Bug off Ferret!" Growled Ginny.
"Don't you dare talk to me like that you muggle obsessed whore!"
Before any one could react there was a pistol barrel staring him right in the face. Shadow who had not said a word or even acknowledged Malfoy, was holding the other end.
"I suggest that if you are to say such things about some one they should be true and from what I can tell you are the only gigolo in this area, though why a female would touch you is beyond me. Now apologize before I shoot a reducto into your face." He growled. To those who could not make out the words it seemed like a wolf was snarling at Malfoy.
Malfoy's goons made to grab him but the found the gun pointed at them instead and he pulled the trigger twice. The fell to the ground, stunned. Malfoy took this as his chance to curse the new comer for threatening him. He pulled out his wand as Shadow went to check on his two goons.
"Reducto!" The curse shot out at an alarming speed, heading straight for Shadow.
In unconceivable speed, faster then even Dumbledore had stood and pulled forth his own wand not fifteen minutes ago, Shadow pulled his kodachi out of its invisible sheath and deflected the blast with a quick upward slash. As if it was part of the block, he swung his right leg around in a high arc, sending the Slytherin to the ground with a brutal heel to the face. Having checked Crabbe and Goyle he sat back down as if nothing had happened. He turned to Ginny.
"Are you alright? And may I ask for you to show me around tomorrow? Thanks." He turned and headed out of the hall before any the teachers could arrive there to stop him.
Realization dawned on her as she heard the fraise 'may I ask'. The nagging in the back of her head finally recognized the voice. She ran after him, nearly slamming into him as she entered the entrance hall.
"You! You're the one who spoke to me last year. How do you know Harry? Where is he?" She demanded almost instantly.
"Ah so you do remember our chat Gin, well like I said he is happy and safe. Now if you don't mind I will be going to bed now. If you have more questions ask them when you show me around school in the morning, k? And please do not do anything that will make me want to end this friendship I would like to start." With that he walked out the doors onto the lawn, leaving a confused Ginny behind. For some reason she felt like she knew him more than she really did and his eyes nagged at her like his voice did.
The professors came out and saw her standing there staring off into space.
"Ms. Weasley where did Mr. Grim go?" Asked the transfiguration teacher.
"Outside." Was all she could say as she remembered his vivid emerald green eyes that reminded her of the full moon that was going to rise in ten minutes. "Oh my!" She clasped a hand to her mouth and rushed down the hall, looking sick to the professors.
When they walked out the door they just made out a figure walking into the Forbidden Forest.
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How could I forget the full moon? I mean I've been keeping track of it but why did I forget it until now?
Ginny ran down the corridors as fast as possible until she came to the room of requirement. She passed where the door would appear three times, imagining her usual interior. As soon as the door appeared she rushed inside. Inside it looked like a small forest and a large rock next to the door slid to cover it once she shot the door. That was one of best safeties to keep herself and others safe. The rock would not move until sunrise regardless of what some one did from the out side and it was too heavy for even the wolf to move. She stripped off her clothes and shoved them in a small cave like hole half way up the far wall. It was high enough that she could get it while the wolf couldn't so her clothes never looked tattered like Remus's which just added to her cover up. Just as she finished putting them away she began to change. It still hurt but she had become not to the pain.
The wolf howled, unheard by all due to the silencer built into the room. It sniffed the room as it always did to make sure her 'territory' was not invaded. There were the usual human scents which Ginny's mind recognized as several of the Slytherins, some females that she'd never met, and the DA who still meat but with the DADA teachers running it. Nothing new so she laid down after trotting around the room once or twice just to make sure.
An hour later she smelt something. It was a new sent and it smelled like another wolf. Standing she turned towards the origin of the sent to find a large black wolf staring back at her.
Where did that come from?
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Shadow had turned in to his wolf form and shifted into the room of requirements to look around the school an hour after the moon rose. Upon arriving he found it looking like a forest with a pure white wolf lying on the floor. It got up almost instantly and turned to face him.
Who are you and how did you get in here? It said, sounding female.
