Year One
Chapter Three - Fallout, Classes and the Voice?
Harry strode down an empty road, leather riding boots splashing in pools of liquid as he walked, eyes taking in the dilapidated houses and stores that lined the pavement, and as he blinked, bodies appeared, some in pristine condition, others torn apart, blood covering every surface in some way. Bodies hung from the walls of buildings, pinned by strange metal spikes, others hanging from street lamps by silver ropes strung around their necks, while others littered the road and pavement, and he looked down to see the liquid he had been walking in was blood. Dropping to his knees, he retched and threw up all over the street, bile mixing with blood, hands stained red with the blood of other people. He rose to his feet and stumbled over to a wall, looking at an oddly familiar bushy head of hair, though he couldn't quite place where he remembered seeing it.
He giggled madly, slowly descending into a cackling image of madness. And as he turned to look around him once more, he caught sight of his reflection in a window, saw the gleam of madness in his eyes, his normally serene smile twisted into a maniacal grin, his once clean clothes drenched in blood, hardly any of the white shirt remained, almost entirely dyed red with blood. And it was in that moment that he knew what he had done, and he screamed in anguish and pain.
Then he was being shaken, limbs flailing in terror, as he awoke from his nightmare, hands smacking into something hard, a grunt of pain from what he had hit.
"POTTER, CALM DOWN"
The words hit him like a sledgehammer, and he stilled, eyes darting around to help gain his bearings. He was in his private room, dimly lit by a few flickering green flames, and in the low light he saw two figures, one standing over him, hand on his shoulder while the other stood a meter back, hand on this head as he winced in pain. Draco and Blaise, he realised.
"What happened?"
"You should be telling us mate, we were just walking up the corridor when you started screaming, so we ran in here to see what was wrong, we managed to wake you up but you copped Zabini in the head. Why were you screaming?"
Nodding at Blaise, Harry spoke. "Just a nightmare, my apologies Zabini"
After receiving a nod in return Harry rose, stretching his muscles and yawning.
"Thank you both, but I'll be fine, please let me get dressed"
Both nodding in acquiescence, they exited his room, Draco pausing on the way out to say something.
"For what it's worth Potter, I'm sorry about what happened on the train, I didn't mean to do that"
Staring at the blonde, Harry weighed his options, and was silent for a moment before speaking.
"I'm not quite sure what you're talking about Malfoy, I don't remember anything happening on the express"
He was rewarded with a relieved smile, a proffered hand, and a casual, 'call me Draco', before the boy left, closing the door on the way out.
Harry exhaled, body sagging with the release of the tension that had been building up, as he slipped out of his pyjamas, pale skin covered in goosebumps from a mixture of the nightmare and the cool temperature. Trembling fingers struggled to effectively button up his shirt and fix his tie, and with a scream of frustration he lashed out with his fist, punching the stone wall of his room, not noticing the small spiderweb cracks that emerged from the point of impact. After gathering his bookbag, he left to hopefully not get lost in the labyrinth that was Hogwarts on the way to breakfast, though that would not be an issue if he'd had his father's map.
-TDR-
Breakfast had been uneventful for the most part, the few glares from his brother were dismissed in a casual manner, and he had a light conversation with Daphne before their timetables arrived. Now he was seated in the well lit and cheerful charms room, whispered conversations from his fellow Slytherins intermingling with the louder and more enthusiastic chatting of their Hufflepuff classmates. Their teacher, one Filius Flitwick, was currently standing on a pile of thick books that augmented his admittedly short stature, his enthusiastic grin was almost infectious in nature, and Harry had to struggle in order to maintain a straight face, and he partially failed at that, a small rise of the corner of his lips giving him away.
"Good morning class! Welcome to your first year of charms, here you will learn all about a variety of charms, some can be used in simply keeping a house in order, or for those who are more creative, in a combat environment, though I hope none of you need to do so. Now, who can tell me just what a charm is?"
Silence met his question, his squeaky voice left a void in its wake, students looking around in confusion at the question, surely he didn't expect an answer about the nature of the very topic of their class in the first lesson.
"Surely one of you know, I see many purebloods here, none of you were taught about charm theory at home? Not even the basics?"
Harry raised his arm, garnering the attention of the class as a whole as he did, sitting in the front as he was.
"Mr Potter?"
"From what my mother has discussed with me I would describe a charm as anything that affects another object or space, with the purpose of changing or adding a particular feature, often with a variety of uses."
"Could you give an example of this description in action?"
"The patronus charm, while often touted as a defense spell, is a charm in that it causes an ethereal form, representative of an aspect of the caster, to occupy a space in the real world, often causing happy emotions in those that remain nearby, and it is this byproduct that causes it to be used against creatures such as dementors and lethifolds, not because it is a defensive spell."
The charms professor beamed at him in open joy, clapping gently at his explanation.
"Excellent Mr Potter, your mother does her mastery service and if you have half her talent then you will do well in this class. Take ten points for Slytherin."
Harry gave a small smile, and took notes as his teacher continued to lecture the class on basic charm theory, and the distinction between the different types of charms. All in all, it was a fun and enjoyable lesson, which was more than he could say for some of his other classes.
Defence had been an interesting subject to say the least, he could barely focus between the professor's horrible stutter, the cloying stench of garlic that permeated the room, and the deathly glare of his older brother. The only way he had survived had been to fall into the void he discovered when Malfoy had accosted him on the train, the small flame flickering in his imagination a burning tongue of emerald, surrounded by a black void of nothingness. His senses slightly enhanced, and he could feel something in the back of his mind when he slipped into the void, but he couldn't place the feeling.
