Author's rant- Disclaimer? First chapter please.

And a BIG-BIG thank you for all my dearest reviewers, you guys are awesome, Thank you so very much.

Once again I am really very sorry for my spelling and grammatical mistakes, I don't have any BETA till date, if you could then please help me out. I will be most thankful.

And since I don't have anything else to say, here you go!

"I am Talking."

'I am Thinking'

Spells

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Your experiences from past affect your present and your decisions in present will affect your future.

~ R-Kade

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Previously in SotW-

"AAAAAAHAAH!"

Harry groaned a bit, apparently, the stupid arrow did hit some another girl. He turned and was shocked again as Su Li was flying towards the forbidden forest at breakneck speed, and her broom? Ofcourse jerking wildly...more so than the previous one.

Silence of the Winters

- by Dev Sagittarius Black

~~Chapter 5: Revelations~~

Harry didn't see anything after that, he was already moving towards Su before he knew. He heard cries beneath him and Madam Hooch too was zipping as fast as she could.

But, the school brooms were not doing what that stupid jinxed one was. Even with all their might the school brooms were pure useless. Harry closed all other things around him that included the shrill scream from Susan that was piercing his eardrums.

Harry was lying flat against the broom handle when another mishap happened, Su's broom turned upside down and have a strong jerk making the screaming scared girl loosen her grip on the flying piece of wood making her plummet straight to her death.

Harry's eyes widened and his subconscious mind started calculating the height at which he will catch the falling claw. He groaned when the height came to be two feet above the ground, which meant three deaths- his, Su's and Susan's. And if he stopped now then he will be responsible for voluntarily killing a fellow claw.

There was only one other way and that was too risky, he had been prohibited to use it for atleast two months after his last excursion. But there was no other way now. He knew he will suffer the side effects and he will have to hide it all as soon as plausible, but this was the only way to save everyone.

Harry closed his eyes and started concentrating on his inner self, the out of the world ancient connection he had accidentally connected to when he was five years old.

His limbs thinned out and elongated, his diaphragm and waist contracted further as his shoulders sharpened, his face became more angular and the roots of his front hairs turned grey, small tornadoes formed at the base of his feet and crawled upwards ending up cocooning his feet till shins. Harry opened his eyes only for his pupil to be turned complete grey with the green of his eyes pushed towards the circumference making it look like a halo...and so, Hadrian Potter- first air elemental in centuries was reborn.

Everything happened in matter of seconds after that as with a strong burst of speed, Harry zipped towards the falling claw and caught her amid her fall about seventy feet from the ground totally safe and secured.

Su too wrapped her petite arms around his torso and started wailing her heart out as he slowly changed back to normal, his eyes turned back to forest green as his hairs returned to their former glory and limbs and diaphragm relaxed as the tornadoes disappeared and he slowly descended down.

All the claws and puffs surrounded him cheering, clapping and whistling as Madam Hooch too came down smiling proudly, her eyes laden with tears, "Thirty points to Harry Potter for rescuing two lives and ten more for excellent flying, I will talk to Albus for special award for services to the school." She announced proudly before turning to everybody.

"And now, I am taking them towards hospital wing, no one should be seen flying or you will be restricated before you could say 'Quidditch'." She glared everyone there before tugging at Harry's broom. It was quite hard as there were one Hannah Abott and other Padma Patil hugging both Susan and Su respectively.

"I am quite good Madam, I don't think I need to go-" "Oh hush Potter, Poppy won't keep you if not needed." Hooch chided him and he wisely kept his mouth shut as he felt something not-ao-good rise in him.

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It was useless, he should have known earlier, and that pint of blood didn't help either. All in all, Harry had been strapped to a soggy and stiff hospital bed till dinnertime. Susan had her left shoulder dislocated, that would have been that 'SNAP' sound he had heard then. Su on the other hand was just feeling a bit unwell and both were to be released within an hour. Shitty stupid luck.

The doors opened with a WHAM and a tall woman with her fiery red hairs flailing all over came running in and hugged the life out of Susan. Harry guessed her to be the girl's relative of some kind. The two talked for sometime as Susan told her story while Amelia whispered sweet nothings in her ear. Finally the elder woman left Susan's bed and came towards Harry.

