Harry Potter and the Dreamer of Fears

Chapter 13 - Nothing is What it Seems

Harry had hoped to get to Defense Against the Dark Arts class on time, since it was a double period today, yet Peeves had gotten in his way.  The poltergeist had taken to wearing a cloak and scaring the first years and seconds, by pretending he was a Dementor.  The three of them had stumbled upon some first years screaming their poor little heads off about Dementors and he had cast his Patronus spell, which promptly made Peeves shriek and fly away quickly.

They only arrived just as the bell rang for class to start and found seats in the back of the room.

"Ah, just in time Mr. Weasley, Mr. Potter, and Miss Granger," Marius spoke lightly as they sat down, out of breath, "but you needn't worry.  We're going outside today, so pack up your bags, because you won't be needing them in this class, unless you forgot how to say Fiere."

Twitters started to run through the class as they glanced at each other.

"Yes, we're going to be teaching you how to cast the Fiere Spell," Marius nodded, "after last night's fiasco, Marion and I thought it would be best to arm you.  So chop chop," he clapped his hands and they got up, and filed out, following Marius who walked then down the stairs and out to the Quidditch pitch.

Approaching the middle of the pitch, they saw Professor Marion, talking to Arabella Figg, a grim expression on her face and next to her was a black box of sorts.  Harry wondered what was inside and blinked in surprise as the box rattled slightly, just as Figg laughed.  He realized that inside the box was a boggart, probably to change into a Dementor later on if they were to practice the Fiere Spell.

"So, the centaurs are watching the skies, aren't they Sadow?" Figg's voice was croaky sounding, but it held a hint of warning in them.

"Yes they are, Arabella, but so far, there's been little progress in getting them to join our side.  The only progress so far was with Thatcher's work, and that was destroyed after Voldemort had fallen the first time," Marion spoke curtly then turned and faced the Gryffindors and Slytherins assembled before the two Aurors.  Harry noticed that most of the Gryffindors and Slytherins were whispering among each other, some pointing at Figg, while others just stared at the wizened old witch.

"What are you all looking at?  Me?" Figg barked at them, silencing all of them.  "Well, look.  Here's the great and powerful Arabella Figg, First Class Order of Merlin, Auror of the Old Order, standing right before all you twits and ninny-heads.  You want autographs with that?  Or just a picture so it will last longer?"

No one dared to make a single more or breathe.  Figg's tongue was like an ox whip, and from all the times Mrs. Figg had babysat for him, he had never heard her like that...  So this is the true Mrs. Figg, sarcastic and cynical, he thought silently to himself.

"Ahh," Figg waved a hand at them, "go learn your Fiere Spells.  You'll be out of your shock in a few moments anyway with this Boggart.  But then again, you might fall into shock just from watching it."  She started walking off before turning around and gave a slightly toothless smile at Marion, "You better teach them good Sadow, since you're one of Crouch's little pet Aurors."  With a small swirl of her dark blue cloak, she left them and started to walk back to the castle, cackling all the way.

A new wave of murmurs erupted from the two houses, and he saw Malfoy whisper to some Slytherin he didn't know and both of them laughed silently to themselves.

"Then are you a Death Eater?" Draco suddenly spoke up, silencing the two houses and bringing both Marius and Marion to stare at Draco who wore a smirk.

Harry noticed that both teachers were staring at him with inscrutable looks on their faces, but he also noticed that their eyes held an amount of anger in them.

"Which one of us were you talking to, Mr. Malfoy?" Marius answered in a mild voice, wiping the smirk off of Draco's face.

"I...uh...was talking to Professor Marion, since she's one of Crouch's Aurors, given permission to use the Unforgivable Curses," Draco swallowed.

"If I was a Death Eater, then you'd be dead by now, Mr. Malfoy.  In fact, all of you would be dead by now, and Harry Potter would have been brought to Voldemort," Marion's voice was deeper than ice; it was a glacier.  Almost everyone, save Harry flinched at the Professor's mention of Voldemort's name.

"Oh, so the great Harry Potter is once again, singled out," Malfoy drawled and Harry felt a flash of anger rise in him.

"Shut up Malfoy," he glared at the white-blond haired boy.

"What's the matter Potter?  Afraid of the Dark Lord?  Afraid that he will kill you just like he did to Diggory?" Draco grinned as Harry felt the blood drain out of him.

