Harry Potter and the Power of the Mind.
Disclaimer: J. K. Rowling owns Harry Potter and I do not write this story for any financial gain.
I hope you enjoy the chapter.
"Talking"
'Thinking'
Written Knowledge
~Parseltongue~
Spells
Chapter Fifteen - Plans.
Harry told Daphne to meet him by the gates in an hour, going to Ravenclaw's tower to change, but when he was mid-walk, he spotted Hermione talking to a Ravenclaw upperclassman. He decided to come here and invite her as well, but she seemed like she was having fun, so he just walked by her and went to his room, changing into informal clothes, coming down to see her with her arms crossed.
"Now you're not only ghosting me, but avoiding me as well?"
Harry frowned and looked around, but they were alone.
"You had company- And you were talking, so I just didn't want to be rude."
"Harry, what's going on?"
"What you mean?"
"Where were you last week? I thought we were supposed to be a team, but you don't tell us anything anymore."
Harry frowned again, trying to remember if she was right.
"I mean, I had a few things happening, but I already dealt with them, so-"
"Exactly." She said low, and her face became sad before she took a piece of parchment and handed it to him.
Harry looked and saw a perfect drawing for another spell, smiling, but when he looked up, Hermione had a sad expression.
"Hermione- Talk to me." Harry stashed the drawing away, moving to the sofa, but Hermione didn't follow, leaning on a pillar.
"It's nothing, don't bother."
"It sure sounds like something. Tell me what's wrong." Harry pressed, and she looked at him, narrowing her eyes before pouting.
"I thought you and I were friends- I thought we were alike, so when we studied and worked together on the spells, I thought we had- I feel like you're just using me now to draw the runes you need, I don't know how to explain better than that."
Harry raised his eyebrows and looked her in the eyes.
"I'd never do something like that, Hermione. We are friends, it's just that... I know how important your studies are for you, so I didn't want to overload you with my problems."
"What if I want to be overloaded?"
Harry chuckled at that and she sat beside him.
"I'm not using you, Hermione, and if you're willing to add a few problems to your mind, I'm happy to share, it's just that-" He paused, thinking about Hermione.
"Just what?"
"I want to protect all of you."
"Huh?"
"The things I'm doing... the things I'm about to do... they are all dangerous in some way, and you may not believe me, but it's the truth. I just don't want to involve any of you because I'm... afraid that it may hurt you, and even though I keep telling myself that you know what you're getting into, I still can't bring myself to just pull you into danger."
She frowned and Harry looked at her with an apologetic smile, and she jumped to lock him into a hug.
"You big idiot. If we are helping you, then the dangerous things will be less dangerous." She hissed while hugging him, and he smiled.
"Thanks, Jean."
She stiffened and moved away, her eyes wide.
"How'd you know my middle name?"
"I'm a teacher, remember?" Harry lied, and she frowned.
"And the attendance says J. so what's going on?"
Harry smiled again.
"Sorry, I kind of like middle names, and Jean is a beautiful name, don't you like it?"
Hermione blushed, but she was still defensive.
"I don't know... nobody ever called me that, but it doesn't matter- Where did you see my name?"
Harry smiled at how fast she was.
"Well, let me tell you about where I found it on the way."
After asking a weirdly airy Dumbledore for help, the trio was apparated in front of the Leaky Tap, where Dumbledore instantly turned to leave, but Harry ran and grabbed his arm.
"Headmaster-"
"Not now, Harry. Come see me when you have the time and we'll talk."
Harry heard the urgency in his voice before he turned and apparated away.
"So, how are we going to get to this hospital?"
"Muggle ways." Harry answered Daphne while entering the old bar, waving at Tom who called his name, and receiving a hug from Ella, who came running to say hi and run back upstairs hearing Tom's shouts.
"Who's that?" Daphne asked with a smile.
"She helps Tom take care of the rooms, she's a nice girl." Harry answered while opening the door of the bar for the two of them to leave, and they walked into old London.
It was a cold end of the afternoon, and Harry walked with them to a bus stop, talking the whole way.
"And that's what I've been doing these past few weeks."
"Dear lord, Harry, you should've told us." Hermione complained while Daphne simply stared.
"Well, I'm telling you now."
"Ugh."
Their bus arrived, and they had a normal trip to the neighborhood of the hospital the Longbottoms were in.
They walked in and Daphne kept looking around, her eyes curious.
"You don't come to London often?"
"It's my first time crossing to the muggle world."
"Wait, really?" Harry asked with a frown, and she nodded.
"Greengrass, remember?"
Harry was surprised but continued leading them, until they saw no other than Fudge, leaving the ward they were going to.
"Harry- What are you doing here? Aren't you supposed to be in school?"
"Not at the moment, what's going on?" Harry asked because the man looked like he had just seen a ghost.
"What else? You bloody did."
Harry just frowned, confused.
"What did I do?"
"They just told me what you did- Parselmagic, isn't it? Well, I can't say I'm surprised... I never believed someone like you could exist-"
Harry raised his hands.
"Hold up for a moment. Are they ok?"
"Well, see for yourself." He moved aside and gestured for Harry to go on and he nodded to the girls, making them follow him.
When they entered the Longbottom room, they felt shocked because it looked like a market. There were at least 30 people inside, pressed against walls, and when Harry appeared, they all turned while pointing, and Harry saw three things.
The first was Alice Longbottom, turning her head slowly to look at him, her face tired, her eyes slow, but her gaze was alive, and she left a tiny smile, making Harry's heart skip a beat.
The second was Frank Longbottom, sitting in his bed with his legs dangling, a man helping him, and at the moment Harry entered, he looked up with the same slow gaze, but his eyes were alive too, and he smiled.
And the third was Neville, who was holding his mother's hand, getting up to literally run across the room, crashing against Harry to give him a hug while he cried profusely against his shoulder.
