CHAPTER 31: THE PRICE OF REVENGE
As they continued their silent journey, Harry's senses pricked up at the sound of muted laughter emanating from behind a nearby tapestry. "Coilis, wait a moment," he hissed, his curiosity piqued as he phased through the fabric into a small chamber beyond.
Within, two red-haired boys stood watching the fleeing cat with identical smirks adorning their faces. Harry's eyes narrowed as he recognized the mischievous glint in their eyes.
"So, what do we have here?" Harry's voice was like a whisper in the shadows, his presence a ghostly apparition that seemed to materialize out of thin air.
"'Bout time-" "Someone showed-" "That fur ball-" "What was coming," the Weasley twins chimed in harmony, their smirks widening as they exchanged amused glances with each other. Coilis, oblivious to the fifth-years' presence, continued to scan the hallway vigilantly.
'Fred and George Weasley, twin pranksters, and so far, the best of the Weasleys,' Harry thought, observing the two as they leaned back against the wall, blending in like a one-way mirror.
"Ya' know, that snake isn't half bad-" "-Even for belonging to a Slytherin," the other agreed, tossing a bottle of ice-cold butterbeer to his twin. With a synchronized movement, they clanked the lids together, popping off the cap with practiced ease.
"Master?" Coilis's voice echoed in Harry's mind, drawing his attention back to the chamber behind the tapestry. "I am here Coilis, behind the tapestry. The Weasley Twins watch you with appreciation," Harry whispered, relaying the information to Coilis and causing the twins to jump and look around for the source of the voice.
Coilis flicked out his tongue in amusement, his serpentine form suddenly spinning with such speed that the twins were caught off guard, exchanging bewildered looks before scrambling backward.
"Sweet Merlin-" "-It's coming for us!" the twins exclaimed in panicked whispers, dropping their butterbeer and retreating to the back corner of the chamber. Coilis, satisfied with their reaction, continued his playful advance, his movements fluid and mesmerizing as he closed in on his unwitting prey.
"Ah, you are right, the twin Weasels," Coilis hissed, his amusement evident as he reared up slightly and flicked his tongue in anticipation.
"Hey Gred, didn't the git say that the snake spoke English?" The twin on the right whispered to his brother, prompting a shrug from the other twin who stepped forward, arms raised in a gesture of peace.
"Oh, this will be amusing," Coilis remarked, his eyes gleaming with mischief as he observed the twins' nervous expressions.
"Oh great mighty serpent, we mean you no harm," the twin declared theatrically, punctuating his statement with a sweeping bow that caused Harry to physically clamp his jaw shut to stifle his laughter.
"Do they think I am a Basilisk?" Coilis hissed, a hint of annoyance creeping into his tone as he glanced at the twins, who gulped nervously under his gaze.
"Hey Coilis! Looks like you got a few admirers!" Harry's amused hiss echoed through the shadows, earning him a glare from the serpent.
"Think the thing's mental, staring in the dark like that?" the other twin whispered, earning a sharp hiss of disapproval from Coilis that silenced him instantly, while his twin burst into laughter.
"Well, Forge, the thing hates you!" the laughing twin exclaimed, only to hastily correct himself as Coilis's hiss grew sharper at the word 'thing'.
"Snake! I meant snake! The snake hates you!" he corrected himself, causing Harry to shake his head in amusement.
"Selena will nag on you for this forever, Coilis," Harry remarked, unable to contain his laughter.
"Oh, shut up," Coilis retorted, though the corners of his mouth twitched with suppressed amusement.
As the banter continued between Coilis, Harry, and the Weasley twins, the atmosphere in the chamber remained lighthearted despite the underlying tension. Coilis, still amused by the twins' antics, couldn't help but find their nervousness entertaining, while Harry struggled to maintain his composure, the temptation to laugh becoming increasingly difficult to resist.
"Come on, Coilis, don't be so serious," Harry teased, his voice echoing softly in the shadows. "They're just having a bit of fun."
Coilis, however, remained skeptical, his gaze fixed on the twins with a mixture of amusement and wariness. "Fun for them, perhaps," he hissed, his tone dripping with sarcasm. "But I've had my fill of jests for one day."
The Weasley twins, sensing the tension in the air, exchanged uneasy glances before mustering up the courage to speak again. "We... uh, apologize if we offended you, Coilis," one of them ventured tentatively, his voice tinged with sincerity.
Coilis regarded them for a moment, his expression unreadable, before finally relenting with a resigned sigh. "Apology accepted," he conceded, his tone softer than before.
Harry, relieved by the easing of the tension, couldn't help but chuckle at the scene unfolding before him. "See? Was that so hard?" he remarked, a hint of amusement in his voice.
The Weasley twins, visibly relieved by Coilis's acceptance, exchanged grateful smiles before retreating to a safe distance, eager to put the encounter behind them.
