Chapter Seventeen
Ofelia apparated to the cave near Hogsmeade and standing at the edge she stared at the distant castle with its glowing lights and if she looked close enough she could just make out the hoops of the Quidditch Pitch in the dark night sky.
Her mouth was set in a thin line as she remembered all the people in the castle who she had already killed once, she wanted something different this time, away from the service to Voldemort. She wanted her own legacy, her own famed power and influence and there was only one person to stand in her way.
She sat down on the filthy ground her blue silk robes rumpled in the dirt, she ignored this and crossed her legs. With her Legilimency she reached out to the sleeping castle and to one sleeping person.
He was in his quarters as Ofelia searched him out, at night his Occlumency shields would lower as his mind dreamt. She had been coming to this spot for weeks now just as she had been outside Sirius's house when he had been there, slowly she was burrowing through his shields one small step at a time and leaving little openings for her to return to later.
After he had searched for her using the scrying bowl he had opened a small floodgate to his mind which she was had stepped through instantly creating more openings for herself before he had had the presence of mind to knock her back out. The damage unbeknown to him had been high and what would have been months of work was done in those precious seconds.
His shields were good though and it would take more work from her before she was able to gain access to his mind while he slept and then- Game Over.
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Anton snapped awake quite suddenly, the feeling of ants scurrying in his mind was back and he shook it heavily to get rid of the sensation.
Pyra sensing he was awake hopped onto his bed and placed her front legs on his chest and licked his face with warm fire.
'If I wasn't already awake I would be now.' Anton said reproachfully propping himself up on his elbows.
Pyra whined as if upset or uncomfortable about something, Anton dismissed whatever concerns his pet had and pulled himself out of bed, grabbing his dressing gown he tugged it on, looking at his clock it told him it was just after four in the morning.
'Come on Pyra.' Anton said pulling his bedroom door open 'where shall we go?'
Pyra scampered through the door in front of Anton and ran to the main door with Anton following her with his feet bare and his hair loose around his face, as he glanced at the hand he had used to push his door open, his wrist was bruised purple and yellow where Neville's spell had it, and it was the same wrist that has been cut by the curse in his search for the Horcrux. Anton shook the sleeve to cover it and left his quarters.
They walked along the candlelit corridors in silence with Anton revelling in being able to walk through the halls at night without running the risk of being caught and either placed in detention or loosing house points.
They wandered aimlessly through the school without any real direction and Anton was half tempted to turn back to his quarters when a muffled yell caught his ears. He swept towards the origin of the yell drawing his wand as he went.
The source of the shout was on the sixth floor in a dark classroom, angry voices were coming from inside it.
Filch ran around the corner at the end of the corridor and hobbled wheezing up to Anton.
'Students out of bed!' he said a sadistic happiness coming into his eyes 'I've caught the hooligans this time!'
'After you then,' Anton said with faked politeness standing back from the door.
The caretaker burst through the classroom door to exclamations of surprise from inside. Anton smirked and followed Filch inside.
Looks of utter dismay and horror flickered over the faces of three seventh years Anton recognised vaguely.
'Well this is unusual,' Anton said dryly 'students actually arriving early for lessons.'
The two girls and one boy looked possibly even more appalled.
'It's after four in the morning,' Anton continued 'which even for prefects is long past curfew, care to explain what you are doing?'
One girl shook her head.
'You don't care to explain,' Anton said his voice dangerously icy 'then let me rephrase. What are you doing?'
'We were…' the boy trailed off looking at the other two for help, he looked back at Anton fearfully when they didn't help him.
'What house are you in?'
'They're in Hufflepuff,' Filch answered Anton happily 'little blighters are in so much trouble, if only I was still allowed to use the thumbscrews-then they'd scream.'
'Thank you Mr Filch,' Anton interrupted 'I think if you are unwilling to tell me then…'
Anton stopped mid-sentence as he spotted a piece of parchment being concealed behind the second girls back.
'Give it here,' he ordered the girl.
She hesitantly pulled it out and handed it trembling to Anton. Anton flicked his eyes over it and his mouth nearly fell open as he recognised what it was, or more what it contained.
'Have you any idea the damage you could cause with this' he said staring at the three seventh years in horror 'what possessed you?'
The second girl who had been shaking slightly began to cry as she recognised the amount of trouble she was in.
'I think this is a matter better left for the Headmaster to deal with,' Anton said finally 'now get back to your rooms this instant.'
They ran from the classroom all of them happy to get away but terrified of what would happen to them the next morning. Anton turned to the caretaker who looked put-out that he had not been able to issue detentions.
'Professor Dumbledore is the only one who will be able to deal with those' he said calmly still internally trying to process what the sixth years had been doing.
Turning on his heel he left the classroom and hurried to Dumbledore's office.
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'What can I do for…Anton what's wrong?' Dumbledore asked concerned as he saw the expression on his face and the late hour.
