Chapter Ten: Brewing Trouble

Harry found himself back at Hogwarts before he knew it.

The Winter Break had passed them by swiftly after Christmas, and now he was back at the castle with Selena and the Horned Serpent in tow, the latter of which had found his voice in the process. He'd also decided on his name—Aurelion.

The two snakes were currently present on Harry's bed as he got all of his things unpacked, curling up tightly to stay warm. January was getting colder and the young reptiles were not fans of the change in climate. At least the inside of the castle was significantly warmer than the outside.

Aurelion was investigating his surroundings more so than Selena, who had already seen the room months prior. Harry watched the smaller serpent with some amusement as his tongue flickered in and out of his mouth nonstop.

"What do you think?" Harry asked him.

The Horned Serpent cocked his head to one side to regard his master. "It seems sufficient for humans. I prefer the cave."

Harry snorted. "I don't blame you. So do I."

"Speaking of which, that is where I will be when you go to the feast tonight," Selena told Harry. She glanced at Aurelion. "Will you be joining me?"

"I think I'd like to see this 'feast' you speak of," Aurelion replied, flicking his tail. His curious streak was a mile long. "I've never seen so many humans in one place before."

"I'll bring you along," Harry promised. "Selena will be in the suitcase and you can join her whenever if you want."

"Thank you."

As soon as he finished unpacking, Harry got Selena into the suitcase (which he shouldered) and lifted Aurelion to his hood, where the Horned Serpent curled up and propped his head on Harry's shoulder. Satisfied that he was ready, he made his way out of the Gryffindor dorms and to the Great Hall.

Aurelion caught more than a few glances as Harry walked to the feast. Most of the students were already aware that he had Selena with him almost constantly, but the sight of the small, black serpent must have come as a surprise. Aurelion paid them no mind, though he partook in some people watching while he studied the moving staircases.

As they neared the third floor, Aurelion paused and glanced down the corridor Harry knew was forbidden. "What's over there? I smell something…foul."

"I don't know," Harry replied. "That area is forbidden. Dumbledore said it's dangerous."

"Duly noted," the serpent hissed, his tail tip vibrating with agitation. Selena had caught the same scent a few times before, and she was no more fond of it than Aurelion was. Whatever was down that corridor was bad news.

As Harry reached the ground floor, he almost bumped into a familiar figure that was turning to retreat upstairs. He blinked at the sight of Professor Quirrel, who looked startled to see him.

"M-M-Mr. P-P-Potter!" Quirrel stammered nervously, already fidgeting with his hands. Harry wondered often times what had made the man so nervous—he didn't exactly cut the most intimidating of figures, especially for someone as esteemed as a Hogwarts Professor.

"Hello, Professor," Harry returned the greeting as Aurelion observed the interaction silently. "Have a good holiday?"

"Y-y-yes, o-of c-c-c-course," the Professor shuffled around Harry and quickly began to flee upstairs. "So sorry, m-must be g-going!"

Harry looked after the man with some bemusement before he turned away, intent on completing his walk to the Great Hall.

"That one smells…odd," Aurelion murmured suddenly, garnering Harry's attention.

"Who? Professor Quirrel?" Harry asked. "He's kind of an odd man, but he's not mean-spirited or anything."

"He stinks of rotting flesh," the serpent hissed.

Harry frowned, looking up to watch as Quirrel turned on the second floor and ducked down a corridor. "What do you mean? Like he touched something rotten?"

"No, I mean his skin smells like it's rotting," Aurelion told him, still staring at the spot where Quirrel had disappeared. "He's covered it well enough for a human nose to not sense it, but he stinks of decay and something else—the blood of a creature I am not familiar with."

Was Quirrel sick, Harry wondered? Selena had never mentioned anything like this before when he partook in Quirrel's Defense Against the Dark Arts classes. Maybe he had a disease that had progressed over the break?

Maybe he should ask Professor Dumbledore about it…

"I'll tell the Headmaster and see if he knows anything," Harry told Aurelion. "Don't focus on it right now. This is your first time at a feast—I think you'll like it."

