Chapter 13 “ Parting Ways
The remaining survivors of the first strike against Hogwarts all gathered in the Great Hall immediately after the attack, waiting for someone to walk in and tell them it was a dream, or that everything was going to be alright. Professor McGonagall, Hagrid, even Harry Potter would suffice, but somebody. They yearned for some form of comfort. Harry did indeed walk in, as did the rest of the Order of the Phoenix and Dumbledore’s Army, covered in battle wounds and all wearing devastated and discouraged looks on their tragically cheerless faces. Harry and Ron were carrying Ginny while Lupin and Garrison carried Minerva. Several others were levitated in by Flitwick and Slughorn. Moody was doing all he could just to stand straight, weeping in view of everyone for the first time.
“Hogwarts isn’t safe anymore!” shouted one student.
“What do we do?” asked another, horrified.
The amount of anxiety and terror in the room was immense. It could be felt in the air, much like Voldemort’s hatred was felt outside on the field of death that was once the Quidditch playing grounds. Many students were crying in huddled groups, mourning their fallen friends and professors. All of them were scared. Lupin called the Order members together, excluding Harry, and they all made small cots appear across the Great Hall. Moody closed and sealed the entrance with several spells as the ceiling displayed a modest quantity of soothing and dimly lit candles, floating in the air.
“You are safe here,” said Garrison, hovering a few feet off the ground so as to be seen by everyone. “We will stand watch all night so you will not be harmed. Please, don’t panic. Professor Slughorn has several vials of sleeping potion that Madam Pomfrey will serve you all, and you will have a dreamless sleep. This will give you relief from the events of today for a few hours while you rest.”
One by one, the students lay in their beds and drifted to sleep after drinking the potion. Harry refused the concoction when it was offered to him, but insisted that Ron and Hermione take it. Once the students were asleep, the Order of the Phoenix met in the front of the room where the Professors’ table usually was during meals. Moody was limping his way to the front. He stopped in front of Harry, tears on his scarred cheeks.
“Walk with me, Potter,” he said, putting an arm around Harry’s shoulders and leading him to where the Order’s meeting was commencing. Both were surprised to see Minerva sitting up in her bed at the head of the group. She was just as scarred and battered as the rest, but seemed to be fighting her exhaustion.
“Well, as we feared, the defenses of Hogwarts are weaker than ever, as was proven by this...this heinous attack on our school. We all lost many we care about. I don’t think this school will be the same again without Hagrid...”
Many sobs filled in the following silence as the Order members tried to comfort those around them while shedding tears themselves. Minerva fought back tears several times before continuing.
“There should be a memorial service for those who did not survive later in the week as a way of saying good-bye to them.”
“What do we do now?” asked Tonks, who was seated next to Lupin, squeezing his hand tightly.
“Well, we will...we...I...I just don’t know anymore.”
“Let’s keep the Order here at all times,” said Garrison, apparently taking charge to relieve Minerva. “Also, close as many of the outlying wings as possible, leaving only the center part of the castle active. Gryffindor tower will house the rest of the students minus Slytherin house, which can stay in the dungeons. The rest of the wings need to be closed and sealed magically by the Ministry so no one goes through them. That will at least allow us to have some control over where the students will be. No one will go through the halls without an escort, nor will they ever leave their wands.”
“Have every class teach self-defense tactics as it pertains to their field of expertise,” added Professor Slughorn, who was passing by the group while attending to those who were wounded. “That way, the students are able to at least defend themselves long enough for help to arrive. What do they know so far?”
“Ask Potter,” replied Garrison, and the group looked at Harry.
“I’ve been teaching most, if not all, of the three houses other than Slytherin what I’ve learned from Professor Moody and Professor Garrison, and they were using it today. I thought I would have more time to show them what they needed to know, but I failed. I’m sorry...”
“Because of you, Harry, most of the students here are alive,” responded Minerva. “They were scared, but capable of defending themselves. I’ve heard reports from the Order members here of those spells you learned and taught being used on that field by several of your fellow classmates, and for that I’m so proud of you. Don’t blame yourself for any of this.”
“But it’s my fault!” cried Harry, tears starting to flow again. “It’s my fault Voldemort attacked here. Because of me, all these students are dead. I couldn’t stop the Dementors. I wasn’t strong enough. And now Hagrid’s...he’s...and I still haven’t found those Horcruxes...I...”
