Path of the Necromancer

"Harry James Potter," the voice haunted the darkest recess of both his mind and room as it crept through like a silent wind but exploded in an endless echo. Enough to awaken Harry who was only half asleep.

"Hello?" he questioned wondering if his Ron or any of the others were playing a joke on him. He reached for his glasses before pausing; did he really want to get up just to find some idiot whispering his name? He had not been on very good terms with Ron or many others for what they said he did to Hermione. His hand fell back down and he prepared to go back to sleep.

"Harry James Potter," the deep ominous voice continued and this time it had a tone brimming with authority and Harry moved up. Frowning, the voice was not one he knew, so who was saying his name?

"Come, come to me," the voice requested and in one swift movement Harry took his wand, crept from his bed and into the dorm. Everyone as far as he could see was sound asleep. A chill was in the air though, something he could not describe and knew held no place in the summer months. Though he could feel something else, a strange vibrating or possibly pulsing was all around him, like the very air had come to life.

"Hello?" he shouted but his voice became a whisper that vanished the moment his foot touched the first step, no one could hear him.

"Hermione Granger's future depends on speed, will you answer her helpless calling?" the inquiring voice blinded every thought Harry had and he was in the common room in a matter of seconds. Hermione. She had plagued him every day since he arrived back at Hogwarts. She was still in St Mungos after the fiasco at the ministry and he had heard that there was a very good chance she would die.

"Ahh such loyalty," the deep tones sounded almost mocking as the door slid shut silently and the curtains of the room tightened. The fire was already out as Harry pondered whether or not to use a spell.

"Such bravery. Such eagerness," The voice continued slowly, stretching out every word for effect. Harry frowned and looked around; he could not find the source of the voice.

"Who are you?" He demanded, silence followed before he felt something stirring.

"I am many things, though my presence here merits a name. A name you will never understand, but one you will recognise nevertheless." The pondering answer took a few seconds to form.

"What are you?" Harry corrected knowing he was not dealing with an ordinary person, maybe not even a wizard.

"I am knower of the unknown, keeper of secrets and yet hidden," the voice explained leisurely as Harry swivelled in the centre of the room, searching for a source.

"What about Hermione?" Harry asked, this was what he needed to know.

"All in good time, all in good time."

"Are you with Voldemort?" Harry asked suddenly, was this the dark lords doing?

"I am not with him, but I am. He would claim my allegiance but I am questioning if my powers are invested wisely, you after all have defeated him time and time again," The voice hissed from nowhere and yet everywhere.

"I never meant to,"

"Oh you did, from your first year to now you have opposed him. Always I have put your victory down to my nemesis but no. She has not marked you."

"Nemesis?" Harry muttered, wondering exactly what was going on. Maybe he was still dreaming; that would make sense. He was pretty much talking to himself now.

"Yes, but I have gotten ahead of myself. My point it simple, your power is rendering the Dark Lord increasing obsolete and useless, I no longer see a point to him." The voice whispered in a darkened tone. Harry felt cold air on the back of his neck.

"What does that have to do with me?" Harry questioned.

"It has everything to do with you. Tell me what do the names Rowena Ravenclaw, Herpo the Foul, Morgana Le Fay and Tom Riddle mean to you?" the question hung in the air.

"They're all famous?" Harry pointed out the first thing he thought of.

"And powerful, these people are the kings of kings, the emperors of emperors. Gods among men, all of them were my champions."

"Riddle is your champion?" the term sounded strange and yet meaningful.

"Indeed like all others he was bestowed with access to my library, the others have done great things, except. Tom Riddle."

"Well he's nothing compared to the others," Harry agreed not wanting to miss a chance to snub his enemy. The presence he felt seemed suddenly joyful and the response almost resembled a chuckle.

"Indeed, his failures have caused me to question whether or not to strike him from the list and instate a new champion... you Harry James Potter."

"Me? Voldemort's done more than me?" was all he could say.

"Such modesty. You have bested him many times and with the correct guidance I believe you could rise to a position similar to my other champions."

"You think I could be equal with Rowena Ravenclaw?" Harry stated, his voice filled with disbelief.

"She said the same thing you know, in her day my champions of the past were names you would not know. Though Rowena mastered a skill, an old magic that allowed her to bend the natural world to her will. Herpo the Foul, he used forbidden knowledge to live for centuries. Morgan Le Fay, the first understood an art that allowed her to lay down a legacy which has lasted for a thousand years and it shall last longer. If I did not believe you had the potential to be on par with them then I would not be here," the voice hissed. Its tone unknowable now and Harry just studied the room.

"Again I am ahead of myself, I invited you hear to speak to you about Hermione Granger, there is a way to save her."

"Tell me now," Harry ordered his mind set upon righting a wrong he perceived himself to have committed.

"That it is that loyalty unlocks strength deep within you. As for your answer, your friend is on the cusp of life and death. She is unable to go to either; there is only one way for you to save her,"

"What is it?" Harry half begged lost in the idea Hermione might live still.

