Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter. I do however own, a water gun that looks suspiciously like a male body part… um, let's just say my friends are interesting people and leave it at that.
AN: This chapter is dedicated to Sir Chris… for setting me straight.
I tallied up the votes, including the earliest ones I received…
3rd Person: llll ll
1st Person: lll
It appears that third person wins out… I decided to count them all on May 1st so if there is suddenly an overwhelming surge of votes in favour of 1st person… you'll know why I changed back.
Check at the bottom for rest of the Authors note.
On with the story!
Chapter 19 – The Power of Christ compels you!
Dumbledore was less than amused when he discovered Professor Snape slumped by the back wall of his own classroom.
Luckily for Harry, Dumbledore decided that Snape was at fault; but that did not mean that he did not assign some of the blame on the teen.
In the end, Dumbledore rescinded the detentions, but let the deduction of points stay as they were. Harry wanted to argue, but he reasoned he was lucky to have gotten away with as much as he had.
Dumbledore had made it sound like he would deal with Snape, in terms of punishment; but the man would keep his job in the end. It was irritating at best, as Snape had clearly crossed a line… not that he had not done so on many other occasions.
Harry knew what would happen. Snape would probably be reprimanded, then he would make a bland sardonic apology, and continue on as he had before. Waiting for the ideal opportunity to strike.
There was also the problem that he had witnessed the newly discovered wings. It was one thing to let Ron or Luna sit in on conversations with Dumbledore, but to have Snape know one of his bigger secrets. Harry wasn't fooling himself into thinking that Snape would not try and share this secret with whoever he could. The man had demonstrated beyond a shadow of a doubt that the only secrets he valued were his own.
Deciding not to dwell on what should have been. Harry refocused on his lessons with his fellow 6th years.
"Mr. Cornfoot, what did I ask the class to do?" McGonagale asked sternly from the front of the room.
The Ravenclaw with sandy brown hair looked up startled and answered uncertainly…
"Transfigure the mice into a single cat…" he stated uncomfortably.
"Then why are you putting them into Ms. Patil's bag?" She asked archly.
Cornfoot blushed uncomfortably under the women's stare.
Padma Patil quickly checked her bag only to squeal in fright and glare at Cornfoot spitefully. She was more studious than her twin, but both seemed to share the same revulsion for the little red eyed creatures. Parvarti stared aghast at the bag and stared hatefully at Cornfoot for doing such a thing to her sister. Apparently the two were still close despite being in separate houses.
Then again, Harry wondered whether they were just united in their revulsion for all thigs rodent.
Harry had long ago transfigured his mice into a cat, having found the exercise suspiciously easy.
Harry had been noticing since he had first sprouted wings, his magic seemed to flow just a little easier than it used to. Spells that normally should have taken a dozen tries at, were done in under a half that. The rest of the teachers had praised him for his feet assuming he had been studying much more diligently than usual. Hermione unfortunately was not fairing as well as he was.
She did not struggle per say, but she seemed to be having a bad day.
Thus, when Harry had consistently beat her in Charms, Care of Magical Creatures, and Transfiguration of all things, her scowl had become particularly venomous.
Harry had hoped that maybe, by some lucky chance, she might have accidentally Obliviated herself of the last 24 hours, thus having no recollection of their fight… but sadly luck was not on his side.
She refused to talk to Harry, but never stopped observing him. He wanted to scream at how frustrating his life had become.
He now had another secret… One that he himself had trouble believing was true. Dumbledore had made him promise to keep calm, as to not reveal this hush-hush ability of his.
That was particularly annoying in itself as by the mere fact that he had warned Harry to keep calm, that was what he least felt like being.
He reasoned that it would not have been a wise thing to suddenly sprout wings in the middle of transfiguration, but he almost decided to, just to show Hermione that his secrets were a lot more personal and a lot more stunning than she seemed to think they were.
However, the real problem wasn't his struggle with composure, but the inexplicable urge to 'spread his wings' and take a dive out the window.
The urge had grown significantly since he had revealed them the night before. It had been unbearable to keep them within him knowing that they were there.
They wanted to be out. He wanted them to be out…
And they itched like crazy.
… .. … .. …
Class had ended, and Harry marched sullenly toward the great hall. The last few days had passed by in a depressing and aggravating blur.
The urge had grown tremendously, and as a result of denying himself, he had become agitated and restless. Coupled with his Hermione issues, and lack of training during the weeknights, something he usually wished would end, he had fallen into a funk.
Walking in the great hall and immediately spotting four sets of eyes glaring at him; he decided he was unwelcome in the room.
