Harry Potter and Salazar's Talisman

Chapter 10

Inert Spells and Salazar's Talisman

Harry decided to put all those things he was supposed to 'cover' and 'get to' later aside until - well - later. He wasn't even going to think about the change of his curriculum until he had to. But with the Christmas break fast approaching, it took a great deal of energy to not think about it. To remedy the problem, Harry put his effort into his assignments for his classes, which had conveniently stretched out over the weeks.

The kids' enthusiasm over the subject was refreshing, and Harry marveled at the effort they were all putting into their presentations. He was proud of them.

Rufus was just finishing up his final findings on the Castigation Curse. He had accurately reported on how spells placed on any item with the intent to punish or scold (which included Howlers) fell into this category.

"These spells," said Rufus. "While only bordering on Dark, because they can be taken to the extreme, are mostly used by parents and, er, teachers - many years ago," he inserted swiftly," to protect children from hurting themselves and to punish disobedience."

He glanced over at Harry who sat in his own comfy arm chair at the side of the room (where Harry had been observing the presentations) with his class journal on his lap. Harry nodded encouragingly.

"As for counters," said Rufus. "Any adult witch or wizard could break or remove a castigation curse with a simple 'finite incantum'. That is, if they know the spell is on the object to begin with."

"Can you give us any examples?' said Harry.

Rufus nodded looking down at his notes. "Well aside from Howlers, which can't be broken if it's cast by a relative - or someone who has parental prerogative, I imagine," said Rufus dryly getting a few laughs from the class. "Other common uses are heat and shock. Like putting the curse on a knife so if a child picks it up, they will drop it because it's hot or on a doorknob to keep a child away from a room or a set of stairs."

"And any extremes?" prompted Harry.

"Yes," said Rufus. "I read one case where a teacher cursed a quill so that while doing lines, the words were cut into the back of the student's hand."

Harry nodded, glancing back down at his book. "Any questions?" he invited the class. They didn't have any and Rufus returned to his seat, looking relieved that his report was finished. Harry made a few notes in his book then looked up to the class. "Sean, you're next."

Sean's face actually lit up. "Yes, sir," said Sean, pulling some papers together. "I'm ready."

Draco?

What?

Are you free?

Ah, yeah. I guess. Why?

Sean is going to do his report.

Oh. OK. I'll be right there.

Harry had heard Draco's interest. He had known that Draco wanted some details on the curse but didn't want to be bothered looking it up himself, so Harry had promised to let him know when Sean would give his report.

Sean moved to the front of the classroom and put some of his notes on Harry's desk as he leaned against it. Harry had to marvel at how relaxed and self-assured the boy was. Harry couldn't recall ever being that way when standing in front of an audience.

Until now, that is. It still amazed Harry that he could sit up there and teach now without getting nauseous.

About 30 seconds later, Draco strolled in.

"Don't mind me," said Draco. He walked directly over to Harry and glanced around. After a moment of digging in his robes, he sighed, took Harry's quill from his hand, tossed in onto the floor and transfigured it into a chair. He sat down, looking expectantly at Sean, who merely stared back, and bade, "So educate us, Mr. McIves."

Sean looked at Harry, who sent Draco an irritated glare as he summoned a new quill.

"Just go ahead, Sean," said Harry.

Sean sighed and launched into his report on the Vengeance Curse.

"The Vengeance Curse is actually a derivation of several spells," said Sean. "The basis of the curse is the Vanity Curse which was invented and first cast by Sigmond Lockhart a renowned writer who put the spell on his quill so no one else could use it. It's very similar to Entrapment charms, which fundamentally do the same thing except that they use a secondary element to enforce the curse."

Sean paused to pick up another piece of parchment. "Early recorded examples of cursed items are: clocks, cloaks ...... mirrors," Sean looked up. "I read that the spell on the Mirror of Erised falls under the category of the Vanity Curse as well."

"Really?" said Draco.

"I read that too," Cindy piped up. Harry had known the girl wouldn't be able to sit through too much of anyone else's reports without commenting. "But not many people have actually gotten to look into it. It's been said to drive people insane."

Voldemort chuckled. He had been blissfully quiet through most of the reports only making vague remarks. "What do you think, Harry?"

