Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter or the Lord of the Rings. They belong to J.K Rowling and J.R.R Tolkien.

A/N: I'm sorry the last chapter was so short. It was really more of a prologue than anything else. I'm also sorry I didn't explain in the last chapter exactly when this story is taking place. It is just a couple of weeks after Harry's fifth year.

Thank you to my one reviewer. I had expected more, but . . . hopefully I'll get some for this chapter.

Chapter Two ----- The Lightening Bolt

"Remus calm down, he is fine now. Madame Pomfrey is the best mediwitch I know. Now, can you tell me what happened? From the beginning if you please."

Remus, Tonks and Dumbledore made an odd trio as they gathered around the hospital bed of the unconscious Boy-Who-Lived. Most would agree that a werewolf, a metamorphmagus, and the most powerful wizard in the world shouldn't be bothered with a dead looking sixteen year old. Most would claim that they should have more important things to do. But all three cared about the black-haired teenage boy currently snoozing away, and that was something they did have in common.

Remus took a deep breath. "Alright. Tonks and I were positioned in our places. I was sitting on the wall outside Harry's house and Tonks was standing across the street next to a car." Dumbledore nodded. He managed to imply with that single gesture that he understood what Remus was saying, and also to urge him to continue. A typical Dumbledorish mannerism. "Then Harry came out of his house, walking towards Magnolia Crescent, and we followed him."

Tonks continued, "He started acting kind of odd." She looked to Remus as if to confirm her statement, and Remus nodded in agreement. "He was in the park when he just stopped in mid-walk. He sort of started looking around, and then he ran in one direction with his arms outstretched in front of him, like he was trying to catch something."

"Hmmm." Dumbledore stated, and Tonks and Remus looked towards him, perusing his face.

"You know something Albus." Remus stated.

Dumbledore shrugged slightly. "I don't presume to know anything. But I do guess that Harry might have heard a noise that, compelled him, shall we say, to assume that someone was near him under an invisibility cloak." Dawning looks appeared on the two younger wizard's faces. "But I do not think that is what caused him to collapse," Dumbledore prompted.

"Right. Well it wasn't," said Remus. "Anyway, it started raining rather heavily, not to mention, it was a bloody gale out there! I could barely see for the cloak was sticking to my face – "

"They should really invent water-repelling invisibility cloaks Dumbledore," Tonks interrupted, grumbling.

"Ahem," Dumbledore announced, eyes twinkling.

Tonks blushed. "Right. Sorry Remus."

"Anyway," Remus stressed, with a half-hearted glare in Tonks' direction. "He continued looking around, if I didn't know better, I'd say he was actually looking for something. But then again, what could possibly be interesting out in an ordinary muggle park?"

"Certainly not three wizards, two of which were under invisibility cloaks," Dumbledore said, a crinkle in the corner of his eyes. Remus blushed. Tonks sniggered.

"Yes, as I was saying, er, after searching the park somewhat, he started clutching his ears, like he was in pain. Then he dropped to his knees and cried out. That was when Tonks and I decided to approach him. He stopped yelling by the time we got there. I put my hand on his shoulder and he – "

"He just went mental, jumped around, drawing his wand at us. Nearly poked Remus's eye out. You should have seen his face Dumbledore, it looked . . . twisted."

Dumbledore's eyes became sombre, but at the same time managed to imply an unconscious awareness of the situation, as though he knew something the other wizards didn't. This was another one of those typical Dumbledore traits. "What do you mean by that Tonks?"

"Well, he looked so scared."

"Terrified more like." Remus said.

"Then what happened?"

"We tried telling him to put his wand down, but he told us he couldn't hear anything."

Dumbledore's entire body seemed to come alive. "You say he couldn't hear anything?"

"Yes." Remus said. "Do you know what that means?"

The headmaster didn't answer for a while, allowing the build of exited tension and suspense to accumulate among his younger brethren. Nevertheless, when he finally did provide an answer, it was decidedly anti-climatic. "No I do not," Dumbledore chose to ignore the looks of surprise on his younger colleague's faces, "and then?"

