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Rise of the Dark Angel	By : isabel88 Category: Harry Potter > Slash - Male/Male > Harry/Draco Views: 61368 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 12
Disclaimer: I DO NOT own Harry Potter. J.K. Rowling does, as such, I am NOT making any money off of this....

Chapter List
- 23
- 24
- 25
Title: Rise of the Dark Angel

Author: Mykkila09

Chapter: 24: The Middle of the End Part Two

Settings: AU after OOTP: It's canon up to the beginning of the battle at the DOM when they are in the veil room, after that, it's AU and mine.

Pairings: HP/DM; LV/SS; LM/RL; NL (CL)/LL; RL/BL

Warnings: This story will contain mentions of Violence, Child Abuse, Adult Language, Alcohol Use, Slash/Het Sexual situations and Death. Please discontinue reading if such scenes or themes are offensive to you.
A/N: here is the new chapter. Hope you guys like it. This chapter contains mostly articles, ones that reveal a lot, and the reactions to said articles. Also, I am so, so, so sorry for the very long wait you guys had to endure.
Disclaimer: I own nothing…if I did, Ginny would have died in the CoS, Dumbledore would have choked on his lemon drops and Harry would have stood up for himself against Molly and Dumbledore.

Disclaimer 2: this story is based on characters and situations created and owned by JK Rowling and Bloomsbury/Scholastic. No money is being made and no copyright or trademark infringement is intended.
“Talking”

'Thinking'

|Hedwig’s mental speak|

|Harry’s mental speak|

Letter or commentary/introduction and flashback

~…~ indicates scene change
O.P.D.: Tuesday 17th March, '15.

Last time on RDA:
“Have a good night Albus,” Remus said.
“You as well,” Albus replied and turned and headed back to his office.
Remus watched him go, his amber eyes glowing briefly. ‘Your end is near Albus; the time is coming when you will pay for everything you have done. And you will not be expecting the direction the blow will fall from.’
With a smirk worthy of a Slytherin on his face, Remus left the castle.

It’s been two weeks since his interview with The Quibbler, and Harry decided it was time to implement the next part of his plan.
It started with another letter to Luna’s dad.
So that Saturday morning, he sent out a letter with Hedwig to Xenophilius, requesting another interview. It hadn’t taken long for the man to agree.
Hedwig had returned later when the group were all sitting around in Harry’s private room in the library.
“What is it?” Gabriella asked after Harry took the letter from his bird.
“Luna’s dad’s response,” Harry told her. “I asked him if he wanted to do another interview. He agreed.”
“And what’s this one going to be about?” Blaise raised an eyebrow, “After the last article, you gave us some ideas of what you planned next, but nothing too detailed.”
“Oh come on,” Cory injected before Harry could reply to Blaise, “You’ve got to admit that it’s so much fun reading the interview and finding out what Harry said with everyone else. Plus it makes it seem like we ourselves had no idea what’s going on.”
“And we get to see the look on everyone’s faces,” Draco pointed out as well, “including the Old Coot’s. Speaking of which, why do I get the feeling that somehow this is going to throw him in even more bad light?”
“Because you’re smart,” Harry grinned as he gave the blond a quick kiss.
The blond rolled his eyes but a smile still persisted on being on his face. “Well of course I am; especially enough to know you’re trying to deflect.”
Draco’s words brought chuckles from everyone, yet Harry still didn’t answer.
“So when are you seeing father?” Luna asked.
“Now,” Harry told her, “figured I’d go and give the interview this morning and tell him that it doesn’t have to be rushed like the last one. He can print it this afternoon or tomorrow if he wanted.”
“So are you really not going to give us more details on what the article is going to be about?” Pansy asked.
Harry looked at them and then smiled. “Alright, I’ll tell you a little.”
“Go on then,” Blaise nodded, as eager as the others to get a little insight.
“Ever since I stepped foot in this school,” Harry explained, “there have been all sort of rumours flying around, especially about a lot of things that has happened here. So, what this interview is going to be about is basically an insight into what really happened every year since my first year.”
The realization took just minutes to dawn on the group.
“You’re going to give Luna’s dad a true exclusive,” Cory said, “you’re going to tell him everything; dispel the rumours once and for all.”
Harry grinned, “Yep.”
“And the truth,” Draco picked up, “will only shed the Old Fool in more bad light.”
“Exactly,” Harry nodded, his green eyes flashing with delight.
Gabriella looked intrigued. “Now I’m really curious to read this article. I want to know what really happened the last five years as it seems to be something that was very interesting.”
“Oh it really is,” Luna smiled, “there was a troll, a basilisk, a werewolf, a tournament and then a bitch, but the bitch got dealt with this summer.”
Gabriella’s eyes went wide. “Are you serious?”
“Very,” Cory shook his head with a smile then shifted to look at Harry. “You do know that there is a possibility that the moment this article is out, the moment Dumbledore reads it, he’ll realize what you’re doing?”
“And he might try to discredit you,” Blaise added. “Try to make it seem like you’ve turned to the dark side. Something that would be possible, especially if he has the rest of the Weasley family supporting him.”
At the words, Draco turned and raised an eyebrow in Harry’s direction. “That’s your plan, isn’t it? You’re going to spill the truth about the last five years, knowing that it will cast Dumbles into more bad light.”
Pansy’s brows furrowed. “But if that is the case, then wouldn’t that make Dumbledore suspicious of Harry’s plans?”
Draco nodded, not once taking his eyes off of his boyfriend, “That’s exactly what he wants. The old man will retaliate and you want that to happen because you already have something in mind as a response to his retaliation.”
Harry’s grin was positively devious. “And that’s why you’re the Prince of Slytherin. Your mind works fast.”
“Wait,” Gabriella looked between the two boys. “He’s right?”
“Wait and see,” Harry grinned as he threw the girl a look before turning his attention his bird.
“Alright Hedwig,” Harry said. Hedwig flew to land on her master’s shoulder. “Directly to Luna’s dad.”
With a soft trill, the two flashed out of the room.
Gabriella stared at the spot Harry had been at for a few minutes.
“Gabriella?” Blaise called out, seeing the intense expression on the girl’s face.
“He’s really dangerous, isn’t he?” the girl commented, turning to look at the others.
“People underestimate him all the time,” Cory replied with a shake of his head, “It makes it easy for him to do what he wants, to let his Slytherin side come out and play because no one will expect it.”
“It’s even better because he’s never done that before,” Draco added on. “He’s spent the last five years pretending to be a good little Lion so no one ever realized he was actual capable of having Slytherin tendencies.”
“Only because they didn’t want to see,” Luna smiled, “if you think back, there were times when his Slytherin side came into play.”
Cory nodded in agreement with his girlfriend’s words. “You’re right; there had been times when he acted more Slytherin than Gryffindor. I’m surprised no one else realized it, especially Granger considering she spent so much time acting as if she ruled his life. Both her and Weasley.”
Blaise let out a snort, “Merlin that boy was possessive of Harry.”
“You have no idea,” Cory shook his head. “It was like since he was Harry’s friend first, and it was he and Granger that went through everything with him then the two of them, but he especially, had a claim to Harry.”
“And they never suspected he was more dark than light?” Gabriella questioned.
“No,” Pansy said, “but then again, none of us suspected either.”
“I think it was more that they were too close to realize the truth,” Cory said, “and also because we all had preconceived notions of each other. I mean, we expected Draco and the other Slytherins to act like mean and complete gits because it’s all you hear about Slytherins.”
“And in reverse,” Draco picked up, “everyone, not just us Slytherins, expected the Saviour/Boy-Who-Lived to be the ultimate Gryffindor. I mean, imagine; the son of James and Lily Potter, dark? No way.”
“So he’s always been dark?” Gabriella questioned, “It wasn’t just something that happened this year?”
“Oh yes,” Luna answered with a smile. “Our Harry has been dark long before he ever came to Hogwarts. He became very good at hiding his true self as at the time, it was something he had to do. He recognized early on the machinations of the Headmaster and kept his true core hidden.”
“And then Sirius died,” Cory picked up, “that was basically the turning point for Harry.”
“His interview,” Gabriella said, “in his last interview, he said his godfather’s death was like a switch flipped and it made him change.”
“His godfather was his reason to stay to the Light,” Blaise said, “but when he died, he no longer had a reason to keep fighting for them, especially after the realization he had had.”
“Which turned out to be good a thing,” Pansy added on, “not disregarding his godfather’s death, but if he hadn’t died, nothing that happened would’ve happened. All of us wouldn’t be sitting here right now.”
They all went quiet as they let Pansy’s words sink in. She was right. As tragic as Sirius’ death was, as horrible as it was for Harry to lose his godfather, if he hadn’t, then none of them would be here together; they wouldn’t be friends and everything that had happened, wouldn’t have.
The topic of conversation soon shifted though, and their talk drifted off into more pleasant things.
Not half an hour later, Harry returned.
“So how’d it go?” Cory asked.
“Splendid,” Harry replied with a smile as he retook his seat.
Hedwig rubbed her head against his cheek before flashing out of the room.
“I told him no rush,” Harry continued. “So the paper’s probably not going to come out until tomorrow. Hopefully, it’s during breakfast.”
“Well I for one cannot wait,” Pansy mused, with the others offering up their own agreements.
“You guys know there’s a Hogsmeade weekend coming up?” Blaise questioned. “I think it’s around the nineteenth; so, about two weeks from now.”
The conversations dissolved into plans as for that, especially after realizing that Gabriella had never been.
~…~
The next morning (Sunday, October 6^th) the Great Hall was almost completely packed as everyone settled in for breakfast.
There were a few conversations around as it was Sunday morning and most everyone wanted the place to stay as quiet and peaceful as possible, so as it was, the students were surprised and confused to see the flurry of owls heading towards them.
Excited whispers broke out however, as they started to remember the last time this happened, it had been about Harry’s first consensual interview; an interview that had sent shock throughout the school and left them talking for days, so they hoped—even if they would never admit it—that this paper had another interview and one that had more interesting information.
They were not disappointed.
The Truth Behind the Rumours

