Disclaimer: I don't Own Harry Potter… If I did, I would have written laws against MPreg.
Pre-AN: I wanted to thank everyone for the overwhelming number of reviews… 22 for a single chapter! I really appreciate it. For those of you who made comments about the perspective skip ahead to the ending authors note and then read.
Chapter 18- Well, don't that beat all…
"Harry? Are you ok mate?" Ron leaned forward, waving his hand in front of my eyes; a slightly concerned frown marring his face.
We were currently in the Gryffindor dorms. The reason my best friend was so concerned for me… Well I wasn't absolutely certain, but I don't believe my face could have looked any more horrified as I stared at the ceiling.
What had me in such a state, one might ask?
"I've buggered it up this time…" I moaned out loud.
"What's wrong mate…?" Ron asked in concern as he kneeled in front of my bed as I continued to stare in horror at the ceiling.
It was as if I could see my own demise within the mortar cracks of our granite roof, Ron took a hesitant look around before whispering…
"Is it… You-Know-Who…" he asked urgently, as he spied Trevor the toad, watching us with his beady toad eyes.
"I wish… him I could handle…" I spoke in defeat... My troubles were far more troublesome than some dark lord waiting in the shadows to off me.
Ron stared at me puzzled. "Something worse than Volde… volde… You-Know-Who?" he asked in disbelief.
"You're having me on mate…" he stated jokingly, but with a little worry laced between each syllable.
He was about to ask me something else when I suddenly I sprung up out of bed.
Ron, who was on my right; leapt aside as I bounced off the mattress. I started to walk towards Dean's bed, then Seamus's, then back to Dean's, then Ron's, and so on and so forth.
Ron looked at me in alarm, not quite sure what to make of my pacing and agitated state.
"Have you ever…" I started. Then stopped as I didn't know what to say afterwards…
"What I mean to say is…" Again, the words would not flow.
"What is it mate?" Ron asked in concern. The caring eyes and sympathetic smile of my best friend eased my agitated mind faintly. I knew I could trust Ron, he would understand what I was going through, he would take my problem seriously.
I turned to stare at my best friend in the eye; transmitting the seriousness of the situation between our corneas. I could see Ron prepare himself for it. I might as well just blurt it out… I knew I could only say it once.
Taking a deep breath I said…
"I asked Luna to go on a Date."
My tone was dead serious.
The room was silent. Ron stared at me hard, his face was stone.
Trevor observed us with his beady little eyes, judging us, and condemning us within his toad brain.
I awaited Ron's verdict, he would have some kind of pearl of wisdom to help me in my time of crisis.
I heard an odd whistling noise emanate from my friend, as if he were a tea kettle and he were about to erupt steam from his ears. He was trembling. My words had severely affected him…
SNORT
Ron's hands flew up to his face and covered his nose.
My face turned into a scowl as I saw his lips twitch into a smile before they vanished behind his oafish hands.
"It's not Funny Ron…" I said venomously.
Ron shook his head in agreement. His hands glued to his face as he stared at me.
But I was not to be fooled. I saw the mirth in his eyes.
"This is serious Ron…!" I scolded.
He nodded his head in confirmation; it wasn't a laughing matter. Although I knew that is what he was about to do.
I took a menacing step toward the redhead…
Quickly his hand went forward, raised with his palms out in a placating manner, his face taking on a more contrite appearance.
I stopped with a scowl on my face. At least he was taking it seriously now.
He calmed himself and stood to his full height. Walking forward, he placed his hands on my shoulders and looked me in the eyes.
In a serious tone, he informed me…
"It's time I told you… about the Seeker and the snitch."
His face cracked up in a wide smile.
I decided… it was time to hurt Ron Weasley.
Ron quickly let go of me as I leapt to strangle him. Every now and then he told me tales of the seeker who spent too much time polishing his broom instead of attending to the snitch.
"Get back here Weasley!"
"…But the snitch didn't like to be held so firmly… it required a gentle Touch…" he hollered as he dodged me.
Trevor let out a croak as he watched us tear through the dormitory.
Everyone was against me.
… .. … .. …
I knew I was being melodramatic, but this was a crisis in my eyes.
After I had finally exacted revenge upon Ron, who was surprisingly nimble, I confessed my anxiety over the situation. To Ron's credit, he only snorted once or twice more.
I retold my tale of Gummy wars and Blood red demon candies that-shall-not-be-named. He seemed more intrigued with the fate of the candy than my crisis.
'Honestly…'
Bob had survived, pulling a tactical retreat.
The house elves cheered in victory, and proceeded to fret over their lack of pastries.
We were less concerned when we actually looked in the Ice box. There were enough éclairs, puddings, pies, and cupcakes in it to feed a large neighbourhood… for a week.
Apparently the house elves believed in bulk.
It was after our decisive victory, and I had watched Luna float away with a smile that made my heart melt, that I suddenly realized what I had done.
I had asked a girl out.
I had asked a friend out.
I had changed our relationship dramatically.
'For our first date, was I expected to kiss her? How am I supposed to kiss her? '
'Do I even know how to kiss? I've only done it once. What if that's the reason why Cho cried. I can't exactly go and ask her about my technique…'
'Am I supposed to kiss her at all? Do I give her flowers; where do I get flowers…?'
All these questions and more plagued my mind.
When I revealed my insecurities to Ron… I imagine I got a tad worked up.
Ron, in the end threatened to tell Parvarti if I didn't calm down. He was a crafty one, I'll give him that.
After listening to me reiterate my worries, he finally told me…
"Don't worry so much, just be yourself..." he said soothingly. A benign smile playing across his face.
'…'
I wanted to strangle him. I didn't want some Saturday morning, teen drama, crap; I wanted actual advice
Like brew polyjuice potion, steal a hair from a hufflepuff, and flee to Istanbul.
'Be myself… pfft'
I at least learned one thing.
Never tell a mate that you fancy a girl.
'I don't know what I was thinking.'
… .. … .. …
After swearing to myself to never tell Ron anything, ever again - I managed to escape towards the great hall. Sir had not indicated that our training sessions would stop. I did not want to risk his ire over an assumption.
When I had arrived though, it appeared as though there were to be no more training sessions. I was surprised to note that I felt a little disappointed. Sure they had left me exhausted and left me with little to no free time, but they were helpful sessions that left me feeling like I had done something to aid in the war.
I was doing my part, in getting stronger. That was really the most sensible thing I could do short of strapping a bomb to my chest and standing next to Voldemort himself.
"I'm glad to see that you are punctual to these sessions; Tiberius would have it no other way of course" A voice said approvingly from behind me.
Quickly turning, I spotted the violently purple robed figure of Albus Dumbledore.
"Headmaster…" I said in surprise.
'I swore he liked to sneak up on me.'
"Good evening Harry." He greeted.
"I would offer you a candy, but I think you've had your fill of them tonight." The man said knowingly.
