Let the Darkness Take You

Let the Darkness Take You

Chapter Two

~ ~ ~

Harry fell into step beside Ginny Weasley on the way up to Gryffindor tower. She was a new prefect this year and was leading the first years up to their new dormitory. Harry’s heart leapt as she gave him a warm smile and linked her arm through his.

“All right, Harry? I noticed that your friends were kind of giving you the cold shoulder.”

“Hmm. That’s a bit of an understatement, Gin.”

“What happened? I was under the impression that there was nothing wrong.”

“You and me both. I have no idea. First it was Sirius...” He looked down at his feet for a moment, swallowing the lump that rose in his throat at the thought of his godfather. “Then it was everybody else. I was worried that you would be angry at me as well.”

“Why should I be? I have no reason to. Oh, the Fat Lady is coming up. Are you up for a talk after I show the first year girls to their dormitory?”

“Yes, that would be nice. Thank you.”

Ginny smiled again and unlinked her arm. “First years! The entrance to Gryffindor tower is right here at the portrait of the Fat Lady. The new password is perseverance!”

The portrait swung open to reveal the portrait hole that served as the entrance to Gryffindor tower. Harry smiled warmly at Ginny as she stepped aside and let all the first years through. She stepped in with Harry close behind. “I’ll be right back,” she whispered with a small squeeze of his hand and disappeared up the girls staircase with the first year girls. Harry chose a seat in a darkened corner of the common room and watched patiently as the room started to empty out as people wandered off to bed. He bit back a wave of anger as Ron and Hermione glared at him before retreating to bed. The only people left was Katie Bell, who was now in her last year and another girl in her year that Harry didn’t know too well. A couple moments later, Ginny came down the stairs in her pyjamas and slippers on her bare feet.

“Oh, Harry. I’m freezing. Let’s sit by the fire. There’s nobody else down here besides them. They won’t bother us.”

Harry obeyed and sat next to the red hair girl on the couch in front of the fireplace. “So, tell me everything, Harry. Did you say that Sirius is treating you the same way as Ron, Hermione and everybody else is?”

Harry swallowed and started twiddling his thumbs. “Yes. Only it seems worse when it comes from him. I don’t even know who he is anymore. Now it seems like... like he hates me. And I mean really hates me.”

“What would make you think that though? He seemed to really genuinely love you at the Leaving Feast last term.”

“He did. Or so I thought. I... he told me this summer that he didn’t want me, that there isn’t room for a boy my age at his manor. He didn’t even seem to think twice about what my parents would think if they knew he was treating me this way. His exact words were, ‘well they’re dead aren’t they? What they don’t know, won’t hurt them.’ Something has happened to him. I just don’t know what.”

“Is there anybody that would know? That has seen him change?”

“I don’t...” A dawning comprehension came over him and he grinned. “Remus,” he muttered. “Remus might know about Sirius. As for the rest of them... well, I’ll find out something.”

“I’ll help you. I don’t want you working on this alone.”

“Thank you, Gin. I’m going to go and get some parchment and a quill to write to him.”

“Okay. Do you want me to stay with you?” she asked through a large yawn.

Harry smiled and pulled her standing up with him and wrapped her in a warm embrace. “No, that’s fine. You should get some sleep. I’ll see you in the morning.” He kissed her cheek which he noticed turned a brilliant shade of red afterwards.

“Goodnight, Harry.”

“Night,” he replied and watched her go and then ran quietly as he could upstairs to his trunk. By the light of his wand, he pulled out an ink bottle, quill, and a new piece of parchment and then started back downstairs again. Once situated at a table, he began to write.

Dear Remus,

Hello! How are you doing? I hope Hedwig and this letter finds you well. I’m writing this in hopes that you haven’t turned against me as well. I need to ask somebody this question and you are the first that came to mind. I would have asked Sirius... but since that’s basically out of the question since my question is about him. I’m stalling.

Anyway... I was just wondering if you had seen Sirius between the end of term and my birthday this summer. It was extremely strange when I saw him again, and to be honest, it isn’t getting any better. You may or may not have heard but Sirius doesn’t want me to live with him anymore. He’s said some things that I never thought would come out of him before. I won’t lie and say that the things didn’t hurt me. They did.. and badly.

