Chapter 3: Chapter 3: Oblivion
Harry was sitting on the top of the astronomy tower. The cold wind ruffled his hair. Harry had a serene smile on his face. It was 2:00 a.m. The dark night was speckled with tiny twinkling stars. The moon was sparkling with silver light.
'How insignificant we all are in the universe. We are nothing compared to the uncountable gigantic stars and uncountable galaxies. Our life means nothing. We are not even a speck of dust in comparison with the stars.' he thought morosely. He ran his hand through his hair and stood up. 'Let's finish this.'
He closed his eyes as golden dust started seeping out from his skin. It covered his face and every part of his skin. It even covered his clothes. The colour started changing. It turned into grey and then into midnight black just like the sky. It changed again and he was now invisible. He ambled through the corridors silently. He slipped inside the hospital wing and went to the only bed occupied in the room. The sixth year was sleeping peacefully.
'How insignificant he is, I don't even know his name.' he sat on the stool beside him. He touched the sixth year Slytherin's forehead with his forefinger. A black tendril of magic entered his head from his invisible finger and sinked in the forehead.
'Done. Enjoy hell.'
He will see the worst things he could see in his life, which will probably make him mad. Sufficient punishment… for now. Harry left the hospital wing and went to his dorm room and had a nice sleep.
Harry left his room and entered the common room. Tracey and Daphne were standing in a corner, talking to each other. They saw him and waved at him. Harry greeted them.
"Good morning, girls." Harry smiled as he hugged the two of them.
"Good morning, Harry." they chorused.
"Let's go." he said and they left the Slytherin common room.
"Did you have any nightmares?" he asked Tracey as they walked. Tracey shook her head.
"I didn't even have any thoughts of that before going to bed. The last thought before sleeping was the sound of our laughter." she replied softly. Harry smiled at her in relief.
"That is good Tracey." Daphne said kindly, taking her hand and squeezing it.
"Let's not talk about it. I just want to ignore that memory." she requested. Harry and Daphne nodded.
"So Harry, when are you going to teach us your secret methods for performing so well in class?" Daphne asked. Harry rolled his eyes at her.
"I didn't use my method of magic. I just followed the Professor's instructions." Harry answered.
"Say that again?" Daphne asked in surprise. She was assuming that he used his strange magic to perform that well but here he was denying that. Harry's lips twitched.
"Tracey, Is Daphne deaf?" Harry asked, suppressing his smile.
"… Yes. I usually call her Daph but how do you know that?" Tracey asked in confusion.
"That's rude. Calling your friend deaf." Harry finished and started laughing. Daphne and Tracey instantly realised what he did and rolled their eyes at him.
"Come on, that was funny." Harry whined when he was done laughing.
"That was witty but not that funny and besides I had used that joke a three years earlier." Tracey smiled sympathetically, patting his shoulder.
"Daphne, am I allowed to call you Daph?" Harry asked in an amused voice.
"No." Daphne replied as she quickened her pace. Harry and Tracey also started walking faster to keep up with her.
"Please. I won't use that as a joke." Harry said in his most earnest voice with his wide emerald eyes staring at her innocently. Daphne paused and looked at him. She suppressed a laugh seeing Harry imitating a cute puppy. But she has to concede it was extremely cute. Tracey cooed as she pinched his cheeks.
"How can you resist this Daph? He is so adorable."
Harry tried to remain in character but it was getting hard with Tracey's pinching.
"Okay. But if you ever joke about it, I will never ever hug you." she sighed. Harry stumbled back.
"No hugs? You are so cruel." Harry glared at her.
"That I am. But you will get hugs if you don't joke about my name. So it's really fair." she said smugly as she patted his head. Tracey giggled as she and Daphne started walking. Harry's plan to annoy Daphne, now being abandoned, he joined the two as they entered the great hall.
Harry along with Tracey and Daphne entered their first potions class. The room was dark and gloomy. The Gryffindors had already taken their seat. The three went to the front on the other side of the room where the Slytherins were assigned to sit. This created a situation.
"How are we going to sit together? We have to sit in pairs." Tracey asked.
"You both sit together. I will find a seat." Harry waved at them to sit.
"Are you sure?" Daphne asked in concern. Harry smiled.