As they disappeared from view, Coilis turned to Harry with a wry smirk. "Remind me to avoid encounters with Weasley twins in the future," he hissed, his amusement evident.
Harry nodded in agreement, a smile playing at the corners of his lips. "Consider it noted," he replied, his voice filled with amusement as they continued on their journey through the shadows of Hogwarts.
As Selena whispered about the two boys racing towards the Acromantula's fields, Harry and Coilis sprang into action, their senses heightened and their determination unwavering. With a sense of urgency driving them forward, they embarked on their watch, hoping to uncover any clues that might shed light on the mysterious activity.
Harry drifted through the shadows in his phantom shadow form, his ethereal presence gliding effortlessly through the darkness. It was a form suited for stealth and speed, granting him an advantage in their surveillance efforts. However, he knew all too well the toll it took on his physical body. The use of such dark magic, designed for those who had succumbed to the darkest depths of the black arts, exacted a heavy price. When he reverted to his true form after prolonged periods in his phantom state, he would be left drained and unconscious, his very presence sapping the life energy from those around him. It was a brutal trade-off, one that Harry approached with caution and calculated risk.
Aware of the dangers, Harry made a conscious effort to limit his time in phantom form, reserving it for moments when speed and efficiency were paramount. Inside the chamber, he allowed himself to assume his true form, unadorned by glamours or illusions. It was a stark contrast to his phantom self, yet it was a necessary precaution to avoid the potentially devastating consequences of prolonged use of dark magic.
With Coilis by his side, they remained vigilant, their senses attuned to any signs of trouble or disruption. As they continued their watch, Harry couldn't shake the feeling of unease that lingered in the air, a foreboding sense that their mission was far from over. But with determination burning in his chest and the loyalty of his trusted companion, Harry pressed on, ready to face whatever challenges lay ahead in their pursuit of the truth.
As Harry drifted through the crack in the doorframe of the infirmary, he noted the absence of Madam Pomfrey and the stillness that enveloped the room. His eyes swept over the unconscious victims lying in their beds, his heart heavy with concern for their well-being. Returning to his shadow form, Harry observed his own body, noting the posture that mirrored his own, a testament to Wormtail's skill in mimicking his movements.
But his attention quickly shifted to Hermione, a sense of unease gnawing at him as he sensed something amiss. A faint sickening sensation emanated from her, indicating that something significant had transpired in her vicinity.
Determined to uncover the truth, Harry delved into her magical core, sifting through the pockets of her clothes in search of any clues. Yet, to his frustration, he found nothing tangible to explain the unsettling feeling that gripped him.
"What is it?" Harry growled softly, his frustration mounting as he failed to uncover any answers. With a sigh, he stilled and focused his gaze on her clenched fist, a sense of foreboding washing over him.
With practiced ease, Harry melted into the shadows, weaving between her locked fingers in search of any hidden secrets. He half-expected to find a crumpled book page or a hastily concealed object, but to his surprise, her fist yielded nothing but emptiness.
Confusion clouded his thoughts as he emerged from the shadows, his mind racing with possibilities. Whatever had caused Hermione's distress remained elusive, leaving Harry with more questions than answers. But he refused to give up, determined to unravel the mystery and ensure her safety, no matter the cost.
As Madam Pomfrey entered the infirmary, she was met with a sight that sent a chill down her spine. "Great Merlin!" she exclaimed, her wand raised defensively as she beheld the angry, swirling shadow before her.
Harry, still in his shadow form, locked eyes with the frightened Mediwitch, his gaze icy and foreboding. Without warning, he lunged towards her with a chilling screech, catching her off guard and leaving her unconscious on the bed within moments.
Minutes later, Harry slipped out of the infirmary in search of Ronald Weasley and the foolish Potter. As he rounded a corner, he narrowly dodged a spell cast in his direction, his form twisting and contorting like a dementor in the shadows.
Before him stood Ginny Weasley, her wand trembling in her hand as she faced him with determination despite her fear. Harry's laughter echoed hauntingly through the corridor, unsettling Ginny even further.
"I-I don't know what you are, but leave this school!" Ginny demanded, her voice trembling with a mixture of defiance and uncertainty.
Harry's laughter ceased abruptly as he landed before her, his form solidifying to reveal his true body and the scars that marred his face. Ginny gasped in shock, scrambling backward as Harry took a slow, deliberate step forward.
"You can't hurt me, little Ginerva," Harry taunted, his voice dripping with menace as he closed in on her, his intentions clear. With each silent step, he drew closer, his presence casting a shadow of fear over the young witch.
Ginny's heart raced as she watched Harry approach, her mind racing with fear and uncertainty. But despite the overwhelming odds stacked against her, she refused to back down, determined to protect her school and her friends from whatever dark force lurked within its walls.
