Harry Potter and the Unlocked Knowledge

Chapter Nine:

Harry frantically glanced around the crowded tavern – damn, it was crowded! – but couldn’t see far enough around to see even the entrance to the bathroom area, much less Katie.  He pushed his way towards the door roughly, ignoring calls of outrage and rude gestures flashed his way.

“Katie!  Katie, where are you?”  What did Malfoy do?  Did he curse her?  Maybe…but then, he’s never before really badly hurt someone, not even Hermione or Ron.  But set them up to get in trouble or injured?  That’s what he and his father both specialize in…

Harry made his way into the streets, still rather desolate like an eerie reminder of the deserted Diagon Alley earlier this summer, but still didn’t see Katie anywhere.  He was about to go back in and search the bathrooms when he saw her come out holding a package.

“Katie, thank God, I thought Malfoy did something to you; he was smirking like he had.  Katie, what are you doing?  What is that package?”  He said, growing frustrated as she ignored him.

“I must deliver this package to Dumbledore.”  She said in a somewhat cruel voice.  Cruel?  I didn’t think Katie could be cruel.  He spun her around forcefully and looked in her eyes critically.  Sure enough, they were cloudy and glazed over.  Imperius Curse!

“Katie, listen to me!  Fight the curse, don’t do what the voice says!”  His voice apparently had no impact on her.

“I must deliver this package to Dumbledore.”  She said in exactly the same tone as before.

“Well bugger that, I’m finished fooling around.  Expelliarmus.”  He said as he easily pointed his wand at her.  He’d tried to be gentle, but she was thrown across the street and into the shop wall, landing roughly on her front as the package flew to Harry’s hand.  A silent revealing spell found the object resounding with Dark magic.  Damn!

Katie got back up and had pulled her wand.

“Give me that package, Potter.”  She said.  Harry merely quirked an eyebrow – a victim under the Imperius curse could fight, but their reflexes would be dulled enough so that they wouldn’t pose a challenge to even a moderately skilled duelist.

“Ossus Diffringo!”  Katie yelled.  Harry stepped out of the way of the bright yellow curse – it ended up hitting the boarded up sign of Zonko’s behind him, shattering the boards.

“Soporo!”  He easily levitated her unconscious beside him as he strode up to the castle; several bypassing students moved out of his way – the look on his face a clear indicator that he was not in a good mood.  Hagrid intercepted him once he got on castle grounds.

“Harry!  Wha' happened?  Was there an attack?”  Hagrid asked concerned.

“No, Hagrid.  Katie was placed under the Imperius Curse, and tasked to deliver this package to Professor Dumbledore; I need Madam Pomfrey and Professor…Snape to help me.  He knows more about Dark Magic than anyone else.”  Hagrid nodded in agreement and sprinted up to the castle – a half-giant could keep a good clip if he’d half a mind, it seemed.

By the time Harry arrived at the Entrance Hall, Snape and Pomfrey were both arriving.

“Potter, what happened to the girl?”  Madam Pomfrey inquired as she bustled over.

“She was placed under the Imperius Curse – it was likely imperfectly, so watch for signs of that.  She was tasked to deliver this package to Professor Dumbledore.  Professor Snape, I thought it best that you check it out – a revealing spell showed it to be cursed, so I wouldn’t touch it if I were you,” Snape sneered at Harry’s obvious warning and picked up the package, stalking off when he realized that he was no longer needed immediately.

“I had to fight her to get the package from her, Madam Pomfrey.  An expelliarmus knocked her against a wall to disarm her of the package, and a stunning spell after she shot a spell off at me.  Only I can awaken her from the stunning spell, it’s an advanced one.”  Madam Pomfrey nodded, but didn’t tell him to awaken the girl.

“Alright, Potter…I’ll need to do a more thorough examination in the hospital wing, but she should be fine.  I’ll let you know when I need your assistance to awaken her, but if she’s under the Imperius Curse and violent as you say, it might be best to keep her under for now.”  Harry nodded in concurrence and was left alone in the Hall with Hagrid as she was removed.  His face showed a worried expression, and he was shaken from his thoughts when Hagrid interrupted him, concerned by his countenance.

“Come on, Harry, have a cuppa wit’ me in me hut,” Hagrid said, placing his hand on the boy’s back.  Harry followed Pomfrey and Katie with his eyes as they disappeared from his sight, and then nodded distantly, allowing Hagrid to lead him away.

“Really, Harry, I’m sure she’s goin’ to be right fine, you’ll see!”  Hagrid said jovially as he poured himself more tea.  Harry hadn’t touched his own, and indeed the only change was that his distant, hurt expression had turned darker and more into a purposeful glare.

“Anyway, wait’ll you see littl’ Grawpy again, ‘e’s turnin’ inta a right gentl’man, I ‘spect.  Gonna ‘ave ta find ‘im a lady Giant ‘ere soon…” Hagrid’s attempt at conversation was mostly ignored by Harry, whose thoughts had turned to darker things.  The name Grawp, however, did penetrate his mind.

I wonder if Grawp would like to be involved…tearing Malfoy limb from limb physically would probably be a bit more satisfying…or maybe an enlargement spell on myself as I tear him apart…yes, the blood on my own hands is better, I think…Harry said mostly to himself.

Harry, you have to stop this.  Trust me, Malfoy will get his due, but not right now, don’t kill him yet.  Remember, we need him because without him, Voldemort’s plot falls apart and he’ll use a better one that you won’t know about!  Tom tried.  Unfortunately, Harry ignored him like he had Hagrid.  Ron and Hermione bursting into the hut didn’t even cause him to look up.

“Harry, we heard what happened – rumors are flying everywhere!”  Hermione said.

“Yeah, what was wrong, why’d you hex Katie?  I thought she liked you…didn’t imagine the date going that badly…” Ron said.  Hermione turned to glare at him.  He finally turned to them, hard look still on my face.

“Ron, Hermione, you two can split my things between you, including the Gringotts account – key is in my trunk.”  He said, pushing away the tea and rising.

“What?  Why, mate, what’s going on?”  Ron said, not understanding.  Hermione had a similarly confused look.

“I’m going to be expelled and likely imprisoned.”  Harry said quite calmly as he made for the door, but his friends blocked his way.

“What?  For attacking Katie?”  Hermione interjected.

“No.  I’m going to murder Draco Malfoy.  Please step aside.”  His friends made to grab his arms, but they were merely dragged along with him – when had Harry become so strong?  Only the sight of Professor Dumbledore at the doors of the castle proper when he arrived slowed Harry down.

“Harry, tell me what happened; I’ve just been to see Ms. Bell in the hospital wing, and Severus was quite curious as to how she came upon such a Dark object.  I am rather pleased to see you alright, of course, Harry.”  Dumbledore was calm.  How can he be calm at a time like this?  One of his students was attacked – not that that’s a rarity or anything, but still!

“Malfoy Imperius cursed Katie.  She wanted to give you that package, but I stopped her.  Now, I’m going to kill Draco Malfoy – you might want to inform Filch, I intend for it to be messy as I tear him apart slowly.”  Harry said, raw fury in his voice.  Dumbledore saw this and magic flowed from the ancient wizard as he put a stop to Harry’s anger.

“Harry Potter, calm down this instant!”  He said harshly.  The tingle of magic flowing over him and the force of Dumbledore’s words cleared Harry’s mind quickly, and he realized how he had almost taken the first step to Voldemort’s Dark path and given in to his anger and grief.  Harry’s face turned from cold fury to disgust with himself.

“I’m sorry, Professor…I don’t know what came over me…” Harry began.

“Nonsense, Harry – it is quite obvious that you care for Ms. Bell, and so any attack on her makes you want to reciprocate.  I am afraid, however, that it is the duty of wizards like us not to give in to such urges and fight Darkness with Darkness.  For such, quite obviously, only leads to more Darkness.  Now why don’t you come up to my office for a bit and tell me what happened?  Thank you, Mr. Weasley, Ms. Granger.”  Dumbledore said as he placed his arm on Harry’s shoulder and dismissed his friends.  Harry and Dumbledore made their way to his office before their conversation resumed.

