III. Identity Questions or Moody and the Dodo
During his trip through the garden, Harry found the most bizarre things he'd ever seen: Double headed fairies, dragons and hippogriffs the size of his index finger, green mice running freely, blue trees… and so other oddities.
He was walking on a stone path right in the middle of the garden, wand in hand for he was unsure what to find.
The wind blew softly, moving the grass and tree tops gently. The sun shinning up in the blue sky gave the sensation everything was ok and there were not worries at all… It was all peace and quietness.
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The calm was interrupted by a strange noise from behind the purple bushes with mints. Harry turned around quickly, holding his wand strongly: Someone was behind.
As he approached carefully, he noticed they were two people -or creatures, he could not be sure in this place- having a, noisy dare say, discussion.
"I know it's him! The paintings told me about what happened" Exclaimed a voice.
"That's unfair! He received help... For so he can't be" Replied a second one.
"But it's him! Just like the White Mage said" Held the first voice.
Wait a minute, he knew those voices.
"Oh! How can you be so sure? You weren't there" Alleged the second one, raising its tone annoyed.
"Dean?" Asked Harry, moving away the bushes with his free hand. Although he recognized the voices immediately, he needed to be sure before lowering his guard.
Indeed. They were Dean Thomas and Seamus Finnigan. Or as so they look like.
The two men were kneeling in the grass side by side, looking surprised when they got caught.
"Umm... Hi" Greeted 'Seamus' waving his hand.
"Told you to lower the voice" Scolded him 'Dean', smacking his head.
"Did not!" Replied the offended, massaging the place he was hit in.
Harry raised his brow. The scene was rather amusing.
'Seamus' was looking at Harry curiously, but as he noticed Harry looking back, he fixed his eyes on the floor.
"Umm... By any chance... Are you Harry?" He asked shyly.
"Why, yes" Answered Harry confused.
"The Harry Potter?" He asked again getting a little excited and finally raising his head.
"I think so" He replied, sounding not so sure.
Why was he giving information so lightly?
Life had taught him better than that. They may look like his roommates, but they may be not.
"See? Told you!" Exclaimed 'Seamus', getting up happily of the floor in a jump.
"No you didn't! He's not even sure he IS Harry Potter!" Replied 'Dean' standing up too, shaking the dirt from his robe.
That was confusing.
Why he would not be sure about him being... Well, him? He WAS Harry Potter, right?
He was about to complain and demand answers when a deafening whistle filled the air. His two 'roommates' looked at each other worried and began to run away from Harry.
"Hey! Wait!" He shouted, however they didn't stop. Harry began to run after them.
They get off the main road and went deep in the tall grass, right into the skirts of the forest.
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They stopped running out of sudden, when they reached a pond in a forest's clear.
Many frogs where reunited there: Some of the where swimming back, some where doing belly swimming, some played polo and some others were just taking the sun. They seemed to have fun.
Suddenly, in front of them, a tall and dark figure emerged from the shadows. Harry raised his wand, ready to attack.
The figure approached to them and Mad-Eye Moody came to view, limping with his peg leg; walking next to him, an orange dodo bird, or diricawl, as they are known in the wizarding world.
"A storm is coming at five from northest. We must prepare ourselves"
Moody? What was he doing here?
"Yes Sir!" Seamus and Dean nodded vigorously in agreement at the same time.
And knowing what they should do in storm cases, they jumped into the pool scaring the frogs away. The frogs complained at first but they soon left when the two boys began to splash around.
Moody sat down in the grass, the dodo sat down next to him, resting its head in his leg. His big, blue magical eye moving, looking around.
What does swimming in a pond have to do with an upcoming storm?
"Who are you may I ask" Asked Moody finally acknowledging him.
"I'm..."
"He is Harry Potter, sir" Interrupted Seamus while swimming to the shore.
Moody seemed not to have heard him for he continued unperturbed, his magical eye still, looking right into Harry's emerald eyes, as trying to see something there, something occult that gave him the answer. Harry held his glare defiant.
Seconds later, the dodo purred in his arm, making him react.
"Harry Potter? The Harry Potter!" Repeated, pretending to be surprise, his eye moving nowhere "Merlin! You are not as I thought you'd be. I imagined you... Well, a little bit more imposing. And taller" He added, petting the dodo.
Harry hadn't have move from his spot since his arrival, his wand resting loosely in his hand. He was still suspicious about this people and their strange behavior. Even though they look like his friends.
"Please, do take a seat." Said Moody pointing at the grass. Harry remained stand. "I'm not attacking you boy! I we had wanted to, you'd be already dead. Who do you think we are! A pawn of the Red Lord!" Seeing Harry's hesitation made him angry. He was too distrustful... Inclusive for him.
Seamus and Dean gasped to the word Lord. The frogs left cover themselves under the lilies. Even the dodo flinched.
"What!" He yelled. "Cowards…"
"Who's the Red Lord?" Asked Harry intrigued, finally seating in the grass and lowering his wand. Moody's response had made sense. He was not that suspicious anymore.
"See! He can't be Harry Potter if he does not even know who the Red Lord is!" Exclaimed Dean, swimming next to Seamus.
"Yes he can! Can't he?" Exclaimed Seamus to his friend, then he looked at Moody not so sure.
Once again, Moody seemed lost in the space, like the mot particles in the air were incredibly amazing. The dodo gave a squeak and moved in his arm to make him react.
"Ah yes! Of course he can be!" Said effusively, raising a hand to add security. Then he turned to Harry "Now, if you want to be Harry Potter..."
"I do not want to be Harry Potter, I am Harry Potter" Replied Harry.
"No, you are not Harry Potter. Not yet. You will be Harry Potter! The White Mage... He'll know" His eye was once again moving nowhere. He continued clearing his throat "If you want to be Harry Potter, you should know the story of the Red Lord and how he came to rule the world."
Seamus and Dean came out of the pond and sat next to Harry dripping wet, to hear attentively a story they all knew but love to hear. As the sky turned gray and the clouds covered the sun...