Diggory.  Cedric Diggory.  The name of the person he had indirectly killed.  Finally, since the Triwizard Tournament, Cedric's name was said.  But it was really Wormtail that had killed Cedric with those two fatal words, but it was also Wormtail acting on Voldemort's orders.

"Shut your mouth up, Malfoy.  You don't know anything better," he whispered fiercely.

"Both of you, be quiet," Marion's voice, though soft, brought the verbal sparring to a halt.  "Ten points from Slytherin for your cheek Mr. Malfoy.  Five more points from Slytherin for gloating Mr. Potter.  Five points from Gryffindor, Mr. Potter, for your reply to the gloating.  There are better ways of settling a fight like this and both of you did poorly.  Now, the Slytherins will work with me, and the Gryffindors with Marius.  Split up, now."

Both fifth year houses quietly split into their respective groups and Marius led them down towards the middle of the Quidditch pitch.

"I'm fine," Harry quickly replied to Hermione and Ron as they flanked him.  "Just Malfoy and his stupid tricks."

"That git," Ron glanced back to where Marion was running them through the basics of the Fiere Spell, Draco with the same smirk back on his face.

"Now Gryffindors," Marius' voice was a nice distraction as Harry turned to face their teacher who was holding a wand, level to his shoulder.  "Pay attention to how I say the spell and what I do," he lifted up his wand for a second, "Fiere."

Immediately from the tip of his wand there was a pouring of fiery liquid that quickly changed into a spectral form, a form of a snake, an ashwinder to be more precise as Harry recognized the species of snake from his book Know Your Creatures: Creature Feature.

"A Fiere," he paused as the Gryffindors stared at the snake, entranced by its slow coiling and uncoiling of its body, "is like a guardian of sorts.  You might have heard the sixth years learning about the Patronus Spell.  The Fiere Spell is a variation of the Patronus one, but it is much easier to learn.  Usually the Patronus would have you chanting and thinking of your happiest thoughts, but the Fiere requires none of that.  Your Fiere might be in the form of something you fear the most, or something you never expected.  As Patronus tend to be animals, the Fiere has no such restrictions.  I once knew a friend who cast a Fiere and it was a manticore, and gave," he chuckled slightly, "quite a scare to the townspeople.  During your next year, if you do decide to take Defense Against the Dark Arts since your O.W.L.s are coming up, you will learn the Patronus Spell."

"Professor Sadow?" Neville raised a shaky hand.

"Yes, Mr. Longbottom?"

"How do you...um...dispel a Fiere, or a Patronus?" Neville's lower lip trembled slightly.

"Ah," Marius smiled an easygoing smile and Harry found himself warming up to the teacher, who was a bit friendlier than Marion, as he took a quick peek at the Slytherins, some cowering in fear of Marion's words.  "Good question, Mr. Longbottom.  Take five points for Gryffindor.  The Fiere Spell and Patronus are spells you don't dispel.  They just...fade away, when they see they are not needed."

"You mean, they're sentient?" Dean asked, scratching his head.

"No, no, not that.  I mean, they are partially what you might call sentient, but they do respond to some human emotions and have a few of the animal's `habits'.  But they aren't sentient...ah see, my ashwinder Fiere is disappearing!"

And indeed Harry saw the ashwinder give one more look at all the students before closing its eyes and curling up, fading away as it did so.

"Aww...it was cute," Parvati spoke up, "very tranquil."

Marius laughed again, "Oh, you have so got that wrong, Miss Patil.  Fieres when summoned to fight against Dementors, are very fierce.  It is only now that you see them as tranquil as this."

"Oh," Parvati looked a bit flustered and blushed, embarrassed.

"Don't worry Miss Patil.  Every fifth year or person I've taught the Fiere Spell to assumes that at first.  Don't worry.  Now, I want each of you to spread out and say the spell.  Just say it like any other spell or charm and your Fiere should come to form."

They all spread out from each other and Harry glanced around to see the Slytherins doing the same, and then focused back on his own wand.  "Fiere," he said in a normal voice was watched as from the tip, fiery-looking liquid began to drip out, when suddenly it formed into a tall stallion.  A very tall stallion.  Blinking in surprise, Harry adjusted his glasses and stared at the fiery creature.  So, this was what came out of his wand last night during the battle.  A horse that burned with fire, and had reddish-orange eyes.  This was the creature that breathed smoke through its nostrils, but then...where was its long mane?  The mane of his stallion at the moment wasn't even blowing the slightest bit; in fact, it just hung down one side of the stallion's neck.

