Unofficial Portkey Archive

The giant snake slithered through the school. Its serpentine body wrapped around a corner, the tongue flicking out to taste the air. Down it went, smoothly and silently, until it was in the dungeons. It stopped outside the Slytherin Common Room.

"Com, wake up."

Forest green eyes snapped open. His heart was thundering in his chest and there was a slight tingling along his scar. Harry put a hand to his chest to make sure his shirt was on. Peeling back the drapes, he was surprise to find Blaise standing there. More worriedly, Blaise had his wand out. Harry's hand automatically reached for his wand underneath his pillow. Blaise was the last person to have his wand out when it wasn't Battle class.

"What's wrong?" Harry asked, sensing that something was amiss.

"It's about Granger."

Those were words Harry was never supposed to hear in the dormitory of the Fifth Year Slytherins.. Harry noticed that he had overslept again and cursed underneath his breath. The dormitory was empty save for them.

"What happened?" Harry asked.

"Someone's found out about you and her," Blaise said in a grim tone.

"About us? About the cave?"

Blaise shook his head and wordlessly handed Harry the newspaper. Harry had to grab his glasses to read the small print, but he didn't even need to do that. Emblazoned across the top of the newspaper, in bold letters, was the headline. It would be innocuous, almost silly, to anyone that didn't know the internal politics of Hogwarts. The title was blatantly silly. But the damage was done.

The Gryffindor and The Slytherin.

Harry held the Daily Prophet tightly in his hands as he skimmed through the article. It was a mixture of truth and lies. There were descriptions of them meeting in empty classrooms, trying to keep their relationship in secret. The author speculated various things. They were learning from each other. They were teaching each other dark curses. They were trying to hide their forbidden love. Any idea was thrown forward as the author tried to make something stick. It continually emphasized that they had multiple sources within Hogwarts that knew about this secret friendship but didn't have the courage to say until now.

Aristophanes.

The name was written in fancy print at the bottom of the article. Harry clenched his jaw when he saw the name, remembering the inquisitive reporter. It wasn't the truth. Aristophanes clearly did not know about the cave. She had barely an idea of what they were actually doing when they met together. Yet, the idea was out in the open. If there was any inkling it was true...any inkling at all…

"I came back here as soon as I read it. I got to breakfast early and I didn't know what the reaction would be. I wanted to make sure nothing...untoward happened before you saw it," Blaise said.

"Thank you," Harry said quietly.

"The other guys hadn't read it yet by the time they left for breakfast. I expect most of the school will have seen this by now."

"Could you judge any reaction from the people that were already at breakfast?" Harry asked.

"I left as soon as I saw the headline."

Harry reread the article again, trying to see if there were any clues. He looked up at Blaise and asked, "Did you?"

Blaise looked him in the eye and said, "No."

Harry accepted his answer. Blaise had come to tell him first. He was also far from the only one who knew. Tracey knew, but Harry knew she would never betray him like this. There were others. Neville and Luna also had bits of pieces of important information. He couldn't see Luna telling Aristophanes, but he would have to ask her regardless. Neville had the most to gain from spilling this story. The bumbling boy had never liked Harry. Hermione always claimed he was very loyal, though, and entrusted him with the secret as well. Were there others? Were they careless in their meetings?

"What do you want to do about this?" Blaise asked.

Reaching for the special Sickle inside his bedside drawer, Harry was surprised to find it already warm with a message. Do not come to the Great Hall, it said. He sat on the edge of his bed, contemplating the best course of action. Stay away and they would say he was trying to hide. Go to the Great Hall and he would face the full wrath of the Hogwarts rumor mill. Harry took out a different Sickle and inscribed a message on it.

"We go to Trow's classroom. With me," Harry ordered.

The Slytherin Common Room was empty. The hallways were sparse. Breakfast would have to be skipped for now. Blaise walked in step beside him, his wand still in his left hand. Inside Trow's classroom, there were three other students: two older Ravenclaws and a First Year Hufflepuff. They glanced at him but said nothing otherwise. It might have been that they had not read the Daily Prophet yet. Though the two other Houses might joke and snicker, they were not Harry's primary concern.

He chose two seats in the corner, far away from the others. Blaise sat down next to him and whispered, "What are we doing here?"

"Wait," Harry commanded.

The Stationary Omnioculars were untouched as the pair of Slytherins sat in silence. Harry appreciated Blaise's patience. He would need support from any Slytherin possible. She shouldn't be much longer.

Luna Lovegood was wearing a pair of giant glasses and a strange redcap hat when she walked into the Strategy classroom. She gave a big wave when she spotted the two of them. Harry fought the urge to cast a Disillusionment charm and disappear. Blaise was even more perplexed at the sight of the strange Ravenclaw.

"Hi, Liam. Hello, Rhys," Luna said to her two Housemates.

Neither of them said a word as she walked by. Both were blankly gazing at her strange outfit. When she finally sat down next to Harry, Luna had drawn the gaze of the three other students in the classroom. She smiled at Blaise.

"Hello, I'm Luna," she said.

"Blaise Zabini." He stared at the red cap on her head.

Ignoring the introductions, Harry asked, "Have you seen the Prophet today, Luna?"

"I'm sorry, Harry. I haven't. I don't read the Prophet. My father says that they are all paid shills."

"True as that may be, there's an article on there that I need you to see."

Blaise handed her the newspaper. She looked entertained by the article, a smile dancing on her lips. Brushing a blonde lock behind her ear, Luna set the newspaper down and looked at the pair with her wide blue eyes.

"A very entertaining read," she said.

Harry noticed the others looking their way now. Another Hufflepuff walked into the classroom. He reminded himself that he needed a spell that would conceal their conversations. He did not want to keep Luna here for too long.

He dropped his voice to a bare whisper. "Did you tell anyone about the cave?"

Luna blinked at him. "What cave?"

Good girl. He never truly believed that Luna would betray him. She was too kind but not as naive as others would think. There was a cleverness about her that wasn't apparent when one took in her strange appearance. Luna Lovegood was a Ravenclaw after all.

Not Blaise. Not Tracey. Not Luna. That left only Neville and...one other.

"Harry." There was a warning in Blaise's voice.

Marcus Flint had entered the room. It only took one venomous glance. The Slytherins had not taken to the article well. There would be a chance to explain himself, but he would not be getting the benefit of the doubt if Flint's stare was anything to go by. Harry matched his gaze evenly, unwilling to show weakness.

"It is hard for you, but it is sometimes better to be like a Large Lung Lizard and disappear under the water for as long as you can," Luna said.