I am known as Shade to my pack. I apologize for my intrusion. I did not know a wolf used this room of the school. He gave a quick bow to show respect but knew if she attacked he could win. After all he was bigger than her.
You are of a pack?
I am the alpha of my pack, yes. May I ask your name?
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Ginny's human mind was reeling. There was another wolf in the room and the wolf in her was taking an interest in him.
My name is Lara.
This is not good. Not good at all. I do not want to become pregnant to wolf cubs, even if they are easier to watch. And there's that fraise again. 'May I ask'. That will drive me nuts if I keep hearing things say it. First it was Shadow who talked to me last year, how I still don't know, and now this wolf, Shade, says it. Wait, Shadow said he went by Shade to his friends. Is there a connection?
Nice to meet you Lara, care to join me on a walk through the halls?
We can not leave, the rock blocks the way out until sunrise. Thank you Lara for remembering your boundaries. Let us pray this wolf will recognize them as well.
Oh you are a werewolf. Sorry I thought you were just another wolf like those in my pack. Well I still see no reason you can't join me on my walk. Here let me move this for you. Dear deities don't tell me he is going to try and move that! But much to her horror Shade stood on his back legs after standing next the rock and placed his for paws on rock. With a single shove the rock moved out of the way, revealing the door to the school.
Deities above please let this be a dream of Lara's, please. But it was not a dream and Lara proved it to her human half by biting her paw, which hurt and earned them a raised eyebrow from the wolf with them. Sigh and if not, Lara, do not use my name regardless of how much he asks for it. If you do you will regret it. She sent Lara an image of the room filled with neon pink and puke green ducks and floating fish, which for some reason scares Lara to no end.
Now that I have proven to myself and my human half that this is no dream, I will love to take a walk with you, though my human half would most likely it if we did not come into contact with humans. I still haven't and I don't know what they taste like. Do you?
Once when one intruded onto my packs territory. I only bit his hand off but it tasted like a cross of duck and house cat, which makes them taste really bad, I vomited almost as soon as I spat it out. Besides if you bite them you will get in trouble and that is a bad thing.
Well at least now Lara you will not want to bite one because I know you don't like duck, or house cat, though how you know what the second tastes like I don't want to know.
Well put it this way, the neighbors down the road have one lest cat out of that mass of fur balls.
You didn't.
Sorry, it attacked first honest. You were sleeping, though why I don't know seeing as you technically are right now.
You coming Lara? She looked up to see Shade on the other side of the open door.
How did you get the door open?
Like I'll let you know my secret. This really sparked Lara's interest in the wolf before her. He was smart, he was an alpha which meant he was strong, and he was funny as well as caring, seeing as he didn't want her to get into trouble. All the things she and Ginny looked for in a mate, though Ginny denied that she needed a mate let alone had standards to look for. She trotted out after him and they explored the castle side by side.
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Shadow had enjoyed his walk with Lara. She was really nice. He hadn't asked for her human name, knowing that most werewolves tend to not want to be considered human when they are wolf, and wolf when human, if that makes any sense. The sun was going to rise soon so he had led her back to the room of requirement and promised to see her next full moon. He left the same way he came and went straight to his tent in the Forbidden Forest. He knew that this werewolf was at least used to her change because he had seen her clothes in a hole in the wall where Lara couldn't get to them if she got mad, so he couldn't identify her by her clothes. And he knew it wasn't Tonks, she was with Remus who he had smelt but avoided. He had also set up a scentless trail charm that many of the wolves used when scouting so as to not let the old werewolf know that there were wolves about at night.
He sighed happily as he laid down on the cot he had brought. He had gotten a military camping set so that he could set up and take down the camp with in minutes. Taking a quick nap to rest he headed inside and to the great hall to find Ginny already there. She looked very happy. But before he could say anything Snape and McGonagall showed up.
"Mr. Grim what you did yesterday was uncalled for and-" McGonagall started.
