Mark of Ancients

Chapter 12: EMOTION ESCAPE

    "First, I have to stop at Gringotts because I'm bloody broke and haven't had new clothing in far too long," said Sirius as they walked through the brick wall from the Leaky Cauldron. Harry walked next to him, Michelle on his other side with Ron and Hermione at the far ends.

    "So do I," said Harry.

    "Hermione?" said Michelle, "why don't you come with me to some book stores? Lookin' for one on, well... wanna come?"

    "Sure." The two of them trotted off. Sirius, Ron and Harry Disapparated off to Gringotts to grab some of Sirius' money then back to Hogsmeade. It was no surprise that Sirius walked out of many stores with several bags (which he floated behind him) of new clothes. Harry suggested he also get a haircut, trimming off the mop that lay on his head. The surprises started to come when the three of them split up.

    "Sirius, Ron..." started Harry, trying his very best to sound inconspicuous, "I got some private shopping to do. How about we meet back at the Three Broomsticks in, say," and he looked down at his broken watch (waterlogged during a trip into the lake in Hogwarts), "a half hour?"

    "Yeah," replied Sirius, "Ron, want to go get a drink there with me?"

    "Sure." They separated. As soon as Ron and Sirius were out of sight Harry made his way to Quality Quidditch Supplies. Ron had been using a school broom, a Cleansweep Seven. Harry felt he at least owed it to Ron to get him a Firebolt. There were "Broom Sale" stickers hanging in the air near a rack of Firebolts. It seemed to have dropped in price, the perfect opportunity to buy one for Ron.

    "E-excuse me," he said, as he pushed his way through the crowd amidst eyes gazing up at his forehead. He snatched a Firebolt off a nearby rack and brought it up to the witch sitting behind the cash register at the back of the store.

    "How much is this?" he asked the witch, holding up the Firebolt.

    "H-Harry Potter! N-no, be my guest. Take it free!" Harry laughed airily and nervously. As generous as the offer was...

    "How much or I'm leaving empty handed," he persisted.

    "Two-two hundred and thirty galleons..." Harry counted out the money as quickly as he could tossing it onto the counter and walked quickly out the store. He looked left to right to see if either Sirius or Ron could see him. He pulled out the Invisibility Cloak from underneath his own cloak, hid the broom under it and floated it close to himself.

    Ron came by just as he finished.

    "Oh, hey Harry." Harry tried hard not to let on. They walked towards the Three Broomsticks. "Sirius left after first drink. Said he had needed to make another stop at Gringott's. So, got what you needed?" When they sat down, Harry pushed the Firebolt under the table.

    "Yeah."

    "D'you really think You-Know-Who has Snape?"

    "Yes, I bet - Voldemort - does." Harry decided he would get everyone to say the real name. If he had to say it... and see the owner, than it was the least everyone else could do. "I hope he uses Crucio on him..."

    "Harry!" blurted Ron.

    "You've only seen it." Ron's face fell. Harry painfully remembered the times Voldemort had used Crucio on him. Nothing ever came close to the pain, nothing came close the feeling of simply wanting to die, even nearly dying itself. "Yeah, it hurts a lot." The two of them didn't talk for a few minutes. They simply drank from their goblets, leaning on the table in their own thought. The mere thought almost brought back the squirms of pain. Harry stared some place to the left of Ron and breathed steadily to calm himself.

    "So do you think we'll win the Quidditch Cup?!" said Ron. Harry heaved a sigh. "What? What's wrong?"

    "Since our first practice I wanted you to be team captain. I'm not good at it. Besides, you helped us win with those two tactics." He laughed shortly. "Those are going in text books."

    "No," said Ron, stubbornness in his face. "They picked you."

    "Fine," said Harry. He took a sip from goblet (leaving only a drop left), leaned back in his chair and folded his arms across stomach. "Either you become captain or I quit." Ron couldn't believe his ears.

    "Y-you're serious, aren't you?"

    "Yes." Ron was sure that if Harry was standing up, his hands would be on his hips. "You want it. I'll tell Madam Hooch before practice Thursday." Harry swallowed the last drop of his drink.

