Chapter 30 – The First Look
Submitted Tuesday 30 Aug 2011
SPOILER ALERT: Last chapter was published on Tuesday, two days ago, so if you have not read my story this week then please go to the previous chapter. I have begun dating the submission of each chapter so that if you miss a few weeks between readings you know about how far to go back. This will become more important as the story progresses.
Harry bowed out of the first Slug Club party due to the load of school work. He promised Professor Slughorn he'd be there for the Christmas Party but explained that he was making a serious go at getting his revision completed for the next week's first round of exams. While these exams counted nothing for his NEWTs the same material would be presented and he was determined not to make Snape's prophecy come true.
The night after the first Quidditch match he came across the place where he had his stand-off with Snape at the end of his Sixth Year. He thought hard about what Snape had said. He remembered seeing into the mind of his old Potions Professor and seeing himself as Snape had seen him. That night he decided he wanted to become more. He wanted Snape's sacrifice to mean something. He'd already decided he'd put everything into his final year.
Using the hazel wand only increased his desire to revise further. He found that as he mastered new magic the wand seemed to attune itself even more to his mind. When he revised charms and DADA he noticed that spells that once took great concentration now took less effort. His shields took less effort or energy. It wasn't as if he'd become a master wizard with the wand but it did make his spell work much easier and some of his spells more potent.
Even stranger, the wand seemed drawn to the shade of Dumbledore. He'd been in the Headmistress's office a few times now and he could feel the wand become almost excited when he was near the portrait of the former Headmaster. Dumbledore would ask about the wand often as well. He asked all sorts of questions about how the wand made him feel when he cast spells and if it felt different at different times. Finally, the night of the Hallowe'en Feast, Harry was visiting Dumbledore because he was feeling melancholy due to the anniversary of the death of his parents. Dumbledore asked him a strange question, "Does the wand feel unusual when you are near me, Harry?"
"Yes, why?" Harry had been carrying on about missing his mum and how he wished sometimes that he could see her and it struck him strange that Dumbledore would interrupt to ask such a strange question.
"I just wondered if the wand might be drawn to me since I was an owner of the Elder Wand. Seeing as it was meant to be a companion to the Elder."
"What? I was the last owner of the wand. Why would it search you out and not me?"
Dumbledore considered Harry for a moment. He seemed at a loss for words. Harry couldn't remember a time when he'd seen Dumbledore in such a state. He imagined the shade may not be as sharp as the real Dumbledore. He missed his old mentor – realising is was a poor copy with only the memories and the mannerisms of the man he had grown to love. "Don't worry, Sir, it's not important. I need to get ready for the Feast this evening. Sir, I miss you," and he left.
The Feast was everything that a feast should be. There was all manner of food and dessert. The carved pumpkins were as large as ever and there was a vampire comedy troupe that had been hired for the evening's entertainment. The live bats had been released minutes before and one had landed on Ron's shoulder. The poor bloke was frozen with fear as the bat nuzzled up his ear and Seamus made jokes, "It's probably looking for a good vein, Ron. He looks peekish." The rest of the table erupted in laughter as Ron lost his nerve and began flailing around trying to get the bat of his shoulder.
After he finished his second helping of treacle tart, Harry started to reminisce with Hermione and Ron, "Do you remember our Second Year when we missed the Feast for Nearly Headless Nick's 500th Deathday Party?" Ron's face showed his disgust, "Oi, we nearly went to bed starving. That and it smelled awful. Oh...and that was the night the Chamber was opened for the first time."
Hermione made both of the boys shiver, "We should go see if he's there tonight. I don't see any of the ghosts." the two looked at her like she had two heads. "What? We've already eaten," she shrugged. It took her a few moments but after insisting it would be the polite thing to do she corralled Neville and the two boys together and they headed down to the dungeons. The familiar long, jet black, taper candles flickered blue on each side of the corridor as they got closer. Neville looked more uneasy than the others as he'd never been to a Deathday Party but all of them pulled their robes tighter as the air quickly cooled around them.
They found Nearly Headless Nick near the entrance to the party as he was speaking to a group of ghosts Harry had never met. Nick saw Harry and immediately drifted over to him beaming, "Why Harry, what do I owe the pleasure?"
