"Name?"
"Harry James Potter."
>
"Hermione Jane Granger."
>
"Do I have to give you my full name?"
"Name please."
"Ronald Bilious Weasley. But if you tell anyone, I'll deny it."
>
"Where were you when the blast went off?"
"I was in History of Magic. I really need to go check on my family."
"You won't be shown any special treatment because of your fame, I assure you. You're to be questioned like everyone else." Harry glared at him, and before he could rein it in something reacted, and the stone that lay beneath the Auror's feet screamed and shattered, caving slightly. The man grabbed the table and looked down in slight surprise and a little fear, looking back up into Harry's eyes.
>
"Where were you during the blast?"
"I was in History of Magic. We were learning about the financial aspect-"
"That's enough." Hermione glared at him as he paced in front of her. "What caused the blast?"
"I haven't the slightest idea. I was in class when it happened. I don't have eyes in the back of my head or on my feet." She said hotly, crossing her arms.
>
"History of Magic."
"What was the lesson?"
"Honestly, I haven't a clue."
"Don't pay attention in class?"
"You're not going to tell my teachers, are you?" The Auror sighed and looked down at the piece of parchment in his hand.
"Do you know what caused the blast?"
"Nope. Sorry."
>
"What's that on the side of your glasses?" Harry looked back at him evenly.
"What are you talking about?" The Auror leaned in close, looking at the stem of his spectacles.
"It's a little star..."
>
"It's just a bracelet."
"It's not the first star I've seen." The Auror said, and Hermione smiled innocently.
"They're in the sky."
"On jewelry. You know, your smart mouth isn't going to get you out of this any sooner."
"And what is "this" exactly?"
>
"Oh, it's a joke."
"You're not the only one who has that star."
"I know. It's a fashion statement. We're against the misuse of spinach."
"Of… spinach?"
"Yep…Spinach."
> > > > >
"A right arse he was." Ron sat in his chair, looking around the table. The whole AA, senior and junior was present, discussing the predicament.
"I got a woman. She never did tell me her name." Parvati said, shrugging her shoulders. "I think she was trying to insult me."
"You wouldn't be the first or the last." Neville grimaced. Harry looked up out of his reverie and looked at Mahari leaf through her book that Xantha gave her. The twins were asleep in their floating baby carriage, in the corner on the other side of the room, so the talking would rouse them.
The only time that Mahari and the twins were out of his sight was during his utterly ridiculous interrogation. Just thinking about it made him sick to his stomach. He didn't like lying, but in all honesty he didn't know who caused the explosion.
Parvati sighed. "We're being watched all the time, and my squad is still looking into the last few suspects we have." Mahari looked up quickly, turning around in her seat and peering at the empty air.
"What's wrong love? Are you alright?" Harry asked, taking her hand. She snapped back to the present, and smiled shakily.
"I'm fine; I just thought there was someone behind me. I guess it's just… I don't know…" Mahari shook it off and went back to reading. Harry looked at her for a moment longer and turned back to the group.
"Alright… we know what we need to do." He said heavily.
"It's kind of hard with the Aurors around, don't you think? They're holding their own investigation, and if we're conducting ours, they'll notice." Daphne rubbed her temples, a headache forming. "I wish I hadn't opened my mouth in front of Fudge."
"You and me both. I was questioned about what you said, and what I said." Ron smiled for the first time in the meeting. "They asked me about the star, and I told them excuse number 12."
"So did I. He didn't believe me." Blaise sneered, looking off into the distance. "I have a hunch."
"Do you?" Anthony leaned forward. "Who?"
"I don't want to say, until I do some checking out. You understand."
"No. We're on the same team!"
"Anthony, leave him alone." Corner looked up and glared at Goldstein. "This is what they want. For us to fight against each other, and then we'll crack. I don't want to crack."
"You're right. I'm sorry Blaise." Anthony said begrudgingly.
"It's fine. I'm going to head off, because I want to find out who did this. We have to stay in the Great Hall." Dean nodded shortly and watched the Slytherin leave the room. Mahari looked up and around again, standing up and putting her hand on the sword at her hip.
"What is it?" Hermione asked, standing as well.
"Someone is here." Parvati looked around and pulled out the Marauder's Map.
"I solemnly swear that I'm up to no good." Tapping the parchment the map filled in, and they looked at the room. "Alastor Moody?" She said in disbelief. Mahari frowned and unsheathed her sword, but it was a different sword than the one she used for fencing. It was pronged, splitting off in the middle of the blade. "Terry, Michael, get the door!" Parvati turned and pointed at the only exit. The two boys covered it immediately, wands drawn and looking intently at the space directly in front of them.
"Hermione, Ginny, cover the children's ears." Mahari said urgently.
"What?"
"Cover their ears! I'm about to unmask Mr. Moody." The two girls ran over to the stroller, Hermione grabbing Max and Ginny picking up Mera, both covering their ears. Mahari tapped the end of her sword on the ground, and swung it in the air in a wide arc. Harry knew that Moody had plenty of time to either duck or step out of the way, but he wasn't expecting the… the only word for it would be silence that burst from the end of her sword. It blew everything around with a hard blast of non sound, smoothing all noise… and an invisibility cloak flew into the air, leaving a slightly surprised Mad Eye standing there, probably for the first time in his life stumped.
Within his next heartbeat he was feeling the cool touch of steel against his neck. "What do you think Harry, should we kill him?" Dean laughed nervously from around the table. "Constant vigilance and all?"
"What are you children playing at? What do you think-" Tedros cut him off by slamming his fist into the side of the ex-Auror's head, watching the older man crash to the stone floor. Harry groaned and sighed, turning to Daphne.
"You figure this one out. I don't even want to know. Come on Mahari, I'm about to crash."
> > > > >
"You cannot be serious Albus! You allowed this to happen?" Cornelius glared at the headmaster from the other side of his desk. Xantha stood beside the book shelf, looking at the old and rare volumes that were there. She smiled as she touched some… remembering when they were in first print.
"I have, and I don't see a problem." Fudge looked at the person calling herself Queen. She looked harmless enough, her high backed gown in deep black, with small diamonds adorning her sleeves spiraling downward to her wrists. Carelessly worn precious gems adorned the bottom of her dress, such an obvious display of wealth made the Minister swallow in intense envy… but what prickled at this pride was the crown she wore unabashedly upon her head.