Flint glared at him the whole way to his seat, his lips curling to reveal his prominent buck teeth. Harry's hand flexed underneath the table, twitching towards his wand. Blaise still had his ready in his left hand. Harry suspected it would be like that for quite some time now.

"I'll take that under consideration. Thank you, Luna."

"There is one more thing I need to talk to you about. I have been withholding it for some time. You have enough to worry about."

"What is it?"

She shook her head, the loop earrings on her ears swinging freely. "Not here. There are some interesting things you must know about a student in Beauxbatons."

Harry had a feeling he knew who she was talking about already. That would have to wait though. The Second Task was not for some time and other things were now taking priority. He patted her hand, discreetly so no one would see except Blaise.

"Watch your Sickle. I'll be calling you soon," he said.

"Watch your back, Harry. Every time we meet, you have more enemies."

"Any tips?"

Luna stood up and Harry could tell her smile was forced this time. More and more people were coming into the classroom. Luna was clever. She knew they were being watched.

"You also have friends, Harry. Don't forget that."

* * * * * * * * * *

Harry expected vitriol, but what he received was more unsettling. The Slytherins were cold and dismissive. The older ones no longer regarded him as a curiosity. They openly glared at him in the rare occasions he lingered in the Common Room. He had given a speech to his Year, denouncing the article, but the Fourth Years weren't convinced. Tracey had said the right words. Blaise stood by his side. They didn't believe him.

Justin swore by Merlin, Salazar, Godric, Rowena, and Helga that he did not say anything about Hermione or the cave. Harry gave him his first lesson in Occlumency as he had Justin try to repel a ruthless Legilimency spell. Harry was satisfied that Justin had not told Aristophanes. The Hufflepuff was not as pleased. The only option left was Neville.

Hermione confirmed that it wasn't Neville either. Harry had still not spoken to her in person. They communicated through the Protean charm on the Sickles. She was adamant that Neville would never betray her. Harry had his doubts. He remembered the idiotic way Neville had confronted him last year. With no way to question Neville himself, Harry found himself on square one. He told as much to Blaise the next day.

"Com, you weren't that careful. Tracey found out you were doing something. Both of you would be gone for hours on end. If anyone bothered paying attention…" Blaise trailed off.

He was right.

That didn't make Harry feel any better.

He was in a sour mood as he arrived for another history lesson with Trow and Lupin. While he appreciated their special tutoring, Harry felt as if they were moving at a snail's pace. Layers and layers of background and history did not seem all too relevant for actions in the near future. Yes, Harry knew there were underlying lessons. No, they did not seem useful.

"Grindelwald had a particular talent for recruiting like-minded individuals to his cause. He was charismatic. As you've seen, most of the Dark Lords have that same characteristic. It is needed to attract followers…"

Trow droned for a little bit as Harry lost interest. He was still thinking of how he could contact Hermione and set up a meeting. She had been studiously avoiding him since the Daily Prophet article. Harry was annoyed to find her sudden disappearance vexing. Discretion he understood, but Hermione gave him the impression that they should avoid the conflict altogether. He resolved not to worry about it further. Hermione would contact him when she was prepared and never before.

"Are we boring you, Harry?" Lupin asked. The tone was kind but his face said otherwise.

"I'm sorry, sir. I've been distracted."

Lupin and Trow exchanged a glance.

"Is this about the Daily Prophet article?" Trow asked.

Harry fought the urge to fidget in his seat. "Partially. Why would someone write something like that?"

"Are you asking why they would write an article linking you and Miss Granger together or are you asking why they would run an article about you on the front page of the Prophet?"

"Both, I guess."

Trow considered the answer for a moment. "The press is regularly used to influence opinions. You would be surprised how effective a piece of information is once it is disseminated to the public - the truth or not."

"You already knew, didn't you? About Hermione and I?"

Neither of them bothered to hide the answers in their faces. Lupin nodded evenly while Trow gave the slightest hint of a smile. Harry sighed. If they knew about Hermione, they must have known plenty about everything else. Yet, they made no efforts to stop Justin the year before. What did that say about them?

"It is not our place to decide who you talk to," Lupin said.

Harry thought of the four bullies influenced by Snape. Their brand of nonintervention seemed to extend well beyond intervening in meetings between Slytherin and Gryffindor. Did that also mean they knew about the cave? Was there nowhere in Hogwarts that had privacy? Harry guarded himself again, remembering they had a hand, knowingly or unknowingly, in the events of last year. How did they know?

"What happened to Grindelwald?" Harry suddenly asked, wanting to know the answer to a question that had been bothering him since their first lesson.

"He was defeated by Dumbledore…" Trow started.

Harry interrupted him. "I mean - what happened to Grindelwald after that? Is he still at the prison in Nuremberg?"

Lupin and Trow exchanged a glance.

"He was there. Grindelwald died some time ago," Trow answered.

"In prison? How did he die? From what you've told me, Grindelwald was a powerful wizard."

"Even powerful wizards shrink to nothing more than ordinary beings without a wand," Lupin explained.

Do they? Harry hid the small amount of amusement he felt at that statement.

"Still, he wasn't that old."

"No, he wasn't." Trow looked straight at Harry, his gray eyes darkening.

Until now, Trow's demeanor had always been instructional and informative. Lupin had wilder mood swings depending on how close it was to a full moon, but Trow stayed calm. As Harry looked into his gray eyes, he found a strange emotion. There were flecks of sadness.

"Grindelwald was murdered."

Harry raised his eyebrows at Trow's statement. "Someone within the prison?"

"No," Lupin answered, taking over for Trow. "They determined it wasn't any of the prisoners or guards. They cast the Priori Incantatem on all of the guards and prisoners and any of the surrounding population. Someone killed him and left."

Grindelwald was supposed to be a powerful Dark Lord and he had been murdered wandless and defenseless. Even great wizards were not entitled to storybook endings, good or evil. Yet, Harry found little pity for Grindelwald. The dark wizard was intent on controlling people. In the end, he had no control over his own defense.

"Did they ever find the person?" Harry asked.

"No."

"Sounds like he didn't have a shortage of enemies."

"The murder was deeper than a common enemy. To cast the Killing Curse requires the utmost hate. You will soon learn about it in Professor Moody's class, but know this, Harry. Whoever cast the Killing Curse on Grindelwald held a deep enmity towards him. It is no easy thing."

It mirrored what Flamel said. Harry commented, "It requires sacrifice, right?"

Trow nodded, his gray eyes unfocused. "Yes. A great sacrifice."

