Harry Potter and the Crystalline Darkness

Chapter 18

When Harry woke the next morning, a quick check of his clock told him it was just before six in the morning. He lay back on his bed then sighed when he realised that he wasn't going to get any more sleep. He activated his Oversight and slipped quietly out of bed. He dressed as quickly and quietly as he could so as not to disturb the other boys and then headed downstairs. He slipped out of the Tower and wandered down to the Guild classroom. He opened the door and walked in to find Jun'ko and Tien warming up and chatting sleepily. They looked around when he walked in and smiled.

"You're up early," Jun'ko said.

Harry grunted. "I couldn't sleep so I thought I'd come down here and do a few exercises." He paused. "I think I need to work off a bit of steam as well. I didn't know you would be here."

The two Warriors exchanged glances.

"Nhean told us what's happened to the Potions Master," Tien said carefully. "Is that what's got you so worked up?"

"Yeah, kind of," Harry said running a hand through his hair. "I warned them that Pansy wasn't to be trusted but I don't think they took me seriously and look what happened!"

"Ah," Tien said in sudden comprehension. "So Professor Snape was already a target but nobody paid too much attention. Was that deliberate?"

Harry thought for a moment then shook his head dismissively. "No. Dumbledore would never allow that. I think they just couldn't bring themselves to see past Pansy's prissy and prim exterior."

"But you did?" Jun'ko ventured.

Harry grimaced. "Well, not really, I just figured anyone who was willing to marry Draco Malfoy probably didn't have too many scruples of her own."

Jun'ko gave a snort of laughter. "Good point. Unless she doesn't know what he does."

This time it was Harry's turn to snort though his was more derisive than amused. "Pansy's been in this from the beginning. She was one of those who tried to keep the Slytherin DA members away from the battle."

"Ah, she's no innocent victim then," Jun'ko said with amusement.

"Exactly," Harry said firmly.

"Well, how about you work off some of that steam by sparring with us?" Jun'ko suggested. "We'd like to see how skilled you are and you'll probably learn some things from our different styles."

Harry brightened and nodded. This was the first time either of them had suggested that he train with them and he was eager to do so. They had been mostly concentrating on training Sirius and the other adults. He joined the two senior Warriors in their warm-up and when that was completed he looked over at them.

"So how do we do this?"

"I'll spar with you first," Jun'ko said in a very professional manner. "Tien will monitor our bout then he and I will swap." She moved into position then paused. "Nhean has taught you how to magically dull your blade in practice bouts, hasn't he?"

Harry chuckled as his sword blade suddenly shimmered. "What do you think?" he said cheekily.

Jun'ko raised an eyebrow and smiled. "Well then, have at ye!"

Harry quickly realised that Jun'ko fought in a fashion very different from the one Nhean had taught him. She was small and slender and used these as part of her fighting style. She never closed with him but darted in and out and jumped around. She almost danced with the sword. Nhean had taught him a more traditional form of sword fighting, mostly because he would most often be fighting along with his Battle Guard. Jun'ko managed to score a number of hits on him before he turned to a more defensive mode while he tried to figure out how to fight against her. Finally he had to take a step back and grounded the tip of his sword. Jun'ko immediately stopped and followed suit.

"I don't know how to combat your style of fighting," he admitted with a certain amount of frustration.

Jun'ko grinned at him. "I'm not surprised. You've only be learning for a little over a year and I'll bet this is the first time you've come into contact with this style." Harry nodded and Jun'ko continued. "Now, your problem was you were letting me dictate the way the fight was going. That's the basic point of this style, to keep moving so fast the enemy gets confused and can't adapt. Now obviously with this style, I don't want to close in and get caught in close battle. I'm too small, even you would be able to overpower me in that situation and you're smaller than Tien. So that's what you want to do."

"But how?" Harry asked then he paused. "No, wait a minute, let me work this out. Okay, I need to close in and force you to fight my way but you're quicker than I am and can generally work your way out if I just try and move in. So...I need to get you into a position you can't get out of."

"Very good," Jun'ko said approvingly. "So how do you do that?"

Harry thought and looked around the room. "I...go back into a defensive mode but a slightly different one. You were able to manoeuvre me around before, I want to reverse that but in such a way that you don't notice. So that you're manoeuvring me where I want us to be."

"Correct again," Jun'ko said cheerfully. "So where do you manoeuvre me to?"