"Thank you, Harry- Thank you-"
Harry was able to understand between the sobs, tapping his back, looking around with a smile, and then, he heard a voice he never heard before, almost as a whisper because of the distance, looking over Neville's shoulder to see Alice's face when she said:
"Thank... you."
After Augusta took Neville forcibly away from Harry, he was able to come closer and talk to Dr. Katherine, as well as to the others.
"What you used seems to have done the trick. Their scans show an insanely amount of recovery- I never saw anything like that."
Harry nodded, seeing Neville cuddling with Alice while Augusta was brushing Frank's hair.
"Why do they look so..."
"Groggy?"
"Yes."
"They are completely doped, I'm still not sure if their pain receptors are healed enough- I'm afraid that at any point, they may have a seizure or a receptor just goes bonkers and they'll feel pain where there isn't any. I'm going to keep them medicated for a few days and gradually reduce it."
"And are they ok?" Hermione asked.
"Who are you?"
"My friend." Harry said and Katherine narrowed her eyes.
"Well, they are far from ok. They can't move their bodies properly, and as I said, their pain receptors are being numbed because I still believe that if they were off drugs, they would be screaming in pain. I'm not really sure they will be ok one day, but they at least woke up from their slumber, and that's already a miracle."
Harry nodded, seeing Alice answering something a family member asked with a soft yes.
"Maybe if you could do one more of those... Parselmagics you did, they may have a chance to walk again."
Harry sighed.
"It's not that simple. That week, I went into a coma because of the Parselmagic, and even if I could do it again without a problem, I don't believe they would be able to handle it. You see, it also has implications on their bodies, it's not just a miracle spell. They may never be the same because they have a serpent's soul entangled with theirs for the rest of their lives. That's the price you pay for using Parselmagic... it's too dangerous."
The three of them eyed Harry with different expressions. Dr. Katherine was amazed, Daphne was angry, and Hermione was enraged.
"So you're just telling us that you went into a coma... a coma! For a week, and it didn't cross your mind to send us a bloody owl?"
Harry looked down.
"I mean, I was in a coma." He smiled and Daphne groaned before turning and leaving, while Hermione kept shaking her head.
"You're unbelievable."
And she walked away too.
"Aw, c'mon."
Harry saw the two leaving the room and sighed, feeling a hand on his shoulder.
"A genius when it comes to everything else, but a twelve-year-old when it comes to girls, ah... the youth." Katherine said, and Harry rolled his eyes at her, shaking her hand off and walking to Augusta.
"Mrs. Longbottom?"
"Yes?" Two voices answered and Harry's eyes widened when he turned to Alice, who answered by reflex, making everyone giggle.
"Sorry, I meant... Madam Augusta, may we chat a bit?" Harry pointed to a corner and the woman followed.
"What's wrong?" She asked in a rush, and Harry smiled at her sense of danger.
"Nothing yet, but I'm just wondering... Mr. and Mrs. Longbottom were attacked by Death Eaters... and they sort of became a warning of what Death Eaters are capable of... and we know that not all Death Eaters-"
"I already know that. I have my contacts as well, this room is already guarded by two private guards, and apart from that, I just squeezed two Aurors out of Fudge to help rotate the guards on duty, and even if they managed to pass through that, they'll have to pass through me."
Harry looked at her cold glare and sighed in relief, nodding.
"Good. You talked to Dr. Katherine?"
The woman's face became serious when she turned to the two in their beds and back to Harry.
"I know the danger is far from gone, but just for now... I just want to... I just want to forget about what's to come and live in the moment."
Harry looked at her face and felt sad, but after a few moments, he smiled.
"Go on, then, we'll deal with it when the time's right."
"And you, my dear, have our house in eternal debt, don't ever forget that, you hear me?" She hissed while pulling Harry into a hug, making him giggle. After he was freed, he looked around and sighed.
"Now, where the two of you went?" He whispered to himself, walking away.
Hermione took a walk around the hospital, seeing the wards, and when she completed the round, she spotted Daphne facing a vending machine.
"Daphne?" She called while approaching, but the girl had her eyes glued on the beverages inside.
"How do you take them out?" She asked dreamily, and Hermione took her purse and got a bill.
"You take the muggle money and put it inside, there." She pointed and handled Daphne the bill, which she turned and analyzed before slowly placing it into the machine, which pulled the bill, making her jump.
"Oh, that scared me."
"Now you paid for a beverage, so you just press a button equivalent to the drink you want."
"I don't know any of them. What do you like?"
"Something sweet. There's strawberry and milk." She pointed, but Daphne pressed a completely different button.
"And you just got a Pepsi."
Daphne looked at the can with stars in her eyes, looking at Hermione expectantly.
"This is how you open a can. See this ring here, put your finger here and pull- Yes."
She opened the can and sipped, smiling.
"It's weirdly... good."
"It's not very healthy, but most of the good things aren't, right?"
She smiled and sat, still eyeing the machine.
"Hermione, do you mind if I ask you something?" Daphne asked mid-sip, and Hermione sat beside her.
"Not at all."
"I'm wondering something for some time now. How do you feel about Harry?"
"Huh?"
Daphne just waited, sipping her drink.
"Well, he's smart- Really smart." She frowned and turned to Daphne, trying to understand what did that question mean."
"I'm not sure if you're pretending or if you're just too pure."
Hermione frowned again, and then she gasped.
"I guess the latter." Daphne whispered while taking another sip.
"Why are you asking me about these things?!" Hermione asked with her cheeks flushed.
"Because I think I like him."
And the whole corridor went mute for Hermione, while the two of them just stared at each other.
"What exactly does that mean?" Hermione asked almost in a whisper.
"I'm not insensitive, and I've seen you two together, so what I'm doing right now is... asking for permission I guess."
"Permission?"
"You got to him first, and he seems so relaxed around you- Well, I'm asking you what exactly are your intentions, because if you only see him as your friend-"
Hermione felt her heart speeding, and her first instinct was to deny everything and just say they were friends, but something held her tongue. She just stared in silence, trying to think.
