The Seers' Truth: A Broken Beginning

Chapter 4

Crucio for Instance

After Herbology, Harry traveled with the Gryffindors to Transfiguration. It was a small class: all the forth and fifth year Gryffindors along with their first years. McGonagall was curled up on her desk in her cat form, seemingly asleep. Those who were in her classes before knew better. A note was posted asking the class to read the Introduction to Transfiguration. It was old stuff that they had learned in first, second, or third year condensed into a few summary paragraphs.

Most of the class read, but a few of the first years started to talk and pretend to transfigure each other.

Immediately McGonagall jumped to one of the desks, then stood, and changed into her human form. She was frowning. "I asked you to do a simple assignment. Need I take points away from my own house?"

The display quieted the class down immediately

She began by reminding the forth and fifth years of the transfigurations they had already done. "You have changed inanimate objects into other inanimate objects of similar shape, size and color. How many first years have done that?"

Beatrice and Samara raised their hands.

"Very good. Let's see it." She put matchsticks in front of both of them and asked them to change them into needles.

Both changed relatively quickly, but Beatrice actually had it before Samara. McGonagall asked the rest of the first years, Lou and Joe, to just watch for right now.

"You have turned animals into inanimate objects." She removed several white mice from a cage.

"All right. I'll make it easy for you," McGonagall said as she put the struggling creatures on the table, took out her wand and said, "Stupefy!" The animals dropped still and quiet on the table. "Do you think you can change these mice into clear glass water goblets?"

Only Beatrice managed the feat correctly. Sam's still had a tail and was a misty gray color.

"Good," said McGonagall. "You will need a little practice with your mentor, but you have the idea. If I remember correctly, most of the people in this room had water goblets with whiskers or tails. The hedgehog into a pincushion is easier. Can anyone tell me why?"

Hermione answered, "Because they are the same size, shape and color. All you have to effect is the life force."

"Correct," said McGonagall.

"You have turned inanimate objects into animals," she said to the forth and fifth years. She asked Samara and Beatrice to change a rock into a beetle. Both of their rocks turned into beetles but Samara's just sat there. Beatrice's immediately scuttled off of the table and into a crack in the stone wall.

"Not bad," she said, "but Samara, and the rest of you, needs to remember an important point: inanimate objects have no minds of their own. The first and most often forgotten step is that a rock doesn't have a mind to control automatic responses and you must set that up first. Then, you must think for them. You forgot to do that Samara."

McGonagall touched the beetle, which was still lying on the desk. "That is why your beetle is dead. Don't take it too harshly though, I think Beatrice is the only student I've ever had that let her beetle get away on the first try. If there were more like her, I'd have to have you change rocks into butterflies and have the windows open, otherwise I'd be over-run with beetles in here."

About this time, Ginny and Ron appeared at the door of the classroom and explained their short trip down to Madam Pomfrey. McGonagall frowned, but Harry was quite sure that the frown was more for Professor Trelawney than for Ron and Ginny. However, she asked Ginny to remain at the front table.

"Now we get to some of the more interesting transformations. Last year in fifth year we did similar animals cross species switches. We did not do this in forth year, but I think Ginny, Eloise and Colin can handle it." McGonagall called them up to the front with Samara and Beatrice. "Samara and Beatrice, you tell me if you want to sit with Lou and Joe or if you want to stay here."

"I'll stay," said Samara.

"Very well then, five guinea pigs about to become five guinea fowl."She brought the animals out and placed them in front of the five students. The three fourth years transfigured their plain brown guinea pigs into plain brown guinea fowl. Beatrice, however, transformed her brown guinea pig into a beautiful guinea fowl with splotches of white on brown feathers and a bit of black around its face. Samara's guinea fowl had two round white featherless splotches on the sides of its head.

"I forgot to take off the external ears of the guinea pig until the last minute," said Samara.

"Very nice all of you. Thank you for the demonstration. Please sit down," said McGonagall. "Now I want to tell you a little about the plans for this year. This year we will be working on transforming completely different animals including different species, different size, and different color. For those of you who are considering Advanced Transfiguration, we will be working on human transformations, which aside from the ethical considerations, is the most difficult to do to an unwilling host."

