PRIORI INCANTATEM by Arianna Waters (christmas read aloud TXT) 📕

Harry felt thrilled as he once again lost himself into darkness. As light flooded in for the third time, he found himself surrounded in blue. ‘I’m underwater’, he thought to himself. As he steadied himself to the flow of current, he saw a huge shark coming in his direction. It had a scar, once again the same one which had given Harry the identity of ‘The Boy who Lived’ on its snout.

Harry expected to wake up now as darkness enveloped him again, he had seen three forms and had covered up the limit. He felt a bit scared when he saw the light filling around him for the fourth time. He found himself in some sort of desert. As he turned around to look about him, a snake larger than any he had ever seen slithered towards him. The boa-constrictor he had freed when he was ten would have looked tiny in front of it. As he leapt closer to the beast, he found himself looking straight into the eyes of a Basilisk, but he did not die, or fall unconscious. The monster supported the same scar as Harry’s between the folds of skin on its head.

He stared at it as darkness found him once more.

“He’s up!” Sirius yelled.

“You’d been out for more than a quarter of an hour,” James said. “You gave us quite a heart attack. It took us less than five minutes each. So, what did you see?”

Harry recounted in detail what he had seen.

“Blimey! You beat Merlin! You’ve got four forms?” James asked, seeming enthusiastic.

“Why does everything related to you have to be so complex?” Sirius asked. “Now, we need a water body to practice your Shark form, and then another Chamber of Secrets for your Basilisk one and a huge place for your Dragon form. The simplest you have is a Lion, Harry!”

Harry’s face fell.

“Don’t worry son, we’ll find a way.”

“But dad — I could kill anyone with one look when I’m a Basilisk, a Dragon’s not safe to go anywhere near either, and you can’t get underwater to help me with the Shark. Sirius’s right, my simplest one is a Lion, and that’s not danger free either. I’m giving up. I’m a monster.”

“Are you mad?” both James and Sirius yelled.

“‘Risk beyond measure, is a Marauder’s greatest treasure’.” Sirius quoted.

“You could keep your eyes shut as a Basilisk,” James began. “As for where to practice, I’ve got just two words to say — Potter Manor!”

“Brilliant!” Sirius yelled. “It didn’t even enter my mind.That’s absolutely perfect!”

“What exactly do you mean?” Harry asked.

“Oh, you’ll see,” James replied. “We’ll start with your Lion form. Once you get to how to transform, and learn to control your animalistic emotions, we can move to the next ones. And when you’ve mastered one form, others will come so naturally to you that you could work on them even without us.”

Harry’s spirits rose again. “Thanks, dad,” he said. “When can we start?” he asked both of them, with a pleading look on his face, which unfortunately didn’t work.

“Not today,” Sirius said sternly. “We’ve taken too much time already. I reckon others might be searching us as we speak. We’ll call you tomorrow or day after, when the coast is clear.”

“Well, that’s settled. Now, let’s go,” James said.

Since then, the three had been practicing in that room whenever they got time to sneak away. Harry had already got an acceptable control on his emotions when transformed, and had nearly mastered his Lion form. They were now working to perfection, and he could not wait for the day they would take him to Potter Manor to practice the others.

Besides helping him with his Animagus forms, James and Sirius were busy at the moment to make Harry’s birthday the best one he had ever had. Even Lily was working hard to make it worthwhile, though she kept telling the two not to spoil him too much. Not that Harry knew anything about it. He had been kept out of this by keeping him busy in cleaning.

Order meetings had been taking place regularly, and people moved in and out daily, much to the annoyance of the portrait of Sirius’ mother. Fred and George’s attempts to overhear the conversations using Extendable Ears had been subsided since the day Mrs. Weasley had spotted the two eavesdropping, standing on the landing.

Hermione had been pestering Harry and Ron, as usual, to complete their homework as soon as possible to which they retorted, “But we’ve over a month left!”

Hermione, being Hermione, asked them to finish it earlier so that they could enjoy the rest of the vacations in peace.

The worst incident that had occurred was when Mrs. Weasley had tried to go to where Percy was staying in London to talk to him, and he had slammed the door in her face. She had been crying nonstop whole day.

On his birthday, Harry woke up early. He was feeling truly excited for this day for the first time in his life — eager to see what his parents were going to do. He found the house to be quiet to such an extent that it appeared eerie to him. Ron was not there in his bed.

He made his way downstairs. Ron met him in the hallway.

“Where’s everyone?” Harry asked.

“Out for some work — Order’s work I reckon,” Ron said. “Remus’ waiting for us, we’ve got to go to the Diagon Alley to bring school stuff.”

Harry felt deflated. Ron hadn’t even wished him. His best friend had forgotten his birthday.

“We haven’t got our book-lists yet,” he said.

“Oh right — er — I need new dress robes and — er — the twins need some stuff from — Apothecary.”

“Alright,” said Harry. “Where are Fred, George and Hermione?”

“At the burrow — Fleur’s paying a visit. Ginny wanted Hermione to tag along, and Fred and George had to pick some stuff up.”

“Fine,” Harry said. He really hoped that Hermione hadn’t forgotten and would wish him when they got back.

Fifteen minutes later, he flooed to Diagon Alley with Ron and Remus Lupin.

“Let’s go to Madam Malkin’s first,” Harry suggested.

“Oh no,” said Ron. “I just remembered. Fred and George bought me a new set of dress robes last week. I don’t know where they even got the money from.”

