The Prince of Darkness (A Harry Potter Fanfic)

Chapter 8

Sadly no characters belong to me as they all belong to J.k. Rowling

The death of Seamus Finnegan was the talk of Hogwarts. The entire school was abuzz with rumors and speculation about how such a tragic event had occurred. Madam Pomfrey, the school nurse, discovered a knife lodged in Seamus's left thigh, its vibrant blue handle contrasting starkly with the bloodstained blade. The knife's appearance raised eyebrows, especially since Ron Weasley had been conspicuously absent from the scene.

Harry Potter's suspicions about Ron's potential involvement were fleeting. After all, he harbored no deep affection for Seamus, and the thought of Seamus no longer being alive didn't bother him as much as it should have.

In the Library

Harry sat at a long table in the library, absorbed in his research for Slughorn's essay on dangerous potions. His mind drifted back to his recent conversation with Draco Malfoy about the Death Eater offer. The idea of joining Voldemort's ranks was tempting, especially given his growing resentment and darkness. Yet, he was conflicted, struggling to reconcile this with his past allegiance to the light side.

A third-year Hufflepuff approached him, handing over a letter. The letter, penned by Professor Slughorn, invited Harry to join the newly-formed Slug Club, a group of his favorite students.

Harry m'boy,

I am starting a group called the Slug Club, composed of my favorite students.

You have been selected to attend!

First meeting is Sunday at 7 p.m.

Hoping to see you there,

Horace Slughorn

Harry sighed. He was less than thrilled about attending but knew he couldn't change the Quidditch practice schedule any further.

Sunday Evening

Harry arrived at Slughorn's office, dressed in a white collared shirt and black pants. Inside, a large round table was set with an assortment of students: Blaise, Cormac, Ginny, Neville, a seventh-year Harry didn't recognize, and, much to his dismay, Hermione Granger.

The moment Hermione saw Harry, she turned to Ginny, whispering furiously.

"Harry m'boy!" Slughorn exclaimed, waving him over with enthusiasm. "Come sit!"

Harry took a seat next to Cormac, nodding politely at Slughorn.

"Welcome to the Slug Club! You all hold a special place in my heart, so I invited you here to enjoy dinner with me!"

The dinner was pleasant but uneventful. Harry, growing increasingly bored, excused himself under the pretense of needing the restroom.

Instead of heading to the facilities, Harry quietly returned to the Gryffindor common room. However, he didn't remain there long; Neville soon came to fetch him.

"Why did you leave, Harry?" Neville asked, his tone a mix of confusion and concern.

"I had to use the toilet," Harry replied, though Neville's questioning gaze made it clear he wasn't convinced.

Reluctantly, Harry returned to Slughorn's office.

"Harry m'boy, if you find it boring, just let me know next time!" Slughorn chuckled as he re-entered the room.

Harry sat in silence as the others continued their animated conversation. He nearly dozed off but then had an idea—a risky but exhilarating plan. Ignoring the potential consequences, he decided to add some excitement to the evening.

With a subtle flick of his wrist, Harry summoned bright green flames that erupted around the room, engulfing the office in chaos. He watched with a smirk as pandemonium spread, then quietly slipped out, leaving the fire to rage.

As he descended the main staircase, the sounds of screaming reached his ears, confirming that the flames had spread through that part of the castle. In the Gryffindor common room, Harry feigned panic and confusion as several students approached him, demanding to know what was happening. He responded with a convincingly scared voice, making it appear as though he was merely a concerned bystander.

In the Common Room

Ron and Hermione were deep in conversation when Harry entered, the fire's chaos still fresh in their minds.

"Ron, don't you think Harry's acting... different? Like, a lot different?" Hermione asked, her brow furrowed with worry.

"Yeah, I've noticed too," Ron replied. "Do you think he's gone mad?"

"I do," Hermione said, her voice low. "When I tried to attack him at Quidditch try-outs, he almost killed me."

"And when I punched him, he tortured me," Ron added. "He's become unbearable. His 'Chosen One' attitude needs to go."

"What do you mean by 'needs to go'? Are you planning to try and kill him again?"

"Exactly," Ron confirmed, his eyes cold with determination.