by: Xenophilius Lovegood
Just two weeks ago, Mr Potter sat down with us and opened up about his relationships with the people in his life, as well as an insight into what his home life was really like. And it was an insight that was shocking as it was humbling. To get such an exclusive to not only his radical change but his childhood life as well was extremely. That exclusive however, made me think on the last five years; five years where rumours ran rampant, and all of it surrounding our very own Mr Potter.
Bolstered by our last meeting, I decided to reach out and see if Mr Potter would be willing to do another interview. An interview that would possibly explain the rumours that we as a society has heard. Such was, was there really a possessed professor? What really happened during the Tri-Wizard Tournament?
All these questions, all these rumours, could only be answered by the one person immersed in the middle; Mr Potter himself. As Mr Potter is still a student, we did not feel completely comfortable with pulling him out of the school just to answer some questions to satisfy our curiosity, no matter how strong the curiosity was. Instead, we decided to owl Mr Potter the questions and the answers he gave in return, if he chose to, we would print them as is.
Was there really a Troll loose in the school? And what of the fabled Chamber Secrets? Read on to find out the truth behind those infamous Hogwarts Rumours.
The Quibbler: Mr Potter, we are delighted that you once again chose us to be the one you gave this exclusive interview to.
Harry Potter: No problem. Like I told you last time, I didn’t trust The Daily Prophet and if I liked how the interview with us went, I’d be willing to work with you in the future. I liked how it went, so here we are.
The Quibbler: Very well then. Was there really a Troll in the school? And more importantly, the rumour about the then Defence Against the Dark Arts professor being possessed by You-Know-Who, how true was that?
Harry Potter: Yes there really was a Troll in the school and the rumour about a professor possessed by Voldemort was true as well. During Halloween that year, a Troll was somehow released into the school. It was released by the same professor who was possessed by Voldemort.
The Quibbler: How did that professor get that Troll into the school and how did no one realize what he was doing?
Harry Potter: Well, it was done during the feast and usually, all the professors, the headmaster included, are at the feast. It was the perfect opportunity really. Other than that, I honestly don’t know how he managed to not only get the Troll inside, but it made its way from the dungeons with no one reporting it. I mean, with all the portraits, we didn’t know about the Troll until Professor Quirrell came bursting into the Hall to tell everyone.
That is truly a question to which I would be interested in knowing the answer. But that brings me to the other point; how exactly was the professor possessed and yet no one realized? Wouldn’t a possession be easy to spot? How did this man get away with teaching our children for an entire year being possessed by You-Know-Who? How is that Albus Dumbledore, as powerful and as perceptive as claimed, was not able to tell that the professor was possessed by the Dark Lord himself?
Harry Potter: It’s such a coincidence though that Voldemort chose that year to possess Quirrell.
The Quibbler: Why do you say that?
Harry Potter: Well because, not only was that my first year, but it turned out there was something that was hidden at the school that Voldemort wanted. The Philosopher’s Stone.
The Philosopher’s Stone? The rumoured creation of famed alchemist Nicholas Flamel that would give the drinker eternal life? The stone that was kept at Gringotts and then rumoured to be stolen. If You-Know-Who was after the stone, a stone that was highly sought after and dangerous, then why was it hidden in a school full of children? And who hid it there?
The Quibbler: That is indeed a coincidence Mr Potter and it does raise questions. One of which I have to ask. How is it that you, as an eleven year old, find yourself fighting against You-Know-Who?
Harry Potter: Well, it wasn’t just not. Not really. At the time, I had Hermione Granger and Ronald Weasley. The night Quirrell went after the Stone, was the same night Dumbledore was called away from the school. We figured out that with Dumbledore’s absence, Quirrell would make a move and he did, so we did as well.
We got past the guard dog, escaped the Devil’s Snare, played against a giant Wizard’s Chest and then by luck only one of us could go on, what with Weasley being injured, so Granger decided to stay back with him and I went on.
I faced Quirrell, we fought over the Stone and then, by some luck, I won. I don’t know what happened at that point as I passed out, but I assumed that Dumbledore found me. It was funny though, all the obstacles to stop Quirrell and three first years got through them.
Anyways, we saved the Stone and then, we went to the closing feast. Dumbledore couldn’t exactly tell the rest of the students what had happened, so instead, he just gave us House points as a reward for bravery to the school or something.
The last point brought a laugh to him, but it made me think. This Stone, this coveted and dangerous artefact, was not only hidden in a school full of children, but the safeguards were enough for three eleven year olds to pass. Well if that was case, then no wonder it was easy for Quirrell to get through. If I didn’t know better, I’d swear the safeguards were more for the first years than to actually stop Quirrell. Almost as if someone wanted to test their knowledge, or strength.
And not only did the three first years face You-Know-Who, but in the aftermath, they were left to deal with the trauma themselves. How was it possible that the Headmaster did not bring in a mind healer to speak to these kids to make sure that they were ok? Did no one speak to any of them?
By Mr Potter’s own accounts, he along with two other students, faced down a professor possessed by You-Know-Who, suffered through terror and yet, no one spoke to them. Instead, the Headmaster rewarded with food and House points and then sent on their merry way.
How was that possible?
Now, I was even more intrigued to know the truth about the other events that happened over the years. Continuing with the infamous Chamber of Secrets.
The Quibbler: Your second year of school brought up past rumours of the Chamber of Secrets and the possible monster hiding there. What can you tell me about that?
Harry Potter: Well, there was a Chamber of Secrets, and it was housing a, well I guess some people would call it a monster. The magical creature it was home to was a basilisk.
The Quibbler: A basilisk? One of the most dangerous magical creatures to exist, and also one of the rarest.
Harry Potter: Yep. The basilisk lived within the Chamber. And not just any basilisk either. Apparently it was the pet of Salazar Slytherin. No one believed that the Chamber of Secrets was real, after all, it hadn’t been found in about fifty years at that point, so it had been reduced to a myth. But yet, students and pets and ghosts kept getting petrified.
And then Hermione Granger figured out not only what the supposed monster was, but exactly how it was moving around without being seen. I figured out that the last victim was Moaning Myrtle, the ghost that haunts the girls’ abandoned second floor bathroom and she was the one to direct us to where it was. I told the professors and I was told to show our Defence professor at the time, Lockhart, where it was since he claimed to be able to defeat it.
Ronald Weasley, Professor Lockhart and I found the Chamber, but due to unforeseen circumstances, Lockhart and Weasley weren’t able to continue with me. I found the basilisk and after a short skirmish, I killed it; stabbed it through the mouth and into its brain with the sword of Gryffindor that Fawkes [Dumbledore’s phoenix] brought to me. Of course I got injured, but Fawkes healed me.
We ended up saving Ginny Weasley, as a message had been left that she was down there, and we escaped the Chamber using Fawkes. The petrified students recovered and we all enjoyed the closing feast, celebrating their return as well as the fact that the Chamber was now defunct.
I was completely stunned at this point. This young man just revealed that at the age of twelve, he fought and killed a grown basilisk. A creature that is not only extremely dangerous, but one that even the most hardened and experienced Aurors would have problems with. And how was it possible that a twelve year old was able to figure out what was happening, figure out not only what the creature was and how it was getting around but where it was also, but no one else could?
How did no other professor manage this? And where was Dumbledore during all of this?
And another point; Gilderoy Lockhart was the Defence Against the Dark Arts professor that year. The same Gilderoy Lockhart who ended up in St Mungo’s and the same Lockhart who turned out to be a complete fraud. And that begs the question; when they hired the man for the position, did anyone actually do any research on who he was and the things he claimed he did? Or did they just accept everything at face value? [for more on Gilderoy Lockhart, go to pg. 7]
And once again, none of the professors thought that perhaps that students that had been petrified, or the school as a whole, needed a mind healer to help them cope with the trauma of that year? And if there were signs throughout the year, then why was no Aurors brought in, or why weren’t the students sent home until such a time it was deemed that the danger had past? Unbelievable.
I now find my curiosity has risen as the urge to know the truth behind the rumours concerning the remaining previous three years.
The Quibbler: I’m almost afraid to ask, considering what your first two years of school was like, but, what about your third year? That was the year Sirius Black escaped from Azkaban to come after you?
Harry Potter: Yes and no. Sirius did escape from Azkaban, but it wasn’t because he was out to get me. See, before Sirius escaped, he had a visitor; former Minister for Magic Cornelius Fudge. During the visit, Fudge had with him a copy of the Daily Prophet and on the cover of the copy was a photo of the Weasley family having a celebration. In the photo, the youngest Weasley son, Ronald, held a pet rat in his hands. Unbeknownst to anyone, the rat was actually Peter Pettigrew in his Animagus form.
The Quibbler: Sorry to interrupt, but Peter Pettigrew? The man that was killed that fateful Halloween night?
Harry Potter: Sirius never killed him. Pettigrew lied and then staged his own death and Sirius got blamed for it. See, Sirius recognized the rat and he realized that my person who betrayed my parents was still alive and even worse, would be at Hogwarts where I would be, and that’s what prompted him to escape Azkaban. He wanted to protect me and make the bastard pay for what he did.
