The Dragon
by Jardyn39
Part Three of "The Apprentice Piece"
Introduction
This is the third of five self-contained stories set during Harry's Sixth Year. References are made to new characters and events that are occur in previous stories. Few, if any, recaps are included but a summary of the previous parts is given in the Prologue.
The five consecutive parts of "The Apprentice Piece" are entitled: The Apprentice Piece, The Crucible, The Dragon, The Sword of Light and The Accord. A Summary for the remaining parts is given at the end of the last chapter. A brief prologue for the preceding parts is given at the beginning of each part.
Prologue
Part One: The Apprentice Piece
Harry is in possession of a wand which he calls his Apprentice Piece which he made during the holidays. Mystery surrounds the wand and where the wood for it came from.
Harry is asked to set up Quidditch practice for non-team players. He readily agrees and the Rebels are formed with non-house teams. Ron does not approve. Harry is made captain of the Quidditch team, much to Ron's obvious disappointment. Harry appoints Ginny their new play maker. Ron plays terribly until their first game, which they win convincingly.
The new Defence Against the Dark Arts teacher and ex-Auror, Harbinger, has been giving Harry additional training in an Auror Tent. The tent is known to have killed before and everyone that knows about it wants it destroyed. Moody helped set it up.
Harbinger is in possession of letters from Harry's mother and has promised them to Harry, believing they contain hidden messages for Harry. Harbinger's tragic secret is revealed.
In the few short weeks since the start of term, Ron has lost his Prefect badge and been thrown off the Quidditch team. To the surprise of many, Harry has forgiven Ron and expects him to work to regain his prefect badge.
Harry was introduced to an Unspeakable named Fides who, known only to her mother and father, helped Harry save Hermione's life. Fides allowed Harry to face a challenge to obtain an elixir to cure Hermione. Fides later admits to a deception but Harry has seen and used part of his potential as well as a much darker side of himself.
Harry learns that Dumbledore argued with the Unspeakables when he was an infant but that someone else won the day allowing him to grow up.
Hermione is asked to improve the tent's simulated attacks. She does this with extraordinary effectiveness. Harry is livid. Unknowingly, Hermione broke Moody's rules concerning the tent which caused him to believe it was real. Hermione believed Harry had feelings for Ginny and placed an image of her in the simulation. The tent needed to be repaired after Harry had finished.
The Regiment has set up a refugee camp within the Hogwarts grounds. Dumbledore insists that the traditional challenge between the Regiment and Hogwarts must proceed and will be lead by Peeves. The night of the challenge, which is a glorified food fight, is Halloween. The same evening dance is arranged for the senior years. Hermione finally tells Harry that Halloween is not a traditional wizarding celebration.
Part Two: The Crucible
Beginning just after Halloween during Harry's Sixth Year. Fudge is trying to get his hands on Sirius' estate. Hermione is shocked when Dumbledore allows Harry to enter the Auror tent at its highest skill level before the tent is destroyed. In the tent, Harry faces the Unforgivable Curses again but finally realises he won't be able to use them.
Harry and Hermione show an elderly visitor around the school, and are quizzed by her endlessly. Dumbledore is not surprised to find them duelling when he invites them to lunch. Clearly very good friends with most of the senior staff, Perenelle jokes that she may be inspecting some lessons later. Harry is shocked when Perenelle tries to attack him in front of Dumbledore. He then discovers she also attacked Hermione. Perenelle's memory of the incident and why she did it are modified. Harry knows that Perenelle is angry with Dumbledore for placing the charm on him. He does not know what she was trying to find out from Hermione.
Harry learns about a Crucible Charm that was placed on him as a child and Hermione is determined to help him break it. Harry must not learn how to break the charm as it must occur naturally. Harry is the object of a whispering campaign as Hermione's co-conspirators set to work.
Harry spends Christmas with Lupin at Grimmauld Place after Dumbledore advises him the Ministry won't know if underage magic is performed there, but it must remain a secret from the others. Harry finds he can do permanent transfiguration charms.
The Grangers and Weasleys join them on Christmas and Harry asks the Grangers to stay on while he reads his mother's letters which are sealed. Harry confides in Winky and Mrs Granger about his performing magic there. Lily's letters to Harry are revealed and he and Hermione spend an emotional day reading. Just after Hermione has received a letter apparently from Lily, Voldemort possesses Harry and tries to attack Hermione. At the same time Harry wakes in control of Voldemort's body and is attacked himself.