The Boy Who Lived collapsed in sorrow as the Order surrounded him in a warm embrace, comforting him. Lupin handed Harry the potion for dreamless sleep and, with some coaxing from every member of the Order, Harry agreed to take it. Garrison walked him to a cot before sitting him down and handing him the potion. As Harry was taking it, he heard his professor mutter something to himself. When Harry fell asleep, the words rang in his memory:
“You’re almost ready.”
Five days following the horrific attack, those remaining at Hogwarts gathered around a burial site. A list of thirty-two students and seven faculty members was listed on a large wall in the center of the group. On the left side of it was a stone bearing the name HAGRID, and on the other, the White Tomb. This division of Hogwarts was the most heartbreaking of the school, housing so many memories. The Quidditch site had been completely burned and cleaned prior to the memorial.
“There isn’t a single person standing here that has not lost someone they love this past week,” began Professor McGonagall. “Their lives were taken before they had a time to shine. They were casualties: casualties of a war they didn’t start nor wanted any part in.”
The Headmistress spoke for a time about each of the deceased, allowing all their moment of remembrance as Dumbledore had three years prior upon the death of Cedric Diggory. When she came to Hagrid, she had to pause to collect herself and hide the pain from reflecting on her face. After a moment, she spoke about him as well. Every student shed tears remembering the half-giant with a heart bigger than his body was capable of holding. Minerva spoke of Hagrid’s loyalty, his love for the students and teaching, his devotion to the school, his pets (which made some students smile), and his memory. To Harry, it was beautiful to hear about his oldest companion in such a favorable mention, though it killed him to think of the reality that had befallen this friend.
After the ceremony had completed, the students were allowed to speak on behalf of someone who had died. Harry refrained, as the pain was too much to handle. Many students told stories of their friends’ triumphs; others shared a funny moment that had happened in the past. These anecdotes brought tears and laughs to everybody, allowing them to remember their friends in a good light. Once the last student finished, Lupin stood.
“Most of you remember me as the Defense Against the Dark Arts professor from a few years back,” he said. “Today, I come before you as a friend and for counsel. Hogwarts has never experienced an event as terrible as this. It is a first, and it is time for another first. I know all of you are scared. Your families are concerned about you, and the professors agree with me that this next decision should be yours to make.”
The students gave Lupin their undivided attention, not sure what he was going to say next. Harry was also curious, as he missed the last half of the Order meeting.
“You all have two choices. You can stay here and complete this year at Hogwarts, standing beside the rest of your friends and continuing with your studies. Or you can leave now and return next fall, should Hogwarts be open at that time. If it is not, we will transfer you to Eton for the next term.”
Everyone started talking amongst themselves, shocked at what was happening. Many stood up and began to walk away, but the professors stopped them.
“Please,” said Lupin, “don’t leave just yet. We’d like to know exactly who will be going so there is no confusion. Therefore, if you plan on leaving, please step to the front and wait until we have your name. Then you will be dismissed as a group to begin packing your things.”
Several students stepped forward. A huge group of Slytherins stood and walked smoothly to the front. There were no tears on their faces; only deceit in their eyes. Dean Thomas stood and walked to the front. Seamus Finnigan followed him, as did the Creevey Brothers. One by one, the students formed a group in the front consisting of more than forty students. As the last student stood and began to walk to the front, everything became quiet. Every professor was shocked. The students couldn’t believe their eyes: Harry Potter was leaving Hogwarts.
“Why did you go up there?” shouted Ron when they returned to Gryffindor tower. He’d practically dragged Harry to their dormitory, Hermione following closely.
“You can’t leave!” he continued. “You’re the one who has to protect us! And now, when we need you the most, you’re going to leave us wide open to another attack! You’re just going to quit! Why?”
“You really can’t leave, Harry,” agreed Hermione, a look of furious determination on her face. “We need you just as much as you need us. You said you wouldn’t walk alone anymore, and yet you want to leave.”
“Will you let me explain?” asked Harry calmly. Both of his best friends crossed their arms, expressions of impatience on their faces.
