Chapter 16
Voldemort was currently training in the dueling room when the house elf, Dobby, popped in with an annoying shriek. Ignoring the urge to kill the damn elf he sneered, “What? Can’t you see I’m busy?”
The elf paled and managed to mutter holding his hands up dismissively, “N-No s-sir, Dobby w-was o-o-ordered h-h-here by m-master. He is in t-the l-living r-r-room.”
Voldemort rolled his eyes at the cowering creature but nodded anyway, the house elf didn’t even deserve a response. It quickly popped away, and Voldemort made a begrudging walk to the living room. When he entered, he saw Lucius holding a letter with a barely noticeable smirk. Voldemort cursed his entire existence, whatever it is he will be pleased, or murderously angry. He still hasn’t forgiven Lucius for giving the diary to that Weasley brat, he was still figuring out a way to get it without announcing his return. The only people that are aware is Dumbledore, Lucius, and Harry Potter himself, and no way could he risk Potters safety for his oddly sentient Horcrux. By now if the girl was still writing in it, she’d become murderous and extremely anxious if someone took it, he knew the girl would attack Potter with all her might. Not that he believed that she could defeat Potter, but she could still injure him, nonetheless. After all an individual that believes they have nothing to lose is one of the most dangerous opponents, even if they are magically weak.
“What is it, Lucius?” Voldemort demanded seeing as his follower was waiting for him to speak first.
“Potter has been attacked by three students at Hogwarts, Draco had written me a letter about it. You haven’t gotten another letter since the attack, and I don’t believe you have been contacting anyone yet.” Lucius stated a bit to smug for Voldemort’s liking, he hated it when his death eaters got too comfortable with him. He also hated how intelligent the man was, his deductive skills are still as sharp as they were ten years ago.
Voldemort sneered, “Lucius I may be lenient with you right now but do remember who you are talking to. Anyway, you are correct in the fact I have contacted Mr. Potter but at the moment I am pretending to be Quirrell. He is aware of my return though.”
Lucius eyes widened to an unhealthy extent before muttering, “I’m sorry my Lord, forgive me. So, you aren’t trying to kill him?”
Voldemort suppressed an eye roll before stating coldly, “Do not question me. What were the injuries that Potter has sustained?”
Voldemort noted that Lucius turned paler before saying, “My Lord Potter has received, 3 broken bones, multiple bruises and...” He cut himself off causing Voldemort to raise one of his eyebrows. He quickly continued, “The word “FREAK” was written on his chest, they couldn’t remove the scar since the spell was dark, and it is meant to scar.”
Anger immediately writhed in his veins; he couldn’t believe it! He quickly nodded his head and inquired, “What happened to the boys?”
“They were expelled, but it is rumored that they are going to Durmstrang for their magical education. That is what Draco told me, I can check the files on the two students to make sure.” Lucius said as he bowed his head down in submission. Voldemort didn’t bother smirking, no, he was too angry about the whole situation.
Doing his best to not growl he said, “Yes, I would like confirmation.” And at those words he marched away, his magic threatening to lash out.
When he entered his room, he sat down contemplating how he should continue. He cannot let those three get away from hurting on what is HIS! Voldemort paused for a second, if the three boys were doing to Durmstrang than that would be best. For one their headmaster is one of his followers, he could simply request that the three are delivered to him. Yes, it wouldn’t be as simple as that, but he could figure out the details when it’s confirmed that they are entering the school.
---
Harry had been stuck in the hospital wing for two days. During that time, he has been either sleeping or reading, he managed to get Draco to sneak in some book on dark spells. Specifically, a book on torture that he stole from the restricted section right before the attack. It annoyed him to no end that his friend was hesitant and claimed that it had a lot of “disturbing content” and not even he would read it. Eventually after 5 minutes of back-and-forth Draco relented and snuck the book to him. He found a lot of interesting spells, though one spoke out to him the most. Intus foris, (It means “inside out” in English) it forces the victims to slowly puke out their insides, starting from the kidneys to the esophagus. Harry knew the spell would be incredibly hard to preform, but he didn’t care. He wanted to see what that would look like.
When he was released, he emotionally and physically drained, and most annoying he had to go to the Great Hall for breakfast. The only positive thing is that he won’t miss the first dueling class. There had only been one petrifaction since he was in the hospital wing, Collin Creevey, a first year Gryffindor. He hated how prominent the scar on his chest is, it was black and dark looking. He couldn’t even get his revenge since they were expelled, Draco told him that they were being transferred to another school as well. So, it's not like they even got a punishment! Sighing he walked to the Great Hall to get breakfast.
