Chapter Fourteen

Shattered Glass

They sat or lay on the floor near the wall where the door had been. They all faced the platform, even though that meant they could not easily see each other; no one wanted to sit in a circle. Their faces had a sickly cast from the glowing necklaces, like pages from an old Muggle newspaper. They didn't know how much time had passed. The room was absolutely quiet when they were not moving or talking or wailing. The yellow and red luminescence from opposite sides was steady.

Hermione was lost in thought, but kept her eye on Dobby, who let out frequent high–pitched wails that had started when he first saw the red wall. Ron lay on his back with his arms folded on his chest and a scowl on his face. Ginny sat hunched over with her arms around her knees. She turned to watch Harry who was trying another futile charm on the blank wall.

"It's no use," Ron said angrily, raising himself on his elbow. "We'll starve to death in here, Voldemort will find our bones and die laughing, and that'll be the end of it."

"Shut up, Ron," Ginny snapped. "No one's going to die. And your stomach growling is not the same as starving to death."

"My stomach isn't growling. You are."

"That's clever, Ron."

"Just pipe down, will you?" Ron rolled so that his back was to her.

"I didn't say anything, you did," Ginny muttered.

Dobby's wail got louder. Ron swore and stood up and covered his ears.

"Bloody hell, Dobby! Will you stop that?" he yelled.

Harry came back and sat next to Dobby and patted his knee. "It'll be okay. There's bound to be a way out." But he caught Ginny's eye, and knew that she was thinking the same thing. If Voldemort meant this to be a trap, then there might not be a way out unless someone opened the door from the corridor. And there was no possibility of that since no one knew where they were or why they were here or how they had got in.

Ginny moved next to Harry and took his arm. "Nice fix, isn't it?" she murmured. "Why do you think the door disappeared? How could whoever did that —" she nodded at the platform "— get out if there wasn't a door?"

Harry shrugged. "There's lots of magical things Voldemort can do that I don't even know exist. It looks like this is one of them." He got up again, but this time he walked slowly around the perimeter of the room, examining all four walls. Every few feet he stopped and touched the wall with his wand. In ten minutes he was back.

"It's completely blank," he announced. "There's not even a crack at the corners where the walls meet." Ginny put her head on her arms, and Harry sat down next to her and started stroking her hair. She smiled wanly at him.

Ron had been pacing back and forth, but he stopped next to Hermione and squatted. "Any ideas? Maybe something from the encyclopedia?" He sat down. "You've been quiet. Thinking, I hope."

Hermione nodded. "I've been trying to think like Voldemort, and believe me, it's not very pleasant. I don't think any ordinary charm can undo that wall. It was probably triggered just by our coming in, and my guess is that the door won't reappear until the Horcrux is either destroyed or used."

"Used? What do you mean? Only Voldemort can use it. Oh..." Ron got a sick look. "He would have to come back because he was dead, or whatever it is he becomes when someone kills him. That's weird. It gives me a headache."

"Maybe it's just lack of food," Ginny snorted.

"You shut up, Ginny!" he yelled. "This isn't funny. It has nothing to do with food! Sometimes your mouth is too smart, you know?"

"I got it from you!" Ginny yelled back. "You and your brilliant brothers! Smart blokes, all of you. Get us out of here if you're so smart!" Ron scowled, but Hermione pulled his arm and he turned away.

Dobby's wail became a steady shriek; Harry had no idea how he could keep it up without seeming to take a breath. Harry stood up, and strode toward the platform; they all watched him. He stopped half–way and took out his wand and began reciting charms, hexes, jinxes, and spells, even though he had been through all of them before. He got the same results: nothing worked. He tried conjuring food, water, chairs, wands, another copy of The Encyclopaedia Magica, the hubcap that Ginny had used as a Portkey, Filch's cannon, and a chamber pot. He tried several unsuccessful Accio's, and a dozen spells to open a door.

Dobby suddenly stopped wailing, and everyone looked at him. He lay down on his back and did not move; his nose stuck up in the air like a long, thin chimney. Harry walked over to him and joined Hermione, who was squatting next to the elf. "What is it, Dobby?" Harry said. "We're not giving up."