“You see, I’m not “”
“You can’t leave!” shouted another voice. The trio turned around to see Ginny standing in the doorway. Just as she shut the door, Harry noticed a bunch of other students crowding behind it to hear his reason of departure.
“The war hits close to home, and you turn and run? Who do you think you are? You’re certainly not Harry Potter. The Harry I know wouldn’t do that,” said Ginny angrily. Harry sighed and asked the three of them to sit down.
“I’m not running away,” he began. “Don’t you see? I’m the reason he attacked. Voldemort’s trying to make me fight him now. That’s why he struck when he did. He knew the defenses would be down.”
“But how?” asked Hermione. “No one outside of Hogwarts knew about that.”
“I don’t know, but somehow he knew when to attack.”
“And how to attack,” added Ginny. “He knows that we’re your friends, and the best way to get you to go right where he wants you to go is to threaten us. And that’s exactly what you’re doing. Tell me I’m wrong.”
“You’re not exactly wrong,” explained Harry, “but you’re not exactly right, either. I need to find two more Horcruxes. I can’t find them and study at the same time. I need to use all my time to find and destroy them so I can fight Voldemort and get this over with. I’m running out of time. Who knows what he’ll do next? I can’t let this continue like this, and the only things in the way are those Horcruxes.”
“He knows,” whispered a voice. Harry looked around the room, trying to locate the source.
“Don’t try to avoid us by looking around the room, Harry,” yelled Ron. “Is that the only reason?”
“You didn’t hear that?” asked Harry, bewildered now.
“Hear what?” asked all three Gryffindors.
“Never mind,” Harry said, fearing that his assumption to the source would in fact be right. “I can’t protect you if another attack happens here or away from you. My time will be better spent away from Hogwarts. I’ll have the Order behind me. I hope you’ll be there with me, too.”
Hermione, Ginny, and Ron all looked surprised at his last statement.
“I do need you guys, now more than ever. I need you to watch out for one another. Three people have more of a chance in a duel than one on one with a Death Eater.”
“But it’ll never be one on one, mate,” interrupted Ron.
“You’re probably right,” replied Harry. “But you’ll be alright. You did great a few days ago, and you’ll be fine if something else should happen. Besides, you’ve got the Order of the Phoenix here.”
“But we won’t have you,” said Ginny softly. Harry didn’t have a response for that. He ruffled his hair with his hands, thinking of what else to say, but words had escaped him. Desperately, he tried one last time.
“If I stay, he’ll attack again later. If he hears I’m outside of Hogwarts, it’ll at least get his attention somewhere else, which will keep you safe. He doesn’t have any more reason to attack here if I’m not present.”
“How is he going to know?” asked Hermione.
“The Daily Prophet will hear about my departure,” Harry replied frankly.
“You’re crazy,” said Ron, now looking outside the window. “Brilliant, but crazy.”
“Ron’s right,” agreed Hermione. “If you make it seem as though you’re scared, that will buy you some time while Voldemort chases you. Oh, but Harry, what if he finds you?”
“I won’t be alone,” replied Harry. “Moody’s going with me, as is Lupin.”
“So when are you leaving us?” asked Ginny sadly.
“Not until after the holidays,” said Harry cheerily, forcing a smile on all three faces looking at him. Their anger slowly dissipated as they embraced their friend. They would miss him undoubtedly, but Harry knew what he had to do.
The next day, Harry had Hermione help him in the library. She was utterly shocked when he asked her to help him research something, but agreed immediately.
“What are we looking for again?” she asked after searching through several shelves.
“It’s a spell Dumbledore told me to look up called the Silhouette of Eternal Benevolence. It was in his note. He said it might help against Voldemort.”
“Well if Dumbledore says it will help, then it must be powerful.”
The pair looked through the library many times over and found one article in the restricted section that said simply:
The Silhouette of Eternal Benevolence is a legendary spell cast by Nicodemus Bastion Ricus many years ago. No trace of its existence has ever been found.
“Well that’s helpful,” exclaimed Hermione as Harry slumped in his chair, shaking his head.
“It has to exist,” he said, sounding desperate. “Why else would he tell me to find it?”
“Harry, even great wizards like Dumbledore are wrong sometimes,” consoled Hermione. “I’ve never heard of a spell that exists that has never been performed before. I mean, every spell leaves its mark either on someone, something, or in the memory of the wand. If there’s no trace, it cannot exist. Are you sure you read the name right?”
