The Shadows Within: A Dark Harry Potter Chronicle

Not long into the ride back to Hogwarts, Harry and Pansy disappeared together for a little.

Theoretically, they were going to get some alone time (and for some sweet fun), but Harry had an ulterior motive as well.

On their way back to their compartment, Harry dragged Pansy with him to Flint.

When Draco and he had discussed their orders from the Dark Lord, they had immediately began brainstorming. Who would be suitable? Who had not just the right ideology, but the strength of mind, the raw brutality to go through with it?

They both had come to the same conclusion.

Marcus Flint.

They had other ideas too, of course, but none that made as much sense as Flint. You only had to see Flint get in a rage and have a rant to know where his feelings lie. As for his willingness to act on those feelings. Well. Flint hadn't spoken to Harry outside of quidditch stuff from the time the basilisk had been killed until the beginning of the new year. Bole had told Harry that Flint was extremely pissed off that Harry had helped get rid of the basilisk, thereby preventing any mudblood deaths.

Flint could definitely fit.

And Flint's best friend was Octavius Avery.

Avery's had Death Eater family members-an aunt and uncle. Harry had met them at his initiation. And his parents were supposedly sympathetic to the cause. Him being best friends with Flint, simply made it more likely that Flint would be willing to join. And Avery too, of course.

So Harry planned to find them, maybe mention something about what a great break he had away from the muggles of his orphanage. Try to lead them on that way.

Unfortunately, and honestly quite predictably, they weren't alone.

All Harry really achieved was saying hi to the group of sixth and seventh years. He managed to cover up his random intrusion by asking Flint about Quidditch practice, and left shortly after that.

Of course, Theo made a comment when they came back into the compartment. Something about how they were gone a while and Pansy's knees must be hurting.

This time, Astoria reached him first.

While he rubbed his cheek, he asked: "why do you guys always have to slap me?"

Astoria answered primly, "Because you say stupid things, and you don't know how to talk to a lady"

"Exactly Theo" Blaise commented, "women like to be spoken to softly, gently. Unless they like dirty talk, in which case-"

Astoria slapped him, too.

"Daphne! Get your sister out of here!"

"Are all boys like this?"

Daphne looked at her little sister with fond exasperation. "Pretty much. There's only one thing on their minds-"

"Two things. And they're on your chest"

Theo managed to dodge the next slap, and quickly cast a body bind on Astoria.

"Ha! Got you!"

He looked up to see Daphne's wand in his face.

"Fuck"

"Wouldn't you like to?" Daphne said softly, lips curled into an odd smile.

The compartment echoed with laughter as Theo removed the spell.

"Well" Astoria squeaked as she flounced out the compartment, "I'm going to find a more mature group of people to sit with"

Daphne's hand twitched a few times before she lowered her wand.

"Settle down, settle down. I'm glad you're all refreshed from your break, but we only have one hour a week, so settle down"

Professor Waffling looked over her class. Then she heaved a great sigh, before beginning to speak.

"Every year, at least, every year that there is a class, I have this same difficulty. This will perhaps be the most difficult lesson of the year, for numerous reasons. One is that the subject matter is extremely foreign and esoteric. Another is that none of you have the background knowledge needed to even begin to comprehend this. The third is that you all will, inevitably have preconceived notions. I ask that you set aside anything you think you may know about the soul, for the duration of this lesson"

The room was absolutely silent.

"Now, when asked what the soul is, many people will answer something about it giving you personality, or sentience, or the like. We, who have spent time discussing how it affects our magical abilities, will think of an additional property to it. However, the soul is…"

She paused for a few moments, deep in thought.

"The soul is far more and far less than all that. The soul has an… anatomy to it. The discussion of this anatomy is what makes this class particularly difficult"

She raised her hand, arm outstretched.

"Even those of you who have no particular interest in anatomy would still be able to draw a diagram of the human hand. You would be able to point out the palm, the fingers, and thumb, the knuckles. Purely through experience, you know of the anatomy of the hand. However, none of you have ever seen a soul. It is invisible the vast majority of the time. Even if you have, somehow caught a glimpse, you would simply see an amorphous silver blob. We need to discuss that which has no visible form"

When the sound of scratching quills died down, Waffling continued.

