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The Feathered Serpent: Chapter 15
🕑 Added 2023-11-14 16:30:00 +0000 UTC“This is a first,” Harry remarked, looking around the Great Hall. They had received the information from Professor Flitwick that all the students had to gather in the Great Hall during breakfast at the same time. The headmaster had an announcement to make.
The instruction surprised everyone. It was not common for all the students to get to breakfast at the same time. Something like that happened only during dinnertime.
As expected, discussions were rampant around the Ravenclaw Common Room this morning after Professor Flitwick left. Students theorized what the headmaster would have to tell them. There were a few quite ludicrous ideas thrown about.
He and Daphne sat at the Ravenclaw table with Tracey, talking in hushed whispers.
“Have you heard anything?”
Tracey shook her head with a small frown.
“I did go around the castle in the morning as I usually do, but there’s nothing out there,” she replied. “Everyone’s as clueless as we are.”
“I don’t think it’s something good, to be honest,” Daphne muttered. “Professor Flitwick didn’t look happy with whatever it is.”
“I hope they’re seriously not considering shutting down Hogwarts like those idiots were crying about,” Harry rolled his eyes. Any further discussion was cut off when they saw Dumbledore get up from his throne-like chair behind the professors’ table.
“If I many have your attention please,” Dumbledore called out, keeping the tip of his wand pressed against the side of his neck. The old wizard’s voice boomed across the Great Hall and immediately, all chattering ceased.
Students young and old alike stared at the headmaster while a few gazed around. The somber expressions on the professors’ faces were hard to miss.
“Where’s Quirrelll?” Daphne asked in a whisper and that was when Harry noticed the man was not in his chair. He frowned.
“I think we’ll know soon,” he muttered.
“First of all, I would like to apologize for interrupting what must be a very pleasant night of sleep and calling you all this early in the morning. I must admit this has very rarely happened at Hogwarts and had circumstances been different there would not have been the need to have you all here at the same time.”
Students hung on to every word the headmaster was speaking, waiting with bated breath for the announcement to drop.
“It is with a heavy heart that I am announcing the passing of Professor Quirrelll,” Dumbledore spoke and a collective gasp was heard throughout the Great Hall as the majority of students turned to look at where the man usually sat. Severus Snape stared back stoically from his place to the left of the vacant chair.
“Professor Quirrelll had been sick for months and that was the reason he developed that stutter this year. Students who had interacted with him prior to this year, either in their Muggle Studies classes or outside of it ought to remember him as another normal wizard. Alas, he encountered something foul this past summer during his exploration. At Hogwarts, we and our healing unit headed by Madam Pomfrey did all we could to prolong his life but alas, he succumbed to his ailments last night.”
The news seemed to have shocked the students into silence. Never had a professor died in their lifetime and even older students were stupefied. Many students started to feel guilty at having made fun of the poor man for his stuttering after finally knowing the reason behind it.
“Quirinus Quirrelll passed away painlessly last night and I have full belief in you all to honor his passing as it deserves. It is also my hope that you will take this unfortunate incident to remind yourself to cherish the people around you, for we never know when it might be the last time we see them,” Dumbledore said softly. “The classes will be suspended until the end of the week as Hogwarts enters into a state of mourning. That is all.”
The students stared at Dumbledore who stepped away from the podium and walked through the door to the side. The professors also took their leave one by one before the prefects assumed their roles and began organizing the exits for their respective houses.
They spotted their new friends from Hufflepuff and joined them in silently walking out of the Great Hall.
“Let’s go outside,” Harry said, earning nods from the girls.
They passed the courtyard, seeing a few students sitting around, and shortly passed the portcullis that led to the Hogwarts’ grounds. Making their way through the grassy expanse, they finally sat under a small tree at the shore of the Black Lake. The sky was overcast at the chill of winter slowly started to set in. Harry saw Daphne tighten her scarf around her neck and wrapped his arm around her, pulling her closer. The girls glanced at them and smiled softly.
“Merlin that’s horrible what happened to Quirrelll,” Susan whispered sadly.
“No one had any idea he was suffering so much,” the blonde said softly. “I’m sure everyone heard how he was so paranoid of Vampires that he started using garlic. So many students even made fun of him for all of it.”