Who might the four sets of eyes belong to, one might ask.
Hermione was the obvious first set. Her eyes' tracking Harry's every movement the past week.
The next set belonged to one, Professor Serverus Snape. His glare was not unusual, and Harry expected some hate within the man's stare, but now they reminded him of his uncle… The man considered him an aberration, a freak, and he clearly did not approve of such a things. Harry wondered whether this was how it was like for Remus. To have judgemental eye's follow your every move, scorning you for just being different.
The next set belonged surprisingly to Ginny Weasley. She had re-emerged one day with Hermione from the girls' dormitory, both glaring angrily at Harry in united distain. Apparently the girl had convinced herself that in some shape of form, he was not supposed to have been angry at her, and the fact that he had yelled at her rudely… he was now the git. Harry had no problem returning that glare back at its sender. The girl would blush but decided to split her glare then and send it towards a familiar Ravenclaw. Harry wondered to himself how Luna had handled it.
The last set of eye's belonged to Lavender Brown. He had 'accidentally' called Trelawney a fraud once more in front of the girl. She had not taken kindly to that. He didn't mind that glare so much.
Stiffening his shoulders and firming his resolve he took a left and strolled towards the Ravenclaw table.
People barely commented anymore on his choice of seating. He received some lacklustre sneers and seated himself next to his favourite Ravenclaw.
"Hello Harry…" Luna greeted cheerily. Picking up a fork, she speared a chunk of her food.
"Fish?" She asked while holding up a flaky bit of halibut.
Harry smiled in thanks and helped himself.
Harry had been unsure lately as to how to treat Luna, He couldn't imagine himself suddenly acting obscenely romantic going over well. He suspected writing poetry, flashy gifts, and declarations of how ravishing her beauty was would only make him look like a fool and embarrass the quiet girl.
Instead there relationship had remained basically the same, although touches seemed to linger longer than before, and smiles were more meaningful.
"Who are you rooting for?" Luna asked absently as she buttered up a roll.
"Rooting for…?" He asked confused.
"Quiditch silly…" She reprimanded with a smile. Harry couldn't help but feel warm at her smile. Maybe he was a little mushy, he supposed… but he didn't care too much.
Harry suddenly realized what she had said. They were to have there first quiditch match soon. He had felt so disconnected from the sport, having no practices to attend, or even flying his broom… He didn't even know who was playing.
"Who's playing?" He asked, deciding to remedy that issue first.
She quirked an eye at him; it was less dreamy than usual, and smiled amused at him.
"Gryffindor and Ravenclaw…" she spoke airily.
'Was it really…' Harry was thrown; he had really been out of the loop if he had not noticed that.
"Technically were rivals." She pointed out sternly. "You Harry… are my enemy." She stated darkly while wielding her buttered loaf like a club.
Harry couldn't help the mischievous smile that crossed his face. "I've always wondered what it would be like to fraternize with the enemy…" he remarked teasingly.
He was pleased to see her pale cheeks tint a little red at his insinuation… it was remarkably satisfying.
Not entirely sure where his brashness was coming from, he asked…
"What are you doing tonight…?"
"Sleeping…. As usual; did you have anything planned?" she asked in a equally conspiratorial whisper. Her eyes wandered back and forth, checking for eaves droppers. Harry was less concerned.
"Well I did ask you on a date…" He couldn't help but blush at his own reminder, but pushed on none the less.
"… I figure I should make good. How do you feel about a little exploration?" he asked confidently. On the inside though he was feeling twitchy and nervous. This was a new experience for him; trying to play it sly, and suave... sadly he was neither in reality.
Luna mirrored his blush, and smiled. "Alright… meet me by the knight with the quill and sword…" she suggested.
"Midnight…" Harry asked. Feeling emboldened by her acquiescence.
"It's a date…" She said more happily. Her smile warmed Harry's heart.
Harry pouted theatrically… "No fare… that was my line…"
Luna shoved him with a smirk…" honestly… Sometimes I wonder if the nargles did get you…" she teased.
Harry didn't care that he had no idea what that meant. They were smiling, and the world suddenly seemed ten shades brighter. Sometimes, life wasn't so bad.
… .. … .. …
Harry had meandered dreamily down corridors after dinner, in a few short hours he was going to go out on a date. Considering he had only ever had one… he was fairly nervous.
Then when that thought sunk in… Harry realized now was the time to panic.
Harry stopped dead in his tracks, causing a surly 7th year Gryffindor to scowl and tell him to watch where he was going.
Harry stood outside the portrait to the Gryffindor common room, staring horrified at a fidgeting Fat lady.
