Disclaimer: All Harry Potter characters and story affiliations mentioned in this fan fiction all belong to JK Rowling and legal associations. I own nothing of it nor am I profiting from it now and planning too in the future in any way. The only exception of profit is to my self for literary improvement.
Author to Reader Note: This chapter will introduce the origin of the main key elements of the plot. I also introduce a new character. The description of the new character is meant to be sexist for later reasons.
Revised 5/13/03
Harry Potter and the Turmoil Within
Chapter 3
The Museum of Dark Arts
The next morning Ron woke to find Harry was already up and out of the room. Curious to know what Hermione's tampering of the tea last night had done, he dressed quickly to head downstairs.
As Ron bounded the stairs not being careful of waking anybody, a door opened and Hermione stepped out.
"Do you always thundered down stairs in the mornings," growled Hermione.
"No," snapped Ron," Harry's already up."
Hermione attitude changed for the better, her eyes widen, and excitedly replied, and "He is? Where? "
"I'm guessing the kitchen for breakfast."
"Let's go."
They hurried down the steps and into the kitchen to find a sight not what they had expected.
Harry sat at the table eating porridge while talking animatedly with Mr. Weasley about muggle life and looked a great deal better than last night. His hair was more its messy self again, eyes less weary and color seem to be back in his face.
"Morning Harry" greeted Ron.
"How'd you sleep, Harry?" asked Hermione before realizing the depth of what she asked.
"Good… Thanks again for the tea last night. It really hit the spot," replied Harry with an inquiring look aimed at Hermione, "How about we eat breakfast outside today?"
They spooned themselves some porridge, grabbed a slice of toast and followed Harry out into the back garden.
"What did you do to that tea?" asked Ron in a whisper.
Hermione's face flushed red a bit but she clearly wasn't going to answer.
Harry headed straight for a patch of grass. He sat himself down on it and began eating again.
Ron sat down opposite Harry and started eating porridge himself not really even noticing if his spoon was scooping porridge into his mouth or not. He didn't dare move his eyes from Harry.
Hermione sat to the side of boys facing them. She ignored her porridge and nibbled on the toast.
Harry looked up and glanced at the two of them with an amused look and said, "What's up with you two?"
Ron and Hermione sat motionless at his words.
Harry let off a laugh and replied to their stilled state, "Why are you two so quiet?"
Hermione decided to chance a whispered question, "You feel okay?"
"Of course, what'd you expect?"
"You seem to want to be out here all the time and not exactly been yourself," blurted Ron and receiving a glare from Hermione at his tactlessness.
Harry thought for a moment, taking another spoonful before answering lightly.
"I don't know I just like it out here and as for not being myself well I have been tired so I guess that's why."
-He's still hiding something- thought Hermione.
A quick look to Ron showed he was thinking the same as Hermione.
After that, breakfast became much more enjoyable as the three talked openly again. Hermione decided to wait on pushing Harry on anything and Ron seemed too excited to have his friend back to worry anymore.
According to Ron, his father let him go to the ministry a few times a week and while there he was allowed to practice magic. So he had finally mastered some of the spells that were troubling him before as well as some they had learned during the Tri-Wizard tournament. A bad storm had come through his hometown after the end the fourth year causing a lot of damage. He had helped people during the holiday move debris and more. This had apparently been the cause of his new physical appearance along with new growth.
Hermione had to ask, "Ron? Why did you want to practice all those spells? You never seemed keen on practicing at anything but Quidditch?"
Ron squirmed for a moment and chanced a worried look at Harry before answering, "I thought I'd be better prepared to help considering what happened last year with You-Know-Who and all."
"Thanks Ron... What about you Hermione? Devour a library or anything," responded Harry changing the uncomfortable subject.
They had not spoken of the past events since he told them the story of graveyard and Harry was happy no one was asking him anything about it.