"Hello Harry, I should introduce myself first, I am Amelia Bones, director of the Department of magical law enforcement of Britain and more importantly Susan's aunt." She said smiling at the lying boy.

"A pleasure Madam Bones." Harry nodded in respect.

"Oh please, none of this Madam business, you have earned it to call me Amelia." She corrected him but she didn't know that it was one of the things that Harry found difficult, so in the end he just shrugged.

"I don't know how to Thank you Harry, Suzy is the only one left of us and...I don't know what I would have done if I had lost her today. House Bones owes you a life debt and my limitless gratitude. I-I just don't know how to thank you now."

Harry simply nodded, a house debt from an Ancient and noble house plus Director of the DMLE...well, sounds good.

"Auntie!" Susan cried and gave her aunt the look. Amelia was confused for a moment before understanding dawned on her face.

"Harry Potter, on behalf of Susan I cordially invite you to the yule celebration at Bones Manor or as it is also known, The Ossuary." She told him smiling widely.

Harry thought about it, 'An invite to the house of Director of DMLE is good, I don't have any other plans for yule either. Plus imagine the unbound knowledge I would have access to via the Bones family library, that was cheery on the sweet cake.' profits everywhere...

"I...decline." Harry muttered shocking Susan and Amelia both, the later didn't know why he did so but she had to invite him.

"No problem Harry, I know how busy young men like you are. How about new year eve? We have a small party at Bones manor." Amelia tried again, putting her best smile.

"I...am sorry Madam, but my schedule is pretty tight throughout winter hols. I can't shift them." He tried to wiggle his way out as he was indeed quite busy, if only for his personal interests. Plus he had some digging to do and that translation books to write. Yule was also the best time for some specific rituals to be done only on super magical tetra leylined places like Hogwarts.

Amelia too was a bit confused, as to why Harry was refusing her offers. It wasn't like they were dark or anything infact they were the second most light sided family after the Potters themselves. Maybe he was going on some vacation with his guardians? Well, she still needed him at the manor, if only for Susan's sake...but this will be my last try, if he accepts then good if he doesn't...

"No problem Harry, winter hols are always the busiest times, homeworks, projects and all that. So, how about a week's visit in the summer, I am sure us little women could have a bit of your busy schedule then." She said with an impish grin.

Harry grumbled on the inside, this was the 'Third and the last' rule and he couldn't reject her offer now. 'Stupid woman, why the hell was she so much persuasive now and why the bloody hell was she from an Ancient and noble house.' So he sighed inwardly "Sure Madam, I will be there, I can tell Susan the dates if that's good?" He asked her and she readily agreed as Susan sighed in relief.

Finally Amelia bidded goodbye and went off before reassuring her niece once again and promising her that she was always there for her and this case will not be left out as simple 'accident'.

"You know you could have accepted her offer of yule and stayed with us till new year right." Susan began " Although, the summer hols are good too, it's not like winter ones are the only ones when we celebrate, Daph, Trace and Hannah visit me during summertime too, it's not much different except for a few things, you know-"

"That would have been too much from both sides of the deal and Who are these Daph and Trace? Your sisters?" Harry asked to divulge her from the current topic of staying at her home, he knew she would keep on ranting on that topic too and...

"You just think too much and yes, they are my sister, well not technically sisters per se but like sisters. I have known Hannah since four and Daph knew Trace since Two and I have known Daph since seven. It's actually a surprise that you don't know them as they are in our year and-

...yeah, she can rant.

The thing to think upon is the jinx was indeed a jinx arrow, he was sure of that also, the target was not Su, it was him and it he was safe just because of his exceptional magically enhanced senses. But ultimately there was one thing that could most certainly be derived from this situation and that was, there was someone who was thirsty for his blood. And he could make a good guess on who that specific person was, there was just one problem...proof.

But that's what the winter hols were for, for now he will just have to stay safe from every dark corner at Hogwarts and although a bit difficult he will have to keep his magical sensor sheet everytime around him. Let's see how far he can go.

"I...I deeply apologize for the inconvenience caused by me. House Li, owes you a life debt. I won't trouble you after this day." Su whispered and Harry knew she was close to crying.

"Life debt is accepted Miss Li, but I would firstly like to know exactly what were you doing up there when everyone was asked to come down?" Harry inquired her although he knew what she was doing there.

