"You mean to tell me, it's the first weekend back, and you already have lessons with Snape?" Neville said as they changed into their pyjamas, while Ron pushed their beds together in the other room. "That's awful!"
"Tell me about it," Harry said with a groan, letting his head fall onto the ceramic counter of their sixth year bathroom. Neville rubbed him on the back, buttoning his shirt with his other hand. "At least it won't be in the dungeons. Maybe then I can throw myself out of the window."
"Why is Harry throwing himself out of the window?" Ron asked as he walked in, instantly stripping to his pants as he threw on his sleeping trousers.
"He's got another lesson with Snape."
"Ah, rough luck mate."
"Tomorrow." Neville added as an afterthought. Ron paused in his dressing, looking at his friends with wide eyes.
"Bloody rough, are you serious?" Neville nodded. "Mate, maybe you should do it then." Harry groaned, leaving the bathroom to throw himself on the bed. Neville and Ron followed quickly, all three relaxing into the softness that was the Hogwarts bed.
"I really don't like him, you know?" Harry said, eyes tracing over the symbols Ron had carved over their shared canopy. Ron had gotten so good with magic, it almost drove Harry insane. He pointed his wand upward, small sparkled forming shapes that danced above them all, chasing each other as Ron closed the side of their beds.
"I know," Neville said with a sigh. "It'll be alright this year. He's only teaching defence, it's your best class. You'll be fine."
"Yeah, mate. You've got this." Ron agreed, letting the animals dance above them before they fell into soft sparkles. "At least potions should be easier without Snape teaching it."
Neville nodded, although Harry noticed the slight flicker of doubt in his eyes. He knew Neville would struggle the most in that class, no matter who the professor was.
Ron and Neville lay on either side of Harry, all three of them staring up at the ceiling. The room was quiet, except for the occasional creak of the old bed frame. With a sigh, Neville rolled over and grabbed a book, using his wand as a slight light as he read. A peaceful silence hung over the room, interrupted only by the occasional rustling of pages as Neville turned them over. Harry let out a deep, calming breath, letting his mind drift away from the stress and excitement of the upcoming year. He closed his eyes, taking in the soft fabric of the pillow under his head and the warmth of Ron's body next to him. He was always the warmest of the three, and Harry found himself relaxing, even as his mind wandered.
They had been through a lot together already - learning magic, solving problems, and facing off against some of the most powerful wizards in the world. Despite the danger and the uncertainty, they had become closer than ever before.
As Harry's thoughts turned to the future, he couldn't help but feel a familiar sense of worry and contentment, wrapped up in each other like a babe in a blanket.
It settled in his chest and allowed his eyes to close.
Occlumency went well, for the most part, although Harry's mind "person" avoided Snape like the plague, unrelenting hissing filling his ears instead as he tried to traverse Harry's most guarded memories, but he struggled. A point to Potter, Severus supposed.
"Potter." Snape barked as the boy began to pack up, an hour having passed after Harry had arrived. "Sit." Harry did so, an obvious tension filling his body.
The two men sat in the dimly lit room, the only light coming from the flickering candles on the table. The air was heavy with the tense silence between them. Suddenly, Snape spoke, voice thick with something Harry couldn't quite place.
"Potter, I'm afraid I must warn you against using illusion magic," he said sternly. "It's a dangerous and unpredictable branch of magic, and it has no place in the hands of an inexperienced student like yourself." Harry blanked.
"Inexperienced?" Harry's face contorted. "I've been doing it for years, thank you very much."
"You shouldn't- what were you thinking, using illusion magic? It's dangerous, do you realize how many people could have seen you? How many people could have been injured or even killed? Those muggles-"
"They don't care." Harry spat back, hands crossing across his chest. "And they all know about magic too, not like they like it any. I was fine."
"Because Illusion magic is dangerous. It can be used to manipulate others, to deceive and even harm them," Snape hissed, his face contorted with anger. "I don't want to see you using such magic ever again."
"My magic isn't like that! It's not dirty!" Snape had thought the same. "My magic is… is good! And playful! And happy!" Severus sneered at the boy, hands slamming on his desk table, body freezing slightly when harry flinched.
Damnit, Severus!
