Of Werewolf and Man
for all my lovely reviewers
26.
The House Tables have been pushed back; the Great Hall was full of nervous Slytherins in their nightgowns. Harry and Lupin slipped in unnoticed easily and stood in the corner, beside a pale-faced Pansy Parkinson whom Bellatrix Lestrange had just impersonated.
"Hogwarts," spoke professor McGonagall in a clear, crisp voice, "has been infiltrated."
The crowd stirred; several Slytherins turned pale and Pansy Parkinson looked positively sick.
"We have just had an attack," continued professor McGonagall as she scanned the faces of her students, "and a possibility remain that there are impostors amongst you."
There were several gasps, but most of the students just looked blank. Professor Slughorn in particular was agitated; he looked like he was unable to prevent his hand from twitching.
"In order to maintain security at Hogwarts," said professor McGonagall sharply, "we will conduct a test in an attempt to identify any impostors."
Even more murmuring – Pansy Parkinson was tiptoeing to the door, but not before at least three wands pointed at her:
"Don't move!"
Trembling, she raised her hand to the air and wailed: "It's not me! I don't know anything!"
"That, shall be decided by the teachers," said professor McGonagall coldly. "If you'd kindly step up here, I'll take you to questioning personally – stay where you are, girl!"
But it was too late; Pansy Parkinson made a launch at the gate and let out a desperate scream – she looked like she was forced down from behind by an invisible person and thrown to the ground.
"Nice one, Moony," whispered Harry, who had saw a flash of a light from Lupin's direction.
Professor McGonagall glanced thoughtfully at the corner where they hid, but decided not to pursue further. Pansy Parkinson was escorted by an aghast looking Slughorn to the back, bounded by silvery ropes, tears pouring uncontrollably out of her eyes.
"Many of you may not realise," said Professor McGonagall dryly, "but us teachers are rather good at magic." She glared around and many lower-years flinched. "Do not attempt anything foolish, you will only hurt yourselves. I assure you that if you are not an impostor, the test will be harmless."
One by one the students divided into groups; the lower years in particular were looking terrified. It was the largest gathering of teachers in Hogwarts by far, every staff that had worked with Slytherins took a group of students that they knew best and disappeared into an empty classroom for questioning. At last, Professor McGonagall and Slughorn was left in the Great Hall with Pansy Parkinson, and the presence of two professors against one student seemed to terrify her further.
Professor McGonagall flicked her wand and Pansy was able to speak again, she trembled uncontrollably in her chair: "I – I don't know – anything – anything – I swear…"
"Control your tears, Miss. Parkinson," said professor McGonagall coldly, "if you do not know anything then you have nothing to fear."
Professor Slughorn looked unsure whether he should comfort her or not, his hand was placed awkwardly on the spine of her chair.
Professor McGonagall bent low and stared into her eyes.
"Where, did you finally have the pleasure of killing your cousin?"
She spoke in a harsh, cold voice that was almost unlike hers, and Harry's stomach turned unpleasantly. Both Professor Slughorn and Pansy Parkinson looked completely blank.
"My – my cousin? I – professor – I never killed anyone!"
Professor McGonagall took out her wand and Pansy flinched; but judging from her hand movement Harry knew that she was merely performing anti-magical concealment spells.
"No! Don't hurt me – it wasn't me - I'll tell you everything! Professor! Stop it!"
Harry saw professor McGonagall's hand stall in surprise; he knew that Pansy had made a grave mistake. She was obviously not Bellatrix Lestrange who had impersonated her, but she also knew something – he watched as professor McGonagall's expression grew stonier by the second.
"Very well then," she said finally, "explain yourself."
In between terrified sobs, Pansy Parkinson managed to get out a sentence:
"Be-Bellatrix Lestrange was h-here, wasn't s-she? She came to my house l-last week, and mum said she took my – my hairbrush…"
Professor Slughorn let out a low groan.
"S-she mentioned something a-about a plan, t-told me that I – I should pre-pretend that I'm going to the Halloween party but hi-hide instead…"
She let out a desperate wail. "I don't know what happened! I don't know what she did! She threatened my mum!"
There was a long pause in which no one said anything save Parkinson's broken, horrified sobs. Harry's mind was whirling fast, McGonagall's shrilling cry hung over his head like an inescapable hallucination:
Hogwarts have been infiltrated.
