Disclaimer: I OWN NOTHING…if I did Harry would NOT have ended up with Ginny of all people! ~_~
A.N. hey here it is…as always no beta so please be kind! Lol I got sorta stuck on this one guys! Lol next chapter is the first Task and I'm so excited about writing it!!! Please Review!
Chapter 13: In the Company of Secrets
As Harry entered the room he was assaulted by the tense energy radiating from the other three champions and in the darkness they had yet to notice him. The fire in the hearth was the only light to see by and it created plenty of shadows in which to immerse himself with. He wanted to have a chance to check out the competition before they had a chance to do the same to him.
Victor Krum was easy enough to figure out, he was the only one that truly entered the cup from Durmstrang as every other student just entered his name and not their own. It was an interesting display of power, having all the Durmstrang students bend to his will by submitting only his name and giving up their chance to ensure his. Though Harry had to wonder if it was Krum or if it was his wily Headmaster.
Not that it mattered much anyway, Victor, while having an above average power level, was barely above an idiot when it came to intellect and that's what really made a difference. Half of the competition would be testing their intelligence, their creativity, and their strength of will. No, Victor wasn't one he was too worried about, and with that in thought he turned his attentions to the others.
Kairi Maddocks, now she was very interesting indeed even though he wasn't very close to her he could feel the difference in her magic and see it in the way she moved. The way her eyes flashed every so often in the light, oh, he could tell she was very different from the others. She wasn't human, no; he would bet anything that she was a creature of some sort, one that could pass very easily as human.
The way she held herself was very regal, and the way her eyes shined as she stared at the other two gave away her intelligence…that along with her power made her dangerous. His glowing emerald eyes turned to the only one left in the room; the only one left now was the self-conscious looking boy. He held himself stiffly, as if at any moment he would be expected to perform some duty by some important official.
He looked painfully well mannered, reasonably intelligent, and he had moderate power level…not weak just not great by ay means. Percy Weasley had the family's infamous carrot colored hair and pale skin, not attractive by any means more awkward looking than anything else. He was redeemable, if he got himself a tan and built his body up a bit so he stopped looking like a weed and more like a man. For this competition though he wasn't that much of a threat to Harry and in fact the only one he considered his competition was Kairi.
There was a bang behind him, signaling the others arrival and his queue to step into the light to stand by the other competitors in a very casual way. They could hear them before they saw them, they were arguing loudly with Fudge about what seemed to have been deemed the 'Harry potter situation'. It seemed that they didn't know what to do about having his name pulled from the cup considering they had no idea where the boy was.
"The point is that no one here knows where the Blazes the boy has run off to! If he doesn't compete than he loses his magic it's that simple!"
"I will have to object Minister, we have no way of contacting the child. Without proper notifications than Harry wont know he has to compete or else he loses his magic." Dumbledore stated in his most reasonable tone.
"Yes, that all well and good but it doesn't solve the problem we're facing right now! I'll have an ad placed in the Daily Prophet, if the boy doesn't show up and compete than his magic is forfeit and that is all I am going to say on the matter!"
Harry seriously thought that this half-baked Minister couldn't possibly be serious, there was no guarantee that everyone actually read that rag they called a newspaper. He was a little insulted that they would put so little effort into it, even Dumbledore hadn't objected to that admission and Harry had been partially expecting him to.
Then a thought occurred to him, that both infuriated him and made him the tiniest bit worried, what if Dumbledore had planned this? Or his parents? If they wanted him back now, even though he hated them, if they wanted him back to be their pawn then there was no telling what they could do. If they were willing to risk his magic Harry was wary about how far these people were willing to go to discover him.
Not that any of it really mattered he was competing any way, and if the didn't connect the dots then he would be fine. Still he sneered inside thinking about having to eventually confront the people who had brought him life. Hopefully that would only happen when he was ready to end theirs. Finally the officials turned their attention back to why they were there in the first place and began to explain what was expected of them as champions.
They discussed the weighing of the wands, the photo session they were expected to give, the interview with a reporter, and the basic rules of it all. That was the most boring part of the night because Harry didn't really care much about the rules and he was sure the other champions would agree. It was a long-standing tradition that everyone cheated, they just didn't get caught, and so this was more a formality than anything else. His eyes glowed more as he leaned back into the shadows to avoid too much attention on his part.
Whoever had placed his true name in the cup was in for a surprise, he couldn't lose his magic if he competed and he was already competing under the name Tristen Winter it mad no difference that he was entered twice. However, if he hadn't been picked for his school this whole thing would have been a very real problem and that left the question on who placed his name in the cup. He looked around the room suspicious, he had been on his guard since their arrival and something told him he would not find time to relax this year.
He couldn't hold back the slight upward tilt of on corner of his mouth; it ruined his serene image for an instant as he smirked around the room from the shadows. A movement caught from just out of his peripheral vision had him turning in that direction, to catch Percy watching him amusement shining in his eyes. The set of his body and the ease of his movement raised his suspicions dramatically. Perhaps he had been wrong…maybe he did have some competition after all, his gaze landing on the other two, oh yes this would be fun.
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Minerva bustled down the corridor that would take her to the Headmaster's office more than a little miffed that the Weasley Twins had managed to make her late…AGAIN. She huffed a little after stating the ridiculous password and riding the slow stair well a little impatiently. When she got to the door finally she didn't wait for Albus to do his traditional, 'enter', and just went right in…a little more loudly than necessary.
Fillius, Pomona, and Severus were already there, seated and apparently awaiting her arrival with Albus (that damn twinkle on full blast). "Ah, now that our Lioness has arrived we can get right down to it, but first Minerva do take a seat, tea, biscuit, a lemon drop perhaps?" He said with a flamboyant wave of his hand. She barely suppressed her eye-roll, really whoever had stirred up that rumor that Albus and her had romantic inclinations towards another should check their eyesight. Albus was so bent she was amazed he could see straight, really she wondered why he had never settled down with some young buck when he had been in his prime.
"Now, I believe Severus was going to tell us his impressions first?" He smiled all grandfatherly, and Minerva barely stopped herself from shuttering. Sometimes she swore Albus only kept Severus around for his voice and eye candy…it would be Albus to do something like that. After all he DID pick on the boy enough to raise the suspicions in her book, a quick look at the subtly uncomfortable Severus told her he may have had the same thought.