"I like to think we are friends already, you and I, even though we never talked much. All of us that are in Harry's close group... I like to think you're all trustworthy because he trusts you, and I trust his judgment."
Hermione kept quiet.
"And that's why I'm telling you. I like him... more than I imagined. I felt a connection to him that I never felt before-"
And Hermione looked down, feeling a sharp pain when she heard that because she felt the same thing. Her face made Daphne stop talking.
"Hermione?"
She didn't answer.
"Hermione, say something."
"I don't- I don't know what to say." She was able to whisper.
Daphne sighed, looking around before leaning closer.
"What are you not telling me, Hermione?"
She looked up and locked her gaze into Daphne's, seeing her will to be forthcoming and friendly.
"I don't like it- I like him... he's my friend, the only real one I have, but I can't... compete against anyone- I don't know how."
And Daphne widened her eyes, smiling.
"You sure are a cute little thing, aren't you? Damn it, Hermione." She grabbed Hermione's hand, and the girl looked up confused.
"I'll wait then, but not for long. Try to understand your feelings and let me know when you do because if you don't, I'll take him for me."
She kept staring at Hermione with intensity and the two heard a voice.
"There you are- What's going on?" Harry turned a corner, spotting the two, who instantly let go of one another.
"Nothing." Daphne answered while getting up, throwing her empty can into the trash.
"Shall we go?" She asked Harry, and he frowned, looking at Hermione's stunned expression, and back at Daphne's sly gaze.
"Sure." He said slowly, not buying her answer, trying to understand the stress signals the two were sending.
When they got back to Hogwarts with the help of one of Harry's friends in the Diagon Alley, they started walking the trail towards the castle in absolute silence, and that was driving Harry crazy, but he kept quiet as well.
Once they arrived at the castle, Hermione instantly said she had homework to do and darted off, and when Daphne waved and turned to go to the dungeons, Harry jumped forward and grabbed her arm.
"Not so fast. What happened back in the hospital?"
"What?"
"Between you and Hermione, what is going on? I can feel the tension between you two."
She smirked and pinched Harry's hand, making him let go.
"It's not something for you to know. Just as you like to keep secrets to yourself, we're doing the same."
"C'mon, Daphne, I already apologized."
"Have you now?"
Harry looked up while scratching his chin.
"I think I did, well, I'm doing right now anyway."
She smiled and shook her head.
"Don't worry about her, it's nothing serious, just a few things she gotta work out."
Harry frowned.
"Can you be vaguer?"
She smiled wider and walked right up, invading his personal space to whisper.
"You can wait a few weeks, can't you?"
"Daphne-"
And she laughed, turning and walking away.
1 week later.
Harry kept reading the documents he just received from Dr. Katherine, thinking this was the best person they could get into their side. She was really quick to find out information, but very expensive as well.
Harry kept staring at the two pages, looking from one to another, searching for discrepancies, finding a few, turning to a chart, reading what that specific name meant and what the value indicated.
'Maybe this is not physiologic, but psychological? No, I think I'm missing something.' Harry kept thinking while reading again, and then, an owl appeared at his window, a letter attached to its leg.
Harry got up, taking two pieces of dried meat from a jar to run towards it, taking the letter and giving the food, that the owl took and flew away. It was an envelope with a tiny piece of paper inside that read the following:
It's done.
- Ollivanders
Harry gasped, instantly stashing his papers and running out of his classroom.
Harry arrived at the Diagon Alley almost at sundown, thinking of a direct connection between Hogwarts and the Diagon Alley so he could move freely without depending on someone to apparate him away. He stood outside Olivanders for a few moments before taking a deep breath and getting inside.
The store looked empty as always until a noise made Harry look up and he saw the man on top of a ladder.
"Welcome back, Mr. Potter. I see you received my letter, yes, I have it ready for you."
Harry waited while the man jumped from a good 3ft height on a bunch of boxes and ran inside the store, returning with a pretty box, that he placed on the counter before taking two steps back.
Harry opened it and gasped.
"Is it to your liking?" He asked with a smile and Harry nodded.
"It's beautiful."
"I must say it was the most ingenious thing I have ever seen related to my craft, and I'm quite pleased with it."
Harry smiled, taking the glove from inside the box, rising it against the light to see.
It had a beautiful dark blue color, with the lining in bronze with a bronze raven crest stitched on the top.
"What about the lines?" Harry asked.
"It was very difficult to connect all of them because it was very hard to find the right connection with the parts you sent me. The material would not work, and I was starting to lose hope that I'd be able to achieve success."
"Until?"
"Until I got to the eye."
Harry's mouth fell open.
"The liquid inside the eyeball was the most interesting thing I ever saw. Once I was able to extract it, it lost its instantly killing effect, but the liquid still was highly toxic and highly magical."
"Are you ok?"
"I'm fine, my boy."
"So these lines-"
"Once I was able to interact with it, I used a technique to create solid strings."
"Solid strings?"
"As you already know, the magic materials inside wands are enhancers for spells."
"Yes."
"And they vary, having some interesting combinations."
"Like what?"
"Like werewolves' hearts, Veelas' hairs, Giant's hearts- There are close to infinite magical creatures around that can be used as material."
"So the eyes-"
"Turn it inside out." Ollivander instructed and Harry obeyed, seeing that on the insides of the glove, the lining was red, but the red was vivid, almost as if-
"You used its heart to make this part, didn't you?"
Ollivander smiled wide.
"It didn't want to react to your blood, but when I used the heartstrings on its base, and the blood answered."
Harry nodded, and the old man walked around, taking the glove and pulling it back to normal.
"This is, without a doubt, the most extraordinary wand I ever created, Mr. Potter-"
"I wouldn't actually call it a wand." Harry smiled, and the man followed for a moment until he wasn't anymore.
"But I must warn you." He said seriously, and Harry frowned.
"What?"
"I cannot say to what extent, but this wand is powerful. It has something dark in it."