"Is there something on my canvas dear?" she asked self consciously as she leaned back in her painting and squinted at the surface of her painting.
Harry paid her no mind as he continued to freak out internally.
'I have a date with Luna... tonight!' His mind hollered at him.
He had not prepared for this, it had been too spontaneous, he didn't even know what they were going to explore...
'What if I blow this… how am I going to impress her, do I give her flowers… where do I get flowers! I should shave…' Harry felt his face.
'That's right I have nothing to shave… I can't even grow stubble… What kind of guy can't grow stubble at 16?'
Harry was ignorant to the many gryffindors that stared at him oddly as they walked around him into the common room. All the while the fat lady asked whether she had anything staining her painting.
'How am I supposed to get everything ready in…' Harry turned his gaze towards his wrist and let his eyes widen in shock.
"Six Hours! That's not enough time…" Harry quickly slid in past a second year, and ran at a sprint through the common room and up the stares to his common room.
He ignored the whispers and students as he quickly sprinted up the stairs.
Throwing open his dorm door open, he pulled out his trunk and slammed it on his mattress…
Unlocking it impatiently he upturned it and rifled through his clothes.
Spotting his dress robes he brought them out and looked at himself in the mirror.
Comparing them to himself, he growled in irritation as he realized that they were 3 inches too short. He cursed his body for deciding that it wanted to grow now.
Tossing his dress robes to the side, he pulled out his pants and shirts…
On the other side of the room, the door reopened letting in a frowning Ron.
"Mate what's the… hurry?" he paused as he observed Harry's frantic nature.
Harry turned around and spotted Ron, then dismissed him, in his pursuit for decent clothing.
"I have nothing good to wear… how can I not have anything good to wear?" Harry asked in frustration.
Pulling out a familiar smelly sock that still housed a sneakascope he reminded himself why. 'Curse you Dursley!'
Rummaging through his things, he spotted a black shirt he had bought from the cove.
Quickly pulling it out, he beamed in triumph.
Digging deeper through his things, he pulled out a pair of slightly faded blue jeans…
They had some mud stains but that would easily come out.
Smiling in triumph he placed his selection aside and put his things away.
"Harry…"
Harry paused as he pulled out his invisibility cloak. 'I'm going to need that… '
"Harry…" Ron's voice was laced with impatience as he waited for his friend to acknowledge him.
Spotting his map, Harry pulled that out as well. "Couldn't hurt…." He mumbled.
"Harry!" Ron cried in frustration. Deciding to play rough Ron levitated Neville's pillow to smack Harry on the side of the temple.
Harry felt the pillow strike and stumbled to his left from the force.
"What was that for…" he cried indignantly. He adjusted his glasses as they hung lopsided on his face from the hit.
Ron huffed in a very Hermione like fashion and stared at Harry in exasperation.
"I've been trying to get your attention for a few minutes now… where's the fire?" he asked.
"Fire… what fire?" Harry asked in confusion.
"Isn't that how you say it… that's what Dean told me to say?" Ron asked confused.
"Maybe it was friar…?" he said absentmindedly.
Harry hardly had the patience to care as he finished tossing his things in his trunk, bundled his clothes map and invisibility cloak and made a dash out the dorm to the showers.
He walked around Ron and stopped in front of a bemused Neville.
"Hey Harry, what's…?" Neville started.
"No time, be a pal and help Ron, he says he set fire to the friar…" Harry said absentmindedly.
Leaving a more confused Neville in his wake Harry proceeded to scrub at his skin for the next hour trying to expunge any filth he could from his body.
… .. … .. …
Harry re-entered his dorm room to find it completely empty. Wondering w here his room mates were, but not really caring, Harry stepped in front of the fool length mirror and proceeded to spend the next half hour trying to set his hair into some kind of order, only managing to make it look all the more wilder than before.
At the mirrors statement that it was a lost cause, he stole a globule of gel from Seamus drawer, and tried to prove the piece of glass wrong.
All that resulted in was another visit to the washroom to wash out the gel, and a very smug mirror.
Putting on his jeans and Shirt, he pulled his invisibility cloak on and walked down the stairs while activating his map.
Pausing, he wondered why so many gryffindors were gathered down stairs.
Ignoring the oddity, he strolled down the rest of the stairs and observed the room.
Parvarti and Lavender where playing with their divinations deck attracting a audience of 'ooing' and 'aahing' students.
"The black Jack… He's malevolent" Lavender said excitedly. A couple of first years sat in aw.
"What else can you do...?" A little boy asked entranced by Parvarti.
She preened herself proudly, while lavender looked smugly at Ron.