    "What I really need is a new broom." Harry lost control of the blood rising in his face. Wait until Thursday, he told himself... "The Cleansweep Sevens are pathetic." The Three Broomsticks door swung open and in walked Sirius followed by Michelle and Hermione.

    "Ah, so nice to get out to town," said Sirius as they all took a seat at the table with Ron and Harry.

    "You and me both," said Harry. "You know, sometimes I still can't believe it." He slouched back in his chair and rested his head on it's back, staring up at the ceiling. His mood changed quickly from one of embarrassment to one of wonderment.

    "Believe what?" asked Hermione. She looked to be straining to know what he could be thinking of.

    "Uh oh," warned Ron.

    "Hush!"

    "All of it," said Harry. "Don't know which life I like better, though. Being safe with my aunt and uncle or being free but having to worry about Voldemort." Harry looked at the faces of Ron and Hermione just to see that they were still flinching at the name... and smiled. "Be glad you didn't see him come back." He went back to staring at the ceiling.

    "Oh, cheer up, Harry," said Michelle comfortingly. "Behind all of Vernon and Petunia's lies? They are no aunt and uncle of mine."

    "They didn't even buy you clothes," Ron reminded Harry. "Come on... you've done great stuff for everyone."

    "But what about me?" Ron looked stunned at Harry's reply. He tried to cheer Harry up, not get him more self-absorbed. "Fourteen years... and all I want is to talk to my parents."

    "You're much better off now, Harry," said Sirius putting an arm around his shoulder. He was the closest thing Harry ever had to a father... and in Harry's opinion, he was making a good substitute. He let out a sigh of relief and sat straight in his chair. "You're among friends. We'll get through it." A warm fuzzy feeling found it's way to Harry's heart. The last time he remembered it was his first encounter with the Mirror of Erised. It was the first sight of his parents in ten years but there was the cold reality that the hand touching his shoulder was merely an illusion. He wanted to speak to them for once in his life. They would have his answers. There has to be a way.

    "Touching life story you have," spoke an unwelcome voice. "Too bad it will come to an end before the year's up." All but Harry turned to see who it was.

    "Voldemort tried a few times," replied Harry. His skin was glowing perfect white and he turned to look upon the face of Thantanos Brev.

    "The Imperio Curse is bloody useful... as is a young one without a clue about the mark of ancients. Master will be pleased." Brev laughed a high cold laugh not unlike the one that Voldemort lets out.

    "What are you talking about?" Harry stood up kicking the chair back, fists clenched, fire in his eyes. He ignored all the eyes of horror, especially ones from nearby tables.

    "Dear me. Forgot to mention!" He bowed and continued, "Thantanos Brev, very big fan of Lord Voldemort! Just a shame that Dumbledore fool realized what I did, tricking you with a fake spell and making your mind hear what I wanted you to hear. No matter, really. Soon enough your mark will fail you completely and you'll be permanently under Imperius. If I might also mention, I did try to kill you during that Fire Quidditch game. Better watch yourselves. More deaths and disappearances are coming. You can be sure of that."

    Harry continued to stand where he was, absolutely fuming. Brev has been cause of his most of Harry's trouble so far. "Going to fight me?" snickered Brev.

    "Try it," said Harry coldly. It was something he should not have. Brev muttered something under his breath and Harry felt bliss, but the bliss, he knew, put him under someone's control. He closed his eyes, clasped his hands and started muttering under his own breath.

    "Parcere... m-meus vita..."

    A voice then spoke to him.

    "What're you doin' that for?"

    He continued, regardless. "Parcere meus..."

    "Really... what's the point?" Harry felt his arms give a sudden shake.

    "...anima. Ad-"

    "Want to consider stopping?"

    "-dere ultimus..."

    "Should stop, you should..."

    "...c-clad-d-des..."

    "Not nice, killing about one hundred people."

    "...ad parcere..."

    "Someone's going to get hurt!"

    "...nullus..."

    "HARRY!" Someone bumped into him but he ignored it.

    "...altera."

