Harry put the finishing touches on his plans for the runic array he intended to use with Scylla and stood from his chair, walking out of the living area into the main chamber. At that hour, the Chamber was still empty, as Scylla was still sleeping. It was barely seven and he had been up for at least an hour. He stretched and ran a few laps along the Chamber, before heading back to shower to meet his girlfriend and friends at the common room.
If everything worked out, Voldemort would be dead by the end of the week... or so he hoped.
With his shower taken, Harry dressed himself and had Dobby take him to the common room, where he met Astoria.
"Good morning, firecracker," Harry spoke, and Astoria blushed.
"Good morning."
"What are you doing here so early?"
"I couldn't stand to be in the dorm any longer..." she revealed, "My dormmates started to talk about... you wouldn't understand."
"I can try," he replied.
"No, never mind, I'd rather speak to Daphne."
"Womanly things? Yeah, if that's it, then you're probably better asking a woman."
"Yeah..."
"But for curiosity's sake, is it about the monthlies, the size of the boobs, ass, or boys?" Astoria was momentarily stunned by question, but as she looked back at Harry, he seemed to be serious. She decided to take a chance.
"Well... the period... I still haven't gotten mine and all others did. My boobs aren't growing like I wanted them to, and the only concern about boys I have is to be away from their stupidity."
"As a member of the male population, ouch," Harry replied. "Don't worry about the other things. You're still young." Astoria snorted.
"How do you know?" she asked, and Harry was not going to tell her he read books on raising up little girls, preparing for Daphy's puberty.
"It may have escaped your notice, but you're not the only girl growing around here and going through that stuff. I've seen some weird things since I was eleven, and I'm not talking about magic."
"Right..."
"I'm serious. Back in Gryffindor, we used to learn the hard way how to recognize the signs and the dos and don'ts," Harry, told her. "Besides, if we check your close family, the women are quite beautiful. Chances are you're going to be just as pretty and good looking as your mother, and if you're lucky, your sister."
"You're just saying that to be nice."
"Suit yourself, firecracker," Harry replied with a shrug.
"If you're so knowledgeable, then why didn't I bleed yet?" Astoria asked, defiantly.
"It never happens at the same time for every girl," Harry told her. "Some girls bleed at ten, others at fourteen, many in the middle. Besides, why are you in a hurry to experience pain, cramps, and a lovely sour mood for almost a week?" Astoria looked at him.
"Granger?" she asked and Harry snorted.
"Nah, your sister," Harry replied, "Sometimes she has cramps all day. She flinches if I touch her, and sometimes even snaps at me to leave her be. It's like she's oversensitive to touch... That's why on those days I usually bring her a gift and stay there with her, no pressure, no nothing. A flower is usually enough to raise her mood."
"You gave her a flower yesterday."
"And what does that tell you?" he asked her, and Astoria laughed. "My point is, don't be in a hurry. In no time you'll be being chased around by boys, and I know I will have to play the part of the big brother..." Astoria giggled.
"Thanks Harry," she said as she rose from the couch, "You make a fine big brother, even if it's creepy you know this much about girls."
"Never hurts to be prepared..." Harry replied, noticing the surprise in Astoria's face when she looked back at him.
"Daphne's behind us, isn't she?" he asked.
"Yup," Daphne replied, and there was a giggle.
"And you're not alone."
"Nope," Daphne replied again.
"I see... Astoria, does Daphne have that look she has when she's angry?"
"The one that says, 'I will cut you in little pieces if I catch you'?"
"I was thinking more 'I will make you regret you were ever born', but that works too."
"Then, no."
"No?" he asked surprised.
"No. She's happy...and smiling," Astoria replied, and Harry raised an eyebrow.
"Look at me, you idiot." Harry did, and saw his girlfriend smiling at him, as well as Tracey, Millie, and Pansy, all looking smug while Theo, Blaise, Greg, and Vince looked unsure.
"Hi," he said, and Daphne smiled, cupping his face and kissing him.
"How is it he always gets away at the top?" Blaise asked to no one in particular, as Daphne slid over the chair into Harry's lap, all without breaking the kiss.
"Oi, lovebirds, enough," Pansy said, "You can continue later, unless you want to be left behind." Daphne broke the kiss with a smile while Harry whimpered.
"Go ahead," Daphne replied, "We'll meet you there." Theo snorted and they left them in the chair.
"What's wrong?" he asked, and Daphne smiled.
"Nothing. That was just great advice you gave my sister, and you should be rewarded."
"I have more advice to share..." he replied with a wink, and Daphne giggled.
"I had never realized you always brought me a flower during my period week."
"What kind of a Slytherin would I be if I did things openly?" asked Harry, and Daphne laughed. It was music to his ears.
"Do you do all of this out of kindness, then?" she asked, their noses touching.
"Of course not," Harry replied, "I expect repayment for all the things I do."
"Then tell me, Lord Potter-Slytherin, how can I repay you for all your kindness to me and my sister?" she asked in almost a whisper in his ear, feeling his trousers tighten and hiding a blush.
"I can think of several ways, in the long and the short runs..." he replied, his face buried in her neck.
"Oh? Tell me about the long run..."
"You, me, together, forever. I won't accept anything else."
"I like the sound of that...if you continue to act like this."
"For you? Always," Harry replied, kissing her.
"And in the short run?" she asked after the snogging.