Hermione had visited Krum like he had asked. Ron surprisingly made no comment or sound to the mention of this but rather listened to Hermione continued on. During her visit, she had acquired some books, which she finished over the summer. Mainly she had decided to take things easy and review her books from last year. Noticeably, though, she said nothing of anything that she had done with Victor on the visit.
They chatted on until mid morning until Mrs. Weasley had called out to them for their dishes. After depositing the breakfast materials and being turned down by Mrs. Weasley when they offered to help with washing, they headed for the living room. They situated themselves as they had done in their common room many times before, around the fireplace but still able to face each other.
"I wonder what kind of dark arts talisman stuff this museum holds," asked Ron?
Hermione perked up and answered, "Well not just talismans, anything that has been bewitch or enchanted permanently. Meaning the ministry needs to hold this stuff because the wizards and witches who did it made the objects so that the magic couldn't be removed. They can be anything from stones to jewels or weapons and tools both used by muggle and magic people alike."
"Sounds like it may not be boring," stated Ron with a surprise of enthusiasm.
Usually anything educational was considered boring to Ron.
"Who's all going," inquired Harry.
Ron had the answer now, "Well Fred and George have already been there. Ginny is going with dad to someplace for an errand for mum. So it'll be just us. I thought it would be fine for us to go alone but the ministry got rules for underage wizards being there."
"Well of course, " came Hermione's voice.
"Oh don't start," snapped Ron.
The two began yet another argument about rules. Harry really didn't pay much attention. Instead he felt quite comfortable letting his eyelids droop and letting the world slip away with consciousness.
He had forgotten what happens when he falls asleep…
The corridor came into view again. Stench of the fog and the light from an unknown moon reprised their roles again. The muffled sounds and the whispering voice played on cue. The difference this time was that the evil eyes had not come to perform their haunting dance towards him and the cold was not so penetrating.
"Harry"
The whispered voice called his name again but now with an addition.
Harry could hear his name said but a message seem to follow becoming clearer with each repeat.
"Harry. Danger…"
"Listen…"
"Listen…"
"Listen for the…"
But the message was interrupted. Everything started to blur and shake.
"HARRY! DANGER! LISTEN FOR THE…"
The voice cried out but was too late. The message was stopped as another voice yelled in Harry's ear.
"Harry!"
Harry woke up in sudden panic. Without seeing or thinking he knocked the person in front of him away and reached for his wand. He drew and held it at aim.
Ron stood there, perfectly still, just having regained his balance as Harry's wand centered at his face. Down the wand to its owner's hand and up the arm he could see Harry's face.
Harry's eyes were blank of thought but alert. Ron tried to steady his breathing but found it difficult with his friend staring at him ready to strike.
"Harry?" came Hermione's worried and calming voice.
He blinked a few times and lowered his wand. Ron took a deep breath and let his mind register what had just happened. Hermione sighed with relief.
Ron was able speak again and tried hard to hold back his unsettled feelings of being threatened point blank by a wand especially his own best friend's.
"What was all that about? We try to wake you up and you go loopy on us!"
Hermione looked unease at the two. Starting an argument was not the best idea right now but Ron had a right to be mad.
"I don't know. I guess I didn't realize I had fallen asleep and I was just surprised. I'm sorry I…" stammered Harry with a confused and embarrassed look towards the floor.
Ron attitude changed which surprised even Hermione.
"Fine but at least next time you decide to nod off and talk in your sleep do it in English hearing Parseltongue from you awake is creepy enough."
"Parseltongue?" asked Harry.
"What? I thought you wanted him to play chess or something! I didn't hear him?" said Hermione.
She was instantly worried and they both could see that she was running through theories in her mind from the look on her face.
Ron however spoke before she could, "Well it's almost time to go too, so I thought I'd remind Harry then got worried when I heard the hissing."
Ron watched Harry as he spoke this.
Harry seemed finally connect with reality and shook his head a moment.
"Right, again I'm sorry about that so no more naps with my wand I guess," replied Harry with a tone of faked amusement.
"We have to be in school robes to get in," stated Ron in is usual tone now that the situation had past.