Slowly professor McGonagall rose and walked out of the Great Hall, leaving a shaken Slughorn behind in desperate attempt to calm Parkinson down.
"We need to tell McGonagall -"
There was no need to finish the sentence, Harry felt a gravitational pull and knew that Lupin was going after her as well. They sprinted up the stairs and squeezed together tightly in the small space that was the stairs ascending to the Headmistress's Office, finally revealing themselves when professor McGonagall closed the door.
"Professor -"
She did not seem at all surprised at the two person suddenly appearing out of the thin air in her office, but merely raised an eyebrow.
"Apologies, Minerva, but we believe we might have important information," said Lupin quickly.
Professor McGonagall looked alarmed. "You mean – you don't say – you were there?"
"Yeah, I stunned Crabbe," Harry waved a hand almost impatiently, "the point is that someone -" he glanced towards Lupin's direction and saw that the man gave the tiniest shake of the head and swallowed the name that came to his lips, "someone saw those Death Eaters…"
Professor McGonagall listened attentively as Harry retold what Romulus had told them, her expression aghast by the end of it.
"They use their own children…they use their children…"
"Simply revolting," said a voice on the wall.
Harry looked around, once again the paintings were awake and listening – the wizard with the ear trumpet was the one who spoke, and several witches beside him nodded furiously. He saw Dumbledore immediately – he looked deep in thought.
"These attacks," Harry said suddenly, the idea that was bugging him seemed to jump out of his mouth on its own accord, "have certain similarities."
Dumbledore looked at him, the old man was smiling his approval. Harry glanced around, Lupin was looking sideways at him, professor McGonagall was frowning, the rest of the paintings looked eager to find out more.
"None of them were fatal," said Harry quietly, "and the Death Eaters all retreated before any real damage was done."
He paused briefly. "It would appear as if – as if it was a – publicity stunt," he looked at Dumbledore and saw the old man nodding, "these attacks are sort of half-hearted…"
"Characteristically Voldemort," said professor McGonagall dryly. "Terror."
But Harry was not totally convinced; he felt as if these attacks were pieces of a puzzle which only seemed to get bigger every time a new piece was found – the fact that the attack coincided with the fake Death Eater appearance was bugging him… he knew that the plan was given a go-ahead because the Weasley Twins were in the Order and the teachers trusted them… was it possible that they were careless and was overheard in Hogsmeade? Or even – Harry's mind turned to ice as he thought about the possibility – that they were Confunded into suggesting such a thing…
"All Hogsmeade trips will have to be cancelled," said professor McGonagall at last, "the security of the castle has to be strengthened yet again -"
She looked at Lupin in the eye. "It is also my understanding that a piece of – of artefact with the name the Marauders Map is within your possession, Remus."
Lupin looked surprised. "That- that is true, Minerva."
"May we borrow it briefly, to seal off secret passages in and out from school?" her tone was not unkind but commanding, and Harry knew that she was not to be disobeyed. He pulled out the map and laid it on the table, tapping it slightly and muttering under his breath:
"I solemnly swear that I'm up to no good."
As ink dots began to spread across the parchment, professor McGonagall looked weary.
"An extraordinary piece of magic, no doubt," she glanced towards Lupin, "I take it that you will not be happy if our caretaker confiscated it again?"
Lupin replied with a curious hint of bemusement in his voice: "No, I wouldn't be happy if that happened."
"Then I shall tend to it," said professor McGonagall crisply, "it is also my advice that you two stay in your dormitory until we are absolutely sure that no impostors lurked in Hogwarts."
There was a knock on the door and they quickly pulled on their Cloak again just to be safe; but only professors entered.
"Crabbe and Goyle are missing," reported a reproachful-looking professor Sprout, "according to their friends they had been acting odd ever since they returned from Hogsmeade last week."
"Naturally, naturally…" professor Slughorn rubbed his hands together looking both agitated and regretful, "but Minerva – are you sure that we don't need to check the other Houses? I mean – it seems unfair that -"
Professor McGonagall stared at him, the paintings snorted and Slughorn seemed humiliated enough to not to raise any more protests. But his words seemed to give Dumbledore an idea – he ordered sharply from above:
"Minerva, if you'd kindly check the teachers -"
But Dumbledore never managed to finish his sentence; there was a loud blast and his painting was no more than a huge black hole. Angry outbursts came from the paintings on the wall, and they looked in horror as renewed fights broke out in the Headmistress's Office: at least a dozen of wands were raised together but they could find no aim, professor Burbage – the Muggle Studies teacher – cried "Slughorn!" and wands instinctively pointed to him, who spluttered and ducked out of the way as three Stunning Spells and one Body-Binding spell came his way –
"NO! It was NEVER me! You LIE!"