'Take a look at this,' Anton said passing him the piece of parchment.
Dumbledore took the paper and stared at it for a couple of seconds before looking back at Anton his eyes hard and his mouth set firm.
'Where did you get it?'
'Three Hufflepuff Seventh years,' Anton replied dropping into a chair opposite Dumbledore 'they were in a classroom on the sixth floor about fifteen minutes ago.'
'Of all the misconceived ideas,' Dumbledore murmured rubbing his eyes 'why would three of my students start spying for the ministry?'
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The next morning as soon as breakfast had finished Dumbledore summoned the three Hufflepuffs to his office along with Professor Sprout and Professor McGonagall.
Anton passed them as he made his way to teach his third years. All three of the teachers looked both angry and disappointed at the three students who trailed miserably behind them, all of them looking as if they had barely slept the night before.
Anton shook his head internally and walked into his classroom where the students snapped instantly to attention.
'It is time to switch our attention to Grindylow's,' Anton said walking to his desk and pulling the cloth of a tank that was positioned there 'Professor Hagrid was able to catch this from last year and Professor Grubbly-Plank has lent it to me to show you. Now does anywhere know where Grindylow's inhabit in this castle?'
'Aren't there some in the Lake?' Dennis Creevey said enthusiastically.
'Yes there are quite a few in the Lake,' Anton agreed 'Grindylow's are vicious creatures but not what we'd class as dangerous, though they are certainly not to be taken lightly, if there are enough of them they can cause quite a lot of harm.'
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That lunchtime Anton followed a message sent by the Headmaster and went to his office.
'Come in Anton,' Dumbledore said not sounding his usual self 'there is information that needs to be told.'
'The seventh years?' Anton asked gratuitously.
Dumbledore nodded sombrely 'They were in no uncertain terms blackmailed. Parents careers and there own futures were threatened by individual ministry members.'
'They were that determined?' Anton said quietly.
'Cornelius was extremely put out that he failed to get Madam Umbridge positioned within the school,' Dumbledore replied stroking his beard 'but I never suspected he would go to these lengths to obtain information.'
'What's going to happen to the students?'
'They were blackmailed,' Dumbledore said simply 'they deserve a second chance, which is more than I can say for the people responsible.'
'What are you going to do about the Ministry?'
'I believe I need to speak with the minister.' Dumbledore replied 'if he is determined who knows how many other families have been threatened or who are still at risk of being intimidated by the Minister.'
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The next few weeks passed quickly by, with regular lessons with Neville he was definitely improving in confidence and skill. Dumbledore had spoken to Fudge in private and afterwards he assured the staff that Fudge was not going to blackmail any other students, yet everybody knew that Fudge would not be satisfied for long by whatever Dumbledore had said to momentarily pacify him.
Hagrid reappeared in November supporting the memorable injuries and undoubtedly hiding his half-brother in the forest. Anton had intended to go and speak to the man but he never seemed to find the time to go.
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Anton drummed his fingers impatiently across his desk every so often he would stare out of the window. The fifth years he was teaching were making notes on Dark Curses from the nineteenth century and more than a few of them kept looking at Anton as he gazed distractedly out.
'Professor?' Hermione said tentatively
'Sorry Hermione did you say something?' Anton said snapping his attention to the teenager.
'I've finished the work,' Hermione replied nervously.
'Right,' Anton said making the class jump when he leaped up from his chair and stood in front of them 'Quills down that's enough note taking for one lesson!'
The class dropped their quills as quickly as possible not wanting Anton to change his mind.
'As there is quite a bit of time left I think it would be more productive if we learnt some defensive spells' Anton said twirling his wand 'in particular countering the Endarios curse, somebody tell me what the curse is!'
Hands lifted into the air and Anton picked one 'Miss Parkinson, if you will.'
'The Endarios curse removes all the bones it comes in contact with, but leaves the skin and muscle completely intact,' she replied snootily.
'A very precise description,' Anton conceded 'and like all good curses it comes with a good blocking curse, if you were to implement a normal or strong shield it would not stand up against…'
Anton trailed off mid-sentence and glanced back out of the window, the feeling he usually experienced on waking up was happening in the middle of the afternoon, the feeling that someone was gnawing at his mind slowly.
Anton shook his head irritably and checked his shields were at their strongest force. The class began muttering slightly, Anton shrugged and continued with what he was saying.
'The shield would not stand up against the curse and the victim would be hit with the full force, undoubtedly as the victim would be standing in centre of the spells path their ribcage would be removed and from there the wizard would die instantly or one small jab could destroy them. Spells do not have to be intended for death for them still to kill.'
The class shifted restlessly for a few moments.
'Obviously I will not be teaching you this curse,' Anton smiled slightly 'but I will be teaching you the spell Teractus, which will block the curse if enough emotion is put into the counter, though if the spell is coming at you I have no doubt that you will be very emotional and driven.'
