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Chapter 6: Glimpses of the Dead
Harry had cried himself to sleep the last night. His nightmares made him revisit the camp that he saw Cho die. He looked down at his feet, remembering the feast, how he yelled at Dumbledore. How all of the rage spilled out of him, and was shoved violently into the old man's face.
His anger had dissipated, but was still there. Seeing Dumbledore like he did last night wouldn't set him off, but just make his anger rise a little.
Harry knew he was in trouble. Professor McGonagall would surely punish him for what he had done. He was a prefect and should know better than to blow up at Dumbledore in front of the entire school. Then again, he should have known better than to sit back and watch innocent people die! He thought. Time for breakfast, better get down there before Ron eats everything.
He quickly got on his school robes and ran out of the common room, down the numerous flights of stairs, and into the great hall. Harry sat down as Professor McGonagall was handing out his course schedule.
"By the way, Mr. Potter, your detention will be tonight with Mr. Filch."
Harry scowled. He felt he shouldn't be punished for the mistake Dumbledore did.
"Why should I be punished? He's the one who wouldn't help me." Harry asked with a slight edge in his voice.
"But you lashed out against Professor Dumbledore. You let your anger and rage flow in front of everybody. Seven o' clock, tonight, don't be late."
Harry shook his head in frustration and looked at his schedule.
Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry
Course Schedule
Year Six
Monday:
8:00 - 12:00: Double Divination (Prof. Trelawney)
12:00 - 1:00: Lunch
1:00 - 3:00: Charms (Prof. Flitwick)
3:00 - 5:00: Defense of the Dark Arts (Prof. Black)
5:00 - 6:00: Study Period
6:00: Dinner
Tuesday:
8:00 - 10:00: Herbology (Prof. Sprout)
10:00 - 12:00: Care of Magical Creatures (Prof. Hagrid)
12:00 - 1:00: Lunch
1:00 - 2:00: Study Period
2:00 - 6:00: Double Defense of the Dark Arts (Prof. Black)
6:00: Dinner
Wednesday:
8:00 - 12:00: Double Transfiguration (Prof. McGonagall)
12:00 - 1:00: Lunch
1:00 - 3:00: Charms (Prof. Flitwick)
3:00 - 5:00: Defense of the Dark Arts (Prof. Black)
5:00 - 6:00: Study Period
6:00: Dinner
Thursday:
8:00 - 10:00: Herbology (Prof. Sprout)
10:00 - 12:00: Care of Magical Creatures (Prof. Hagrid)
12:00 - 1:00: Lunch
1:00 - 2:00: Study Period
2:00 - 6:00: Double Defense of the Dark Arts (Prof. Black)
6:00: Dinner
Friday:
8:00 - 12:00: Double Potions (Prof. Snape)
12:00 - 1:00: Lunch
1:00 - 2:00: Study Period
2:00 - 6:00: Double Defense of the Dark Arts (Prof. Black)
Harry looked across the table at Ron and Hermione. They both had wide, knowing smiles. He asked, "Who is this Professor Black?"
"You'll find out today." Ron said.
"Come on, tell me."
"Nope."
"Why not."
"If you haven't already figured it out, we're not going to tell you." Hermione stated. The bell rang. Their first class would start in five minutes. Ron and Harry broke apart from Hermione, going to Divination, she going to Arithmancy.
Divination was a load of crock, because they were going over anything that the entire class had missed last year on their OWL's. Every one of the students walked out of there grim.
"I hate that old fraud!" Ron said, not caring if she heard, "three rolls on Tea Leaves! I don't remember any of that shit! Do you?"
"Not a chance in hell, that's why I bombed on the OWL's."
"Maybe Hermione remembers something."
Harry and Ron burst out laughing. It would be a cold day in hell when Hermione remembered anything from divination.
They met her in the Great Hall, getting her food. She scooped some mashed potatoes on to each of their plates, and Harry got some chicken for each of them.
"How was Divination?" Hermione asked them, smirking.
"Don't ask, for Merlin's sake, don't ask."
"I don't know why you two haven't dropped that class already. It's nothing but rubbish."
Harry looked up at the staff table. Dumbledore wasn't there. He must be up in his office. He stood and walked out of the hall.
"Harry, where are you going?" Hermione asked him as he stood up.
"I want to find out the answers to the questions I asked last night. I had a night to sleep on it, and I felt that maybe Dumbledore can help me. I'm not sure." He walked out not saying anything else.
It took Harry a long time to get there. So long in fact, that he missed Flitwick's lesson. He got there, and spoke the password.
"Frog Hoppers." Why one of Fred and George's inventions, I'll never know. He thought. He walked quickly up the spiral staircase, and into Dumbledore's office.