The red head was staring at her as if she were deranged.
"I told you there are no…"
"Please, the cards don't lie…"
Hermione who was arguing with a pair of third years about something huffed angrily at her.
"Stop encouraging them… its past curfew… they should be in bed, not listening to you show boat ridiculous superstitious rituals…" she scolded irritated.
Harry checked his watch. He had four hours left. 'I have to hurry!'
"You're just angry because you don't have the talent for divinations…" Lavender turned a mothering eye to the first years…
"Ignore the mean old Prefect… she doesn't know what she's talking about." She said soothingly.
Harry side stepped the numerous students and tried to weave his way towards the exit.
"Honestly… it's all complete tripe… There is absolutely…"
Harry weaved around a pair of 4th years who were consulting their divinations books.
"No way…"
Harry tried to avoid stepping on the numerous hands lying on the floor. He was so close…
"Hogwarts has a demon…"Hermione said with finality.
Harry immediately whipped his head at her proclamation.
'Demon?'
Not watching where he was taking his next step… havoc ensued.
Crookshanks who was enjoying a pleasant stroking from a 5th year girl, immediately sensed Harry's invisible presence. Knowing someone was trying to be sneaky but not knowing exactly where, He pounced away and wove between students.
Crookshanks sensed he was getting close, and started to hiss suspiciously.
That's when a invisible foot stomped on his tale.
At this, the cat yowled in pain and streaked away immediately into the arms of his owner. The girl shrieked in surprised at Crookshanks behaviour as he leaped at her dug his nails into her shirt.
Harry startled by the cats tail, quickly removed it and tried to pivot his step away, finding none, he quickly lost balance and bumped into a table, which conveniently enough held a stack of library books that were perched near the fire place.
The books quickly toppled over into the fire, due to the nature of the books the Fire flared outwards immediately and licked at the hands of the students who had been trying to save them.
Harry, who noticed what he had done, wandlessly summoned the books.
The students cried out in horror as the burning books shot out in all directions.
Harry realizing that that was a mistake, quickly brought all the books to a stop midair, where they sizzled ominously, hanging like the pumpkins and candles that lay suspended in the great hall.
The students shrieked and looked around the room in fear,
Harry quickly released the books and they fell on the floor. Where a set of books quickly caught the rug on fire…
"Fire!" A panicked third year cried.
Harry cursing his carelessness, called forth a wind that circled the room flinging paper, and objects away, ruffling skirts, blowing hair, and eventually blowing the fire out.
Unfortunately one of the papers blew into his face which blinded him.
Harry tried to pry the paper off his face when he topped over a couch, pushing a student over and toppling a glass vase as he banged his knee on the side of the table and banged his head on the stone floor.
Harry moaned loudly as he righted himself.
Quickly realizing he was choking a student with his legs as it was covering his neck as he tried to stand, he quickly got out, and decided he had helped enough.
The students looked on in fear as the fire blew itself out from the wind, a student was pushed over and made gasping noises, and a disturbingly pained moan emanated around the room.
Then absolute silence, until a quick shuffling noise and the portrait hole opened and closed with a bang. An invisible force slammed the portrait open making every one jump as the chaos finally settled...
Everyone stared around the room in fear and then accusation as they stared at a wide eyed prefect.
"See what you did, you got him angry!" Parvarti scolded.
"But…" Hermione tried…
"Quiet… Don't anger it further Hermione… do you want to bring the castle down around us." Lavender hushed franticly.
All the while a invisible figure moaned its way down the corridors as it made its way toward the greenhouses.
'The things I do for her…' he thought exasperatedly.
… .. … .. …
Making his way down past a set of stairs peeves was currently applying blood red paint to; he pushed open the entryway doors and made his way towards the greenhouses.
Heading to greenhouse one, which held the more whimsical and safe plants, Harry jimmied open the window and climbed in.
Wandering the aisles, he inspected the bushes full of flowers and other oddities unique to the magical world.
Hearing an eerie music, he followed the sound towards a particular bush.
The bush in question had a flower he had only observed during the day.
Professor sprout had called it the siren blooms. They were supposedly flowers that vibrated at different levels of light. When night fell, they played an unearthly melody that sounded like a women's humming.
Harry found it entrancing and decided this was the flower to give.
Conjuring up a white cloth, he stuck his hand into the bush and snapped the blooms away from its branch.
Wrapping the white cloth around the stem and tying it in a bow; he thought it would make a lovely gift.
There was only one problem….
"Silencio…" he cast.
The Orchid like flower only seemed to get louder under the silencing charm. Huffing in exasperation, Harry pulled the bloom under his cloak and decided to risk it.