The Quibbler: What exactly did he do?
Harry Potter: Well, many think that Sirius betrayed my parents, but he didn’t. He was never a Death Eater, and he wasn’t the Secret Keeper that night either. He had managed to convince my parents to switch to Pettigrew, after all, who would ever expect them to use Peter Pettigrew of all people? Hardly anyone knew about the change. Pettigrew was a Death Eater though and he was the one to betray my parents. So, third year, Sirius realized Pettigrew was at the school and he came there. Everything that happened, it wasn’t because he was trying to kill me, but because he was trying to get to Pettigrew.
I want to comment, but my infernal curiosity is too persistent to get the rest of the stories.
The Quibbler: And your fourth year? That was the Tri-Wizard Tournament.
Harry Potter: Yes it was. When the announcement came, I was happy because I thought to myself, finally I can be out of the spotlight. Yeah right. (he chuckles) Somehow, despite the fact that the Headmaster had used his own magic to create an age line around the Goblet, one that prevented anyone under the age of seventeen, someone was able to enter my name. So I was chosen, which, now that I think about it, was kind of weird. I mean, when a professor ordered the choosing to be redone, it was told that that couldn’t happen as the Goblet wouldn’t relight again until the end of the tournament. So, what if someone was wrongfully entered? What if a person who was, say, twelve or thirteen, had been entered?
Anyways, the Tournament happened and at the end, both Cedric and I tied for the cup. The cup turned out to be a portkey to Voldemort’s hideaway. Unfortunately, Cedric was killed and Voldemort was resurrected. He then called his Death Eaters to his side to show them that he had returned. During all of that, I managed to call the portkey back to me and escaped with Cedric’s body.
Back at Hogwarts, I told everyone what had happened and that Voldemort was back, but no one believed me. Interestingly enough, initially besides Dumbledore, only one other person did. Alastor Moody, or rather Barty Crouch, Jr who was impersonating him using Polyjuice. Turns out it was Barty who had entered my name in the tournament and who turned the winning cup into a portkey.
Fudge had Barty kissed before he could answer any questions. Which leads into fifth year. That summer, the Daily Prophet, with the blessing of Fudge, really tore into me. Since Fudge refused to believe that Voldemort had returned, he instead used the paper to make me look like I was crazy. That I was just making stories up to rile up everyone and be against the Ministry. It’s why his Undersecretary at the time, Delores Umbridge, sent Dementors after me. And when I tried to defend myself, I was summoned to a trial, where surprise, Umbridge was presiding over.
Dumbledore showed up, the trial was dismissed and I was let go. I had thought everything was over, but lo and behold, school started and who turned out to be the new DADA professor? Delores Umbridge. The woman was a right menace and should not have been at the school. We never learned anything and we were basically forced into some twisted form of subservience due to the asinine rules she kept making up and enforcing. Because I’m Harry Potter and at the time I was Fudge’s number threat, she had it out for me. I was given detentions for the silliest of things. And it wasn’t any regular detention either; she forced me to write lines using a Blood Quill, and I’m sure I wasn’t the only student who had to suffer through that.
Since she wasn’t teaching us anything, we were forced to form our study group. It was a success, however, it didn’t last. She forced another student to reveal the location and then she proceeded to give everyone detention where we were punished to write lines using once again Blood Quills.
And if that wasn’t bad enough, she almost used the Cruciatus Curse on me. I honestly don’t know if Fudge had sanctioned her use of it, but considering he was the one to have her there in the first place…
And then, at the end of the school year, I lost my godfather.
The Quibbler: You have been through a lot, haven’t you Mr Potter? More so than anyone should have to go through, especially someone your age. And yet, despite all of that, you have still managed to be a well-adjusted young man, with a good head on his shoulders and a firm grasp of how life works and what you yourself want from life.
Harry Potter: Well, I suppose I have gone through a lot, but I stopped focusing on that aspect of it. If I did, I would be completely overwhelmed and I’d probably break. I’ve accepted that my life hasn’t always been easy, and in some ways, it’s made me a better person. One of my closest friends loves to say that everything happens for a reason and I believe her. Maybe I was meant to go through all of that, to appreciate and understand the rest of my life.
The Quibbler: That is a very mature response and outlook Mr Potter. And while I feel deep sympathy over everything you had to experience, I cannot help but to admire the strength you had to actually go through it all and I wish you all the best on your future endeavours.
Harry Potter: Thank you.
The Quibbler: Well, once again, thank you Mr Potter, for agreeing to this interview. And I do hope that you continue to choose us in the future.
Harry Potter: I think I probably always will. Have a blessed day.
And that concluded our interview. As stated earlier, everything you’ve just read was the truth. However, I am completely shocked by the revelations. Just what exactly has been going on at Hogwarts these last five years? And I say the last five years as it seemed as if everything coincided with Mr Potter’s return to the Wizarding World.
It is not a secret that this young man has been through a lot. More than anyone else should have to go through and he has survived it all. He fought against a Troll and a teacher possessed by You-Know-Who, he killed the Basilisk that resided in the infamous Chamber of Secrets, he learned the truth surrounding his parents’ death, he was the youngest competitor in the Tri-Wizard Tournament and won, only to be witness to the death of a classmate [for more on Cedric Diggory, go to pg 8]
He suffered through a year of having the late Delores Umbridge as a professor, and to top it all off, he lost his godfather. He has survived against what seems insurmountable odds and is stronger as a result and that in and of itself demands our respect and sympathies.
However, this interview may have provided answers to questions we have needed for so long, and yet, it produced its own set of questions as well. As we’ve asked earlier, how was Quirrell, possessed by You-Know-Who able to spend an entire year around the students? Did none of the professors suspect anything? Albus Dumbledore has been renowned as a wizard that is hard to fool and yet, he himself was.
And then again in second year, a twelve year old was able to figure out the truth of the Chamber of Secrets and none of the professors could. Dumbledore is known to all as the man who knows everything that happens within that school and yet, he had no knowledge of this?
Despite it being the year Sirius Black escaped from Azkaban and attacked the school in search of former friend Peter Pettigrew, a then unknown Death Eater, Mr Potter’s third year of school seems to be the easiest of them all.
Which brings us to fourth year and that Tri-Wizard Tournament. Once again, Death Eater was teaching our children. This time, through using Polyjuice to impersonate someone else. And not just a random person. No, the Death Eater Polyjuiced himself into Alastor Moody. What makes this little titbit so disconcerting is not the fact that Alastor was an Auror, but rather, Albus Dumbledore himself claims to have known the man for generous amount of years, with their friendship being rather strong and yet, in all the time I’m sure the Headmaster spent in the presence of the Polyjuiced man, he did not notice anything out of the ordinary?
Even if the Polyjuice had been successful, I am sure there are certain nuances that a person has, nuances that would easily be recognized by someone who has known the other for years and would notice if those subtle nuances were suddenly not present. Or if new characteristics presented themselves.
But what really left me reeling about that year was the fact that an under-aged child was allowed to compete in such a dangerous and life-threatening tournament. It is understood that the Goblet would not have been relit until the tournament was over, and yet, I find that distracting. That was not the first time that tournament had taken place and yet, no precautions were made for a scenario such as that? By that reasoning then, someone could have entered the name of an eleven year old and that child would have been forced to compete. I find that very hard to believe!
And the final point to touch on. Delores Umbridge. Now, you may recall that the woman was found dead early September. A murder that has been unsolved to this day. At the time, through all the curiosity surrounding her death, it was the message written on her cheek that seemed to generate the most.
This vile woman was punished because of her crimes against children and werewolves
And now that message is understood just a bit more. During her reign as DADA professor, it seems as if the late Umbridge used her position as a means to exact petty revenge on not only Mr Potter, but on other students as well.
Throughout all the entire interview, and keeping in mind Mr Potter’s previous interview with The Quibbler, one thought has been prevalent on my mind.
When you put together everything that Mr Potter has been through, from his placement with magic hating Muggle relatives, to his return to our world and everything that followed, it makes you wonder; either Mr Potter was very unlucky, or someone orchestrated the events surrounding his life.
Despite the fact that he managed to survive everything thrown at him, when combined, it was obvious that he was deliberately placed in all of those life-threatening situations. It’s almost as if Mr Potter was being tested.
But by whom? Who would do such a thing? And why? Who exactly would benefit from all of those machinations?
Whispers started up between the students as everyone read, and reread, the paper.
Up at the Head table, the Headmaster stared down at the Gryffindor table. While on the outside the man exuded calm indifference, inside, he was angry and honestly somewhat confused.
On the other end of the table, Snape and Lucius sat and both men employed their Slytherin masks to keep their glee from showing.
