Harry Potter and the Magic Within

Harry Potter and the Magic Within

Chapter 23: 'The Deciding'

Harry was in a constant state of anxiety for the next week. He found it hard to concentrate on lessons and paid little attention in his Quidditch practice sessions.

Ron and Hermione simply put the subject out of their minds as best they could and focused on their work. Ron was so focused on his work, that he began to do as well in some classes as Hermione. Unfortunately for Harry, he couldn't do the same so easily.

He tried to think of a way to help but he didn't have a clue. He thought of going to Dumbledore, but decided against it. He knew Dumbledore would be extremely busy as it was, and could do without extra worries. Besides, thought Harry, he will already know about Sirius because Genevieve went to tell him.

Harry resolved to do nothing for the present. After all, he thought, Dumbledore will surely think of something, and when he does Sirius and Snape will both escape or get rescued.

Even with this reassuring thought, he remained riddled with worry.

When a week and a half had passed by since the fateful news, Harry was walking down to Care of Magical Creatures with Ron and Hermione when they got yet another sneering remark from Malfoy, who was standing just in front of them. They ignored this. They were rather used to it. Ever since the trick, Malfoy insulted them every time he saw them, even when teachers were close by.

Hagrid had brought out the Wimmets again, after having some trouble with a load of two-headed mice. Harry, Ron and Hermione spent the lesson looking after a Wimmet they named Sniffler for fun.

When the lesson ended, they stayed behind to help Hagrid put the Wimmets away. Malfoy and his cronies were the only students left when they had finished.

'Now, don' forget to do that homework,' Hagrid reminded them all.

'How you became a teacher is beyond me,' sneered Malfoy, 'we all know what sort of family background you have.'

This veiled insult, as all present knew, was a reference to Hagrid's mother who was a Giantess. Hagrid looked hurt.

But before Ron could get near enough to Malfoy to hit him, Hermione had stepped forward and began to speak in a voice of controlled fury.

'What is the matter with you? Can't you open your mouth without something mean coming out?' Malfoy looked thunderstruck but before he had time to respond, Hermione continued in the same angry tone.

'For your information, Hagrid is one of the kindest and most generous people I have ever met! You look down your nose at everybody but what makes you so special?' She paused for half a second to take a breath then thundered on. 'I hear the cruel things you say about Ron and Harry all the time, but you don't even know them. Ron is loyal and funny, and his wizarding ancestry goes back further than yours does, but he doesn't need to boast about it! And Harry is the bravest person I know and is going to be the greatest wizard ever! Much better than you could ever be!'

Harry, Ron and Hagrid were all looking at Hermione in amazement. Malfoy's face was contorted with fury and he began to speak through gritted teeth as Hermione paused.

'How dare you speak to me like that you Mudblood!' he hissed.

'You can call me what you like but it won't change anything. You're so proud of your family but what are they? Your mother is an airhead! And your father is one of Voldemort's minions! You don't have a thought in your head that wasn't put there by your father! You haven't the imagination to think for yourself!' Hermione was fuming but she hadn't finished yet.

'I may be muggle-born, but at least I have a family that never harmed anybody and friends I can be proud of - not gargoyles like you have! In fact,' she said, mercilessly, 'I sometimes feel sorry for you...but most of the time I just despise you!'

With that she stalked off towards the castle.

There was a moment of stunned silence. Then Ron called out:

'Er - wait for us Hermione!' and he and Harry dashed after her.

As Harry passed Malfoy, he had the fleeting impression that Malfoy was on the verge of tears, though he couldn't tell if it was because he was hurt or angry.

Crabbe and Goyle who had stood open-mouthed throughout Hermione's outburst, didn't seem to know what to do or say and shuffled awkwardly from one foot to the other.

Hagrid looked at Malfoy with an inscrutable expression on his face.

'You boys had best be gettin' back to your common room, I think,' he said calmly before turning away to his hut.

Harry and Ron were absolutely amazed at Hermione's conduct and told her so many times. It took them days before they stopped recalling it as though it were happy memory.

Then a few days later, Harry was wandering down an empty corridor when he saw Fred and George sneaking stealthily along an adjoining passage. Harry halted.

