Harry and Daphne walked hand-in-hand, they had arrived early to the room of requirements for the last meeting of the DA before the holidays. Harry was extremely relieved to have come early as the entire room was decorated in christmas festivities. He could tell it was Dobby as the room was decorated with hundreds of baubles hanging from the ceiling, each one saying 'Have a very Harry christmas!' tinsel covered the room as bright multicoloured lights sparkled along the bookshelves. He heard snickering next to him and saw Daphne staring at the baubles, he quickly bolted around the room taking down each bauble before the meeting started
"You know you can help!" Harry cried as he bolted towards the next bauble
"Where's the fun in that?" she replied sitting in a chair with her legs up on the table. Harry merely grunted as he finally unscrewed the last bauble and jumped down from the ladder that had appeared
"Nicely done" Daphne said standing up and walking over to his panting form and rubbing his back
"I'm going to kill Dobby" Harry gasped chuckling
"Hm- mistletoe" Daphne said pointing up at the ceiling and puckering her lips
"Er- no, you didn't help me take them down" Daphne gave him a shocked look as he walked away laughing mirthlessly as people began to enter through the large marble door and admire the decorated room. Harry quickly made to stand on the raised platform in the middle of the room and gather everyone's attention
"Right now that everyone is here, I think it's best we go over what we've learned. No point of starting a new topic when the holidays are right around the corner"
"Were not learning anything new?" Said the snarky voice of Zacharias Smith "If i had known i wouldn't have come"
"Well, your more than welcome to leave" Daphne shouted at him besides Neville
"Anyway i was saying, we're gonna practise some of the spells we learned and then we're gonna finish the day off by duelling, so split into pairs" Harry finished. People began to find their friends and partner off. Harry partnered up with Neville as cries of "Impedimenta" rang through the room, freezing their opponent for a minute before their partners would take their turn. Neville had improved beyond recognition as Harry was unfroze for the third time. He had Neville join Ron and Hermione so he could walk around the room inspecting the progress of others. He passed Cho who beamed at him as he fought the urge to roll his eyes and carry on inspecting the room.
"Right okay!" Harry shouted as people stopped their practice "Find someone you wish to duel with and get in a line" people either kept their partner or switched to a new one. Hermione and Ron remained unmoved while people like Zacharias moved towards Neville who was sweating profusely "Okay, stand at opposite sides of the room and ready yourself"
Ron and Hermione quickly scattered to the end of the room drawing their wands and readying their stances
"3…2…1…begin" Ron instantly shot a stunning spell at Hermione who threw a shield up blocking the oncoming attack, she retaliated by sending a jelly leg jinx back at Ron who managed to deftly dodged out of the way and shoot an impedimentia jinx at Hermione who wasn't quick enough to block it and froze on the spot. The crowd began to applaud as Hermione was set straight, she looked over at Ron with an impressed yet disappointed look
"That was impressive Ron" she looked downcast at her own performance but cheered up when Ron began to compliment her spell work. Other students took their place and while some ranged from fights that lasted 10 seconds to ones that lasted 10 minutes.
"Right er- Neville and Zach your next" they both moved over to the opposite sides of the room. He looked at Neville who's hand hadn't stopped shaking and was sweating profusely, Harry walked over to the scared boy
"Listen Neville, breathe and focus. Remember everything you have learned and you will be fine" the shy boy nodded looking more confident than before
"Ready?" both boys nodded "3…2…1…begin"
Zacharias shot out a petrifying spell at Neville who quickly ducked and rolled to his side as he threw back a knockback jinx at the arrogant boy. The duel lasted a couple of minutes as different spells were traded until Neville managed to break through Zacharias shield and disarm the surprised boy. Silence reigned over the room as the crowd watched in shock.
