Harry Potter and the Prophecy of Two

Harry Potter and the Prophecy of Two

Disclaimer- I don't own Harry Potter and never will. Sorry for the long wait but I'm struggling with my two stories, and plus my yearly exams are coming up and I need to study. I think I'm always complaining in my disclaimers, aren't i? Oh well!

Narcissa- I'm not ignoring your comments, I'm sorry if it came through that way. I do read all the reviews i get, and I'm sorry if i don't answer, but i promise i will in later chapters!

And Thanx to everyone else who reviewed, I will get back to you in future chapters, promise!

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Chapter Twelve- In the Darkness, it Finds You

Sun seeped in through the open hangings around Harry's head. His naturally unruly hair even messier having slept upon it all night. The sunlight drifted across his closed eyes, he clenched them tighter when the light touched them. Today was a Saturday and the first Hogsmeade weekend of the first term. All the sixth year Gryffindor boys still slept in their four poster beds, their hangings pulled around them in hope of blocking out unwanted sounds or wandering beams of light. But in Harry's case, they were not enough. He groaned as he opened his eyes, squinting at the sudden blear of light. He clasped his glasses and placed them upon his face, ruffling his hair at the back, forgetting that was his father's trait. The common room was silent as he returned from the bathroom, the fire's flames now mere glowing embers. He dragged himself over to the long table before the window, lying on top of it gazing out upon the grounds. He spotted Hagrid and Fang outside the small cabin on the sloping lawns, and a few students sitting by the lake, chatting happily. He was so absorbed in the beauty of the grounds he didn't here muffled footsteps behind him and a few fits of giggles. He closed his eyes, letting the sunbeams bounce across his face, making his hair light and shiny.

But he did feel the icy cold sheets of water being poured upon his bare back. He yelped and jumped up in fright, forgetting he was lying on a four foot high table. He tumbled to the ground, the freezing water escaping past his boxers. He climbed up and stared into the exceptionally red faces of the two girls in front him. Hermione and Ginny stood before him, the red head holding an empty glass jug in her hands, her eyes cast down upon Harry's half naked form. Hermione, however, was trying to hold back fits of laughter, looking at her friends face beside her, who was still staring upon her best friend's naked chest.

`What did you do that for?' Harry shuddered, glaring at the two people before him.

`I-erm-yeah-i-what?' Ginny stuttered finally realizing she was staring at Harry and immediately became the color of her own hair. Harry smirked and asked again, `What-did-you-do-that-for?' she looked at Hermione, confused then looked at Harry again, `Oh my god!' she said laughing again, then nudged Hermione in the ribs and pointed at Harry's head. She too began to laugh hysterically, leaving a dumbfounded Harry speechless.

`What's so funny, what, what's on me?' he said reaching up to his head, wiping his face thoroughly and running his fingers through his hair, finding nothing. They continued to laugh, even as Ron Weasley turned up beside them, groggily yawning and wiping his eyes. He glanced at the two laughing girls then at Harry. He two began to snicker.

`Mate, you should see your hair,' said Ron, between laughs. Harry bolted up the stairs and looked into the mirror, Ron was right. His usually abnormal hair was twice the size as usual. It stood out of his head, intertwined within each strand making it look extremely tangled and knotty. He sighed and began to try and tame it with his brush and causing it to fizz out a bit more, he splashed some water on it from the jug on the window ledge, and then brushed it. He wandered down the stairs a few moments later, his hair at least a bit more decent. His friends were sitting in armchairs by the fire, he slumped down on the floor, lying on his stomach, propping his hands up to rest under his chin. Hermione giggled as she caught Ginny staring at Harry's bare back, causing her to return red.