'Why did we have to keep it there? Why not under our beds?' George hissed.

'We kept them down there because we wanted to know for sure that they were safe,' Fred replied. 'Don't want them to be taken by someone who wants to steal our idea or anything like that, do we?'

They then crept up to an old stone witch's statue. The witch had a large hump. Harry knew there was the entrance to a secret passage through that hump.

'How long till the next lesson?' Fred asked.

'About half an hour I reckon,' replied George.

With that, Fred took out his wand, whispered 'Dissendium' and climbed in to the opened up witches hump. George followed.

Harry guessed that it was somewhere down there in the tunnel like passage in which their precious joke items were being stored.

He was walking in to the common room to collect his next lessons books when a passing thought struck him. If he knew the way to Voldemort's hiding place, he could have used that way to get out of the castle unnoticed. It would take him to Hogsmeade where he could fly away on his broomstick quite easily. Then he shook his head. It was not possible when he didn't know the way there, or even what he could do if he got there.

He picked up his books and wandered down to the second floor.

It was History of Magic next which was useful, after a wakeful night he could do with a snooze.

Harry sat at the back with Ron and Hermione.

'You look half dead, Harry,' Ron remarked as Harry sat down.

'Thanks,' said Harry, who wasn't really listening. Ron raised his eyebrows at Hermione and they exchanged a look.

'Er - Harry, are you ok?' asked Hermione anxiously, peering at him.

'What?' said Harry, as his thought was interrupted.

'Are - you - ok?' Hermione spelt out.

'Oh, yeah,' said Harry absent-mindedly.

Harry's mind was certainly not in the classroom that day. It wasn't that he was too tired, it wasn't that he had forgotten to eat breakfast either, he was still thinking about Sirius. He couldn't think of anything much else.

It didn't take a genius to figure out that this was what he was thinking. All it took were his two best friends. They found it rather easy to guess. So they knew he was thinking about his godfather, but they had not seen him in this strange quiet, even solemn, state before so they left him be and made their notes about the mysterious eighteenth Century wizards and witches.

'Hey! Look at this!' Ron said pointing at one page of his open History of Magic book. 'Harry, this Wizard was just like you. He could do powerful magic without even using a wand as well. It says that he discovered he could produce amazingly powerful magic in a time of great emotion by using his wand as he was in this state. He produced a beam of magic so powerful, he was locked up for a long while, as people believed him too dangerous.'

Harry raised his eyebrows. He was rather surprised to hear of another wizard who could do the same as he could.

'Oh!' exclaimed Hermione, grabbing the book. 'Oh, Harry imagine what you could do if you tried this wizard's method. Try using your wand as well as concentrating.'

'No, it wouldn't work the same,' Harry replied, 'he needed to be experiencing great emotion at the time. I suppose it would be the same for me.'

'Oh, yes,' Hermione sighed.

For the rest of the lesson, they didn't get much work done. Instead, Ron and Hermione exchanged excited whispers at their discovery and Harry looked at the book, thinking to himself.

He wondered if perhaps his magic could, in some way, help Sirius and Snape.

By the end of the lesson, Harry's head was buzzing with strange ideas of rescue attempts, each one to be squashed when a flaw was discovered.

Harry didn't mention these thoughts to Ron or Hermione. He knew how dangerous an attempted rescue would be and so it was best if they weren't there with him.

Their next lesson was Defence Against the Dark Arts. Ron and Hermione walked a short way in front of Harry and were soon waiting outside the classroom.

When Genevieve opened the door and invited the Gryffindors in, Harry noticed how tired she looked. She was obviously worried about Sirius, and perhaps even Snape, though Harry doubted it. After all, Harry thought as he sat down, Genevieve and Sirius would have known each other since school.

'Today we will be reading up on that Horned Ringnict I brought in last week,' said Genevieve, without her usual cheerfulness.

The class took out their books and started flicking through the pages to find the information on the strange creature they had seen in their last lesson.

Harry had practiced his extra magical powers quite a few times with Genevieve since he discovered them. After finding out about the potion immunity he possessed, Genevieve had given him a dose of strong Sneezing Potion which, like the Sleeping Potion, had no effect on Harry whatever, but he had never seen Genevieve looking quite so out of sorts as she did today.