"Yeah, Potter," said Draco with a smirk. "You've seen it."

Suddenly everyone's eyes were on him again. Bloody hell.

Harry ignored Draco, who chuckled having heard the thought.

"You've seen it?" said Cindy. "Did you look into it?"

"Yes," said Harry with a sigh. "And yes, I could concur that it could be a form of the Vanity Curse. Again, as most things, it depends on who is looking into it." He looked back at Sean. "Continue, Mr. McIves."

"Right," said Sean. "Then in 1472, a witch, whose name was never released, cast it on a crystal ball. The curse, cast to keep people from using her glass, caused anyone who looked into it to see their own death."

"Sounds like Trelawney's personal vendetta against me," muttered Harry.

Voldemort chuckled and Draco snorted.

Sean glanced at him with a grin. "Only in this case," said Sean. "A number of the people reportedly died soon after looking into it. No one was able to confirm that they died in the manner in which they saw, but the cases were taken very seriously. And," Sean continued, "that's when it started to become know as the Vengeance Curse, and when it became classified as a Dark curse.

"Although the true Vengeance Curse evolved from the Vanity Curse, it is actually a separate spell because it compounds the Vanity Curse with the use of an enforcer." Sean was obviously getting into his report now. "Most recorded evidences of true Vengeance Curses being used are specifically Slytherin related as they all list the enforcer as being a snake, and they are haunted rooms and entrapped swords.

"But," Sean said and he sent Harry a very knowing look. "There hasn't been any evidence of a true Vengeance Curse being set-off for decades until," he looked down at his notes, "1945," he sent Voldemort a glance, "when a haunted room was opened at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, and students were attacked by an unknown monster. Curiously," Sean continued, "the attacks stopped mysteriously but started again in 1993 when the mysteries were revealed, identifying the haunted room as the Chamber of Secrets and the monster as a Basilisk. Unofficial reports state that the Basilisk was killed by a twelve year old wizard named Harry Potter," Sean looked up, "but as they're unofficial, I can't verify the validity of that information."

Since Sean had said the entire bit with a perfectly straight face, Harry choked on his own laughter.

Draco clapped Harry on the back a couple of times and smirked at Sean.

"All a bunch of codswallop," said Draco.

"Oh do show some respect, Draco," said Voldemort. "I was quite fond of that serpent."

"Sorry, my lord," muttered Draco as he leaned next to Harry. All right, Harry?

Harry could only nod. He finally sat up and took the glass of water Draco offered. "Go on, Sean," said Harry.

"And how could the Chamber of Secrets be classified under the Vengeance Curse?" Missy wanted to know.

But Sean was ready. "When Slytherin was forced out, his pureblood vanity was against muggle-borns, the trigger was his heir opening the chamber and the enforcer was the Basilisk," said Sean.

"Very good, Sean," said Harry, looking down at his journal.

Sean frowned. "I'm not done," said Sean and he looked back at the class and continued before Harry could interrupt. "The last instance of the Curse being set-off was again here at the school. Almost eight years ago, an ancient Entrapped sword by the name of Verwan, which was cursed by it's original wizard, was defeated by a fencer who also happened to be using another Entrapped sword. In this case, the trigger was being defeated and the enforcer was the unwilling snake entrapped in the victor's sword.

"According to the records," said Sean and he looked at Harry, "And these are official, the loser of the duel was an Acknowledged Master named Terrance Vandewater and the unwilling snake, entrapped in a sword and known as Sennie, was forced to bite the winning fencer." Sean was grinning again. "Oh, and the fencer was," he dramatically looked at his notes again, "a seventeen year old wizard named Harry Potter."

Yup. There goes that modesty. Right out the window. Nice shade of red-

Shut up, Draco.

"Bravo, Mr. McIves," said Voldemort, gaining the classes attention. "Very well done."

Sean beamed.

"Wait a minute," said Cindy and she turned to Harry. "Sennie bit you?"

"Yes," said Harry. "As Sean has accounted, the Vengeance Curse, when done properly, is a powerful Dark curse. It is deadly."

"That's the part I don't understand," said Sean. "And you did say that you would tell us. How did you survive?"

Harry stood up and moved back to the front of the classroom. Sean went back to his desk.