"Your heart. In full," he replied.
"I thought you'd want more," she replied huskily and mockingly.
"I can wait for your body," Harry replied, his hand touching Daphne's leg and moving it up over her skirt and thigh, making her gasp. "Don't get me wrong, I want you, in more ways than you believe, but I can wait for that...as long as I have your heart."
"You have it," Daphne hid a gasp, feeling Harry's hand on her butt as his lips grabbed hers.
Breakfast could wait.
~BREAK~
"Was it me, or was Moody particularly cranky today?" Theo asked after a long two-hour period in DADA.
"He seemed normal to me," Millie replied with a shrug, "Why?"
"I don't know, it felt like he picked on us more than usual, I'm not sure..." the boy replied.
"You're probably growing paranoid," Tracey replied, kissing him on the cheek. "Never mind him, I bet he was born cranky."
That made the fourth year Slytherins chuckle.
"Any ideas for what to do today?" Blaise asked.
"I want to finish the Charms homework, and you can help me," Millie replied, and Blaise grinned.
"Of course, love," he replied, and Millie smiled.
"I have that meeting about the third task today..." Harry groaned.
"What's that about, any idea?" asked Tracey.
"None, but I noticed some work at the Quidditch pitch," Harry told her, "Maybe they are planning something and want us to know about it... no idea, actually."
"I'm sure it's nothing time consuming," Daphne added, "They didn't offer you any clues for the third task yet. Maybe that's it."
"Probably," Harry replied, hugging Daphne by the waist. "But for now, I won't care about it, or anything else."
"I suggest you care about Transfiguration, Mister," Daphne admonished playfully. "That's where we're headed now." Harry groaned.
"Lovely. And I had just decided which chair I wanted to sleep in," Harry said with a sigh.
"Rough night?" Theo asked with a smirk, "You didn't seem too tired this morning." Daphne blushed with a huge smile.
"Not really, but..." Harry started looking strange, "I have had this strange feeling for the past couple of hours, ever since DADA started..."
His friends all looked at him with quizzical expressions, but Harry didn't notice. "It's like a buzz in my ears with a tingling headache." Daphne frowned at that. "If I didn't know any better, I would have said someone was using Legilimency on me..."
"That's...weird..." mumbled Blaise, and Harry shrugged.
"It's probably nothing..." Harry replied, hugging Daphne tighter around her waist, looking down at her with a grin. "Maybe a kiss from a beautiful girl would help me feel better?" Harry chuckled, "What do you say, Daph? Would you like to try, for science?" Daphne rolled her eyes with an amused snort and gave him one kiss on the cheek.
"That's enough for now," she said, and Harry pouted while their friends laughed. They reached the Transfiguration classroom, and as usual, the door was open. They entered and sat at their usual seats, sitting quietly, in contrast with the rowdy Gryffindors. McGonagall appeared shortly before the class started and quickly started to talk about conjuration, a branch of Transfiguration.
"That's what Potter and Greengrass do with their demonic snakes, isn't it?" asked Lavender Brown, raising her arm.
"No, it is not, Ms. Brown," McGonagall replied. "Mr. Potter, care to explain?"
"You can conjure objects, but you can only summon living things," Harry explained shortly, but that was the essence of it.
"What Potter forgot to explain was that a conjuration is often the act of transfiguring the air itself into the desired object, while summoning involves the act of bringing a living creature from one place to our location," Granger supplied promptly with a snobbish look, almost sneering at her former friend.
"Very good. Five points for Mr. Potter and other five for Ms. Granger," McGonagall replied, "Can anyone give an example of a summoning spell?" she asked, looking at two particular Slytherins, "Apart from summoning your snakes?"
Daphne raised her hand, as did Granger.
"Ms. Granger?" And people said McGonagall was a fair teacher...
"Avis, summoning birds," the know-it-all replied with a smug look.
"Very good, that's a NEWT level spell," McGonagall replied, turning to Daphne, "Ms. Greengrass?"
"Serpensortia," she replied, and McGonagall paled slightly but accepted the spell.
"Indeed," the woman replied. "Now, continuing our lesson about conjuration, as it was said, conjuration is the act of transfiguring the air itself into another inanimate shape. There are several rules of basic conjuration, and we will discuss them before attempting practical work...am I boring you, Mr. Potter?" the woman asked, glaring at Harry, who had just yawned behind his hand.
"Sorry?" he asked, surprised at being singled out.
"I asked if I am boring you?" the woman asked with a glare again. "You certainly seem so."
"Not at all, Professor," he replied, hiding the annoyance in his voice and the scowl that wanted to form on his lips.
"If you are tired, I suggest you go to sleep earlier, instead of wasting rest time participating in frivolous activities. Ten points from Slytherin," the Transfiguration professor replied before turning away from him and back to the rest of the class.
Harry scoffed at the "advice" and continued to pay attention to the rest of the lesson. Yet, he couldn't help it but feel his anger raising, directed at the woman in front of him. How dare she? Who did the elder bitch think she was to single him out like that? If he was tired, it was because he had work to do, work that neither she nor her precious headmaster were willing to do, as usual, for their greater good... Good for nothing hag… Always offering useless advice... Always ignoring what was in front of her, always belittling everything that went against her precious Light philosophy... And she called herself a teacher? She wasn't even available for her students, nor did she do anything to support them.
