Harry Potter and Gaining Momentum
Modification
Dear Readers, this is not going to
be Mpreg, just thought I’d explain this before you read the chapter. Yes I’m
putting the Veela cliché in, but I’m putting it in as a means of showing that
it can be over come. Trust me, this isn’t another Veela fic. Furthermore, this
chapter is just a spacer chapter; the next will be Harry and Snape coming out
of the Transformation and Harry and Co participating in the Dueling Tournament.
PS: if you haven’t already noticed,
the alternate URL is on my Bio, enjoy!
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in the office. “Why didn’t Harry just---Oh Merlin, where’s Harry!” she
exclaimed not seeing him as the group all made it in.
“Calm
down Miss Granger, Harry is alive,” Dumbledore said taking Harry out of his
pocket and setting in on the extra perch next to Fawkes’.
“He
used that much magic?” Draco breathed.
“About
got himself killed!” Professor McGonagall shrilled.
“Grand
Patronus’ though!” Flitwick piped up.
“Patronus’,
as in plural, how did he do that?” Hermione asked confused.
“He
had several. He had a Stag, Grim, Werewolf, Dragon,
Lion, Lioness, Owl, and what seemed to be a Crumple‐Horned Snorkack!”
the small man squealed excitedly as he ticked them off on his finger.
“His
father, Sirius, Professor Lupin, Draco, Ron, Neville, Ginny, Hermione, and me,”
Luna listed off looking intently at Harry.
“What?”
Ron asked now confused himself.
“Ron,
honestly, a Patronus takes the form of that which makes you feel safe. Harry’s
forms were representations of us and his father,” Hermione said in a delighted
voice. “We make him feel safe,” she explained.
“But
who is what?” Neville asked.
“The
Stag belongs to his father, the Grim to Sirius, the Werewolf to Remus, Dragon
to Draco, Griffin to Ron, Lion to Neville, Lioness to Ginny, Owl to me, and the
Crumpled-Horned Snorkack to Luna,” Hermione explained.
“I’m
a magical creature?” Ron asked with wide eyes.
“Well
it makes sense doesn’t it? Mr. Clause said that you had the aptitude to be able
to have a magical creature for an Animagus. You never know, it could be a
Ginny reasoned.
“Wow,”
Ron said looking back at the small wrinkled creature that was Harry with
feathers.
“Wait,
where’s Professor Snape? Where’s Severus?” Draco said quickly.
“That,
Mr. Malfoy, is a mystery to us all. He jumped between the killing curse and
Potter and just before it hit, Potter grabbed him close and turned them both
into a shiny black bird with red eyes. Then the bird ate the killing curse and
was gone in a puff of smoke and ash. That is what remained,” Professor Sinistra
explained motioning to the frail creature on the bottom of the perch.
“So
Snape is dead?” Ginny said fearfully horrified.
“We
do not yet know Miss Weasley. I have a feeling that Harry splinched himself and
Severus together in an effort to save them both. We’ll have to sort it out
after the bird reaches a youthful age,” Dumbledore explained.
“The
Shadow Phoenix, I thought you told him never to use it!” Hermione wailed at the
Headmaster in an accusing tone.
“Miss
Granger, you will watch your tone with the Headmaster,” McGonagall reproached
her. Hermione had the good grace to blush and mutter an apology.
seeing as a curse of the Dark Arts was coming at him, I think the Shadow form
came forward to take care of the situation,” Dumbledore explained as he made
his way around the desk to sit in his high-backed chair.
“So
he ate the Killing Curse?” Ginny asked.
“Indeed
he did. He knew he could, after all, he saw Fawkes do it for me at the Ministry
of Magic last term,” Albus explained.
“So
it wasn’t because he used so much magic?” Hermione asked.
“Given
how much he actually used today, I’d say he would have burned in a few days
anyway. He used a massive amount of Will magic to put those wards up. Not to
mention the Apperation of all the professors, the Patronus’ and dueling a bit
in Hogsmeade,” the headmaster said thoughtfully.