"YES! Neville" Harry cried as he leaped forward giving a friendly hug to the boy who returned it numbly, everyone began applauding the boy, even Zacharias congratulated him. He turned to look at the next pair in the line and was stunned to see Daphne and Cho partnered up, the former with a happy smile on her face and the latter with a nervous look as they moved to take their place
"Um- okay well are you both ready?" they nodded "Okay 3…2…1… begin"
Cho sent a tripping hex at Daphne who gracefully jumped over it and began to reign spells on Cho who managed to block the first one and then use her seeker reflexes to doge the rest. They began to circle each other looking for a weak point in each others defences, stray spells sped towards each other but none met their mark, Daphne's patience grew thin as she soaked the asian girl in water and quickly casted a freezing charm making the girl slip on the floor and was stunned seconds later. The crowd began to clap as Harry moved over to the fallen girl and reviving her, he outstretched his hand and helped Cho up who gave him a grateful smile. Harry once again stood up on the raised platform and cleared his throat
"You're all getting really good," Harry said beaming, "when we get back, maybe we can begin learning some bigger stuff- perhaps even patronuses" A murmur of excitement swept through the crowd as people began to leave in pairs or threes. Harry was talking quietly to Daphne about upcoming Christmas plans when Cho walked in between them and bumped into his shoulder as she left with her redheaded friend who gave him a glare.
"Stupid bint" Daphne mumbled as Ron, Hermione and Tracey walked over
"She's just jealous you would rather snog the life out Daphne here then her" said Ron only to be whacked upside the head by Hermione
"Give her a break, she's obviously going through alot" Hermione said
"Yeah, still doesnt make me like her any better" Daphne mumbled
—-
His body felt smooth, powerful and flexible. He was gliding across the floor as he spotted a lone figure sitting at the end of the corridor, he could taste the man's scent as he slithered closer and closer. He longed to bite the man but he resisted, he had a more important objective, the groggy man seemed to wake and withdraw his wand. Harry had no choice as he reared on the floor and struck the man once… twice… three times, blood splattered the ground as the metallic taste filled his mouth. The man fell to the wall grounding loudly as he attempted to stop the blood flow. His forehead burned intensely as his scar felt as if it was to split into two
"Harry! HARRY!" He opened his eyes. Every inch of his body was covered in sweat and his throat felt drier than a desert as he moved to roll off his bed and began panting as his forehead felt as if a white hot poker was pressed against his head.
"He looks awful" said a terrified voice "Should we call some?"
"Ron! Ron!" Harry panted out in breaths "Your dad, he's been attacked, there was blood. So much blood"
"I'm going to get help" the same scared voice from earlier
"Ron, your dad! He's hurt… really hurt, you need to tell Dumbledore!"
"Harry mate, it was just a dream don't worry, Neville gone to get help"
"No it wasn't Ron, I was there… I saw it… I did it!" Harry began to curl into a ball and started to shiver uncontrollably
"Over here Professor!" Neville quickly ran in followed closely by Professor Mcgonagoll who stood in a tartan dressing gown, her glasses stood lopsided on her bony nose
"What is Potter? Where does it hurt?" She asked her dark eyebrows contracting
"It's Ron's dad" Harry said sitting up "He's been attacked, he needs help!"
"You dreamed of this?" Professor Mcgonagoll asked as she tried to help Harry stand up
"No, no… Professor please believe me, I need to tell Dumbledore"
"Put on your dressing gown… were going to see the Headmaster"
—-
Harry felt a powerful jerk behind his navel, the floor vanished beneath his feet and his grip on the kettle loosened. He hit the ground and his knees buckled, the kettle clanged loudly as it hit the floor. The sound of thunderous footsteps came from behind the closed door and moments later it banged open as Sirius who looked unshaven and still in his day clothes
"What's going on?" Sirius asked
"Ask Harry" said Fred staring at him
"I had a vision of some kind… i saw Mr Weasley… he was attacked" he began to tell them how he had seen through the snake's eyes as it had torn it Mr Weasley. He set down his butterbeer as he caught sight of the slight fear filled gaze, Ron sent his way as he sat curled up in a chair by the fireplace. He glanced around the room and couldn't help but think their looks were somewhat accusatory, his fists clenched as he pushed his chair back and left the room, striding towards the bedroom he had stayed in over the summer. He jumped on to the bed which gave a groan over the sudden weight, and rested his forearm on his face as began to take steading breaths.
"Harry, can I come in?" Sirius voice came from the other side of the door
"I guess" Harry sighed. Sirius entered the room looking slightly flustered and taking a seat on the end of Harry's bed
"It isn't your fault" Sirius said trying to soothe the ashen boy
"I never said it was"
"I know its just-
"I knew what you meant" Harry said his face still covered by his arm as his voice came out muffled "Doesn't help with the fact that they blame me"
"They don't blame you Harry, they're just upset and confused" Sirius said patting his knee "Arthur will be alright, Molly is with him at Saint Mungos"
"Sirius can you just stop pretending everything is okay, please for my benefit" Harry said turning on his side
"Pretending? Harry i'm not pretending anything" Sirius replied confused
"YES YOU ARE!" Harry shot out of bed and stood to full height "Everyone is… Dumbledores keeping me in the dark and I'm just the Ministry's punching bag. I'm a freak to everyone and to be honest I hardly blame them. I'm losing myself Sirius… day by day I feel the person I once was starting to slowly ebb away and pretty soon I'm not sure how much of me there will be left!"
