Dumbledore had taken what Harry said about Ira very seriously. After he had sent all the Weasley's and Harry back to Grimauld Place, he went down to the hospital wing with Professors' McGonagal and Snape to check on Ira's situation. They came quietly into the large room. Ira was asleep on a cot on the far side of the room by one of the larger windows. The professors gathered around her bed and watched her sleep. She seemed peaceful and unbothered by anything, but then her face scrunched into a glare and she seemed to be slightly struggling with something or someone then went still again.
"Could just be a nightmare," Snape said.
"There is no way we can tell for sure right now," Dumbledore said," We are going to have to monitor her behavior to be completely sure."
"Albus look at this," Professor McGonagal said pointing at a spot on her forehead.
Snape and Dumbledore both leaned closer to look. There on the side of Ira's head was an extremely dull green spot which could only be seen under the light of the moon. Dumbledore took out his wand and muttered a curse. The green spot turned to a liquid and floated into the air. Dumbledore then conjured a tiny flask to contain the liquid. He then handed it to Snape.
"Take this and analyze it," he said," Tell me what you find immediately. I will go to Dolores in the morning and try to see if there isn't something she can do to help."
"Right away Headmaster," Snape said, and he swept out of the room.
"Albus she won't believe anything you have to say," McGonagal said," She won't help at all."
"It is very important that Lord Voldemort not get his hands on Ira," Dumbledore said," Hers is a case that the ministry has been keeping a very close and strict eye on for years. As a ministry official, Dolores is obligated to take action against any threat to Ira's safety. Right now, there is a threat to her safety, and something must be done before it is too late."
" Should we say anything to Draco Malfoy?" McGonagal asked.
"No," Dumbledore said,"We must keep this as quiet as possible. If Draco was to warn his father of this it could put Ira in more danger than she already may be in. It must be kept quiet. The students are all leaving for the holidays anyway. Ira is one of few who are staying here so watching her won't be a problem. Minerva tomorrow morning I want school security to make sure that no one comes in or out without your approval. If you see Lucius Malfoy or some other suspicious person you are to notify me immediately."
"Yes Headmaster," McGonogal said as they left the hospital wing," What about Ira? What will you do about her in the time being?"
"Madam Pomfrey has a store of a medicine we have been saving for emergencies such as this. We will give Ira some of it and see how it affects her. Hopefully it will rebuild some of her defenses-assuming that they have been broken by whatever Lucius might have done to her."
They left the conversation at that and went their separate ways to carry out plans and instructions. It was as Dumbledore had feared. Voldemort was after Ira, and by the looks of it, if they didn't act quickly, he was turning her to his side. If that happened, the wizarding world was doomed....