Hermione answered for Harry, "We were just upstairs in the Great Hall and Harry was reminding us that today was your Deathday." An elegantly dressed lady that Nick had been speaking to nudged the old ghost, "Arry? 'Aree Potair? You did noot tell me you were close with 'Aree Potair."
Hermione recognized Nick's pride and the lady's sudden interest, "Oh yes, Harry was just telling us how he wondered how his good friend Sir Nicholas was faring today. We were here for his 500th Deathday Celebration a few years back and I can honestly say none of us have ever been to a party like it before or since." The translucent lady gave Nick a second look. Nick was shaken out of his stupor and replied with flair, "Thank you Hermione. Madam Robichet, I apologise. This is Harry Potter, Neville Longbottom, Ronald Weasley and Hermione Granger. Each has received the Order of Merlin, First Class for their part in the defeat of He Who Shall Not Be Named." Nick gestured to the lady, "My friends, meet Marie de Robichet, ecuyer. You may refer to her as 'Lady Robichet.'" The ghost curtsied as she was introduced.
"Monsieur. I believe I shall 'ave that dance after all," Lady Robichet announced to the group as much as to Nick. Nick frowned to Harry and his friends, "I am very sorry. I do not wish to be rude with you just arriving..."
Ron cut in with a shiver, "We just wanted to wish you a Happy Deathday. Go have your dance and we will see you in the morning at breakfast. You can tell us all about it then. The others nodded agreement and shooed him off. They watched him dance a moment and then took the opportunity to escape the dungeons as fast as their cold feet would take them."
As they reached the top step Hermione gasped, "We barely stepped ten feet into the Hall and I was overcome with the smell of the food. That and I was nauseated by the 'music.' It was like fingernails on a blackboard."
Ron looked at her funny, "Who says nauseated? It's nauseous." Hermione shook her head but bit her tongue before walking back toward the Great Hall. Everyone besides Harry followed, "Erm...I've got someone I need to go see. Don't wait up."
Hermione look at him suspiciously, "To the Forest, perhaps?" Hermione had an idea who he was going to see.
"Yes. Let Ginny know I'll be back before curfew," Harry called out over his shoulder as he walked on. Hermione pretended to shrug it off with the others as Harry being Harry. Hermione wondered how Hecate was faring.
Harry soon found out. Once he'd learned where her hut was in relation to the forest he'd begun using the broom to save time. He preferred to walk but tonight he wanted to spend some time with Ginny. The past week they'd begun spending time together again. He'd finally convinced her that the reason he wanted to wait was because of how much he cared for her – not because of anything wrong with her. She'd even let up on trying to force an end game to their snogging sessions.
He landed just in front of Hecate's door and promptly knocked. He noticed a new inscription carved into the door that read, Do not ask to look if you do not wish to see. He also noticed several ornate symbols carved into the door but before he could recognise any of them the door opened and he was let in by a hag in sily violet robes. He was immediately overcome with the scent of a familiar flower, "Is that?"
"Yes," Hecate grumbled. "Don't laugh. It helps with inner guidance and spiritual contact. It allows you, and me, to see into your soul more easily."
"It's just that..."
"Yes, it's lavender, Harry. Ha ha... Do you wish to get this done or discuss the scents in my home?" Harry bit his tongue and sat down. The smell continued to overcome his senses. There was a hint of vanilla as well. The room was lit only by candles and there was a deck of cards in the middle of the table between them. The chair he sat in was simple but comfortable as was the décor of the entire hut. There were no pictures and there was no art of any kind on the walls. You could say that presently they sat in the eating area. The bed across the room was covered with several overstuffed pillows and soft cosy blankets and reminded him of his bed at Hogwarts.
Hecate began to shuffle the cards, "How was the Feast?"
"It was good. Are you sure you want to do this tonight?"
"There is no better night. Hallowe'en is a night of mystery and it is also the night when the patterns that make up the maps of our potential futures can be seen most easily."
She picked the cards up from the centre of the table, "I am going to lay the cards out in what is called a Celtic Cross. The cards themselves are unimportant to all but the most novice readers. Charlatans would travel the countryside attempting to read these cards and look into glass balls they would pass off as crystal. But you remember this from our Third Year with Professor Trelawney."
