My Eternal Curse

My Eternal Curse

By Mara456

Chapter Thirty-Seven

The Learning Curve: Part Eight - Fractured Understandings

Harry pushed his Firebolt to its limits, continuing to evade the advancing Bludgers. Some of the longest minutes of his life were passing, but thankfully, they were almost over. Once he won, there was no way they could throw him off the team. He swerved again to avoid the two Bludgers, but they stayed with him, pursuing him no matter where he went. That wasn't right. Normal Bludgers go after anything and everything in the air, not just one- the Dark Lord. Of course, he should have known that the monster would never play fair! He had to do something, and soon, or his fellow Gryffindors was going to be the least of his problems. Thinking fast, Harry spiraled upwards, trying to figure out how he was going to lose them.

When he caught sight of the Forbidden Forest, he knew what he had to do. Altering course, he dove for a gap in the trees, the projectiles in close pursuit. Pulling hard on his broom, he leveled off just feet from the ground, threading through the trees at an insane rate. His heart raced as he heard the Bludgers just behind him, waiting for him to make a mistake. There was no way he was going to keep up this pace much longer, but he had to try something, and he was running out of ideas fast. As Harry took out his wand he saw that the trees he passed were becoming larger and the foliage was growing denser, already blocking out most of the sunlight. He fired randomly behind him several times, knowing that if he looked away for even a second he would crash.

The path around him grew perilously narrow, making high-speed flight exceedingly difficult. He searched for some way to escape, praying that the tree-lined corridor would open to a clearing. Suddenly he spotted a dead end, skidding to a stop just in time to avoid colliding with an impassable wall. He was trapped. He spun around, prepared to face the dangerous projectiles alone, when two massive Chimaeras sprung out of the shadows right in his path. The first Chimera crushed the metal ball in its deadly jaws and spat it out, while the second one shredded the other Bludger with its long, retractable claws. They turned their full attention on him. A much younger Chimera came out of hiding and sat between them, but none of them advanced on him. He remembered what Ginny had told him about Loren, wondering if these were the same creatures.

"I hope this isn't the last thing I ever do," Harry muttered to himself, putting away his wand. He landed and got off his broom.

"Umm, Hello," he said, addressing the monsters. "My name is Harry Potter."

When the little one growled he couldn't help but flinch.

"I'm sorry, but I'm afraid I don't understand you," Harry bravely replied.

"They figured as much," said a low voice in Parsel. "That's what I'm here for. My name is Impta. When little Loren saw you enter the forest, they knew they had to help. To little Loren's right is his father, Alan, and to Loren's left is Sasha, his mother."

Harry finally noticed a small snake resting in the young Chimaera's growing mane.

"Thank you," he said, looking around the dim woods. "Where am I?"

The Chimera Sasha growled softly several times.

"Deeper in the forest than nearly any humans ever tread, and live to tell the tale," Impta translated. "We know you are friend to the bizarre one and her master. We also know you, cub. You have nothing to fear from my clan, but nevertheless, it is not safe for you here at this time."

The Chimera Alan growled.

"The longer you remain, the more peril you are in," Impta translated. "We will now escort you back to your human counterparts. Give the bizarre one our regards, and tell her that the Keepers of the Forest thank her for rescuing our young emissary, Elric. We are indebted to her for her selfless efforts, and we pay our debts."

Loren let out a plaintive growl.

"Come closer, we won't harm you," the snake translated. "You are after all friend to the bizarre girl."

Still a little afraid, but determined not to show it, Harry walked up to the three Wizard Killers. Each one sniffed his hand, taking in his scent.

"What are they doing?" he stammered.

"Don't worry, they're just identifying you as friend," Impta hissed. "Be honored, it isn't every day an event such as this occurs."

In front of him Sasha growled, as she leaned forward.

"Time is of the essence, we must go," Impta translated. "Climb onto Sasha's back now, then we can take you home."

"You're serious?" Harry asked.

"Very, now please, don't dawdle," Impta urged. "Chimaeras aren't the most patient of anomalous ones."

This is crazy, he thought. Ginny is just going to love hearing about this...

Following his instincts, Harry nodded in agreement. He hoisted himself onto her back, tucking the Firebolt under his arm. Still feeling anything but prepared, he grabbed a tuft of soft, silky mane with each hand.

"Hang on," Impta advised.

Harry held on with all his might as they took off, racing through the forest at incredible speed. Once he got over the gut-wrenching spasm of sheer, it was kind of fun, reminding him of his time with Buckbeak. As they traveled he thought about what he was going to do. He should've seen this coming, he should've known better than to take that stupid challenge. He loved Quidditch, but it wasn't worth this! What was the point of playing on a team that was hell-bent on making him wish he were never born? At the beginning of Gryffindor's corruption, he could name a million reasons for staying on, but now, he couldn't think of even one. He never thought that he would be considering this, much less doing it. At least now, leaving would be on his terms. Harry told himself that when all of this is over, he could always return. But no matter how many times he repeated that to himself, he just couldn't bring himself to believe it.

*~*~*

Heading for the edge of the Forbidden Forest, Remus kept his wand drawn. Ronald, Seamus, and Dean had informed him that Harry had flown into the forest during practice, but he knew better than to think they were telling him the whole truth. Something was going on, but he didn't want to involve the other Professors until he had to. He reached the edge of the forest and began heading in the direction Harry was seen last. Remus caught Harry's scent on the wind, along with some animals. He stopped dead in his tracks. Sniffing the air, he tried to sort out what his heightened senses were telling him. Harry, three Chimaeras, and some sort of snake were nearby, and they were heading his way. At first, Remus thought that Harry was in trouble, but the fact that he couldn't pick up any fear or malice in the strengthening scents made him pause. If James' son wasn't fleeing from the beasts, then what in Merlin's name was going on here? What he witnessed next only added to his confusion.

Harry was riding on the back of a full-grown Wizard Killer, flanked by another adult and a child. The moment he set eyes on them, he knew the creatures weren't a threat. As the small group neared Remus, they slowed to a halt. He got the feeling that the beasts would take exception to being held at wand-point so he quickly holstered it. Once the group stopped, the Chimera let The-Boy-Who-Lived get off her back, clutching his Firebolt.

"I know this looks bad, Professor Lupin, but-" the young man started.

"And, I'm willing to hear your side of the story, when we get to my office," Remus broke in, thinking of Elric as he turned to the ferocious creatures. "My name is Remus Lupin, Defense Against the Dark Arts Professor of Hogwarts. I extend our sincere gratitude to you for bringing young Mr. Potter back in one piece."

The female Chimera growled. Remus didn't figure out where the scent of the snake was coming from, until it hissed at them. Harry hissed back, scratching each monster behind the ears.

"Sasha says that they accept your gratitude in the spirit in which it is given," Harry translated slowly.

The boy hissed and the snake hissed a reply, and the four of them turned and left.

"What did you say?" he asked.

"I told them goodbye," Harry replied, turning back to him. "Before you-"

"While we're out here, Mr. Potter, I don't want to hear another word out of you," Remus ordered. "Understood?"

Harry mutely nodded. He led the young man back to his office, trying not to consider what he was going to do with Harry, until he knew the whole story. The young Gryffindor trailed behind him as if a muggle firing squad awaited them at the end of the line. He could positively smell the young man's sadness and distress. The road Harry was taking in standing against his former best friend can't be easy, no matter how anyone sugarcoats it. Remus held back a sigh at the prospect. All he could do was offer his support and hope that the young man would feel secure enough to accept it. They entered his office and Harry slumped into an armchair in front of his desk, while he ordered some soothing tea, cast silencing charms, and then took a seat himself. Harry explained everything that had taken place at Quidditch practice, including his suspicions about who sabotaged the Bludgers. As Harry was finishing his explanation a house elf arrived with the tea. While Remus served them, he silently considered his options.

"While entering into that challenge with Mr. Weasley was unwise, it doesn't break any of the rules on either side," Remus said, starting his evaluation. "However, going into the Forbidden Forest does, no matter how justified you were. I personally believe you're right about who sabotaged the Bludgers, but without the remains we can't prove anything, which makes it your word against theirs... I'm taking five points off Gryffindor for each of you, but I'm awarding you five points for handling the dangerous situation so well. I will also make it clear to your housemates that next time I won't be so forgiving. I'm sorry, Harry, but that's the best I can do at this time."

"I understand, Professor," Harry acquiesced, dejected. "If it's alright with you, I'll be going now."

"No, it's not alright with me," Remus enjoined. "It's not healthy to keep everything bottled up. I'm your friend, Harry. Please, you should know you that can confide in me."

"I've decided to quit the Quidditch team," Harry hesitantly informed him.

"Is it because of what happened today?" he probed carefully.

"No. And I didn't decide this lightly, if that's what you're thinking," Harry answered. "Quidditch used to be my escape. It kept me sane when nothing else could. Whenever I was on my broom, I could be just Harry, not The-Boy-Who-Lived, who, of course, was destined to defeat Voldemort, or Harry Potter, Gryffindor's perfect champion. Instead, I was... just another Quidditch player. I love the game, but if I can't even have that... There's no point to fighting it anymore. They made it clear today that they don't want me on the team. I have more important things to worry about than the stupid Quidditch Cup."