Back at Hogwarts, Dobby is charged with stunning Harry every time he has a strange look about him. There are a number of false alarms but Hermione is safe.
Harry discovers Hermione in an ancient book store, accessed from a door within the restricted section of the library. Hermione is climbing dangerously high up seeking a book when Malfoy attacks Harry. His spell misses Harry but causes Hermione to fall. Harry dives into the falling debris to protect Hermione. Trapped, Hermione forces Harry to talk. The Crucible Charm breaks.
On their way back to the Headmaster's office, they stop off in Myrtle's bathroom to clean up. After seeing Dumbledore, Harry finally puts on his prefect badge and punishes Malfoy.
Part Three: Harry's Sixth Year continues…
Chapter 1: Perenelle's Offer
Harry Potter was on his way back to the Gryffindor common room from the Hospital Wing. He was not in a good mood.
It had been late afternoon before Hermione finally turned up at the Hospital Wing sporting a nasty bruise on her forehead and several cuts that Harry hadn't noticed when he'd left her in the Headmaster's office.
"I'm fine, Harry," Hermione had said, but he was concerned to see her hands still shaking.
"You're not fine," he had told her, guiding her over to a bed, "you should have come straight here rather than staying to talk."
Madame Pomfrey had come over and insisted Harry leave so she could see to Hermione. He had reluctantly agreed and promised to look in later.
As Harry turned a corner in the corridor he encountered Perenelle again. She was looking rather sheepish and had clearly been waiting for him.
Harry's mood was not improved by her appearance. He still hadn't forgiven her for hurting Hermione the last time she visited the school.
"Please, Harry," she begged desperately. "Please let me talk to you."
Harry was in half a mind to just ignore her and walk past. As he drew level with her, a voice in the back of his head told him he should show compassion.
"What do you want?" asked Harry, as politely as he could manage.
"I am so sorry for what happened," she said. "Nicholas performed a memory charm on me, so I don't remember what I did. Nicholas was very angry with me. He said I was wrong."
"You don't remember anything?" asked Harry.
"Nothing after we left Albus at lunchtime."
"Well, you were wrong," he said feeling his anger subside a little. "You performed Legilimency on Hermione and then tried to do the same to me."
"I'm sorry," she said again. "Was it something to do with the Crucible charm?"
"I assume so."
"I'd like to try to make amends, if I can," she said. "Nicholas and Albus agreed I could ask but they both felt you and Hermione might wish to refuse, given what I did."
Harry didn't respond but encouraged by the lack of his outright refusal, she continued.
"I would like to offer to help you and Hermione with your defensive training. I thought I could encourage you to reveal your other talents quicker."
Harry was not sure what she meant.
"What other talents do you think Hermione and me have to reveal?"
"Well, I was really meaning you, not Hermione," she said before quickly adding, "although I'm sure she has different skills that can be developed. Did you know you are a metamorphmagus?"
"That's ridiculous," blurted out Harry, beginning to regret even considering her offer.
"Is it?" Perenelle replied with a small smile. "When did you last have a haircut?"
Harry brushed a hand through his hair absently as he thought.
"It just grows slowly, that's all."
"Really?"
"Yes, except for when my Uncle used to make me have all those haircuts. It grew quicker then."
"Well, if that's normal hair growth you can't possibly be a metamorphmagus," Perenelle replied with a smirk.
Harry frowned to himself, thinking back.
"Okay, I accept that my hair doesn't grow normally, but I just assumed it was because I was a wizard and it just grew because I was scared of what would happen when people saw me after it had been cut really short."
"So the question is, can you learn to change yourself on purpose?"
"I suppose it is," admitted Harry.
"The other thing I wanted to tell you concerned the Crucible charm," Perenelle said. "I can see that it's broken now, but you must remember that it's not gone entirely. The parts of you that were bottled up inside will only leak out over a long period of time. It could take years to learn but I believe I could encourage a quicker development. You also need to exert some control over the less desirable elements. I can see they are weak now but it will be up to you whether or not you remain a force for good."
Harry sighed deeply.