"Is there a problem, Potter?" the hated woman's voice diverted him from his dark thoughts, and he realized he was glaring at McGonagall, who was standing in front of him with a scowl.
"Yes," Harry replied in a dark tone while glaring at her, and McGonagall could swear she saw his eyes getting darker. She ignored it as a trick of the light. "The two of us have been having a problem for a long time, and it has only become worse since Halloween..." he scowled, "And I am tired of it."
"What?" McGonagall widened her eyes in surprise, as did most of the students, Gryffindor and Slytherin. Harry scoffed.
"You heard me," he replied, rising slowly from his seat to look the woman directly in her eyes. "When I arrived at Hogwarts, I heard your speech about how our house was going to be our family, and for once, I had hope. Hope that I'd meet someone like me, someone to support me when I needed, and to encourage me. I actually saw you as the grandmother I never had, and what did you do?"
"In my first year, you sent me, Malfoy, the beaver, and the waste bin to a detention with Hagrid in the Forbidden Forest, which happens to be forbidden for a reason, or so Dumbledore says every year. And yet, you sent us there, with ONE half-giant and a dog to protect us! And we all know who I found, drinking the blood of the unicorn. Had it not been for the centaurs, I would be DEAD!" Harry's anger grew, punctuating his words."
"Then, your support knew no bounds again, when we told you about our suspicions of someone trying to steal the stone." McGonagall's eyes continued to widen as she gaped at Harry. "You claimed the stone was safely hidden and protected, and yet three first years passed through the defences the teachers at this school came up with, and once again I had to be the one to deal with Quirrell and his master, since none of you teachers would hear us. We were lucky Dumbledore used the mirror, or else by the time I got there, Quirrell would have already left with the stone."
"Then second year. It had to be Granger to find out about the basilisk and the pipes, and it had to be me to actually do something about it, AGAIN, because you teachers wouldn't use your FUCKING BRAINS FOR ONCE!" Harry cried out, making everyone gasp and shiver.
"Third year, instead of acting as my head of house and grandmother-like figure and telling me the truth, you deliberately kept me in the dark about MY GODFATHER AND MY UNCLE! I had to sneak out of Hogwarts under my Cloak and overhear a conversation between you and Fudge. Furthermore, you, who were my parents' head of house, should have known better. You of all people should have known the bond between my father and Sirius. Yet, instead of wanting to help one of your lions, instead of demanding answers, instead of wanting to help one of your comrades in the damn Order of the Turkey you gallivanted around with, you turned your back on him just like everyone else, letting him rot in Azkaban for twelve years! Granted, the man is an idiot who could have escaped anytime, but that's beside the point..."
"And this year, the cherry on top. Instead of helping me, you allowed those brain-dead students in your house to cast me out for being a liar and a cheat with no evidence, when I was innocent." His anger was palpable, and even Harry's friends were afraid of him, feeling his rage and his magic leaking from him. Daphne was too shocked to even try to calm her boyfriend.
"So you can keep your 'wondrous' advice and share it with someone who gives a damn." Harry got up from his desk and started to walk away from the Slytherins and towards the door.
McGonagall recovered her composure quickly and had collected herself by the time he approached the door. "Fifty points from Slytherin for your inexcusable behaviour," she shouted, "Sit down, Mr. Potter. The lesson is not ended yet."
"Make me," he answered back, waving his wand and opening the door with loud bang.
"Your parents would be appalled by your behaviour," the woman shot back, and Harry stopped his stride, turning to McGonagall with fury clear in his face.
"My parents... ARE DEAD!" he shouted, and everyone flinched. However, what he said next shocked everyone further and prompted several gasps. "Murdered due to their own stupidity and their stupid loyalty to your Order and your Light. Why were they in Godric's Hollow when they had a fully warded manor? Why were they only under the Fidelius when they had other wards on Potter Manor? Why didn't they pay the goblins for protection if the Potter Vaults were so loaded? Why was the Potter Invisibility Cloak in Dumbledore's possession instead of being at the house? Why didn't my mother use it to hide us from Voldemort? Why did my father, who was an oh so talented duelist, die in the entrance of the house like an amateur? Why did my mother, who was supposed to be an amazing and most intelligent witch, not have plans prepared in case they were attacked?"
McGonagall just gaped at Harry's words, much like Daphne, who just KNEW something was not right with him. It was true that they had never spoken at length about his parents, but he had never spoken badly about them. Then again, that could be the reason why Harry never spoke about it, because he resented them.
Then Daphne saw the trickles of blood falling from Harry's nose, followed by tears of blood.
"Your generation made Voldemort, who destroyed our parents' generation. And you're still around, fucking up even more, leaving us with even more pieces to pick up while we try to do something worthy with our lives... YOU FAILED US!" Harry shouted, waving at the class, "Just like you failed when you allowed Dumbledore to abandon a one-year-old baby at the doorstep of magic-hating muggles on a cold November night."
McGonagall paled, not that Harry cared. He never saw it, though, as he felt his world fading from view, not even aware he was falling.
"Harry!" Daphne shouted the moment she realized Harry was fainting, and Vince was fast enough to grab Harry before he fell on the floor, face first. All the Slytherins scrambled from their seats when they saw it, and rallied around the fallen Harry, Vince, and Daphne, who cleaned Harry's blood and tried unsuccessfully to wake him.
