Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter.
He could feel them watching him, hear their rattling breath like an evil wind around him. The nearest dementor seemed to be considering him. Then it raised both its rotting hands- and lowered its hood.
Where there should have been eyes, there was only thin, gray scabbed skin, stretched blankly over empty sockets. But there was a mouth...a gaping, shapeless hole, sucking the air with the sound of a death prattle.
A paralyzing terror filled Harry so that he couldn't move or speak. His Patronus flickered and died.
White fog was blinding him. He had to fight ... expecto patronum... he couldn't see... and in the distance he heard familiar screaming...expecto patronum...he groped in the mist for Sirius, and found his arm... they weren't going to take him...
But a pair of strong, clammy hands suddenly attached themselves around Harry's neck. They were forcing his face upward...He could feel its breath...It was going to get rid of him first...He could feel its putrid breath...His mother was screaming in his years...She was going to be the last sound he ever heard- Harry Potter and The Prisoner of Azkaban pgs, 482 and483.
It was the last sound Harry Potter ever heard.
Albus Dumbledore, Minerva Mcgonagall, Filius Flitwick and Pomona Sprout came sprinting out of the castle; each casting their own Patronus. They had noticed an unusual fog that was rolling in on the grounds and realized, to their horror, that the dementors were descending upon Hogwarts. Hundreds of dementors scattered like flies as their Patronuses chased them away.
In the moonlight, the professors separated to inspect Ron, Hermione, Harry, Severus, and Black. Albus rushed to Harry Potter's side. He gingerly turned the boy over and realized, to his terror, that Harry had been Kissed. The boy's unseeing eyes were staring up at him emptily as the boy was breathing. Numbly, he noticed Harry's hand on Sirius Black. He had been Kissed also. He sought Hermione Granger. She was just laying limply like a doll, like a toy tossed aside. Her eyes were just as vacant as both Harry's and Black's.
A wave of mixture between grief and anger was fighting to be his dominant emotions. He felt hot anger lapping his insides but his heart seemed to be numb. In the distance he heard a stifle sob that might have came from Minerva.
"Kissed... K-kissed... he's been Kissed...both of them... Ronald Weasley...Severus.."squeaked Filius.
The children were left under his care. They were suppose to be safe. Remus? He was missing. Will they also find his shell somewhere? The moon is out so maybe the dementors did not have a chance to get Remus.
Albus took a moment to compose himself. He cleared his throat and levitated Harry's body in the air, "We must take them to St. Mungo's. They will not be able to cure them but they would at least know what to do with them." The professors levitated the remaining bodies in the air and solemny entered the castle.
Albus led the way to the infirmary; Poppy had a big enough chimney so she could transport any student to St. Mungo's if needed.
"Albus? What is going on?" asked Poppy. In her befuddled state, she did not comprehend why Potter, Granger, Weasley, Severus, and Black was being levitated into the infirmary. The infirmary was empty, earning her, what should have been, a full night's rest. She did become pale when she realized she was looking at Sirius Black, the notorious killer and escaped convict.
"An accident has occured, Poppy. I must take them" Albus inclined his head, "to St. Mungo's."
"What sort of accident?" as Poppy came closer to inspect one of the victims.
"Dementor's Kiss" said Albus resignedly.
Poppy gasped and cleared the way to her chimney. All the professors, with an exception to Poppy and Minerva, she was the Deputy Headmistress so she needed to remain at the school, flooed to St. Mungo's. Before leaving, Albus turned to Minerva, "Please tell the Weasley children to floo to the Burrow. Just tell them that something awful has happened. I want to tell them what happened while they are together as a family. They will be flooed to St. Mungo's from there."
It was like a blink of an eye for Albus; everything was occuring so rapidly that he did not know what was going on. His mind was still on his students and poor Severus. St. Mungo's served both as a distraction and allowed him to compose the speech he had to give to each of the victim's next of kin. He barely could fathom how the Weasleys and the Grangers would take knowing that their children were still alive but no longer having a soul. No longer able to participate in the world. He told the healers that he wanted to notify the respective families of what happened before having to learn it secondhand. The Daily Prophet was going to have a field day.