"Dobby?" I asked wondering who his informant into my afternoon activities had been.
"Chippy actually…" He said conversationally. As he swept his long beard over his shoulder, and walked deeper into the great hall.
"Come, join me Harry." He invited.
I followed him stride for stride as he lead me to the head table and sat in his usual seat. I spotted his hand subtly squeeze his wand. His other hand waved, inviting me to sit in the newly conjured chair opposite him.
I had gotten better at spotting subtle actions, and had been startled as I realized I was starting to understand how the adults around me had been performing magic so casually.
Subtle waves and gestures I had always assumed were casual performances of wandless magic were actually diversionary moves to take attention away from the wand they always grasped.
It suitably wowed the younger years, as it had me at that age, and it gave us something to strive towards.
It had become a little bit of a game to me, to spot the wand as the teachers cast their spells.
McGonagall for example, she was the more in plane sight caster, where the wand was always visible but pointed away from the action. Snape liked to keep his dark wood wand close to his robes; which hid it as they rippled around him.
I had started looking for these subtle signs when I realized they helped me anticipate spell fire from my instructors. I had always done it naturally on an instinctive level, but now that I recognized what I had always known, I became a more effective dualist.
Speaking of dualists'…
"Sir, am I not having training with Professor Connelly anymore?" I asked as I sat myself in the ten second old embroidered seat. It felt odd to refer to the man by his actual name instead of sir… I almost forgot what it was.
…the name Sir branded over the image of the man in my head.
"Not tonight I'm afraid, or for the rest of the week for that matter. Tiberius is on assignment and was forced to cut his time short at Hogwarts. That is why you received no notice of his departure." He explained serenely.
"Sir, I actually came to see you today…" I started. I might as well inform the man about the predicament I was in while we were here.
"Ahh yes that..." He frowned. Not so subtly he waved his wand at the great hall doors which slowly closed with a squelch.
The wall sconces lit up, startling me as I had gotten used to the darkness in the hall.
It felt more like a late night feast, as the house banners waved in the non existent wind. I half expected the students to storm the doors and seat themselves once more.
With one more wave of his wand. The room fizzled an electric blue, the same way the board room had in the citadel.
"About the incident… could you tell me your side of the story Harry?" Dumbledore asked with a resigned tone. He did not sound like he enjoyed this aspect of our conversation.
I needless to say, told him about my encounter with Snape. I decided to include my brief run in within the office as well.
There was a strange hardness to the aged wizards stare as I relayed the facts of the night.
Once I was done, Dumbledore rubbed the bridge of his nose in a tired manner and stared at me apologetically.
"Thank you for clearing that up for me Harry. I find myself owing you an apology once more." He lamented.
I quirked my eyes at the man.
"Apologise?" I asked.
"What for sir…?"
"I assumed Serverus would keep to his word. I was clearly mistaken. I hope you can forgive me Harry." He stated resignedly.
"Forgive you…?" I asked. "Can I speak freely sir?"
"Of course Harry, never feel you have to hold yourself back with me." he invited.
"Thanks…" I said for the invitation to be candid. "…but I can't see myself needing to forgive you for this. Unless you have some way of controlling every word out of Snapes…"
"Professor Snape…" He interrupted.
"Speaking freely sir…" I replied back pointedly.
His brow creased, and his lips twitched amusedly, at my answer. "Yes of course…" he smiled.
"Anyway, unless you could control every word he said, and did, I don't see what I have to forgive." I stated with a smile.
Dumbledore smiled back at me more freely.
I had the feeling he honestly did blame himself for it. It was ludicrous to do so, as even though he was a powerful wizard, he couldn't do everything. I wondered to myself though…
'Is this the kind of life he led? A life of constant expectation. Could the pressure, of being seen as the man who would know what to do; lead to a man who would feel the blame for the most infinitesimal of failures? And what of the grander snafus?'
'At the end of the day, he was still but one man…' It deeply unsettled me to think about; as the man had often said, I reminded him of himself when he observed me.
More out of steering the conversation away from such an awkward subject, I asked…
"Anyway, what happens now, that... Professor Snape…" I acquiesced.
He granted me a smile in return.
"… Let on to what I've been up to?" I asked.
"An excellent question Harry. I still maintain that keeping this arrangement a secret; the best course of action. For now, you and I will continue to deny the existence of such training. The rest of the staff has been informed that they are to do so as well." He stated.
"And Malfoy and the rest… surely they'll tell their parents." I asked.
Lucius was still trapped by all accounts in Azkaban, but that didn't seem like it would stop the information from passing into Voldemorts hands.
"That does pose a problem I admit. I had hoped Voldemort and his Death Eaters would assume you untrained, and that that surprise would work in your favour the next time you encountered them… " He said with a frown. "For now, continue to deny, and should one of the students in question approach you, use your best judgement." He stated.
"And of course inform me soon after word." He added on absentmindedly.
I nodded, already knowing that there was little we could do, short of imprisoning them within their own rooms and confiscating their wands. Which while a pleasant thought, would not sit well with the board of governors, let alone the wizarding world.
"I believe that is settled, unless you have any other questions?" Dumbledore remarked.
"Actually there is one…" I stated.
Dumbledore looked at me inquisitively.
"What happens next time I go to Defence? I dropped potions specifically because I learned a long time ago that we, Snape and I, could not be in the same room together; as this incident proved…" I wasn't above saying 'I told you so…'
"…I don't want to have to drop defence as well." I said with worry. I had genuinely enjoyed the subject. It was rare for me to find a course I could really feel a passion about, but defence had done that for me, despite most of my instructors trying to kill me at one point or another.
"Ah yes…" Dumbledore said with firm eyes. I rarely saw anger in the man but I saw it now. It was laced between disappointment and something else I couldn't quite place my finger on.
"… I had initially given Serverus the chance to teach Defence as a trial run as it were. His interest has remained fairly constant over the past few years, and I decided to offer him a chance at the subject. I am disappointed to say that he has failed that test, and I will not be offering him such a chance for some time." The man said with clear disappointment in his voice. "A shame really, as there are few who would wish to teach that subject, but many who vie for a chance as a potions professor…" he remarked.
It was the most bizarre thing, but as much as I despised the man, I felt… sorry for him?
He had clearly lost the position all on his own, but I couldn't help but think that if I had not been in the class, he would have been able to keep his position as a Defence instructor.
Did I think the man a competent teacher… no.
Did I think him a caring and sensitive human being… Hell no.
Did I want to see his dreams crushed… surprisingly, no?
"How long, until he gets another chance?" I asked casually. I was morbidly curious to see how long Dumbledore would punish the man for this… incident.
"I would say, about two years." Dumbledore remarked while watching me.
"Two years…" I repeated while allowing my eyes to wander back to look the man in his own aged pair. I was annoyed to see his infernal twinkle present.
"Are you perhaps feeling sympathy for Professor Snape…?" he asked with a smile.
