Disclaimer: I don't own Harry Potter, JK Rowling does. As Proof of this, notice the sixth book does not have Luna searching for Crumple Horned Snorsnaks... in Harry's pants!
Chapter 11 – Draco Dormiens Nonquam Titilandus!
Harry had spent the entire week in a foul mood. Ever since Hermione's fight earlier in the week, Harry had spent his time eating, sleeping, and attending classes; at least that is what the others saw.
What they didn't see would surprise them.
His nights were spent with the new temporary Defence teacher, practicing skills and magic's that would leave most of the students gaping in shock from both the skill required to perform them, and the sheer violence they invoked. The rest of the time which Harry had dubbed study time, which had taken up every moment in between his other responsibilities, would find Harry locked in the Room of Requirement.
Runes had become more of a hobby, and Harry delighted in learning the varying strings of runes needed to perform different effects. He was having a little trouble learning all the runes needed for the subject, but he was quickly memorizing the structure and meanings of the mysterious characters.
The rest of the time in the room was spent keeping Harry a step ahead of the potions class with Snape. He had made it a goal to always be at least one class ahead of Snapes class. This had eventually required Harry to start sneaking back into the Gryffindor common room, an hour or more past midnight, but he let the smug pride he felt consume him everytime he passed his old potions classroom.
Harry had quickly learned that he could not pull objects from the room and use them in other parts of the castle. He had found this out when he requested a vial to store his recently finished potion into. The potion had luckily been a moderate fire retardant, but still, the lesson had left his already sour mood, bitterer than before. It also didn't help that the 'God damn itch' wouldn't go away. It was starting to become distracting and Harry was in no mood for any at the moment.
Hermione had been trying to corner Harry; a guilty frown marring her face as she sought out the famous Gryffindor in hopes of making peace. But with Harry's increasingly agitated mood, and his scowl he had directed at her more than once, they had not talked since the incident.
Ron himself cycled between sympathising with Hermione, and frowning at her, out of remembrance of what started the split. He had not approached Harry yet to mend the friendship, but it was clear that it was soon to come.
. .. … … … … … … … … … … .. .
"Those of you who have not successfully performed the spell, will be expected to have mastered it for homework. Have a good weekend." McGonagale called from her desk as she proceeded to seat herself, and sort her papers.
Harry who had come close to turning a chicken wing into a owl wing, undid what magic he had cast on the dried up old bones from dinner, and vanished the contents of his tray away before packing his things hurriedly.
Silently cursing himself for spilling a few papers, he quickly dropped to the ground and picked up his sheets of notes. Grabbing the last sheet, he saw a feminine hand stop in its process from reaching for the same paper. Already knowing whose hand it belonged to and thankful he had grabbed the sheet before she had. He turned away from her pretending he had not noticed her presence.
"Harry?"
Ignoring the uncertain call from the girl Harry stiffly stored his things in his bag.
"Harry… I've been… um that is…" the feminine voice of his long time friend stuttered as she tried to communicate with the silent male.
Ignoring the guilt that he was experiencing from his own silent treatment, and cursing himself for feeling guilt at all; Harry zipped his bag up, and swiftly left the classroom and Hermione behind.
He had quickly lost the anger he had felt from the indignation the girls words had stoked in himself. Now all he had was pride, and he wasn't willing to give that up just yet; it being the only true constant in his life, helping him keep whatever semblance of dignity he could muster after living with the Dursley's and through a number of other normally humiliating and cruel events in his life.
'Your just being a git now…' his conscious scolded.
'Don't care…' Harry mentally called back frustrated that his own mind had not sided with him.
'yes you do…' his mind whispered back tauntingly. Unfortunately his conscious was still using Hermione's voice as a reference for its own; thus not helping him in his issues with his female friend, as her voice constantly lectured him inside his own head.
Storming down the stairs, luckily having them not change, as he made his way down to the kitchens.