I have to know, Remus. Does he really not love me? Did I really do something to deserve this? Was it all an act before he was freed? Please write back. I... I feel lost. I need somebody.

Harry

Harry folded up the letter and ran out of the tower towards the owlery, hoping that Hedwig had not gone hunting. After a close escape from Filch, he made it and found his snowy owl sleeping on a low perch. He poked her gently awake and tied the letter to her. “Take this to Remus Lupin, Hedwig. It’s urgent.” The owl hooted her understanding and flew out the open window. Harry watched her go until she was barely a dot in the sky and turned back around to make the long trip to Gryffindor tower.

***

Remus Lupin lifted his head groggily from his pillow, wondering what had woken him from his pleasant dream. The sun was only just coming up! What in Merlin’s good name was he doing up already? But then the steady tap, tap, tap from his bedroom window made him look over to see a beautiful snowy owl with a letter tapping on the window. “Hold on, Hedwig. I’m coming.” Remus wondered why Harry’s owl was delivering a letter to him. Sure the two had become good friends the past year, but they rarely ever sent letters unless something had happened....

“Oh no!” Remus exclaimed quietly and ran for the window and threw it open. He took the letter from the majestic bird and unfolded it with shaking hands. By the time his eyes reached the bottom, his jaw had dropped down to his chest in shock. Just to be sure his tired eyes were reading correctly, he read it over three more times before dropping down onto his bed.

“Sirius. What the hell have you done to that poor boy?”

A tired hoot came from the owl and brought Remus out of his trance. “Oh, go and have a bit of a rest. I’ll need you later to bring a letter to Harry.” The bird hooted and flew out the window and onto a large tree. Remus wasted no time in starting the reply to Harry, he figured he should as long as he was up. He wouldn’t be able to sleep now that he knew of this. Whatever this was. It certainly didn’t sound like Sirius. And this certainly didn’t sound like Harry. Whatever Sirius had done to Harry, it had made a scar more painful than the one on Harry’s head. Only this one wasn’t visible. And his ‘nephew’ needed somebody.

Harry,

I am truly at a loss for words. What you have told me in your letter does not sound like my old friend, Padfoot at all. I can say that I did see Sirius a week after the end of term and there didn’t seem to be anything wrong with him. In fact, I was having a time of it keeping him from breaking through the walls. He was like a little puppy again, practically bouncing off of everything. He couldn’t stop talking about how much fun you two were going to have at the manor. I’ve never seen him more excited. This news of him not wanting you has come as a real shock, Harry. I’d like to tell you what happened to him but I honestly don’t know. What I do know is that no matter what, he does love you with all his heart. He always has. Even if it doesn’t seem like it now... he does.

That was the last time I saw him. Every time I asked him to do something with me, he’d say he was busy with some prior engagement. Which in itself is odd. He always used to have time for fun. I don’t know what else to say to you right now, Harry. I don’t know everything as I’m quite certain you didn’t mention everything in your letter. I just want you to know that I will be here for you no matter what, okay? Owl me, or get to a fire place so that we can fire talk. If need be, I’ll come to Hogwarts, okay? Remember that. Don’t let your hopes get down. There is somebody here for you always.

Remus

***

Harry trudged into the Great Hall after his last class of the day. To say the least, it had been an extremely long day. Things had gone from bad to worse. It seemed as though all his professors had taken to hating him now as well. Professors Flitwick, Sprout, and Trelawney had taken ten house points from Harry for doing absolutely nothing. Which was the absolute truth since he had not spoken a word in any of his classes and kept to himself all day. It hadn’t been hard, everybody was ignoring him anyway. Everybody in Gryffindor that is. Harry had never paid close attention to the Hufflepuffs in Herbology before this and it seemed as though they were ready to return the favour again this year. The Ravenclaws rarely spoke to anybody during class, so that was out of the question in Charms. And the Gryffindors were alone in Divination. Which made things a whole lot worse.

Harry sighed deeply and sat at the edge of Gryffindor table and started piling food onto his plate. “Need some company, Harry?” asked a sweet voice. He looked up from his food and saw Ginny smiling down at him.

“Sure,” he replied tiredly.

“Long day?”