"Well, the Durmstrang students were adequate…though nothing truly extraordinary and well enough behaved. The Beauxbatons are very well mannered but are nearly abysmal at potions. Which truly isn't a surprise, they are being taught by that idiot Potions Master Deluge." He said a bit snidely and with a hint of smugness. He shifted a little though as if uncomfortable, "The Noctiluca students, the younger years at least, well I have to say I'm impressed."
The others sat in stunned silence, mouths slightly agape, Snape NEVER complimented anyone ever unless it couldn't be helped they must have been truly extraordinary to gain such praise. Dumbledore coughed, "Well, right, um, what about you Pomona?"
"Well, as you know I've only been graced with the younger years today but I'm afraid I have to agree with Severus. The Noctiluca students were simply amazing! Beauxbatons did well enough, better then most of ours but Durmstrang students…well they need a little work." She said it all good-naturedly and honest as most of her house would.
Dumbledore shifted a little in his throne like chair, "And what about you Fillius?" The diminutive man shifted a little in his high seat and blushed a bit. "Well Beauxbatons did well enough about on par with my Ravenclaws, Durmstrang students had a bit of difficulty but I suspect that it was because of the nature of the spells. As most of us suspect the light spells gave them a bit of trouble at first but they handled it well." He shifted a bit more, acting as if he wished to stall.
Eventually he broke and told them what they really wanted to know, "The Noctiluca students were Phenomenal! I was utterly in awe of their ease with the spells. They performed them right after being shown how, on the first try, EVERY ONE of them! I was in a tizzy trying to keep up with them. Also," he looked around nervously, "one of the Noctiluca students pulled me aside when I was making my rounds around the classroom and asked when they would be taught the OTHER ways to cast! As in other than a WAND! It was mighty exciting but before I could question him on it further that Tristen boy silenced him." He looked a little disappointed about that but truthfully so were they all.
Dumbledore smiled a bit uneasily, twinkle a bit dimmed, "And you Minerva?" She looked a bit flustered when everyone's attention shifted to her and felt more than a little nervous about answering. "Well, both Durmstrang and Beauxbatons are at about the same level as my students. Neither are really lacking nor are they noteworthy above what we expect form our own; I'm happy to say. As for Noctiluca," She sent an apologetic glance at Albus, "they were breathtaking."
"Not once in my career had I seen anything like those students, it was like watching art being unveiled or a truly poetic scene. The way they performed…it was as if they were all journeymen in this field, truly, and while I'm not one to brag I very much doubt even Miss Granger could compare. Also," she glanced to Fillius, "while the Winter boy wasn't paying much mind I saw one of the girls trying the spell without her wand and it looked as if it was going to work…until he had caught her wrist and stopped it. Really that Mr. Winter is the obvious leader there is no doubt."
Dumbledore nodded gravely, "It is as I've suspected, we are outmatched by them." They didn't need to ask whom he was referring to but said nothing. They very much believed that Dumbledore could match them, but with the rest of them dragging him down they doubted they could win against them. Should Noctiluca chose a side unfavorable to their cause in the future it would be a perilous blow. Still there was hope; they needed to find Harry now more than ever and they all had faith in the old Headmaster.
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Suzie blinked as the sun shone brightly in her eyes and yawned, stretching across her bed languidly reading herself for another day. She smiled brightly, truly this as going to be the best year ever, after all she had finally gotten back her beautiful, cold, caring, distantly kind big brother. It was really amazing how much he had grown over the years, how beautiful he'd become and how gentle he still was with her.
She admitted she had been a bit nervous holding his hand yesterday, at first, because it HAD been years since she had last done such a thing. And Suzie knew her brother, he wasn't one for physical affection but he had pleasantly surprised her when he had taken a firmer hold on her. His music had been breath-taking too…and it was as if he had played it just for her like before.
The other girls were so jealous over her it was actually very amusing and after seeing how much her brother had changed it wasn't surprising, at least not for her. Harry had always been beautiful but his mature artful looks he had now were breathtaking. Not to mention the 'bad-boy' earrings, the wind-swept hair, his soulful playing, his almost unnatural grace and his commanding air made him just…awe-inspiring.
Still, as she bounced around the room getting ready in her own perky way she couldn't help but wonder what her brother thought of the attention. He was a private person, the exact opposite of her very open personality and she hoped she hadn't upset him by drawing all the attention his way. Though he didn't seem to mind and spent most of his day quietly observing the castle along with his little band of followers.
Today she would introduce everyone from her 'group' to him and hope he approved of her choices, really it was as exciting as it was nerve raking. Suzie let out a big whoosh of breath before se got herself worked up over nothing and sighed glancing at the mirror to see if she looked all right. Smiling she began to skip her way to where she knew her big brother would be and humming a little tune as she went (incidentally being what she considered HER song that her brother had once sung for her).
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Harry sneered at the mirror in his room, it was pathetically enchanted for shallow people and he hated it. The thing kept commenting on his back, how he would have been so pretty if not for those scars and what not. Finally he could not take it anymore and he laid his hand on it sending a pulse of magic to literally shatter the spell. He looked on with a bit of detachment at the blood dribbling drown his arm from the cuts from the glass.
Pain was something he was used to and it calmed him somewhat, it was something familiar so it settled him in a way he hadn't thought it would. Harry carefully took the shards out realizing he needed to treat the wound before he met up with his entourage to head down to the Hall. He whistled breezily and Tink was fluttering around him in a moment making chiming sounds as she floated around him.
Wordlessly he held his hand out and she was quick to land on his wrist and heal it the best she could. The wound closed enough so that there was only a few pink-healing lines. It would do for now with a glamour over it no one would be the wiser. Tink fluttered in front of his face and he graced her with a small smile and a murmur of thanks. She twittered happily and flew to her favorite spot on his head doing her best to look like an ordainment.
He vanished the blood and glass after quickly getting ready in his new uniform, all the while making sure that no one could see anything he didn't want revealed. Such as his scars or the barely there bulge, which his enchanted clothes hid, as Grace slithered under his clothes enjoying his body heat. He stepped out to his private room and began to pack whatever he thought he might need for the day.
All the while he couldn't help but think about how tightly wound he was lately. He knew it was because of his family's presence added to the fact that already someone was trying to discover him. He sighed, and Madeline had been distracted lately, something he didn't like at all. She had missed hugging him last night, and this morning, not that he wanted her to of course it was just that he had gotten used to such things.