The trio departed to their rooms for a quick change and came back down when Mrs. Weasley called to them indicating it was time to go.
The trio came back to the living room to meet Mrs. Weasley by the fireplace. Evidently there were going by Floo powder, not a way of travel Harry was pleased to see. Mrs. Weasley gave them the name of the fireplace to go to and one by one they stepped into the fire and proceeded to their destinations. Ron went first followed by Hermione then Harry ending with Mrs. Weasley.
Upon exiting the fireplace Harry found himself in a huge stone room. The ceiling, floors and walls were all made of stone. It made Harry think of a cave made by hand or magic in this case. A suddenly feeling of uneasiness followed as he looked around. All dim and old stone, similar to the maze in his dreams but fortunately none of the other elements were present. For the moment, that was the only fact keeping him from leaving.
There were wizards and witches all over the place. Many of them massed about at large opening big enough for an elephant with a wizard and witch on either side. A small floating orb, flashing white each time a person entered or exited, was in the middle of the opening. Both had long piece of parchment and were scribbling on it as people passed by in different directions.
Mrs. Weasley saw Harry's puzzlement to the room's appearance and answered his query before he asked.
"The building is a mass of stone not a bit of wood. All of it embedded with charms to prevent thieves who would try to break in and steal things from using magic to do it. Kind of like a vault. The parchment is part of what Arthur mentioned before about letting people visit at certain times. Those are ministry representatives and they record each person who enters and each person who leaves so they know whose inside at all times. The orb is a detector that tells if people are lying or not when they say their name. Last year, the twins thought it would be funny to say different names. Aurors popped up all over when the orb turned red after they called themselves Bill and Charlie," explained Mrs. Weasley.
She shook her head in quiet disbelief reliving the embarrassing memory.
They walked up to the group and slowly moved forward. They reached the witch on the side.
"Ronald Weasley"
The orb blinked white, the witch scribbled and Ron walked forward and waited.
"Hermione Granger"
The process repeated.
"Harry Potter"
The orb did nothing. The witch looked up towards the orb then back at him, her eyes full of suspicion.
"Harry Potter" repeated Harry more loudly.
The people around stopped what they were doing to see The Boy Who Lived and see why the orb would not respond.
The witch eyed him even more and stated, "Your full name?"
Harry stared at her dumbfounded.
-Full name? - He thought -It had always been Harry Potter. So what is my name? -
The witch seemed to be getting angry at Harry's pause. A fact, which had not escaped Hermione attention nor had the witch's thoroughness kept Hermione in good graces before she herself responded.
"Can you be anymore rude?" snapped Hermione, "Do you think it's possible he may not realize what you want? If you knew anything, you'd know Harry does not spend his entire life in the magic world and so doesn't always know what to do every moment! Maybe you could be a little civil and tell him you need you to say his birth name?"
-My birth name? - Thought Harry -What was that? -
Mrs. Weasley whispered in Harry's ear and he thought a moment before speaking.
With some trepidation he spoke again, "Harry James Potter."
The orb blinked white; the witch looked at him again then scribbled on the parchment.
Harry took that as his cue to walk on and Mrs. Weasley followed a moment later.
Hermione mutter to herself a few things Harry only caught pieces but they seemed to be about how rude people can be and that posted instructions might have prevented that scene.
They walked through a short dimly lit tunnel and into a wondrous room.
The room was like the Great Hall at Hogwarts. Huge stonewalls, each with an entrance into other rooms of the same size. The rooms were filled with the oddest to the most familiar items.
Some things were encased in glass boxes on pedestals all over the floor while others were attached to the walls. Each and every item being display had small bronze metal plate next it. On these plates were large cursive engravings. Below each engraving was a small square shape that rapidly changed color.
Hermione saw Harry's curiosity peeking and informed him, "If you see something that's interesting, touch the color changing square. Its like a muggle tape, it will play a recording describing the history of the talisman."