"As we have been discussed, it is the properties of the soul which separate us from muggles. It is the properties of the soul which separate magical and non-magical creatures. What else in nature can be divided into magical and non-magical groups?"

There was an instant of silence before Granger's hand shot into the air. When Waffling pointed at her, she spoke in a tone of breathless wonder. "Plants"

"Indeed. Now, if the soul is what gives magical properties, and the soul also gives sentience and personality, what gives magical plants and fungi the magic they possess? None of them can be said to have true sentience. Even Mandrakes, are not truly capable of thought. How does it work? What separates them from the non-magical plants?"

Harry's mind raced. 'I never even thought about that. Maybe the way they're planted? Or magic is used on them, to make them how they are? '

"This leads us to the anatomy of the soul. Let us image the soul as having multiple parts. One part governing magic, one part governing sentience, one part governing personality, and so on. Magical plants' souls differ in that, even though they have the part of the soul that governs magic, they do not contain the other parts"

"How can we be sure?"

"10 points from Ravenclaw. If you ask a question without raising your hand again, Boot, it'll be 50 and a detention. Soul Magic experimentation on plants has conclusively proven that there is no sentience to be found whatsoever. Yes, Patil?"

"You mentioned that the soul can be visible sometimes. When is this so?"

"Good question. During the Dementor's kiss, is one such time. Certain diseases cause the soul to be visible for a few instants at the time of death, as do some highly illegal spells. There is an artifact in the Department of Mysteries as well, which allows one to view their soul"

' I wonder what I would see' Harry thought, fascinated.

"Now, there are other differences between the souls of plants and those of humans. The soul of a human leaves the body upon death. However, even once a plant is 'killed' the soul still remains bound to it. Yes, Potter?"

"Where do human souls go after death?"

Waffling looked at him with an odd expression.

"No one knows for sure. Is it a time of reward and punishment? Do souls get recycled? So they simply move on, to a different world, a different dimension? No one knows. As a general rule, ghosts will not answer these questions at all. They will simply ignore them. The most any ghost has been willing to say is that they had the option of 'moving on' and they didn't take it. No one has been able to conclusively prove what happens to a ghost after an exorcism either. We simply don't know"

She glanced at her watch and shook herself.

"As a result of a student's foolish actions some five years ago, I no longer give permission slips for the Restricted Section. As such, here" she waved her wand, and a large stack of papers rose of her desk, splitting into smaller groups and flying to the students, "is your reading for the week. I want an essay as well, detailing how what you have learned could interact with potion making. Let's say, 12 inches? Have a lovely week"

' Lovely week' Harry thought, snorting to himself as he made his way back to his room. ' Yeah, right. Meeting with Dumbledore coming up. Should be loads of fun'

At least he and Draco had their lessons with Snape.

And at least he had Pansy.

He smiled, thinking of how close he was getting. She finally had allowed him to see her fully nude.

It had been awesome.

He'd been so close to just grabbing her, though. Or cursing her into doing whatever he wanted.

' Thank god for Occlumency. Snape's a fucking genius'

He hadn't grabbed her. He hadn't forced anything on her. Not even for her to just bend down and-

He cleared his mind. He couldn't think about what he wanted from her. It drove him mad.

She had flinched back when he leaned in close to-

He cleared his mind.

His lessons were going well, of course. It wasn't so easy to concentrate on transfiguration or charms, but he thought he knew why.

He kept seeing what he had done. What he had done to Gordon.

Kept mentally going over the spells in the book that Lucius had given to him, the spells he was waiting to try.

' If they come to me so much easier than transfiguration and charms, shouldn't I focus on them?'

That was a rebellious thought. He had said as much to Snape in their last lesson, and the surly man had been most displeased.

"The Dark Lord does not desire followers incapable of simple spells"

Harry snorted. "Seriously? What use could my changing a guinea pig into a guinea fowl be?"

Snape stood absolutely still for a moment.