Something was bothering her, he could tell and surprisingly it wasn't his 'real' parent's presence it was something else entirely. He could tell because she wasn't angry like the way she always was when she thought about them. No, instead she seemed almost embarrassed, or maybe it was excited as she had bounced out pretty early this morning. Not that he had woken up earlier than normal so he could spend time with her; it wasn't that at all he had just happened to wake up as she was leaving.
He scowled, he didn't like it here nothing was like he was used to and not to mention his 'family' was uncomfortably close. Releasing a breath he schooled his face into his impassive serene mask, he needed to be fine today so he could keep the others in check. It was vital they not see him weakened otherwise everything would crumble around them, still he would need to find himself some time tonight to release all this pent up energy. Vaguely, as he walked out the door, he contemplated calling upon Alucard again as that man always managed to make everything else fade to the background when he was around.
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Severus sneered as he gild down the hallway, his robe billowing impressively around his feet as he made his way to his personal labs. He wasn't anxious about seeing her again, no, not at all. In fact he had put the fact that she had KISSED him to the furthest corner of his mind. Yes, he had forgotten it because it was trivial and didn't matter. No mind that said woman was utterly brilliant at potions, or had such a fiery spirit, or that she was possibly one of the most attractive women he had come across in a long time.
He scowled at himself again trying to push the whole thing from his mind and finding himself wholly unsuccessful. She wouldn't be there in his lab again, not after yesterday after all THE Sirius Black had paid her attention. He was sure that the infuriating woman was just playing hard to get and using him to add fuel to the fire. He scowled, well he wouldn't be used, no, he wouldn't allow himself to be used.
When he entered the lab and saw her standing there, preparing for another brewing day, he told himself he didn't care. He told himself he was confronting her about yesterday because he refused to be used, not because the kiss had thrown him off-balance with it's innocent gesture. "I see you've decided to invade my labs once again, Potion Master Winter, I can't say I'm very surprised," he drawled, voice thick with sarcasm.
She turned around, hair in another messy bun, and a pretty little smile on her face. "Oh, Severus I didn't hear you come in. Though I have to say I thought we had gotten past this Title business I told you yesterday! Call me Madeline!" She had an easy grin about her like she was talking to an old friend and not someone she had just met the other day. Still he forced himself to be stiffer then usual wanting to get this nonsense out of the way, "Quite, well I just wanted to say that if you want to use my lab that will be tolerated, however, do not expect to USE me to play hard to get with Black."
For a moment she just looked shocked and then she got angry, a scowl quickly making it ay onto her face along with a fierce glare that rivaled his own. "Now listen here you pompous prick!" She took that as her queue to poke him in the chest, "If you think for one moment I would be attracted to that arrogant ass-hole you've got another thing coming!"
"I kissed you yesterday, on the cheek, in prefect innocence! I was simply saying good-bye! However as I can see that it was wholly unappreciated you can bet it will not be happening again!" With each point she gave him an equally hard poke right in his chest until eventually he began to back away slowly. It did him no good however as she just retaliated by advancing on him every step of the way.
"I am a grown woman and have long since matured past the age where men like that jerk Black are even remotely attractive to me because I know their games. Men like Black are arrogant son-of-a-bitches, that don't know sincerity from a horse's ass and are more then happy to use the woman that throw themselves at them as playthings! I HATE men like Black," she kept poking him and he was just to stunned by her fury to respond, shocked into silence as it were. "I have long since had my eyes forcibly open to the real ways of too handsome for their own good men like Black, in fact, their soave charmer looks make me sick! Men like that don't know how to handle a woman, let alone how to treat one they way they should!"
She got a far away look in her eye all of a sudden, though she had stopped poking him by then and had simply laid her hand on his chest in absentmindedness. "Men like that are to be avoided, besides more often than not they're as dumb as a stump," she looked him in the eye, her own glazed with thoughtfulness, "No, men like Black don't interest me at all. I'd much rather be with a man whose intelligent enough to keep up with me, and understand what I'm saying when I talk about my Potion projects. A man whose experienced, whose not afraid to tell me his opinion, a man who will stand beside me and not in front of me…a man like…" she stopped suddenly a small blush dusting its way across her cheeks. "Well, never mind that! What I meant to say before I gat carried away Severus is that a boy like Black is not worth the ground I walk on and I would not put up such an effort for him. I did not mean for you to take that kiss good-bye so seriously and for that I am sorry. Be assured it wont happen again."
With that she turned and left a stunned Snape slumped against the desk she pushed him up against while she returned to her brewing. He was speechless, and more then a little shocked. What she had implied had stopped all thought processes for a good five minutes while he tried to reconcile his preconceived notions of her once again. Snape was quickly finding that one just couldn't assume with Madeline, as almost always she manages to surprise you. Still as he got ready to brew he couldn't help but cast stunned, measuring glances at her from the corner of his eyes.
An hour past and he still hadn't managed to make himself talk to her, instead immersing himself in the relaxing art of brewing. Madeline finished her potion twenty minutes later, and still as she began to pack away her things he could not force himself to speak. Then as she was heading for the door, he had convinced himself his chance had been lost, but she turned to look at him at the last moment. There was a smirk on her lips like she knew something he didn't, "Well, I'll be seeing you tomorrow I expect, do try to do well this upcoming lesson my adopted son will be attending your class and I do hope you manage to impress him!" She made to go through the door but paused halfway, "Oh, and Severus," he looked up at her still not knowing what to say, "I accept your apology and would hope you've learned your lesson about assuming things and accusing before asking!" She smiled a sly smile at him and went through the door. Leaving a very confused Severus behind wondering how the hell women managed to do that.
In the end he decided as all wise men do that women will never be understood by a man such as himself and let the matter drop. It appeared she had forgiven him and any unpleasantness had been brushed aside so that they could continue their…friendship??? He sighed, women were just too complicated and he could feel a headache begin to throb between his eyes. It was best he pushed the whole debacle to the back of his mind for now, after all he did have work to do and a lesson to prepare.
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Harry stared with impassive eyes at the professor before him and began to wonder what the hell he was doing attending a Potions class when he already had his Mastery. However, Madeline had asked this of him so he gritted his teeth and bore it for now. Still the level if incompetent professor at this 'school' was utterly amazing, not to mention the second-rate curriculum Harry could almost feel his I.Q. dropping.