When he arrived the took his normal seat and did his best to ignore the worried stares of his friends. Class was odd as well the teachers gave him glances when he thought he wasn’t looking, it annoyed him to no end. At least Professor Snape acted the same, if not a bit crueler than anything. He was just glad that the Professor didn’t say anything about the attack and didn’t give him detention. Dueling had proven to be interesting they learned simple spells and shields. They sadly hadn’t got the chance to duel anyone, he mainly just practiced the spells. The only thing that he truly hated is when Lockhart showed him how to “Position” himself and basically embraced him. God, he wished the man would just die.
When it became time for Lunch Harry immediately walked to common room to write Professor Quirrell a response letter. He hadn’t managed to respond due to his attack, grabbing parchment paper and a quill Harry wrote,
“Dear Professor Quirrell,
I must apologize for the late response as I have been attacked by fellow students at my school. As for your question about my sorting it compared me to a student that had attended the school in 1938, I do not know the specific name though. The hat said it was worried about the path I am going, although it is most likely dramatics. I too had a chance to be sorted into Ravenclaw, but I chose Slytherin. It said that Ravenclaw would give me knowledge, while Slytherin would give me power. Your weak persuasions to get me to be a death eater is rather amusing as well, you may continue to try.
Have a good day,
Harry Potter.”
Harry smirked as he walked to the owlery and gave it to a brown screech owl. Turning around he headed to the Great Hall for rest of the lunch period. He received a few questioning glances from his friends, but they didn’t say anything about his absence. The rest of the say passed, and it was finally time for bed. He was too excited to try out the new spells he learned from two days ago, he hadn’t even forgotten them.
Although Harry had no intentions of going to bed, no, he would be going to the forbidden forest to try out new spells. He first needed a subject. After all he couldn’t go around looking for one in the forest, he would accidentally go to deep and get lost. He took his invisibility cloak cast a quick “Quietus!” and walked over to Theo, who was in his bed cuddling his cat. He knew what he would have to do. Putting his wand up to the feline he whispered, “Petrificus Totalus” which caused the animal to freeze up and unable to move. He quickly cast a wandless sleeping charm on his friend and took the cat and left the Slytherin dorms. Harry knew he should feel bad about harming the cat of his best friend, but in all honesty, he couldn’t force himself to care. When left the castle and entered the forbidden forest Harry quickly released the spell causing the cat to wake up disoriented.
Dropping the creature to the ground Harry pointed his wand at the cat and muttered, “Incarcerous” it didn’t work the first time, after all he never casted the spell. The cat had attempted to run away but be grabbed it in time, unfortunately it had scratched him on the arm. Harry had too much adrenaline pumping in his veins to notice, so he quickly held the cat down cast the spell a second time. The cat screeched as thick black ropes tied it down. Harry winced slightly at the memory of his assault and how that was the spell they used to attack him. He quickly shrugged it off, after all that is where he learned the spell. Smirking Harry remembered everything he needed to do to cast the Intus foris spell, all he had to do was point his wand at the victim and swish and flick.
Taking a deep breath Harry pointed his wand at it swished and flicked, then he said putting all his magical strength to the spell, “Intus foris” Almost immediately the cat started to dry heave in agony. He was first surprised by the fact that it only took him one attempt to succeed, but that surprise quickly morphed into intrigue. The cat’s dry heaving turned into it coughing up large amounts of blood and it started to try and curl up in a ball. Soon enough he could hear a crack in its jaw and a bloody lump halfway out its mouth. Harry just stared; the poor things jaw broke because the item was too big to come out! The felines neck had started to widen as well, it would die of suffocation and blood loss before the spell had the chance to complete. Harry cast a wandless “Diffindo” charm, cutting off the cat’s head.
Suddenly Harry got the sadistic urge to bring the decapitated corpse back to Theo. He was slightly disturbed by it, after all Theo had been one of the first friends Harry had acquired. The urge was too strong though, he wanted to see the reaction. The sad and disturbed faces of not only Theo but everyone in the Slytherin common room. Picking up the cat’s corpse Harry flung his invisibility cloak and walked to the Slytherin table. His footsteps leaving off trials of blood.
When the deed was done harry cast a quick cleaning charm and walked to his own bed, to not leave of footprints leading directly to him. He was honestly surprised that Theo had not woken up, after all the texture of his friendly feline was wet and lumpy from all the blood that coated its fur. He blames the sleeping charm he re-casted. Giving a dark smile he changed into his silk pajamas and went to bed, feeling as if could rule the world.