"Honestly, I don't remember much about that class except that she tried to kill me off in each of her visions."
He recognised the cards as a set of tarot cards – he didn't remember much about their meanings. In the middle of it all The Magician covered the Fool. She placed four cards around the centre clockwise from the right in the shape of a cross. Then four cards were laid down to the right from bottom to top. "I get that they are unimportant but what are they supposed to mean?" asked Harry.
Lavender sighed, "These here are your present, The Fool, and your immediate challenge, the Magician."
"Great, so my immediate challenge is yet another wizard?" Harry asked.
"No, in this position the magician in card readings is often a liar or manipulator. According to the cards someone or something is lying to you or manipulating current events and that is your greatest challenge. The card below is The Fool – it symbolises you in your Present state," Hecate smiled when she said this and it got the response she was looking for. "Brilliant," came the sarcastic reply.
"Actually, you are the perfect example of The Fool. Notice the bag? It signifies that he has everything he needs to be or do anything he wants. He merely needs to unpack. The warning behind the card speaks volumes as well. The cliff signifies unseen dangers that The Fool should heed. The dog pushes The Fool along and distracts him. Do you feel distracted at times, Harry?" She didn't bother to wait for an answer.
"The card to the right the centre is your distant past. Knowing your history I'd say the Hanged Man signifies the sacrifice made by your Mum that kept you alive. The card below the centre is your recent past which as you can see is Death. I can attest to the fact that Death has been a recurring theme in your recent life. But Death also signifies renewal and rebirth and you have made a point to help all of those around you rebuild their lives," she said to him meaningfully.
"The card to the left of the centre is you immediate future. The Nine of Wands can be future turmoil or conflict. Something is going to happen, Harry, and soon.
The card above the centre is Ace of Cups which signifies the Best Outcome. In this case the Ace of Cups often is tied to marriage or consummation of love," again Hecate smiled.
"The four cards to the right of the Cross deal with the future as well. The bottom card deals with factors that affect your situation. In this case it is Seven of Swords. This is a warning card often to watch out for dangers unseen and potential ambush in battle. When this card is paired with the Magician, I'd recommend you keep your eyes open. The card above it is external influences. The Five of Swords is often associated with dishonour, discord, and self interest. You must yourself remember to act with honour in these times for even by winning with dishonour is to lose."
"The next card deals with your hopes and fears. The Two of Cups tied with the Ace of Cups from before makes me think you are going to ask Ginny to marry you and you are not sure if she will?" Harry's smile was enough of an answer. "That is terrific." Now Hecate began to look at the cards more carefully, "I am going to look into the meaning of the cards. The cards allow me to channel my sight. I do not read the actual cards but use them to see the events unfolding."
Harry stopped her, "Before you do. What is the Three of Swords mean? You described all of the cards besides that one." She sighed to herself and lied, "In this case, it can relate to possible outcomes." Her eyes reluctantly met his, "If you, The Fool, do not head the warnings then it is a possible outcome."
"And what is the possible outcome in this case?" Harry asked quietly. He really hated that his future could lie in front of him with no chance to change it.
Knowing Harry's history with losing those he loved to the War she was reluctant to answer, "The Three of Swords usually signifies the loss or separation from a loved one." Harry's face steeled over and she rushed to remind him, "Remember, these are cards used by gypsies and hagglers who only pretended to know the future. Let me look at what I see." She sighed thankfully when he finally exhaled. She closed her eyes, "Let me have your hand Harry."
Once Harry gave her his hand she used her other hand to place on top of the cards. Immediately she began to see images race before her. She tried to slow them down and to move them back in reverse. While she sorted through the images she mumbled, "Harry, remember that I cannot give details. I can see what has happened and sometimes what is happening but I cannot see what will happen for certain. In fact, there are many possibilities for what may happen. All I can do is guide you toward the direction of the best possible outcome...but if I give too much information then often it will make you run to or away from the future so fast that you actually travel to a much different future – usually to dire consequences. Given too much information, people will take shortcuts that lead them down a different path."
"So you can't actually tell the future?" Harry asked.
"No. I can lead you to possible futures. I am like a guide that can make you aware of important crossroads and crossings of the river. I can't tell you which path to take but if you look hard enough in your soul you will often see the correct path from within. Often we reach these crossroads and make the wrong decision because we were not aware just how important the decision was. We sometimes make our decision based on the wrong question."