"Attempt to stun me" he ordered.

"What?"

"You heard me, Potter. Attempt to stun me"

"Stupefy!"

Snape barely even flicked his wrist, and the room's large wooden desk flew into the spell's path. When the red jet hit it, it cracked down the middle.

Snape flicked his wrist again, and the desk flew apart into a thousand splinters, which then blasted at Harry.

"Protego!" Harry managed to get the shield up just before the shards of wood collided with him. They hit the shield, throwing up streams of blue light and flying back.

Snape flicked his wrist again.

Where the splinters had been, now hovered dozens of birds. Their cruel eyes glinted at Harry as they dove towards him, talons outstretched.

As the first one scratched his cheek, they all vanished.

"That, Harry, was battle transfiguration. I was only able to accomplish any of that through having worked at the basics first. Do not limit yourself to nothing but the Dark Arts"

Harry looked at Snape in awe. Across the room, Draco mirrored his expression.

Snape had been pleased that Harry was using his Occlumency whenever 'dangerous' thoughts or desires crept in.

He had been less pleased with Harry's inability to sense him in his head in a shorter time than before.

"You need to simply keep practicing. That is all I can say. And we will keep practicing as well"

Harry had grimaced at that. Having Snape in his head always left him feeling- uncomfortable in a really hard to define way. Like there was water in his ear.

Their Patronus casting was improving, as well. It was still formless, but the mist was larger and stayed longer. Most importantly, perhaps, it made Harry feel good.

Not in the same way the Unforgiveables did, but still.

Casting the Unforgiveables was something like having a full body orgasm. Casting the Patronus was like drinking delicious hot chocolate on a freezing day. Something really good, but in a totally different (and smaller) way.

Lost in his recollections, Harry barely noticed when he arrived at his common room.

"Felix Felicis, " he told the wall, and it swung open for him.

The common room was mostly empty, a few groups sitting around the room talking.

One of those was Flint and Avery.

Harry walked towards them.

Snape has agreed with him and Draco, that those two would be appropriate for recruitment. Still, it never hurt to emphasize.

"Hey guys"

"Potter," Avery said, nodding. Flint merely grunted.

"Interesting thing we learned in Magical Theory tonight. Muggles barely have a soul! Crazy no?"

Avery gave him a calculating look. Flint snorted, and said, "what, you surprised?"

"Not really. I mean, growing up with them it's pretty obvious they're barely human. Just cool to know the reason for it"

Flint laughed harshly. "Who cares about the reason?"

"Just found it interesting. G'night, guys"

Harry headed to bed, ignoring Avery's stare. ' He's smart. He knows something is up. I wonder if his family told him anything?'

Arithmancy and Runes were going well. Even though they were still focusing on the basics in both classes, they were interesting.

In Arithmancy they had moved onto Geometry and Trigonometry. Vector had promised that after Easter they would begin studying the magical properties associated with specific numbers.

In Runes, they were still studying the languages themselves, as opposed to anything they could be used for. But Babbling did feel the class had a good enough grasp to start working on translating sentences, so they weren't exactly stagnating.

All in all, even excluding Quidditch practice and time with friends, Harry had a pretty full schedule.

So he really wasn't looking forward to lessons with Dumbledore, exciting as the idea may once have been.

"Harry, right on time. I trust your return to Hogwarts has been smooth?"

Harry calmed himself. 'There's no way he could know. If he did, he'd have attacked already. He doesn't know'

"It's been ok. Always a bit tough to get back into it after a break, but it's ok"

"Excellent. I'm glad to hear it" Dumbledore said, over his Phoenix's soft chirping. "Now, Harry. I thought, perhaps if you're interested, I could give you some lessons? Perhaps once a week? On whatever you're particularly interested in. My forte, of course, lies in theory and in Transfiguration, but I dare say I would be able to teach you something in any area you desired" he gave a small chuckle.

' What about the Dark Arts? Or Blood Magic? You know anything about those, old man?'

Hesitantly, Harry said. "It sounds wonderful, sir. Really. But, why me? I mean, do you offer everyone this?"