Aurelion merely nodded, though he tasted the air for a few more seconds, as if committing the scent to memory, before he turned away from the trail at last.

When the feast had at last come to an end, Harry sought out Professor Dumbledore at the front of the hall. The Headmaster's eyes twinkled upon seeing Harry and came around the huge table to meet the boy.

"Hello, Harry," Dumbledore greeted, clasping his hands in front of him. "How are you this fine evening?"

"I'm good, thanks Professor," Harry managed to smile back. He gestured to Aurelion, who was still curled up in the boy's hood. "Aurelion is doing great, too."

"Can you thank him for me for allowing me to join you at Hogwarts?" Aurelion requested.

Harry repeated the words in english so Dumbledore could understand, but a brief shadow had fallen over the Headmaster's face. It was gone in a moment, so quick Harry wondered if he had imagined it, and replaced with a smile of his own. "It is no trouble, little one. I'm quite looking forward to seeing you all grow up together. How can I help you, Harry?"

The boy glanced at Aurelion for a moment before looking back at Dumbledore, lowering his voice. "Sir, I was wondering…is Professor Quirrel ill?"

"Perhaps, my boy," Dumbledore chuckled. "He's likely just worked himself up in his nervousness. Why do you ask?"

"Aurelion and I passed him by on our way to the Great Hall before the feast," Harry explained, hesitating. "He said Quirrel smelled like his skin was rotting. And that he smelled like animal blood, but he couldn't recognize what it came from."

Dumbledore frowned slightly. "Quirrel hasn't mentioned anything to me, but I'll check on him tonight if that makes you feel better."

"Thanks, Professor," he said gratefully.

"Ah, yes!" The Headmaster suddenly exclaimed, clapping his hands together. "I have something for you. Meet me at my office tomorrow afternoon, when your classes have concluded. Let's call it a long-overdue birthday gift, shall we?"

Harry blinked in surprise at the admission before nodded. "Sure."

He paused for a second before looking around to make sure no one was listening and then looked up at Dumbledore. "Professor, about my scar—"

Dumbledore held up a finger to silence him, his smile becoming more gentle. "We will speak of it when next we meet. I promise."

Harry felt some relief flow over him as he nodded again, to which the Headmaster beamed. "Now, off to bed with you. You'll need your rest to get through the rest of the school year."

"Yes, sir."

The first series of classes he took the next day went well, though there was a constant shadow hanging over Harry's thoughts. There was something he wanted—no, needed—to do, but it was making him exceedingly nervous. He wasn't going to like this, he knew.

As soon as his last class was over, he made his way to the Potion's classroom and hesitated in front of Professor Snape's office door.

Selena was curled up on his shoulders, while Aurelion had deigned to wrap himself tightly around Harry's left arm. The Basilisk murmured in Harry's ear as he became enveloped in nervousness. "You do not need to do this, Harry. If it is too much—"

"We have to, Selena," he argued. "I don't like it, but he may be the only one who can help us."

"We could ask Newt."

"Newt isn't a Potions Master," Harry sighed, reminding her of that unfortunate fact. "He's good, but Basilisk venom is as much magical as it is natural. Snape is our best shot at this."

Before Selena could argue further or he could second guess himself, Harry knocked on the door. It only took a moment before he heard the familiar, sardonic voice of his Potions Professor reply.

"Enter."

Harry pushed the door in and hesitantly entered. Snape was at his desk going over some papers, though he looked up as the boy came into his office. He raised a thin eyebrow. "Potter. What brings you here? I'm fairly certain you turned your Winter Break assignment in."

"I did, sir," Harry fought the urge to swallow and just stayed close to the door in case he needed to run. He took a quick breath. "I wanted to ask you something."

"Which would be?"

"I…I need help making anti-venom for a Basilisk bite."

Snape's other eyebrow rose to join the first as he considered that statement. Of all the things Potter could have come to him for, this was pretty low on the list of subjects he could have ever imagined. Basilisk anti-venom? The venom itself was said to be so potent that it could kill any living thing, and destroy many things that were not living. And to this day, despite having knowledge of the Basilisk's existence for over a millennia, there was no known cure to their fatal bite.