Lupin was at the front of the classroom. He walked over to Harry and placed a hand on his shoulder. A tremor ran through Harry's body as he tried to limit the instinct to flinch at contact. If Lupin noticed, he did not remark on it

"I'm afraid to say that you will likely find yourself in a situation where the only solution is to eliminate the target fully. There are other ways to do that besides the Killing Curse. Most Aurors can not even cast it effectively," Lupin said.

"There's an effectiveness to casting that curse? I thought I read that it killed instantly and that it was unblockable."

"Yes. If it is cast effectively. Yet, it is still a spell and spells can be miscast. Even the Killing Curse."

"And it was definitely the Killing Curse that killed Gindelwald?" Harry asked.

Trow nodded softly, looking so old for a man who was only in his thirties.

"Yes."

* * * * * * * * * * *

Dark looks and sour faces. Harry encountered them every time he got out of bed. His classmates hardly spoke to him unless it was absolutely necessary. Performance in Battle class was suffering greatly. Orders that were followed obediently were either disregarded or ignored. Theodore Nott and Pansy Parkinson were at the head of this dissension. Harry threatened them with punishment, but they remained silent and defiant at his fury. Words meant nothing.

He could not expect to hold them out of Battle class like he did Blaise. One person was risking it and Harry had the advantage of having a better prepared Slytherin class. Once the other classes caught onto his training technique, they improved in kind. Hermione's heroics during the First Task had given her more credence as the leader of Gryffindor and they were defeating Slytherin with unsettling regularity. Harry tried to pin the blame on his dissident Slytherins, but he knew the others would see it as an unacceptable defeat against the Gryffindor.

The unusual warmth of the fall quickly turned into the icy grip of winter. Aristophanes continued to write scathingly about Harry; stories of his covert meetings with Hermione as well as tales of erratic behavior in Battle class. What was once a leak was now turning into a flood. Harry had no doubt that others in his class were now sending owls to Aristophanes with slanted tales and outright lies.

If he expected help from the faculty, Harry had better hope that Voldemort himself would rescue him from this situation. Snape did nothing to dissuade or even discourage the writings of Aristophanes. Lupin and Trow continued their supposed stance of nonintervention. Harry grew cold towards them as well. He participated in their lessons, learning of how Grindelwald consolidated his base. The deceased dark wizard ensnared others with tales of glory and supremacy. Grindelwald was particularly adept at absorbing those who started with differing viewpoints. Trow said that he was the master of the Imperius Curse. No one rivaled him.

But Harry had cottoned on long ago that these lessons were only at the behest of Snape. If Voldemort were still truly active like they intimated, why had no one brought forth his attentions? Surely, the Ministry would be actively searching for him. Harry sought to investigate other sources on the existence of Voldemort, but there were few resources. Blaise could ask his mother to inquire for reports and books, but that would take extensive time and persuasion. Miss Zabini, who had friends in the Ministry, would ask questions. Harry did not want any more questions.

Turning to Hermione was a false dawn as well. She studiously avoided him and Gryffindors had placed the blame of this article onto him. He dare not turn her out. Hermione had her reasons, but she refused to communicate through the special Sickle no matter how many times he hailed her. Fearing the rumors should he disappear for extended periods of time in the cave, Harry had only Blaise and Tracey to rely on for help for the time being. His mood was edgy, every word coming out of his mouth at a snarl.

"Again," Harry barked, watching the Fourth Year Slytherins transfigure random objects into quick shields. It was sloppy. Only Draco and Tracey managed to transfigure their rocks into flat, stone sheets that could absorb a spell.

He corrected them down the line, despite his own weakness in transfiguration. It was not his forte, but he was better than almost others save for Draco. The Malfoy boy had been noticeably quiet during the past weeks, despite his known hatred for Mudbloods in general. Tracey said that she had talked to him and he agreed to not agitate the situation too much. Both she and Blaise were trying to work over the rest of the Fourth Years, but prejudices ran deep and not even the Bringer of Lightning could break their ingrained belief in the inferiority of those with lesser blood. It did not help matters that Hermione was a Gryffindor.

"Charms and offensive spells are predictable. Until you get better at wordless spells, they are easily telegraphed and subsequently blocked. Using transfiguration can help you circumvent obstacles and block spells with some creativity instead of being found out with one Stupefy." Harry lectured, pacing back and forth with his hands behind his back.

"Why don't we just use Protego?" Pansy asked.

"Uses energy. Transfiguring an object takes less toll on your body," Harry answered.

"Only if we know how to do it right. If not, we just waste our time," Pansy countered.

"This conversation is a waste of time," Harry snapped. "Spend more of your time improving your transfiguration. You will need it if you ever hope to beat Gryffindor again."

The words might have meant nothing, but they could still cut. Harry was in no mood to entertain their ideas of what they could and could not do. A grumble ran through the Fourth Years as they stood around. Blaise tried to remain neutral, a facade that had to be maintained so Harry could keep tabs on who spoke out the most. Tracey looked saddened by the whole situation. She waved her wand again. Stone turned into a smooth slab.

There was a crowd towards the back, behind the advanced shield that guarded them. Susan Bones and Padma Patil were in attendance as well as a smatter of older students. Karim Tireur sat with two pretty Beauxbatons girls as well. Harry glanced at them as he instructed another set of transfiguration changes. Again, there were more failures than successes.

He stared at the lot of them. Pansy and Nott were laughing at a joke. Sadie was transfiguring a piece of wood into a poorly animated bunny and then back again. Blaise looked between the group and Harry hesitantly while Tracey looked just as lost as Harry himself. The others were milling about, discontent murmurs as they repeatedly failed in their transfigurations. Harry had enough of their malaise.

"Parkinson. Nott. Greengrass. Bulstrode."

Harry enunciated each of their names sharply. Beckoning them closer, he motioned for Blaise to lead the others away. The four other Slytherins stood in a circle around Harry. He asked the Room of Requirement for a domed shield and the Room granted him one. It shimmered around the five of them.

"You want to practice dueling? Come on."

The wand was loose in his hand. He was wearing his dragonhide gloves as he was ought to do any time there was a chance he was to participate in a duel. These days, it could be at any point. The four other Slytherins took a quick look at one another. He could hear the question in their heads without the need for Legilimency.

Is he serious?

If they wanted to act petulant about a silly thing like befriending a Gryffindor, then a lesson could be taught. It was up to Harry to be the teacher.

"Expelliarmus." He disarmed Bulstrode faster than any of them could raise their wands. He gestured dismissively at her wand. "Pick it up."

