no imagination today
Chapter 12
I forgot to tell Hermione about what I found out at Hagrids. With all the distractions of the previous week and a nice weekend with my BF I completely forgot to say. So on the Monday morning at breakfast I sit next to Hermione who’s sitting at the Ravenclaw table with Alice. Her and Alice seem to get on really well but I think its more Hermione feeling comfortable around her. Hermione is lovely but she's not exactly a social butterfly. The time together should help her a little, I know her time with me has.
“They know you left the castle. At least they did yesterday. I covered for you for Saturday but I cant do anything about yesterday, that's when they noticed you missing.” Is the first things that come out of Alice's’ mouth and it make me shit myself. So much for a nice weekend.
“What was said? They have never noticed before.” this is when Hermione chips in.
“Dumbledore asked for you. He wanted to have tea with you like he did with me.”
“Shit!” Nothing else to say. I got caught, time to face the music. See very early on I learned that when you do the type of stuff I do, you get caught. Sometimes sooner, sometimes later but always at some point. No one can be perfect all the time.
Stuck in my thought for a minute I don't see the look on Alice's’ face but I hear the footsteps coming towards me. “Mr Potter!” Oh fuck no, not her anything but her. Professor Macgonigal is right behind me and the longer I leave it the worse it will be. So with all the innocence that I can muster.
“Morning Professor.”
“Care to explain where you were yesterday. You are aware that students are not permitted to leave school grounds without permission from a member of staff?”
“I’m sorry professor I wasn't. Nothing has been mentioned to me, so I assumed the weekends were ours.”
“Well as much as I admire your indapendance, someone as young as yourself shouldn’t be going around wherever you feel you want to. The world can be a dangerous place Mr Potter.” something clicked in my head. Not in a good way.
Now many people would assume that I’m used to this. An adult telling me what I can and cant do but the way she made it out like I couldn’t even tie my shoes was pissing me off. “With all due respect professor. I have been on my own for the past four years. No one fed me or put a roof over my head, I have done that myself so I don't see an issue, when all I went to do was see the people I love.” the look on her face. What a picture. Her eyes were bulging out of her sockets with that admittance. I can see she doesn’t know what to say but she definitely wants to say something about me answering back. Teachers, they can be worse than some kids.
“Be that as it may. You do not leave school grounds without permission from staff. Is that understood Mr Potter? Any more wondering away and there will be consequences. The Headmaster woul…”
“Would you give me permission if I was to ask?” I’m done with niceties. I don't like being spoken to like I’m touched in the head. I’m eleven not fucking stupid. I catch her eyes and don't look away. I’m not about to back down. She knows the answer already as do I.
“Mr Potter you will let me finish speaking. The headmaster wishes to see you after supper tonight. Don't keep him waiting.” She goes to head off and I cant help it my tongue starts flapping before I can stop it.
“I asked a question!” she stops and turns slowly. She's practically the colour of a tomato. We lock eyes again and again I don't back down. “Would you have given permission if asked?” she doesn’t give me an answer. Instead she just gives me a detention that I will not be doing. She wasn't disrespect fine it work both ways. Its bad enough that she cant teach me anything because of the way I use my magic but the bitch treats her students like that. I just have to keep telling myself that I can learn things here better than at home.
The rest of the day goes past in a blur. I have ‘tea’ with the headmaster tonight and I ain't looking forward to it. I know its not going to be good but I’m wondering how bad.
I spent most of the day with Hermione. We have been in deep discussion about the philosophers stone. The thing we assume is being protected by that fuck off dog, fluffy. Walking up to the gargoyle and giving it the password I walk up the spiral staircase. Opening the huge door to Dumbledore' office I take it all in. there are devices everywhere. Spinning werling and making all sorts of noise and lights. I’m not here to look at shiny things though I really would love some time to play with them. Ignoring them and steeping towards the desk I wait a moment and see if Dumbledore is going to appear at any point. After a few minutes of waiting I get bored and the massive bright orange bird that to the right of his desk keeps giving me funny looks.
“What you looking at bird?” it tilts its head to the side as if its tying to asses me or something. Then it make a noise. It feels like its nails scarping a chalk board. It actually make my ears hurt. “Ahhhhh, fuck! What the hell was that? You trying to deafen me?” the bird isn't looking at me curiously any more. Its giving me what I can only assume is a hacky look. Its defiantly not curious now. I’m guessing that was a test I might have failed.
“That is an unusual reaction to have to the song of a Phoenix. Not many have a bad reaction its normally quite the opposite.”
DumbleDick appears behind me. Which means he was here the entire time, watching me. So it was a test. Whatever I don't care, let him do his little tests.
“You wished to see me headmaster.”
“Yes Harry, My boy. I would like to know how you are getting on after our last meeting. I trust things are going well. I was a concerned when you were missing yesterday. Care to explain why you didn’t feel the need to inform the staff of your departure. It would have saved us a lot of worry.”
“Not particularly.”
“Harry my boy, this is a school and we have rules in place for the protection of the students. We all have to follow them so we can all be safe.” Really? What about fucking fluffy. I don't say anything. Let him think he's won this round. This just means I need to be more careful in the future. “I trust this will be the last excursion outside of school grounds from now on.” again I don't answer. I ain't promising shit to this fucker. “So onto more pleasant prospects. I have wondered if you have given the thought of moving back in with your family?” What the fuck?