Walking out the greenhouse, he checked his watch… three hours forty five minutes to go…
Harry thought that he just might make it.
… .. …. .. ….
"Harry mate, you wouldn't believe what just happened down stairs…" Ron cried in excitement.
"Harry…?" Ron asked in confusion.
Harry's bed curtains were drawn around his bed.
Another student quickly ran into the room…
"Ron come on, McGregor found some spirit tracking charms and were going to… Dean said excitedly.
"Shh… Harry's asleep." Ron warned. His best friend had been acting weird lately; maybe a good night sleep would do him some good.
Dean paused and nodded. Waving his room mate out the room, he urged Ron to hurry.
Dean Thomas paused though. Contemplating something he went to his bed and pulled out something his grandmother had given him before school had started.
His grandmother was an old Nun from who always warned him about witchcraft and Satanism.
His family had decided not to inform her about his school, but that did not stop her from stopping by the train station to hand him a package.
Her old rosaries and a bottle of Holly water.
Feeling excited and wary after seeing the spirits violent behaviour in the common room, Dean Thomas pulled the objects out and ran to catch up with the excited students below.
He couldn't be too prepared.
… .. … …
Harry had wandered over to owlry and plunked down to look over his map.
He reviewed the secret corridors and rooms. He was trying to find the most interesting rooms in the castle to entertain his date with.
Hedwig swooped down and landed on his invisible knee waiting knowing that he was there.
Harry smiled and pulled a hand out of his invisibility cloak and scratched the bird in the places he knew she liked.
"Don't worry girl, you're the only one for me…" he joked.
The owl crooned happily and leaned into his touch.
Suddenly out of no where another owl swooped down, and flew directly under the exposed invisibility cloak.
Harry startled jumped up and tried to swat the owl away.
All he managed to do was tangle himself and the owl under the cloak and irritate Hedwig who quickly flapped her wings to keep from falling off.
"Bloody Owl... Get off" Harry cried angrily.
HOO
"Not you Hedwig!" Harry cried exasperated. Hedwig ruffled her feathers testily.
Finally pulling his invisibility cloak off, he freed himself and the owl from its confines.
The barn owl clawed at his shirt and pecked at his arms as he fought it off.
Hedwig, seeing her master being attacked quickly swooped in and started to battle the other owl.
The barn owl being fought from two sides decided to cut its losses and run.
Harry watched as finally the owl flew off him… but not before swooping down and stealing his gift for Luna.
"Hey… get back here" Harry cried as he gave chase to the owl. Hedwig seeing the owl steel from her master quickly pursued.
Both owls flapped around the room noisily exciting the few owl's that remained in the room, those who had already hunted and brought back there evening pray… and then swooped out the large window and rounded the towers…
"Thief!" Harry cried angrily.
He couldn't believe an owl had just robbed him. Why was everyone against him tonight?
… .. … .. …
"You know we should probably head back…"
"What why!" Seamus asked in outrage.
Hermione stared at Seamus as if he were insane. "You're sneaking around trying to find a demon after curfew… do you not see any kind of reason at all?" She asked gruffly.
"We're…" Lavender said succinctly.
"Excuse me" Hermione asked back.
"You said you're, implying just us. You're here too if you've forgotten. That means we all are searching for demons after curfew…" Lavender said smugly.
"The fat lady wasn't in her portrait…" She defended herself.
She mumbled for a moment about history repeating itself, which earned a chuckle from Ron and a smile from Neville.
"Either way, the moment you stepped out the portrait hole, you joined our little party…" Parvarti said supporting her other dorm mate.
"I was trying to stop you… What if a teacher comes, or filch!" she protested loudly.
"Then you're going to get in just as much trouble as we will… so I suggest you shut up, unless you want to get caught." Lavender hissed
Hermione Huffed and stared scornfully at the pair but followed grudgingly while rolling her eyes as Seamus waved his wand about.
He was performing a badly mangled version of a diagnostic spell. Hermione wanted to correct him but saw no use as all it would detect were living objects around them.
"Do you guys hear something?" Ron asked in confusion.
"What…?" Neville asked.
Then suddenly a faint eerie humming noise started to echo around them.
It was haunting and almost sounded like a women's wails of terror.
"What is that…?" Dean asked in confusion as he grasped his rosary a little tighter under his robes.
"It's probably Moaning Myrtle… "Hermione said dismissively.
"Oh that's right, Blame lonely sad little Myrtle for making a racket…" A ghostly voice said testily as she stuck her head out of a door.