Not feeling like being gawked at by the school and hearing their whispers as he passed through the student body, he decided to endure the odd behaviour of the house elves.
Stopping as he felt a breeze blast his face he noticed he had walked himself straight in front of the dark corridor he had gotten lost in just under a week ago. Again the strange feeling of being watched emanated from the corridors walls. As Harry was still standing in the normal hallway, the kitchens directly behind him, he noticed a sort of clashing between the two. The hallway he stood in now was warm and cozy, it felt childish and adventures. The Corridor though, the corridor felt ominous and guarded; like walking into a nest of acromantula, Harry felt eyes on him from every direction.
Taking another wary look back at the corridor, Harry proceeded to tickle the pear and walk into the elves den.
"Master Harry Potter sir, Chippy be happy to see you'se…"
"Dobby too, especially Dobby!" a male voice interrupted quickly.
"Yes… dobby too be happy to sees young master." Chippy said with a frown as she looked questioningly at the grumpy elf.
Dobby had gotten over his initial jealousy over Chippy being in "the great Harry Potter Sirs" presence all summer, but a competitive streak which had taken Harry by surprise, now motivated the little elf.
Every action the female elf took, Dobby would try and do better. It was both amusing and disturbing, as Harry was starting to fear the green eyed elf.
"Hi guys… can I bug you for dinner here…" Harry didn't even get to finish his question before a swarm of elves happily guided Harry toward a table and started setting him a plate. Some how the elves seemed to know what he wanted to eat so there was no issue with their choosing, but their proportions… that was something else entirely.
Looking at the plate which would have challenged any Weasley, Harry turned around and thanked the room. A twittering of happy noises resounded and cooed from a dozen elves who were watching him nervously.
As Harry ate he tried to strike up conversation with the passing elves or with dobby and Chippy themselves. The passing elves either squeaked their surprise and ran off quickly or fussed over Harry more. Dobby and Chippy, he had more luck with as they stopped to talk; Dobby more than Chippy. He even managed to get them to sit down for a minute each; Harry thought that an accomplishment in itself.
"Dobby…" Harry asked, as he managed to stop the elf from twittering about.
"Yes Master Harry Sir." The elf said happily at being referred to by name.
"When do you guys have breaks…? I hate to come in here and always bother you when you're working. Maybe I could visit when you get your break." Harry asked with a smile.
No matter how … strange dobby could be, Harry did consider him a friend, and didn't want to always bother him to serve him meals. Even a short chat during the little fellows break didn't seem like too much.
"Oh Harry potter sir is being silly again, Dobby don't get breaks." The little creature laughed happily as if Harry had said an amusing limerick. An elf who had been passing by seemed to chuckle slightly at the thought.
"You don't? Ever?" Harry question in surprise. He was glad he wasn't talking to Hermione at the moment; 'if she had been here with him, she would have easily exploded in indignation.'
At his happy negative Harry put on a puzzled frown; a little surprised Dumbledore wouldn't grant breaks for the hard working creatures.
"Well when do you guys get a chance to eat, or sleep?" Harry asked hoping maybe dobby just misunderstood him.
Dobby seemed to frown imperceptibly. "Sleep… Dobby does not…"
Before the little elf could further shock Harry, a flaming inferno burst not a foot away from Harry's dinner. Squinting slightly but recognizing the signs that Fawkes was paying him a visit, Harry started to lower his wand.
The flames started to recede and Harry saw the regal form of Fawkes peaking through the fire…. A letter grasped between his talons.
"Hey there Fawkes… how you been?" Harry asked as he scratched the birds scalp, ruffling his plumage in a way to create a odd resemblance with himself in the process. The bird didn't seem to mind as he leaned into the touch and crooned a few thankful melodious squawks.
It never ceased to amaze Harry how alike the common phoenix was to a well trained puppy. Loyal, loves to be played with, and if you scratch them just right… they start to stamp their feet.
Such a motion started to occur and the letter lay forgotten at the base of the birds talons.