“No! Why the hell would I do that?”
“They are your family dear boy. They love you and care for you and I’m sure they would love to have you back.”
“What have you been smoking… you got any more?”
“I don't understand my boy. What could make you so hatful of your family?”
“Hateful? The fact that they still breath is a testament to the opposite. But I’m not doing this. You have no right to dictate to me where I spend my time while not at this school. My home life is just that, mine. I don't see why you have taken such an interest in mine. Is that all?”
“No Harry. Please sit.”
“I’m good, thanks.”
“I insist.”
“I Desist.”
“Harry this is just childish.”
“I talked to Mrs Weasley. She seems to have this idea that me and her son are friends. She knows a lot about my life as well, where I’m living and who with.” He is silent. I let it linger before continuing. “I don't know what you think I am to you Headmaster but I assure you, that is all you are. Unless these conversations have anything to do with my education then I really don't think we need to have any more meetings.” turning on my heels I make my way out.
“How did you make it to Newcastle yesterday Harry?” My hand is on the door knob and I twist.
“Magic Headmaster.” like it was the most obvious question anyone had ever asked. I tried not to smile to much at the pure distain for my answer his look is giving me. Makes me feel all warm and fuzzy inside.
Now that I know that he is indeed wanting something from me or has some sort of plan for me. Whatever I will deal with it as it comes. Right now I want to steal the philosophers stone just to spite the old man. So I think I might concentrate my efforts on that, now I haven't got to follow Ron around all the time. I am a really good thief after all, just look at my track record.
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So its been a month and I still have yet to get past fluffy. The thing has nearly killed me on numerous occasions as I try to get passed it to the hatch but the three heads are everywhere at once. I was contemplating my options when who walks by me, Ron and Hagrid and they are having a right loud conversation. Being the nebby fuck that I am, I have a good earwig.
“Don worry Ron we all have problems with our pets at sometim. Just look at fluffy play him a song and he is out like a light.” Fluffy was the word that made me really listen.
So all I got to do I play the mutt a song and he will go to sleep. Awesome. With my new plan I was set to get past that fucking dog with all my limbs in tact. Fingers crossed. Now what can I do for the rest of my free period. I know lets smootch Sam for a bit. That's always fun.
Sam was happy to see me. We just sat and talked. I mention that I might be stealing something later but he knew better than to ask, if I wanted him to know I would just say. He would probable try and talk me out of it. He knows about the shit the Dumbledore has been doing but I don't think he truly understand how it makes me feel. I should tell him but I like Hogwarts even with the shitty staff and he would tell me to stay.
After dinner Hermione wants me to go and do some studying in the library before bed as we have got a charms essay due tomorrow but I already done it in preparation for tonight so I’m all good. She is too but she likes to make sure that I’m all up to date. It can be annoying but it was really helpful when I was doing all that recon. So I take the good with the bad.
“Na, I’m good and I know for a fact that you have already done that essay. How about you come with me and I will show you something cool?”
“What do you have planned?” She's looking at me with an accusing eye. I cant really blame her she knows me well enough after nearly a whole school year..
“You will just have to wait and see, wont ya.”
“I hate it when you do stuff like this.” she rests her head on the table in defeat. Its getting so easy, to get her to follow me along for an adventure. I have taken her on a few pranks mainly so I could use her as a alliby, most professors just believe whatever comes out of her mouth so of coarse I’m going to use that.
We sit and chill in the common room ad wait for it empty. It takes a while there was a third year that seemed to be struggling with an essay. I’m getting wick of waiting and Hermione can see it. I’m starting to get a bit restless and I don't think a joint before I do something monumentally stupid. She has an idea what we are going to do. I haven't said anything but I think she has an idea.
“Does you plan have anything to do with that self playing piano that your got delivered this morning?” I stop the tapping of my fingers on my leg and look at her. I just smile.
“You’ll just have to wait and see, wont ya.” I stand up, no longer able to sit. “This is getting annoying what's taking this arsehole so long?” we both turn and look over at him and he’s busy skimming through the ‘Beginners Guild to Arithmancy’. I have this mesmerised and know there is nothing in there that is difficult if you know the basics. It’s the end of the year soon and if he hasn't learned this by now then he ain't ever going to.
Unable to help myself I go over and quietly have a look. He's still engrossed in the book and doesn’t notice me looking at his ‘essay’, its not an essay its calculations. He’s trying to use both encryption and Aztec ruins to try and build a new spell. Well I assume its a new spell. Ive become very adept at ruins and spell building. It something I don't need to try and relearn myself, its information that is correct weather or not I use it in my spell casting. Its the basic way of breaking down the essence of a spell and while I don't have the option of doing spell creation in class just yet doesn’t mean I cant read into it.
It was my want for the creating of ward stones for the flat that made me learn it. Quite glad I did. “What are you trying to create? At the moment all the spell will do will turn you green then quite possible kill you. I have never seen anyone use Egyption and Aztec together like that. It are considered opposites. Eqyption ruins are considered lighter in nature, while Aztec are considered very dark and most of the time only used in the transplant spell. The one they use to transplant organs.” He looks at me like I’m an idiot.
“No they are not Aztec they are Persian.”
“HUH? How did you come to this conclusion they are clearly Aztec. Who the hell has been telling you its Persian? Just check references at the back if you don't believe me or better yet check with Alice tomorrow she will be in your class. I know she has Arithmancy with the Gryffindors.” He looks at me like he has just been hit over the head.