Though he had to admit that out of all the class he had attended in the last two days Potions was definitely the least disappointing. Harry could tell that the Professor, Snape, was holding back considerably what he imagined his students should be able to accomplish. It was like he expected geniuses to attend this special ed school, Harry sighed, the saddest part was seeing that he was pushing them towards greatness only for them to fail spectacularly.
Really, Snape's expectations were almost at level with Professor Heartsworth at Noctiluca and that was saying something. It made Harry almost pity the man who strove for greatness among the trash that went here, even if there were a few exceptions to the rule. Suzie, for one, did not deserve to have her potential limited in a school like this though Harry knew she would not have what it takes for Noctiluca.
He brushed that uncomfortable thought aside and concentrated on brewing the Confundus potion. It was an easy potion to make, however, it was equally easy to mess it up which would end with it exploding in their faces, if one weren't careful. Already half of the Hogwarts students were in the infirmary and as usual his elite were performing beautifully, not one mistake where he could see.
Even if there was a close call with Cleo, potions had never been her strong point but he had managed to catch it in time to divert disaster. After that she had worked hard to make it perfection, with a little help she had managed it and they would soon be done with classes for the day. Something in which Harry was very thankful for, as he did not know how much longer he could keep the students in check.
It seemed like every time he turned around one was trying to wandlessly cast some such spell or perform some act of magic wholly uncommon in this school. It wasn't that they were idiots like most of the Hogwarts population it was just that they were so used to doing such acts it came naturally to them. For Noctiluca students magic was their lives, every day they were practicing it, whether it was in the hall, the classroom, or their own rooms. Every day there was something new to learn, some new direction to explore or some artifact to study.
However, Hogwarts was much more stale, no magic was allowed in the halls, or outside of classrooms. The classes themselves were dreadfully dreary and everything seemed so muted here, Harry understood why they felt like it was stifling even if it had only been two days. All Hogwarts had to compensate for it was everything here moved, the staircases, the paintings, the suits of armor, and even the location of some of the door. Still, it was not enough to help fill the void that Noctiluca had left in their lives and Harry could see it affecting their students.
To put it simply they were terribly bored, theses were students used to lessons from sun up to sin down and a seemingly limitless library. At Noctiluca there had always been something to experiment with, something to help you grow as a wizard/witch but here there was nothing. Harry did admit that Slytherin's great Hall ceiling was an impressive bit of spell working, the Potion labs were great (if a little misused), and the towers were impressive. However, that was all a reflection of the founders and Harry had yet to come across something that was new work.
Even the wards were shabby and fading as if no one had added to them in hundreds of years. It was almost enough to make him sick, the castle was a work of art but it was a tattered worn art nonetheless. At Noctiluca Academy every graduating class added to the wards power, every year had to present some collective spell work to present to the Headmistress, every student contributed something to leave their own marks on the ancient school. Hell, some even added on whole buildings like the new Green Houses or the wood working shop.
Harry himself was planning on adding a metalworking shop given his favor for creating his own amulets, charmed jewelry and the like. It would be favorable in the end to have a place equipped for such things as his room could only take so much damage. After all in a place like that he could actually make bigger pieces, not just small trinkets like he has been, like swords or armor. Hogwarts was just so bare in comparison to Noctiluca and it made it harder to adjust to the slow pace lifestyle these students were used to.
Still. Harry managed to keep his face serenely blank of all these troubling thoughts and when his potion was finished he handed it in making a quick shot for the door. Staying in the castle's walls was just serving to irate him more and so he headed for the nearest exit. Suzie and her friends would have to find him later because he could not take one more moment in this dying school.
That is what it came down to, Hogwarts Castle was dying from these wizards neglect and Harry could feel it with every step he took in her once great halls. When he finally made it to the grounds he realized that he had lost his entourage somewhere along the way and he was alone for the first time at Hogwarts. Then he felt Grace shift on his skin, and Tink tug a little on his hair as she moved. It was a little relief to know he wasn't alone here, not with his parents so close, the unidentified pursuer, and prattling foreign students around.
He wandered for a bit, shaking his head at some ruins he saw every so often, or feeling sadness every time he got to close to the Castle. Eventually he could not take being continually shrouded in the tattered wards so he moved towards the 'forbidden' forest that bordered the grounds. This forest was not as full of life as Noctiluca but it was enough to be away from the burdens that the Castle constantly reminded him of.
Harry was so consumed with escaping he did not register the magical signature following him from the distance. He just continued forward, going deeper and deeper into the eerily empty forest filled with not but trees so far. When he reached a clearing he could see the sun going down in the distance its dying rays of light filtering through the trees making the forest glow. The clearing had a few sparse blooms, some pathetic shrubs, and was encircled in twisted dark trees. In all, Harry was coming to the realization that even the magical forest was dying off slowly also along with the Castle.
It was just to sad and he could not take looking at the dreary scenery for one moment longer, so Harry decided he would do something about it. He headed to the center of the clearing, crouching down he grabbed some of the dirt there tsking under his breath when he felt how low on nutrients it was and he sat down gently. He dusted off his hands and acknowledged that this would probably take a lot out of him.
Still in his opinion it would be worth it in the end and so he gathered himself, preparing himself for the immense work of magic he was about to perform. He never noticed the pair of dark eyes studying him nearby, hidden in one of the Forest's sorrier looking bushes. Harry summoned his Violin with his serene face suddenly seeming to relax as he held it in his hand and began. It was full of life, his melody, and yet it was filled with melancholy it had such a vivid questing in it.
Immediately his silent watcher was captivated and even if he had wanted to leave he found that he couldn't move a muscle. The violin's sweet song sang out and as Harry closed his eyes to allow himself to be one with the music and the Magic the clearing around him was changing. As his tune took a higher note suddenly baby down soft grass sprouted up right underneath him spreading out like a green halo around him.
His Magic began to pulse throughout his body in time with his melody, and the cords continued on in their high note, seeming to quest for something. As another crescendo built up flowers began to erupt from the grass, an amazing array of colors, and as his violin kept up the high notes more things began to change in the clearing with Harry at the dead center of it all. The trees that surrounded him began to lose their grayish hue turning into a deep brown, soon the once bare branches sprouted thick green leaves.
The melancholy tone was still present but it still rang with life as it echoed through the trees calling all manner of things to the once dead looking clearing. As a higher note struck there was a low rumbling sounding almost like drums and water erupted from the now rich looking soil. It filled the crater that was left from the initial explosion forming a small pound near where Harry was sitting.