Fawkes crooned once more before leaning away and then focusing on the adoring eyes of the house elves who were moments away from offering feed and other niceties to the bird.
Fawkes seemed to pause in thought before letting out a squawk and waddling toward a eager little elf holding what appeared to be diced apples.
Harry enjoyed the site of the normally regal bird hobbling across the table like a penguin but refocused on the envelope that lay haphazardly in front of him.
Dear Harry
I believe I must speak with you immediately. Please finish whatever activity this letter has found you performing and join me in my office as soon as possible.
Sincerely,
Albus Dumbledore
Noting the urgentness of the letter Harry thanked dobby for the food, said his farewells to room and made a dash to the Headmaster's office.
Running past student and objects Harry was starting to enjoy the jog around the castle. Normally he would have been slightly winded but the training must have been doing something right as he seemed to glide past anything and everything.
He turned a corner and almost ran into a blonde blur. Quickly side stepping and turning around to apologize for nudging the student, Harry saw the willowy figure of a familiar Ravenclaw.
"Sorry Luna…. No time to stop. Got to meet Dumbledore." Harry called as he jogged backwards slowly so he could speak to her face.
Luna just gazed at him with a raised dreamy eye. "Hello Harry…"
"Hi Luna…" Harry grinned with a smile as he continued his backwards motion.
"Are you just going to bump and run Harry? I mean I hardly even dropped my books this time" She called with a slightly sardonic smile on her still dreamy face.
Harry could only grin as he pointed his finger at her…" Tomorrow, breakfast at 8:00… I'll bump into you them, I promise".
Luna raised her own hand and pointed it at him as he was just starting to turn. "I'm holding you to that." She called while waggling her finger at him in warning.
Harry let out a small chuckle and dashed to the right. He passed a few more classrooms before reminding himself he was going to Dumbledore's office.
Finally making his way to the gargoyle he jogged to a stop… not really wanting to stop his forward momentum. He paused and mentally huffed as the headmaster had forgotten to give him the password again.
He was about to start his usual guessing game with the stone, when the gargoyle leapt aside for him. Not willing to look a gift horse in the mouth Harry walked at a more sedate pace up the stairs and knocked on the wooden door.
"Come in Harry" a familiar voice beckoned him.
Pulling the door aside Harry walked in and stopped as he took in the occupants of the room.
"Sir?" He asked as he stared at the various official looking wizards and wizards in the room, and Madame Pomfrey who was physically restraining Remus from leaping at Harry.
"Harry, I'm glad you could join us so fast. There is much to discuss but first if you could allow these gentleman…"
The men didn't even wait for Dumbledore to finish before they dashed to Harry's side and started waving their wand to and throw, in familiar hand gestures. A corpulent looking women took notes on the side, reminding Harry of Percy during his trial scribe phase.
Other than the invasion into his personal bubble, no one had laid a hand on him.
It was another half a minute before the podgy women finally declared. "He's clear!"
A collective sigh broke free where Madame Pomfrey looked to be near tears and McGonagale who had gone unnoticed beside Dumbledore, wore a broad grin that seemed slightly drunken as she looked at each of the wand wielding men with grateful eyes.
"Professor, what's …" a familiar modestly dressed man grasped Harry shoulders. He too like McGonagale wore a grateful smile and had Harry not known better would have believed the white coated men and women had just delivered his first born child.
"What's going on?!" Harry asked a little worried by the reaction of the people in the room.
"Yes of course… my apologies Harry." Dumbledore smiled un-apologetically. Motioning towards two unnoticed chintz chairs, Harry and the still clinging Remus took seats in front of the man.
"Do you recall Harry, at the beginning of the summer you warned the order of something?" Dumbledore prompted. His carefree smile starting to vanish under the weight of his own words.
"Umm…" Harry tried to remember but the start of summer seemed so long ago now.
"You told us you sensed some dark magic around you" Remus reminded Harry kindly; his hand on Harry's shoulder firmly holding on as if Harry were to disappear the moment he let go.