BUT NOT IMPOSSIBLE, IS IT MY LITTLE VIRGINIA?

Ginny sucked in her breath. Tom wasn't here anymore. The Diary was destroyed. She was only letting her imagination run. It was no wonder she was remembering him so vividly after Parvati's prediction. She tried to pay attention to transfiguration.

McGonagall was speaking, "The host is thinking and therefore, when he realizes that he has been changed into an animal, he may use any means inherent within that animal to defeat the wizard changing him. Also, his fighting the spell at this stage can cause undesired results."

SO DON'T FIGHT ME, VIRGINIA. WE BOTH KNOW WHO WILL WIN.

"Those results can be seen both in the person being transfigured and the wizard doing the transfiguring. It is just simpler to ask permission...if the human I am transforming is willing..."

YOU'RE WILLING AREN'T YOU GINNY? IT WILL BE SO MUCH BETTER IF YOU'RE WILLING.

THE MAGIC IS SO MUCH MORE POWERFUL AND IT WILL BE SO MUCH EASIER ON YOUR BROTHERS. THEY WON'T HAVE TO DIE.

Ginny stifled a sob and tried to concentrate. It was just a flash back, she reminded herself. They told her at St. Mungo's that they could come at any time. They were surprised that she had gone the last two years without them. It would pass. After all, she got through the worst of it when the Diary was intact. Now, it was only a memory. . .Only a memory. . . She focused intently on McGonagall.

McGonagall was still speaking, "It is not much harder than transforming one animal to another except that some people find it distasteful. Also, even if the person is a wizard, he will not be able to reverse the transformation himself and will have to wait on a qualified wizard to reverse the spell, preferably the one who cast the spell..."

DID I EVER SAY YOU WERE FREE? DID I REVERSE THE SPELL?

YOU ARE MINE. STILL MINE. FOREVER MINE.

"Changing the spell order can cause harmful effects. A person left in a transformed body may eventually begin to exhibit the attitudes of the animal form, but this is generally not a problem and, as soon as the original form is returned, the cravings go away. For example, as lunchtime draws near, I might start thinking about a nice salad. If I were in my animagus form, I'm quite sure I would be thinking of tuna or mouse."

Some of the students smiled or chuckled softly.

Laughter seemed totally foreign to Ginny. Who could ever laugh again? Why were they laughing? Ginny pulled her attention back to Professor McGonagall.

"If you turn an animal into a different animal, the tendency is for it to act like the original animal. If you need to change its feeding habits, you must set up in the same way you would set it up for an inanimate object. The animal's body will get sick if it is fed inappropriate food. You must fill its needs."

I FILLED YOUR NEEDS VIRGINIA. YOU WANTED HARRY POTTER. I GAVE HIM TO YOU. I GAVE YOU FANTASIES YOU COULD HAVE NEVER THOUGHT OF. I GAVE YOU MORE THAN HE EVER WAS. DO YOU REMEMBER? DO YOU REMEMBER HOW YOU IMAGINED HIS FIRST CHASTE KISS? DO YOU REMEMBER WHAT CAME NEXT? DO YOU--

Ginny felt herself blushing. "I don't want to think of this."

YES YOU DO VIRGINIA. IT'S ALL YOU EVER WANT TO THINK OF. I KNOW YOU TOO WELL.

"If you do not know what a certain animal needs, you probably should not try to transfigure the object into that animal unless it is for a very short period of time."

JUST GIVE IN, VIRGINIA. YOU ARE MINE.

"I won't"

"You almost never alter the brain of the animal completely and that is the hardest to do. It takes constant control."

THEN YOUR BROTHERS WILL DIE.

"no"

"It takes a master to change the attitude and will be quite beyond most of you--"

DIE HORRIBLY.

DO YOU WANT TO SEE HOW?

"no"

"--in fact, such advanced studies is beyond most wizards. The problem is it is very draining."

DO YOU WANT TO FEEL IT?