The water was crystal clear and so blue that it seemed to sparkle with the stars shining above. As the tune took a lower note, a sadder on almost, small creatures started to appear as if summoned by the enchanting music. Small glittering white fairies fluttered about him and Tink flew up to join them in dance, though she was a giant among them they welcomed her with reverence. A unicorn walked up slowly to the edge of the clearing to nibble on the grass, a tiny shadow fox slunk along the newly formed pond and fireflies flickered along with their fairy counter-parts.
In all added with Harry glowing ethereally in the center a picture that was so perfectly beautiful that it seemed as if the very world stopped for just one moment to take it in. Harry continued to play, melody going faster as he reached the end, but slowly down gently. He played so softly at the end it seemed as if the music just faded smoothly into the background when he was finished.
When Harry opened his eyes, the clearing had been transformed and he was a bit tired from the magic spent to make it so. However, it was not as much as he had thought it would take and after a few moments resting peacefully taking in his revitalized surroundings he was fine. Still, such moments never lasted and when a darkness advanced through the trees the many little creatures ran in fear from the clearing, no doubt to return later after the danger had past.
Tink just chimed in disappointment that the dance was over and returned to her place on Harry's head, she knew this darkness after all. Even her Master knew its name, "Alucard", Harry whispered out in silky tones not bothering to turn to face him content to continue gazing up at the stars. There was a deep chuckle that sent shivers down the spine of Harry's silent watcher freezing him in place once more.
Alucard stepped regally into the clearing, moonlight lighting him up like a god among mortals and caressing his skin as if he was a lover. The dark Vampire smiled his frightening cocky smile ferally at Harry, who in turn paid him no mind and simply waited patiently for him to speak. "You are a hard one to resist little one." Alucard said huskily while he kneeled down behind Harry, tongue darting out to lick the shell of his ear. Harry tensed, and the No-life King smiled all the wider as his arms encircled him to trap the boy against him.
"But, you are worth the wait," he made a show of caressing Harry's exposed neck with his nose, "so delicious" he whispered against his skin causing Harry to shiver. Fangs lengthened and grazed the flesh of his neck teasingly as Alucard's tongue licked across Harry's skin. "Your MINE," Alucard said fiercely before his fang sunk into Harry's flesh to gain the prize of his sweet blood.
He sucked deep, feeling Harry's heart pulsing through his tongue as he continued to lick and suckle at Harry's delicate neck. All the while the observer in the bushes could not seem to move, and as Harry's eyes closed as he moaned into Alucard's vampiric kiss, evil crimson eyes flashed. The ruby eyes glowed eerily catching dark spying eyes easily in a stare, later said spy would swear that he saw the vampire smirk while he continued to feed.
Alucard drank deep; having missed the taste of his little one's blood and hands began to stroke tense muscles as he feed in fervor. Harry hated to admit it but he had a weakness for this, as always when Alucard feed he could think of nothing else but the pleasure of it all. Something he was quickly becoming addicted to, it made him forget how lonely he was and the burdens he carried. It made him forget the world. He needed this tonight.
When Alucard managed to stop Harry couldn't help but feel a little disappointed, still he knew it was for the best, as he felt weaker than usual. He quickly took a blood-replenishing potion from his pocket to down and he allowed Alucard to lay him down on the soft downy grass. He paid no mind to him afterwards as his head as spinning and his stomach was clenching as the potion took affect.
The No-life King rose up imperiously from the ground gliding around his little one and headed towards the concealed interloper. Said hidden watcher panicked and began to flee. However, his bounding run was no match for the incredible speed of the centuries old demon. He caught him and the great black dog gave off a horrible yelp, as he was lifted, from the ground by the back of his neck. He whimpered and that sadistic deep chuckle sounded right behind him making him shake with terror.
"Come now little doggy we both know there is a man in there somewhere," he said tauntingly, "come out little man come out." Seeing no way to escape the big black dog gave in and turned into a reasonably handsome man, Sirius Black was caught. "See now that wasn't so hard," Alucard said mockingly as he threw him to the ground knocking the breath from him. Sirius managed to painfully roll over to face his attacker and he swore as his eyes connected with the deep red one above him that he looked death in the eye that day.
Alucard gave not a thought to Sirius' panicked expression and slammed his foot squarely on his chest pinning him to the ground. Sirius thought he heard some bones crack under the pressure and the pain was horrible, just not enough to make him turn his eyes away from the monster over him. "Now listen carefully dog-man," the regal Vampire King smiled feral at him, "I enjoy feasting on my little one and something tells me your not one to keep such secrets to yourself" he added more pressure to his foot making Sirius grunt in pain.
"Now I will make this perfectly clear for you," more pressure, "you will not be telling anyone what you just saw," he heard more bones crack as his foot continued to come down on him. "If I find out you have caused an inconvenience for my little one well…" his smile showed all his pointed teeth threateningly, "let's just say you'll be begging for death by the time I'll graciously grant it." Sirius nodded his head frantically in agreement and as if he was smoke in the wind the vampire was gone in an instant.
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As Harry made his way back to the Castle leaving his self-made haven behind he couldn't help but wonder what had gotten into him lately. He usually had more control over his emotions, something about this place put him off-balance and on edge, he didn't like it one bit. The halls echoed silence as he softly padded through them, realizing that most likely everyone would be in the great Hall he kept on going after he reached the doors. He was not ready to give up his solitude and decided this was a perfect time to explore the Castle uninhibited.
The paintings interested him the most, not because they moved, but because of the workmanship they displayed. As one artist to another seeing them was like studying a rival, most of them he smugly saw were not as elegant as his own work. The brushstrokes on some were to choppy to convey real beauty and on others the lines were to corroded due to the passing of time. Seeing them made him want to paint, so he off-handedly began to wonder in the direction he believed his room was located in.
However as he turned the last corner before his schools guest suite the ramming of someone's body into his own stopped him. Immediately his entire body froze due to the contact leaving him unable to catch himself and thus he landed painfully on the ground while the other person managed to stop herself. The collision left him dizzy, so it took him some moments before he was able to see clearly and when he could he wished he hadn't. There standing before him was one of the people he had dearly hoped to avoid, his mother.
"OH I'm so sorry! I wasn't watching where I was going and I was in such a rush I didn't see you until it was too late!" She moved to help him stand by Harry flinched away from the contact. He got up swiftly, inwardly disgusted that his body had come in contact with hers but somehow he had managed to keep his face serene despite it all. "Its fine." He replied in a tense monotone wanting nothing more than to run away but to do so would only raise suspicions.
