Hello again.  Now this is where it gets really interesting.  Some questions will be answered, some won't, depending on how this ends up.  (I'm not exactly sure where this is going to end up yet…)  But the good news is, most of this stuff will finally begin to actually make sense.  That's all I've really gotta say for now, so just as a little reminder, PLEASE rate this fic from 1* to 5*****.  Thank you!

Elena Kyro:  Is it that difficult to believe I'm 13?  Hehehe…*blushes*  Thank you for your support!

Silent Tears

Part X:

The Battlefield (of mind and body) The smell of fear loomed over us like a hauntingly black storm cloud

Raining down its arrow-like droplets of horror.

The feeling of awful cold settles around us

As we step cautiously over the littered floor,

Tripping occasionally on the debris that was strewn across out morbid path.

I inhale the foul air,

And choke as it catches in my throat.

The bittersweet taste of blood lingers on my lips

As I bite down on my tongue for fear that I might scream out.

In vengeance we draw our swords of hate and betrayal

Attacking the root of fear itself,

Hitting nothing as we swing blindly

For hope that we might vanquish our assailants;

The vicious feelings that stem from our very souls.

Unable to do any damage,

We continue our meaningless fight with ourselves,

The civil war from within,

The innermost struggle between our hearts and our minds.

The silence of our bloodless battle

Roars loud in our ears,

Nearly deafening all of us,

Like the screams of one in pain.

What seems like hours later,

I stare out onto the desolate plane of defeat

With eyes of a child beyond her years,

Pain far past that of her generation,

For I had seen the battlefield

Of love.

--The Battlefield, by ObSeSsIvE_cOmPuLsIvE_666

As the saying goes, April showers bring May flowers.  This proved to be true this year at Hogwarts.  Mother Nature had granted sunshine on the important event of the Quidditch final, but now that it had been fulfilled, she went back to her original schedule of rain.  But even the thunderous storms of late April couldn't dampen Harry's and most of the school's high spirits.  Only the Slytherins were as downcast as the weather as a result of their defeat.  The Ravenclaws were in the brightest stage of well being out of the lot. 

The relationship of Harry and Cho didn't go unnoticed for much longer.  Soon people were calling them the dream couple of Hogwarts.  The only couple that rivalled them were that of Ron and Alex. 

At the beginning of May, Alex and Michelle brought their fellow Gryffindors some good news. 

"Crissy should be coming by the end of the week!"  they announced at breakfast. 

"I wonder what that surprise is," Michelle asked herself, slightly worried.  "I hope she didn't decide to grow an extra head or something."

"Well, knowing her, it could be something to that extent," Alex said nervously.

The two girls looked at each other, then burst out laughing.

"What's so funny about her?"  Ginny wanted to know.

"Well, she wears black all the time, dragon necklaces, and silver thumb rings," Alex explained, recovering.  "Everyone thinks she's Gothic, but she's not really.  She puts it on to be intimidating, so don't freak out.  I should know, being her best friend and all, because she sucked me into it.  Not that it's a bad thing.  But she's really nice, I mean, how could she have gotten any friends if she wasn't?  Anyway, I was the one that was keeping her somewhat soft.  My ex-boyfriend didn't approve of us, swearing when we broke a nail, coming to school dressed in black everyday.  But he got used to it eventually, and soon, I stopped swearing enough for him to tolerate Crissy's habit."  She pursed her lips, as if recalling a sweet memory, but one that brought her bitter thoughts of pain.  "After a while, he couldn't take it anymore, so we broke up."  She shook her head, and changed the subject slightly.  "I just hope that our other best friend, Lynn, kept her down a bit from getting her tongue pierced."

"She would go that far?"  Ron asked, disgusted.  "If she's as much of a crazy girl as you've described, don't be surprised if she ends up in Slytherin."

Alex shrugged.  "I don't think she'll be in there.  She's not like them at all, not cold hearted or anything like that."