`I think you should have changed, Harry, or at least put a shirt on, as you're making Ginny uncomfortable,' Hermione smirked as Ginny yelped and became crimson. Harry murmured something, not really paying attention, but he caught a few words of it and felt his cheeks burn. The many shops in the small town of Hogsmeade were over ridden with students from Hogwarts, many talking happily, purchasing an assortment of goods. A group of four people were wandering down the streets, comprised of two red heads, a brown haired girl and black messy haired somebody by the name of Harry Potter. They were on their way up to the top of a hill, where perched an old house, named the Shrieking Shack. Harry's stomach was beginning to feel fluttered, as he neared the falling down shack, his hands began to shake. They stopped atop the hill, facing the boarded windows and bolted door. Memories flooded Harry's mind of his third year, chasing the large wolf-like dog that was Sirius, thinking he was going to eat his best friend, to find out he was actually innocent and searching for the real culprit. There was an awkward silence amongst the group, but Ginny, not knowing what was happening was about to speak, but Ron nudged her and pointed to Harry. Hermione moved forwards and placed a hand on his shoulder. He didn't turn around, just continued staring mindlessly at the old house. It was Harry's idea to come up here, he wanted to remember. He didn't want to forget.

The floor boards creaked and the many layers of dust stirred as the group made their way into the shack. Harry in the lead, stepping upon the stairs and making his way up to the second floor. He groaned as he spotted footstep marks in the dust, barely noticeable, and a large mark dragging into another room. He took a deep breath and pushed the door open. In side was the same as three years ago. An old broken bed stood to the side with a collapsed chair next to it. He slid his fingers along the wooden bed head and sat upon the creaking mattress, dust rising around him. Voices filled his head of that night, many years ago, how he accused Sirius, his godfather of selling out his parents.

FLASH BACK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

`Ron-are you ok?'

`Where's the dog?'

`Not a dog,' Ron moaned. His teeth were gritted with pain.

`Harry, it's a trap-`

`What-`

`He's the dog………he's an Animagus………'

Ron was staring over Harry's shoulder. Harry wheeled around. With a snap, the man in the shadows closed the door behind them.

A mass of filthy, matted hair hung to his elbows. If eyes hadn't been shining out of the deep, dark sockets, he might have been a corpse. The waxy skin was stretched so tightly over the bones of his face, it looked like a skull. His yellow teeth were bared in a grin. It was Sirius Black.

END FLASH BACK!!!!!!!!!!!!

`Harry?' Hermione said from in front of him, ending his memories. He swiped at his eyes and looked at the ground. It felt like it had happened yesterday, he could remember the way Sirius had looked when he first seen him with his own eyes. How he had felt when he realized he could stay with him now. Then how much anger boiled inside him when Wormtail had escaped. The trip back to Hogwarts was not a joyous affair, as Harry kept up his sullen mood the whole day. He kept witnessing that day over and over again in his head, and kept hearing the voices.

`Well………your parents appointed me your guardian,' said Sirius stiffly. `I anything happened to them……'

`I'll understand, of course, if you want to stay with your aunt and uncle,' said Sirius. `But………well………think about it. Once my name's cleared……….if you wanted a………a different home………'

`Of course, I thought you wouldn't want to,' said Sirius quickly. `I understand. I just thought I'd-`

`You want to?' he said. `You mean it?'

Ron interrupted Harry's memories this time, telling him the carriage had stopped at school. The rest of the afternoon was spent out in the grounds for Harry, under the same tree that his father, Sirius and Lupin had sat under when they were at school. He was staring out into the lake, his mind wandering onto Sirius once more. “I thought I had gotten over his death?' he thought angrily, letting go of the snitch in his hands and snatching it back again. He sat there until the sun was setting in the sky, throwing an eerie red haze over the water and a cold chill to spread over Harry's body. Somebody sat in the tree above him, a wicked smile spread across their lips, their eyes blank and staring.

`He's all alone, he is. But we aren't alone, are we, no, no we're not. But what should we do with him, as he is all alone, with him self and nobody else.' Spoke the figure, shrouded by the shadows cast by the branches of the tree, their face unrecognizable. Harry heard nothing, as they spoke in barely a whisper. He was too busy with his thoughts on Sirius and Voldemort to care for what was around him. His friends were in the castle, worrying about him out their alone. The figure in the tree climbed down a few more feet, no even two meters away from him, still with that frightening grin. `Not yet, not yet, she says, not yet. But soon,' murmured the shadowy person softly, clawing out with their hand towards the top of Harry's head.

Later on, when the moon shone bright from over head, Harry sat with Hermione and Ron in the Gryffindor common room around the fire.

`What did Professor Rohain want with you, last night Harry?' Hermione asked, breaking the silence. Harry shrugged.