"Right… that." Harry remembered and nodded thankfully to Remus for the prompt.
Pausing he contemplated what they were insinuating and started to get a sinking feeling in the pit of his stomach.
"I see you are starting to grasp the seriousness of the situation." Dumbledore said sadly.
He paused and removed his glasses. Wiping the lenses clean with the cuff of his robe he placed them upon his face again. For that brief moment that the glasses were off, Harry was deeply unsettled.
"14 hours ago, a Mr, Jacob Polkis was admitted into Surrey memorial hospital with what appeared to be a sudden epileptic attack. Since that time, 12 other residents of surrey living near or around privet drive have been admitted."
Harry's eyes were wide with surprise and shock. This had not been what he had expected.
Following a hunch, I ordered some medi wizards to meet with your relatives. Your aunt, and cousin were in good health, but your uncle had started to develop similar symptoms. We were fortunate enough to find him when we did and quaranteed him." Dumbledore said with a little less dread.
"I'm sorry to say, but I'm afraid as of 2 hours ago, everyone admitted to the hospital has died." Dumbledore said morosely.
"What… how? What happened?" Harry stammered. He didn't care that his voice sounded a little scared itself, even if a group of strangers bore witness to the great boy-Who-lived, flabbergasted.
"Yes well, we are investigating the matter. As far as we can tell, a series of potions and dispersal wards were placed around your neighbourhood. The effect is evident, we believe that the wards around your home have protected you from the attack but those unprotected by the wards were left unprotected."
"But uncle Vernon… he lives under the wards to. Shouldn't he have been protected as well?" Harry asked a little hysterically. Harry didn't even question the fact that he was displaying fear for a man who he had wished dead on more than one occasion. This was far to close to home. Literally.
Dumbledore signalled for the rest of the room to clear out, and at a terse nod from all but Madame Pomfrey, Remus and his own head of house, the room cleared.
Once everyone was out, Dumbledore continued. "Yes, we believe that the wards were unable to protect him. As you know they are based on the love magic your mother afforded you." At Harry's quick nod Dumbledore continued. "We believe that based on the nature of your relationship with your uncle. The wards considered him a treat and excluded him from any protection… and perhaps amplified the potions effects in him." Dumbledore said awkwardly, clearly ashamed of the notion.
"Considered him a threat… and what do you mean the nature of our…relationship." Harry slowly started to comprehend what Dumbledore was sugar coating.
"I believe you understand Harry" Dumbledore stated sadly.
" He wanted me dead… so the wards helped try to kill him." Harry said with a dull tone in his voice.
"Now Harry, in no way was this your fault, nor was it your uncles. The blame lies solely on the shoulders of the death eater responsible for the potion, and on me. We were fortunate enough to get to him when we did, and he is believed to make a full recovery" Dumbledore commandingly informed him.
Harry didn't say anything, but knew where the true blame lied. Unfortunately not everyone in the room agreed with the young man.
Harry could feel Remus hand tense on his shoulder and could practically sense the pity being directed at him from his head and nurse.
He felt the sympathy and it made him angry.
CRACK
Glass sprayed from all around him, windows shattered, and wood burned. The itch in his back sang with joy to this display of violence. It made him feel euphoric and giddy, and angrier.
"Mr. Potter …stop"
Harry could hear the pleading voices around him. The urgency in their words, but it all blurred together, it was like listening to the cries of ants and he was their torturer.
"HARRY, STOP!" a booming voice commanded, breaking free from the ants and humbling him. The itch felt challenged his back throbbed with indignation at being commanded to obey, but obey he did as he turned dead eyes to an agitated but worried headmaster.
The rush of wind that had become constant but gone unnoticed suddenly died down. There was a sudden lack of noise only broken by the slight tinkering of broken glass that continued to fall.
And then everything went black.