A sudden screech of a bird brought Harry's attention onto Hermione, who looked a bit terrified at the prospect of having her Fiere, not the Griffin of last night, but now a hawk, perching on her arm.  What was going on?

"Tiny little thing, isn't he?" Ron commented, walking up to him.  Curled up on his arm was a tiny Chinese Fireball, eyes closed and apparently sleeping, breathing out wisps of smoke once in a while.  It's fiery little body rippled with red-orange colors and it lifted its head up to yawn only once before dropping it back down to sleep again.  "You think yesterday's Fiere was all just an illusion?"

"Don't know," Harry shrugged as his Fiere stallion nudged his head onto his shoulder, demanding attention.  He absently stroked the stallion's neck, momentarily forgetting that it was a fiery creature.

"Maybe if we shouted the spell?"

"I think we would get the same effect," Hermione had gotten over the initial fear of her Fiere perched on her arm, "I think that it was something that Professor Marion cast over us that made us see what we saw yesterday with the Fiere spells."

"So this is a tone down version?" Harry asked, not too sure what to make of all of this.

"Most likely.  Though the book doesn't say anything of the Fiere Spell being tone-downed or of that nature," Hermione shrugged, then started to move towards the others, who were picking up their Fiere or having their Fiere follow them to where Marius was waiting for them, his ashwinder out once again, but still sleeping.

"Ah, I see that you have all successfully conjured up your Fieres.  Very good job.  Now, let me see," he frowned thoughtfully as he looked at each Fiere, "A hawk, pixie, faerie, tiger, stallion, spider, nice-fellow ashwinder, crow, Great Dane, oh my, Mr. Weasley, is that a mini Chinese Fireball?"

Everyone turned to look at Ron's Fiere which was still sleeping on his arm and Harry saw Ron turn a bit pink at all the attention.  "Erm...yes, I think," Ron replied.

"Ah, most unusual," Marius replied smiling what Harry deemed a bit forced.  "Now, let's join Marion's group and see what the Slytherins have as their Fieres."

As it turned out, the Slytherins had some impressive creatures, but both Houses were around the same in terms of Fieres.  Only Ron's was the most unusual and Harry saw something light up within Marion as he had shown her his Fiere.  By the time class ended, all the Fieres had disappeared and Professor Sadow warned them not to summon their Fieres outside of the class, because Fieres had a tendency to get annoyed if they were summoned without reason.  The Boggart had still rattled in its dark cage, but he figured it was to be used for the sixth years instead of them, since the sixth years was the class after theirs.

Making their way to the Great Hall for lunch, they sat down and began to eat.  "So then, do you think Professor Marion cast another spell on our Fieres?  I don't even know if that could be done..." Ron continued their conversation from class.

"Wait!  Harry do you still have the book I gave to you for your birthday?" Hermione suddenly got a knowing look on her face.

"Yes," Harry replied slowly, wondering what she was getting at before it finally clicked inside of him.  Hermione had sent him a book on different combinations of spells and there was a chance the Fiere Spell was listed inside and could show the different combinations with other spells.

"What?  What's going on?" Ron poked him and he jumped slightly startled.

"Hermione sent me a book on the different combinations of spells so I'm and she's thinking that the Fiere Spell should be listed inside and we can find out if Professor Marion did cast something on our Fieres last night," Harry explained.

"You guys cast Fieres last night?" Fred spoke up from his left and Harry froze for a moment as he realized that he had spoken too loud.

"Uh...no we didn't, Fred," he tried to smile but the serious look on Fred's face, and that of his twin's face was enough to squash the excuse he was going to make up.

"I'll tell you tonight," Ron suddenly spoke up, covering for him and Harry nodded.

"Yeah, we'll tell the two of you, but you mustn't go around telling others.  I've already lost enough points for Gryffindor today and I don't feel like loosing more," he said.

"Ah," Fred waved a hand, grinning, "don't worry.  Just about the whole school knows what happened.  Some little Hufflepuff first year spilled the story.  Its just what we've been covering for all of you because George, Lee, and me overheard the punishment McGonagall and Sadow were to give any of you.  And boy, it's not too good."