"Yeah," Michelle chimed in.  "She wouldn't go that far….Would she?"

Alex grinned and shook her head.

"Not a chance.  She knows I would kill her for it."

"But not before she kills you," Michelle reminded her.

"Oh, stop worrying, alright?  I'm sure it'll be a pleasant surprise…as pleasant as they come around here…."

Michelle snorted.

********

"Draco…"

The icy cold voice penetrated his unconscious mind, pushing through the sweet grogginess of sleep until it could be heard.

"I know you can hear me, Draco, and as your father, I must be able to trust you and communicate with you.  Will you listen?"

Draco didn't answer, only clenched his fists on his pillow and gritting his teeth, trying to ignore his father's voice, but it was as easy to ignore as hundreds of white-hot needles being inserted into his spine.

"It doesn't matter, because I know you will.  Even if you can't or refuse to hear me now, this information will haunt you, day by day and night by night, until your instructions are put to use."
Draco shuddered, the voice tearing through his mind and soul like thousands of sharp, icy daggers, ripping the flesh of his very being.

"Now, Draco, we have received intelligence that there is another mind link at Hogwarts, belonging to Harry Potter.  We do not know his partner.  I am entrusting you with this mission, to find  the other.  And soon, very soon, the Dark Lord and his followers will invade Hogwarts, and put this plan into action.  With Potter's mind link partner,  we will be enabled with the ability to kill the boy without much trouble.  As for the invasion, it is merely a diversion.  And you will fight at my side, where no harm will come to you…."

Draco fought to keep his thoughts at bay, for if he thought anything, anything at all, his father would hear.

"I am aware that the Dark Lord has been in contact with you.  He has told you about a girl, and a Polyjuice Potion.  Let it be known to you that this girl will be used as bait in case we don't find the partner.  Potter won't be able to resist this…tempting little morsel."

There was amusement in his cold voice now, and the amusement made it sound as if it had been morphed into shards of icy metal that ran against each other, creating the sound of nails on a chalk board.  Draco winced.

"Our master is calling for me now, my son, so I must leave our meeting here.  Till we meet again, dear Draco…."

At last, the voice faded, and he could open his eyes.  The voice of the man he had begun to hate left a ringing sound in his head, as if he had been listening to a thousand gonging bells rather than one who had given him life.  Cold sweat trickled down his face from the effort of keeping in his rage.  Now there was something else that he had to break to Harry: that he was being sent to kill him.  How was he going to get through all this?

Deciding that he would worry about it in the morning, Draco rolled over, and waves of irresistible sleep washed over him, clearing his thoughts, as well as his father's.

********

Harry awoke on Saturday morning with an unexplained feeling of dread in his stomach.  There was nothing outside that hinted the cause of his uneasiness; the sun shone through the windows, and it seemed that it would be the first fine day outside since last month.  Shaking his head and trying to reassure himself that he was imagining things, he pulled on his robes and went down to breakfast.

Hermione, Ron, Alex, Ginny, and Michelle were all sitting at the Gryffindor table when he arrived.  Ron and Hermione squeezed together to give him room to sit next to them as they discussed plans for the day.

"How about we go to Hogsmeade?  It's a nice day outside, and we might meet Crissy while we're there," Michelle suggested. "She said she'd be arriving some time today."

"Yes, but we don't know exactly when she's coming, do we?" Alex returned.

"I think both of you are right," interrupted Ron.  "The train comes at intervals throughout the day, so there's a chance that we'll meet her while we're there."

"It's settled then," said Ginny.

"And while I'm thinking about it," Ron said suddenly, turning back to Alex, "do I recall you saying something about an ex-boyfriend?"

Alex looked up, startled.

"You mean Eddie?"  A blush was creeping over her slightly freckled face.  "Uh, yeah…we were dating for about two years…until we had to go to separate high schools…" She was beginning to look extremely uncomfortable.

