Act 3 Chapter 4: With the New Rising Sun IV
AN: All rights to JK Rowling and Warner.
The wall met Harry's back as he dropped to the floor. Darkness stretched the eternal corridor, so quiet that his shallow breaths echoed like a marching army. Just out of sight, a soft torch struggled to let its warming touch battle the immutable void, yet its vain attempt held no success. Slumped against the fridged wall, he realized he had never had his conversation with Albus that triggered their original meeting. One surrounding the thing that should not be in his school.
The ghostly moon peaked in, with the curtain of clouds obscured it no longer. Its pale fingers reached through the ornamental glass. Silhouettes danced along the hallway, appearing and disappearing as intangible phantoms towered around him. Summer winds flashed against the bulwark, yet the defenses held the loving heat at bay.
His breath floated as anxiety visualized. Hoar frost began to shimmer and glow with the muted figures, their dampened colors sparkling. He gripped his cloak tight as armor, hoping the barrier could defend against the cascade of numbing chill.
One of the shimmering forms then speaks. "Hello again, Harry Potter." She slipped near him without warning, illuminated by the pale light, accentuating her pale skin. What illusion she carried herself had expired, showing a vision that Erised had only rivaled.
"Was your conversation with the Headmaster helpful?" Luna Lovegood's blue lips held an emotionless grin as she wafted to his side. He could not tell her no as her unblemished hand rested on his own. As the shades covered his light again, her icy blue eyes stayed locked upon his, shining with amusement and craving for possession.
He tried moving, but every action was stiff. Audible cracks echoed as he forced himself to his defense, only for those enamoring eyes to narrow. Her ageless face illuminated once more, a visage of a frozen god, trapped in an eternal ice. Harry did not relieve his wanting blade from its sheath, but the threat of it existed once more. It served as a warning that he would address any transgressions appropriately. Still seated on the floor, she interwove their hands, gripping his left. Her hair hanging like icicles framing her flawless face. A false sculpture crafted in her stare, promising defense and everlasting protection. The promise of cold steel, nothing against her glacial form.
After an eternity of silence, she spoke again. "I was on a walk around the castle myself." Her voice floated like ice resting above the lake in early winter; Solid, but fragile, and leading to death with a misstep. "It appears that my year mates do not quite like me." It was then Harry saw her white feet, unclothed.
"They don't know better," he started.
Her unused hand whipped to his face, putting a single finger to his cold lips. "Hush Harry Potter. I cannot harm them at Hogwarts." Despite her kind tone, her haunting look gave away her plans.
"They are not worth it to do more at their homes."
Her glare focused on him. "Is that for you to decide? Are you the arbiter of punishment? Why should they not receive equal recompense for transgressions across one such as myself, Harry Potter?"
"They are children." He tried to yell, but the words sat frozen in his throat.
Before he could continue, another voice echoed throughout the empty hall. "I believe that is enough fun for tonight." The forceful voice added, without a hint of mirth, an uncommonality in the familiar sound. The speeking creature stood only a foot and was a grotesque red monster. A crown of horns bridged above its coal-black eyes and its thin barbed tail cracked behind in an angry salvo. It walked on four legs like a cat, though its long back legs could hold him up as a bipedal.
Sighing, Luna Lovegood rose. Her small hand still entangled in Harry's. "It is, as you say, creature of hell. It would be unfotrunate to merit detention on my first day here." Looking at Harry one last time, "I want you, Harry. Leave that summer court where your life will burn hot and quickly and spend eternity with me. I'll allow you bring your two pets."
Before he could answer, she was gone.
With the New Rising Sun
He split the air in a quiet hiss. In darkness, he swung; deflecting, parring, killing. His blade moved with practiced arches of death, his energy feeding between his empowered limbs and the magical sword creating a dance. The smell of flowers filled his senses as he sheathed the cursed weapon. "Good morning, Selphie," he spoke, opening his eyes and leveling them at the lady seated in the same spot he was only an hour ago. A glowing stone he fashioned sat upon the gate beside her. The book felt satisfied with the attention he gave it the night before.