"And then, when he realised we weren't Death Eaters and put his wand away, he fell to the ground and started screaming. I swear he must have been under cruciatus Albus. It was just such a horrible sound."

"Then he lost consciousness." Dumbledore guessed.

"Yes."

"Hmm. I will have to think on this somewhat."

"Albus, you don't think it's anything to do with Voldemort do you?"

"I do not believe so Remus. What possible reason could he have to take away Harry's hearing, other than the obvious pleasure he would get from Harry's pain. But I don't think that is entirely reason enough. Nevertheless, I will stew on this dilemma. Hopefully Harry can tell us something when he awakes. In the meantime, why don't the two of you stay and watch over him. After all, you are still on Harry duty you know."

The young wizards blinked. "Er, good idea Dumbledore," said Tonks, puzzling over the abrupt change of subject.

"Well I must be going then. Good day to you Remus, young Tonks." He nodded to each in turn and swept out of the hospital wing, leaving behind two frustrated, yet oddly relieved wizards in his wake.

Dumbledore dropped the pleasant expression on his face as soon as the door to the hospital wing was closed. Instead he adopted one of fear; an expression so unlike Dumbledore to display that if anyone was to walk by at that moment they would be convinced that it wasn't the venerable headmaster that was leaning against the double door entrance of the hospital wing, but a Death Eater on Polyjuice Potion. Luckily for Dumbledore, no one tended to be around much during the summer holidays, not even many of the teachers.

Dumbledore sighed, tiredly, and made his way down to the dungeons, or more specifically the kitchens, but if he should happen upon Severus while he was there, well, all the better. As he stepped into the kitchens, politely ignoring and declining the looks of adoration and offers of various foods – though he did accept a treacle tart – he asked the delightful little creatures for some hot chocolate and marshmallows – his favourite drink when he wished to sit and think – and then backed out of the suddenly stifling kitchens and their eagre-to-please occupants, and made his way to his office.

"Snickers," he told the gargoyle and it jumped aside even before he'd finished saying the password, recognising him as the head inhabitant of its office, of which there were several; namely being the Sorting Hat, Fawkes, and the portraits of all the previous headmaster's of Hogwarts. Not to mention being the current headmaster of the school itself allowed for some of the more delightful benefits it could offer.

Contrary to the Weasly twins' belief, only Dumbledore knew about more of the various hidden or magical places in Hogwarts and its grounds and forests; he also had the advantage of instant admittance in nearly all of the portrait holes in the castle – without having to know the passwords – which included more than just the house common rooms.

Dumbledore made his way up the escalator and into his office. No matter what anyone might think, Dumbledore found his office rather bare, especially now that a quarter of his knick-knacks were destroyed. But he didn't hold anything against Harry for that. He understood well, what the pain of grief could often force people to do.

Dumbledore settled his hot chocolate drink on his desk, then walked towards the Sorting Hat and plucked it off the shelf. It was time for a little chat.

Seating himself in his squashy desk chair, he took a large gulp of his drink, and plonked the patched old hat on his head.

"Hello Albus."

"Hello Hat. I hope you can help me. I have a bit of a problem."

"Ah, yes. Yes I was wondering when you were finally going to ask me."

Dumbledore would have frowned, if the Sorting Hat had eyes to see it. It was becoming entirely too smug nowadays, probably from having the privilege to sit in the venerable headmaster's office and acquiring information that no one else was privy to. Really, it would have made a fantastic spy, if it had legs.

"Now, now Albus, that wasn't very nice."

Dumbledore felt his face heat up. "I cannot help it Hat. I'm used to using Occlumency and thinking whatever I want, just like you cannot help but use Legilimency, and having no control over it. But I have to take my mind shields down when I talk to you, otherwise we won't be able to communicate, will we?"

"Understandable, understandable."

"So you know then?"

"Of course. Wizards in Godric's time used to experiment with it all the time."

