Chapter 3: The Evidence

Piper immediately got up from her seat at the table and looked directly at Dumbledore, searching for answers. But before she could say a word Dumbledore raised a hand, silencing her.

"They are safe," said Dumbledore.

The room was filled with immediate sighs of relief that George and Fred were about to make little jokes to lighten the mood. But while the room sighed, Piper remained somber, almost skeptical.

"Then where are they?" questioned Piper.

"Piper, he just said–" started Prue, but was immediately cut off by Piper.

"I know Prue. I heard him. But if they're safe, then where are they? You say they're safe. So, where? How do you know that they are safe? Don't," said Piper in a warning tone as Dumbledore was about to reply, "tell me that you just know or that some stupid birdie told you so 'cause that's not good enough! I want answers, Dumbledore. And everyone here seems to think you have all of them! So start answering my questions Oh Great Dumbledore!!"

Piper looked as if she could have killed someone. She was frustrated and furious. She wanted answers, yet Dumbledore remained silent. Piper took a deep breath and was about to retort something else when Dumbledore silenced her with a hand.

"Piper, I understand your concern, but the evidence is in this room," the silence in the room became deeper that not even the sink cupboard made any hint of a noise, so Dumbledore continued, "They are not here but the evidence is in this room. Minerva, Severus, and I went to help your three students but were ambushed when we arrived. By the time we reached the site of the battle, we found nothing. No Death Eaters. No Students. But–"

"THEN HOW THE HELL DO WE KNOW IF THEY'RE ALRIGHT?! I mean forgive me if I am wrong, but how is this helping?! They are three fifteen-year olds! THREE teenagers! They could be out there hurt or worse and no one can find them! This is bullshit!" cried Phoebe, who was almost in tears. "Yet here we are! Having a pointless conversation while they could be dead!"

"Ah but they are not dead are they?" said Dumbledore as he looked directly at Hermione, Ron, and Harry, who in turn looked at each other bewildered.

Hermione, Ron, and Harry froze. They were beyond confused by this point by the whole situation that they just started back at the Headmaster. Had they done something wrong to the other trio? Were they to blame for them being missing?

"No, you have done nothing wrong and no, Miss Granger, you have nothing on your face," said Dumbledore, as Hermione began to touch her face.

"Albus, what are you talking about?" asked Lupin.

"I am simply asking a question— to Miss Granger, Mister Weasley, and Mister Potter ONLY—" as Prue was about to interject a comment, "They are the only people I am speaking to at the moment," finished Dumbledore.

Paige shifted her weight on her feet. Then she started to move towards the Hogwarts Headmaster. But Snape stepped in between her and Dumbledore, stopping Paige in her tracks. The Potions teacher stared down at the youngest Charmed sister, who happened to be the Headmistress of Halliwell Magic School.

"Not another step," said Snape.

"What? You think I'm going to attack the old man?" said Paige, furry reflected in her eyes.

"No. I si—"

"Good! If there is anyone dangerous enough to do that to Albus, then you should look in the mirror Snape! Because by my calculations you have a history! And I believe that you're the only untrustworthy person in here!" spat Paige to the Potions teacher. By this time, Henry had grabbed hold of his wife's arms in the attempt to prevent her from doing magical harm to anyone, at least to prevent her hands from taking aim.

"You have no idea what you're speaking of. So shut your filthy little mouth!" said Snape, dangerously pointing his wand to Paige's face.

"HEY! DON'T POINT THAT THING AT MY WIFE!" yelled Henry at Snape,

But Paige was unfazed. She looked at an empty chair, released on of her arms from Henry, yelled "chair" and swung her hand at the chair, then towards Snape. The chair, surrounded by little white lights, flew through the air and was about to collide with Snape's face when it suddenly froze. Snape and the chair were frozen, while everyone else looked at the scene in awe.

"Wicked!!!" said the Weasley twins to themselves, although some people heard.

"Paige… you can't attack him. He might know something," said Piper, who had her hands up in front of her with her fingers spread. Piper closed her eyes, sighed deeply, dropped her hands and then looked at Paige with solemn but understanding eyes.