"no. please."

"--Also, if you lose concentration, it will still look like the animal it was transformed into, but it will immediately begin to act like the original animal. This could be disastrous--"

GIVE IN TO ME.

"--if you transformed a Mouse into a Lion and then it tried to hide in a hole in the wall when your enemy came instead of attacking. This is best as a short term diversionary tactic, or your mouse may be better suited to become a snake, since it would not be out of ordinary for it to slither into a hole in the wall if you tire..."

AREN'T YOU TIRED, VIRGINIA?

"Remember, it is your will that keeps it acting like the animal you have transformed it into."

YOU ARE MINE. SAY IT.

"I am yours." She had said it.

AGAIN

Ginny bit her lip in desperation until she tasted blood. She couldn't cry out. If she cried, they would know and they would take her back to St. Mungo'sand there was nothing they could do. They told her they couldn't cure her. They would never let her go. So she couldn't cry. She couldn't tell. She had to be silent. Be Silent.

And then she couldn't speak, just as she couldn't speak in the last moments in the Chamber, because Tom had taken even that to silence her crying...

MY DEAR VIRGINIA. YOUR CONSENT MAKES THE MAGIC SO MUCH MORE POWERFUL.

I WILL REWARD YOU FOR YOUR OBEDIENCE. I WON'T LET YOU SUFFER. I WILL BE SO GENTLE THAT YOU WILL DIE IN ECSTASY. YOU WILL DIE IN HARRY POTTER'S ARMS.

AND YOUR BROTHERS WILL NEVER KNOW THE SACRIFICE YOU MADE TO SAVE THEM. THEY WILL NEVER KNOW THE PAIN YOU SAVED THEM FROM. CURSES VIRGINIA THAT YOU COULDN'T EVEN IMAGINE.

CRUCIO, FOR INSTANCE. SUCH A USEFUL LITTLE CURSE...

"no"

STOP IT VIRGINIA

"please no"

DON'T BEG VIRGINIA. IT'S SO UNBECOMING.

"no"

DON'T FIGHT ME. YOU ARE INTERFERING WITH THE MAGIC.

"I will"

YOU GAVE UP YOUR RIGHT TO FIGHT ME LONG AGO. DO YOU REMEMBER WHEN? DO YOU REMEMBER WHEN YOU INVITED ME? BEGGED ME TO LISTEN? TOLD ME ABOUT YOUR PITIFUL LOVE FOR POTTER.

"Don't hurt Harry"

ALL I ASK IS THAT YOU GIVE IN TO ME.

"no"

ALL THAT I EVER ASKED.

"please"

YOU KNEW IT WOULD TAKE MORE THAN A KISS.

"I didn't"

TO SET ME FREE.

"I hate you"

NO YOU DON'T. YOU LOVE ME.

"no"

BUT IT WON'T TAKE MUCH, VIRGINIA.

"no"

JUST ALL THAT YOU HAVE.

"no"

IT IS DONE.

"NO!" Virginia Weasley sobbed aloud and then fainted.

===

The class erupted into chaos. Ron rushed to his sister's side and shook her gently.

"Miss Weasley!" McGonagall was also at her side in a moment.

"What happened to her?" wondered Neville aloud.

"A vision," surmised Parvati.

When McGonagall couldn't rouse Ginny immediately, she looked for help. "Hermione," she said. "Go quickly and bring Madam Pomfrey. Use the floo next door in Professor Flitwick's office. Mine is not operating correctly."

By the time Madam Pomfrey arrived, Ginny was awake, but not speaking. She wouldn't let go of Ron's hand.

"What happened?" asked Madam Pomfrey.

"She just cried out and fainted," said Ron. "She was upset by a prediction earlier today in Divination. I think it reminded her of--um--her first year."

Madam Pomfrey nodded.

"Well, let's get her up the infirmary."

After Ginny left, McGonagall attempted to resume class. It was almost impossible for Harry to concentrate and he glanced at Ron, who looked devastated also.