`He just wanted to apologize for the other day in DADA when he seen my burn,' he said remembering the promise he made to Tyson. `And, what did he say?' she asked again, `he just said it has been a long time since he's seen that mark, but he didn't tell me how he knew what it was, that's all,' he muttered, clearly not wanting to talk at the moment. She didn't speak again.

At breakfast next morning almost everyone was there. Harry was gazing around the hall, feeling a bit better after yesterday, but not having slept much the night before. His eyes fell on the Ravenclaw table. He scanned it a few times then realized that Cho Chang wasn't there. Her friends were, the one who ratted them out the year before, Marietta, was sitting by herself, looking around for a sign of her friend. Harry shrugged and went back to his food. He had no idea what they were going to do today, perhaps visit Hagrid. And that was what they did. They were walking back up the grounds at around three that afternoon when Harry noticed something that made his heart stop. Floating upon the waters of the lake, bobbing up and down softly, was the giant squid. Its tentacles floated by its side, unmoving, lifeless. Also many merpeople were lying on the grass surrounding the water, gasping and shuddering. Hermione gasped as many small, horned water demons climbed out of the rippling water, squeaking sickly.

`Ron, go and fetch Professor Dumbledore, anybody you see, quick!' Harry managed to say as the red head pelted away up the grounds and disappeared into the great castle doors. `Hermione, get Hagrid, NOW!' Hermione nodded quickly and ran back towards the cabin from whence they came. Harry ran down to the waters edge, gasping at the many lifeless bodies of the water life, floating gently or washed up on the shore. He stared at the once clear water, now a sickly yellowy green. Bubbles frothed at the edges, the grass lay dead and brown where its waves had washed atop them. There were footsteps behind his as Hermione appeared with Hagrid by her side. His once lively face now pale beneath his black tangles. He collapsed at the waters edge, whimpering softly.

`Hagrid, what do we do?' Harry asked pleadingly horrified at the sight before him. The half giant shook his head sadly, `I don't know, I jus` don't know!' he said gruffly. Suddenly Professor's Dumbledore, McGonagall, Snape and Rohain arrived behind them. They heard Professor McGonagall's small shriek and Professor Rohain's, `Oh my,' but the headmaster, strode forward, staring at the many struggling water creatures. He turned briskly towards them.

`Minerva, Professor Rohain, Hermione, create a large hole, with a considerable width near Hagrid's cabin. Fill it with water from your wands. Go now,' they turned and ran to the half giants home, `Harry, Ron, Hagrid, please take as many live creatures as you can to that hole. Please, go quickly!' they nodded and set to work. Harry began levitating many Grindylows off the brown grass and out of the yellow water, and back across the grounds. He spotted Hermione and the two teachers standing over a large pond, filled with water which was cascading from their wands. He lowered the small horned creatures into the cool water, where they squeaked softly and sank into the depths. He then ran back to the lake and continued levitating the sick creatures back and forth into the clean pond water. After all the creatures had been moved, many remained behind, lying on the shores or floating in the water. Dead. The headmaster looked gravely over the once beautiful, clear water of the lake. His eyes held no twinkle, no sign of joy. They were cold, lifeless. Dead. The others were at the newly made pond, caring for the creatures that survived. Professor Snape had gotten a sample of the lake water and returned to his potions lab to analyze it, he was yet to return.

The giant squid had now sunk to the lakes bottom, no longer able to bask in the sunlight during a hot day. Harry's heart was pou8nding roughly in his rib cage. His skin was cold and his breath was hoarse. And the same word flashed across his mind. “Why?” they now stood before the pond filled with sick or dying water creatures. Many merpeople had not survived the day as hadn't the Grindylows. Other creatures like fish and other smaller squids and octopi had not lived, as none of their kind dwelled in the small pond. Hagrid was in the water, spooning some unknown liquid into the mouth of a merchild, while Professor McGonagall was treating an assortment of water demons, like the Grindylows and small scaly, cat-like creatures that were making sounds cross between a cat's meow and a bird's chirp. The chief merman was sitting hunched against the side of the pond his face in his hands and his green hair billowing over his shoulders. Harry stared sadly at the small amount of creatures that had survived and that they too, looked extremely ill.

