They sat down on the gnarled roots of an ancient apple tree. This patriarch of the grove had a small clearing around it, and its boughs spread wide enough to offer plenty of shade. Harry looked around closely, but didn’t see anyone else around. The fact that Rita Skeeter had been out here yesterday made him nervous, but he didn’t see any strangely attentive beetles either. Ignoring the odd looks he was getting from Ron and Ginny, Harry closed his eyes and rubbed his temples like he had a headache. He focused on his Legilimency, casting around him for any other minds. Ron’s presence was radiating a bit of anxiety, but Ginny’s was oddly serene. Harry pulled back sharply, wary of invading their privacy.
“Harry?” Ron’s voice made him open his eyes. He didn’t really have any business getting frustrated with his friend. He was keeping a lot from him, and what he did reveal would have anyone with half a brain worried.
“All right. Yes, Ron, there is something going on. There is a lot going on. I want to tell you both about it, but I can’t right now. It’s not,” he said quickly, seeing Ron start to scowl, “a matter of whether I trust you. I do. I trust the two of you as much as I trust anyone. I know you’d never willingly betray me or repeat anything I told you in confidence. It’s more a matter of whether you’d be allowed to keep those secrets.”
-Harry held up the book, Occlumency: the Hidden Arte. “Hermione came through for us. She figured out what Snape has been doing. It’s called Legilimency, and it lets him read minds, and go through people’s memories. That’s how they found out about the restricted section.”
+Harry held up the book, Occlumency: the Hidden Arte. “Hermione came through for us. She figured out what Snape has been doing. It’s called Legilimency, and it lets him read minds, and go through people’s memories. That’s how they found out about the Restricted Section.”
Ron sat back on his haunches. “But I thought Professor Dumbledore warned you off?”
“I think they are both in on it, or at least sharing information. I’ve also gotten that weird feeling around Dumbledore at times. It stopped when I started freaking out and mentioned that I was thinking about moving to France and transferring to Beauxbatons.”
Ron looked sick. “Dumbledore? He, he wouldn’t do that…” his voice trailed off.
diff --git a/src/OEBPS/Chapter27.xhtml b/src/OEBPS/Chapter27.xhtml index 2d1dfed..3f8b22d 100644 --- a/src/OEBPS/Chapter27.xhtml +++ b/src/OEBPS/Chapter27.xhtml @@ -269,7 +269,7 @@“So, thief,” Harry said scornfully. “I suppose you found some way to look like me to get access to my room. According to Hogwarts, A History, the doorway portraits can see through simple glamours. So that leaves what…?”
“Polyjuice potion,” Hermione blurted out.
Harry nodded slowly. “If you had it brewed already, you just had to cut off a bit of my hair and add it to the brew.”
-“But Harry,” Hermione objected, “Polyjuice isn’t part of the regular Potions curriculum; it was just mentioned in passing, but I think the only book that has it is in the restricted section of the library.”
+“But Harry,” Hermione objected, “Polyjuice isn’t part of the regular Potions curriculum; it was just mentioned in passing, but I think the only book that has it is in the Restricted Section of the library.”
“One you should be quite familiar with,” Professor Snape observed in an acid tone.
“You’re right, Hermione,” Harry said, slowly turning, “Draco had to have help to brew something that complex… not to mention the fact that someone had to tell him the password to get past the Fat Lady.” His eyes came to rest on Professor Snape, whose expression grew murderous.
Professor Dumbledore’s eyes lost a good bit of their twinkle as he turned toward his Potions master. “Severus?” he asked quietly.
diff --git a/src/OEBPS/Chapter6.xhtml b/src/OEBPS/Chapter6.xhtml index f48cd17..e6dd921 100644 --- a/src/OEBPS/Chapter6.xhtml +++ b/src/OEBPS/Chapter6.xhtml @@ -215,7 +215,7 @@The rest of the day passed as enjoyably as Harry remembered. He feasted with the four Weasley brothers, wearing the jumper and the scarf all day, no matter how much Gred and Forge teased him about it. It felt good to relax and just enjoy the day. A day in which there was nothing he needed to change, and he could just be himself again, was a treasure indeed.
After that, Harry made the most of his father’s cloak, but definitely changed his approach this time. He had no interest in re-exploring a castle he knew like the back of his hand. He also wanted to avoid the Mirror of Erised like the bloody plague. If Dumbledore got any idea of what Harry saw in the mirror, the jig would be up. Harry also wasn’t sure if he could stand to see his heart’s desire either, and his sanity was not something he cared to risk after all this work.
Instead, he raided the Restricted Section of the library with a will. A simple detection charm was sufficient to show which books were trapped, and sometimes it was easy to avoid the triggering condition, or disable it with Finite Incantatem. Harry had only had the opportunity to read a few of these books before the library was destroyed during the massacre. Scanning through the titles, Harry picked out anything having to do with time, fate, or paradoxes. If he was about to paint himself into a corner, it was best he know as quickly as possible.