Harry knew that the urge to kill something wasn't just trying out a new spell, but also the feeling of being weak. He couldn't just get over how defenseless he was, he only managed to take down one of them, and he didn't even stop them from mutilating him! It was irrational to believe that he could defeat three people that had a lot more experience than him, he knew that. But it came to close to the memories from the Orphanage. He wasn't weak! As quickly as the thought came into Harry's mind, they were gone with the dark void called sleep.
---
Harry awoke to the sound of screaming; jolting awake he observed his surroundings. He had forgotten of his last night excursion, but it all clicked when he saw Theo. His friend was covered in blood and sitting on the floor pointing at his bed screaming hysterically. Harry got up and ran to Theo, pretending to be worried. His friend paid no attention to him and his attempt to calm him down. He never expected Theo to react to dramatically, after all it was just a cat. While Harry was trying to get Theo to calm down, Draco and the other male Slytherins had just woken up as well. It happened to fast for Harry, but he was suddenly lined in the common room with the other male Slytherins, other than Theo who was clutching onto Professor Snape like a lifeline. The Professor himself however didn’t seem that much better other than the fearful look was twisted in rage. The girl Slytherins had been woken up, but they were standing on the other side of the room, staring fearfully at the head of their house.
Professor Snape gave a weak scorn, the whole thing seemed to have shaken him up as well. “Well did any of you witness the… attacker?” Everyone shook their head, including Harry who was inwardly jumping with excitement. He liked the feeling of the power and adrenaline flooding through with veins, this time he is risking more than a detention.
“I know one of you did it! Although I suppose I can rule people out and play it that way. Draco, come here.” Professor Snape growled as his Godson scrambled to his side. Harry inwardly sniggered, he never saw Draco in such a dazed and terrified state before. He almost felt bad, but he quickly shrugged the emotion off, after all he couldn’t change what he had done.
Theo muttered, “H-Harry w-w-wouldn’t have d-done this…” Harry walked elegantly when Professor Snape sneered and called his name. He suddenly realized that the Professor was staring at him, apparently, he didn’t act shocked enough. Quickly flicking his mask on Harry pretended to be scared. This seemed to have made Professor Snapes eyes widen but he quickly flicked his attention back on the other students.
They were all quickly dismissed to get ready for the day. They found no one.
However, Harry was told to stay by Professor Snape who was staring at him disturbed facial expression before muttering, “I find it disturbing that you could do this to a person that considers you a friend.”
Harry cocked his eyebrow amused; he didn’t bother keeping up his expression of disturbance. After all Snape could not prove anything, yes, he could show the memory, but him acting amused is not definite proof. He isn’t stupid enough to admit it outright. Harry responded politely, “I don’t understand, sir.”
“Don’t act stupid I saw you for a second, the real you. I am rather observant I saw that new and relatively small cat scratch on your arm. You are wearing a very well-made human persona.” Snape sneered.
Harry’s amusement died down as he said coldly, “You have no proof.”
Professor Snape nodded and said, “Correct, and given the fact you won’t admit I doubt I ever will. I will be watching you.” And at those words he walked away.
The rest of the day had been tense, and Theo had been given permission to take the day off. Draco had written a frantic letter to his father telling him the sight, and well Harry played along with their fears. This wasn’t just an inter-house issue either, due to his bloody footprints that led into the Slytherin common room, a great deal of other people saw them. Luckily Mr. Flinch cleaned the bloody footprints before anyone else saw them.
To add insult to the injury it also came out Harry was a parselmouth. It was an accident, but the same result happened, nonetheless. Today they were dueling, Ronald Weasley and harry were paired up to do simple spells, which Harry did obediently. Of course, Weasley being the stupid Gryffindor he was summoned a snake, who was angry and would attack any person in sight. It was going to attack Granger, but Harry decided to give into Gryffindor impulses command it not to. He wasn’t even aware that he was speaking it!
The small percentage of people who believed Harry to be the heir of Slytherin grew to the majority, Harry mentally kicked himself for his stupidity. The day was going so well too… well good for him, terrible for everyone else. He received whispers and stares, it got to the point where Draco were defending him. Harry was glad that Theo got the day off though, he would freak out over the stares. The day was full of whispers about Theo’s cat and the psychopathic murder in the school, and Harry being the heir of Slytherin.
Harry inwardly grinned that no one made a connection between him and the cat. They were too busy to see the obvious facts, that Professor Snape had sadly seen. The man needs to die soon, maybe not this year, or next year, but soon…