Remus recognized the bitterness in the end of young Harry's reply. He knew that the young wizard had more reasons for leaving than what he said, but after today, there was no question that the young man was justified.

"I understand that you have your reasons, and I'll support your decision," he tried to reassure him. "If you need anything at all, I'll be happy to help."

"Well... Ginny hasn't been the same since the murder attempt. I've been trying to help her but it's slow going." Harry said, beginning to confide in him. "She's become so quiet and disconnected, and a whole lot weirder. It hurts her to be so lonely, and everything she does just seems to push her further away from us. I just don't know how to make things easier on her."

"I don't think there are any easy answers to this," he sympathized. "Experiences like hers can change a person. The emotional turbulence she's been going through is only to be expected, and perfectly natural. In fact, something would be very wrong if she didn't have a strong reaction. I'm afraid that her road is a difficult one. Are you worried that you won't be able to see her through it?"

Harry nodded sadly.

"I love her like a sister, Professor," Harry confessed. "It's hard being so close to the people who did this to her, and not be able to anything about it. There are moments I hate them, and I want to put a stop to them, then other times I pity them, and I want to..."

"I know it isn't easy, but you're right to remain true to your Gryffindor sense of honor and integrity," Remus commended him. "If it's any consolation to you, the Professors have dealt out considerable punishments to the offenders, and we're planning on pursuing this course of action for as long as it takes."

"Yeah, but will it be enough?" Harry worried.

"That is the question," he agreed. "No matter how much I want to, I can't guarantee that Virginia won't be confronted by them again. Keep in mind that if she does, she'll be more than a match for any of them. Don't underestimate her powers or your own. When it comes down to it, I think we have more to fear from the psychological dangers, than the physical ones. In her struggle with her own personal demons, she is most vulnerable, and that is where she will need her closest friends the most. You are her second line of defense, and as long as you're there, she won't be alone."

Harry softly agreed, gazing out the window as he sipped his tea. Remus noticed how pensive and reserved the young man had become in the last month. Had the Harry before him always been there, but was carefully hidden from public view? Or perhaps, James' son was changing as well?

Turning back to him, Harry continued. "Professor Snape's changed a lot too. He really does care about Ginny. I think he would do anything for her. I'm even starting to believe that she's lucky to have him. If only dad could hear me now... I wonder what he would think."

"Both James and Lily would've loved Snape's change of heart," he supplied. "As much as James enjoyed teasing him, your father always believed that the Potions master wasn't really as cold-hearted as he seemed."

"I guess he was right," Harry observed. "Snape hasn't been acting as mean as he used to, at least not to me, Hermione, or Neville. We've traded insults and stuff, but he doesn't pick on me any longer and he hasn't taken house points from me since-since... Ginny almost died. He's even gone as far as giving us points for our efforts. Another weird thing, Neville hasn't blown up a single thing in Potions since the Professor returned to work. I think Neville might even be learning! Somehow, what happened that night changed the way Professor Snape looks at the world. He isn't the same person I met when I first came here."

"Some might say that Severus was awakened to a greater incarnation," Remus commented.

"True, and some might also say that Slytherin has been misjudged," Harry added. "I wouldn't have believed it if I hadn't seen it for myself, but they aren't what I thought they were. I don't agree with everything they do, but Slytherin isn't Hogwarts' 'Dark House.' A chunk of them are definitely Dark, but they're just as trapped in this war as we are. Worse even, because of Voldemort's attempts to recruit them. What I don't understand is, why didn't I see it sooner?"

"Perspectives change, and, sometimes, you discover that people aren't who you thought they were," he replied. "Do you think it's been better to learn the truth about Slytherin, and be able to judge the Slytherins by getting to know them? Or would it have been better to remain blind, if it meant that you weren't exiled for your new perspective?"

It was a difficult moral dilemma, but one he knew Harry needed to ask himself. He hoped he hadn't overstepped his bounds in posing that question. The young wizard remained silent for several minutes, thinking it over.

"It was easier back then," Harry considered. "But it wasn't right to judge them all based on the way Malfoy acted. Merlin, even he's nothing like I thought! If I didn't know that Gryffindor's full of it, I wouldn't have discover that, I wouldn't have gotten to know Alexis... No, it's better to be hated and know the truth, than still be liked by those people and live in ignorance. At least, now I know who my true friends are. I know who cares about me for me, and who cared about The-Boy-Who-Lived. In my book, that alone makes it worth it."

"That's a very adult assessment, but it can be hard to live with," Remus noted. "However just like Virginia, you still have people who you can count on."

"Like Alexis," Harry agreed, nodding thoughtfully.

"I couldn't help but notice how well you two have been getting along," he commented.

"Alexis has been great with Ginny and stuff," Harry muttered, blushing. "I've really grown to care about her."

"It's alright, she's an impressive young witch," he assured the young wizard.

"Sirius doesn't think so," Harry complained. "He called her a tramp, making crazy claims that she was my Keeper. When he insulted her, I was prepared to duel with him to protect her honor. I know Alexis would never use me! She's too honorable for that, but I doubt Sirius will ever believe it, just because she's Slytherin."

"Have you told her how you feel?" Remus asked.

"No, I'm afraid... I'm afraid of what might happen to her if I do," Harry revealed. "I could handle it if she didn't feel the same way. I've had more than my share of rejection, but if she wanted to go out with me I couldn't say no. Alexis is already a target for protecting Ginny. Imagine how much more tempting a target she would become if she began dating The-Boy-Who-Lived, Hogwarts' most likely to be murdered student. I couldn't bear it if something were to happen to her because of me." The young man sighed mournfully. "Sooner or later, everyone I love leaves me, in one way or another. I don't want to risk putting her on that list."

"Perhaps it would better if you let her decide that for herself," he counseled. "Alexis is very capable and dangerous in her own right. For example, she held her own in her duel with Dumbledore. From what little I understand of Slytherin, being cautious is second nature. Talk to her, let her know how you feel. Holding back is the last thing you should do. Unrequited love will only hurt both of you more in the long run."

"You really think that's a good idea?" Harry asked, skeptically.

"Trust me, it's better to make the most of every day, rather than shy away out of fear of what might be," Remus advised him. "If she makes you happy, then tell her and let nothing stand in your way."

"I think I will. Thank you, Professor," Harry replied, finally beginning to look relaxed. Their conversation continued pleasantly until they were startled by Sirius flooing into his office, positively fuming over something.

"Remus, this time Snape and Montgomery have gone too far-" Sirius exclaimed, breaking off the moment he saw Harry.

He heard Harry softly groan at his godfather's words.

"What do you think Professor Snape's done now?" the young wizard asked, annoyed.

"I can't believe you're still defending him after this Seer nonsense they've been feeding you," Sirius reproached. "I thought Minerva and Albus had taught you better than that!"

"What are you going on about, Sirius?" Remus pressed, before Harry could retort.

"I just heard about the so-called 'Seer population explosion,'" Sirius angrily elaborated. "They're saying that half of the school probably has it, along with several of the teachers. Montgomery's using this bogus Seer-detecting spell to gain more power, and I bet you Snape put him up to it! Those two have been intentionally destabilizing things, and, as if that isn't bad enough, they're saying that Harry's got it too. Please, don't tell me you two believe those frauds!"

"Professor Montgomery is not a fraud," Harry ground out, trying to keep his temper under control. "He's the real thing, just like Ginny is, and all I've seen him do since he arrived is try to help. Professor Snape hasn't put him up to anything. If anything, they have been working themselves into the ground, trying to help Professor McGonagall hold things together. Right, Remus?"

"Harry's right, Severus has changed," he attested, hoping that together they would be able to convince Sirius. "He isn't the man he once was, and even the old Severus wouldn't do what you're describing. The war, this school has always been more important to him than the trappings of power; otherwise he wouldn't be here. When his apprentice was injured, Severus became the advocate for her Dumbledore never was. Severus fought tooth and nail to protect her from the Headmaster when he went too far, and he's been continuing that fight to give Virginia what little life he can ever since."

"Open your ears and listen, because I'm only gonna say this once!" Harry asserted, standing up and turning to face Sirius. "The heartless, evil Potions master we knew doesn't exist anymore; maybe he never did. Professor Montgomery is telling the truth. There are more Seers than you think. I was born with The Sight. Yesterday Professor Montgomery almost died because of me, when he joined in one of my visions and couldn't get out. The only reason Montgomery made it was because Ginny broke the link between us, at great personal risk-"

"I don't believe you're saying this," Sirius blurted out, cutting off the poor young man before he could explain further. Remus watched as Harry's barely contained fury increased with each word his old friend uttered. "How many times do I have to repeat myself before you see it? Snape, his bastard apprentice, and Montgomery are working together on this. They're trying to destroy you, both of you! Harry, by claiming that you're a Seer, Montgomery is branding you as an abomination, and in your naiveté, you're letting him!"

"How dare you..." Harry whispered, a dangerous edge entering his voice.

Remus was at a loss for words, too shocked to do anything more than stare blankly in disbelief at Sirius. The air practically crackled with tension and magic. The young wizard trembled with rage, his unbearable emotional turmoil obvious in his features. In that instant Harry pulled out his wand, holding it in one trembling hand as he aimed at his godfather. At last silenced, Sirius made no move to defend himself. After a long period of deafening silence Harry went on.

