Sunlight filters in through the closed curtain of my four poster. I blink groggily and attempt to clear the early morning cobwebs from my head.
And then the realisation hits me.
I'm free.
You have no more control over me.
I can't fight the grin that claws it's way onto my face. I don't really want to fight it either.
I haven't been this happy in... Actually, I don't think I've ever been truly happy. I guess, technically it's more like relief that I'm finally free, but my blood's pumping. I think the closer I've gotten to this feeling was when site a Basilisk on the school in second year.
That was fun. Even managed to kill someone.
Then bloody Weasley started moaning about his sister who do sent down there to be a snack for her hibernation. Bloody Weasleys.
I'm jumping out of bed, practically skipping on my way to the bathroom. Thank god it's Summer break. If the dorm was full, this would be embarrassing.
I don't even pay attention to my morning routine and before. I know it, I'm standing at the foot of my bed, my trunk fully packed, shrunk, and in my pocket. My thoughts barely even linger on you. I doubt you could ruin this day for me. Well, that is unless you showed up. Thank god you're off in Albania, searching for god know what.
The Great Hall's practically empty. Only a handful of teachers that stay full time. I could count them on my left hand. Snape, McGonagall, Burbage, Trelawney and Flitwick.
As I take my seat, McGonagall looks up and gives me one of her 'it's rude to show your lips so this is the closest your going to get to an actual smile' smiles. I have no problem returning it as I'm still grinning, though my subconscious is telling my pull out the knife I have holstered on my thigh and hand her her lips.
"Happy Birthday Harry." She says politely and I nod in return, stuffing my face with food, mainly as an attempt to avoid talking.
She looks back to her food and Flitwick speaks up. "Seventeen today isn't it? Congratulations. Any plans for today?" The diminutive man looks curious, as if there are really so many options, I'm not even allowed to leave the castle walls.
"Not really, might do some flying in the Room of Requirement." I lie and he nods sadly. No leaving the castle means no flying outside. And frankly, I'm not that bothered by it. Sure, I love flying, but I've had better things to do. Most of my days are spent holed away in the Room, studying magic of all kinds. The great thing about that room is nothing really exists there, it's merely an area of raw magic. The main reason why Hogwarts was built here, so they could access it. The magic fuels the wards. It also has been teaching me everything about magic. Apparently it deemed me 'worthy' or some such. I don't really understand it, but it had helped me get a better grasp on magic than never before. Maybe that's because I discovered those blocks you put on me. Easy enough to remove with the Room's help.
If you were afraid I'd be more powerful than you are, you are right. I am. A simple strength spell that measures the strength if your magical core proved that. Actually, at my current power level, I'm about twice you. My core's still expanding though. Some time in the Room powers me up like a battery. And I just keep getting stronger.
It's a shame that leaving the castle means leaving the Room, but my leaving is more important.
I come back to attention to fine that only Trelawney and myself are still at the table. She hasn't liked me since I predicted her death at my hand. Thought that such a thought was gruesome and preposterous. Of course, that was my exact plan for her murder. Not that she'd actually pay attention the second time round either. Too busy screaming if all goes well.
I make my way up to the fourth floor and enter the bathroom. Drawing my wand, I tap the mirror and whisper 'revelio' and if pops open. Hoisting myself up onto the sink, I climb through the mirror and into the secret passage behind it. Once upon a time, it was blocked out by a large pile of rubble, but I've had time during my stay. I managed to clear it all and find where it leads.
Surprisingly, it leads about a quarter of a a kilometre away from Hogsmeade. I won't need to go that far though. Just far away enough that I'm out from the wards.
And then, I will truly be free.
Free to get my revenge.
Free to tear down your empire.
I don't care who I kill just as long as I get you in the end. I do have a nice little list though.
And guess what?
You're number one.
