To a World Gone Astray

To a World Gone Astray

Chapter 5
You're Alive

*****

So Harry returned
To the ground he had burned in the past
And the press they all laughed
And they said it never lasts

“Don't worry about it. The Dementor frightened all of us,” Hermione said, a look of concern upon her face

“Yeah, but none of you fainted. Here I am, supposedly the brave Gryffindor that defeated Lord Voldemort” - Ron flinched at the name - “and I go to pieces as soon as some scary hooded figure shows up.”

They were in the stagecoach to Hogwarts now, the three of them alone in the compartment. Harry felt a little better now - the result of the chocolate Professor Lupin had given him - but still shuddered to think about the creature. His friends had done their best to cheer him up, but Harry still felt drained and depressed.

“Harry, there's more to bravery than staying conscious when the Dementors show up.” That was Hermione again, her voice soft and tender. “You're brave when it counts most. After all, you faced down Voldemort our first year, then took on his diary and a basilisk last year.”

Voldemort again. No matter where the conversation went, it always came back to Voldemort.

The Riddle-reflection returned to Harry's consciousness. “We're linked. Two great wizards bound by the curse that failed.” Was the Dementor a harbinger of things to come? Would Harry find Voldemort's henchmen waiting for him when he got to Hogwarts?

It was a thoroughly inauspicious beginning to the school year. Harry had hoped that for once he could be just a normal boy, without anyone trying to kill him. Instead, he wasn't even at Hogwarts and he'd already met up with a creature that sucked the happiness from the air and replaced it with memories of his parents' deaths.

He brooded over this for a few minutes. His friends must have sensed his unhappiness, for Ron soon chimed in with happier thoughts.

“Look, Harry, think of all the fun we're going to have this year. We get to pick our own classes, and for once we've actually got a DADA teacher that actually knows his stuff.”

Harry remained silent. Given all that had happened in the past two days, he found it hard to get excited over that.

“Fred and George say they've got this cool new magical item they might show us. They hinted that it could even get you into Hogsmeade.”

Harry perked up a little at this. “Hogsmeade, they said? What is it, some sort of teleportation device?”

Hermione shot Ron a look. “Ron - Harry doesn't have a permission slip. He shouldn't be sneaking out of the castle - particularly not with those Dementors about.”

“Lighten up, Hermione,” Ron replied. “Everybody needs to have a little fun once in a while. It's not like he's suddenly going to meet You-Know-Who the moment he steps out of the castle.”

Harry didn't need to be reminded of that. “So what is this mysterious magical artifact they have?” he asked, steering the conversation back to safe subjects.

“Oh, they wouldn't say. Just said it's been one of their most prized possessions since they obtained it, and they were reluctant to let it go.”

“So we might never get to use this magical artifact after all?”

“Ermm…” Ron stalled.

Harry sighed. So much for happy mischief-making.

They had begun the long ascent to the castle now, and Hogwarts was just coming into full view. Its majestic walls met the cliffs it stood on in a seamless blend of magic, nature, and engineering. Harry and Ron had never seen it from this angle before, and they gazed out the window, dumbstruck.

“Wow. Take a look at those cliffs,” Ron said. They seemed to slope down at an impossibly steep angle, and were pitted with dips and bumps and pillars. “Fred and George once tried to sled down them. Madame Pomfrey spent a whole week putting the twins back together again.”

“Sounds like fun,” Harry remarked wryly.

“Oh, it was - once they learned not to use Muggle sleds. There're enchantments that make it perfectly safe. You've just got to find a clever witch that you trust to perform them.” Ron looked over at Hermione and winked.

“Don't even think about it. I'm not going to get roped into one of your schemes,” she replied.

“Aww Hermione, it'll be fun!”

Hermione paused for a moment. Harry could see a brief flicker of temptation appear in her eyes. “Well…maybe if you get permission from a teacher first.”

A grin spread across Ron's face.

The carriage came to a halt in front of the enormous castle doors. Harry let a small bubble of hope rise within him. Maybe this wouldn't be such a terrible year after all. It seemed that people had forgotten about the Dementors, and everything was back to normal.

Harry stepped down from the carriage, only to meet a familiar, pointed face.

