DISCLAIMER: Harry Potter and all other characters and locations belong to J. K. Rowling.
Chapter Five - The Balm of Dresden
Harry considered the question thoughtfully, tipping his head to the side and chewing his bottom lip. Who was he? A simple question to answer really, though his response might send the blond running for his life. He was Harold James Potter, Retriever Demon extraordinaire. There wasn't a demon in hell who could outmaneuver him, or on earth for that matter. His skills were legendary, his tact unrivaled. And he certainly wasn't about to lose his much coveted reputation over a human male. Smiling softly, he shook his head and resumed his forward march, leaving the wide-eyed wizard staring after him.
His arrival in the Great Hall brought silence to the students gathered within, turning heads and closing mouths. Halting just inside the doorway, he tipped his head back and scanned the crowd. Witches and wizards gaped at him, horrified looks appearing on many faces as they took in his new attire. The silver and green uniform he sported caused a wave of terrified whispers. Death Eater was hissed loudly by some brave soul, the word ricocheting around the vast chamber. Shifting his gaze to the staff table, the raven-haired demon met thoughtful blue orbs and arched an eyebrow.
Dumbledore rose slowly, his arms held aloft as the soft hisses grew in volume. Frowning when the student population failed to fall silent, he withdrew his wand and placed it against his throat. "Silence." The word was softly spoken, only the amplification charm allowing it to be heard by everyone throughout the Great Hall. Heads turned at the severe tone in the old wizard's voice, eyes widening at the sight of the Headmaster patiently waiting for their attention. Nodding in satisfaction, Albus gestured Harry forward. "I would like you all to meet Harry. Harry is a transfer student who will be staying with us at Hogwarts for a short period of time before moving on to Durmstrang."
Harry lifted one of his hands in a small wave, his watchful eyes resting on the Headmaster. He shifted uncomfortably under the eyes of the entire school, his left hand clenching into a fist at his side. Deciding to make the most of the moment, he stretched his aura outward. His breathing slowed as his vision changed to accommodate his expanded aura, pupils dilating until they were nothing more than slivers of black in a sea of green. Reds, blues, golds, and greens flared under the touch of his magic, sparking and dancing around the nervous students. A few of the bright colours were marred by angry streaks of black; the dark lines slicing through the seemingly healthy magic. A puff of air slid past his lips as he swivelled his head and scanned the table where the Slytherins sat in reserved silence. Demon magic broiled around them, completely encompassing the long table in a cloud of black.
"I would like you all to make his stay with us as enjoyable as possible. Please feel free to answer any questions he might have," Dumbledore directed calmly. The old wizard ran his tired gaze over the four houses, seeking any sign of challenge or rebellion. When the students all remained silent, he nodded and shifted his gaze back to Harry. His lips pursed as his eyes landed on the back of the young demon's head. "Thank you all and enjoy your breakfast."
Glancing back at the raised staff table, the raven-haired retriever found himself peering into wide blue eyes. The slight hitch of an eyebrow had him bowing his head in acknowledgment before turning and gliding toward the Slytherin table. His eyes met Draco's and he dropped his gaze, focusing on the worn stone beneath his boots. Without speaking, he seated himself beside Blaise, ignoring the startled gasp emitted by the young witch perched to the right of him.
Crinkling his nose at the smells drifting from the bowls and plates piled upon the table, he reached for a steaming teapot and hooked a finger through the handle of a clean teacup. His green orbs slid over the table's occupants, picking out any familiar faces as he gracefully poured himself a cup of tea.
The sudden displacement of air above his head had him snapping his chin upward, lips pulling back in a silent growl. His right hand rose to strike at the fluttering bird, fingers freezing in mid-swipe when someone let out a screech of protest. Sinking the nails of his left hand into the edge of the table, he lowered his other hand and eyed the bird suspiciously. He tensed as the barn owl landed on the scarred wood of the table, fluttering wings causing ripples in his tea. Shooting him an offended look, the bird offered him one of its taloned feet.
"It's your schedule," Blaise stated quietly, arching an eyebrow at the other wizard's strange behaviour. Shaking his head, he set his fork down and reached toward the owl, quickly removing the roll of parchment from its leg. As soon as the owl was free of its burden, it hooted angrily and shot into the air, joining the dozens of other feathered messengers ghosting above the crowded tables.