“Now, Harry, why don’t you tell me what occurred in a bit more detail?”  Dumbledore smiled reassuringly as he handed Harry a cup of tea and saucer.  I don't need any more blasted tea...he thought petulantly before beginning.

“Well, Katie and I were together in Hogsmeade, and we ran into Malfoy outside of the Three Broomsticks.  He tried to get a rise out of me, but we just walked inside, and I noticed Draco followed us; I thought he went into the bathroom, but he must’ve gone into the back.  Service was slow…really slow, actually, now that I think of it…and Katie got up to use the ladies’ room.  A short while after, Draco was dragged out by Professor McGonagall, but was smirking at me, so I knew something was up.  Sure enough, Katie came out carrying a package and acting oddly; I recognized the Imperius curse, so I had to stun her and take the package.  I brought her up here to Madam Pomfrey.  What can you tell me about the package?”  Dumbledore nodded thoughtfully.

“The package contained an opal necklace with a deadly curse on it – had either Ms. Bell or I touched it, we would have almost instantly been struck by the curse and likely no longer be living; thank goodness we’ve avoided that fate.  Professors Snape and McGonagall will check Mr. Malfoy’s wand for evidence of the Imperius Curse, as you say.  If we find that evidence, then of course things are out of my hands and he’ll receive life imprisonment for casting an Unforgivable.  If not, then I’m afraid we have quite the mystery on our hands.”  Harry agreed that this was fair.

“I don’t know, sir…I just don’t like the feel of this plot by Draco…it’s too heavy-handed.  The plot with the Cabinet is subtle and well thought-out; it could be that he’s having problems with the cabinet or something and wanted this easier way out, but I can’t imagine that he’d do something so rash, to risk exposure like this.  Something doesn’t add up, in my opinion.”  Harry just couldn’t think of what it was that bothered him about the plan.  It was…just not Slytherin enough.

“I see…well, if you unravel your misgivings, do let me know, Harry.  In any case, why don’t you return to your friends and allow Ms. Granger to properly dissect the day’s events?  By the way, Harry, I believe Monday evening will be a good time for us to continue with our lessons.”  Harry excused himself and made his way not to Gryffindor Tower, but the hospital wing.  He would see his friends eventually, but wanted to be sure that Katie was okay first.  And give him time to think, of course.  He was glad of Dumbledore scheduling the next lesson – he was getting a bit worried at both their inconsistency and Dumbledore’s surprisingly common absences.  Although if Harry knew he were dying, perhaps he’d have things to put in order as well.

"Potter, what are you doing here, are you injured or here to see the girl?"  Madam Pomfrey asked as Harry stepped into her wing.

"Oh, no, I'm fine...just here to see Katie."  Harry said, making his way over to the bed where she lay sleeping.

"Alright, that's fine.  I'm ready for you to wake her up, anyway, I've healed her and I believe that I've broken the Imperius Curse's hold on her.  Dreadful, I say, I haven't had to work with that curse since the last war!"  Madam Pomfrey said disapprovingly.

"Enervate."  Harry said simply.  Katie opened her eyes slowly, smiling as she saw Harry.

"Good morning, how was your nap?"  Harry said with a smile that covered his worried mind.  Only with the most inexpertly applied Imperius Curses was there a real chance of permanent damage, but one never knew.

"What happened, why am I in the Hospital Wing?"  Katie asked, disoriented.

"You were put under the Imperius Curse, Katie.  I think it happened while you were in the bathroom at the Three Broomsticks.  Do you remember that?"  Harry asked, hoping that she'd remembered her attacker.

"I remember...I was on my way to the bathroom...but someone cursed me as I walked through the door - they must have hit me from behind, I don't remember anything about who it was.  I think the voice sounded female, though."  Malfoy has a pretty feminine voice...Harry thought, clutching for straws.

Either that or the great Harry Potter gave into his prejudice and allowed it to overcome his sensibilities.  Draco may have known about the plot - talked with the other Death Eater in the tavern, even, but may not have carried it out himself.  Harry grumbled in agreement.

It could have even been one of the other Slytherins...Parkinson or something.  Harry postulated.

I don't know...it isn't very Slytherin to risk life imprisonment on an ill-conceived plot.  Which is why you were suspicious of Draco to begin with.  Tom argued.

I know...and I hated having a good point then, too.  Harry thought petulantly.  Such behavior seemed to be the order of the day, but he forced himself to think clearly with the new outlook that Tom's presence had provided, difficult as it was.

"Harry, is everything alright?  What happened while I was cursed?"  She asked hesitantly.

"Oh, everything's fine, Katie, don't worry about it.  You were supposed to deliver something to Dumbledore, but I ended up taking it from you and stunning you.  Sorry if I was a little rough..." She just smiled and patted his hand, which was holding her own.

"That's alright, Harry - my back is a little sore, though...what curse did you use?"

"Well, just a disarming spell.  I tried to be gentle, but it ended up throwing you against a wall pretty hard...I'm not surprised your back is sore."  Madam Pomfrey hurriedly gave her a pain relief potion.  When she walked away, Katie lowered her voice suggestively.

"Next time you want me up against a wall so badly, Harry, just ask!"  She said with a sexy grin.  

"I'll be sure to take you up on that offer," Harry said with a flash of a dazzling smile.

"You'd better, I can't owe you for saving my life forever, after all.  Sorry I ruined our first date, by the way..." She said, seriously looking contrite.  He decided to break her of that.

"Are you kidding?  Honestly, I was expecting a few dragons, Voldemort, and maybe a wild manticore or something, but you getting put under the Imperius curse wasn't all THAT boring..." He said jokingly, causing her to laugh appreciatively.

"Besides, if you want to make it up to me, we'll just have to have a few more."  Katie brightened considerably.

"If you're asking me to be your girlfriend, I accept."

"Oh, I wasn't, but good to know."  She slapped him and pulled him in for a quick kiss.

"Alright, now get out of this room before Madam Pomfrey throws you out!"  She said as she released him.

"Are you kidding?  She usually tries anything to get me to stay, I think she'd be more appreciative!"  He said as he walked out, Katie throwing a pillow at him.  He thoughtlessly levitated it without a wand and laughingly told her, "Behave, my little Katiekins!" Before ducking out of the room and heading back to Gryffindo tower.

At least the attacker set you up nicely to go out with Katie, Tom said with a mental smile.

Oh, you're just glad I didn't turn out gay or something, and you'd have to watch, Harry cheekily replied.

Hmm...it seems that you are getting to know me and my motivations all too well, my young companion.  Now, I think it high time that you receive some of the memories of my own school days - after all, you don't want to seem inexperienced when Katie - Thankfully Tom's little tirade on just what he expected Harry and Katie to get up to was interrupted by the fine timing of Ron and Hermione, who seemed to be making their way from Gryffindor tower.

"Harry, thank heavens, what is going on?  What did Professor Dumbledore want?  How's Katie doing?  Did you visit the Hospital Wing already?"  Hermione began her usual barrage of questions, but Harry cut her off before she really got on a roll.

"Not here, let's head to the training room, it's closest."  Harry led his friends to the room, where he wandlessly slammed the door and activated the security and privacy wards.  He also may have happened to activate four of the marble golems, but his excuse was a bit of extra pent-up frustrations that he couldn't take out on a certain annoyingly smug inbred cretin.

"Ossus Diffringo!"  Harry yelled with a snarl as one arm exploded off of the nearest golem.  After that, he was silently casting as he tossed the mindless stone creations around like volatile, exploding ragdolls and explaining how he'd spent his day to his friends.  

"Confringo!"  Harry's final curse hit the three remaining golems, all in various states of disrepair, and the ensuing explosion left only small chunks of marble on the floor.  His friends were a bit wide-eyed at the scene of utter destruction that he'd wrought before them.

"Well, mate...you all finished with your anger bit, or d'you need another partner?"  Ron asked somewhat jokingly.  His smile fell as Harry nodded and turned his wand on his friend with a whispered, "Flipendo."  Hermione rolled her eyes as Harry left bruises, cuts, and welts on his friend.