"Harry, wake up," she demanded in fear, but Harry was gone.
Then he screamed and convulsed.
~BREAK~
When Harry opened his eyes, he realized he was laying in the hospital wing, surrounded by all of his friends, looking at him with concern.
"Um, hi?" he tried to say, but his head throbbed at the words.
"Don't speak," Daphne told him in a soft voice. He turned to her and saw relief in her eyes, trying to bury the fear and the horror she experienced.
"Are you all right, mate?" asked Theo, and Harry looked at him, nodding.
"What happened?" Harry asked, and they all looked uncomfortable.
"Harry, what is the last thing you remember?" asked Daphne.
"Going to Transfiguration...wanting a kiss and getting only a peck on the cheek..." he replied, with a small frown. His friends chuckled nervously at that. "What happened?"
"Harry..." Millie started, the first to gain enough courage to speak. "You tore McGonagall apart in Transfiguration class."
"Verbally, that is," Pansy added.
"You spoke in anger, that was for sure..." Tracey replied, and Harry frowned at that, feeling Daphne's fingers in his hair. "Then, when you accused her and her generation of failing our generation, you started to bleed and fainted. Then..."
"Then?" Harry asked, unsure if he wanted to know.
"You started screaming in pain and convulsing," Theo added, as Blaise, Vince, and Greg nodded. "Greg and Vince couldn't hold you, and we had to stun you before Madam Pomfrey showed up. Hell, we had to stun you three times because your magic nearly broke the charm."
"What?" Harry asked in shock.
"When Madam Pomfrey checked you, she discovered your magic was unstable," Daphne replied softly "Your magic lashed out against you from within, for some reason..." Daphne hesitated, "Have you been sick? Or feeling weird? Have you been doing something unusual?"
"No, I haven't," Harry replied with a frown. "The only thing unusual I have been doing is that Runes project." Daphne nodded.
"Madam Pomfrey fed you several potions that did nothing. In the end, after nearly one hour, you stopped screaming and went back to normal."
"That doesn't make any sense," Harry mumbled.
"No, it doesn't," the serious voice of Madam Pomfrey spoke, and the matron came forward solemnly. "That's why you are going to stay here for observation for a few days." Harry only nodded, and Madam Pomfrey felt peculiar at the scene, for once not hearing any complaint from the young man. "Here, drink this potion," she told him, handing him a green vial. Harry simply drank it at once and leaned into Daphne, who gladly accepted his closeness.
"Do you have any suspicions?" Harry asked the matron, and Madam Pomfrey shook her head.
"You should rest," the matron replied, but his friends didn't take the hint, staying where they were.
"So, what else happened in Transfiguration?" Harry asked, noticing how uncomfortable they were.
"Before we answer you, I need you to answer one question," Daphne replied, and Harry nodded. "I want you to tell me the truth, no lies. Will you do that, for me?" Again, Harry nodded. "What do you really think of your parents?" He didn't reply to the question, and Daphne had to ask again.
"They're dead. They don't matter anymore," he replied after the third time, and all of them could hear the resentment in his voice. "Why?"
"You admitted your feelings for them in class," Blaise replied solemnly, "And you also pointed out the flaws in their plan of being hidden and their lack of preparation for an attack."
"Ah..." Harry replied, and sighed.
"Not to mention you declared yourself even darker in front of everyone," Pansy replied with a smirk.
Harry looked at Daphne and saw her concerned blue eyes looking at him. He went for her unoccupied hand and squeezed it.
"So what?" he asked.
Eventually his friends had to leave, orders of Madam Pomfrey, and Harry summoned Dobby.
"Master. How do you feel?"
"Tired," he replied with a sigh. "Any idea about what happened?"
"None," the elf replied.
"Fine, just bring me the plans for the runic array for me to check again."
"I did it, and they are just fine," Dobby replied, snapping his fingers. At once, a scroll appeared in his hand. "Why are you so concerned?"
"I care about Scylla," Harry replied, and Dobby snorted as his master opened the scroll and checked the rune formula and the arithmancy. Neither spoke for several moments. "Can you start making it?"
"Of course," Dobby replied, receiving the scroll back.
"Then do it and test it. I want it to be flawless."
"It's just a runic patterning that will make the snake immune to the crow of roosters. You could always deafen it."
"And have Scylla not be able to hear her enemies?" he asked with a raised eyebrow. "I'd rather have this work and make sure Scylla is fine instead of taking chances. This is too important."
"All right, it should be done in two days," Dobby replied, and Harry nodded.
"Then the day I leave this place, we will apply the runes on Scylla and send her to Voldemort's lair."
"Would you like anything else, master?" Dobby asked, and Harry shook his head.
"Have a good night, Dobby," Harry said.
"You too, master," Dobby replied, popping away, leaving Harry alone in the darkness. He fortified his Occlumency shields to full power and started to review the memories from Transfiguration class, finding them both amusing and worrisome. The moment he stood lashing out at McGonagall, right before he fainted, he seemed to have felt something, a small breeze, or a warmth, but he had no idea what it had been. In the end, he had no idea what happened, but he did have a lot of questions.
~BREAK~
Three days later, Harry was allowed to leave the hospital wing. Whatever happened to him in Transfiguration had not happened again, and Madam Pomfrey had no idea what to think about the strange occurrence. Harry left with orders to return if he felt anything unusual, and once again, Harry didn't complain, accepting the matron's word with a nod.