“He
dueled?” Neville asked.
“He
did. Mostly just small things like making the curses veer off and keeping the
Deatheaters busy while the other professors apprehended them,” he answered.
“So
he was making the curses veer off course, I knew that wasn’t natural,”
Professor Sprout piped up.
“Ah
yes, he is becoming quite resourceful with his abilities,” Dumbledore said.
“But
he should have known better than to start with You-Know-Who Albus! He must be
punished for that. He told you he would not interfere!” Professor McGonagall
said sternly.
“That
I did. But had he not interfered, the hidden Death Eaters would have started
helping Voldemort try to kill me. They feared for their lives but would not
dare leave without their master,” Albus explained. “Were it not for him, I
would have been in over my head.”
The
silence that filled the room after the remark was deafening. The Headmaster of
Hogwarts, the only one Voldemort was afraid of, the one who took out
Grindelwald, the Savoirthe the Light side-Great Albus Dumbledore was admitting
that he would have been in over his head. To most, well really, all, it was a
horrifying revelation. Of course they knew he wasn’t invincible, but they never
saw him as fallible either.
“You
really don’t think you could have taken on a couple of Deatheaters and
You-Know-Who at the same time?” Ron asked quietly.
“Ron!”
Hermione chided, “Say his name for Pete’s sake, say
it!” she demanded. He just looked at her for a second before opening his mouth
to speak.
“V-Vol,”
he tried then gave a heavy sigh, “Vold-d-emort-t,” he floundered. Hermione
rolled her eyes at him.
“Ron,”
Ginny began “Harry, Hermione, Professor Dumbledore, even most of the Order
members can say his name. You’ve heard it for years now, you don’t even flinch
when his name is said anymore, but you can’t say it yourself. Where’s your
Gryffindor courage?”
“I
was raised not to say it; it’s hard to change something that was done your
whole life. You don’t say it,” Ron pointed out.
“I
refer to him as Riddle and you know why Ronald,” she said sternly, “But if I
had to say Voldemort, I could,” she said just to prove a point.
“That’s
enough everyone. Yes, it’s true that fearing him only makes him stronger among
the people, but there is no shame in fearing evil, that is, as long as you
believe that goodness will prevail. Otherwise, the darkness will take you, and
everything you hold dear,” Albus said gravely.
“Harry
has had almost everything he holds dear taken from him anyway. I don’t
understand how he can just choose to be good. The world as a whole is losing
this war, good is losing. If casualties are what defines who is winning and who
is losing, then the darkness has a very large head start. With all the Muggles
Riddle and his followers have killed or injured, not to mention the wizards,
that Harry is fighting a battle that has just begun, and is losing to the
landslide, especially after he’s sacrificed so much just to get this far. The
prophecy says that---,” Draco snapped his mouth shut just as Dumbledore held
his hand up to stop Draco desperate ranting. “I mean, it seems that when the
time comes, if he feels he’s already lost, he may not be able to do what needs
to be done,” he said vaguely to Albus who lowered his head and covered his face
with this hands that were pruned from years of life.
“Faith
and hope are what drives the light side Draco, we
can’t keep going without it. It may be all we have in times like these and that
is what we’ll have to give to Harry. We’ll have to show our support and hope
ourselves that he can find faith in his abilities and character, and find hope
through his friends and family,” Professor McGonagall said. Draco was too worn
out from the excitement to argue with the Transfiguration teacher so he just
nodded. Dumbledore lifted his head back up and had tears streaming down his
face.
“In
all my years,” he began addressing those in his office, “I have tried to spread
those attributes among students and those in my company. Its times like these
that I feel it was all for a lost cause. But then, I look at Harry and see that
perhaps I did do some good.
and turned it into power, where as Voldemort as done the exact opposite with
fear and evil. Draco, your roll in Harry’s life right now is critical.
Even if neither of you see it, it is your love that makes him stronger. We
help, that is, friends and family, but it’s love like yours that gives him the
will he needs to go forward.