"What gives you the right to sit in judgement over any of us?" James' son yelled, his voice growing louder with each word, until the young wizard was screaming at the top of his lungs, pushing the silencing charm to its limits. "How would you know who, or what I am, when you haven't even been here? When you were locked up for own stupidity? And you have the nerve to call me, your own godson, an abomination because I have The Sight, because I'm different. I should hex you where you stand for that! If you believe that, you're nothing more than a bloody, holier-than-thou bigot and I don't want anything more to do with you! In case you haven't noticed, Sirius." Harry sneered sickeningly. "If I hadn't been branded as one of those abominations, I wouldn't be here now and Voldemort would've won the war long ago!"

"Ha-Harry, I'm so sorry," Sirius stuttered, coming to the realization that, in his carelessness, he had said something that he couldn't simply take back. "It was a poor choice of words-"

"Save it!" Harry snapped coldly, as tears began to fall. "At least now I know where you stand!"

The young wizard stormed off, slamming the door behind him so hard that the doorframe shook. Remus finally found his voice again as he got to his feet.

"Damn it, Sirius! I had finally convinced him to open up to me," Remus yelled, in a rare show of true anger. "I had just gotten Harry to calm down for a few minutes, and now look at what you've done to him. I'm tired of your constant paranoia! It has to stop, and spending all that time with Ronald Weasley isn't helping... Evil Snapes in the bushes - mad Seers in the trees, it's no wonder Harry doesn't want to talk to you! He's gotten enough of that nonsense from his housemates. Today, three Gryffindors, including your precious Ron tried to kill him. Then, as soon as Harry has a chance to catch his breath, you attack him. You barely let him get a word in edgewise, going on about how the Gryffindor majority is the shining example of the way things should be. Plus, as if to add insult to injury, you call him the very thing his muggle guardians have his whole life. If Lily and James could see the disgraceful way you're handling things, they'd be rolling over in their graves!"

"I... I didn't know," Sirius objected defensively, shaking his head, shocked.

"Nor did you give us half a chance to inform you!" he spat. "I can't blame Harry for acting the way he did." Remus drew his wand, leveling it at Sirius. "While your godson couldn't hex you, I currently don't have any qualms about doing so. Now get out of my sight before I permanently fuse your lips together, thus forcing you to spend the rest of your narcissistic life being fed intravenously!"

Sirius saw that he was serious and turned around, disappearing through the floo network. Remus didn't know what his friend was going to do, and at that moment, he didn't care. He blocked off the floo, mentally kicking himself for not doing so when it would have made a difference. He closed the door, prior to returning to his seat. Remus put his head in his hands. After watching Harry and Sirius' relationship meltdown before his very eyes, he decided that this day couldn't get any worse.

*~*~*

Not knowing when he would be back, Severus cared for the Aetas Conservo potion before meeting his friend. Holding Mrs. Norris, Argus was waiting impatiently in the entrance hall. One look at his friend told him that beneath his painfully obvious discomfort, Argus was actually excited by the prospect of their little errand.

"Let's go," Severus said.

"There you are, Severus!" Alicia's voice called from somewhere behind them. He noticed that she had startled Argus. Strange, it was not like him to be so skittish. Maybe the new magic they were unlocking was having more of an effect on his friend than he had realized. Severus turned around, and watched the Arithmancy teacher running down the steps towards them. "We need to talk," she insisted.

"I don't have time to waste listening to useless prattle, Vector," he cautioned. "If what you have to say is actually important, you can explain it to me on the way, otherwise, it will have to wait."

"It's about Virginia's Arithmancy chart," Alicia swiftly stated, glancing at Argus.

"Argus is trustworthy," he assured her, heading for the door while Argus automatically fell into step alongside of him. "Come along, if you're going to." Alicia followed them out of the school. "I thought we covered everything concerning that matter during the staff meeting."

As they headed towards the gates together, Alicia began to explain.

"Yes, we covered the initial implications, but to better understand how she came to those conclusions I need a dissertation from her," Alicia requested. "I would like your approval to schedule it for tomorrow. I promise I won't do anything to over-stress her."

"I understand that this is important to you, but she is overburdened as it is," Severus replied. Seeing the disappointment in her eyes he suppressed a sigh. "However, you may do your dissertation with my apprentice, under one condition. You have to convince Zachary and Lydia to volunteer their Friday sessions to your cause. If you can't, it will have to wait."

Alicia's reaction to his words rather reminded him of a kicked puppy.

"You have always said that you like challenges," he added. "Think of this as one of them."

She opened her mouth to object, then changed her mind.

"I'll see what I can do," Alicia replied. "Good day, Severus, Argus..."

Then the Professor hurried off, presumably back to the castle.

*~*~*

Tom and his little princess sat in the library with Hermione and Arthur, reading yet another Transfiguration tome. As they turned a page, they absentmindedly glanced at the large pad filled with information for their master, and a small pile of cryptic-looking notes. Until recently Transfiguration had been one of his weakest subjects. Now his mind grasped things in ways he never could have guessed was possible. Tom knew that their theories had impressed McGonagall, taking her overall understanding of her field to the next step. Although he knew that he could barely perceive the forest for the trees, he did have an inkling of how important their intuitive knowledge was to those around them. His princess was even more disconnected than he was, making their ability to communicate what they were experiencing strangely... strenuous. It was like they suddenly understood a language that no one else knew, and all of their translations made perfect sense to them, but not to anyone else.

Ginny had called the language 'magic'... that was one way to look at it. He saw it as simply the next logical step. Oh, how Voldemort would love this, love experiencing what they have been, seeing the world as it truly is. But he knew that his previous self could never comprehend the universe they were stepping into. In his struggle to control it, Voldemort would ruin the fragile balance their powers depended upon. It was a wonder he will never know. The Dark Lord had missed his chance to fulfill his true potential long ago without ever even knowing it, and perhaps that was the greatest tragedy of all.

Tom knew he had to break away from this melancholy train of thought before he lost his focus. The last thing he wanted was to have to tell Ginny to go back, then she would surely think that there was something wrong. He really didn't want to add to her problems, knowing how unstable she was just now. Unconsciously, their hand strayed to where his mother's locket was stowed, reassuring him that it was still safely hidden away. As long as they didn't ask it anything, as long as Tom didn't know the truth one way or the other, his past was unimportant. For reasons he couldn't discern, at this juncture he needed that distance. Somehow, it made the madness inundating them more bearable. By the time they had finished their latest book, he couldn't take reading for another second.

"How are we going to get anywhere with these books contradicting each other?" Tom asked aloud, his frustration showing through as he used his princess' voice.

"Let's take a break," his princess suggested, rubbing their eyes. "At least we're making some progress."

"Tedious, arduous progress, you mean," he mentally groaned. "This is your subject, not mine. I have never assimilated so much, this quickly, in my admittedly short existence. You can't expect me to go from having difficulties, to becoming a bloody expert in the field, without experiencing a little whiplash."

"You know, this is new for me too," Ginny thought. "I was great at the subject, but never like this. We need this research if we're ever going to explain this to Professor McGonagall. I want her to be able to understand us. I don't want to end up like- end up like..."

"End up like Merlin?" Tom completed her thought.

"Yes," she replied. "I really don't like the idea of spending the rest of my days being incomprehensible to everyone."

"And that's different from now... how exactly?" he quipped.

"That's real cute, Tom," Ginny thought.

"But, I'm afraid that it's also true," Tom said.

"Let's hope we can do something about it," Ginny thought.

"...Ginny?" Hermione asked, cutting into their conversation.

"Yes?" she replied aloud, their attention shifting back to the outside world.

"I asked you what was contradictory?" Hermione repeated.

"Too many of these authors can't agree on how to puzzle out the next step in Animagi evolution," he elaborated aloud. "In 'The Delicate Art of Transfiguration' they say the key to working it out lies in Merlin's leftover tomes. But 'Advanced Transfiguration: A Fresh Perspective' says Merlin's tomes are irrelevant, and that Animagi is simply the limit of what Transfiguration can offer. Then 'Practical Uses of Advanced Transfiguration' states 'It is ridiculous to assume that there isn't more beyond obtaining Animagi status. However, until our understanding of the world's nature is more complete, reaching a new level will always elude our grasp...' If they only knew. Why in Merlin's name are they jumping to all these conclusions? Where is their understanding differing?"

"You've managed to retain all the information you were glancing at?" Hermione wondered.

"I haven't been glancing, I've been reading," Ginny maintained.

Arthur picked up one of the tomes they had been studying, showed her the title, then opened it to a random page.

"What's on page 294?" her father asked them.

" '...One typically assumes that the possibilities for applying Transfiguration is quite limited, but, in truth, for the truly inventive mind, it can be endless...'" Ginny quoted.

"You remember everything you're exposed to word for word?" Hermione exclaimed, surprised.

"Right down to the flaws on the pages," Tom replied aloud. "Do you know any good books which would explain why these tomes are so different?"

Hermione considered her response carefully before replying.

"Wait here a moment, I think I might have an answer for you," Hermione said, standing.

