Order of the Olympians

Order of the Olympians Chapter 21

Chapter 21

"Fools who wear their hearts proudly on their sleeves, who cannot control their emotion, who wallow in sad memories and allow themselves to be provoked this easily - weak people, in other words - they stand no chance against his powers! He will penetrate your mind with absurd ease, Potter!'

"I am not weak," said Harry in a low voice, fury now pumping through him so that he thought he might attack Snape in a moment.

"Then prove it! Master yourself!" spat Snape. "Control your anger, discipline your mind! We shall try again! Get ready, now! Legilimens!" (OotP)

XX

"What's in the Department of Mysteries?" (OotP)

XX

Now that the students had returned to the castle and classes had resumed, Umbridge had taken it upon herself to present everyone with a ten page essay on "Wand Movement" for various spells that they weren't actually allowed to practice for homework. The demigods were nestled in the back corner of the library with Ron and Hermione when Harry stumbled in, looking paler than he had in months.

Percy raised an eyebrow at him, "Dude, are you alright?" The rest of his friends peeked up from the papers and looked slightly alarmed.

Harry just waved them off, "I'm fine. Look, I've just realized something." He fell into one of the chairs and leaned in towards them, "During my lesson with Snape, I recognized the door that I've been seeing in my visions. I saw it one other time when I was at the Ministry for my hearing. The door leads to the Department of Mysteries."

Ron's eyes went wide, "So you think that whatever You-Know-Who is after, it's in the Department of Mysteries?"

Harry nodded. "I think that's where the "weapon" that the Order was talking about is."

Hermione gasped, and the group turned their attention to her. "Of course!" She whispered, "Sturgis Podmore, the one that was sentenced to six months in Azkaban, was trying to get through a door at the Ministry of Magic...It must have been that one, it's too much of a coincidence!" (OotP)

"Ron, has your dad ever mentioned anything about it while working at the Ministry?" Annabeth asked.

Ron frowned, "I know they call the people who work in there 'Unspeakables,' because no one really seems to know what they do in there...Weird place to have a weapon..." (OotP)

Nico huffed, entering into the conversation. "On the contrary, it makes perfect sense. It could be something secret that the Ministry has developed."

Harry ran his hands up over his face and through his hair. "At least now we have an idea of what it is I've been dreaming about all year."

The corners of Percy's mouth dipped, "Harry, are you sure you're alright?"

"Yeah...fine..." he said, lowering his hands, which were trembling. "I just feel a bit...I don't like Occlumency much..." (OotP)

"I expect anyone would feel shaky if they'd had their mind attacked over and over again," said Hermione sympathetically. "Look, let's get back to the common room, we'll be a bit more comfortable there."

Their group didn't get ten steps outside of the library when Harry started to fall to his knees before Percy caught him. Maniacal laughter escaped Harry's mouth, and everyone jumped. Ron and Hermione were in front of him in an instant, calling out his name, but he didn't seem to hear them. Ron looked up at Percy for a split second before bringing his hand square across Harry's face.