Ginny's scream echoed through the corridor as Harry advanced, his presence casting a shadow of terror over her trembling form. "You aren't alive! You can't be!" she cried out, her voice quivering with disbelief and fear.
With a swift flick of his wand, Harry cast a silencing spell, enveloping them in an eerie stillness. Ginny's legs shook uncontrollably, her face drained of color as she stared into the depths of Harry's cold gaze.
"Can't I?" Harry's voice was a low, menacing growl as he seized her jaw, forcing her to meet his gaze. "You believe every word of your 'hero,' the boy who was crying just because he couldn't punch a child in Diagon Alley?" His words cut through the air like a knife, each syllable dripping with scorn and bitterness.
Ginny's tears flowed freely now, her sobs stifled by the silencing charm as Harry lifted her up with an unsettling calmness. "Such a pretty girl," he remarked, his tone chillingly detached. "It would be such a shame, really."
Terror seized Ginny's heart as she realized the true extent of the danger she was in. Harry's grip tightened, his touch sending shivers down her spine as he spoke of her fate with a cold finality.
"No, I won't kill you," Harry declared, his voice laced with malice as he outlined his twisted plan. "I'll let Daemon Potter play hero once more, and you and I can watch him fail."
A wave of darkness washed over Ginny as Harry jabbed a pressure point on her collarbone, causing her to gasp and go limp in his grasp. With a cold and chilling sensation, they vanished into the shadows, leaving behind only silence and the lingering scent of fear.
As they disappeared into the inky blackness, Harry's grip on Ginny remained firm, his mind consumed by a dark determination. Through the shadowy depths, they traveled, their forms melding with the darkness as they moved with unnatural swiftness.
Ginny's consciousness flickered in and out as they traversed the shadow realm, her senses overwhelmed by the suffocating darkness that surrounded them. In her fleeting moments of awareness, she struggled against the bonds that held her, her mind reeling with fear and desperation.
Meanwhile, Harry's thoughts churned with a singular focus: revenge. His hatred burned like a relentless fire, fueling his every action as he plotted his next move. The thought of watching Daemon Potter fail, of witnessing his downfall at the hands of his own sister, brought a twisted satisfaction to Harry's twisted mind.
As they emerged from the shadows into a dimly lit chamber, Harry released his grip on Ginny, allowing her limp form to collapse to the ground. With a sinister smirk, he surveyed their surroundings, his eyes glinting with malice as he prepared to set his plan into motion.
Ginny lay on the cold stone floor, her body trembling with exhaustion and fear. She knew that she was at the mercy of a dark and dangerous foe, and the realization filled her with a sense of dread unlike anything she had ever experienced before.
With each passing moment, the weight of their situation grew heavier, and Ginny could only hope that help would come swiftly, before it was too late. But in the depths of the shadowy chamber, surrounded by darkness and uncertainty, the odds seemed increasingly bleak.
As the urgent announcement reverberated through the corridors, Coilis remained hidden in the shadows of the chamber, his serpentine form coiled and alert. The scent of fear wafted through the air, mingling with the faint echoes of footsteps as students hurried back to their common rooms.
Sensing the gravity of the situation, Coilis decided to investigate further, his curiosity piqued by the urgency in the teachers' summons. With a silent determination, he propelled himself forward, his sleek form gliding effortlessly across the floor, barely making a sound.
Using his keen senses, Coilis surveyed his surroundings, his eyes shifting into heat-seeking mode as he scanned the area. He detected the faint outlines of bright orange shapes moving with purpose, indicating the presence of the teachers converging on the second-floor corridor. Among them, he noticed a larger, faster-moving shape darting towards the group.
Flicking his tongue to sample the air, Coilis identified familiar scents mingling with the atmosphere. The acrid aroma of reeking fumes, the earthy scent of parchment, the sharp tang of cleanser, and the distinctive odors of roots, grasses, and goblin blood. But one scent stood out above the rest, a cloying wave of perfume that reminded Coilis of a preening peacock.
With his senses heightened and his instincts sharp, Coilis braced himself for whatever lay ahead, prepared to face whatever challenges awaited him in the tumultuous world beyond the chamber's confines.
"Rat in snakeskin, come out, come out," Coilis hissed, his serpentine form slithering slowly around the bend. His heat-seeking eyes blinked away, replaced by a vision tinted in strange hues of purples and greens, with brilliant reds and browns dominating the landscape, akin to the sight of a magical viper.
Flicking his tongue once more, Coilis caught the scent of the perfume-peacock man nearby. He turned his head, locking eyes with the overly smiling figure whose honey-colored hair resembled that of a mouse's underbelly. Ah, the man Coilis had once faced in battle, the coward who dared to challenge him.