    The dark blue haze of Clades Ultimus began to spread from the middle of Harry, growing larger ever so slowly. The gust of wind blew on him only, like standing in a hurricane. The white, glowing blobs formed inside haze followed by the start of the deep rumble. The floor shook then suddenly became very hot but this time the burning sensation was deadened - at least for Harry. Chaotic voices filled the air but they sounded like a broken record player. The spell faltered. The voices stopped, the wind disappeared and the haze vanished into thin air taking the blobs with it. Harry returned to normal and Brev's eyes turned red with rage.

    "CRUCIO!" he bellowed, wand pointing at Harry.

    It shocked him again. A trillion needles piercing every available part of flesh, puncturing deep within, unrelenting. Harry squirmed and twirled over and over knocking over chairs and tables, tears of pain leaking from his tightly squinted eyes.

    "STOP IT!" screamed Hermione. "YOU'RE HURTING HIM!" She ran over to him in tears but he continued to writhe in pain, unable to control it. The other three were powerless. Brev had put them in a body bind.

    It all stopped suddenly and Brev could be heard laughing softly. Harry rolled over on his side reeling from the pain before bumping into someone's chair. The witch put down a hand for him to pick up. He was looking up at Arabella Figg. A certain resilience crept into him and he stood up. The questions he had for her he would have to keep for now. Brev continued his soft venomous laughter.

    "Such a remarkable thing, pain, isn't it? It makes even the bravest among us cower at the Lord's feet." Harry refused to look him in the eye. "I'm talking to you. Look at me now, Harry! Brave as you may be, you cower before the Dark Lord. They all do..."

    "I stood my ground," Harry said in his own soft and cold tone. His voice was shaking with anger. "I fought him... and I got away. Why don't you try to kill me and get it over with," said Harry through clenched teeth. His anger was nearly at a breaking point. Brev laughed at this.

    "My dear boy! I would never deprive my master of what he wants most!" Harry's very own skin nearly blinded him. Before another thought crossed his mind, before he had time to think of what it would do, he tried his own turn at the Cruciatus Curse.

    The pain must have been so powerful, so all consuming that it took just one long earsplitting, inhuman and bloody scream before the body of Brev lie motionless on the floor. Unconscious or dead, Harry really didn't care.

    "Is he... breathing?" said Hermione cautiously as she walked up to the body. Sirius followed her.

    "My god," said Sirius switching his head between Brev and Harry, "what did you use?"

    "Cruciatus." Sirius bent over Brev and checked for a pulse.

    "Still alive..."

    "Hey," said Hermione, "what's this?"

    "What's what?" said Ron. Harry bent down to look.

    "That," she said pointing at something on the back of Brev's neck. "It's a tattoo."

    "Of a Slytherin snake," said Harry. "Who cares. Just showing off."

    "Yeah..."

    "Ennervate," said Harry pointing his wand at Brev, who's entire body gave one spasm. He sprang to his feet and stared horrified at Harry. "Go before I change my mind. I ought to kill you where you stand."

    "B-"

    "Go!" Brev walked hurriedly out the door. Harry plopped himself heavily onto his chair.

    "That was quite noble, Harry," piped up Mrs. Figg.

    "Noble or stupid? I need a long vacation..."

    

    Next morning was quiet enough. Dumbledore allowed Sirius and Michelle to sit with Harry at the Gryffindor table to the great displeasure of other students. Many people apparently could not shake off the falsity that Sirius was in fact not a murderer. Harry himself felt both joy and tension. Joy at the fact that he now had two people to call family but tension due to the scared faces on many of the surrounding people. Neville, for one, would not sit still.

    Dean and Seamus seemed to take a liking to Sirius. Many boos came from the Slytherin table all morning but eventually stopped when Sirius threatened to turn Malfoy into a bouncing ferret.

    Sirius was to walk around Hogwarts as the great black dog so as to not attract unneeded attention... Dumbledore's idea. No one besides close friends of Harry and Sirius knew he was an Animagus anyway.

    Paladism was Harry's first class that Wednesday. The previous two nights' events were fresh out of his mind due to an excellent night's sleep and very fortunate so. Professor Dumbledore had a very grueling lesson planned that morning.