"What … no." I denied right away.
Stopping, I frowned at my own acting skills, as even I didn't believe that.
"Maybe…" I admitted.
"You are perhaps also noting the amount of time he will have until I offer him the opportunity again…" he coaxed.
I in fact was… In about two years, I would no longer be a student at Hogwarts. I didn't like the fact that I was the determining factor in any mans life. Ironic, considering my fate…
I didn't need to answer Dumbledore as he stared at me in that knowing way of his.
"In truth Harry… yes, I am delaying his appointment to the defence post because of you." He admitted.
I was a little surprised, I had hoped I was being full of my self, and really it wall all a happy coincident. Also, I had not expected him to admit it to me so bluntly.
"The fact that you feel any sympathy for Professor Snape at all does warm my heart-and I believe I can surmise what may be passing through your head. I admit, I am no expert on the way you think, but I believe I have gotten to know you well enough to take a guess…" he said with a boastful smile.
I wanted to huff and tell him he probably wouldn't but the man had an uncanny sense into the workings of the people around him.
He most likely knew what I was experiencing and that aggravated me. 'Blasted telepath.'
"I am guessing that you feel some slight guilt over the matter, perhaps even a little shame…?" he stated with a smile.
I wanted to tell him he was way off, that I felt nothing for the man and I was glad that I would never have to see him regularly again…. but I just couldn't bring myself to lie. Instead I kept my surly silence.
"Yes… well, let me remind you Harry. At the end of the day, the knowledge you gain, and the abilities you master, will help save an entire society… I at first had hoped you and Serverus would attain some form of respect or companionship, thus healing some old wounds in the process, and making you both all the stronger… but something's were never meant to be I suppose." He said morosely.
'Was Albus Dumbledore confiding in me…?' It certainly sounded like it. I sat up a little straighter and turned my head a little to observe the man as he spoke.
"I do not wish to burden you, but I believe you already realize the tremendous responsibility you carry. Knowing this, I must prioritize what is more important. Your education or one mans ambition… There are other factors of course, but yours takes precedent in this matter." He admitted.
I did feel a little better…but a lot sicker after hearing the man justify himself.
The guilt still remained, but that was a part of who I was. It was the part that made me so similar to the man in front of me.
But I did take some solace in the fact that the very same man was also taking my education and life so seriously… I knew I would be prepared when the time finally came.
"Anyway, this is not actually what I came here for…" Dumbledore said after a comfortable silence.
I turned my head fully to him and waited for him to explain.
"I actually wanted to assess your training. Consider this a pop quiz as it were…" he said with a smile.
I remained calm on the outside but I was panicking on the inside… 'Albus Dumbledore was about to evaluate me. He was about to criticize my every step and motion.' I never did well on Pop quizzes… I was a bit of a worrier.
"What say we make this sporting shall we? If you should win, 50 points to Gryffindor. I don't want to toot my own horn but to beat me at your age would require tremendous dedication…" he said affably.
Something about the way the man said it… It raised a flag within my mind.
He was smiling confidently at me; his posture was flawless and something about him screamed power. The man was a master at projecting an image to the world. And yet now he was projecting power and strength… He never usually displayed those sides of his persona unless he was facing death eaters or trying to… intimidate.
This was part of the test. He was trying to see how I would react under stress, whether I would make stupid mistakes.
I had almost fallen for it… 'Crafty bugger.'
I stood up straighter and looked at him with confidence as I stood my ground.
He smiled with a twinkle that I thought meant he was proud of me. He nodded his head and stood along side me and waved his wand this time in an arc at the tables.
The house tables immediately flew to either end of the hall bordering up windows in the process of giving us an obscenely large space to duel in.
Dumbledore and I immediately strode forward, him taking a stand near the teachers table, the moonlight from the only unobstructed window, illuminating his form mysteriously.
I walked towards the entrance doors with my wand at the ready.
Turning around once I had marked my start, I faced the man with my arm at my side.
I didn't do any fancy sword wielding poses with my wand, as it no longer mattered whether I waved my wand in the direction of my opponent to cast a spell. I had reached a level where I could point my wand at my own head and scream stupefy and watch as my opponent succumbed to my spell instead.
My pose was about posturing and comfort. I thought I looked particularly intimidating as I stood tall and proud with my wand held firm at my side, and my arms did not tire from holding it up high waiting to cast like I once had. Dumbledore would not be intimidated by me, but my own projected confidence boosted my own… telling me that I could do this.
Dumbledore nodded approvingly.
"First to be disarmed or unconscious…" He invited.
"Agreed." I said preparing myself for the challenge.
Then without as much as a sound, or countdown.
He vanished.
I couldn't help but let panic take hold of my mind for a moment.
This wasn't the distorting ripple associated with a disillusionment charms, nor was he covered by an invisibility cloak. He had simply, disappeared.
I spun on my heal casting a strong shield charm, and searched my surroundings.
I could not spot him. Calming my mind a little, I dropped my shield as an idea formed in my head. The shield would protect me from many spells, but would not allow me to attack while I was within it.
As my shield fell, I quickly disillusioned my self, ignoring the cold dribbling sensation that encompassed me, and started waving my wand about as if I was performing a diagnostic spell.
I was not doing any such thing in reality.
One of the draw backs of disillusionment was that in reality, it worked more like a chameleon skin, projecting a image of the surrounding environment rather than making a person truly invisible. Any motion at all caused a ripple like effect that could be caught by an observant eye.
That was what I was counting on.
My wand movements were exact and a little exaggerated as I pretended to cast diagnostic charms to track the man's location, when in reality, I was conjuring silently using spell mining and my wandless skills.
The wandless magic was only used to dissolution my conjuration as I created it, as I was still weary of overtaxing myself.
Immediately, spell fire started to aim for me from all directions. If this had been a few months earlier I might have feared Dumbledore had somehow managed to find a way to duplicate himself as the spells were from all directions, even the ceiling where my conjuration lay suspended.
I nearly lost my concentration as I was forced to duck and dodge the spells.
Some of them appeared to be stunners, and banishers, some were unknown, others were actually just sparks and fireworks meant to confuse me.
No one could say the man wasn't talented.
If anyone were to look in the great hall, they would see spell fire and magic being directed at a moving mirage that swerved and danced to avoid being struck.
Finally I finished my conjuration. I had become much better at the art than when I had begun, but I was not a master by any means. What I had planned took time to create, as I was thinking big.
I wanted to shock the headmaster, spot him, and perhaps maybe even beat him. I was an optimist.
Now that I had finally finished my conjuration, I could finally go on the offensive.
Quickly I managed to conjure thirty or forty ping pong balls and banished them in all directions.
Then while the headmaster thought I was sending out the balls to help spot him I dropped my disillusionment, for both me and my conjuration.
I reappeared somewhere in the corner of the room by the front, with a smirk that I imagine made the headmaster pause.