"You know, Ron," Harry said as he hit his friend in the gut with a Bludgeoning Hex and Banished him into the nearest bookshelf, "I really think that living opponents are the better answer.  More unpredictable, you know?"  Harry easily sidestepped Ron's silent stunner and batted a follow-up curse away with his wand.

"Are you two quite finished?  Fine spellwork, by the way, Harry, it is good to see you expanding your repertoire even at Ron's expense.  Are those chains of spells commonly taught?  I've never seen such quick spellwork before!"  Hermione cut in a few minutes later, ignoring Ron's black eye, gimp leg, and useless arm.  Harry walked over to him and started applying various healing charms while he fielded her questions.

"Oh, yes.  If you work out specific combinations - how to optimally combine wand movements and all that - it really speeds up spellcasting.  Eventually you can get just about every useful combination down and your entire duel will be one long spellchain.  But I wanted to give ol' Ronnie a chance there to avoid some of my curses.  Of course, only the really gifted and practiced duelists get long spellchains down pat; Dumbledore, of course, and Voldemort.  Moody, though he didn't really work on that with me this summer, I'm sure has a few nasty chains at his disposal.  It's above N.E.W.T. level Defense, but its a pretty common thing to see on the dueling circuits.  You could ask Flitwick about it, I'm sure he knows, being a dueling champion."  Hermione nodded excitedly at this prospect and nearly turned around there to go to the Charms professor, but apparently thought better of leaving Harry alone with an already injured Ron.

Soon enough, Harry was in a much better mood and was quite exhausted as he and his friends made their way up to Gryffindor tower to do some homework before dinner.

"Too bad I had to be a substitute for Malfoy, though, Harry.  Glad you didn't hex me blonde or something, I guess..." Hermione smiled a bit, but another voice caused any would-be grin to stop forming on Harry's face and his eyes narrowed dangerously.

"I suppose that would be a poor man's substitute, Weasel.  Heard about your new tramp, Potter -" Draco didn't get another word in as Harry spun faster than the blonde could react and soon had him lifted off the ground by the collar of his shirt, both of Harry's hands dangerously close to his neck.  Draco somehow had the foresight to shut up when he saw the green eyes - so oddly reminiscent of the Killing Curse - flash menacingly.

"Draco, I know it was you.  I don't know how, and I know you won't be caught.  But I don't buy it, not for a second.  Stay away from me, or you'll be on the receiving end of something more bloody dangerous than an Imperius Curse."  Harry let Draco drop as he spun away and stormed off, cloak billowing like only a certain new Defense teacher could usually accomplish.  His friends looked momentarily at each other and a silent Draco, who was stunned and somewhat scared at Potter's outburst, before following Harry to the Gryffindor common room.

Perhaps he'd underestimated Potter.  Probably not, though...how much could a person change in a summer, anyway?

Harry was forced to use his budding Occlumency talents as he struggled to finish an essay for Snape.  He'd already cracked two quills from either his harsh grip or accidental magic.  As a result, his essay on Inferi - another one, Snape must really like them - had rather more detailed descriptions of the creatures than Harry would have usually put in; he didn't like to flaunt Tom's knowledge in that particular subject, as Snape was far too observant.

Most of Sunday he spent in the hospital wing with the recovering Katie, who enjoyed the company and flirtatious banter as they both worked on assignments.  Katie had seemed awfully quiet the entire time, but nothing besides schoolwork came up while they sat there.

"Honestly, Katie, I think that if you put in a little love rune, it wouldn't hurt.  Maybe tie it in with a bit of a memory charm and make people love to learn Ancient Runes while in the classroom."  He said, giving her advice on a Runes project.  While Hermione was still reviewing translations, the 7th year class was carving meaningless little wards that usually didn't last long, a task they'd started at the end of sixth year.

"That combination is pretty wonky, Harry, I don't think I could get it to work very easily."  Harry quirked an eyebrow and looked at her sheet critically.

"Try making the two flow more easily.  Connect these two lines here...it's like a written spell chain.  Also cuts back on the power you have to put into it.  Now it'll last about a week, unless you tie it to a charging rune...I wonder if you could tie it to the castle's ward scheme..." It would be interesting to mess a bit with the old castle's wards.  Though likely dangerous and definitely not a good idea.

"How can you possibly know these things, anyway!  You never even took Ancient Runes, and you're like...a professional warder or something!  Seriously, is someone Polyjuiced as you or something?"  She narrowed her eyes a bit at him, but he just smirked.

"Of course not - I told you I did a bit of reading about wards this summer.  That was just one trick in a Household Wards book; wanted to make their home more welcoming, I think."  Harry lied.  Tom had often used complex chains of wards for nasty effects, beginning in his own Ancient Runes class.

"A bit of reading?  You somehow learned five years of Runes in a few months - not to mention all the time you were training that you've told me about!  Did you have any free time this summer?"  She asked skeptically.

"Well, I like to keep busy...besides, at the Dursleys it was either sit in my room and read or show my face to the Dursleys and get screamed at, so I spent a fair bit of time reading."  Harry said.  In conversations, especially with girls, he knew that any mention of his abusive relatives would always stop their line of inquiry in a hurry - it was like a trump card that Harry was more than willing to use, particularly now that he and Tom had accepted their negligence and gotten past it.

"Right, sorry, Harry, I forgot about that..." Katie looked sheepish.  Works better than magic...Tom thought with a smirk of success.

"No problem, Katie."  Harry said, placing his hand in hers.

"Ah, Mr. Potter!  Ms. Bell!  So good to see both of you.  I was ever so relieved to hear that you were well on the road to recovery, Ms. Bell.  Honestly, these dangerous times...a travesty, children can't even visit Hogsmeade safely.  When young Severus told me about your accident, I immediately grew concerned, of course.  Two of my favorite young students involved, I must say!"  Harry stifled the urge to roll his eyes at the arrival and bluster of Professor Slughorn.

"Now, then, I just wanted to let you both know that tomorrow evening is another one of my little get-togethers!"  Katie smiled at Harry - she was laid up by Madam Pomfrey until at least Tuesday morning, according to the Mediwitch, and so had a perfect excuse to avoid the parties.  They were alright every once in a while, but nauseating in large doses.

"I'm ever so sorry, Professor, but, as you can see, I'm confined to the Hospital Wing for a bit longer.  Madam Pomfrey's orders, you see..." Katie said with a marvelously faked wistful sigh.

"I have another meeting with Professor Dumbledore, sir.  And it's going to take all night, I'm fairly certain - we've much to discuss."  Slughorn looked mightily curious as to what Harry and the Headmaster might be discussing, but somehow managed to stop himself from asking.

"Horace!  What a pleasant surprise!"  Madam Pomfrey said as she walked in; it was apparently time for another checkup for Katie.  Professor Slughorn gave Harry a sly wink as he turned around to the hospital Matron.

"Why Poppy, you look ravishing today, as always," did Madam Pomfrey blush?  Slughorn was seducing Madam Pomfrey?  "I was just coming to ensure the health of two of my wonderful Potions students here, and I was sad to hear that Ms. Bell would be laid up until after a little get-together I was planning for Monday night."  Madam Pomfrey cast a few spells over Katie and seemed to think a moment.

"Oh, yes, I was planning to release her Tuesday morning before classes.  But...I suppose, if she'll take it quite easy and this party of yours isn't too strenuous, she could attend.  Only for a bit, mind, you, Horace."  Professor Slughorn bowed to the Mediwitch and kissed the back of her hand, causing her to blush and giggle.  Harry and Katie shared an odd look at this.

"Oh, Poppy, you're so good to an old man.  By the way, I have that latest batch of blood replenishing potions for you; in fact, some of the batch here were brewed by Mr. Potter!  Have I told you what a fabulous Potions student he is?  Almost everything he brews is medicinal quality, and his Blood Replenishers were the equal of my own!  So I decided to just make you one cauldron and supplement it with his own."  Madam Pomfrey thanked Harry and Horace graciously.

