Harry Potter and the Crystalline Darkness

Katling

Story Summary:
Continues on from Guild of the Night. Harry's sixth year is over, the Battle has been won and he's off for a summer with Sirius and Remus and then the Weasleys before starting his seventh and final year at Hogwarts. Life seems to be pretty good right now - or is it? What has happened to his old enemies? And what is happening with the looming, crystalline darkness?

Chapter 15

Chapter Summary:
Harry talks to his friends about the Tyro then has an interesting encounter with his illusory parents. He has a discussion with Dumbledore and then his night's rest is broken.
Posted:
02/08/2005
Hits:
4,472


Chapter 15

Harry sat curled up in one of the chairs in front of the fire in the Head Students' common room, listening to the book Snape had given him via Hermione's present from his sixteenth birthday. The other members of his Battle Guard sat or sprawled around him, mostly completing their homework. Sirius and Remus were with Snape and Dumbledore down in the little room with the illusions of his parents. Harry was quite content to stay out here; while he did enjoy seeing the illusions, dealing with the constant curious looks and questions from them was a little hard. He looked up from the book and stared into the fire, deep in thought.

"Good book?" he heard a voice saying.

Harry jerked his head around and stared blankly at Ron for a moment. Then he shook his head and gave a small laugh.

"I don't know. I haven't been listening for the last who knows how long."

"Yeah, I noticed," Ron said dryly. "So what's got you so riveted and has it got anything to do with why you've been so preoccupied for the last couple of days?"

"Um, yeah, it does," Harry said slowly, gaining the attention of his friends.

"Are you planning on telling us about it anytime soon?" Neville asked cheerfully.

Harry laughed. "Yes, I was. I'm sorry. I wasn't deliberately keeping you all in the dark; I just wanted to think about it for a while before I started asking for opinions."

"So what are these deep and mysterious thoughts you've been having?" Hermione said with amusement.

"Well, you all know Professor Snape and I had...a bit of a disagreement a few days ago," Harry began slowly.

The others snorted with laughter. "A bit of a disagreement?" Ginny said, laughing. "Isn't that like saying the sun is a bit warm?"

Harry rolled his eyes and looked at his friends with exasperation. "Yes, thank you! Well, I went down to apologise to him." Frowns and noises of protest came from his friends and Harry scowled. "I went down to apologise to him because I took my temper out on him," he said firmly. "Turns out he did the same thing. Anyway I took a chance and asked him his opinion on what I should do after I graduate. He had an interesting suggestion and that's what I've been thinking and reading about."

The others looked at him with surprise for a long moment.

"So what was his suggestion?" Luna asked in her drifting voice.

"That I undertake a Tyro after I graduate this year," Harry replied.

There was stunned silence in the room for a long moment then the others burst out in loud babbling and questioning. Harry listened to this for a minute or two then started laughing. This had the effect of silencing his friends and he gradually brought himself back under control.

"You know, this was part of the reason I delayed telling you lot," he said affectionately.

The others stared at him for a moment then started laughing again.

When they all settled down, Harry continued. "Anyway, that's what I've been thinking about the last couple of days. What do you think?"

"Do you want to do it?" Hermione asked calmly.

"I think so," Harry replied. "I want to ask Professor Snape some questions but I...kind of like the idea. It does have it's drawbacks but on the whole I think it would help more than anything else."

"What kind of drawbacks?" Ron asked.

"I have to enter a magical contract and I can't marry, get a job or sign any kind of major contract while I'm doing my Tyro. Apparently the people who started this wanted the person undertaking this to concentrate on what they were doing and not get distracted by anything extraneous," Harry explained, studiously avoiding Ginny's gaze. Their relationship had been progressing well and he was fairly sure that he did indeed want to marry her at some point but he wasn't exactly sure how Ginny felt.

"Well, that won't be too bad," Ginny said blandly, fairly sure she knew what Harry was thinking and feeling quite pleased about it. "I want to undertake mediwitch training after I graduate and that takes three years."

Harry looked up at her with surprise. "Oh," he said a little blankly, much to the amusement of everyone else.