Slughorn was looking around wildly, he seemed to be searching for his accuser rather than looking for an exit, a reaction that had temporarily proven his innocence. Professor McGonagall waved her wand and barricaded the door – there was no way out then.
"Do not panic," she said in a slightly shaky voice, "we will each declare something that is private to us – lower your wands -"
"What about you, Minerva? Why won't you lower your wand first?"
It was Burbage who spoke again, her expression was wildly disconcerted. Professor McGonagall turned towards her:
"Alright, you may go first, Charity – what is the name of the book you borrowed from me three weeks ago?"
Professor Burbage looked temporarily blank, then spoke clearly: "I never borrowed a book – it was the entire collection of September's Transfiguration Today,wasn't it?"
Professor McGonagall nodded her approval and turned towards Slughorn.
"Your favourite food?"
"Cry-Crystallised Pineapples," replied Slughorn weakly.
Professor McGonagall was about to turn to Trelawney, who stood next to Slughorn, when Harry saw it – he felt a jerk next to him and knew that Lupin saw it too – but before any of them could react, Burbage shouted again:
"What about you? Minerva? Prove that you are yourself!"
Professor McGonagall looked defeated. "Ask away, then -"
She lowered her wand by a fraction, which was all that the impostor needed – but both Harry and Lupin was ready, they cried in unison:
"STUPEFY!"
As heads turned wildly in all directions, two jets of red light hit professor Trelawney square in the chest and she crashed into the wall headfirst.
"B-but – Sybil!"
Slughorn looked repulsed, McGonagall surprised, the rest utterly bewildered. Harry and Lupin revealed themselves and received another round of wand-pointing, exclaiming and explaining – it was not until after they've each been asked to perform a Patronus did the noise die down a little.
"Harry – m'boy? How did you -?"
Harry ignored him; he stared at professor McGonagall in the eye.
"We saw her Confounding professor Burbage."
Another moment of silence, then McGonagall's features contracted – Harry knew that she understood. She turned around sharply and picked up Trelawney's wand:
"Priori Incantatem."
They watched again in silence as Harry's words were confirmed – the last spell performed on Trelawney's wand was indeed a Confundus Charm. She then did the same thing to Burbage's wand and found that the last spell performed was the Blasting Curse.
"But – I never -"
Professor Burbage looked nonplussed, her pupils were dilating and contracting in an odd fashion. Professor McGonagall patted her on the shoulder.
"Poppy," she indicated Madame Pomfrey, "if you could take her to the Hospital wing -"
"Clever trick, clever trick, who would've thought…" Slughorn was staring at Trelawney in regret as Madame Pomfrey led Burbage away, then McGonagall addressed him next:
"Horace," - Slughorn jumped - "kindly bring me a bottle of Veritaserum."
As Slughorn left the Office, Professor McGonagall raised her wand again. She did a complicated movement around Trelawney's face and they watched the Divination professor change: her hair was rapidly changing into a darker colour, her features became more pronounced, her cheekbone became hallow and she appeared to be sullen, yet more evil…
Harry felt the Invisibility Cloak covering him again; Lupin had pulled him into a corner.
"Stay put," whispered the man in his ear.
With a long and painful intake of breath the woman in Trelawney's place woke, it was Bellatrix Lestrange yet again.
"It was foolish of you to return tonight," said professor McGonagall curtly, wand aloft, pointing at Lestrange's face. For a moment Lestrange's eyes crossed as she tried to see what was in front of her nose – then she let out a shrilly laugh.
"Think you can hold me, Minerva?" she stared straight into McGonagall's eye, "Your time might be better spent saving those pathetic, revolting student of yours… and the foolish old bat who claim she can see the future…"
The rest of the professors stirred; they remembered that Trelawney, like the rest of them, took a group of students to question. Professor McGonagall took a step back and spoke slowly yet clearly:
"Pomena, if you'd go check on Sybil, she barely leaves the Divination Tower anyway…where did you left the students?"
Bellatrix stared at McGonagall; her eyes were bloodshot and menacingly red. "You think I would tell? You think, I would betray his trust?"