"Well, Harry, I'm sorry you won't be able to make it...do stop by if you kip out a bit early, of course.  And Ms. Bell, I'll see you tomorrow evening.  Do rest up, my dear, nothing too strenuous now!  Poppy," he once more kissed her hand and winked suggestively at her, "I'll be hoping to see you soon."  She giggled once more - Harry could hardly believe that she giggled - before she glanced at the two teens after Slughorn left.

"A fine recovery, dear."  She said as she blustered out of the Hospital Wing.

"Slughorn...and Madam Pomfrey?  How long was that going on?!"  Katie finally said.

"I don't know...they were both here a long time...they might've had this torrid affair for twenty years or something..." Harry shivered at the thought and Katie smiled.

"Harry?"  Her tone turned serious after a moment.

"Yeah?"

"Is this going to happen a lot?  Am I going to be a target?"  Harry turned to her, and saw that this was what had made the day spent together so uncomfortable.

"Unfortunately yes, Katie.  Particularly if we're an actual couple...it's going to make you a target for Voldemort and his Death Eaters.  But I promise that I'll do whatever I can to protect you.  And help you protect yourself, of course."

"I know, Harry...but I'm scared.  I mean, this wasn't even a real attack, and I was just totally helpless!  I couldn't even fight off one curse!  And you...you can easily fight off an Imperius curse from Voldemort, you duel him to a standstill at every turn, you somehow master Runes in a summer and know way more than I do after years...you're some kind of super-wizard, and I'm just a normal witch!  I...I can't do those things like you...I don't go on adventures and nearly get killed...I'd be terrified!"  As she spoke, she got quieter and her eyes grew slightly watery.  Harry wrapped her in a hug before climbing into her hospital bed with her to stroke her back as he comforted her.

"Katie...I'm no super-wizard!  I make mistakes, loads of them, and sometimes I escape unharmed; usually I end up unconscious for a week.  And trust me, I'm terrified too - every time!  I think about what could happen to me, or my friends, and I'm scared stiff, trust me.  But I just take it as it comes and try to survive.  I'm not saying that you won't ever be injured, or be put in danger; truthfully it's pretty likely when you hang around me.  But you'll never be at it alone - I'll always be there, fighting right with you.  And have some faith in yourself - you're a powerful young witch, and very brave."  She snuggled up to his chest, the tears threatening her eyes never falling.

"But I just feel so useless.  Just like when my mum was attacked - I just didn't do anything!  And now, I just got cursed in the back and now I don't know what happened at all...I'll just be a liability to you, Harry."  

"Oh, bollocks, anyone by my side isn't a liability.  And I'd rather have you by my side than just about anyone!  Look at the training we do - you're fighting more golems than Ron, and he's been in a few scrapes with me before!  When the pan hits the fire, I think you'll do just fine, Katie.  And I'll be there to say, 'I told you so' afterwards.  And snog you, of course.  I imagine an after-battle snog would be just the thing to wind down."  His new girlfriend grinned and rolled her eyes.

"Really?  You know, I could use a bit of a wind-down from that Imperius Curse -" She was cut off mid-thought as Harry leapt at the offer.  Only Madam Pomfrey's shrill shriek interrupted them a few minutes later.

"HARRY POTTER!  Get out of my Hospital Wing this instance!  What do you think this is, a call house?  And you, Ms. Bell!  You should be resting!"  Harry grinned roguishly at the matronly Mediwitch and gave Katie, who was adjusting her shirt rather conspicuously, a goodbye peck on the cheek.

"See you later, Katie-kins!"

"Why do you call me that stupid name!"  She called out too late after he closed the door.

Harry spent all of Monday’s classes rather distracted, as he mentally reviewed all of what he wanted to discuss with Professor Dumbledore.  He would admit to being somewhat curious as to the insight Professor Dumbledore could provide to Voldemort’s psyche, particularly any recent developments, but Harry was anxious to learn from the aged wizard – what magics he must know that went beyond even Tom’s formidable wealth of knowledge.  Harry also was hoping for access to Professor Dumbledore’s private library – Tom knew that Dumbledore had confiscated titles on Horcruxes from an admission by Professor Slughorn long ago, and surmised that there must be other ancient tomes ferreted away in his office.

And so Harry was hardly focused on his lackadaisical Charms lesson on advanced inanimate manipulation – he was far beyond the class in that anyway, thanks to his marble balls that saw so much use in his combat training.  Neither was Harry much focused on his attempts at small level conjuration in Transfiguration class.  He merely created the requisite scrap of parchment and received a nod from Professor McGonagall.  Snape attempted to catch Harry unaware with a nonverbal hex, but at this he instantly snapped to attention and batted it away, sending glass shards raining down onto the outside grounds as the hex tore through the closed window.  Snape scowled and continued his lecture.  Harry found that Snape’s intermittent cursing of Harry was actually beneficial to his Constant Vigilance training that he’d received from Mad-Eye.  Perhaps Snape had that in mind and wasn’t just trying to kill his most hated student.  Unlikely, but perhaps.

It was finally when he was tapping his quill on the table as he sat with Ron and Hermione finishing a Defense Essay on the weaknesses of the stunning spell that his patience finally wore out.

“Hey, I’m going to head to dinner; I’m a little anxious for Professor Dumbledore’s lessons, so I need to do something.”  Ron eagerly put his homework away and was almost out the door when Hermione rolled her eyes in annoyance.

“Honestly, Harry, you’ll never get all your homework finished if you’re constantly skipping on study time to get a few more minutes to eat.  If you followed the schedule I worked out for you –” Harry resisted scowling in annoyance.  Hermione had, despite Harry beating her in every class he took, insisted that he and Ron follow the strict daily schedule she created for them; they rarely followed it, instead spending time training – which Hermione refused to schedule – and practicing Quidditch.  Harry’s Chasing skills were improving nicely as he attempted to get past Ron’s defenses.

“Oh, come on, Hermione, you’re writing an Arithmancy essay that isn’t even due until next week!  At least don’t complain if you’re ahead in classes!”  Ron exclaimed.  She finally relented and followed the boys downstairs for a lengthy dinner.  Afterwards, Harry immediately made his way to Dumbledore’s office after dinner without heading to the common room; at the Headmaster’s “Enter”, he strode in.

“Ah, Harry, how good to see you.  Please, have a seat.”  Harry did so with a serious face, and began the first line of questioning for the night.

“Professor, what developments are there in what happened to Katie?”  Dumbledore too adopted a somber visage as he answered.

“No news, Harry.  We checked young Mr. Malfoy’s wand, and it was clean of the Imperius Curse,” Harry swore – how had Malfoy done that?  Harry had been certain of his guiltiness!  “But I’m sure you’ll be pleased to know that the cursed necklace, which would have been quite deadly indeed to either Ms. Bell or myself, had it been touched, has been destroyed by Severus.  As I’m sure you already know, Ms. Bell should suffer no permanent damage from the ordeal.  So I’m afraid we’re rather stuck.”  Dumbledore said with a soft smile.  Harry looked unimpressed.

“Stuck?  What does that mean?  I saw her enter the back area of the Three Broomsticks – she was headed for the bathroom – and she heard what she thought was a female voice say the curse.  Draco knew something, as evidenced by his behavior towards me after Professor McGonagall found him and was dragging him out.  I say question him with Veritaserum – I know Snape has some.”  Harry said quickly.

“Professor Snape, Harry.  And yes, I’m sure Severus has his stores, but such questioning is illegal, quite rightfully so, I might add.”  Dumbledore said, raising his eyebrows at the somewhat cold tone Harry had adopted.  Harry’s eyes narrowed in frustration.

“That didn’t stop that bint Umbridge from trying it.  But I concede the point, I don’t want anything in common with her.  Fine then, how did Draco get the necklace to Hogsmeade?  Can he Apparate?”  Harry continued.