Dumbledore leaned back in his chair, still smiling slightly.

"You are correct. I don't offer this to everyone. But I thought, well. In placing you with muggles for your protection, I robbed you of many years of knowledge of magic. I'd like to repay some of that knowledge"

Harry almost screamed. 'FOR MY PROTECTION! YOU STILL REFUSE TO LET GO OF THAT! FUCK YOU'

His wand twitched.

He cleared his mind.

"And, more than that. You are achieving excellent grades, which is lovely to see. But you have a quality teachers prize above all else. You thirst for knowledge. You want to learn. I became a teacher because of students like you, Harry. It has been far too long since I have last given a lesson. What do you think?"

It wasn't a choice, not really. The Dark Lord has already told him to accept the offer. And besides, even if he absolutely detested Dumbledore, which he still wasn't sure he did, he would never be able to turn down the chance to learn from as proficient a wizard as Dumbledore.

"I'd love to," he said, with a fake smile plastered on his face. "When can we start?"

Dumbledore smiled back, absentmindedly pulling at his beard.

"We could begin from next week. Let's agree to once a week, at night? Sometime when it won't interfere with any classes or quidditch practices?"

"Monday or Tuesday night would work for me, sir"

"Let's say Monday nights then, at eight. Tuesdays I meet with some members of the Wizengamot"

' Good to know'

"As much I would like to, I can not commit to being available every week. Too many responsibilities rest in these tired, old shoulders. But I will inform you each Monday if we will or will not be meeting"

"Ok"

"Anything, in particular, you'd like to study? Or more like bits and pieces of everything?"

"Everything, sir"

Dumbledore chuckled.

"Ah, the enthusiasm of youth. Very well. Perhaps put together a list of what you would like to discuss and learn, and together, we will endeavor to get through it all?"

"Sounds great"

"Lovely. Till next week. Have a wonderful evening, Harry"

Albus Dumbledore watched the door close behind young Harry with a smile. Perhaps he would finally get the chance to heal some of the rifts he had caused.

It could not happen too soon. If, as he suspected, Tom was gaining power again, Harry would be needed.

More importantly, Harry needed to understand that he was cared for. Even if Tom never returned, Harry would still deserve the chance for a normal life. For a happy life.

Albus Dumbledore smiled contentedly. ' Perhaps I can make some measure of amends for my mistakes'

"So. What did he say?"

"What Snape said he would. He'll teach me if I want, once a week if he doesn't have a sudden meeting or something"

"And?"

Harry gave Draco a scornful look. "Of course I'm gonna do it. He said He wants me to"

"Just, be careful, Harry. You heard Snape, Dumbledore's a Legilemens. Even if he's too kind to use it, you never know"

"I know, I know. I'm not looking him in the eyes for more than a second or two, and I'm watching for intrusions the whole time. Don't worry"

Draco hissed back. "Don't worry? I don't want to see Him angry at you. I've heard enough stories to know that"

"You think I want that? I won't give Him any reason to be angry"

"You better not"

"Fuck's sake, Draco. Leave it, ok? Besides, if we're right about Flint and Avery, He'll be happy with us"

"Yeah" Draco looked into the fire for a bit. "I think Jugson might be a good choice also"

"Jugson?"

"Preston Jugson? The seventh year? He just gives me that feeling, you know what I mean?"

Harry thought of the vibe many of the Death Eaters he had met had given off. A feeling of coiled menace, like a snake waiting to strike.

"Yeah, I know what you mean. Which one is he?"

Draco looked around the common room. "He's not here now. He's a heavyset guy, big shoulders. Brownish hair. Hangs around with Jason Fawley, that Hufflepuff dude, a lot. I think they're cousins or something"

"You should tell Snape. Let him take care of the next bit"

"Yeah. You think he's already started with Flint and Avery?"

Harry thought for a few minutes, trying to picture how they had been acting the last few days.

"Maybe. They've been a bit more intense, lately"

"Yeah. But the same could be said for us"

"True. At least we're already in"

"Yup"

From across the common room, Theo watched the animated and quiet conversation going on. His eyes narrowed as he thought.