"Dobby is just wanting to sleep. When you remembers, wake Dobby up." He closed his eyes and immediately began snoring.

"What the hell does that mean?" Ron said; he was standing next to Hermione. "What are we supposed to remember?"

Harry stared down at Dobby. "It has to mean something. He wouldn't just say it for no reason. We must have forgotten a spell."

"I don't think so," said Hermione. "We've tried everything we ever learned in Charms and Defense Against. I've also tried everything I ever learned on my own. And Dobby can't Disapparate. Magic just doesn't work in here. Except Lumos. Why is that?" She frowned.

"But that proves that magic does work in here," Ginny said. "It has to be magic that's keeping us from using magic. And magic must have kept that elf's corpse from rotting."

"Then Voldemort did something that's suppressing magic," Hermione said. "He knows something we don't know."

"Well, like Harry said, doesn't he know a lot that we don't know?" Ron asked. "He knows more than I do, that's for sure."

Ginny bit her tongue, and looked at Harry. He had taken out his wand again and was staring back at the platform. She put her hand on his arm. "What is it?"

"We do know something that Voldemort doesn't." He smiled at them.

"Oh!" said Ginny. "You mean —?"

Harry nodded; he had not stopped grinning. "I wonder why Dobby didn't say anything before." He looked down at the sleeping elf, and at that moment Dobby's eyes opened.

"You has remembered, Harry Potter?" he said in his squeaky voice, and sat up.

"I think so," Harry answered. "But why didn't you —"

Ron interrupted him. "Harry! Will you tell us what you're talking about?"

Hermione answered. "Figure it out, Ron. It's something that wasn't known to anyone when Voldemort created this room."

A smile slowly came across Ron's face, and he nodded. "Sometimes I get it late, but eventually I get it. Harry's Patronus!"

Harry stepped away from the others. "Let's see," he said. His wand came up, but nothing happened. Ginny put her hand on his arm again. He glanced at her; the blazing look that he loved stared back. He turned again and in a heartbeat the golden–white stag flew from his wand. Ginny's grip on Harry's arm tightened. The stag stood a few yards in front of them, its red eyes glowing softly. It looked around the room, and then moved slowly toward the platform; with each step sparks jumped from its hooves. It stopped directly in front of the platform and put its nose in the air. It lifted its head high for several moments. As they all held their breaths, it stepped onto the platform.

The first thing it did was kick the case directly in front of it, and the glass shattered in a shower of sparks. It was the loudest noise they had heard since they entered the room — except for Dobby's wailing — and they all jumped; Dobby let out a squeal. The stag turned and gazed at Dobby, and the elf squealed again and ducked behind Harry's legs. The stag looked at Harry for a moment, and proceeded around the Death Circle, kicking each case, shattering it, sending sparks into the air. As each necklace fell onto the platform, its yellow glow vanished. The stag went half–way around the circle, destroying each case in its path. It suddenly stopped.

It put its nose against the case it was facing and nudged it until it was out of its way. It continued around the Circle, demolishing everything, until once again it was in front of Harry. They were all transfixed, scarcely breathing. Every glass case but one was destroyed; the platform was littered with golden necklaces and shards of glass. The light in the room was considerably dimmer with only one necklace glowing. Harry, then the others, lit their wands.

Without looking at them, the stag walked into the middle of the Circle. It pawed at the body of the house–elf. Dobby took Harry's hand; he was weeping silently. "Poor house–elf," he whispered. "Goodbye!"

The stag stepped back, and leaped forward, butting the body of the elf hard. It burst into flames, and the watchers jumped back. The body burned for less than a minute as the smoke rose into the arches above and dissipated. When the fire died, not even ashes remained.

The stag moved toward the lone standing case. "Here we go," muttered Ron. Ginny held Harry's arm with both hands, and he drew her close. Ron also pulled Hermione nearer to him. Dobby again was clutching Harry's leg.