"The Basilisk."
"In a way, Mr. Potter, the materials are part of the creature they belonged to, so I urge your caution."
"Why?"
"Because all the mystical power that horrifying creature had, is now at your disposal."
Harry looked down and frowned.
"Are you saying it can kill who looks at it?"
The man started laughing and shook his head.
"Not that, but I'm sure you'll find out soon what your wand really represents."
Harry took a deep breath before wearing the glove, and he felt something he never felt before. It was as if his hand and arm were being squeezed for a single moment, making him scream, but then, he saw the glove glowing, subduing to a faint glow, the raven crest slightly shining.
~I feel it.~
~Ivy?~
~It's him.~
~Who?~
~The Basilisk. I can feel him in it.~
Harry looked at Ollivander.
"Did it work?" Harry asked while a drop of sweat ran down his face.
"You tell me." Ollivander smiled, gesturing around, and Harry took another deep breath, feeling a weird pull from the glove.
"Bombarda." Harry pointed to the pile of broken boxes that Olivanders used to jump down and did the drawing for the Bombarda with his index and middle fingers, having to jump back and down to the pressure that followed the explosion, disintegrating the boxes and opening a hole in the wall.
"Dear god-" Ollivanders said while coming back up from below the counter.
"Yea, I guess it works. Reparo." Harry tried fixing the damage he did, seeing how fast and precise the repairing was, amazed. He looked down at the small glow coming from the yellow lines on each of his fingers, feeling the glove pulsating.
"Thank you, Mr. Ollivanders."
"I believe I'm not free to replicate that, am I right?"
Harry glared at the old man.
"I'd appreciate it if you wouldn't. Maybe one day, but for now I'd like for you to keep this a secret."
"Very well, it's a project of your design so I wouldn't make it again without your allowance, just let me know when you're ready to share."
"I will. How much do I owe you?"
"I had to use the whole heart to gather strings strong enough to be connected to each other and one entire eye, but since they were yours I can't charge for that, so the crafting materials cost 200 galleons, and my work to put all together... let's say 500 hundred total."
Harry smiled, taking a big sack and placing it on top of the table.
"Keep the change as a token of appreciation."
Ollivanders opened the sack and raised his eyebrows.
Harry was about to turn and leave when he remembered something.
"Mr. Ollivanders, may I ask you for a small favor?"
"Yes, dear boy?"
Harry moved forward and took out the white wand, placing it on top of the counter.
"Can you tell me something about this wand-" Harry didn't finish, seeing the shock on Ollivander's face, as if he had seen a ghost.
"Mr. Ollivanders?"
"Where- Where did you find it?"
Harry frowned.
"It was with... someone."
"Mr. Potter- Harry, this wand-"
"This wand?" Harry pushed, seeing the man sweating.
"This wand belongs to the Dark Lord."
February came and Harry was always seen working on something, those being his classes, the potions assignments, the Squib research, the spell crafting, and the new group activities. Saturday afternoon, the door of his class went open and the last ones entered.
"Glad you joined us, now who do we have here?" Harry asked Cedric who came with two people behind him.
"This is Ernie Macmillan and-"
"Hannah?" Harry called the girl when she walked in with her gaze low.
"Yeah, about that." Cedric started, but Harry shook his head.
"You didn't tell her, did you?"
"I didn't, she kind of spied on us- I was careless." He smiled apologetically, and Harry sighed.
"Hannah, I don't know how to explain this, but you-"
"He told me. I just couldn't believe I'd turn my back on Susan and the others, so I came."
"You didn't turn your back, you simply weren't ready yet."
"I still want to see it. I have nightmares about something evil looking at me, but I don't know what it is... so I imagined that it had to be related to what I saw before I... drank the potion to forget."
Harry frowned and looked at Cedric, who tilted his head as if saying, I didn't know what to do.
"Fine, both of you, come here, please."
Harry moved to the wall of his class, and tapping his wand, made the bricks move, revealing a big Pensieve, slightly different from the one they used.
"Is that the Pensieve we used before?" Neville asked.
"No, I asked the headmaster to help me build one for myself, but instead of teaching me he locked himself, and the next day this one was in my class." Harry explained, pulling the memory just like Dumbledore taught him, dropping in the Pensieve and gesturing for Hannah and Ernie to dive in. It took a few minutes for them to come back gasping, and Hannah looked around, her eyes desperate, while Ernie was having a panic attack.
"Holy... shit! What is that thing- Bloody hell!" He kept hissing to himself, trying to calm down while Cedric had a hand on his shoulder, telling him to calm down.
Susan took Hannah's hand and pulled her to sit by her side, and the two started whispering to each other, making Harry turn to the rest.
"Now, I believe Penelope has news for us?"
The girl moved forward and smiled.
"It took me some time to finally find it, but I did."
"What exactly have you found?" Daphne asked while playing with Sapphire.
"It's called the Room of Requirement."
"We heard about it." George said and Fred nodded.
"All right... go on." Harry said while sitting on his desk.
"It's a room that appears to someone in need."
"How so?"
"I heard a seventh-year saying that he wanted to walk around Hogwarts at night, but when he was in his stroll, he heard Filch coming towards him, and in the moment of panic, he asked god for a place to hide, and a door literally materialized on the wall."
Everyone looked at each other, a few with their mouths open.
"It's exactly what we need, but if this is true, how is it not known knowledge?" Cedric asked.
"I mean, no one really knows that the room exists, and after he hid and got back to bed, the next day he tried to find the room but it wasn't there."
"Meaning there are some criteria that have to be met for the room to appear." Harry deduced, looking at the ceiling.
"Probably." Fred said.
"That's very interesting. If we can activate these criteria and make a training room appear, we can have our hideout, although we're going to need lookouts."
"There's no need." Penelope said with a wide smile.
"Why?"
"After I found out about it, I went to the library and started reading the damaged books section, you know that section, right?"
"I do, it's my favorite. Lots of tore books, tainted books, and-"
"Books that were written on."