    "Everyone please stand up, wands out."

    "What d'you think..." Ron whispered to Harry.

    "Shh!" he replied.

    "We will be practicing spell deflection. I will send a curse to Miss Granger and Miss. Parkinson, who will then pass it on to Mr. Weasley and Mr. Goyle, who will pass it on to Mr. Potter and Mr. Crabbe and so on and so forth.

    "The ability to deflect spells, starting with simple ones, is an important skill as I will demonstrate. On the count of three, I want everyone to attempt to curse me."

    Malfoy looked absolutely delighted at the idea.

    "Not a single one will get through, I guarantee. Now, on the count of three." Everyone prepared their wands but Dumbledore stood with his wand down. "One... two... three!"

    He raised his wand immediately, holding it backwards like a knife, tip pointing outwards, amongst the yells of every curse Harry knew. Dumbledore muttered something and an arc of white lightning shot out of the tip of the wand and outwards to the palm of his free hand, both of which he held shoulder height and length. A small movement of his hand made the arc of lightning crack the air of thunder and whip madly.

    Every spell, every last single one of them was caught in the arc of lightning, as if attracted to it and fizzled upon contact, letting out a small crack of thunder. When everyone stopped, Dumbledore closed his open hand into a fist and jerked it outwards. The lightning thundered once more before fading. He spun his wand the right way in his hand and placed it onto his desk.

    "Bloody good demonstration, Professor!" shouted Lee, clapping his hands (and he was the only one).

    "Thank you, Mr. Jordan. I daresay, if more than two got through I would be on the floor twitching," he said with a faint laugh. "Remember, Declino is the spell to deflect but to send it off in a desired direction, you have to touch the spell with your wand, not your hand, mind you, and add 'ad Ablegare' as you move your wand. When you stop moving your wand, the spell will be released. Declino ad Ablegare. Everyone?"

    "Declino ad Ablegare!" chorused the class.

    "Good. Now, just one change. Mr. Potter, if you would stand in the center back row? You will be redirecting two spells at once." He smiled again at Harry, who walked casually over to his new position. Harry had no idea how he was going to manage to redirect two spells at once without hitting someone with one of them... or himself. Would he end up on the floor twitching? Would the spells get absorbed and something very strange happen? He didn't feel too worried. He glittered his skin in preparation.

    "I ask that you do this without the mark." Harry's worriless mood became a slight sinking of his stomach. Is Dumbledore mad? "Miss Granger, Mr. Weasley and Mr. Potter, as per your absence, I only need to mention one thing. You must use the charm before the spell hits you. At which point the spell will be attracted to your wand.

    "It is a simple finger-flapper curse. You will simply drop your wand if the curse hits." He paused for a moment and held his wand backwards again. Harry copied this hold of his own wand. "On the count of three, be ready." He readied his wand. Everyone looked just as nervous as Harry did. "One... two... three! Digitus Verbero!" As he finished the words, he jerked his wand side to side very fast. Two flashes of light shot towards Hermione and Pansy Parkinson.

    "Declino... ad Ablegare!" shouted Hermione and Pansy. They were successful.

    "Declino... ad - Ablegare!" shouted Ron and Goyle quite hoarsely. They, too, were successful. Onto Seamus and Crabbe... Lee and some shivering Slytherin girl... When it got down to Neville, his hand shook wildly and his wand fell.

    "Shall we try again?" said Dumbledore, perfectly calm. It took a minute before Neville's hand stopped shaking. "Digitus Verbero!"

    Hermione and Pansy, Ron and Goyle, Seamus and Crabbe... back to Neville (who was successful)... five people from Harry... four people from Harry... three... two... right next to... Harry saw it all in slow motion. He raised his wand to shoulder height, looking back and forth between the two spears of light. He moved his hand to the middle of his wand and said "Declino..." then spun his wand and finished, "ad Ablegare!" Success!

    The two spells shot off towards the people at his side and continued down towards Harry and Pansy (Neville was successful twice in a row!).