“I told you that we have no reason to believe Draco guilty, Harry, and I must ask that you cease this unfair treatment of him.”  Harry used his Occlumency to avoid snapping rudely at the venerable Headmaster.  “Now, we must attend to the true reason for our meeting tonight – to discuss the memories which I assume you have already viewed.  So what can you tell me about Tom Riddle?”  Dumbledore said more pleasantly.

“He was conceived in a loveless union, likely under false pretenses; I believe a love potion, but it could have just as easily been an Imperius Curse.  Merope was on her last pence by the time Tom was actually born, and sold a priceless Slytherin artifact to Burke for a pittance in order to survive.”  Dumbledore nodded appreciatively at Harry’s quick summary.

“Indeed, Harry.  I too believe that it was a potion that Tom was conceived under; Merope would have thought it more romantic, I believe.  Please, continue.”  Dumbledore said with a smile.

“The next the magical world knew of Tom Riddle, he was in a muggle orphanage; he’d learned to control his magic through incredibly advanced nonverbal wandless magic – such proficiency was previously unheard of - and was using his magic to manipulate the other children in the orphanage.  He was a bully, a thug, and a thief, who collected little treasures from people he’d terrorized.  He was excited by how he was special – better than the other children, in his mind.  He loved the feeling of power, I think, and self-importance that brought about.  It must have bothered him terribly to be terrorized by the little Purebloods in Slytherin, when he himself was a Half-blood.  Tom was also totally self-reliant, and used to doing things for himself.”  Harry again summarized with the help from the Tom inside his head, who grew rather bitter at his former younger self, incapable of seeing the error of his ways.

“All excellent points, Harry, and many important ones.  These traits will grow to define the person Voldemort became.”  Dumbledore input with a gesture for Harry to continue.

“The Diary Riddle told me that he adopted the nickname Lord Voldemort as a student, and I believe that was because everyone knew that Tom Riddle was a Mudblood name, but Lord Voldemort was the heir of Slytherin and the most powerful wizard of his generation.  Then he opened the Chamber of Secrets, and somehow found out about Horcruxes, which he questioned Professor Slughorn about after a Slug Club meeting one day.  Interestingly falsified memory, by the way.  After that, he came back to apply for the Defense job that Headmaster Dippet denied him because of his age.  At that time, he’d obviously made a few more Horcruxes, because he looked less human and more like the Voldemort I know.  So why did he come back for the Defense job?”  Harry said, baiting the Headmaster and truly wondering if he knew the truth.

“That is something that I am not certain of, Harry.  I believe that Hogwarts was the first place that Voldemort actually called home, and that can be a powerful lure.  Also, he may have been interested in recruiting students, which would have been easily accomplished if he was their trusted instructor.”  He said in what Harry knew was a guess.  Harry decided to allow Dumbledore to know some of the truth that he did, and led the old man down the right path.

“Really, Professor?  I thought it might be something more insulting to you personally.”  He began.

“Why is that, Harry?”

“Well, it’s well known that you’re the only challenger to his power and his plans, and since you’ve discovered these things about his Horcruxes, you’re obviously just as clever as he is.  So he’d want to prove himself cleverer, and trick you.”  Harry said, intentionally taking breaks as though he was just thinking of this.

“What are you getting at, Harry?”  Dumbledore seemed mildly disturbed by the boy’s thinking.

“Well, if he wanted to really humiliate you, why not give you a part of the very soul of the man you want to defeat to guard and keep safe?  I think he came to Hogwarts under the pretense of looking for a job in order to hide a Horcrux in the castle.”  Dumbledore looked anxious indeed, and somewhat flabbergasted.

“I think that I would have found such a hiding spot before now, Harry.”

“You never found the Chamber of Secrets.”  Dumbledore opened his mouth to respond, then closed it.

“In the Chamber?  It is certainly well protected…” Harry smirked.

“No, there wasn’t anything in the Chamber except the Diary when I went down there last year.  I think he hid it in the Room of Requirement.”  Dumbledore’s eyes raised into his hairline.

“After all, he was certainly arrogant enough to believe that he was the only one who found the Room of Hidden Things and was able to control it to do his bidding – and he liked control, after all.  And it was in that room that he first learned about Horcruxes, I’d bet.  I stumbled across a few books with them in it when I was looking for Draco.  And I also found something else, something I recognized in your memories.”  Dumbledore stood up quickly and walked over to his wall, reverently taking down the gleaming Sword of Gryffindor and retrieving Fawkes from his perch.

“Come, Harry, and get under your invisibility cloak.  We’re going to the Room of Requirement.”  Dumbledore said before thumping his own head with his wand.  He grimaced slightly before he turned totally invisible – what a powerful Disillusionment Charm!

“Professor, how can a sword destroy a Horcrux?  Wait…is that a goblin-made sword?”  Harry said as Tom figured it out.  Goblin-made steel would take on the qualities of any substance it came across that was deadlier than itself.  And that particular sword had fought a basilisk – an ancient basilisk whose venom was already seen to have been powerful enough to destroy a Horcrux in the Diary.  That old man is more brilliant than even I ever realized.  Remarkable, Tom complimented.

“Indeed it is, Harry.  The sword absorbed Basilisk venom and can now destroy Horcruxes – a useful little tool, is it not?”  Harry could hear the smirk on his face.  They advanced to the wall opposite the portrait of Barnabas the Barmy and Harry paced three times.  Luck was with them, for Draco was not in the Room, and thus, the door appeared and they entered the enormous room full of hidden and forbidden things.

“The item of interest is over there, Professor.”  Harry pointed in the opposite corner from Draco’s cabinet.  He glanced over at the Cabinet and was upset to notice that Draco’s work was coming along – he should be nearly finished by the Winter holidays.  Harry expected an attack any time afterward.  

“By Merlin, Harry!  The Cup of Hufflepuff and Ravenclaw’s Diadem!  The Diadem was thought lost since the time of the Founders!  Extraordinary indeed!”  Dumbledore animated clenched his teeth as he cast a few diagnostic spells.  Did any kind of spell-casting really affect him so?  If he keeps this up, he may not last until July like he hoped.

“Both of them are Horcruxes.  Amazing deduction, Harry – I daresay that you have gotten to know Voldemort better even than myself, to think along such lines.”  Dumbledore awkwardly hefted the Sword with some difficulty.

“I can do that, if you like, sir.  I want to destroy any part of Voldemort anyway.”  Harry said with determination coming from both himself and Tom.

“Certainly, Harry.  Don’t be concerned over what may happen, and try to ignore the feelings of hatred and anger – the Horcrux will try to tempt you not to destroy it.”  Dumbledore handed him the beautiful blade, which Harry gripped.  It felt comfortable in his hand, it fit him as it hadn’t when he was twelve, and he tightened his grip, drawing comfort from the leather bindings.  He raised it as though to jab it through, when he heard an almost tangible voice question why he was doing so.

No need to destroy it, after all…the meddlesome old man is wrong!  He kept things from you!  But you could be powerful…the diadem grants wisdom.  More wise than Voldemort!  You could use this Horcrux to defeat him more quickly, and save lives!  Harry ignored the voice as he prepared to slice the Diadem from top to bottom.

No!  Kill the old man!  You don’t need to do his bidding!  NOOO!!  The voice seemed to cry in anguish, causing Harry to shiver as he rent the Horcrux.  A slight sizzling – the destructive effects of the Basilisk venom was heard and a black shadow accompanied the last cry as the spirit lost its hold on this life.  Harry’s face was hard and featured a slight curl of disgust on his lip.  Dumbledore put a reassuring left hand on his shoulder.

“That’s a hard thing to do, Harry, as I well know.  The soul of Voldemort attempts to corrupt and turn you until the last possible moment.  It is a difficult thing, to destroy it.  I am proud of you.”  Harry nodded without smiling back at Dumbledore, and merely moved to the next Horcrux, which was already starting to prey on him, adopting a different tactic from its brother.