I also liked to imagine his eyes might have widened fractionally as he looked up only to see hundreds of gallons of red paint falling from the ceiling.
I banished a section of paint away from me and keenly observed my surroundings. Hoping Dumbledore would follow my lead…
Like before, the world slowed down and I watched as the scene before me moved at half speed.
A section of paint not five meters away from me was starting to vanish…
I now knew where Dumbledore stood.
Pointing my wand and my hand at the spot I directed my magic at him while sending stunners and percussion blasts at him. My spell fire formed an arc of as it sweaped the distance between us to aim for him.
There was no way he could dodge it…
I was surprised though when my magic passed right through the spot… It wasn't even reflected away by a shield… it simply splashed harmlessly across the opposite wall as if Dumbledore were not even there…
I knew moments later why as the paint hit the floor.
On the opposite side of the room, 20 feet away, with his wand arm pointed at me covered in paint that dripped off his still invisible figure, stood Albus Dumbledore.
Paint dripped away from his body; I could make out his beard as the paint seeped through it and dripped off his robes.
He was only partially visible as I could still see through some parts of him that had avoided being drenched by the red liquid.
I swore his blood red face smirked at me as he started firing spells.
Using Lemans method I quickly fired back, intercepting spells and ricocheting them away from me.
Now was the true fight.
Luckily for me, Dumbledore did not try and do what Snape had done, and tried his hand at beating me in a battle of wills. I was sure I could not win if that were the case.
He simply let the spells hit each other and started upon a new series of attacks. I mainly focused on my shield balls as I was quickly moved into the defensive once more.
I was proud to say I was holding my own. He was probably going easy on me but still, it was an ego boost none the less.
We swirled and pivoted around each other, trying to asses each others weaknesses. I was lucky as I had my wandless skills to fall back on to help me defend my self as I found it significantly easier to block spells using this skill.
My eyes spotted a low hanging wall sconce and a crazy idea struck.
I almost decided against it until I finally noticed how thick the paint was and that there was at least a half inch puddle we both wadded through.
Quickly deciding, I wormed my way closer to the wall sconce that hung firmly by the doorway to the hall and enacted my idea.
I gathered my magic for a quick burst and fired a powerful banisher at the floor, while shielding my self with my wandless spells.
I staggered momentarily from the barrage of spells that were not intercepted but smiled as the wave of paint formed heading for the headmaster. It was a large wave, at least as big as me; as I had used some magic to ensure the wave was at least as tall... effectively blocking me from sight.
Quickly I jumped while simultaneously shooting a sticking charm at the wall, and disillusioned myself once more.
I almost cheered as it worked.
There I was, wand extended, invisible, hanging from the wall like Spiderman…
My left arm and leg were firmly stuck to the wall and I couldn't fall off if I tried. My wand was pointed, invisible as well at the wave.
Dumbledore cast a shield that blocked the liquid from impacting him once more, as the liquid was still distracting when it hit… something I had hoped would stun the man when I conjured it up in the first place.
I watched as it splashed against his shield charm and formed a 7 foot high bubble.
I was going to wait until the man dropped his shield, and then when he was close enough to me, I was going to stun him.
'I might just win yet.' I cheered in disbelief.
The only problem with my plan was that I had to stay perfectly still, lest he spot my distortion.
I waited for what felt like an eternity till finally, the shield fell, taking with it the layer of paint.
I waited to see the paint falling back on the man inside as there was no part of the bubble that was not doused in the thick liquid…
But I was to be surprised as the paint fell… only to hit the floor.
Dumbledore had vanished again… he had not even been in his own shield…
I made my first and last mistake, as my wand hand dropped an inch in surprise.
I knew no more as a stunner washed over me.
… .. … .. …
Suddenly I awoke to the familiar sensation of an enervate being splashed against my body.
I gasped in breath and idly noticed that I was still hanging from the wall.
Looking around the room I noticed that all the paint had vanished, leaving the room as clean as when I had first arrived; including the paint that had doused the now visible and smiling man in front of me.
"Well I must say Harry; that was marvellous. I can see why Tiberius praises you as he does." Dumbledore boomed brightly as he looked at me not a few feet away.
"What… how did you…" I asked intelligently. I was utterly confused. 'How had the man vanished once more…? I should have had him.'
Absentmindedly, I unstuck myself from the wall and landed at a crouch in front of the beaming man.
"You forget Harry, while I could not see you when you banished the paint… clever that by the way… you could not see me as I vanished the paint from my already invisible self and dodged." He said with that all too familiar twinkle in his eye.
I could have moaned at such a stupid mistake. I wanted to pull a Dobby and strike myself for making such a foolish mistake.
"Afterwards, I simply borrowed from you by creating a shield at the spot I had been and let the paint hit it as I searched the room for you." He explained proudly as he absentmindedly created another bubble a few feet away to demonstrate.
I had let my hand sag as I wondered where Dumbledore had been. Such a small movement, only to be caught moments later was quite impressive.
"30 points to you regardless, I am very impressed Harry." He praised.
I couldn't help but feel pleased at the praise and sheepishly smiled under his smile.
The rest of the evening passed far too quickly for me, as Dumbledore took the time to teach me each and every spell he had cast at me that night. Including his invisibility.
Needless to say, it was the best lesson I had ever had.
… .. … .. …
The next day was a little less jovial for me. I had hoped that I could avoid Hermione long enough to think up a reasonable excuse for Snape's loose lips… but that was not to be.
I had woken that morning only to find Hermione waiting for me with a stern frown upon her face.
She did not say anything as I greeted her, but she had not redirected her glare in any other direction than my own.
As we walked towards the great hall, she continued to frown upon me until I could not stand it one second more and stopped and pulled her into an empty classroom.
Ron who had followed me downstairs only to see the angry scowl upon Hermione's face; left us to our own devices as he sent us ahead to the great hall as he went back to get his forgotten quills. He knew the argument would happen and he did not want to be present for it… I couldn't blame him.
I secured the room, using the same spell Dumbledore had used, which had earned a raised eye from Hermione who continued to look at me with an angry judgemental frown upon her face.
"What is it Hermione…" I said rhetorically, already knowing why she was upset with me.
I half expected her to remain silent, but she decided to get right into it.
"Am I not your friend anymore Harry?" She asked angrily. Her arms crossed and her face a scowl as she stared at me.
I had to admit I was not expecting that…
"What, where did you get that from…?" I asked alarmed. Her familiar voice inside my mind berated me, telling me that I had brought this upon myself by my selfish actions.
The Real Hermione stared at me and took a breath as she seemed to prepare herself…
"What else am I supposed to think? You never study with me anymore, always going off to your room of requirement to study on your own. You spend all your time with Luna Lovegood, or Neville or Ron, and you're so secretive…" She spoke angrily.
"We talked about this Hermione… I need my privacy." I tried to remind her. I didn't bother to justify the rest as to an extent I had been avoiding her. Or at least I could see why she thought I was. I barely saw her except for D.A. meetings or class.