“You think he was attacked by Vampires?” Hannah asked fearfully. “What can those creatures do that makes you suffer like that?”
“We don’t know for sure, do we?” Harry muttered.
“This is the first time I’ve heard this happening since I don’t know how long,” Tracey interjected, biting her lip gently. “A professor passing away,” she supplied further.
“First, there is that attack from those creatures on Halloween,” Daphne muttered, holding his hand firmly. “Now we have a professor dying. Does anyone else feel bad things are happening a lot lately?”
Harry sighed and leaned back, staring into the distance in silence as the girls frowned at Daphne’s remark. Bad things were indeed happening a lot lately.
“I hope nothing more happens. We’ve had more than enough,” Susan muttered.
“Yeah, I hope so too,” Hannah frowned.
Harry and Daphne exchanged a look with each other. Something told them there were many more of these to come in the foreseeable future.
XXXXX
Weeks passed and it didn’t take long for Hogwarts to settle into the new normal. Quirrelll’s unfortunate passing was forgotten by the end of the week when classes resumed and the students had a proper Defense instructor to look forward to.
It was galling to think that many students took Quirrell’s demise in stride, even saying out loud that although extreme, it was inevitable. No defense professor had lasted an entire year for a few decades now.
Currently, Harry was walking upstairs to the seventh floor. Dumbledore had sent him a missive asking for a meeting after classes ended for the day. He was curious to hear what the old wizard had to say, hoping that it would be about his scar and how they could fix whatever the problem was. He had been waiting for the headmaster to contact him for weeks now. Finally, he had.
Together with Daphne, Harry reached the gargoyle that guarded the headmaster’s office.
“Acid Pops,” he said clearly.
The gargoyle spun and a spiral staircase ascended from the floor. Together, they stepped on it.
“Come in,” came the reply from inside the office after he knocked and Harry pushed the door open. Holding the door for Daphne, he entered behind her and shut the door.
Dumbledore smiled at them, looking entirely unsurprised on seeing Daphne with him. He gestured for them to take their seats.
“I apologize for taking this long to approach you, Mr. Potter,” Dumbledore said.
“It’s all right, headmaster,” Harry said courteously before he added in a hopeful voice. “Have you found what’s wrong with this scar and how to cure it?”
Dumbledore sighed.
“I am afraid I do not have any clue whatsoever,” he replied, earning frowns from both his students. “However, I have indeed asked for help from a few people who might know what is wrong. It is possible that they would succeed where we could not.”
“I don’t see any problems in letting them examine you, Harry,” Daphne said softly. “Even if we might not find a cure, it is possible to learn more about it.”
Harry nodded.
“Miss Greengrass is indeed right,” Dumbledore smiled. “The people I have discussed this issue with are quite accomplished when it comes to obscure magic like this. I believe you have heard about the Flamels?”
Harry’s confused look turned to surprise when he heard Daphne gasp.
“The Flamels!?” She gasped.
“I’m sorry, who are the Flamels? The name sounds familiar but I don’t exactly remember who they are,” Harry asked.
“Harry, the Flamels are alchemists. They created the Philosopher’s Stone and have been alive thanks to it for more than half a millennium. Professor Dumbledore was the apprentice to Nicholas Flamel in his youth.”
Harry’s eyes widened.
“They sound like high-profile people,” he remarked with a small grin.
Dumbledore chuckled.
“On the contrary, Mr. Potter, Nicholas and Perenelle are very unassuming individuals who like to keep their affairs private. Miss Greengrass is indeed correct once again. It is my belief that they might succeed in resolving this small problem we are having.”
Harry nodded.
“Please satisfy an old man’s curiosity, Mr. Potter,” Dumbledore said with a curious glint in his eyes. “But when was the last time you felt your scar react?”
Harry looked thoughtful for a few seconds as he tried to recall when the scar hurt the last time.
“To be honest, I can’t recall it even reacting in these past few weeks,” Harry admitted.
“I see,” Dumbledore mused, eyeing him keenly. “It’s good then. The less we have a repeat of that unfortunate episode, the better it is. Now, regarding our meeting with the Flamels… they have asked you to visit them during the Yule holidays. I shall be coming with you. We do not know how much time it might take so I would prefer it if you informed your family that you might not be going home.”