As it is though, Lucius still couldn’t help but to slightly lean towards his friend.
“The boy is a dangerous opponent,” Lucius spoke in a lowered voice, ensuring only Snape would hear him.
“Very well executed I would say,” Snape replied, his voice as flat as ever.
But Lucius knew the man for far too long to not pick up on the pride and pleasure in the man’s tone.
Sitting at the Gryffindor table, Harry hid his smirk. He could feel the headmaster’s gaze boring into him, but he didn’t give the man any attention.
‘Let him sweat. Let him sit there and seethe; unable to do anything, to show how he’s really feeling.’
With a slight smile, Harry finished his breakfast, and then stood up to leave the Hall.
On his way out, Draco stood up from the Slytherin table and joined him and the two left the Hall together, leaving behind a cacophony of conversations.
At the Gryffindor table, a very interesting one was taking place.
“I can’t believe he fought You-Know-I mean, V-Voldemort in his first year!” Romilda exclaimed, drawing the others’ attention.
“I can’t believe he said all that!” Ginny countered.
Parvati looked at the redhead with a frown, “What was wrong with what he said?”
Ginny glared at the girl, “He said Dumbledore was setting him up!”
“You must’ve read a different article to what I read then,” Cory said, “because at no point during the interview did Harry say that. He was asked questions and he answered them truthfully. He never once implicated the Headmaster in anything.”
“He didn’t have to though,” Dean spoke up.
“What do you mean?” Romilda asked, turning to look at her Housemate.
“Well,” Dean shifted uncomfortably, “It wasn’t really about what he said; it was also about what he didn’t say. Actually, Mr Lovegood did. A lot of the things that happened to Harry, especially since he started Hogwarts, now having read the interview and the truth about all of those, it really does seem a bit suspicious. I mean, before Harry started here, nothing like this had happened at the school. So would everything had happened if Harry hadn’t come to Hogwarts?”
“Dean’s right,” Seamus picked up, “It does seem a little suspicious that everything happened when started Harry started Hogwarts, and then when you read everything else.”
He pointed to a section in the interview. “Like here. The part with the Chamber of Secrets.” He then threw a look at Hermione, “You were the one who figured it out, even though you ended up getting petrified and Harry ended up killing the snake.”
“Yes,” Hermione nodded. She was a little surprised that the Irish teen was even saying anything to her, but she didn’t let it show. She had made a huge mess of things and she was determined not to keeping making mistakes.
“Well, how did you figure it out when none of the professors, especially Dumbledore, did?” Seamus continued, “Why was Harry sent to fight the Basilisk? Why didn’t anyone else go with him and Lockhart?”
Hermione remained quiet as she thought about it. Finally, she answered. “I don’t know.”
“And another thing,” Cory added on, “Why would four first year students be given a detention to spend in the Forbidden Forest when the Headmaster had specifically warned about going near there?”
Parvati saw the speculative look on her best friend’s face and gently nudged her, “Lav? What is it?”
Lavender looked up from reading the article. “It’s something The Quibbler wrote at the end of the interview. It said that Harry was either very unlucky, or someone orchestrated everything, making sure he was in the centre of it all; almost as if he was being tested. But tested for what? And by whom?”
“But that makes no sense,” Romilda frowned. “Why would someone do this? I mean, why would they want to test Harry?”
“To see just how good or bad he was,” Cory spoke up. “Maybe they wanted to see if he could live up to the title of being the Boy-Who-Lived. Think about it; growing up with abusive relatives, everything in first year and all the other years. It’s like they were trying to break him down and rebuild him, or they were trying to mould him.”
“Mould him into what?” Seamus asked with a frown.
“Into a weapon,” Hermione said softly, and she threw a quick glance to the Head table.
Ron couldn’t help himself. “You lot are all bloody mental! Dumbledore is a good man! He wouldn’t do anything!”
Hermione shook her head at her ex. “He also allowed a lot of things to happen that shouldn’t have. Things that were too coincidental to not be suspicious.”
Before, she had blindly followed the man and had paid the price for it. She had made herself blind to what he was doing and what he was really about, but now, with these interviews that Harry gave, she was finally seeing who Dumbledore really was.
Ron fumed, unable to believe what he was hearing. “So what are you saying? Dumbledore made Potter’s relatives hurt him? Or that he knew Quirrell would go after the Stone and we’d go after him? That he knew all along who put Potter’s name in the Goblet and let it happen?”
“Sounds exactly that to me,” Lavender replied. “Who else could it have been? Who else would’ve wanted to test Harry?”
“You lot are mental!” Ron repeated his earlier. “It could’ve been You-Know-Who!”
“Voldemort,” Lavender spoke up, “the name is Voldemort.”
Ginny narrowed her eyes at the girl. “Since when are you so brave to say that name instead of You-Know-Who?”
Lavender raised her chin in defiance. “Since I became friends with Harry. And like I was saying, why would Voldemort do all this? Voldemort was killed the night Harry’s parents died. So how would he put Harry with his relatives? And how would he do everything that happened here at school?”
As Ron angrily replied to Lavender as he steadfastly defended Dumbledore, Cory hid a smirk as he listened to the group. In this moment, he couldn’t help but to mentally congratulate Ron. Instead of diffusing the situation as the redhead probably hoped, it fuelled the whispers.
Feeling eyes on him, he looked up and locked gazes with Luna. The two exchanged a small smile as the conversations around them continued.
Things were going all to plan.
~…~
For the last two days, the rumours were swirling strongly around Hogwarts as the conversation that had taken place at Gryffindor table had made its way to the other Houses.
That conversation had led to the rumoured possibility that Dumbledore was behind everything, but most of the students dismissed it as such as they didn’t want to believe. With the exception of Slytherin, the rest of the Houses were split down the middle; half were starting to question Dumbledore and his actions; the other half, while they believed Harry’s words, they refused to believe what the paper was implying about Dumbledore.
It was after all that that the Headmaster decided to finally make his move.
It was lunch now, and Harry was sitting with Cory at Gryffindor table. The others were either still in class or had stopped off at their dorms first.
The two were sitting and talking quietly when Draco walked over to them and sat down next to Harry.
“Your plan is coming together quite brilliantly,” the blond grinned.
“I know,” Harry grinned. “It’s amazing. I mean, I’m sure you’ve heard the conversations that’ve been going around the school.”
“I have,” Draco nodded. “And quite honestly, it’s exhilarating to see others finally seeing the chink in the Old Man’s armour.”
Just then, a student approached the three and gave Harry a note.
“What is it?” Cory asked, though he had a pretty good idea.
“The Headmaster wants to see me in his office,” Harry told them as he quickly read through it.
The three exchanged looks and Draco smirked.
“Now why doesn’t that surprise me?” the blond shook his head. “I was starting to wonder when he would make his move.”
Harry grinned in response. “Same here. But he has now, and I have a pretty good idea of how this is gonna go down. And if it does go how I expect, then I can make my next move.”
Draco smirked. “I do love it when your Slytherin side comes out to play.”
Harry chuckled and leaned in to whisper into his ear, “And you love my snake even more.”
Draco let out a laugh as he pulled back to see Harry’s eyes. “Completely corny, but very true.”
Cory shook his head, knowing it had been something naughty. “I don’t even want to know.”
“Aw Cory,” Harry grinned. “You sure?”
“Yes,” Cory said firmly, though he was grinning, “there are some things a man shouldn’t know about his brother.”
“Love you too,” Harry made kissy faces at the other teen causing Draco to laugh even more.
“Git!” Cory laughed and playfully shoved Harry. “Shouldn’t you be going to meet the Headmaster?”
Harry let out a sigh, “Very well. If I must, I must.” He stood up. “I will see you guys later.”
“We’ll tell the others,” Draco told him.
“Alright,” Harry nodded, “Later.”
~…~
Harry hummed as he made his way to the Headmaster’s office. He was actually looking forward to this meeting as he wanted to see how the old man would play it out.
He knew that he had aroused the man’s suspicions and that he wouldn’t be able to just wave them and claim complete innocence like the last article, but as that was his point, he didn’t care.
All he cared about was seeing what move the man would make next.
Giving the password to the gargoyle, he went up the stairs and knocked.
“Come in.”
“Hello professor,” Harry greeted as he entered, “you wanted to see me?”
“Yes,” Albus nodded, “have a seat.”
Harry did as was told and sat down, not breaking his gaze with the old man. He was still aware though that the normal filled portraits were empty.
Albus didn’t say anything. Instead, he just stared at the teen, anticipating that the boy would break and start speaking.
‘Really? If you’re waiting for me to break old man, not gonna happen.’ Harry thought. Outwardly, he raised an eyebrow in the Headmaster’s direction.
Hiding his surprise at the fact that the teen hadn’t started speaking, Albus had no choice but to concede to the silent battle.
“Harry,” he started, “How have you been?”
“I’ve been good Headmaster,” Harry replied, his voice as cordial and polite as ever. “Grades are never better and all my relationships have blossomed amazingly. Honestly, I don’t think my life has ever been better.”
Albus gave a small nod. “Very good. Now Harry, I’m sure you’re wondering why I’ve called you here.”
“It has crossed my mind,” Harry shrugged slightly. “However, I assumed it had something to do with the newest article from The Quibbler?”
“Yes,” Albus stared at the teen. “There are implications in that article Harry. Ones that reflect poorly on who I am and as a result, it could be very damaging to our cause.”
“Well I am sorry for that Headmaster,” Harry replied, “but I couldn’t do anything. There was a vow involved, so the truth had to be told, and that’s all I did. Whatever people saw or deciphered is not really my fault. I can’t control others’ perceptions.”
He gave a shrug. “Maybe if things had been done differently, then no one would be asking questions right now.”