"Don't Give me that…" she said venomously. " I was willing to accept the fact that you needed your privacy for stuff like your grades or your personal life, but you're hiding bigger things than that. Don't deny it." She practically yelled.
I wasn't sure what to say to that, as here was one of my best friends and she was very upset. And she had every right to be as well.
I decided she deserved some answers.
"You're right to an extent… I have been keeping some things from you." I admitted. It took more of an effort to admit that to her than I suspected it would have for any of my other close friends.
I don't think she expected me to admit that, as I saw the surprise in he eyes and some of her anger diminished.
"But…" I continued already knowing that what I was about to say would not sit well with her.
"… I have reasons for not telling you everything. You're not the only one who doesn't know. The secrets I keep are secret for a reason, and as much as I value our friendship, I have to keep them a secret as my life is at stake if I don't"
I was right to say think that she would not understand. Her indignation flared at the clear denial.
"See this is what I mean. You don't keep secrets like that from your best friends!" She scolded, walking forward a step to berate me.
The sky outside was cloudy and grey and that added another layer of gloom to the room as I watched my friendship start to crumble.
"The world isn't like that Hermione; I don't have the luxury of telling you everything and expecting it to turn out alright in the end. You have to understand that you knowing some things are not beneficial to me." I defended. I wanted to get angry to feel indignant that she was demanding answers but I understood that I was just as responsible for bringing us to this point as she was.
"Bull!" She flared.
"This has to do with Voldemort… Doesn't it?" She seethed as she stared at me.
"I can't answer that…" I said. I had a feeling she was also recalling the incident in the citadel… when Dumbledore had almost revealed too much about the office incident and the prophecy. I wasn't going to bother to lie, but I wasn't going to tell her either.
"How can you be so selfish…?" She practically screamed in frustration as she tore her eyes away from me. She spun on her heals and paced the room like a jungle cat.
"Selfish… how the hell am I being selfish?" I asked indignantly.
"You're hiding secrets that could help defeat him. You're not the only one in danger with him around. I'm a muggleborn, Ron's a 'Blood Traitor', were at the top of his list…Have you forgotten that!" she said indignantly.
I stared at her for a second letting her words wash over me…
"What are you dumb…?" I asked. "The only reason you two would ever be in danger of him, is because of me in the first place. I doubt he even knows your names, what makes you think you two would be at the top of his 'list'." I asked in incredulity.
That was her worst argument yet. She was grasping at straws now.
She huffed angrily… a little surprised I had brushed her argument aside so easily.
"Is this what it's about, protecting us... do you think we can't handle ourselves…" She scolded building up a new steam.
"That's enough!" I boomed.
I had had it, she was going to keep trying to wear me down, to prove to me that she deserved to know, and I had already decided that was not going to happen.
Hermione stared at me wide eyed as I had never truly yelled at her like that. I had gone on an upset tirade about how frustrated I had been, I had been indignant when she had insulted me, but I had never asserted such anger towards her directly. I imagined it might have been like when Dumbledore had yelled furiously at Minister Fudge. I could feel the disappointment and fury coursing through my veins.
Hermione for her part, shut up.
"I am not telling you what you want to know… I suggest you deal with it, as that's final." I told her strictly.
I strode towards the door already starting to open it…
"Harry James Potter, Don't you dare …." She started.
A window pane shattered.
My anger had returned full force. I turned around to stare at my friend pointedly.
The window had exploded inwards but thankfully on the other side of the room so as to not hurt her. She was in shock over my clearly displayed rage.
"No, Don't you Dare Hermione…" I warned.
"… No more, I've been patient, I've tried to see your side of this, but you will not hear me say it again. Do not pry into my secrets. If you can't handle that then that's your own problem." I glared at her hard.
Her mouth was agape at the end of my speech.
I turned around and stormed out of the room while shooting a reparo that violently repaired the window and made my way to the room of requirement.
I was going to see about smashing things for the next hour to work my temper down.
… .. … .. …
I had finally left the room, the layer of dust from all the brittle clay sculptures of my own head vanished as I passed through the doorway.
The room had sensed my true need to punish myself as I smashed my own head in with a beaters bat till my arms were as limp as noodles.
The first class should have ended by now. Hagrid had rescheduled us for a morning class. I knew the kind half-giant wouldn't mind that I had missed one class.
I had decided to go back to my dormitory and bury myself in runes and potions work as my schedule was clear until transfigurations in the afternoon. It was a light day for me…
As I got closer and closer to my common room; where my equipment lay, buried in my extremely well protected trunk, I couldn't help but feel saddened at the state of my friendship with the girl.
I wasn't entirely sure where we stood now, I had basically confirmed that I was keeping secrets from her, secrets that had to do with Voldemort himself, and I had yelled at her.
She had every right to call our friendship off. I wondered though whether that would have been a good thing in the end.
I was right when I said that she was only at risk of being in danger, by being my friend. Would it really be so bad, I had been alone most of my life. If I were to have no friends, everything would become so much simpler.
I would have no one demanding of me information. I would have no one to agonize over.
In a way Dudley Dursley had done me a favour. In school together, he had kept me from making any friends; and now, I had no reason to return to Surrey. Something I considered quite the blessing.
I quickly shoved those thoughts away. I wasn't prepared to go to such an extreme… yet.
I was about to speak the password to the Fat Lady, when I felt a cold hand grasp my shoulder.
I quickly whirled around to see the angry face of Serverus Snape.
I had seen hate in his eyes before, but there was a new level of mal-intent lurking beneath the surface now.
"Potter…" He snarled.
"Sir…" I spoke with distaste. What was he doing here? Wasn't he supposed to have a class?
He looked at me for a second before pushing me to my right and shoving me forward.
"To my office…" He barked. I regained my footing from his shove and looked at him angrily.
"Do not touch me again sir…" I warned. His features jerked at my own snarl.
He appeared to have wanted to say something before I abruptly complied and started walking towards his office.
I was still a little angry over my Hermione issues and to have to deal with Snape… It did not make a happy Potter out of me.
I half expected Snape to comment on my remark, but he didn't as he marched a step behind me like a guard leading a prisoner to their cell.
I probably should have told myself to calm down or not let the man get to me… but I was on the brink of something. My anger and agitation was doing something strange to me.
I could feel an odd swirling feeling starting to build within me. My magic was starting to react.
My core was starting to react…
'Of all times, now it decides to do something.'
"Stop" Snape barked abruptly.
I walked to a lazy stop not letting the man think I would stop immediately at his command like a dog on a leash.
I turned an unimpressed eye toward the man as instead of his office I stood outside the mans classroom.
"Get inside." He ordered.
I almost sneered at the man as I looked at him like the filth I thought him to be.
Instead, I opened the door to find myself standing in a class filled with students.
Specifically, the sixth year class.
Specifically Hermione Granger and Draco Malfoy.