“Like you wouldn’t believe. The professors have it in for me as well. I can’t tell you how much I’m looking forward to Defence Against the Dark Arts. I’ll probably end up losing twice as many points there. And it’ll probably be for something like breathing too loud. And then not to mention Potions, which has always been an ordeal. I couldn’t imagine Snape hating me anymore than he already does.”

“Well, you can’t say that all the teachers will have it in for you. You haven’t had McGonagall yet. Or Hagrid! He’s always been your good friend. I’m sure he’ll be fine.”

“I hope so.”

Harry looked up as he heard an owl hoot from above. Hedwig came soaring down through the window and flew towards Harry. Harry’s heart lifted as he saw a letter tied to her that was undoubtedly from Remus. Maybe there would be some answers within it. As he fumbled with opening the letter, Ginny looked on interestedly. “Is that from who I think it is?”

“Yes. I didn’t expect a reply so soon.” He read the letter over three times before sighing loudly and handing it over to Ginny. The only thing Remus’s reply did was get more questions in Harry’s head. Sirius truly wasn’t acting like himself and whatever had happened to him, had happened in the three weeks time when nobody had seen him. What had happened to make Sirius change his mind about Harry? Harry was so caught up in his thoughts that he didn’t notice when excited chatter started going on around him. He was startled out of his morbid thoughts of Sirius when a hand was placed on his shoulder and a gentle voice spoke in his ear.

“Harry... are you done eating?”

He jerked his head up and found himself looking at Remus Lupin. “Remus! What are you doing here?”

“I thought my letter would be enough to calm myself about this but I decided that I needed to see you. Can we go somewhere to talk?”

“Yeah. I’m not all that hungry anyway.”

Harry stood up and walked for the door while Remus stopped and looked up at the Head table. Remus was visibly surprised at seeing his friend sitting there, and with no less than open hostility on his face. Remus raised an eyebrow at him and turned to follow Harry out the door. A couple ‘bye, Professor Lupin’s!’ followed him out the door and he waved. Remus wrapped an arm around Harry’s shoulders and the boy leaned into the embrace and sighed. “Thank you for coming, Moony,” he said quietly. “Ginny and Colin Creevey are the only ones who have been nice to me. Even the professors hate me now.”

“Don’t think twice about it. I’d do anything for you. I hope you know that.”

“I do now.”

“Good. Let’s go to the tower. There shouldn’t be anybody there for a while yet.”

The two walked to the Gryffindor common room in comfortable silence. Harry said the password and they both climbed in and sat on the couch in front of the fire. “Tell me everything that has happened from when you saw Sirius this summer up until now.” Harry sighed and started in on the long story. Remus looked genuinely upset at some parts of the story and even stood up and paced when Harry told him what Sirius had said about his parents. After he was done talking, Remus stood looking down at Harry with concern in his eyes and anger towards the thoughts that were going through his head about his friend. The portrait opened and emitted some giggling third year girls. Remus sighed and ran a hand through his hair and then sat next to Harry again.

“I don’t know what to say. This definitely isn’t Sirius that we are talking about here. Even the brief glimpse that I saw of him, I could tell that he was different. He outright glared at me. I don’t think he’s ever given me that look or anybody for that matter.”

“He has to me. Many times in fact now.”

“Harry... something is going on here. There has to be for this many people to just up and start hating you one day...” More Gryffindors started piling into the common room and were sending the pair on the couch odd looks, and some even looks of hatred towards Harry. “We probably shouldn’t talk anymore right here. I’m going to go talk to Dumbledore about this, alright? I’ll come tell you what he said afterwards if it’s not too late. Otherwise, I’ll talk to you tomorrow.”

“Okay, thank you.”

“No problem.” Remus took Harry in a firm hug which was gladly returned. “Everything will turn out okay,” he whispered into Harry’s messy hair. He ruffled it as he stood and made for the portrait hole. Harry smiled a little at his retreating back, feeling better about things already.

***

Remus walked quickly down the hallway, intent on getting to the stone gargoyle that blocked the entrance to Dumbledore’s office, as quickly as he could. He ran a hand through his hair for the fiftieth time since leaving Harry and then gave out a cry of surprise as a hand reached out and grabbed his elbow.

“Hello, Remus.”

“Hi. Don’t do that! You scared me!”

“Sorry. I’ll try harder next time. Where are you off to in such a hurry?”

“I was going to speak to Dumbledore,” he replied suspiciously. “Why do you care?”