“Are you being serious?”
“Yes. Ive read up on it. I want to make ward stones.” I shrug. He shakes his head at me.
“Your weird! Why would you want to learn this in your spear time. I thought you would be training for Quidditch.”
“I do. That why we haven't lost yet.” I give him a wicked smile. “And why we will win to cup when Ravenclaw fail to get 360 over Slytherin tomorrow. Get to bed, talk to Alice tomorrow tell her I told you to. She will help. When is this exam?”
“Thursday.” I feel for this guy at least he’s trying to do something. He ends up going to bed and me and Hermione head off to the third floor corridor. She follows behind under the invisibility cloak. This is going to be fun.
The walk was uneventful. It was quiet, very quiet. I’m not sure if it was nerves or what but I was feeling tense, like something bad was coming. I just push this feeling to one side, its just my nerves.
Getting to the door I open it without even bothering with my wand. Pulling the shrunk down piano out of my pocket I give Hermione a quick glance and a smile before I rotate the door knob. The door creaks slightly but that's not the only sound we hear. We hear music. A very mellow tune played from a harp. Peaking my head in I see the big dog heads resting on the floor just beside the trap door, which was open. Damn it someone got here first.
The harp is still playing and I don't want to be here when it stops so I grab Hermione's sleeve and pull her to the trapdoor. I pull off the cloak and swing my head to look at the Cerberus. Its still asleep. I put the cloak away and motion for Hermione to go first. She shakes her head.
“Are you crazy?” She whispers. “There could be anything down there.”
“Just go I’m right behind you.”
“Why don't you go first?”
“Phffff… you know as well I do, you wont do if I go first.”
“That's not true.” I just raise an eyebrow and give her a quick push. She screams as she dissapears into darkness. I cant help but have a little chuckle. She's going to get me back for that I can guarantee it. Pulling myself from my thoughts I notice the music has stopped. A tingle goes up and down my spine. Then the feeling of warm air hitting me from behind. I stop thinking now and do the only thing I can. I slowly step into the abyss. I hear the dog heads barking and a few flecks of spittle hit me on the way down.
Falling onto something slightly soft and squidgy I feel around. “Mione? You there?”
“Yeah, I’m here.” she lights her wand allowing me to see here and a little of what we have just jumped into. Shit!
“Is this what I think it is?”
“Depends what you think it is.” I give her a pointed look. Then I remember I’m the one that threw her down this hole so I say nothing. “So what's your plan now genius.”
“I thought that was you. I’m just a thief.” I laugh because, why not, no time to cry now. Pulling out my wand I summon a powerful sun like light. Nearly blinding us both and with spots in my vision I see the devils snare withdraw and we drop to the floor about six feet below. I land on my arse and Hermione on me. She would probably say the same.
The room is pitch black but there is a door to the far right and there is light peaking out from the cracks. We wonder over and find it isn't locked. Gathering our courage we walk through it. We are greeted by what I assumed is hundreds of flying insects. All buzzing around what looks like the base of a tower. The room was a large circle. On the other side is another door.
“So this is another puzzle to solve. Why do you think they would go to so much trouble to hide something in a school. This is completely insane. Could you imagine if the muggles did this, they would be locked up in an asilem.” I vent some of my frustrations. Honestly I cant understand this. If this is a sneak peak at what it means to live in the magical world then I think I might have to think long and hard about whether or not I want to live here. I mean I don't have the best of impressions so far. The headmaster is a nut with a unhealthy fascination with me. People think its okay to assume shit about my life and for some reason that I will find out why, they have a mythical stone known for its ability to make people live forever hidden in a fucking school of all places and then put puzzles in place as protection. If that's not nuts then I have no idea what is.
I’m getting bored beyond believe now so I forgo the formalities. I point my want at the door leading on and blow the thing to pieces. I might have over done it as I hear it crash into whatever was on the other side. Woops. What we see is part of a table finally loose its battle with gravity and topple over. The other half of it is in pieces all over the room. Getting closer we see that there were potion vials before my spell hit them. Over the other side we see a doorway but its blocked by a massive fire being fired into the gap by the stones that make it. “I think that you may have foiled our attempts at getting any further. I think we needed the potions to fireproof ourselves before we go forward.” Hermione give me her opinions on our predicament.
“Solutions Hermione. Not problems.” I look around for anything else and come up short so I wonder over to the fire and see what the crack is with it. Hermione is off trying to see what she can salvage from the potions.
Taking a good look at the doorway I cant help but laugh at how simple it is. I mean they haven't even tried to hide it its there in plain sight for all to see. Hermione comes up to me and gives me that ‘have you gone loopy’ face. I just point at the ruins scraped into the rock all the way around the door frame. She takes them into consideration.
“They can’t be serious?”
“I think they are.”
“This wont keep out anyone that has done the first ever lesson in Arithmancy.” she shakes her head. Ruins work a bit like mathematical equations. You can use a formula to work out things like the area of a circle. With Arithmancy its similar. Each spell and ward has a fomualer. You can adapt the formula and still get the same outcome or spell but with magic being so fickle you can get little changes or evolutions of the spell. This is why spell crafting is difficult and considered very dangerous which is why they don't even try to attempt to teach us until third year. Your theory might be sound and the calculations correct but if magic doesn’t want to go that way then it wont and it normally ends up backfiring badly. This is why I consider the standard way of using magic so counterproductive. I don't fight my magic into submission like most. I go will the flow of magic and use that to help. Why fight the natural order when it wants so much to try and help us.
