Reparo
Rated: PG13 (Angst, maybe a swear word or two)
Spoilers: Some events from OOTP and before. Nothing beyond that as it's completely AU.
Disclaimer: I do not own or claim to own anything remotely associated with the Harry Potter Universe. I'm just playing around with a few characters. Please don't sue me!
Authors Note: Surprised? I know I am! It seems I have found my muse again so hopefully the chapters will continue to write themselves. Many thanks to my faithful readers and reviewers! You really are what keep me going. I've been lax in my review responses I'm afraid, caught up as I've been in writing the fic but I promise I'll make the time. Your reviews, as always, are considered most kind. Seriously, I'm an extremely paranoid writer, if I don't get much feedback I automatically assume that everyone thinks its rubbish and completely lose the will to write. x
Previously
Whatever his professor had been about to say was cut off by the simultaneous roaring of the fireplace and appearance of two people in the centre of the office. Harry had backed away from the commotion on instinct and had ended up with his back pressed against the length of his headmaster, whose hands had descended on his shoulders to reassure and steady him.
And that was how Ron, who had eventually tumbled through the floo, and Hermione, who had steadied her jelly legs from her portkey journey found him. All three teenagers grinned and rushed forward, meeting just below the dais in three-way hug that completely eradicated any remaining angst Harry may have had.
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Harry looked from one face to the other, not entirely surprised by what he saw but still pensive of the inevitable reactions. He didn't have to wait long. Hermione, who had been quiet during his recollection except to scold Ron for interrupting with colourful language, stared back at him with glassy eyes and a suspiciously wobbly chin. Ron on the other hand appeared to be turning an alarming shade of red, almost as though he had swallowed one of his brothers joke sweets.
"That lousy bastard!!"
As Harry recovered from the shock of the loud outburst he could see that Ron was now standing, his clenched fists shaking at his sides. He could honestly say he had never seen him so furious before. When Hermione stood too, her cheeks glinted in the light from the fire and Harry knew that the wetness had nothing to do with Ron's current mood.
"Calm down Ron." Despite the signs of distress, Hermione's voice was loud and clear.
Feeling odd sitting down while his two emotional friends towered over him, Harry stood too. Hermione had placed herself in front of Ron and had two hands raised in front of her as though to stave off the teenagers anger, or more realistically, to stop him from doing something stupid.
"Calm down? Calm down? Did you hear what that bastard did to Harry? What he's been doing? I ought to…."
"There are older and more experienced wizards than you who will deal with this Ronald…."
"Oh yeah? Where? This isn't something new Hermione, its been going on for years and no-one has done a bloody thing to stop it! Well if they won't then I'll round up…"
"Who Ronald? Your brothers? The DA?! And what will you do when you get there hmmm? If you raise your wand to a muggle they'll snap in clean in half and you and your merry band of avengers will find yourselves in Azkaban before you can say 'Sorry'."
"It'd be worth it to show that sodding basta…"
Harry looked from one to the other, following the heated argument as though he were watching a muggle tennis match.
"Fine! Go then! If the ministry isn't enough to discourage you then I'm sure Professor Dumbledore wont pose a problem either when he stops you at the door!"
"Yeah? Well at least I'll be doing a damn sight more than he has!"
Harry felt a jolt at that accusation and stepped forward into the fray.
"He did. I mean, he has. He went to see the Dursley's after I showed up."
Hermione spun to face him, her face almost as red as Ron's while Ron, breathing hard and visibly trembling looked at him as though only just remembering he was there. Not surprisingly, it was Hermione who articulated her thoughts first.
"He did? What happened?"
Harry sighed heavily and collapsed back into the armchair behind him hoping to encourage his friends to do likewise. It worked. Ron threw himself onto the couch with a frustrated huff whilst Hermione sunk down to perch at the end of her own chair. Both looked at him expectantly. Harry ran a hand through his hair while he tried to organise his thoughts.
"I'm not really sure to be honest. He said he had words but…."
Ron sat forward with a jolt, his eyes gleaming.
"I bloody well hope he did more than that! He should have kicked Vernon Dursley's arse from Surrey to Scotland and back!"
Hermione turned back to face her angry friend, a frown marring her features.
"Exactly as he would have done to you had you tried to leave the castle Ron. Now stop interrupting!"
Ron paled slightly and Harry could only surmise that he was considering Hermione's words.
"But what Harry?"
Looking away from her sad features, Harry instead focussed on the material of his cuff.
"He was pretty angry when he found out, Dumbledore I mean. He didn't shout or anything but I could tell he was furious. I didn't even know he planned to go to Privet Drive, he didn't say anything and I didn't find out until he came back. He didn't go into specifics and I didn't ask for details and we haven't really spoken about it since."