Severus Snape no longer had a next of kin so Albus had claimed him. Severus' had distant cousins on his mother's side but they probably would not claim his body. Albus knew Severus was a private person but he would have mentioned being close to a relative.
Albus claimed Harry as well. The boy should have never been associated with dementors. Neither of them should. Harry should have grown up blissfully unaware of what is guarding Azkaban. Although there were a lot of shoulds in Harry's life, it still was not fair. His parents should have raised him, not his aunt. If he came across a dementor, it should not have negatively affect him as before. Albus was thinking how the Dursleys would take knowing that their nephew is still alive but unable to contribute to society. Albus had nothing to do with Dursleys except write them a letter of explanation. He did not think he would ever had to write such a letter when he deposited Harry on their doorstep and leaving without further ado.
None of the parents expected their children were gong to a dangerous school. Muggleborns' parents would have reservations but with an explanation from a school reprensentative, their fears would have been put to ease. The news that not one student but three, and a teacher, had been given the Kiss would send all parents into mass hysteria. Albus couldn't think how Hogwarts was going to survive this disaster.
Albus Dumbledore felt it was his duty to appear before both the Weasleys and the Grangers to give them the bad news
He flooed over to the Weasleys and in a sort of detached manner told them something terrible happened at the school and they all needed to come to St. Mungo's. At St. Mungo's, he told them that Ronald Weasley was left in a vegetative state and, if they want to, they can come see him.
"Where's Harry? Hermione?" asked Mrs. Weasley as she was crying.
Albus had avoided mentioning dementors because he felt everyone knew that the school was playing host to them. Yet, he actually expected Mrs. Weasley to question him about how it was possible for Ron to be left in a vegitative state. He really didn't expect her to ask the whereabouts of her son's best friends.
With tears sliding down his face, "They didn't make it either. The dementors were positioned at the school to capture Sirius Black. The dementors were too hungry and should have been kept at Azkaban. Ronald, Hermione, and Harry recei2ved the Dementor's Kiss along with one of the professors and Black. " All of the students knew the dangers of roaming around at night with the dementors. He had warned them that dementors could not distinguish excuses and invisibility cloaks. What were they doing out so late?
All of Mrs. Weasley's sons were huddling towards her, trying to give her support. Percy, who was trying to look important despite knowing something awful had occured, deflated. The rambunctious twins was uncommonly subdued with a look of horror on their faces. Ginny was crying along with her mother. Arthur, Arthur had this look of pure terror and was shaking. Albus was sure he was trying to relive his son's last mentally aware moments. Albus couldn't grasp them; he didn't want to know who was the first to recieved the Kiss as the other watched in terror. He led the Weasley to an horror-stricken healer. She, understandably, lost her bedside manner when she laid eyes on the dementors' victims. The twins hung back with Percy but Arthur, Molly and Ginny determinedly went in to see Ron and his friends. He was impress with Ginny's resolve; she could have remained with her brothers but instead she came to see Ron. Maybe if the situation was reversed, she hoped he would have come to see her and pretend that the shell was still her. He bade the Weasleys goodbye and with the knowledge that they were going to see him soon with the Grangers.
The Grangers are Muggles who bravely allowed Hermione to attend Hogwarts. Albus apparated to their street and strolled to the driveway of their house. It was late so he expected them to be in bed and be wary that someone was knocking on their door at that time of night.
Dentists, if Albus remembered correctly. It was wonderful for them to be so openminded about witchcraft to allow their daughter to go to Hogwarts. Their only daughter. Unlike the Weasleys, Hermione was the Granger's only child. He was definitely informing them at St. Mungo's.
Both families were now at St. Mungo's, both were griefstricken, and the Grangers were supported by the Weasleys. Albus gave them his condolences and left to see a certain minister.
"Dumbledore! What are you doing here at this time of night?" asked Fudge wearing striped pajamas and a sleeping cap. "Please be quiet! My wife is still sleeping."
Albus and Fudge wandered into Fudge's livingroom. "Dumbledore, what happened?" asked Fudge.
Albus Dumbledore's eyes shown anger when he replied, "The dementors have apprehended Sirius Black."