"I can't speak for Hermione," Harry began, "but I'd like any help I can get in defensive training. Anything else is not a priority at the moment."
Perenelle clapped her hands together and grinned widely.
Harry held up his hands and continued, "Please remember, Perenelle, that after what happened I cannot trust you. This may change in the future, but right now, I don't trust you. If you ever hurt or upset Hermione in any way-"
"I understand," Perenelle interrupted.
"The other thing is that I won't jeopardise what I might achieve in the future after Voldemort," said Harry. "I will not resort to dark magic and I cannot use the Unforgivable curses."
"Are you sure?" asked Perenelle doubtfully.
"Yes."
"Then I will have to think about what you would be prepared to use," she said frowning slightly. "I'll come back when I've prepared a plan. Nothing dark at all?"
"Well, not too dark. I'll consider anything you can suggest."
"Okay," she said a little brighter. "Will you give Hermione my regards and pass on my offer? Albus said I wasn't to approach her unless you said it was okay."
Harry nodded and said, "I will."
*
After dinner, Harry and Ron made their way up to the Hospital Wing to see Hermione. Harry had told Ron only that some heavy books and shelves had fallen on them while Hermione was looking for a book in the library store.
Harry was surprised when Ron said he'd known the store was there and that the entrance was from the restricted section. He supposed they'd been told because they were prefects. Predictably, Ron showed very little interest in the store or what it contained.
They got to the Hospital Wing to find group of students blocking the entrance. Harry saw the top of the Hospital Wing doors open but he couldn't see who had just come out but as soon as they did so the group began showing signs of hostility.
Ron, being that much taller, could see what was happening at the front and without hesitation waded through the group right up to the front. Harry didn't follow.
"That's quite enough, thank you," Ron said loudly. "She's has been though quite enough today without having you lot having a go at her. Go on, clear off the lot of you."
Nobody moved.
"It's okay, Ron," Harry heard Hermione say nervously from somewhere at the front. He immediately wished he'd followed Ron through the crowd.
"We agreed to help you, Hermione," came an angry voice from somewhere in the crowd.
"Was this your plan all along?" said another voice.
Harry looked around the group of people and it slowly dawned upon him that these must be the conspirators that had helped Hermione put together her psychological profile for him. Harry became aware that Ginny was standing beside him, looking worried.
With a quick glance at Harry, Ginny spoke out making a number of heads turn and realise that Harry was standing behind them.
"We agreed to help Harry, remember?" said Ginny.
"Well yes, but after what Myrtle said-"
"Hermione told us that she had no idea what would be the outcome," said Ginny forcefully, "and I believe she told us the truth."
Those that had seen Harry's cold expression began to move apart and Harry could see the front of the group through the gaps. Ron was standing protectively just in front of Hermione, who was looking flushed and upset.
"I'm sorry, but-" Hermione began to say but faltered, clearly in distress.
This was too much for Harry and he immediately withdrew his wand and cleared his throat. He could see Ron turn to look at Hermione, clearly at a loss what to do and concerned that she should be so upset.
"I don't know what Myrtle told you or what you each thought you'd get by agreeing to help Hermione before," said Harry flatly, "but you are clearly upsetting Hermione and I won't let that continue, now or at any time. I think you'd better leave now."
The group hesitated before Ginny said, "Come on, let's go."
Harry waited for them to go before he trusted himself to turn back to Hermione and Ron.
"What on earth was that all about?" asked Ron incredulously.
"I'm guessing that there was some speculation that the solution to breaking my Crucible charm might be something to do with my affections?" said Harry looking down at Hermione, her face hid by her handkerchief.
She gave a small nod and looked up at Harry. Ron frowned, looked between the two of them.
"I'm not too keen on the idea of being offered up as some sort of prize," said Harry quietly.
"You weren't," said Hermione jerkily, "but once some of them got the idea nothing I said could dissuade them. I never even hinted what might break the charm."
Harry put his wand back into his inside pocket and said, "Ron, will you take Hermione back to the common room and see no-one bothers her?"
"Er, sure," he replied.
"Thanks," Harry said with a small smile, "I'll see you both later."
As Harry turned the corridor he could have sworn he heard Ron say, "Okay, Hermione, tell me what is really going on."