“Just wondering. I have some things that I need to speak to you about. Come down to the kitchens with me and we’ll have some tea. It won’t take long, I promise.”

Remus sighed and grudgingly agreed. “Fine. But this had better not take long. I have something important that needs tending to.”

The man smiled and started walking down the stairs in the direction of the kitchens. After Remus tickled the pear, he turned the knob and walked in. Immediately, house elves were surrounding them, asking what they could help with. “Oh, could you get us two cups of tea? The kind that I like so much?” asked the man. Remus sat uncomfortably on a stool and looked at his companion.

“What are you doing here anyway? Are you just here for a visit?”

“Oh... I have some business to attend to here. I’ll be staying for a while.”

“Here are sirs tea!” squeaked a tiny elf.

“Thank you,” replied Remus politely and drank from his cup. He swallowed and looked down at the contents. “That’s some... interesting beverage you’ve made here. What kind of tea is this?”

“I made it up. It does have an interesting taste doesn’t it?”

“What’s the secret then?”

“Oh, this will interest you. It’s blood.”

Remus choked and blew the tea out of his mouth. “What? Are you crazy? You’re not a vampire!”

“I know. It makes for interesting... side effects.”

“And what... side effects are those precisely?” Remus asked warily as he started to feel light headed and dizzy with acute cotton mouth.

“Light headedness, dizziness, cotton mouth, loss of good judgement, etc., etc.” Remus swayed on his chair and fell off in a dead faint. “Oh, and sometimes you faint,” the man added with a sadistic grin. “And sometimes you start hating people. Let’s see here, what was that spell again? Oh yes, exosus, Harry Potter”

***

Harry wearily climbed out of the portrait hole the next morning. The only thought that kept him going was Remus. He was helping. There was somebody helping him. Him and Dumbledore must have been talking late into the night because he had never come back to see Harry. So Harry was on the look out for the older man with Ginny by his side.

“He left, didn’t he?” exclaimed Harry on the verge of hysteria.

“Harry, calm down. I’m sure he’s still asleep. He might be in the Great Hall for all we know. Remus will do anything for you. He wouldn’t just up and leave for no good reason. And I’m sure he would tell you if he was leaving.”

“I suppose you’re right.”

It still didn’t help to calm Harry’s nerves. There was an ominous feeling in the air and he didn’t like it at all. When the two got the top of the marble staircase, Remus could be seen near the entrance of the great hall speaking amiably with Ron Weasley. “Oh, Merlin,” Harry muttered under his breath. He didn’t like the looks of this at all.

“Don’t worry. They were friends too,” Ginny soothed. Harry ran quickly to Remus with a tentative grin on his face.

“Good morning, Remus.”

Ron snorted in laughter. “Good luck getting rid of him, Remus. He never goes away.”

“Shut up, Ron. You’re terrible. Just wait until I owl mum and tell her how you’re treating Harry. She’ll send you ten howlers!”

“Stupid prat deserves it,” Ron muttered and then walked into the Great Hall.

“So, Remus... did you speak with Professor Dumbledore about you know what?”

“Actually Harry, I didn’t. Some other things came up that were frankly more important and needed to be seen to first. I think I may have been overreacting anyway. It’s nothing. If you’ll excuse me. I’ll just be going to eat breakfast. I need to get going after that.”

“But Remus!” Harry called after his retreating back. “Then why...”

“Oh, Harry, you’re too paranoid. Not everybody is out to get you! I really don’t want to hear about it anymore. Stop wasting my time with your petty problems that mean nothing!”

Harry stared shell shocked after his friend who he considered family... his uncle perhaps. “That didn’t just happen, did it?” Harry asked Ginny miserably.

“I’m afraid it did.”

“I can’t handle another person who hates me. I don’t get what’s going on!” he said desperately.

“Neither do I. But we’ll figure it out.”

The next two weeks went by with Harry and Ginny finding absolutely nothing out. And things were progressively getting worse. One by one, more people started to show just how much they hated Harry Potter. The only people that were still on Harry’s side was Ginny and Colin. There were people that would whisper to Harry in the hallways that they still liked him but then days afterward, they too would fall to whatever was doing this. Harry was getting genuinely concerned for Ginny and Colin. He didn’t know what kind of dark magic was doing this, he just hoped that it didn’t involve any pain. He didn’t want any more people going through it.

