Harry Potter and the Silent Dead: Book 2

Christmas greetings

He got to the castle just as the doors opened, flooding the fields with light, and he threw himself into the shadows as teachers stormed past, wands at the ready. He sneaked behind them, slipping into the crowd until he found Terry, standing beside him and watching the chaos unfold. Whilst Dumbledore, Snape and McGonagall approached the forest, the rest of the teachers desperately tried to herd the students back into the castle. After a while, the perfects gathered their house, and the students slowly returned to their dorms. Harry ignored Terry's stare, until they arrived back in the Ravenclaw common room. "Well." He turned to his friend calmly, taking a seat and watching the chaos as his housemates discussed what was going on. "Well what?" Terry glared, crossing his arms and ignoring Lisa as she came over to sit down. "What's going on guys?" She most likely meant the large magical surge that seemed to terrify their teachers, but Terry was like a dog with a bone. "You weren't in your bed, and then you suddenly appear outside, just after a shockwave goes right through the castle!" He didn't answer, honestly not sure how to get out of this.

Lisa frowned, leaning over to look at him. "We know you've been keeping secrets from us Harry, I think it's time you talked." He looked around at the rest of the room, before standing up and walking to his dorm. In the panic, no one noticed as Lisa and Terry followed him. "So?" He sighed, sitting on his bed and watching his friends. "If I tell you, you have to swear an oath that this is repeated to no one." The looked at each other, scared, and Harry started to wonder if he would still have his friends after this. "If anyone finds out, I'm dead." He was sure they would leave, or perhaps even tell Flitwick, but instead they both raised their wands, casting the oath.

Terry and Lisa smiled slightly when Harry blinked at them, clearly rather shocked. "We're your friends, you can trust us." Terry nodded, agreeing with her, before chipping in. "Exactly, so just tell us already!" Harry laughed quietly, before flames gradually appeared over his head, almost hesitant. "My Muggle relatives despise magic. For a very long time, I'd leave the house and visit a graveyard along the road. No one really went there, and it gave me some peace from them. That's when I realised...." The flames faded away, and Lisa and Terry exchanged concerned looks. "Realised what?" He looked down at the bed sheets, fiddling with them, and they realised just how scared Harry was. Lisa frowned before reaching over and placing her hand over Harry's. "That I could see ghosts." They were confused, everyone could see ghosts. "I guess I should be specific. That I could see ghosts other people couldn't. That they were drawn to me, that I could speak to them. I haven't been able to talk to the living ever since. The ghosts were all I needed, and the living hadn't done anything for me." They knew Harry's family had been awful people, since he'd lived with the Malfoys, but clearly it had been more than a few cold words. "I'm a necromancer. I can speak to and control the dead. I'm dark."

They didn't respond for a while, obviously taking it in, and he gradually became more and more anxious as time passed. The other students would surely return to the dorm soon. "Does anyone else know?" It wasn't the question he was expecting, but was relieved to break the silence. "Only Lucius, Professor Snape and Luna. I'm not sure how she found out really." He didn't want to out Luna, it was her secret. Lisa nodded, and Terry didn't look very surprised, instead frowning and looking up at Harry. "You need to tell the others. The Slytherins." He agreed, it was only fair, now that they knew. Before they could say anymore, the other Ravenclaws walked in, slumping into their beds. Clearly the teachers were done searching. They simply nodded to each other, silently agreeing to talk later, before Lisa left, and Terry and Harry returned to sleep.

Months passed, and Harry never found the time to tell the Slytherins, Dumbledore always appearing before he could. The man had become even worse since the Acromantula had been freed, leaving Harry feeling as if he was constantly being watched. He had, however been able to speak to Lucius, who had suggested he wait until they returned to Malfoy Manor. The blond had even offered to help telling Draco, which Harry greatly appreciated. Lucius had also mentioned that Dumbledore had seemed extremely frustrated recently, strangely absent-minded in meetings. Clearly the man was thinking about something else and, concerned, Harry decided to write to Tom.