"That however is my secret,"

"What?" Harry breathed, his hope fading.

"If you want me help then we must agree on a trade, knowledge for knowledge. The secrets of Gryffindor house have long since been hidden from me. Most of the founders secrets were locked away but I have broken all but one. You will find and unlock these secrets, then I will tell you how to save Hermione Granger."

"No, you can't do that!" Harry shouted but the presence was already gone.

"Come back," he begged desperately to the open air, but he received no response.

Two days later

"Nothing," Harry sighed putting yet another book to the side, he had been searching for information about the secrets of the founders every hour for the past two days. He had only found rumours and whispers,

"What's up Harry?" Neville asked, the only person that was still talking to him in his year. Everyone else had turned their back on him because of the mess he made. Hermione was someone close to their hearts and they had to blame someone Harry supposed.

"I've been looking for two days and nothing," Harry sighed putting his hands around his head, Hermione was getting worse by the day and he had found nothing.

"About the secrets?" Neville asked, Harry had mentioned it to him, though he had omitted the details of the mysterious presence. Harry nodded.

"What do you need them for anyway," Neville asked but he knew the answer,

"Oh," was all he said. Harry nodded, they both knew why he was doing this but at least Harry knew there was a chance. Whoever had spoken to him, they could help and he needed to save her. He just had to.

"Yeah oh," Harry sighed as Neville awkwardly retreated. Then Harry's eye was drawn to something, he could see a name on The Marauder's Map, well several names in fact and then he was hit by a sudden urge to investigate.

Meanwhile

Daphne Greengrass looked like an animal caught in headlights as she backed up against a statue, opposite her was Draco Malfoy. At his side were his ever loyal cronies,

"Well, well Greengrass, it looks like we've caught up with you. It's been almost two years, tut tut. It's been really hard to keep it up when your lovely sister is in third year and only a few steps away," Draco grinned as he laid down the foundation of his plan.

"Leave her out of this," Daphne snarled with all the bitterness she could muster. Draco simply smiled. His eyes flashed like a shark, he had just found her weakness.

"Of course I will, but I'm afraid I'm going to need something in return," he pointed out in a pouting tone that sent a shiver through Daphne. She already knew what he was going to say.

"I'm going to need you to do everything that I say, because I really don't want to use force. I want to sit back and let you take care of me," he grinned in a sickening manner as Crabbe and Goyle chortled to each other.

"Daphne, Daphne Greengrass,"

"Or if you don't I might have to send Crabbe and Goyle to get your sister and they don't like to wait." Draco continued, laying a story now as Daphne froze.

"Listen to me, you have a chance here to escape this fate. Destiny has not set your actions today here in stone, there is another purpose far more worthy you could follow, however it will require something,"

"What?" Daphne asked, Draco hearing her assumed she was asking out of shock or revulsion.

"I know, awful isn't it?" he agreed.

"You will serve undying loyalty to me and my realm, you will be at the service of my champion. If you agree say I hereby swear to serve librorum and its master for as long as I shall be permitted to live. Or reside yourself to your fate as a slave to the Malfoy child,"

"So either get on your knees or I'll fetch your sister,"

"I can protect her, choose now,"

Daphne had no idea if she was hearing things, whether or not she was going mad but she felt her chance.

"I hereby swear to serve librorum and its master for as long as I shall be permitted to live," she almost screamed and for a second Draco looked confused. An insult was on the tip of his tongue when footsteps approached, he and the boys scarpered fearing a teacher or mouthy student.

"Potter?" Daphne gasped as she realised who had come for her, though even though her voice was icy she surprised him by locking him in a relief filled hug.

"Thank you," was all she could say before praying whatever she had agreed to serve protected her little sister.

"For?" Harry asked confused but he received no answer.

"Wait what are you doing here?" she asked, had he rushed out just to save her. Though her answer was promptly received as he began to study the statue she had been pressed up against. Her face fell, it was the one to headmasters office.

"You sat there and watched?" she asked the Gargoyle who said nothing, Harry however was prodding the gargoyle.

"What are you doing?" Daphne asked, Harry turned to her

"Godric was the first headmaster right? So his legendary secrets would have to be stored somewhere near his office but somewhere people wouldn't look. So I thought, ahah," Harry's face lit up as Daphne wondered whether or not she should feel insulted that Harry was more focused on a statue than her. Then again he had no idea what had just happened.

"Good, good Harry, I'm impressed you found it," the voice Harry knew so well filled the room.

"You knew?" Harry asked, if this being had known what had been the point of all this.

"Of course I did, however it required the touch of a pure Gryffindor, you retrieved the information freely, without malice and you were doing it to save a friend," the voice began as Harry pulled out a metre long metallic rod from within the gargoyle. It vanished.

"Now tell me how to save Hermione,"

"Tell me Harry Potter, what do you know of the ancient art of Necromancy?"