When the bell rang some time later, Harry didn't follow the rest of the class leaving the room. He stood in front of Genevieve's desk as the last Gryffindor left the class.

'Genevieve? Are you all right?' he asked, anxiously.

She looked up and then slowly shook her head.

'I'm afraid not, Harry,' she said sadly.

'What's wrong? Is it - Sirius?' Harry asked haltingly. She looked very surprised and her mouth gaped for a moment.

'How do you know about Sirius?' she asked mystified.

'I've known since you knew,' he said, as he sat by the desk.

'Oh! Harry, that must have been awful for you,' she said sympathetically. Harry said nothing. 'I have known for some time,' Genevieve continued, 'and, in spite of how awful it was, I didn't show any signs of anything being wrong, feeling that it would be better if I didn't. But now after talking to Dumbledore repeatedly, I have come to realise that he plans to do nothing for the moment, which to my mind seems to be an unwise option.'

Harry waited for her to say more.

'That is why...' she paused, 'I am planning to go and rescue Sirius, and Snape, myself.'

Harry gaped at her. Then...

'Take me too!' he cried, standing up.

'No, no, Harry, I am your guardian, I'm supposed to protect you from danger, not lead you into it.'

'But -' started Harry...

'No!' she said firmly.

No matter how hard Harry tried, Genevieve still refused to permit him to go. He left the class some moments later after having promised not to mention Genevieve's plan to anyone. She didn't say when she was planning on going but she knew the way because Lupin had sent her directions. He had also told her that the prisoners were hidden in a secret place located somewhere in the old houses garden.

In spite of the fact that Harry desperately wanted never to see Lord Voldemort again, the thought of doing nothing when Sirius was captured seemed far worse.

Harry didn't tell anyone about Genevieve's plan. Not even Ron or Hermione. This was partly because he had promised he wouldn't and also because, after careful thought, he had decided to go as well.

Harry Potter and the Magic Within

Chapter 24: 'An Obvious Mystery'

Harry may not have been able to go with Genevieve, but he could go after her without her knowing. He didn't have the directions from Lupin, so he found an alternative solution - Hedwig. She had found him and would therefore know the way. He could ask her to show him.

He couldn't tell Ron or Hermione, though he wished he could. He knew they would want to come but he couldn't risk their safety.

True, he didn't know what use it would be for him to go on the rescue mission, but he just knew that he couldn't be idle any longer.

He watched Genevieve closely for the next few days. He got the feeling Ron and Hermione had noticed something was bothering him but he tried to act as normal as possible.

On the third day after he made up his mind about leaving, his watchful eye on Genevieve was averted as Cho walked up to him from the middle of the courtyard, smiling.

'Harry, would you take a walk around the lake with me?' she asked blushing.

'Of course,' Harry answered, turning to go in to the grounds.

Ron and Hermione, who had just come in to the courtyard, watched them leave. Ron was agitated.

'He's acting weird, Hermione,' he said frowning.

'He's only going for a walk, Ron,' Hermione said exasperatedly.

'No, I didn't mean that. I meant he has been weird recently,' Ron said frowning still.

'Well, I don't disagree with that,' Hermione sighed as she and Ron sat on a bench near by.

'I wonder why he's acting so strange,' Ron said thoughtfully.

'I can't begin to guess,' Hermione said shaking her head. 'I wonder....' she paused. 'No, no it can't be that.'

'What?' Ron said, curiously.

'Well, I was just thinking that maybe he - but it's silly, Harry wouldn't - surely not,' Hermione fell in to silence.

'What?' Ron repeated, staring at Hermione, eyes wide.

'Maybe he's going to rescue Sirius,' Hermione said quietly.

Ron's eyes became as big as saucers.

'But, he wouldn't do that, would he?' he gasped.

'He might, Ron,' replied Hermione, biting her lip.

'But he'd tell us, wouldn't he?' Ron persisted.

'Not if he thought it was too dangerous for us to come,' Hermione began, 'because he would know that we would want to go with him.'