Anyway the way around this obstacle is simple take out a ruin and the rest of the ward shall fall. This can be tricky with complex and well designed ruin scripts but this isn't one. Its the most basic formula used. In fact it very close to the Incedio spells Arithmancy calculations. Its only the initial ruin that is changed from one of longevity to one of mobility. So I take out my wand and I erase the first and the third ruins. The first made it moveable and the removal of the first allows me to shut it down without going boom. A removal of the third and the whole thing becomes active and the magic dissipates into the either.
With that it was done and we walk through to the next puzzle we have to solve. Honestly this is stupid. Just a few arm guards would be better than this. I mean if the fucker can break into Gringotts, then this would be a walk in the fucking park. Who's idea was this, they need their head examined.
The hall we enter is covered in dust and bits of rock but I look around and see the walls and pillars are all in tacked. Strange. “Harry, come look at this.” she had gotten ahead of me while I was looking around. Its dark and even the light from our wands don't penetrate through it. Its not a natural dark. This makes me automatically on edge. That means somthing might be hiding in the darkness. I walk up to here scanning as far as I can as I go.
“What?”
“Look.” she points towards the pillar she is standing next to. I take a look lifting my wand above my head to try and project as much light as possible on to it. That's when I see what she means. The pillar isn't a pillar at all its a statue. Its not just this one either all of them had been the same. Very aware that this could get bad if they happen to be animated to stop anyone passing. I fucking jinxed myself. This is easy, guards would be better. Well Harry, you got your wish. Expecting the statues to come alive at any moment I nudge Hermione and motion for us to head forward. Not to far and we are clear of the statues and it starts to clear. I’m confused as all hell and I look at Hermione with an expression that portrays as much. She just shrugs. Well your useful.
With no other option we move forward. While moving I put my wand above my head and push as much power into the light as I could. It gets bright. So bright I cant stand to look at it. But it does the trick and we get to see significantly more than before. What lays in front of us is a giant chess set. Never one for sitting for long periods of time while I think about a game, I just barely recognise it but Hermione clear it up for me. Looking behind up we see the same.
“Doest Wizard’s Chess get very violent?” I whisper to Hermione as if saying it quietly will make it less true.
“Yeah, it does.”
“Bollocks! I don't want to get in the middle of that if I can help it.”
“Agreed. Do we just walk through them?”
“I thought you were the smart one?”
“Yeah but your the professional thief here.”
“Touché. I guess so. We got lucky so far maybe he already done this and its inactive.” She raises her eyebrows at me. “What it might.” she just starts walking off towards the chess pieces. I wonder why I bother sometimes and catch up. Its not to much distance to cover but we both hesitate when it comes to walking into the next set of statues. We don't even get within 6ft of them before the use their weapons to halt us in our tracks. Shit shit shit. “What does this mean?” Hoping beyond hope that it isn't the answer I expect.
“I guess we have to play.” She responds as she looks over to the set we passed through.
“Maybe not.” I am not playing by their rules. I am going to cheat my little arse off. “Go back to the door we came through.” She does and I trail behind grabbing as many, fist sized rocks as I can. Picking up one and seeing it was the foot from one of the statues I cant help but chuckle. I have some hair brained ideas. I wish Fred and George were here to see this I think they would appreciate my approach to this problem.
Getting to the door I see Hermione stop. By this point I’m carrying loads of rocks using my t-shirt as a basket. “What are you doing with all of them?” Its a valid question, one deserving of an answer the look on my face tells her isn't coming in the form of speech. “Bring your wand light over here I need to do something quickly.” She does and I cancel mine. Using my wand I etch a very special set of ruins into each one. This was something I learned very early on with ruins. Some if put together and get compromised can become very volatile. “Seriously Harry what are you doing?” She is trying to get a peak put I angle to stones at the point where she cant see what I’m putting down. After about twenty stones I feel they will be enough. I mover Hermione into a spot just behind me with her back to the old door.
“I'm going to throw these at them and I want you to keep giving me them as quick as I need them. This is going to be loud so prepare for that.” Her eyes go wide as she finally catches on to what I’m doing. “Ready?” She nods her head.
I throw the first one at the statues closest to us after using a low powered cut to the ruins. The rock starts to glow bright almost blinding. Shadows are cast all over the room. Then an almighty boom comes echo throughout the room ringing in our ears. Looking up, trying to see through the dust and debre I try to survey the damage, if any. To my surprise there is a nice sized gap in the ranks of the chest pieces. The rest stay inactive, which I will be honest isn't what I expected, I thought it would have triggered them to attack us but it seems I overestimated them. With new found confidence and put my hand out for Hermione to give me another. With a quick cut and throw another patch. We did this till all the rock grenades had been used. Could I got away with not throwing the last few? Yeah but where is the fun in that. I made them might as well use them.
Not waiting for the dust to settle I grab Hermione's hand and run for the door. Nearly loosing our footing on dibre and a few rather large craters we get the and bolt through it. We enter a new room this time there is that stupid mirror the one that DumbleDick was watching me over. This time there is no Dumbledore but Quirril. He starts to slowly turn around and I push Hermione to the side and behind a large boulder. I walk forward not giving her chance to follow me. I don't want her getting hurt in this. Its my fault she's here in the first place.