Albus’ eyes narrowed slightly at the words from the teen. “I’m afraid I do not understand what you mean.”
“Well,” Harry continued, “the article really made think about everything that I told them. I mean, I never paid much attention before when everything was happening or had just happened, but now that I talked about it, looking back, things just don’t add up. They don’t seem right and it’s making me have questions.”
“Questions such as what?” Albus asked. This was not what he had expected to hear.
Harry shifted in his seat, “Well, questions like; why did no one check on me at the Dursleys? Even better, did no one check out the Dursleys before I was placed there?”
This time, he stared the man right in the eyes, making sure his Occlumency shields were up. “And everything that happened since I started Hogwarts; looking back at it now, it all felt as if it was a setup. As if someone was testing me. And that has me thinking; why would someone do that? Why would someone deliberately place a child in danger? Who in their right mind would be so callous?”
Albus held back the flinch and his blue eyes flared with anger. “Callous Mr Potter?”
‘Mr Potter? Damn…must’ve gotten to him.’ Harry thought. “Well, what else can I say Headmaster? How would you describe the person behind this? It’s as if they had no regards for my life. They only thing that was important to them was their own endgame. They didn’t care how they got there, as long as they did. Whoever was responsible, I will never forgive them for it and I always hate them.”
Albus was taken aback at the vehemence of that last sentence. A niggling thought was forcing its way to the front of his mind. “My dear boy-
“Just stop,” Harry cut him off, “I don’t want to hear whatever platitudes you’re about to give. Nothing you can say will excuse the actions of that selfish, manipulative, irresponsible person that left a magical child with magic hating Muggles, relatives or not.”
Suddenly, he needed to know the answer. He needed to hear it from the man himself. “I just have to ask; why Headmaster? Why would you do that?”
“Excuse me?” Albus was not prepared for that question.
“I told you the interview made me think,” Harry said, “I know you’re the one who placed me with the Dursleys. What I want to know is, did you even research them before you did? Because if you had, there’s no way I should’ve been placed with them. And if you had researched them, and yet you still placed me there, then I can only come to one conclusion.”
“And what conclusion is that Mr Potter?” Albus asked, body slightly tense, and blue eyes no longer holding that familiar twinkle.
This was definitely not what he had expected at all.
“It was a deliberate move,” Harry said, “however, the one thing I can’t get is why.”
No need to show all his cards just yet. Give him enough rope and the old man would hang himself.
Albus remained quiet for a few minutes as he thought on the boy’s answer and the best way to twist it to suit him and his purposes.
After all, no need for the boy to have these suspicions turn him against him when there was still a chance he could work it in his favour.
So, he conceded a point.
“You were right Mr Potter,” Albus said, “It was deliberate. But only because of the sacrifice your mother gave. In order to keep the blood protection going, it was necessary to place you with blood relatives; more specifically, Lily’s blood relatives, which just so happens to be Petunia. It was the only way to keep you safe from Tom and his followers.”
‘Hmmm. What a load of crock; you’re telling me as powerful as you are, you couldn’t find somewhere in the Wizarding World to hide me? Yeah right.’
“And that was the most important thing,” Harry smiled, “keeping me safe from Voldemort and the Death Eaters.”
“Exactly,” Albus nodded.
“Yeah,” Harry nodded before raising an eyebrow, “and yet, it didn’t keep me safe from the Dursleys, now did it?”
Albus stilled. “I’m sorry?”
“Oh don’t be sorry Headmaster,” Harry shook his head, “unless you actually have something to be sorry for. I mean, it’s not as if you knew exactly what was going on and what they were doing and did nothing to stop it.”
Albus didn’t reply, but he never got the chance to anyways as Harry continued speaking.
“It’s not like everything was all a set up,” Harry said, “that it was all planned from the start because you wanted a pliable and complacent patsy that would do anything and ask no questions, right? You’re not like that, are you Headmaster? You wouldn’t put a child at risk just for the greater good or for selfish reasons.”
Harry chuckled. “Because if you did, if you did, then you are worse than Voldemort, aren’t you Headmaster? And that just can’t be.”
Albus had no idea where these questions or comments were coming from and he did not like it. And he felt a tinge of panic. Why was he asking these specific questions? Was he really going dark?
‘No! I don’t believe that. I have done everything right to ensure that he is indebted to me and my cause. To ensure that he is the perfect weapon. No…this is just conjecture.’
Forcing his body to relax, he brought forth the comforting and grandfather persona he had perfected, making sure to make his eyes twinkle even more.
“You are right Harry,” he said, “I would be a worse person than Tom if I did that. I would never willingly place a child in danger. But there is a reason I did apologize. And that was for not checking in on you over time. I failed in that aspect. It is not an excuse, but it is one I have; with the Wizarding World in chaos, I suppose I trusted that your relatives would take care of you and I could concentrate fully on restoring this world. After all, how could anyone related to Lily, be cruel to her offspring? As I said, in that I failed, and I apologize.”
Harry stared at the man for a few minutes, just long enough for Albus to start to wonder if his plan had worked, before he nodded. “You’re right, I suppose Headmaster. It’s just, the article really got to me. I didn’t want to believe that you knew everything and did nothing to stop it. I’m sorry I doubted you sir.”
“It’s ok my boy,” Albus’ smile was a little more genuine. “And it’s understandable that the article got to you. The way it was worded, it was enough to make for doubts to spring up, but I am happy that you saw the truth and that you trust me enough to not believe I would ever hurt you like that or put you in deliberate danger.”
“I suppose,” Harry shrugged. “And I’m sorry if I implied you were callous or selfish or manipulative sir. I know you’ve ever only had my best interests at heart and if you had known how the Dursleys treated me, you would’ve stopped it. I was just angry and frustrated by how the article came out and the implications it brought with it. And all the whispers around school didn’t help either.”
“That is why you cannot let it get to you,” Albus said, “and why next time you are asked for an interview, at least use a professor so that you would not be caught in a trap such as this again.”
“I know,” Harry nodded. He fidgeted a bit, “You said earlier that the article hurt our cause. It didn’t cause too much damage, did it? I mean, the Order members won’t default because of this will they? That’s the last thing I wanted to do.”
“No worries Harry,” Albus assured, now a bit more secure. “All will be explained to them and things will settle down. They already understand how reporters work and how they twist everything to suit their purposes.”
“Good,” Harry sighed. “Well, I suppose I should be going. Unless, you needed me for something else?”
Albus shook his head. “That was all. Have a good day my boy.”
“You too Headmaster,” Harry replied as he stood and left the office.
The moment it closed behind the teen, Albus swept his hand out, his magic knocking everything off his desk.
Things were not going as he had expected.
First was the war. It seemed as if Tom was no longer interested in mindless violence and death. For whatever reason, the Dark Lord had not been as active as he had been in the past.
With the exception of the murder of Delores Umbridge, there had been no more major attacks or major murders from the Dark side.
Something was different. Something had changed.
He could not figure out what that change was, but he knew that whatever it was wasn’t good for him. He needed Tom to continue with his dark work; with his mindless murdering and instilling fear into the masses.
‘How else am I supposed to continue to control the people and have them do what I want them to?’
And it wasn’t just Tom who was no longer playing by the rules. The blasted boy was becoming too independent. The boy had never been this outspoken towards him before. He never questioned him.
Yes, in the end he had managed to deflect and to twist it all to benefit himself and to put the boy at ease, but he never should have had to. It had to be those blasted articles. They were filling the boy’s head and making him think.
‘How did things get to this? Am I losing control of him?’
Albus fumed as he stayed sitting at his desk. ‘I did not do everything I did just for the brat to do this now! He is getting too far out of hand. He needs to be reigned back in.’
He sat there, thinking for a while, until the perfect idea came to him.
“Yes,” he murmured, “that will be absolutely perfect. It will remind him of how fickle the public can be. Bring him back to heel.”
Plan in hand, he quickly got up and moved to the Floo.
~…~
Three days later, the school seemed to have settled down, and while the talk surrounding the article was still there, it wasn’t as prominent.
But if the students had thought Harry’s article was anything, then they would be blown away by what happened next.
Harry was walking through the halls with Cory when he noticed the looks and whispers following him.
It wouldn’t have bothered, as he initially thought the students were still thinking about the article from over the weekend, but he soon realized that that wasn’t the case.
It wasn’t curiosity or awe or anything positive on the students’ faces; it was fear.
“What do you make of that?” he asked Cory.
“I honestly don’t know,” Cory shook his head, noting the fear as well. “Did something happen?”
“Looks like it,” Harry replied, “and whatever it was, must be bad. It’s like they think I did something; something awful.”
When they entered the Hall, all whispers stopped as every eye focused on the two boys.
Exchanging a look, Cory and Harry made their way to the Slytherin table, where Draco was beckoning them with a tilt of his head.
“What’s going on?” Cory asked when he and Harry were close enough.
“This,” Draco replied as he pushed the paper at them.
Confused, Cory picked it up and his eyes went wide when he read the title. “Harry…”
“What is it?” Harry asked as he took the paper from his friend.
Harry Potter Connected to You-Know-Who?