Hermione finally decided to take pity on him. "What do you think you'd like to study...if you do this?"

Harry leaned back in the chair and thought for a moment. "Um, Defence Against the Dark Arts..."

"Obviously," Ron said with a grin.

Harry returned the grin. "I guess we could call my training with the Guild another subject. Um, I think that's probably about it."

"I would like you to consider Potions," came the dark voice of Snape from the doorway to the study, making them all jump.

Harry whipped around in his chair and eyed the swirling energies of the Potions Master with surprise, wondering how long the man had been standing there. Then he frowned. "Potions?" he said with surprise. "But I didn't think I'd be able to get very far with Potions, so many of them require monitoring a colour change and I can't see that."

"That is true," Snape said calmly, his hands clasped behind his back. "But I believe I may have found a way of overcoming that problem. Your Master is most hopeful and has sent my solution off to the Guild for their perusal."

Harry worked his way through what Snape had sent and then looked at the man with surprise. "You've found a way to alter Oversight?"

Snape raised a rather disdainful eyebrow. "Mr Potter," he said archly. "I believe your Master told you that the theory behind that spell was lost."

"Oh, yes, I remember now," Harry said with a flush.

Snape gave Harry a look that he was able to read quite clearly in the ghostly overlay. It was one that said without words the Potions Master's opinion of his intelligence and Harry rolled his eyes.

"I believe I have developed a method of magically monitoring a potion," Snape said. "At this moment it merely monitors basic colour changes but I believe I may be able to improve on this eventually. The Guild are examining it as we speak."

"Oh," Harry said, feeling rather stunned. A quick glance at his friends showed him they were obviously feeling much the same way.

Snape smirked at them. "Now, Mr Potter, the Headmaster has asked if you would be so kind as to join us."

Harry nodded and slowly pushed himself to his feet, feeling a trifle off-balance. He slowly made his way over to where Snape was standing. The Potions Master looked at him, amusement hidden deep in his eyes and gestured for Harry to precede him into the small chamber. When Harry walked into the room, he quickly glanced around to find the illusions of his parents then stopped in utter astonishment when he saw not only the illusions, Sirius, Remus and Dumbledore but also a second Dumbledore. He stared for a moment before he realized that, like the illusions of his parents, he could clearly see the second Dumbledore while the first Dumbledore was merely a mass of energy colours overlaid with a ghostly image.

"Ah, Harry," the two Dumbledores said in perfect unison.

Harry's jaw dropped and he goggled at the sight before him for a moment. He had just clamped his jaw shut when the illusion of his mother stepped in front of him, a sad and sober look on her face.

"You're our son," she said softly bringing everyone in the room to a standstill.

The illusion of James walked over and joined her. He reached out and placed his hand under Harry's chin and raised his head. His expression was very serious as he looked at the young man in front of him.

"I think you're right, Lily," he said quietly. "Our very spooked son who is having trouble coping with these illusory versions of us."

This pronouncement caused a series of double takes in the room and James let go of Harry's chin and looked around the room with a wicked expression on his face.

"Of course we know we're illusions," he said with a grin. "Just like that version of Professor Dumbledore knows he's an illusion." The second Dumbledore nodded benignly. "You couldn't have an illusion as good as these running around thinking they're the real thing. Think of the trouble it would cause." James' eyes glazed over until Lily elbowed him in the ribs. "Erm, yes," James said with a blush. "Where was I? Oh, yes! It's part of the spell that creates the illusions; it adds the personality and the knowledge that we are mere illusions." James grinned down at his girlfriend and put an arm around her shoulders.

"How complete are your personalities?" Dumbledore asked curiously.

"Complete up to the point we were created," Lily said calmly. "And when we are dispelled anything we learnt in the time we were separate is imbedded in the memory of the caster. That's why you can only cast an illusion of yourself though anybody can dispel the illusion."

"So you really are the seventeen year old James and Lily?" Sirius asked hoarsely, a hopeful light growing in his eyes.

"We're the illusions of the seventeen year old James and Lily, Padfoot," James said with compassionate look. "We're not real."

The light in Sirius' eyes died and Remus laid a hand on his friend's shoulder.