"They actually –? "

"Oh no, nothing like that. No, they never managed to find out how it works. All they knew was that it targeted specific wizards, and hoisted them away."

"Were they ever seen again?" Dumbledore asked, his voice shaky.

"I don't really know. It wasn't a topic that was discussed particularly."

"So there was something you weren't privy to?" If voices could twinkle, Dumbledore's would have been doing so. In any case, his eyes were doing it for him.

"Humph!" said the Sorting Hat.

"I apologise Hat."

The Hat sniffed. "Apology excepted."

"Now, tell me everything I don't know."

The Hat appeared to be making itself comfortable on Dumbledore's head. Just this was indication enough to the headmaster that it was settling in for a long discussion. "Well of course I am." The Hat sounded offended. "This isn't a subject to be taken lightly, you know?"

"I'm sorry."

"Don't be stupid Albus, you have nothing to apologise for this time." Dumbledore felt rather like a chastised child who'd just gotten caught with his fingers in the cookie jar. "Well I am a thousand years older than you Albus," The Hat responded, knowledgeably.

"You were saying?" Dumbledore prompted.

"Alright then. Really, I hardly talk to anyone all year, the least you can do is accommodate me somewhat." Before Dumbledore could answer, the Hat began: "Where was I? Right. Well, as you know, the phenomena picks a certain wizard or witch – "

"Never a muggle?"

"Of course never a muggle! They wouldn't survive the process. No, it was always a magic person back in Godric's day. And no matter how rare the event was, it actually happened twice in Godric's time, the second time to a very good friend of his too. But then again, Merlin was leap-frogging all the time anyway, so they could have just mistaken the phenomena with that."

"But you doubt it?"

"Certainly. The events leading up to the disappearances were too similar to be mistaken for any other cosmic occurrence."

"But, did anyone have any idea as to where and why they were taken?" Dumbledore sounded like he'd wanted to ask that question for a while now.

"Nobody knows why they were taken. Perhaps they were in the wrong place at the wrong time? Or perhaps fate ordained it from the moment of their births? I don't know. As to where they were taken? There were theories."

"Being?"

"Well the first theory explored the idea of a space, time warp. Could take you to a particular location in time and space."

"You mean a distant galaxy."

"Not exactly. More like an alternate universe or an alternate dimension, if you like. I believe they study something like that in the Ministry of Magic.

"For certain. But they never do get very far in their pursuit."

"Albus!" said the Hat, sounding both shocked and admiring. "You've been digging into unsuspecting people's minds again. For shame!"

"Why thankyou. I do like to keep on my toes. Now the other theory?"

"Right. The other theory is that it takes you to an exact location, an exact alternate dimension."

"You mean only one."

"Yes. There are most likely thousands, if not millions of alternate dimensions. But this theory focuses on their only being one, mostly likely because the same thing happens every time the wizards disappear. But you already know about that, what with the Potter boy going through the same thing."

"You don't believe there is just one?" Dumbledore's voice was filled with dread.

"No," The Hat stated, bluntly. "I happen to believe – from what I'd garnered from conversations I've eavesdropped in over the years – it is more of a whirlpool between the fabric of realities, rather than just a gateway from this dimension to one other."

Dumbledore sighed.

"I know it will be harder to find the boy this way Albus, but you probably will. There's never been a challenge you haven't mastered yet. And you can't interfere!" said the Hat at once. "It will come for him, and only him. He will be taken, and there's nothing you can do to stop it. Even you aren't as powerful as the entire mysteries of the universe."

"But you just said, that I could master it."

"Yes, but only after the act is accomplished. He will come back Albus. I have faith in you."

"You're so certain he will return."

"With you looking out for him? Oh, without a doubt."

"But there must be something I can do now."

"Well . . ." said the Hat.

"What is it Hat? You know something you aren't telling me."

"Now you know what if feels like to be everyone else when they're talking to you."

"Hat!"

"Alright, alright." The Hat paused. "I suppose it could work if you placed a sort of beacon on him; a tracking device. It'd probably be easier that way."