Can you do it, Harry?  Can you sacrifice yourself?  That’s what it will take, you know, to remove “Tom”, as you affectionately call that little piece in your head.  How touching.  Are you even sure of him?  Voldemort is nothing if not manipulative…he could be playing you this whole time!  Preparing you to be permanently possessed!  Such a healthy young body – Voldemort will not be able to pass you up as a host for him!  “Tom” is merely his first attempt to get you to join him, don’t trust – AHHH!!!  The spirit of Voldemort gave its last cry of pain as Harry slashed the cup, rending it down the middle as he’d done with the Diadem.  This seed of doubt he planted hit Harry a little too close to home, however, and he was careful to keep his thoughts from Tom.

What if it’s right?  What if Tom really is just making it easier for Voldemort to eventually permanently possess me?  I know now just how possible that is, if Voldemort ever wanted to abandon the body he had made.  But it would be ever taxing on him unless I was willing…and I am getting more and more memories from Tom now.  Making me more like him…like Voldemort?  This was a truly troubling line of thoughts.  Was Tom really reformed?  Harry’s closest friend, who knew his every secret…could he have been playing Harry all along?  Fawkes must have noticed Harry’s melancholy, for he began trilling and flew over to Harry’s shoulder.

“There, Harry, all finished for tonight.  Let us remove these artifacts to my office and we shall bid each other a good night, it has certainly been a lengthy one.”  Dumbledore looked exhausted after his marginal use of magic, and so Harry carried both former Horcruxes and the Sword of Gryffindor back to the Headmaster’s office.  

"Professor, before I leave, may I access your private library?  I have much to learn if I am to defeat Voldemort, after all..." Harry said carefully.  Dumbledore seemed hesitant.

"I suppose a book or two could be borrowed before our next meeting...I will warn you, though, Harry, that several of the books are quite advanced.  Likely beyond your level."  Harry nodded and grinned.  Little did Professor Dumbledore know Harry's true level, after all, so Harry browsed the books while Dumbledore retired to his adjoining bedchamber.

A few ancient books on wards - looked to be originals, and one expressly on blood wards! - were carted off by Harry for a little light reading, as Hermione would say.  An untitled book with a rich, black leather cover also piqued his interest.  Harry dove into the tome, and on the first page was an interesting dedication.

To Albus, in honor of all the work we've done and time we've spent together.  I'll always remember you.
Love,

Gellert

What do you make of that, Tom?  Harry's companion, however, had no insights.  Harry decided to take the book after leafing through it to find quite astonishingly powerful dueling spells, though it was obviously quite personal for the Headmaster.  His new treasures in hand, he returned to the common room, conveniently too late for Professor Slughorn’s party this time.

“Oh, you owe me, Harry.”  Katie said the next morning at breakfast.  Harry smiled and gave her a peck on the lips, an action which caused the entirety of the upper year Gryffindors to stop what they were doing and stare.

“Oh yes?  And how was the good Professor’s little get-together, Katiekins?”  This immediately caused an eruption of whispers, especially from voices that sounded like Parvati and Lavender.

“Pet names?  She moves quick, the –”

“Ugh, can’t believe she managed to hook him!  I mean, what does he see –”

“Not even all that pretty, really…never spends any time on makeup –”

“Don’t call me that…Harry-wary…Harry-dary?  What’s a good rhyme with Harry?”  She turned to Hermione and asked as she failed to come up with a suitable nickname.  Harry grinned wickedly as Hermione and Ron postulated.

“Well, Won-Won and My-My are, I think, excellent nicknames.  And really, Katiekins, you need to work on your nicknaming abilities.  I mean, even Bellatrix Lestrange came up with a better one with ‘ickle baby Potter’.  So, by all means, keep on trying!”  They continued with nicknames all throughout breakfast – “Harrikins” was a rather unoriginal attempt by Katie and “Har-Har” equally pathetic thrust by Ron – before heading off to class, the trio starting with Transfiguration.

“So what all did Dumbledore and you discuss yesterday, Harry?”  Hermione said in a fervent whisper as they sat down in McGonagall’s classroom, pulling out wands, books, and finished essays.

“We did a lot, Hermione.  I’ll have to catch you guys up later.”  Harry said as McGonagall entered and cleared her throat.

“I was quite displeased by several of your most recent essays preparing for human transfiguration.  Who can tell me why such transfiguration is distinct from both a Metamorphmagus’ powers and an Animagi’s?”  Hermione’s hand shot into the air, of course, and was joined by a smattering of Ravenclaw’s and Harry’s own.

“Mr. Potter, I shall be most interested to hear your take on this subject.”  She said, motioning to him.  Hermione, too, seemed interested.  Lately she’d been taking notes on his casual commentary in various classes.  

 Perhaps she’ll publish, “The Magic Bible of Harry Potter”… Tom thought with a grin.

“Well, the primary difference between transfiguring a human into an animal and an animagus transformation is the ability to keep your own mind and sensibilities.  Even the most strong-willed wizard won’t be able to resist the animal’s instincts in a transfiguration, but with an animagus, the animal’s instincts and your own sort of combine, so you can control what you do while still relying on the animal’s reactions if needed.  And as for a Metamorphmagus vs. slight alterations…well, a Metamorphmagus doesn’t need a wand.  Though I suppose sufficiently powerful wandless transfigurations would be rather indistinguishable.”  Harry said with a grin.  Of course, subtleties like human transfiguration were certainly beyond his own capabilities with wandless magic – he could barely cast shields, which required almost no finesse.  Besides, he had his altered Metamorph Medal anyway; Lord Voldemort, however, could probably manage it with a bit of practice.

“Of course, Mr. Potter.  And quite right on all cases, well said, and five points to Gryffindor.  Of course, wandless magic at such a level is totally impossible for subtle tasks like that, even for a particularly powerful infant using accidental magic, it would be almost unheard of for human transfiguration to occur.  Moving on, the practical topic for the day will be a rather more difficult conjuration than you previously accomplished…” And so they started conjuring an entire roll of parchment, as opposed to the scrap they previously accomplished.  Harry had no problem, but it seemed like the difficulty did increase notably for his classmates.

“Mr. Potter, follow me to my office, please.”  Professor McGonagall said, interrupting his advice to Ron.  He did so with a grin, but McGonagall was neither smiling nor smirking.  Indeed, she had a rather stern look on her face as she shut the door and locked it.

“Well, show me your form, Potter.”  She said as she crossed her arms across her chest.  Harry was fairly certain she’d gone crazy.

“Pardon, Professor?  I’m not sure I understand…”

“Show.  Me.  Your.   Form.  I should have expected this from you, Potter.  And it certainly explains your sudden proficiency with the subject – Merlin knows your father was the same.  So show it to me.”  She repeated.  Harry still didn’t understand.

“I still don’t know what you mean, ma’am.”

“Your animagus form, Potter.  The answer you gave me was not from a textbook – it demonstrated understanding and comprehension.  You know what it feels like to be an Animagus.  And there is only one way that is possible.  So, your form.  Is it a bird?  I rather suspected a raptor of some sort, the way you dive.  Falcon or eagle, if I’d had to guess.”  She seemed somewhat excited, “Not that I’m condoning it, of course, but what’s done is done.”

“I don’t have an Animagus form, Professor.”  Harry said.  It was true, though Tom did.  It was a snake, predictably.  Large, venomous, and powerful.  It may be why he liked Nagini so much…

 I’m rather certain that Voldemort does NOT mate with Nagini, Harry!  We were, at one point, the same person, you know!  Harry grinned at Tom’s outrage.

 Well, snakey as he looks now, I don’t think a woman would go at him…

“Potter, I myself am an Animagus, so I know the feeling you described all too well.”  Harry was rather stuck now…maybe his experience with wandless magic would help him, since that was a large part of the process and the reason it took so long.

“Well, Professor…I have been doing a bit of studying up on the topic.  But I haven’t found my form yet, I’ve just been doing wandless practice.”  Harry fibbed.  Hopefully she wouldn’t ask to see his progress.

“Becoming an Animagus with only the advice of his friends and a few books was one of the stupider things your father ever did, Harry.  If he had only come to me, I would have been more than happy to aid him.”  What?  Was McGonagall offering to help me?  Not that Harry really needed it, he just had other things that seemed more important taking up his time.