He found himself staring into the beautifully cut moonstone set into the silver circlet, and it was taunting him, and his power of the wizarding population. "You wouldn't." Cornelius sneered, staring down the woman who came to rest in front of him, one hand casually on her sword hilt, which dripped with stones he did not recognize, multicolored dazzle.
"Why are you so against me? I did not bring harm to your school." Xantha said, crossing her arms.
"You're not aware of how we run things in the wizarding world. You're not human, and should have registered yourself, out of curtsey I might add, with the Magical Beasts Department-" Xantha snapped her fingers, and the Minister of Magic was robbed of speech.
"He's actually for real, isn't he?" She asked, a bit surprised.
"I am afraid so." Albus glared at the gaping man in front of him.
"What people will live with during war…" Xantha stepped back and snapped her fingers again, raising her hand before Fudge could say a word. "First of all, I am not a beast, and I do not believe that dignitaries address each other this way. Am I correct, or have wizards degraded to the point where they cannot express nor inspire respect?"
"Madam, I'll have you know that I am Cornelius Fudge, Minister of Magic for all of Great Britain. You haven't shown me proper respect since I've laid eyes on you."
"And you have gone out of your way to insult me and my family since you arrived at the castle. Let me tell you, you're not the only one with a title. We haven't been formally introduced. I am Xantha of Retora, High Queen of the Raven Court, Sorceress of the Northern Gate, and Keeper of the War Shadow. Now you no longer require my attention." With a turn of her head, she dismissed him, leaving Fudge to wonder what just happened. "Albus, I will stay here until your wards are up, or if you'll allow me, I can apply wards, and it will only take three days. It is a large facility you have here."
"You will do no such thing! Albus, I will see that you are fired, and ruined." Cornelius walked around her and leaned over the desk at the Headmaster.
"I think you're done Minister." He said coolly.
"That's why Umbridge was so needed, because you were over here with your own agenda. I wonder Albus, have you joined the Dark Lord?"
Dumbledore looked back at him and raised an eyebrow. "I refuse to call him so, because it gives him power. Riddle does not inspire my servitude, only my trepidation, for I fear that the current administration was too weak to wrest power to terrorize from a memory, then a man. What does that say for our leadership?"
"If I go down, you'll be coming with me. You're record isn't squeaky clean either!" He yelled, slamming his fist down.
"The difference between you and I, Minister, is that I'm willing to admit that I was wrong, and correct my mistakes as best I can. You continue to delude yourself that your mistakes were really inspired moments of clarity, and that is your downfall. You underestimated the people, and it will come back to haunt you."
"I speak for the people. Wait until you see the paper tomorrow." Fudge smiled tightly, and apparated with a crack. It was disconcerting, to watch someone apparate within the walls of Hogwarts, but with the wards gone, what was once impossible was now feasible. They had to make sure that no one else knew. Albus looked at the spot he vacated and sighed.
"You all make so much noise when you move. I'm surprised you're not all deaf." Xantha said, trying to lighten the mood.
"We cannot hear it as you undoubtedly do." Leaning back into his chair, Dumbledore steepled his hands underneath his chin and regarded the options in front of him.
"It is never as bleak as we think it to be." Albus looked at her and smiled.
"I appreciate that." Xantha looked slightly uncomfortable.
"I didn't get to finish. Sometimes it's a lot worse."
> > > > >
Mahari looked at herself in the mirror, dismayed. The glamour started to fade as soon as she closed the door behind them. It was no use trying to hide it. Her hair was no longer the lustrous black she had come to covet… but instead it was streaked with varying lengths and widths of silver, like dull pewter.
Her eyes were what scared her the most. Three colors of gray; mercury, platinum and sterling warred with each other around her pupil, giving her eyes a molten metal look that she wasn't comfortable with. It felt unnatural and perfectly normal at the same time, and in all honesty she didn't know what to do with herself.
The world felt new, and old at the same time… too much conflict was rushing around her head, and in her tightly wound display upstairs, it was all she could do to not drop her glamour forcefully in the hall. Then they would really have something to explain.
"You're not ugly." Tedros quipped, holding Meredith in his lap as he stared at the stones on the floor. They were back in the tower until their quarters became ready. Mahari looked over at him and wiped a tear away.
"I don't know what I look like."
"You look like you. You look like Grandma, and we both know she's not ugly, so you're not ugly." He reasoned.
"I wish I could explain what I'm feeling. It's not even just about the looks, although I think I look like I have a wig on my head now… but besides that, I feel something inside of me, something that feels like me, but isn't. And I'm scared."
Tedros looked down at his niece and nodded. "This is getting too dangerous for you here. Maybe you should talk to Harry about going to stay with Mr. and Mrs. Weasley. You'll be safer away from all the drama here."
"I don't want to leave Harry." She said softly.
"You might just have to, until everything dies down."
"And what about you?"
"What about me? I'm going to stay and fight." Tedros stopped and frowned. "Something's wrong."
"Where?" Mahari looked around and felt it too. "What is that?"
"Dad?" He asked, putting the baby in the bassinet that was transfigured from a log by a helpful McGonagall. "Grandma!" Xantha rose from the floor in a shadow, face grim. "What is that we're feeling?"
"My darlings, you need to sit down." Mahari shook her head and backed away.
"That's what you said when you realized that Mom was dying. I don't want you to start the conversation like that, because… because…." She shook her head. "I can't take it." Tedros fell onto the couch heavily, leaning his head against the back in listless apathy.
"What's wrong with Dad?"
"Your father has passed."
"What?" Tedros leaned forward again, and Mahari fumbled towards a chair, sitting down on the edge, putting her head in her hands.
"Don't make this harder than it has to be."
"Why not?" He stood angrily, crossing his arms. "You should have stopped it! You have the power to get to him, to get him away before it happened!"
"I can't do that. We all have our time on this planet." Xantha reached for him, but Tedros pulled away.
"No! I am sick of finding out that everything that we've have comes with some price… some sort of unseen little consequence that you failed to tell us about."
"I didn't know about this! And if I did, there was nothing I could have done about it!" His grandmother implored, touching her temples briefly.
"You could have told him to not get on the plane."