I knew there was something I was forgetting. The two looked at me in surprise.
Hermione's frown turned into an irritated scowl, while Draco's became a smirk as if he knew something I didn't.
"What are you doing here Potter, I thought you failed potions…" He taunted. There was something else in his voice… he knew why I was dragged here.
I never got to reply back, as instead…
"Quiet Mr Malfoy." Snape barked in a tone laced with impatience.
Needless to say I was not expecting that. It was like Vernon Dursley telling Dudley he was grounded.
Malfoy reddened noticeably but quickly apologized while keeping an eye on me and his professor.
"Potter, stand by my desk." He ordered.
"What is this about sir…?" I finally asked.
"Now." He commanded.
The man was very unstable today. I had a feeling he would probably be willing to manhandle me in front of his students if I pushed him far enough…
I quirked an eye at him and sauntered over to the spot indicated, only to casually stand waiting for further instruction.
He glared at me hatefully before turning around and yelling at a startled class.
"Everyone stop what you're doing immediately."
"But sir, we need another four minutes to cool the…" A Slytherin protested hesitantly.
"Do As I say!" He barked.
Immediately every knife and stirring rod was placed at the side of each cauldron regardless of the potions state.
Snape stared at his class with hawkish eyes.
"Earlier this morning, my seventh years found there armadillo bile replaced with willow sap. The resulting explosion and loss of a valuable potions ingredient has left me very unhappy." He explained.
I noticed a glimmer in a particular student's eye.
Malfoy already knew.
"The fact that the perpetrator was cheeky enough to leave a calling card in the shape of a floating green lighting bolt left me less amused." Snape said angrily while turning to glare at me.
Malfoy turned as well; his eye's sparkled with malice. Needless to say, I believed I was framed.
"I didn't do it…" I said calmly with a quirked eye. He wasn't going to get me acting like I was guilty by squirming under his stare. I was not known for pranks, and as much as I detested Snape, everyone knew that I was set up.
"Do not think me a fool Potter; it reeks of your attention seeking ways. So like your farther you are." He condemned.
I was surprised to note that I wasn't really affected by the remark as I once had been.
Usually I would have been filled with reckless rage at such a comment. I only spared a pitying look at the man and said…
"If you suspect me, I suggest you talk to my head of house or Professor Dumbledore." I suggested.
I had nothing further to say. I would do what I should have done along time ago.
His Slytherin's only had to ever go to their head of house to escape punishment. I would use my own; she was there for a reason after all.
Snape turned an irritated eye towards me, as I doubt he expected such an answer.
"Hiding behind the headmaster are we." He mocked.
Some of the Slytherin's sniggered, some of the Hufflepuff's who had surprisingly large numbers teetered angrily at the comment. Dumbledore was still Dumbledore and he inspired loyalty like a plague, the dead.
"If you have issues with the headmaster, I suggest you discuss them with him." I remarked while glaring hatefully at the man.
I wasn't going to react improperly in front of a classroom where he could exaggerate my behaviour.
He was already digging his own grave. I suspected he had been informed that he was not to teach defence anymore… and he was taking the news badly.
I swore his arm twitched closer to his body. I imagined he was a hairs breath from trying to curse me. I was hoping he would try.
My core was even beating violently, as if it two wanted to throttle the man.
I suspected that I was getting close to accessing it, but by the way the headmaster explained it, I should not have been able to. I was supposed to be in a calm state of mind to do that… I was anything but, as I was angry and preparing for a fight.
If I did access it, what was I supposed to do then…? We had not covered this in our lessons.
Snape angrily twirled and told the class to bottle what they had finished brewing.
"Mr. Potter has just volunteered to test out your antidotes to the various poisons I had assigned you." Snape announced to the classes and my own surprise.
"But sir… they haven't cooled yet…" Susan Bones announced in my defence.
"Do not question me… 15 points from hufflepuff." He barked. That did not stop many of the students from trying to come to my rescue. Hermione included.
Most of the Slytherin's however smiled happily. There were some, who didn't really care, and one or two who did not seem like they really didn't approve; but most like Malfoy could only beam at the announcement.
"No."
Everyone silenced as spoke the most taboo word to ever be spoken within these walls.
"What did you say Potter?" Snape warned.
"I said no." I repeated.
I vaguely remembered the man threatening me with this before, but this time, I feared what he might allow as he now hated me like no other time before. That's not to say I would have let the man poison me under any other circumstance.
"Are you scared Mr. Potter. I thought you were a brave Gryffindor. The Hero of the wizarding world…" He mocked.
"If you're so keen to prove your bravery, you drink it sir. I'm not." I replied back defiantly.
Snapes eyes flashed. He whipped out a vial and held it towards me.
"Drink the vial…" he ordered.
"No…" I said while I noted the orange concoction. It looked like juice, but I suspected it was anything but.
"Do as I say Mr. Potter or you face expulsion…" He threatened.
"Get the headmaster then, and he can expel me in front of us all." I goaded. I wasn't stupid enough to fall for that.
The man snapped…
"Everyone Out!" He yelled.
The students didn't need to be told twice as everyone quickly exited.
Hermione spared me a blank look. I could see trace amounts of worry laced between her emotionless mask. But she vanished with the rest of the students.
I made my way to the exit as well before the door slammed shut in my face.
Turning around I spotted the sheeting Potions Professor.
"You dare disrespect me in front of my students Potter!" He yelled.
"You dare try and poison me Professor?" I asked back.
"You will be quiet potter if you know what's good for you..." he commanded.
His greasy hair masked part of his face as he looked down upon me.
"Fifty points from Gryffindor and detention for a month." He barked.
I wasn't about to spend an entire moth doing who knew what with the man supervising.
"I will not do anything with you until I speak with Professor Dumbledore…" I remarked.
It was obvious to me that the man was seeking retribution… If Snape thought I would let that happen, then he was in for a rude surprise.
"So like your farther, hiding behind the headmasters robe like a child. I had hoped the man had outgrown his need to favour Arrogant Potters but Apparently I was mistaken." He condemned.
That did hit a bit close to home. 'Is that what was happening.' My relationship with the man was not the average student headmaster relationship.
'No.' Snape was trying to get to me; the headmaster needs me as much as I need him to fight Voldemort. If I had a closer relationship with the man than the average student, then so be it; Snape was the one with the problem…
"Are we done here?" I asked angrily.
"We are done here when I say we are…" Snape seethed. I was not acting at all like the man expected me to be. Some of it was my new attitude but some of it I liked to think was maturity. The old me, the one Snape knew, would have snapped long ago…
"Do you think yourself special Potter? You have the headmaster and the pampered fools of this world convinced you are some hero, I am not fooled, you are a noting, a worthless…"
I flinched as that was a word uncle Vernon liked to use a lot in reference to me…
"Vile…"
Petunia Dursley… My core was practically begging me to attack him.