Realizing it was mid-afternoon, Harry chose to walk for a bit, knowing that his friends would be in class… Charms. He could show up, but had other things to do, and had no desire to deal with the Gryffindors. He went outside and walked to the lake shore, standing with his arms behind his back and his eyes closed, feeing the wind in his face. He didn't care about anything else for a small moment, just standing there. That was, of course, until he felt an aura approaching him.
"Headmaster," Harry mumbled, his eyes still closed.
"Mr. Potter," the headmaster replied, and for some reason, along with the warmth in the older man's voice, he also felt apprehension. "I'm glad to see Madam Pomfrey has allowed you to leave her domain."
"Yes..." he mumbled, seeing the older man standing at his side.
"How do you feel?" asked Dumbledore.
"Worried. Apprehensive..." Harry replied. "Shocked."
"Understandable," the headmaster, replied and for several moments, neither spoke. "Do you care to enlighten an old man on your side of the story?"
"You probably know more than I do, already," Harry replied, looking to the headmaster with cold eyes "Sir, I have no idea what happened and I have no idea what caused it. I am concerned about it, and I don't want it to happen again. That is all."
"Glad to hear it, but unfortunately, we need to talk about it," Dumbledore replied, and Harry frowned "Professor McGonagall wants to give you a month's detention for lack of respect." Harry snorted.
"Typical," Harry replied, and Dumbledore frowned. "That woman is as biased as Professor Snape. At least Snape has the guts to admit it in public."
"Now, now, Harry..." Dumbledore replied, "Professor McGonagall is a fine professional and an excellent educator..."
"No, she is a fine Transfiguration Mistress, but when dealing with children, she isn't so available." Dumbledore hummed, remembering a Gryffindor first year saying the very same. "Is it to her that I must report for my detentions?"
"No detentions have been assigned yet," Dumbledore replied, "How would you like to be company for an old man having a stroll for the grounds?"
"Fine, but I don't see any old men around..." Harry joked, and Dumbledore chuckled. The two started to walk in silence.
"I understand your friends were quite concerned about you, and they all tried to help you," Dumbledore said.
"They are good people," Harry replied, walking with his arms behind his back.
"I always found it surprising how quickly you were accepted in Slytherin..." Dumbledore replied, "I admit, I had my concerns..."
"Not every one of us is Dark and blind, Headmaster," Harry replied with a sigh. "A child is not their parents, nor is it the sum of its parents. "
"Wise words, Harry. I find it refreshing to find a child with such perception."
"I am no child..." Harry mumbled, "I haven't been a child in a long time." Dumbledore frowned at that but said nothing. Neither spoke for a time.
"I think we've dawdled long enough, Headmaster," Harry spoke after walking in silence for a while. "Feel free to ask what you wanted in the first place."
"Why do you think I had anything to ask you?" Dumbledore asked with a small chuckle.
"You came to me instead of summoning me, like you usually do," Harry replied bluntly, and Dumbledore's amused demeanour faded. "And in your place, I would do the same."
Dumbledore just nodded.
"I asked Professor McGonagall for a memory of the event and I was shocked by some of your words, Harry."
"Which ones?"
"How do you know of the Order of the Phoenix?" asked Dumbledore, and Harry snorted.
"My parents left diaries," Harry replied shortly, and Dumbledore seemed to accept the answer.
"Did you mean what you said?" asked Dumbledore, and Harry sighed.
"What exactly?" asked Harry.
"The part when you mentioned you wanted to see Professor McGonagall as a grandmother and find people like you?" Dumbledore replied, and Harry nodded.
"I was...severely disappointed when I realized I couldn't count on McGonagall. Then again, it was nothing new by then," Harry said, more to himself, not noticing Dumbledore's frown. "I learned at a very young age not to count on anyone, how to be self-reliant and smart. I had hopes when I came here, but those quickly vanished when I understood the kind of crowd I was hanging out with..."
"I see..." Dumbledore replied hesitantly, and Harry snorted.
"No, you don't, Headmaster," he replied, looking at the older man. "You have no idea what it's like."
"Would you like to explain it to me, then?" the older man asked.
"I learned to hate while very young, but I also learned how to be cunning and hide it." Dumbledore was shocked at the boy's words, appalled with what he was hearing, but he asked for it and he would hear everything the boy wanted to share.
"Then again, I also learned the true value of a family and love. I saw how the other kids acted with their parents and how I wanted to act...but I couldn't. I came here, wanting a fresh start and friends, but because of Voldemort, my cousin..." Harry snorted at that, "I had nothing of the sort. When the hat told me I was Slytherin material, I was both appalled and afraid. Appalled because it wanted to put me with the blonde dunce and afraid because it would put me in the house of the man who destroyed my family."
"Ollivander had already told me of our similarities, and I didn't want to be like him." It came out in a whisper, but Dumbledore heard it and felt his worried heart calm down a bit. Harry picked a small stone from the ground and threw it into the lake, watching it skip across the water. "I was afraid, and all I wanted was to learn, grow, have friends, and ..." He shrugged with a sigh. "Well, it doesn't really matter. Not anymore, at least. I am where I belong and I am happy. More than I have been in several years."