Su looked up to the scrutinising cold jade eyes, that were looking as if scanning her soul looking for any lie she was about to sprout, she then looked towards Susan and spoke "I was trying to help Susan. That's why I was up there, trying to reach her and help you."

She felt bad now, as if all her pride had been crushed, as if all her work, all her practices were worthless when she was finally given a challenge. Master Fu was right, she was worthless, no one would ever need such a weak girl. What will Harry say? The girl who was planning to learn acrobatics on broom can't even control it.

"Then you were not an inconvenience, you were a fellow helper who wasn't able to see others in trouble. You were needed there and your help is appreciated. You are an excellent flyer and I personally don't want to see such an excellent girl who had learner her arts so well and is toe-to-toe with boys, go down the path of self depreciation. You were, are and will do good."

Harry wasn't someone whom anyone ever came to get comfort, they came to know things he knew and never told or tell him things he asked, they came to just talk to him or be afraid to talk to him, giving comfort? That was something he was never good at. But watching such potential go under self depreciation was unacceptable. And he was relived to see her thoughts go back on track.

Su smiled a bit, she knew Harry was just trying to encourage her but it was good. She had never been able to talk to him. The 'cold prince of Ravenclaw' was like an unknown to most of them. Just some sort of wild fascination to know what really goes through that brain of his.

She had been trying to talk to him for quite some time, this was the reason she had told him about her fascination with martial arts and acrobatics, just so she could impress him. And getting something close to compliment was a big thing. It also helped that he was quite more than good on eyes and caused some weird tingly feelings every now and then. Especially when he spoke in that spine thrilling voice of his.

Susan frowns at that, she liked scratch that, she loved the way Harry rescued her, flying at breakneck speed, catching her amid her fall to death and then cradling her. Becoming her pillar, becoming her knight in shining armour.

But then he rescues Su too.

And how good it was, flying like that. As if he was air himself no not air, as If he was...he was a storm, blasting everything and going for his goal, then he cradles her and she realises that holding him didn't feel as good as it was before, why? Because there's another one, another girl who is sharing her place. But at that moment all that mattered was landing safely.

And now this, encouraging her, the girl who barged in her personal space with Harry. And Harry motivating her? Bad. Su looking at Harry like her world depends on what he says? Very bad. She had planned to take things slow, to let things happen at their natural pace. But Su's entry has quickened things. She can't lose all of that because of one girl even though it isn't much...still it feels good. And she won't lose it without fighting.

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Harry literally wanted to kill both of them. Ever since that rescue mission of his both Su and Susan became more clingy. Staying near him all the time. It's worst in classes he shared with both as they would try to make him their partner. It's just good he had Terry and till date the classes needed students working in pairs only therefore no threes.

"Where to now?" Su asked from his left side, she had been on his left since Susan took right, bugging him every now and then. Idiots.

"Potions." Harry said without any emotions, walking straight with equal steps.

"What happened to the Gryffindor-Slytherin flying lessons?" Terry asked out loud. He was the most oblivious one of current events. Harry felt they needed someone who was a good gossip person. Someone who knew most of the things happening around them.

"Cancelled. Auntie seized all the Hogwarts brooms for inspection." This had happened the same day and by dinner time Harry was the target of many Gryffs and Snakes. Point was, they could just mutter angrily behind his back, the moment things even tried to heat-up...well, madam Pomfrey would miss few night's sleep.

Fun thing? Madam Bones had striped Dumbledore off his knickers when he had tried to make it sound like an 'accidental mishap' and so ofcourse he had gladly confiscated all the brooms for inspection till further notice.

"That's bad, they won't like it. We'll have to be alert from stray jinxed and hexes now." Terry was either paranoid or afraid, and what's 'we'? Harry was the one being targeted here.

They would have walked further but were stopped by a squeaky voice calling Harry. They turned only to find the only Half Goblin professor of Hogwarts panting as he ran towards them.

"Yes professor?" Harry asked him as he panted and calmed down.

"Can I have some of your time?" Flitwick asked him and they knew it wasn't a question so Harry nodded and followed the dwarf professor towards his office.