"You sound more like Firenze than the Lavender I knew at Hogwarts," cheeked Harry. "I am happy to hear, though, that you can't tell the future. I don't ever want you to tell me which path is the best one. The day I ask you to make my decisions for me is the day I want to die."
Hecate opened her eyes and looked at him seriously, "Don't say that Harry. There will come a time when you will beg me for an answer and will become nearly insane thinking I may know it. The question will burrow into your head so deeply that it will become an obsession. You will become so obsessed with the question that you will nearly lose your mind and even threaten my life," Hecate looked very sad and was suddenly cognizant that she'd shared too much.
Harry didn't notice. He was more concerned for his friend, "I'd never do that. I'd rather die."
She smiled, "Well, then it's settled. Let's move on. Now...quiet."
Again she closed her eyes and held his hand. Her other hand again passed over the cards. After a few moments she began to speak as if to no-one. "I see you in the forest. You were struck by Voldemort. He struck at you with his wand to kill you but he killed something much more vile instead. You were carried out of the forest and your friends rallied around you at the castle gates."
"Once Voldemort was killed many paths were opened up to you that until then had been closed. I see that you came from a path of one but that you now have literally thousands of paths before you. Many of these paths lead to ruin. They are paths of immediate gratification that take you to sloth or vanity or worse. You are a good person and you shall avoid these paths...I can already see it. Most of the paths that keep you here, at Hogwarts lead to immediate sorrow but the possibility of happiness."
Hecate gripped Harry's hand, "I've seen this future before. Tonight shall be a critical night. You are being preyed upon Harry. It is the same dark animal that has preyed upon the Centaurs but it's ultimate goal is you. It watches you when you don't know it...while you are in the woods and even through the eyes of portraits within the castle itself. It seeks something that has already been taken from you. You must search this serpent out before the next sun sets and drive it from the Forest or all hope is lost – it will become desperate and risk it's own life and the lives of many to strike at you from afar."
"Serpent?" asked Harry.
"Yes, it is a serpent Harry. It has always had an appreciation for power and throughout its life it quietly exerted it from unlikely places." Hecate looked up from the cards, "It has killed again. You will soon be told. Two of your most trusted mates shall call on you and..."
Harry and Hecate jumped at the rap on the door. Harry couldn't imagine who would be out in the Forest at this hour. Hecate stood up and limped to the door. Harry had his wand drawn when she opened it. There standing in the dark were Hermione and Hagrid. Hecate let them in and they brought the cold with them. Hermione had tears in her eyes, "Harry, something attacked the Centaurs this evening." Hagrid interrupted her, "It attacked deh youngins. It attacked deh youngins and killed two of 'em. I was ask'd teh come find you by their Elder."
Harry looked at Hecate and she motioned for him to go. Before he left she warned him, "Harry, what I see is... I place my hands over the cards and I can see what can happen. Harry, once you drive this evil out of the forest the killings will stop...that much I can see...but you will not claim victory yet. You will be betrayed by one you love before the sun falls again but will not even know what they have done. Do not let your guard down - you will be betrayed a second time before the passing of your youth. If you are not careful the snake shall strike at your heart as you guard your throat." He expected her to continue but she waved him off.
When he arrive at Hagrid's hut there was a party of nearly forty wizards and witches and at least six dozen Centaurs. There the dead Centaur foals lay. When Harry looked to Bane he explained, choking on his words, "We heard cries in the Inner Domain. It was as if the cubs were being dragged out of the colony. Our hunters lay chase but they found nothing. The creature or monster or whatever it was simply disappeared in the night. Friend Hagrid found us and announced that our cubs were here at the edge of the forest. They have just taken them down."
Harry looked to the Professors, "We need to find whatever did this and drive it out of the Forest. We'll need to go into the Forest ourselves."
Professor Slughorn swallowed uncomfortably at the thought but Professor Duncan, the Auror, agreed, " I will get permission from Professor McGonagall and the Head Auror to enter in the morning. I'll see what kind of volunteers can be rounded up."
A/N The next submission should be on Thursday. I try to submit early in the evening but Thursdays I pick up my daughter. Let me know what you think of Hecate's visions.