"Your father knew!"
"I don't believe you."
"He knew his time was up because he couldn't see anything past his plane trip. No life afterwards. He knew death was coming."
"He told me that he wanted me to come visit him in Ireland. Why would he say that if he knew he was going to die?" Mahari said hollowly, not looking up.
"I don't know child. I just know I had to help prepare him for the end. He died with no pain, and no regret besides leaving his children behind. But you do have me, and while I know I cannot replace your father, let alone your mother, I am here for you."
"Go to hell." Tedros hissed, walking around his grandmother and slamming the door behind him. It cracked the stone arch, crumbling small pieces onto the floor. Mahari looked back at Xantha with wide eyed shock, hand over her mouth.
"He didn't mean that." She whispered, still shocked. Xantha regarded her ruefully.
"He probably did."
"I'm sorry."
"Why are you sorry?" She pushed back the curtain of hair on Mahari's shoulder, when she jumped slightly, distracted and raw.
"I'm fine. I… I just need to get this place in order. Harry will be back in just a moment, and I want to make sure that everything is okay." Mahari convinced herself, standing up shakily and moving what scant things they were able to bring with them.
"Mahari, don't shove what you're feeling down deep. Now your emotions are going to be tied into your personal force, and I would hate to see it turn on you as I've seen it do to other Sidhe seven times stronger and older."
"I'm fine. You can go and see about Tedros though. I'm fine." She repeated, and Xantha sighed, looking away. When it rains it pours...
> > > > >
But she wasn't fine, and Harry was at a loss for what to do. With the Aurors showing up at their door almost every day to either run tests on Mahari or to ask them both questions, his nerves were frayed thinking about ways to show his wife she wasn't alone in everything… but as soon as he tried to make his thoughts into words, they wouldn't come out, and he ended up watching her swallow the grief. It had been three days since he had seen Tedros, and Ron said he spent most of his time sitting on the roof, the only way he could be reached was by broom. Harry volunteered to bring him food, to make sure he didn't starve, hoping to talk some sense into him, so he could help his sister.
But all Tedros did was take the food and stare at the sky, no sadness on his face, no emotion at all. He didn't speak, he barely acknowledged anyone who came up to see him. Hermione even braved a broom (riding behind Ron screaming in his ear) to come and check on her friend… but all he did was look at her and then look back at the sky.
Mahari barely noticed. She was listless, while trying to maintain her schedule. She took up Tedros' archery classes as well as her two fencing classes using two different swords; epee and rapier; Tribunal meetings when Harry couldn't make it, and spoke to students and members alike to make sure they were okay, even though she was going through a tragedy.
Harry recognized the look in her eyes; during the times they were actually in the same room long enough for him to stop moving and rest. It was the same look in his eyes he had when he went home last year…after losing Sirius. His conscience forced him to broach the subject. "Mahari, do you want to talk?" Harry wanted to kick himself. He remembered the anger he felt when people asked that stupid question.
"Talk about what?"
"What happened…" Harry ventured. Mahari looked at him, genuinely confused.
"What happened? Oh, are you talking about in my last fencing class? Blaise had it well under control. He's had experience fencing."
"That's not what I'm talking about Mahari."
"Then what are you talking about?" She asked irritably, turning the fire down on the stove. Straightening, she caught a wisp of his thoughts, and glared at him. "I'm fine."
"I don't think you are. I'm going to send you and the children away. I feel something coming, and it's really too dangerous for you to be here."
"It's too dangerous for anyone to be here."
"Don't fight this Mahari. I'm not going to budge." She looked up and frowned.
>
Hermione looked at Tedros in shock. He had just uttered the first words she had heard from him in over five days. "Pardon?" She asked, to make sure she heard him correctly.
"I killed him." Tedros turned onto his side and looked at her, picking with the roofing underneath him. Hermione shook her head… she did hear correctly.
"I don't know how you've come to that conclusion, but-"
"No, I didn't have to come to that conclusion. Don't patronize me Hermione; I'm as smart as you are, if not smarter. My grandmother told me that she went to the crash site."
"But how did you cause a plane to crash from halfway around the world? It crashed in New York right?"
"She said that it wasn't human error, and it reeked of wizard magic."
"Oh Tedros…." Hermione breathed. "The Death Eaters actions are not your fault."
"They used one of our exploding hex balls." She opened her mouth and closed it quickly.
"What?"
"You and I both know that the person, who caused the explosion here, gave whatever was left to someone on the outside… and when you think of it like that, it kind of narrows down the prospects doesn't it?"
"Oh no… we discounted them, because that's stupid, even for him!"
"Don't underestimate stupidity." Tedros stood up and shook his head. "I could have killed him when I had the chance. Before this happened, and my father would have been alive now if I had followed my instincts."
"It wouldn't have been right; at that point he hadn't done anything!" Hermione got to her feet shakily, and swallowed, forcing herself to ignore the fact that it was a long way down.
"I don't care. I feel like I'm broken. I lost my mother, and now my father. You don't understand how that feels… and to know that you could have probably stopped your father from dying, because you had the chance…"A silver lock appeared at both temples, and his eyes glimmered, but he closed them before she could get a good look … he was lost in his anger.
"Tedros, calm down! You're glowing!" The wind picked up around them, and Hermione whimpered slightly. She had asked Ron to come get her in forty five minutes, and he wouldn't arrive for another twenty at least. Backing away and grabbing the tip of a spire, with fearful eyes she watched Tedros bury his head in his hands and scream. A flash of silver washed over her as the wind ceased, and when Hermione opened her eyes, the ground was looming ahead.
>
It's odd, the details that stick out when something ghastly has happened. Harry remembered that most of the students weren't wearing their uniforms as they stood around on the moist dirt near the greenhouses. The fact that Parvati and Padma were wearing their hair the same way… Ron's green jumper… Ginny's tear streaked face… The way that the perfectly clear sky seemed to be mocking the horrible event that happened… It wasn't right. His right hand was gone, a piece of his heart ripped from him.
And Ron… Ron was a mess. His face was almost as red as his hair, the anguish written so clearly on his face, Harry wanted to chase everyone away… but his own body wasn't taking orders from his brain anymore. The last thing in the whole entire world that he expected to see was in front of him. Hermione's head lay in his lap, his best friend's body broken. Pomfrey was pale and resigned, her body language telling the crowd what they already knew…t here was nothing that could be done now.
