Proditio

Disclaimer: I do not in any way, shape, or form own the rights to Harry Potter. That undoubtable honor goes to the mother of that wonderful creation, JK Rowling. She is a goddess of the literary arts and should be acknowledged. So, please, for the love of all that is holy, please do not sue me! After all, plagiarism is one of the most sincere forms of flattery. *bows and runs off stage*

Warnings: This is a very OOC fic, especially with Harry and Dumbledore, and is pro-Dark Lord. This fic contains slash! If you don\'t like male/male relationships, here\'s a hint: DON\'T READ IT! The flames will keep me nice and toasty warm, because, after all, I live in Alaska. We need all the heat we can get.

Thanks to my beta, Emmy.

I\'m not quite sure what will happen in this chapter as I was spending hours in front of my comp drooling over the sexyness that is Alan Rickman in Snape\'s clothes and Alan Rickman that is the Metatron. *drool drool* So the storyline might be a bit foggy.


Proditio
Chapter Seven


Everything was as it was in Harry\'s first year, only instead of Harry, the shy, timid, and frightened first year in awe of magic, there was jaded, cold, and unyielding Lupus, standing proud within a terrified group of first years. McGonagall stood before them, ready to speak when Professor Dumbledore waved a hand at his Transfiguration Professor and stood, his eyes lingering on Lupus with a small degree of sadness before taking in the students at the tables.

\"Ah, my students, another year has come at last, but this year we have something different. Or rather someone. Lupus Umbra will be joining us for his final two years as he has been studying independantly with his family. Now, Professor McGonagall, if you will.\" And at that the Headmaster sat down and with his chin resting on his steepled hands, he watched Lupus very carefully, earning himself an icy glare from the boy.

Draco, on the other hand, was fighting to keep a straight face.

Lupus, vaguely entertained by the whispers and stares about him, just tuned out the sorting hat\'s inane babble about the Hogwarts four houses and their more \"redeeming\" qualities. Scattered bits of the song sprang into his mind, something having to do with uniting within or from without we\'ll fall. Much like last year\'s song, he noticed as he sent a wary eye about him, giving careful watch to house relationships that poor naive little Harry had never noticed before in his blind Gryffindor-ness. Snorting, Lupus turned back to Professor McGonagall as she unrolled a parchment, and gave her normal speech about coming up and putting the hat on their heads. The sixth year smirked at the first years as a shutter of fright ran through the puny young witches and wizards.

McGonagall, seeing the smirk, frowned slightly, but turned to her scroll, and said in a clear voice, \"Oldest first, I suppose. Umbra, Lupus.\"

Walking with a great deal of grace and dignity, Lupus walked forth, catching Snape\'s eyes for a second as he turned to sit down on the little stool -- wondering if the stool meant for first years would collapse under a sixth year\'s weight -- and saw in that instant, in their dark depths, a confused sense of recognition. Snape recognized him, apparently, but was confused, and most likely did not know who he truthfully was. Putting that thought on hold for later introspection, Lupus sent his gaze inward as the hat was dropped over his head.

\"Ah, my most loyal guest beneath my bim -- Mr. Potter.\" Came the satisfied and slightly sarcastic inner voice of the sorting hat. It seemed annoyed by all the trouble it seemed to have with Harry and Harry\'s house issues. \"But then again. No, you aren\'t Potter. He is quite cold within you, a different soul perhaps, retreating under the ice Mr. Umbra holds so dear.\" At this the hat seemed intregued, as if the miasma of Harry had been blown away to show the treasure beneath.

Hello, Hat. Have a good year?

Lupus could almost swear he heard the hat snort in his mind at the direct comment. \"Of course, Mr. Umbra. A bit less boring than most years, what with all the excitement of last spring, and even before. But we\'re not here to speak of an old hat\'s summer are we?\"

Of course not. I think I\'m getting rather hungry, if you don\'t mind, and this stool is rather embarressing for one of my age.