Professor Dumbledore was staring out of the window. His face etched into a look of sorrow and dread. He turned to face Harry.
"I know why you have come here. You seek answers to make your pain go away. Am I correct?" he asked, looking at Harry.
Harry nodded. Tears were streaming down his face, remembering Cho, and remembering how Dumbledore explained everything then. But somehow, Harry knew not everything was explained.
"I know you feel that I did not explain everything last year, and you're right. But there are some things that can't be explained yet. Things that would send you over the edge. I don't want that to happen."
"Like what?" Harry asked. But before Dumbledore got the words out, the professor had fainted.
Harry watched as Professor Dumbledore slumped back into his chair.
"Professor?"
He walked around the desk and put two fingers to Dumbledore's throat. He's still has a pulse. Harry thought. What's going on?
All off a sudden Dumbledore started to speak, but not in his normal voice.
"Headmaster, how are you?"
"Miss C-"
"Don't say my last name. I know Harry is with you, and I don't want him to be upset."
"Professor?" Harry asked again, wondering what had happened. He glanced at the clock. He had missed a few minutes of Professor Black's lesson.
"Alright, I won't say it. What do you want to talk to me about?"
"Don't tell him anything."
"Why not?"
"If you tell him, he might end up hurting or even killing you. I love him so much, and I don't want him to end up in Azkaban. Let me tell him, he won't get angry at me."
"How do you know?"
"Because he is not angry at me. He needs to know the truth, but if you tell him, things will go wrong."
"Alright. I won't tell him. When are you going to say something to him?"
"Two nights. Dalene's already made the 72 hours prophecy. It's my job."
"It's in your hands then."
Dumbledore's eyes opened. Harry looked at him more confused as ever.
"Professor? What's going on?"
"You need to get to class Harry."
"But-"
"Just go to class. In due time, everything will be explained."
Harry had realized that fact before he even said anything. He walked out of the office, and towards Defense of the Dark Arts.
Harry walked inside to see that there was no teacher standing there. He looked around.
"Where's Professor Black?"
Everyone had wide knowing grins. It annoyed Harry to see that same grin on each one of their faces. He closed the door behind him, and saw Sirius standing behind it.
"Sirius, what are you-" Harry said, and then realizing what was going on. Realizing who Professor Black was. For the first time in the past two days, Harry smiled.
"Sit down, Harry. Class has already started."
Harry walked to a seat between Ron and Hermione, who were smiling widely at him.
"Why didn't you two tell me it was him?"
"If you had stayed for the feast last night, you would have known." said Ron. Hermione looked at him reproachfully.
"We wanted it to be a surprise."
Sirius started talking to the class after Hermione said this, and everyone paid attention.
"I am Sirius Black, you all should know me. Any of you call me the word Professor, and something out of Fred and George Weasley's inventions gets their way to you."
Everybody laughed at this. Even though they knew he was serious, it was still pretty funny to imagine one of their classmates on the receiving end of something out of Fred and George's head.
"Now, the entire course will follow different types of defensive and offensive spells. We will also go through a strict training regiment, every morning we will be getting up at six o' clock, and running around the edge of the forbidden forest. On Sunday we will meet here at two o' clock, to learn hand - to - hand combat."
"Why would we need to learn that?" asked Seamus, wondering what good it would do if you were in the middle of a wizard's battle.
"Just in case you lose your wand in the middle of battle, and you are unable to find it." Sirius said gruffly, "We will also be going over ways to take down Giants, Dragons, Trolls, Dementors, and any other dangerous magical creature out there."
The first class, they only talked about what was going to happen, but for the first time, everyone liked that they were going over it. Harry looked around to see that most of the girls weren't even paying attention. They were just staring at Sirius dreamily.
When class ended, everyone picked up their books, talking about what this year was going to bring.
"Harry, stay behind for a moment."
Hermione looked at him, "Do you want us to wait outside?"
"No, you go on ahead. I'm sure it's nothing,"
"Alright."
Harry watched them walk out of the classroom, and then walked up to the desk Sirius was sitting.
"What do want, Sirius?"
Sirius handed him a four slips of paper.
"What are these for?" Harry asked, not looking at them.
"Those are passes, for Wednesday."
"To go where?" Harry asked.
"The cemetery outside of Hogsmeade."
"What are you talking about?"
"All the teachers here, including Snape, agree that you didn't get a proper chance to say goodbye. We're giving you, Ron, Hermione and Ginny that chance."
Tears were streaming down Harry's face. He never thought he would have this chance.
"Thank you."
He walked out, looking at the pieces of paper. I'll finally get to say goodbye, like I never was able to last year. He walked into the great hall, where Hermione already had his plate loaded with food.