"Harry, I cannot stress enough how dangerous illusion magic is," Snape said, his voice tinged with a mixture of anger and concern. "It can lead to all sorts of problems, not to mention the potential consequences of using it."
Harry paused at the use of his first name.
"Whatever," he mumbled, grabbing his bag to head out the door. Snape caught his sleeve, glaring at him.
Snape's expression darkened even further as he leaned in closer to Harry. "Let me be clear, Potter," he snarled. "I care because that magic is forbidden by the Ministry of Magic. And if you continue to use it, I will have no choice but to alert the authorities."
"And what would the Ministry do? Arrest me?" Harry asked incredulously. "Is that what you want, Snape? To see me thrown in Azkaban for breaking your precious rules?"
Snape's grip on Harry's shirt tightened as he spoke, his face twisted in anger. "No, Potter," he said, his voice low and intense. "You will learn to follow the rules, or you will not survive in this world. I will not have you becoming a dark wizard, like your father." Harry turned to face the man.
"Like my- you mean you?" Harry said incredulously, mouth gaping. Severus nodded, body stiff. A disbelieving laugh bubbled up out of Harry's throat. ""Why do you care?" Harry retorted, his own anger rising to match Snape's. "You've never cared about me or my well-being before. Why start now?"
"I care-"
"If you say if it's because I am your son-"
"Do NOT! Interrupt me, Harrison." Severus commanded, the use of his son's first name falling naturally from his lips. It fits. Regal and common enough, just like his own name. Lily had chosen well. "I care, because as much as we both despise it, I will not have my son, my bloodline, doing illegal magic. No matter" He continued talking over Harry. "No matter how fun or pretty it seems.
With that, he released Harry and stormed out of the room, leaving Harry feeling confused and shaken. He knew that Snape was right, that he should not be playing with magic like that. But he also knew that he had to be able to defend himself, no matter what the cost.
What was he thinking- Snape being right? Course not! Magic was magic was magic! It's not like he was casting the Crucio curse with it! Harry was fine, Snape was just trying to play father. Harry didn't need that, not this late in the game.
On Snapes end, the older man sighed, sitting down at his desk, pulling out a glass and some brandy. His mind swirled with memories, both of his time with Lily and his time with the death eaters.
He took a sip, letting himself get lost in his memories.
"Sev! That's so cool!" Lily said, staring at the stars he created. They were in the summer of their fifth year, and Lily had just been made a prefect! Severus was excited, both for her and for the fact that she could stop the torment Potter and his ilk put him through. It would be a good year after all. "Can you make a heart?" She asked, laying down in the grass beside him. It was cool for one of their summers, the grass nice and dry beneath their backs as they looked up at the tree. Sparks flew from Severus' fingertips, a small heart forming in the air, exploding into sparkles after it rolled around a bit, covering Lily in pink sparkles. She giggled, just for a moment, and Severus was happy, thigh no longer aching from his fathers abuse.
The memory changed.
"I'm leaving, Fa- Tobias." Severus announced to the cripple of a man. He was drunk and injured, longing for a wife he only loved a fragment of their time together. "You're on your own now." He added in spite.
"You get your ass back in here!" The man demanded, limping after Severus. "I won't have you joining those wizard folks! I let you go to that damn school, now you'll grow into a proper man!"
"Let me?" Severus said, stepping closer, wand in his hand. "You didn't let me do anything! It was my duty-"
"Put that damn thing away!" Tobias yelled, waving his hand around. Snape backed up, a flash of fear rushing through him as his father swung.
No, he was no longer a little boy, and Lucius was waiting for him out front. He couldn't be fearful in front of his friend
"Give it to me!" Tobias yelled, crashing a vase to the floor. Snapes mind blanked, watching his mothers ashes fall to the floor, only for his father to step right in the pile.
It was Tobias' turn to watch in fear.
The man watched in horror as the illusion monster that had been lurking in Snape's wand finally burst forth into the world, the wand quivering in Snape's hand as he did nothing to hold it back. It was a truly horrifying sight, the beast covered in a dark, swirling mist that seemed to shift and change as it moved, leaving behind a trail of ominous darkness like a dark cloud in its wake. It growled, low and in the back of its throat, rumbling the foundations of the very household Severus had grown up in.