"Let's say I have a black post owl," said McGonagall. "I change her into a green beetle so she can hide in some leaves. Then, if the worst happens and I do not come back to her, the beetle may begin to turn black in time, but it is impossible for her to transform herself back into an owl without a wizard's help. However, if a green and black beetle flew to me everyday at post time and landed on my letters, I may be tempted to try to see if the original shape of the animal was an owl, especially if every time I saw it, the beetle had less green and more black."

Who cares, thought Harry vehemently. Who care if some owl gets stuck like a beetle? When will I ever need to know this stuff? It's stupid. And all I can think of right now is Ginny.

"Yes Miss Granger?"

"How long will the animal hold the shape you give it?"

"Indefinitely. Usually it will hold the shape given it until you or another wizard transforms it back to its original shape. I only say indefinitely because there is theory about certain magical animals who were left for long periods of time in foreign shapes eventually beginning to change back. There is no proof and I personally have never seen such a thing."

Professor McGonagall sat down at her desk.

"Now, I would like you to open your books and begin reading the section on Animal Transformation, Animagiand Human Transformation while I work with the new students. I expect you to work with your first years until they can turn a matchstick into a needle and back again. If they get that, work on getting a rock to be either a bug or a mouse. Be sure they are close to the same size, shape and color.

"Forth and fifth years, be prepared to discuss the ethics of Animal Transfiguration tomorrow. For those of you with a first year that doesn't catch on too quickly, this can be a difficult time. Don't be afraid to come to me if you need help. And help one another. Remember, this class situation may change and I will be able to separate those of you who need advanced work from those of you who need help with the simple spells. You may start reading now."

Harry felt like McGonagall had just rammed three years of Transfiguration into a single class. His head was pounding and he was worried about Ginny. He wondered how the first years felt. He glanced over at Beatrice who was happily turning her rock into a mouse and then a white mouse, and then a brown and white guinea pig. He wondered if she was going to change it to a guinea fowl. It looked like she wasn't having any trouble with transfiguration. Lou was doing all right too, but Joe was lost. He managed to get the matchstick into a needle, but it still had the sulfur tip instead of an eye. Edward, on the other hand, couldn't get the matchstick into a needle at all, but was doing fine with the rock. He turned it into an enormous spider, which scuttled across the table in front of Ron. Ron, in a panic, stupefied it and it immediately turned back into a rock. That elicited a whole new branch of questions from Samara, Hermione and some of the other students.

"What would happen if you had turned an inanimate object into an animal and the animal was hit with some sort of spell?" asked Eloise Midgin.

"It depends upon the spell and the control of the wizard who make the transformation," said McGonagall, "but it's a little complicated to get into now. We will come back to that question in more depth in a few weeks after we actually have several animals to test."

"I would imagine the spell would make a difference too, wouldn't it?" asked Edward. "I mean, a spell like 'Stupefy' certainly wouldn't have the same effect as, for instance, 'Crucio,' would it?"

"Of course not," said McGonagall slowly. "I do hope, however, you realize that spells such as the CruciatusCurse are illegal, not just for performance on humans, but also on animals."

"Oh, professor," said Samara appalled.

"It was just an example," said Edward in defense. "I wasn't going to do any curses. I just meant some spells are more powerful than others are. I don't know a lot of powerful ones...Crucio was just--just a word..." his voice drifted off.

"I should hope so," said McGonagall softly. "However, you are right in one respect, a more complicated spell has more change of harming a wizard within an animagus than a simple spell, regardless of whether it is a curse or not. Any curse, even a simple one, holds the chance of imprisoning the wizard within his animagus form."

When class was over, Harry asked to talk to McGonagall. "Professor, I would like to talk to you for a minute."

"Of course, Mr. Potter. How can I help you?"

"How can you be sure your first year is in the right house?" he asked.

"Are you concerned that Edward is not a Gryffindor?" she asked in return. "What makes you think that?"

"Well, Crucio, for instance," said Harry.

"I see. Has he DONE anything that makes you doubt he's in Gryffindor?"