Harry looked all over, wondering around. He saw all sorts of things. Some of it very simple and not what he'd have expected to be talismans or enchanted stuff to be. Things like garden tools, office stationary, carpets, and other things of everyday use in a home or by a person. It was not very interesting to Harry until he wandered into another room and was instantly enthralled by what was displayed.
Swords, shields, metal clothing, different kinds of wooden sticks, staffs, scepters, spheres, metal armlets bearing aged inscriptions, misshapen jewels like sapphires & rubies and host of uncommon things.
Harry touched the colored squares on many items listening to the recorded voice give its name and history.
Eventually Harry's eyes became locked on one particular thing throughout all that he had been browsing in that room. A small orb glowing in an eerie navy blue light, something about its color called to him. He glanced at the bronze plate next to it and the name read The Colossus Orb. He stood in silence without thought while staring at the Colossus Orb and suddenly touched his finger to the colored square.
The voice spoke.
"The Colossus Orb… Its actual time of creation has not yet been fully determined but records indicate that it was first used at some point before the year 932 AD by the self proclaimed ruling witch Sareseus. Colossus by definition means huge or gigantic and it has that affect on magic. The orb is actually a form of amplification magic, meaning that it will amply or increases the intensity of the spell being performed while held. Sareseus and others like her have used this orb to gain superiority in strength and forced control over provinces. The users of this particular piece have never stayed in power long because of their development for dependency of enhanced magic. As the Colossus Orb amplifies the spell by an undetermined factor it also concedes the users to amplified consequences of the side effects of magic. Thus in using the Colossus Orb many have perished while performing a spell because they could no longer handle the increased side effects. The orb was discovered in a tomb by muggle archeologist thinking it was a good luck charm for the buried. A wizard later recovered it during a muggle auction event when it began to react to the desires of the auctioneer's wish for high bids in the year 1748 A.D. Please consult your local muggle studies source for more information on auctions. The orb has remained here since and is still currently being studied to see if its magical properties can be disenchanted."
As Harry continued to dwell on the information until Ron interrupted him.
"Eh Harry, mum and Hermione want to get a snack so I came to get you too," popped Ron.
"Huh," Harry checked his watch and realized that almost three hours had passed since arriving here. "Uh sure yeah let's go."
With one last look around, Harry followed Ron to a small back area in the building where one could purchase foods.
Harry took a while to decide what he'd want. They seemed to have everything and anything. Junk foods to exotic things he couldn't pronounce let alone even know what it was. In the end, he ordered pumpkin juice and a chocolate frog. He went to the table the others had nabbed and they looked at him in mild worry. They each had ordered a large meal while Harry had mostly his juice.
In response to their looks he answered, "I'm not really hungry just thirsty."
They accepted the answer but Mrs. Weasley still didn't seem comfortable about it.
Hermione began, much to Harry and Ron's expectation, about how fascinating and educational everything was. She was repeating much of what she had learned and was receiving annoyed responses from Ron about her enthusiasm for everything. Harry listened with much amusement to them and shook his head as Hermione had yet again pointed out that Ron was paying little attention to detail. Mrs. Weasley was agreeing with Hermione, which caused Ron to be more annoyed than ever. Harry was afraid he was going to be drawn into the discussion when a familiar face appeared in the crowd.
Harry stood up and yelled, "Hey Neville!"
Neville Longbottom was there and had just purchased a few sweets upon hearing his name. He came over to their table and smiled.
"Hey Harry, Ron, Hermione and um…" greeted Neville pausing as he didn't know Ron's mother.
"Mrs. Weasley," answered Mrs. Weasley knowing that Neville and she had not yet met.
"How have you been Neville," asked Hermione?
"Great! What about all of you," replied Neville brightly?
They had a brief moment of talk before he stated that he had to go back to his grandmother and would see them on the train.
So they bid each other goodbye and the group prepared themselves to head back to the viewing of the museum.