… .. … .. … .. … .. …
"Accidental…"
"It was no accident"
"…too strong, maybe he was being possessed at the moment"
"No, it does not work that way thankfully."
"But there is a connection headmaster, who knows what the dark lord could do through the boy."
"I have done research and studied each of the scans we have taken of Harry's scar, It is clear to me now that Harry could not have been possessed by Voldemort from long distances" Dumbledore voice answered knowledgably if not a little guiltily.
"Perhaps, but I should continue his occlumency training none the less to err on the side of caution." Snakes silky voice wheedled.
Harry immediately opened his eyes to the bright sterile walls of the hospital wing, and the pesky presence of his least favourite professor.
"With all due respect, Not a chance in hell sir" Harry groaned out as he tried to sit up in bed.
A glass of water was pushed in front of his lips and he slowly drank the cool liquid. Another hand from the same person passed him his much needed glasses. Turning his head he found Professor Lupin was the one to thank and did so with out haste.
"Now Harry, Professor Snape does have a valid point. I know your lessons with him may have been less than ideal, but …"
"No sir, I am not willing to go through that again with him. Sorry but that's final." Harry said firmly. It hit him moments later that he was telling Albus Dumbledore "no" and demanding it stay that way. He did a good job in his own opinion of hiding the shock of his own boldness.
Harry turned to face Remus who was still holding the glass aloft for him. He expected to be chastised for being disrespectful to the man who had allowed him to attend school at all, but all he got was a pondering stare.
"Was it as bad as you made it out to be?" Remus asked quietly. Harry almost mistook the gentle tones for pity instead of a direct command for an answer.
"Worse." Harry willed Remus to believe him. Remus gave him one more firm stare before nodding. He stood and placed a comforting hand on Harry's shoulder as he looked on at the most respected wizard in all of Britain, if not the world.
"I'm sorry Headmaster, but as Harry's legal guardian I will not allow him to be taught by Professor Snape, and I must demand that Professor Snape not approach Harry in anyway to try to continue the lessons."
Harry couldn't help but gape slightly at his father's friend. He knew Remus would take being his guardian seriously but Harry understood that like Hagrid, Dumbledore had literally been responsible for almost every good thing in Remus's life, a life debt beyond all others; and here Remus Lupin stood ordering the man around on Harry's behalf.
A warm tingle wrapped itself around Harry's insides as he looked on his guardian, a man who embodied the title in every sense of the word.
Snape snorted mockingly. "Do not make me laugh Lupin, do you think you have any say in the matter" He seemed to ready himself for a cutting jibe, but Lupin did not falter in the presence of the mans gloating. He spared an irritated glance but turned to face Dumbledore who remained motionless and voiceless.
A contest of wills seemed to play out for all eternity and in mere seconds at the same time; before all at once, Dumbledore blinked.
"You are well within your right Remus to demand this." Dumbledore acquiesced. Snape seemed to blink his surprise before crying out indignantly. "Headmaster, surely you can't be…"
"Serverus, that is enough" Dumbledore ordered abruptly. A stern look upon his face that mimicked Lupins moments before was directed at the potions master.
Snape seemed to redden and hesitate for a fraction of a second before nodding slightly, pivoting in a whirlwind of black robes, and striding ominously out the hospital wing.
'Moony 1: Snape 0.' Harry happily gloated to himself as he lay; an observer of recent events.
Silence took over the room which moments ago had been bustling with a silently battling contingent of adults.
Harry awkwardly sat himself up further giving himself something to do while everyone regained there bearings.
Dumbledore seemed to decide to be the one to break the silence as he removed his glasses cleaned them and placed them back on his own nose.
"My apologies Harry. I forget sometimes that you do have a voice in your own affairs. Remus should not have had to enforce it for you." The man begged Harry for forgiveness.
Harry, earlier in his life might have been flabbergasted and humbled that Albus Dumbledore would lower himself to Harry's level and apologize like an equal. But he was older now and such motions were not as simple as face value would have him believe.