When Harry finished speaking the common room fell quiet, with only the crackle of the fire and the light snores of a portrait at the other side of the room to keep it from total silence. Glancing towards the windows, the blackness outside surprised him. Had he been talking for that long? He shouldn't have been shocked really; the whole day had passed really quickly. After the reunion in the office, Shacklebolt, who had accompanied Hermione on her journey, had asked to speak to the headmaster in private and the three teenagers had sat in a buzz of excitement around the fireplace until Dumbledore returned alone. Hermione and Ron had both stood when they spotted him and Harry remembered slowly following their example, only then realising how accustomed he had become to the wizards presence. And too wondering when he had stopped thinking of the man as only the headmaster of his school. Dumbledore had shooed them back into their seats before taking one himself and after arranging some tea and biscuits had calmly but very clearly informed them of the do's and don'ts of their stay. He had extracted promises from all three of them that they would follow his instructions as best they could, and Harry had been taken aback by the solemnity of his friend's responses. Moody had joined them briefly, again with the purpose of speaking to Dumbledore in private, but had spent a few moments with the three of them, his eye spinning as wildly as his warnings. Ron had seemed extremely troubled after they had left the grand office and were slowly making their way to the tower, new password in mind. After some needling Harry had finally discovered that his best friend was terrified of the cranky wizard and both he and Hermione had ribbed him about it until they had reached the fat lady.
Harry had managed to avoid the subject of the Dursley's until after dinner by firing question after question at his visitors. It had worked pretty well until Hermione decided that he had avoided the subject long enough. Not for the first time, Harry realised just how persuasive and perceptive his intelligent friend really was.
"Are you ok Harry?"
Harry jumped slightly when the quiet was broken by Hermione's voice, his focus snapping back to the present. Hermione was still perched at the edge of her chair, her expression concerned. When he glanced over at Ron he could see that his friend had lost the vivid red that had dominated his features moments ago and was slouched against the sofa cushions, resigned it seemed to his helplessness. He thought carefully before responding.
" I will be. I was pretty messed up last week, when I arrived. I don't know what I would have done if Dumbledore hadn't been here when I showed up. But he was and he's been…. well, different I suppose. Not bad different or Moody different just…. its kinda hard to explain."
He felt about as articulate as a quill. But Hermione was nodding her head in encouragement and possibly understanding so he supposed he must have been making some sense. That was confirmed when his bushy haired friend spoke.
"Well of course its different Harry! Professor Dumbledore has always been there for you as your headmaster and to some degree your friend and protector. But there has been a formality there that the headmaster couldn't break for many reasons, as you know. With you living here now and Dumbledore taking responsibility for you your relationship was bound to change. Don't you see? He's made himself your guardian Harry…. he's only now getting the chance to act like one."
Harry squirmed slightly in his seat, a flush of colour painting his cheeks. Ron, perhaps to redeem himself in Hermione's eyes, put in his two sickles.
"It's nothing to be embarrassed about mate. I still need my mum and dad and I'm sure if you asked Bill or Ginny or the twins they would say the same. Sure they can be a right pain in the backside sometimes, not letting me do this or that then nagging me to do other things and my mum is no picnic when I manage to get on her bad side. Still, I don't know where I'd be without them…."
"I don't know where you'd be without me half the time Ronald! Honestly…"
Harry snorted in laughter at the look of indignation Ron sported. Hermione, turning her back on Ron, flicked some hair from her eyes before speaking.
"As much as it pains me to admit it Harry, Ron's right" she stated matter of factly.
Ron's frown instantly melted into a smile.
A sudden burst of gold and orange above their heads had all three of them ducking for cover and calling out various yelps of fright. Fawkes materialised from the flames and swooped elegantly to perch on the low table before the fire, immediately singing a melodious note that served to calm the two young wizards and witch.
"Bloody hell, does he always do that?"
"Language Ronald!"
"Give over Hermione"
Harry, ignoring the question and traded barbs, walked over to Fawkes and sat on the table beside him. Fawkes trilled in a personnel greeting and accepted Harry's petting for a moment, before hopping to the side and launching again into the air. All three heads tilted upwards as the magnificent bird lapped the room several times before gliding towards the staircase and disappearing up the stairs.
"Where's he going?" Ron wondered aloud.
"Isn't it obvious Ron? We've to go to bed." Hermione answered, in such a way as to insinuate someone would have to be dim witted indeed not to have interpreted the sign. Harry was just glad he hadn't wondered aloud.