"Professor," said Sean as he sat down. "From what I read, the caster would have had to have put pretty explicit parameters on the curse for it to work at all, especially after so many years."

"There were specific parameters, Mr. McIves," said Voldemort. "Very specific." Voldemort chuckled. "In the end it all boiled down to Harry's..." Voldemort trailed off.

Harry couldn't remember ever seeing Voldemort at a loss for a word. "I think the word you're looking for is luck," said Harry.

The class laughed and Voldemort made a comment about Harry cynicism. Harry then explained that the curse worked on him because he was part Slytherin and had an entrapped sword. And he informed them that he lived because he was only part Slytherin, his Gryffindor blood had keep him alive long enough to free Sennie so that Professor Snape could make the antidote for the venom.

"Sean," said Harry. "What are the counters?"

"Well, since there are so few recordings of a true Vengeance Curse being triggered, there hasn't been any firm counters speculated," said Sean. "Although I could theorize that speaking parseltongue may be an aid to surviving one, if not a counter."

Harry nodded thoughtfully and paced several steps. "Although in the Chamber of Secrets, speaking parseltongue granted me entrance to the chamber, it did not help at all with the basilisk. It only obeyed Tom."

"Tom?"

Harry looked up then over at Voldemort who had spoken. "He was the boy I was dealing with at the time," said Harry. "I don't suppose you have a memory of fighting me when you were 16?"

"No, Harry," said Voldemort. "You were dealing," Voldemort chuckled at the word, "with a memory of me. My own memory of myself."

"Quite taken with yourself, weren't you?" said Harry with half a grin.

Voldemort laughed. "Was I?"

"Tell us, Professor," said Cindy breathlessly.

"What happened?"

Come on, Harry. You can't leave it at that.

Harry glanced over at Draco, then looked at Voldemort. Voldemort lifted his brows.

"I'm curious, Harry," said Voldemort.

Harry sighed and hopped onto his desk. "Well, after he got Ginger to open up-"

"Ginger?"

"Yes," Harry told Voldemort who looked surprised. "Didn't you know?"

"I did not," said Voldemort. "How could I?" He couldn't suppress a smirk. "I can see where some of her hostility comes from now."

"Yes, well," he turned back to the class, "After Ginger had regaled all of my exploits to Tom Riddle, he became increasingly interested in me. It wasn't until I met him down in the chamber that he admitted he was heir of Slytherin and that he had planned to continue Salazar's noble work. But," Harry took a breath, "he started going on and on about how he couldn't believe that I, as a baby with no extraordinary magical talent could have stopped the greatest sorcerer in the world."

"Ah the arrogance of youth," said Voldemort fondly.

Harry sent him a smirk. "Anyway, he told me that after finding out about me that he knew had to meet me. He said that killing muggle-borns wasn't important anymore."

Draco snorted. "I can see where this is going," said Draco with a grin.

The class murmured in agreement and Harry had to smile.

"Yeah, that's right," said Harry. "He decided he had to kill me, and then he admitted that he had already taken up his new name."

Then just as Tom Riddle did in the chamber, Harry showed the class. Waving his hand, Harry stroked out the name:

Tom Marvolo Riddle

Then he waved his hand again and the letters rearranged.

I am Lord Voldemort.

"Wasn't I the clever one?" said Voldemort.

The class laughed but Harry frowned.

"Oh, indeed," said Harry. "Clever enough to use an old diary and suck the life out of an innocent girl to become alive again." Harry looked at the class. "Can any of you image the kind of paradox which would have occurred if both Tom Riddle and Lord Voldemort existed?"

The class was silent but Draco spoke up.

"Actually, it would have been brilliant."

Harry looked over at Draco. "Oh?"

"Yes," said Draco. "Neither entity was entirely human. Voldemort's skill of possession was still working. He could have simply possessed himself and..." Draco trailed off suggestively.

"True, Draco," said Voldemort. "The only flaw with that plan would be the dominance issue. Two like minds, with the same strength of will would have been debilitating. Unless we had found a way to merge then it would have driven anyone insane."

"In other words," said Harry unable to repress his smile. "You wouldn't have been able to live with yourself."

The students laughed and Voldemort smirked.

"Very amusing, Harry," said Voldemort.