"Yup." Harry nodded.
"I found a note in an old Transfiguration book about a place that someone could go to make out. I guess they were using the book to talk during class, but the note said that only the ones who know what the room is being used for, can enter."
Harry gasped at that, nodding to that concept.
"That's amazing. It's almost as if a transfiguration spell was cast directly at the castle. It takes a form needed and doesn't allow anyone that doesn't know what the form is to enter. It's perfect."
"So, what do you think?" Penelope asked with a smirk.
"That's some wonderful work, Penelope, thank you." Harry nodded, and the others nodded as well.
"And now, we're just missing one thing- Actually, two things." Harry turned to Hannah and Ernie, who gulped.
"I need an answer, you two, and again, this is not going to be forced on you. I can make the potion again by tomorrow, so you won't have to remember-"
"I'm in." Hannah said really low, and Harry narrowed his eyes.
"Why?"
"Huh?"
"Why are you in?" Harry asked seriously.
"Because- I understand we need to stop that... thing."
"But you're not really sure, are you?"
She looked at Harry and he smiled.
"You can say anything you want, Hannah, go on."
She took a moment to look around and back at Harry.
"Why are you bringing a bunch of kids into this when we have Aurors, teachers, the Ministry- I don't get it-"
Harry took a deep breath while nodding before explaining:
"Because I read about the time Voldemort was rising to power, Hannah, I talked to people who tried to fight them, and to people who lost someone in the war. The reason I can't just let this on their hands is that Voldemort had people infiltrate the Ministry back in the day. He had eyes on the Aurors as well, so I'm creating this group because we need another force, and I know what I'm asking. I know we are kids, Hannah, but I know as well that we have brains, we have will, we have courage- We can train ourselves to be ready when the time comes. I'm not telling you to join so we can go hunting Voldemort tomorrow, I'm inviting you to join so you can train your mind and body to be ready to protect your family when the time comes. What I'm offering, is a chance to be ready." Harry finished, and the girl nodded, taking a few moments to digest all that and finally speak.
"Then please, help me be ready." She whispered, and Harry nodded.
"Welcome. And what about you Earnie."
"When Cedric told me this was going to be something heavy I had no idea- This is beyond serious... We're talking about... You-know-who."
Harry just stared in silence.
"And you think we can do something against him? And against the Death Eaters?"
Harry looked around and smiled.
"In time, yes. What would you prefer? Stay as a student, learning a few spells per year and be suddenly attacked by Death Eaters without being able to defend yourself and your family, or train with us and be prepared for when the time comes?"
The boy looked down for a few moments.
"It's not really a choice."
"No, it isn't. You just need to look at it objectively and you'll know what to do."
Ernie chuckled nervously and nodded again.
"All right, I'm in."
The whole group nodded, a few going to tap Hannah on the shoulder and say welcome, while others shook Ernie's hand, and then, Harry cleared his throat.
"Ahem, now we just have one last thing to discuss." He smiled.
"The name." Fred got up from his seat beside George.
"The name." Harry nodded and everyone looked at each other."
"Well, this is going to be bad, mate, I can tell." George smiled, getting up as well.
"How about, Life Drinkers? You know, if we're going to be the opposite of-" Fred asked with a straight face, making Cedric spit the water he was drinking by the table and Daphne laugh out loud, followed by Tracey and Susan.
"I told you this was going to be bad." George said while giggling.
"C'mon guys, be serious." Harry hissed, trying not to laugh.
"Order of the Raven." Penelope said.
"So screw the other houses, then?" George complained.
"Also a ripoff from Dumbledore's order." Harry complained, and Penelope pouted.
"I have nothing." Neville said with a tiny smile.
"The Dark Order." Daphne said in a hiss and everyone turned to her.
"What?"
"Are we on the same page about opposing Voldemort and not joining him, right?" Harry asked with both eyebrows raised and she giggled.
"I'm joking, of course." She said with a naughty smile and a few giggled.
"Potterheads." Susan said, and Harry looked at her with disgust on his face.
"C'mon, are you guys even trying?"
Giggles and then Hermione said low.
"How about The Society of the Sphinx?"
Everyone turned to her, and she closed the book she was reading.
"Why Sphinx?" Tracey asked.
"A mythical creature with different parts of animals, those being a human head, a lion's body, and wings. The Sphinx is actually a creature that exists in some places, it's highly intelligent and extremely dangerous. It also has one trait, where it gives its prey a riddle, that if solved, may save your life. I thought it would be fitting because we represent different creatures, and we are all highly intelligent people, and if you can't solve what we give you, you better be out of our way."
"Damn, Hermione, I didn't know that side of you." George said seriously and she shook her head.
"I'm not saying we should hurt anyone, I'm just saying that the Sphinx represents intelligence and strength, not to mention is so rare that people have a hard time believing it actually exists."
Harry nodded, impressed, looking around with his eyebrows raised.
"I liked it. If you have anything better, now is the time."
Everyone just looked at each other and then Harry smiled.
"Then I'd like to welcome all of you to our group, the Society of The Sphinx."
"S.S." George exclaimed and Harry shook his head, agreeing to it.
"So now that we are ready, let's start working on our itinerary. Come closer and take out your quills." Harry pulled a table closer, placing a notebook on top of it.
Harry walked in and noticed Dumbledore's chamber was empty, well, except for Fawkes, who was sitting on her stand. Harry sat and after a few minutes of silence, started looking around, until his eyes settled on the bird, that was eyeing him with interest.
"What?" Harry asked with a frown and the bird flew towards him, stopping on the arm of the chair to stare at him from up close. It was weird because the bird emitted a warm aura that was almost unpleasant, as if it was a piece of ablaze coal.
"What do you want?" Harry asked again, but the bird simply stared at him, blinking slowly, and Harry narrowed his eyes.
"Are you keeping an eye on me so I don't go messing with his stuff?"
The bird nodded once and Harry smiled.