Another snort answered that, and the Hat, with no mental prelude, simply yelled out \"SLYTHERIN!\" to be unceremoniously dragged off Lupus\'s head by McGonagall, while Lupus took his sweet time, walking with a tremendous degree of cool distain away from the frowning Professor. Once he was sat down between Draco and Blaise Zambini, he let his eyes wander once more up to Professor Snape, who was looking at him with a closed amount of curiousity. Raising an eyebrow to the Head of his house, and receiving a similar expression in return, he turned his attention back to Draco, settling down for a long, tedious evening ahead.

***

It was midway through dinner when the side door of the Great Hall slammed open, and in a flurry of dark crimson robes, a stern and rather foreboding woman briskly walked forth, ignoring everyone\'s gasps of startlement as she speedily went to the chair reserved for the DADA Professor, spun the chair out, and with a artful swish of crimson, she sat down already reaching for the roast bird before her. The hall was silent for a long while, until Dumbledore, with a faint grin and twinkling eyes, stood, gaining the attention of the students.

\"I see our new Professor needs to be named. Yes, well, this year, and hopefully next year,\" There were a few chuckles among the students at that, \"your Defense Against the Dark Arts Professor will be Professor Lorelei Lamian. I hope you all make her welcome into Hogwarts.\" With that the old Headmaster sat down and happily munched on a piece of pie, whilst listening to Professor McGonagall\'s comments beside him.

Lupus, on the other hand, was scouring Professor Lamian with a measuring look, picking her apart with his eyes. Draco, noticing this, leaned in, to listen to whatever comments Lupus might have had on their newest DADA Professor. She was tall, from what they could see in her dramatic entrance, and willowy, if not a bit delicate in appearance, as if she was made out of spun sugar. Long, silky locks of perfectly straight raven hair fell to the back of the woman\'s knees, and it had been tied at the middle of her back into a jeweled hairpiece. Skin was pale, paler than even Professor Snape\'s, as if she had not seen a day of sun in her life. But through all this black and white, her features held slashes of brilliant, intense color in her blood-red lips and startlingly violet eyes that seemed to glow. And then there was one last physical feature that only Lupus seemed to notice.

He turned back to his meal, no longer interested in measuring up the status of their new Professor, but seeing the interest in Draco\'s eyes, he just blandly said in a low tone, \"Professor Lamian is a lamia. Cute isn\'t it?\"

Draco\'s eyes clouded over in confusion, and with a sigh of frustration, Lupus continued, \"A vampire, dear Draco. A lamia is a vampire. You\'re the one that taught me latin -- you should have known that. But nevermind that, please introduce me to your friends.\" Lupus said, cutting off an commentary Draco might have had, signally the Slytherins who fought and failed to not show interest in the newest addition to their year.

Coughing politely, Draco gestured to his closest friends, who for the most part did not seem to notice there was anything wrong with Draco, nor had they made any fuss about the former scion\'s Unnaming, even though Lupus could see faint traces of pity in their expressions whenever they looked at the pale sixth year.

They better not keep that pity for long, for it will betray them faster than anything else, besides for love or trust. They need to be harder to emotions before they can serve me fully.

\"This,\" Draco started, grabbing Goyle by one arm, \"is Gregory Goyle, Beater for the Slytherin house team, along with --\" At this he pointed across the table at Crabbe, who was extending a hand to shake Lupus\'s own, \"Vincent Crabbe. Both are our resident actors, as most of the school finds them rather stupid, but as we all learn in Slytherin, it is best to hide our best assets to give us greater power in a time of need. Just a warning though, never start a conversation with Crabbe in the Common Room on religious philosophy. He\'ll be talking for hours if you give him a chance.

\"Onward,\" Draco said, his hand now extended toward Pansy, who looked him over with a veiled sense of approval in her gaze that Lupus quirked an eyebrow at, \"is Pansy Parkinson, resident expert on fashion, business, and anything having to do with finances. She\'s a whiz with numbers and she can make Galleons multiply with almost as much ease as --\" Draco paused for a second before continuing, \"Lucius.\"

He then quickly got back on task, gesturing towards tall, and muscular Millicent, who nodded in his direction, a wary spark in her eyes that Lupus quite heartily approved of. \"Millicent Bulstrode. Excellent woman if I do say so myself, and a fine swordswoman. If you wish to learn how to fence, approach her. She taught most of the sixth years how to when she got too bored of sparring with air.\" At that Millicent shot a smirk at Draco who blushed and mumbled something about a demon bitch from hell.