"Well. No. It's just that," Harry paused. "Sometimes he says things like Crucio and I think he has to be a Slytherin, but sometimes he acts very much like a Gryffindor. Like when he rescued Ginny Weasley from the burning car..."

"He rescued Miss Weasley?"

"Yes, ma'am. And he's been very nice, but last night and again this morning, he went over to the Slytherin table..."

"If I remember, he has a brother in Slytherin."

"Yes, but--"

"Do you ever notice how many times Parvati Patil goes to the Ravenclaw table, and visa versa?"

"I've never noticed."

"Perhaps you should notice."

"Yes, professor."

"Anything else?"

"No ma'am."

"Mr. Potter," said McGonagall, "I'll be talking to Edward soon. I have all of the students scheduled after classes this week, so I will see how Edward feels about Gryffindor. In the meantime, if you notice him exhibiting any Hufflepuff or Ravenclaw traits, please let me know at once." McGonagall paused and looked at her watch. "You will need a note for Professor Binns, I believe. You are late for History of Magic."

History of Magic dragged on as usual. Probably he didn't help matters by presenting Binns with his note from McGonagall. Binns hated not being in control and being a ghost did not allow Binns to actually take the note. Although Harry just showed it to him politely and threw it away, Binns frowned at him. "Very well, Potter," he said. "Don't be late again."

Harry sank in his chair and waited to lunch. When class was over, Ron sprinted out of the room.

Harry was worried about Ginny too. He considered stopping by the Infirmary, but decided to talk to Ron first. Dumbledore caught him at the door to the Great Hall. "I wish to speak with you, Harry. Come to my office, please, after lunch."

"Certainly sir."

When he got to the Gryffindor table, Hermione was seated between Edward and Neville. Beatrice was on the other side of Ron and Samara was across from them. Instead of choosing the seat next to Edward, Harry sat next to Samara.

"How's Ginny?" Harry asked Ron.

"They wouldn't let me in," he said. "Madam Pomfrey gave her a calming potion and she fell asleep. She should be awake in an hour or less."

"Did she do this at home?" asked Hermione.

"No, but at--" Ron hesitated and looked around the table at the new first years who were strangers to them. "I'll talk to you later about it," he said. "She'll be alright." Ron managed a weak smile.

They talked briefly about their flying lesson and the train wreck and the Sorting Hat, but as soon as Harry saw Dumbledore leave, he excused himself to go to Dumbledore's office.

As he approached the gargoyle, he realized he didn't know the password. He guessed a few times: "Lemon drop" "sherbet lemon" "Bott's every flavor beans" "toffee" This was ridiculous. "Harry Potter to see Professor Dumbledore," he said, and the door swung open. Apparently, Dumbledore had changed it just for him or the gargoyle was smarter than he looked.

"Sir, you wanted to see me," said Harry.

Fawkes was flying about the room. He looked bad. Apparently it was a burning day.

"Yes, Harry. Have a seat," he motioned to one of the chairs, and Harry sat.

Fawkes flew above his head and circled again and again. "Oh," said Dumbledore, "Fawkes is actually the one that wanted this meeting right now."

"Fawkes?"

"Yes. Would you take out your wand?"

Harry stayed seated, but took out his wand. Harry pointed it away from Dumbledore, but Fawkes seemed determined to be right in front of it. He flew around it several times and then landed on it.

The sudden weight of the bird nearly pulled his arm out of its socket. He didn't think Fawkes was that heavy. Then he realized it wasn't just the weight of the bird; Fawkes was trying to pull the wand from his hand. Instinctively, he tightened his fist.

Fawkes burst into flame. The fire, directly in front of his face, seemed to ignite his hand and with a shout, he opened it to let go of the wand, but it stuck on his palm. Abruptly he realized he felt no pain, only a gentle warmth. Ashes fell over his hand and wand and settled in his lap. Still his wand stayed in his open palm, although gravity should have pulled it to his lap with the ashes; magic kept it in his hand.

He didn't know what to do. The ashes--ashes that were Fawkes--were burning into his wand, fluttering to his lap and the floor. A thick blanket of ashes covered his hand.