His rare interest was piqued.

Snape set his quill down and regarded the Basilisk hovering defensively on Harry's shoulders as she stared back at him. He briefly glanced at the Horned Serpent curled around the boy's left arm, but it wasn't the subject of intrigue at the moment, though it was certainly worth mentioning.

"Hm," Snape hummed in thought. "Not an easy task. As I understand it, there has never been a successful cure developed for Basilisk venom. We'd have to start from scratch."

"Can it be done?" Harry asked anxiously, glancing at the emerald serpent on his shoulders. "I just want to be safe. She won't hurt anyone, but…"

"Accidents happen," Snape finished, nodding slightly in agreement. His mind for potions was working overtime, with a brilliance for the subject even Dumbledore could not match. Abruptly, he stood up. "Come."

Harry followed Snape as the Professor strode out of his office with purpose and into the classroom, waving the doors shut with a flick of his wand. The boy eyed his escape nervously as it was closed off, but Snape paid that no mind as he set about extracting various pieces of potions equipment from the cupboards and cabinets.

The serpents watched the equipment as it floated out of storage and onto a table with wary eyes, but their concern was unnecessary for the moment. Once everything was prepared, Snape put on a pair of enchanted gloves and selected a small vial with a rubber covering over the top, which he held it out above an empty cauldron. His wand was kept at the ready in his free hand.

"She'll have to bite this," Snape told Harry as the boy approached. "We need a venom sample in order to analyze it properly."

Harry glanced at Selena, who nodded slowly. He stretched his right arm up close to the vial, which Selena slithered down until she was close enough to sink her fangs into the rubber top and pierce it.

Immediately, deadly venom the color of liquid gold began to drip from her fangs and fill the bottom of the vial. Snape watched carefully as it began to gather, but only needed a few moments before he was satisfied. "That is enough."

Selena released the vial and worked her jaw awkwardly for a few moments. "That tasted odd."

Harry smiled at her as she retreated up his arm to rest back on his shoulders before glancing back to Snape, who regarded the tiny amount of venom with sharp eyes. It was odd to think that that minuscule amount of amber-colored liquid was one of the most dangerous substances in the world.

"Is that enough?" Harry asked curiously.

"It will do for analysis," Snape replied, carefully trapping the vial in a metal clamp with a wave of his wand. "Although we will likely need much more during the testing phase. I do not expect finding anti-venom or even a neutralizing agent to be an easy task."

"I have plenty more," Selena hissed to Harry. He passed that message on to Snape, who snorted derisively.

"Of that, I have little doubt," the Potions Master said dryly. "Venom is, put simply, just saliva mixed with naturally-occurring toxins that an animal produces. As long as she's kept hydrated, she'll be able to produce an almost infinite amount. For our purposes, we likely will need a fair quantity."

Snape carefully tested the venom sample with a few spells as he continued to speak. "That being said…Basilisk venom is not a naturally-occurring substance. Do not expect this to be quite as simple as breaking down the venom of a natural animal. This toxin is full of potent dark magic with a single purpose: to kill whatever it comes into contact with."

Harry swallowed. "How can I help?"

"At this time, you can't," Snape told him. When Harry looked ready to protest, the Professor silenced him with a stern look. "I'm going to have to analyze which curses are a part of this venom, boy. It will not be entirely safe. When I have finished that, then I will let you know. Until then, leave this with me."

Harry was a bit disappointed that he couldn't help here, but he understood well enough that Snape was a Master at his craft—if he deemed it too dangerous for Harry to be present, then he was probably right.

"Go, Potter," Snape dismissed the boy gruffly, but not unkindly. His focus was entirely on the venom sample now. "I am certain your friends have noticed your absence by now."

Harry nodded and left then, sparing one more glance at Snape as the Professor waved his wand around the vial of Basilisk venom with a furrowed brow.

As soon as classes were over, Harry made his way to a place most students generally tried to avoid: the Headmaster's office.