Glancing towards the clock atop the mantle, Harry saw it was actually after midnight, and as though his body had only just realised the hour, he felt a wave of fatigue roll over him producing a yawn he didn't try to suppress. He was actually surprised he hadn't felt the pull of sleep before now, considering his rest was disturbed last night.
"Well I for one don't plan to disobey Professor Dumbledore on my first night here so I'm going to bed. I'll meet you boys here in the morning for breakfast. Good night!"
Harry watched as Hermione picked up her discarded cardigan and headed for the staircase leading to the girl's dormitory.
"Umm, Hermione, will you be ok up there by yourself?"
Ron sounded a mix between nervous and concerned. Hermione paused at the foot of the stone staircase and Harry wasn't sure whether or not she would take offence to the question. With girls it was hard to tell. Either way, he agreed with Ron asking and would probably have done so himself had exhaustion not been making him sway slightly.
He needn't have worried though. Hermione's face softened into a gentle smile as she looked at them.
"I'll be perfectly fine boy's. I'll have a very handsome male watching over me all night."
And before either could comment she spun and ascended the steps. Ron's reaction was predictable.
"What does she mean 'a very handsome male'? Who's she talking about?"
Harry smirked as he made his way to the stairs, a red faced Ron trailing behind him. Had he not been so tired, he could really have wound his friend up. As it was he was finding it difficult negotiating the steps.
"I'll give you a clue Ron. He's about two foot tall, has redder hair than you and can carry a tune."
"Fawkes. Right. I knew that. Well that's ok then."
As Harry changed into his pyjamas and collapsed into his old bed, he couldn't help but wonder when Ron would finally realise his feelings.
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The next morning dawned bright and clear for the first time in days and as Harry and his friends made their way to the great hall for breakfast he was sure that the castle itself was feeling cheered by the change in weather if its playfulness was anything to go by. It was just as well they had set off from the common room a little earlier (Hermione's suggestion) as the staircases had swung energetically in all directions as they attempted to get from floor to floor. When they eventually stepped off in the entrance hall a suit of armour had blocked their path and demanded a dance with Hermione. Hermione had reluctantly complied, despite Ron's grumblings and they had managed to reach the great hall on time with all their limbs.
The hall itself was bathed in early morning sunlight as they entered and Harry could see the blue skies overhead courtesy of the enchanted ceiling.
"Good morning children! Come have a seat."
Dumbledore sat at his usual position at the head of the table and looked particularly resplendent in silver and meadow green robes. The light from above set the silver edging sparkling and made the whiteness of his beard and hair seem ethereal. Moody, on the other hand, was a direct contrast in drab grey and muted blue, his dark, grey streaked hair sitting lank and dull against his misshapen head. Whilst Dumbledore seemed to personify the very light the wizard fought for, Moody seemed happy to encourage the impression his name hinted at. Harry took the seat to Dumbledore's right and immediately felt the wash of the powerful wizards aura as it brushed and settled against his own, almost as though it had given him a magical once-over. It was a comforting feeling and one, though he would never admit, he had missed both last night and especially this morning. Ron and Hermione settled to Harry's right and before anyone had a chance to exchange words, a spread of delicious smelling food appeared before them. Ron's exclamation of excitement was slightly dampened, sitting as he was across from Mad-eye but his red headed friend still managed to rub his hands together in anticipation.
"Well what you waiting for? Tuck in!"
Ron set to the task of filling his plate first and Harry couldn't tell if it was hunger that drove his friend or the fact that Moody had barked the instruction. Either way he had done so with military efficiency.
"What plans do you three have today?"
Harry was distracted from answering the headmaster when the bowl of scrambled eggs he had just served himself from and was about to place back on the table, tipped once more of its own accord and distributed a fair amount of the fluffy eggs onto the small pile he already had. Harry looked from his plate to Dumbledore, suspecting his involvement, but his professor's attention had shifted to Hermione, who had begun to speak.
"Well, Harry and Ron are planning a chess tournament here in the hall so I thought I'd take the chance to do some light reading in the library sir. Then we plan to meet for lunch and spend the afternoon exploring the castle…"
"Explore the castle? I would have thought that you three of all people would know every nook and cranny of this place by heart, the amount of sneaking about and adventures, not to mention trouble you've found yourself in…"
"I don't know about that Alastor. I've been here for many a year by anyone's standards and continue to be surprised by the castle, especially during the summer months when it does not have the distraction of the children. As I'm sure our young Griffindors here will discover…"
When Harry glanced up from his plate, Dumbledore's eyes were twinkling brightly as though he were harbouring a secret known only to him.
"So that's what that was all about this morning…." Ron mumbled thoughtfully, and around half a chewed sausage. His slip in manners was punished by Hermione's sharp elbow.