Harry grimaced slightly but nodded in understanding. It seemed he would be spending Christmas away from his family for the first time since he could remember. He hoped they wouldn’t be too upset. It wasn’t as if he could just tell them he had a cursed scar. They would worry needlessly.
“Headmaster,” Daphne said hesitantly. “Is it possible if I could also join you?”
Harry looked at her in surprise while Dumbledore smiled.
“Daph, you don’t need to,” Harry protested. “You should spend the holidays with your family.”
“You think I’d be in any mood to celebrate not knowing what’s up with you?” She retorted, making him grimace. She turned back toward the headmaster. “Sir?”
“It is heartening to see the bond the two of you share after knowing each other for such a short while,” Dumbledore remarked, smiling. “I have always believed that love is the most powerful magic of them all. Never let it go and you shall find the strength to overcome all the obstacles in your path.”
Involuntarily, Harry squeezed Daphne’s hand with a smile. She looked at him and smiled back.
Dumbledore stared amused at the young couple in front of them.
“Now, as for Miss Greengrass’ question,” he said, bringing their attention back to him. “There is no issue in you joining us. However, you should also inform your family about you not going back home.”
Daphne nodded, giving Harry’s hand another squeeze. There was no way she was going to let him go alone for something like this.
“We shall be departing on the 24th after breakfast, so prepare accordingly,” Dumbledore informed.
Harry nodded and exchanged a glance with Daphne. They would be departing for the Flamels’ in less than two days. It seemed there was more excitement in store for them in the near future. They only hoped that things worked out for the best.
“If that is all, headmaster?” Harry asked and at Dumbledore’s nod, he and Daphne walked out of the office hand in hand, leaving a contemplative old wizard in their wake.
Dumbledore pondered on what Harry had just told him. His scar had not reacted in the past few weeks and the only significant change around the castle was that Tom was no longer here.
Could Tom’s presence be the trigger to those painful reactions? Harry had not shown any traits but was it possible that the rebounded killing curse had formed some sort of connection between Harry and Tom? If yes, then what was the extent of this connection?
There were too many unknowns at play here and numerous unanswered questions. He could only hope that Nicholas and Perenelle would be able to discover something.
Try as he might though, he could not help but feel something much more significant was at play here, and it both excited and terrified him.
XXXXX
The next day found Harry and Daphne in the library. They were going over the text that described magical bloodlines and the boons imbued into families which had over the course of centuries become known as family magics.
“This is very accurate,” Daphne nodded once she finished reading the text. “And it is as controversial as the author suggests. Some families have taken things beyond what should be considered normal and we can see the results now.”
“What do you think about my ability to speak Parseltongue?” Harry asked with a small frown.
“You said you couldn’t speak to snakes until recently, right?”
“It’s not as if I went out of my way to talk to one, but yeah. My family and I visited to the zoo a few times before I came here and I couldn’t understand any of the snakes,” Harry replied. “There was this little incident in my previous school once. We were on a trip and a snake somehow came into our camp. Even then I didn’t hear anything but hissing as the school staff dragged it away.”
“Poor creature, having to put up with unruly children like you,” Daphne teased, earning a poke in the waist from her boyfriend.
“Whatever this is, it’s something new. I’m sure of that,” Harry remarked.
Daphne nodded.
“I don’t think it’s a bloodline trait or that you are Slytherin’s heir, Harry,” Daphne mused thoughtfully. “Think about it. Only Slytherin’s bloodline is known to have the ability to speak to snakes and it is common knowledge that Voldemort claimed himself to be his descendant. He was the last known wizard to have the ability to speak Parseltongue, which is why it is considered dark.”
Harry shook his head. To regard an innocuous ability as dark just because it sounded a bit creepy and a dark wizard could speak it…
“If you were a descendant of Slytherin then you would’ve been able to speak Parseltongue your entire life,” Daphne continued. “Given you couldn’t speak or understand snakes’ language until recently, I feel something happened that must have triggered this ability inside you.”
“What are you saying, Daph?” Harry asked with a small frown.
Daphne turned to look at him and took his hands, eyes downcast and caressing the back of his hand lovingly with her thumbs.
“This scar of yours…” she sighed. “You got it after the killing curse backfired. What if something bad happened, Harry?”
Harry looked at her curiously.