Recovering fast, Draco finally tapped Blaise on the shoulder, and the dark Italian lad grinned welcomingly, and lifted a hand in greeting. \"Last, is Blaise Zambini, our researcher. He has a photographic memory, and reads faster than anyone I know. He\'s also trying out for Keeper on the house team this year, and if I remember well enough, he has a very good shot at it.\"

Good traits all of them. Fine followers once trained a bit better in sheltering themselves from heartbreak.

Nodding to all of Draco\'s group, Lupus gave them all a friendly, yet feral grin, that did not quite reach his eyes, except for a spark of anticipation at the thickening of his plans. He spoke then, his voice cool and soothing, entrancing them with his voice alone, which was heady and deep -- rich with emotion if he so chose -- bringing them closer into his ghostly web. \"Well nice to finally meet you all, as Draco has said so much about you in the few weeks before HogwarAs yAs you all know, my name is Lupus Umbra, but I\'d prefur it if you called me Ghost, as Draco does.\"

The sixth years seemed to be hanging off of every word as if Lupus had been giving them the greatest treasures of the world from his lips. His voice was coated in Lupus\'s own brand of Charisma, a blend of Voice Magic that he had perfected over the summer and his own startling appearance. He could seduce them with a word if he so chose, but as his taste laid strictly in his own gender, he quite believed he\'d rather not. Draco had learned a bit of the Voice magic as well, but as he didn\'t have near the same amount of charisma that Lupus, himself, carried, it did not work to as great effect. But none the less, it would serve him well.

Simple minds, even with their complexities. So easy to take in and mould.

The group then turned back to their plates, intent on finishing the feast, occasionally looking up to give measuring glances at their newest yearmate. No one, except Lupus, ever noticed when Dumbledore walked up to them, eyes intent on the blood-red haired boy. Lupus just looked up in polite interest, matching DUmbledore stare for stare until all of the Slytherins and most of the hall noticed the Headmaster\'s presence.

\"Mr. Umbra, if you please, I\'d like to have chat with you in my office about this year\'s studies. If you will follow me?\" And then with a curt nod from Lupus, and a twinkling eye from Dumbledore, The two walked out of the silent hall and through the corridors.

Their trip was rather silent, only the shuffling of robe gliding over the floor and the sharp click of Lupus\'s driven gait sounding between the two wizards. Lupus\'s eyes were firmly set before him, never looking down, nor over to Dumble dore, but he could feel the Headmaster\'s eyes glide over him every few steps. The trip seemed to take forever in the silence, even when it was broken by the echoing sounds of diners heading to their dorms after the feast finished in their absence. Laughter drifted up the halls, but still the area around the two wizards seemed undisturbed and chilled. Finally reaching their destination, the silence was broken by a low \"Pepper Imps\" and the two made their way into the office as Dumbledore sat down behind his desk, motioning for Lupus to take a seat.

Lupus just stared at the Headmaster coolly, remaining where he was, standing rigidly in the center of the room. The old man sighed.

\"Harry, please. I just wish to talk --\"

\"My name is not Harry.\" Lupus interrupted coldly, his Voice drenched not in charisma and power, but in ice and bitterness. \"Harry no longer exists, especially since he was just the creation of a manipulative old man. I\'d appreciate it if you had a bit more respect for the dead.\"

Dumbledore\'s eyes were devoid of any twinkle, as the age of the man seemed to increase in a second. \"If this is about Sirius --\"

If anything, Lupus\'s voice became even more deadly, never raising or changing in tone, but the pure power of it seemed coated in poison. \"As I have just asked, please have some respect for the dead. Especially ones that have their blood on your hands. Now you asked me here about studies? I never received my O.W.L. report, nor has Draco. We both do not know of our schedule of studies we have this year.\"

At this, Professor Snape glided into the room with a swish of black robes and a deadly presence that Lupus rather admired.