"Ow! Mione, lay off!"
Mad-eye chuckled gruffly, his magical eye for once focussed solely on a worried looking Ron.
"Better get used to it lad, in a few years time when your shacked up with a pretty little witch this is all you'll get! At least this one looks set to keep you alive that long!"
When Harry glanced at his friends he couldn't say who was the deeper red. Fortunately Dumbledore stepped in to steer the conversation back to safer ground, as he was wont to do.
"I am quite sure you will have fun exploring, but in case I am wrong, as has been known to happen…"
Harry looked from Dumbledore to his nearly empty plate, swallowing hard to suppress the spike of mixed emotion.
"…then I am equally sure the room of requirement will prove itself an entertaining distraction."
Harry hadn't even considered the room of requirement but now that he did, he wondered on its capabilities. Just how far would the enchanted room go? The thought of finding out had him gulping down the remainder of his pumpkin juice, eager, as he was to discuss the opportunities away from the eyes and ears of the adults in the room.
"You appear to be finished Harry. Care to accompany me to the hallway for a moment? Your friends should be finished by the time you return."
Dumbledore had stood and Harry let his eyes drift upwards warily. Had he done something wrong already? They had gone to bed a little late last night, was that it? When emerald green met azure blue in question, Harry felt a little nudge against his magic and an accompanying wink. Well, he guessed it couldn't be anything too drastic. Swinging his legs over the bench and standing, Harry glanced briefly at his friends, both of whom looked fairly nonchalant, before following the headmaster's long strides.
Once in the hall and with the doors to the great hall closed behind him, Harry stood awkwardly, not quite sure what to do with his hands. He finally settled for driving them into the pockets of his jeans. Dumbledore turned to face him and dipped his head to look at him over the tops of his glasses.
"You've done nothing wrong dear boy, please stop worrying."
Harry felt himself blush and lowered his head to stare at his feet. Was he so transparent? So fragile?
"I only wanted a moment or two alone to enquire as to how it went last night? I assume you told your friends what happened?"
Dumbledore had started to walk slowly away from the doors and towards the staircase closest to them. Harry automatically fell into step.
"Umm, yeah, I did. It kinda went as expected I think. I mean, Hermione got pretty upset and Ron, well, there was a moment or two when I actually thought he was going to jump on his broom and make for Surrey. That's how pis…umm, angry he was. Sir."
Harry cringed at his near slip. Having reached the stairs, he watched as his professor gathered his robe in one hand and used the other to ease himself down to sit on a stone step. He hadn't seemed to notice his last minute correction.
"Ah, well, that is one notion I would have disabused him of in short order Harry. Understandable yes but not in anyway acceptable. I hope he does not still harbour ambitions to set the Dursley's to rights?"
Harry could have kicked himself. What was he playing at? He could get Ron expelled if he didn't watch what he was saying. Thoroughly disgusted with his conversation skills, not to mention his loyalty, he spun and lowered himself to sit beside the old wizard.
"No sir, I don't think he meant to really go to surrey or anything, he was just angry and upset and…"
"I understand Harry. Only too well. It is not however a path one wants to start down. Revenge, as justified as it may seem, is never the answer."
Harry played distractedly with a shoelace as he considered those words. Then the question was tumbling out of his mouth.
"Ron's not in trouble is he? I wouldn't, I mean, he doesn't…" Harry trailed off, not entirely sure what he was trying to say but worried sick he had landed his friend in it.
Dumbledore turned then to face him, his eyebrows rising. He seemed to consider something for a moment before he began to speak.
"This is a personal conversation m'boy, not a conference between student and teacher. I want you to feel comfortable telling me things or asking me questions without fear of what your headmaster may think of it."
Harry squinted his eyes behind his glasses. He said the first thing that popped into his mind.
"But…. you are my headmaster."
Dumbledore chuckled then, his shoulders shaking slightly with mirth.
"Indeed I am Harry. Indeed I am."
This was turning out to be one of the most bizarre conversations Harry could remember having. And having conversed with Tom Riddle on more than one occasion, that was really saying something.
"I don't understand sir."
Dumbledore sighed then, a deep, weary sigh and Harry wondered if his thick headedness was the cause.
"How can you? You have had but one too brief flare of what I am speaking of. How can I expect you to understand that which you have never experienced?"
An uneasy feeling settled low in Harry's belly. Dumbledore seemed to be ruminating rather than asking a direct question so Harry didn't bother commenting. To be honest, he wasn't sure what to say anyway. He wasn't even sure of what they were talking about anymore.
"A conversation for another time Harry, when we are not in danger of running foul of Peeves. I had not planned to speak about this at all in fact. My main reason for asking you out here was to enquire as to how you were. We seem to had wandered off the topic slightly."