Ron stared at her for a few seconds.  His face turned red, and he looked as if he were going to explode.

"Look, I'm sorry!" Alex burst out, fuming, after seeing his face.  "I didn't mean to offend you—"

But then, Ron let out a loud laugh.

"I was only joking!" he gasped.  "You really thought that would bother me?  HA!  He's all the way in Illinois, come on, it doesn't matter, love, really!"

He continued to laugh, and Alex frowned, but despite her efforts, a smile tugged at the corners of her mouth at his good humour.

"That was mean!" she pouted, slapping his shoulder playfully.  Ron sniggered, rubbing his shoulder.

"Yes, well, now that we've all had our share of fun, let's go before it gets too late," Hermione said, clearly not listening to the arguments that were taking place. 

Everyone agreed, and they all rose and headed for the exit.

Yes, the April showers did bring May flowers.  Life had burst into full bloom all over the Hogwarts grounds during the rainy weather.  In the air hung the fragrant smells of lavender and lilac.  Various conversations and flirtatious giggling that could only be the product of spring fever could be heard all around them as many other students came outside to enjoy the lovely springtime weather.

The six made their way down the bustling streets of Hogsmeade, each of them talking and laughing playfully. (Yes, more spring fever.)  Suddenly there was a familiar (to Alex and Michelle) shout coming from behind them.

"Yo! Prelling! Miller! Wait for me!" The voice had a deep feminine quality and a cynical edge to it. It belonged to a girl with shortly cropped black hair, glasses and a rather full figure. She was adorned all in black, including black nail polish and a silvery dragon necklace. With a playful grin, she bounded up to her two friends.

"Finally!  I've been looking for you two all day! Jeez!"

"Sorry," said Alex.  "We weren't expecting you until later…. And nice hair." 

"Whoa…" said the girl.  "Nice accent there, Alex… and thankies!"

Alex grinned, "Thankies?  Wait… never mind, I don't want to know…"

"And who are you?" Ron inquired, looking from one to another.

"Oh, this is Crissy," Michelle answered, after she finished hugging the newcomer, who staggered away, clutching her ribs.  "And Crissy, this is Ron, his sister, Ginny, Harry, and Hermione."

"Alex…is this the stud-muffin guy you were telling me about?"  Crissy asked abruptly, staring, awestruck, at Ron.   "Cuz he's pretty damn hot!"

Ron looked flattered, and rather taken aback at her bluntness. "Sure am!" he answered, grinning now, without a trace of embarrassment.

"CRISSY!" Alex shouted, clomping her friend over the head.  "He's mine!"

Crissy rubbed her head, grinning sheepishly.  "So? Your point?"

Instantly, Michelle interrupted so as to keep the two from ripping each other's throats out.  "So Crissy," she said loudly. "What house were you Sorted into?"

Crissy stopped in mid-lunge. "Err… Slytherin I think…" She looked thoughtful for a moment.  "Yup, Slytherin.  Wanna go to lunch?"  Then she noticed that all six of her friends were goggling at her, lost for words.  "What?  It's a pretty cool-lookin' crowd from what I could tell."

"Crissy," Michelle said faintly, "do you realise that you are now considered our mortal enemy?"

Crissy shrugged, a grin creeping across her features.  "Cool, now I have a reason to tease you without feeling guilty Alex…" There was a silent pause.  "Wanna go to lunch?" she repeated, not a bit fazed by their reactions.

Alex shrugged, taking Ron by the arm and following Crissy towards the village.  "Sure, I don't see why not."

Ron smiled and bent over, kissing her tenderly.

"Whoa!"  Crissy roared, turning around at the slight smacking sound.  "When you go for it, Alex, you sure go for it!"

The happy couple broke apart, grinning embarrassedly.

"You really know how to ruin a moment, you know that, Crissy?" Alex grumbled, scuffing the ground with her foot.