"What's wrong, man?" Ron asked, looking at his eyes. Harry handed him Hermione and Ginny three of the four slips of paper.
"What are these for?" Ginny asked.
"This Wednesday, we present those passes to Professor Dumbledore, and we can go to the cemetery outside of Hogsmeade."
"Why?" asked Ron, looking utterly confused, "why would someone want to go there?"
Hermione lowered her voice, "so he can say goodbye. He never was able to say goodbye to Cho after what happened last year."
"He wasn't?"
"No, he wasn't."
Harry just picked at the food on his plate. Could he finally get rid of his pain? Harry couldn't eat. His mind was somewhere else.
"Look, I'm not hungry. I'll see you guys later."
He walked out of the Great Hall, and into Filch's Office. He opened the door, just as the dinner was ending.
"Ah, Potter. Come with me."
Harry followed him up to the Trophy Room, where he knew what his punishment was going to be.
"Wand." Filch said, holding out his hand, "you are to clean this wall of the trophy room. After that, come see me, and I'll inspect it. If it is good enough, you're done."
Harry looked amazed at his generosity. Usually, I would get to clean the whole room. He thought, and set out to the task a hand. I was the smallest wall in the room, so it wouldn't take too long. Harry took out Dudley's old CD player, and popped in the Staind CD again. He set it to track eleven, Outside.
And you, bring me to my knees again
All the times that I could beg you please, in vain
All the times that I've felt insecure for you
And I leave my burdens at the door
You always could bring out the best in me. I could never lie, or say anything that wasn't the complete truth to you. You were always able to help when I felt insecure about stuff. When I was with you, everything was gone, fear, anger, everything bad.
But I'm on the outside and I'm looking in
I can see through you, see your true colors
'Cause inside you're ugly, you're ugly like me
I can see through you, see to the real you
You always could see through me. If I was hiding something, you would know. If it was something that Dumbledore wouldn't let me tell you, or something I hadn't figured out though, you'd let me have my space.
All the times, that I felt like this won't end
It's for you
And I taste what I could never have
It was from you
All the times that I've cried
My intentions were full of pride
But I waste more time than anyone
You always said we would be together through everything, why then, does it feel like you've gone from every known place?
But I'm on the outside and I'm looking in
I can see through you, see your true colors
'Cause inside you're ugly, you're ugly like me
And I can see through you, see to the real you
You always understood me. You always understood what I was going through. You could feel my pain flow through my eyes, and always knew how to help. You were the strength I needed.
All the times that I've cried
All this wasted, it's all inside
And I feel all this pain
I stuffed it down, it's back again
And I lie here in bed
All alone, I can't mend
But I feel, tomorrow will be okay
Why did you have to be stripped away from me? Why does everyone around me have to get hurt?
But I'm on the outside and I'm looking in
I can see through you, see your true colors
'Cause inside you're ugly, you're ugly like me
I can see through you, see to the real you
You were the best thing to happen to me. I--
Harry looked up. He saw Cho, standing in front of him, glowing white.
"Don't think it either."
"Cho, you're here?"
"For a minute. You are about to enter something no one else has before. You will find out the person you love, for she will be in it with you. There is going to be great sacrifice that is yet to come."
"What do you-?"
"I can't say, yet. I just came here for you to give a message for Dalene."
"How do-?"
"She's my cousin, Harry."
"Oh."
"Tell her, that I love her, and I'll always be with her."
"I will."
Then Cho's form disappeared, looking like sand that was being swept away by the wind. Harry felt the wind blowing all around him, when Cho's voice filled his ears one more time, "I love you."
Harry looked at the other trophies on the wall. They were spotless. Thanks Cho. He thought, and then went to retrieve Filch.
Hermione and Ron were doing their Charms essays on Destruction charms, when Harry walked through the portrait hole.
"Harry, you're back early." Hermione stated.
"Are you just stating the obvious for you own personal enjoyment? Or are you moonlighting as a psychic friend?" Harry asked her, grinning. Hermione blushed. Why does he have to do that? That grin destroys me every time.
"How did you get out early?"
"Filch only made me clean one wall of the trophy room."
"You're kidding me!" Ron exclaimed.
"Nope, only made me clean the smallest wall."
"Lucky bastard." Ron said, "Look, we have a Charms essay due on Thursday, do you want to work on it now?"
"I'm pretty tired man, I'm gonna hit the sheets."
"Alright."
"I'll do it tomorrow, Hermione." he told her, looking at the expression on her face.
"You had better."
"I will."
Harry went upstairs, and into bed.
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I absolutely HATE this chapter. I couldn't get it to write well. No matter how many times I rewrote, it wouldn't work. This is horrible, I know. Go ahead and flame me. I deserve it.