Completely bemused by the twists and turns of the conversation and having more questions than ever, Harry simply shrugged in answer.
"I'm afraid body language has its limits Harry. Perhaps you could try something else?"
Harry was sure he had heard Mrs Weasley use that exact line with Ron. His uneasiness morphed into something warm.
"I'm ok. It's great having Ron and Hermione here obviously and last night could have been worse than it was. I was actually dreading it to be honest but now I'm not sure why. It isn't like they don't know what kind of people the Dursley's are…."
Harry paused, staring at some point down the hall, his brow creased with thought.
"Harry?"
He snapped back to Dumbledore, who's own brow was crinkled. The eye contact only lasted a few heartbeats before Harry again sought out his errant shoelace.
"I was just thinking that the Dursley's seem pretty insignificant compared with everything else." he said quietly.
Harry felt the headmaster shift beside him, obviously uncomfortable sitting on the cold stone. Or perhaps with the conversation. Harry realised at the same time he had uttered the words that he was potentially opening a can of worms he wasn't ready to deal with. But the words were out there and he couldn't take them back. Dumbledore seemed to be considering his next words very carefully if the pause was anything to go by.
"I do not believe the Dursley's abuse to be insignificant. But I can imagine that 'everything else' must seem overwhelming."
Harry flinched at the word abuse. It wasn't a word he felt comfortable using or hearing. And as for everything else…
"I don't think I want to talk about this anymore" he said quietly.
Dumbledore shifted again, his knee bumping against Harry's. Neither said anything for several long seconds. When his professor did speak again it was in a tone just as quiet as Harry's had been.
"Then we will not."
The muscles across Harry's back relaxed marginally and he felt himself slump. So relaxed was he that he very nearly lost his balance when Dumbledore rocked to the side to bump his shoulder against him.
"I think perhaps we should rescue your friends from whatever embarrassing conversation Alastor no doubt has them engaged in."
Harry looked towards the doors then up at Dumbledore, a smirk forming on his lips.
"No need to rush sir"
He was sure his own eyes were twinkling just as brightly as his headmasters. Dumbledore chuckled again, standing with help of a hand on Harry's shoulder. He held out his own hand to pull Harry to his feet and both took the opportunity to stretch and brush off the dust from their clothes.
"Indeed? Well I'm afraid I would be remiss in my duties if I did not shield the children in my care from Alastor's sometimes-colourful tongue. Not to mention what Molly Weasley would do to me…"
Harry chuckled then too as he watched his professor pull a face as though in fright. He fell into step again as Dumbledore started towards the great hall. An earlier question popped into his mind.
"Did you charm that bowl at breakfast to fill my plate?"
Dumbledore paused at the threshold of the doorway, the open door held in his hand.
"Bowl? I'm afraid I don't know what your talking about Harry."
Harry reckoned then and there that his headmaster may have been the greatest wizard of their time, but he was a terrible liar. Like him, the eyes gave it away.
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It was perhaps just as well that Ron and Hermione would be in separate parts of the castle for what was left of the morning, for neither was speaking to the other by the time Harry and Dumbledore had re-entered the hall. As Harry sat now, contemplating his next move on the chessboard, he tried again to speak to Ron.
"You'd be better just saying sorry now."
Ron looked up from the board, his eyes bulging slightly.
"Why the bloody hell should I apologise? It wasn't me who started it!"
Silence descended again as both boys studied the bored looking chess pieces. Harry moved his knight two over and one to the left, to put him in position to take Ron's rook. Both pieces gestured rudely at each other.
"I'm just saying, you know what girls are like. It'd be better in the long run if you just apologised now and saved yourself the grief."
Ron moved his queen to intercept Harry's knight, and Harry watched as the vicious little woman speared his armour-clad piece until it was dust. So much for that. Ron perked up a little though.
"I suppose your right. It was all Moody's fault anyway. Hermione thinks I was agreeing with him just because I said I agreed with him. It's not like I was going to not agree. Girls…honestly, they're completely clueless sometimes."
Harry wasn't quite sure on what Ron had agreed to but he felt it better not to ask and set his volatile friend off again. He decided a change of subject was in order.
"I've been thinking about what Dumbledore said about the room of requirement. We've only ever used it for the DA but I'm pretty sure it could be used for other things. You just really need it for a purpose right?"
Ron rubbed his chin thoughtfully, sitting back from the board.
"Well yeah, I mean I think that's how it works. Why, what were you thinking?"
Harry moved a pawn to block Ron's sadistic little queen from taking his bishop. He smirked when she put her hands on her hips.