For once, Severus didn't care.
"You put that black magic away!" Tobias yelled, waving his arm, feet slicing themselves on the glass below him, sullying the ashes of his dear mother. Snape let his eyes close, let magic be his will, and let the illusion become what it was designed to be.
Even though he never saw the sight, the smell of blood and the sound of crunching bone never left his mind. Lucius walked in, gasping at the sight. The monster hunched in the corner, quieted and small now that its cause had deceased. It chewed on a spare arm, Severus turning away with a wave of his cloak.
"Set it ablaze." Severus said, both of them exiting and doing so, wand waving in perfect synchrony. He cared little for the beast, corpse, or ashes left inside.
All had been sullied by his father already.
Runes are frequently portrayed as a mystery power that has vanished with time, notably in relation to runestones or other relics from antiquity. They are frequently portrayed as possessing enormous power and significance and are frequently connected to ancient gods or nations.
According to one idea, runes are a type of prehistoric written language that has been utilised for communication and information recording by many different societies throughout history. The many symbols known as runes that make up the runic alphabet are said to have been utilised by the ancient Germanic and Norse tribes. These runes can be seen on a variety of things, such as jewellery and metal items, runestones, and other stone sculptures.
There are numerous theories as to what the runes' initial users may have meant from the various interpretations of the symbols that have been argued for ages on their precise meanings. While some academics think the runes were just an early type of writing used to record the ancient languages spoken by those nations, others think they may have had mystical or magical meanings associated with spiritual rituals or deity worship.
Runes have also been connected to the science of runology, which is the interpretation of old runic inscriptions. In order to read and comprehend the runes, runology is a complicated field of study that frequently requires the examination of historical, linguistic, and archaeological data.
Runes are frequently portrayed in fiction as mystical symbols that can be utilised in magical rituals or to cast spells. Within this framework, runes are frequently portrayed as possessing particular attributes or meanings, and are employed by practitioners of magic to direct their energy or manipulate supernatural powers. Runes are also described in some fictional works as having the power to produce or control elements like fire or water, as well as to influence other people's feelings and ideas.
"Fiction?" Ron asked, placing the book Harry handed him down. The table raised an eyebrow. "In here, it says that runes are displayed in fiction works, with magic and stuff. Magic isn't fictional."
"To muggles it is, Ron. You have to remember that." Hermione chided.
"Oh, yeah, right. Did you ever read about magic?"
"I read one book. It was super popular. "DR, RG, and EW Discover a Red Stone." Harry said, marking a place in his charms book.
"What do the letters stand for?" Ron asked. Hermione was the one to jump in with an answer this time.
"Daniel Radcliffe, Rupert Grint, and Emma Watson. But the title is so long that-"
"Most fans only say the letters, and the number of the book they are reading." Finished Harry. The pair nodded, Tracey's face lighting up.
"Oh my sister read those! I couldn't get into them though, not when Gary Oldman died."
"I don't remember a character named Gary." Harry said with a frown.
"He comes in book three, he's a businessman that was actually Daniel's father! It was super interesting!"
"Might have to give it a reread, one day." Harry said, turning back to his book, letting Tracey and Hermione talk about the book.
Advanced Charm Theory is a topic of study many schools in the world teach, but is more commonly learned on one's own. where young witches and wizards are taught the theories and techniques behind advanced Charm work at their own pace, instead of having to keep up with a classmate. This theory is explored in much greater depth, allowing learners to delve into the intricacies and complexities of Charm work.
The investigation of an object's magical qualities, including composition and structure, is one facet of charm theory. Witches and wizards can more effectively design and control Charms that target particular materials or things by being aware of these features. This also entails being aware of an object's limitations, such as the amount of magical energy it can hold before breaking, and the ways in which various kinds of magic affect it.
The study of various charms, especially those that control elements like fire, water, air, and earth, is another facet of charm theory, but mostly applies to students who can use a specific magical affinity. Students can execute feats like creating storms, fires, or other elemental hazards by learning these elements and using them to craft specialised charms that harness their power.