He was understandably nervous, even if Dumbledore had been so kind about inviting him. There was some curiosity about the "long-overdue birthday gift" he had mentioned, but most of his focus was about the dark magic trapped inside of his scar. Harry was really hoping the old wizard had discovered something to help remove it, whatever it was.

Thankfully, Selena and Aurelion both sensed his unease and made sure to come along. Aurelion was currently curled up in the hood of his robes, while Selena had taken her place on Harry's shoulder, keeping her balance by wrapping her tail around his neck.

They definitely caught some attention as they always did whenever they went through the castle, but the trio ignored the stares of the other students. If nothing else, the presence of the Basilisk and Horned Serpent made certain that Harry was rarely bothered when he wanted to be left alone.

The walk to the Headmaster's office seemed longer than it really was, but eventually Harry found himself facing a statue of a griffin and stopped before it.

Aurelion peeked out from the cowl of Harry's cloak and flicked his tongue towards the stone figure. "Curious. I wonder what such a beast looks like in the flesh…"

"Griffins are mostly found in Mongolia's deserts these days," Harry told him. "I read about them a little in Mr. Scamander's book. They used to be all over Greece and Egypt."

"Are they no longer?"

Harry regarded the stone gargoyle for a moment. "Not anymore. These days they're used mostly as guards for treasure if they're anywhere near civilization."

Aurelion looked ready to ask another question, but the three of them briefly froze as the statue and the floor around it suddenly began to rise on some unspoken cue, taking them along for a slow ride on a stone elevator.

Selena regarded the shifting space warily. "He couldn't just have a door? Everyone else in the castle uses a door."

"He's the Headmaster," Harry pointed out.

"And?"

His lips quirked up in a slight smirk at his friend's sarcasm, and a few moments later they arrived at their destination.

A large door was already open and awaiting their arrival. Harry spotted Dumbledore just beyond it, standing by what the boy assumed was his desk with a smile on his face. As he went to meet the Professor, Harry realized there was someone else in the room and stopped in his tracks.

"Harry, I'm glad you found my office easily enough," Dumbledore greeted him. "I'd like to introduce you to a colleague of mine. This is Croaker, an Unspeakable from the Ministry of Magic."

Croaker was an unassuming man, with an appearance that struck Harry with just a single word: forgettable. It was almost a physical impulse, such that he couldn't find words to describe his features well. Staring at the man made him feel like he was seeing him again for the first time every few seconds. The sensation was perplexing to the extreme.

He wasn't the only one affected. Selena hissed dangerously. "What magic is this?"

Harry repeated her question (albeit, more politely) once he realized that it did, in fact, have to be some kind of magic affecting his study of Croaker. The man smiled (or at least, Harry thought he did?). "Forgive me; the magic I work with is highly confidential. I have to ensure my anonymity when I'm on business."

Gods, even his voice was confusing. It sounded warped and, once more, forgettable. Though Harry could remember the words easily enough, he would never be able to place Croaker's voice if he was asked despite literally just hearing him speak.

Then Harry processed the words and glanced at Dumbledore. "Is he here because of my scar?"

"Yes," Dumbledore nodded solemnly. "I managed to track down the type of magic we're dealing with, but I wished to get his input on the matter. If this spell is indeed what I think it is, he'll likely assist in removing the residue."

Harry watched Croaker approach him with no small amount of wariness. He was willing to trust Dumbledore on this since the magic trapped in his scar was apparently quite dark, but he wasn't sure how he felt about this stranger being involved. Aurelion observed the wizard cautiously, but Selena cocked her head back in the familiar S-shape of a snake preparing to throw teeth.

"Don't bite him," Harry warned her. He knew she would never do such a thing unless something was really wrong, but in this instance he was more worried about her. "Who knows what other magic he might be using. Biting him might hurt you."

"If he hurts you, I will kill him," she snapped back.

To his credit, Croaker stopped when it was clear that Selena was displeased with his approach. "I assume she dislikes strangers?"

"Only when they get too close to me," Harry replied. "She's protective."

"For good reason," she reminded him.