"Well, it's only been a week but I'm starting to feel a little claustrophobic…."
"I can understand that mate. I was grounded for the first week of the holidays and had cabin fever by the second day. Do you think the room could, I dunno, maybe simulate the outdoors?"
Harry was curious as to what Ron had done to have managed to get grounded on his first week back but didn't want to interrupt the conversation to ask. Maybe later.
"That's what I've been wondering. I figure it's worth a shot."
"We should speak to Hermione about it…"
"Speak to me about what Ronald?"
Both boys snapped their heads to the side at the distinctly cold tone of their female friend. Like Ron's queen, Hermione stood at the head of the table with her hands on her hips, her eyes drawing daggers at Ron. Harry kicked his friend's shin under the table and when he turned to glare at him, gave him what he hoped was a significant look. Ron's cheeks began to heat up as he rubbed the back of his neck.
"Umm, I wanted to say sorry for earlier mione, I wasn't really agreeing with mad-eye you know."
Hermione continued to glare at him for a few seconds and just when Harry was about to jump in and play peacemaker, Hermione huffed out her breath and nodded her head in a swift jerk. When she smiled slyly, Harry knew all was forgiven.
"I know Ron, but it was the principal of the matter. Anyway, lets forget about it. What did you want to talk about?"
Ron, obviously relieved to have been forgiven so quickly, jumped into the recap as though scared she would change her mind. Both looked at her when he had finished. Hermione looked thoughtful for a moment.
"Well, I suppose it's worth a try. I haven't read anything about it before but that could be because no one has tried it. Although…."
Harry's smile faltered a little.
"…If its real fresh air you want Harry, why not go to the astronomy tower? It's still within the castle after all."
Harry blinked back at her for a moment. Well, duh…
"Or we could do that…." He heard Ron mutter.
"If you are both finished with your barbaric game, we could go now before lunch. That gives us all afternoon to explore and experiment with the Room of requirement."
Harry made the decision by knocking his king over, much to its outrage, and standing up from the bench.
"I was losing this game anyway." He shrugged, more to pacify the vindictive looking queen than Ron.
The three made their way at an easy pace towards the tower and Harry mostly listened to his best friends converse, distracted as he was by the thought of actually being outside. He had resigned himself to the fact he probably wasn't going to see sunlight in the immediate future, but now that the opportunity was here he could hardly wait. The castle seemed smaller than ever. Harry climbed the narrow staircase last and paused only briefly when a cool fresh breeze whistled down the shaft from the opened door above. Man, that felt good.
Hurrying up the last steps, he stepped out onto the ancient stone and into the sunlight, closing his eyes as a strong breeze ruffled his hair and clothes almost in greeting. He had never considered himself an outdoorsy type before but now, opening his eyes and staring out at the beautiful Scottish scenery, he wasn't so sure. Walking over to the edge he leaned against the low wall and breathed deeply, the scent of nature filling his lungs. He could live with this for a while, he thought. Having somewhere to satisfy his need for fresh air and sunshine all within the safety of the school.
And then he heard it.
Amidst his friends gentle bickering, the wind and the calls of distant birds, there was a sound that didn't fit. It was disturbingly familiar and caused Goosebumps to rise along his arms and neck, producing a shiver that had nothing to do with the weather.
"What is that?"
Ron and Hermione had both quietened down and were standing at his sides, looking too for the source or the warped screech. Harry knew he had heard it before but it sounded somehow off, like a mournful version of a happy memory. At the same time realisation dawned, a sudden blur of something huge and feathery swooped by them, smattering them with water and causing all three to duck against the wall in front of them. Harry stood first, his heartbeat hammering wildly in his ears.
"Buckbeak!!" Sirius….
He felt his friends stand too, but Hermione grabbing his shoulder and spinning him around distracted him from following the hippogriffs direction.
"What!" he near yelled, his emotions spinning wildly.
Harry noted too late that Hermione appeared pale and shaky, and then his eyes found what hers had. Blood. It was splattered against the wall in front of them, across Hermione's hair and blouse and when he looked down, horrified, he saw his hands, as though they had been painted in crimson. It wasn't water….
"Oh Merlin…"he thought he heard Ron say.
Harry felt his stomach roll as it attempted to rid itself of this mornings breakfast but he paid it no heed. Looking out at the grounds he instantly spotted the dark mass amid the grass, just short of the forbidden forest. His stomach heaved again, causing his eyes to water. The smell of grass and wood had been replaced with the coppery scent of blood and he could feel the slickness of it between and beneath his fingers when he grasped the wall to steady himself.
"We need to get help…"
Harry could only just hear Hermione's thick voice over the buzzing in his ears.