Crissy grinned obnoxiously, nearly skipping forward again.  "What are best friends for?"  Alex rolled her eyes.

After a wonderful day at Hogsmeade, they headed back to the Great Hall for dinner.

"You do realise that we can't sit together at dinner don't you?" Michelle asked upon entering the dining place. "You know, cuz we're in different Houses and all now."

Crissy frowned, "Damn… Where do I sit then?"

Alex gestured towards the Slytherin table, wrinkling her nose. "There…"

Suddenly Crissy perked up, her eyes shining mischievously.  "Hey, who's that?" she asked interestedly, pointing a black-taloned finger at none other than Draco Malfoy, who was currently sitting next to Crabbe and Goyle, unaware of the danger that lurked behind him in the form of a rabid, boy-crazy American girl [that happened to be quite attractive ^_~ *grins innocently* Jessica coughs violently in the background].

Ron suddenly burst out laughing, completely overwhelmed by the prospect of Draco being swooned over by this obnoxious American.

Alex raised her eyebrows, "That's Draco. Draco Malfoy." She sounded disgusted that Crissy could have taken a liking to him.

"Suddenly the idea of sitting over there doesn't seem so bad…" Crissy said, grinning slyly, "Well, I'll be seeing ya…" With that, she bounded over to the Slytherin table, pushed Goyle aside, and plopping down next to the highly surprised Draco.

Harry grinned, hearing Draco ask, "And who are you?"

"I'm Crissy… And you're going to show me around the school…preferably the dorms," Crissy added, her eyes alight with mischief, more demanding than asking.

Draco looked terrified at the very idea, but knew better than to argue, for she had a rather possessive gleam in her eye… not to mention a set of very sharp, deadly looking nails.

Alex coughed rather loudly, rolling her eyes and snorting. "Hang on a minute guys, I gotta go to the bathroom… on little girl business."

"To much information!" Michelle groaned, sitting down at the Gryffindor table, looking disgusted as Ron leaned over and kissed her again.

"See you love," he said, sitting down also.

**********

Alex pushed open the door from the girl's bathroom and walked back out into the hall.  She was almost back to the Great Hall when a flash of light caught her eye.  It seemed rather familiar….

Following the flash, she rounded a corner just in time to see a bald tail slip into a broom closet.  Curiously, she pushed open the door and peered through, searching for what she was certain would be there.

"Hello?" she ventured, stepping into the room. 

But this proved to be a big mistake.

A short man with grey hair and beady black eyes stepped from the shadows.  Alex had just enough time to register the fact that this man had a silver arm before—

"Just the girl I wanted to see…just the very girl…." He raised the arm, taking a step closer.

"Get away from me!" Alex screamed, backing away.  She turned around and made to fling open the door, but only to find that it had swung shut and locked while the man had her attention.  Whipping back around, her face came inches from the man's outstretched fingers, a mad yet fearful gleam in his eyes.

"Sonoris!"

Dust flew out of the fingers, drifting over her, and she knew no more as she fell, limp, to the ground.

"Yes, my child, sleep.  It will all be better in the morning…" He laughed manically, ecstatic that he had finally done something right.  He then pointed his fingers at the door and muttered strange words.  A fireball burst forth.

"Take this message to My Lord.  Tell him that he may attack when ready…Now go!" he commanded, and the ball of light instantly took flight through the closed door.

*******

"Where is she?" Ron asked, staring at the entrance to the Great Hall.  "She's been gone for almost half an hour.  That 'little girl' business can't take that long, can it?"

"What, can't stand a second away from your lover?" Hermione said, somewhat scathingly.  But Ron didn't hear her, because at that second, Alex burst through the doors, looking confused.  Her eyes roved the room and spotted Ron.  She walked over to him and sat down without a word.

"You okay?" he asked, raising an eyebrow.  Alex started and looked up and met his eyes.