    "Not hard at all, eh, Harry?" said Dumbledore, beaming at Harry. "Both edges of your wand are capable of deflecting spells. The Deflector spell covers the entire wand making all of it useful in deflection. Unfortunately, you will not be able to Deflect more powerful spells in this manner. Only very weak curses can be reflected this way. Much more potent magic exists to deflect more powerful spells but such magic is beyond the scope of Hogwarts.

    "And, of course, there is no magic to deflect the Unforgiveables." The rest of the class was spent letting off simple hexes and bouncing them all around the room. Neville and Draco got hit by finger flappers on more than one occasion. Neville got hit on his own account, Malfoy was hit by someone else's doing...

    Potions had been canceled. Harry, Ron and Hermione decided to take a quiet seat in the library since they were sure to not get any quiet back at the commons. Harry was in great spirits, much better than previous days. Ron and Hermione took notice and tried not to dull it. Harry seemed too happy, in fact, because he decided to give Ron the Firebolt now.

    "One minute, I have to get something from my trunk," he excused himself as he went to grab the Firebolt hidden under the Invisibility Cloak. When he returned, Sirius had been sitting at the table as well.

    "What was that private shopping you had to do, Harry, anyway?" asked Ron.

    Sirius and Harry spoke in tandem. "I have something for you, Ron/Harry." They exchanged looks of question. "What?" they said together again. Sirius turned to Harry and Harry turned to Ron. "I bought you a Dragonback/Firebolt!" Ron and Harry both fell out of their chairs.

    "A WHAT?!" said both of them.

    "Accio," said Sirius. Harry uncovered the Firebolt from underneath the cloak. Ron looked ready to faint.

    "Oh," said Ron, "no... Harry..."

    "Take it. It was on sale, only two hundred and thirty galleons. They witch at the counter insisted I take it for free and I refused. Consider it a late Christmas present." Harry smiled at the look of Ron's face which was a mix of joy and embarrassment

    "What about you?"

    Sirius shoved the Dragonback under Harry's nose. It was a work of pure art. The stick was black with the twigs colored like fire. Harry had his turn of feeling ready to faint. By the sheer looks of it, it was faster, sleeker and better than any broom Harry had seen yet. It was also quite a bit longer than the Firebolt, about as tall as Sirius.

    "When you fly on it, the twigs are bewitched to move like fire," said Sirius. "Lasts a lifetime. I got a self-repairing charm put on it for two hundred extra galleons." And he demonstrated by smashing it on the floor. "Capable of speeds near three hundred miles per hour. Happy Christmas!" He gave the very stiff Harry, who clutched the Dragonback tightly in both hands, a hug.

    Harry's stiffness finally came to an end when he laughed with total glee and said, "Hey Ron, wanna go test these out?"

    "Sure!"

    The Dragonback moved so fast and with such a high rate of acceleration it was, well, okay, not really like Disapparating. Harry could fly from one end of the Quidditch field to the other in mere seconds. The Snitch had no chance. If he was stopped in mid air then leaned at just a forty five degree angle forward, he would have to hold his glasses and grip the Dragonback as tightly as he could. The first time he tried, he nearly fell off.

    Ron appreciated the Firebolt just the same. Harry let him ride his own when Sirius got it for him but from the look on Ron's face, it was nothing like having one to call your own. The two of them did zig zags and three hundred foot dives.

    "Harry, grab onto me," called Ron from across the Quidditch field. "Let's see how fast the Dragonback really is!"

    "You sure that's a good idea?" asked Harry as he flew over.

    "Start at the caste and head towards Hogsmeade!"

    "Okay..." he said cautiously. "Better off you get on with me and hold on tight. Don't let the Firebolt go." Harry moved up a little and Ron grabbed Harry around the waist tight with his Firebolt. When both were sure they weren't going to slip off, Harry made his way to the towers of Hogwarts... and leaned all the way forward. The Dragonback nearly lost both of them as they slipped backwards a few terrifying inches.

    As the ground beneath them became a mere blur, a feeling of euphoria crept over both of them. Flying at three hundred miles per hour is, after all, not something you experience every day. The lake became a stream of blue. Hogsmeade station was no more than a few blobs and before they knew it, Harry and Ron were so far away from town and out into open woods that they were clearly lost.