Students are also taught about the several kinds of charms that can be placed on living things, including people, animals, and plants, in addition to these components. These charms can be used offensively as well as for a wide range of purposes, such as protection and healing. After taking advanced Charms, and eventually ones S.T.A.R.R (or other equivalent, including N.E.W.T.S) students may choose another path to go down that relates to this topic.
One of the most advanced concepts explored in Charm Theory is the concept of the "Charm Circle," which is a complicated pattern of magic that can be used to create powerful and complex charms. This circle is composed of a specific arrangement of symbols, colours, and words, and must be invoked in the correct order for it to work properly. The use of a Charm Circle can allow a skilled witch or wizard to create charms that are far more powerful and complex than those that can be created without it, and is therefore a highly sought-after skill in many fields of magic.
"What's a charm circle?" Harry asked his friends, only for Madame to come, clearing them out. They left quickly, parchment, books, and quills shoved roughly in their bags. Apparently the library wasn't fully open yet, and students had to wait a whole week to be able to check out library books and materials, which included tables. That was fine.
The group headed outside for lunch, Harry summoning sandwiches from Dobby. The group enjoyed them, chewing them slowly to savour the taste. They hadn't tasted as good, or as crisps as Harry's own, but they were quite sweet. Most of the group enjoyed it.
And if Harry had Dobby sneakily drop off a few on Draco's bed, no one knew it but him.
And Blaise, because he wasn't dumb, but he could keep a secret.
"Harry, thank you so much for meeting me." Dumbledore said as Harry entered the ornate office, eyes blinking a bit from the sudden light. It wasn't fair to have a staircase that dim, but an office so bloody bright. "May I introduce you to Horrace Slughorn. He'll be your potions professor this year."
"Nice to meet you, sir," Harry shook the older man's hand. He was obviously excited, hands sweaty as they met. "But I only got an EE for potions…"
"Truly alright, Harry! I only require an EE for my students anyways! An O doesn't always make the students the best!" Slughorn said with a wink, Harry smiling back awkwardly. "Well, I will see you all at another time! I look forward to seeing you this Friday afternoon!" Harry nodded, his smile dropping the moment Slughorn had left the office. Dumbledore sighed, a small smile playing on his old lips.
"He's a bit eccentric, isn't he?" Harry nodded, not trusting his voice. "But alas, meeting Horace was not the reason I brought you here."
"What is it, Sir?" Harry asked, shoulders stiffening. If this was about his illusion magic-
"It's about this trinket right here." Dumbledore opened a drawer and pulled out a dairy, torn in the centre, stained black ink coating its once brown cover. "Do you remember this?"
"Yeah, that's the Diary Lucius Malfoy gave Ginny, right?" Dumbledore nodded. "I thought I gave that to him for Dobby?"
"I had Dobby give it to me before he went on his adventure, I wanted to review its properties. I had an inkling but…"
"What is it?"
"Harry, have you ever heard the word Horcrux?" Harry shook his head.
"No, I don't think so at least. What is it?"
"A horcrux is a terrible bit of soul magic. It tears off pieces of your soul, little by little, and with each one you make. It drives a person insane." Harry connected the dots.
"And you think the diary was one?" He questioned. "Tom Riddles, you mean?"
"Yes, and that leads us to our second pressing of the matter, I believe there are more."
"How many?" Harry asked, the breath sucked out of his lungs, making his voice weak. "You mean he, he actually-?"
"Tore his soul apart, yes. I believe that there are at least five, if not more. Although I know of 2 others. But, Harry." Dumbeldore interrupted his trailing thoughts. "You mustn't feel agony for Tom. Pity, yes, but I assure you Tom knew exactly what he was doing when he created them. Except.."
"Except what, Professor?" Harry said, body shaking. God, if only Sirius was here. That would make this better.
"There's one Horcrux I believe he hadn't meant to make."
"Which…which one? Harry asked in a whisper, eyes staring into Dumbledores until slowly, slowly, those blue eyes locked onto Harry's forehead. The blood rushed out of his body. "Me?"
"Yes, my boy." Dumbledore sighed, taking off his glasses. "I didn't want to think so, but with Severus telling me of how your mind blocks his attacks it revealed to me the truth."