Mrs. Weasley decided that there was a particular wing she wanted to see so Harry, Ron and Hermione went off another way. They entered into an area that was particularly filled with items considered the vilest of dark arts. There was even a sign posted at the entrance warning visitors that the contents could be disturbing.
In this room the walls and floor held an assortment of horribly shaped weapons, torturous looking tools and more things that had yet to be explained. Many items still had blood on them because much of the ministry people were too fearful of what it could do to clean them.
"This room doesn't feel right," said Ron.
"I know what you mean, its nothing but death here," agreed Hermione.
Ron was surprised that Hermione didn't argue about his reaction but then realized that Harry had his attention elsewhere. He was looking at something across the room.
"Harry what are you looking at," asked Ron?
Harry replied without looking while beginning to move across the room, "Something familiar, I think?"
Harry began to cross the room each step a bit more hurried than the last. He maneuvered his way around, like a true Seeker, the crowd as they milled about He was determined to get to what was on the wall. It was sealed in a glass case and attached high on the wall. It was an oddly curved sword with a jagged edge on the back, a black hilt and though stained with blood, the blade was an odd gray color.
Something about it was drawing him. He felt as though he had to get to it. Unfortunately his task was interrupted in an unexpected collision. As Harry came close to the wall, he suddenly crashed head first into another person's chest. Before falling to the floor he noticed this person's chest was surprisingly soft.
Ron and Hermione caught up to Harry on the floor along side the other person. Hermione helped Harry to his feet while Ron, blushing furiously, helped up a young woman.
Harry finally stood up and looked at the woman he knocked down. Hermione was already staring at her, as was Ron.
As the woman straightened her robes, Harry could see she had very defined figure from her low cut top revealing her chest. Her skirt was much shorter than Harry head ever seen of a witch more of what he would see of girls in the city when his Aunt dragged him around carrying her things. Her hair was deep yellow blonde and eyes that seemed to be the color of violet. Harry noticed this with his own embarrassment but more so because of that fact that he didn't understand why he was embarrassed at looking that this woman. Harry decided it best to apologize before things got awkward.
"Sorry, I wasn't looking. I was distracted by," he stammered but was cut off.
"Oh that's fine. There's a big crowd here so it's easy for people to bump into each other. Are you Hogwarts students?" spoke the woman.
"Yes. We're Gryffindors. I'm Hermione, that's Ron and this is… Harry," answered Hermione pausing at Harry's name.
"That's great… Harry huh... Harry Potter? Than that means your Ronald Weasley and you must be Hermione Granger. You three get into a lot trouble for just students. I thought you'd all be older or at least not that polite. I'm Maylen Nulbeck. I'm from the U.S. I guess we'll be seeing each other more often if you all are as troublesome as the stories say," said Maylen with amusement in her voice.
"Oh an American that explains the accent, "Hermione replied," Why do you say we'll see each other again and how do you know about us?"
Maylen laughed and answered, "Your reputations precede you in my profession but I'll be at Hogwarts with you this year so maybe we'll get to know each other more, especially with the way you get hurt Harry. Well I've got to go, much to do before the year starts. I'll see you then."
She left with a smile that left a blushing deep red color on Ron, a look of disapproving thoughts on Hermione's face and Harry feeling quite unknowingly heated.
Harry made to move towards the mysterious sword again, the other two started to follow but yet again that were stopped.
The building gave a violent shake, making everyone in the room fight to regain his or her balance. People gave shouts as confusion settled in the room.
"What was that?" said Ron
"An earthquake?" answered Hermione quizzically.
"I doubt it," stated Harry cautiously.
But before anyone could say anything more the shaking began again only without stopping. In seconds the shaking got more and more violent. Harry and his friends fell to the floor along with many others. The items in the room began falling off the walls and from their showcases.
People began shouting as they stumbled away trying to get out of the room. Harry's group followed them but soon discovered that entire building was in the same state. The floors, walls and ceilings were starting to crack and pieces were beginning to fall. The crowd filtered back to the entrance tunnel where they had entered but as Harry discovered with the rest of the frightened crowd, the tunnel had caved in.