“Of course I’m sure. I’ve read that note at least a dozen times.”
“I don’t know what else to say, Harry. Try asking the professors.”
Harry did just that, and asked every single one. Only one had heard of it, and that was Moody.
“It’s a legend, Potter,” he said. “Don’t worry about it. It was one of the many spells that was rumored to have great power but was never cast.”
Harry walked out of Moody’s office very discouraged.
“I should just give up,” he said aloud.
“Good choice,” whispered another voice. Harry looked up, shocked at the timing of the comment. It was this exact hallway that he’d heard a voice whispered like that his second year. He called out for another reply, but did not receive one. Wondering if he was hearing things, he tried again.
“Something wrong, Harry?” asked a third voice. Harry had almost run into Ricky Li.
“No, I guess I was hearing things,” replied Harry.
“I was surprised to hear you were going,” said Ricky. “The school just seemed to feel safer with you in it. I’m going to miss the DA meetings.”
“Yeah, so will I. You did very well during the...well...the battle. I hadn’t seen anyone jump like that before.”
“Oh, you mean the kicks? Those I learned from a Muggle defense course back home. I can teach you some of the basics if you still want to learn. I do seem to recall us planning something of that sort, so if you’re still interested...”
“Sure.”
The duo walked into the Room of Requirements to train. Ricky showed Harry some grappling techniques, such as throwing and getting away from a hold. Harry also learned a few punches and kicks. After a while, Harry looked at Ricky peculiarly.
“Why did you learn this?” he asked. “When will you ever use this sort of fighting? That’s why you carry a wand.”
“True, if you’re in a duel, it’s pointless. But trust me, it has its uses when you don’t have a wand. It’s saved my life before. Muggles will often try to pick a fight with me because I’m smaller, and it really helps then. If anything, it was an interesting way to spend an afternoon before you leave.”
Ricky smiled, and Harry couldn’t help but smile back. They walked out of the room and went their separate ways. Harry shouted the last DA meeting’s time to Ricky before he was out of sight.
The next day, Harry heard the ethereal voice again, this time catching a peculiar quality about it: it was not English, and no one else could hear it. It was a voice of ice-cold venom. He felt like he was experiencing déjà vu, and went searching for the voice again.
“You’ll never win,” taunted the voice, moving away from Harry, who started to follow it. Running down the corridors, he pursued the source of the Parseltongue. He paused every once in a while to listen, hearing the movement in the walls. Harry continued to run after the voice, coming to an all-too-familiar bathroom. Knowing where he had to go, he walked into the room and to the sinks in the middle.
“Open up,” he said in the same cold voice as his mysterious guest. The sinks sank into the ground, revealing a large pipe. Harry jumped down, sliding through a series of pipes until he landed on the damp, dark stone floor. He stood, dusting the slime and dirt from his pants. When he looked up, a fanged head shot out of the same pipe at him. Harry ducked and rolled out of the way, drawing his wand.
“Expelliarmus!” he shouted, but the spell flew back at him. Harry dodged the spell, but by the time he got up and through the rubble that had collapsed the entryway since his last visit, Nagini was no where in sight. Harry spent a couple hours sorting through the caved-in path, finally squeezing his way through. He recognized the scene in front of him. This time, however, the doors were open, since no one had been there to shut them since his last visit. He wandered through the passages, finding the Chamber of Secrets entryway. It was completely dark.
Upon entering, Harry shouted “Incendio Maxima!” This lit every torch in the chamber. Nagini sat coiled and ready to strike at the end of the aisle next to the dead carcass of the basilisk. Harry walked up to her in stride, hoping it would hide his fear. He didn’t know how to win this fight, as no spell or potion could kill this serpent.
“You can’t win, boy, so give up,” said Nagini, nasally laughing.
“You’re the reason Voldemort attacked when he did,” said Harry in Parseltongue. “You’re the spy. But how did you get in here?” He looked around, noticing the water. “Of course, the lake.”
“The boy is not so unintelligent,” replied the snake. “You’ll never be rid of my master, and this will be the end for you.”
“It’s been ending for quite some time. He can’t hurt me much more. He’s taken away everything.”