"I am glad you found what you wanted, Harry," Dumbledore replied with a small smile. "However, do you truly mean what you said concerning your parents?" Harry looked with cold steel eyes at the headmaster. That was the only answer the older man needed. "Your parents loved you, Harry."
"That's not the point, Headmaster," Harry replied. "Their deaths were stupid and showed a lot of under preparation for such a critical situation. I myself came up with several ideas that my mother could have used to escape, and only two of them involved the Cloak, that for some reason was in your possession. Care to explain that?"
Dumbledore coughed, embarrassed.
"I had asked your father to study it, and he never asked for it back... Neither had I remembered to return it." Harry snorted at that. "Your father was the quintessential Gryffindor, Harry. Sometimes, he rushed in too easily. Lily tended to be calmer and use more critical analysis in situations, but..."
"But the both of them were Gryffindors, no matter how meaningless those titles truly are, and the both of them died because they didn't plan accordingly," Harry replied with a sigh.
"Do you resent them?" Dumbledore asked, "For dying?"
"For dying stupidly, yes," Harry confessed. "I don't hate them, though. I'm just...appalled at how things led to their deaths. It was a waste."
"All needless loss of life is a waste, Harry."
"I know," he replied, and as Dumbledore looked at Harry, he thought he saw ancient, tired, and haunted green eyes looking out to the lake. Much like his own. "To lose what we love the most...because of others...not again. Never again."
Those words warmed the older man's spirit. Maybe Harry Potter wasn't falling into Darkness as he originally believed after seeing the memories. Not if he was able to love and care, and that was what he wanted to know the most. In the beginning of the year, Harry seemed to be falling into Darkness. Then, somehow, while associating with the fourth year Slytherins, while he was still showing some Dark tendencies, he was also protective and seemed to become Lighter, in a matter of speaking. Then, seeing the memories, it seemed that Harry Potter was falling into Darkness again.
Although now, the ancient headmaster was not so sure, but he would gain no information by pestering the boy. Even less than keeping him away.
"Well, this was a nice conversation," the older man said with a smile, surprising Harry. "Alas, I have much work to do, and I merely wanted to inquire about your health. Have no fear, I will let you know about the detentions you have to serve for what happened," Dumbledore said with a smile and an amused grin. "Enjoy the rest of your day Harry, and try not to get caught. We are in a class period, after all. Although, I urge you to not be so harsh on your parents. They loved you very much and gave their life to protect yours."
"Regardless of how it happened, my parents are dead, Headmaster," he said to the older man. "I appreciate their sacrifice for me and I accept that they died, but that's it. I don't have to like it," he sighed, turning away, "But it doesn't matter. Only the living and those who are yet to be born matter."
Had Harry looked to the headmaster, he would have seen a huge smile forming in the older man's mouth.
"That's a wonderful thought, Harry," he said before leaving.
Harry thought so too...now that he had Daphne back.
~BREAK~
"~~How do you feel?~~" Harry asked, and Scylla hissed, moving around.
"~~Normal, my pet,~~" the young basilisk replied, and Harry accepted the answer. He had spent the last five hours etching runes in Scylla's scales, and he was really tired. That was the method chosen by Scylla herself, no matter if it hurt. If the runes were etched in her scales, they would never vanish and she would be powerful for her entire life, unlike if her pet used ink.
"~~Then you should rest while the runes charge. It won't take much time, and if you want, you can still go this evening,~~" said Harry, and Scylla nodded.
"~~I am ready, my pet. I will vanquish your enemy for you and I will protect you.~~"
"~~Let's go over the plan again,~~" Harry said, and Scylla promptly replied.
"~~I will go into this Riddle's nest and I must be hidden at most times. When I see the puny enemy snake called Nagini, I am to bite her and kill her. Then, I need to go back to the place where I arrived first and call for you on the mirror your elf will leave for me there. I will tell you the snake is dead, and you will take care of the remaining hor-hora-those soul thingies,~~" Scylla replied, and Harry chuckled, caressing Scylla's muzzle.
"~~Make sure you're safe,~~" Harry told Scylla.
"~~Of course I will. Who do you think I am?~~"
"~~What about your friends?~~" asked Harry, and Scylla shook her head.
"~~They will stay in the forest, waiting for my triumphant return,~~" the basilisk replied pompously, and Harry chuckled.
"~~All right, in that case, just stay around a bit. You can coil yourself on the bed. I will take a shower, and then I will sleep for a bit.~~"
"~~What about your mate, my pet?~~" Scylla asked, curious.
"~~She stayed in her nest with the other girls,~~" Harry replied, using snake words for Scylla to understand better. He really didn't want another replay of the conversation around bed/nest and mates. The 'talk' for snakes...what a joy.
Harry took a quick shower and climbed into bed, noticing Scylla had coiled herself on it. It didn't look like she was preparing for sleep, though.
"~~Do you think the rune thingies are done yet?~~" Scylla asked as Harry laid on the bed.
"~~No, you need to wait a bit more,~~" Harry replied, amused.
"~~How much more?~~"
"~~Just a bit.~~"
"~~How much time is a bit?~~" Scylla insisted.
"~~One hour, maybe less,~~" Harry replied.