Dumbledore appeared to be pale and drawn but Lupus\'s bitng commentary, but continued on the path Lupus had set for him. \"Professor Snape, your Head of House, has been given your O.W.L. scores that you tester atr at Beauxbatons, Mr. Umbra. You scored very well indeed in quite a few of your subjects, excepting, of course, Divinations, History of Magic, and Astronomy. You will be continuing in your studies of Herbology, Transfiguration, Defense Against the Dark Arts, Potions, and Care of Magical Creatures. That is unless you wish to drop any of these studies?\"

Snape remained silent during this discussion, taking in the new sixth year, his inner voice commenting on how small the boy was for his age, yet with such a degree of steel in his aura.

\"I will be dropping Care of Magical Creatures, as I find no real use for it, and I was wondering if I could possibly take an Independant Study course on Obscure Magic, with ties to Ritual Magic, Familiar Magic, Runic Magic, and Mind Magic. I find myself intregued by a career in research and it would be very helpful indeed if I had a base in these areas of study.\" Lupus said, his voice stilted and formal, making Snape quirk an eyebrow in interest. He found himself highly curious of this new student of his, especially, with the way things were sounding, with his appearant brilliance.

The old man was silent for a long while, knowing that this independant study of Lupus\'s would skim the borderline of Dark Magic, and would need a permenant permission slip into the restricted section of the library, but silently he nodded his hesitant approval, and with a curt nod, Lupus swept out of the office without a backward glance.

\"Who is he, sir?\" Snape said, a few moments after the abrupt disappearance of their pupil.

\"He isn\'t who I thought he was. But he is his own man.\"

A/N: Oooh... Chilly.... Brr..... *chuckles* I kinda liked this chapter as we go more into depth with Ghost\'s character. There will be slash, but much later on, as Draco has to break through a chip of the ice barrier Lupus has set up for himself. And I don\'t see that happening for a bit. Anyways -- please please please, make an attempt to review! It makes me happy and more willing to write longer chappies! Mata ne!

A/N **11/28/2003**: I have just received some startling news from a reader and I feel rather obligated to mention it if this issue offends anyone else. The name that I choice for Harry has brought up a couple of issues. I am sorry that I am bringing up issues with my choice in naming, and believe me when I say, I did not know of the disease called Lupus. As it was told to me the disease is fatal, and it seems almost insensitive of me to becalling a character this, knowing myself the heartache of incurable disorders (I, myself, being plagued with muscular dystrophy). It seem unkind of me to say this, but at this late date I really cannot change Ghost\'s \"given name\" because it has ties into the story itself later on. When I named him, I used latin to form his name, given as cannon uses latin quite often in the naming of the characters (Albus: pure; Severus: Forboding; Draco: Snake; Filius: Son; etc.). Lupus Umbra is literally translated to Wolf Ghost. Thank you for your patience with me.

Confused *chuckles* Wow, so many questions! But sorry, I can\'t really answer them without giving the story away. I hope you understand. And on the other hand, I totally agree with you on your thoughts on how ill prepared Harry is in the cannon series. He does seem a bit doomed doet het he. But as normal, a great bit of luck will probably get him to truimph. *shrugs* I was kinda proud of the Ghost mourning Harry thing, and you will see it quite a bit throughout the story, as Lupus thinks of Harry as a younger, more innocent and naive sibling, to be loved and cottled, but not good for much else. And a final question answered, yes, they id study some more obscure forms of magic, but you will have to pick them out as I go along.

Lupusdragon Yes, this is a Gryffindor bashing story, since I find most of the Gryffindors highly hypocritical. But then again, it could be because every test I take that sorts you, I always get Slytherin. *shrugs*

To all the review peoples *blushes* Thank you all for your lovely praise of me. You have no idea now much it is all appreciated!