“You fainted, Potter? Is Longbottom telling the truth? You actually fainted?” came Draco's drawling voice.

Harry groaned inwardly. Yes, everything was back to normal. He would be hearing about the Dementors for days to come.

*****

Well the crowd they came in

Just to see a man back from the dead

As he stood on the stage

It echoed in his head.

Surprisingly, there was little talk of Dementors at the feast that night. Perhaps Dumbledore's speech had taken all of the mystique away from them, or perhaps people just found them to be an unpleasant topic. Whatever the reason, Harry was glad to forget about them.

There was, however, plenty of talk about Saikik Alley.

Ron had apparently mentioned it to Seamus during the sorting, asking him to keep it a secret. Of course, this meant that the whole house knew, and Harry had to endure their questions throughout the feast.

“Wow Harry, a whole new place! How come none of us have ever heard of it?” Seamus asked.

“I dunno. Maybe the entrance moves or something,” Harry replied.

That created a buzz at the table. Harry was surprised - he would have thought that such things would be routine for students with magical parents.

Hermione explained it for him. “Even in the magical world, the vast majority of places have normal, fixed entrances and exits. The few that shift around create endless hours of amusement for wizarding kids. When someone finds one, there's almost always a mad rush to find the entrance, and usually a betting pool on where it will show up next.”

Sure enough, Harry heard Fred's - or George's? - voice from down the table. “Five to one odds on Hogsmeade! Any bets on Hogsmeade?”

Hermione rolled her eyes. “Don't people know that the bets are always in the bookie's favor?”

Nobody seemed to pay much attention to her. Harry watched Lee Jordan hand one of the twins a couple gold coins.

“Betting is now open on Hogwarts! Three to one odds on Hogwarts!”

“You mean it could actually show up at Hogwarts!” came Lavender's squeal. “I always wanted to visit a mindreader!”

“With you, there wouldn't be much to read,” quipped Ron.

Harry chuckled a little at that, but soon began to tune out the conversation. One trip to Saikik Alley had been more than enough for him, and with everything that had happened in the meantime, he really didn't want to be reminded of it. He concentrated on finishing his food, until a little tug from Hermione on his sleeve caught his attention.

“Harry,” she whispered. “Take a look a Draco and his cronies over there. What do you think they're planning?”

Harry glanced over at the Slytherin table. Sure enough, Draco was surrounded by his usual crowd of sycophants. They seemed to be huddled around…something, something that Draco was showing them. All of them had conspiratorial looks on their faces.

“I dunno,” he whispered back. “But I doubt they're preparing a birthday party for you.”

Hermione laughed. “Yeah, I'm sure Draco would just love to throw me a party. He'd probably poison the cake, fill the balloons with cyanide, and hex the party favors. Guess we'll just have to find out later.”

“And hope nobody loses his soul in the meantime,” Harry added. He shunted his curiosity off to the side, and continued eating.

*****

When you're skating on ice too thin to take it
You got to move fast or else you'll break it
So throw back your hair and let the wind rush by
And you're alive

Harry found out soon enough.

Ironically, it was all because of a flobberworm. That was all they studied in Care of Magical Creatures now, ever since Malfoy's unfortunate incident with the hippogriff. Hagrid had lost his confidence, and wasn't willing to try anything more dangerous than flobberworms. Even then, he insisted that they use the utmost caution in feeding them lettuce.

“Careful everyone! Yeh don' wanna git yer fingers stuck in its throat!” said Hagrid, nervously.

“Right, like a flobberworm could swallow anything,” said Ron under his breath.

“Ouch!” came an exceptionally fake-sounding cry. Pansy Parkinson had apparently been bitten by a flobberworm, “apparently” being the operative word. “It bit my finger!” she wailed.

“Stay calm everyone,” said Hagrid, sounding quite frazzled. “I'll be takin' Ms. Parkinson down to the infirmary. Don' touch yer flobberworms till I'm back.”

Draco snickered and muttered something that Harry didn't quite catch. As soon as Hagrid had left, he pulled something out of his pocket and began whispering in hushed tones with Crabbe and Goyle. Harry strained to hear what they were talking about.