"~~How long is that?~~"
"~~Remember two days ago, when I left with Daphne for dinner? That was two hours, more or less. So it's half of that time.~~"
"~~That's too much time!~~" Scylla replied, outraged, raising her head from her coiled body. "~~So boring!~~"
"~~Scylla, it's important to wait, and you need to learn how to be patient.~~"
"~~But that's too much time,~~" Scylla complained again, "~~What am I supposed to do? I am not sleepy as you are, my pet. Besides, I am excited to go on this adventure... I know, I will sing you a song to help you sleep, and when I'm ready I will wake you.~~"
"Oh no..." Harry thought to himself.
"~~There was once a big snake
the snake was really big.
Once it got a deer, it swallowed it whole
and it burped loud for all to hear.~~"
"Can snakes even burp?" Harry thought to himself, trying to ignore the second verse of the song. Harry closed his eyes and tried to fall asleep, even if only for a short while. He wasn't sure if he slept or not, but before he knew it, he was being shaken by an amused Dobby, feeling something heavy on his chest. Harry looked and saw Scylla's sleeping head on his chest, going up and down with Harry's breathing.
"The runes are charged, Harry," Dobby said, and Harry nodded, waking Scylla with a soft pat on her head.
"~~Scylla, its time, if you want to go.~~"
Scylla woke and grumbled, leaving Harry's chest and slithering to the base of the bed, where she coiled herself again.
"I guess not," Harry replied, and Dobby chuckled.
"I'll wake you at seven," Dobby replied before popping away again, probably to his own room. Harry closed his eyes again and felt himself drifting to sleep, for some reason dreaming of himself with his wife, as well as their daughter in a dark cave. He saw his wife looking at him before jumping him and kissing him, just as he was assaulted by a small, overexcited, and tearful girl. He saw their lips moving, he saw the tears in their eyes and much weirder, he saw them flickering, but heard none of their words. He would not remember the strange dream the following morning.
Even not understanding what they were saying, Harry felt calm and at peace in that dream, hugging the two girls he loved the most in the entire world. He never noticed the giant blue-eyed basilisk resting in the shadows.
~BREAK~
At seven in the morning, Dobby woke Harry, who woke Scylla. After some final instructions, Dobby popped away with the basilisk coiled around his waist, returning not even ten minutes later, reporting a mission accomplished.
"Then let's prepare the rest," Harry replied. With a wave of his wand, the Horcrux chest was opened, and next to it was placed a small barrel of basilisk venom, harvested from the former guardian of the Chamber. All that was needed was to empty the barrel into the chest, and the Horcruxes would all be destroyed. After that, all they needed to do was go to Riddle Manor and finish the job...
It was a bit anti-climactic, now that Harry thought about it.
In the armour stand were three full sets of basilisk hide armour, prepared to be brought into battle. His, Daphne's, and Dobby's. Daphne was aware of Harry's most recent plan, of course, and approved of it. She was also ready to depart at any time. Unfortunately, it was a Thursday and they had classes to attend. Harry would keep the mirror with himself at all times so that he would be able to receive Scylla's reply. After that, as soon as they would be able, Harry, Daphne, and Dobby would put on their armour and enter Riddle Manor, battle ready and prepared for everything, to finish the Dark Lord once and for all.
The day started with breakfast, and neither Harry nor Daphne were able to perfectly hide their apprehension. All of their friends noticed it, as did some of the others. They didn't talk much, apart from addressing questions from their friends or teachers. They seemed anxious, but at the same time focused.
Weird.
Of course, it didn't affect their classwork and they still got points for a job well done, even in Transfiguration. McGonagall showed some animosity towards Harry, but ultimately treated him like any other student, not caring about his or her house colour. That was professional of her. Harry had approached McGonagall and apologised for his behaviour and undermining her authority, but not for his words. The message was clear, and McGonagall seemed to have swallowed a lemon after hearing it. Yet, she said nothing, only nodding to the boy.
Nearly all of the morning had passed and Harry was sitting with Daphne in Ancient Runes. He was paying attention to class, but his thoughts kept fleeing towards Scylla, Nagini, and Voldemort. Would Scylla be all right? Would she be safe?
His thoughts were interrupted by a soft hand on his. He turned to Daphne and saw her looking at him with a soft smile.
"Everything will be alright," she whispered, and Harry nodded.
"I know. I'm just worried about Scylla."
"Anything you two would like to share with class, Ms. Greengrass, Mr. Potter?" asked the professor.
"Nothing at all, Professor," Harry replied promptly, and Professor Babbling nodded, continuing with the class and ignoring the snickers from the other students. In the front row, Hermione Granger scowled at the two for interrupting class, giving her complete attention to the professor once again.
"Our time is ending, therefore for homework I want you to do an essay on the significance and the meaning of three runes of your choice."
"Does it have to be three taught runes?" asked Granger, and the professor shook her head.
"Three runes of your choice, Ms. Granger," the professor repeated herself, "You may leave earlier for lunch. And have a nice weekend."
Some replied, others didn't, but all packed their things and left the classroom.
"Dobby!" Harry called, and his and Daphne's bag vanished in thin air. "Shall we go to lunch, my dear?" Harry asked in a pompous tone, trying to hide his concern. Daphne chuckled and nodded, taking his arm and walking out of the room, noticing some of the amused and envious looks the other students gave them.
"You need to relax," Daphne said, and Harry sighed.
"She's still a child, maybe I shouldn't have sent her..." Harry whispered.
"You're being such a father," Daphne mocked him with a giggle, but she did find it sweet and endearing.