"Orphan who killed those around him with his foolishness." The man finished.
That one hit very close to home. I was teetering over the edge of the precipous, one last step and I could take the plunge and God only knew what would happen then. Needless to say that remark had earned a response.
"And you are nothing but a greasy haired jealous death eater who likes to torment children. How does it feel to be a waste of flesh that leaches off of society… sir?" I bit back.
That had done it.
Snape practically tore his wand from his side and pointed at me.
This was the moment my core had been waiting for.
The world slowed down once more, my vision cleared, and I watched the man start to form an ominously yellow spell at the end of his wand.
My core was beating that violent beat that synced up with my heart beat and it demanded I offer it something.
Out of instinct I sent it my rage.
My Core exploded from its tight cocoon like cage and spread to the furthest reaches of my body. I could feel the power surge through me like no other before. It passed through my hands and into my wand and I felt the rightness of the two… joined at last.
Suddenly my back got heavier… my arms stronger; as if my bones had turned to steel and an unknown source of magic gushed forward like wind knocking a wide eyed Snape back.
The world suddenly returned to normal speed and I could just make out the perturbing eyes of a shocked man, before he slammed into the stone wall and crumpled like a rag doll.
I stared at him confused.
'What the hell just happened…?' I wondered.
Taking a cautious step forward I felt an odd sensation as my limbs knocked against the potions supply cupboard.
This was strange for the fact that I was in the centre of the room and the potions supply cupboard was 5 feet away from me to my right.
And my arms were at my side.
So that meant I was receiving sensations from a limb that shouldn't be there.
I realized I was feeling two sets of sensations that had not been there… it was the oddest thing. Hesitantly I looked to my right and stared wide eyed.
Feathers… Black feathers… Black Shiny feathers were rubbing against the potions cupboard.
The black, shiny feather was attached to a giant ebony wing.
My wings Twitched in alarm as twirled in shock.
I was shocked as I realized I had caused my wings to twitch… I had Freaking Wings!
"What the Hell!" I cried out.
Since when did people gain wings all of a sudden?
Magic smagic… this was not normal.
I was unbelievably irritated as I pulled my wings closer to my body.
I was irritated as I realized should not have known how to do that… I was controlling my wings as if I had always had them. That shouldn't be possible.
You know what else shouldn't be possible… Me, Having Wings!
I was fairly sure I was freaking out.
Looking over to the Potions professor I wondered whether I should leave him like he was.
I noted that he was still breathing, so I had at least not killed him… which I supposed was a good thing.
Quickly deciding I sent a stupefy using my wandless magic, ensuring his continued unconsciousness.
The magic streamed out of my easily. It had never been so easy before.
I had just barely thought about casting the spell before it was done.
This was starting to get weird… what was I saying…. I had Wings!
I thought about vanishing my wings… getting rid of them, but no dice… they were still there.
Was I stuck with the things for the rest of my life; I didn't want to go around sporting a pair of feathery limbs.
Uncle Vernon's voice popped out of no where and reminded me that I was a freak.
Idly I wondered whether the man had seen this coming some how.
I certainly was a freak… there was no denying that, all one had to do was take a look at my wingspan and note that I had one.
Frantic, I tried to take my shirt off and wear them over my wings when I noted that my clothing was hanging tattered from my body.
The accursed wings had torn my robes off. These were my favourite robes too, but now they lay at my feet in tatters, mocking me in their destruction.
Quickly I tried to mend them… I managed a half decent job, but now I struggled with trying to put them on.
Somehow I willed my wings to wrap around my body and transfigured my robes into a poncho like robe that covered my entire top half.
I was irritated to note that the wings wrapped around me made my top half look as big as Dudley with the scrawny knobbly knees I had always had.
I looked utterly ridiculous.
Shooting a disgruntled frown at the unconscious potions master, as I blamed him for my current situation; I covered myself and stepped outside. I was relieved to note that I was alone in the corridor.
Placing a locking charm on the door, as I didn't want anyone to get inside before Dumbledore dealt with the man, I sped away, and up toward the headmaster's office.
I idly wondered whether I could fly with the things, but quickly told my self to worry about getting rid of them first.
I was irritated to note that no matter how many times I tried to perform the disillusionment charm on myself my wings would not vanish.
My clothes vanished with the rest of me but a floating pair of curled wings remained.
The things were resistant to my magic… Why did fate hate me?
I un-disillusioned myself and ran as fast as I could avoiding students and teachers.
Finally making my way to the gargoyle I ran the last few meters away only to be stopped as the gargoyle refused to move as it usually did.
"Move…" I cried in distress.
It didn't so much as budge. Resigning myself to guessing I started calling out names of candies. When I had guessed gummy bears twice I practically growled in anger.
I slammed my fist down hard on the gargoyle and was shocked to note that I had cracked it.
I had cracked the thousand year old 'stone' Gargoyle.
This added to my 'what the hell' moment I was having.
I also noted that somehow, I had shifted the gargoyle as I had hit it.
Startled, I hesitantly started to push the stone guardian towards its left.
I would have been happier if it had not worked.
But ever so gradually, the thing slid away. Finally I pushed it far enough that I could squeeze through towards the other side near the staircase.
I technically should not have been able to do that.
As I was a malnourished, knobbly kneed 16 year old who while being trained by order of the phoenix taskmasters, could barely beat Neville in an arm wrestling competition.
Adding another impossibility to the list, I sprinted up the stairs towards the door and entered, with out so much as knocking or waiting for an invitation.
"Sir I…" I stopped talking as I turned around to spot Professor McGonagall, Professor Flitwick, and an unknown first year student seated opposite Professor Dumbledore who looked at me in surprise.
"Mr. Potter, we are in a meeting." Professor McGonagall said grumpily at my rude entrance.
I blushed but I knew my issues were much more important than whatever the students was.
"Yes Mam, I'm sorry Mam… But this is an emergency and I have to talk with professor Dumbledore immediately." Answered bravely.
Professor McGonagall looked at me with a raised brow. "Can it not wait a few moments; this is an important matter we are discussing." She asked.
I noted the tear stained face of the first year Ravenclaw, and couldn't help but let my heart melt at her cherubic pout. But then I remembered that I had wings and knew that whatever issue she had could probably wait a few moments.
"I suppose, but this is an emergency…" I stared at professor Dumbledore and let my eyes display the level of anxiety I was experiencing…
Dumbledore stared at me and nodded.
"Mr Potter, Please follow the stares up to my quarters and I will be with you in a moment." He instructed.
I nodded quickly and bolted up the stairs like a niffler after gold.
Entering the room, I barely noticed the wide opulent white sheeted bed. The Love seat to my right, or the tea set and table to my left.
I was still frantic over the situation I was in…
Looking around the room I noted the bookshelves and minor trinkets I assumed were personal possessions.
There was a single picture frame by the bed that on any other occasion might have intrigued me, but at the moment left me apathetic at best as I paced back and forth waiting for the man.