More and more stone pieces were falling from the ceiling leaving cracks and holes big enough to see that were more rooms of stone above them. People cried out for help, others were using their wands and shouting spells. Nothing worked and panic began grow.
"We're gonna get killed in here by stone or being trampled, "shouted Hermione.
"Why don't they just apparate people outta here or something," gasped Ron as a large wizard pushed him aside running by.
"The whole building is charmed, magic won't work against or through the stone," answered Hermione.
"We need to blast a wall or something, maybe with a whole bunch of us at once we could break the charm," bellowed Ron.
"Yes that could work a single powerful blast but we need to organize everybody and there's too much panic," grunted Hermione as she fought to stay near them when a group of people shoved by.
-A powerful blast? - Thought Harry -Maybe? -
Harry turned and started heading away. Hermione and Ron moved to follow but Harry stopped them.
"Stay here! Be ready to lead people out!"
"What are you going to do!" yelled Hermione.
"Something stupid!"
With that Harry vanished into another room. Ron and Hermione stayed where they were, worried to follow and worried not too. The violent shaking did not let up but the panic rose quickly. More and more wands were being used. Spells bouncing off the walls were hitting people. The falling stone had given away so much that people were falling through from the other rooms above.
Hermione pulled out her wand to try to help. She was calling out her spells to slow people as they fell or when stone pieces crumbled upon them. Ron did the same but it was hard enough against the crowd and falling stone let alone help people.
Ron was becoming exhausted in the struggle and Hermione was starting to cry as the terror continued.
As all seemed naught, when the unthinkable happened, a blast of blue magic cut across the air and hit the stone blocking the tunnel. In the resulting explosion, the tunnel entrance was revealed only clouded by swirling dust. People began to file in quickly not looking to see the source of the magic. However Ron and Hermione did.
At the entrance to the next room stood Harry Potter, his wand pointed in the direction of the blasted stone. His eyes were no longer green but blue, an eerie navy blue, and filled not just his pupils but also the white of his eyes. In his hand he held a glowing orb of the same color. They made their way to him just in time to see him take aim with his wand again.
He spoke the Reductor spell and his robes flailed behind him from the force of the next blast of magic. The spell soared through the air from the tip of his wand and hit the wall of the fireplace. The stone gave away easily, opening to the outside.
As people began running outside, Ron and Hermione tried to stay with Harry but he stopped them again.
"Get out! Help the others! I'll slow it down," came a hoarse but deep sound from Harry's lips.
Hermione knew Harry was serious and wouldn't be stopped but that didn't stop her from wanting to stay however Ron did. He grabbed Hermione's arm and dragged her away she tried to resist but he held her strong and continued.
She watched as Harry turned and placed his wand against the wall. Ron got her outside just in time to see the large building begin to glow blue. The shaking of the earth had not stopped and cracking of stone continued but, surprisingly, it all stayed in place. The glowing stone was being held in place but some powerful magic. More and more people ran out of the building many were badly injured. Ron stopped dragging her away when they found Neville.
He was completely confused not knowing what was going on but before anything could be said Hermione tried to head back but Ron grabbed hold of her again in mid stride.
"Let me go! We have to help him! Let me go! How can you stand there and let him do this! Let me go," screamed Hermione struggling against Ron's grip!
"Do you think I want to," yelled Ron!
Hermione looked and what see saw as sweat were really tears. He was angry too. He was doing what he was told and hating every bit of it. Hermione stopped fighting and looked back.
The glowing started to fade until it was gone entirely. No more people were coming out. The quaking had stopped and all went still.
The world seemed right again as silence replaced the violent sounds heard moments before. The world did not stay right though; the badly damaged building gave way to its own weight. A thunderous wave sounded in their ears as the stone crumbled and fell into itself. In a single moment all there was left was a mountain of rubble where a magnificent museum once stood.
Next Chapter
From the Ruins