“Holy shit! Of all the people I expected to see, you definitely weren’t it.” I make an exaggerated attempt at thinking about something. “Actually no I take it back. Your a little bitch so of coarse you would want the power of the stone. Well that's what I assume that's what you want it for.” I seem him snarl a little.
“Big words from a little boy.” he spits “I Knew you were a danger especially after Halloween.”
“Ah, so that was you. Let me guess you got stumped by fluffy too huh?” He looks at me like I just grown a new head. “What?”
“Very good, Potter, yes. Snape, unfortunately, wasn't fooled. While everyone else was running about the dungeons, he went to the third floor to head me off. He, of course, never trusted me again. He barely left me alone. But he doesn't understand - I'm never alone. Never. Now, what does this mirror do? Yes, I see what I desire. I see myself holding the stone. But how do I get it?”
A serpent sounding voice speaks of from nowhere “Use the Boy!” not liking the sound of that
“Come here, Potter! NOW!” Shrugging I walk forward but preparing for the worst I finger my wand, just to be ready.
“Now... tell me. What do you see?” I take a look in the mirror and start to hope that Hermione see sense and stays where she is. Looking into the mirror I see the same as last time. A family can never have. But I see the mirror harry do something I wasn't. He pulled out the stone from his pocket. My hand that is in my pocket holding my wand slides down and I feel something hard and a little sharp in places. Its the stone. How the fuck?
“What is it, what do you see?” God this guy is a prick.
“I see… me and… some old lady getting down and dirty. I think its your Mum.”
“LIES!” Screamed that snake like voice.
“Tell the truth! What do you see?”
“Let me speak to him.”
“Master, you are not strong enough!”
“I have strength enough for this…” Quirrell unwraps his turban and slowly turn his back on me. The look on my face is a one of complete and utter disgust. There on the back of Quirrell's head was a face. Barely recognisable as a man's.
“Harry Potter. We meet again.”
“You!” I Snarl, almost as if I’m feral. I know who this is this is the fucker that killed my Mum and Dad. He is the reason I had to endure the worst forms of torture anyone can endure. I don't think, I just react. Forgoing my wand I bring my hand up and across putting as much power into the cutting hex as I can muster. It takes off his head. It bounces a little as it hits the ground his body tumbling down a fraction of a second later. The look of surprise on his face. The hex was so powerful it turned the mirror into nothing but the bottom half of the frame and the rest was shrapnel littering the floor.
Blood starts to pool at my feet as suddenly a huge cloud of dense smoke rose out of the head of Quirrellmort. Shooting directly at me. I had little time to react but luckily I don't have to. Hermione was behind me hit her wand out and pointed in my direction. She had managed a strong shield that, what I can only imagine is Voldermort just bounced off and he went screaming out of the room.
I give her a quick smile as a thanks and just sit down on the step that lead to the door. Its starting to sink in that I just killed a man. After a few minutes when the adrenaline had finally worn off, I was a shacking mess and I just wanted to go to the common room. I was so shaky I could spark up a tab. There is nothing worse than needing a smoke and not being able to. Hermione sees me in my distress and takes the lighter off me. She lights it up and lets me spark up my cigarette. After a few deep draws I’m finally back to a semblance on normalcy.
“I think we should go get a teacher. They will no what to do.”
“Don't be fucking stupid Hermione. They will lock me up and throw away the key, Ive just killed a man.” God what do I do? “Okay we leave. Lets get the fuck out of here and back to the dorms. No one but us and him know we were here. We don't speak of this, ever.” She nods. We head back to the dorms without incident.
It was the walk back that made me realise that I still have the stone in my pocket. Passing through there portrait the common room is empty. We have been gone a few hours and its touching 4am. We sit on the sofa just to collect ourselves. It didn’t really feel like we had escaped until we were back here. This is where I tell Hermione about the stone in my pocket. I get it out and show her. She's in awe a bit. Which is understandable considering this had the power to stop you from dyeing and can give you untold riches. It is an extraordinary piece of magic. My issue now is, what do I do with it. Yeah I wanted to steal it but that was partly because I wanted to prove I could and the other half was because its going to royally piss off Dumbledore. I think I will take it back to Sam before I go to bed. I know it will be risky but hey this whole night has been one huge risk after another. We have another week of school before we leave. If we can get through that then we should be in the clear. Tomorrow will be the decider.
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So nothing was mentioned. To me, Hermione or the rest of the school. The headmaster informed the school that Professor Quirrell had decided to leave for greener pastures. So for all intents and purposes I just got away with murder. What confuses me is that no one finds it a little suspicious that he had just upped and left leaving all his belongings behind. I don't believe for one second that the headmaster actual believed this story. He would know all his stuff was left behind. My guess is that they are keeping this on the down low. Why I don't know and I want to find out but sometimes you just shouldn’t look a gift horse in the mouth. I might have just gotten away with this and I font want to tempt fate any more than I already have.
I’m sitting with Hermione and Alice at the Gryffindor table. The Philosophers stone was safely put away in my safe at home. I got revenge on the man that killed my parents and I’m off the hook. Today is a good day. Tomorrow we have the last Quidditch match of the season. If Ravenclaw win by a huge margin we were in for the cup. Slytherin doesn’t stand a chance of winning but they fight hard just out of pride. Which is good mentality to have.