The Gryffindor Prefect disappeared into the stacks for several minutes. Tom hoped that she had a better understanding of what they were doing than he did. Hermione returned carrying a large, heavy tome.

"This should help clear up any misunderstandings you're having. Awhile back I checked this out for an extra credit assignment from Professor McGonagall," Hermione explained, handing the tome to Ginny, then returning to her seat.

"Thanks," Tom muttered aloud, beginning to read. Sometimes having a walking encyclopedia for a friend was incredibly useful. She was one of the few people who still understood them after their shift, and Tom was grateful to have her by their side. He hoped that Hermione had understood the problem enough to give them the right thing. Well, there was only one way to find out. They made good time, reading the book from cover to cover in just under an hour. Hermione had done it again, she'd picked the perfect book to solve their problem! At least now all those inconsistencies had a basis he could understand. They looked up and thanked her properly, before continuing on with a whole new set of books. They persisted in their studies, letting nothing deter them, gradually filling in the gaping holes in their vocabulary. When Ginny and Tom looked up again, Hermione and Arthur were gone, and Professor Montgomery was striving to capture their attention.

"Hello Professor, were you waiting there long?" Ginny asked.

"Only for a few moments," Professor Montgomery answered. "I'd like to apologize for leaving you so quickly after that vision yesterday. It was wrong of me to simply abandon you in that state."

"It's alright, Professor," Ginny reassured. "I understand. I'm glad master Snape was able to help you."

"I think it's time to give your brain a rest, and return to your room," Professor Montgomery suggested. "I'll escort you there."

They could see that Montgomery had a lot on his mind, none of it good. They decided to just take some light reading, silently agreeing not to argue with the Professor. Montgomery waited patiently as Ix Chel returned to their arm. They quickly gathered their things, then took out three large tomes, and returned to the Professor at the entrance of the library. His princess frowned slightly when they saw the look on Montgomery's face.

"What? It's just a little light reading," Ginny said defensively.

Montgomery shook his head, escorting them away. As soon as they were certain that they were alone in the corridor, Ginny stopped. Something was going on, and the teacher didn't have the time to discuss it with her.

"What is it?" Professor Montgomery asked, coming to a halt beside her.

"Wait a moment," Ginny requested.

Doing all the necessary Arithmancy calculations in their head they pulled out their wand, and quickly encircling her and the Professor in several long, complex, strings of mathematics. Once the strings were complete, a bright green light covered them all for a moment, before their handiwork vanished from sight.

"There, now we can talk freely," Ginny said. "There's something going on that you need to warn me of, isn't there?"

"What did you just do?" Professor Montgomery asked, feeling the magical field surrounding them.

"I used Arithmancy to create an area where sound can't escape, kind of like a mobile silencing charm," Ginny explained. "But, unlike a silencing charm, I included a little mirage of ourselves and a repellent field. So anyone we pass won't even know we're talking, and they won't be able to enter the field while it's up either."

"Interesting, and just now you did all the calculations in your head?" Professor Montgomery asked.

"Yep," Ginny confirmed.

They continued on their way while the teacher explained what had happened to Neville in the Great Hall, and what he was doing about it. Then Ginny told him what they had done for Draco. It somehow figured that things were falling apart so quickly. Everywhere they went Murphy's Law seemed to reign supreme. His princess was disturbed by this news, and, as usual, wanted to help.

"Maybe Annika and Neville could stay with me until their rooms are ready," Ginny offered. "It has all the proper shielding, and it would be a little more comfortable. The Gryffindors wouldn't dare harass them in my territory and I certainly wouldn't mind the company."

"That is probably a better alternative than my classroom," the Divination teacher concurred. "It'll only be for a few days, if you're sure that you don't mind?"

"Not at all," Tom replied aloud.

"Then I'll inform Minerva of the change in plans," Professor Montgomery agreed.

"Great," Ginny said enthusiastically.

"Guess who's coming to dinner..." Tom silently remarked. "It looks like we're going to need more room."

"You know what, that's a great idea!" Ginny thought, latching onto the offhand comment.

Tom mentally groaned. He just hoped that by the time they were done they still had a room.

*~*~*

Hermione looked up from her work to glance at Arthur. Her guard had a contemplative expression on his face, as he watched his daughter research at an unbelievable pace.

Watching Ginny like this must be hard on him, she thought. Especially with everyone refusing to explain further, always redirecting him to Ginny whenever the subject came up.

"Stay here," Arthur said, suddenly getting to his feet. "I'll be by to pick you up later."

Before she could reply he headed out the door. Something about the look in his eyes, told her not to let him go like that. Whatever he was doing, he shouldn't be alone. She grabbed her things and rushed after him. Hermione left the library reaching the hallway just in time to see him turn a corner. She ran to catch up.

"You were sent here to protect me. So, just where do you think you're going without me?" she demanded, falling into step with him, while she put her things in order.

"Return to the library now," Arthur ordered. "Ginny will look after you until I return."

"Look after me? As far as the Professors are concerned, Ginny can barely look after herself," Hermione tried reasoning with him. "You're my shadow, Mr. Weasley, where you go, I go."

Arthur laughed.

"It's not funny," she maintained, struggling to keep up.

"I thought you couldn't wait to be rid of me," he reminded her.

"I can't wait to be rid of the threat Rita Skeeter poses," Hermione corrected. "As for you... I've grown used to your presence."

Arthur stopped and she stood in his path.

"Go back to the library and stay there," he ordered again.

"No," Hermione firmly refused.

Arthur shook his head.

"Then I hope you can keep up," he said, resuming his trek.

She stubbornly followed him.

"Where are we going?" Hermione asked.

"Gryffindor Tower," he answered, an unidentifiable emotion creeping into his tone.

"Why... You're not serious," she exclaimed. "Please tell me you don't want to go in there!"

Arthur stiffly nodded.

"The Gryffindor common room is a dangerous place, Mr. Weasley," Hermione warned. "The whole area was marked off-limits for a very good reason. It's like the cave of Degoba; people keep encountering dangerous magical manifestations in there, very bad ones. Nothing good can ever come of going in there!"

"The cave of Degoba?" he asked, confused.

"You know, Degoba - Star Wars, muggle film," Hermione explained, but he still looked clueless. "Never mind, it's a muggle reference."

"No one wants to talk about it," Arthur justified his decision. "When I look at Ginny, all I see is how much she's changed. When I look in her eyes I can see what they did to her and that is why I have to go."

"What can I say to make you stop?" Hermione persisted, suddenly afraid for both of them. She had been in that room once before and she wasn't about to return.

"Tell me the full truth about what happened to Ginny," he demanded. "I've already heard the edited version. I can read between the lines, and there's a lot no one will talk about. I can't help my little girl with one hand tied behind my back. I refuse to be kept in the dark any longer. Now, you can either help me, Miss Granger, or you can stay out of my way." Hermione didn't answer. "I thought so."

"This is a mistake," she desperately cautioned.

"It's my mistake to make," he countered, ending their argument on that note.

She refused to let him face that awful place alone the way Alexis did. A dark foreboding filled her as they reached the top of the final stairway. She wished that he would stop, that there were some way that she could make him see reason, but when Hermione saw the grim determination in his eyes, she knew better. They halted at the battered portrait hole. Looking inside, the place once again reminded her of that cave in Star Wars.

"Arthur, please... don't do this," she pleaded, grabbing the Auror's arm. He pulled away and entered the common room. She watched helplessly as he walked to the center of the room and froze. Ginny's father just stood there for what seemed like an eternity, but was probably only a few minutes. Then he turned around, swiftly leaving the common room behind. Hermione opened her mouth to speak, but he took no notice of her, continuing on whatever mission the room had given him. As Arthur passed her on the landing, she saw a possessed look in his eyes, and knew that whatever he was about to do next, he was not acting of his own volition. She ran after him, drawing her wand just in case, knowing full well that Ginny would never forgive her if something were to happen to him.

*~*~*

Argus absentmindedly petted Mrs. Norris's fluffy coat as he walked through Hogwarts grounds with Severus and Vector. He was too preoccupied with the myriad of magics surrounding them to pay any attention to the Professor's conversation. Argus knew that what he was seeing was normal for a wizard, but perceiving anything magic was still beyond strange to him. He could see and feel the magics around and within him. The brats growing up with these gifts didn't realize how lucky they were, how wonderful the gift of magic was in any form. No matter how old Argus lived to be, he would never take it for granted, nor the source of this miracle. Letting his mind wander in a way he hadn't in years he barely noticed when Vector left.

"Argus, are you alright?" Severus asked, drawing his attention.

"I'm fine, it's just..." he started.

"Strange?" Severus supplied.

"I know this is normal, but it doesn't feel like it," Argus explained. "It's more like a dream... or someone else's life. I keep thinking I'm going to wake up or something, but then I don't..." He groaned. "I'm not making any sense."

"Actually, you're making perfect sense," his friend assured him. "Ever since you were young, society damned you for not falling into an easy magical category. They rendered you outcast because you reminded them of their dreaded roots, perhaps even more than we knew. As long as 'your kind' exists, they can't forget where they come from, at least in part. They think Squibs are the Light and Dark's useless throwbacks that you are some ludicrous sign that the bloodlines are degrading. When, in reality, it means that they are naturally blending. As a result of the first wars, pure Gray Wizards and Witches are no longer recognized, because all the people who would be capable of guiding them are long dead. At any rate don't worry about it. Once your equilibrium is set, you will settle into your new normal."