"I won't misbehave, I promise." He said amused, and the bird leaned to peck him twice very gently. Harry pet its feathers, feeling a tingling sensation, similar to the one he had when he held his wand and Voldemort's wand, frowning at the same time Dumbledore apparated in the middle of the room.
"Sometimes I forget how punctual you are. Sorry for keeping you waiting."
"It's all right, Fawkes was keeping me company."
Dumbledore sat and drank from his chalice before sighing, his face tired.
"So?" Harry started because he just stood quiet.
"Set to paper and ink, you said." Dumbledore started whispering.
"Headmaster?"
It took Dumbledore a few moments to start talking.
"I assume you remember our last talk."
"I remember everything." Harry said low and Dumbledore nodded.
"It is as I feared."
"Care to explain?"
"Harry, what I'm about to tell you cannot leave this room. You cannot share this with your friends on the S.S as well."
"How in the-"
"I need your word."
Harry was astonished to hear another secret he was unable to keep from Dumbledore. How in the world did he know everything that was going on in Hogwarts? Was he omnipresent?
"Can't you trust my discretion about the matter? I'd like to decide if I should disclose it or not."
Dumbledore measured him for some time and Harry kept a serious gaze.
"It's never easy with you, is it?"
Harry shrugged.
"Trust in my judgment for once."
"I trust your judgment most of the time, my boy."
"Then tell me."
Dumbledore paused and looked through his window while speaking.
"Throughout the ages, there were many ramifications in the dark arts, Harry, many schools of magic with unknown roots and knowledge being discovered or created, and these arts were banished from our world because they were completely absurd, a blasphemy against life itself."
"That sounds serious." Harry raised one eyebrow.
"When you told me about your talk with the Basilisk, and how it told you that Tom wanted to hide his memories into paper and ink-" He paused and Harry leaned closer.
"I was traveling around the country the past weeks in a quest to find confirmation about my suspicions."
Harry simply waited.
"And I believe I did, Harry, I did find traces of one of the darkest and evil magic that a wizard can perform, which is the dark art of Horcrux crafting."
"Horcrux crafting?"
"A Horcrux is an object that is transformed into a vessel for a fragment of one's soul."
"What?" Harry frowned, not really understanding.
"This would allow the wizard or witch to protect their soul in case of death, meaning only their body would be destroyed, but the fragments would still live on, working as a failsafe against death."
Harry felt stunned when he heard that, feeling the blood being drained from his face.
"And yes, when you told me about what happened, it made me think that maybe, just maybe, Tom was able to craft Horcruxes."
"And was he?"
"I'm afraid so. There's no other answer as to why his soul is still lingering in the night other than a Horcrux, anchoring his existence to this world."
Harry got up, looking outside the window.
"So he created a vessel to stash a fragment of his soul? How's that possible?"
"I believe he has created way more than one vessel, Harry."
"Huh?"
Dumbledore got up and walked to Harry's side, looking toward Hagrid's hut, where he was using his wand to move things around.
"I had a chat with an old teacher of his, and he was very kind to offer me his memories of Tom. In this specific memory, Tom asked him about a term he had found out in one of his researches."
"You're not telling me a teacher simply told a student about a dark magic ritual where you can sever your soul, are you?"
"He did. You have to understand that Tom was always charismatic, able to win everyone with his smile."
Harry sighed.
"And so, he asked if it could be possible to divide his soul into seven pieces."
Harry turned slowly to look at Dumbledore's eyes, and he understood.
"Seven pieces? Are you serious?" He asked with his eyes wide.
"I cannot confirm it or deny it, so we have to assume he succeeded."
"So when the curse was rebounded, and he was killed-" Harry started, but stopped, unable to deduce further.
"My guess is that his essence, or what makes him who he is, went to one of these fragments, and he regained consciousness."
"So that thing we saw inside Quirrel was the real Voldemort. So what you're telling me is that if we want to kill him, we need to do it seven times?"
"For him to be truly destroyed, all of these fragments have to be destroyed first."
Harry went back to the chair, his head in his hands.
"I know how it sounds, but knowing about it is already a giant head start."
"I know, I'm just wondering- How can you divide your soul?"
Dumbledore raised one eyebrow.
"Doing the one thing that ruptures the flow of life."
Harry frowned and then raised his eyebrows.
"Killing?"
"Exactly. Killing an equal ruptures your soul, and in the moment of the rupture, the ritual can be done and the Horcrux, crafted."
"And there's no limit to it? He said seven, but could he have done more? Twenty? Fifty?"
"I can't tell, Harry, but I can speculate that the more you divide your soul, the harder it is to do it again. The soul is supposed to be immaculate and whole, and severing it is against the natural law of life."
Harry nodded, leaning back in his chair to look at the ceiling.
"What are your thoughts?" Dumbledore asked after a few minutes of silence.
"First, I could've handled this information when you first thought about it, it's nothing frightening. Second, it's doable, we just need to investigate his killings, when they happened, how they happened, and go from there, step by step. He's not some genius killer, so I bet he left something behind, a trail that will lead to the answer- I have contacts in the muggle world now that can help me open a few doors when it comes to an investigation- Why are you smiling?"
"Nothing."
"Huh, well, as much as I'd love to start this investigation with you, I have to face the truth."
"What do you mean?"
"The truth is... I'm not ready."
Dumbledore looked deep into Harry's eyes.
"Why do you say that?"
"Let's just say I had a glance of what real power means and I'm sure that if I push this and try to face him while I'm not ready, I'm going to lose. I'm not really sure what this investigation will entail, so I'm worried that if I'm put in a position where I need to fight, I'll lose."
"We would lose. It pleases me that you have grown so much in such little time."
"Will you let me know about your finds?" Harry asked.
"I will." Dumbledore answered seriously.
"So, where are you going to start?"
"From the very beginning." Dumbledore got up and offered Harry his arm, making him frown before grabbing it, and they both apparated away.
