As Dumbledore waited for everyone to show up he paced his office. But stopped as they began to arrive.
"Welcome everyone. I know you are all wondering why I have asked for all of you to be here. There are five students that have been attacked repeatedly over the past three weeks by one to three others."
"Who all are involved?" Asked Severus.
"I only know of the five that have been attacked and they are: Harry Potter, Hermione Granger, Fred, George and Ronald Weasley." Replied Dumbledore.
"Albus, are you sure that Mr. Potter and his friends are not trying to just get some attention?" Severus asked slightly annoyed.
"I am sure Severus."
"How are these five students being attacked?" Squeaked out Filius Flitwick.
"They have been jinxed, hexed, non-seriously cursed and have had several spells hit them, particularly stunning spells. I do not care who the students are that are being attacked like this. I want this to stop! I will not put up with this!" Dumbledore said angrily.
"Why didn't they come forward before now? And why aren't they giving a name or names? Do you think that maybe they are trying to deal with this on their own and retaliate against those that are attacking them?" Severus barked out.
"First of all they did not come forward. Mr. Potter and Mr. Ron Weasley had gone to see Poppy, as all three Weasleys and Ms. Granger have all been treated by Poppy on several occasions. Harry's arm had been broken due to a curse or spell missing him and hitting something else entirely. This is not the first time that Harry has had to be treated by Poppy. She had finally had enough of them coming in with all these different things that needed attending to. I asked Harry about it and he answered me quite honestly. He does suspect someone to be behind it but since he has no proof he chooses to not say anything. I think that they will continue to try and figure this out on their own but not to seek revenge Severus, but instead to try and protect themselves and possibly find out who is doing it as well as who is behind it. I do not feel that they will go after these individuals to get revenge on them. I ask that you all try to keep an extra eye out for the three Weasleys, Ms. Granger and Mr. Potter. I also want to keep an eye out for those that are attacking these five students. For should any of you discover something I want to be informed immediately. I will personally give the punishment out! You all may go. Good night." Dumbledore finished.
All but McGonagall left, "Albus, do you think this is connected?"
"Connected to what exactly, Minerva?"
"Well, the notes we received that lead to Mr. Malfoy, Mr. Crabbe and Mr. Goyle being caught out of bed after hours. The punishments that were given out to the three individuals happened just before Mr. Potter and his friends started to be attacked."
"Minerva, I do think that it just might be connected."
"I agree with Mr. Potter, there is no proof so don't say anything about who you think it may be. It is late Minerva. Good night."
"Good night Albus."
McGonagall left Dumbledore's office and went to her room to retire for the night. She had a difficult time trying to get some sleep; she could not stop thinking about her five students.
* * * * * * *
Before everyone was excused form the dining hall to their dormitories Harry, Hermione, Fred, George and Ron went straight to their common room after they finished their meal.
"Now what do we do?' Asked Ron
"What we've been doing. What we can. Sure, all four heads of house and teachers will be keeping an extra eye out for us. But they can't be everywhere all the time. Snape probably won't help us." Harry concluded before they went to their respective dormitories.
* * * * * * *
Since there really wasn't anything being said, to the students, Marcus decided to tell Draco right after dinner. Marcus managed to catch Draco in the common room alone and told him all about what had happened.
Draco sadistically laughed until he found that Harry went to Madam Pomfrey and had his arm fixed. He got pissed. He couldn't understand how Harry kept getting away unscathed.
* * * * * * *
Two weeks before Halloween the attacks started up again. Very few staff knew that it was happening again, but still no one was able to catch the culprits.
Four day's later Harry, Ron, Hermione, Fred and George were walking along a hall when out of nowhere red and green jets zoomed by them. The one time they weren't paying attention or on guard. Startled by this and the need to think of a safe place and to be safe they all ran for it. They were looking for a room with an unlocked door.
Fred and George found one of their secret passageways and ducked through it thinking the other three were right behind them. Harry, Hermione and Ron didn't notice that Fred and George were not with them.
Harry, Hermione and Ron were running out of room when they found one more door to check. It was locked! Ron was beginning to lose it thinking that they were done for. Hermione gently pushes Ron aside, pulls out her wand, points it at the lock and says 'Alohomora!' the door unlocks and they ran in and shut the door quickly behind them.
Harry had the feeling that he had been in this room before. The hair on the back of neck stood up on end. Before Harry had the chance to turn around he heard growling as though more than one animal was growling at exactly the same time. He knew that they had indeed found Fluffy, the three-headed dog.