Narrowing his eyes at the smirking wizard, Harry snatched the extended slip of paper from his short fingers and curled a lip in a silent snarl. Before anyone had a chance to remark on his strange behaviour, he swung around and picked up his teacup. He unrolled the parchment with a flick of his wrist, lying it upon the table and pinning it there with the tips of his fingers. As his eyes drifted over the carefully scribed schedule, he set his cup down and reached for the small pitcher of milk sitting in the center of the table. His hand stilled over the dark liquid when Professor Snape's stern voice broke the quiet murmurs of the students.
"You have the same classes as us," Blaise observed loudly, pushing his dirty plate away and leaning forward so he could better read the schedule lying upon the table. The olive-skinned wizard shot the blond perched across from him a knowing look, frowning when the blond merely scowled and shook his head, obviously in no mood for the other wizard's mind games.
Making a noncommital noise and ignoring the silent byplay going on between the two, Harry locked his gaze on the greasy-haired wizard and licked his lips. A fierce smile twisted his features as the Professor shot him a warning look, fingers stained with the juices of herbs and weeds tightening on the golden flatware. Giving a rumbling chuckle, the raven-haired demon rubbed his forearm tauntingly. The slight twitch of the Professor's gritted jaw had him tipping his head in acknowledgment and raising his teacup in an empty salute.
"What are you laughing at?" One of the wizard's sitting across from him hissed, suspicion colouring the words.
"Theodore, be nice." Scolded Blaise, shooing the other wizard away with a graceful flick of his wrist. He arched a perfectly sculpted eyebrow when Nott bared his teeth in a display of anger, calmly slipping his wand free of his sleeve and placing it on the table before him. The subtle movement drew the eyes of the entire long table, halting the Slytherins in the chewing of their breakfast as they waited to see what would happen. A bell began to toll within the castle, causing the posturing wizard's to jump and break eye contact. The loud sound emptied the four tables, sending the students scurrying for the large double doors clutching books, bags, and half eaten pieces of food.
Blaise and Draco rose fluidly, their movement drawing Harry to his feet as if the three were connected by invisible strings. Indicating that the raven-haired male should follow, the pair strolled leisurely down the aisle between two of the tables, sneering and pushing aside smaller students as they went. In their wake, Harry followed silently, his black robe and cloak remaining still about his body. The Retriever was slightly surprised when he was led back into the depths of the dungeons and guided into a dank room that reeked of potion ingredients and burning wood.
He eyed the students sitting nervously on the opposite side of room, their gold and red ties and robes marking them as Gryffindors. Taking the seat directly behind Draco, he turned to watch the door. His jaw clenched when the three students who had attacked him and Draco in the hall less then an hour ago came sailing through the door, books held tightly to their chests. The quick looks they shot him as they passed had his mouth watering: they were afraid of him, and it turned him on. Running his tongue over his lips and savouring their terror, he watched as the trio took their seats and began to settle themselves.
"Books out, wands away." Snape snapped, slamming through the single door at the back of the room and stalking toward the dusty blackboard. The trailing ends of his robe fluttered behind him, lapping against the legs of the desks he passed. When he reached the front of the dingy chamber, he whirled around and ran his eyes over the quiet group, his jaw noticeably firming as his gaze landed on Harry. His wand appeared in his hand with a sharp flick of his wrist, the movement causing the raven-haired youth to tense and the assembled students to gasp. "Today we will be brewing the Balm of Dresden. Do any of you small-minded fools know what that is?"
Visibly straightening in his chair, Harry's emerald eyes widened. In a flash, the bright orbs narrowed. He knew of the Balm of Dresden, he knew it very well. His nails raked carelessly over the top of the table, effortlessly slicing through the dark wood. Inhaling deeply, he cringed and choked, barely resisting the urge to bury his nose in the long sleeve of his robe. An upraised hand on the far side of the class had sneers and obnoxious snorts slipping from the mouths of the Slytherins, the sounds halted by Snape's upthrust hand.
"Granger, seeing as no one else seems to have read ahead, why don't you enlighten your classmates." The Potions Professor purred, prowling along the outer perimeter of the classroom. Rolling his eyes as the Gryffindor witch drew a deep breath and prepared to launch into a lengthy and long-winded spiel, the greasy-haired wizard perched himself on the corner of his cluttered desk and locked eyes with the raven-haired youth.