"He deserves everything coming to him. If he—"started Paige.

"We know. But we can't let this get the better of us," finished Prue. She waved her hand at the hair, causing it to soar away from Snape's face (all the Hogwarts students frowned at this) and breaking in pieces as it collided with the wall. Piper then lifted her right hand to the area where Snape stood frozen and—

"Wait!" exclaimed Phoebe. She then levitated in front of Snape, ready to kick him in the head.

"Phoebe…" said Prue.

"Ugh… fine." So she lowered herself to the ground.

"I'll bet you 4 sickles that she hits him," said George.

"You're on," said Fred quietly to his twin.

Phoebe touched the ground and stepped back, but before Piper could unfreeze Snape, Phoebe punched Snape in the face which unfroze Snape. Snape covered his nose with his hands and bent over in pain. Fred handed his twin 4 sickles, while George nodded in accomplishment.

"You filthy little…" said Snape through his hands to Phoebe and Paige.

"Oh I seriously doubt that you want to continue that sentence," said Prue in a threatening tone,

"We already don't like you Severus, So don't give us a reason to kill you," said Piper dangerously. "Leo, can you please heal Severus' broken nose because I don't think Paige would want to do it."

"I will not be touched by a filthy—"

"Severus," said Dumbledore, warning Snape to remain silent. Leo stepped up to heal Snape's face but Dumbledore raised a hand and took out his own wand. With a wave, Snape's sneer could be seen normally, while his students enjoyed the whole confrontation between the Halliwells and Snape. If anything, Sirius and the students would have laughed out loud if Dumbledore wasn't there. But the little confrontation just caused more tension for the rest of the people in the room. No one had any clue where any of this was heading.

Dumbledore walked up to where the Golden Trio were sitting. They turned in their seats to face their Headmaster, fearful that they had done something. The Charmed Ones stepped closer to hear, as well as to understand what Albus Dumbledore was doing, while Snape stood in the corner of the room sneering.

"Now… Ladies first Miss Granger," said Dumbledore gently, "What is your thought on the matter?"

"M-m-my thought, Professor? But I—" said Hermione, but Dumbledore just nodded and looked at her through his half-moon spectacles. So she continued, "I think— I think they're alright. I just… Professor, I don't understand. I am only assuming and I-I… how does this help at all?"

"Just focus Miss Granger. Your instincts may be correct. Now, focus please. Close your eyes if it helps,"— Hermione closed her eyes to the Headmaster's voice— "Think about the moment the three students revealed themselves. They're just like you, Miss Granger: Students. You know them and interacted with them. They are your age and are your friends. Now focus on one of them. Just one. Not their face or their clothes just on the person and then tell us what it is you feel," finished Dumbledore.

"He's hurt and tired, but alright. The fight is over. He's in a lot of pain coming from his arm. I think his shoulder is dislocated. But… that doesn't seem the source of the pain… it seems to be something more— something deeper. But he's alright. He's separated from the others. He seems to be waiting for them…" Hermione opened her eyes. "I'm sorry, but that's all I can feel. It's odd. It was as if I was there with him, but that's not possible. It's all very confusing."

"You did well Miss Granger," said McGonagall, with an approving nod.

"She's talking about Lucas right? So he's ok? But where is he?" asked Phoebe, looking hopeful. Dumbledore nodded, but his attention was with Ron, who looked bewildered and nervous.

"Mr. Weasley. It is now your turn. You know what you must do. Will you please?" said Dumbledore to Ron who immediately closed his eyes. Ron had a confused look on his face and the he looked scared, that Harry wondered if Ron had fallen asleep and was having a nightmare about spiders. But then Ron's face went blank.

"She's cold and worried," said Ron.

Fred and George looked at their youngest brother in bewilderment. They turned to Harry who looked even more confused than before. Harry was about to open his mouth to speak, but was silenced by a stern look that McGonagall gave him.

"She's standing alone in… I think it's the forest. She seems fine, just a few cuts and bruises. But… she's sad. OH NO!!!" cried Ron.