"Oh well, I'm so relieved, are you alright?" She smiled a little, concern coloring her features and Harry took a moment to study her. Her red hair glowed in the candlelight, her familiar though duller green eyes were filled with worry and her heart shaped face was tilted slightly to the side conveying her confusion. She could be considered very beautiful but all Harry could see was ugliness that came with tainted betrayals. His eyes hardened, becoming colder as her face brought memories best left forgotten to the forefront of his mind.
It had been her blood that had tainted his body, her blood that had tortured him, her blood that had marked him and her blood that he had spilt that day so long ago. "Hey, do I…do I know you?" she asked in confusion drawing him out of his darker thoughts. "No," his voice was bland, his face tranquil, but his eyes were so cold it stunned her more than any curt tone would have.
How he hated her, forcing him to be in her presence to avoid suspicion because she was about as graceful as a troll. She had practically flattened him with her ogre-like lumbering. "Oh well, it's just that you look so familiar! Perhaps your parents then?" she asked tone colored with curiosity while Harry did his best to keep his body from tensing. "Their dead," he replied inwardly adding, 'to me', "I'm adopted." Her pretty (disgusting) face light up with pity and Harry resisted the urge to kill her right then. "I'm so sorry! I didn't mean to pry; it's just that…well…I could swear I know you. Perhaps it's just me then!" She tried to smile but Harry's cold eyes kept it from her face. She looked startled for a moment as if just remembering something, "Oh my goodness, I'm going to be late! I'm terribly sorry I've got to run! Maybe I'll see you around?" she asked while running around him and continuing down the way he had come from.
Suddenly he didn't want to paint anymore as any inspiration had been crushed out of him after the filth had rammed him to the ground. Suddenly he felt very dirty and he hurried to his room heading straight for the bath not bothering to stop for a towel or an exchange of clothes. He couldn't strip down fast enough when he got into the showers; he turned the water as hot as it could go while banishing Tink and Grace from the room. He scrubbed his body until it was pink from everything, still he felt unclean and eventually he just sunk to the floor letting the piping hot water wash over him.
Soaking his hair making it cling to his back, neck and face, obscuring his eyes from view. He told himself he wasn't crying, he told himself that it was just the water stinging his eyes and that he hadn't been affected by his 'mother' in the least. He told himself many things sitting there alone in the too hot shower, and in the end he knew he was lying. Even if it was only to himself. He was lying but he needed to believe those lies, he needed to because they were all he had for comfort alone in this darkness that had swallowed him since that night when blood was first spilt on his hands.
As his hallow jaded eyes studied his empty hands he imagined he saw the crimson liquid there in place of the flowing water and he could almost see the knife, his first weapon. He might have ended on nightmare that day but he was coming to the realization he had just traded on for another. His family needed to die so he could be free, in fact a lot of people needed to die so he could be finally released from this loneliness. He hugged his knees to his chest and quietly told himself he would kill them all one day. He knew that that one wasn't a lie.
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Lily ran down the hall in confusion, she just knew that there was something vaguely familiar about that boy but she just couldn't place it. His eerily glowing green eyes had been so cold looking at her that she couldn't concentrate on anything else, his features while attractive were common among wizards in Britain. Dark hair and pale skin were too common of features to pinpoint just anyone. Hell, even she had the pale skin as it came from living in a coder climate.
No, something about that boy had been off, like a memory that kept slipping out of her grasp right when she thought she had it. As she huffed her way up to Dumbledore's office she couldn't help but wonder what it was about the boy that had struck her so. When she got there she was immediately relieved to see that Sirius had yet to arrive, meaning she wasn't the only one running a bit late today. James was already up and smiling at her in greeting, Snape was scowling in the corner looking very much like a restless animal and Minerva looked as strict as ever.
Remus was fidgety, and looking worse for wear…more so than usual. However, Sirius caught most of her attention as he limped a bit through the door late and looking like he got on the wrong side of a mountain troll. "What the hell happened to you mate?" James practically shouted while rushing to help his friend to a seat. Sirius let out a wheezing laugh, "I was going for a run in the forest ran into some interesting spiders along the way…". James just shook his head at him and accepted the answer at face value.
Sirius for his part was wondering if it was wise to lie to his friend, to everyone and keep what he had just seen a secret. Then he remembered the burning crimson eyes of that Vampire as he toyed with him and knew he couldn't risk doing anything differently. The Vampire had been perfectly, painfully clear…speak a word to anyone and he was as good as dead to the world. Sirius didn't fancy dying any time soon, war or not, so he would keep his mouth shut for now. This would be his secret, besides it wasn't as if it really affected them anyway.
So what if the boy was feeding that monster, so what if he put himself in danger, he didn't owe anything to that boy and if he wanted to be stupid Sirius would let him. Still, as he shifted painfully in his seat with the others staring at him he became uncomfortably aware he was hiding something big from them. "So what did ya call us here for Dumbledore, I wanted to come before getting treated so if you don't mind can we hurry it up?" he asked with a cheeky grin and a cocky slur hoping to cover up just how much pain he was really in.
"Oh, yes quite right. Now, Severus has just finished telling me that while the Dark Mark is getting more defined he has yet to be summoned. This could mean one of two things: Voldemort has not fully regained his body which I am hopeful for…or Voldemort has lost faith in his faithfulness I dearly hope this isn't so otherwise we have lost a valuable spy position." James snorted, Sirius scowled, Lily looked nervous and Remus fidgeted in his seat, they all hoped it was the first option. Severus was the only one that didn't show any outward emotion and choose to sit stiffly with a sneer on his face.
"Now Remus I believe you have brought us some news of the Wolf packs?" Dumbledore said shifting everyone's attention to the sick looking werewolf. "Yes," he gulped, "they are in negotiations with someone but it's not Voldemort. The packs don't really talk to me, they consider me below them but I did find out they are preparing for something. What exactly, I don't know." His eyes flickered to the window and then to the ground.
Trepidation filled Remus as he thought about the wolf packs and what he had found out there. "Is that all?" Dumbledore asked with his best grandfather voice. "Yes…that's all." Remus replied feeling sick and guilty for lying to Albus, even though he had no choice. He had wanted very badly to say that the Packs' heir Alpha was walking around the Castle and that if they had wanted to gain the werewolves on their side they could just take him. However, he was under the packs' magic and his werewolf side would not allow him to betray the Alpha.