"Don't flatter yourself. I won't be lost without you." Harry smirked. They both nodded and sat. Harry searched the classroom and found an unoccupied seat beside a girl in Gryffindor robes.
"Is this seat occupied?" Harry asked the girl. The girl looked up and Harry was mesmerized by her silver eyes. Her silky black hair was done in a ponytail which suited her oval face.
'Is it possible to have silver eyes?' a part of him asked himself. The girl shook her head and smiled serenely.
"Is it okay if I sit here?" Harry asked. The girl nodded. Harry smiled back and sat with her.
"Harry Potter." Harry extended his hand for a handshake. She clasped his hand in hers.
"Lily Moon." she replied in a soft voice. They were interrupted by the opening of the door.
When the bell rang the class door was shoved open just as Professor Snape entered the room and walked to the front.
"There will be no foolish wand waving in this class, nor will there be any silly incantations or other such nonsense that you brats appear to enjoy." Professor Snape said as he stopped at the front and turned around to look at everyone, he sneered at the Gryffindors before continuing to speak. "I don't expect many of you to truly grasp the beautiful and magical process of potions making, I can teach you to bewitch the mind, ensnare the senses, bottle glory and even put a stopper on death."
Harry was amused by the speech. 'Stopper on death? Bullshit.'
After his speech he finished the roll call. Harry was confused when the professor sneered at his name.
"Harry Potter. Our new celebrity." the professor mocked. Harry stood up and waved at everybody.
"That's me. Don't be shy and come to me if you want my autograph." Harry grinned. If the professor wanted to act like this then Harry had no problem showing his attitude.
"Sit down Potter." Professor Snape snapped. Harry with a last wave sat with a grin on his face.
"Quiz time. Weasley," Snape said suddenly, his black eyes locked onto Ron. "What would I get if I added powdered root of asphodel to an infusion of wormwood?" The other Gryffindor's looked confused, apart from Hermione Granger who had raised her hand. Ron's ears turned red as he looked down and mumbled something. "Speak up boy!" Snape ordered.
"I don't know, sir." Ron said in a quiet voice.
"You don't know?" Professor Snape asked. "How disappointing, five points from Gryffindor. Let's try again, where would you look if I asked you to find me a bezoar?" Hermione began waving her hand to try and catch Professor Snape's attention, it was clear she hadn't realized yet that he was ignoring her. Jasmine tugged her hand in a clear gesture to stop raising her hand but Hermione ignored her. "You don't know?" Professor Snape asked when Ron didn't respond, Draco and his friends sniggered, Snape either didn't notice or didn't care. "One last question, Weasley, try not to totally embarrass yourself, what is the difference between Monkshood and Wolfsbane?" Snape asked
"Hermione knows, why don't you ask her?" Ron growled while gesturing to Hermione who had actually stood up and was wildly waving her hand.
"Sit down you foolish girl!" Snape snapped at Hermione, Hermione quickly dropped her hand and sat into her seat, her cheeks were now bright crimson. Jasmine gave her 'I told you so' look which she again ignored. "Mr Weasley," Snape said as he turned his attention back to Ron. "That is twenty points you have lost for Gryffindor and a detention for your disrespect, along with a further five points for not being prepared enough to read a book. Potter!" Snape said suddenly as he turned to Harry. "Perhaps you can answer the questions."
Harry could definitely answer the questions. He lazily stood up and said.
"If you added the powdered root of asphodel to an infusion of wormwood, you would get the Draught of Living Death. The bezoar can be found in the stomach of a goat. There is no difference between Monkshood and Wolfsbane."
Harry could have said more about the answers but knew it wouldn't be appreciated so he sat down. Snape sneered and turned his back on him. He waved his wand at the board. Instructions started appearing on it to brew the potion to cure boils.
"Follow the instructions on board." he said and sat on his desk, actively ignoring everybody.
"What a jerk." Harry hissed. Lily beside him chuckled.
"Let's finish this." he said and with the help of Lily they finished the potion. He checked the colour of the potion. 'It is perfect.'
Professor Snape walked towards their desk and peered at their potion.
"Acceptable." he muttered and went ahead. Harry looked at Lily and then at the potion then again at Lily.
"I hope my eyes are working alright. It's been years since I wore glasses but I think I may need them again." Harry said sarcastically.
"Your eyes are perfect. He is just very prejudiced against you." she shrugged.