"Will it be anything similar to where I am now?" Argus wondered.

"I don't know," Severus answered.

They walked through the front gates and stopped. Severus put a hand on his shoulder, Apparating them both with a faint pop. They reappeared at the Apparition point in Diagon Alley. Overwhelmed by a sudden inrush of different magics surrounding them, he took an involuntary step backward. His friend rubbed his temples, seemingly trying to will something away. The Potions master pulled out his wand, casting a repellent charm around them.

Argus' first errand for proper wizarding supplies seemed to go smoothly. He bought his first cauldron and all the necessary equipment to go with it, placing Mrs. Norris on the floor in order to handle the load properly. He had never felt like he belonged anywhere before, but he could feel that changing. His familiar obediently followed them as they went to the Apothecary. When they entered he looked around, while the Potions master held a quiet discussion with the shopkeeper. Severus handed the shopkeeper a sealed container filled with a thick, pearly, silver-white substance that almost had a life of its own. The shopkeeper inspected the ingredient, then smiled and disappeared through a door behind the counter taking it with him.

Argus listened closely to his friend's instructions as they both selected their own supplies, completely caught up in the process. By the time they finally left the shop, night had fallen. He was grateful that they were heading to their last stop, Ollivander's. Severus dispelled the repellent charm once they entered the wand shop. He cautiously took in his surroundings, trying to stay a dreadful apprehension that had begun the moment he arrived. Something about the wands stowed around him felt hostile, as if they didn't like him. It reminded him of the only other time he had visited the place. His little sisters Alianora and Quintessa had been getting their first wands and even then he had that same distinct impression. Ollivander came out from the back of the shop, saw the Potions master, and smiled brightly.

"Ah, Severus, I was wondering when I would see you again," the shopkeeper said, shaking Severus' hand while for some unknown reason, he dispensed with his usual greeting.

"How has your research been progressing?" Severus inquired of the wandmaker.

"Very well, thank you," Ollivander replied. "I'm close to a long awaited breakthrough."

The shopkeeper then turned and shook his hand.

"Mr. Filch, no wand because of your non-wizarding status..." Ollivander said, trailing off as he gazed at the box-lined walls, recognizing some obscure sign. The older wizard returned his questing gaze to Argus. "Or has that changed since we last met?"

"That is part of the reason for our visit," Severus began, removing a large scroll from his robes and handing it over to Ollivander. "This is the other part. My anonymous friend thought that this might help keep you on track."

"Wand combinations," Ollivander muttered excitedly, reading it. "I can't wait to experiment with these new dynamics..."

"Bring us the box," Severus requested.

"I'll be right back," the shopkeeper told them, leaving with his little prize. Less than a minute later, Ollivander returned with two smaller boxes and a larger one, placing them on the counter. Argus reached for one of the smaller ones but Severus stopped him.

"Trust me, you don't want to do that," his friend cautioned, moving the smaller boxes out of reach. Ollivander raised an eyebrow at the Potions master's action, then opened the larger box for him. The moment Argus saw these wands, he knew they weren't like the others in the shop. One wand out of the mix caught his interest, silently calling upon him to choose it. Argus picked up the lovingly crafted willow wand, feeling it accept him completely. The power of the wand made his fingers tingle. He tightened his grip on the ancient wood, feeling the reassuring weight of the elegant object in his hand.

"Ah, now that one has been here for a very long time," Ollivander recalled. "No matter how many have handled it, I've never been able to sell it to anyone. It is composed of willow, with Hippogriff feather and Unicorn hair core, twelve inches long. A most bizarre selection indeed."

Argus waved it and brilliant electric blue sparks of energy shot out of the wand, creating a beautiful light show. After the lights ended he found his voice again.

"How much?" Argus whispered, entranced.

"Seven Gallons and eight sickles," Ollivander answered.

He paid for his wand and placed it in his pocket. Severus and the shopkeeper then went into the back of the shop, he waited knowing they would be heading back to the school shortly. For the first time in his miserable existence, Argus Filch felt like a normal wizard.

*~*~*

Arthur walked up the staircase leading to the Gryffindor common room, while Hermione followed him in tense silence. No one he turned to would give him a straight answer about what happened the night Ginny was nearly murdered. He still believed the story Professor Snape had imparted to him and Molly, but even then he had suspected that the Potions master was holding back. It was a suspicion that had been confirmed by numerous little things he observed. He knew that his child was force of nature, but he had trouble believing in the hysterical nonsense about the place. His daughter's fear of the area was perfectly understandable. He knew that after going through a serious traumatic event, victims often couldn't return to where it had occurred. So, with all the crazy second-hand reports she heard, of course his little girl believed it, but even Ginny's ever logical friend Hermione had bought into those wild stories. All Hermione's warnings accomplished were to increase his need to investigate it for himself, and, it was the only way to help Ginny put those fictitious demons to rest.

As Arthur reached top of the landing a dire feeling crept into him. The area was positively saturated with powerful, strange magic. Visually inspecting the area as he went, he let nothing deter him. They stopped at the ruined entrance. Gazing into the common room reminded him of magical battlefields he'd seen over the years, of things... he'd rather forget. And this one was no different. It was hard to picture his sweet and caring little girl, a person he thought wouldn't hurt a fly, inflicting this kind of damage.

"Arthur, please... don't do this!" Ginny's friend pleaded fearfully, latching onto his arm.

Ignoring her unfounded fears, he pulled away, walking into the Gryffindor common room, alone. Once he reached the middle of the room an unseen force stopped him, refusing to permit him any further. Arthur felt a dark and malevolent presence surrounding him, as strange voices whispered into his ears as one.

"You want to know, to really know what your daughter has gone through?" the voices coldly whispered in a silky tone. A mournful chuckle filled Arthur's ears, sending shivers down his spine. "Then watch, and learn well..."

The room around him shimmered, and then, with a flash of light, he was suddenly standing in the darkened Astronomy Tower. A severe thunderstorm raged outside, filling the night sky for as far as the eye could see. His youngest son gazed out into the storm. It was as if he were waiting for something, or someone. It took Arthur a moment to realize that he had never actually left the common room, that somehow the room was showing him this amazingly realistic vision of that night. Before he could do more than take in what was happening to him, Ginny's voice broke the silence.

He witnessed the scene play out with frightening clarity, feeling everything his daughter felt as she pleaded with her brother, begging him to open up to her. Arthur and Ginny were both startled when Ron laughed coldly in response to her entreaties. The bitterness and loathing that laced the boy's tone didn't sound like his son at all, and his answer even less so. Ron began slowly advancing on Ginny while she took involuntary steps back, fighting to hold it together. Arthur could hardly believe what he saw, as his son continued to rip Ginny's heart out with mad accusations. His daughter countered hurtfully, literally backed right into a wall by Ron. His son stopped inches away from Ginny, slamming his hands into the wall on either side of her, barring her escape. His daughter trembled in terror as Ron's unrecognizable gaze bore into her. Arthur drew closer, gazing intensely at his children. Ginny spoke when she couldn't bear the silence between them anymore.

"Are you the Ron that I knew?" his little girl asked in a barely discernible whisper.

"It's you that's changed," Ron said in a dangerous tone of voice, causing Ginny to recoil in terror. A mad glint entered his son's eyes, further alarming them both, and a lone tear rolled down her cheek. "You are not my little sister! You're a monster, a Dark Witch in training now!"

Arthur saw where this was going, but was helpless to do anything more than watch.

"You're mad!" Ginny exclaimed, shaking her head in disbelief. "I won't listen to another word of this insanity."

His breath caught in his throat when Ginny slipped beneath Ron's arms in an attempt to escape.

"Well, you're going to hear it!" Ron shouted angrily, grabbing her arm.

"Don't touch me!" Ginny yelled, spinning around and slapping her brother hard in the face. Ron stared at her, shocked, as she fled the Astronomy Tower. Arthur was sickened by the room's terrible display, wanting nothing more than to escape, find his daughter, and never let her go. Snape had mentioned that they had argued, but nothing like this. How could this be my son... how?

The scene shifted and he was standing back in the common room, but his surrounds were totally different, and he wasn't alone. Gryffindors were everywhere, carrying on in their last moments of normality. As the Gryffindor mute, Creevy, headed for the portrait hole, Ginny ran into the room crying and they collided, knocking one another to the floor. Before he even realized who hit him the boy insulted her. Creevy glared at Ginny as they got to their feet. She tried to go around the other Gryffindor, but he blocked her path. They argued heatedly with each other, causing a scene. Arthur noticed that most of the people in the room seemed to agree with the little prat. Creevy ranted at Ginny, belittling all of his daughter's hard work and dedication. He wanted to hex the little creep for kicking his child while she was down, and was forced to remind himself that he wasn't really here, so nothing he did would change anything. Suddenly, he recognized the subtle signs that Ginny was losing control of her powers.

So this is it, Arthur thought. This is the instant that changed everything.