"Excuse me professor but I feel that calling a girl a whore when there is no proof of it and then attacking me behind my back calls for the actions I took. As you found I only stunned the two who charged me and the only thing I did to Mr. Malfoy was kick him. On the other hand he was the one to shoot a reducto at my head while I was making sure the two I stunned were not hurt. So if any one should be in trouble it should be the snobbish pureblood with more gel than even Professor Snape has here, though I do not mean that as an insult towards you sir. Now if you do not mind I would like to start eating before the other unearthly risers wake and ask questions of me." With that he sat down ending the conversation with the two teachers who looked quite stunned. "Hey Gin, how yah doin'?"
"Ok mister I just out talked the teachers twice in fourteen hours, once you get some food we can start your 'tour' of the school. During which time I think I will take you up on your friendship Shadow, or should I say Shade seeing as I am going to be a friend of yours." He grabbed a cinnamon bun and stood up while taking a bite.
"Ready."
As they walked around the school Ginny pointed out several things that she found worth pointing out, such as the entrance to the chamber of secrets, though she looked uneasy when she talked about it. He put a comforting arm around her when she did, which earned him a stare and a quick blush from her.
I still like it when she blushes. Darn this is getting much harder to act new when I no the place almost by heart.
At this time he made a comment about Malfoy belonging in the girls bathroom with the way he screamed upon being kicked.
"Oh yeah what was those thing that you used on them? I know they were a pistol and a sword but I didn't know they could use magic."
"In America because of the crossing of mage and citizen populations, which has been going on for along time to the point that the only purebloods there are either immigrants or have intermarried. But back on subject, because of this constant interaction after taking a test to find the best suited type of focus you can get your wand made into a citizen item based on your scores. I had two wands when I went to get mine so I chose two different focuses. A big advantage is that the types of focuses I got don't need words to do spells. But you have to score at least twelve of ten in defense to get this kind of focus."
"Speaking of American items, what else does that mage phone of yours do?"
"I'll tell you on another walk if you don't mind besides don't we need to get our schedules."
"Oh shoot there is no way we will make it to the great hall for schedules and to our first class!" Shadow thought for moment after hearing this and decided he would do it just once. He pulled out the phone and went to the beam menu. He selected manual, as he hadn't programmed English sights yet. On the GPS map he found Hogwarts and located the height, longitude and latitude that would put them right behind the open doors.
"Hang on." He grabbed her hand and hit enter. In a pulse of light they were gone and behind the open door to the great hall. He guided her inside and sat her down as she was still dazed from her first beaming. He saw Professor McGonagall.
"Excuse me ma'am but me and Ginny need our schedules before class starts."
"Where have you been that you didn't get them when they were handed out?"
"She was showing me around, if that is alright with you. At least now Dumbledore won't have to antagonize anyone to do it." He grabbed the schedules form her hands and walked back over to Ginny who had finally gotten over the first timer affects. "Here's your schedule. What's your first class? I have independent studies so I don't have to go to any classes yet."
She scanned her schedule and groaned when she saw her first class was muggle studies, which was one the other end of the castle. "I'll never make it there in time."
Shadow looked over her shoulder and saw her class. He and Lara had passed the room last night. It was quite a walk from the great hall to there. He gave into his helping personality again and pulled his mage phone out yet again. He set the location as he started rushing out of the great hall after Ginny who had started running.
"Gin, stop." He said as he caught up to her. She did thankfully but was looking nervous.
"What? If I'm late for my calls I will have detention for sure." Apparently she is still in shock from her first time to remember it.
"Do you remember how we got to the great hall from half way across school?" She nodded until her eyes grew wide as the information sunk in. The look was quickly replaced by a pair of pleading eyes.
"Why do you think I said stop?" He grabbed her wrist again and hit enter. The phone flashed and when the light was gone again they were just out side of her class. She had a minute before the bell rang. She rushed inside and got ready. He decided to do his independent studies in muggle studies, to see how wizards out look on non magical humans differed from that of mages.
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Declaimer: Don't own HP. If I did I would not be using fanfic because I would be working on the real books.
A/N: I hope you all like this chapter, it took me a while to get some of this stuff. R&R please.