Harry couldn't resist asking Hermione a question; he really wanted to know her reaction.
"Hermione, do you think it is safe and clear to leave?"
"Who gives a crap if it's not! Let's get out of here." Hermione yelled.
They threw open the door, quickly got out and shut the door. They ran and didn't stop until they reached the portrait hole with the fat lady on it.
"Pig snout." Harry said breathlessly.
The portrait swung open and the three of them stumbled and tripped on their way in.
"There you three are." Fred said relieved.
"Thought you were right behind us." George said.
"We thought you guys were goner's." The twins said together.
"It's okay guys, were alright. We escaped!" Harry reassured the twins, he did not want them to feel bad.
"What happened?" Fred asked
"Where did you three ended up?" George asked.
"Oh we found a room to hide in." Harry vaguely explained.
"Not just any room. There was a three headed dog in there! What are they thinking having something like that?" Ron filled in the blanks that Harry had left.
"Wicked!" Said the twins.
"Did either of you see what it was standing on?"
"No, Hermione! I was a little bit busy watching a dog with three heads." Ron replied.
"Yeah. A trap door." Harry said.
"Wait. How? You spent most of the time looking at the door if not the whole time."
"Hermione does it really matter how I saw it? Doesn't it count that I did see the trap door?" Harry replied.
"I guess it doesn't matter how." Hermione said.
"Okay why would they have three headed dog? Could it possibly be guarding something?" Asked the twins
"I don't care. I am never going back to that room again!" Exclaimed Ron.
"Don't know, but I guess it could be guarding something." Hermione and Harry said.
"If it's guarding something, what could that be?"
"I don't care." Ron said.
No one else had anything to say to Hermione's question, but had them wondering about it. They all went up the stairs and to their dormitories and went to bed. Ron was the only one who was able to get some sleep despite the fact he had a nightmare about the three-headed dog. Fred, George and Hermione were trying to think of what could possibly be under the trap door.
The week before Halloween:
With schoolwork, being attacked and working out the Sorcerer's Stone had Harry so stressed out that he wasn't sleeping well. He had been having nightmares. After dinner Harry went straight to bed. Once again he was having a fitful night, a nightmare. He woke up sitting straight up in bed, eyes wide, hear pounding and sweat dripping off his face. All he could remember was that Cedric, Fred, Dumbledore and many other's had died or had been injured. Harry felt around for his glasses, once he found them he put them on. He looked around at his surroundings; it was still a little dark in the room. 'What the bloody hell?' He thought to himself. The more he looked around and his eyes adjusted to the dark he realized where he was. Then it hit him, 'I've been stupid! No, too stressed out. As soon as possible I need to go to the library and see what I can find if anything on how to protect us. If only I had paid more attention the first time!' Harry thought.
Harry got up out of bed, went over to a window and opened it. As he was enjoying the refreshing cool air on his face he felt something nudge his had. His eyes opened quickly and to his relief he saw Hedwig. Harry reached out a hand and gave her some pets. Something occurred to Harry, he left the window got a small piece of parchment, a quill and some ink. He quickly scribbled out a note and attached it to Hedwig, "Deliver this to the shop manager at Flourish and Blotts." Once Hedwig flew off Harry closed the window.
That day at lunch owls were soaring in delivering mail. Harry saw Hedwig just before she landed in front of him. He quickly took the parchment and read it. Harry gave Hedwig a pet and then she flew off.
"Harry, what did you get?" Asked Hermione
"It's just note letting me know that a book I ordered will be delivered around Halloween. It's a little depressing, I was hoping to have the book right away." Harry replied.
"What book did you order?" Hermione asked.
"I'll tell you later Hermione."
"Okay. Harry you okay?"
"Just a little tired and stressed. No big deal Hermione."
Hermione did not know what to say to that. She knew that between schoolwork, trying to figure out what the three-headed dog was guarding and with being attacked it was no wonder that Harry was so stressed. Although, she did wonder why no one else was as stressed out as Harry.
* * * * * * *
In the Slytherin common room Draco was talking with Marcus.
"Draco, you know I can't stand Potter! But you have to admit that you were out of bed after hours and you shouldn't have been out of bed or even there."
"Marcus I never intended to go. My plan was to get Potter there and tell Filtch so that him and Weasley would get caught and into trouble. And he pulled what he did and he acts like he's better than me, that he knows more than I do. It pisses me off. He has to be stopped so that those that are pure can have their moment"
"Draco, you really shouldn't let him get to you. I want to get Potter too, but I am not sure if I am still going to help you with what you just said. I have no problem doing what I can so that Potter is no longer going to the school but if you are asking for his death that is just something I cannot do."