It was Friday of the second week of school, when the Gryffindors and Slytherins had their third potions class together. So far, Snape had been tolerable. Even the Slytherins were more tolerable than his own house-mates. Though they made sure to laugh whenever the Gryffindors would make cutting remarks sent in Harry’s direction. So when he walked into the dungeons, he was completely dreading it. It had been a pleasant sort of day in the way of nasty remarks went. There was the ominous feeling in the air again. And the last time Harry had felt that, Remus had made it known how crazy he thought Harry was for thinking that everybody was against him.

As usual, the Gryffindors sat in the back of the classroom while the Slytherins sat in the front. Harry was stuck in the middle row where there was nobody. Snape made his usual dramatic entrance and began speaking right away. “Today, we will be learning a simple knocking out potion, or the Semi Vivus potion. It is mainly used in hospitals but there are the occasions when people use it for practical jokes. The reason for this is because of a side effect of the potion. It makes people more susceptible to curses, hexes, and spells. Example: I put a curse on Mr. Crabbe to make him think and act like a chicken, the spell will last for approximately five minutes. But... if I administer the potion to Mr. Crabbe; he would pass out and I would then place the curse on him. When he wakes, he won’t be able to speak, all he’ll do is squawk like a chicken and flap his ‘wings’ for about two hours.”

“I’d like to see that!” said Malfoy loudly.

“Yes, I’m sure we all would Malfoy. Anyway, it all depends on the curse. It has been used in the Dark Lord’s reign for the Cruciatus. People have been placed in St. Mungo’s after they have been administered this potion and the Cruciatus has been placed on them. Therefore, if you feel the need to use this, please keep within the law. You know the rules.” Snape glared about the room. “What are you waiting for? Me to make it for you? Get moving!” The students scrambled about, getting their ingredients and cauldrons out.

Harry was halfway through making the potion, marvelling in the fact that no one had said so much as a word to him. Snape had even made his rounds and had said nothing. But he had thought too soon. At that moment, a large slimy slug came flying at him and hit him on his cheek and stuck. The room exploded in laughter and Harry peeled it off while looking around to see who had done it. But Snape answered the question for him.

“Weasley! Twenty points from Gryffindor! And detention!” The room continued to roar with laughter. “SILENCE!” Snape roared and everybody shut up, though everybody still had a smirk held in place. “One thing that I dislike more than anything Weasley, is when a person turns on one of their own. You will be scrubbing down my dungeon with a toothbrush. Maybe that will teach you to fling slugs at your house-mates.” He growled menacingly and swept back to his desk. Harry bent his head and continued to work on his potion, ignoring the snickers that were still going on. He could ignore them but when it came to the eyes penetrating into his skull, he had to look up.

What he found was the last pair of eyes that he expected to see. They were grey with silver specks mixed in. And his eyes weren’t laughing at Harry like they usually were. In fact, his were the only eyes in the room that weren’t laughing at him. His were asking something, and Harry stared for a couple moments to figure out what it was.

With a jolt, Harry understood. ‘Are you okay?’ Harry blinked. He licked his lips and nodded his head slightly and then averted his gaze from the penetrating eyes.

After class was over, Harry started looking everywhere for his two remaining friends. He looked everywhere he could think that they had ever met. He finally gave up and went to the Great Hall for dinner. There were only a few seats left at the Gryffindor table and unfortunately, Ginny and Colin were not there. He made to sit down next to a seventh year but her hand shot out and she looked at Harry. “Seat’s taken.” Every other seat was the same except he got a ruder remark with each seat he tried to take. Harry sighed, considering trying another table when a hand was laid on his shoulder.

“Perhaps you should just leave, Harry. It’s obvious that nobody wants you sitting next to them.” Harry turned around and found himself looking into Professor Dumbledore’s no longer twinkling blue eyes.

“But Professor, this is my table too. I should be able to sit here.”

“You should but you can’t. Just leave Harry. You might want to start eating your meals when not so many students are around. I don’t want you upsetting people.”

“Oh, Merlin. Not you too, Professor.”

“What are you talking about?”

“You hate me too.”

“Ah, Remus Lupin told me you’ve been a little paranoid about that. Professor Black as well. I think you should get more sleep and food.”

