Shadow Of My Friend

Disclaimer: I did not create any of the Harry Potter Characters.

Warning: Book 6 spoilers

A/N: This is for a challenge on the Hogwarts Bookshelf. Follow this link to see other entries: http://www.hbookclub.proboards105.com/index.cgi?board=contests&action=display&thread=1154324412&page=1

Here are the rules:

Choose a character that is replaced by an impostor. The person could really be replaced and no one knows about it, or everyone thinks that the person is replaced but they are really not, or some mixture between the two . . . you decide!

Basic plot that must be used: Voldemort has an idea to ruin Harry Potter . . . and he has every reason to believe that it will work.

The Panther And The Imposter

Harry groaned and sat up of the hard dirt. He shivered slightly, as the cold wind seeped through his cloak. Rubbing his eyes tiredly, Harry stood up and walked over to where Ron was sleeping. “Ron,” He whispered, “Ron, wake up.”

Ron mumbled something incoherent and opened his eyes, “What?” he said grumpily.

“I need to talk to you.” Harry said quietly, “Now.”

Ron nodded and stood up. Harry quickly led the way into the bush and looked around hesitantly before turning back to Ron. “Have you noticed anything odd with Ginny lately?” he asked quietly.

Ron looked surprised and his eyes darkened slightly, “Why?”

Harry gave another glance around the bush and looked at Ron, “I think she might be being controlled by Voldemort.”

Ron's expression was shadowed but Harry thought he saw a flicker of concern. “How do you know this?”

Harry sighed and sat down, “Odd things here and there. Sometimes it's things she lets slip and other times it's her expression. She's like a whole new person. I would have thought you'd be the first to notice.”

Ron looked a bit uncomfortable, “I've had a lot on my mind.” He said quietly.

Harry shook his head, “It doesn't matter anymore. I've already talked to Hermione about this and she agrees that the best thing is to keep an eye on her.

Ron nodded thoughtfully and quickly turned as Ginny herself walked into the bushes looking slightly disorientated. Harry stared at her confused, “Ginny, what are you doing?” He asked quickly.

Ron brushed past Harry and grasped Ginny's arm. “You alright Ginny?” he asked gently.

The disorientated look vanished, as she looked into Ron's eyes, and she smiled and nodded, “Yeah, are we ready to go to the grave?”

Harry nodded, “Yeah, I'll just go wake Hermione,” He said and walked away. Something was wrong and he had to find out what before it was too late.

OOOOOOOOOOOOO

“What do you mean Potter knows?” The panther hissed.

The silver eyes glinted, “He's not stupid, he knows that something is wrong.”

“You shouldn't have slipped up like that.” The panther said harshly.

“Yeah, well it's a bit hard to keep track all the time.” The person retorted.

The panther sighed and stared at the silver-eyed person, “Very well, meet me at the grave. We shall end this tonight.”

“What will you do with him?”

“Who?” The panther replied pausing.

“Harry.”

The panther laughed, a cold laugh, “Don't tell me you're growing fond of the boy?”

The silver eyes darkened and the panther laughed even more. “You surprise me, but I shall relieve you of your burdens. I am simply going to hand him over to the Dark Lord like I promised.”

“I don't believe you.”

The panther glared at him, “Do not question me. Now get back before they suspect anything else.”

OOOOOOOOOOOO

As they made their way to the valley, Harry began to feel an ominous feeling building inside him. He just knew something was going to happen and gave a cursory glance towards Ginny. Her flame like hair was blowing hard in the wind and her expression was of deep thought.

What are you planning Ginny? Harry wondered to himself. He stared back into the gray clouds and sighed as rain began to splatter his face with icy drops.

“Just great,” He heard Hermione grumble and smiled to himself as they continued to fly.

“How much further Ginny?” Ron called out. Harry could hardly hear him now, so fierce was the wind and rain.

“Not too long now,” Ginny said distractedly.

“Well we had better get there quick before I freeze on my broom.” Ron snapped.

Harry laughed, though the sound was muffled, “Come on Ron, we've been in worse weather than this.”

“Let's just all keep focused, shall we?” Hermione said firmly stopping any more complaints.

“There!” Ginny yelled, “I see the valley.”

Harry began to descend, closely followed by the others. The rain was getting heavier but the wind had died down a bit and so it was easier to land in the valley of dying trees.

“So where's this grave?” Ron said questioningly.

“Over here,” Ginny said quickly. It almost seemed like she was very eager to get to the grave, her chestnut eyes were alight with a mad fire.

Harry and Hermione shared a glance and followed Ginny warily into the valley. Harry noticed that it was very open and there was nowhere to hide; though there was a small cave on the right. He didn't like the feeling of this place one bit.

“Hermione, I have a bad feeling about this.” Harry whispered.

Hermione nodded and squeezed his hand reassuringly, “It'll be okay, Harry.”

Harry stopped and stared at what Ginny was pointing at. An ordinary gravestone slightly chipped in places with large cracks along it stood by itself in the valley close to the cave.

Ginny smiled, “See, what did I tell you!”

“But where is it?” Ron asked.

“It's inside the grave, silly.” Ginny said sighing.

“What?” Ron squeaked, “You mean we have to dig open a grave?”

Hermione laughed at Ron's comical expression, “Oh, honestly Ron, it's not that bad you know.”

Ron stared at her disbelievingly but it was Harry who exploded the greave stone with a quick spell and conjured a spade to start digging up the grave. “Might as well get this done as quickly as possible.”

“Harry, this is you-know-who we're talking about. Don't you think he'd have traps all over that coffin?” Ron demanded.

Harry shrugged, “It's a risk I'm willing to take.”

Hermione too conjured a spade, which she charmed to start digging as they waited in the cold, the hole gradually getting bigger until they heard a loud clunk.

“That must be the coffin,” Ginny said.

Harry peered in and stared at the coffin, he was surprised to find it was made of gold. “Let's pull it out.” He said quickly and flicked his wand once more so that the coffin rose out of the grave.

“Don't touch it and we should be fine,” Hermione said warily.

They nodded and Hermione used a tricky spell to negate all curses surrounding the coffin. “That should make it safe.”

Harry nodded and used his spell to open the coffin. His eyes widened as they rested on the bronze dagger sitting in the otherwise empty coffin.

“At least there is no rotting corpse,” Ron sighed relieved.

Harry nodded, “All that's left is to destroy this then.”

“I'm afraid not.” A cool voice said, cutting through the air like ice.

Harry spun around and stared at the black panther now eyeing him through cold blue eyes, eyes that held a human expression of pure hate.

“What-?”

Ron twitched slightly as he stared at the panther but the panther ignored him, its eyes were fixed on Harry in its cruel stare.

“How long I have waited for this day. I have taken great pains to get you here Mister Potter, though my accomplice has proven most helpful.” The panther said smiling.

Harry followed the gaze of the panther and narrowed his eyes as they rested on the person now shifting uncomfortably under his scrutiny.

“I think it is time we reveal ourselves.” The Panther said smoothly and began to change before their eyes.

Harry gasped as he stared at the person he had only seen twice before in his life. “You?” he gasped disbelievingly. “I don't believe it.”

A/n: Oh, can you guess who it is??