"Bah!" Ron cried at her sudden appearance.
Neville fumbled backwards into Hermione who looked startled at her entrance.
The noise continued to get louder.
"That's not you?" She asked confused.
"Yes blame the dead girl… that's real nice… as if I don't already have my own problems without having you accuse me of things…" Myrtle moaned sardonically while she floated out of the wall and crossed her arms to stare resentfully at the girl.
The noise was getting closer.
"It's the demon… it's captured a soul and it's coming for us…" Seamus said wide eyed.
"Demon…" Myrtle asked in confusion with a hint of fear laced between her normally screechy tones.
Parvarti whirled around…." You have to hide… It already got the Friar, Neville said that Harry said that the demon set him on fire!" she said quickly…
"But he's a ghost…" Myrtle said in confusion.
"Exactly… Run!" Lavender warned as she pulled out her wand.
Suddenly a window burst open and a black streak that screeched that horrendous wale's zoomed by everyone's heads.
Myrtle screamed in fright and dove into the ceiling while the rest of the group dove out of the way.
Dean doing the only thing he could think of; stuck his rosary out and closed his eye's praying for a miracle.
Suddenly a white streak flew in and the group watched the blur give chase seemingly called forth by Dean's beads.
The group looked down at the only thing left behind.
A snow white feather.
"God sent us an angel…" Dean said in wonder.
Hermione was too dumbfounded to comment.
… .. … .. …
Harry having exited the owlry, not willing to risk having another owl steal something of his, wandered the corridors while looking at his map.
He followed his a corridor down towards the second floor corridor.
Suddenly He heard a familiar noise… It was the sirens bloom. The black barn owl streaked past his head and Hedwig gave chase.
Harry wondered how the Owls had gotten into the castle but didn't care so much as long as Hedwig exacted revenge on his behalf.
Although he cringed at the noise the flower was making, apparently when it was sped away at such high speeds, its hum started to turn into wails that sounded as if a women was being tortured mercilessly.
Hoping not too many people would notice; Harry proceeded to examine the wall before him.
The map indicated another room hidden behind; he had never visited so he had no idea what it could be.
Following the instruction the him on the map told him to follow, Harry traced a cross along the wall in a cross like fashion.
Suddenly a pair of wooden doors appeared where stone used to be.
Side windows also appeared made of stained glass depicting Doves in a battle with fiery creatures wielding pitchforks.
The entire scene was very intricate and deciding to enter and see what the room hid, he pushed the doors wide open.
Harry gaped at the sight before him.
It was a testament to the expansion charm that it could create a room with such large dimensions.
Harry looked around him invisible as he found himself standing in a giant Cathedral.
It was almost gothic with its pillars and archways, and the dark shadows made it seem ominous…Objects littered the room, benches and pews lay smashed along the floor, and basins shattered. There were ominously jagged claw marks along the stone walls. Whatever had happened here had left the room in moderately better condition than the shrieking shack.
In the centre of the room was a dais raised two or three steps with shackles and chains attached too it.
The entire platform was scratched like claw marks had weathered the stone more than nature ever could have.
One of the chains was ominously shattered into pieces.
'This would have been a perfect place to bring Luna to explore…'
Suddenly Harry heard numerous footsteps and whirled around on the spot. Consulting his map, he spotted surprisingly his year mates from Gryffindor.
All about the castle there were names of gryffindors wandering the corridors in packs.
Some he recognized as younger or older years… Some of them had recruited members from other houses and there were seven separate groups wandering the school.
'What's going on…?" Harry wondered curiously.
Deciding to step outside Harry vacated the area lest they find him.
Even though he was under his invisibility cloak he didn't want to risk bumping into them.
Stepping outside and giving himself a head start, he sprinted away from the room.
… .. … .. …
"Come on let's go after it." Seamus said enthusiastically.
Soon enough the group of sixth years were giving chase to the perceived spirits. Everyone ignored Hermione's complaints about the foolishness of such an act…
Dean lead the way, with his rosary wrapped around his wrist and wand, emboldened by the miracle he had witnessed.
The white feather held in his other hand, something he planned to present to his grandmother during the Christmas holidays.
Lavender brown ran close to the teen seemingly impressed with his bold take charge attitude.
Dean wouldn't say no to that.
Running around a corner, the teens were brought to a halt by the sight before them.
There in front of them was a wooden door way that should not have been there in the first place.
"Where did that room come from…? It's never been there before…" Neville asked nervously.
Ron holding his wand high and shining a Lumos peaked in and gasped.
"Bloody Hell" He cried.
"Language Ronald!" Hermione reprimanded, while walking forward with her own wand and taking a peak.