"Harry that is nonsense-"
"You wouldn't understand" Harry said his tears finally starting to escape
"Then help me" Sirius pleaded as he reached for the broken boy who shrank from his gasp
"Please get out" Harry begged as he sat down drawing his knees up to his chest
"Harry, please just let hel-"
"GET OUT!" Harry shouted, his voice interlaced with his choked sob "Please…just leave" Sirius stood up and began to quietly exit the dark room…
—-
Harry stirred his tea as Sirius went around the house singing Christmas carols, he had never seen the older man in such a good mood. Things were still tense but Harry had quickly apologised to SIrius and while things were practically back to normal with him, his relationship with the Weasley siblings was edgy at best. He moved to take his tea to his room as he began to slowly march up the stairs and entered his safe haven. The doorbell rang and Walburga Black's echoing cries rang throughout the house as muffled voices came from the floors below. Harry did not think much of it, after all a visit from Tonks or Mundungus Fletcher was common and not at all out of the ordinary. The voices stopped as tiny footsteps made their way up the stairs and a gentle knock came from the door. Harry sighed as he got to his feet and set his drink on his bedside table. He moved towards the door expecting to find Sirius or even Tonks but was pleasantly surprised to find the blue eyes of his girlfriend standing there. She stood in a christmas jumper and a pair of blue jeans, her hair was in a pony tail and her flowery scent brought a pleasant feeling inside his stomach.
"Daphne? What are you doing here?" Harry asked shocked
"Ginny wrote to me, said you've been quite down recently" Harry stepped aside letting her inside the room and sat down on the bed next to her "What's wrong Harry?"
"Nothing's wrong"
"Don't lie to me Harry, i know when your not being honest" He glanced at her and and felt embarrassed at the hard look in her eye
"It's just been all a bit much recently, and now with Ron being distant with me, i just can't help feel more alone than ever" Harry sighed putting his head in is hands
"You're not alone you have me; Sirius; Hermione and eventually when he comes around Ron"
"Sirius, you know about him?" Harry asked finally meeting her eyes
"Tonks, when she picked me up she explained everything"
"I'm surprised they would even tell you, if i'm being honest"
"Consider it an early christmas present from Sirius" Daphne said as she rested her head on his shoulder "Now tell me, what's gotten you feeling so alone"
"I feel like I'm losing myself, Daph… every time I feel a slither of happiness it's crushed down by the overwhelming weight of what is to come… How can i be Harry potter when im to busy being the Boy-Who-Lived" Daphne sighed as she lifted her head up
"You're a real dope sometimes" Harry sent her a confused look "You've never been the Boy-Who-Lived… to those who care about you anyway. When you're with your friends, teaching the DA or kissing me, you have always Been Harry Potter. Even if you didn't know it"
—-
Harry sighed as he walked down the busy corridor, constantly getting approached by DA members asking when the next meeting was and he would always reply with the same "I'll let you know in the usual way when the next one is." He had a lot on his mind since Mr Weasley had returned from Saint Mungos, the constant guilt that had weighed him down had begun to dissipate from Daphne's conversation. He was still a bit disturbed at seeing the effects of war as his mind drifted to seeing Neville's parents' frazzled minds as they didn't recognise their only son. The thought sickened him as he turned the corner and opened the door to Snape's office. The room was dark and the shelves were lined with jars that were filled with bits of slimy animals and plants, the room had a damp aroma and in the middle of it stood the hooked-nose Professor. Harry closed the door and took a seat opposite the desk.
"Well Potter, we both know why we're here so let's not waste any time… Dumbledore wishes for me to teach you to protect your mind and to do that I need one-hundred percent. Do I make myself clear?"