What felt like hours but was probably minutes, the door finally creaked open to reveal the man I had been waiting forever for.
"Harry, What is the…" He never got to finish his statement as I let my wings unfurl to their full length and pointed at them with my thumb.
"I have Wings….!" I exclaimed.
I normally would have enjoyed seeing the shocked look upon the mans face as he stared at me with my new appendages. But instead I started to ramble on and on about what had happened to me, mentioning Snape and Hermione, what I was looking forward to having for breakfast, my theory that Malfoy switched the armadillo bile and my battle with the potions professor.
Somewhere along the course of my explanation, Professor Dumbledore had sat himself on his bed as I continued to pace and looked at me with a slightly dumb look upon his usually wise old face.
"… And then, some how I can move the things… I shouldn't know how to do that…When I try to get rid of them though.., I can't. I don't even know how I got them in the first place…" finally I plopped down on the couch opposite the man and retracted my left wing.
"And they itch like crazy…" I finished as I started to scratch at a spot that had been irritating me since I got them.
As I continued to scratch I finally started to pay attention to my surroundings and noted the fact that Dumbledore had not said a word since I revealed them.
He continued to stare at me dumbly as if I had snapped his mind in two with the revelation…
"Sir…?" I asked.
Dumbledore blinked and then finally some intelligence started to seep back into him as he took in the fact that I was waiting for him to say something…
"I must say, I was not expecting that…" He remarked with a little wonder in his voice.
'Why the hell did I think the man would have better advice to handle this situation.' It was like hearing Ron say tell me to be myself again.
How I wished I knew how to brew polyjuice potion… I would have been in Istanbul like that.
"Sir… how do I get rid of them… I can't walk around with wings on my back…" I asked trying to remind him that I had a situation to deal with here.
"Yes of course…" he said, finally snapping out of it.
"Tell me what you were experiencing before you grew wings…" he asked as he strode forward and started to run his wand up and down the inside of my wings and around my body.
I stood up to allow him better access.
"I was angry at Snape, as we had been fighting…"
"You should not have been fighting at all, if you and Professor Snape had a disagreement you should have tried to come to me directly." He scolded lightly as he continued to circle me with his wand.
"I did try, a entire classroom heard me tell him that he should talk to you immediately…" I said in defence.
"Very well, aside from that part of the incident what else happened?" he asked as he 'hmmed' and 'haaed' at the various signals his wand was giving him.
I huffed testily but continued.
"I felt my core activating; you said I needed to be in the trance though to activate it…" I pointed out.
"Yes, it would appear I was wrong, the ritual magic's had a much different effect on you that I had realized…" he said distractedly.
I huffed once more but continued.
"Anyway, I directed my anger at it, and then a blast of magic knocked Snape against the wall, and I had wings… Oh also I cracked you gargoyle when it wouldn't let me in." I said absentmindedly.
He looked at me in confusion…" We will revisit what you exactly did to my gargoyle later… why did you send your anger at your core…" he asked curiously.
I shrugged "Felt like it…" I replied back dumbly.
What else could I say?
"I see…" he commented. Withdrawing his wand and stepping in front of me, he appraised me and directed me to sit in a chair by his tea set.
I awkwardly tried to sit back down, but my wings were getting in the way.
I ended up leaning forward uncomfortably as I wrapped my wings around my torso once more.
Dumbledore on the other hand seated himself gracefully on a chair opposite me and started stirring a pot.
Pulling out a vial from his drawer, he poured a liberal amount into one cup and mixed it with the tea.
Sliding the very same cup over to me he grabbed his own and took a sip.
"What was that?" I asked as I took a sniff of the unknown brew.
"It is a calming draught. I believe the only way to counteract your core is for you to calm down." He instructed as he took another sip from his cup and waited for me to take a sip myself.
I wanted to complain that I was calm but decided to just take a sip.
I was disgruntled to note that it tasted pretty good and scowled as I started to feel calmer already.
"Now Harry are you aware of your core right now…can you sense it like you did in the trance." He asked soothingly.
I nodded even already feeling a little more relaxed than I was before.
"Good, I want you to direct your happy calm thought toward your core, like you did the first time in my office." He instructed.
Following his instructions, I proceeded to think of every happy memory I could and directed them at my core.
Suddenly, I felt a short circuiting sensation as my magic fizzled and my upper body lightened extraordinarily. I felt like normal and took a look over my shoulders to note happily that my wings… were gone.
I couldn't help but beam as I turned to face the headmaster.
"Excellent Harry, We have something else to experiment with on our Sunday nights. For now… tell me again… what happened to professor Snape?" he asked curiously.
My happy smile started to diminish as I realized he was probably still locked unconscious in his potions lab.
I wondered how Dumbledore would take that…?
AN: Well there you go. Blood tipped feather… Is a Harry got's wings story.
I fear I may have already lost some of you as this is a little cliché, but it's an idea that's central to the plot in both symbolism and issues I want to raise. I hope that you guys will soldier through this story as you've already survived my horrible beginning…. I took the time to reread my story and I got to say I can't understand how I have any readers at all with the first few chapters.
No he is not a veela, part demon, fairy, phoenix Animagus, or angel… The wings are a subconscious manifestation of his traits and allow him to access more of his powers.
Needless to say the ritual did it…
Think of it like when anime characters suddenly transform into scantily clad super heroes in school girl uniforms. Suddenly they can leap tall buildings, fling tiara's like xena flung her shakra thing… and call upon there moon prism magic.
This is a similar transformation as it gives Harry access to powers like super strength, the ability to fly on his own (yes they actually work, they're not just decorative), and the power to access all his magic consciously.
Also I hinted to something special with his wand. His wand will have a lot to do with the second part of this series.
Credit goes to FireFromAbove for actually being the only person who didn't pm me and say I was going to make Harry a phoenix Animagus… you'd be surprised how many actually said that. Most of you probably already figured it out as I wasn't trying to be particularly sneaky in hiding it, as I wanted you all to be prepared for it for reasons I have listed already.
Anyway… I want to note something some people brought to my attention.
I switched perspectives after chapter 15 and some of you don't like it.
Chapter 15 was always meant to be written in that perspective but I realized, I liked writing it in that perspective… Although I realize now that it's not entirely fair to some readers.
Who ever would prefer me to go back to the way I wrote it before, please let me know in your review…
If I get a overwhelming response telling me they would prefer it, I will rewrite the last two chapters and this one to the original way I had it, and continue on from there… I reserve the right to write certain parts or chapters in my first person perspective but I will in general stick with the normal style.
Similarly, those of you who like my first person let me know, and if your side is overwhelming, I am going to rewrite the beginning chapters in that style.
One rewritten chapter per new chapter. That's the plan.
I've haven't updated in a while because I was already re writing some chapters into different perspectives.
Anyway, thanks for all the reviews... I hope I can continue to get even half that amount.
Quazi