On Harry's 16th birthday, he came into his shadow abilities. Not that he understood everything, just that his power took an upward surge. It took some time coming to terms with these abilities, and even more conversations with Uncle Nick and Aunt Pernelle before he could make heads or tails of what he could do and what he should do. Of all the abilities he had since found and examined, the best by far was his ability to shadow travel.
For one thing, it allowed him to go from point A to point B without landing on his rear end. Unlike taking a portkey or apparating.
Harry planned on staying in the Gryffindor tower until after Halloween. He had thought about moving earlier but a few comments overheard from some uppers who mumbled (loudly in his opinion) to one another that on Halloween they were going to check out the Forbidden Corridor for fun. So Harry decided to stick around if only to keep them out of trouble, or kick their rears in case they decided to check that corridor out. The other reason he thought of staying behind, and the most important one by far, was to make sure Hermione wasn't accosted by a brainless troll this time around.
The week leading up to Halloween Harry spent part of each night shadow walking around the castle. He visited the room where Dumbledore had squirreled away the Mirror of Erised. When he looked into it, all he saw was a yellow light. He gave it a little thought and all he could come up with was that since he'd looked into the mirror while still in his shadow form, it picked up something to show him he needed some light. That, or someone had walked into the room and turned on a light before Harry made his retreat. It didn't matter for Harry didn't give it any more thought. He had what he wanted. A family.
A family that didn't belong to you, a nagging thought prickled at the base of his skull.
Harry shook his head clear and continued with his examinations. Albus and the rest of the staff had been busy and their traps had already been implemented. Now that Harry thought about it, he guessed there had to be more than one troll on duty in there in case someone came towards its location, it wouldn't do to have the troll missing because it had gone to the loo would it?
Harry began to examine all the traps and puzzles that were there. He knew what they were from the first time around, but he was certain the staff must have put in something that allowed them to circumnavigate around the challenges rather than have to go through each one every time. It took him a little time, and a little shadow sight to see the things that didn't belong there but found them he did.
So what was a powerful Shadow Mage to do in a situation like this? he asked himself. Why, put on a few more protections, that's what, he grinned at himself in answer to his silent question. The first thing he did was place a different locking charm on the door that recognized if the caster was a student or an adult. It wouldn't keep out Quirrell, but it would keep out a few first years. Better they have to spend a night in detention than get a few fingers bitten off by Fluffy.
The mornings leading up to the 31st were also a bit tense in Harry's mind. He was in a different dimension - and anything could happen. His friend could still get harmed. H needed to keep an eye on Hermione. He was certain that if anything were going to happen, it would happen to her. She was as much a nexus as he was. Fortunately, Ron Weasley wasn't a nexus here. About the only thing they shared in common was that they were in the same house and shared the same classes. She was ever the optimist and even tried to help him during Charms, but he wasn't having any of it. Harry did notice, however, that she wasn't getting as emotionally troubled by it this go around since she already knew he was a friend, as were others in different houses. She and Padma had actually started studying something together the other day.
His friends thought his mood was him not wanting to get another Howler from his mother going on about how smart his is or even trying to get him to transfer to another grade level. They didn't want this for one specific reason: Harry was their friend and if he went to another grade level, he might not be in their classes anymore.
As is, Harry had gotten several more letters from his mother who had gone on and on about being so proud and excited for him. And that he'd better not have been traveling back in time without a spotter or he'd regret it. And she wasn't sorry about sending him that howler - it was her way of getting back at him for not letting her know how smart he'd been all these years.
Morning post was underway and Harry looked up, happy to see Lost and happier still when he saw the bloody bird wasn't carrying a red envelope.
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