Ron sat silently for a moment.

'So, you think that's what it is?' he asked finally.

Hermione nodded.

'We'll need to watch him closely, Ron. We can't possibly let him go, or at least, not without us,' Hermione said firmly and Ron nodded, looking worried.

Harry's walk didn't last long. Cho had some homework to do and he had to make sure Genevieve wasn't planning to leave that night.

He had another pleasant conversation with her. They spoke of happenings around the school, Quidditch (as they were both extremely passionate about the game) and a good many other things.

Harry headed back to the castle in high spirits, and went up to check that Genevieve was still in her office.

As he passed by he saw her at her desk and so he went to Gryffindor tower to get some of his homework out of the way.

When he came though the portrait hole in to the common room, he saw Ron and Hermione stop whispering abruptly and change from their hushed voices to loud remarks about the weather.

Harry walked over and sat down next to them, as he picked up Unfogging the Future and began to search for the page relevant to his homework, Ron and Hermione looked sideways at him and seemed to be deciding whether or not to say something. Ron looked agitated.

'Why are you acting so weird?' Ron blurted out, earning him a reproving look from Hermione.

'Weird?' Harry asked.

'Yes! You've been acting weird ever since we heard about Sirius. Why? You can tell us you know.'

Harry looked at Ron, almost surprised.

'I'm not acting weird,' he said simply and reopened his divination book. Ron looked as though he was going to say more but all he actually said was: 'Ouch!' as Hermione kicked him from under the small table.

The next day, was a brilliantly sunny day. Harry felt awful not being able to tell Ron or Hermione his plan. They didn't talk to him much at breakfast. Ron didn't even try asking Harry what he and Cho had discussed the day before by the lake.

'What do we have first?' Harry asked, making an attempt at conversation.

'You two have Divination,' said Hermione, as she took a sip of pumpkin juice. The conversation didn't go much further. Ron seemed most disgruntled at not being let in to Harry's confidence.

Harry left to Divination with Ron not long after. Ron seemed to find it hard to stay acting so coldly. By the time they reached the trap door, they were talking away as usual, mostly complaining about Divination and Professor Trelawney.

'Good morning, my dears,' said Professor Trelawney's misty voice from by the fireplace. The class seated themselves.

'Today we will try to predict the events in the near future. Hopefully, you may find it easier to predict today or tomorrow's events rather than go far into the future,' continued Trelawney, 'we can use the cards I think,' she added, waving a hand at a small table where over a dozen packs of fortune cards lay.

Ron got a pack to share between himself and Harry.

'Alright,' Ron said as he finished dividing the cards, 'what are we supposed to do now?'

'Er - I think we just turn them over at random, then see what the meanings are,' Harry answered, pulling out his Unfogging the Future. Ron did the same then they started to turn cards over in turn.

The cards didn't seem to reveal anything much. They all had rather outrageous meanings.

'If everything that is supposed to happen to us today happens,' Ron said sardonically, 'then we're in for a rough day, don't you think?'

Harry nodded, grinning slightly.

Then Professor Trelawney made her way over to Harry and Ron's table. She picked up a few of Harry's cards. Harry cringed.

'My dear, you have a great secret,' Trelawney said dramatically, 'but it will no longer be a secret after tonight. You shall meet grave peril from this act of secrecy. Perhaps even - death.' Trelawney looked as though she needed a sit down.

Harry sat stunned. The thought struck him that what she had said was possible. He did have a secret and if the secret would turn into action, he would indeed be in peril.

Trelawney hadn't spoken very loudly and so the class hadn't taken any notice.

Ron looked as shocked as Harry felt. To Ron's mind, this proved that he and Hermione's suspicions had perhaps been correct and that Harry would be going to rescue Sirius that very night. He had not liked Trelawney's last sentence at all. He would tell Hermione as soon as he could.

As Trelawney moved away, shaking her head, Ron turned to Harry.

'Strange,' he said lightly, deciding to pretend he didn't know Harry's plans.

'Yeah,' said Harry, turning back to Ron's cards with an uncomfortable air about him.

The bell rang not long after. Ron and Harry were glad. Divination was rather tiresome, especially today.