"Harry? Harry…" He snapped out of the fog that enveloped his head and knelt down gently beside Ron, unable to take his eyes off of Hermione. To never again hear her upset with him, or exasperated… even though sometimes they fought as if there were no tomorrow, he would give anything for her to jump up and yell at him for not getting enough rest, or befriending the other Slytherin that had joined the DA…
"I'm sorry Ron." Forcing his eyes upwards, beyond the tight grip that the red head had on Hermione's hand, to look into his best friend's grief filled eyes, Harry took a deep breath and tried to make another complete sentence. "She… she…"
"She told me that if she had to die now, that she was glad it was in my arms, with me… so that she had something to remember, if she could remember… I don't know what I'm going to do Harry. It's not fair…" Ron looked over Harry's shoulder and tears started falling down his face. "Mahari she's dead!" He wailed.
Harry turned and was up in a second. "Mahari, I told you to stay with the twins." He hissed, grabbing her arm. Harry didn't want her to see the dead body, but it was all she could look at.
"How long ago did she die?" She whispered.
"Only a few minutes."
"Where's Tedros?" Harry pointed, and a form was lying against the castle walls, shaking with sobs. Mahari pushed out of her husband's arms to run to her brother. Taking his hands, his magic flickered her glamour, and it dropped completely as he looked into her eyes.
They were almost the same as hers, storm cloud, gray quartz, and pewter stared back at her, variations on a theme. "I didn't mean to 'Hari. I couldn't control it… and I… she didn't scream! I jumped to try and catch her… but I wasn't fast enough…"
"Shh…" Mahari closed her eyes and pulled her brother into her arms, rubbing his hair gently. "It's not your fault. We don't know when things like this happen. Don't you torture yourself, do you hear me?"
"You don't get it. She died because of me. I'm cursed." Tedros pulled back violently, tear stained. "I can't stay here. They're going to hate me."
"Don't you dare. I still need you. Mera and Max still need you." Mahari implored, looking into his eyes… but what she saw there didn't reassure her. He was going to do something rash and uncalled for… something that would probably hurt him. Kissing him on the forehead, she forced a thought onto his anguish, and Tedros' head lolled back, unconscious.
"What did you do?" Harry asked, wondering if it could be done to him as well.
"I just turned his grief into fatigue. He'll be out until he can work through this. And if I did that to you, I wonder if you would wake up…" Mahari rubbed her left hand absently, trying to ease the ache that was throbbing in her palm. She looked at Ron crouched over Hermione's body… one more death on top of all the death in her life right now… Her emotions had fled a while ago, leaving her as empty as she felt before her suicide attempt.
On impulse she walked over and knelt beside Hermione, and touched the aching palm to her dead friend's temple. Immediately she blacked out.
>
"Impossible."
"I saw it Professor!" Mahari floated towards a somewhat painful consciousness with irritation. Harry was yelling, therefore someone was being stupid.
"I understand that Mr. Potter, but we still have to examine her." She opened her eyes and found herself presented with two identical faces, both with red hair and freckles. Fred and George.
"I see you're awake." One said in a whisper, leaning over closer. All Mahari could do was smile slightly, and the other twin nodded.
"Harry's pissed… but he'll be glad you're awake. We're charged with guarding you while Harry has to deal with the big wigs."
"He's going to blow his top he is." There…. That slight change in his voice. It was Fred. George looked back at her and smiled again.
"But you'll be a bit of good news on top of some more good news. You're a hero. Or heroine."
"I think we have a lot to talk about, when you're able to talk Mahari. I have something that you'll find most interesting." Fred nodded, and George followed in concert, making Mahari wonder if there really wasn't just one person in front of her, and her horrible brain was causing her to see double. It wouldn't be the first time.
"Why is my arm bandaged?"
"Because it broke." She moved it experimentally, and found nothing wrong with it. Taking her fingernail, she ripped a small tear at the top, right above her elbow, and forced it open until her skin could breathe.
"I don't think you should be moving-" Fred frowned as George walked over to the other side, taking her arm and helping her up.
"-but since you're dead set on it, why don't we be gentlemen and help you." His twin finished smugly.
"Thanks… I hear Harry, but where is he?" Mahari stuck her tongue out just to make sure it hadn't been replaced with cotton while she was out.
"On the other side of the curtain. Too many ogles… you've created quite a stir young lady."
"Please don't say "young lady", because it's a really poor attempt to sound mature."
"Damn. She's-"
"-found our plan-"
"-and it sucks." George finished. Mahari smiled again and stretched, throwing off a chill that was traveling down her spine and taking the scenic route.
"How long was I out? What happened?" The curtain was thrown back, and she blinked with the advent of additional light. The twins took one look at Harry and decided to leave quickly.
"See you Harry, in the room… later…" Fred said hastily, beating a path out of the infirmary, nodding at Ginny and Cho posted up at the door. Harry barely gave them a nod as he couldn't take his eyes off of Mahari.
"Please don't look at me like that." She said irritably, rubbing her shoulders through the gown she wore. Apparently Harry had her redressed, because she wasn't wearing the green corduroy pants and black sweater she remembered wearing before everything went heavy and dark.
"What? That's what you have to say to me? What in bloody hell is wrong with you? Do you have a death wish?" He asked, closing the curtain back, leaving out a surprised Dumbledore.
"What are you talking about?"
"You don't remember what happened?" Mahari shook her head in the negative. Harry forced himself to not jump across the space between them and crush her in a hug. "We don't know exactly what happened, but you… you…" The curtain was jerked back yet again, and Mahari squinted once more, looking at who so rudely intruded.
Closing the curtain back, she recognized the person who stood before her. "I thought you were dead."
"I was." Hermione said shakily, nodding slowly. "I was, and then I heard your voice. I was about to go on, but you didn't let me go." Mahari smiled and looked down at her left hand, which was no longer throbbing. "I couldn't hear anyone but you…"
"Can I have a hug?" Harry laughed sharply as Hermione jumped into the bed and gave his wife a fierce hug. "I'm so glad you're alright… I just wanted the pain to stop. I couldn't bear to have you gone."