“I
have, for so long, preached and lectured about how we do not kill because we
are good. But as I see Harry fight the same battle many times, it seems to be
turning those views around. He was hit by a curse today by Lucius, as well as
last year, and the year before. Perhaps if he would have killed the first time,
he wouldn’t have lost his Godfather, or maybe he would have ended this war
today. But it still pains me to lead him in that direction. The unforgivables
are not magic that I want him to learn, but I’m beginning to believe that he’s
going to have to learn them. He got two clear shots off at Tom today. One made
the earth beneath the Dark Lord quake and the other
removed some bones hindering him useless. If either one of those curses were
the killing curses, the war would have been over,” Albus said wiping his eyes
of the tears that had spilled. Ginny, Luna, and Hermione were all crying
silently also.
“You
don’t think that he’ll succumb to the addiction of the unforgivables?”
McGonagall asked quietly.
“I
don’t know, but I can only hope not,” Dumbledore said.
“He
won’t,” Ron voice sternly. “Harry has been working on us with our Occlumency
and the first thing he did was make our minds strong enough to fight the
Imperius. So far we’ve all been able to beat if off within five minutes. He
knows the difference between right and wrong. We can feel the guilt when the
casts the spell, we know he doesn’t like doing it, but it needs to be done.
What drives him is our protection, the greater good. Teach him, it may eat away
at him, but he won’t succumb to the dark. His will is stronger than that,” Ron
concluded confident.
“You
mean he’s been using unforgiveables?” Professor Moon said wide-eyed.
“Yes,
but he had our permission. He refuses to tell us the Prophecy until we can
protect our minds well enough to keep the information safe. We’re going to help
him whether he likes it or not, but we don’t want to do it blindly, we want to
know what’s coming,” Ginny said in his defense.
“As
honorable as that may be, I’m not sure if the ministry will be so happy to hear
that,” Professor Sinistra said like she was disgusted wit the idea.
“Well
your not part of his family as we are, so you don’t see what he goes through.
This is none of your business,” Hermione hissed at the professor. Professor
Sinistra looked offended. “Until you’ve seen what he’s been through, you’ll
never understand. He’s not doing it alone.”
“Now
listen here little girl,” the professor said standing up, “Illegal is Illegal.
He can’t be allowed to do such things, no one is,” she said sternly. Hermione
too stood up.
“It’s
for the greater good so I do believe it should be allowed. He’s my family, my
brother. I love him and there’s nothing anyone could say that would or could
change my mind. I’d sit in Azkabar hir him, with Dementors if it meant that
Harry was better off!” Hermione was now shrieking.
“Miss
Granger, please get a hold of yourself,” McGonagall
tried to reason but Hermione rounded on her also.
“Get
a hold of myself! I was petrified because of Voldemort; Ginny was possessed by
him, as was Harry. Draco, Ron, and Luna have all been at the receiving end of
his followers and you’re telling me to get a hold of myself?” she shrieked
incredulously. “No, we’re doing what needs to be done and I’ll be damned if I’m
going to lose any of my family and friends to this war!” she said now in tears.
“She’s
right, its people like you and Professor Snape who make this harder than it has
to be. I’m not going to allow it either. If you dare report him because he’s
training us consider yourself doomed because we’ll rain our wrath on you so
hard you’ll be begging for Voldemort’s assistants in resisting us!” Ginny
wailed now breaking down to tears once again also.
“Well
I never!” Professor Sinistra yelled.
“That’s
right, you never! You never consider anyone else but yourself. If you reported
the Great Harry Potter, you’d be in the spotlight and get all the attention you
need to feed your ambition. It’s common knowledge that you were a Slytherin and
that’s what we’re good at, getting what we want!” Draco hissed at her. He
looked wide-eyed at them before she turned on her heal and stalked out of the Headmaster’s
office.
“I
do agree with a lot of what you’ve said, but Harry still cannot continue to be
allowed to train you in this fashion. As long as I know what’s going on I can’t
allow it,” Dumbledore said gravely.