    "Any idea where you're going?" asked Ron, sounding a little scared.

    "Relax. I can Disapparate, remember?" Harry felt perfectly calm. He could Disapparate, after all and with one hundred percent accuracy. There was no reason to worry, right? Harry slowed the Dragonback to Cleansweep Seven speeds.

    "Those trees are getting awfully dark..." They flew deeper and deeper into unknown wood that looked very similar to the forest near Hogwarts. Does it continue this far?

    "Can we just go a little farther?" Harry gave the Dragonback a little burst of speed and they plunged so far into the forest that the direction they came from could not be determined. This forest, whatever, and most importantly, wherever it was, was a scary thing.

    The two of them continued to gaze over the trees that, as they looked farther out, turned a darker and darker shade of green, almost to black. Beastly voices and echoes hit their ears. Ron felt chills but Harry's mode of stone remained.

    "W-we should head back..." said Ron.

    The Dragonback fell suddenly. "HARRY!" The drop stopped as suddenly as it started. Harry giggled.

    "Relax!"

    "Coulda given me a heart attack."

    "Just a little more, okay?" Harry slowed the Dragonback to walking speed. "What do you think this is?"

    "I think this is a place we shouldn't be." Harry felt Ron's grip tighten.

    "Fine, okay. We have to land, though. I don't want to try doing it mid-air. We may just fall the rest of the way."

    "Just do me a favor and use the mark, okay?" Harry heeded Ron's very reasonable request.

    The forest below them looked far more treacherous than they've ever seen the forbidden forest look. Harry landed the Dragonback in a small clearing of trees. From the inside, the two forests were indistinguishable. Thick trees as far as the eye can see and bushes and branches that seemed to be alive. The echoes and voices came faster and began to sound louder with each passing moment. A bush near Harry jigged wildly but before the two of them could see what it was, they were standing back on the Quidditch field, perfectly safe.

    "Whew," said Ron, taking a seat on the comforting grounds of Hogwarts. Harry walked not two steps before Ron pulled on his leg.

    "What is it?" Harry looked at Ron's face and turned in his head's direction to see what it could possibly be.

    One voice spoke. "Thank you for paying a visit to my territory!" something said, laughing. "You will come again, I hope?" Then another voice spoke as Harry's eyes deadened.

    "B-blood of the enemy... forcibly taken... you will... resurrect your foe." Wormtail's voice speared through Harry as his eyes opened and he saw what Ron was looking at: a dementor.

    "EXPECTO PATRONUM!" bellowed Harry. The pearly white figure of James' stag shot forth from Harry's wand. The dementor ran in a panic as the Patronus charged after it and when the dementor was out of sight, the Patronus withered away.

    "Harry/Ron!" Professor Dumbledore and Professor McGonagall called after them. Did they see them Apparate back? Both of them turned around to see both Professors sprinting towards them. Ron scrambled to his feet.

    "What is a dementor doing on school grounds, Albus?" panicked McGonagall. He turned his attention to her.

    "I only have one answer," he replied gravely. "It is that they are under the control of Voldemort." Dumbledore then looked towards Harry and Ron. "What were you doing when it showed up?" Apparently they hadn't seen them Apparate.

    "Flying around the Quidditch field," they both said.

    "You are both fine, I presume?"

    "Yeah," said Ron. "Harry scared it away soon as we saw it."

    "Right. Yes, well, please hurry inside," said Dumbledore. No need to say it twice, Ron and Harry rushed inside.

    During lunch an hour later, Harry, Ron, Sirius, Michelle and Hermione found a quiet spot at the Gryffindor table...

    "What d'you think that tattoo on Brev's neck is?" asked Ron.

    "Oh please," said Hermione slightly sickened. "Why would anyone get a tattoo of a snake?"

    "I don't know Hermione," said Michelle suspiciously."Why would they?" Michelle took a big spoonful of her soup as Hermione tried to answer the surprise question.

    "W-well... I-it.. th-that is I-"

    "Come off it," barked Sirius. "I've seen it before. Just a bunch of freaks in Slytherin showing their pride. They all died, no worries."