"What can I say, I like that little, obnoxious, amusing snake," he replied, and Daphne smirked. "It's a shame her gaze is not yet fully developed, it would be so much easier..."
"She is doing it willingly," Daphne reminded him, "I'm just surprised she only went this morning instead of earlier. I would assume the excitement would be greater."
"Well, let us just say that after singing me a lullaby, Scylla fell asleep on my chest. By the time the runes were charged, instead of leaving, she decided that sleep was far more important." Daphne snorted and chuckled, amused at the thought of Scylla singing a lullaby.
"Is it like the others?"
"Catchy tunes, you mean?" Harry asked, and Daphne refrained from snorting at his question.
"Not so much, something about a big snake eating..." Harry replied.
"Figures," Daphne replied. Then Harry stopped walking and stiffened, his amusement vanishing, replaced by a mask of focus. "Harry, what's wrong?"
"Raise a silence ward. Quick," Harry replied, reaching his hand into his pocket. Daphne drew her wand and raised the ward before noticing Harry was handling a little mirror in his hand. "It's too early..." he mumbled before raising the mirror, making sure everyone passed them by. Daphne understood immediately what was happening and made sure the others would walk past and not disturb them.
It was not like she was going to understand Harry and Scylla's conversation... She heard his hissing at the mirror and waited patiently, hearing the hissing from the other side. At first, Harry looked amused, but then, his demeanour changed to concerned and worried.
The greatest sign was when his eyebrows raised in shock and surprise, before hissing back at the mirror and pocketing it.
"What's wrong?" Daphne asked, concerned, and seeing Harry's own concern mingling with some rage and frustration.
"Riddle Manor is empty," Harry replied, almost seething, "There is no one there, and from the looks of it, there hasn't been anyone there for several months."
Daphne gaped at that.
"But... I thought Voldemort stayed there..."
"So did I..." Harry replied, massaging his temples.
"What now?" Daphne asked, crossing her arms in an attempt to hide her worries. "What will we do?"
"Put a challenge in the paper to draw him out," Harry replied, half in jest and half out of frustration, and Daphne glared at him.
"Harry..."
"Sorry, but I have no idea. I have no idea what's happening."
"Would Crouch know?" she asked, and Harry looked wide-eyed at her, his annoyance almost vanishing, replaced by a huge smile.
"Brilliant!" he said, holding her and twirling her around, "Of course!"
"Harry, put me down!" she ordered, more in shock than annoyance.
"Come on, let's find the bastard."
"Do you plan to go to him and just ask?" Daphne raised an eyebrow and Harry nodded.
"I said I took care of him, didn't I?" Harry asked back, and Daphne accepted his reply. The two walked to the DADA room and found Moody, aka Barty Crouch Jr. under Polyjuice, alone in the room and sitting at the desk grading papers.
"Potter, Greengrass...what do you want?" the man asked bluntly.
"Are we alone, Professor?" asked Harry, "Or can anyone hear or see us?"
"What kind of question is that, Potter?" the man replied, raising his eyes from his work and glaring at the boy.
"It was a simple question, wasn't it, Crouch?" Harry asked with cold steel in his voice, and the man behind the desk stiffened.
"What did you call me?" the man asked, his arm slowly moving towards his wand, not that Harry or Daphne would realize it.
"I asked..." Harry started, only to widen his eyes the moment he understood. In a quick dash, he drew his wand in time to dodge a Stunner. Although she was caught by surprise, Daphne also drew her wand and cast her own Stunner on the man, mostly as a reflex, only to have it shielded. Crouch was no slouch with a wand, but he was in a constricted space. To add to his troubles, the moment he cast a Stunner in Daphne's direction her chest glowed green, and everyone knew what was coming. Regardless, Harry hit him with his own Veritas Imperio spell in the short time before Kael manifested himself and ordered the man to stop, which he did.
"How did you break free?" Harry almost roared in anger, after hissing at Kael to stand down.
"I don't understand your question, Master."
"I had you under my power. How did you break free?" Harry demanded again, and Daphne stepped up to his side, still shaken from the short but intense duel.
"The Dark Lord cast several spells on me... Maybe one of them did it..." Crouch replied in a flat tone with a vacant expression. Harry was forced to accept it.
"Where is Voldemort?" Daphne demanded, holding Harry's arm but Crouch didn't answer.
"Answer her, scum," Harry ordered at once.
"I don't know."
"What do you mean you don't know? Don't you report to him?" Daphne asked again.
"I send owls to the Dark Lord, as does he when he sends me his orders," Crouch replied, and Harry growled as Daphne sighed.
"Has the plan to capture me in the third task changed?" Harry asked with a glare, and the man shook his head.
"Not that I know of, Master."
"Tell me if it does," Harry replied, and the man nodded. Harry turned to Daphne and pointed at Kael. Understanding what he meant, Daphne started to 'unsummon' the giant snake as Harry cast an Obliviate on the Death Eater posing as their teacher, making him forget what just happened.
"See you in class, Professor," Daphne said, almost dragging Harry from the room. The man, unaware of being under the spell or what just happened, just grumbled and went back to grading his essays, taking a sip from his bottle.
"What the hell is going on?" a concerned Daphne asked Harry after getting away from the classroom.
"I have no idea but I don't like it..." Harry replied.
Daphne didn't either, and both of them had a really bad feeling about the future... especially the day of the third task.