“Guess again!”
Nagini lunged at Harry, who was standing about ten feet from the giant snake. Harry rolled out of the way, stood up, and shouted a curse at the snake. It bounced off her scales back at him. Dodging the spell and another attack, Harry concentrated on his hatred for Voldemort and shouted, “Avada Kedavra!” The snake was hit with the green spark and flew back several feet, not moving. Harry approached his fallen enemy slowly. He stood over her, kicking her still body.
There was almost no time to react. The snake turned over, drew herself up to a height of at least eight feet, and dove for Harry. He rolled out of the way again, aiming his wand at his opponent. Before he could say any spell, however, the wand was whipped away from his hands by Nagini’s tail. The snake wrapped around Harry three times in a vice-like grip that took his breath away. He could feel his arms and legs quickly going numb as he became light-headed.
“Fool! No spell can kill me! Some warrior you are! The reward my master will give me for destroying the famous Harry Potter will be great.”
“What makes you think...you’ll kill me here?” asked Harry, forcing the words out as best he could.
“I’ve already beaten you. Now I will watch as the lights leave your eyes, just as my master did with your parents years ago.”
Harry felt a growl build up in his very core as his anger began fuming. He would not let a servant of his enemy defeat him, let alone talk about his parents in that manner. Harry’s body began to shake. He felt his nose and mouth start to extend in front of his eyes, covered in golden fur. His muscles seemed to strengthen and enlarge as his hands grew claws and padding at the end. His weight knocked him and Nagini over. Looking at the snake, Harry tried to bellow. The only thing that was heard was a ferocious roar.
Nagini saw Harry grow a mane covered in gold and black hair and the look in his eyes change from scared and almost lifeless to determined and angry. She tried to uncoil and escape, but before she could, Harry put a massive paw on her body. Nagini turned around and attacked, biting Harry’s shoulder. The lion growled in pain, releasing her. She slithered as fast as she could into the water, Harry right behind her. Having four muscular legs underneath him, he quickly outran the snake. This time, Harry grabbed her with his tooth-filled jaws and threw her back onto the walkway in the center of the room.
Leaping from the water like the big cat he was, Harry sunk his teeth into Nagini’s neck. Out of horror and pain, Nagini started biting Harry’s body wherever she could, drawing blood from many places and injecting venom into his body. Harry let go again in anguish. As Nagini reared back and lunged once more at Harry, he grabbed her neck close to her head. The snake desperately grabbed his neck as well. The two animals stood locked for what seemed like eternity in the throws of their fierce battle. Harry started shaking the snake in his mouth, sinking his teeth deeper into her until Nagini could barely breathe. Still struggling, she released her bite and tried to wrap herself around Harry. He reared up and stomped on her body, shaking his head the whole time.
With one last pull, Nagini stopped moving and she breathed her last. Harry didn’t move for a while, making sure the snake was dead. After a few more seconds, he dropped Nagini and started walking. Then it occurred to him that he couldn’t climb out of a pipe: he had four paws, not hands and feet. He remembered Professor McGonagall telling his class that she would have to transfigure them back to their original state the first time. So he wandered the chamber for a while, searching for a way out.
It took Harry a long time to find an outlet. When an obvious exit did not present itself, he started looking for the obscure. There was a crack in the floor a distance away. It was buried underwater, and it was the deepest point of the chamber. Deciding to explore, Harry held his breath and waded into the murky abyss. He wasn’t able to see a thing, so he swam to the bottom and used his paws to see what he could find. There was a crack, alright, and a sizable one that apparently belonged to a pipe.
This must be where the water from the lake comes in, thought Harry. With this in mind, another thought came to him. This was the way out.
Wishing he were a sea creature instead of a lion, Harry returned to the surface of the water and grabbed the snake. He took as much air as his lungs would allow and dived down, swimming fast. As it turned out, being a lion underwater wasn’t too bad, as Harry could swim a bit faster and hold his breath longer than he could as a human. He found the broken pipe and wiggled his way through the crack. Journeying through the pipe, though, wasn’t as easy as he thought.