Harry's mind raced as he turned his eyes to the bushy-haired witch. How had the man managed to put the pieces together so quickly? He was certain that he hadn't done anything to give himself away, well, besides the licking and threatening. His tongue fluttered along the inside of his mouth, absently testing the points of his sharpest teeth. Perhaps it was a coincidence . . .
"The Balm of Dresden was developed by Lindin Dresden in 1579. Dresden created the Balm to ward off demons that sought to possess witches and wizards. Its usefulness and power was never tested due to a lack of . . . test subjects. The ingredients used to make the Balm of Dresden were chosen based upon their ability to repel demons. Liquid Iron, salt, holly, and ash were four of the more powerful ingredients. All articles found in today's literature would suggest that Dresden was, for lack of a better phrase, 'off his rocker'. Little proof exists that demons are actually real and nothing more than a figment of myth." Hermione Granger finished proudly, sitting calmly back in her chair and folding her hands. Smirking at their housemate's answer, the surrounding Gryffindors exchanged high-fives and triumphant grins.
Harry let out long breath, his eyes shifting back to the scowling wizard now standing in front of the blackboard wielding a piece of chalk. The realization that he would have to sit through the brewing of the balm made his palms tingle and bile creep up his throat. He slid deeper into his chair and lifted a hand to rake long nails through shaggy hair. Already the sickly sweet smell of Liquid Iron was working its way into his system, turning his usually sleek movements into sluggish imitations of their usual grace.
Dresden had not been as crazed as everyone thought him to be. Rather, the wizard was a genius and seen as such by most individuals of the demon culture. His ramblings and writings were based upon a brief stint spent with four subclass demons after an apparation accident, but the wizarding world didn't need to know that. After his return to the mortal plane, the wizard had created a formula that he knew would send most demons scurrying back to their master's heels. The subclass demons involved in the incident would spend the rest of eternity as decorations in Hades throne room.
A piping voice broke his concentration, returning his attention to the witch currently waving a hand around above her head. He couldn't help but appreciate Snape's unhappy glower as he turned from writing upon the board, the wizard's obvious anger over the interruption very visible. Hadn't the witch already said everything there was to say?
"Why are we brewing a potion that is relatively useless and deemed as such by the Ministry of Magic? The Balm of Dresden serves no purpose and there are dozens of other potions we could be brewing that are more educational in nature." Hermione asked, her question causing moans of disbelief and horror to spill from the mouths of her friends.
"Seeing as your housemates have failed to brew even the easiest of potions, Miss Granger, I felt it was time to try something . . . simpler." The Potions Master snarled, dropping the chalk onto his desk and moving away from the blackboard. "You are to work in your assigned pairs. Weasley, seeing as Thomas has failed to make an appearance, you will be working with the newest member of my House."
"But Professor-"
"And don't question my authority, Miss Granger." Snape snarled. The greasy-haired wizard shot Harry a victorious smirk, lacing his fingers together and watching as the students rose quietly and began to organize themselves. His triumph was short lived as the raven-haired male gave a wide smile, revealing teeth that were sharper than normal.
Rising fluidly was out of the question, the scent of Liquid Iron making even the simplest gesture appear like the intoxicated fumbling of a drunk. Drawing air in between his teeth, Harry placed a hand on the top of the desk and pushed himself slowly to his feet. He wavered slightly before locking his knees and swivelling in the direction of the wide-eyed redhead. His aura crackled angrily around him, fighting desperately to eliminate all traces of the drug slowly poisoning his bloodstream. Retrievers were built to withstand the strongest of demons and the coldest of days, expose them to Liquid Iron however, and they would react like a mortal having an allergic reaction. Unlike a human, he wouldn't need to receive treatment. Within minutes of leaving the area, the poison would dissipate and leave his system.
"I'll get the ingredients," the redhead mumbled, fleeing Harry's presence before the dark-haired demon had a chance to seat himself.
Harry took the redhead's absence to choose the safer looking stool, lowering himself cautiously onto the four legged contraption. He eyed the beat up cauldron perched on the table before him, taking in the slashes and rust spots slowly emerging on the metal. Shaking his head, he lifted his gaze to the front of the room and found Professor Snape's dark eyes resting firmly on him. The wizard stiffened under his glare, shoulders tensing and fingers balling into tight fists. It was the watchful look on the wizard's face that had him slowly relaxing, muscles loosening and nails sliding free of the hard wood. He didn't know. The Potions Master had only been testing a theory, trying to figure out if Harry's earlier display of power could be explained.