The elf's disheveled appearance was unordinary for the mostly perfect girl. Even with the woven charm hiding her more inhuman aspects, she still was normally the standard of cute in it. Selphie's face looked near tears as she worked to speak. "I…"
"I'm glad you are in Gryffindor," Harry cut her off. "I think you will do well there. Albus and my parents all went in that house." He gave her a smile. The one he received back was worth the pain he had at the separation from her constant presence. "Let's go. Breakfast should start soon." He offered her his left hand as a bat snatched his book, bringing it to his satchel, and the bookbag to his right side.
She gripped his ungloved left hand with a smile, her warm touch filling him completely. The warmth preferred over the healed hand.
With the New Rising Sun
The table gradually filled with students as the blissful aroma of English Breakfast wafted throughout the massive hall. Children, absent in the wanting months chattered, across house lines as professors watched from the head table with smiles and knowing looks.
He scanned over text he had borrowed from Nic, an epic poem of ancient Greek heroes, and the struggles within their camp as they fail to siege the greatest city of the ancient world, Troy. "Lo Tracy, Greengrass, smaller Greengrass."
"Morning Harry, you look like hell," Tracy energetically spoke, taking a ripe red fruit from the intricate golden dish and messily eating it. Traces of juice running down the corners of her mouth as she smiled with glee.
"Tracy. Manners." Daphne said, trying to sound detached, but failing. Grabbing a napkin and handing it to Tracy, she continued, "Potter, this is my sister."
"Astoria," the replica of the former girl spoke. A smile and kind eyes met his, "and please call me as such." Her lengthy blond locks sat just as perfect as her older sibling.
"Of course, Astoria." He paused for a moment. "What do you use in your hair? It is beautiful." Harry's mane had become more unruly with its newfound length. The waves brustled against the cord he used to tie it. He leaned across the table and gave a mock whisper, "I would ask your sister, but I don't think she likes me much." He said, grinning.
"I liked you more last year." She said with an uncharacteristic huff, as a deep voice interupted behind her.
"Flirting already, Harry?"
"Stephen?" Harry said, turning to the boy.
"Morning Harry. Come out to the pitch after breakfast. Kay. We will all be there." He pointed to the other two people who entered with him. As Harry agreed, his housemates looked as if he sprouted a second head.
"I am so confused." Daphne said, burying her face in her hands.
"This year is gonna rock." Tracy said at the same time.
Harry couldn't help but think so, too.
With the New Rising Sun
"I have an announcement to make," Albus stood from his wooden throne. The weariness that clung to him dispersed like old clothes as his green and purple plaid cloak fluttered with his exaggerated movements. "Regarding a new staff member, who will be joining us this year for the Learning of, and Prevention for the Arts, that are Considered Dark, and Adjoining Subjects." As he said the ridiculous title, it filled the hall with chuckles. "He is a man well regarded worldwide. Gilderoy Lockhart."
From the antechamber he came forth. A purple half cape lined in an exotic white fur sweeping behind like an empire's flag. He wore a golden vest and tie over a green shirt. Striding to an empty spot near the end of the table, he flashed his white teeth that could even be seen shining from the end of the room. "That is correct." A confident baritone filled the chamber, despite no magic being cast or at play. Albus had a sonorous charm active for every speech, and Gilderoy did it with practice alone? "I am Professor Lockhart, and this year I will be exposing upon you all," his hand washed over the silent room as a great sweep, "the magic that made me one of this world's most well-regarded practitioners." He pulled out a meager slip of paper. "I will see fourth year Hufflepuff's and Gryffindor's on Friday at 8 sharp." With a nod to Dumbledore, he started sitting, only for a round of cheers and applause to fill the hall at his speech, Harry's joining the chorus.