Fudge's face lit up saying, "Good, good. You were coming to collect me, so I can witness them administering the Dementor's Kiss?" Fudge stood up and was ready to walk out the door.
"No."replied Albus, "I came to inform you that the dementors apprehended Black. In excitement, they administered the Kiss on sight." Albus looked to see the minister's reaction was not thrilled to see a please look on the minister's face.
"Thank you, Dumbledore, for passing that information along." smiled Fudge.
"It is good that they acted on their own accord and administered the Kiss without any witness to show their was approval for this action?" asked Dumbledore, with eyebrows raised, giving Fudge enough rope to hang himself.
"Why, yes. Cut out the middle man out and allow us all go back to work with knowledge that the Wizarding World is now safe with a defenseless Black." smiled Fudge.
"Black was not the only one who succumbed to the Dementor's Kiss." Dumbledore was eyeing Fudge and was pleased that Fudge stiffened at that statement.
"Who else did the dementors' kissed then?" a worried Fudge now asked Dumbledore.
"One of my professors, Severus Snape, and three of my students: Hermione Granger, Ronald Weasley," Dumbledore looking sharply at Fudge as the small man was fidgeting before him, "and Harry Potter."
"WHAT?! Please tell me this is some kind of joke, Dumbledore! You pulled this ruse on me because you did not want dementors at your school. How- how dare you say something as atrocious as that to get the dementors back to Azkaban. Did they really apprehend Black or was that a lie too?" puffed Fudge.
Dumbledore's eyes turned into ice as he said, "It is true, I never wanted dementors at my school but I would not stoop so low to lie about anything as serious as The Dementor's Kiss."
"You just di-"
"No. I told you the truth. Professor Snape, Ms. Granger, Mr. Weasley, and Mr. Potter are all at St. Mungo's now."
"See here-"
"I never wanted dementors at my school because you can't trust them!" Dumbledore said over Fudge's sentence, "I only agreed to having dementors at the school to appease you as well as having them able to capture Black. I don't think Hogwarts will be able to survive this, Fudge. Parents put all their trust in me to see that their child arrives safely home. There are four parents and four siblings who are trying to make sense of this senseless tragedy right now. How many parents will be withdrawing their children from Hogwarts? How many Muggleborns will refuse to accept the offer to come to Hogwarts because of this incident?"
"You seriously believe-"
"Fudge, is your chimney connected to the Floo-Network?"
"Why, yes-"
"We are going to make a trip to St. Mungo's."
Albus and Fudge both set off to St. Mungo's. Albus allowing for Fudge to protest that Harry and his friends could not have been Kissed because it was impossible. Fudge was going on about how it was horrible to say such a thing about the Boy Who Lived and if it was true the moral of the Wizarding World will go down.
Albus requested a healer to show them to Harry Potter's room. They walked into this windowless room that had five occupants plus the Weasleys and the Grangers. Albus really wished they had already left because Fudge was going to make things worse for them by denying anything was wrong. None of them greeted the Minister when he walked in and looked around. The Minister walked to Harry Potter's bed.
"Now, see here, Harry, quit playing games. You're wasting people's valuable time. Time that could be used for treating people with real maladies." Fudge prodded Harry. Harry was breathing but he did not sit up or give any form of recognition to Fudge. Fudge tried various things to revive Harry by making loud noises to pinching Harry. Harry was never going to tell off Fudge. The Weasleys look on in a mixture of hatred toward Fudge and sadness that even this dunce was not able to restore Harry. The Grangers were talking to Mr. Weasley, who was tactful enough to not enquire a lot about Muggle's habits, about what they need to do with Hermione.
Fudge, crestfallen, finally gave up and realized that the Boy Who Lived was never going to be able to function on his own ever again.
"I suggest you place the dementors back to Azkaban. Or better yet, find whatever means possible and destroy them!" Dumbledore recommended.
"See here, Dumbledore! I can't do that because most people feel safe knowing that dementors are guarding Azkaban. It's how we can sleep at night." Fudge argued.