The stag's eyes brightened into two brilliant red searchlights. It placed a hoof on the case and pushed it over, exposing the necklace. The yellow glow flared, then held steady. The stag nuzzled the necklace, and each time it touched it, the glow pulsated. It picked it up in its teeth and shook it once. The necklace jingled with a sweet, high tone. The stag shook its head violently, back and forth, and a cloud of yellowish smoke emerged and engulfed the stag's head. The stag shook the necklace again and the songlike notes sounded and echoed through the room. The smoke wafted away. The glow faded slowly and vanished. The stag dropped the necklace, and looked at Harry. Its eyes had dimmed to a dark, tranquil shade of rose.

They all let out their breaths at the same time. Ginny was the first to speak. "Harry, it's done! You did it!"

"He's beautiful, isn't he?" Harry couldn't take his eyes from his Patronus; it was still motionless, still watching him.

Ron let out a yell. "The door! Yes!" The others turned, and there in the middle of a brown wall at the front of the room was the door they had come through. "Let's get out of here before it disappears again!" Ron cried.

But Harry was climbing onto the platform and Ginny was following him. Their footsteps crunched on the carpet of broken glass and scattered necklaces. Harry neared the stag and it circled away, kicking aside pieces of glass. It approached the side of the platform near Dobby, who shrank back with a fearful squeak. The stag gazed benignly at the elf; its eyes now looked like glimmering rubies. It's head turned slowly around the room, and it vanished in a blink.

"It's safe," Hermione assured Ron, who had been glancing nervously at the door. "I don't think it would have gone if there was still any danger."

Harry picked up Rowena Ravenclaw's necklace. He looked at Ginny, and his green eyes seemed to have caught fire from the stag. "We have him now!" he said, clutching the necklace. Ginny had never heard such exultation in his voice. "Come on, it must be late." Harry took her hand. "There's a feast in your honor."

"That's right," Ron called. "Let's not miss it. Can we go?"

Harry and Ginny jumped down from the platform, and Harry led them to the door. He opened it and stood aside as the others passed. He took a last look back at the room, stepped outside, and shut the door. It immediately melted into the wall.

"That room will never exist again," Hermione said quietly. "At least I hope not."

Dobby pulled on Harry's arm. "Dobby must go back to the kitchen. It is almost time for the feast." He bowed to Ginny.

"Dobby," Harry said, "when you went to sleep in there, you told me to wake you up when I remembered. Remembered what?"

Dobby blinked. "Oh, just remember to wake Dobby up. Harry Potter was very worried and very busy. Dobby did not want to bother Harry Potter, but he wanted Harry Potter to be sure and remember Dobby."

"So you didn't know anything that I was supposed to remember? Something like the Patronus?"

"Dobby was sleepy, and now Dobby is hungry." He bowed to Harry, smiled coyly at Ginny, and disappeared with a loud pop.

Harry frowned. "That was strange. If he knew, why didn't he say something?"

"House–elves are different," Hermione said. "They're not like people. Maybe he was afraid to say anything because his own magic wasn't working."

"Can we continue this conversation in the dining room?" Ron asked. "Let's not make the guest of honor late." He chucked Ginny on her arm, and after a moment she chucked his.

They went back to Gryffindor Tower to clean up, then hurried to the Great Hall; it was already past the beginning of dinnertime. The feast was as sumptuous as Dobby had promised, even to the point of decadence. There were only about two dozen students back at school, and everyone was astounded at the endless courses of delicious food; even Ron had enough. Dessert was an ice cream sculpture in the shape of a bust of Ginny, with strawberry glaze for her hair. She refused to be embarrassed, and joked about each scoop of her nose, chin, hair, and other parts of her head that she dished out.

Professor McGonagall observed the meal placidly from the staff table. Harry wondered if she knew that they had been absent all afternoon, but she gave no hint of any concern. He had the Ravenclaw necklace in his pocket. He knew he would have to hand it in to someone at Hogwarts at some time, but for now he intended to keep it.

They made their groggy way back to the common room. It was warm, but only dimly lit by the fire and a few candles, and Ron and Hermione dropped into their usual chairs in front of the fireplace.

Harry had other ideas. "Wait a minute," he said to Ginny. He took out his wand and re–arranged a half–dozen chairs and a sofa to form a closed-off corner that couldn't be seen from the rest of the room. When he was done he beckoned to Ginny.