"I have no way to really thank you… whenever I think I've come up with something, I realize it's nothing." Mahari wiped the tears from Hermione's cheeks, laughing quietly.
"You're here, that's enough. Are you okay?" She started checking her limbs, causing Hermione to laugh as well.
"Yes, yes, I've been given a clean bill of health, considering that I fell off of the castle roof."
"Where's Tedros?"
"In the Gryffindor common room. Ron had to tell him I had to leave his sight some time. I think it's a bit disconcerting for him, and now he doesn't want me to lift a finger."
"It will pass. Tedros doesn't have an all that great attention span." The girls laughed again, and Mahari bit back her tears she felt that were coming. "I'm really glad you're alright."
"I'm glad you're okay too… We didn't know how you were going to recover."
"What do you mean? It was just a broken arm."
"I'll… I'll let Harry tell you what happened." Hermione looked over her shoulder and wiped her eyes, standing up. "You hurry up and get out of here; your children want to see you."
"How are they?" Mahari felt an ache in her chest, and she realized it was the fact that she didn't have Mera and Max nearby.
"They're fine. Seamus is going to corrupt them, or I should I say he would, if Queen Xantha would let them out of her sight. She knew you would pull through, but it didn't look…"
"Hermione."
"Right. Sorry Harry. I'll see you later, okay Mahari?"
"Okay, see you." Hermione threw Harry an embarrassed glance, and ducked out of the curtain. Left alone again, Mahari wanted to bury herself under the covers and reschedule the conversation. "Aren't you just glad that I'm okay?"
Harry swallowed and sat down next to her on the bed, taking her hand gently and brought it to his chest, over his heart. She bit her lip as she felt the bond between them clarify, and as she felt his heart beating wildly, more than vague emotions floated through. Pain, anger, fear, regret, awe, more fear swirled around her brain and Mahari resisted the overwhelming urge to jerk back to defend her herself. Feeling her apprehension, Harry let her hand go, and she fell backwards onto the bed, breathing heavily.
"That's what I've been feeling for the past three days."
"I didn't know what I was doing."
"Mahari, I'm scared. I'm scared because every time you find out you have a new ability… you end up almost hurt, or worst, almost dead!"
"I'm sorry. I don't remember what happened."
"I do. You touched Hermione, and went rigid. I heard your arm break before I could get to you… and there was no reason why your arm should have broke, but it did it on its own. I caught you as I felt your back break, and your eyes closed just as your heart stopped. I felt you die."
"I'm so sorry Harry…" Mahari pulled her hand away from her mouth and bit her lip. "I don't know what to say… I just felt this overwhelming need to touch her."
"I sat with Xantha for twelve hours, because she was the only one who could sit in the room with me. Tedros wasn't even awake then. Hermione woke up half way through, healed… and wondering what had happened that she was back. And you were on that bed, dead.
"I almost broke down when I realized I don't even have tears left to cry for my own wife's death. Do you know how that feels?" She shook her head, reaching out to touch him, but Harry moved away. "No… I'm sending you and the children to your grandmother's house. It's too dangerous here."
"Harry…"
"No Mahari. Tomorrow."
> > > > >
Mahari looked to Tedros for help. "I'm sorry sis, but I'm inclined to agree with your husband on this one."
"You're no help." She glowered, folding up a pile of baby clothes and putting them in a suitcase.
"He doesn't have to help you, he just has to protect you. I don't want you here either honestly."
"Gee thanks." Mahari gasped as she looked up and found herself staring into her brother's eyes… and he was not happy.
"You weren't awake when you were lying on the ground, as broken as Hermione was. We've lost Mom and Dad, and I don't want to lose anyone else, do you hear me?"
"Yes." She said quietly, and Tedros released the breath he was holding and left the bedroom, an unreadable look in his eye. Harry caught the door before it closed all the way, and Mahari looked down at the clothing pointedly.
"No use being mad at me. I'm doing this for you." He said wearily.
"Harry, what about my fencing classes? I have two different classes of fencing I'm doing, and we're at a crucial point in our training! It helped that I'm training the people who would pick it up easiest, but that's not the point. How can I help from my grandmother's house?"
"You will be with our children, and you will be safe."
"I can take the children and come back and help. They'll be out of the way, tucked far away safely, and I can come back and help. You'll need my help! If for nothing else, to heal!" She implored. Harry laughed incredulously.
"Not the way you heal! I can't have you healing everyone, especially when you have to take on the injury yourself! I won't have it."
"Harry-"
"No."
"Harry!"
"Mahari!" He said sharply, raising his hand. She threw down the shirt in her hand and ran over to him, throwing herself into his arms and crying. Harry stumbled under the momentum and rubbed her back awkwardly. Where in the world did this abrupt change in mood come from?
"I just don't trust anyone else to watch over you."
"What?" He pulled Mahari away so he could look into her eyes. "You don't trust Dumbledore, Hermione, Ron, Tedros, and your grandmother?" He asked gently. She laughed, sniffing and shaking her head. "Why not?"
"Because they're not me. Harry, I'm going to worry every minute."
"I know, but it can't be helped."
"I'm asking you please, can I come back. Please." Harry smiled slightly and kissed her forehead, sighing heavily.
"Fine."
"Really?"
"Yes."
"Really?" Mahari shrieked and almost choked him again in a hug, relaxing against him. "I'm so happy Harry. We're going to pull through this." Releasing him, she wiped her tears from her face and smiled, laughing ruefully. "Okay, I'm going to go ahead and go over and take the twins. They're all packed."
"What about your clothes?"
"I didn't pack them…" Mahari mumbled, but raised her hand as she felt Harry's temper rise. "I was hoping on your grace, or I would be leaving with the clothes on my back. I wasn't thinking about disobeying you."
"Come on, I want you to go ahead and get the twins settled in, then come on back." Mahari nodded, kissing him once before walking out of the bedroom. It was jam packed with people saying a temporary good bye to the twins, Tedros and Xantha standing by the mirror that was taken out of the bedroom, due to its frequent use. Dumbledore had begun asking Tedros and Xantha if they could ferry Order members to destinations that couldn't risk apparation or portkey.
"I'll see you all in a moment," was all Mahari said as she pushed the floating stroller through the crowd of doting aunts and uncles, grandparents adopted and real, and into the mirror. Xantha looked at Harry oddly. She remembered what he had told her over and over again for the past week. Mahari was to stay in New York until everything died down.
