Shadows of the Forsaken

Chapter 22

Note: Wow. Are we impressed with me? Because I'm impressed with me. Three chapters in only like 2ish weeks? It's like it's a year ago when I first came back to writing and was writing like a damn psycho. Lol. I have been on a role with this story, just ideas flowing well for the last couple chapters. I wish I could promise this would continue, but I make no such promises. Work is starting (I'm a supply teacher) and my next semester for my Master's degree is starting and I just know that wall is going to hit eventually and slow everything down. However, for now, enjoy the quickness while it lasts. 

Oh! Minor creature character death warning. This has happened because I totally forgot about him considering the whole first part of this story took place at Grimmauld and there was no easy/good way for me to bring him back into the story at this point. So, unfortunately, off-screen death. Sorry!

Leave me a comment if you enjoy this chapter. I appreciate it ☺️

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Harry paused in his writing to applaud and cheer loudly as Fred just managed to claim victory over Bill by knocking the eldest Weasley to the stage and making it morph around Bill's wrists like shackles. He winced seconds later alongside the groan that rumbled through the spectators as George crumpled under Flitwick's Paralytic Hex. Glad to have a day off from duels after everything that had happened with the locket, Harry turned back to his notebook as the duellists were treated, jotting a few notes before looking up at the stages again. Moody and Kingsley were on one stage while Charlie and Snape—he still didn't know why he'd used the man's first name the other day nor had he done so or mentioned it since—were on the other.

He watched the two pairings with interest, noting how they interacted. Kingsley's and Moody's easy, casual conversation wasn't surprising as Moody had been Kingsley's supervisor, had trained Kingsley personally when he'd joined the Aurors. They'd worked closely together for years and, according to Kingsley, Moody had been the first on scene with him when his wife and daughter were killed.

Snape and Charlie, though, were more surprising. Harry had seen how Snape interacted with the older Weasleys and even the twins all summer, and it had been odd. It honestly seemed like Snape liked them and they liked him back. Even now, they were talking and nodding, Charlie even laughing at one point. They seemed comfortable with each other as though they spent time together all the time. Charlie seemed comfortable with everyone, but Snape seemed that way with only a few people. It made Harry wonder.

"Hey, mate."

Fred and George suddenly appeared on either side of him, voices echoing, and Harry looked away from the stages.

"Doin' alright?" George asked as they reclined simultaneously beside him.

"Yeah, I'm fine," Harry assured. "Don't worry, I haven't gone near the locket or my own horcrux," he added.

The Order had been called together the previous day to discuss—read: reprimand—Harry's excursion outside the wards. The locket hadn't been mentioned, Harry instead claiming he'd had a vision and must have been sleepwalking. After the meeting, the twins had found Harry and asked for the truth in their worry so Harry had explained everything that had happened. They, Bill, Charlie, Kingsley, and Snape had made him promise to leave the horcruxes alone for now until they could break the concealments on the Mysteries book. It hadn't been a hard promise to make between the injuries to his hand and the little Kingsley had been able to tell him without the book. He wanted to find them, wanted to destroy them, but he didn't want to be taken to Voldemort or lose himself in the process.

"Good," Fred said. "Charlie said he's going to get the dragon fire for the potion."

Harry looked at the stages where both duels had begun. Kingsley and Moody were explosive. Charlie and Snape were quick and fluid.