"Sir?"

Headmaster Dumbledore put a finger to his lips and they just stood in wonder as the tiny baby phoenix was reborn in Harry's lap.

At last, in a hushed whisper, Harry spoke, "Is this what you wanted me to come for?"

"No," said Dumbledore. "That is what Fawkes wanted you to come for. Me, I have a prediction to show you. A prediction that was made long ago." Dumbledore moved Fawkes gently to his perch. All of the ashes not used up in the transformation had vanished. "You heard Parvati's prediction this morning, didn't you?"

Harry nodded. He still felt somewhat in a haze with the magical phoenix ashes over him.

"Parvati's prediction seems to be a twin prediction, or at least a continuation, of a prediction made long ago by Professor Trelawney. I have here a copy of that prediction. I'm sure you will see yourself in several lines, and that will assure you of the prediction's validity. Do not show this to anyone, except perhaps those who already have taken part in the third stanza of the prediction. Be careful. I do not want to put Sirius at risk and I know you don't either." Dumbledore strode away again.

"There is another reason I didn't give this to you at the end of last year. The prediction warns of "losing your childhood too soon." I've thought and thought, but Harry, I think you lost your childhood when Voldemort put that scar on your head. I'm quite certain you have lost it by now. Perhaps it is because of the events at the end of the last school year, perhaps it is something else, but childhood is no longer in your eyes. It is better if you are prepared."

Dumbledore returned to him and held out a small parchment. Harry didn't take it right away. His hand was still holding his wand outstretched, as if reluctant to put it away. At last, he put it into his pocket, and took the parchment. He didn't look at it yet. He just stood uncertainly in front of Dumbledore.

"Sir, what did Fawkes just do to my wand?" asked Harry.

"I think you know."

"He somehow put some of himself--more than the phoenix feather--into my wand with the ashes."

Dumbledore nodded. "Once, wands had to be found. They had to come from a tree that was nearby when a great magical event took place. Then the wood would be infused with magic. The very dust from the magic entered the wand: not as a core, but as part of the wood itself. This is an old magic, Harry. Wizards of old searched for years for a wand such as the one which had been freely given to you today."

"But why?" Harry asked.

"Fawkes generally knows about these sorts of things," said Dumbledore.

Harry was torn between the wonder of what had just happened and the fear of whatever Fawkes thought would happen.

Harry left Dumbledore's office in a daze. He wandered up to his room, which was quiet and empty, and spread the prediction on the bed.

The parchment was not old, so Harry knew that Dumbledore had recopied it for him.

At the height of the Dark Lord's Power

A Babe will lay him low.

Yet he will arise through his flower

Essences of friend, father and foe.

<=>

For within have snake and phoenix warred

But Phoenix must surely rule

For this bird rises again and again

And Eating Death is the fuel.

<=>

Will he Riddle the past with pain

Or Riddle the future with glory?

Six lives or deaths hang in time by three

Brave children who'll mend the story.

<=>

Yet there will come to Hogwart's school

A year from Hufflepuff's loss

A housemate to thwart the rule of him

Unnamed and ne'er count the cost.

<=>

Fate put Gryffindor bravery in one heart

And Ravenclaw brains in one head

And Slytherin cunning, ambition and guile

Yet Hufflepuff's love is his dread.

<=>

The hat's confusion will mark you as true

Though tears may make you swoon

Your choices are hard. Your choices are few.

'Ware of losing your childhood soon.

<=>

Eat Death and be Dead. Eat life and live on.

Don't sacrifice children or truth.

Bring rue to your heart or rue to your hand

Or savor Old Love for a youth.

<=>

The moment of truth will come in a flash

The night sky will glow with gloom

A friend's flight--A friend's mad dash

May halt the moment of doom.

<<++>>

Then he took out his wand and just held it in his hand to get used to the new weight. It felt warm. Alive."Hello Fawkes," he whispered.

The temperature of his wand increased a few degrees startling him and he almost dropped the wand.