"You really should dispel us," Lily said softly. "We can see that we are causing the two of you and our son some distress even though we don't really understand why." She paused. "Though I can make some educated guesses. I don't think we should really be here, especially since...well, nevermind."

"Can you tell me anymore about the spells you used to create this?" Dumbledore asked.

"It's all in my notes," Lily said then she continued in a firm tone. "I really think you should dispel us."

"I agree," James said.

Dumbledore looked at them wisely, causing a moment of mirth because his illusion was doing exactly the same thing. A small smile lifted the corners of the Headmaster's mouth and he pointed his wand at his double. "Abeoumbra Albus Dumbledore," he said. The illusory Dumbledore gave a small wave and a smile as he faded out of existence.

The Headmaster looked over at the two remaining illusions. "Are you sure?" he asked kindly.

"Yes," James said firmly. "We are causing too much pain. We need to go. Everything we did to create these illusions and how to power them independently is in Lily's notes. We were never meant to be permanent."

Dumbledore looked over at Sirius and Remus questioningly. The two men exchanged sorrowful glances then Remus nodded silently to Dumbledore. The Headmaster then looked over at Harry kindly. Harry looked up at his parents and then nodded at Dumbledore.

"It was good to see you again, Prongs," Sirius said hoarsely. "You too, Lily."

"Likewise, Padfoot," James said with a grin. "Hope you're making sure that my son gets into plenty of mischief like a good godfather should." At Sirius' start, James' grin widened. "Come on Pads, who else would be godfather to my son?"

"James," Lily chided before looking over at the animagus. "Look after our son, Sirius, and behave yourself."

Sirius swallowed and nodded, unshed tears standing in his eyes. In his grief he missed the clear implication in Lily's statement now and previously that she had guessed what had happened to her and James.

"Moony, look after yourself and Padfoot," James said to the werewolf. "And make sure that Sirius doesn't get my son into too much trouble!"

Remus nodded as Lily walked up and kissed him on the cheek, causing him to blush. "And let others help you when you need it," she said softly before walking over to stand in front of Harry.

"You are our son, aren't you?" she said with a small smile.

Harry swallowed and nodded as James came up beside his girlfriend. "Mum, Dad," he said in a shaking voice.

Lily drew in a sharp breath and pulled Harry into her arms. She held him for a moment before letting him go and cupping his face in her hands and smiling at him. She let him go without another word. James smiled at his girlfriend and then hugged the son he had never really had chance to get to know. When he pulled away, he left his hands on Harry's shoulders.

"Head Boy, huh?" he said with a small smile and Harry nodded. "Good to hear. You've got up to lots of mischief while you've been here?" Harry nodded again. "Good. You've kicked some Death Eater arse? If they're still around." Harry nodded again. "That's my boy," James said with pride. "I'm sure the real me is very proud of you. I know I am." He pulled Harry into a hug again then let him go and turned to face Snape.

"You've been watching over my boy," he said matter-of-factly.

"A life debt is a life debt," Snape said in a voice devoid of inflection.

"You never owed me a life debt," James said softly.

"Gryffindor," Snape said with a contemptuous snort.

James grinned. "Yes, indeed." He then sobered. "Thank you, Severus."

Snape froze for a moment then nodded once. Lily walked up to stand next to James and they turned to face Dumbledore. James nodded to the Headmaster.

Dumbledore sighed and pointed his wand at the two illusions. "Abeoumbra James Potter," he said sadly. "Abeoumbra Lily Potter."

The two illusions smiled as they slowly faded from view. As they disappeared completely, a rasping sob escaped from Harry and he threw himself at his godfather and wept into his robes. Sirius wrapped his arms around the young man, ignoring the tears falling from his own eyes, and Remus wrapped an arm around Sirius' shoulders. Dumbledore gave Snape a glance and the two of them quietly left the room.

It was quite some time before Harry pulled his face out of his godfather's robes and his eyes were red-rimmed when he did.

"They didn't know," he whispered.

Both Sirius and Remus knew exactly what he was talking about.

"Why would they?" Remus replied. "The illusions were made when they were seventeen, long before they had you, before they knew about the prophecy. They never suspected they might die when they were that age."