"Harry?" She asked, frowning slightly.
"Seal the mirror. I don't want her coming back."
> > > > >
Mahari finally managed to put the children to bed, give final instructions to Anderson, and bring along her favorite sword when the nose in front of her face protested to her brain that the mirror wasn't cooperating. Tapping it gently, she blew on it, and it rippled as it should, but solidified as if she hadn't asked for entry. Putting more essence into her exhale, she breathed once more on the surface of the mirror, and it rippled again, but this time she saw a black shape… her grandmother's ward for denial of entry. "Damn you Harry Potter!" Mahari screamed, stamping her foot.
Tapping her heel against the marble floor, she thought and calmed down some before she walked back towards her bedroom. Her grandmother told her it was extremely difficult to ward all mirrors on both sides, so she should be able to make her way back to Hogwarts as her grandmother did, materializing through a mirror that wasn't full length… which she hadn't done before, but it shouldn't be that hard, just more concentration.
Walking past the sky pictures, something orange caught her eye, and Mahari slowed, drawn to what she thought she saw. Flames… flames licked the sky, came from the sky… fire was everywhere… backing up until she ran into the opposite wall, afraid. The pictures had never done this before, and in her gut she knew that what she was seeing wasn't just a trick of the light or the fact that she was tired.
Something was going to burn… and soon. "Madam, you're still here?" Mahari swallowed and nodded at Anderson who appeared out of nowhere. It had been years the last time anyone had questioned how Anderson moved; she just did.
"I am… I think I'll need a few things before I depart."
>
"When?"
"It's happening now. Aurors are leaving Hogwarts to try and contain the blast, but they know this is a ploy to get them out of the way. They're calling a large chunk of the force in from the Ministry, so that the aurors could stay here."
"How did you find this out?" Harry asked quietly, trying to maintain an air of ease, but it was slowly lost as he became more agitated, and the senior AA caught onto his mood.
"I sent Luna on a mission. You know we found out that when we wear our uniforms, we're undetectable under the invisibility cloak… so I sent her into Dumbledore's office."
"You what!" That was heard clear across the room, and Harry calmed down as Parvati looked at him reproachfully. "How could you do that?"
"I did what had to be done!" She hissed. "You made me commander of Intel, so I'm doing my job. You're not going to always know where I'm getting the information before I get it to you, but you will know that it's trustworthy, and came from a credible source." Harry couldn't argue with her logic, but now the Weasley parents and Fred and George were looking at them strangely, huddled in the corner and talking in low tones.
"Do they know what caused it?" He asked, practically not moving his lips.
"No. I have my people on the Astronomy Tower with omnioculars, hoping to see something. Not quite far enough, but we do see some flames. What should we do?"
"Get a meeting together at once. Junior and Senior AA, we go on medium alert until we find out otherwise. We don't' want to show our hand while the Aurors are here." Harry sighed and looked back over his shoulder. From his posture Harry could tell that Ron was no longer in the conversation with the twins, but listening as hard as he could to what he was saying to Parvati. Hermione wasn't pretending at all, she was just staring, and Ginny was looking expectant, but no longer speaking either. Parvati nodded once and left, easing her hand into her hair and holding her star down.
Harry leaned against the wall as he felt his glasses vibrate softly and stop. Ron threw a look back at him and stood, apologizing profusely to his parents, Ginny and Hermione doing the same. Throwing a look back at him, they restrained themselves until they reached the door, to which they ran out of. Before he could follow, Fred and George smoothly stepped in front of him and grabbed his arms and hauled him up and off the ground, moving quickly towards the bedroom.
"We're going to borrow-"
"Harry for a moment-"
"-if you don't mind Mum and Dad." They said hastily, Harry protesting until his feet were on the ground.
"Let me go guys, I have to go do something!" He said, brushing them off and walking towards the door. Fred held him back as George peered around the bedroom door, watching his parents stand quickly as a silver Phoenix flew through the wall and before any message was delivered, that George could hear, they were running as fast as they could out of the door.
"We figured that something was going on, and you knew before Mum and Dad-"
"-and they're Order members!" Fred finished as he let Harry go.
"I don't know what you're talking about." George looked at his twin ruefully.
"He thinks because we decided to leave school early-"
"-that we're idiots. I assure you dear boy, that-"
"-we are not." Harry looked at the both of them and sighed.
"Fine, come with me."
> > >
Mahari screamed in anger, briefly contemplating putting her fist through the mirror that once again denied her entry. Taking the moment to change clothes, she dressed for war, and her face held the grim reality of it. "I can't believe he did this!"
"Sir did say he asked for you to stay behind." Anderson reminded her gently.
"But he told me I could come back after I settled the twins in! I could kill him!" She seethed, pacing impatiently. "The Concord would take too long, and Grandma warded all the mirrors in this place! They're all traitors."
"Madam, why don't you just stay here? It's apparent that your husband wanted you to stay… that's the only reason why I think he would have lied to you." Mahari groaned and leaned against the wall, thinking furiously. He didn't know what she saw… and further more, she didn't know if Harry would pick up on how she was feeling… she had to get back.
>
The door to the Room of Requirement was being held open by Daphne, who was looking around for him, from the look of relief on her face when he walked down the corridor. "What's wrong?"
"We've got reports from Hogsmeade." She said, looking over his shoulder at the Twin Terrors of Gryffindor. "What are they doing here?"
"They're here to help."
"Somehow I doubt it." Daphne glared as Fred and George stiffened.
"Look, we're not getting into this right now. They're here to help, and I brought them with me. That's it."
"Fine. I have the reports." She dismissed them without another thought, following Harry into the room. It was converted to an extremely large war room. People were in groups, walking around with rolls of parchment, yelling off names and potions, a long table with six cauldrons on it, four people ladling them into vials.
"What's all this?" Fred asked, in awe for one of the few times in his life. Harry felt a swell of pride as the AA were working like a well oiled machine.
"This is student defense." George wandered over towards Ginny, who had a quill behind her ear and a piece of parchment in her hand as she counted potions already present.