When Harry touched the sand, he looked around, hearing the sound of waves and the smell of salt in the air.
"Could've warned me. I would've left my shoes back in Hogwarts and brought shorts." Harry said while looking at the sea.
"Noted, next time we'll make sure to change."
"Where are we?"
"Walk with me." Dumbledore said, and they started moving towards a giant cliff.
"When Voldemort was just a young boy named Tom, he lived his entire youth in an orphanage."
"Really? And how did he end up there?"
"The only thing they told me, is that a woman brought him to the steps of the orphanage, dirty and sick, she begged for the warden to save him."
"His mother?"
"Probably."
"What happened to her?"
"They tried to help her, but she succumb to her sickness a few hours after she brought her child. I guess the love for her son was the only thing giving her strength to go on, and once she was sure he was safe, she gave up. She asked for him to be named Tom after his father and Marvolo after his grandfather."
Harry looked at the sand, spotting a few crabs running around, while seagulls dove close to them, trying to hunt, thinking that Voldemort was also a man, a man that had a mother, a father, and a past. When he thought about his mother, he could almost feel pity. Almost.
"When he was eleven, he received his letter to Hogwarts."
"Eleven?"
"Back then we sent the letter at the age of eleven, but the Ministry changed that a few years later, they thought magic was too dangerous and unpredictable to be in the hands of an eleven-year-old child."
"Well, I can agree to that." Harry nodded.
"So when I first met him, the warden of the orphanage told me about strange things happening around young Tom, but what caught my eye, was how he treated the other children."
"Let me guess, he already had a grandiosity issue at eleven."
"You can say that. At first, I thought nothing of it, I thought he would grow out of it, but that was the first signal. He stole from his friends and threatened them for their silence."
Harry chuckled. If he was like that at eleven, imagine when he was older.
"And it came to my ears, that a few years before I arrive, Tom visited this place with the rest of the children."
"The warden told you?"
"She did. She raise her suspicion as to why what happened, happened. Once they arrive for this trip, three kids went exploring, and when they came back, two of them were not the same as before."
Harry frowned at that, feeling a chill.
"What you mean?"
"One of those kids was the very same Tom, and the other two, muggles. They found that place." And Dumbledore stopped, and Harry spotted the bottom of the cliff they were going towards, where there was some kind of depression, taken by seawater, but above the waterline, there was an entrance to some sort of cave.
"Is that a cave?"
"It is. It was not underwater at that time, so they managed to enter without a problem, but when they returned, the two kids were traumatized beyond repair. No one knows what Tom did to them in there, but they were never the same."
"Dear god."
"From a young age, he took pleasure in terrorizing others, but I failed to see that signal."
"What you think he did to them?"
"Who knows. Tortured them, made them see things- His mind was wicked from the very beginning, but we all failed to see how wicked it was."
"So how exactly is that cave connected to these Horcruxes? Why have you brought me here?" Harry asked, following the Headmaster who had started walking around the circular natural pool that was formed by the waves.
"Because I have no one I can trust with this. I'm going to locate these Horcruxes, and when I do, I'm going to inform you where they are, because if-"
"Something happens to you, I know where to look." Harry finished and Dumbledore nodded.
"Headmaster, do you think you can wait one more year? I mean, I'll be ready in one more year... I can feel it. In one year I can be at a higher level and help you."
Dumbledore laughed.
"You think one year is enough, Harry?"
"Well, not enough, but I'll be able to do a lot more than what I can do now."
"Do not worry, Harry, I intend to be extremely careful."
"All right, then."
Dumbledore pointed when they reached the real end of the coast, next to the nearest part of the cave's entrance that was now underwater.
"When I investigated its insides, I felt dark magic impregnating every corner, so we can assume there is one in there because this was his first time. The first time he allowed himself to be who he really was. This place has meaning to him, and no one else would place dark arts there for any particular reason. He's the only one who knows about this place and has any connection to it."
"I agree with you. It can't be a coincidence, but wait, when you say dark magic, are you implying there is something in there created to protect the Horcruxes?"
"I believe so. We can be sure that his Horcruxes will be heavily guarded because they are part of him, and by now you must've realized how much he loves himself."
Harry nodded, thinking to himself that if there was a piece of Voldemort in there, why didn't his scar ache?
Dumbledore looked around as if Harry had said that out loud.
"The theory I have is that the cave has a magical barrier strong enough to suppress any signal. I had to go deeper in there to start feeling the first traces of magic, but once I was really inside, I felt everything."
Harry nodded again.
"I intend to go in there tomorrow to try and find the first one."
Harry took a deep breath and looked at Dumbledore.
"Headmaster? I'd like to accompany you."
Dumbledore looked at him and narrowed his eyes.
"I just told you that place is impregnated with dark magic, and you just told me you don't believe you are ready."
"I did, and I understand the danger, I really do, but I also understand the reason you want to do this the fattest you can. He became active now, so he may be trying to come back to life as we talk- I understand the urgency, and that's why I'd like to help, even though I don't feel completely ready."
Dumbledore turned and crossed his hand in front of his vests.
"Aren't you afraid? There could be many horrors in there."
"Oh, I'm extremely afraid, but I have to help you."
"Why?"
"Because two heads are better than one? Because I don't completely trust your choices? Because I want to be present when we get a Horcrux? Because my connection to Voldemort may be necessary to proceed in there? Because your life is far more valuable than mine? Because I want to retrieve the Elder Wand if you die? I mean, the reasons are endless." Harry said seriously and Dumbledore started laughing.
"Why do you think my life is more valuable than yours, dear boy?"
"Because you are the strongest wizard alive. You're the only one capable of facing him one on one."
"For now." Dumbledore said with a smile and Harry nodded.
"For now, but that's the truth. If you die tomorrow and he comes back by Monday, what do you think will happen? Who will stand up to him? Who will lead the others against him? I just told you I'm not ready yet."
"It seems you put a lot of thought into this matter."
"I did. You are the one that must be protected, headmaster, not me."