It was one of the worse feelings, powerlessness, he couldn't tell them and had to live with the secret against his will. It comforted him that he didn't even know which one was the heir but with the full moon coming up he wouldn't even have that any more. Everyone wrote off his nervousness as him worrying about disappointing them so no one suspected a thing.
Severus watched every one with caution in his eyes, he knew he couldn't trust any one in this room and was on guard at all times, waiting. There was a time when he had loved Lily, he looked at the pretty redhead, and he had loved her enough to risk being killed to protect her. He had become a spy for her, he had turned sides for her and he suffered in silence for her. Yet, as he looked at her now he found he couldn't for the life of him understand why he had done so. Yes, he loved her…loved her, but he didn't love her any longer.
She still had a place in his heart, yes, the space one's first love always occupies no matter what you think of them later on. She was his first crush, he had loved her since they had been children and yet she could never return his feelings. It was because of this he was starting to question his place in this war once again. It irked him that he could be so indecisive about his stance but there was no other choice…he had to reconsider his stance. The dark was ruthless, hard, cruel and utterly open about it. Unlike the Light who hid behind kind facades to manipulate you and stab you in the back once you've fulfilled your purpose.
Voldemort had been many things but at least he didn't try to deceive you about what you were signing up for. He had spared Lily when he had asked, he cast dark eyes on James, but he also spared his hated enemy. He found he didn't know exactly what to do with his life any longer; this war was slowly killing him that at least he knew. Still he knew that he could not show his wavering alliances, could not give Dumbledore anything to question because if he did switch side he wanted to be trusted. After all, he was a professional spy and keeping secrets was what he did best.
Unnoticed by the occupants of the room a current of tension filled beneath the surface of their lives, because each had a secret they wanted to keep. The secrets held them back, were jealously guarded and filled the spaces between them like an unspoken of monster. Dumbledore, perhaps the one with the most secrets to keep, was the one who was doing his best to discover the secrets being kept from him. Each sat in the company of secrets, and felt the dulling guilt of it all weigh them down.
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Harry stormed into his room, calm mask finally allowed to slip from his face and a furious expression taking its place. He was so angry, he started to throw anything breakable and he found satisfaction in hearing them shatter against the walls. It wasn't enough though, he sent his companions away both Tink and Grace so he could be alone in his fury. He absolutely hadn't been ready to face her and not hurt her in force. He had been so close to blowing everything, all his carefully laid plans and cleverly spun webs so he could strike her down.
He couldn't allow himself so little self-restraint, not here, not now, not at this time and yet he had wanted so badly to feel his 'mothers' blood flow between his fingers as he took the life from her. This was bad. He needed to control himself more and he had to find a way to deal before he was confronted by more of his 'family' otherwise they would not walk away alive. He had planed his perfect revenge for too long to waste it on a brief moment of fulfillment. They had to have everything they cared about stripped from them, they had to see the ones they loved die; they had to lose everything before he would grant them death.
In desperation he snatched the ever-present journal of Tom Riddle from his front pocket and began to write with such fervor and desperation he did not stop to see what he wrote. In fact, he was writing with such abandon he didn't know he was revealing more than he had ever wanted to.
I HATE her! I NEED to break her, stomp her, kill her, make her bleed, make her scream, I NEED it TOM!! I need her dead; I need to kill her to wash the Taint from me! Its her fault, it her blood that taints mine! It her!! She needs to be broken, needs to beg me for dead before I grant it! DAMN Lily Potter to the depths of the deepest pit of hell and brimstone fire! She is the one whose tainted me! Her blood makes me filthy! Filthy mudblood whore, she birthed me but she is NOT my MOTHER!! I need to bring her here and hurt her in this dark…so I can see her world shatter! Maybe I should kill her filthy half-blood son first, it would be fitting seeing as she abandoned me for him!
TRISTEN! Stop what are you talking about? Lilly Potter? What's going on?
Filthy mudblood whore birthed me, I was once Harry Potter, I am supposed to be their 'savior' but I'm going to kill them…I'm going to kill them all. And I'll enjoy it! I can feel it crawling under my skin TOM! It needs to be let out, that monster in me.
Calm down… Harry…tell me what happened…
For the next two hours Harry wrote down everything he had previously kept from Tom, his past, his plans, his dreams for revenge, his careful planning of the mass genocide of the muggles…everything. Except he didn't tell him what he had planned at the end of it all, how he planned to die but that just seemed so private. Some things one didn't share even with their closest confidant, Harry was certain Tom could never understand his desire to die at the end of it all. However, Tom took all the other things in stride and even though Harry could never tell what the memory charmed book was thinking he was relieved to finally tell someone everything. It calmed him enough so that he didn't immediately kill the huge black Raven when it flew through his window unannounced.
He said his good-bye to Tom, placing him back into his pocket before taking the letter from the Raven's talons. The envelope was thick and fancy looking, a deep green trimmed in silver with the Death Eaters' symbol on the back. He knew it was from Voldemort, and he checked it for spells before he even thought about opening it.
Dear Potions Master Winter,
You are hereby cordially invited to the Dark Allies Meeting taking place March 1st. This letter will act as a portkey and will activate on the due date and time. Please be prepared to present a plan of action and any allies you have at this time that will help advance the Dark's goal in defeating the Light once and for all.
Until then,
Dark Allies
He placed the letter in Tom's journal for safekeeping before heading for the bathroom. A sigh escaping his lips as he finally realized what he had done, pouring his heart out to a book, what was he thinking? Tom wasn't real, he was not really here and he could do nothing for him. Sadness filled him and he barely held back the tears…he didn't need to think these thoughts right then. He collapsed on his bed, tired, emotionally raw, and feeling utterly alone in the world.
Just then his door opened, making him cast his eyes at the interloper in his thoughts. Leon stood there looking for all the world a strong, ALIVE, young man and for once Harry couldn't find it within himself to send him away so he wouldn't see him weak. Leon came in silently shutting the door behind him and locking it.
He sat down on Harry's bed, gently cupping Harry's pale cheek in his hand while he asked, "What is it Harry?" Harry looked at him surprised somewhat about him using his true name but he brushed it aside. "Nothing is wrong" he replied in a dull monotone devoid of emotion. "Bullshit! You've been out of it since we've arrived," he forced Harry to met his eyes, "please…you can lean on me Harry, I can be there for you if you'd only let me!" Harry tore his eyes away, his eyes stung and he truly didn't fell like crying just then he just wanted to forget the world…forget the pain.