“…my dad got it for me as a birthday present. I wanted one that would work on living people, but he said no. Too expensive.” Harry didn't quite catch the next few sentences, but they sounded like a string of curses directed towards Draco's father. Crabbe and Goyle just grunted along.

Ron began to speak, but Harry hushed him quickly. “I'm trying to hear what Draco's up to,” Harry explained.

“Oh well. This'll be good enough. All we have to do is sneak up behind Nearly-Headless Nick, and boom, no more Gryffindor ghost.”

“That little sneak!” said Ron, indignantly. “There must be some law against trying to kill a dead person.”

Hermione piped up. “There is. Chapter 453, Section 820, Title 5 of the Wizarding Code of Conduct says that it is unlawful to kill, maim, dig up, exorcise, or otherwise interfere with the spirit of any previously deceased being.”

“Do you know everything?” Ron said, exasperated.

“I do try. Besides, you asked,” Hermione said.

Hoping to avoid a snark-fest between his friends, Harry walked over to Draco and looked him straight in the eye. “Give it here, Malfoy,” he said, indicating the glassy black object Draco had in his hands. “If the teachers found out you were planning to do away with our ghost, you'd be expelled.”

“Oh? And who's going to tell them?” Draco retorted.

“We will.” Harry had been joined now by Ron and Hermione, and it was Ron that had spoken.

“You?” Draco laughed. “As if they'd believe a poor excuse for a pureblood like you. As soon as I get my father to vouch for me, you won't find a single person that'd take your word over mine.”

“They won't have, if we've got the Soul Vortex as proof.” Harry lunged for the Soul Vortex, but Draco was quicker. He took off, running towards the forbidden forest, with Harry in hot pursuit.

*****

So people take care
When you're chasing a dream in the night
That the walls of the past
Don't interrupt your flight

Never stop never turn
Never look never learn, so they say
Somewhere in time we must pay
For yesterdays

They ran through the foreboding trees of the forbidden forest, past tangled roots and decaying plant matter. Harry finally caught up with Draco in a small clearing besides a dry gully, and tackled him.

“You always were just a step behind me, Potter.” Draco seemed out of breath, but he'd broken free of Harry's grasp. He seemed more inclined to fight than flee, though. “Needed your friends to prop you up. Well, we're out here alone, and we'll see just how well you do.”

“I don't need to prove myself to you,” Harry said, grabbing Draco's wrist.

Draco punched him, a hard blow to his cheek. It stung, but was muted by the exhilaration of battle. “No, but you would like to get out of here alive, wouldn't you?” Draco taunted.

Harry grabbed Draco by the lapels of his robe and spoke through clenched teeth. “I don't hurt people for fun, and I don't try to kill them. But I will do what's necessary to prevent them from killing other people. Now give me the Soul Vortex.”

“Oh, I'll give it to you,” said Draco, almost casually. He took the Soul Vortex out of his pocket, but then raised it over his head, as if to strike Harry.

Harry saw the blow coming and knocked the Soul Vortex out of Draco's hand. It flew through the air and came to rest on the other side of the gully, some distance away. They wrestled, both of them tumbling to the ground.

“Y'know Potter,” said Draco, in between blows. “It's a pity Voldemort didn't get to your parents before you were born. Would have saved us all a lot of trouble.”

“Don't you dare mention my parents!” Harry's anger welled up, and he pinned Draco to the ground. “At least I wasn't born into a traitorous family of murderers!”

“And a fine job of it we did, too! Unfortunately, we weren't the ones who killed your parents, Harry. It took a friend for that. A most loyal, dedicated friend.”

Harry socked Draco, full in the mouth. Despite being in obvious pain, Draco tried to smile back, a superior, mocking smile, very nearly a sneer. Blood stained his lips. He looked hideous. Harry was just about to deliver another blow when a gruff, angry voice interrupted him.

“WHAT IS GOING ON HERE?” Hagrid asked, his voice almost a roar. The rest of the class stood behind him.

“Just a little brotherly love,” replied Draco.

“More like Cain and Able,” uttered Harry.

“Look, iffin' yeh wants ter beat th' tar out of each other, DON' DO IT IN MY CLASS!” bellowed Hagrid. Harry withered a little, guilty about having disappointed Hagrid. Draco, however, seemed to be enjoying the situation immensely.