She stared wide eyed at the room.
The other gryffindors followed suit and were astounded.
Taking a few steps in they held their wands high and explored the eerie crevices and nooks the room held.
"What do you think caused this…?" Seamus asked jokingly while pointing at a set of claw marks on the wall.
"Probably the same thing that did this…" Ron said while pointing at the well scratched stone dais.
Parvarti stepped forward and handled a the shattered remains of the shackles.
"My inner eye tells me this is where the demon broke free from…" She said mystically while scrunching her face in concentration.
Hermione huffed agitated.
"It's not a demon… It's probably a Bogart or something, and we don't know what could have been in this room. It could have been a place where they housed where wolves during their transformation for all we know…" Hermione exclaimed in frustration.
Lavender just looked at Hermione sadly.
"It's okay to admit that you were wrong Hermione… It's all part of learning." She said knowledgably. Hermione growled in frustration and headed for the exit.
"Whatever… I'm going back to the common room, Have fun hunting your demon…" she remarked in parting.
… .. … .. …
Harry checked his watch… he still had about forth five minutes left… He felt a little dirty and headed to the prefects bath room to wash splash some water in his face.
Finding the entrance he said the password and waltzed in, going to the sink, he ran the taps…
Suddenly all the taps started to spew forth liquid… from the scented ones to the scorching hot ones.
Harry cursed Moaning Myrtle, recognizing this as her handiwork. She was almost as bad as Peeves, except she seemed to focus her outbursts on the Hogwarts plumbing.
Harry tried to turn the taps off, but all that caused was more water to spew forth.
Soon the sinks were overflowing.
The pool taps started to turn on as well… The water level started to rise… Harry started to panic. Shooting the only spell he could think of, he froze the surface of the pool.
That was a bad idea.
The charm followed the liquid from the surface of the pool, towards the pipes…
Suddenly there was a groaning noise and the pipe heads burst away.
Needless to say, Harry decided he was in over his head.
He could have stayed put and tried to resolve the problem he had caused, but then again, he didn't want to be blamed for this.
Deciding somewhere in the recess of his mind that it was truly all Myrtle's fault, he high-tailed it out of the room and narrowly avoided running into Hermione.
… .. … .. …
Hermione was very angry. All she wanted was to send everyone to bed, but then somehow she got dragged into some wild demon chase. Her house would more than likely loose all their points in a move that would be marked in Hogwarts a history as the single greatest amount of points lost in one day, and she would probably be scolded for not keeping the students inline.
Suddenly… Hermione heard a odd groaning noise.
She stepped forward and followed the noise with her wand held at her side.
"Hello, is anyone there?" She called out weakly, praying it was a student she could scold, and not a teacher to scold her.
The groaning was coming from a door…. The door to the prefect's bath.
'Honestly… Prefects aren't supposed to be out this late, they know that…' she thought angrily.
She was about to walk over and knock on the door when suddenly it flew open and a transparent inhuman form that was taller than her but without any limbs or head shot out.
The light from her wand hit the being and her light reflected off specks of water that hung on its form accentuating its eerie build. It immediately shot right at her, and she couldn't help but scream in fright narrowly avoiding being attacked by it.
Hermione watched terrified as it sped away vanishing completely before her eyes.
Hermione wide eyed looked down at the floor where she saw puddles of water streaming around her feat.
Taking a tentative step forward she stepped inside.
Her gasp could be heard by the McGonagall two corridors away, as she took in the destruction.
When McGonagall finally joined her she gasped as well as she took in the destruction.
Water faucets unleashed torrents of water, the air mingled with the steam from the hot taps and the perfume from the cold taps making the room insufferably hard to breathe in, there were puddles forming everywhere, too much for the small drains to handle.
McGonagall didn't even consider blaming a student for this kind of destruction; it was clear that only a person with a truly violent streak could perform something so destructive… It was time alert the headmaster.
… .. … .. …
Harry Gasped in breath. He had almost run into Hermione; she had spotted the dripping water off his cloak, knowing someone was there.
He hoped she wouldn't report him… although he supposed he wouldn't hold it against her. Considering all the damage he had caused.
'What am I, channelling Tonks?!' He criticized.
Looking at his watch and noting he still had 20 minutes left he decided to screw it and just go early.
Walking purposefully while spending time conjuring some simple tulips, he found his way towards the knight indicated.
Checking his map, he quickly found himself opposite the Ravenclaw common room. On the other side of the wall he stood in front of, was a dot that was circling the room inside.
He also spotted the numerous teachers and students wandering the halls. 'Why was everyone out tonight was something happening?'