A subtle vibration traveled across the floor and up Coilis's fine scales, alerting him to a presence behind him. He turned, his long neck twisting to peer into the shadows, but no visible threat presented itself. Yet Coilis knew better than to rely solely on mortal sight, understanding the deception it often wrought.
Two small, bright orange figures huddled beneath a blue veil, their forms cooler than those around them. With another flick of his tongue, Coilis confirmed their identities: the Weasel, taller and more imposing, accompanied by the sickly scent of sugar and burning particles of white he had tasted before.
"What is it, Minerva?" Coilis turned his attention to the source of the unfamiliar human tongue, widening the vibration sensors behind his eyes to better discern the conversation unfolding before him. Though the human speech sounded foreign and convoluted compared to the noble language of serpents, Coilis remained attentive, his instincts sharp and his senses finely tuned to the world around him.
"Our worst fears have been confirmed," intoned the figure emanating the scent of ancient parchments, while the one with a hint of Goblin blood exhaled heavily. Behind them, the Weasel-like creature and the one smelling of sugar shuddered in response to the grim news.
"The monster has taken a captive into the chamber itself," the parchment-fragrance spoke again, causing Coilis's eyes to widen in alarm. The two figures behind him gasped, their breath irritating Coilis with its unpleasant odor.
"We must close the school and send the children home," murmured the voice of grass and roots, its tone filled with sorrow. Coilis recognized her immediately—the one who resided in the plant-house, her den amidst the greenery.
"Pomana, Fileus, Severus, alert your respective houses and instruct them to pack. Hogwarts cannot withstand scrutiny from the Ministry if they catch wind of this," instructed the parchment, its voice tinged with urgency. The two figures behind it emitted soft hisses, causing Coilis to focus his sensors, ready to relay any pertinent information to his Master.
"Where's Dumbledore?" came the inquiry, a question hanging heavy in the air. Coilis pondered the whereabouts of the elusive figure, remembering the peculiar scents that accompanied him—the burning rocks and the lemon citrus fragrance.
"Minerva, who is it?" inquired the scent of cleanser, its orange essence wringing its strange limbs and tail tips anxiously. The parchment lady glanced downward, her orange aura shifting as she sighed, filling the room with her breath.
"Ginerva Weasley," she revealed, prompting Coilis to tilt his head in curiosity, observing the Weasel-like creature beneath the blue film. The one smelling of sugar pressed its limb-clasped tail tips over the other's mouth, silencing any potential hisses.
With a sense of urgency, they all dispersed—the hatchlings and the elders alike, leaving behind a lingering tension in the air. Even the perfume-scented man hurried away, abandoning any semblance of pride in his haste, as if fleeing from an unseen predator.
Truly, humans were strange creatures, Coilis mused as he watched them depart, his senses keenly attuned to any further developments.
As the echoes of their hurried footsteps faded, Coilis found himself alone in the dimly lit chamber, save for the lingering scent trails of those who had departed. The weight of the revelation hung heavily in the air, and he couldn't shake the feeling of unease that settled in the pit of his stomach.
With a soft rustle of his scaled hide, Coilis slithered closer to the parchment figure, its scent of ancient knowledge and wisdom drawing him in. "Master," he hissed softly, the sound barely audible in the quiet chamber.
The parchment figure turned to regard him with its inked eyes, its aura pulsing with a mixture of concern and determination. "Yes, Coilis," it responded, its voice a gentle whisper that seemed to carry the weight of centuries.
"What do you wish for me to do?" Coilis asked, his senses attuned to every nuance of his Master's scent.
The parchment figure considered for a moment, its scent shifting subtly as it contemplated the situation. "Remain vigilant, Coilis," it finally replied. "Keep watch over the school and its inhabitants. We must ensure their safety until this threat is dealt with."
Coilis nodded, a sense of purpose filling him as he prepared to carry out his Master's command. With a flick of his serpentine tail, he slithered away into the shadows, his senses alert for any sign of danger.
Outside the chamber, the corridors of Hogwarts seemed eerily quiet, the usual bustle of students and teachers replaced by an atmosphere of tension and fear. Coilis moved silently through the darkness, his scales blending seamlessly with the shadows as he kept a watchful eye on his surroundings.
As dawn broke over the horizon, casting its golden light across the ancient castle, Coilis knew that the coming days would be filled with uncertainty and danger. But he was determined to protect Hogwarts and its inhabitants at any cost, for he was Coilis, loyal servant to his Master, and guardian of the secrets hidden within the walls of this magical place.
WELCOME TO LORDARESARCTURUSBLACK ON P.A.T.R.E.O.N
FOR EARLY ACCESS TO NEW CHAPTERS JOIN US ON P.A.T.R.E.O.N LORDARESARCTURUSBLACK