"WHAT?! What is it, Ron? Is it Brooke? Or Lia? What the hell is going on?!" asked Paige, holding Henry's hand so tight that it was white, but Henry looked more concerned with everything else then his hand. Paige looked about ready to yell some more, but was silence by Dumbledore's gaze and Ron opening his eyes.

"She was attacked!! A Death Eater snuck up behind her and sent the Killing curse her way. I kept thinking 'Look out! Behind you!' and I think she heard me! She dodged it before it could hit her. Then she did some magnificent magic and the Death Eater was knock unconscious. It was brilliant! Then she whispered the word 'Forever' and appeared in a—a cemetery I think. She started walking and met up with Lucas? Is it? She healed his arm! Bloody brilliant! But she didn't feel brilliant… She looked down at a stone but I couldn't read it. She… She was crying…" said Ron.

"Excellent, Mr. Weasley! Excellent!" said Dumbledore with his eyes twinkling.

"I believe that was Miss Diggory, Albus," stated McGonagall.

"Yeah, it is. I think I know where they are," said Prue sadly.

"Wait…" cried Harry, "Diggory? But that's—"

"Oh shut up Potter! Very good! You're thinking! Now it's your turn and you need to focus! So shut you miserable—"but Snape halted in his rant when he felt a wand pointing at his neck.

"Do not insult my godson, Snape," said Sirius dangerously, "or else I really will be a criminal."

Snape looked at Sirius and then waved his hand for the process to continue. He was defeated, not to mention outnumbered, and he hated it. So Snape quietly placed himself away from the others and sneered at the lot of them.

"Now if you please, Mister Potter. You know what the instructions are, I believe. Yes?" Harry gave a curt nod to Professor McGonagall, who decided to ignore the whole Snape situation. "Now this may be a little different. You must be very careful with this one. Don't get too deep, Mr. Potter, she might…" stated McGonagall, but seemed to have trouble finishing.

"Just focus on the situation, Harry. Not anything else," inputted Piper, "She's very… delicate."

Harry nodded carefully, not really understanding. He looked towards the Charmed Ones with their worried faces and turned to see an encouraging smile on Sirius' face, as well as everyone else. He was afraid. What if something went wrong? What if he went too deep? But he had no choice. She saved him today. He owes her. So Harry closed his eyes and focused on the young woman that saved him. As soon as he closed his eyes, he felt a sudden pull and was filled with a rush of emotions. She was not in the forest anymore.

"She's standing in front of a house with a broken roof," said Harry calmly. But with that small comment realization blossomed into the faces of Dumbledore, Snape, McGonagall, Sirius, Lupin, and the Halliwell family. They knew where the young girl was.

"She's not crying though, but… I feel as if I know the place, like it's familiar— to her, I mean. She's in so much pain… I can't pinpoint it, but she isn't hurt physically. I-I-It's unbearable the pain she's feeling… There's so much loss…" At this point Harry's tone changed, as if he was Lia and allowing him to speak for her. "I cared too much… so suffer too much… This is too much for a fifteen-year old to deal with! It should have been me!! If he just knew… if he just knew I was there then… then everything would be different. I would be dead and so many people would still be alive…"

"Harry…" said Lupin, quietly and painfully, "you're getting to deep... try to focus on the circumstances."

Harry was panting from the emotion, but then his facial expression changed. He looked calmer. So he continued.

"She's leaving the house and is… I think she's flying. She's at the cemetery. She sees Lucas and Brooke, but she's stopping herself from walking any further. They look up and see her… or is it me? Brooke is wiping away her tears and they start walking over towards Lia. I think Lucas is saying something, but I can't hear it. I've seen them before…I just—" Harry opened his eyes, "They're here. They're at the Kitchen door."

Everyone was surprised that it did not register that Harry was looking directly at the kitchen door. So everyone turned to the door, as well. Some thought that this was just another one of Dumbledore's weird ways to distract people from a bad situation, while most hoped that it was true. And then there were the ones like Albus Dumbledore who knew the truth.

Suddenly, the kitchen door swung open.