They cottoned on quickly. Harry was at the center, purposefully making himself an easy target. Their wands were raised now. Nott took a step to his left and Pansy matched him. Daphne and Millicent followed step until they were circling him, making him keep track of their movement. Good, he thought. At least they remember some of the things I've taught them.

Circling him, the four Slytherins waited for a moment of opportunity. It would be a brief second where Harry's eyes would slide from one target to the next. That would be his most vulnerable point. But Harry was not focused on one target. Come on, you idiots. Attack as one. Don't be foolish to try it one on one.

They obliged him.

Pansy, Millicent, and Daphne struck with various curses. Harry pointed his wand down and cast a Repelling Charm, launching himself in the air. A practiced Cushioning Charm was out of his lips to break his fall. In mid-air he transfigured a piece of wood into a long and cylindrical shape. He pushed it with a Banishing Charm, slamming the object into Nott. The dark-haired boy was waiting for Harry's reaction but did not expect him to go up. Fools. It's the same trick I used when Hermione beat us with her Body Sap Spell.

They had the grace to at least attack him quickly and try to keep him off balance. Yet, they were uninspiring and predictable. What made them decent fighters in groups masked their individual weaknesses. Daphne only knew a handful of spells. Pansy was too quick to attack and spent no time defending herself. Millicent was a big body and little more. Nott was the best of them, but prone to anger if the right buttons were pushed.

Harry transformed a steel sheet into a mirror. As Pansy's spell cracked the mirror, he banished the broken pieces. Pansy, Millicent, and Daphne brought up Protego shields at the same time. He tried to enlarge the broken shards of transfigured glass, but the spell failed. A frown crossed his face. Transfiguration was still his second weakest subject next to Potions.

"Stupefy."

Harry had little reason to think the spell against Pansy would work. She could block the spell well enough. Yet, she had stupidly lowered her shield after deflecting the shards of the broken mirror. The Stupefy took her out. A flare of anger overcame Harry at her sloppiness. Pansy should have never been taken out by a single Stupefy.

He heard Nott cast a spell behind him. As he turned to pivot for a quick Protego, Harry felt a searing pain in his knee. A thousand knives pierced it and down he went to one knee. The spell, another Stupefy, incidentally struck a surprised Millicent. From one knee, Harry cast an Incarcerous on a befuddled Nott, wrapping his arms tight to his side. When Daphne tried to cast a Backflip Curse on him, Harry summoned the same cylindrical piece of wood that knocked out Nott earlier. The wood splintered into hundreds of pieces as the Backflip Curse crushed it. Weakly transfigured objects were often destroyed due to their inherent structural weaknesses.

Hissing from pain, Harry came to his feet. His right knee was useless. Three of his four opponents were already out of the picture and he was fairly confident he could wipe the floor with Daphne Greengrass if he was at full strength. Gritting his teeth, he stared down Greengrass. Her wand shook as she pointed it at him.

"Bombarda!"

The ground exploded in front of Harry. For once, Daphne caught him off guard. A choked cry almost escaped his throat as he landed awkwardly, but he swallowed it down. Instead, he whipped his wand in a circular motion and conjured thin wires of metal. Daphne fired a Stunner towards him that he easily blocked. Harry completed the spell by flicking his wand in a motion that resembled a cross. The thin wires came together to form a net. It flew through the air, the metal shining brightly in the artificial light of the room. Daphne, panicked, performed a Cutting Curse to try to break it apart.

The conjuration held as the Cutting Curse barely nicked the metal. Ensnared, she conceded after a moment of struggle. The four other Slytherins were battered and bruised as Harry came to his feet. He held himself high despite the throbbing in his right knee. The protective shield around them came down on Harry's signal. Tracey rushed forward, releasing Daphne from the metal net and tending to her wounds. Draco checked on Nott, who was wincing as he held his chest. Pansy and Millicent were largely okay once Tracey cast Enervate on the pair.

Harry didn't move from his spot. He could not move. If he took one step, his right knee would crumble. He dismissed them and the Slytherins slowly fled the room. Nott and Parkinson cast him the same hateful glares that were common for the past week, but this time, Bulstrode and Greengrass joined them. Tracey finally approached him.

"Your knee," she said.

"That obvious?" Harry muttered, not wanting those in the crowd to hear him.

"Probably not to everyone else, but I knew. I told you to stay off it."

"It's been three weeks."

"And you've re-aggravated it. Let me take a -"

Tracey stepped towards him to examine the knee. Harry swayed and reached his hand out to clutch her shoulder. She sensed his weakness and stood firm so he could balance himself. He exhaled sharply, trying not to look weak. What's the point? They must know by now.

"Is it that bad? How does it hurt?" Tracey asked, concern laced through her voice.

"Like a thousand fucking knives are going through my knee."

She shook her head, dark curls swaying. "It shouldn't be like this. A little sore, maybe, but it should have healed by now. I need Draco to come take a look at."

"No," Harry hissed. "No one else."

Her blue eyes turned icy. "If you would stop being a prat for two seconds, Commander, then I can help you. Draco is better at diagnostic spells than I am. Do I get to help or should I let you walk back to the Common Room?"

The pain was too much. Harry acquiesced and she called out to the blond Slytherin. He was idling a few feet away with Blaise but came as soon as she called.

"You've gotten yourself into a bit of a spot, Potter," Malfoy commented as he moved his wand in a horizontal fashion parallel to his knee. Blue and red spirits floated from his knee to the wand. The floaty essence touched the tip of Malfoy's wand and then travelled back to Harry's knee. The red coloring far out covered the blue coloring.

"Strained," Malfoy muttered. "He has to see Pomfrey again."

Blaise came over now, a small huddle forming around the Commander. Harry could feel the eyes on him from the crowd, assessing and analyzing him. What would they make of this? Harry wondered. The Bringer of Lightning reduced to one leg again.

"Can you numb it? At least make it so that I can walk to the Hospital Wing with my cane," Harry said. Draco and Tracey exchanged a glance.

"We did technically just learn the Numbing Charm," Draco pointed out.

"Gone wrong, the Numbing Charm can cause Harry permanent nerve damage in his knee," Tracey rebutted.

"Wouldn't be so bad at this point," Harry said.

Tracey shot another glare at him. "We can either float you or carry you. I'm not going to risk Draco performing a Numbing Charm for the first time on you without Pomfrey around."

Malfoy snorted but didn't argue. Harry grimaced and put his arm around Tracey. She wrapped hers around his waist. The pressure was immediately alleviated from his knee. Draco and Blaise accompanied them to the Hospital Wing. It was an agonizing climb. The stares of the other students grated on every frayed nerve. Madame Pomfrey had some more choice rebukes for him as she confined him to the bed again.