The space was tight, since he was a lot bigger than normal with a giant snake in his mouth. It was no wonder Nagini didn’t have any problems getting around. After a few hundred feet, Harry saw the end of the pipe. It was still about fifty feet away, and then there was the assent to the surface of the lake. His head was already feeling lighter than air, and he was almost out of breath. If that wasn’t enough to worry about, there was also the fact that the snake venom was making him a lot weaker. He would drown in a few minutes. With a renewed effort, he struggled through the pipe, exhaling as little as possible.
The pressure was intense around him and inside him. If he wasn’t breathing on his own, the venom was making him. Finally out of the pipe, he pushed off the bottom of the lake, swimming desperately for the surface. He was now out of air. At the last possible moment, his head emerged and he took in as much air as he could. Exhausted and growing weaker, he swam to the side of the lake and lay down. He would get no rest here, though, as the toxins in his body continued to drain him. Harry heaved his body back on all fours and began to walk towards the castle in the distance.
It took several minutes to reach Hogwarts, and Harry growled in relief. He couldn’t expect anyone to know it was him, though, without at least having somebody go with him to Professor McGonagall. In addition to that, he still had to destroy the soul fragment in the snake. With the last burst of energy his body would allow him, he bounded through the corridors of the castle, ignoring the screams and scared students as he approached Gryffindor tower. Hermione and Ron were just climbing out of the portrait. Speeding up, he shot past them and up the stairs to his dormitory.
“What the bloody hell’s going on?” Ron said. Harry turned and saw both his friends standing in the doorway with their wand out, pointed at him. He tried to speak, but with a giant snake stuffed in the mouth of a lion, all that could be heard was muffled growling. When they didn’t seem to understand his pleas, he leapt onto his bed and lay down, swishing his tail back and forth.
“Harry?” Hermione said in a perplexed voice. Harry stood and walked to the scrolls lying on his chest at the foot of his bed. He put his front paws on them and motioned for Hermione to approach with his head. With her wand still out, she walked over and opened the scrolls. She looked at him after reading them.
“It is you! This must be your Animagus form! Wow, how did you do it?”
Hermione wrapped her arms around the huge cat. Harry tried and failed to do the same. Hermione laughed, and drew back. When she did, she noticed there was blood on her robes.
“Harry, you’re hurt!”
“What happened?” asked Ron.
Harry couldn’t answer. He could barely stand. He walked towards the door. It took several trips of walking back and forth from the door to the scrolls for him to convey the message that he wanted his friends to take the scrolls and follow him. After they grasped this, Ron grabbed the scrolls and followed as Harry led him and Hermione to the gargoyle in front of McGonagall’s office. His steps grew heavier the closer he got to the statue. When he reached it, he collapsed.
“Harry!” Hermione shouted, dropping to her knees at his side. She desperately called for help as Ron started banging on the gargoyle. Seconds later, it leapt out of the way and Professor McGonagall came out of the doorway.
“Ms. Granger and Mr. Weasley, what on earth are you “”
“Professor, please! It’s Harry! He needs help!” shouted Ron.
“Goodness, is that Potter! And that snake in his mouth...no, it can’t be! I’ll go get the Order right way!”
Before she left, Minerva knelt down next to the lion. She pulled the snake from its jaws and ran her hands through the gold and black haired mane. After whispering an incantation, the lion transfigured back to Harry.
“My boy, you certainly have the courage of a lion, and you may have saved us all with your bravery. Come with me, you two. We must get Mr. Potter to the Medical wing at once.”
“Professor, Harry wanted us to give you these,” Hermione replied, handing the scrolls to Minerva.
“I’ll know what to do with those,” said Mad-Eye Moody, who apparently was eavesdropping behind the corner. He grabbed the scrolls and walked up to Nagini.
“Get Potter to the Medical wing. I’ll tend to the serpent,” he said.
Ron and Hermione each took one of Harry’s arms and dragged him away, following Minerva. All three turned when they heard an odd sound and saw an orange form emerge from the snake as Moody was waving his wand around, then saw sparks fly as he destroyed it.
Harry Potter & The Silhouette Of Eternal Benevolence by JourneyJosh
Chapter Notes: In the aftermath of the previous chapter, the Order comes up with a startling was of dealing with the new problems. Some students' motives are questioned when they make controversial decisions, and another Horcrux is discovered. How will Harry react to these blows, so close together?