“Then
what you don’t know won’t hurt you,” Luna finally spoke up as she raised her
wand.
“Luna,
NO!” Flitwick squealed.
“Obliviate!”
she commanded as it hit Albus square between the eyes. He looked dazed for a
moment before waving his wand and conjuring tea and crumpets.
“How
do you take yours Miss Lovegood, sugar, cream?” Albus asked delightedly.
McGonagall fainted away at the sight. Professor Moon was gaping at him as much
everyone else was.
“Oh
dear, could you perhaps take Minerva down the Hospital Wing, I’m sure she
fainted from exhaustion,” Albus said to Professor Moon looking concerned, but
highly amused.
Flitwick would say. Luna bowed her head in acceptance.
“Obliviate,”
Neville said under his breath so no one could hear him.
“Oh,”
Hermione said as she saw what happened, though very subtly, “She made a rude
hand gesture to Professor Sinistra when she was walking out,” Hermione covered
so fluently that Ron gave her and impressed look.
“We’ll
it couldn’t have been that bad, perhaps one is all that is needed,” he
interceded.
“Right,”
Flitwick said gaining his composition back.
speak up until Luna dropped her tea and Ron stretched one arm above his head
with his wand pointing backwards and the other covered his mouth as if being
polite while yawning. Sprout too had just had her memory modified.
It
all happened so quickly that even Draco almost didn’t notice the distraction of
Dumbledore by Luna and the memory modification by Ron. Needless to say, he was
very impressed. Three more professors and they were clear to continue their
training.
“Well,
I have some Astronomy homework I needed to talk to Professor Sinistra about so
I’ll be going,” Ginny said.
“I’m
going to go check on Professor McGonagall, we were supposed to be working on my
staff tonight,” Hermione said.
“Oh,
I’ll go with you, I need to speak with Professor Moon about an idea for Harry’s
extra training,” Draco said and Hermione nodded like nothing was out of the
usual. No one besides the six students had any idea that there gre going to
finish the job of ‘Cleaning the Slate’.
As
the six students made their way down the spiral staircases they were feeling
very guilty, well, besides Draco. He was smirking.
“How
very Slytherin of you, and they call us ambitious,” he said dryly. Ginny, ever
the reincarnation of Fred and George, was the only one
who found this amusing. Hermione and Luna glared at them as Ron and Neville
looked somewhat passive and dazed. No doubt they were somewhat still stunned
about what they had just done.
***
classroom.
“Yes,”
Professor Sinistra asked tersely as Ginny came closer to the desk.
“Obliviate,”
Ginny hissed as she made it to the desk with her wand tip barely out of her
sleeve. “Well Professor, do you mind?” Ginny asked looking at the instructor as
if she was confused.
“Mind
what dear?” she asked shaking her head and looking confused herself.
“If
I used the tower tonight to do my homework,” Ginny asked as if she were asking
for a second time.
“Oh
right,” Sinistra feinting as if she’d just forgotten, “Yes, the password is
Orion. Just be sure to lock it on your way out dear,” she said going back to
grading her essays.
“ks
ks
Professor,” Ginny said giving the woman one more confused look as she turned
and left to make sure that the Professor thought she was just going crazy.
***
“May
I see her Madam Pomfrey? I just wanted to ask her a question,” Hermione asked
in the Hospital Wing.
“Miss
Granger, you know how important rest for the weary is,” the medi-witch informed
her knowingly.
“Oh
yes, absolutely. Is she sleeping?” she asked.
“Yes.”
“May
I just leave a note with her then?” Hermione asked innocently.
“I
suppose, but please be quick. And what do you need Mr.
Malfoy?” she asked.
“Oh,
I just need a quick word with Professor Moon is all.
I’ll ask her to come out into the ward so not to disturb your patient,” Draco
said ever so sweetly with the Malfoy charm at full throttle.
“Of
course dear, please be brief,” she said. He nodded in conformation.