"Of course. And if that doesn't work, I presume I can always track him with a treasured object of his?" The Hat grew silent. "Thankyou Hat."

Dumbledore stood and returned the frayed hat back to its perch. Grabbing his now cold chocolate drink, he made his way out of his office; the curious portraits not even pretending to be asleep. In fact, most of them looked rather annoyed. Dumbledore inwardly chuckled. They hadn't been able to hear his conversation with the Sorting Hat because it was internal. He would probably be getting a lot of disgruntled complaints in the days to come.

Dumbledore stepped onto the escalator, knowing to prepare himself for the jump off. Just as he reached the back of the gargoyle he shot off to the side and undumbledoreishly stumbled into the secret doorway concealed with disillusionment charms. Straightening his hat and thinking he had nothing to blush over, as no one was there to see him fall from powerful wizard to staggering idiot, he proceeded to step through the door, which closed with an ominous sounding clunk behind him.

"The hospital wing." Dumbledore clearly stated, and the room spun. No one knew that the headmaster could travel to any cupboard in the school through this room. It acted rather like floo powder, except without the messy grates and tight squeeze of the fireplace. After a few seconds of dizzy whirling, the room grew still and Dumbledore walked out of the same door he'd come in.

Only the view had changed.

Instead of seeing the moving escalator and phoenix gargoyle, Dumbledore observed the interior of the hospital wing supply cupboard. Taking care not snag his robe on any potent potions – he didn't even want to think of the consequences of that – he opened the door of the cupboard just a tad, and eyed the room as avidly as he could through the thin slit. He spotted Remus and Tonks chatting quietly by young Harry's bed with their backs turned to him. Giving a small sigh of relief and thankfulness, Dumbledore carefully and silently stepped out of the cupboard and then closed it gently behind him.

Dumbledore waved a hand at himself until he could no longer see the hand that waved or his body, and turned to the direction of the hospital door. Opening it as softly as he could he stepped out into the corridor, making sure to shut the door behind him. He took a moment to remove the invisibility charm and compose himself.

Really, all these secret doorways and sneaking around were beginning to mess with his head. He felt like he was still a student, taking an illegal stroll out of hours in the corridors. Not that the Sorting Hat had been any help with discouraging those kinds of thoughts from his head either, what with the way it scolded him earlier. Sometimes one hundred and fifty years of life felt entirely too young, when everything else in your vicinity was a lot older.

Opening the door again – this time making certain to create the believable amount of noise – he stepped in. Remus and Tonks immediately turned towards him.

"Dumbledore, good thing you came now, Harry's just starting to wake up."

"My timing is impeccable as always then. Tell me Nymphadora," he began, and Tonks bristled visibly. But Dumbledore wasn't worried. He knew he was the only one she permitted to call her that, "has anything unusual occurred while I was gone?"

"If by unusual you mean incoherent mumbling in his sleep, then no."

"Very good then."

"Professor Dumbledore?" said a tired sounding voice.

"Harry, don't try to sit up yet."

"Professor Lupin? Tonks?" Harry looked at the two older wizards. "Where am I? Why can't I see anything?"

"Sorry Harry," Remus leaned over Harry's bed and retrieved his glasses.

But of course, thought Dumbledore. The glasses would be perfect. He would never take them off. They would go with him everywhere. He would have to put an unbreakable charm on them also, to make sure they didn't shatter. He wondered if turning Harry's glasses into a portkey, and then activating said portkey when Harry reached the other world would work, but he immediately dismissed that idea. He wasn't sure if portkeys worked between worlds. They probably wouldn't have enough magic in them to perform their task anyway.

"Is that better?"

"Yes, thankyou Professor Lupin."

"If you don't mind I would like to speak with Harry alone for a moment."