The three men fell silent at that. Finally Sirius tightened his arms around his godson then let him go.

"Come on," he said hoarsely. "We'd better get the hell out of here. Your friends are probably a bit worried about you."

Harry nodded and the three of them walked out of the room. When they got back into the common room, they found Dumbledore sitting in the chair Harry had vacated chatting idly with the students and Snape leaning against the mantelpiece looking rather intimidating. Harry's friends looked up at them and their faces rather quickly became concerned. They didn't say anything and Harry rather suspected the Headmaster had cautioned them against doing so. Harry had taken them down into the room only once so that they could see the illusions though he had refused to activate them.

Harry slumped down onto a cushion next to Ginny and the red-haired girl quickly snuggled up next to him. He wrapped his arms around her and pressed a kiss against her hair. Sirius leaned against the mantelpiece opposite Snape and sighed heavily while Remus stood next to him. Dumbledore watched the three of them kindly for a moment then the twinkle reappeared in his eyes.

"I see you are considering a Tyro, Harry," he said, waving his hand at the book Harry had been reading then smiling at the surprised blink from all three men.

"Erm, yes," Harry replied, a bit startled at the change of subject.

"Good, good," the Headmaster said benevolently. "I think you would enjoy the challenge of such a course of study. What subjects do you think you would specialize in?"

"Uh, Defence Against the Dark Arts, my Guild studies and...um, Professor Snape suggested Potions," Harry said slowly, now feeling rather pleased that the Headmaster had changed the subject. He knew he would eventually have to explain everything to his friends but for now he was glad of the reprieve.

"An excellent combination," Dumbledore said cheerfully. "If you don't mind taking advice from an old man, I would thoroughly recommend doing the Tyro. I myself undertook a Tyro and I feel I benefited greatly from those extensive studies."

Harry looked up at the Headmaster. "Really, sir? May I ask what you studied?"

"Defence Against the Dark Arts, Transfiguration and Charms," Dumbledore replied.

Harry looked at the Headmaster for a long moment. "Was it worth it?" he asked soberly.

"Yes," Dumbledore said without a hint of his usual good humour. "I believe I would not have defeated Grindelwald as quickly had I not had the knowledge gained from my Tyro."

Harry nodded slowly. "It might be a good idea then. I'll speak to Master Nhean."

"Excellent," Dumbledore said with a sudden reappearance of his usual smile. He stood and looked around the students. "Now I think that we adults should leave you lot to your homework. It's very important, you know."

Dumbledore gave them a small bow and he and Snape left the common room. Sirius and Remus looked at Harry with concern.

"You okay?" Sirius asked quietly.

Harry drew in a deep breath then let it out in a gusty sigh. "Yeah," he said wearily. "You?"

"Mostly," Sirius said with a sad smile.

"We'll be fine," Remus said softly before grabbing Sirius' arm and drawing him out of the room.

Harry looked around his friends, an expression of wry amusement on his face. "I suppose you want to know what happened."

"Only if you want to tell us," Ginny said firmly.

Harry pressed another kiss into Ginny's hair. "Dumbledore dispelled the illusions," he said quietly.

"Why?" Luna asked with compassion.

"Because they asked him to," Harry said, an answer that surprised the others.

"The illusions asked him to?" Hermione said with a hint of disbelief.

Harry nodded, a small sad smile quirking his lips. "Apparently the part of the spell that creates the personalities of the illusions also implants the knowledge that they are illusions. My...parents realized they were bothering Siri, Remy and me and asked Dumbledore to dispel them."

"But what about the knowledge of the spell?" Hermione asked.

"Hermione! That's hardly the important thing here," Ron said indignantly.

Harry laughed. "Its okay, Ron. My...Mum said that everything was written down in the notebooks and that they were never meant to be permanent."

"Was it...difficult?" Neville asked with a hint of his old timidity.

"Yeah, kind of," Harry said heavily. "They figured out I was their son and they...didn't know that they were dead." He gave a mirthless laugh. "Dad was pleased that I was Head Boy, checked to make sure that I had got up to lots of mischief and that I had kicked some 'Death Eater arse' as he put it. Then he said that he was sure the real him was proud of me."