Nodding resolutely and leaning further into Remus touch Harry righted himself so he was in as a commanding a position he could take while lying in a hospital bed and focused on the man in half moon lenses.
"What happened?" He questioned.
Dumbledore seemed to think on his answer for a moment before answering. "I had actually hoped you could tell me. What is the last thing you remember?"
"You saying that the fault uncle Vernon got sick were yours and the death eaters…. Then everything is kind of hazy." Harry admitted.
"Ah, well the hazy bit as you called it, is what concerns us. Your body in that moment in time, released impressive levels of magic that are well beyond accidental magic standards, and well maybe it would be better if I showed you." Dumbledore said while motioning towards a large rounded bowl with shimmering silver liquid inside.
Thinking this one of the better ideas Harry quickly nodded.
Dumbledore slowly stood, and pulled the table housing the pensieve towards Remus and Harry. "I assume you would like to view the memory as well Remus." Dumbledore questioned as he twirled a wand around his temple before proceeding to extracting the memory.
"I would Sir, thank you."
Dumbledore chuckled, "None of that sir business Remus. How many times must I ask you call me Albus." Dumbledore smiled at the man.
Harry was a little fascinated by the byplay, as moments earlier they were… enemies seemed to strong a word to describe them, but they certainly did not see eye to eye at that particular moment in time.
"Are you ready Harry?" Dumbledore's voice drew Harry back to the matter at hand. Refocusing, Harry nodded followed Dumbledore's lead as they entered the memory.
… .. … .. …
They were back in the headmaster's office, the awkwardness palpable even now as they relived the memory. Dumbledore sat hunched slightly in his desk while the rest of the room seemed sober in their mourning for the dead of Surrey… Harry Potter, the memory, sat at the edge of his seat, a semi scared, agitated look marring his features.
"Considered him a threat… and what do you mean the nature of our…relationship."
Harry watched his younger self in that moment in time realize what the headmaster meant. It surprised Harry that his facial features described so much as he watched the dawning horror plaster itself across the Boy-Who-Lived's face.
"I believe you understand Harry" Dumbledore stated sadly.
"He wanted me dead… so the wards helped try to kill him." Harry said defeated.
Harry remembered what that tone of voice actually hid. Even now he felt the anger bubble within him.
"Now Harry, in no way was this your fault, nor was it your uncles. The blame lies solely on the shoulders of the death eater responsible for the potion, and on me." Dumbledore firmly reminded Harry. A familiar speech in itself, as he directed it at the young man.
Harry watched his younger self sit quietly and contemplate recent events, Harry watched the sad sympathetic stares directed at him by his head of house and school nurse. It was upsetting to watch all the pity radiating off them.
Suddenly the world flickered, the picture of events gone past started to haze and turn gaseous.
Harry turned around on the spot and looked for the first time to his adult companions on this memory lane. They seemed just as surprised and if there wands pointed out in defensive stances were any indication… this was not supposed to happen.
Suddenly the world cleared and the gases refocused back into what was meant to be.
Slowly the wands of the two strong wizards lowered and both turned unreadable eyes towards Harry for a split second before indicating to Harry to watch.
Harry nodded a little reluctantly and turned just in time to hear…
Crack
What happened next was a display of the impossible.
The air seemed to fracture around Harry. Remus was tossed bodily away from the youth who sat in the cracking space. As if the very air were a glass object and it was shattering, pieces of the invisible substance fell away and dissolved into the ether. Dumbledore who had stood and raised his wand felt an unseen wind gush forward and push him away. The female members of the room just managing to stand by a joined effort in some form of shield charm that they had erected around themselves.
Dumbledore Managed to stand his ground long enough to cushion Remus fall and give him enough time to erect his own shield similar to that of the women.
Suddenly there was a blast wave emanating from the warped space around Harry. It flew forward decimating the grand table and wooden shelves around the room. The glass exploded inwards at the touch of the wave as if the room was a sudden vacuum.