"Why, sir!" she protested with her hands on her hips, "you are trying to lure me into your little den. It would be my ruination."

Harry grinned. "I want to show you a sunrise."

"That window is facing west."

"How about a sunset? Would that work?"

"Oh, Harry," she laughed and swooned into his arms. "I'm ruined." He fell onto the sofa with her, and for a long while Ron and Hermione heard nothing from them.

They sat up later and watched the sun go down, an orange ball in a cloudless, red and purple sky. Ginny cuddled as close to Harry as she could, and he put his arm around her. "You had quite a day," she said.

"We all did. But Voldemort's still alive, and he's still coming after me."

"But now you have magic that's stronger than his. And there's just one Horcrux left and we know exactly what it is."

"But if we wait, he'll just go out and kill someone again and make another Horcrux. We can't wait. We can't just sit here until he decides to come after me."

Ginny sighed. "Harry, can't we stop and take a breath? I feel like I've been running non–stop for more than a week, ever since you left school. So much has changed. My head is spinning."

She felt Harry tense. "I don't know if I can wait," he said.

"I don't understand."

He took her hands. "Ginny, I'm leaving Hogwarts in a few months. We can't get on with our lives until Voldemort is gone. We were losing each other, but you wouldn't let it happen. Now only one thing can keep us from having each other."

"That's...that's... " Ginny couldn't finish. To Harry's consternation she began to cry.

"I'm sorry," he blurted in confusion. "Don't cry, I didn't mean to upset you."

"I'm not upset. It's just hard to believe sometimes that you're back. It happened so fast." She put her head on his chest and her arms around his neck. "But can't we wait a bit before you go off to war again? You don't even know where to start looking for him." When she put her tear–stained cheek against his, Harry had one of those moments when just being with Ginny made him dizzy.

"I have an idea," she said. "Let's forget about the Dark stuff until after the next Quidditch match. It's only three months away. By then we'll all be able to use our new Patronuses, so we'll be even stronger. And Voldemort won't have any dementors left, either. They'll all be dead or working for the Ministry again."

Harry didn't speak while he tried to figure out what was happening to his resolve. "I don't know," he finally said uncertainly.

Ginny pressed on. "Ron told me that Elspeth's dad agreed to coach us. The fog will be gone and we'll be able to use that trick we were talking about with my hair clip. And with our new brooms, we could win the match."

"I completely forgot about the Quidditch tournament." Harry's uncertainty was now beginning to fade; he would much rather look forward to meeting Chudley than meeting the Dark Lord. "What about Fred and George? Did they ever say anything to you about helping us practice?"

"I forgot to ask, in all the fuss about Merope's grave and everything else. I'll owl them tonight."

Harry was smiling a little; he had decided, and it brought a great feeling of relief. "I think you have an excellent idea, but do you really have to send the owl tonight?"

She gave her answer, but not in words.

# # # #

The early morning sunlight came through a window across the room. Its reflection off the window near the sofa woke Ginny up. She was squeezed between the back of the sofa and Harry, who was still asleep, barely balanced on the edge. She sat up and looked around, but no one else was in the common room. She felt a moment of panicky guilt, but then she giggled. They were not at the Burrow, her mum was not about to break down the door and catch them doing something, and she would not have to answer questions or have a scene.

She stroked Harry's forehead, and let her finger linger on his scar. He opened his eyes, and smiled, but abruptly sat up. He picked his glasses off the floor and put them on.

"Did we actually sleep here?" he said.

"Uh–huh."

"Well." He paused. "Are you okay?"

"Of course," she smiled. "Why wouldn't I be?"

"Well." He paused again. "I don't know."

"So your vocabulary shrinks in the morning. Very interesting."

Harry laughed. "And you're very witty in the morning."

"Not just in the morning." They both smiled.

"This is very domestic," Harry said.

"I think I better go upstairs and change." Ginny got up and started to walk away, but she stopped and bent down and kissed him, then hurried up the stairs to her room. Harry sat for a moment, staring at the door she had gone through. He went to the window and looked out over the grounds for a few minutes, then went up to his own room and lay wide-awake on his bed until Ron woke up for breakfast.