"If he had the Amulet of Quetzelcoatl," said Cindy. "He may have been able to do it."

The whole class looked at the girl and she lifted her chin defiantly. Harry scowled as he looked at her, racking his brain.

"Oh, yes," he said finally. "Patron Charms." He glanced at his watch. "All right, Miss Larsen," said Harry sliding off his desk again. "Explain it to us."

Cindy leapt up from her desk with excitement as she collected her notes. She moved to the front of the room as Harry returned to his chair. He sent Draco a glance.

I guess you're staying.

Oh, yes. This is fascinating. Smart kids.

"There are, of course, a wide variety of Patron Charms," Cindy began. "Most of them are simple protection charms as well as wards against 'the evil eye' or other such bad luck omens. But," said Cindy, now with excitement. "The spell can take on a darker aspect depending on the power and the - well - nature of the caster's intent."

Voldemort chuckled. "How very delicately put, Miss Larsen."

Cindy flushed but went on. "Some of items charmed in this way have the potential to 'cheat death.'"

"Cheat death?" said Rufus. "How?"

"That particular capability is said to be one of the properties of the Amulet of Quetzelcoatl, which is one of the two most famous items charmed with very powerful Patron Charms. It is said to give the bearer the normal protection properties as well as the ability to detect deceit, have healing powers and, in some circumstances, have a some sort of power over life."

"How so?" quizzed Harry.

"No one can be sure of the actual details," said Cindy, looking disappointed that she couldn't find the answers. "But it allegedly has to do with how the person in possession of the Amulet received the Amulet."

"How do you mean?" said Draco.

"Well, the way it was given and received," said Cindy. "It apparently doesn't work unless it's given with specific intent."

"What kind of intention?" said Harry curiously.

Cindy reddened. "Er, not the intention. The key word is gift. It has to be given freely, thereby relinquishing, basically implementing the power of the Amulet."

"Ah," said Sean. "So if it's stolen-"

"Or found," said Missy, cutting him off.

"Right," said Cindy. "It won't work."

"HAH!" said Draco with amusement.

What?

Since everyone looked at Draco, he merely waved his hand in dismissal. "Sorry," muttered Draco.

Draco?

"But the Amulet is a myth," said Missy.

Draco snorted. "Yeah, so was the Chamber of Secrets," said Draco. "But ask the key players of this room how mythological that was."

Cindy blushed. "Well still, there aren't any known records of the Amulet, only written references to it, mostly ancient Aztec text, and several very obscure sketches of it, which are almost impossible to get a hold of."

"Perhaps," said Draco, aloud so the class could hear. "But I doubt the Ministry of Magic would have a team of researchers handy just in case it happens to be found, if someone didn't think there was some truth to the myth."

The class all appeared impressed with the knowledge, and Draco didn't look the least perturbed that he was revealing Ministry secrets.

Draco?

Use your head, Harry. It means that if the Ministry does find the bloody thing, it won't work. That is, if the girl's research is accurate.

Oh, I'm quite sure it is.

Good. An artifact of that potential power is better off in a museum, useless than in the hands of the wrong witch or wizard.

"Of course, anything is possible," Cindy went on, defending her report. "But without any hard evidence-"

"So, Miss Larsen," said Voldemort. "How could this miracle of stone have helped me?"

"Well," said Cindy enthusiastic again. "Since the Tom Riddle that Professor Potter faced was technically a memory, I would have to assume that it was a souless entity, meaning he was 'whole.' It the Amulet was empowered, it could have been used to 'merge' your, er, well, being, with the substance of the memories re-established body."

"Interesting," said Voldemort.

"Of course," said Cindy. "That would be assuming the thing is real and was in your possession-"

"We get the idea, Cindy," Harry intervened. "Go on. And the second example?"

"Right. The second is," she sent a glance to Voldemort. "Salazar's Talisman."

Harry looked at Voldemort and raised his brows. Voldemort only chuckled.

"Salazar's Talisman is said to carry the classic properties of the Patron Charm, the predominate ones being the protection wards and the deceit detection, and, of course, Salazar being such a powerful wizard, the piece is obviously very magically potent."

"Go on, Miss Larsen."

Cindy glanced again at Voldemort. "Yes, as I'm sure you know, Salazar was very possessive."

Voldemort chuckled again.