"I think I've finally figured out the relationship between you two," Creevy persisted, completely oblivious to the danger he was in. The boy moved closer to Ginny and whispered into her ear. "You're shagging the prat, aren't you?"

Arthur saw red just as his daughter snapped.

"Shut up!" Ginny shouted, pushing the prat away. Following some odd instinct, she held up her right hand and slowly began to close it.

"Wha-" Creevy abruptly stopped and grabbed his throat, terrified of her. Ginny realized what she was doing and stopped, but didn't release the boy. She knew that she had only to close her hand to finish the bastard off, and just for a split second, she was tempted. It was harrowing to realize that she was capable of the bloodlust he saw in her eyes, the very same bloodlust that he himself had always kept buried, except on the battlefield.

"Stop, young one!" a strange voice echoed through his mind. "Listen to me, carefully. Let go of the boy, and get out of there!"

She followed the voice's directive, letting Creevy go. The boy staggered slightly, watching her with his face frozen in terror. Ginny ran past Creevy and up the stairs. This time Arthur followed her as the voice, which he figured was her familiar's, continued trying to calm her. He felt a swell of pride over his daughter, because she had managed to pull herself back from the brink, no matter how much she justifiably hated them. But then, if that wasn't the trigger, when did she really lose control? Ginny began to master herself as she entered her darkened dorm room.

"Wait, something's wrong, it's not supposed to be dark yet..." Arthur noticed, entering the room just behind her. He got the distinct feeling that they were being watched. She stopped in the center of the room to catch her breath. "Ginny, it's a trap!"

All at once, two Gryffindor girls came out of nowhere, throwing a black cloak over Ginny's head, blinding her. Ginny struggled to get it off, but they restrained her, laughing.

"What's happening?" Ix Chel asked in his head. "Are you alright?"

Arthur's fury and pain became unbearable as Brown and Patil maliciously tormented his little girl, intending to make her last moments the most terrifying of her life. When he saw their expressions he knew that they had enjoyed it, and that the only thing they would ever regret about this unforgivable moment, was that they had been caught. These Dark Gryffindors don't deserve to live... They dragged his daughter towards the nearest window, while Brown used her wand to open it for them. A strong gust of wind blew through the room, causing his daughter to panic. Arthur threw up his arms to cover his face as a concentrated pulse of electric blue energy exploded out from Ginny, throwing her attackers across the room. The cloak flew off of her, allowing his daughter to see her surroundings again, but the power she had summoned in desperation refused to stop there.

It suddenly became freezing cold and a ghostly light radiated from Ginny, illuminating the darkened room. The floor beneath their feet began to shake violently, as a whirlwind of pure power sprung up around them. Objects began flying about the room, hitting her attackers. Ginny gasped when she saw who had tried to kill her. His daughter attempted in vain to stop herself, as the two girls tried to escape. Brown staggered as a large book attacked her, hitting her in the head. A bed slid across the room, pinning Patil to the wall. His little girl ran blindly from the room, her runaway powers causing chaos as she went. Arthur followed as she left, taking grim satisfaction out of watching Brown being crushed into a corner by one of the trunks.

Sharing everything his child felt, he knew that the uncontrolled power building within her was about to overload, and when she exploded, it would kill everyone in the area. An unbelievable pain seared her body, as the realization grew in Ginny that she was about to die. He couldn't believe that all she could think about was protecting her housemates from the torrent they had unleashed! His Ginny really was caring to a fault. The common room plunged into freezing darkness, while the storm of power she unleashed consumed all the magical energy, and left only destruction in its wake. Screams filled their ears as they went through the room. Arthur noticed that several Gryffindor's were left untouched in the confusion, and objects even changed course to avoid them. Of course, like her power the bloody storm is intent-based. Its only picking targets with negative intent out of the crowd, but he also knew that the coming explosion wouldn't be so choosy. The portrait of the Fat Lady flew off its hinges, propelled into a near by wall, as he pursued her and the storm down the hall.

Oppressive darkness filled the halls as they fled. The agony they were experiencing steadily increased. Ginny let out a hoarse and pained scream. He wanted to stop, but the need to see this strange vision through, drove him on.

Stumbling into Minerva's office his daughter collapsed in the middle of the room before Severus and Minerva, while he stopped just inside the room, leaning on the wall for support. The whirlwind Ginny was still generating sent objects flying. In little more than an instant, both Professors were at her side. Ginny continued screaming, begging them to help her stop it. Minerva appeared to be uncertain on how to help his daughter, but Severus took control of the situation, attempting to guide her through it. Arthur's legs failed him and he slid down the wall, resting on the polished wooden floor.

"Merlin, this hurts..." he whispered to himself.

He watched while Severus helped Ginny aim for the window. The light emanating from his daughter was slowly redirected to her hands, till only they glowed. All at once, she released the massive energy confined inside her. A blinding beam of electric blue energy left her hands, causing the glass to explode outwards. The energy hit somewhere in the distance, exploding on impact.

Suddenly he was standing in the Gryffindor common room once more, during what could only be the aftermath of the storm. Everywhere he looked, the uninjured students were helping their fellow housemates, bandaging their wounds and escorting them to the hospital wing. The pain, every physical trace of his experience was gone. Arthur trembled, a cold, burning hatred inundating him, driving him beyond all reason. At this point his little girl may not want revenge, but now that he knew more than any parent ever should, he wanted to strike back at those monsters who tried to murder her in cold blood.

"Ron created this nightmare, why?" Arthur asked the room, unsure of whether it could hear him. "What was the point of showing me this?"

"He was an agent of my creation, nothing more - turn around," the voices directed.

He turned back to the entrance as Albus Dumbledore entered the room with a grave expression on his face.

"Arthur, behold the true architect of this story," the voices whispered mournfully.

He couldn't believe it. A thousand questions and denials running through his mind were obliterated when the room revealed to him Dumbledore's thoughts as the old man inspected the area. It was him! He did this to her on purpose, and now that his warped plans had fallen apart, he was going to see that she paid for it, one way or another.

"You know what you have to do," the voices urged. "You know we both want the same thing, to protect Virginia!"

The room shimmered again, and with another flash he was standing back in the decrepit common room, right where he started. Dumbledore was still out there, and as long as that remained true, the old wizard would be a threat to his daughter. The bastard has manipulated the situation for long enough. He wasn't going to let the Headmaster get away with this. Dumbledore was going to pay dearly for messing with his family, for nearly killing his child, if it was the last thing he did! Arthur turned around, swiftly leaving the common room behind. He headed for the stairwell, silently readying himself to stop the supposed great Light Wizard by any means necessary.

*~*~*

Zach arrived in front of the stone Gargoyle and, after giving it the password, traveled up the moving staircase until he reached the door. He politely knocked but there was no answer. After waiting a minute, he got annoyed and decided to just walk in.

"Dumbledore, I-" Zach started to say but was stopped by what he saw. The Headmaster was lying on the floor, unconscious, just beyond the doorway. Concern flooded him as he knelt by the old wizard's side, checking for a pulse. He breathed a sigh of relief when he found it. Dumbledore was alive, he had just fainted by the looks of it.

Only one thing to do, Zach thought, reviving Dumbledore with a spell.

The Headmaster awoke with a start, and groaned.

"Zachary, thank goodness it's you," Dumbledore said weakly, as he helped him reach a sitting position.

"Thank goodness I'm not one of the others, you mean," Zach chided, still concerned. "What happened?"

"I had decided to stretch my legs a bit, but I guess I never quite made it outside," Dumbledore replied.

"Has anything like this happened before?" he asked.

"No, I'd have to say that this symptom is a new one," the old warrior reflected.

"Have you gone to Poppy with this?" Zach pressed. "Maybe you should reconsider going to Severus. He could give you a second opinion. With luck, he may even know a treatment to your illness that you don't."

Dumbledore took out a small bottle from an invisible pocket in his robes. It was filled with an obsidian potion, one he'd never seen before. The Headmaster took a dose, and then put it away.

"What is that?" Zach asked.

"The only treatment there is," Dumbledore cryptically responded. "I've been responsive to it for some time now, but I may be building up a bit of a resistance. That would explain why my condition is deteriorating..." The old warrior noticed his worried expression and put a comforting hand on his shoulder. "I've had this condition for a long time, old friend. Don't worry, I'll run a few tests on myself later. I'm fine."

"As fine as any sick 160 year old could be," Zach disagreed, helping Dumbledore to his feet, then back to his chair. "I don't know what it's like in the world where you live, but in mine, fainting dead away is not fine. I know you, Albus, or at least I thought I did. You'll act like you are going to live forever, right up to your bloody deathbed."

"I would prefer not to lay in that bed any time soon, and even if I were dying, what's the point in acting like it?" Dumbledore countered. "One should always live one's life to the fullest, and the end of it doubly so. I can't afford despair, Zachary. My life has been too full to just let it end like that."

"I wish you wouldn't talk like this," Zach lamented.

"Death is a fact of life," Dumbledore said simply. "Now tell me, what did you need to see me about?"

Zach hesitated in replying. It was so hard to hate him, especially like this. For all he knew, the old wizard may not have enough time left for anger and recriminations. Despite everything, Dumbledore was still his mentor and his friend. Seeing the old warrior so debilitated made him realize just how much he didn't want to lose that. He sighed, once again praying that Virginia's prediction about Dumbledore was correct.

