Chapter 13

Conversations and Confrontations

"Mr. Potter!"

Harry turned and saw Snape walking towards him. He smiled and inclined his head. "Professor Snape."

As he walked towards Harry, Severus looked for an empty place to speak privately. He moved his head towards an empty classroom and entered it. Harry followed within a heartbeat.

"Harry."

"Severus. I believe you have some information for me." Harry took a seat upon an empty desk and Severus raised his wand. He produced several silencing and privacy charms and took a seat in one of the empty chairs.

"The Erasing Potion and the Fear Fever Potion are both ready for use. Have you had any word from Jack yet?"

Harry shook his head. "I'm afraid not, but I'm expecting him any minute. Thanks for the potions. I think I'll take two flasks of each with me, incase I miss."

Snape raised one eyebrow. "Very funny mister Potter. Those potions took me forever to make so I hope, for your sake, that you don't miss." And with that he cancelled the spells and walked away.

…………………………………

The darkness was coming in fast, telling everyone that winter was approaching. Harry was walking around the lake, waiting for Jack to return to Hogwarts so they could start their plans. He looked up when he heard someone walking towards him. A dark figure walked towards him, slowly getting more visible as the figure moved closer.

"Harry?" Ginny was standing right before him. She had removed her school uniform and was wearing an old shirt of the Harpies and jeans. Her coat was hanging around her and her red hair was tight in a ponytail.

Harry smiled. "Hey Gin, is everything alright?" He took her hand and pulled her a bit closer.

"I was just wondering… your leaving soon aren't you?"

Harry was silent and stared into her eyes. She seemed to want to look into his head as her eyes searched his. "Yes," he said in a whisper. "I am leaving soon."

There was a long silence after that, each searching for a hint in the others eyes. But the minutes seemed to pass by as the wind that blew around them. Without warning they moved closer and brought their mouth together. The kiss started soft but became more and more passionate by the minute.

Harry moved his hands towards Ginny's hairs, while hers were wrapped around his waist. Their body's touched every few second, moving in the rhythm of their kiss. And when they broke apart they were both out of breath but smiling like mad.

But before either of them could say anything at all, a voice called out to them. "Potter, no snogging in public!"

They both turned to the direction of the voice. Jack was standing a few feet away from them, almost invisible by in the darkness that surrounded him. Ginny and Harry were grinning at him and he rolled his eyes. "Lets get inside before either of us catches pneumonia."

They entered the school in silence. Dinner had just ended, but Jack was hungry from his trip so they decided to visit Dobby. After a good meal and some light talk, they decided that it was time for actions.

"Let's go to Dumbledore. He needs to know where we'll be going and maybe he can round up a few people for backup," Harry said as they exited the kitchens.

"Do you think that's wise? He may want to interfere," Jack said as they mounted the first steps.

Harry nodded and Ginny said: "Of course we should let Dumbledore know where you two are going. He's a master in magic, he could be of some use."

"Gin, Dumbledore may be a great man for the light side but he is a master in manipulation. Letting him know where we are going is one thing, but letting him in on the whole plan would be a grave mistake."

Ginny stared at him, disbelieve clearly shown in her eyes. "I thought you believed in Dumbledore. How can you be so cruel to him?"

"You'll see," was the only thing Harry said to her as they entered the hallway to Dumbledore's office. As the three of them stood before the Gargoyle they came to the conclusion that none of them had the password.

"You've got to be kidding me!" Jack half yelled. "I thought you at least knew the password."

Harry looked at him blackly as if he had expected the same. "Well, it won't be that hard. We just have to name every sweet we know."

So they settled for saying a sweet in turns. What they hadn't expected was that it would be a sweet only Jack knew.

"Honey-balloon is a funny sort of honey ball that seems to explode every once in awhile in you mouth," he explained.

Harry knocked and through the door came a muffled 'open'. They entered with grace and smiled their most charming smiles at Dumbledore, except Ginny who was grinning nervously.

"Ah, you have come to tell me that you are leaving?" Once again, Dumbledore seemed to be completely aware of the situation.

"We have and we might need assistance," Harry said in a business like tone, but still standing in a child-like stance. "Professor Snape was so kind to assist me in making the potions but it would be unwise to ask him to come along in this mission. That's why we ask for Remus and Sirius who are both experienced in the field."

Dumbledore nodded. "You have my permission, but I'm afraid that their judgement will be clouded for your safety. Minerva will be glad to assist you and maybe a few Aurors."

Jack shook his head and Harry said: "I'm sorry professor but I've already discussed this with Sirius and Remus and they are willing to help me."

Dumbledore seemed to be taken aback by this, but he recovered quickly and smiled. "I think I can find a replacement for our Dark Arts Teacher and our Medical Art Teacher. Still if there is anything I can do…?" His voice was holding an underlying longing of wanting to help.

Harry smiled. "You are needed here in the school professor. We appreciate it, but we do not want Hogwarts under attack may we lose." Sure he had his doubts in the headmaster, but when it came to protecting the school Dumbledore was the best choice.

Dumbledore nodded. "I understand my boy. When you need anything, just call for Fawkes. I'm sure he'll hear you."

Jack walked towards him and reached out his hand. "It was a pleasure meeting you professor. I hope we'll meet again some day."

Dumbledore smiled and shook the hand. "It was a pleasure meeting you too Jack. And good luck to the four of you. We'll be awaiting your return."

……………………………………

Harry, Jack, Sirius and Remus were standing in the shadows of a great oak. It was the only one on the field, but it was all they needed for the night. The moon was casting a pale light on the grass that seemed to move in the cold wind. Sirius blew his hand warm and rubbed them together.

"How long are we going to stand here and do nothing?" he whispered, but his voice carried far in the open field though there was no one besides his companions to hear him.

Harry chuckled. "We can always run all the way to the other side on the field and do our preparations there."

"Ha, ha, ha," Sirius replayed sarcastically. "I can't even see the other side of the field. This is probably the only tree in this area."

"I'm so proud of you Sirius," Remus said in a fake proud voice. "Had you noticed that all on your own?"

"Shut it Moony or people will get hurt," Sirius growled.

Harry and Jack laughed. "When you two have finished arguing," Harry said after he had calmed down a little. "Let's get to work."

And so they started on their plan to bring Voldemort down. Or bring them down.

A/N: You are all welcome to kill me. I have been so out of it. I know the plan and I know what I want to write, but I can't seem to be able to put in on paper. But the vacation is over, so I have enough time to think things over and my English professor doesn't mind. ('.') But I have three more chapter to go and then it's finished so be warned.