"Yes-"
"Yes sir"
"Yes sir" Harry said begrudgingly
"Right, like I said back in your dear godfather's kitchen, I shall be teaching you the art of occlumency. This branch of magic protects one's minds from magic intrusion and influence. Mastering this skill will allow you to block the Dark Lord out and stop any unforeseen consequences… Lets begin"
—-
Harry returned later that night, his face pale and sweaty. A persistent migraine pounding against his skull as he climbed the marble staircase and gave the password to the fat lady portrait. Harry stepped into the fairly vacant common room and began to move towards the boys dormitories
"Harry?" The voice came from the armchair that sat across from the fireplace. Harry turned and saw Ron twiddling his wand as he stared into the flames
"What?" Harry said cautiously, not quite sure if he should stay and listen or continue his trek towards his warm four-poster bed
"I just wanted to apologise, I know it wasn't your fault… i was just upset and you were someone to be angry at"
"Finally come to your senses, have you?"
"Yeah, Hermione knocked some sense into me"
"Smart girl that Hermione," Harry grinned. "Anyway I'm going to sleep, save me a spot at breakfast?" Ron smiled and nodded as Harry entered the dormitory, and crawling into his four-poster bed
—-
Harry tossed and turned in his bed as the night wore on, flashes of a door, a spherical orb and the hallway that had been harassing his sleep for the past couple of months. Suddenly he felt himself falling and landing on a hard surface, he looked up and saw the grates begin to vibrate as the elevator shot down at breakneck speeds. Safety handles were swinging from above as Harry made to stand on unsteady feet and grasp them, holding on with an impossibly strong grip. The elevator stopped all of a sudden causing a spike of pain to shoot up his legs. "Department of Mysteries" A voice echoed throughout the elevator as the grates began to open and the familiar hallway stood before him. He took a step forward and began to approach the door, his heart pounded as he made to grasp the handle and finally see what was behind the mystifying ingress. His hand grasped the handle and began to pull it open.
"Harry, it's time to get up" his eyelids opened as he began to rub the crust out of his eyes. Neville stood in front of him, his boiled plant in one hand and his school bag in the other. Harry groaned and tried to catch any remnants of sleep but to no avail. He had been so close to quenching his thirst
—-
The hall was under an eerie silence as the daily prophets were dropped onto the house tables in front of the students, the news of the Azkaban breakout had shook Hogwarts to its core and more people than ever began to stare at Harry.
"They're blaming it on SIrius, can you believe it?" Hermione said as continued to scan the page
"It doesn't matter, no ones gonna believe that rubbish. No justt anyone can cause a mass breakout at Azkaban, there's only a few that could, one of those being You-Know-Who" Ron replied "I think your gonna get a lot more support from here on out Harry"
"Good, it's about time," Harry said, turning to look at Neville who seemed to be staring at the photo of Bellatrix Lestrange who looked to be as deranged as the fake Moody from last year. He was squeezing the table so hard his knuckles were turning white and rasping breaths were escaping the boy's mouth. Harry glanced over at the staff table and saw Umbridge looking as if she was deep in thought. Ever since that day outside of Hagrid's lesson she had refused to even make eye contact with him or talk to him, Harry knew she was planning something, he could see it every time she glanced at him out of the corner of his eyes. It was only a matter of time before she called him out on his bluff and when that happened Harry knew he would need to be ready for the hailstorm that was Professor Umbridge. She had already started to put more decrees up much to the dismay of the student body. Teachers were not allowed to talk to students, unless it was strictly related to the subjects they taught. Harry took his revenge by redoubling the efforts of the DA, the group seemed more determined than ever since the news of the breakout spurred a fire within them. Neville, who had once been inadequate when using magic, seemed to be learning it faster than anyone, only being beaten out by people like Hermione and Daphne.
Harry's lessons with Snape were going decently well, he was now able to get Snape out of his mind in a matter of seconds, His scar hardly prickled nowadays and the dreams that had been assaulting him had seemed to dissipate. He had found using his anger seemed to do the trick as Snape was practically thrown across the room the last time Harry had pushed him out of his mind. The months sped by quickly as January passed in a wave of homework and DA meetings and the month of February peeked through the haze. On the fourteenth Harry had woken up and quickly moved to brush his teeth and dress himself, he had tried to tame his hair but that only seemed to make it even more messy as Harry left the dormitories and exited the common room to meet his girlfriend at the entrance hall. He had taken a handful of galleons and dashed down the marble staircase, he subconsciously rubbed his sweaty hand on his jeans as the beautiful blonde stood there, a bright smile on her plump lips and a skirt that highlighted her figure. Here goes nothing…