"We're missing a Veritaserum people, find it!" She barked, making a notation on the parchment. George looked down and saw a stopper beside her foot. Bending over, he picked up the missing potion and handed it to her. "Thanks George. Alright I found it- George!"
"What are you doing here sis?" He asked, picking up one of the bottles marked "blood replenisher". Ginny looked at him and then to Harry, who nodded his head.
"I'm cataloguing our potion store, to make sure we have enough."
"Have enough for what? What do you have brewing?" She shook her head, smiling kind of proudly.
"My squad and I are actually done with this round of brewing. We're just containing and putting things away. We've finished the Veritaserum, the Blood Replenish, Dreamless Sleep, and Bone Repair. In these cauldrons we have Burn Healing Paste, Invigoration Draught, and Sleeping Potion," Ginny pointed further down the table, to where Susan was stopping more bottles, "and down there we have Wartcap Powder, Wound Cleaning and Wit Sharpening Potions respectively."
"Why are you doing all of this?"
"To be ready." She turned back to her squad and made hurrying motions. "We don't have all day people."
"I didn't know you were so good at potions, or we would have hired you at the store." He said seriously. Ginny laughed.
"Actually, once Susan here showed us how to do it, and made sure we didn't brew anything alone, it's not that hard. Easier than doing with Snape hanging over my head it is."
"I'm sure…." Across the room Fred was spellbound by Neville and Ron, pouring over a map of Hogsmeade, with a map of the Hogwarts grounds beside it.
"We're not sure how fast they're moving, and no one is allowed outside the castle. Unless Harry has a spare cloak for every person on my squad, we can't risk it." Neville rubbed his forehead and pointed at the castle. "What evacuation procedure are we using?"
"Hermione doesn't want to say yet, because we're not sure where the threat is coming from." Ron sighed and shook his head. "It's too many unknowns."
"Someone needs to make a decision. I have people up on the astronomy tower with Luna's crew, just in case. They're armed."
"Good. I don't want anyone going anywhere unless they're armed, got it?"
"Perfectly. So everyone will be carrying weapons?"
"After the cut off point, yes."
"What is the cut off point?" Fred asked, and Ron turned around and frowned.
"What are you doing here Fred?" The older teen shrugged.
"Just looking… can I help?"
"I don't know how you would, but sure." Ron looked at his brother eagerly. "Are they letting you into the Order meetings yet?"
"Only when they think it's something we should know." Fred ran his fingers through his hair, and wished Angelina were here… or not… "Where's Hermione?"
"Talking to her squad. She's-" The door to the room flew open, and Justin ran in, looking around and spotting Ron.
"Ron! Incoming!"
"What?"
"Incoming!" He yelled again, and Ron straightened, tapping his star, appearing in uniform. Everyone followed suit, and Fred and George found themselves awash in a sea of silver and black.
"What's incoming?" Harry came over, and Justin shrugged.
"We can't tell yet. But it's coming from the sky and coming quick. They're just not close enough for us to see what's coming." He took a deep breath and looked around. "Where's Hermione? What's the evacuation procedure?"
"She's in the Great Hall, keeping an eye on the Aurors with Covert Ops. We're going to have to go get her though." Harry took the parchment from Ginny and read over it quickly. "Perfect. Gather them up, and I just hope that we won't need them before it's all over."
"Go get Hermione, and tell her now's not the time for hiding. Just do what we need to do." A fourth year that everyone was using as a messenger between squads nodded quickly and ran out of the room. Padma sidled up to Ron and whispered in his ear. "You've got to be kidding." He said weakly, looking at her as if she just broke his heart.
"What is it?"
"Dragons."
> > >
"Madam, I'll have to advise against this." Anderson shook her head at the teenager who had grown up entirely too fast. Mahari smiled tightly and looked down at the pool. "Her Majesty has only done this thee times in recent memory. She also advised against it."
"Anderson, do you have another idea?"
"Yes. Stay put. Your grandmother has stated that after she has retrieved her favorite sword from her other home, then she will be back at Hogwarts and do you really think that any wizard could stand up to her?"
Mahari hesitated. "No… I don't. But her other home? Her home world?"
"No, Massachusetts."
"Of course. I have to do this."
"I know."
"And you can't stop me." Anderson smiled.
"No, I could stop you… but I won't. I understand." Mahari nodded again, staring still at the water. Unsheathing her saber, she used the tip to prick her finger, a drop of blood welling up, and she shook it onto the blade. It glowed briefly, and she dipped it into the water. There was a sound of a nasty blade sliding into something echoed on the roof, and for a moment Mahari wondered if this was too far beyond her abilities.
The water calmed unnaturally, until it was smooth and grey. She did it with the lake firmly attached in her head; Mahari sheathed her sword and jumped.
> > > > >
"If you knew they were coming, you should have told us! We could have evacuated!" McGonagall said angrily, watching as Fudge sputtered in front of her.
"Minerva, I was under the impression that the Aurors would contain the threat at Hogsmeade! I didn't receive any reports that there were Dragons!" He yelled back, throwing his hat on the desk in the Staff Lounge.
"Look, yelling isn't going to solve a thing. No one knows where the Dragons went. For all we know they're on their way back to Voldermort." Professor Vector said appealingly.
"They're going to be on their way here. Firenze said his people are on the move. The forest is unfortunate to be made of wood, which burns." Dumbledore said dryly. Kingsley smiled slightly to himself, and paced to clear his head.
"We do know that we need to get the children out of here. We can't leave this to the Aurors that are present. How many have you called to the school?" He turned to the Minister.
"I have seventy five on their way; we're pulling them from all over, so it's taking a moment." Cornelius said hastily.
"That should be enough to form an escort for the children. We're going to have to arraigned alternate transportation for them. Side Along Apparation seems to be the quickest and the best way for continuous evacuation."
"I agree Kingsley. With that many adults, we'll have the population of Hogwarts transported within a few trips. With the seventy five that are coming, the twenty five that are here, we can take eight trips and be well defended on either side." Albus nodded, smiling. "Hogwarts will be connected to the Floo Network as soon as we receive word from the Ministry. All we have to do now is round the children up in an orderly fashion. I'm leaving that to the Heads of Houses. We'll assemble in the Great Hall."