Smiling smugly, Harry slowed the pumping of his heart and the intake of air into his lungs. He couldn't stop the Liquid Iron from poisoning his system but he could slow its effects. Glassware clanked loudly next to him, forcing him to pull his gaze away from the greasy-haired wizard. A vial rolled off the small pile of herbs the redhead had dropped in the center of the table, lazily making its way toward the Retriever's splayed fingers. The liquid inside was a silvery white, shimmering as it rocked back in forth inside its container.
"Where's your book?" Ron demanded, plopping onto the stool across from the raven-haired Slytherin. He paled under the sparking emerald orbs, gulping and yanking his own text from his stained book bag. Slamming it down on the table, he flipped it open and found the correct page, pretending to read the instructions while studiously ignoring the other wizard.
Shrugging his shoulders at the deliberate snub, Harry crossed his arms on the desk before him and observed the quietly working students. Some of the pairs had already started brewing the potion while others were glaring at each other with contempt in their eyes. He could already see the dynamics of the class and school at work: the Slytherins hated the Gryffindors and vice versa. Musing over the little tidbit, he jerked around when a squeak of terror and shattering glass broke the silence of the room.
"LongBottom, you insufferable fool!" Draco shrieked, pushing away from the desk and falling backwards. A thick black smoke began to rise from the cauldron, swirling dangerously above the table. Pale eyes widening as he realized what was about to happen, the blond lifted an arm to shield his orbs.
Harry lunged the short distance, pupils dilating as the tang of Liquid Iron spiked. His arm swept around the blond wizard's waist, halting his fall and screening him from the impending blast. Tensing in preparation for the deadly shower, the Retriever shuddered and gagged, his eyes watering. With a resounding boom, the cauldron exploded, its contents splattering across the startled faces of the students.
"Ten points from Gryffindor!" Barked Snape, waving his wand and banishing the thick haze that hovered over room. His nose was pinched in distaste, the hand holding his wand shaking in anger. Sweeping the room with a furious look, he stalked to where Draco and Longbottom had been working and froze. Lying unconscious upon his godson's still form was Harry. "Clear this room immediately I want ten inches on the Balm of Dresden completed and on my desk before class begins tomorrow. Weasley, Granger, escort Longbottom to the Infirmary and inform Pomfrey another student will be arriving shortly." Shaking his head in disgust, he bent over and placed a cold hand on the back of the young wizard's neck. He drew back slowly at the sight of small burn marks, eyes widening as thin wisps of smoke escaped the injuries.
"Professor?" Draco asked from his place beneath the larger wizard. He shoved at the raven-haired wizard's limp body, attempting to slide free of the dead weight. Sighing with relief when his godfather heaved Harry off of him, he wiggled free and stood shakily. Both wizards stood looking down at the still form of the new student, their eyes narrowed in thought. Finally, Draco raised his gaze and met the dark eyes of Severus Snape. "There's something not quite right about him, isn't there?"
Nodding slowly, Snape waved his wand and stepped back as Harry's body floated neatly into the air. Shooting a quick look at the wizard's lax face, he turned and left the room, the young male's hovering body trailing after him.
A/n: Thank you to everyone who took the time to read and review. While nothing to exciting happened in this chapter, the next two should be very interesting.
hieisdragoness18 - lol, yep, Harry licked Snape. I thought about naming him Draco but it just didn't seem right, he needed a name that was uniquely his own ( I also stopped to think about how many ferrets had been named Draco since the release of GoF and cringed, they never really stood a chance.) So, I named him Braxton.
PaddyWaddy - Nope, see above review.
TorringMay - I am indeed enjoying my new home and my little buddy. Glad you're enjoying this story and hopefully I'll get back to my usual posting schedule soon.
SlytherGirl - Why, thank you.
krista-Shadow - Usually he is faster then a normal wizard but under those circumstances he was slowed, due to both injury and distraction.
PleiadesWolfe- Perhaps, though the simplest slip of a tongue could give him everything he needs.
Disco-Dancing on the Roof - I tried to not make Harry seem so God like but it was hard. His second and final (or is it?) weakness was revealed in this chapter, though I have important reasons for his trip to the hospital