Inside the office, Harry eyed everything on display while Flitwick ruffled his personal cupboard. He ignored the trap doors he had sensed and the secret pathway that was linked with the second red book on fifth shelf towards his right. He saw the trophies and certificates Flitwick got from dueling championships, the photographs of his favourite pupils. Harry noted that Flitwick wasn't biased towards his famous pupils, to him all were same.

There was also a golden axe with blood painted on its blade. Which meant Flitwick was also well trained in melee weapons and was proud of his goblin heritage. The room was well kept except for all the ancient tomes and books scattered everywhere.

There were quills, parchments and ink bottles, ancient scripts and spell charts. Overall Harry assessed one thing very clearly, Flitwick was not someone to mess with and move. It's good to be in his good books and knowing his tricks before clashing their wands.

"Mr. Po..." Flitwick hesitated a bit then sighed "Harry?" He called out getting the green eyed elemental's attention.

Harry turned to see Flitwick smiling at him, not with pride, yes it was there but there was some sadness too, and the reason for this was the photograph in his hand.

A redhead girl was grinning, her green eyes gleaming with joy, she looked close to nineteen, she was holding some sort of certificate. It was handmade yet she was holding it with such pride as if it was the Order of Merlin itself. Beside her was the dwarf charms professor, younger than he was now but not by much, he too was laughing and then tumbled down the books he was standing on. And both of them laughed at that.

Harry knew who the girl was, but what was the reason for all this? And why make him miss his potions class for this? Snape was for sure doing a jig by now. "She is my star student Harry, the best in charms for her age. She had memorised and practiced almost all the charms no matte how tough it was, she was brilliant and a smart worker, a thinker and always the perfectionist. You know who she is right?" Flitwick asked the boy.

"Lily Potter, my...mother." Harry's tone wasn't able to give out how his heart felt, he had seen his mother, heard about her, read about her, yearned to meet her, she was, is and forever will be his hero, a pity she left him before he could remember how her smile was, how she laughed, was she ticklish? Was she good at singing? Did she sung lullabies for him? Well, he was not a kid anymore so no need for all of that. He was a man now, yes... A man.

"Yes, yes Harry, she is Lily Potter. But do you know what made her way to this cupboard? It was her selflessness and dedication for all things she loved. She was a proud woman, a strong headed one, going toe-to-toe with many of her time. But I took her in her second year, when she saved the giant squid by feeding him because his tentacles were tied due to some accident. She was very much scared, yet the compassion compelled her to do what was right rather than what was easy."

Harry absorbed all of that and nodded, still confused as to why he was recieving such a lecture.

"You might be confused as to why I am lecturing you about her, yes? No problem, it's natural to be confused and find answers, humans have been doing so since ages. Now for this particular case," he sighed again "There are photographs of all my favourite pupils on the walls, not her, why? Because she was, she was too good, she was so good that she didn't care about herself and gave up her life to protect you and your brother."

Then Flitwick looked in Harry's eyes "Just like you."

And suddenly everything clicked in place. Maybe Flitwick got that too because he kept the golden photo frame on his desk and bowed from his waist "I-I don't know how to thank you Harry, you saved one of my claws, you didn't care about your life and just...I am eternally grateful for your chivalrous act. I know how it is to lose one of my claws and...the experience is not good." Harry saw a tear drop splash on the cold stone floor.

Flitwick knows how it was 'to lose one of his' there aren't any recent deaths at Hogwarts which means it had been quite some time. Flitwick looks close to eighty and he won his ninth and last dueling championship when he was in his mid twenties, which means this 'loss' had occurred in last fifty years. There was no Voldemort attack at Hogwarts so it could not be Voldemort either...what's it then?

"I can't award you points or the award but on my honour as a member of Clan Barchoke, I offer you my debt alongwith eternal gratitude. If you need my help in anything, then just say it out. I will always be there for you." Flitwick told him bowing.

Harry contemplated the offer for sometime, it was interesting and quite a big thing to get a goblin indebted to you, it was bound to be useful.

"Anything professor?" Harry asked him again just to make sure that he heard it right.

"If it's in my powers then yes, anything you want." Flitwick clarified his statement and was a bit astonished to see the cold boy interested so much.

Harry smirked, there was indeed something he needed.

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"May I come in sir?"