The twins come over to us and we get an invite to watch the match with them. I think George has a thing fer Hermione because of all the time we have spent together I have always thought of him as confidant to a fault. That was until I took note of his interactions with her. Its really cute. He gets all tounge tide and cant seem to think properly. Hermione has asked me a few times whether she should be worried about him. She, herself is oblivious to the meaning of it and quite frankly I don't want to tell her I want her to figure it out. Its to funny to tell her now anyway. She really thinks there is something wrong with him. When I told Fred we had a right good giggle over it all.
That was pretty much it. I thought I would have had a bit more of a reaction to having just killed someone in cold blood but the more I thought about it the more I realised that it just isn't effecting me. I should be concerned but its the opposite I feel pride in having gotten ride of that mad man. I have no guilt over the professor either, as far as I’m concerned he was a dead man anyway. Its common knowledge that possession takes a huge toll on the host and with all the time they had been joined he probably didn’t have much time left. I’m going to look at it as a plus. I just hope this doesn’t mean that I’m going to be a phycopath. Will just have to cross that bridge when I come to it I suppose.
The rest of the day went about normally. I did feel the presence of the headmaster from time to time and during lunch he seemed very intrigued with what was going on over my side of the hall. I think he was looking for a change or something. I think he knows it was me that offed Quirrell but he has yet to say anything. I don't react, I go on as normal.
Dinner was a different affair but not because of Dumbledore. We were at the Gryffindor table talking to Nevill and Seamus when the twins came in and instead of sitting beside each other as was custom the sat beside both me and Hermione, and we were facing each other. While not the norm its hardly something to consider as weird. What I would considered weird was they both tried to get us into hushed conversations when there was no need to. Fred was doing it with me too and it was a bit quirky. They weren’t discussing prank plans or anything. What was weird was they made a point of asking us to discuss prank plans later tonight ‘somewhere private.’
With both me and Hermione kinda numb to their weirdness accept their invitation. It must be really good if they want to advertise that something will go down. I tell them no worries “we will be there. Where is there exactly?” They both do that annoying look at each other then back to us. They are always down for the dramatics.
“Meet us in the astronomy classroom. 6 o’clock.” I nod and agree. Both looking a bit smug with themselves, they leave. Leaving me and Hermione to wonder if we might be the ones getting pranked.
Dinner ended as nice as it started and Hermione comes with me to send a letter to Sam. She had one for her parents so it made sense to go together on the way to meet the twins. We just chilled in her dorm room until we had to meet them. Actually that's a thought. Ever since the day I found out about fluffy I realised that I can walk up and down the girls dorm stairs and they don't turn into a slide like it does like it does with the other boys. So it made me wonder, does the magic that controls that mechanism relies on someone gender or sexual orientation. Unfortunately being gay in the magic world is even worse than the muggle world. Here it could be your ruin. If anyone found out about me then I wouldn't be able to get a job in the magical world. I would be seen as unclean. I found this out when some of Alices friends gave me the heads up. Most people don't really care but enough people do its considered taboo. Seems like Christianity managed to gets its footholds in this world too. As far as I can tell with what little material there is in the library, it was the influence of the Christians that created a lot of the traditions that the pure bloods find so necessary. It fit into their rhetoric but instead of thinking that Christ was the almighty it was magic.
It made me think a little about being less obvious about myself. Being young I might be able to get away with it for a while but no forever.
Me and Hermione make our way out of the portrait hole and walk towards owl tower which is my nick name for the Owlery. We are deep in discussion about the value of ruins over spell casting. I’m am adamant that if someone devoted enough time to the discipline then they could outdo most spells. She for some stupid reason doesn’t believe me but for me I am so right but I get her point on it. I just have a lot of respect for the art of ruin control. Just to make a point to her I pull out my wand and create the ruins for levitation and control into the air and powered them. Using my wand I direct the ruins towards Hermione and she is swiftly lifted off the ground and proceeds to hover next to me as I walk.
“OH GOD HARRY POTTER, PUT ME DOWN.” I ignore her and continue to walk. A little smirk on my face. Hermione just crosses her arms and lets the magic take her where I go. We send our letters and we head towards the astronomy tower. Our discussion again in full swing and we are laughing at my bleach blond hair she cursed me with we are unfortunately interrupted by a sound neither of us want to hear. “Hey Harry.” I turn around and its Ron walking up to us. I sigh and contemplate chopping off this idiots head too. Then I remind myself I’m not a phyco and that being an idiot doesn’t constitute being killed no matter how good of an argument one may make.
With Hermione giving me that ‘be nice’ look I reply, “What the fuck do you want dick head?” avoiding the look she's probably giving me I continue. “I thought you made your thoughts clear about me. What could you possible want now?” I can see him going a bit beetroot but he keeps his cool. Shame.
“I just wanted to say I’m… sorry.” he practically spat that out.
“Okay. You said it, no run along like a good little sheep.” I’m starting to think that the colour of his cheeks indicates what level of pissed off he's at. I cant help but smile a little at the thought.
“I don't get it. What did I do? Why do you like my arsehole brothers more than me? You have been a dick since we met and all Ive done is try and be nice to you. I want to be your friend.” He doesn’t look mad any more he just looks defeated. Throwing the little shit a bone I indulge him.