"As with his Chamber, he made sure that only descendants of his own blood could access the properties of the talisman," said Cindy.

"So, basically, it's just a medallion unless you're an heir?" said Sean.

"Well, any descendent actually," said Cindy. "I surmise, it would just be stronger, more potent, for an actual heir."

All eyes moved to Voldemort.

"At the present time," said Cindy. "Its whereabouts are unknown."

Voldemort laughed out loud at that. It seemed that no one was brave enough to ask.

Will you ask him already? You know he'll tell you and I want to know.

Harry sighed. Voldemort doesn't have it.

How do you know?

Because I think I know where it is. Harry was actually pretty sure he knew.

"Er, Lord Voldemort?" Sean's curiosity had overcome his trepidation. Leave it to his Gryffindors. "Hare you ever seen it?" said Sean.

Voldemort was smiling with satisfaction. "Of course, I have, Mr. McIves," said Voldemort. "It was in my possession. Handy little trinket." His amusement was obvious as well. "No one could lie to me, even it they had the audacity to try."

Harry shook his head but couldn't help his grin. So that's how he was always able to tell.

"Don't be silly, Harry," said Voldemort.

Harry looked up. Voldemort was watching him as if reading his thoughts again.

"I never needed to use it with you."

"Oh," said Harry.

"Despite the fact that you were one of the few people brave enough to try to lie to me, you were simply miserable at it. And later, I simply knew you too well," said Voldemort.

Harry suppressed a laugh. Draco snorted then choked.

Voldemort cast his red gaze on him. "Comment, Mr. Malfoy?"

"Well, no," said Draco. "It's just that Snape-"

Voldemort's laughter cut him off. "Draco, my boy, still the idiot?"

Harry instantly saw Draco tense.

Let it bounce off, Draco.

Voldemort went on. "Everyone knew Severus was a spy for both sides. He told me everything he knew, which was everything Dumbledore allowed him to know. And vice versa. He didn't need to lie. Besides," said Voldemort. "At that point, I had completely changed my tactics." He sent Harry a smug glance. "Severus had a very specific task. There was no need for him to deceive me."

"So, er, about the talisman," said Sean, looking back and forth between them. "Where is it now?"'

Voldemort brows rose expectantly. "You know where it is, don't you, Harry?"

Harry sighed as the class looked to him. Reaching to his throat, he pulled at the chain and drew the medallion out from under his robes.

The class gasped. Cindy looked as if she wanted to jump forward to see it, but contained herself. Draco didn't bother restraining himself. He reached between their two chairs and took it from Harry's hand.

"That's the Talisman?" said Draco, studying it.

Voldemort chuckled.

Harry met Voldemort's red gaze. "Is this why you never lied to me?"

Voldemort sighed patiently. "Harry, if you recall, I didn't give that to you until you were 17."

Harry nodded.

"I chose not to lie to you, Harry," said Voldemort. "Because I wanted you to trust me."

This conversation was starting to smack of 'new curriculum' information and Harry still didn't think he was ready. He pulled the medallion away from Draco as the chain had started to dig into his neck and stood up.

"It isn't like you haven't seen it before, Malfoy," said Harry as he moved towards the front of the room.

"I know," said Draco. "But I never realized what it was." He looked at Voldemort and stated the obvious. "It isn't a snake."

Harry motioned to the class and they slowly came forward to look at the magical necklace, held firmly in Harry's palm.

Several students made concurring comments as they looked at the talisman and returned to their seats.

Voldemort chuckled. "My dear boy," Voldemort addressed Draco. "Salazar Slytherin may have had a rather extensive fixation with snakes but he also had a great fascination with many magical creatures," said Voldemort. "And the phoenix is one of the most magical."

The students had all returned to their seats, including Cindy, and Harry was again seated atop of his desk. Harry's attention was fixed back on his medallion as he fingered the lettering impressed on the back.

Cindy, of course, was very knowledgeable on phoenix' as well. "Of course, their tears of healing and regenerative capabilities, their ability to carry heavy loads and their ability to manipulate fire in all its aspects and forms," she expounded. "And they can never die."

"That isn't exactly true, Miss Larsen," said Voldemort. "They have themselves conquered death, they possess an understanding of death, being keepers of death's secrets, which is why a ghost can not share the same confined space as a phoenix, but they can be killed, or die, as it were."