"I came here to discuss the developing situation with my Seers," Zach answered, pushing his personal feelings aside. "I've been using a special charm to identify people with The Sight, and the results of my search have been quite unexpected. In the last couple of days I've found thirty four students with potential, and I'm nowhere near finished with my assessments."

"Forgive me for saying this, Zachary, but I have trouble believing that," Dumbledore objected. "Are you certain this new charm of yours is functioning properly?"

"Of course it is, I wouldn't use it on the children unless I was sure it was safe," Zach insisted. "For far too long the category of The Sight has been a joke. What I've discovered will change everything. There are gifted individuals, with powers unlike anything we've seen before, and, in a way, that is the problem. There is already a dangerous anti-Seer hysteria growing in this school, one that poses a serious threat to these children. I have come up with a voluntary option that should help protect them. Severus and Minerva have both agreed to back me on this. For the sake of the students, I don't want you to oppose us."

He explained Neville and Annika's situation, Departmental Harborage, and how this stopgap would help the growing Seer population.

"You sound like Minerva when she came to me earlier," the Headmaster replied skeptically. "The threat to Gryffindor house and the Seers that has you two so alarmed, isn't as serious as you make it out to be. You are overreacting. If you're not careful, you're going to create an unnecessary panic."

"Certainly a lot less panic than the deaths young Neville will cause, when he is forced to defend himself!" Zach snapped.

"Mr. Longbottom wouldn't do that, no matter how badly they were treating him," Dumbledore maintained.

"He's never been pushed to this extreme before," Zach countered. "Don't ask me how I know it, but I'm positive that if we don't take immediate action, Neville will be forced past the breaking point before the day is out."

"Your feelings are rarely wrong," Dumbledore sighed. "What do you want me to do?"

"Promise me you won't interfere, Albus," Zach pressed. "Promise me that you will let me do my job, my way."

"I promise I won't interfere," the Headmaster swore.

They lapsed into an uneasy silence. Zach stewed, reluctant to confront the Headmaster about what he had done to Virginia. But if they were going to do anything about it he had to give his friend a chance to face it.

"I know about the Intentio Animi," he stated. "I know what you tried to do to Virginia."

"Did Severus tell you?" Dumbledore asked.

"No, I found out on my own," he replied.

"Oh," Dumbledore said sadly, understanding. "Then you know why I had to."

"You didn't have to do anything," he contradicted his old friend, holding back the full force of his outrage. "Don't delude yourself, not in front of me. Nothing gives you the right to mind-rape a girl who did nothing more than survive! You violated her spirit because you believed the Light needed her power, and you were afraid that, after everything you've done, you would lose her. Didn't it ever occur to you that people are entitled to their own choices? By taking that choice away, even if it seemed like the right thing to do at the time, you damage that person in ways you can't fathom. You're lucky Severus is a better man than you thought, or he would've already told the girl's father and, I don't think Arthur would take it nearly as well as Severus did."

"Of that, I have no doubt," Dumbledore agreed. "Arthur is devoted to his family. If he knew, he would never forgive me, and that is the best-case scenario. I know I've made mistakes with Virginia, and I understand if those who know never forgive me. How is she?"

"You've put her on a very dangerous road, Albus," Zach scolded. "We're fortunate she still trusts any of us. Her gifts are astounding, in both The Sight and out of it. After what you did to her it's a bloody miracle that she can continue to be open with us. To my knowledge, she is informing to us every step of the way, sharing any new insights in the process. Slytherin, Ravenclaw, and a few remaining friends in Gryffindor have been helping her, but her new position is still a very lonely and isolated one."

"So, that's how Severus plans to safeguard his apprentice and maintain his position amongst the Dark," Dumbledore thought to himself, horribly disturbed. "And now I've forced Virginia to suffer her master's fate. Merlin help me, what have I done?"

"What have you done?" Zach blurted out before he could stop himself, suspecting that Dumbledore's thoughts had to be something other than due to a guilty conscience.

"I just realized how difficult it must be for a Gryffindor like Virginia, to live amongst people who will never accept her for herself," Dumbledore hastily covered up, shielding his true thoughts. "This transition must be very hard on both of them."

"Severus has been trying to make the best of a bad situation," he replied, realizing that what he had overheard was yet another facet that Severus couldn't share. Zach was tempted to force the truth from the Headmaster, but now was hardly time to delve into secrets that will get them all killed. He had to continue to trust that Severus will tell him the truth when the time comes.

*~*~*

Once Argus had paid for his wand Severus pulled Ollivander aside, determined to have a word with him.

"What is going on here, Severus?" the wandmaker inquired the moment they were alone in the elder wizard's fully shielded office. "First, you demonstrate the ability to use diametrically opposing wands, something no human should be capable of. I've also heard the whispers regarding your apprentice. They say that she is currently undergoing Death Eater training. Oh, and by the way, congratulations. I hear she is a force to contend with. And, now you've brought me a Squib who is suddenly able to use an exotic form of magic. The moment I touched him, I could feel his magic. He is not the same powerless boy I met long ago, he is becoming, something... else. I think you owe me some explanations."

"Since she left Gryffindor, my apprentice has come to share my current status," Severus cryptically answered.

"I see," Ollivander responded, comprehending. "Are you sure she will be up to it?"

"She will learn to be," Severus assured him.

"Of course, and the other?" Ollivander persisted.

Severus considered what he should tell him. Then, in a strange flash of insight, it came to him.

"The old magic has returned," Severus proclaimed with an otherworldly edge to his voice.

Understanding, Ollivander's eyes widened. Peering further, he could see that the elder wizard had been waiting his entire life to hear those words, as had every Ollivander before him for more than a thousand years. The master wandmaker knew things, knew what was coming. He couldn't help but wonder just how many more knew about this.

"I should have known," Ollivander whispered, stunned. "We've been waiting for so long, we weren't sure it was ever going to happen... and now, here you are... and here she is..."

"You know," Severus whispered.

It wasn't a question.

"The Ollivander clan will always be in service of the Gray, and its proper bearers," Ollivander sincerely vowed. "Whenever you are in need, call upon us. We will not fail you... I must confess that I am surprised to behold your reemergence in my lifetime. I've always thought Taleen would have given the Wizarding and Muggle worlds at least another millennium to grow up. But, there is only one way to be certain that you're in the right place, at the right time."

Ollivander walked over to his desk drawer, removing a small clear crystal from it. The old wizard held it out before him. Severus felt a complexly woven power pulsating from it like a heartbeat, reacting to his presence. The moment he saw the crystal, he had the overwhelming urge to take their property back from the old wizard. Their property? How could it be theirs when he had never seen it before in his life?

"Take it," Ollivander offered.

He required no further urging, retrieving it from the wandmaker. The odd compulsion ceased. As he felt the crystal connect with him and the necklace of Conscius, it began changing color. It turned green, blue, black, red, then black again. Without warning, Severus sensed his necklace respond to the object, turning the small stone to dust in his hand.

"The circle is complete," Ollivander muttered.

"What just happened?" Severus asked, examining the dust.

"The circle is complete, necklace bearer," Ollivander reiterated. "That little heirloom has been in my family since the fall of the Gray. If you weren't a bearer, it would've burned you the moment you touched it, but as a true bearer it would have assisted you in finding the others, if you still had the need."

"How can it assist me if it self-destructed?" Severus asked confused.

"Because you do not require its assistance," Ollivander answered.

"But I've only discovered four of the five bearers," Severus protested.

"Maybe you have found them all, you just don't know it yet," Ollivander suggested. "No matter, I'm sure in time you will learn all you need. The choice may be made in days or in decades, but it is coming and we must prepare. Now, I don't know of all the old wizarding families that have kept a piece of the puzzle, but I'll volunteer what I can. Take a seat, Severus, and we'll get started." Seeing him hesitate the wandmaker continued. "The Gray had once been notorious for their talent of knowing the hearts of those around them. If you doubt me, seek out the truth for yourself."

He could see the blunt honesty in Ollivander's words and knew that he wasn't being deceived.

"That won't be necessary," Severus said, taking a seat across from him.

"The descendants of the people who helped Taleen oversee the end each held a piece of the past, in trust for when the bearers reappeared," Ollivander explained. "The few secrets remaining have survived as a mix of fragmented knowledge, distortion, and ignorance. To the best of my knowledge, among the wizarding families that remain, my clan retains the most from that time, but it is still only a piece of the greater puzzle. Only thirteen ancient human families who assisted Taleen directly survived the first wars, but any number of them may have died out since. Four of them were given the necklaces, and one of those four families received the tome of Initium as well. Am I correct in thinking that your family was one of them?"

"My family held the tome," Severus confirmed.

"I only know of four other clans who were entrusted with any of the old knowledge," Ollivander revealed. "Crouch, Dumbledore, Potter, and Mulciber. Thanks to He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named... Sorry, force of habit, Voldemort, the Crouchs are dead. And for some time now, a number of the Mulciber clan has been working with the Dark Lord, but they will never reveal anything to him. Even if they've temporarily allied themselves with him it was a career move, nothing more. I have been in contact with them on occasion, and I believe that they are approachable, but only as a Gray wizard. There's been too much bad blood between them and the Light extreme, to trust any person without an acceptable level of Darkness."