“I don't like you because since the moment I met you, you have been arrogant and presumes thinking you know me. Then you were a prick to us all. You slandered me all over the school, insulted my boyfriend and my lifestyle. Called me worse than shit and you ask me why? Oh Christ you are so clueless its not even funny. Ron even after me an Hermione saved you from the troll you were telling people that we were best friends. The reality is I am not and probably never will be. I like your brothers because while they can be full on they just want to have fun. That's all I want to do. You are way to intense for me to be cool with. Just chill and find your own friends and leave me alone. I wont ask this nicely again.” and I really was trying to be nice here. My thoughts are if I’m honest then maybe, just maybe he might get what I’m selling. “Then there is the whole following me around all the time. Was very stalker ish.”
At this he goes red again but this time its his ears. “I’m sorry. I had to.” This gets my attention. Is he about to rat out DumbleDick?
“What do you mean, you had to? Did someone put a wand to your head and say they will kill you if you didn’t?” he shakes his head
“No but Mum said that I have to be your friend or Professor Dumbledore will stop the funding that helps us go to Hogwarts. Mum is scared he wont let Ginny come unless I can be your friend.” HOLY SHIT. I’m a twat and I would never do something like that. Fucking harsh. Now I see why he was so desperate to befriend me. A thousand thoughts go running through my head. The twins didn’t know or they would have told me. This also explains their mother. Settling on an idea. Dumbledore seems to be using blackmail as a way of control over people. That's no better than the fucking imperious curse. I get the line of thinking that its best to made a friend than an enemy I do something I wouldn't normally do.
“I will talk to you tomorrow.” he looks at me stunned. “We can sort something out but I need something from you first.” he looks ready to jump up and down. His smile nearly splitting his face in two.
“Really? Oh thank you Harry I will be the best fr…”
“Don't get ahead of yourself. I said we will talk. And you probably wont be thanking me by the end.” his face drops and he starts to look terrified. “Don't worry I ain't going to hurt you, its just not going to be pleasant for you.” This doesn’t change his expression but it makes me smile. “Meet me in the library after the game tomorrow. Don't keep me waiting.” He nods his head and me and Hermione walk away. She taps me on the shoulder and asks me what I have planned. Turning to her and giving her a genuine smile. “Making friends.”
“With Ron? You hate Ron!”
“I do but not his brothers and if what he says is true then I can understand his desperation. He would be getting it in the neck at home. He will feel its his fault when his sister is inevitably not aloud into Hogwarts.”
“So your doing this for the twins?”
“Basically, yes. They seem to struggle at home. If I could ease that a bit then so be it. Besides I can sort the tuition issue out if it arises.”
“Wow, Harry are you being charitable.” she says in the most mocking of tones. I shove her into a suit of armer and she and it crashes to the ground. While I didn’t mean to do that, I only intended to startle her, I honestly didn’t think she would topple over like that, it was still side splittingly funny. I was going to help her up but I was struggling to breath.
She got up and gave me a death scowl. I just laughed harder. Honestly I am her friend. She storms off towards the tower and I follow but I still cant help but have a chuckle at her storming off. She's funny when she's angry. She reaches the tower first and I walk in still with a slight grin on my face and eyes a little puffy from the tears of laughter Ive been shedding as we went.
“What's up with you two?” George asks as we enter. The twins are leaning against a desk.
“Hermione is funny when she's angry.”
“No! You pushed me into a suit of armer.”
“How else do I get you angry?” I ask as if it the most stupid question ever. “Besides I didn’t think you would fop to the side like that but I am sorry, I promise I wont do it again no matter how funny I think it will be.” Knowing that its the best that she will get she relaxes and we all start to chat away. I did notice that George made a beeline for Hermione. Small talk over with I ask about the giant elephant in the room.
“So guys, what's this all about?” I eye them both knowing that something must be up. I’m thinking something awesome like pranking the headmaster or something.
“Nothing we just wanted to get to know the two new members to our generation of marauders.” Me and Hermione just look at each other. What the hell are these guys on about? “No, we are being serious. Back in the 70’s there was this group of kids that got together and made history with their pranks. They have yet to be beaten and we don't like that.” Fred intervenes with,
“We managed to steal their map from Filtch in our first year.” He pulls out an old ragged looking piece of parchment.
“Its been essential to our success.” He places he wand tip to the parchment “I solemnly swear I’m up to no good.” the parchment starts to turn into a entire map of the castle. Not just that but it tells you exactly where everyone is at at that exact moment. Its brilliant. I should have thought of that. I take the map off George and look it over. It is a spectacular piece of magic. One would even say its a work of art. I can see faintly the marks of the ruins that are the engine for the whole thing. Its so detailed. I can see parts of Hogwarts very own wards in there.
In the standard introduction to ruins book 4 it actually refers to some of the wards that have been used over the years. Some of the wards themselves go back to the building of the castle. Others have been added over the years as magic has developed and people learned more. In the early 1400’s one of the headmasters was a ruin master. He is the one responsible for the wards in control of the suits of armer and the ruins are the reason why they move sometimes. They are kinda alive as long as the ruins are active. They engage in combat should the castle ever be attacked.
I’m awed by the thing. Whoever made this has knowledge of the castle very few have. They knew where the ward stone was. That's the only way they got to know to link the right ruins without killing themselves. It couldn’t be done by trial and error.
