CHAPTER 37: UNRAVELING PROPHECIES

Harry stirred from his slumber, his body still gripped by chills and his teeth chattering uncontrollably. With a struggle, he attempted to sit up, but the weight of the thick woolen blankets pinned him down, leaving him defeated as he collapsed back onto the bed, aching all over.

"Master! You're awake!" came a voice, jolting Harry from his daze. It was Coilis, his loyal servant. "The Granger girl and her companions were here. They were concerned. An adult male, presumably the new teacher, carried you."

"A man? That must be the new teacher. What happened to the Dementor?" Harry muttered weakly, straining to sense any presence around him in the dimly lit room. His efforts only brought on a wave of sweat.

"The 'man' used magic to conjure a wolf; it snarled and battled the Dementor. Then it fled, and we brought you here. You're not in good shape, master, at least for three moons."

"I was nearly kissed, Coilis. What do you expect?" Harry snapped, his frustration seeping into his tone, causing Coilis to shrink back slightly.

"Forgive me, master. I understand," Coilis replied, his voice tinged with deference.

Harry nodded, his expression softening. He glanced to his left and spotted Daemon Potter, lying asleep nearby, his complexion pale and his body trembling. It seemed he had also been attacked.

With a sigh, Harry let his head fall back onto the pillow, his jaw beginning to twitch, sending sharp jolts of pain through his skull as his teeth chattered relentlessly.

"The hunt is underway, but the pack members send their apologies for their absence. I overheard the healer mention a month of rest," Coilis murmured softly, his voice filled with concern.

"A month? Well, isn't this a splendid way to kick off the year. Is the old headmaster catching heat for this?" Harry questioned, frustration evident in his tone.

"The Ministry sent the Dementors in, citing the attacks from last... last year," Coilis replied, his voice catching with emotion as he looked away, his breaths coming in shallow hisses.

"They deemed it necessary to safeguard this fortress, so the Dementors were brought in," Harry muttered, piecing together the situation through the haze of exhaustion.

"Yes, I... see," Harry groaned, struggling to keep his eyes open as fatigue threatened to overwhelm him.

"Rest, Master. Everything will be set right soon," Coilis reassured him, his presence providing a sense of comfort as Harry drifted back into slumber.

When Harry next awoke, it felt as though only a few hours had passed, but in reality, it had been days – four to be exact. Potions lined the bedside table, evidence of his coma-like state, while Coilis coiled protectively at his feet, radiating warmth from a charm cast upon his scales.

Upon the table lay an assortment of chocolates and sweets, the finest of their kind. Dark chocolate truffles from the Greengrass family, intricately crafted sugar peacocks from the Malfoys, and other treats adorned the space. If Harry were one to display emotion, he might have chuckled at the extravagant display.

Instead, he sighed wearily and pushed himself up, finally managing to free himself from the heavy woolen blanket that had confined him. Sitting upright, he surveyed his surroundings, grateful for the small comforts amidst the uncertainty that lay ahead.

Harry's heart quickened as he reached for his wand, only to find it absent from its usual spot on the bedside table. Panic surged through him, but he quickly quelled it, reminding himself that Coilis was still asleep and there was no immediate threat.

Turning his attention to the chocolates, Harry remembered their soothing effects. He grabbed a chunk of a chocolate frog, devouring it with a sense of urgency, the croaking head disappearing into his mouth. The familiar taste brought a modicum of comfort as he surveyed the room, flexing his fingers and stretching his stiff muscles.

The door swung open, and two fifth-year students entered, their wide-eyed innocence failing to mask their mischievous intentions. Fred and George Weasley, always the troublemakers.

"Oi! The great-"

"Harry Obsidian-"

"Has awoken from-"

"His slumber!" they chorused, their laughter grating on Harry's nerves.

"Date and time," Harry demanded, his tone clipped as he took in their eager expressions.

They quickly provided the information, and Harry cursed silently. Days had already passed into the new school year, and classes were well underway. It seemed that his absence had caused quite a stir among his peers. Initially, rumors had circulated that he had fainted at the sight of the Dementor, but Hermione Granger had set the record straight, spreading the truth to Gryffindor, then Ravenclaw, and even Hufflepuff. The Slytherins had been privy to the real story thanks to Draco, who had been informed by Theo.