"She won't bite," he told Croaker. "She's just worried for me."

"I understand," Croaker nodded. "In that case, shall I explain what I intend to do before I begin?"

"If you value your life, that would be wise," Selena hissed.

Taking that as confirmation, Croaker went on. "I'm going to conduct a scan to see what we're dealing with. It might take a few minutes—I'll have to cast a few spells to work out what variation of magic we're working with."

Harry nodded, to which Dumbledore interjected. "Why don't you come sit down? It'll be more comfortable."

With a flick of his wand, the Headmaster brought a chair flying from another room and deposited it to the floor for Harry to sit on. The boy accepted the offer hesitantly, more willing to trust Dumbledore over Croaker even if they both meant well.

Trust was not something he gave out easily to other people.

Once he was sitting down, Croaker approached once more and knelt in front of the boy, slowly lifting his wand so Harry, Selena, and Aurelion could watch his every move. "This shouldn't cause you any pain, but if you experience any discomfort at all, or any odd sensation, tell me immediately."

Harry nodded tersely and then Croaker was casting his spells, careful and quiet as waves of silver-blue magic flickered from his wand. It felt like a soft breeze where it made contact with his skin, focusing slowly on the bolt-shaped scar.

Dumbledore smiled at Harry encouragingly from behind the other wizard, which Harry hesitantly returned, though he tried to remain focused on what was happening. He felt more comfortable with Selena and Aurelion watching Croaker's every move. Though Aurelion was more curious and less likely to bite than the aggressive Basilisk, he was observing the Unspeakable with the same, sharp eyes he cast upon his meals.

Neither of them were large enough to eat a man, but both magical snakes were perfectly capable of killing one with horrible ease. Harry felt fairly certain Croaker wouldn't intentionally harm him while inside the striking range of his lethal friends.

His scar suddenly stung and Harry flinched. A deep hiss left Selena's throat and Croaker stopped the flow of magic immediately. "Pain?"

"Just a sting," he replied. "It wasn't bad."

"I see," the Unspeakable nodded. "May I start again? I'll be using a different spell."

"It's ok."

Croaker started once more, and Harry managed to relax as the brief burn of his scar faded. It was only one more minute of scans when the Unspeakable backed off and stood up, returning his wand to the inside of his jacket.

"Well?" Dumbledore prompted, his face serious.

"I'm not sure if any of us should feel particularly good about the fact that you were right," Croaker answered grimly. "It's definitely a Horcrux."

"A what?" Harry echoed.

"Horcrux," Croaker repeated. "Essentially, a foreign soul fragment has latched onto your own soul using your scar as a medium."

Harry frowned. "And…what does that do?"

"In this instance, it's likely leeching off of your body and magic reserves for sustenance," the Unspeakable said. "More importantly, a soul fragment existing elsewhere means that the original owner of that fragment can't be truly killed. They're immortal until all fragments of their soul are destroyed."

Dumbledore's face tightened and Harry felt a chill go down his spine. "Who does it belong to?"

Croaker exchanged a long look with the Headmaster, who inclined his head. The Unspeakable waited several more moments before answering the question. "Seeing as you've been isolated from the Wizarding World until recently, I find it likely that the fragment belonged to someone you met as an infant. It wouldn't be beyond speculation to suggest that it might belong to You-Know-Who…"

The implications of that statement caused sheer terror to make his brain short-circuit for a few seconds, but he was jerked out of his shock by an enraged hiss courtesy of Selena. "Get rid of it!"

"How should we go about removing it?" Dumbledore queried. "I've encountered Horcruxes residing within inanimate objects before, but this is the first time I've witnessed one existing inside of a person."

"It's certainly rare and unspeakably evil," Croaker agreed, crossing his arms as he regarded Harry. "…I'm going to have to consult the higher-ups of my department about this. I think it'll take quite some time and no short amount of preparation to do it safely, but it can be done."

"How long?"

"Ideally, we'd perform an exorcising ritual after several months of preparation to ensure minimal risk to Harry's health," Croaker said, tapping his arm in thought. "Let's say…perhaps over the Summer? I'll have to wait until I finish consulting my colleagues before we come up with an exact date, though."