Remus and Tonks nodded in understanding before standing up and walking out the door. As they passed Dumbledore, he told them: "You can come back in thirty minutes Remus, after you and Tonks collect Harry's things from his relatives house. Most of them are in his trunk, but I think he has some under a loose floorboard under his bed as well. In the meantime I just want to clarify some things with Harry." He probably shouldn't have said that last sentence because Remus looked at him oddly, but what was done was done, and nothing could change it now. "Good afternoon Harry," he said after Remus had shut the door.

"And you." The boy looked pinched and pale. "I suppose you want to know what happened," he said, sullenly.

"You mean when you heard an extremely loud suspicious noise, which caused you to temporarily loose your hearing?" Dumbledore asked innocently, enjoying the expression of shock and bewilderment adorning the Boy-Who-Lived's face.

"How did you . . ?" he said, stuttering a little. "Then you were there? You heard it as well?"

"Indirectly." Dumbledore responded. A puzzled frown crossed Harry's face. No doubt he was trying to work out the proper meaning of the word in its context.

"What do you mean Sir?"

Dumbledore sat on the chair beside Harry's bed, and pored steam from his wand and into his now hot chocolate drink. "I mean that I wasn't actually there, and I didn't hear anything, but that there have been accounts of what happened to you occurring all through time."

"There have?" said Harry, looking completely shocked and relived all at once. "So, what did happen Sir?"

"Ah. What is still happening to you Harry," began Dumbledore, observing Harry's fearful expression at the word still, "has not happened in some time. It is something that is so mysterious, so complex, that even the greatest wizards know nothing about it."

"I'm sorry Sir, but could you get to the point?" asked Harry, sounding annoyed.

"Tell me Harry. Have you ever heard of the term Alternate Dimension?"

Harry looked thoughtful, biting his lip. "You mean like in those muggle movies?"

Dumbledore chuckled. "I have not seen muggle move-ees, but if you can describe to me what you believe the term is."

"Well, it's like when there are different worlds alongside this one, isn't it?"

"I couldn't have placed it better myself."

Harry looked a bit apprehensive as he prepared to ask his next question. "What's this got to do with me?" he asked in a voice that gave away his knowledge of the answer.

"Harry. That sound, that wind, that rain, that lightning that you heard and saw, and your lack of hearing, which, thankfully you've gotten back, is all a result of a space time whirlpool choosing a person and opening up to take that person into another world."

There was silence for the longest of minutes. Harry sat there trying to process the thought of being sucked into a large black hole type thing, and never being seen again. "What do you mean it chooses a person?" he finally asked.

"I mean that you cannot stop it. It will follow you. It will take you to a different world. And it's best if you don't fight it, it will be less painful that way."

"What? Professor! Can't we do something?"

"I'm afraid there is nothing Harry. Merlin himself was sucked into one of these things. Your best option would be to ride it out. You'll need necessities to help you along, your trunk and your wand of course. I do not think that the Ministry of Magic can trace underage wizardry into different worlds. Just think of it as a holiday."

Harry stared at Dumbledore as if he'd just realised the headmaster was completely bananas. "H-holiday?" he stuttered, sounding slightly on the edge of hysterical. "I won't be on a holiday Sir, I'll be stuck forever in some magic forsaken place with only my trunk and my wand – "

"Don't forget Hedwig," Dumbledore interrupted, jovially.

Harry just stared at him.

"Harry, in this whole conversation have you ever heard me use the word 'forever' or any other term that implied eternity?" Dumbledore looked at him through the top of his glasses. "Hmm?"

"Are you saying I can come back?"

"Of course. I will bring you back. And to make sure I can trace you, may I please have your glasses Harry?"

Harry took off his glasses and handed them to Dumbledore, who murmured something and tapped them twice with his wand. He gave them back to Harry, who placed them on his nose.

"Now that that's done you ought to prepare yourself. It will come for you soon, I imagine. Don't look panicked Harry," said Dumbledore calmly, after seeing Harry's expression of horror. "Everything will be fine, you'll see. In the meantime . . ." Dumbledore raised his hands and clapped twice, and to Harry's surprise a house elf materialised on the other side of his bed.