“Oh, yes sir, we'll be sure to beat the tar out of each other immediately afterwards.” He shot Harry a wink. Harry scowled.

“Five points from Slytherin,” Hagrid admonished. “Fer fightin' an' one hell of a smart mouth!”

Draco was just about to protest, but Hagrid's glare silenced him. “Yeh'd be wise not ter be pickin' on Harry,” he said, a little more gently. “He may save yer life one day.”

“Harry? Save my life?” Draco laughed. “I'd sooner go snog Weasel's little sister.”

Ron lunged towards Draco, but Hermione held him back.

“Right then. Let's get back to class. Malfoy, I don' want ter be seein' you touchin' Potter fer th' next few weeks, right? Otherwise I'll `ave to report yeh ter the headmaster.”

Draco nodded glumly. Even he didn't want to be on Dumbledore's bad side. They walked back out of the forest, Harry still stewing from Draco's comments, and headed back to their studies.

*****

When you're skating on ice too thin to take it
Got to move fast or else you'll break it
Throw back your hair and let the wind rush by
And you're alive

Two weeks later, Harry woke in the pre-dawn hours to find two figures standing over him. His heart fluttered a little, and he reached for his wand. “Lumos,” he whispered, and the wand's light illuminated his visitors.

Ron and Hermione.

“Ron,” he said, relaxing. “You scared me half to death. And why's she here? Girls aren't allowed in here.”

“We're heading up to the astronomy tower. Wanna come?”

“I didn't know you were in to that stuff,” Harry teased.

“Not for that, silly!” Hermione chimed in. “It's the equinox. We thought we'd go watch the sun rise.”

“Only happens once a year,” said Ron.

“Twice,” Hermione corrected.

“Whatever. So Harry, you up for it?”

Harry yawned. He was tired - but they were right, the equinox only happened once - twice? - a year. And it had been ages since he'd last seen a sunrise. Grudgingly, he pulled the covers off and pulled on a sweater.

They headed down the stairs and out the portrait, through the twisting passageways of Hogwarts. At this time of night, the hallways were deserted. Nobody but the three of them, running through the corridors. Harry couldn't help but be reminded of his first year, with the invisibility cloak and Fluffy and midnight excursions when they should have been in bed. He felt the same thrill now, the same camaraderie. Up and up they went, until they emerged into the cool September night.

It was still dark out, the crescent moon and twinkling stars providing the only illumination. They had dimmed their wands beforehand so as not to spoil their night vision. The darkness wrapped itself around Harry. He shivered from the cold.

He'd been up here once before - the Norbert incident. Then, everything had been hurried and secretive, with no time to enjoy the night. Now, there was nothing but a peaceful calm.

They sat in silence while they waited for the sun to rise. It felt like a long wait, enveloped by darkness, but at least Harry had his friends to keep him company. They didn't need to speak; the experience was enough.

Over on the horizon, the first twinges of blue appeared. Blue, the color of sadness and melancholy, but also of calmness and serenity.

“It almost looks like a cloud clearing away,” Hermione said softly. “As if the storm finally gave way to a clear blue sky.”

“I dunno,” Ron replied. “Maybe it's just the night fading away into daylight. Maybe we don't need any of those meta-whattsits to describe it.”

“Does it matter?” Harry asked.

The blue lightened, rising higher into the sky. Harry glanced to his left - a small smile graced Hermione's face. He looked briefly to his other side. Ron's eyes were locked on the heavens.

And then, almost as if splashed upon a canvas, came the colors, the wonderful yellows, oranges, and reds. The pale yellow layers melted into fiery oranges and reds, so you couldn't tell where one layer began and another ended.

From his left, he heard a small gasp of delight. His own feelings echoed it. Funny, he thought, how such a simple and mundane thing as a sunrise could be so magnificent.

The sun rose, the heart of all the light, the source of the layers.

Harry reached out and took Hermione's hand in his. It was warm. On his other side, Ron did the same. The three of them sat hand-in-hand, gazing into the early-morning sun.

Another day, another season. Harry looked off into the Eastern sky, and found himself watching the future rise before him.