“Now, show me your exercises.  Alter your hand.”  Crap.  Harry focused on his magic – which was more than ample for the task – and willed his hand to change.  The reason an Animagus transformation could be done wandlessly while Metamorphmagus-esque transformations could not really had to do with the presence of the animal already being present inside of the wizard.  Unfortunately, Harry did not really want to be a snake, so he had no idea what to do with his hand – shrink it, elongate it into a wing?  His hand somehow knew what to do, though, and began to change.

The black hair on his wrist and the back of his hand seemed to grow slightly as his hand balled up into a fist and rearranged itself.  It seemed like his hand would shrink…what could his form be?  A stag like his father?  A dog like Sirius?  Or would his entire arm shrink into a snake like Tom?  In shock with how quickly the change happened, much quicker than Tom’s first time, he changed it back almost reflexively.  McGonagall grabbed his hand and inspected it critically.

“Excellent work, Harry.  And with such speed, too, you seem to be quite well along.  Particularly on reversing the transformation – that’s often more difficult if you don’t keep a firm image of yourself in mind.”  Occlumency made that part of it much easier, at it did much of the subject of transfiguration.  A mind cluttered with other images can’t very well focus on what it’s supposed to look like.

“Now, you are doing your meditations frequently?” At his nod, another lie, she continued, “then your form will come to you in time.  Let me know if you have any problems with it.”  She handed him a note, and he flashed her another one of his James/Tom grins and left her office just in time for class to end.

“Harry, what did Professor McGonagall need?  Was it something for the Headmaster?  Oh!  I wish I didn’t have to hurry off to Arithmancy…you’re telling me all about it later!”  She said as she ran off across the castle.  Harry and Ron continued at a slower pace up to the common room.

“So do I get to hear all about your night first, or do I have to wait?  By the way, Harry, you really missed a GREAT Slug Club meeting – Gwenog Jones was there!  You know, captain of the Holyhead Harpies?  Oh, she’s brilliant.  Ginny and Katie were both all over her the whole evening, and she offered Katie a tryout!  Can you believe?  Ginny was really jealous, I could tell, who wouldn’t be?  Geez, an all-witch team…I’d like to watch their practices, if you know what I mean!”  Harry laughed appropriately as Ron went on to explain how Gwenog kept her audience captivated the entire night with tales of her various Beater exploits around the pitch.  Ron took particular notice, of course, at how her tactics interfered with the other team’s Keeper, and vowed to get the Gryffindor Beaters to do similar things.

 

“You should have been there, Harry, she really wanted to meet you!  And since Katie, Ginny, and I were all there and she liked us, she wants to come to our first game!  Gosh, d’you think she’ll bring the scouts to check Katie out?  How cool!  But what if they’re checking all of us out!?”  Ron grew a tad more uncomfortable with this thought.

“Hey, who’s been checking you two out?”  Katie asked with a laugh.  Ron and Harry filled her in, and she took up where Ron left off with details of Gwenog.

“Yeah, they’re actually looking for a Chaser for next season – one of their starters is retiring, so they’ll need a new reserve player.  Gosh, it’d be wicked to play for them, of course.  But tell us about your night, and why, exactly, we had to entertain Ms. Jones all night.”  Harry pulled them in close and muttered “Muffliato”, a spell from Snape’s Half-Blood Prince book for privacy.

“We got two Horcruxes.”  Ron gasped and Katie looked very interested.

“They were hidden here in the castle, Room of Requirements.  I destroyed them with Gryffindor’s sword.  Weirdest thing ever – those little pieces of Voldemort’s soul try to turn you against your allies and everything.  So we go them and they’re gone.  Only a few more left.”  Including me.

“Wicked, Harry!  Really!  Will you take me along next time?  I want to kill the next one!”  Ron said, seeming excited.  Of course, little did he know he was sitting right next to what would likely be the last Horcrux destroyed.

“I don’t know, Ron, it’s really up to Dumbledore.  We talked a lot about Riddle, too, but the Horcrux thing was the biggie.  Oh, and McGonagall thought I was an Animagus because I answered the question in class today.”  Ron’s eyes bugged out, and Katie’s lit up too.

“No way!  You didn’t tell me!  How could you keep something like this from me?”  Ron said somewhat excited and only slightly accusingly.

“Well, I haven’t started, not yet.  But she offered to help me.  And she gave me this.”  Harry showed Ron the note:

 Harry Potter has my permission to access the Restricted Section for any Transfiguration text until the end of term.

Minerva McGonagall

Deputy Headmistress, Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry

“Wow, Harry, that’s great!  Think of all the stuff that must be there…reckon we could learn to change Malfoy to a ferret ourselves?”  Ron asked excitedly.  

“Probably wouldn’t even be in the Restricted Section.  But I’m pretty interested in the more powerful large-scale transfigurations; change the ground to quicksand or lava and all that…big animations, too…” Though Harry was certain that there was little that the library could teach a venerable Transfiguration Master like Tom, Harry was not quite so well-versed in the subject, despite massive advances.

“But Animagi, that’d be pretty useful, Harry.  What does it take to do it?”  Katie finally cut off Ron’s rambles of animating Malfoy’s wand and where it’d stick him with the topic of Animagi.

 

“Well, the hardest part is the requisite advanced wandless magic.  It’ll take a lot of practice for enough magical power to actually complete the whole transformation.  And there’s some meditation to find your form.”  Ron soberly shook his head at Harry’s announcement.

“Well bollocks…how do we get started, then?”  Katie seemed to agree, so Harry smiled and told them to meet him at the training room after class.  It was time to show them a bit of his wandless magic exercises, which he’d been keeping secret from everyone.

Heading off to Potions, Defense, and Charms occupied the rest of his day, but walking out afterward, a small second-year he didn’t recognize ran up to him and delivered a scroll with familiar green writing on it.

Harry,

You have been requested by some guests to report to my office immediately.  I believe that you know the password.

Albus Dumbledore

Curious, Harry promised Ron and Hermione that he’d meet them in the training room – Hermione rolled her eyes – and made his way to Dumbledore’s office.  He found, to his surprise, Percy Weasley and Rufus Scrimgeour awaiting him, along with a man he didn’t know.  Just what is this about?

“Mr. Potter.  Nice to finally meet you.  I’m Minister for Magic Rufus Scrimgeour, this is Percy Weasley, a secretary, and this is Pius Thicknesse, Head of the DMLE.”  Scrimgeour shook his hand, as did Thicknesse; Percy merely nodded at Harry.  Dumbledore seemed not to be very amused with the proceedings already.

“Minister.  I’ve heard that you were a fine Head Auror, congratulations on your promotion.”  Rufus nodded once.  Apparently he wasn’t one for politics like Fudge.  Tom’s memories of Scrimgeour as Moody’s partner early in the first war rose, and Harry guessed that he hadn’t changed all that much from that time.

“Let’s get down to business, Mr. Potter.  We have evidence that you were at several of your classmates houses; we’ve interrogated the Death Eaters captured there and they confirm it.  The problem with this whole thing is that you are an underage wizard, not allowed to do magic outside of school.  Why didn’t we pick up your magic use?”  

 Blackmail on the Boy-Who-Lived…he obviously wants something…or he hates me like Fudge; after all, I haven’t heard of Umbridge’s arrest/execution yet.

“I’m not certain, Minister.  Are you sure that the equipment is functional?  Perhaps, since I was expected to have been in school, it was just not closely monitored.”  Harry began carefully.

“Oh, I’m quite certain the monitor is working, and I’m quite certain that Mr. Weasley here checked the readouts personally.  Moving on, just how did you manage to end up at such varied locations so quickly, Mr. Potter?  The Floo network was not even hooked up at several of the apartments.  One might suspect you of illegal Apparition.”  Dumbledore seemed to be carefully concealing his emotions behind Occlumency for the duration of this meeting, but Harry was quite sure that the old man was getting worried.  Is Scrimgeour going to haul me off to Azkaban or what?  Harry was trying to find the motivation; what was he going to ask Harry to do in place of punishment?  He glanced at both Scrimgeour, who had the smirk of a man who held all the cards, and Thicknesse, who seemed quite bored and glossy-eyed.  He’ll likely want your support for the Ministry; after all, you’re a celebrity.  Harry was forced to agree with Tom.