“I don’t want to think about it,” she gulped. “But Voldemort was the last person to have the ability to speak Parseltongue. There is no way you have Parseltongue as a bloodline ability. We established that already. And given how this scar is connected to such a massive incident with Voldemort and it has started reacting lately…”
“You think when this scar began to react, it released something,” Harry muttered.
“I think it was lying dormant for all these years,” she whispered. “Let’s face it, Harry. No one before you survived the killing curse, so no one knows what kind of magic is at play here. I can’t help but think that your scar is something much more than a normal curse scar and now that it became activated, for the lack of a better word, abilities connected to Voldemort have started to surface within you.”
“Abilities?” Harry asked, curious.
“Who knows what other abilities belonging to him belong to you too now?” She wondered aloud. “The scar got active long ago and it was only when you saw a snake that you were able to hear. You were put in that situation that brought this ability to the forefront. Perhaps if you were exposed to another situation, another ability might emerge.”
“Did Voldemort have another ability that we know of?”
“Nothing that was considered unique like Parseltongue, at least nothing that I know of,” she replied, frowning. “This is not a good thing, Harry. You know what kind of wizard Voldemort was, and—”
“It’s only an ability, Daph,” Harry said softly. “Abilities are not dark on their own. It’s the people who give them a bad name. If I do have some or perhaps all of Voldemort’s abilities, then how is it anything but good? For all his evilness, no one can deny that he was a very capable wizard to the point that only the headmaster could come close.”
“It’s not the abilities I’m scared of,” she whispered. Harry was surprised to see her bottom lip quivering. Eyes full of unshed tears, she looked up at him.
“Daph?” He asked, eyes wide.
“I’m scared that there might be something more to it all,” she said. “What if it’s not only his abilities that will slowly emerge in you? What if is something much darker than we could possibly imagine? What if…”
Harry wrapped his arms around her and held her tight, feeling how she clutched the front of his Hogwarts shirt in her fist.
“I won’t turn into Voldemort, Daph,” Harry said firmly. “You won’t lose me, I promise.”
“You don’t know that. We have no idea what this scar is.”
“We’re going to know soon enough,” Harry said firmly. “And we will be together every step of the way as we meet and learn from the Flamels. Dumbledore did say that they can discover and possibly resolve this problem, right? How about we put our faith in them instead of overthinking?”
“It’s not that easy when it’s about someone you love,” she whispered, and Harry held her tighter. They had grown so close in such little time that even the thought of something bad happening to the other caused physical pain. He could perfectly understand how Daphne was feeling right now. After all, he would’ve been in the same state had the situation been reversed.
“I know, baby,” he whispered, stroking her back tenderly. “I know it’s not easy, but we don’t know anything for sure. For all we know, it might not even be due to this scar and something else might be at play here. We don’t have full certainty, do we? Anything is possible.”
Daphne kept herself burrowed in his embrace, clutching onto him for dear life.
Harry glanced down at her and sighed. They would be leaving for the Flamels tomorrow. He just hoped it was not what she feared.
“Come on. Let’s head to our room. We can have dinner there, just the two of us.”
Daphne slowly relaxed her grasp on his shirt and Harry chuckled when she started to smooth it slowly with her palm. She looked up at him with an unimpressed stare, prompting him to snort. He took down the privacy wards and they put the books back to where they belonged. Hand in hand, they walked out of the library under the watchful hawk-eyed stare of Madam Pince.
XXXXX
The castle was empty apart from a few students who had elected to stay at the castle, professors, elves, ghosts, and a poltergeist whose favorite job was to annoy the hell out of Filch – something it had stopped doing now that the old caretaker was dead.
It sometimes came as a surprise to Harry how quickly people in the magical world forgot things. Very few seemed to act as if such a large-scale attack had taken place not even two months ago or that a professor had died weeks prior.
The magical folk did seem to have very short memories. Perhaps that was what made many of them fickle.
Currently, it was evening and Harry was walking up the stairs toward the Astronomy tower with Daphne walking with him. Dumbledore had asked them to meet him there and they would be making their way to the Flamels’ directly from there. They had no idea how the headmaster had planned to do it but they were indeed curious to find out.
Daphne had been expectedly somber last night when they went to sleep and throughout the night, she had clung on to him, as if afraid he might disappear. It was oddly akin to how they had been when they had killed Greyback, but even then she had displayed this strength that she carried inside her. However, all of that was nonexistent. She had become very terrified for him.