"It is not healing properly," she finally said. Harry fidgeted, conscious of the three Slytherins watching him.

"Can you make it better?" he asked.

"Contrary to what you might think, I can not keep putting you back into one piece. I'm submitting a formal mandate to Professor Snape. You are not to participate in any Battle class or dueling sessions for two weeks."

"No."

Madame Pomfrey was not going to be cowed by a teenager, no matter what his status. She disarmed him and cast another spell to bind him to the bed before he could even blink. Tracey gasped. Harry tried to get up but found himself held down by invisible bonds.

"What did you do to me?" Harry exclaimed.

"What I do to all unruly patients," Pomfrey said. "What's best for them."

She stalked away, every step echoing loudly on the linoleum floor. Harry tried to move again, but the bonds held. He could lift his neck ever so slightly to look around but nothing else. The spell was strong and Pomfrey had experience with it. The three other Slytherins approached the bed.

"No one else here?" Harry asked, struggling to fight the bonds.

"No," Draco answered.

"Then get this spell off me."

The three of them paused and Harry knew he was lost. Tracey at least had the decency to answer for them.

"Pomfrey is right. Your knee needs to heal."

"Did you hear what she said? No dueling. No Battle classes. What am I supposed to do?"

Blaise came up with a solution. "This actually might be an opportunity."

"Explain to me how being bedridden and unable to duel classifies as an opportunity? The Second Task is right after the Yule Ball. The rest of our Year is openly revolting. How could this possibly be an opportunity?" Harry vented.

"Considering the amount of...trash, so to say…is floating around about you, it might be a good time for you to step away from the light for a little bit. Get the focus off you. No one is going to blame you for not being able to participate because of a cursed knee," Blaise explained.

"It wasn't a curse. I fell. You think Parkinson and Nott are going to listen to me if I can barely walk? What am I to do about that?"

"Malfoy and I could cover for a little while. It might do you some good as well if they forgot about the whole Granger incident. It would only be temporary. Wait until this wave of bad press washes over."

Harry laid his head back, conceding to all points. He was tired. He was angry. He did not want to even move. The bitter helplessness tore at him. At Hogwarts, he was something great. He was someone to be feared. Confined to the bed, Harry could not help but recall memories of being stuffed in the cupboard underneath the stairs at Number Four Privet Drive.

Stay calm, Potter. You've been through worse than this.

He made a decision. "Blaise, take command for the time being. If Pomfrey wants me to rest, then I'll rest. It might do some good to listen to Luna's advice after all."

"Loony Lovegood?" Tracey asked incredulously.

"Same one," Harry said.

He gave them a few more orders and directives then sent them on their way. The rest of the Slytherins would have to get acclimated to Blaise's leadership. He would have preferred placing Draco in command, but Malfoy was too competent in the field to stuff him in the Board Room. Harry wondered if Snape would allow any concessions since Slytherin was a man down. Most likely not.

Glancing over at Madame Pomfrey, Harry found that she was prepping some potions. He flopped his head back, awaiting his nemesis.

"You're going to need to drink these potions, Potter."

I'd rather jump out of this window and break both legs, Harry thought angrily. Instinctively shifting his body, Harry was surprised to find the bonds move. It was barely a centimeter. He was unsure if it was real or imagined. Trying again, Harry grinned when his wrist moved ever so slightly. He concentrated on the Alohomora spell. It was the only one remotely associated with unlocking objects. He could move his wrist even further.

A grim smile was on his face when Pomfrey returned with the potions.

"Good to see you're in a better mood already. Usually, my patients pale at the sight of these potions," Pomfrey said.

Harry said nothing and drank.

Grindelwald might have been useless without a wand, but I won't be.

* * * * * * * * * * * * *

Pomfrey discharged Harry the next day. She had explicit instructions to not participate in any dueling and banned him from Battle class for two weeks. Giving him another regiment of daily potions, Pomfrey threatened Harry with several unknown spells and potions should he participated in any strenuous exercises.

When Harry stood up, he found his right knee was sore but much improved from the day before. Pomfrey was turned away and the Hospital Wing was empty besides them. His cane was hanging on a rung on one of the bedposts. He reached out his hand and said, "Accio cane."

Dark brown wood flew through the air. He caught the cane deftly in his hand. The polished handle was in his hand, the end on the ground, by the time Pomfrey turned around. He nodded to her and departed the strange smelling room. The Hospital Wing was the bane of his existence.

The hallways were mostly empty. Harry did a quick check on his watch. It would be about twenty minutes until they were to be released from the first class of the day. There was plenty of time to make it back to the dormitories unimpeded. As he reached the atrium of the Great Hall, however, Harry crossed paths with another Champion. Fleur Delacour and another Beauxbatons student were walking towards the double doors of the entrance as Harry reached the bottom step. She smiled at him and spoke in French to her friend. Her friend, yet another pretty girl from Beauxbatons, smiled shyly at Harry as she proceeded towards the double doors and walked outside.

"Hello, Fleur," Harry said as he approached her.

The beautiful half-Veela smiled down at him. Her face grew concerned at the sight of his limp and his cane.

"I thought your knee was getting better, non?" Fleur asked.

"It was. Now it isn't. No one's doing. I just turned the wrong way and down I went again."

"It is a good thing there's quite some time before our Second Task then. The Yule Ball is just a few weeks away as well. I was hoping for a dance with the great Harry Potter." Her blue eyes twinkled and Harry fought the urge to launch himself into her.

"How about more than just one dance? Would you like to go with me?" It was only partly fueled by the Veela magic.

"Certainly not the most romantic of invitations, nor the most daring. Why, just the other day, I had a young redhead around your Year stamme invitations to lunch, dinner, the Yule Ball, and our wedding."

"Did he have a lot of freckles? Kind of gangly?" Harry's grin went from ear to ear.

"Yes, a quite unfortunate time for most boys. Not yet a man but striving to be one. Sadly, I had to turn him down in front of his friends. Oddly enough, I don't think he heard me decline the offer." Fleur shrugged. Could shrugs be cute? Hers certainly was.

"I assume I'm in better standing than him because I haven't heard a no so far."

"And yet, you won't hear a yes from me either. I will consider it, so I think you should consider yourself lucky to get that far." Fleur winked at him.

"Well, I don't want to be put in the queue. A yes or no would suffice."

She pretended to mull this over, posturing and making him wait. He could play the game. After all, he had little else to do besides homework for the other classes. Maybe this forced rest would be a good idea after all.