"A corner or somewhere you can't back out of easily," Harry replied promptly. "Then I close in."

"Bingo!" Jun'ko said with a grin. "Now, can you do it?"

"Let's see," Harry replied with a determined light in his eyes.

They both stepped back and raised their swords and then resumed the bout. Harry quickly found that doing the kind of manoeuvring he wanted was easier said than done. He was usually successful at first but Jun'ko always managed to get control back. After another half an hour, it was Jun'ko who stepped back and grounded her sword. Harry followed suit and wiped some sweat off his forehead.

"Well done, Harry," Jun'ko said with a pleased look. "That was a very good effort for someone who is facing this style for the first time. You'll get better with practice. Why don't you take a short break then you can try sparring with Tien?"

Harry nodded. "Good idea. That was harder than I thought it would be," he said ruefully.

"Jun'ko's right, you did well for a first time," Tien said, walking over and handing Harry a towel. "Her style is one of the harder ones to combat if you have a more traditional style. You might want to consider learning it though. You're small enough and light enough to be able to manage it, I think, and it would be useful to have another string to your bow."

"I wouldn't be able to use that style effectively with the Battle Guard, would I?" Harry asked dubiously.

"No, you'd end up getting in their way and fouling their weapons most likely," Tien conceded. "But remember, you won't always be fighting with them. It would be useful to have a second style."

Harry nodded thoughtfully. "Hmm, good point. Do most people learn two styles?"

"Not really," Tien replied as he took the towel back from Harry and threw over onto the table. "But most of us only fight singly. You are probably actually better suited to Jun'ko's style of fighting but because of your Battle Guard, you've been forced to use a more generic form of fighting in order to coordinate things properly. I'm not saying that's a bad thing. I would say learning to fight with a Battle Guard is a very good thing but I think you need to learn a proper solo fighting style."

"Okay," Harry said slowly.

"I'll talk to Nhean about it," Jun'ko said from where she was walking back and forth to cool her muscles down. "He'll probably get me to train you."

Harry nodded again then Tien gave him a nudge. "Ready to try yourself against me?"

"Yep," Harry said cheerfully and the two men moved into position.

Harry found this bout to be a completely different kettle of fish. Tien was taller and bulkier than him and used a different fighting style again. His was a more bullocking style that had much to recommend it in strength and the ability to finish a fight quickly but it wasn't the most graceful method of fighting. It was effective though, as Harry found out when he ended up flat on his back with Tien's sword at his throat.

"How did you do that?" he asked incredulously as Tien stood up and offered him his hand. Harry couldn't even recall how he had ended up on the floor.

Tien chuckled as he pulled Harry to his feet. "I'm bigger and stronger than you."

"Yeah, I noticed," Harry replied dryly.

"I just bullied you and overpowered you," Tien elaborated.

"How on earth do I counter that?" Harry said with exasperation. He was used to being the best among his friends and being so easily trounced by both Night Warriors had pricked his ego a little. The fact that both Warriors were his senior in both years and experience hadn't quite occurred to him as yet.

"By using Jun'ko's style," Tien replied patiently. "Don't let me close in with you. Use in and out attacks. Defeat me using a method of attrition, not outright attack."

Harry groaned. "But you're too fast."

Tien grinned at him mercilessly. "Then be faster. Come on, Harry. What if this was life or death?"

Harry sighed. "Sorry, I'm...just not used to be so thoroughly beaten."

Tien chuckled. "I know. That's part of the reason why Nhean wanted us to start working with you. You've had it too easy for too long!"

"Yeah, because the battle last year was so difficult," Harry grumbled.

"That was mostly magical," Tien said seriously. "This is non-magical combat."

Harry sighed and nodded. "Alright, I guess the easy days are over then." He gave a lopsided smile. "Well, my friends are going to enjoy this if nothing else. I've been beating them for so long."

Tien laughed. "Oh, I'm sure they will. Now come on, let's try this again."

Harry sighed then he grinned and moved into position. He had to admit he had had things too easy. Nhean was the only one who could stretch him these days though Neville and Ron could occasionally give him a run for his money. Obviously his Master had decided that it was time for him to work his arse off again. The sparring bout started again and Harry tried to keep away from Tien. It wasn't easy; the older man was quick as well as being taller and stronger. When Tien finally called the bout to a halt Harry was dripping with sweat. He had not landed a single blow on the older man though he had fended off plenty. It had taken all his current skill just to keep away from Tien; he hadn't even had a chance to try any of the in and out attacks that had been suggested. He stood where he had been when Tien called a halt to things and breathed deeply.