    "I've got a better question," said Harry.

    "What?" asked Ron.

    "Where's Snape and why's Dumbledore so quiet about it?"

    "Voldemort has him-" started Hermione...

    "Look at that, you said his name!" said Harry as he clapped softly. Hermione's face became a little red.

    "I personally think he went willingly," suggested Michelle, "and Dumbledore wants him forgotten."

    "That's a little harsh, don't you think?" said Hermione.

    "I don't think so," said Harry slowly. He took a sip from his goblet. Michelle and Ron both gave Harry eyes of question. "Come on, look how he treats everyone who's not in Slytherin!" he blurted out.

    "Harry's got a point," said Sirius, nodding at Harry.

    "Fine," said Michelle barely audibly with a little disgust in her tone.

    "What's wrong with you today?" said Harry, nervous and puzzled at the same time.

    Michelle didn't say a word, she simply put down her spoon and walked out the Great Hall quickly. Ron, Harry, Sirius and Hermione watched speechless as she left.

    "Soup, anybody?" said Harry.

    The rest of the day progressed as smooth as that morning had. During Divination, Professor Trelawney continued spirit-talking. The whole class joined hands once again to call another spirit. Harry had the lead and as Trelawney made him gulp down a Spirit Potion, it was do or die - he wanted to call a spirit of his own choosing. Harry was determined to find out whether or not it could be done and this was the perfect opportunity.

    Trelawney blew out the candles, put out the fire and gave Harry her crystal ball. All of the professors, except Trelawney, avoided letting Harry use the mark. She, on the other hand, had him use it every class. She motioned for him to start. He did as he had done last time but this time he concentrated hard on Lily and James. Harry was going to call them. He was sure of it... or at the very least, he would try not to get a spirit to scare them again.

    Harry closed his eyes and his hands rolled over the ball on their own accord, his skin glowing brightly. He promised himself, "They'll come, just concentrate." The crystal ball grew hot and sudden smoke like rotten apples filled his nose. He felt something strange in his arms, like they were falling asleep but the tingle was more like static shocks. "Mom, dad... where are you?"

    The smoke smell grew thicker and he opened his eyes. The crystal ball grew as bright as his skin. The clouds inside were forming into a body... the white shape almost looked familiar. A torso left the crystal ball and Harry stared at it hopefully. It grew two arms and two legs. Long hair fell down it's back.

    It was no one Harry knew.

    "Sibyll, stop predicting Harry's death," said the faceless shape. "I'm sure he's getting a little annoyed at it by now."

    The white clouds vanished into the center of the crystal ball. Harry sat redfaced. Ron stifled a laugh. Parvati and Patil looked just as horrified as they had been when the a spirit told them about an ancient walking through Hogwarts.

    "Very well," said Trelawney. "I shall stop." It sounded like it took a great deal of effort to say those three words.

    Dinner was all but quiet...

    "Potter!" cracked Malfoy from the Slytherin table amid thunderous laughs. He walked over to Harry with his bodyguards Crabbe and Goyle.

    "Yeah?" replied Harry coolly.

    "I heard your sister took a leave of absence," he snickered. Harry felt his cool attitude slowly start to leave him. "Is that permanent?" He laughed again. Indeed, Michelle had not shown up for dinner...

    "She's just a little upset..."

    "Tsk, tsk... if you only knew... But I'm not telling you, I'll wait to see the look on your face when you find out."

    "Tell me what?" said Harry, now standing up.

    "You don't know! I thought you might have figured it out by now. Voldemort's an ancient, you know. Better keep watch on yourself!"

    "Get em, Harry!" squealed Colin Creevey, one of Harry's biggest... and most annoying fans. Colin had followed Harry around during his second year, taking pictures and yelling "Hey, Harry!" whenever Harry was in Colin's range of view. Harry's skin glowed perfect white out of instinct.

    "And all your annoying friends," Malfoy added. "Wouldn't want to get you upset or anything, though..." He was doing a good job.