"Ah, the great flyer of Hogwarts is here, finally deemed us worthy enough for your late presence did you." Snape drawlled as he watched Harry stand there staring cooly.

"Who are you staring at Potter? Why were you late?" Snape asked him trying his best to control his urge to use legillimency and see what the brat was planning.

"Professor Flitwick stopped me for some talk. Here's the out pass." Harry wasn't going to call this man 'sir' till he behaved like one.

Snape took a look at it and Harry entered the dank, dark room. There was some black haired Ravenclaw girl who shifted and gave him an inviting smile, Harry ignored her and instead took his seat with Terry.

"Twenty points from Ravenclaw for lying to a professor and five more for coming in without permission." Snape's slithery voice came from the doorway. Harry heard Terry grumble but Harry didn't mind that.

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"Why did Professor Flitwick called you Harry?" Susan asked as she sat beside him and began piling mashed potatoes and gravy.

"Just to talk about my mother, how she was his favourite student, how I rescued both of you without caring about myself...like her." Harry wasn't looking at anyone because he knew the pity looks he would recieve and he hated that, he didn't want anyone's pity. He had worked this hard to prove himself. He won't let anyone pity him.

Thankfully no-one asked him anything else. Atleast they were smart enough to know he won't answer them either.

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"Hey boy! Stop there. Can't you read the plaque, it's the Restricted section. Students are not allowed inside. Who are you?" Irma Pince, the sexy librarian of Hogwarts stopped the boy and ran towards him.

"Myself Hadrian Potter madam, and here's a permission slip from my head of house Filius Flitwick allowing me access to restricted section for one year." Harry gave her the signed slip, he planned to get it done for two years but maybe it was too much.

Well one year isn't bad either, he could get much work done in one year. And before Madam Pince could look inside, Harry was already looking through a shelf that contained potions books.

Thing was, Flitwick didn't sign the slip until Harry gave his word as Potter heir to not to touch any of the dark arts book inside restricted section for this duration, the words were specific and clear, given by Flitwick himself, but there's nothing that is foolproof. Harry couldn't touch anything right? Yes 'touch', but it's a magical world and well, there are many things that could be done, right? Right.

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Dumbledore sighed as he came back from the emergency meeting with the board of governors. Amelia's complaint had been taken more seriously than he had expected and now there was an investigation team, doodling over the school brooms. It didn't matter that much but having governors meddle in how he ran his school. And how in Merlin's ball was Harry able to save two girls at the same time if both the brooms were jinxed in the first place.

And Rolanda, why couldn't she understand that saving two girls was not a service to school. But no, to her Harry this and Harry that and now she wants to give that award personally too. And how were two brooms jinxed in the first place? Was it Tom? But then why would he target Harry Potter? What's so special about that Potter boy?

And yes Potter, Alan. Blasted boy won't go towards third floor corridor. Should I motivate Ronald more? Ten more galleons perhaps? Money wasn't more important than getting Alan to third floor. No, a simple meeting would do, the Weasley's would do whatever he said anyways. Yes that was a good thing.

And now Harry Potter, he needed information on that unknown variable. How is he so calm? Is he too practicing occulomency? That won't be good for his plans. And where did he learn that stunner? How did he get this knowledgeable at Dursleys? Why didn't they destroy his will like he planned? A visit is in order. Yes, he could only get more information on that boy from the point he had last left him.

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Ending Note- Here you have it fellows! The fifth chapter of 'Silence of the Winters'. Hated it, liked it, loved it? Please tell.

Thank you for ignoring my spelling and grammatical mistakes, I am neither having a beta reader nor a spell checker. Therefore, well mistakes happen. I am trying my best to minimise them. If you are interested to Beta read it, just PM me. I will be most thankful.

Thank you once more for the reviews and surpassing the asked limit. You guys rock! Love you everyone. A big thanks to outcome 5 for reviewing every single chapter on a go. Love you buddy.

And to everyone else! Please guys, it just takes about twenty seconds to review it. So please everyone, can I get thirty five reviews in total? Just thirty five. It's not compulsory but it will make my week, a simple 'Good work Dev'will do wonders to motivate me to write further and give you a new chapter sooner.

I am waiting for your delicious reviews. And as always, constructive criticism is welcomed.

Cheers fellas! Hiyaaaa!

Regards,

Dev Black