Professor McGonagall replied dryly, "you may not have choice."
Upon that precise moment Slughorn returned with a bottle of clear liquid in his hand, panting, his round face covered with cold sweat.
"Veritaserum?" Bellatrix laughed again, "Why don't you just use your wand – make it easier, won't you, Minerva"
Professor McGonagall forced her head back and said coldly: "Unlike you, Bellatrix, Dumbledore's supporters are not keen on -"
She was cut short by a sharp knock on the door.
"Students out of bed! Students out of bed! They are revolting!"
Filch's voice was cracked, he sounded desperate and horrified. Something, or someone, was screeching in the distance, and Mrs. Norris scratched on the door - there was a moment of pause and Bellatrix seized her chance –
"Confringo!"
The backside of the Headmistress's Office exploded; many paintings screamed and its characters scurried out of the way, there was a shower of debris upon Harry – he turned around only in time to cast a Shield Charm before he was pulled almost painfully into Lupin's arms – and he felt that Lupin covered him with his own body.
In the small space that was once a neat, intriguing Office chaos reigned; professor McGonagall was furious. Almost twenty wands pointed at Bellatrix at once – but she was too quick, she ducked out of the Stunning Spell's way. Instead of stunning the Death Eater, they toppled the barrier on the door and Bellatrix was able to run free -
"STOP HER!"
"Wh-Do-?"
But Filch was stunned and discarded immediately; no one seemed to care about his splutter. Professor McGonagall's voice was high-pitched and fearful, and Harry knew why… a deranged Death Eater such as Bellatrix Lestrange running in the castle could mean the end for Hogwarts…
A horde of professors jumped after her; Harry and Lupin, after scrambling up from the debris-covered floor, followed suit.
They ran from the second floor corridor upwards; there were sound of footsteps and muffled cries everywhere - Bellatrix swiftly turned a corner and disappeared out of sight.
"What – where - "
"There's a secret passage here! Follow me!" Harry shouted, no longer caring about exposing himself. He threw off the Invisibility Cloak and pushed behind a life-sized portrait – it revealed a dark tunnel and distant footsteps could be heard –
"IMPEDIMENTA!"
There was another chorus of curses and one, if not all, of them seemed to hit target: there was a crash and a loud groan from the inside of the tunnel. Professor McGonagall sped along the way, her wand brilliantly lit and aloft in mid-air until she reached the target – Bellatrix was sitting, crouched near the wall and hiccoughing.
"You think – I would – betray him?" her expression seemed strangely disconcerted, "you think I would betray – hic – the Minister of Magic?"
There was something in her words that made everyone stop; professor McGonagall looked utterly bewildered.
"The Minister of Magic?"
Bellatrix let out a painful yell and her face bubbled like hot wax: she was shrinking rapidly into a toad-like figure. Her skin was no longer pale, features more rounded, her fingers became stubby and her clothes changed into the brightest pink.
"Dolores Umbridge," said Professor McGonagall, half-shocked, half-bemused.
They all looked on perplexed; as unpleasant as Umbridge might be, there were no evidence of her being a Death Eater.
"A double disguise?" enquired professor Sprout, her bushy eyebrow nearly disappearing off into her hair.
"Is the Ministry infiltrated too?" squeaked professor Flitwick, he looked positively worried.
"We will find out," replied professor McGonagall calmly, she pointed her wand at Umbridge and murmured, "Enervate."
As the toad-like woman stirred, Harry quickly ducked out of sight – there was no need for the Minister to know his presence at Hogwarts. He turned around; Lupin was staring at Umbridge with apprehension, yet Harry could tell there was some truth dawning on him… it could not have been pleasant, for Lupin looked worried…
"What am I doing here?" demanded Umbridge sharply, she looked around and was positively alarmed. "Minerva McGonagall? Wha-what is this? Where am I? Are you planning an ambush on Ministry Officials?"
Professor McGonagall pursed her lips. "Imperiused, no doubt," she said curtly and waved her wand, and with a heavy thud Umbridge fell unconscious once more.
There was again horrified silence; the turn of events in the last few hours was more than what anyone could digest. The muffled footsteps and cries came nearer – they looked behind, there were definitely students out of bed…and they did not seem like their usual self.