-He spent the balance of his holidays either working with Ron and the twins in the mornings, reading books crouched down in the restricted section or smuggled back to his room, or adding a few more inches to his latest letter to Ginny.
+He spent the balance of his holidays either working with Ron and the twins in the mornings, reading books crouched down in the Restricted Section or smuggled back to his room, or adding a few more inches to his latest letter to Ginny.
Neville Longbottom’s answering grin was just a tad feral.
After dinner they all went up to the empty boys’ dormitory and caught up on what had happened. Harry was hesitant to say anything to Neville about the picture, but when the round-faced boy saw that Harry had hung it on the wall next to his bed, he smiled happily.
Hermione’s eyes got wide when Harry showed her the invisibility cloak, but that was nothing compared to the news that Harry was pillaging the Restricted Section. Harry could tell she was troubled by what he was doing, but she didn’t once threaten to go to a teacher about it. Harry suspected that venomous encounter with Snape where he threatened to snap her wand was the reason; she’d started to develop a healthy distrust for authority. This was actually a relief to some extent. Harry knew her path might be harder for her in some ways; her being associated with him was creating greater friction with a professor she’d always urged Harry to make peace with. On the other hand, he remembered how horrified and ashamed she’d been after Snape proved her wrong, murdering the headmaster.
-Of course, if Harry was raiding the restricted section, then Hermione wanted in on it as well. Soon Harry was smuggling the non-trapped books to her as well. He urged her to only read them in her dormitory though. The odds of Lavender Brown or Parvati Patil recognizing Hermione’s book du jour as being forbidden to students was admittedly pretty minor. Harry likewise did a lot of his reading in his bed. That also might help dispel some of the talk about his sleeping habits. Harry had forgotten how efficient the Hogwarts gossip network was, and at times it made him a little nervous.
+Of course, if Harry was raiding the Restricted Section, then Hermione wanted in on it as well. Soon Harry was smuggling the non-trapped books to her as well. He urged her to only read them in her dormitory though. The odds of Lavender Brown or Parvati Patil recognizing Hermione’s book du jour as being forbidden to students was admittedly pretty minor. Harry likewise did a lot of his reading in his bed. That also might help dispel some of the talk about his sleeping habits. Harry had forgotten how efficient the Hogwarts gossip network was, and at times it made him a little nervous.
During their first morning run together, Harry could tell that Hermione and Neville had definitely been keeping up during holidays. Neville appeared, to Harry’s untrained eye, to have lost a little weight. The boy had never really been fat, mind you, but just a little on the round side. Hermione’s parents had even bought her a smart looking track suit for Christmas.
“They said they were glad to see me taking steps to keep fit,” she said blushing when Ron asked her about it. “My father kept going on about that whole healthy body, healthy mind thing until I asked if I could return to school early.”
After they got their blood moving, they paired off on the brittle dead grass near the castle walls. They were on the leeward side, so there was almost no snow on the ground to make them slip. Harry was sparring with Hermione when she did something unexpected. He was partway through a punching combination when she seized his wrist and twisted it, bending it in an odd direction. The next thing Harry knew, he was down on one knee with his arm bent behind him. Ron froze in disbelief and Neville’s fist knocked the wind out of him before the other boy stopped as well.
diff --git a/src/OEBPS/Chapter7.xhtml b/src/OEBPS/Chapter7.xhtml index a870c68..9883d44 100644 --- a/src/OEBPS/Chapter7.xhtml +++ b/src/OEBPS/Chapter7.xhtml @@ -47,10 +47,10 @@Harry looked from one twin to the other and then burst out laughing.
With Hagrid’s crisis abated, Hermione rededicated herself to her study project. She didn’t tell them precisely what she was pursuing, perhaps realizing that Harry’s reticence might be for a reason.
Of course it was too good to last.
-Harry had just slipped into the restricted section and replaced Moste Obscure Enchantments on the shelves when he heard a voice behind him.
+Harry had just slipped into the Restricted Section and replaced Moste Obscure Enchantments on the shelves when he heard a voice behind him.
“Back again, Harry?”
Harry twitched under the cloak. He turned slowly to see Professor Dumbledore running a long finger down one of the dusty shelves.
-“There is a certain allure, I suppose, to forbidden knowledge. But there is a reason that we have a restricted section. Much of this is dangerous, Harry, both for you… and for your friends.”
+“There is a certain allure, I suppose, to forbidden knowledge. But there is a reason that we have a Restricted Section. Much of this is dangerous, Harry, both for you… and for your friends.”