"Mr. Headmaster be clapping for Twinky?" said the house elf in such a high- pitched voice, that it stung Harry's sensitive eardrums.

"Yes, thankyou for your promptness Twinky." Harry was even more surprised to discover that house elves blushed.

"What can Twinky be doing for you Mr. Headmaster?"

"If you please Twinky, can you fill as much food and drink as you can into this?" Dumbledore held up what looked like a small moneybag. It wasn't that interesting; in fact it was rather drab. "It has been charmed with engorgement and lite-ning spells. So you should have no problem fitting in at least a barrel of food and drink into it."

Dumbledore handed the pouch over to the elf, who took it reverently, and disappeared with a small pop. "Now all we have to do is to sit and wait for Remus and Tonks to come back with your things and Hedwig. I daresay your relatives will be surprised when they see who's at their door."

Harry couldn't help but grin at the thought of that scenario. "Sir?"

"Yes Harry."

"Where is it going to come for me? Should I just wait here or should I go onto the grounds where no one will see?"

Both of Dumbledore's eyebrows rose in surprise, adding another few wrinkles to his already creased forehead. "You know Harry, I hadn't actually thought of that. But now that I am thinking about it, I would say outside is the best place because no one will be able to see you. We wouldn't want Remus to spot you and try to save you, getting himself killed in the process, do we?"

Harry's mouth dropped open, lines of horror appeared on his face. "Is that actually possible Sir?"

"Most certainly, Harry. This warp, this vortex, whatever you want to call it, was created for you, and for you alone. Anyone else trying to enter it will probably get zapped into a million microscopic pieces."

Just then a small pop heralded the return of the house elf.

"Your pouch Mr. Headmaster Sir. Twinky is filling it with foods and drinks."

"Thank you very much Twinky. I'm sure you did splendidly." The little elf blushed again before stuttering her thanks and disappearing.

"Well then Harry. I think you ought to get ready. Make sure you have a tight hold on your wand as well. When Remus and Tonks return I'll put the bag of food in your trunk then I'll teach you shrink it so it'll fit in your pocket. Less cumbersome that way. After all, we don't really know where you're going, do we? It's better to be prepared." Harry gulped.

Dumbledore tilted his head slightly."Ah, I think I hear Remus and Tonks approaching down the corridor now."

"All I'm saying is that you should have made it more permanent Remus. I mean he's only going to be stuck as a cockroach for fifteen minutes. I'd have done it for at least thirty."

"I shouldn't have done it at all. He's still Harry's uncle. Not to mention, I flouted the law for the Baitingof Muggle, well, whatever it's called."

Tonks burst out laughing. "Never thought you'd be one to loose your temper Remus."

"Oh shut it!"

The two wizards appeared at the doorway.

"Wotcher Harry! Here ya go. Took awhile convincing your relatives to let us in, but Remus here managed to persuade them.

The werewolf blushed.

"And, er, how exactly did you do that?" Dumbledore peered at Remus through his half spectacles. Remus muttered something about "crunch" and that's all Harry understood. "I never heard anything," Dumbledore told him, apparently fascinated by a stain on the wall opposite him.

"Er, right." Remus said, looking extremely uncomfortable and relieved at the same time.

"We'll just go then Dumbledore," said Tonks placing Hedwig in her cage next to his trunk. Then she took Remus's arm and propelled him out the door.

"Right, back to business then."

Dumbledore used the summoning charm and Harry's trunk and Hedwig (screeching in her cage) came soaring towards Dumbledore and came to a rest by his knees. Dumbledore opened his trunk and placed the moneybag carefully into a small compartment. Then he let Hedwig out of her cage, shrunk it, and placed that in there too.

"You never know what you might need the cage for," Dumbledore explained to Harry's questioning look. "Now then. To shrink, you simply tap it with your wand and say Substrictus Minimus. To expand, you tap it twice with your wand and say Dilato Maximus. You understand all that?"

"I think so."

"Excellent!"