"Good work," Tien said amiably. "You've got a fair way to go but that was a good start."

Harry looked at the other man with disbelief written all over his face. When there was no reaction, Harry blinked then shook his head. He suddenly realised that while Jun'ko and Tien most likely had their Oversight working, neither of them knew him well enough to pick up facial expressions in the ghostly overlay yet.

"You can't mean that," he said, projecting the disbelief he had originally felt in his voice. "I got royally trounced by both of you."

"Well, yes," Jun'ko admitted. "But you tried hard, you worked hard and you weren't afraid to try using different styles to combat us. Harry, you're comparatively inexperienced. I know that you do have some direct combat experience but as Tien said, that was mostly using magic. You've only been doing this for, what, a little over a year. Give yourself a break!" She gave a small laugh. "You're making good progress and when you get used to our styles, you'll be able to start counter-attacking more."

"I guess," Harry replied dubiously.

"Jun'ko's right," Tien said firmly. "That was very good for a first effort against experienced Warriors by an apprentice." He paused. "You do have a certain amount of natural skill, Harry, which is why you were able to take to Nhean's instruction so easily. He is the best of the trainers at the Academy but he has been teaching you the most basic style of fighting, mostly because you had to integrate into your Battle Guard as quickly as possible. Now it's time to spread your wings a little and that's never easy."

Harry nodded. "I guess you're right."

"Of course, we're right!" Jun'ko said cheerfully. "Now I think you'd better head back up to your dorm and have a shower." She paused for a beat. "You smell!"

This startled Harry into laughter and he stuck his nose into the air in mock-hurt. "Well, if you think that way about me, I'm leaving." With that he did his best to flounce petulantly out of the room, followed by the laughter of the two older Warriors.

Once he got out the door, Harry started laughing himself and he was still chuckling when he got back to the Tower. He quickly made his way up to the dorm and grabbed a change of clothes. The other boys were still asleep and he didn't see any reason to wake them. He ducked into the bathroom and showered and changed. The others were still asleep when he came back in to dump his dirty clothes and he quietly slipped out again. When he got down to the common room he saw Hermione opening the door.

"Hermione," he called.

The bushy haired girl turned and smiled at him tiredly. "I've got to down to the dungeons and stir the potion," she said.

"Want some company?" Harry offered.

"Yes, that would be good," Hermione said as they climbed through the entrance hole. "You can keep me awake."

"Didn't you sleep well?" Harry asked with concern.

"No, not really," Hermione replied with a sigh. "I was still pretty angry and worried and it took a while for me to settle down. You look a lot better than I thought you would."

"Remus came by," Harry replied. "He always manages to calm me down."

"He's a very calm person," Hermione said with a fond smile. She had a great deal in common with the werewolf and they had spent a bit of time at the Weasleys talking about books and other such things.

"That he is," Harry replied. "And he always knows how to say the right thing. I guess he's had plenty of practice dealing with Siri."

Hermione laughed. "Yes, Sirius does tend to go off at a drop of a hat. Does he do that during the training he does with Master Nhean?"

"No," Harry said with a grin. "And I'm beginning to suspect my godfather is trying to fool us all. He's very disciplined during training, takes all of Master Nhean's orders without baulking at all."

"Well, he was an Auror before..." Hermione trailed off, looking uncomfortable then decided to continue. "Before your parents...died. He would have had to be disciplined for that."

"Exactly," Harry said with a grin.

Hermione looked at him with a small smile. "You think he has this lovely reputation as being impulsive and full of life and he likes to live up to it?"

"Oh yes," Harry said with a laugh. "Not that he isn't impulsive but he's got a very disciplined inner Sirius that he lets out from time to time."

By this time they had reached the Potions classroom and Hermione led Harry through to the workroom door which she unlocked before ushering him in.

"Now, go and sit over there," she ordered, pointing imperiously to a stool well away from her working area. "You're much better than you used to be at Potions but you're still a menace at times."

Harry laughed and went and sat on the designated stool. "Why, Hermione, have you no faith?"

"Why should she?" came the irritated reply.