"I am sorry. Because of me you also had to suffer his partiality." He apologized. She waved it away.
"It's fine. Without you I may even haven't finished brewing the potion." she smiled. "You were serious when you said you would give autographs. Right?"
Harry chuckled as he signed on a parchment and gave it to her.
"I hate potions." Harry said as his two friends joined him in the hallway.
"It sucks to be in your shoes. Did you kill his wife or something?" Tracey joked, bumping her shoulder against him.
"As far as I am aware, I haven't killed anybody." Harry replied.
"Maybe he has a crush on you and this is his way of showing it to you." Daphne grinned mischievously. Harry stopped and made a gagging sound. Tracey and Daphne laughed at his expense.
"Thanks Daph for making me imagine such gruesome images." he glared at her.
"Usually it is 'I will kiss it and make it better' but I will hug you and make it better." Daphne smirked as she captured him in a tight hug. Harry chuckled as he hugged her back. This slowly turned into a competition of 'who can hug tighter' which Harry won as Daphne hunched and tried to catch her breath.
"That was the one of a kind hug which I will avoid from now on." she said as she stood up. Harry grinned at his victory and patted Daphne's cheek with mock sympathy.
"You have finally found your place. No one shall beat Harry Potter at hugging."
"Was that supposed to sound cool or something?" Daphne arched her eyebrow, slapping away his hand.
"Spoilsport." he muttered as he turned to Tracey who was laughing at their antics.
"Do you want to give it a try?" Harry asked her. She shook her head.
"I will take the normal one." she smiled as she hugged him and snuggled at his chest. Daphne cleared her throat dramatically.
"You are again doing the lovey dovey thing which is sickening." she said and scrunched her nose. Tracey and Harry exchanged exasperated looks and nodded at each other. They both again sandwiched Daphne between them. Daphne yelped as she felt Harry pressing his body from behind while Tracey squeezed her from front.
"Not again." Daphne whined, making Harry and Tracey laugh.
"Harry! Why are you pressing your hips against my arse." Daphne whined again. Tracey and Harry laughed again.
"If you don't know, it is called hugging." Harry said in her ears. A shiver ran through her body. Tracey watched them with amusement.
"Don't worry Daph, next time I will be behind and Harry will be in front." Tracey said.
"There will be a next time?" Daphne asked.
"Of course. Do you really think we are going to stop this?" Harry grinned. Daphne sighed in an exaggerated manner.
"Fine! But let me go now, I have assignments to finish." she grumbled but was very happy inside. She just loved being with Harry and Tracey. There was no need to be on guard around them. They will never harm her. They disentangled and made their way to the Slytherin common room.
Jake was having the worst day of his life. First, the plan to fuck that half-blood bitch was failed. Second, Potter had sent him to the hospital wing with the Levitation charm. For the fuck sake, the LEVITATION charm. How was he going to show his face to the sixth year Slytherins after getting beaten by a first year. Shame, utter shame was the feeling he was experiencing. These were the thoughts racing through his mind after waking up in the hospital wing. About half an hour later, Headmaster Dumbledore and Professor Snape arrived to interrogate him. Dumbledore showed his deep disappointment and deducted 100 points from Slytherin. Professor Snape just glared at him, most probably because he lost points for the house. After they went, Jake was advised to stay in the bed for the day by the matron. Madam Pomfrey had some work in Saint Mungo's so she put some potions on his bedside and went out of Hogwarts. Jake agreed, he could still feel a little pain in his hands and legs.
'I am going to fuck that Potter brat so hard, he wouldn't be able to stand.' Jake raged. He was about to lay down when he saw a sight he never would have thought he would see. On his right, chained to the wall was his mother. Her hands were raised above her head and tied with a cloth. The cloth was then suspended by a rope stuck to the ceiling. She was stark naked. Her pale bountiful breasts hung over her chest. Her eyes were closed. Her mouth was gagged by a ball gag. Suddenly a figure appeared out of nowhere. Jake couldn't make out his face but could see his naked form approaching his mother. Jake's heart clenched from fear and apprehension. He tried to scream but couldn't. He couldn't even move. He couldn't open his mouth. With a deep sense of dread he saw the male figure stop in front of his mother.