"Yes, thank you Gilderoy. I look forward to your excellent results. Now remember use today and tomorrow to gain acquaintance with the castle, for classes start in earnest again this Friday." As he spoke, the heads moved with stacks of paper in tow. Snape with somber eyes, shaded with dark bags, advanced without his normally fluttering cape behind him. He did not speak as he dropped off Harry's sheet.
"Gross, double transfiguration at eight on Friday." Tracy said.
"We get Gilderoy after that." Harry interjected.
"Oh, Gilderoy," Daphne mock fanned her face, and added, "I didn't realize you were so close." Her actions were so unlike how he remembered her. Her persona of aloofness forgotten as they spoke in almost friendly exchanges. This version of her reminded him of another.
"Daphne."
Like a panther ready to strike, she sent him a menacing grin, "Oh, Harry. I didn't realize we were so close."
"Are you a devil?" He asked.
He wondered. Which was redder; The apple, or Greengrass's face.
With the New Rising Sun
The sun breached the tall walls in the quidditch stadium, as groups of boys and girls splattered around the massive arena. He brushed aside inquisitive looks as he trenched to the small group of five he met yesterday. Well, five plus.
A cute girl who appeared younger than Harry spoke first. "Katie Bell at your service." She was thin, with long brown hair and a tanned body. "The third chaser of the Gryffindor girls' team."
"Hey," a redhead that Harry hoped to avoid interjected. He was tall, as all Weasleys were, with a messy fop and eyes that followed every sight with glee. "Half of us were guys."
"Well," his indistinguishable twin joined, "just under half."
"Oi, no reason to do that to me," He put his brother into a headlock, rubbing his knuckles into his head. Harry watched the comedy sketch with wide eyes as they continued their odd banter.
"Yes, they are always like that." The lovely dark-skinned girl included without prompt. "Fred and George Weasley. Beaters extraordinaire."
"More like troublemakers extraordinaire," Ivy added with narrow eyes.
Before they could say any more, an odd-shaped ball flew right at Stephen. Which he caught with nary a look. "Let's throw it around." Ced stopped the ruckus with a simple grin, pulling the attention to himself.
When the sun reached its precious, the group returned to the castle. "Wow, Harry. You have a cannon for an arm." Stephen said, bumping his shoulder.
"Sadly, he has the aim of a blind duelist." One twin latched onto his back. The sweaty arms mixing with his own drenched shirt.
"He could play for the real Cannon's squad with his aim," an identical voice echoed as they entered the bell tower.
"Can you two act your age? Little Harry is younger than you and acts twice your age." Alicia chastised the boys. Her braided locks showing off her entire face. She shoed away the boy from his shoulders and placed a hand there, sending little butterflies as she leaned in close. "Let me know if those boys keep tormenting you." Her breath was fresh, like mint.
Next to him Stephen coughed, "Cur,"
"That goes for you too, Steph," the beauty continued, before taking off on her powerful long legs. "I'm gonna wash up. Kay. See you at lunch." She gave a wave and a smile and took off up the stairs.
After a moment, a voice cut out the musings, "Perverts." Ivy looked at the boys with disgust as Cedric chuckled and added.
"But you watched too?"
She turned as red as her hair as they all laughed.
As they began separating, he caught up to the Gryffindor group. "Hey guys. Can I grab up a little more of your time?"
"Sure Harrikins. What can we do for you?"
"One of your first years. Selphie Silverleaf. She is a good friend of mine. So…" He tried to express what he wanted, but he realized he didn't know what that was.
"We will take care of her," the other twin said.
"Maybe she flies. We need a seeker." Angelica added.
Katie placed herself near his face, pulling his look down at the petite girl. "I could always use more friends."
"And if anything happens to her," the twin, who he thought was Fred, said.
"Do your absolute worst." Harry's tone was blank and firm ended the conversation.
"Oh, Scary." George said with a false shiver.