Cindy frowned. "How?"

"Simply," said Voldemort. "The phoenix can save a life if it chooses," he spared a glance at Harry, "Or if ordered - by the person it chose to sponsor, within one hour of the passing life. But, if the phoenix surrenders its entire life force, then it will expire."

"But-"

"Miss Larsen," said Voldemort. "Take Harry's Rowen for a prime example. You've all seen her go through her stages already." He chuckled. "Indeed, it hasn't been easy for her to be Harry Potter's phoenix. But she has yet to expend more magic than she has to heal him. He doesn't expect her too, which is why despite her help, Harry still suffers remnants of 'our connection.' But needless to say, if Harry had ever actually died, and she was not at her full strength, she could, if she chose, surrender her life force and save him."

"But then she would die," said Missy.

"If she wasn't at full strength," said Voldemort. "Or if he had lost more life than her abilities could restore, meaning he had been dead over an hour and/or his soul had passed. Correct. It would take forfeiting her own life force to recall his soul and restore his body."

"Well, I'm rather fond of Rowen," said Harry, forcing some levity into the subject. Talking about his own death was getting old. "So I will endeavor to keep on living."

"Be sure you do," said Voldemort.

The bell rang and the students slowly started getting their stuff together. Their attention though was on Harry.

Harry dropped the talisman back under his robe and looked over at Voldemort with a smirk. He had expected Voldemort's expression to be amused. It wasn't.

"Oh? Why?"

Voldemort drifted over to Harry's desk, just outside the flinch zone. "Our connection, Harry," said Voldemort. "I am here because you are. When you die," he paused to smirk, "you will indeed, take me with you."

Harry sighed and shook his head. "My life is a nightmare," muttered Harry.

Voldemort chuckled. "Harry, I'm hurt."

The next class started to come in and the Gryffindors were forced to give up their seats. Harry prodded them out, praising their efforts.

"See you at dinner," Draco called from the door.

Harry waved and looked back at Voldemort.

"I will see you later, Harry," said Voldemort.

"Where-"

"I have things to do."

"What-"

"Christmas break, Harry," Voldemort reminded him with a grin.

"Oh," said Harry. Voldemort was arranging the 'reunion.'

"Just ask, Harry."

Harry pulled out his notes. "No, Voldemort," said Harry. "I'm quite sure, I do not want to know 'your ways.'"

Another chuckle. "Always the cynic, my Harry."

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

The remainder of the week went fairly uneventfully. The castle was decorated with it's usual Christmas flourish and spirits were high and jovial as the break approached. The holidays were planned, much to Harry's relief, without his participation. Christmas Eve and morning he and Ginger would spend together at their house, Christmas night they would spend with the Weasleys' and after that, Harry and Ginger would spend some 'relaxing' time at the retreat house in Bulgaria.

Ginger had sent him the tentative itinerary as well as several papers to sign. He was damn sure he didn't know what was going on and bloody glad that Ginger could handle everything from her end. Times like these, it didn't bother him a bit that no one told him anything. He was satisfied to blissfully embrace ignorance, knowing Ginger had it covered.

Draco had laughed at him as he signed the papers.

"Aren't you going to read them?"

"Nope," Harry had said. "I just have to make sure I sign the right name." He couldn't help smirking as he penned the name Jack Taylor on an order for a surplus of household supplies (apparently it was going to be some party), and Harry James Potter on several other papers as indicated by Ginger's notes.

Harry was actually looking forward to the holidays now that they were upon them. He walked into the Great Hall for the feast and it instantly went silent.

Great.

A glance around showed nothing out of the ordinary. Several people were grouped in front of the staff table, but other than that, everything appeared normal for a feast before the holiday.

The meal had been served but everyone was now looking at Harry - expectantly.

Draco, what's going on?

I swear, I didn't do it.

Bloody hell. Tell me-

"Ah, Professor Potter," someone said, might have been Dumbledore.

The group before the staff table separated and Harry looked first to Dumbledore, whose eyes were twinkling. His gaze moved over the others: Snape, McGonagall, Draco, three older, distinguished looking wizards, Billings and -

Terrance Vandewater.