Preparing for a dark storm

"Blimey, Harry!" Ron exclaimed so loudly that Hermione had to shush him. They were in the common room. It was snowing a little outside but the fireplace kept them warm.

Harry had just told his two best friends everything that had happened in Dumbledore's office.

Hermione looked at him with a concerned gaze. "But Harry, that means – "

Harry interrupted her grumpily: "That I can't go to Ron's at Christmas Eve. I know."

He sank deeper into the armchair. This made him even more depressed. He noticed that the others exchanged a worried look.

Hermione was the first to break the unpleasant silence. "But it's absurd! Are they going to follow you all around Hogwarts? That is absolutely going to disturb the teaching!"

She looked down at her feet.

Harry shook his head. "I hate this. That Will fellow seems nice and everything but I don't want anyone to… never mind."

He sank back into his own thoughts. Nobody knew how it felt. Everyone kept an eye on him all the time and it made him paranoid. It certainly didn't help that Voldemort had a new evil plan.

After a few seconds, Ron said: "Maybe it isn't that bad, mate. Maybe you could still join us at Christmas:"

Harry felt a familiar bitterness inside him. "No. I can't. You don't understand."

And before they reached to say anything he got up and went into bed.

He couldn't sleep that night. Every time he fell asleep he woke up again, terrified because of some dream he couldn't remember what was about. And he felt bad about being so mean to Ron and

Hermione. After all it wasn't their fault.

Harry got more and more guilty conscience for every minute. He decided to apologize to them tomorrow. Tomorrow…

Harry woke up early in the morning. His duvet had fallen onto the floor and he shivered with cold. It took him several minutes to remember why he was feeling so frustrated inside. Then he

recalled everything and felt even more depressed.

He got up.

Will and Merriman were walking beside the Black Lake. It was a cold, dark morning and there was snow everywhere.

"Merriman?" Will said and looked into the deep water. "What do I do if anyone tries to attack Harry Potter?"

His master dragged something out from his pocket. It was a wand. "This is where this gets into the picture…"

Will had never thought such silly thing like a wand had no further use than being a toy. Apparently he was wrong. "A stick? What am I suppose to do with a stick? Do you want me to throw it

upon the Rider and run away?"

Merriman sent him a piercing gaze. "I'll excuse your impertinentness because you – after all – are a teenager. But don't think you can get away with anything."

Will smirked. "Sorry. But why do I have to use that thing?"

Merriman stopped walking and raised the wand. "We are in their game and therefore we have to play by their rules. You will learn how to use another kind of magic. It should be quite easy for

one with much experience."

He flicked the wand with a quick motion and suddenly there was an illuminating light in front of them.

"Whoa!" Will starred fascinated at the light at the end of the wand. "How did you do it?"

"It is perfectly simple. I do it by thinking of a spell but you will have to say the spell out loud. Like this, Nox!"

The light went out immediately. Merriman smirked self-satisfied and handed Will the wand.

He starred at it. "But… I don't know any spells."

"You will get plenty of time to practice."

Will sighed. He remembered he was told that being an Old One was a burden. Sometimes it would have been nice just to be an ordinary teenager. Was the battle between the Light and the Dark

even worth it? Of course it is, Will thought, surprised that he even would think anything like that.

"Will", Merriman said, "According to Dumbledore, Voldemort cannot walk into the school. He will possibly try to trick Harry so he can get him outside Hogwarts. Do not let this happen."

Will nodded. "I won't."

Then, he suddenly felt bad again. It was that name, it made him feel sick. Once again, he remembered the Dark Lord's terrifying eyes and shuddered.

"Will?" Merriman sensed it. "I'm sorry did I say the forbidden word?"

"You did." Will took a close look at the wand. He really hoped he wasn't going to use it.

"Seven days", the Rider repeated angrily. "I've only got seven days to plan this. It has to be magnificent."

Lucius sat down in his comfortably chair. "Then you should get started, don't you think?"

Mitothin simply ignored him and started walking restless around in the dark hall. He needed to get Harry out of that school but how?

"I know!"

"You know what?" Lucius said in an annoying casual tone.

"That friend of Harry", the Rider said. "I think he will be the perfect bait."

The Death Eater shook his head. He knew it was a stupid plan how were they going to kidnap Weasley anyway?

But he didn't object. Voldemort had explicitly told them that the Rider was to decide how they should do.

"It's their holiday now, right?" Mitothin gazed thoughtfully upon a candle in the windowsill.

"Yes."

"Good. I think I'll bring Harry a little present when we'll meet."

Somehow Lucius didn't like the plan before even knowing what it was about. But he knew this much: he had no choice but to follow it.

Anything for Lord Voldemort, he thought by himself.