"Mr. Potter… Focus…. Stop" Came his head of house's pleas. The women's words were drowned away by the wind and destruction. The warped space around Harry started to ripple though, as if agitated by McGonagale voice.
The shell of chaos that surrounded Harry seemed to reach a pitch that it liked as its surface rippled violently and the ground around Harry cracked away.
Dumbledore finally stood his ground in a pose indicating power as he waved his wand around himself sending spells splashing against what looked to be the support struts of the room.
"HARRY, STOP!" He boomed at the young man. Suddenly the cocoon dispersed outwards as if being torn asunder under the mans words. Harry stiffened and looked up. His eyes glowing an unholy white. Then memory Harry's eyes blinked and they were back to their jade green. Then he fell unconscious.
Harry stared at the scene with wide eyes.
It took 3 more replays by the headmaster before Harry indicated that he was done. And they found themselves back in the hospital wing.
Harry stared wordlessly at his own hands as he wrung them mindlessly trying to process what had happened in the room.
"Harry?" a soft voice spoke at Harry's side.
"What was that?" Harry asked clearly bewildered.
"We are unsure. "The headmaster admitted with a frown. "I have a theory but even that is based on more circumstance than I am comfortable with."
Harry stared at the man, demanding he share his crackpot theory anyway. More than likely it would be true and it would explain the rest of Harry's no doubt completely unrealistic and improbable year to him.
It took a moment and another adjustment to the mans glasses before he started to share.
"Do you recall the incident this summer…"
"The dark magic that infected Surrey?" Harry questioned wondering how this had relevance to the situation.
"No, I am referring to the ritual magic's being channelled through your scar after you warned us about the dark magic." Dumbledore explained brushing past the previous topic.
Harry paused and let a fish like facial expression mar his face as Harry was starting to see where this was going.
"Oh" Harry voiced his comprehension. He didn't really understand the mechanics of it but it was starting to make some kind of sense.
"Yes, I see we are thinking along the same lines. I told you and your healer at the citadel that the ritual magic's had a effect on your magical channels. Specifically they striped you of some of your evolutionary blocks." Dumbledore refreshed every one of past events.
"Wait… what does that mean. Evolutionary blocks… that sounds important." Harry interrupted.
Dumbledore smiled faintly. "They can be. Ritual magic, in general is focused on imbuing the caster with different traits and characteristics the caster feels beneficial. It is like a prime ape artificially evolving itself from an ape to something akin to a human."
Harry couldn't keep the smile of his face. "So I'm what…? the next stage of evolution." Harry had the wild idea of him reading minds and lighting flames with his mind… he couldn't keep the eagerness off his face as he spotted a glass of water on the side table. Focusing his mind he willed the glass to himself… at least that's what he tried to do.
"Harry? What are you staring at, are you thirsty?" Remus asked bemusedly on Harry's left.
Dumbledore hid his smile well as Harry blushed and took the glass Remus poured him.
Harry was fairly sure Dumbledore knew what he had been thinking. "It is too early to tell whether you are the 'next stage of evolution' or not, and really there are no set stages of evolution, you either gain abilities or characteristics that benefit you, or you do not." The man said kindly. "The evolutionary blocks I referred to earlier are conceptual blocks that healers and magical researchers termed some characteristic signals we receive from the human body under various diagnostic scans."
"You will learn such things later on and I believe Madame Pomfrey will be more than willing to inform you on the various theories revolving around the subject while she has her way with you." Dumbledore didn't even hide his smile under the groan Harry produced from the reminder of where he was.
"In any case, I believe the blocks removed from the ritual might have had to do with power regulation for your magical abilities. Your channels seem to be able to handle varying amounts and types of magic, that are not generally accessible to a wizard. Why they chose that moment to display that ability only you can answer." Dumbledore explained pointedly to Harry. Harry understood that that was all he was getting until he could elaborate on what was happening.