"Potter dead would be nice. But I am not asking for that. Potter not being able to come to school would work for me just fine."
Marcus left the common room to find his friend. They had things to figure out as well as plan.
* * * * * * *
The next day Harry got up early and went to the library to see what he could find. He just knew he would know it when he saw it. The librarian, Irma Pince, had been following Harry around the library for a while. "May I help you find something?'
"No. I'm fine. Thank You."
Harry had come across a few books that seemed to be promising; he had pulled them off their shelves and read them over. He was not frustrated about not finding what he was looking for but did find something to aid things along with the Sorcerer's Stone. Harry noticed the time and put everything back and headed out of the library. It was still early, not yet time for class but he figured he should go get something to eat.
"Harry, where were you this morning? You were gone before everyone woke up." Ron asked.
"Library." Was all Harry had said.
"What were you doing in the library so early?" Hermione asked, pleased that Harry was actually in the library with out being prompted.
"Looking for something but didn't find it." Harry wasn't going to say anything about finding something to aid with the Sorcerer's Stone, the rest of them hadn't figured out that is what the three-headed dog was guarding.
"Uh Harry, you don't look so good. Maybe you should take the day off." Ron said
"I agree with Ron to an extent. I agree that you don't look so good Harry. You should go see Madam Pomfrey."
"Hermione I think I will go see Madam Pomfrey. I really could use a break, one day without class should do the trick." Harry said to ease Hermione; He was going to see Madam Pomfrey. That would clear him for the day and no one asking questions about why he missed a whole day of classes.
After breakfast as everyone headed off to class, Harry went to see Madam Pomfrey.
"Potter, you look terrible. Are you okay?"
"No I'm not okay, well I don't feel all that good that is. No curse, spell, charm, hex or jinx this time. I think I might be a little stressed."
"I am sure you are stressed. Here have some chocolate it might help. You stay here for a while and rest. I will take care of your classes today."
"Thank you, Madam Pomfrey."
After a few hours Madam Pomfrey sent Harry to his dormitory, and ordered him to rest and not leave the common room for anything. She would have all his meals brought to him that day.
* * * * * * *
The following morning Harry received a note form Dumbledore wanting to have a word with him. Harry went straight to see Dumbledore. He was curious as to why Dumbledore wanted to see him right away.
"Madam Pomfrey tells me that you have been stressed out. I wanted to see how you are. Are you feeling better?'
"Not really. It's just so frustrating not knowing who has been attacking my friends and me. I have searched the library but can't find anything that could help defend and protect all of us." Harry explained, and then a thought came to him, "Professor, I was wondering if there was any way I could go to Diagon Alley and see if there is anything at Flourish and Blotts that could help?"
"You know under the circumstances I don't see that being a problem. I'll just need to get things arranged. Special permission and one time floo network set up. I will be in touch when it's all set up."
"Thank you Professor."
* * * * * * *
Two day's before Halloween Harry received a letter from Dumbledore during breakfast.
Harry,
I have been able to arrange for you to go to Diagon Alley. Come to my office today before noon.
Yours sincerely
Albus Dumbledore.
Harry could hardly wait until then. He was anxious about finding something that could help.
Just after Harry's last class before lunch he quickly navigated through the castle to Dumbledore's office. He found Dumbledore waiting outside for him. They went inside, Dumbledore closed the door and explained to Harry that the arrangements made were for him to use the floo network to get there and back. Dumbledore explained to Harry how the floo network worked. Harry smiled.
Dumbledore gave Harry a small pouch containing floo powder so that he could return. Harry was told that on the way back to say 'Gryffindor common room.' Harry stepped inside the fireplace, took a handful of floo powder and very clearly said "Flourish and Blotts."
* * * * * * *
Harry was looking through the books when the store manager approached him,
"Ah, Mr. Potter. Can I be of service?"
"Sure. The thing is that other students at school have targeted my friends and me. We don't know who it is; we don't even know what hexes, jinxes, spells mostly stunning and non-serious curses. Evidently they are doing it non-verbally. Who ever it is or they are, well no one ever sees them. I can't find anything in the school library. So I asked for this arrangement so that I could possibly find something that could help."
"I think that I just might have something."
The store manager walked over a few isles, pulled a book from the shelf and handed it to Harry.
"Oh, Mr. Potter, the book that you ordered is in. I was going to send it to you but since you are here I am sure that you will want to take it now."
"Sure. Thank you."
Harry left after getting both books and returned to school.