"It seems I do not know you very well. We have talked...un, deux, trois…three times?" Fleur asked.

"Dates have been made with lesser conversations."

"Yet, not this one. I don't know your schedule, but I have some free time before my next tutoring session. Would you like to take a walk? At your pace of course…"

"As it happens, I am free. As you said, at my pace if we could?" Harry gestured towards his cane. "Lead the way."

Fleur smiled. "Strange. How is it that boys always want me to lead the way?"

As Harry looked at her backside, he found his answer.

The air was considerably colder now, but the sun made an appearance for the day. Clouds building on the horizon promised it would not last long, so it was a good a time as any to walk besides the lake towards the Beauxbatons chariots. Fleur kept a tortoise-like pace, lazily sweeping her feet along the grass. Her blonde hair shimmered underneath the sun light and Harry had to regularly look away lest he lose his mind completely and launch himself into her. He tried his best with Occlumency but his mind was meant to deter attacks. Clearing it was still a task for him. It was yet another list of things he added whenever he finally got to talk to Hermione.

Again, there were no other students outside. In the distance, he could see a few Beauxbatons students practice duelling outside of the carriages with a private tutor watching. Harry tried to see if Karim Tireur was one of them, but they were too far away for now. To his right, the Great Lake rippled and splashed against the shore. It was strange to think that several hundred feet below was Hermione's secret cave.

Mountains dotted the distance as well as one or two islands towards the middle of the lake. Hogsmeade was across the way. A trip was scheduled to the little town about a week from now, so students could pick up parcels that were too heavy for owls as well as dress robes that were available. Harry still needed a set, but didn't want anything too fancy. Professor Slughorn always made preparations for Harry's summer things, so he would have to ask the jumpy Potions professor for some funds.

"So, what do I need to know if I were to attend the Yule Ball with you, Harry?" Fleur asked, bringing him out of his thoughts.

Harry considered his answer. "You'll find that not a lot of people here like me. Since so many people are enamored by you, we could balance it out if we went to the Ball together."

Fleur laughed haughtily. "I think you will see that a similar amount of people dislike me as well - just in different ways. You have the luxury of having those who hate you doing so openly. I have to contend with snakes who want to be my friends and snakes who want to go elsewhere."

"Snakes aren't the worst thing in the world, you know," Harry said.

"I do believe you are a bit biased in this case."

Harry chuckled. She was surprising light-hearted. Harry had heard she had a reputation of being an ice queen, but so far, she was genial and frequently humorous. Of course, there were other reasons than just the Yule Ball to have a moment to talk to her. Taking her to the Yule Ball wouldn't hurt though. He would love to see everyone's face with her on his arm.

"Have you...heard anything about your friends who are not friends?" Harry asked cryptically.

She shook her head, blonde tresses skimming over her shoulders. "Let's not talk about that right now. We were still learning about you."

Harry exercised a little patience. "There's not really that much to know about me. I grew up with some terrible Muggle relatives.. I came here and I have...excelled at it ever since."

He wanted to say loved it, but was it really love? Harry enjoyed being at Hogwarts. Harry enjoyed, or had enjoyed until this year, being around Tracey and Blaise. He liked the competition and the constant duels. Was that love for a school? Harry didn't know.

"What do you do besides school?" Fleur asked, floating a pebble into the water with her wand.

Harry thought for a moment and then laughed aloud. "That's a good question. I guess I don't do much else. I hang around with my...friends."

Even saying the word, friends, made Harry uncomfortable. He had not referred to them as that in a long time. A frown crossed his face, the thoughts weighing heavily on him. Blaise had come through for him in the Aristophanes crisis. It was more than Harry deserved after the way he treated him, but he was glad Blaise was at his side again. Tracey, though...she had never left his side.

"Is this Hermione Granger one of your friends?" Fleur asked.

Harry's eyebrows hit his hairline. He really shouldn't have been surprised. It was plastered in front of the Daily Prophet and had been a topic of discussion for weeks on end. There was no avoiding it, even for the students not of Hogwarts.

"No," Harry answered. Until he convened with Hermione, he was convinced that letting anyone know of their meetings was a mistake. "We've talked in between classes, but those articles are rubbish."

Fleur was silent for a moment, her beautiful face looking out over the lake. Then, she said, "I know what it is like for the press to slander you. You touch a boy's hand and you have loved him since the beginning of time. Someone takes you on a dance and you are betrothed the next day. A Ministry official kisses your hand and you are their mistress. How I hate the press…"

As far as Harry was concerned, Fleur was the perfect woman.

She told him other things too. Her family lived in the Paris province but owned a chateau south of the city. She had a little sister, Gabrielle, that she loved dearly. Her mother was the Veela and her father the human. There were few people as honest and as noble as her father. It was why Fleur's mother married her and decided to carry on an impure bloodline. The very mention of the word impure brought an ugly expression to Fleur's normally gorgeous face. She was well versed in horseback riding, dancing, and dueling. She was an accomplished dueler, second in the school only to Karim.

"I hate that arrogant pig," she said of the Beauxbatons boy.

"He seems to be taken with me," Harry commented.

"Tread lightly, Harry. He is one of whom I spoke about in the Hospital Wing," Fleur warned.

"One of? How many people in Beauxbatons hate me that much?"

"They don't hate you," she corrected, giving him a sad look.

They're jealous. Envious. Resentful. Harry knew the type well.

They were nearing the carriages at this point. Harry had already heard the bell that let classes out. Some of those on their free period would take the opportunity to go outside while there was still a hint of that fall air. Their time alone would be cut short.

"Have you gotten to know me well enough?" Harry asked as they finally reached the carriages.

She smiled and leaned down. Fleur was about two or three inches taller than him. Hopefully, he would grow. Her lips brushed against his cheek and Harry felt a thrill run through his body. Was it the kiss or was it the Veela magic? It was hard to distinguish. That's what made them so damn difficult.

"Yes," she said.

* * * * * * * * * * * *

Cave. Tonight. Bring Davis.

Why would Hermione want to bring Tracey?

Oddly enough, that was the first question that popped into Harry's mind. No love was lost between the two girls. Harry knew Hermione thought Tracey was not as advanced as they were. Harry had an inkling of why Tracey didn't like Hermione but…

Best not to think about that right now.

He summoned her and informed Blaise they would be gone for an hour or two. Blaise instinctively reached for an easy joke about them but paused at the glare on Harry's face.

"I'll keep an eye on everyone. I'll make sure no one decides to follow you, Com."