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`My fellow students, today, is a day that will haunt us for a very long time. A great tragedy had fallen upon us, as our Great Lake was poisoned,' spoke Professor Dumbledore that night at dinner. Many students began talking worriedly but the headmaster continued. `Many of the water creatures did not survive today, and if it wasn't for the quick actions of a few of our students, that number would have been much greater. The culprit has yet to be found, as the poison that was used, has not been identified. Over the next few weeks the grounds will be off limits, as the remaining creatures need rest and quiet. Also we will need to drain the lake and search for any sign of who might have done this. Please enjoy your meal tonight and try not to think about the horrendous even that has bestowed upon our lives. Thank you.' With that the old man took his seat and placed his head in his hands. Hagrid, Professor's McGonagall, Snape, Rohain and Grubbly-Plank were not present at the staff table as they were down in the grounds caring for the survivors.

Harry didn't feel like eating that night, neither, it seemed, did Hermione or Ron. Ron stared down at his food with a blank face, no emotion present. Hermione was sitting hunched staring across the hall. Harry sat staring up at the ceiling, searching for something, anything that might have the answers. He found the brightest star in the sky, the Dog Star. Sirius. Who would want to poison the lake and kill so many innocent creatures? He thought miserably that the only person who would do something like this would be Voldemort. Voldemort and his followers.

The mood the next day was one of an uncomfortable nature. Nobody spoke much as nobody knew who had poisoned the lake, and everybody accused somebody else. No news had come from the potion that had been used, and no clues had been found. The ministry was arriving that day to drain the poisoned water from the lake and remove any corpses before refilling it. Harry sat, staring numbly out of a window on the third floor. He had History of Magic and Professor Binns was droning on once more. He was watching the ministry officials down at the lake side, swishing their wands in the air and draining the water away. Harry could make out the tips of a large cliff when he felt a prod in his ribs. He looked blankly over at Hermione who was glaring at him and pointing to the front of the room, where professor Binns was explaining something about Grindelward and how Dumbledore defeated him. Harry sighed and drew his attention back on his class.

At the end of the day the entire lake was drained leaving a great, gaping chasm where the once full lake had been. Many bodies of dead sea creatures lay on the bottom of the sandy ground, including the one of the giant squid. Harry could see all this from the owlery window where he was viewing down upon the grounds. He could make out the stony village of the merpeople, and the wall where Ron and Hermione had been tied up two years ago. He could see many shriveled up plants of the seaweed and gaping caves in the sides of large cliffs. He stayed there for a while, only going down for dinner when he smelt the food reaching his nostrils. After dinner, Harry, Ron and Hermione decided to head to the library to finish their essays for Charms, since they needed to use the books in there anyway. It was going on nine o'clock when they began packing up, scooping their finished essays into their bags and returning their books. The trip up to the common room was one of a prickling silence. No one had anything to say or didn't want to when anybody could be listening. They reached the portrait hole and entered, finding only a few people left after the long day. Neville was one of the one's left. He was sitting by the fire staring into the dancing flames. He looked up when they entered.

`Professor Dumbledore wanted to see you three as soon as you returned up here. He said to meet him in his office and the password is Sugar Quill.'

`Thanks, Neville.' said Harry, dumping his things upstairs with Ron then heading back down, meeting up with Hermione and returning back through the portrait. They soon were sitting inside the headmaster's office. The headmaster himself was sitting behind his desk, scribbling on a piece of parchment. He stuffed it into a book sitting upon his desk then faced them.

`We have found out what poison was used to contaminate the lake,' they nodded in response, `It goes by the name of Phoenix Blood, as tat is what it is. The blood of a phoenix before it burns can be used as a dreadful poison, but its tears are the opposite, they heal what was been hurt. All we need to do is collect a few of Fawkes's tears, which I have already done, and drip them into the sick creature's mouths. It will take about a week or two for them to become completely well again, and no doubt the culprit will be found before then.' Dumbledore's eyes twinkled briefly, before he sighed.

`But, sir, how would the person have gotten hold of such a potion, because aren't they highly rare. It's not just phoenix blood, there is also a special kind of acid found in dragon's stomachs and the hairs of a full grown Wellart!' groaned Hermione clearly confused. `Yes, I'm afraid we do not know the answer to that question, Ms. Granger. The ingredients are ones of an unusual type, and the potion is quite hard to make. But you three must get some sleep, as you have classes tomorrow!' they nodded and climbed back down the revolving staircase and along the darkened halls.