It was in that second that it happened.  Ron saw, quite clearly, something that he had never seen before.  It was hard to explain, but it came like a storm, beating against his eyes as if not wanting to be seen.  It roared in his ears, screaming like one in pain, who was constantly in torture, unable to make his own decisions.  One that was being controlled against his will…a slave of darkness.

"What's up Ron?" Harry asked, jolting his best friend back to reality.  "I know you think Alex is hot and all, but haven't you made your point?"

"Wh—huh?" he said, shaking his head.

"You were staring at her, as if you had only just seen her," Michelle said quietly, sensing something wrong with her friend's boyfriend.  Alex shrugged and lifted the spoon of the nearest dish.  But as she lifted it to her plate, the metal twisted beneath her fingers as if it were made of rubber.

"Whoa!" Ginny exclaimed.  "How'd you do that, Alex?"

"Oh, that?  I—uh, that was…I have no idea," she finished lamely, her voice rather higher than usual.

"Look, you sure you're okay?" Ron asked, but he avoided her eyes.

"Me?  Never better."  Her eyes strayed toward the doors that lead outside.

Just then, as if she had been expecting it to happen all along, the large oak doors burst wide open, followed by the entrance of dozens of men in black cloaks, their wands raised high.

"Death Eaters!" Harry gasped, though his cry went unheard.  The sudden tidal wave of curses that followed drowned out his words, and even his thoughts.

"You three!  Get up to the dorms!" Ron yelled to Alex, Michelle, and Ginny.  They stood up and headed toward the doors.  But just then, a curse flew through the group, striking Michelle, and she hit the floor.

"Michelle!" Ginny screamed, starting to help her friend, but Alex stopped her. 

"It's okay," she said.  "Follow me.  I know a safe place to hide."

Alex took her by the hand and led her out of the Great Hall, to the grounds bathed in moonlight.

"Hurry!  We don't want them following us." 

Ginny sensed something odd going on, but she trusted her friend, even though she noticed that no one looked twice at them as they headed toward—

"The Forbidden Forest?" Ginny asked, bewildered.  "We're hardly going to be any safer in there!"

"Trust me," Alex insisted, and led her through the trees.

************

"Harry!  Where are Ginny and Alex?" Ron hollered, shooting a curse at a Death Eater at the same time.

"I don't know!  I thought I saw them go outside—" He stopped and paled.  "I'll go after them!  There are probably more Death Eaters outside!"

Ron was about to reply when he heard a strangled yell from the other side of the Hall.  He saw Fred go down with a slight thud, then George, leaping up, nearly strangling the Death Eater who had attacked.

"I'm going to help George!" Ron yelled to Harry and Hermione, who was ushering some terrified first years out of the Hall.

"I'm going!" Harry called again, but was accosted by at least five Death Eaters. They moved apart, and he saw—

"Draco," he murmured.  Draco returned his gaze steadily, and from his robes, he drew a long sword.

Harry went numb.  He had no idea how to swordfight.  But the thing that really hit him was that Draco was attempting to fight him.

"Malfoy," he began, "what—?"

Shut up, you moron, Malfoy said.  I'm still on your side, all right?  Just go with this.  My father put a curse on me, so I can't betray him…openly.  He sent me on a mission to find your mind link partner.  He doesn't know it's me.

Harry nodded, but thought, I don't know how to fight, though.

Calm down, all right?  I'll help you.  Trust me.

He handed Harry a sword that was similar to his own.

You ready? he asked.

Yeah.

They bowed to each other, and then the fight began.

Clash, clash, clash.  The sound of metal on metal rang through their ears as Draco shouted directions through telepathy.

Harry began to act on his own, finally getting used to the movements.  Left, right, feint, stab…

Malfoy, surprised at his sudden show of skill, began to show off himself. The fighting continued on for some time, causing the Death Eaters to become bored with the flashy show of skill. Many had left to go occupy themselves with other victims, and the ones left were gradually leaving.  Harry felt the ecstasy of the fight flowing through his veins, and to his own horror, he began to get carried away in the lust of battle. 