"But Sir, what about Hedwig? Wouldn't she get blown away, or blasted away?"

Dumbledore tilted his head again and stared at the celing. "That's actually a good point. If she doesn't mind I can put her in your trunk, with plenty of air of course. You can release her upon your arrival."

Both males turns towards Hedwig, who had an expression of deep mistrust on her face.

"What do you say girl. I promise you won't be uncomfortable." Hedwig hooted grudgingly. Then shuffled across Harry's bed – a bit wonky-like. Owl talons really weren't meant to traipse across squishy mattresses– and came to rest by Dumbledore, who opened the trunk and gently placed Hedwig within. Then he closed the trunk and shrunk it again.

"I've placed a cushioning charm in there as well. If you suffer any bumps, she won't be able to feel it. Speaking of, would you like me to place one around your person?"

"That's probably a good idea." Dumbledore tapped him on the head with his wand and the next thing Harry felt was something like pillows surrounding him on all sides. "Thanks Professor."

"Not at all, Harry. Not at all."

Harry smiled awkwardly and began fiddling with the sheets beneath him. He really didn't want to ask the next quesition he had flicking through his thoughts, but he didn't exactly have a choice if Dumbledore was right about that thing not leaving him alone. "Professor, I think, maybe, I should go now?"

Dumbledore sighed wearily, looking more old and tired than Harry had ever seen. "That is probably a good idea." He rose from his sitting position, and offered Harry a hand. Harry took it. "I'll make sure no one follows you. Good Luck, Harry Potter," he said, and with a small, secret smile and a twinkle in his eye, walked out of the hospital wing.

Harry took a deep breath. "Right then." He stood from the bed, stretching as hard as he could. Then he walked over to the shrunken trunk and picked it up and pocketed it along with his wand. He drew a breath, wandering if it would delay the arrival of the thing if he took a much needed trip to the nearest facilty. Probably. But Harry didn't exactly have an option here. It was either go to the loo or suffer an embarassing sitiuation later on in another world. He had sudden thought. What if he landed in a girl's bathroom? Shuddering with the potential image, Harry made his way to the Hospital Wing lavaratories.

After flushing and washing his hands, Harry stood looking at himself in the mirror.Why do things always happen to me? Why can't they happen to Ron? He continued gazing at himself for a few more seconds. "I guess it's time then."

Feeling as though he was walking through water, Harry stepped out of the hospital wing and made his way to the outskirts of the Forbidden Forest. He changed his mind along the way when, passing Hagrid's house, he noticed smoke coming out of the chimney. He couldn't risk the half-giant seeing him and rushing to his rescue since his hut was right next to the forest. So he settled on the Quidditch pitch. If anyone were to look at it from the castle, they wouldn't be able to see him on the ground, since wooden stands rose for twenty meters in the air all around the oval pitch. Also, the additional concealment of the house banners and house towers made for a lot more camouflage as well. Harry sat down near one of the scoring poles, and leaned against it.

Two hours passed. Harry had long ago stopped trying to guess the shape of the clouds. Besides, it was more than a little dark now, and he could just barely make them out.

Then it began.

"Tap-tap-tap-tap-tap-tap-tap."

Harry's entire body stiffened with a mixture of apprehension and excitement. Guessing on passed experience, Harry knew what was coming next. And sure enough:

Spatter.

Little by little and bit by bit the tapping grew louder and less disjointed and the rain continued to fall heavier. A howling wind picked up, ruffling his clothes to extreme proportions. To be on the safe side Harry quickly pulled his wand and trunk out of his pocket and stuffed them down his shirt, which he then tucked into his pants, not caring how much of an idiot he must look like. He cared more for his wand and belongings.

The sound continued even louder, but not as painful as before. Harry remembered Professor Dumbledore telling him that if he didn't fight it, all will go smoothly, and it certainly looked that way.

Thunder rumbled heavily directly above him. In the split second it took Harry to move his head from his shoes to the sky, a lightening bolt exploded from the heavens and hit him head on.

Harry knew no more.

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