“How can I get food if you won’t let me sit?” he exploded. “What’s wrong with you? What’s wrong with everybody here?” Dumbledore’s eyes took on a menacing look and he pointed at the door.

“Go back to your dormitory. Now,” he said firmly.

“Fine.” Harry turned on his heel, muttering darkly under his breath, completely aware of the stares and glares that were directed at his back. He was too busy looking at his feet to notice the almost imperceptible nod that Snape sent. He didn’t notice a certain Slytherin nod back and hurrying to his feet. As Harry was almost to the top of the grand staircase, someone called out to him.

“Hey, Potter! Wait up!”

“What is it Malfoy? I’m really not in the mood.”

“Don’t get your knickers in a bunch. I just want to talk,” he said quietly as he neared Harry. “Come on. Let’s go into a classroom.” Malfoy grabbed Harry’s arm and led him to a classroom that looked as though it hadn’t been used in years. Harry sat upon the teacher’s desk as Malfoy put up a few silencing and locking charms on the room.

“What are you planning to do? Kill me, drug me or then bring me to the Dark Lord?” Harry asked dryly.

“Oh please, Potter. Don’t you think I’d come up with something more exciting than this? I wouldn’t want to look back on my greatest moment in life and regret it because I did something wrong.”

Malfoy hopped onto the desk beside Harry and sat cross legged. “So... why are we here then? I don’t have any memory of you pulling me into a deserted classroom before this. You’re not planning on having your wicked way with me, are you?”

“God, no. If I did, we’d be down to skin by now. I wouldn’t have wasted any time after those charms.”

“Good to know.”

“Hungry?” Malfoy asked suddenly. Harry rolled his eyes as his stomach gave a huge growl.

“Well, considering Dumbledore kicked me out of the Great Hall.. Yes, I am. So you’re here to rub it in, aren’t you?”

Malfoy ignored him and started rummaging in his robes. He pulled out two things that were so small, Harry couldn’t even make out what they were. The Slytherin boy enlarged them and Harry saw that they were too goblets with pumpkin juice. Next, he pulled another small item out and enlarged that as well. It was a plate, piled high with food. “What’s this?”

“Our dinner you dimwit.”

“Our dinner?”

“That’s what I said.” Malfoy picked up a chicken leg and bit into it. After swallowing, Harry was still staring at him as if he were some sort of alien. “What? I didn’t poison it obviously if I’m eating it.”

“That’s not what I was thinking.”

“Well, then what were you thinking?”

“You were just nice to me.”

“Of course I wasn’t.”

“You... you brought me food. That was nice, Malfoy.”

Malfoy’s cheeks turned a slight shade of pink but he just shrugged. “Snape made me do it. It wasn’t my idea.” Harry’s mouth now dropped down to his chest.

“Snape?” he asked incredulously. “Are we speaking about the same Snape here? The Potions Master who has greasy black hair and simply loathes everything about me. Especially the fact that I’m my father’s son?”

“If that’s the reason why he hates you, then yeah. We’re speaking about the same Potions master here.”

“But... but he..”

“Hates you? Yes. He does and so do I. Don’t forget it either.”

“Then why would you even agree to do this? Whatever this is, besides bringing me food.”

“I don’t know. I like Snape. Actually, I wasn’t bringing food just for you. I had just sat down to eat when you came in. I was still hungry and thought that I might as well bring enough for two of us.”

Harry looked down at the plate. “Or five of us.”

Again, Malfoy shrugged. “I eat a lot. I brought three helpings for me and two for you I suppose.”

Harry took a chicken leg and looked at Malfoy. “But still... it was nice. You could have just let me watch you eat, but you didn’t. You thought of me.” Malfoy wrinkled his nose.

“Damn. I missed a chance to aggravate you. I hate it when I do that,” he said in all seriousness, but Harry laughed.

“I think you’re losing your touch, Malfoy.”

“I’m not!” he exclaimed indignantly. “I’ve still got it! I can aggravate you with the best of them.”

“Prove it.”

“Eh,” he replied with a shrug of his shoulders. “I’m too hungry to. Would you just shut up and eat already? Food is getting cold.” Harry smiled and dug into the delicious meal that Malfoy had provided for him. Somehow, that made it taste all that much better.