Tracey was quiet during their short trip to the spot beneath the stairs where the entrance of the cave would be. They huddled closely in the alcove that kept them out of sight and Tracey cast the Disillusionment charm on them just in case. Harry was still forbidden to practice any magic though how the Disillusionment charm could ever affect his knee was beyond comprehension. Still, Tracey and Pomfrey insisted.

"How have you been?" Harry asked her. His conversation with Fleur had rankled him on how he had treated his friends recently. No one could see his Commander persona down here.

She was surprised by his question. "Um...I've been good. Medical has been interesting, but I like it. Draco's been a big help."

"I'm surprised he's deemed you worthy enough to work with him. Then again, he has been very helpful in Battle as well."

"His parents hit him hard."

Harry could understand that. Or could he? After all, he had never known his parents. Either way, Malfoy was the better for it.

"And you?" she asked. "I haven't really gotten a chance to talk to you about the Granger thing."

Harry sighed. She was the last person he wanted to get into this conversation. Still, Hermione had asked him to bring her along and Tracey had accepted without complaint. She deserved an answer.

"We don't know who told Aristophanes. Blaise is looking into it. You know how he has his little critters, but nothing so far. This is actually the first time Hermione's asked to meet."

"I've noticed you haven't done your disappearing act in the night as of late."

"She operates on her schedule. That's why you're here. She asked for you."

"It's just a cover," Tracey said.

"How?"

"If both of you are still hiding your meetings, it would suspicious for both of you to disappear in the middle of the night. It would only confirm the rumors. Disappear with me for an hour or two, however, and…" Tracey trailed off, but Harry could hear the mocking tone in her voice even if he couldn't see her face underneath the Disillusionment charm.

Harry's face burned red and he was glad for the charm. He tried to sputter out a response but words failed him.

"I can't be that bad in your mind, can I?" Tracey teased, jabbing him with her elbow.

"Of course not. That's not what I - um - of course you are great but not like…"

Hermione had great timing. She saved him from an explaining his explanation. As she descended the stairs, however, Harry found she was holding onto someone's arm.

"Harry?" Hermione called out.

Tracey removed the Disillusionment charm from the both of them and Cedric blinked in surprise as the two Slytherins materialized out of thin air.

"You weren't joking about this being cloak and dagger business," Cedric said.

"Unfortunately," Hermione said.

She detached from his arm and patted it lightly. "Thanks for doing this, Cedric."

"I got to walk around with a pretty girl on my arm. I should be thanking you."

He was smooth. Harry would have to take lessons.

Cedric turned to Harry and gave him a wink. Then, he swiveled to Tracey and bowed in an exaggerated manner. "Miss Davis, I don't think we've had the pleasure of being properly introduced. I'm Cedric. Would you care to join me for a walk as I get to know you better?"

Tracey was amused. She brushed a pile of curly hair behind her ear and flashed a smile. "Why I would love to."

Tracey spared Harry an inquisitive look as she took Cedric's arm. Harry could only shrug. This was not his plan. The Hufflepuff and Slytherin pair walked further into the dungeons. Harry could hear Cedric teasing her about living in such a dank place. Tracey reminded him that they were just one level above the Slytherins. Their voices escaped earshot in time.

"Cedric agreed to walk with me down here. There might be an article running in those terrible excuses for journalism about a romance." Hermione quoted the word in disgust. "But it's better than what Aristophanes has been writing."

"I know," Harry said. "Tracey filled me in. Girls must think alike."

"Girls have to live with other girls. Boys have the luxury of fighting each other face to face. Girls deal with everything through sublimated aggression. It makes you paranoid."

Hermione cast two Detection charms. Harry cast an Homenum Revelio. When they were both satisfied that no one was lurking in the hallway, Hermione tapped the wall in key places to reveal the entrance to the cave. It had been quite some time since he had been in there last. When they arrived at the atrium, it was still bathed in an eerie blue. The three tables where Hermione and Luna were testing the replications of the Board Room were still there. Hermione sat down heavily in her chair, pulling at the short fringes of the back of her hair.

"I'm surprised Cedric went along with it," Harry said as he sat down across from her.

"It came with a price. I'm attending the Yule Ball with him." She tried to pretend like it was a burden, but there was a lightness in her voice.

"So he told me," Harry said. "He isn't the worst bloke in the world."

"Quite agreed," Hermione said. "He's been very helpful in researching the clues for the Second Task. I thought he was more image than substance, but even I can be mistaken."

"Infrequently, of course."

She smiled tightly at that. "I'm sorry I haven't tried to contact you. It was enough to convince Gryffindor that I had nothing to do with it. Unfortunately, you had to be my sacrificial lamb. Told them how you probably leaked the article to get into my head."

"And they believed that?" Harry scoffed.

"Enough of it, at least. Of course, everyone's been watching me like a hawk, especially Lavender and Parvati. They're convinced I'm having a secret tryst with you. I didn't even want to risk them finding the Sickle, so I had to charm it to look like a Galleon and keep a Notice-Me-Not Charm on it all times."

"Why is it that everyone thinks we're having trysts and sneaking about fooling around?"

Hermione shrugged. "That's what normal teenagers do. The truth of what we're actually doing might frighten them." She gestured at the three test tables. No doubt she was talking about Legilimency, Occlumency, and Fulminare as well.

"Well, Slytherin hasn't gone the same route. The whole lot of them are likely to stab me while I'm sleeping at this rate. Are you sure it wasn't Longbottom?" Harry asked, itching to take a crack at the pudgy boy.

Hermione shook her head. "Definitely not. Neville would never be able to do that. He is…"

"...cowardly," Harry finished. Hermione tightened her lips but didn't correct him.

"And you ruled out everyone on your side? I talked to Luna too," she said.

"Blaise came to me with it first. Tracey wouldn't ever do that. I used a bit of Legilimency on Justin. He didn't do it either unless he suddenly became a master Occlumens overnight."

Hermione winced. "Necessary, I suppose. That should be all of it."

"Blaise did make a point. Anyone that bothered noticing our disappearances or following us could have found out."

"I suppose, but I don't think so. The way Aristophanes wrote about some of the details was troubling. She didn't know about the cave, but she knew enough to hurt your standing in Slytherin. Who stands to gain from you falling in your Slytherin ranks?"

The list was too long to name. "Anyone. Everyone."

Hermione tugged at her frayed locks again, deep in thought. "I suppose what's done is done. I already made it clear that I haven't been meeting with you. If Gryffindor found out I was lying, that would be the end of them cooperating in Battle class. A shame, just as I've started getting an upper hand on you…"

Harry bristled. "I suppose you've gained a lot from this article. Gryffindor has solidified for you. The Slytherins are falling apart under me."