Without pausing for thought and running on instinct, Harry spun from the wall and sprinted down the stairs, the shouts from his friends echoing around him.
Buckbeak…..Sirius….
Harry ran as fast as his legs would take him, the sounds of footfalls behind him ignored.
"Harry, no!"
Won't die…!As he jumped the last steps into the entrance hall his foot caught on the stone and he experienced the horrible feeling of falling through the air. His knee connected sharply with the floor and he groaned in pain, but before his friends could catch up he was running again, gritting his teeth against the throbbing in his leg.
The Great doors opened without incident and Harry took off across the courtyard, his feet meeting grass within a couple of seconds. He skidded to a halt, disorientated and gasping for breath, and trying desperately to locate the dying animal who was somewhere on the grounds. Won't die!!
"Harry! Wait!"
Harry didn't wait. He took off again, his knee protesting over the sudden motion, and headed in the direction he thought he had last seen the bird. As he crested a small hill he saw what he had been looking for, a writhing mass of black and steel grey just yards ahead, still distinguishable despite being in the shadow of the forest beyond.
"Buckbeak!" his voice sounded wobbly and hoarse even to him.
He half ran half slipped down the embankment and covered the small distance to stand a few metres away from the distressed bird. It was obvious the injured hippogriff had crash-landed, as there was a disturbing trail of darkened grass directly behind him. As Harry gazed through wide glassy eyes, he could see a pool of dark, almost black liquid around the quieting creature. And then he felt a strong hand wrap around his bicep and spin him around.
"What are you doing Harry? You're not supposed to be out here!" Ron was red faced and sweaty from his unplanned exercise but his eyes were blazing. Harry yanked his arm away from the firm grip and felt his own anger flare.
"Buckbeak is dying Ron in case you didn't notice! What was I supposed to do! Leave him to get on with it?!"
Harry could see Hermione bow low from the corner of his eye and turned to look as she hesitantly approached the wounded bird. Ron's voice sounded from behind him.
"What your supposed to do it tell Dumbledore! That's what he's been trying to get into that thick head of yours! He's going to have a fit when he finds you out here!"
"Harry…" Hermione whispered.
Ignoring his friend's lecture, Harry turned and bowed shakily, before coming to rest on his battered knees before the now still hippogriff. Harry felt his heart stutter. No…
"He's not…. He hasn't…." he couldn't even bring himself to say it.
Hermione, her face wet with tears and streaks of blood turned to face him. Her eyes told him what she couldn't say aloud. A wave of despair and sickness washed over him just as the wind had done earlier.
"We need to get Dumbledore…." He thought he heard Hermione say to Ron, but he was too focussed on the still creature in front of him to really be sure.
"We cant just leave him here mione…wait, what is that!"
The tone of Ron's voice broke through and Harry blinked dazedly as he swivelled his head to bring his friends into view. Ron seemed to be pointing in the direction of the forest and Hermione was creeping forward, stooped and peering into the darkness.
"I can't see anything Ron, I think you're in shoc…oh my god"
Harry stood then on shaky legs, his attention moving from a white faced Hermione to the forest ahead. And then he saw it. Or should he say it's. Several black shapes were moving within the darkness the canopy provided and from this distance they looked human, or at least humanoid in shape. That was confirmed when Harry caught sight of a pair of glowing white eyes.
"Vampires" he heard Hermione whisper as she slowly withdrew her wand from a pocket in her jeans.
Harry felt his breath catch and heard Ron swear shakily behind him. What had been indistinct shapes before were now clearly what Hermione had described. Dressed in black robes and with bluish white skin they could be nothing else. With a burst of speed that clearly no human possessed, three vile creatures were standing a few feet from them, protected by the shadow of the ancient trees behind them. All three teens jumped back in shock and fear, and not one of the wands held out were steady.
Harry wracked his brain, trying to think of the curses and spells he had learnt this past year but in his panic, his mind refused to co-operate. The one directly facing him bared its teeth by parting it's deep blue lips, the twin incisors gleaming menacingly. When it spoke, the sound that issued was a mix between a rusty hinge and crunched gravel.
"Potter…."
Harry's reaction to hearing his surname was lost when a burst of orange and red exploded directly in front of him. As he lowered his raised arm he could see that the three vampires had fallen back a step and were snarling at the phoenix that hovered before them.
"You have no right to be here. We had a deal."
Harry spun at the sound of Dumbledore's voice and watched as the man glided past him to stand beside his familiar. He could feel the power radiating from the wizard and obviously so too could the vampires, as they shrunk back slightly in his presence. Ron and Hermione both ran over to him and the three formed a tight line, wands still held at the ready.