He knows, dammit! Harry fumed while trying to maintain a steady expression. He let the hood fall back and tried not to look too guilty. He said friends too… Snape might have recognized a title from Hermione’s memories. That means he’s still probing her, the bastard. He fanned the flames of anger. Anger was easier to manage, and more useful for this confrontation. “Well, what did you expect me to use this for?” he asked, gesturing with a flap of the invisibility cloak. “Tormenting Mrs. Norris?”
Only someone who spent hours at a time talking to an animated portrait of the headmaster would catch the flicker of surprise. The headmaster smiled benignly. “That’s an interesting assumption.”
“Not particularly,” Harry said coolly. “The note said they got the cloak from my father. Given when he died, that would mean someone who was at Hogwarts the same time he was. Professor McGonagall was his Head of House, but you know how she is about rules, and she’d never go behind your back. Hagrid was a friend, but bless his soul he can’t keep a secret.” Harry kicked himself about not appearing too knowledgeable. “Professor Snape was in the same year as my father, but I can’t imagine him not keeping it,” he added.
diff --git a/src/OEBPS/Chapter8.xhtml b/src/OEBPS/Chapter8.xhtml index 40c7ac7..7c012ad 100644 --- a/src/OEBPS/Chapter8.xhtml +++ b/src/OEBPS/Chapter8.xhtml @@ -28,7 +28,7 @@Ron glanced at Hermione, looking a little shocked.
Harry scratched at the back of his head, both touched and embarrassed at the same time. “Thanks,” he murmured.
As they made their way back to the castle, both Neville and Ron walked with their wands out, held closely to their sides. Harry was thoughtful as he noted the obvious signs of wear. As he recalled, Neville had his father’s wand and Ron was using Charlie’s old one. Neither had a wand that actually chose them, which seemed to be a considerable handicap. He’d have to do something about that as well.
-Walking into the Great Hall on Monday and seeing it decked out in red and gold for the end of year feast really brought it home to Harry. Dumbledore wasn’t going to have to award Gryffindor a ton of points at the last minute to change the outcome. After Harry’s sharp words in the restricted section, he didn’t imagine the old man would be too likely to help him out anyway. But the fact that he didn’t have to was what made Harry’s heart lift as he took a seat with his friends.
+Walking into the Great Hall on Monday and seeing it decked out in red and gold for the end of year feast really brought it home to Harry. Dumbledore wasn’t going to have to award Gryffindor a ton of points at the last minute to change the outcome. After Harry’s sharp words in the Restricted Section, he didn’t imagine the old man would be too likely to help him out anyway. But the fact that he didn’t have to was what made Harry’s heart lift as he took a seat with his friends.
Some things can be changed. Maybe what he was calling fate was just a coincidence after all.
It was both a scary and a liberating thought. Maybe he could make it all come out right… and maybe he could screw it up even worse. Still, he couldn’t be James and Lily’s son without at least trying. He smiled as he thought about the album with pictures of his parents that Hagrid had given to him earlier that day.
Thinking about his parents also reminded him of some other issues that were nagging at him. He knew he didn’t dare do anything to Scabbers this early in the course of events. The rat Animagus played an essential role in the resurrection of Voldemort. If he were exposed now, he might get away and seek out his old master even sooner than he did before. Harry needed that time to prepare.
@@ -40,7 +40,7 @@“Hello Harry. Congratulations on the cup; that was quite a daring catch.”
Harry looked down, wondering why the old man was trying so hard to butter him up. “Fred and George deserve most of the credit sir. In my opinion they made just as important a catch that day.”
“I would be surprised if you felt otherwise. So what brings you here today? Would you like a lemon drop?”
-Harry shook his head. “I wanted to talk to you… about something I was trying to look up in the restricted section. I wanted to keep it private, but I haven’t had any luck, and I think it’s important…” he let his voice trail off and looked up at the headmaster.
+Harry shook his head. “I wanted to talk to you… about something I was trying to look up in the Restricted Section. I wanted to keep it private, but I haven’t had any luck, and I think it’s important…” he let his voice trail off and looked up at the headmaster.
“Harry, I really do want to help you. I know it has been hard for you in some ways, but I would like to do what I can,” Dumbledore said.
Harry looked at him evenly for a moment. He really did mean well. That’s what made him so hard to deal with. Once he thought he was acting for the best, he would take whatever steps were necessary. While Harry had to admire his drive, the fact that the man could also be frighteningly close-minded on certain subjects made him dangerous. His own portrait warned him of that once it was clear that Harry could not be talked out of returning to the past. Harry took a deep breath and tried to look uncomfortable. “I, well, I’ve been having nightmares.”
“I see,” the headmaster replied. His lack of reaction was not shocking. Dean and Seamus were not terribly close-mouthed, and the Hogwarts Gossip Network was frighteningly efficient. Plus all the portraits reported to the headmaster.