The figure choked his mother with one hand while his other fondled her breast, his finger pressing against her nipple. Jake screamed silently as he saw his mother's eyes brimming with helpless tears. The male figure released his hold on her neck to clasp her mousy hair. He clenched her hair and her muffled scream filled Jake's ears.
'NO. Please not her. No, not her.' Jake sobbed.
'She is just a woman. Born to serve us.' Jake heard a gruff voice in his head.
'Yes. It is true but not her. I love her. Please spare her.' Jake pleaded. The gruff voice just laughed as he slapped her. The brutal punishment continued for an hour. In which his mother's face was unrecognisable. Her face was as red as fire. Her eyes were closed. She was unconscious long ago. All the while Jake just sobbed and pleaded to no avail.
'Don't worry. I will obliviate her. So she won't remember this.' The gruff voice replied with amusement.
When the sun finally went down, Jake was wrecked. He was mentally unstable. His eyes were red from crying, his throat was raw from screaming. He had seen his mother suffer the worst fate. She was being raped by the unknown male figure since the morning in every humiliating and painful way. Her body was red and blue from bruises. There were empty patches on her head where her hair had fallen from too much pulling. Her face was bloodied. Her chest was deep red from all the violent groping and pinching. Her legs were motionless. There was disgusting semen pooling around her feet.
'She is of no use now. I had promised to obliviate her but I don't really think I can do that. I want to see blood. It's been ages since I saw an ample amount of blood.'
Jake just stared. He didn't have energy to scream. He was doing that since morning. The figure placed a final kiss on her unresponsive lips and slit her throat with a dagger. Jake didn't know how he was able to scream, but scream he did, like he had never done. There was so much pain in his chest, he just wanted it to end. He wanted to feel numb.
'Worthless? Isn't it. Life. You have to work hard for the future, you invest your childhood and work for the future but there is a chance that it is for nothing. A single stray spell can take your life. A single mistake is all that it takes to end your life. Was it worth it to live that long painful arduous life? You feel pain everyday, hoping that it will go away somehow but it doesn't. Pain is eternal, it never goes away. Only way to free yourself from the clutch of pain is to offer yourself to oblivion. A peaceful place without life, a place where there is no pain. A place of eternal happiness. Don't you want that? Don't you want to stop the pain?' The gruff asked, his tone hypnotic. Jake nodded dumbly. It was true, he wanted happiness, he wanted to stop the pain in his chest. He wanted oblivion. He wanted the unending darkness.
'Good. You know now the truth of life. It isn't about living, it is about dying. Won't you share this discovery with the world. Go now, tell them the ultimate truth.' the gruff voice cajoled darkly. Jake's wand was suddenly in his hand. Jake was finally able to move. He took a last look at his dead naked, violated mother and left the hospital wing. 'Don't worry mother, I am coming to join you.'
He didn't see the illusion shattering as he left the room.
Everybody was eating dinner in the Great hall when a figure stumbled inside. Jake looked at everybody. He raised his wand and casted a sonorous spell at himself.
"Pathetic," he said coldly. Everyone's attention was now on Jake. The Professors and students looked dubious, not understanding why he was there. Harry suppressed his feral grin. Even he didn't know what was going to happen but he at least knew that something interesting was going to happen. He was going to enjoy this. His gaze settled on Tracey who looked uneasy and afraid at seeing her assailant. He grabbed her hand and clasped it between the palms of his both hands. Daphne put a hand on her shoulder.
"Life is worthless. Death is the goal. Follow me to eternal peace. Follow me to oblivion." Jake laughed maniacally. He pointed his wand at his neck. Every professor jumped on their feet and pointed their wands at him to cast stupefy but they were late. Harry grabbed Tracey's head and buried it on his shoulder. Daphne didn't need to be a seer to know what was going to happen so she also averted her gaze.
"Reducto!" Jake said with a unsettling grin. Children started screaming as they saw his head blasted from his neck. His head landed a few feet behind him. His vacant stare directed at the entrance, his disturbing grin still on. His body stumbled a little and went down. There was blood. There was a pool of immense blood coloring the floor of the Great hall. The spasming body finally stilled. The teachers were staring at horror. The children had turned their back on the scene. Some were emptying the food on the table from their stomach. Harry's eyes were gleaming. If there was a place to laugh like a stereotypical villain, it was here but unfortunately he didn't want to be held in a negative light. Not yet. He held his laughter inside and buried his face in Tracey's neck, hiding his smile.