"You are actually defending them? The dementors Kissed three innocent students along with a professor from my school. You have the nerve to argue while the victims families are here?" Dumbledore furiously asked.
"It was just a mistake-"
"A grievous mistake. A mistake that should have never happened! A mistake that can happen again and again! You seriously feel safe in your bed with the possibility of having your soul sucked out at night? Nothing could restore Mr. Potter, Mr. Weasley, Ms. Granger, and Professor Snape. The only way you can salvage the Wizarding World's safety by having dementors destroyed and tell the presses that you are seeking retribution for what has been done to my professor and students!"
The Minister opened and closed his mouth then left. Albus gave his regrets for the conversation having to take place while the Weasleys and Grangers were still grieving. Then he walked off to write letters to Hogwarts' student's parents to inform them what has happened.
In the morning, Remus greeted Albus in his office. The man had looked like he had been through the wringer.
"I'm handing you my resignation. I-I was stupid and forgot to ingest my Wolfbane endangering the faculty and students at Hogwarts. " Remus told Albus.
"Before I accept this, can you tell me what happened last night?"
"I confiscated a bewitched map from Harry and I was trying to see if I could see Sirius on the map. Yet I spotted both Black and Peter Pettigrew on it."
"A map that tells you whoever is around in Hogwarts? How do you know that it was not messing up?" asked Albus out of interest.
"The map never lies." said Remus.
"Yet, it says a dead man was walking around Hogwarts. Can you explain?" asked Sirius.
Remus looked so miserable, "My friends at school figured out that I was a werewolf. They-they became Animagi to try to make my transformations more bearable. Sirius could transform into a dog, Pettigrew into a rat, and James was a stag."
"You know, becoming Animagi is a risky endeavor. You could get horrendous results, why didn't you come to Minerva about wanting to become Animagi?"
"We didn't think she or you would approve to allow us become Animagi." Remus looked surprised.
"Well, we would help to ensure that none of you became half formed mutants because we knew that you would go on to try to become Animagi regardless. Did they put their names on the registry?" Albus' eyes were twinkling a little.
"No." Remus looked even more miserable.
"So, are you telling me that Sirius Black was innocent of both murders and the betrayal of the Potters because Peter Pettigrew is still alive?" asked Dumbledore.
Remus nodded and answered, "Sirius explained everything to me; how he switched the role of Secret-Keeper with Pettigrew and how he confronted Pettigrew about the deaths of the Potters."
"How did Pettigrew managed to stage his own death?"
"Remember, I told you that Pettigrew could transform into a rat? He was quick enough to kill the Muggles behind him, proclaimed that Sirius betrayed the Potters, cut his finger off staging his death and turning into a rat. He has been Ron Weasley's pet rat for, at least, twelve years." Remus said.
Albus looked a little saddened to know that Sirius had been falsely accused of murder, sent to Azkaban, and all could have been avoided if Sirius remained the Potters Secret Keeper. The Potters could have lived to see Harry grow up.
"So you were trying to apprehend Pettigrew and what happened?"
Remus squirmed, "We tied up Pettigrew; I was on one side of Pettigrew and Ron was on the other side of him. We were both tied to him. It was a big mistake on my part. I suggested that we tied each other to Pettigrew to ensure that he does not escape. Ron had brokened his leg and I forgot to take my wolfsbane. We've essentially tied the two weakest people to Pettigrew. We should have tied Harry and Sirius to Pettigrew. We walked out from the Whomping Willow and we were so close to the school."
"That was when you transformed?"
"Yes." Remus nodded, "I'm going to see Harry to apologize to him. I heard him talking to Sirius and, well, with Pettigrew as Sirius' evidence Harry was able to walk away from the Dursleys and live with them."