Harry's voice trailed off and he buried his face in Ginny's hair. His girlfriend wrapped her arms around him and held him, whispering calming words to him.

"They didn't know they had died," Neville said softly.

"Why would they?" Hermione replied logically. "The illusions were created when they were still at school. They didn't know what was coming."

Harry raised his head, revealing red eyes. "Exactly," he said in a choked voice. "They were so young..."

"They were our age," Ron said. "Not that young. And Voldemort was pretty active then. I'm sure they knew what they were getting themselves into." He paused. "And didn't you say that your Mum thought these illusions would be good for their work fighting Voldemort."

"Yeah," Harry said slowly.

"So I don't think they were that young," Ron said soberly. "They were already planning on fighting Voldemort. They knew what was happening."

Harry was silent for a while as he thought about that. "I guess you're right," he said finally.

Ron paused for a moment then a small grin flicked across his face. "Wow, that's a first! I'm right!"

There was a moment of silence in the room then everyone burst out laughing. Harry leaned over and swatted Ron on the shoulder, inwardly relieved at the lightening of the atmosphere in the room. When they finally managed to calm down, Hermione closed her book and gave her boyfriend an affectionate and appreciative look.

"Now that Ron's gotten over the shock of being right for once," she said impishly, causing renewed sputters of laughter. "I think it's time we all headed off for bed. It's late."

The other looked up at the clock as Harry checked his watch. There were a few muted oaths as they realized the time and then a flurry of packing up before they left the room.

**************************************************

Harry, Ron and Neville got changed as quickly and quietly as they could; their Housemates, Dean and Seamus, had long ago gone to bed and were now fast asleep. They said quiet goodnights and climbed into bed, closing the curtains. Harry ended his Oversight and stared into the blackness as his thoughts tumbled over themselves. The talk he had had with his friends had helped a bit but he still wasn't sure how he felt about those illusions. Part of him was immensely relieved that they were gone; it had been so hard to look at them and to deal with them. They were so young and happy. He let out a ragged sigh; at least now he had some real proof that his parents had really loved each other. He closed his eyes; there was another part of him that hadn't wanted to get rid of the illusions. That part felt that those illusions were last remaining piece of his parents that he had and had wanted to keep them, no matter what. But he couldn't go against what his...parents wanted. They thought they should be dispelled and Harry had found that he couldn't disobey just for his own selfishness. He sighed again and rolled onto his side then before his thoughts could grab him again he fell asleep.

Harry shifted in his sleep then gasped and flinched. He opened his eyes and was startled to find that he was once again surrounded by a crystalline darkness. He swallowed and looked around frantically, aware at some subconscious level that, as always in his dreams, he could see.

It's only a dream, he thought to himself. Remember, it's only a dream.

The thought calmed him a bit and he slowly began to walk forwards. As he did the darkness began to fade slightly and he could finally see his surroundings. As he looked around he could see that it wasn't so much that the darkness had faded but that it had been drawn into the crystal around him. He was walking down a long black crystal corridor and in the distance he could see that the corridor opened up. He peered ahead and stumbled slightly. Looking down he could see that there were small crystal lumps and shards poking out of the floor and then he noticed that the walls and ceiling were similarly adorned. He slowed his pace and started to tread a little more carefully. As he got closer to the end of the corridor, he slowed even further. Finally he moved into a crouch and crept up to the entrance to the crystalline room and very carefully peered into it.

He drew with an indrawn breath as he saw the man pacing around in the room. He swallowed once then peered in again. As he did the man turned and looked at him. Harry flinched backwards and scrabbled in his robes for his wand. He swore as he realized that it wasn't there and neither was his cane. He backed himself up against the wall and held his hand out, hoping that his wandless magic would work here. He stood there for a few minutes more before it occurred to him that the room wasn't that large and surely the man should have reached him by now. He lowered his hand and peered around the entrance again. The man was pacing again and Harry slowly edged into the room. The man turned and looked right at him again before continuing to pace.

He can't see me! Harry thought.