    "Crack another joke," threatened Harry, "come on..." Harry jumped over the table like it was a levitation charm. He wasn't at all scared of any of them including the sight of Thantanos Brev. Did Dumbledore find out what happened at the Three Broomsticks?

    "Oh, Harry!" called Brev sound very cheery. "How are you? Weren't at all phased by what happened yesterday, were you?" He walked over to Harry.

    "Did you like my spell?" said Harry coldly.

    "What spell?" Brev looked confused. He leaned closer and said, "After that Cruciatus, I just left, what are you talking about? Seeing things again?"

    "I remember it perfectly," said Harry, suddenly not sounding so sure of himself. What happened? His mind was tricked before... only this past summer did he think Dumbledore had nearly died but it was all in his head. It happened again, hadn't it... Brev's Crucio had made him dream and he dreamed he tortured Brev with an extraordinarily strong Crucio of his own. "I... y-you-"

    "Tut, careful, Harry... might do something you will regret in the after life..." Brev's smile dripped with evil and insanity. Regret it or not, Harry couldn't take it. Brev lifted his wand and pointed it at Harry. "Avada Kedav-"

    "EXPELLIARMUS!" thundered Harry. It hit Brev with force Harry never knew. Brev was thrown hard halfway up the left wall of the Great Hall and fell down leaving a dent in it. Brev's wand was now in Harry's hand. "Kill..." said a cold voice, slowly, to Harry, the voice of the basilisk. It repeated itself as another voice said, "Stop wasting your time, Harry. And mine." The chatter in the Great Hall ceased immediately. Harry pinched himself hard to make sure his mind wasn't playing games. He was fully assured this was all very real.

    With three more motions, Malfoy, Crabbe and Goyle followed the same path of Brev, landing right next to Brev on the far back wall.

    "HARRY, NO!" cried Hermione at his side. He ignored the voices outside his head and only listened to the one rushing to tell him, "Get it over with and do it now!"

    "Come on Brev!" shouted Harry. "You're a Death Eater, I know you are! Where's Voldemort? Can't save you now, can he?" Everyone could hear him speaking and he didn't care what the teachers were trying to do, as he hadn't bothered to look in their direction. Someone gave him a pull as he walked forward towards the fallen Brev, Malfoy, Crabbe and Goyle but he shook the hands away. "DO IT!" spoke the voice again. Harry clasped his hands and closed his eyes, obeying.

    Brev and Malfoy burst into laughter.

    "Sirius!" barked Brev. "Look at him!" Harry turned straight around to see Sirius, but it was not the Sirius Harry knew. He was staring right through Harry as if he didn't exist. His face was white as a ghost and he wasn't moving. It had happened, he slipped off into a zombie state. This was Harry's breaking point.

    "Parcere meus vita, parcere meus anima," chanted Harry. "Yes..." said the voice, sounding more evil, "that's it."

    "Accio potentia caeles intus veneficus adfirmo," Harry continued. "Ah! The enhanced version!" A fierce wind kicked up, moving Harry around ever so slightly.

    "Adiumentum meus via. Parcere meus vita, parcere meus anima." The surrounding air grew hot. Harry opened his eyes to see the dark blue haze already forming around him. The white blobs began to populate the immediate area followed by the deep rumble shaking the floor.

    "Excellent!" cried the voice.

    "Addere ultimus clades ad parcere nullus altera!" A squishy organic sound filled the air followed by a horrific spray of blood and gore. The sound originated too close to Harry for comfort. A thunderstorm of blood, far more than Harry wished to see, rained on the immediate area. Something soft and gushy hit him hard in the back nearly knocking him down.

    This time his stomach did fall out of him. Harry turned his eyes all the way right and slowly turned his head around to see who had become nothing but a fountain. The sight of more blood... arms, a foot, fingers and some toes. The dismembered head of Colin lay on top of a pile of carrots. The slow and cold laughter of Brev began to fill the air. Harry's legs became as jelly and he fell hard on the seat behind him. This was a dream. He nearly had himself convinced but Dumbledore started running up to him.

    Harry Disapparated to his four-post bed and cried himself to sleep an hour later. No one dared to try to speak with him.