"Do what you must," Dumbledore told him. "And might I suggest sending agents out to seek any unusual…spectral activity?"

"Might be a good idea," the Unspeakable admitted gruffly. "That doesn't go public until we confirm beyond doubt that the Horcrux does, in fact, belong to You-Know-Who."

"Very well," the Headmaster replied.

"I'll see myself out," Croaker said, flashing a brief smile at Harry. "You'll be alright, Mr. Potter. We'll get to the bottom of this."

"Thank you," Harry replied, still slightly dazed.

The Unspeakable gave one last, brief nod to Dumbledore, then swept out of the office, leaving Harry with the Headmaster.

"Well," Dumbledore sighed, folding his hands together. He smiled tiredly at Harry. "We can trust the Unspeakables to take the utmost care in regards to your health, Harry. They are very good at what they do."

"Sir," Harry began, voice quivering. "If—if the Horcrux does belong to Voldemort—if a part of him is still alive, then—"

"Then is there a chance he is still alive somewhere in the world?" Dumbledore finished. The old man looked his age for once as he briefly closed his eyes. "Yes. Yes, the chance exists. But Harry…whatever happened that night all those years ago destroyed his body. If he truly still lives, he must be surviving as a wraith, living a half-life. A cursed life. He may not be dead, but neither is he truly alive. He would be greatly weakened. If nothing else, he could be captured or destroyed permanently in such a state."

The Headmaster walked over to the boy, who had yet to rise from his chair, and knelt before him. Dumbledore took the child's hands and rubbed them reassuringly. "We will cleanse you of his curse, and then we will hunt him down and ensure his destruction should he truly still live. But that is not for you to worry over. The Ministry and myself will seek out his remnants. You should focus exclusively on your life here at Hogwarts. Leave the darkness of the world to us."

"What if the darkness comes for me?"

Dumbledore's gaze flashed with sympathy. "Even if he should seek to hurt you, I will not let him lay a finger upon your body."

"Nor we," Selena hissed. Aurelion bobbed his head in agreement.

The old man's lips curved into a smile. "You are protected here, Harry. We will keep you safe. And on that note…I owe you a very late birthday present."

He wasn't sure he was in the mood for presents, but Harry watched as Dumbledore retreated to his desk nonetheless. "This is an heirloom of yours that has been a long time coming. Your father entrusted this to me before he died and said I should give it to you when you came to Hogwarts."

Curiosity surged to the forefront of his mind as Harry watched Dumbledore bring a handful of folded cloth over to him. "This was my father's?"

"Yes," Dumbledore said solemnly. "It has been in my care for many years now. But it is time it returned to its rightful owner."

Harry hesitantly reached up and grasped the cloth, pulling it from Dumbledore's hands and letting it fall open. It was a cloak of some sort, of dark fabric which seemed to shimmer unlike anything he'd ever seen.

"What is it?" Harry asked curiously.

"Drape it around your arm," the Headmaster prompted.

The boy did as he was instructed and, to his astonishment, watched as his arm vanished into thin air, with no hint of the cloak covering it. He could still feel it, but it just wasn't in his plane of vision any longer.

"This was your father's Invisibility Cloak," Dumbledore explained, watching the boy's fascination with a fond expression. "As the name suggests, donning it will make you invisible. Of course, just because one cannot see you does not mean they cannot hear you."

He leaned forward a bit, eyes twinkling mischievously. "I managed to catch your father sneaking around a few times with this, back in his school days."

Harry folded the cloak back up, watched as his arm reappeared before he looked up at Dumbledore hopefully. "Can you tell me more about him?"

The Headmaster's smile became softer. "Of course."

A/N: IT'S BEEN TOO LONG.

Sorry for how long this took! I've been focusing on other projects, but I plan to try and update this story as well as Brothers by Dragons more frequently this year. My main focus will still be Viridescent, as that is my biggest story currently, but I'll try my best to keep all of my stories updated more quickly.

As ever, please review and thanks for reading!