He thought about trying one of the charms that he was having particular trouble with--Charms! He had forgotten and missed the whole class. It was nearly time for Defense now. He folded the parchment carefully and put it in his Quidditch Through the Ages Book. With it safely hidden, he hurried to find his friends and his next class.

===

Harry met Ron, Ginny, Hermione, Neville and all the first years near the Charms' classroom.

"Where were you?" Hermione asked Harry.

"Dumbledore's office," said Harry. "Ginny, are you alright?"

"Yeah. I feel stupid."

"So what happened to you?"

"I guess all the Divination and then McGonagall talking about transfiguring humans made me think of first year. For a moment, it was all back. I couldn't handle it."

"Everything ok now?" asked Hermione.

Ginny looked from Ron to Hermione to Harry. "Actually, I don't know. It was too real."

"Great," said Harry sarcastically. "So why did Madam Pomfrey let you out of the Infirmary?"

"I wanted out," said Ginny.

"Madam Pomfrey didn't want to release her," said Ron "And you know, it's going to be a very long term if you don't get out of this lousy mood Harry. You should be a little more sympathetic of Ginny."

"Sure, Ron," said Harry, "I am sympathetic. I have every reason to be sympathetic." He knew he was letting his fear of why Fawkes had reinforced his wand get the better of him, but he couldn't seem to help himself. "Let's see," Harry continued, "Dark Mark above the Hogwarts Express, The train in flames, The Sorting Hat putting everyone in Slytherin and guess who's at fault? Who do you think triggered Ginny's remembering?"

Apparently Harry's outburst made some of the first years feel uncomfortable. They started walking a little ahead. Only Ron, Hermione and Ginny stayed close by. Edward was walking a little behind Ginny, obviously curious.

"What do you mean? He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named is at fault, of course," said Hermione.

"Right," shot Harry, "and whose blood runs through his veins? If I hadn't cheated, he'd still be a slug dependent upon Wormtail for sustenance."

Harry put both hands over his forehead, trying to shut out the headache. What could be worse than facing Voldemort last year? What could be worse than Cruciatus? Why had Fawkes--

"Harry, you didn't really cheat," said Hermione. "It wasn't your fault Hagrid showed you the dragons. Anyway, all the champions knew about them. And then Cedric and Dobby...well, Moody said that 'cheating' at the Triwizard Tournament had a long tradition."

"Moody!" Harry shouted at her. "Moody wasn't here, Hermione. Moody was NEVER here. It was Crouch, for gosh sakes. I might as well take advice from Voldemort himself. I feel so stupid. I keep thinking why didn't I just sit down in the maze and let someone else win. I knew my name wasn't supposed to be in the cup in the first place. I knew someone was trying to kill me."

"But Cedric Diggorywould still be dead," said Neville softly.

"Yes, but Voldemort wouldn't have a body. My body," said Harry, rubbing his scar.

Ginny moved to his side and put a hand on his shoulder. She didn't say anything, but there was understanding in her gaze.

"Is your scar hurting you again?" asked Ron.

"Again?" croaked Harry. "No. It's not hurting AGAIN. It's hurting STILL. It has never stopped hurting since the day Voldemort touched me." Harry dropped his voice to a whisper. "He can touch me. The protection my mother gave me is gone. I don't think you understand, the protection is gone."

"Some of us never had protection in the first place," said Ginny.

Her soft voice seemed to snap him out of it.

Harry slipped between Edward and Ginny, and leaned close to her, putting his hand on her shoulder. "To many memories today?" he whispered.

She looked at him sharply. Her eyes were liquid and bright.

"Me too," said Harry. "We could talk, you know."

She nodded eagerly.

"We're friends."

Some of the light died out of her eyes, but Harry didn't notice.

"Come on," said Hermione. "Maybe learning something in Defense Against the Dark Arts will help you. At least, if it's a good class, you'll feel like you are doing something to fight against He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named."

"I guess," said Harry.

"Did you see where it is?" Hermione asked Ron softly.

"No. Where?" said Harry, pulling out his schedule. He looked at the writing, just as Hermione spoke.

"The third floor corridor."

<<<===>>>