Harry couldn't help but feel a swell of pride at the respect he had garnered. Even the older students were impressed by his survival of the near-kiss from the Dementor.

"The other teachers-"

"Were getting quite worried-"

"Their star student-"

"Was ill!" Fred and George finished their sentences with a sly grin, but Harry's response was chilly and measured.

"I see," he drawled, uncertain of where this conversation was leading.

"Well, Madam Pomfrey-"

"Said that when-"

"Or if you woke up-"

"You were allowed to leave!" Fred concluded with a grin, eliciting a short nod from Harry before they burst into laughter.

"We expect to see you in the Great Hall, Mr. Obsidian," George added, their tone now more serious.

"Yes, please do," Harry replied, watching as they darted off, disappearing as if they had never been there.

After a moment of contemplation, Harry turned to Coilis, who was still curled up near his feet.

"Coilis, awaken from your slumber," Harry commanded, his voice low but urgent.

"Master?" Coilis's speech was slurred with sleep as he slowly raised his head, sniffing the air cautiously.

"Yes, Coilis, I am awake. But let us move quickly, for I do not wish to be overheard speaking in the Noble tongue," Harry urged.

"Yes, yes! Let us hurry!" Coilis agreed eagerly.

And hurry they did. With a flick of his wand, Harry used a light shrinking charm to gather all the treats and homework from around his bed, his brow furrowing as he glanced at the schedule for his next class.

Descending the stone path toward Hagrid's hut, Harry slipped into the clearing behind it, where a large creature stood before them.

"This is Buckbeak!" a voice exclaimed, but Coilis hissed in anger, detecting a scent he did not like.

"Hippogriffs, the most delicate of creatures among flying horses. Such a frail creature, succumbing swiftly to venom, but only if one can evade its razor-sharp beak and talons. Aggressive and haughty, they disgust me," Coilis ranted bitterly as Harry slipped away, blending into the crowd. He caught Destiny Scott's eye, exchanging a brief nod before her attention returned to the majestic bird-horse creature before them.

"Anyone want to pet him?" Hagrid inquired, scanning the cautious faces around him. But the students, wary of the creature's temper, took large steps back, unwilling to risk an encounter.

Hermione hesitated, her desire to understand conflicting with her fear of upsetting the creature.

"Can I bite it?" Coilis's voice cut through the air, dripping with malice towards the creature. Harry instinctively reached for his wand, running it along Coilis's Gibbon Viper scales, causing them to morph into a smoky grey with menacing red stripes.

Coilis slithered to the ground, transforming into the form of an Ashwinder, native to the forest, and swiftly disappeared under a large pumpkin leaf, poised to strike. Harry hoped no one had noticed, but Hermione's small gasp told him otherwise.

The angry snake coiled, ready to unleash its deadly venom upon the unsuspecting Hippogriff. With a swift strike, Coilis sank his fangs into the creature's back right calf, eliciting a piercing screech. The Hippogriff flailed its wings and thrashed wildly, attempting to dislodge the venomous serpent, while panicked students, mostly Gryffindors, scattered in all directions.

"Hagrid!" Ron's voice rang out, alerting the groundskeeper to Coilis's attack. Hagrid rushed forward, attempting to calm the frantic animal as chaos erupted around them.

"A snake!" Dean Thomas's voice echoed across the clearing, drawing everyone's attention to Coilis as he slithered up the Hippogriff's leg, sinking his fangs into its calf, then its hip socket, and finally the arch of its back before being forcefully flung off by the creature's frantic flapping wings.

Panic erupted as students scattered in all directions. Even the Slytherins were in motion, their fear evident as they joined the rush to safety. Nearby, a group of sixth years from a Herbology lesson attempted to cast stunning spells to subdue Buckbeak, who writhed in obvious pain.

"Come on!" Theo's urgent voice broke through the chaos as he tugged on Draco and Daphne's hands, desperately trying to guide them out of harm's way.

Daphne, however, broke away from Theo's grasp as Destiny Scott stumbled and fell, tripping over a large rock. Without hesitation, Daphne knelt down to help her up, stealing a quick glance at Harry amidst the chaos.

Her jaw dropped in shock as she watched the Ashwinder swiftly slither toward Harry, its movements fluid as it slid up his sleeve. Before anyone could react, the serpent transformed into the Gibbon Viper known as Morsus, poised and ready to strike.