Draco, sensing this change, tried to yell out to him in telepathy, but his momentary lapse of defence proved to be fatal.  With a gasp of pain, he fell to his knees, Harry's fancy sword sinking out of sight through his shoulder.

"Draco!" Harry shouted, his eyes wide.  He wrenched the sword back, but too late.  "Draco, I – I'm so sorry!"

Draco gritted his teeth in pain.  Shut up…he hissed, clutching his wound.  Blood was beginning to seep through his fingers.

Kneeling down next to the pale, silver haired boy, Harry thrust the bloodstained sword aside and tried his best to stop the bleeding, but Draco only pushed him away feebly.  

You can't be seen talking to me, he hissed again.

"Wha—?" Harry asked, blinking.

We don't know who's listening.  If you're seen helping me, you'll blow my cover.  Get lost.

Reluctantly, Harry got to his feet.

Before you go, I have something to tell you.

What is it?

Wormtail's taken the Polyjuice Potion.  He's already kidnapped the girl.

Harry could feel his face drain of even more colour.  This girl was kidnapped, and he didn't even know whom to look for.  It couldn't get much worse than this.

You will be here when I get back, won't you? 

Draco looked at him through some kind of mist, trying to look sarcastic despite his pain.

Does it really look like I'm going to stand up and run a mile? he spat.  As he spoke, his eyes went in and out of focus.

Harry grinned awkwardly, trying to lighten the situation.

You must be feeling okay if your insults are still at the ready, Dra— he began, but suddenly, his head might have exploded. 

It was unrecognisable, definitely not a scar pain.  This pain was far beyond anything he had ever felt, blinding him, scorching his soul.  If it hadn't been for his sheer determination, he would have fallen on his knees.  He heard Draco gasp in pain below him, but luckily, this was most likely mistaken for his wounded shoulder.  Then he remembered…

Voldemort can hear us!  Harry said frantically. 

Exactly, which is why you should stop talking to me and go! But—

Listen, you've got to go and do your hero thing, what you're good at!  I'll be fine…

Harry stopped, staring at him.

Stop being noble, Draco said irritably.  Get lost.

But I—

"Go!" Draco hissed with his dying breath.  "Go…" And he slumped back down on the floor.

*********

"This way!  Come on!" Alex shouted, pulling Ginny behind her.

"Are you sure you know where you're going?" she asked, ducking under a low hanging tree branch.

"Of course I'm sure—"

But she was cut off, because the ground suddenly gave way.  Ginny screamed, clinging to Alex, but she was as cool as if she had been expecting this all along.

They both landed on the ground with a thud.  They were thrown into darkness as the opening above them closed with the creaking and rustling of roots and leaves.

"Lumos," Ginny muttered, lighting her wand.  She raised it high, looking for Alex.  The light from her wand illuminated a huddled figure on the floor.

"Alex!" Ginny cried, running to her friend.  "Are you okay?"

She helped her to her feet. Ginny was startled to notice that her face was glistening with sweat.

"What's wrong?" she asked worriedly.

Alex shook her head.  "I'll be okay," she said.  "Just help me walk."  Ginny nodded.

The going was tough.  The tunnel ahead twisted and turned, making Ginny dizzy.  Maybe it was just her imagination, but the farther she walked, the heavier Alex seemed to get.

They were just turning a corner when Alex collapsed with a groan.

"What is it?" Ginny asked, kneeling down to help her.  But she quickly drew back with a gasp.

Alex Prelling was no longer lying on the floor.  A man, with balding white hair, had taken her place.  The man groaned and rolled over, revealing a silver arm.

"Who are you?" Ginny demanded, stepping back farther.  The man rose unsteadily to his feet.

"I," he said in a shuddering breath, "am Peter Pettigrew."