by Rita Skeeter
It seems dear readers that this is the year for shocking revelations. It all started weeks before when Mr Ronald Weasley, former friend to Harry Potter, gave us an exclusive interview where Mr Weasley expressed his concerns over Mr Potter’s new relationships and the worry that our Saviour was turning to the Dark Side. Mr Potter however, gave his own interview to our counterparts at The Quibbler refuting the claims and explaining the reasons behind his new outlook on life, including the termination of his friendships with said Mr Weasley and Ms Granger and his new ones with the young Mr Malfoy and newly revealed Corvus LeStrange, formerly known as Neville Longbottom.
The claims brought forward by Mr Weasley were dismissed as ramblings of a boy jealous of his friend’s stature and his inability to accept that his friend was maturing and growing up. However, this reporter now has evidence, given by Mrs Molly Weasley herself, which offer support to her son’s claims.
And in her words, shed light on Mr Potter’s actions and the true reason behind his termination of his friendship to one Ronald Weasley; a friend who has stood by his side since Mr Potter re-entered our worlds five years ago.
And what is the evidence?
According to Mrs Weasley, Mr Potter has a connection to You-Know-Who. And not just any connection, but a mental one. Yes readers, you’ve read it right. Mr Potter and You-Know-Who, the darkest dark lord to ever grace our world, share a mind connection.
“It’s a terrible, terrible thing,” Molly Weasley lamented. “The poor boy’s mind is connected to that awful creature. They’re connected through the scar. It’s why it’s called a curse scar. I didn’t want to believe it, but Albus explained everything. The connection has been there since that horrible Halloween night when You-Know-Who attacked the Potters and tried to kill Harry.”
When I asked Mrs Weasley what all of this meant, she had this to say.
“It means that You-Know-Who can get into Harry’s mind,” Molly explained, tears falling from her eyes, “Which would explain why Harry abandoned my Ronniekins and is now friends with all those Slytherins. And why he’s dating that Malfoy boy when we all know he and Ginny belong together. It has to be that awful connection.”
Is Molly Weasley correct? Is Mr Potter being influenced by You-Know-Who? Is that the real reason why he is now associating with Slytherins, leaving his former friends behind? Is that the reason for the interviews to The Quibbler and the subtle aspersions cast towards Albus Dumbledore’s character?
Harry didn’t bother to continue reading. He dropped the paper back on the table and his gaze swung around the Hall.
The students were still watching him; there was fear, anger, curiosity, disbelief and on Ronald Weasley’s face, there was smug satisfaction. It was the same satisfaction he saw on Dumbledore’s face when his gaze shifted to the Head table.
While on the inside Harry was seething, on the outside, his posture was slightly relaxed and his expression was blank. He was expecting the Old Man to retaliate, to make a move, but this was not what he honestly thought he would do.
“You ok?” Gabriella was the first of their group to speak.
Harry shifted his gaze from the Headmaster to his friend and gave a nod, a small smile gracing his face.
“A bit shocked really,” Harry replied as he took a seat next to Draco.
“Harry,” Lavender spoke up hesitantly. She didn’t want to anger her friend, but she couldn’t deny the curiosity filling her. “Is it true?”
“Hmm?” Harry looked over at the girl, noticing that their conversation was basically heard by everyone as no one had yet to speak. “Is what true?”
“What the paper said,” Lavender clarified, “What Molly Weasley said; that you have a mind connection to You-K-to Voldemort.”
It was as if the entire Hall, with the exception of Lucius and Severus, were holding their breath, waiting for his answer.
Harry raised an eyebrow at the girl, “Will the answer change how you see me? Neville becoming Cory didn’t change how I see him.”
“It would change nothing for me,” Luna wrapped her arms around Harry from behind, pressing a kiss to his cheek.
Draco looked up at the blonde Ravenclaw. “Lovegood, I thought I told you to stick with your boyfriend?”
Luna let out a giggle as she moved to sit next to Cory. “Yes, but I do so enjoy the way the light reflects your eyes and I dare say Harry enjoys it even more than I do.”
“Don’t pull me into this,” Harry sing-song, a grin splitting his face.
Pansy snorted, “You’re already in it my dear.”
“I’m ignoring that part,” Harry told her, throwing a grin in her direction.
Luna carried on the banter, easily continuing the shift in the conversation and moving it from the article, and in essence, the question that Lavender had asked. It wasn’t until later, that Lavender—and the others as well—realized that Harry had never answered her question.
~…~
Over the course of the next week, Harry dealt with the continued looks and whispers from the other students as well as a few Howlers and other mail from people around the Wizarding World.
It didn’t help that Ron had once again taken up the mantle of defaming Harry and had continued to spew the accusations that his mother had spilled in her interview.
The ones who ignored that completely were Seamus, Lavender, Parvati, Romilda and Dean. They weren’t as close to Harry as Luna, Cory and the Slytherin four, but they had gotten to know him better and they trusted him more than they trusted the paper, or anything from the Weasleys—specifically Ron or Molly.
So they defended him to the other Lions, and to the students that they happened to overhear or those that approached them for questions; no one dared approach the Slytherins, and those that approached Luna or Cory were met with either a blank stare or giggles.
As for Harry; he just let it all wash over him. He never denied or confirm the accusation. Instead, when some student got brave enough to ask, he simply stared or smiled and then either changed the topic, walked away or ignored them.
Despite the defence of Harry by Cory and the few other Lions (Seamus and the few), most of the students still took Harry’s silence on the matter as confirmation. And in turn, that fuelled the rumours and looks and whispers even more.
~…~
It was October 19^th, the very first Hogsmeade weekend, and it was the weekend that would prove to be one of the final nails in Dumbledore’s coffin—though he didn’t know it as of yet.
The day started out pretty much the same as usual.
The students were excited about the Hogsmeade trip. It was always a fun thing for the repeating students and for the third years, it was something amazing to look forward to as it was their first time.
As was the norm, Harry woke first and quickly went through his morning routine and then he headed downstairs to wait for Cory.
Hermione was sitting on one of the sofas near the fireplace with a book on her lap. She looked up when she heard Harry but said nothing.
She had heard all the rumours and had read the newspaper, and while she knew of the connection beforehand between Harry and Voldemort, not once did she ever think that it was being used to control Harry.
She wished she could tell him that, but she couldn’t and the knowledge sent a pang through her heart.
Harry knew Hermione was watching him, but he didn’t bother to give her a glance as he took a seat on one of the sofas closer to the door. His mind was focused on his plan for the day; more specifically, his plan for when they got to Hogsmeade. It was the perfect plan to not only counteract Dumbledore’s article from over a week ago—and there was no doubt that it was the Old Man that was behind Molly Weasley’s interview—but as one of the final pieces to bringing him down.
Ten minutes later, Cory walked down the stairs.
The two teens greeted each other and made their way out of the common room and down to the Great Hall for breakfast.
Hermione watched them go with sad eyes filled with longing.
~…~
Harry and Cory met up with their Slytherin friends as they neared the Hall.
“Morning,” Harry greeted, green eyes immediately seeking out grey.