Turning he sat up and leaned ever so slightly into Leon's arms, who responded by hugging him fiercely into his chest like he would disappear if he let go. "Please…please don't say such things," came Harry's broken whisper as he clutched at Leon's shirt, "I just want to forget the world. I don't want to deal with it right now." He turned his face up so he could look Leon in the eyes for the first time voluntarily, "Make me forget," his eyes plead, "…please…" he whispered so utterly broken.
Leon did nothing for a full tense moment and then he captured Harry's lips in a fiery kiss that said all the things he couldn't say to the emerald-eyed beauty. Harry kissed back hesitant, unsure but slowly with more conviction. Leon had known he loved Harry for the longest time but he hadn't wanted to frighten him away by making a move. And then he had foolishly kissed him that day during Cleo's party; something had changed then for him. Leon loved Harry with all that he was and yet inside he knew…Harry could never love him back.
Harry was a lonely, broken soul and totally unreachable. He wasn't the only one, he was almost positive that every one of his fellow elites loved Harry romantically in some way. Still they all knew, had known since that day during summer when Harry had revealed his scars that he was too deep in darkness to be reached by them. Leon loved Harry, desired him and so if he wanted to use him to forget for a minute about everything else in the world Leon would give that to him. It was the least he could do, so he held him tightly, he kissed him with all the love he had in him and pretended for that moment that Harry was his.
Any one of the others would have done the same in his position, because they all loved Harry knowing that he could never truly love them back. It hurt them to see him so alone, knowing they could do nothing to ease it and feeling to powerless. Slowly Leon eased Harry's jacket from his shoulders, distracting Harry with harsher kisses so he could slowly unbutton his loose shirt and soon it joined his jacket on the floor. He began to kiss down his neck, pausing briefly seeing the bite mark but moving on totally ignoring it.
Harry's jade eyes glazed and he didn't put up any protest as Leon pushed him down on the bed slowly kissing down his chest paying special attention to the scars he found there. Leon made his way slowly down Harry's sculpted chest, gently kissing along his abs and playfully tonguing his bellybutton before making his way back to his pulp bruised lips. Leon let his weight settle on Harry, arms encircling him in a tight hold and stopping only briefly to slip his jacket and shirt off. Slowly with deliberate gentleness he ground against Harry eliciting a small moan from the boy beneath him. He continued to kiss him, continued to pretend that Harry was his and for this moment letting himself believe he could gain his heart.
As Leon kissed Harry with increasing abandon leisurely flames started to lick up his arms, gradually his lips and tongue also caught aflame. However, the flames didn't hurt Harry just gave him a sense of warmth, comfort, and safety. It made Harry truly abandon all thought in his head and he threw himself into the sensations Leon was invoking in him. Fire danced along Leon's bare back as he ground into Harry, pouring all his love into the moment and hoping that this time he could actually help him. Harry cried out pulling back from Leon's kisses to breathe so Leon moved his attentions to the smooth expanse of his neck instead.
Harry had never felt anything like this before, it was like a consuming need to be owned, to give in to the complete abandon and find safety in his arms. It was like he wasn't Harry anymore, he wasn't Tristen either, he was something else entirely, an embodiment of desire and need. Yet, in the madness he could only think that he wished that the one kissing him, owning him, was Tom and not Leon. This time he couldn't stop the tears that fell from his eyes silently and he found he didn't even want to try. Leon didn't stop though just slowly kissed the tears from his eyes and leisurely kissing him, tongue slowly caressing his in desperation.
The tears made there wet trails down his face, his stone heart cracking while his thoughts whirled around his head and the blessed abandon left him cold. Harry didn't understand what he was feeling, this longing, this yearning, this despair, this warm but cold feeling when he thought of Tom. He didn't know much about love but Harry thought that if he could love he would have loved Tom. But…Tom was a book, a thing, he wasn't alive, he couldn't truly be with him like Harry wanted him to be. For someone who had thought his heart was dead it sure as hell felt like his heart was breaking. Leon had stopped kissing him, just holding him while he cried silent tears pulling the covers over the both of them.
Harry wished he had never stole that book from that shop, had never followed that blonde wizard to that alley so he would have never had to feel this hurt. Wait, as he thought back on it he knew that blonde wizard's name now but he hadn't then…hadn't then. He knew that wizard…Malfoy…it was Malfoy Sr. he had followed that day when he had gained Tom. As he thought about it his tears began to slow, and then stop. He knew Malfoy so it Tom was right and he did have a body out there somewhere then he COULD have him.
However, as he thought that he knew it wasn't true…because it would be HIS Tom, the one he had confessed everything to and the one who had become the closest thing he had to a best friend. No the Tom that lived and walked around wouldn't know him, wouldn't remember the nights he had spent in conversation with him…he wouldn't know him. It wouldn't be Tom, just some cheep replacement not the real thing, not the real Tom, and the sadness weighed him down like a heavy cloak.
Still, the thought was there…where was the living Tom Riddle? He had said he had gone to Hogwarts so maybe Harry could find out more about the living one here. Maybe he could find this living Tom and maybe he could get to know that Tom to see if he could invoke the same feeling as his Tom. Then again maybe he was just meant to be alone, he was going to die anyway had planned to even maybe it was better not to feel such things for someone if that was to be his end. As Harry gripped Leon, who responded by holding him tighter in his arms, he knew that feeling these things were hopeless and pointless. Dry eyed the jaded teen closed his eyes to sleep, willing his heart to be as ice as cold and unfeeling as it had been before Suzie…before everyone…back when nothing mattered but another day.
A.N. okay…my hands went on strike because I refused to give them candy…^_^; hehe I was broke but I got some sugar and finally finished this chapter in one go! Yay for me! Lol so the song is by Vanessa Mae (of course) and is called I am Doun in case you wanted to give it a listen! I admit I'm a bit infatuated with that woman's playing she really does play beautifully! So next chapter should come out sooner than this one, hopefully, but I have something to ask you guys 'cause I'm stuck! Lol I truthfully have NO idea who Harry should go to the Yule Ball with so I am putting it to a vote here are your options: Alucard, Sarah or Leon. Please review! Lol It really does make my day to read your guys' thoughts!