Harry looked over to the door to see Snape walk into the workroom. The man looked like he had aged twenty years overnight and Harry knew from personal experience that from the way Snape was standing that he was in a great deal of pain. He looked back to where Hermione was carefully stirring the antidote she was brewing and his expression sobered.

"No, good point," he said quietly. "I don't want to risk messing anything up. I'll stay right where I am and well away from that cauldron."

"You're not that bad, Harry," Hermione said absently as she counted her strokes. "I'm just not risking this for anything. Nobody comes near this cauldron except for me. Not you, not Ginny, not Professor Dumbledore, not even you, Professor Snape."

Snape raised an eyebrow but did not comment on that statement.

"I will have another potion for you to brew in a few days, Miss Granger," he said instead.

Hermione's eyes widened. "Er, really?" she said in a worried tone. "Um, what?"

"The Wolfsbane potion," Snape replied as he leaned against the doorway. Neither Harry nor Hermione commented on the uncharacteristic pose, knowing it was pain causing it and that the man would not welcome any kind of remark, smart, kind or otherwise. And Hermione's attention had just been caught by Snape's answer.

"Wolfsbane!" she yelped then broke out into a huge smile. "Oh! I've always wanted to try that! Is it difficult?"

Harry bit his lip at the expression on Snape's face; obviously the constant pain was making it hard for the man to hide his feelings the way he normally did. The Potions Master had an expression that Harry could only translate from the overlay as a 'give me strength' look. Harry took a deep breath to control himself and looked over at Hermione.

"Hermione?" he said patiently. "I know you're thrilled but, um, perhaps now is not the time to...um, well, you know."

Hermione looked at him blankly for a moment and Harry tipped his head slightly towards Snape. Hermione's gaze turned in that direction and she blushed.

"Er, sorry, sir," she said sheepishly.

Snape raised an eyebrow and nodded slightly. "The instructions are in the book over there." He gestured towards a large leather-bound book sitting on a table to one side. "You will need to start it by the day after tomorrow at the latest."

Hermione nodded then hesitated, an acquisitive light kindling in her eyes. "Sir? May...may I read that book?"

Snape nodded and Harry could see that it was all Hermione could do not to hug the man. He swallowed a smile; while he would actually pay rather a lot of money to see that happen, he also rather thought that there might be blood on the floor if it did. Hermione managed to control herself however and almost leapt over and opened the book.

Snape watched her with an oppressive look then turned to Harry. "And what exactly are you doing here, Mr Potter?"

"I'm keeping Hermione company," Harry replied calmly. "I was up early anyway and when I saw her leaving the Tower, I offered to come with her."

Hermione looked up at that. "What were you doing this morning?" she asked curiously. "You were far too alert to have just gotten up."

Harry grinned at her. "I'd been doing some sparring with Jun'ko and Tien and I'm sure you'll be pleased to hear they wiped the floor with me."

Hermione grinned back at him. "Serves you right," she said tartly. "Considering the number of times you done that to me."

Harry groaned theatrically. "I told them I wouldn't get any sympathy from you lot."

"Bet you didn't get any sympathy from them either," Hermione continued in that tart tone.

Harry relaxed and laughed. "Correct, Miss Granger! They seemed to think it was about time I had to work my arse off."

"Good for them," Hermione replied as she turned back to the potions book.

Harry grinned then looked over at Professor Snape. "And I've just found out that I'm also here to make sure Hermione remembers to eat this morning because, given half a chance, she'll stay here all day reading that book of yours."

One corner of Snape's mouth twitched. "Then perhaps now might be the time to carry out that task."

Harry touched the button on the side of his watch and nodded. "You're right, sir. We'll get out of your hair."

He jumped off the stool and headed over towards Hermione. "Come on," he said in an amused tone. "We have to go and eat, Hermione, because I am not putting up with Ron if you faint with hunger."

Hermione looked up at him with surprise that quickly faded to amusement. "Alright," she said in a mollifying tone, as though she was merely humouring him. She walked back over to the bench to gather her things.

Snape drew Harry's attention. "What exactly were you coming to see me about yesterday?"

Harry paused. "Er, nothing really important, sir. I...just had some question about the Tyro but it's nothing that can't wait until you're better," Harry replied firmly.

Snape paused then nodded slightly. "Very well."

Hermione walked up beside them and with small nods the two students left the workroom and headed up to the Great Hall.

"Damn, he's stubborn," Harry breathed, partly in admiration, partly in exasperation.