“You ready for today?” Draco asked, knowing what Harry had planned. Blaise, Pansy and Gabriella knew that Harry had something big planned, but they didn’t know exactly what it was; only he, Cory and Luna knew the exactly details of what was going down.
“Of course,” Harry nodded as the group turned as one to go into the Hall.
“It’s going to be vastly entertaining, isn’t it?” Pansy raised an eyebrow as she took her seat at the Slytherin table.
“Isn’t it always?” Blaise replied with a smirk.
“Well it is Harry,” Luna said as she joined them, startling some of the students as they hadn’t even seen or heard her coming towards them.
Nods and smiles in agreement were exchanged and the group settled into having breakfast.
About ten minutes later, Seamus, Dean, Lavender, Parvati and Romilda showed up and joined the group.
It was a sight that the students were used to by now, but at the Head table, Severus still found it odd to see Gryffindors sitting among his Snakes.
“Startling, isn’t it?” Lucius questioned in an undertone, while subtly casting a Privacy Charm.
“Very,” Severus replied. “I do not believe I will ever acclimate to the sight of Lions at the Snakes’ table.”
“One more thing to blame on Mr Potter,” Lucius said with a slight smirk. “Do you know of his plan for today?”
“Every detail,” Severus said, “And it is brilliant in its planned execution.”
“He is playing the Old Fool like a finely turned instrument,” Lucius commented. “I must say, he has shown himself to be a very worthy opponent and I am delighted that he had decided to tap into his Slytherin’s side when he joined our side. To imagine that potential on their side…”
Severus snorted. “That would not have happened. Albus Dumbledore failed to see the boy’s potential. He wanted the boy to be Gryffindor; brave and willing to do anything, no questions asked. Or jump first, ask questions later. He would not have allowed the boy to develop any Slytherin habits. To do so would have resulted in Mr Potter asking questions that Dumbledore would rather he not.”
“This plan of his for today,” Lucius said, “absolutely brilliant. In fact, I dare say the entire way he has handled the last week and some was nothing short of sly. He offered nothing to counter the ridiculous interview put forth by that insufferable Weasley woman and now, this action he is about to employ—
“It will decimate those actions and quite possibly eradicate the doubts towards him once and for all,” Severus finished. “It will be a splendid thing.”
The two men exchanged looks and a barely there conspiratorial smile. They could not wait to see the outcome of Harry’s move.
~…~
The town of Hogsmeade was bustling with not only the regular patrons but the students of Hogwarts as well.
As Harry and company walked through the town, they were aware of the whispers and stares that followed them.
“This is ridiculous,” Gabriella huffed as they came to a stop just before Honeydukes and a woman who had just exited the shop pretty much ran away after throwing a fearful glance towards Harry; more specifically, where his scar lied.
Harry shrugged, “This is my life. Whenever the Prophet prints some ridiculous story or another, this is usually the reaction from the masses.”
“Bunch of sheep is what they are,” Cory snorted.
“Yes,” Draco nodded, “and while that works against us, it also works directly in our favour. Especially with what Harry has planned.”
Harry cast a look at his boyfriend, seeing the barely constrained excitement in the grey eyes. “You’re excited to see it executed, aren’t you?”
Draco didn’t even bother denying it. He was. It was so brilliant and so Slytherin worthy that he couldn’t wait to see the aftermath of it all.
Still.
“Maybe a little,” the blond hedged, a grin teasing his lips. “But I’m not the only one.”
“He’s right,” Pansy grinned, “Everything you’ve done so far has been completely brilliant and not to mention positively entertaining, so it stands to reason of course that this latest plan of yours would be the same.”
“I don’t think you’ll be disappointed,” Luna commented with a smile.
Harry grinned before changing the subject. “So, what are the plans for now though?”
“I’m going to head to Honeydukes,” Blaise said, “I need some sweets.”
“Pansy promised to take me to the clothing store here in town,” Gabriella added. “Gladrags, I think it’s called. She said I need to be measured, so they’d have it on file, and get some clothes.”
“Sounds fun,” Harry said, though he didn’t really mean it because he hoped that Draco wouldn’t get any ideas about shopping. He turned to Cory and Luna. “What about you two?”
Luna smiled. “New quills. It seems as if the Wrackspurts have started to play their favourite game once again and I find my quills disappearing.”
Used to the blonde’s way, Blaise and Pansy blinked, while Draco just stared and Harry raised an eyebrow; Gabriella kept her composure—already told of Luna’s different view and getting used to it—though it was easy to see that she really wanted to question her blonde friend.
Cory just shook his head at his girlfriend’s words. “You really need to get them under control and to stop taking your stuff.”
“It’s ok,” Luna assured him, “I don’t mind and it’s actually quite a fun game.”
“I’m not even gonna touch that,” Harry said with a grin.
“And you two?” Blaise asked with a raised brow. “What are you going to be doing?”
Draco shrugged. “Not too sure. We’ll just walk with everyone until we figure out what we ourselves want to do.”
“Sounds like a plan,” Cory nodded, as did the others.
“Well I’m right here, so,” Blaise grinned as he waved a hand at Honeydukes. “You guys go on, and I’ll just re-join you when you come back down this way.”
“Sounds good,” Harry said.
Giving a nod, Blaise moved away from the group and headed to the sweet shop.
“Let’s go,” Pansy commented and the group walked on.
Pansy and Gabriella walked in front, with Cory and Luna behind them and Draco and Harry at the back.
Soon, Pansy and Gabriella broke off and headed into Gladrags and seconds later, Luna and Cory were off to the quill shop.
“So where to?” Harry turned to Draco, reaching out to grab the blond’s hand.
“I’m not too sure actually,” Draco said. “We could just walk.”
Shrugging, Harry pulled the blond close and the two continued walking. “I’d have thought that you would’ve dragged me to Gladrags with Pansy and Gabriella.”
“When I can wait until Christmas and take you on a proper, and more expanded, shopping trip?” Draco retorted with a smirk.
Harry let out a groan. “I was afraid of that.”
Draco let out a chuckle at his boyfriend’s words.
Harry shook his head and then turned around, heading back where they came.
“What is it?” Draco asked.
“I was thinking we could go to Zonko’s,” Harry told him, “The twins were thinking about expanding their business since it’s doing so well and I thought it’d be cool if they had a store here in town.”
Draco looked at him, “Are you wanting to see if Zonko’s had any ideas, or are you wanting to see if they would be willing to sell? Because quite honestly, I don’t think Hogsmeade needs two joke shops.”
He became thoughtful. “Although, if the twins do set up shop here, then eventually, it really will only be one because they are brilliant and Zonko’s would go out of business.”
Harry grinned and gave the blond a quick kiss. “Smart and gorgeous. How did I ever get so lucky?”
Draco grinned and returned the kiss, but making it longer. “Just be glad you are.”
The two shared a chuckle and continued their walk. They soon got to Zonko’s and made their way inside.
Ten minutes later, they were back out and met Cory and Luna waiting outside.
“Pansy and Gabriella will be a little while,” Luna told them, “however, Blaise is waiting for us.”
“Alright,” Draco nodded and the four started down in that direction.
They hadn’t gotten far when a shrill cry broke through the air. They, and everyone else, stopped what they were doing and looked to where the sound came from.
It was a phoenix. And not just any phoenix; a white one.
The sight of the bird sent a flurry of furious whispers through the crowd as they all stared at the bird, each wondering what it was doing there.
Everyone knew about phoenixes and what they represented.
The bird flew to where Harry and the others were standing.
While Cory, Luna and Draco all stepped back, seemingly taken aback by the bird coming directly towards them, Harry flinched and brought his arm up as protection.