Anton drew his wand from his holster 'you make a stabbing gesture with your wand' he said calmly acting out what he was saying 'you then pronounce the spell clearly with force.'
He made the stabbing motion and cried 'Teractus!'
A blue web surged from the wand tip growing as it swelled outwards in a circular shape at least a metre in diameter.
'Concentration is the key,' Anton stated before glancing back out of the window where the first flakes of winter were beginning to fall, it was obvious to the waiting class that he was distracted by something.
The fifth years all stared silently at their teacher wondering if they should do something, Anton turned his head back to his class and snapped his fingers.
'Right I want you all to have a go at the spell,' Anton ordered rubbing his eyes absent-mindedly.
The students pulled their wands out and began attempting the spell. Anton turned back to the window and gazed back out at snow flurry that was storming down on the grounds of Hogwarts.
Anton stared at the left over potion lying cold in the bottom of the goblet, Pyra whined and Anton realised she had been doing it in increasing amounts lately.
'What's the matter girl?' he said crouching down and running his fingers across the top of her blazing head.
Pyra whimpered slightly and lifting her paw she pointed out of the window and shivered faintly.
'I know,' Anton whispered in her ear 'I don't think we'll be going out anytime soon.'
Pyra snapped at him as he misunderstood what she was getting at and jabbed her front paw again.
'That's lovely Pyra,' Anton said vaguely rubbing her head and standing back up to scrutinize the class all of which were trying hard to learn the spell. He also failed to notice the looks of curiosity coming from Harry, Hermione and Ron who were interested into why their teacher was so obviously distracted.
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As Anton had been watching the first snow beginning to drop from the sky Ofelia had been standing directly in the middle of it revelling in the power, like Anton hated water and cold, she hated heat and fire which meant she was strongest in the winter and Anton was strongest in the summer. Rhoan/Ron and Gia/Ginny had been far less affected by the seasons but it had been noticed that Gia had preferred spring when the flowers and trees blossomed and flourished and Rhoan had enjoyed autumn with its blustery weather.
She was getting close to succeeding in her well made plans, she was literally inches from her goal. On top of that she was putting the finishing touches on another plot that was surely going to shake things up for the light wizards.
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Anton couldn't concentrate, he was staring without really seeing at the four house tables filled with students.
'Are you intending to eat that or just to let it form a congealed mess on the end of your fork?' a snide voice said from beside him jerking him back into reality.
Anton turned his head slowly to Snape who was staring at him with his own meal nearly finished compared to Anton's who's plate was barely touched. Anton placed his fork back on his plate.
'I have a really peculiar feeling that something bad is going to happen fairly soon,' Anton said quietly.
'God forbid you have a peculiar feeling,' Snape sneered 'next you'll be visiting Trelawney in her tower and reading tealeaves together.'
Anton allowed a small smile to flicker across his face at Snape's pronouncement.
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On the Gryffindor table the three teens had been joined by Ginny and the four of them were watching the teachers table.
'What's Lukyen doing?' Ron asked after a while 'he's been looking like that for the last fifteen minutes.'
They all watched as Snape said something with a snide expression on his face that made Anton jerk in surprise and stare at Snape.
'What do you think has gone wrong?' Harry asked curiously.
'What makes you say something's gone wrong?' Hermione said reasonably 'he could be distracted for any number of reasons.'
'He spent most of my lesson watching the snow fall,' Ginny announced knocking Ron's arm out of the way as he reached for the last bread roll in the middle of the table.
'Well he's obviously distracted by something' Hermione said staring at Anton as he responded to Snape, who in his own reply gave Anton one of his rare smirks that bordered on an actual smile.
As Harry opened his mouth to say something else, the subject of their conversation rose from his chair and clicking his fingers he left the teachers table with Pyra scuttling behind him keeping close to the hem of his blood red robe.
The professor didn't look up as he hurried past by the four teenagers, he just rubbed his hand perplexedly through his loose hair and continued to the doors.
Looking back at the table they saw Dumbledore watching Anton's retreating form with a look of slight concern, Madam Pomfrey even went as far as to lean to the aged man and mutter something to him. The headmaster merely shook his head at whatever she had said and went back to his own meal.
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When Anton reached his quarters he paced the living room with a restless energy, he in addition heated his skin up as if he had just stepped from the shower, the difference being he wasn't wet and no matter how much heat he added he couldn't seem to shake the coldness that clung to him in a suffocating manner.
Stopping suddenly, Anton stared out of his window and into the swirling snow, it reminded him of Ron and Hermione. Not Ofelia and Rhoan, but of Ron and Hermione. The wind that buffeted the frozen water was eerily reminiscent of his two best friends, beyond the churning blizzard the trees of the forest swayed as if dancing to a silent tune, a subtle reminder of Ginny.
All three of them were out there, but he wasn't, he was inside, unable to put his past where it truly belonged.
In the past.