Deciding to ignore the curious question, Harry straightened his robes and knocked confidently on the stone wall.
"Luna…" he called in a whisper.
The Dot on the map suddenly stopped and moved quickly towards the wall separating it from the dot labelled Harry Potter.
"Luna…?" He asked again.
Suddenly the wall retracted to reveal an excited Ravenclaw…
"Harry, you'll never guess what has happened…" She cried out in excitement.
Harry smiled happily, then realizing by the curious stair the girl was sending the hallway, he was till under the invisibility cloak; he pulled the cloak away and presented her with her flowers.
Luna smiled happily while taking the flowers.
"Thank you Harry…" she said while smelling them tentatively.
Harry was pleased, so far things were going alright.
"Shall we…" He asked. The girl smiled prettily and hooked her arm with his.
"We shall…" She confirmed.
Just as Harry was about to say something, suddenly the hallway lit up, Wall sconces set ablaze and a ringing noise activated around the castle.
"Students…" A familiar Grandfatherly Voice Echoed.
"Please forgive the Late interruption but all students are required to make their way to the Great Hall immediately…" Dumbledore repeated the Announcement once more, and let the alarm continue to sound…
"It must be because of the demon…" Luna Said excitedly.
"Demon?" He asked. This was the second time he had heard someone refer to a demon tonight.
Luna Looked at him aghast… don't you know, A demon supposedly got in attacked Gryffindor tower, and has been terrorizing the school all night.
Suddenly a waling sound echoed around the corridors only to die out immediately.
"That it…" She cried in excitement, tugging Harry forward. Harry already recognized the noise, it was that accursed flower. By now with all the lights on, it should have shut up.
Suddenly little pieces and events started to snap together with in his mind.
"What did the Demon do exactly in the Gryffindor common room?" Harry asked, already knowing the truth.
"It attacked everyone with fire and tried to choke a student to death, apparently it set the fat friar on Fire!" Luna exclaimed.
Harry moaned to himself…How did his life become so complicated.
The two were swept up in the wave of students filtering in from the common rooms still clad in there pyjamas if they had not already exited to go on a demon Hunt.
Apparently Luna had waited for him, wanting to go on the hunt together.
Harry had sat by his date listening to the tales of students who whispered about the pained moans or the miraculous intervention dean Thomas had called forth.
Apparently one student had felt blood drip under the stair way that Harry had spotted Peeves Paint… The stories started to become more ludicrous and strange until finally Dumbledore Appeared.
He explained that there were a number of 'incidents' that had occurred throughout the castle that he and the staff would investigate, but felt it prudent to bring the school together to err of the safe side.
Instead of providing sleeping bags, after noting the excited students and wide awake prefects, Dumbledore had called forth late night snacks and other amusements to keep the students entertained.
All in all it was a fun night, Luna enjoyed it all the more when Harry admitted the hand he suspected he played in the events that had occurred.
Luna's Laughter could be heard throughout the hall as Harry desperately tried to shush her.
It was a night neither would ever forget…
AN: I'm trying to get back into the swing of writing in this perspective, which I personally find a bit challenging, so forgive me for any Grammar issues or jumps into first person perspectives that I might have missed.
This chapter was hard to write as it is mostly filler, I only really wanted to talk about the wings but decided Harry had seen the headmaster too much as of late and wanted to hold that off until the next chapter.
Anyway, because of that, the date was moved up one chapter.
I was going for a Rorschablot style madcap feel with all these events suddenly spinning out of control, all because Ron decided to say a phrase he had picked up from dean.
Harry just wasn't paying attention, he knows the phrase means in general.
A recap…
Run asks where the fire is, then mentions the friar.
Harry isn't paying attention tells Neville Ron set the friar on fire…
Neville questions Ron, roommates overhear, News spread to common room where Parvarti and lavender capitalize on the situation to show off their divinations, and the rest… well you can figure out.
The Cathedral, Hermione was partially right. It was used in actuality as a indoor care of magical creature's class 300 years earlier, until a hippogriff broke free and reeked havoc.
It could have been used by werewolves but it wasn't.
I was going to turn it into a church, but I figured to leave religion alone, as I had already done that issue to death in this chapter with the rosaries and demon jokes and everything else.
I would like to point out it was all much more funnier to watch in my head that I suspect it was for you to read… hopefully I can remedy that later on with rewrites.
Anyway, next chapter, wings, and Hermione… chapter after, schools out, chapter after that… the chapter I've wanted to write from the very beginning… that chapter will be done well or it wont be posted.
Till next time.
Quazi