"A deal made with the dead Dumbledore. Are you really so foolish?"
Harry cringed at the harsh voice, this time from a tall black robed figure that had strolled forward from the woods. From this angle the silhouette reminded him of Voldemort, a thought he forced to the back of his mind. The three undead who had threatened them earlier shrank back in deference to this new speaker.
"Foolish? Perhaps. But not so much that I would bargain with the Dark Lord, as you have so obviously done Antolis."
The deathly white face broke into a feral grin and a laugh that sounded like a rusty saw against metal issued from between his parted lips. Harry saw his headmaster whisper something to Fawkes and the bird disappeared in a flash of flame.
"Your wards do not affect us Dumbledore. Give us what we want and I promise you your children will not be harmed on their return."
Dumbledore's head lowered to study the wand in his hand. Harry could feel the hairs on his arms stand as static electricity flowed around him.
"It was a mistake to threaten the children Antolis. And too to make a deal with Voldemort."
The three teenagers jumped when the vampire referred to by Antolis hissed through his teeth and stepped forward.
"I am not afraid of you Dumbledore."
Harry's head, and those of his friends, whipped round when a large hand fell onto his shoulder. Moody had his real eye on them and his magical one on the scene in front of them and Harry couldn't be sure what he was more pissed about. He snapped his head around when Dumbledore spoke again, knowing that something big was about to happen by the oppressive magic in the air.
"And that, Antolis, is your biggest mistake."
Everything seemed to slow down after that. Someone was pushing Harry down at the same time Dumbledore raised his wand. He felt his friends bang into him, all elbows and heads as the three were pushed roughly to the grass. The blue light of a protego appeared just as Harry caught a glimpse of a blinding light issuing from his professors wand and felt the heat of it slam against the blue cocoon he was wrapped in. He thought he heard Hermione scream but it was hard to hear over the roar of wind and magic. The light became so intense that Harry was forced to hide his face beneath his arms and knew Ron and Hermione were doing the same. He couldn't be sure how long it lasted, seconds or minutes, but he knew precisely when it ended. He raised his head from his arms and blinked against the sunlight, feeling battered and drained. He was aware of Hermione's soft sobs and Ron's muttering, but it was Dumbledore that held his eye. The wizard, still radiating an awesome power, was walking towards them, his eyes taking in the three blood stained, mud covered, grass streaked shaking teenagers. Moody was stalking towards the forest and stopped to speak quietly and briefly with the headmaster before slapping him on the back and continuing into the murky darkness. There was no sign of Antolis or any of his brethren. Harry forced his body into a sitting position, rather than on his hands and knees and hissed in pain when his swollen joint protested the movement.
"Do not move"
Dumbledore was suddenly kneeling before them, his eyes scanning them, presumably looking for injuries. Harry opened his mouth to say something, though he wasn't sure what but a look from his headmaster had his mouth closing with a little snap.
"Are any of you hurt?"
Hermione shook her head, unable, as she was to speak amidst her continued crying. Ron looked shell-shocked when Harry glanced at him but his friend still managed to shake his head to indicate he was unhurt. That only left him. When he looked at his professor through his fringe he could see he was waiting for an answer. A swell of emotion rushed him then, causing his windpipe to tighten and his eyes to fill. He didn't think he could speak if his life depended on it. Dumbledore seemed to recognise this as, in lieu of an answer he instead ran his wand in an intricate wave across him, frowning as sigils and lights appeared above his body. Harry visibly jumped when bandages appeared on his knee, wrapped firmly and securely from mid thigh to mid shin. As he watched his professor stand, he managed to choke out one word.
"Buckbeak…"
Dumbledore looked both sad and resigned when he glanced across at the hippogriffs body. He didn't say anything for a few moments.
"There is nothing that can be done children. It is a travesty that he was used in such a way and died in such a manner."
Harry felt the tears fall but didn't raise a hand to wipe them. He felt completely drained, as though he had been the one who had taken on a horde of vampires and survived.
"Come, let us get back to the safety of the castle."
Ron helped Hermione to her feet and wrapped an arm around her shoulders in silent support. Just as Harry was about to dig his hands into the soft soil below him in order to hoist himself up, he felt his body rise and straighten and his feet find the grass below him. Holding his hands out at side of him like a trapeze artist, he struggled for a moment to find his balance as he tried not to put his weight on his injured knee. And then he was floating above the ground, his toes brushing against the tips of the charred grass below. As he started forward, following in his friends wake but in front of the man powering his journey, he felt the final snap of something within and let the tears flow fully and silently.
Next time on Reparo: The after effects of the attack, trouble with wards and Harry receives some lessons.