"Peter Pettigrew?" Ginny repeated quizzically, after a slight pause.  "But Peter Pettigrew's—"

"Stupefy!"  Strong red light burst forth from his shining fingers, and Ginny dropped to the floor.

*******

"Hermione!" Harry cried as Draco fell to the floor.  "Hermione, help me!"

Hermione pushed her way through the swarming crowd of students and Death Eaters, among them Crissy, who was saying to a Death Eater, "Damn, you ugly…" before forced to dodge the curse thrown at her thereafter.

"Oh, my—" she gasped, her eyes widening in shock.  She dropped to her knees next to Draco.

"I…we were sword fighting, and I…accidentally stabbed him," Harry explained, shamefacedly lowering his eyes.  When he looked up, Hermione had her fingers pressed against Draco's neck, obviously feeling for a lifebeat.

"He's still alive, Harry," she said softly, "but he won't be for long if we don't help him.  I think he's just gone into shock or something…."

"Listen," Harry said.  "Alex and Ginny are missing.  Take care of Draco while I go and find them.  Get him out of here…."

Hermione looked up, startled.  "Alex and Ginny are missing?  Michelle is still here, and so is Crissy.  Why didn't they go with them?"

"I don't know," Harry muttered. "That's why I'm worried.  Ron said he saw the two of them go outside.  There might be more Death Eaters waiting."

He glanced back down at her and watched as she smoothed Draco's fair hair away from his eyes with a loving gesture, her expression sad.

"Hermione, are you okay?" Harry asked.

"What?  Oh, yes, I'm fine.  You go and help Ginny and Alex—"

"Right."

*********

"Michelle…are you alright?" Ron asked, helping her to her feet. 

It was then that it hit him—nearly an hour ago, when he had looked into Alex's eyes, he had been seeing her for the first time.  But it was different, because he had seen—

"Her soul," he muttered.  But it wasn't her soul, it had been someone else's, someone cold, cruel, driven by greed.  The Alex he knew was warm, generous, and kind.  Then he remembered….

"The Polyjuice Potion in Harry's dream!  Pettigrew with Alex!  Of course!  That wasn't Alex, that was Pettigrew—" His excitement suddenly turned to dread.  "Ginny," he murmured, and ran to Harry, leaving Michelle standing alone, confused.

"Harry!" Ron called.  He ran to catch up to him just as he was about to walk through the doors.  "Remember at dinner, when Alex came back from the bathroom?"

"Yeah…" Harry said slowly, wondering where this was leading.

"I saw her soul!  Except that it wasn't hers, it was someone else's!  Do you follow me?"

Harry frowned, thinking hard.  Then it dawned on him.

"You mean," he said hoarsely, "that was—?" 

Ron nodded.

"V.W…," Harry said.

"Virginia Weasley."  Ron's face was grim.

"That means Alex is somewhere in the school still," Harry said, "probably somewhere near the girls' bathroom.  Go and find her, okay?"

"Let me go find Ginny, she's my sister!"

"I'll deal with Pettigrew."

"But You-Know-Who's probably with him—"

"I'll be alright.  I promise.  And I'll bring Ginny back with me."

Ron bit his lip, though gazed at him steadily.  "Okay, Harry.  I'll find Alex, and you find Ginny."

*********

HA!  That sucked.  Oh well, next chapter will be much better, now that the obvious is over with.  Oi vey.  If you have any questions about how this screwed up plot is supposed to work, please let me know and I will get back to you with the answer.  For that poem at the beginning, me and Crissy both would appreciate it greatly if you reviewed for that separately under ObSeSsIvE_cOmPuLsIvE_666.  She has it posted under her pen name.  Don't forget, review, review, review!!!  For all those people out there who loath *Nsync, I saw this fic on them that got over 150 reviews, so if she can do it, so can I.  Please don't let me fall inferior to the evil Pretty Boys!  NEVER!!!  I WILL NOT SURRENDER!!!!  k, I'm done.  –J L