"Potter, Remus, I expect you two to return to your dormitory at once," ordered McGonagall sharply, "Pomena, Horace, kindly divide up and calm down the students – detentions won't be necessary in this case -"
"Of course, Minerva -"
"But – professor -"
"Listen to me, Potter!" Professor McGonagall was pale, her eyes seemed unusually deep in the eerie shade of blue emitted from her wand, "the students do not need to know that you are here! Do you understand?"
Harry felt a tug on his arm and recognised defeat, before he could say anything the horde of professors disappeared out of the other side of the tunnel.
"Come on, Harry," said Lupin softly, "we need to get back…"
But they had only walked a few steps when they knew that something was wrong: the footsteps were clattering nearer.
"Was – was Umbridge running to meet the students?"
Harry voiced both of their concern; if that was indeed why Umbridge ran into the tunnel then all the teachers have gone to the wrong direction.
"Harry – you must not be seen -"
There was another series of horrified screams and the students drew nearer – the tunnel was not big enough for them to pass through and many scrambled, they were about to crash right into where Harry and Lupin stood. He felt a heavy push and instantly plastered himself on the wall; he knew Lupin was doing exactly the same thing on the opposite side. One by one the students scattered by, they all had the same wild, disconcerted look on their face as if something terrible was chasing them – Harry was pushed, squeezed backwards and forwards in the now overcrowded tunnel, he could only hold on to the Cloak for dear life –
Then there was a sharp turn; Harry fell backwards onto the ground as his back suddenly lacked support. His hand touched something cold and limp, his inside immediately turned into ice – it felt like a body… a dead body…
"Lumos!"
Harry stared; the grey, opaque, unseeing eyes that gazed back at him was that of Remus Lupin's. His mind and body seemed to stop working altogether for a few seconds, then the feeling of being plummeted from the highest tower straight into the icy Great Lake… it could not have been… Lupin was with him a second ago, he was under the Invisibility Cloak… he could not be dead…
"Harry?"
He jumped; his entire body seemed to come back to life at the familiar call of his name. Harry turned around and saw Lupin running towards him, his Invisibility Cloak was lopsided again and he looked alarmed. He stared down at the dead Lupin on the ground – his mind seemed to be wrapped in a thick fog - then he understood.
"It's – it's a Boggart -"
Lupin pulled out his wand. "Harry, stand aside -"
"N-no, it's OK, I'll – ri-riddikulus!"
Crack. The dead Lupin began twitching in the ground, the real Lupin stared down at it – then, in a calm, determined voice, he spoke:
"Riddikulus."
The Boggart vanished in a puff of smoke.
"It's gone…Harry…it's OK…"
Harry was staring at the spot where the Boggart lay a moment ago; he seemed unable to move or speak again. Lupin's long, slender finger wiped his face, and Harry realised that he was crying silently – the image of Lupin's dead body seemed to burn on his retina…
"Too much sacrifice," he said finally in a soft voice.
Lupin pulled him close and examined his face, there was evident worry in his eyes. Harry gazed back at him, he looked unusually calm, yet he was not able to control physically his free flow of tears.
"People tend to die when they try to protect me," said Harry quietly, "my parents… Sirius… Dumbledore… and I really, really don't want that to happen…"
The rest of his words was drowned in Lupin's tight, almost painful embrace.
"Harry, you mustn't think – it's not, it's never your fault -"
"I don't want it to happen again," said Harry in an oddly determined voice, as if oblivious to what Lupin was trying to say. "I don't want any more sacrifices…"
Especially not you, he added silently.
"There will be a time," continued Harry calmly, "when I won't just be protected, but I can protect others too."
He was smiling; a gentle, determined smile that very much resembled Lupin's.
"There will be," repeated Lupin in the same calm and gentle voice.
Outside the castle, a new sun was rising. The long, troublesome night was finally over, and they walked together back to their dormitory – Harry felt secured, once again, as Lupin remained silent beside him; and he knew that if there was one person who could understand both of his desires and fears, it would be his bond-sharer.
A/N: The chapters are getting longer and longer oO I hope I won't tire anyone.
Two continuous chapters on fighting scenes, it is rare, no? I hope I've done them fair...there will be more coming as the plot intensifies lol.
Next chapter: They will get a brief moment outside of Hogwarts. Just because I want to see Hogsmeade again, XD
PS. I've decided that my 100th reviewer could ask me for a request scene. mm. nothing to do with the plot too much though... i think there might be room for some more fluff...so? -hopeful-