Even now Harry could feel how tightly she was holding his hand as they walked up the stairs. Harry let her be. He knew no matter what he said, nothing would happen. Only a positive talk with the Flamels could mollify his love.
They walked up the wooden set of stairs set in a spiral that took them up to the Astronomy tower and saw the headmaster looking over the Hogwarts grounds. The old wizard simply greeted them cordially without even turning around when they entered the tower.
“Good evening to you too, headmaster,” Harry greeted, followed by Daphne in a much more subdued voice.
Dumbledore must have felt the same as he turned to look at her inquisitively.
“Is something troubling you, Miss Greengrass?” the old wizard asked politely.
Daphne, frowning, raised her eyes to look at the old man before she sighed and expressed her turmoil. Dumbledore listened to her explanation, either nodding or stroking his beard as she spoke. All the while, Harry stood beside her with a small frown on his face and his hand grasping hers.
“I see,” Dumbledore said softly after Daphne finished. “I won’t tell you a painless lie and say that your worries are unfounded, Miss Greengrass, particularly about the Parseltongue.”
Harry looked on, curious, as Dumbledore stared at his scar oddly for a few seconds before he looked back to Daphne.
“Instead, your explanation right now has given me further insight into the mystery of this scar. I do have a few theories, but they are just that. We do not know anything with absolute certainty, and there are a few things I have learned in my admittedly long life that I feel you would benefit from,” Dumbledore smiled. “It does not do to dwell on uncertainties and let them cloud our minds. Worrying about what could be is pointless. What you should instead dedicate your focus on is how you act in response to anything. Right now, I believe you would prefer standing side by side in absolute support of each other instead of worrying about things, and I would advise you to keep at it in every situation. Do not worry about things. Simply act.”
The two first-year Ravenclaws stood hand in hand, silently regarding Dumbledore who smiled.
“Now, if you two would join me here,” he said. Together, Harry and Daphne walked over and stood in front of the headmaster. They were surprised when Dumbledore put a hand on each of their shoulders in a surprisingly firm grip for someone his age.
“Anytime now, Fawkes,” the headmaster called out and they had barely a moment to blink as the world around them exploded in a shower of golden sparks.
It was surreal to travel like this. There was no discomfort that usually came with floo travel, apparition, or portkey. One second, their vision was filled with golden sparks which prompted them to blink, and the moment they opened their eyes, they found the sparks receding as they arrived in an unfamiliar room.
Rows upon rows of books lined up the shelves along the walls on either side of them and they heard Dumbledore tell them to follow. Wordlessly, they walked behind the old wizard who led them through a set of double doors into what looked like a living room.
“Albus, welcome.”
An old woman greeted Dumbledore with a smile before her eyes fell on them. “And you must be Mr. Potter and Miss Greengrass. Welcome to our home.”
“An honor, Lady Flamel,” Daphne greeted with a respectful bow of her head.
“Well, aren’t you a proper lady,” Perenelle Flamel smiled.
“Thank you for welcoming us into your home, my lady,” Harry said with a polite smile.
“It’s quite alright, Mr. Potter,” the woman replied. Looking over at Dumbledore, she said, “Nicholas is in his study. Follow me, you three.”
The woman turned around and led the way to the study. Harry and Daphne looked around. This was their first time in the house of people so renowned and accomplished and yet it looked no different from their usual household. Although there were artifacts like rugs, carpets, chandeliers, and other items that did look fairly old and cultured.
The man inside the study looked as old as his wife and they were surprised to note that they certainly didn’t look as ancient as people aged over half a millennium should.
“Ah, you’re here. Good, good,” Nicholas Flamel remarked as he stood up and walked around the table to greet them. “Albus did tell us about your ailment, dear boy. Fear not, we will try our best to get to the bottom of it.”
Harry nodded as he shook the man’s hand and he was quite surprised to note that for an old man, he had a very strong grip.
“And you have brought a lady with you as well, I see. Mr. Potter’s fiancé, I presume?” Nicholas asked as he greeted Daphne, taking all by surprise. Harry and Daphne exchanged a look and blushed slightly.
“We are not that far yet, sir,” Daphne smiled politely as she shook his hand. Harry smiled at her, not missing the way she said it.