The front of the map was adorned with elaborate decorations which in themselves are beautiful. The names Moony, Wormtail, Padfoot and Prongs were there in a barely ledgable script. The creators and self proclaimed marauders. I think I would have liked these people. They know how to get shit done by the looks of things.
Fred Breaks out some champaign from somewhere and pores everyone a glass. “A toast. To the start of something beautiful.” Me and Hermione laugh and clink our glasses with the twin’. The night progressed and we got my Walkman out. I got some external speakers working with it so I enlarge them after I brought them from my pocket and we all have a good dance to some Chicago. I didn’t mean to put it on as I could swear that I had kizz in it earlier when I last used it. One of the really slow songs come on and Hermione gets offered to dance by George. It was so funny he was so cringy that I couldn’t look away. Not wanting to get in the way of whatever these boys had planned I walk out on to the balcony.
That's the thing about living in a castle miles and miles from any large population. The stars are so clear. You don't get to see a sky like this in the middle of Newcastle that much is for sure. I love it how you can see the constellations so clearly. I’m leaning again the stone railing that surrounds the large balcony as I hear steps coming towards me. Its Fred. “I’m going to take you pegged us huh?”
“Wasn't to hard to notice. What I don't understand is why you didn’t tell me. I would have helped, you can see she likes him.” I turn a bit serious and looking Fred straight in the eyes “He better not make her do anything she isn't ready for. We might be the Marauders now but that doesn’t mean I want chop off his balls. She's innocent. Keep it that way.” He looks at me and smiles.
“He wouldn't dream of it.”
“Good. Wanna smoke with me?”
“Emm it ain't as strong as last time is it?” Bless him. I stitched him the other week. It was the really strong stuff I use for bed and he was completely cabbaged on the couch.
“Na you'll good.” he joins me in looking over the rails at the forest and the stars. We talk about nothing and everything. We finish smoking and I realise he is very close to me now. He's talking about some prank he did with George to Ron when he was younger. Something to do with a spider that bit him they weren’t sure was poisonous or not. Then that go me thinking. “I bumped into Ron today. He told me something interesting.” I proceed to tell Fred everything Ron told me. By the end Fred was angry.
“So if Ron' not talking shit then Professor Dumbledore is blackmailing Mum and Dad?”
“I guess so. I will find out tomorrow. I’m going to talk to him and if it turns out that its true I wanna talk with your mum and dad at some point. Ive got enough to cover the cost of Hogwarts. Me and Sam have been lucky and with our previous ‘job’ we haven't wanted for anything. So much so that he has actually gone legit and stating training to become an IT engineer.” According to Sam its going to be the way forward from now on. Last time I saw him he was giving me a passionate speech about how one day we will have computers you can hold in your hand, call someone and its a live video of the other person. I love his heart and his passion, I really do but sometimes I wish he would come back to earth, hell witches and wizards have magic and the closest thing they have to that is sticking their head into the fire.
Fred looks a bit shocked that I would offer such a thing. “You don't have to do that. It would cost thousands.”
“Its not an issue. Anyway I cant have you guys leave this school. Your the best part of it.” He gives me a beaming smile. Then all of a sudden his lips are on mine and I freeze. WHAT THE HOLY FUCK BALLS!” I pull away not even a second after his lips touch mine. “What the hell Fred? What are you doing?”
“I just thought… I… I’m…” He turns and runs back into the tower. I don't run after him. He wouldn't have meant anything by that he was just a little drunk and he got caught up in the moment. Yeah that's it, caught up in the moment. I shouldn’t be surprised, I would want to kiss me too. I take a peak in the door and see that Hermione and George are still slow dancing but they seem more interested in trying to eat each others faces so I slip in and out the door and into the hallway before either notice me. I would go my usual way but I drank way to much to be climbing on tight ledges. So I pull my cloak out of my bag and I walk back to the common room unhindered by anyone and invisible to all the portraits. God I love this cloak.
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The rest of the week was quiet. The Marauders baptised themselves in the glory of a few days of prank chaos. We were lucky to get away with most of them. But having the teachers tap dance to an Irish jog on the second to last day got them detention that night. All four of us. Hermione was devastated. Never had she ever had a detention and her clear streak is at and end and how ca she go home a shame to her family. All this did nothing for my sides as I found it hilarious, it made the whole detention of cleaning cauldrons by hand worth every moment.
I talked to Ron. I told him my plans and he's down for it. Not being an avid user of Legamency it took me a while to find what I was looking for, his unorganised mind probably didn’t help. I read that that can be a thing. He was telling the truth and I saw all I need to see of Dumbledore. The old man is disgusting, he is just using people to get to me. Why I have no idea but its got me really freaked. This is something big and I’m scared to find out and its not often that I can say that. Dumbledore may be a cockend but he is a very powerful cockend. This means it would only really get into career ending blackmail shit if its something bad. No matter how I look at it nothing works out well for me. But now is not the time. I have arranged with Ron to tell Dumbledore that I have forgiven him and even invited him around to mine during the holidays as a way of saying sorry. The old man will buy that shit hook, line and sinker. Then I will arrange with the Weasley's to sort them out in the even that the shit hits the fan and I have to show that card. Lets hope it doesn’t come to that. I have grown quite accustomed to having that nice little buffer then in case we needed anything. If push comes to shove we will do another job. Might do one for shits and giggles. It is a long time to spend without some activities to keep me occupied.