"I'm not to sure sir, I have some 'theory's' as well I guess" Harry said hesitantly. He wasn't sure why but he felt vary apprehensive about explaining what had been happening to him the past few days.
"By all means Harry…?" Dumbledore sat curious and waiting an explanation; even Remus who had been sitting at Harry's side turned slightly so he could watch Harry in his explanation.
Coloring slightly Harry told them everything. The strange reaction the room of requirement had been giving him, the sudden bursts of emotions and thoughts, the time he touched his back and images flew past his mind, everything he could not explain over the past few days.
"… and when I was in the memory, I don't know, I think the memory me was angry because I felt the pity of everyone in the room. And that was about the same time the memory went weird on us and it went all blurry, what was that anyway… and um ya, that's basically it." Harry finally finished his long explanation.
Scrounging up the courage Harry looked up from his hands and into the slightly wide eyes of Mooney and Dumbledore.
"Well, I had not been expecting that, I dare say you've added a few questions to my own." Dumbledore admitted with a frown.
"Harry why didn't you say anything?" Remus scolded as he systematically fussed over Harry, fluffing his pillow, remaking his blankets, filling another glass of water, and repeating.
"It never came up…" Harry said half heartedly as Remus put his glasses back on him after scrubbing at invisible smudges on it.
"Never came up he says… Half a mind to…" Remus muttered to himself as he took mothering to a level men were never meant to reach.
Harry accepted the mothering none the less as he was just glad no one was reprimanding him for destroying the mans office. Again…
" Where's Madame Pomfrey anyway… usually she would have … headmaster, are you ok?" Harry questioned the man who had gone slightly pale at the matrons name.
" I am in trouble I believe." The man admitted as he got up from his chair.
" Harry, I will investigate the matter at hand and get back to you, if you could…." Here he magicked himself a piece of paper and quill and wrote a quick note.
"… give this to Madame Pomfrey it would be much appreciated." He quickly sealed the letter and handed it to Harry.
With out further ado he headed to the entrance of the hospital wing opened the door, stepped outside, grabbed the handle of the door with one hand and waved his wand at the door opposite him at the other end of the hospital wing. He quickly shut his own door and vanished into the school as a click resounded ominously and Madame Pomfrey's door opened.
"ALBUS DUMBLEDORE!" a ungodly screech of pure ire echoed out of the door.
Harry barely held in his own shudder of terror as a demonic version of the school nurse with frazzled hair and wand ready exited like a bat out of hell as she searched the room for the headmaster.
"Where is he?" She seethed as she turned to face Harry.
Harry could have sworn he eeped as he pointed to the exit.
"He told me to give you this…" Harry boldly answered as he held out the letter with trembling hands.
Madame Pomfrey grumbled and muttered curses and phrases that in Harry's opinion, innocent school children should never be exposed to as she took the letter from Harry. Harry gathered that Dumbledore had locked Madame Pomfrey within her own office so he could question Harry. Harry now understood why the man had fled as he did, as Madame Pomfrey turned dangerous eyes towards Remus and growled the word "out" at the man. The man was gone before Harry could even think the word coward.
What was to follow was to be a very angry school nurse with a very terrified patient.
Harry would feel violated for a very long time after she was done with him.
AN: See where I'm going with this now… do yea? Well if you don't get it now, I don't know what to tell you.
I've kinda strayed from my outline, so I've got some back tracking to do to get back on track to what I originally planned.
By this rate The original chapter 13, which I'm looking forward to actually writing, won't be written till chapter 23.
Anyone remember that story, I referenced earlier, cracked reservoir. I read through what I wrote and the story is becoming uncomfortably similar to it. That was not my intention but I promise when I finally reveal the whole truth of what has happened to Harry, it won't seem that way. I hope…
Well I atleast promise Harry won't be making any runic transportation devices, that's for sure. Although the concept is fairly cool…
Anyway… next chapter. Luna Luna Luna! Probably slightly fluffy, so be warned.