“I honestly find this thing you youngsters do pesky,” Nicholas muttered as he clapped Harry on his back. “Back in our days, people used to get married right when the woman flowered and the man grew a pair, you know? No beating about the bush. Much simpler that way.”
“I think we should leave their love life to them instead of concerning ourselves with it,” Perenelle interjected, saving the kids the lecture from her husband. She turned toward her guests and smiled. “We will get started with this little endeavor tomorrow. I’m sure you would like to get settled for now. Come, I’ll show you your rooms.”
“You know what youngsters are like these days, dear. I’m sure they’ll be fine with one,” Nicholas interjected. Perenelle sighed.
“Come. I’ll show you to your rooms. What you do after that is none of our business,” she said. With a parting look toward her unrepentant husband, she led Harry and Daphne to where their rooms were situated.
The two teenagers followed behind her quietly.
“Just so you know,” Harry whispered in Daphne’s ear as he leaned down, smirking as he felt her shiver under his hot breath on her skin. “I won’t mind it one bit when we eventually go that far.”
Daphne simply gave him an amused glance before looking straight ahead.
Meanwhile, in the study, Dumbledore and Nicholas sat at the table with the latter staring at the former sternly.
“So…” Nicholas began. “I hope you’ve done as we asked?”
Dumbledore sighed and nodded.
“Quirinus was already dead and Tom was possessing him. He was not at his full power, as expected.”
“You should still be ashamed that you let someone like that inside Hogwarts, Albus,” Nicholas sighed. “Alas, what’s done is done. At least he’s away from the castle.”
“I do not know how long it will last though,” Dumbledore said softly. “Tom is not one to admit defeat easily. He will try soon enough and I feel it is only a matter of time before he succeeds.”
“And what do you intend to do about it, Albus?” Nicholas asked keenly. “Have you discovered how that evil being is still alive and roaming around like a wraith? No normal human, magical or not, should be able to survive without a body.”
“Tom delved into the unknowns deeper than anyone I have ever seen,” Dumbledore replied. “Even Gellert, for all his faults and ambitions, never ventured as deep as Tom. I believe he found something… something to prevent his passing.”
“You know how ghosts still roam our lands, Albus?” Nicholas asked. “It’s usually either an unfulfilled wish or guilt. Those emotions force magic to let a shade of their former selves tether to the plane of existence. They can do nothing but roam around in the vicinity of magical strongholds. That is natural. What you have described this Tom as is anything but natural. It goes beyond the sacred laws of magic, Albus.”
Dumbledore remained silent for a while as he pondered what to say.
“Tom is nothing more than a shade right now,” he started. “And there have been certain revelations lately which make me uneasy, to be truthful with you.”
At his former mentor’s inquisitively raised eyebrow, Dumbledore sighed.
“Harry can speak parseltongue,” Dumbledore revealed.
“He is related to Slytherin?” Nicholas asked in surprise. “I never knew the Potters had Slytherin blood in them.
“He is not,” Dumbledore replied. “He could not speak to snakes until recently. You know as well as I do that bloodline abilities manifest at birth.”
“Speak no more,” Nicholas interrupted, rubbing his chin. “You said his scar started reacting recently, and now he has this sudden ability manifest in him.”
“His scar stopped reacting when Voldemort left Hogwarts,” Dumbledore said gravely.
“Merlin,” Nicholas muttered. “If it truly is what I think it is…”
“I sincerely hope not, but something tells me that is how Harry’s scar reacted so violently whenever Quirinus, or rather Tom was present at the castle,” Dumbledore remarked.
“You believe that is how this Voldemort survived that night?”
“Tom was always the most resourceful. I shall not put anything past him.”
“I see,” Nicholas muttered. “If it is indeed true, then our task just got much harder than anticipated.”
Dumbledore let out a weak smile.
“He cannot die, Nicholas,” he said softly. “He has got a long life ahead of him, people he loves and people who love him. It would be most unfair for it to happen after what he’s suffered.”
“We will see tomorrow, Albus. We will see,” Nicholas said, sighing.
To be continued…
Comments
Robert
Really liking the progress of the story. I’m hoping you don’t drag out the Horcrux issue, feels like it would introduce wayyy too much angst potentially. Looking forward to see how it unfolds Cheers!