`I wonder who it is?' whispered Hermione from Harry's left, `I don't know,' answered Ron from Harry's other side. Harry stayed silent. He was going to try and find out who was doing this, before they stroke again. His two friends were whispering something about Draco Malfoy when Harry stopped suddenly. He had seen something, or someone ahead of them, dressed in white. Ron stopped a few feet away from him a look of curiosity on his face. Hermione was looking in the same spot as Harry, trying to see what made him stop. Then the figure appeared again. Floating across the darkened hall to the other side, then vanishing into the shadows. Hermione gasped, causing Ron to turn around in bewilderment. The figure appeared again, coming closer, a strange smile of victory upon her lips. Harry gasped as he caught a sight of her face as she passed the window, the moonlight beaming on her face. Her eyes were white and blank, pupil-less and milky. But that wasn't the reason behind his terror. It was Cho Chang.

She was dressed in a long white dress, it seemed familiar to Harry somehow, even though he couldn't remember seeing it anywhere before. She walked straight at them now, almost floating along the ground, barely touching the bare stone beneath her shoeless feet. The same smile was playing on her lips as she stopped about a meter away from them. They stepped back, not knowing what to do. Harry had his wand out, pointing it straight at his ex-crush. She laughed shrilly, causing Ron to gulp from beside Harry, his face pale in the moonlight.

`Ch-Cho?' stammered Harry. `Yes, he is not alone any more. No he isn't. He is with the mudblood and the muggle lover. But no matter. Yes, that was the name of the girl, the name of us. The girl.' She said silkily, remaining with that frightening grin. Hermione began to shiver beside him, her own wand out. Ron was speechless and staring, reaching for his own wand now. Harry glared at her, his eyes scanning for a reason not to hex her. Suddenly there was a swish as Cho was standing nose to nose with Harry; her breath was hot and putrid. He went to step back but realized he couldn't. He was stuck. Ron reached out to pull her away, but she flicked her wrist and he was flown into the wall beside them, cracking his head against the stone. Harry tried to move, but he couldn't, he couldn't speak.

`Expelliarmus!' yelled Hermione from Harry's left, but her spell just rebounded off Cho's shoulder, hitting her, causing her wand to fly off into the darkness. She let out a little squeak of terror then launched herself at Cho, pushing her away from Harry. He watched in terror as Cho's grin vanished. `Foolish mudblood, do not touch us. No. No touching.' She raised her hand as Hermione was raised off of the ground and flown backwards into the corridor. Harry tried his hardest to move, but he was frozen. Sweat beaded on his head and tickled his eyes. He grinded his teeth, trying to yell for help. Cho came again, now closer then before, her nose brushing against Harry's cheek. He gulped as she lent in to whisper in his ear.

`You know,' was all she whispered before she was blasted off away from Harry and smashed into the wall opposite Ron. She didn't get up; instead a white mist flew from her form and drifted down into the darkness. Harry could finally move. He stared at the figure before him, expecting it to be Hermione or Ron. But it wasn't. It was Dobby. The elf was standing in front of Harry on the floor, his eyes wide and glaring. They were set in an angry stare.

`Mr. Harry Potter, Dobby has come, sir. Sorry I was late, but Winky has gotten to the Butterbeer again.' Harry stood speechless. `How?' was all he muttered, `Dobby always knows, now, Mr. Harry Potter, sir. He does. But you is best to get your girly and Wheezy, sir. I will get Professor Dumbledore.' Harry nodded weakly and went and found Ron slumped up against the wall, groaning. Hermione was further away, lying on her stomach, her wand a few meters away. Blood trickled from a cut on her head, and she wasn't moving. Harry knelt down to her and turned her over. He gasped and fell backwards. Her eyes were open and staring, they were blank, white, pupil-less. A smile was on her lips. Harry was breathing heavily as he stood up and faced her; she was standing now, facing him.

`Where was we, oh, yes. You know where he is, you know. And soon, so will i!' a white mist flowed from Hermione as she collapsed onto the ground, unconscious.