Harry smiled. He knew exactly how the twins had got the money, not that he was going to tell Ron about it.

“Alright, Apothecary then?”

“Yeah,” Ron muttered.

The ‘stuff’ from Apothecary turned out to be a scoop of glittery-black beetle eyes.

“You could have asked for that from me. I’ve got more than ten scoops of that in my potions kit,” he snarled at Ron.

Ron’s ears went red. He said, “Well — er — Fred asked me to get — er — fresh ones.”

“Oh, right,” Harry muttered.

“Done with Apothecary?” Remus asked them. “C’mon then, let’s go to Flourish and Blotts, I’ve got some books to purchase for myself,” and then drawing a long scroll of parchment, he added, “and for Hermione.”

Both the boys groaned as one.

Harry engaged himself in Dark Arts Defenses: An Extensive Study as Lupin moved around, searching for the books he required. On the other hand, Ron found solace in A Guide to How a Witch’s mind Works, something he wouldn’t have dared to do in presence of Mrs. Weasley.

An hour and a half later, the two boys found themselves leaving the bookstore with Remus, each carrying a heavy stack of books. The three went to Florean Fortescue’s Ice Cream Parlor to treat themselves with a sundae each.

“I’ve got something urgent to do,” Remus spoke up. “Can I trust you two to remain in Diagon Alley and not wander off?”

Harry nodded.

“Good. I’ll be back in an hour, meet me at this place only.”

So, for one hour, the two boys roamed about, had some snacks, and paid a visit to Quality Quidditch Supplies.

An hour later, Remus returned.

“Let’s get back to Grimmauld Place now,” he said.

Remus went first, followed by Ron.

As Harry flooed back, he found himself thrown out of the fireplace, which extinguished the next moment, leaving himself in complete darkness.

“Ron? Remus?” he called out. He got no reply back.

I’d spoken clearly, I couldn’t have got out of the wrong grate, he thought to himself.

As he drew his wand out, the place flooded with blinding light, forcing him to close his eyes.

Once adjusted to the light, he found his eyes opening to beautifully decorated living room of Black’s house. A chorus of ‘Happy Birthday, Harry’ erupted from behind the couches, the fireplace and every imaginable hiding place, and he found a huge grin working up to his face.

Lily Potter emerged and beamed at her son, who rushed forward to hug her and was joined by James the next instant.

“T-Thanks,” Harry muttered as he found himself at a loss of words.

“Thought your parents had forgotten your birthday?” James questioned, grinning widely.

Sirius came out and hugged him as well. “There,” he said pointing to a huge pile of presents — the biggest one Harry had ever seen, “Forty-six,” Sirius grinned. “Two more than Dudley would have received this year! Counted them myself,” he said, thumping his chest.

Harry could not help but laugh at this.

“Out of the way, out of the way!” sang Mrs. Weasley, coming through the door with what appeared to be a giant miniature dragon — a Hungarian Horntail — flying in front of her. Seconds later Harry realized that it was his birthday cake, which Mrs. Weasley was suspending with her wand, rather than risk carrying it. When the cake had finally landed in the middle of the table, Harry said, “That looks amazing, Mrs. Weasley.”

“Ah, thanks Harry, but it’s all Lily’s efforts!” she said. “Happy birthday, by the way.”

“Thanks Mrs. Weasley,” Harry said.

He looked around to see who all had come for the party. Almost everyone from the Order, except for Snape and Dumbledore, was there.

“Wotcher, Harry!” Tonks called. “Happy Birthday!”

“Thanks Tonks,” he said, controlling his laughter when the young witch stumbled over her feet as she tried to come forward to hug him, and fell over Remus Lupin, knocking him down as well.

“Sorry,” she said, blushing, as her hair turned tomato red. Everyone laughed.

After receiving greetings from everyone and blessings from elders, Harry was urged to cut the dragon shaped cake. As he blew out the candles, a new person joined the birthday party — none other than Albus Dumbledore.

“Happy Birthday, Harry!” he said, his blue eyes twinkling brightly behind the half-moon spectacles. “My apologies for the delay. I’m afraid I got caught somewhere else.”

“No worries, Albus,” Mrs. Weasley said he sat down on an empty chair.

“May I have a word with you, Harry?” Dumbledore asked.

“Yes sir,” Harry nodded and followed him into the hallway.

“First of all, Harry, I wish to offer my apologies,” he said.

“For what, Professor?”

“Well, you see, it was I who sent you to your Aunt’s place. I did not know that you were being mistreated, or I wouldn’t have left you there.”

“It’s alright, Professor. That’s past now, I’ve forgotten the Dursleys for good,” Harry said.

“Ah, there is one more thing then. You know, Prefects are selected from amongst the fifth years. Of course you are my and Minerva’s first choice, but we wished to ask for your opinion first, considering you’ve already got a lot to cope with.”

“What’s the alternative professor, if you don’t mind me asking,” Harry said.

“Not at all, Harry. Ronald Weasley will be our next preference.”

Harry thought about it. Ron had never had the chance to prove himself. It wasn’t that he was better than Ron; it was just the circumstances which made him look great. Ron did deserve this opportunity, and Harry was not going to stand in the way of Ron’s achievement.

“I don’t want to be a Prefect, sir,” he politely told Dumbledore.

“You’re sure, Harry?”

“Yes sir. But please keep this information to yourself and Professor McGonagall”

“Very well. Now let’s not take away more of the time from your party.”

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