To his surprise, and the shock of the crowd, the bird landed on his arm. The moment it did so, the phoenix let out a cry and a bright light—bright enough that it had everyone covering their eyes—lit up the place followed by a flash of fire.
When the light and fire died down, Harry was standing there, staring at the bird on his arm in clear surprise.
“Dear Merlin!” someone in the stunned crowd managed to spit out.
Still in surprise, Harry turned to his boyfriend. “I—Draco, what’s going on? What just happened?”
Draco took a step forward. “Harry, what just happened is that you’ve been bonded to a phoenix. And not just any phoenix, but a white one.
“What’s so special about a white phoenix?” Harry asked, seemingly uncomprehending of the significance.
“They’re extremely rare and the most powerful of all phoenixes,” Luna answered him as she took step forward to touch the bird. “It is said that white phoenixes choose their bonder and only someone worthy and pure in heart and soul could be claimed by them.”
Harry’s eyes went wide at what Luna said and he reached out a slightly shaky hand to rub the bird’s breast. “And you chose me? You’re mine, and I’m yours?”
The phoenix let out a trill and moved up Harry’s arm to rub its head against his cheek.
|You are enjoying this way too much| Hedwig’s voice echoed in Harry’s mind.
|Of course I am. You should see the looks on their faces. They are completely buying this.|
“What did it say?” Draco asked, shocking the crowd even more as the implication sunk in.
“It is a girl,” Harry replied, “and she said she’s been searching for me for a long time.”
“What’s going on?” Pansy’s voice sounded as she and Gabriella pushed through the crowd. The two girls froze when they saw Harry.
“Oh my God,” Gabriella whispered.
“Harry,” Pansy started, “Is that a phoenix? More specifically, a white phoenix?”
“What?!” Blaise near shouted as he joined the group. He had heard the commotion and the whispers, and knew it was his friend, but this was not what he expected when he hurried to join them.
He too froze when he saw the bird on Harry’s arm. It took but a few seconds to recognize the animal and he had to use his Slytherin skills to stop himself from reacting even further.
“That’s amazing,” Cory breathed, as he too reached out to touch the bird.
Hedwig let out another trill as she shook herself out. She was glad to finally take her true form. It was harrowing being stuck in the owl form for so long.
“Only you Harry could be the bonded one of a white phoenix,” Draco shook his head with a smile.
Trilling again, Hedwig flew from Harry’s arm to land on the blond’s shoulder, once again shocking the crowd.
Draco chuckled as he reached up to gently rub the bird’s wing. “Well hello beautiful.”
Rubbing her head briefly against Draco’s, Hedwig gently nipped his ear before she flew back to land on Harry’s shoulder.
Throwing a glance at the crowd, Cory made a suggestion. “Maybe we should head back to school.”
Taking in the crowd, Harry nodded in agreement. “Maybe we should.”
With that, the seven turned and made their way through the stunned crowd as they headed back to the school.
As they passed through the village, they weren’t surprised when they saw the rest of the people—both students and regular patrons alike—come out of the stores only to stop and stare at them.
It wasn’t until they had cleared the village, and the chance of being overheard had disappeared, that someone finally spoke.
“That was your plan?” Gabriella actually stopped walking to turn to look at her friend.
“Yes,” Harry nodded with a grin.
“That was bloody brilliant!” Blaise breathed out, still staring at Hedwig. Even though he’d seen her form before, it still left him in awe.
“Why didn’t you tell us?” Pansy demanded, though she wasn’t really upset; just curious.
“Your reactions needed to be genuine,” Luna was the one to answer.
It took a few seconds for it to dawn on them.
“It needed to look like we had no idea about what was going to happen so that the papers wouldn’t accuse it of being a plan,” Cory shook his head in amazement. He had known about the plan, but he found that despite knowing beforehand, he was still in awe over what had just happened and how everything played out.
“And that’s exactly what’ll happen,” Draco smiled, “When the Prophet prints this story, all they’ll talk about is how a white phoenix bonded to Harry Potter and how shocked we all were.”
“And it will completely erase the doubts that Molly Weasley brought up with her stupid interview,” Harry added on.
“I’ve said before and I’ll say it again,” Gabriella shook her head, “You are one dangerously brilliant person.”
“I don’t see the danger. I just see it as complete brilliance,” Blaise said, still in awe over the entire thing. “You’re even more Slytherin than I thought.”
“I am, aren’t I?” Harry laughed.
“So how long do you think it’ll be before this hits the papers?” Cory asked as the group resumed their walk back to school.
“Probably by dinner time,” Pansy said. “What just happened was too good for it to wait. I guarantee that letters were already being sent to the Prophet, that is, if Rita herself wasn’t already there.”
Luna smiled. “She was and it will.”
~…~
When the seven had gotten back to the school, the students and professors had been stunned at the sight of Harry with the phoenix on his shoulder.
And when dinner came around, Luna’s prediction was right; no surprise there.
Everyone was still staring at Harry and talking about what had happened when the owls arrived with the paper.
The article spoke about what had happened earlier that day, and included interviews from people who had actually witnessed everything. The article did exactly what they had anticipated; it denied all accusations of Harry being dark—after all, how could a person be dark if a white phoenix chose them to bond with?—and ended with Rita bringing back up the articles that both The Quibbler and the Daily Prophet had printed before, and tearing into Molly Weasley and attacking Dumbledore.
Harry and crew, including Severus and Lucius, took great delight in seeing the Headmaster vaunted control crack as the whispers and heated looks from students and professors settled onto him.
And when the Headmaster’s gaze settled on Harry, the teen simply stared at the old man, almost daring him to react.
Harry knew that Dumbledore probably suspected on some level that what happened was planned, but he also knew that what had the old man going, was that he had no idea how he Harry had managed to do it. And because of that, he couldn’t prove it.
With his action of having a white phoenix now made public, Albus Dumbledore’s days were numbered.
Time Skip—October 31^st; Halloween
The morning started out as it always did every year. The students got up and went to breakfast, conversations fluttering all around as they admired the Halloween decorations all over the school, especially the Great Hall, and made plans for the rest of the day and night.
Harry was sitting at the Slytherin table along with Cory and Luna, and their pets, when owls poured into the Hall, each of them carrying a newspaper.
As always, whispers started up as the students took in the sight of the owls.
The papers were dropped on the table and the owls flew away as the students, and professors, grabbed them.
The headline had everyone gasping and sent them into a shocked silence.
A silence that was broken surprisingly by a Ravenclaw who voiced exactly what everyone was thinking.
“Merlin’s balls!”
ALBUS DUMBLEDORE FOUND DEAD!
A/N 2: so…tell me, tell me; what did you guys think? Again, so sorry for the long, long wait. Hope it was worth it. I wasn’t too sure about the scene with Harry in Albus’ office or the scene directly after, so I hope it was ok. Also, the big jump from what happened in Hogsmeade to Halloween, don’t worry; the next chapter will have the details leading up to the Halloween announcement, including more on the aftermath of the Hogsmeade trip.
Next chapter is the final chapter (yes I know! I can’t believe it either L ). And I will try extra hard not to take too long to get it out. As always, you know what to do; review please! J
Kila
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Rise of the Dark Angel