Harry slowly walked into the room to get a good look at the pacing man. When he did he let out an oath then flinched almost involuntarily. He had said the same word at the Weasleys over the summer when a misjudged attempt at a Quidditch maneuver had caused him to almost fall. Mrs Weasley had been displeased with his language...to say the least. The word seemed appropriate at the moment though. Harry recognized the man pacing the crystal room; it was Voldemort. Or rather it was Tom Riddle. He looked like he was in his late twenties and Harry knew from a discussion he had had with Dumbledore that Voldemort had not started much of the experimentation that had so disfigured him until he was in his late thirties. Harry crept closer to Riddle and as he did he realized that Riddle was talking to himself.

"Damn that idiot boy," Riddle was muttering. "Trapping me in his thrice-be-damned mind. What the hell was Lucius thinking, not training the boy correctly? Pity the fool is dead or I'd find some way to make him pay for that!"

Riddle's voice has risen to a snarl by the end and he stopped in his tracks and clenched his fists, seemingly trying to get his temper under control. When he had succeeded, he gestured with one hand and threw himself into the chair he had just conjured.

"There must be a way of getting out of this crystalline prison permanently," he said irritably. "The boy is inventive, I'll give him that, but he has no sense of grandeur. I recruited my Death Eaters for a reason and he cannot see that. There must be a way to claim his mind as my own."

Riddle lapsed into his own thoughts at this point and Harry carefully sat down. He was somehow seeing where Voldemort was trapped in Draco's mind. But how? He hadn't felt anything in all the time since that last blow-up on his birthday. As he was thinking this, Riddle's head shot up and his eyes narrowed.

"Potter?" he whispered.

Harry stared over at Riddle in shock and scrambled to his feet, quickly backing away.

"Yes, you're here, aren't you?" Riddle said, a triumphant look crawling over his face. "Somehow you have found your way back into my mind. How interesting."

Harry flattened himself against the wall and began to edge over to the entrance to the corridor he had originally found himself in.

"Well, well, this offers just so many opportunities," Riddle continued. "I had wondered what had happened to the link between us. I had even started to think that it had been broken by Draco's asinine actions. But now I find that it had merely been pushed down and hidden until such time as I had recovered sufficiently."

Harry froze and swallowed. The link hadn't been broken? He closed his eyes and hung his head. Dammit, he really couldn't get a break, could he?

"So let's see just how effective it really is, shall we?' Riddle said, a malevolent smile spreading across his face. "Did you know that the Cruciatus curse does not actually need to be cast on a person? Did you know that if one has a trained mind the Cruciatus curse can be cast mentally? Shall I prove it to you? Let me see, Crucio!"

Pain stabbed through Harry's scar and spread throughout his body. He screamed and fell to the ground, writhing at the sudden agony. All of a sudden the pain stopped and Harry lay were he had fallen, gasping for air. That had been so much worse than anything he had experienced before.

"Wasn't that interesting?" Riddle said, chuckling darkly. "Would you like to try it again? Crucio!"

Once again the intense pain ripped through Harry's mind and body. He tried to shore up his shields but it seemed to have no effect. Then the pain overwhelmed his ability to concentrate and all he could do was scream.


Author notes: Thanks again for all the reviews.

sherriola - Yeah, I am planning on doing a Harry after Hogwarts sequel to this. I'm planning on combining Harry's Tyro and his obligation to the Guild (see GON, the chapter where he is inducted into the Guild). Don't worry, I like people reading it here and reviewing it as well!

littlemissvoldemort - Remember this is Snape - the one who likes to scrawl insulting comments about your intelligence all over your homework using red ink. Trust me, that'll get plenty of the ink and therefore poison onto his skin. And I have to say, you have a wierd teacher! *LOL*

Kwistel - If I ever get the time and inspiration, I might just write a cookie for that little scene between Snape and Harry. I'd have to be in a sufficiently snarky mood though.... Oh man, you think Draco's arrogant? Wait until you see Pansy in a few chapters! Hoo boy!

In answer to the questions about the poison - well, I can't really tell you much more than I have. Suffice to say your questions will all be answered (I hope!) :)