Dumbledore smiled again, shaking his head.
"Fine, I'll consider your offer."
"Thanks."
"Now, I'd like to ask you something." Dumbledore started walking back and Harry followed.
"What?"
"Why are you carrying his wand with you?"
Harry felt as if he was electrocuted, stopping in place, and the elder turned and smiled.
"How do you know I-"
"I had a hunch that when Voldemort fell, the closest ally he had with him went into your home to see what had transpired, and if it was Pettigrew, he would be the one to have it, and when I heard about Pettigrew's arrest by you- "
Harry nodded and resumed his walk, taking the very same white wand out from his vests.
"I don't know why I'm keeping it. I thought about it day and night- I know I have to break it, I know that, but I can't."
"Why?" Dumbledore asked seriously, eyeing Harry as they walked.
"Because I don't feel it's the right thing to do? Does that make sense?"
"It doesn't, but sometimes, our feelings can be real lifesavers."
"Aren't you going to-"
"Take it from you? No. As I said, I trust your judgment."
Harry looked at it again and frowned.
"Have you thought about what this wand was used for, Harry?" Dumbledore asked while looking forward and Harry sighed.
"Yes. I know the last people killed by it were- Yes, I know many people lost their lives to this wand, but a wand is a tool, and I don't blame a piece of wood for my parent's deaths, I blame him."
"So, what do you intend to do with it?"
"For now, I think-" And Harry stopped, looking around for some time.
"Harry?"
"Headmaster, how exactly can the Ministry detect when a minor use magic?"
"When a spell takes effect in the residence of a minor wizard, and when the spell cast takes effect."
"Do you think- Bombarda Maxima!" Harry shouted towards the ocean, and a gigantic bomb exploded, sending water almost two hundred feet up, making a tiny windblast hit the two, and then, Harry waited.
"I know what you're thinking, but I can't really tell what will happen. The spell came from your magic-" Dumbledore started.
"But it was activated with a different wand."
"And how would you know the wand would respond to you?" Dumbledore asked.
"Because I feel the very same tingling sensation when I hold it. It's weird because I felt the same thing when I touched Fawkes."
Dumbledore smiled.
"That's because the feathers used on both wands belong to Fawkes."
Harry's eyes went wide.
"What?!"
"Phoenixes are rare creatures, there aren't many phoenixes, so when Fawkes made the transition a few decades ago, she left two feathers behind, and I gave them to Mr. Ollivanders."
"So these wands are-"
"Twins, to put it simply."
"That's why I felt the connection."
"Indeed."
They stood quiet after that, feeling the wind and looking at the waves for a few minutes, but nothing happened and Harry smiled, stashing the white wand again.
"I think we have our answer." Harry said, having a few interesting ideas.
"Use it wisely." Dumbledore said, offering his arm, and the two apparated away.
Lucius Malfoy was in his study, sitting at his desk, writing in the diary.
"My Lord?"
And a ghostly form appeared behind him, making him look over his shoulder.
"Can you hear me, Lucius?"
"I can- Master, how is this possible?! How can I see you?!" He bowed his head and the ghost of Tom Riddle smiled.
"It doesn't matter, but you have been the most loyal servant I can ask for, and for that, you shall be rewarded."
"My Lord." Lucius nodded again with a hard smile, his head aching as if a hundred needles were being pushed into his brain.
"When the time is right. Now, how is your investigation?"
Lucius pressed his eyes together, not feeling well, and noticed that everything they were talking about was being transcribed in the open diary by an invisible hand.
"Nothing, My Lord, but I'm seeing weird things."
"Weird things?"
"The Minister started to raise the funds to the Auror section and Rufus Scrimgeour, head Auror, started being more active for some reason-"
The ghost walked around and smiled.
"Interesting."
"My Lord?"
"They know something you don't."
Lucius tried to move to the sofa, but fell to the ground, unable to hold his weight, but the ghost didn't flinch, a hand under its chin, thinking.
"You need to dig deeper, Lucius. Are you listening?" The ghost turned and looked at Lucius, practically fainted on the floor, and rolled its eyes.
"GET UP!" Tom shouted and Lucius jumped on the ground, groaning while trying to get up, using the chair to drag himself up.
"I can't- I can't handle any longer-" He mumbled and Tom moved closer.
"What are you saying, Lucius? Are you turning your back on me? You should be grateful to be giving your life on my behalf. Why am I listening to your complaints?"
"My Lord- If I die, there's no one else-"
Tom seem to ponder after hearing that and smiled.
"Are you saying that all the others will turn their backs on me? Avery? Lestrange? They would jump at the opportunity to aid their Lord, Lucius. Stop complaining and do what you're told."
"I will- I just need... some rest-"
But Tom's ghost moved, grabbing Lucius's throat with its ghostly hands, making him look down, wondering how in the world that was happening.
"Don't you dare to slow me down. I gave you an order, so go accomplish it or die."
Lucius just nodded, unable to speak, and Tom let him go, flexing his hand.
"I'm coming back." He whispered to himself while looking at his ghostly hand, sneaking a glance at Lucius from the corner of his eyes, who was coughing on the ground, and then, they both heard steps and the ghost disappeared, the diary closing.
The door went open, and Narcisa walked in, seeing Lucius on the ground, running to help him.
"Lucius- What happened?!"
"Nothing." He said weak, sitting again, and she narrowed her eyes.
"What is going on- You can't pretend there's nothing happening anymore. Look at you!"
Lucius was visibly ill, skinny, and with an exhausted face.
"I already told you- There's nothing wrong-"
"I have a doctor from St. Mungus waiting for you this afternoon-"
"I TOLD YOU NOT TO DO IT!" He waved his arm, almost slapping her hand, and she froze, taking a step back.
"What the hell is wrong with you?" She whispered low, looking around, seeing the mess and the back of her husband's head, turning and leaving without another word.
After a few moments, the diary opened again and Tom appeared.
"Now, to your next steps."