Hermione gave him an amused look. "I thought girls were supposed to be the paranoid ones, Harry."

Harry stood up, looking at the dark water above them. He limped across the cave towards the shallow pool near the back. He imagined Justin below him, drowning as water filled his lungs. That's what he wanted to do Aristophanes and the person who leaked his connection with Hermione. Dark thoughts.

Hermione came to stand beside him.

"We could also just throw a wrench into everything and tell them we're friends," she said softly.

Harry glared at the water. He extended his hand and focused on bringing droplets of water together. A ball of water detached from the shallow pool, rising and rising into Harry's hand. He twirled it around and then dropped it unceremoniously on Hermione's head. Then, he laughed, long and hard.

Hermione dried herself with a charm and waited patiently until Harry finished laughing. Leaning on his cane heavily, he had almost fallen into the water. When he finally finished, he had to wipe tears from his eyes.

"No," he finally responded. "I can handle it. I'll just have to find a way to bring them together again."

She shook her head at him, but a smile was playing at the edge of her lips. "More wandless magic? How lucky some of us are."

"Pomfrey and Tracey say I shouldn't be performing any magic. Don't see how it could hurt my knee though," Harry said.

"Just a little bit of wandless magic. Not too hard," she said, jealousy in her voice.

"Give it a try."

Hermione bit her lip and her hand reached up to brush the back of her short crop. It was not a good look on her. She extended her hand over the water, her face scrunched in concentration. Nothing came to her. Reaching out with her wand hand, she conjured a ball of water and splashed it into Harry's face. She didn't laugh like he did. Instead, Hermione looked at him with a smug look on her face.

"No magic. Wouldn't want to go against the Healer's orders," she reminded him.

He wiped it off his face and played along, letting it dry.

Hermione returned to the table and started writing in her journal. "We're going to have to do this if we want to keep on meeting. You don't have to take Tracey all the time, but I imagine if you took anyone else, they would start some other rumors as well. Just make sure you're not followed here."

"Of course."

"Good." She flipped several pages in her notebook and beckoned him over.

"Cedric and I were talking more about the riddle from the egg. We didn't glean everything from it, but I have a pretty good idea of what they want us to do."

Harry read the notebook over her shoulder. There were several annotations along the written song. Along the side were scribbles in shorthand that he couldn't read. At the bottom of the page was more detailed explanations. Harry couldn't make out most of it.

Hermione continued, "We've established that we will be searching for something. I am more and more certain that we will be searching not for an object but for a person."

"They don't mean to put someone else into the tournament - do they?" Harry asked.

"It wouldn't be the first time. What else could this line mean? The ones who come first in your mind. It has to be a person. More likely, it has to be several people."

"That's ridiculous," Harry said.

"It gets worse." Hermione bit her lip and ran a hand down her face. "We have also established that we will not be fighting underwater. The voice is from the Merpeople, of course, but the line states: Underneath you'll never win. But why include the Merpeople then? It has to be some sort of water-based activity. Then, Cedric started complaining about the cold and it hit me…"

Hermione looked up. Harry tried to think with her. Yes, the water was cold, but that was too stupid to even consider. It was something else. Harry tried to remember the last few lines of the song. Be careful do not fear the cold. The lake would be cold during winter, but that wasn't it. Take your time watch where you walk. It would be a treacherous path. One false step sink like a rock. Harry continued to look up through the glass.

"Oh."

Harry reached up with his cane, balancing on his good, left leg. He tapped the glass with the cane and the sound echoed in the cave. The realization came to him. The riddle was rather simple after all. The implications however…

"If the First Task was about fire, then the Second Task should be…" Hermione trailed off as she continued to look up at the vast depth of the lake.

"Ice."

* * * * * * * * * * *

"It was a mistake to let that reporter into Hogwarts. I wanted nothing to do with that wretched Skeeter woman, but it appears all writers are made of the same cloth."

"The press will always seek to tear down those who climb too high. The boy was bound to encounter this as well."

"Well, he has not been reacting well. The duels are not always fought with wands."

"Give him time. We have trained him excessively for besting those in combat. It will take time for him to adjust to a much more treacherous enemy; someone he can't just beat into submission."

"I have half a mind to shut them out altogether."

"That is the price we pay for the positions we are in. Rather, the position you are in."

"Gloat all you want. It is harming the boy's progress."

"He will learn. We were all green once when it came to matters of the press. More disconcerting is that his friend has taken up cause against him. We have stepped in before. We can help the boy again."

"No. Do you think the Dark Lord lets others handle betrayal in his ranks? The boy will have to deal with it when he finds out. How he responds will be a matter of whether or not he can discipline those who step out of line."

"A tentative balance that he must be struck. Whip too hard and they will grow resentful. Soft words and they will grow bolder. Have you spoken to Pomfrey?"

"His knee is vexing. I had her scan for any curses or jinxes, but she insists it is just normal bodily repair. Of course, I had to consent to her barring him from participating in Battle. That woman has never liked me."

"Nor should she have reason to. She has seen his scars."

"Something that could not be hidden forever. The House Elf that monitors them in the cave has also informed me of another display of wandless magic from the boy. He grows more powerful."

"Indeed, his power has increased exponentially since the beginning of this year. It has caused a bit of curiosity if I am being honest. Such a power surge isn't unheard of, but it is strange…"

"We tested it ourselves. The younger we trained, the higher their capacity was by the time they graduated. Magical growth during this period of time has always coincided with bodily growth. The magical maturity at this rate is much more volatile than any other period of their lives. The growth they sustain here will lead to stronger wizards and witches."

"Yes, true. We saw that during previous classes. Still, altering the elements wandlessly is no small feat. It might be time for more private lessons."

"No. Not this year. Not while there are so many others around. The time will come to reveal yourself. Never earlier."

"I am not so sure. I am growing weaker. Magic fades from me. It might be that all I have for the young boy are words in the end."

"Would it be that you could offer him anything else. You destroyed that chance years ago."

"Have pity on me. These are likely my last days."

"Tell that to Flamel, who destroyed the Elixer, and came here just so he could teach the boy. Tell that to Lily, who died protecting him. Tell that to the men and women who died destroying the Dark Lord's Horcruxes. Nobody held pity for them."

"So many…"

"The Dark Lord will die and I will have no pity for him."

* * * * * * * * * *

A/N: Missed the time frame by a little bit but…

Projected Update Time: 5 days

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