"In my stupidity, I wouldn't have allowed Harry to be separated from his relatives." Remus looked questioningly at Albus, "Why the Potters went to hiding was due to a prophecy. The prophecy could have been about two baby boys who were born at the end of July. I suggested both families to go in to hiding. The Potters were one. That Halloween night, Voldemort killed James then proceeded to kill Lily before attempting to kill Harry. Lily tried to protect Harry so using her protection I used that to make wards. These wards would come in place when Harry was living with Lily's next of kin, Petunia Dursley. If, somehow, Sirius' name was cleared, I would have spoken to him to dissuade him from trying to get custody over Harry. In Harry's first year at Hogwarts, my wards did protect him. Voldemort was trying to go after the Philosopher's Stone and Harry was trying to prevent that from happening. He burned Voldemort with his hands. That was Lily's protection. I would have been adamant that he remains with Petunia"
"If it is all the same to you, I'm still going to apologize to Harry. He was so looking forward to escaping the Dursleys and living with his godfather." Remuse moved to stand up.
"Remus, please remain sitting." Albus was starting to feel his age, "After you transformed, Pettigrew must have given you the slip. You ran off into the forest and the dementors descended upon Hogwarts. You've been teaching Harry how to produce a Patronus Charm all year but unfortunately there were hundreds of dementors. I'm sorry Remus. Harry and his friends, Ms. Granger and Mr. Weasley, along with Severus had been Kissed by the dementors." Remus had gone pale, "What you said about Harry and Sirius' conversation gives me hope that Harry was happily thinking about living with Sirius; that the Kiss may have been quick."
"Harry? Ron? Hermione? Sirius? Severus? All of them's been Kissed? How? I thought you had more control on the dementors. " Remus said in horror.
"They're nonbeings. We should have figured out how to destroy them instead of allowing them to guard our prison. Unfortunately, that bunch was at the wrong place at the wrong time. I've already contacted the Weaslys, the Grangers, as well as the Minister. I've told him that those dementors needed to be destroyed to avenge for Harry, Ron, Hermione, Sirius, and Severus, and we would all be safer once they have been decommissioned."
Remus asked hesitantly, "Where do the souls go once a person gets Kissed? Also, what are we going to do with the bodies?"
"It is up for the families to decide what to do with Ron and Hermione. I'll ask those who were close to Harry, Sirius, and Severus, if they agree with what I think we should do with their bodies. I was thinking about sendng all three through The Veil in the Department of Mysteries. We'll bury their wands and effects where we would think they would like to be bury. We'll bury Harry's wand in Godric's Hollow cemetery, next to his parents. As for souls, I hope that the soul would go into the afterlife after a person has been Kissed. Maybe Harry is reunited with his parents and he is in some sort of place where he, Mr. Weasley and Ms. Granger, could continue his magical education? Whatever gives us a piece of mind, will be his afterlife. Pity, we were not able to clear Sirius' name because Pettigrew is missing."
Albus only placed Remus on probation because he was going have to look for a Potions Master and did not want to find a DADA teacher as well. All he wanted was Remus to learn from his mistakes.
The Daily Prophet written an article how the dementors had destroyed not only Black, but a member of the staff at Hogwarts as well as three students. It had been emphasized that one of the students was Harry Potter, the boy hero who somehow vanquished the Dark Lord as a baby. Also, the security of the school was brought up to question. They also wrote how they were concern for the future of Hogwarts. Also, does anyone want to be the new head of Slytherin as well as teach Potions? Not only an attack on Hogwarts, an attack on Cornelius Fudge was made. The newspaper was calling for the dementors of Azkaban to be destroyed and replace with Aurors. His position as the Minister of Magic was coming to question.
Albus was not surprised when he noticed how few there were at the leaving feast. He was altogether sure that his students would be looking to attend some other school that would not allow dementors on school premise or homeschooled. Minerva was quietly crying, Pomona was giving her support while looking thoroughly depressed, and Flitwick was sobbing as well. Minerva had been inconsolable about what happened to three, no, four of her Gryffindors and what happened to Severus. He had been her student as well and they had a quidditch rivalry that both enjoyed. Albus had also had to console Hagrid because he kept roaring how it was all his fault. The children went to see Hagrid to support him in his time in need during Buckbeak's execution. He was curious about the fate of the Wizarding World. Harry did not tell him that Professor Trelawney made another prophecy where Pettigrew will be reunited with the Dark Lord and resurrect him. Due to the dementors, it looks like the Wizarding World of Great Britain was going into hiding from each other. Albus Dumbledore was feeling the weight of the world.