They
walked into the private room together and upon entering Professor Moon stood
up. But before she even had a chance to say anything Draco’s wand was out and
he had already cast the memory charm that was barely audible.
“We
just came to check up on the Professor,” Draco said as the glazed look began to
fade from Professor Moon’s eyes.
“Oh,
right, well, I’ll leave you to it then,” she said and walked out of the ward.
“Obliviate,”
Hermione said in a mourning voice as she cast the spell on Professor McGonagall
as she slept.
“You
didn’t sound like you wanted to do that,” Draco commented quietly.
“I
didn’t, well, at least not while she couldn’t resist,” Hermione said guiltily.
“If
she could resist the you wouldn’t have had the chance,” Draco said logically,
“Now lets get out of here before we wake her up,” he whispered. Hermione just nodded
and turned to leave with Draco.
Hospital wing door.
“Hmm?”
she answered not looking at him.
“Would
you and the others be terribly upset if I were to end my relationship with
Harry?” he asked nervously. Hermione stopped dead in her tracks and stared at
him in disbelief.
“Yes,”
she said in a blunt and rude tone. “Why would you do that?”
“Well,
I have my reasons. I just don’t want him to get hurt,” he explained vaguely.
“Him---Most
would be worried about you. You know how trouble seems to find him,” she said
knowingly.
“Oh,
not like that, I mean, I don’t want to break his heart,” Draco said looking at
the ground as if ashamed.
“Well
ending the relationship wouldn’t do that,” she said sarcastically.
reasons, but I can only tell you one of them, the least important actually,” he
said. He stood in silence for a minute before Hermione finally burst.
“Well!
Are you going to tell me or not?” she asked exasperated.
“I’m
in a marriage contract with the Parkinson family. I’m to wed Pansy. It’s been
negotiated since I was born,” Draco admitted. Hermione covered her mouth in
shock and disgust.
“They
still do that?” she exclaimed.
“Well,
only purebloods, but yes, they do,” he answered.
“I’ll
help you get out of it,” she said as she resumed walking with all intent of
going to the library to look up the laws and regulations on the contract. “You
do want out of it right?” she asked when she saw that he wasn’t following.
“The
other reason is much bigger. If I told you, would you promise not to tell
anyone?”
“Of
course,” she said as if it were obvious.
“I’m
half Veela. I’ll come into my heritage when I turn seventeen. What if Harry’s
not the one for me, what if I’m attracted to someone else?” he asked.
“A
Veela!” she yelled then clapped her hands over her mouth and looked around for
any passerby’s.
“Yes,”
Draco hissed quietly. “The only way the heritage can be over come is if I have
a child with someone before I come into it. That hardly seems possible with
Harry,” he said logically.
“Is
that what you planned on doing with Pansy?” Hermione asked.
“It’s
in the contract that we must bare a child together before my seventeenth
birthday. That’s why she’s so mad, I only have six months left,” he said.
“Well,
I’m going to library to see if I can find out any information about this and
see if there’s a way around it all. You really should have mentioned this
earlier you know,” she said sternly.
“Oh
yeah, Draco Malfoy, Pureblood activist is supposed to let it become a known
fact that he was really a half-blood after generations of conspiracy,” Draco
said sarcastically.
“Anyone
can change Draco, your living proof of that. I don’t think a lot of people
would care as much as you think they would.”
“You
say that now, but do you know how many people I tormented before this year?”
spanspan>“Of
course I do, I am the mudblood aren’t I?” she said putting her hands on her
hips.
“Sorry
about that. You can call me that if you like, but I beg you not to. It’s quite
a blow to the ego,” he admitted.
“You’ve
changed Draco, and you’ve already proven that. Consider this a truce. Now would
you like to come to the library with me to see if we can find a way out of
this?”
“Actually,
you go ahead, I need to think.”
“Alright,
but you really should tell Harry soon incase we can’t get around this. I also
think we should speak with the Headmaster about this, he may have a solution if
we can’t find one,” she advised. Draco just nodded and strode out of sight.
Hermione just shook her head in pity and proceeded to the library.