"You mentioned Dumbledore," he probed. "How much do you think he actually knows about this?"

"Enough to know fear when Voldemort obtained the necklace of Novo," Ollivander noted. "However, what little knowledge he possesses has been frightfully distorted over the centuries. Which may be for the best, considering what he's become. A Light side fanatic..." Ollivander sadly shook his head. "And I had such high hopes for that boy. I swear, if we hadn't lost Tom Riddle, he wouldn't have lost his own way over the decades."

"Just how old are you?" Severus asked.

"If you must know, four hundred and twenty eight years, as of this Christmas Eve," Ollivander answered.

The old wizard chuckled when he couldn't hide his surprise.

"Being in the trade has its advantages," Ollivander added.

"As does being a free agent," Severus observed. "Although, until recently, I thought that your ultimate allegiance lay with Dumbledore."

"There are always sides, and with them complications and complexities," Ollivander expounded. "In the endless wars between the Light and Dark it is important to remain useful to both, in order to do business. No matter how many decades pass, there has been one truth, which I think the muggles put best. 'The more things change, the more they stay the same.' No matter which side retained control, they have always required capable wandmakers."

"And just where in the overall picture do you think the Gray fit?" he inquired.

"In the final analysis, the Gray Practitioners are everything," the wandmaker answered. "To use a cliché, you are the glue that binds the other sides together. If anyone can strike a new balance, ending these futile wars, you can."

"You're talking about using the Gray as an agent to unite the Dark and Light under one vision," Severus reasoned.

"Isn't that the outcome Taleen had in mind when she gazed into the stone of Initium for the first time?" Ollivander pointed out. "But this time, at least we know that absolute dominion will never work."

"Then what will?" he wondered.

The wand maker opened his mouth to speak, but instead smiled knowingly and then shook his head.

"You're already on the track," Ollivander replied. "You are the only ones who can truly answer your questions. When the time is right, it will come to you."

"Do you know what piece of the old magic Dumbledore possesses?" Severus asked.

"He had the necklace of Tutela, meant to be held in trust for the day The Guardian claimed her birthright," Ollivander supplied. "The last I heard he had hidden the necklace in the last place Voldemort would ever look, around the neck of an unremarkable child."

Severus let his expression become unreadable as he recalled what his apprentice had told him.

"I take it, Albus sent the necklace to its true owner?" Ollivander quipped. The old wizard chuckled. "Poor Albus, you thought you had control over Tutela, when in fact, it had control over you..."

"This is not a laughing matter," Severus sneered, irritated.

"I never said it was," Ollivander replied, sobering at his reaction. "Let me guess, he sent it to Virginia Weasley."

Severus didn't respond, nor did he need to. They both knew that it was true.

"Now our beloved Headmaster is alienating The Guardian at every turn," Ollivander muttered. "The way he acts, one might think that he was trying to bring about the end of everything. When he finds out the truth it's going to kill him."

"Is that everything?" Severus asked.

For a moment, Ollivander looked beyond him and then he stood.

"There is more, but I'm afraid we're out of time," Ollivander said, as Severus got to his feet. "Now you must rejoin your companion. I'm sure he's eager to return to Hogwarts. I think you will understand my haste when you get back there. We'll have to continue this later. I'll be sure to send a representative along in due time."

"A representative?" Severus questioned.

"Yes, you'll recognize them when you see them," Ollivander said, urgently ushering him out the door. "Good night, Severus, and good luck."

The old wizard closed the door in his face, and he heard the distinctive sounds of locking charms on the other side. Then, Severus caught a thought from Ollivander that only served to mystify even him further:

"...you'll need it."

Well, that was positively surreal, Severus thought. He turned around and headed back to the front of the shop where Argus and Mrs. Norris were waiting for him. Heading back to Hogwarts together he replayed in his mind the end of his conversation with Ollivander, trying to figure it out. Something about it put him on guard, something he was missing. Severus was almost relieved once they entered the entrance hall.

Suddenly, he was standing outside of Dumbledore's office. Zachary and Dumbledore were pinned behind a protection ward, as Arthur Weasley marshaled his full power against the rapidly waning shield. He spotted Miss Granger lying on the floor, unconscious. With an audible snap, the Auror broke through, knocking his friend aside before he could cast anything else. The force of the blow caused Zachary to lose his footing and crash into the opposite wall, hard, knocking him unconscious. Severus watched helplessly as Arthur broke Dumbledore's wrist when he tried to use his wand to defend himself. Then, Virginia's father proceeded to wrap his hands around the Headmaster's throat, lifting him up off the floor.

"This is for what you did to my little girl," Arthur spat.

He heard a sickening cracking sound as Arthur broke Dumbledore's neck. The possessed look in the Auror's eyes vanished as he realized what he had done, and dropped the lifeless body to the floor...

Abruptly Severus was again standing in the entrance hall with Argus and Mrs. Norris.

"What is it?" Argus asked.

"Go to Virginia's chamber and stay there until I return," he ordered, heading for Dumbledore's office. As he ran he couldn't help but wonder how Ollivander knew.

*~*~*

Meanwhile, Albus headed down the moving staircase, leaving his office.

"I still don't think this is such a great idea, not in your condition," Zachary protested, following closely behind him.

"Nonsense, Zachary," he scoffed. "It's a fine evening for a stroll. Trust me, it won't end up being a repeat of last time."

"Then why do I have a bad feeling about this?" his young friend asked as they entered the corridor.

Hearing indistinct shouting in the distance, they stopped. Suddenly, they saw Arthur running down the hall toward them, his wand drawn and face filled with grim determination.

"Watch out!" Miss Granger shouted, trailing just behind the Auror. "Mr. Weasley's not in his right mind! Gryffindor Tower has done something to him!"

At her words, Zachary sprung into action, drawing his wand and casting a protection ward around them. Arthur marshaled his full power against the shield, trying to get at them. The young Seer devoted his total concentration to maintaining the enchantment, while Albus armed himself, hoping that the shield would protect them. Just as Miss Granger began casting a spell, Severus appeared out of nowhere, moving faster than anything he had ever seen. The Potions master disarmed Arthur but the Auror fought back as Severus attempted to restrain him.

"Don't just stand there staring stupidly, Zachary, assist me!" the Potions master hissed.

His young friend immediately dropped the ward, and went to Severus' aid.

"Let me go!" Arthur shouted, fighting harder. "He deserves to die for what he's done!"

"Arthur is really going to need to be more specific than that," he silently mused. "Lately, there are a lot of things I've done that people seem to want me dead for."

"Shut up!" Zachary and Severus snarled at him in unison.

Albus had the courtesy to show some of his surprise, but it was nothing compared to the astonishment he felt, considering that of the two of them, only Zachary was supposed to be telepathic. Miss Granger hurriedly began explaining what had taken place. Albus only half-listened, falling deeper into thought. How could they both hear his thoughts, unless Severus was telepathic as well? That would explain why those two had managed to connect so well, so quickly, and how they could coordinate with each other so flawlessly. They're working telepathically! Wait, that gift is invariably rare expect among... Severus Snape has The Sight! Oh, dear. That's why Zachary said I had a talent for harming people with The Sight. It all makes sense now. Stretching out what little senses he still possessed, Albus curiously probed their connection to see how strong it was, careful not to be too invasive. The amazing connection he felt was the last thing he expected. It was closer and more powerful than anything he had ever seen, short of life bonding. Nearly letting go of the demented Auror, the two wizards looked up at him in surprise. Suddenly, he was hit with a painful burst of mental feedback, which felt very much like the equivalent of a slap, forcing him to take a step backward. He knew he had been caught.

"Do that again and you won't have to worry about the Auror, I'll kill you myself," Severus threatened ominously.

"And I won't stop him," Zachary added, glaring at him.

"Wait, this doesn't make any sense!" Miss Granger cried out, confused. "One minute you two are protecting him, the next you're threatening to kill him? Will someone please tell me what is going on here?"

"Forget the bloody explanations and release me at once!" Arthur demanded. "My daughter will never be safe as long as that bastard still draws breath!"

"Miss Granger, stay with Dumbledore," Severus ordered. "He'll look after you until one of us returns."

"Albus, please remain in your office until we return," Zachary advised, his tone sounding more like an order than a request.

He noticed that Miss Granger followed their edict without question, giving the stone Gargoyle the password and heading up first. Realizing that his presence was anything but wanted or required, Albus followed suit, returning to his office. He saw Miss Granger sitting in an armchair, working at a small table transfigured from another armchair, deeply focusing on her research.

"I hope you don't mind that I created a little work space for myself, Professor," Miss Granger said, not bothering to look up. "I promise I'll put it right back when I'm done."

"Not a problem, Miss Granger," Albus replied, getting a glimpse of the tome's title. He raised an eyebrow when he recognized it. Only Severus would think to give her such a thing. He must really be starting to believe in her to give the child such a formidable challenge. Zachary was right; Severus has changed. He sat at his desk, wondering how many more bad judgment calls would be coming back to haunt him.

__________

TBC