"Y-you're telling me I have a piece of Voldemort stuck in my head?!" Harry's voice grew hysterical, each word tripping over the other.
"I am afraid so, Harry." Dumbledore said. "But do not worry, Harry, Professor Snape and I are looking for a way to safely remove it.
"T-theres a piece of voldemort in my head- that makes sense! That makes so much sense! The voices, the strange feelings- I', sorry sir, please, continue."
"Harry said this, although he was shaking with adrenaline. Everything made sense now. He wasn't crazy, he just had a piece of voldemort inside of him!
"This ring is another horcrux, and I have come to ask you to take me to someplace I would never want you to go again." Dumbledore showed his decaying hand, and the red ring on top of it. Harry gasped, but followed along.
"The chamber of secrets." He said.
"Precisely. Basilisk venom destroys everything, including soul fragments. If we could go now…"
A light lit up inside Harry's mind. Perfect.
"Harry, what was so important you had to keep us up for a few hours? You know we need sleep before astronomy, and it's only a tuesday." Ron yawned. Harry rummaged through his chest, pulling out a silver locket. It hissed, contented in his hands, Harry slipping it over his neck. "Oh cool a necklace, goodnight-" Neville held Ron's shoulder up with his hand, yawning.
"I'm sure it's important, Ron." Neville said. Harry sat down on his bed, pulling a spare basilisk fang out of his school bag. Ron and Neville both gasped.
"Before we get started, do any of you know of an object called a horcrux?" Neville and Ron both shook their heads no, and Harry smiled, wide and dark. It gave Ron the chills, but Neville seemed to lean into it. "Then I have a tale for you!"
Harry launched into the tale Dumbledore told him, sharing each line with wicked glee. Finally, he stopped, Neville holding his palm up to Harry's mouth. He licked it instinctually.
"You mean you are.. Housing Voldemort's soul?" Harry paused, nodding slowly. "Bloody- my god."
"I know how to destroy it now! Basilisk venom! It'll work, on both me and the locket. "
"You think the locket is one?" Ron questioned, looking green. "Then why do you have it on your chest?"
"It makes it less volatile," Harry rubbed the edge of it, enjoying the hiss of magic. "Now, one of you needs to stab it."
"Absolutely not."
"Nope." They both agreed. Harry groaned, agitation beginning to creep behind his eyes.
"Why not? It's not that big of a deal, just stab it with the fang, and another one will be gone! Then we can stab my own scar-"
"No ones stabbing anything-" Ron tried to placate, watching with twitching eyebrows as Neville reached out to touch the locket.
"I'll do it." Neville said with a shrug, a sullied glint in his eyes. Ron groaned into his hands, covering his face. Was he the only bloody sane one?
"We should soundproof the bed, just in case." Harry said, looking at Ron with an incisive smile. Ron just sighed, giving into his fate as he casted a series of spells, watching Harry and Neville with bated breath. The fang was held tight in Nevilles hand, pointed right above the locket - and Harry's heart.
"Be careful, please." Ron pleaded, closing his eyes. He didn't want to see this.
The scream was loud enough to break glass. The group was surprised that the sound shielding charm had even worked. Harry grinned, excited, Nevilles own soft smile matching his fever.
"Bloody brilliant!" They shouted. Harry laid down, becoming Neville over. "Come on, one more and then-"
"Wow, Harry, I can stab a locket, but my best mate? Absolutely not!" Harry rolled his eyes, but Ron plucked the fang out of Neville's hand, rushing to his own trunk and dropping it in there.
"No one is stabbing anyone, okay? We'll figure out this… this Harry Horcrux thing later just- my merlin do we all need sleep. Harry you look Niffler shit insane, Neville you reek of magic, all of us just need sleep." Ron threw himself down on their mattress, other boys (mostly Harry) grumbling.
A tear slipped out of his eye.
"How are you going to protect yourself?" Neville whispered to Harry.
"I'll make an illusion phoenix of course! It can cry into my scar and heal me like last time."
"Are you sure that will work?" He sounded worried. Harry sounded cocky, unlike his normal self.
"I read about it, it'll work. Swear it."
Another tear followed. What was happening to Harry?
I hope you all enjoyed this chapter! I knew NaNo would be good for me xD