"Explains the reason Malfoy's being a git...no wait, he's already a git," Ron shrugged, and then continued to eat.

Just then there was a flutter of wings, and all of them looked up to see a single lone post owl carrying a large parchment, gliding silently through the hall and up to where Dumbledore was waiting for it to land.  As soon as the great horned owl landed, the Headmaster untied the parchment on his leg and gave the owl a piece of his midday meal, (Harry couldn't see what Dumbledore was having), and the owl immediately flew back out.

All the students erupted into whispers as post owls did not usually make their deliveries at lunchtime, only in the mornings.

"A great horned owl...oh boy," George muttered mostly to himself, but Harry looked at the redhead curiously.

"What?  What's wrong?" he asked.

"The Ministry usually uses great horned owls to deliver official messages or orders, as Dad calls them," Ron replied, frowning, "I think Fudge might have heard something about the incident last night, especially with what Professor Marion said about sending the Dementors remains back to Fudge for clean up."

"Hold on, wait!  That little Hufflepuff, Melanine, I think, didn't tell me about the Professor Marion part.  What happened?" George leaned over from his side of the table, and so did a few other Gryffindors who, all watching them attentively.

"Erm..." Harry wished he could shrink back into his seat as he risked a quick glance at Professor McGonagall who was now looking at Dumbledore with concern written all over her face.

Suddenly Dumbledore stood up and walked briskly into the anteroom, followed by a couple of other teachers, the two Sadows included along with McGonagall.

This time, the whole Hall erupted into loud talking amongst all houses.  It was only a few minutes later that Professor McGonagall stepped out, and amplified her voice so she could be heard across the room.

"What are all you students gibbering about?  Finish your meals, and get to class.  On the double or points will begin to be deducted from your houses!" she stepped back into the anteroom.  But stepped back out only a couple of seconds later, followed by the other teachers that had followed Dumbledore in.  The only two people Harry didn't see come out was Snape and Marion.  He wondered if the letter had anything to do with them, but didn't get the chance to do anything as Professor McGonagall came over to them, her face livid.

"Miss Granger, of all the people.  How could you break a promise of silence?"

Harry gaped at Hermione, blanched as he saw that Hermione had the same stricken expression on her face.  She closed and opened her mouth a few times before squeaking out, "Professor...I-I have no idea what you're talking about!"

"Yesterday's events, Miss Granger," McGonagall said fiercely, "I heard-"

"It was me, Professor," Ron suddenly spoke up and Harry stared at his best friend.  "I, um, conjured up a Fiere that was a huge dragon, and well...I couldseehownottootelltheothers about it," he mumbled the rest of the sentence as McGonagall's gaze rested on him.

"That will be fifty points-"

"P-Professor?" a timid voice spoke from behind, stopping McGonagall in the midst of her point taking.

She turned around and Harry saw the newly placed Hufflepuff first year, Melanine Atwood standing there, looking a bit ashamed and had tears running down her face.  "Yes, what is it Miss Atwood?"

"P-Professor..." the Hufflepuff slowly composed herself,  "I, was the one who told the others of yesterday's events.  I was the one to blame Miss Hermione Granger here.  It...it is because of jealousy," she trailed off, turning a bit red in the face and it suddenly clicked in Harry's mind.  The Hufflepuff named Melanine Atwood had a crush on Ron, and saw Hermione as an object in the way of her crush.

Aha, he tried not to let a grin form around his face, things were getting complicated already.  The grin became harder to manage as he saw that Professor McGonagall was flustered from all this.

"Then...fifty points from Hufflepuff for your mistake, Miss Atwood.  Detention for two weeks, and report to your house head for your detention.  You'll be sure that Professor Sprout will be hearing from me," McGonagall turned on her heel and headed towards the Entrance Hall.

"Well, that was interesting," George innocently commented grinning at Ron who had a perplexed look on his face, while Hermione was just eyeing the first year Hufflepuff who was walking away.

"Jealous, Hermione?" Fred was also grinning madly.

"Oh, me?  No," Hermione was still staring at the retreating form.

"What?  Is she someone-"

"No, that's not it, guys...but I swear that I thought I just saw the ghostly form of Cedric tailing behind that Hufflepuff for some reason," Hermione shook her head and turned back around.

Harry gaped at her, at a loss for words.  Cedric Diggory, a ghost haunting Hogwarts?

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