“I suppose some people might suspect quite a few things, Minister.  After all, last year the Ministry itself believed me to be dangerously violent and delusional.”  Harry said.

“Too true, and I apologize for that slander, Mr. Potter.  As Head Auror, I always believed what you and Professor Dumbledore were saying, and worked hard on limited budget to prepare my Aurors.  As Minister, I’m in position to increase funds and begin training a large new batch of Aurors, something which hasn’t happened in nearly seven years.  However, quite a bit of damage was done to the Ministry’s reputation when you were proved right; years of setbacks with the people’s trust.  Seems like no matter what we do, it’s never enough and people are dissatisfied and scared.”  Scrimgeour’s speech was expected and nothing new for Harry; of course, he thought that people were upset because the Ministry was ineffective, but what have you.  Thicknesse, too, still seemed uninterested and had the same glossy look in his eye.  As Harry looked closer, it seemed somewhat cloudy, too…almost like Katie had in Hogsmeade.

“Well, Minister, I’d say there’s good reason for the people to be scared.  After all, if the Head of the DMLE can be put under the Imperius Curse, what’s stopping the Death Eaters from doing the same to the Minister for Magic?”  Harry responded quietly.  Rufus looked bewildered.

“What are you talking about?  I can resist the Imperius Curse, I was Head Auror!  And what about the Head…WHAT!?”  Rufus jumped as realization hit him.  Of course, it had hit the Imperiused Head of the DMLE at the same moment.  He tried to draw his wand, but unfortunately both Harry and Dumbledore were much quicker with their wands, and stunned him.  Rufus appeared to be angry and frustrated, red-faced.

“Damn Death Eater bastards!  Merlin’s balls!  The Head of the DMLE!”  Harry shared a smirk with Dumbledore – it appeared that the Minister was no longer the one in control.

“You know, Minister, I think that you might want to screen applicants for his replacement for those who can resist the Imperius Curse.  In fact, I’d do it for all of your Heads.  You might even want to provide some training or something; after all, a Death Eater taught my 4th year Defense class to fight it off, even if some weren’t successful.”  Some might have been an exaggeration, as only Harry could actually totally throw off the curse; everyone, however, could resist it better than Thicknesse had.

“Damn good point, boy.  Weasley, look into my eyes!”  Percy seemed to jump to attention when addressed, and stared clear-eyed into his Minister’s eyes.  He seemed so eager to prove himself that Harry wondered if he’d move forward and kiss the Minister.  He found the idea quite amusing and had to stifle a chuckle.

“Fine, fine.  Thank you, Potter…now, as I was saying.  You’re the bloody Chosen One in all the papers, the public loves you.  The Ministry needs your help – if you approve of the job the Ministry’s doing, then so will the public.  We need solidarity in leadership, Potter – we work together against our enemies, and we’re unstoppable.  So what do you say?”  Harry smirked – Tom’s political senses were as keen as ever.

“Well, Minister, I’d hate to lie to the public.  I don’t have faith in the job the Ministry’s been doing – for example, bringing in a high ranked individual under the Imperius to Hogwarts.  But I think that if you do a few things as a sign that you’re working to change, then we can work something out.”  Scrimgeour seemed interested.

“For instance, forgetting about your indiscretions?”  He offered.  Harry just smirked and let out a small laugh.

“Minister, I believe that without the Malfoy influence on the Ministry, I’m likely to get either no penalty or a fine for just about any action I might take.  So I expect that to be sort of a given.  In fact, my few requests are quite simple.  First, Dolores Umbridge is fired at least, hopefully imprisoned.  Second, question your prisoners – I know fairly certainly that Stan Shunpike, despite any boasts he may make, is not a Death Eater.  Question any detainees under Veritaserum and deal with them appropriately.  No holding innocent people without a trial – that’s a mistake Crouch made that my own godfather paid rather dearly for.”  Harry began pleasantly.

“The public will think us totally incompetent if we do that!”  Rufus interrupted.

“Or possibly they’ll think you honest.  And that, I think, is a better thing.  Those pamphlets you put out were totally useless – use your Aurors to conduct training seminars or something!  Allow the reporters to learn that you’re training new Aurors for the first time in seven years; of course, hopefully Voldemort won’t be around in three years, but there will certainly be cleanup, not to mention other Dark wizards.  If we wage an active campaign, then Voldemort will unfortunately be forced to respond, but sitting back and waiting for him to take over is not something I, at least, am willing to do.”  Harry finished fervently.  Percy seemed to be quite scared at this last proclamation, while Scrimgeour seemed to have a fire ignited within him.

“You’re right, Potter!  Weasley, did you get notes on what he said?  Some damn fine ideas there, I’ll be sure to implement them.  Potter, I’ll let you know when we get done, and you’ll say something?”  Rufus asked eagerly.

“I’ll keep a close eye on the news, Minister.  We’ll see how it goes.”  Harry agreed.

 

“Excellent, Potter.  And you, Professor?”  Scrimgeour said, turning to Dumbledore.  Apparently Harry’s approval wasn’t the only that he was seeking.

“I believe that Harry has voiced some excellent ideas.  If I find them executed by you appropriately, then perhaps I will voice my approval.  By the way, Minister, I believe that a Seminar over Winter break taught by Mister Potter in Hogwarts’ Great Hall and assisted by some of your Aurors might be a very popular way to begin his training idea.”  Dumbledore said with a smirk to Harry.  

 Of course, throw the ball back to me.  Well, it might be the first good use of my popularity…Harry actually thought this a good idea, and the D.A. could serve as teaching assistants.

 

“Perhaps that might work, sir.  The D.A. from last year could serve as teaching assistants…give the public a chance to see what can be done with a little work.”  

“Excellent idea, Professor!  Glad to have your tentative approval!  Weasley, start the advertising campaign.  Also, we’re going to start screening the entire Ministry for Imperius Curse victims.  You get Thicknesse to Mungo’s first.  And organize a meeting with Robards…he’ll be corresponding with Potter about the Auror training, as Potter apparently has experience.  Potter, Dumbledore, fine to meet with you.  I’m glad this worked out so well.  Harry, thank you for discovering my man under the Imperius Curse, I can’t believe that happened, but I assure you I’ll work to see it doesn’t repeat.”  Scrimgeour stepped through the fire and Percy started to drag Thicknesse to the grate.  Harry called out before he left.

 

“Oh, and Percy, do try to stop in to see your mum, at least, at the Burrow.  Family is too valuable to stay separate in these dangerous times.”  Percy gave a sharp nod and smiled tentatively at Harry, which was returned.  Alone with Professor Dumbledore and Fawkes, who flew over to Harry’s shoulder and gave a chirp of approval and received a pet, Harry spoke to Dumbledore.

“Well, Professor, I certainly wasn’t expecting that outcome from my little excursion.”  He said cheekily.

“Nor did I, Harry, but try not to think that every such rule violation will have a good result.  Have an enjoyable day, Harry.”  Harry, however, had a question raised by the book he’d taken earlier from Dumbledore’s office.  He’d spent much of the night reading it, his Tom-enhanced memory absorbing every esoteric and Dark spell it contained; some of them even new or novel.   The only Gellert he knew of who would know such magic raised interesting questions as to why Dumbledore possessed it.

“Before I go, Professor, I had a question from a book I read yesterday in your office.  Who did you know closely by the name of Gellert?”  Dumbledore’s face seemed to grow paler for just a moment before he must have forced the emotions from himself with Occlumency.

“A man who most now recognize as the Dark Lord Grindelwald, Harry.  But once upon a time, he was just a clever boy I met.”  Harry nodded, accepting this as a partial truth, and exited with a smile to his Headmaster.

 Well that was eventful…now, I believe that its time I Banish Ron across the room without my wand!  Harry thought somewhat morbidly gleefully.