"That he is," Hermione said dryly. "You know he's going to keep working until he literally falls over, don't you?"

"Of course he is!" Harry said with disgust. "Because Merlin forbid he should actually accept some help for once."

"Harry, he is accepting some help," Hermione said soothingly. "He's letting me brew those potions and he's asked if I will help him mark homework. That's pretty good for Professor Snape."

Harry paused for a moment then gave a small bark of laughter. "Yeah, I suppose you're right. Stubborn bastard." He was silent for a time. "How bad is it going to get?" he asked softly.

Hermione face became sober. "Pretty bad. He's still able to stand and move around at the moment. In a week or two, he won't be able to do that. By the time I get the antidote done he's likely to be unconscious more than conscious most of the time."

"Shit," Harry muttered under his breath, drawing a disapproving look from Hermione as they walked into the Great Hall. Harry quickly glanced over at the Slytherin table and saw Blaise trying to get his attention. "You go on, Hermione. Blaise wants to talk to me," Harry said as he walked over to the Slytherin table.

He sat down opposite Blaise and Millicent and raised an eyebrow.

"What's happened?" Blaise demanded. "Professor McGonagall came down to the dorm this morning and took Pansy up to the Headmaster's office. Then she came back and got Tracey, Nott, Crabbe and Goyle." Blaise scowled. "Then when we tried to speak to Professor Snape he didn't answer. We went up to the Headmaster's office and McGonagall wouldn't tell us anything."

Harry sighed. "Pansy succeeded in what Draco wanted her to do," he said shortly.

"Professor Snape's dead?" Millicent asked incredulously.

"No, no!" Harry hurried to explain. "But he has been poisoned."

"Poison?" Blaise said dubiously. "He's a Potions Master and a former Death Eater. How did she manage that?"

"She used a contact poison," Harry replied sourly. "It was in ink of all things."

Both Blaise and Millicent looked stunned. "Ink?" Blaise stammered. "So she was poisoning him using her bloody homework and she did it all under our bloody noses!"

"Is Professor Snape alright?" Millicent asked with concern.

"Not really," Harry replied with a sigh. "He's in a hell of a lot of pain but he's being a stubborn bastard at the moment. He's determined to keep teaching as long as he can."

"Is he going to die or is there an antidote?" Blaise demanded.

"Yes, there is an antidote," Harry said soothingly. "Hermione started brewing it last night. It's going to take three weeks to brew so if you see her around the dungeons, that's why she's there."

"Three weeks!" Blaise yelped. "But surely he'll be dead by then!"

"No, apparently this poison takes a long time to kill you." Harry paused and grimaced. "It's going to be a pretty bad three weeks for Professor Snape though. He's in a lot of pain now and it's only going to get worse. Hermione said he'll probably be bedridden in a week or so."

"Why is Hermione brewing the antidote?" Millicent asked suspiciously.

"You mean instead of Professor Snape?" Harry asked and Millicent nodded. "Because the pain's making his hands shake badly and Hermione's the best Potions student in the school. Hell, she brewed the Polyjuice potion in Second Year; I think she can manage the antidote."

"Oh," Millicent said, a little taken aback.

"I don't suppose you know what's going to happen with Pansy?" Blaise asked, an undercurrent of anger creeping into his voice.

"No idea," Harry replied sourly. "I spoke to Dumbledore last night." He paused and looked a little sheepish. "Actually I yelled at him a bit. I'd warned him about Pansy and look what happened." Harry shook his head. "Anyway, he said he was going to speak to her today and he might have to call in the Aurors."

"The Aurors. Why?" Blasie asked.

"Attempted murder of a Hogwarts teacher," Harry replied simply.

Both of the Slytherins gave nods of comprehension and Harry stood. "I'd better go and eat," he said. "Try and keep the Slytherins calm, will you?"

Blaise and Millicent nodded and Harry walked over to the Gryffindor table and sat down next to Ginny.

"I heard Remus came and calmed you down last night," the red-haired girl said in greeting.

"Yeah, he's good at that," Harry said with a fond expression.

The others smiled though the expressions didn't last long before returning to the grim looks they had been wearing.

"What's going to happen to Pansy?" Neville asked quietly.

"I don't know," Harry replied shortly. "But I hope she gets what's coming to her."

They others nodded soberly and they continued their breakfast in silence.