Potions was more enjoyable, spending the lesson reviewing the years overview, what potions they would be brewing and basic safety precautions. Harry was upset that he had not been able to witness Snape tear his arrogant brother a new one, probably for the best though, as snape seemed to be giving him an odd stare whenever he could, a strange mixture of apprehension and disdain. But strange looks aside, the class was the most productive, charms had easily taken the place of most enjoyable so far. Only time would tell how the other subjects would go, with Herbology, History, Astronomy and Transfiguration yet to come.
-TDR-
Harry wandered the castle, no real destination in mind, fingers rolling the strange coiled snake around his palm, as he strode along the fourth floor, following where his feet led. His body tensing at a strange voice filling his ears, and resounding through his head, filling his body with the vibrations that accompanied the sibilant whisper.
§Come to me, blood of my blood§
His mind shot instantly to the strange note he had found on his bed, laying next to the snake figure he held even now.
Follow his voice and he shall guide you.
§And where would I be going exactly?§
The voice was silent for but a moment, and when it returned, it seemed agitated, almost angry in its whispered voice.
§I do not know. The castle moves me, seeks to hide me from the world. It could not destroy me, I am a part of it, as much as it is a part of me. I only know that there is a room in the castle, a creation of Rowena, it alone can remain an ever changing constant in the castle. Designed that way so that while its surroundings may change or remain the same, it does not vary from it's original. This room will take you to me, or me to you. It was complicated magic, far beyond my understanding, though that was oft the case with Rowena, wit beyond measure indeed.§
§If you are being moved, how can I hear you as if you were next to me?§
§A little invention of mine, no matter my location in the castle, I can tap into the pipes and project my words as if I was there next to you, it made it quite easy to summon people. And before you ask, I am a part of the school itself, more so than the headmaster, I am able to hear what it hears, see what it sees. So I know, even now that you carry my token, keep it close at hand, always, for it will help you in ways you do not understand, not yet at least.§
§Could I be able to do the same?§
§Not yet, blood of my blood. You will, once you wear my ring, but to do that, you must pass a test.§
§What test?§
§I cannot say. It varies from person to person from what I am told.§
§Very well. I will find you, and I will get my answers.§
§As you wish, blood of my blood.§
And with a final whispered hiss, the voice left, and Harry stumbled to the wall, body drenched in sweat, red hair matted by the liquid that streamed from his head, and, after taking a wobbly step, he collapsed, eyes rolling up in his head.
-TDR-
The hospital wing was very clinical, Harry realised, in the brief period of time he spent conscious there he watched the mediwitch bustle about from patient to patient at regular intervals, never spending more time than was necessary with a patient and never a shorter time than a minute.
She moved towards him, a tray of potions floating behind her. Casting a diagnostic charm on him, she sighed in exasperation.
"So Mr Potter, you were brought here a few hours ago by Professor Snape, completely drenched in sweat, shivering, and suffering from severe fatigue but yet had no sign of any physical exertion other than the standard strain you see from children walking around the castle a lot. Any reason you can think of for this?"
Her eyes bored into his, almost as if she were trying to stare an answer out of him. His mind flashed quickly to the voice in the hallway, the strain he felt from keeping himself in the void, and shook his head slowly.
"Not really ma'am. I was just exploring the castle when I collapsed, I'm not sure why it happened honestly."
She hummed at that, her eyes narrowing at him as if in suspicion but she quickly relented, fetching a potion from the tray behind her, pouring it into a small cup and handing it to him. Seeing his questioning gaze she answered the unasked question.
"Half a standard dose of Pepper-Up, enough to get you back on your feet quickly but not cause any strain as a result, can't have you collapsing again after leaving my care now can we."
His small smile gave way to a grimace as he downed the potion, his body shuddering at the taste, not that it tasted bad per se, but it left a strange aftertaste in his mouth. And his complaint was interrupted before it left his mouth, the doors to the medical wing swinging open with a tiny squeal of rusted hinges, the figure of his brother being revealed to all in the infirmary.
"Couldn't even last a whole day before ending up in here huh? Mom is gonna freak, good work."
"What do you want Charlus?"
"Can't I come and visit my dearest brother in his time of need?"
"I hardly need you of all people"
"That hurts brother, it truly does"
§Kill him, blood of my blood. He vexes me§
Harry's eye twitched at the voice, bloodlust flooding through his veins, and he shoved all the emotions into the flame, calmly embracing the void as a surge of power filled the room.
"What are you doing Harry?!"
Harry smiled at his brother, eyes crinkling in faux happiness.
"Doing? I'm not doing anything brother."
"Yes you are, stop it!"
Harry sighed, and the action freed some of his magic from his tight leash on it. And with a sizzling crack, a small arc of electricity arced from his fingertips, small particles of charged energy flying away from him.
Charlus' eyes were widened in fear, his body shaking and leaning quite obviously away from Harry.
"Leave Charlus, I have no time for your games. Not now."
As his brother fled from the infirmary Harry glanced down at his fingers in shock, stray tendrils of eldritch energy unraveling from his fingertips, and the small snake in his other hand, it's emerald eyes glowing with arcane light.
AN: Hey guys, Arhan here! This chapter just goes through a brief overview of Harry's first few lessons, his first contact with the voice, and his first bit of unconscious channeling. So a few firsts there. Next chapter will have a bit of a timeskip, so we won't see the first transfiguration lesson, or astronomy, herbology and history. Not too sure about this chapter, but lemme know what you guys think!
Also, I'll mostly be responding to comments with questions over PM, unless a few people ask the same question which will then be answered in the next chapter I post. Cheers.