He caused the attack. But how? The question hung heavy in Daphne's mind as she watched in disbelief, her thoughts racing with the implications of Harry's involvement.

The scene was a blur of chaos and confusion. As students scrambled for safety, Daphne couldn't tear her eyes away from Harry. He stood calm amidst the frenzy, his sleeve bulging slightly where Coilis had hidden.

"Harry!" Hermione's voice cut through the din, filled with a mixture of fear and anger. "What are you doing? Stop it!"

Harry's eyes darted to Hermione, their usual coldness replaced by a flicker of uncertainty. But the moment was brief. He quickly regained his composure, his expression hardening.

"Hagrid!" Ron shouted, pointing at Buckbeak, who was still thrashing in agony. The majestic creature's cries echoed through the clearing, mingling with the shouts and screams of the students.

Hagrid rushed forward, his massive form moving with surprising agility. "Everyone, stand back! Give him some space!" he bellowed, trying to calm the panicking students.

With a mighty effort, Hagrid managed to get close enough to Buckbeak to soothe the distressed Hippogriff. His large hands moved gently over the creature's feathers, murmuring calming words.

Meanwhile, Theo had finally managed to pull Draco to safety, but Daphne stayed put, her eyes fixed on Harry. She watched as he subtly adjusted his sleeve, concealing Coilis further. Destiny, now back on her feet, followed Daphne's gaze, her expression a mirror of shock and confusion.

"How did you do that?" Destiny whispered, her voice trembling.

Harry didn't respond immediately. He could feel the eyes of several students on him, their curiosity piqued by the sudden appearance and disappearance of the snake. He needed to deflect attention, to regain control of the situation.

"I didn't do anything," he said coolly, his voice steady. "The snake must have been drawn to the chaos."

Daphne's eyes narrowed, sensing the lie. But before she could press further, Hagrid's voice boomed over the clearing.

"Right, that's enough! Everyone back to your lessons! Buckbeak's fine, jus' a bit spooked."

Slowly, the students began to disperse, their murmurs of curiosity and fear gradually fading as they returned to their respective classes. Harry took the opportunity to slip away, heading towards the castle with purposeful strides.

Destiny and Daphne exchanged a glance, the unspoken question lingering between them. They knew Harry was hiding something, and they intended to find out what it was.

Harry squirmed uncomfortably in his seat, his patience wearing thin as Professor Trelawney droned on with her divination lesson. Her airy voice grated on his nerves, and the foul smell permeating the room only added to his discomfort. It was so overpowering that even Coilis, usually unfazed by unpleasant scents, couldn't stomach the first two steps into the tower.

Peering into his teacup, Harry observed the dark green clumps of soggy tea leaves, feeling a sense of frustration welling up inside him. Across from him, Blake Nigea, his Slytherin partner for the exercise, wrinkled his nose at the repulsive odor filling the room.

"Now, exchange tea cups with your partner," Trelawney's dreamy voice floated through the air, prompting Harry to reluctantly take Blake's blue teacup. The contents were markedly different from his own, and Harry narrowed his eyes as he tried to decipher the shapes at the bottom of the cup.

"So, we're supposed to recognize what these things are?" Blake questioned, his own confusion mirroring Harry's.

"That's my assumption," Harry replied, his frustration evident as he scanned the pages of their textbook for any clues.

"I think that's a... leaf, which symbolizes health... or possibly a bone, indicating illness," Harry ventured, his uncertainty mirrored by the furrow in Blake's brow.

"Okay... I'll go with the leaf. Let's see... that's an eye, which means truth or something like that... and... that's a snake, so that means a spy... so, you're going to find the truth about a spy?" Blake concluded, his fingers tapping nervously on the chair as he passed the cup back to Harry.

Taking the cup, Harry examined its contents with a sense of foreboding. The shapes seemed to shift and blur before his eyes, and a sense of unease settled over him as he tried to make sense of the cryptic symbols.

Harry glanced down and noticed the snake and eye, but something peculiar caught his eye near the end of the snake's tail—an extension that resembled a willow branch, not quite what it seemed. Willow—the tree of the past. What could it symbolize? Was someone attempting to uncover his history? Once again, it seemed Ron Weasley would bear some consequence, albeit with a silver lining. How peculiar this class was turning out to be.

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