'You are too good Tracey. But I am not. If you are pure angel then I am the most cruel and protective devil.'
The three of them were standing at their usual corner in the common room. Daphne was nervous, Tracey looked bewildered. Thankfully Tracey and Daphne didn't see the dead body. Dumbledore had instantly created a white cube of cloth around the scene to stop people from seeing the horrendous sight. Still most of the children saw what happened. Many were given a calming draught.
"What happened there?" Tracey asked, still not knowing how to feel about Jake's death. Harry shrugged nonchalantly.
"It seems he got a heavy head injury while I blasted him to the ceiling which made him mad and so he took his life." Harry said in an indifferent tone. Tracey looked at him along with Daphne.
"Harry, did you do this?" Tracey asked fearfully. Harry shook his head.
"I didn't kill him. He killed himself." Harry replied honestly. Tracey accepted his answer while Daphne narrowed her eyes at him.
"Were you involved in it?" Daphne asked. 'Smart girl.'
"Don't ask questions you don't want answers to." Harry said, staring in her eyes. Tarcey gasped as did Daphne.
"Do you want to know?" Harry asked with a manic grin. Both shook their heads. Harry smiled and said.
"Do you want to play chess? We have some time to kill." Harry asked. Both nodded in daze. They played for an hour which was filled with silence. Finally the game was over and they were going to their rooms. Harry was pretty sure he wasn't going to get any hugs today. He wanted to pout. He started for his room when a hand reached and held his hand. He turned and found Tracey looking at him with moisture in her eyes. Harry's eyes widened and he instantly grabbed her in a hug.
"Tracey, are you alright? Why are you crying?" he asked. Tracey chuckled as she buried her head in his neck.
"I am alright. I am just happy to have you as my best friend. I didn't know you would do something like that for me. I am not exactly happy about it but I am not going to make you change your way. I will just accept it. You are too precious to let go." Tracey mumbled, hoping that her decision wasn't wrong. Harry felt a heart warming sensation filling his body. He knew he was precious but it was for the first time that someone else has said that. Daphne cleared her throat. They both again exchanged exasperated looks and looked at her. She was glaring at them.
"Best Friend? Am I being replaced?"
Tracey rolled her eyes at her.
"No, Harry is just joining you in that category."
"Fine. I will-" she was cut off by the feeling of two warm and soft bodies pressing against her from front and back. She groaned as she was face to face with grinning Harry while Tracey was blowing air on her neck. Daphne giggled.
"Tracey stop!" she hissed. Tracey stopped. Harry was nose to nose with her, his arms at her sides, encompassing both her and Tracey.
"You were saying something?" Harry whispered and his warm breath tingled her lips. Tracey was trying her best not to laugh at the red face of Daphne who was squirming, unintentionally rubbing her body with both Harry and Tracey. Daphne was so tempted to just lean in and capture Harry's lips but she controlled herself. Draco was her intended. It was wrong. But the temptation was so alluring, his lips just an inch away, his adorable green eyes staring at her with mischief. His warm body pressed against hers. What would it taste like? A part of her mind whispered as she looked at his soft lips.
"Please." Daphne uttered. Harry looked confused at her pleading tone but nodded and stepped back. Tracey did the same. Daphne smiled and gave them a hug individually.
"Goodnight. I am going to sleep." she said and went to her room. Harry looked at Tracey.
"Did I do something wrong?" Harry asked with a concerned voice. Tracey shook her head sadly. She gave him a hug.
"Goodnight Harry." she said. Harry smiled at her as she went to her room.
"Girls, even I can't understand everything and everyone." Harry consoled himself as he entered his room and plopped down on his bed. He smiled as he smelled Daphne and Tracey's perfume on his body. It was soothing and comforting.
"What I won't do to keep them always happy." Harry mused to himself.
"No, not Harry, not him. Please. Take me instead." A pretty red haired woman pleaded in front of a cradle in which a green-eyed boy was looking at the scene.
"Step away foolish girl." a cold voice said.
"No." the woman yelled.
"Avada Kedavra." The man hissed and the red haired woman dropped on the ground lifeless.
Harry woke up in a cold sweat. He was panting as if he had just run in the Olympics.
"Never again. Never." Harry promised himself and tried to sleep again.