"Headmaster, do you think it wise to wait?" Severus walked around Pomona and stood beside Dumbledore. "I do believe that the fact that we are uncertain of the whereabouts of the threat, that we should take action to defend ourselves now. We do have twenty five Aurors on hand, and with this school's more than capable staff, the three dragons should be taken care of."
"Quite right Severus, quite right. But however, we will prepare for the original plan of the mass apparition. Now, we will house the students in the Dungeons until the force has arrived, with a few of the staff in the upper levels. Is that cautious enough for you?"
"It is Headmaster." Snape bowed, and walked out of the room, cutting McGonagall off in a huff.
"Pardon me!" She said angrily, straightening her hat.
>
Harry looked at his watch and unrolled the Marauder's Map. "I solemnly swear that I am up to no good." The map filled in quickly, and Harry noticed the pattern of the Auror sweeps, the Order members in more random searches, but it was clear what they were looking for. "I guess we should tell them that we're all down here." He said, smiling slightly.
"I wanted to do it earlier, but you two seem to think we're still playing!" Hermione said angrily, passing Ginny a box of potions and bandages. "When did you get all of this stuff Harry?"
"The bandages?"
"Yes, the bandages. I didn't remember you getting any of this."
"I gave the money to Luna, and she said she would take care of it." Harry shrugged and raised his hands. "The less I knew about it, the better, or according to Parvati."
"She would say that." Hermione said, rolling her eyes. Parvati came by at that moment, with a smirk on her face.
"I'm in charge of Intel. It's my job to withhold information."
"I could compel you to tell me if I wanted to!" The brown haired prefect retorted hotly. Ron stepped between the two squabbling girls quickly.
"Not without a Tribunal meeting!" Patil fired back, looking around Ron's arm to glare at his girlfriend.
"Ladies, ladies, that's why we have the system that we have. So there can't be any abuse of power. Got it? So you both say you're sorry, and go to opposite sides of the cave, got it?"
"You're taking her side?" Hermione asked, slightly hurt.
"No, I'm not. But right now I need you to be the Evacuation Commander, and make sure that everyone's down here, okay?" He asked her, taking her chin and tipping her face up so that she was looking into his green eyes.
"Fine."
"Good." Giving her a quick peck on the cheek that brought a smile to her lips, he let her go and turned to Parvati. "Why do you do that?"
"What? Defend myself when she gets irrationally angry? I don't have time to answer that question right now. Harry, we've found out what the teachers want to do. Luna's briefing her squad right now, but she'll be over in a minute to give better details of what they plan to do. This is a preliminary." He took the parchment from her hands and smiled.
"Thanks Parvati. Don't mind Hermione, we all get a little rattled when Dragons are coming."
"If you say so Harry. I'm going to go talk to my squad. I have people on the roof with Neville and Seamus."
"Why is Seamus up there?"
"Who knows? But Terry has the Demo squad retrieving the ammunition from throughout the castle. And once Hermione gets you the information on who is here, I can check it against the master list, and we'll know who isn't here."
"The sooner the better." Harry turned and nodded as Tedros rubbed his temples, cracking his neck as he yanked it violently to the side.
"I wish you wouldn't do that. I'm still not convinced you're not breaking bones when you do that."
"I'm sorry, I'm not here to reassure you. But what are we going to do about the adults? We're going to need their help eventually. We can't do it all alone. If we have to we can, but I would prefer not to."
"I think we should go and talk to them Harry. You, me, and Hermione." Ron said, looking around the vast cave populated with students. "The rest of the AA has control of the situation. We're just waiting at this point."
"He has a point. Besides, I can watch the children while you're gone." Tedros smiled.
"I don't want to go, but I guess you're going to make me, aren't you?"
"You're right about that." Hermione said, giving him a roll of parchment. "I already saw Parvati on the way over here, so these are just the people who aren't present. Daphne said that we should go get them as soon as possible, and while we're up there get the teachers."
"Sounds like she's listening in on our conversation. But you should talk to Luna first, so that we understand their plan, before they try and shoot down ours. I don't know if Dumbledore is going to be too happy about the fact that we're all hiding out in the Chamber of Secrets, and we would love it if they could all join us for a spot of tea and a sing along." Ron chortled.
"Can we skip the singing; I don't think that I brought the proper scarf in this damp cave. Moisture in the air isn't conducive to a melodic singing voice. And I do want to be able to bring the Erumpent in with my voice." Hermione stared at Luna as if she had spouted another head and started dancing the jig.
"Er… right. Okay Luna, what did they say?" Harry asked hastily before anyone could bother to ask Lovegood what she was talking about.
"They are endeavoring to use apparation to evacuate Hogwarts… and they have lost sight of the Dragons… and Snape is under the impression that there are only three."
"That is what we think, isn't it?" Ron turned to Justin, Parvati's representation at the moment.
"Actually, we've counted four before we lost track of them. It is my impression that they could be joined by more, seeing as to how we weren't able to get the type of dragon, and some species do run in…fly in flocks."
"Quite right." Hermione squared her shoulders and looked around the small group. "Come on then, let's get this over with. It's not like we'll be in trouble."
"No, it's just more like, we didn't want the adults knowing how organized we were, because they would try and take over." Harry frowned at Ron's words. That was exactly how he was feeling.
"Well guys, there's a time for secrecy, and then there's a time to show your hand. Now's that time. Hurry up, because I have a bad feeling." Tedros looked around the cave and sighed.
>
Kingsley walked towards Albus with an entirely familiar feeling in his stomach. "Well?"
"I don't know where they could be. No one is in the towers, or the kitchen… the Dungeon was already evacuated, so nothing was turned up there. I don't think the students are here." Kingsley scratched his head and shrugged.
"They can't have disappeared." Albus said, rubbing his chin. "Those who could apparate, we have to use the assumption that they've done so."
"But that would mean they would have to make the border before doing so. The wards for anti apparation went up twenty minutes before our little meeting gentlemen." Minerva reminded them as she rounded the corner. "I'm afraid that Hagrid hasn't had anyone pass his hut since we've gone on lock down, and the Whomping Willow is clear of bodies and debris…" She trailed off wearily.
"Well, perhaps they could give us some answers." Dumbledore smiled slightly, walking past Minerva, who turned around and gasped. A group of students were walking down the stairs with determined looks on their faces. They were all dressed the same, in the uniforms that were seen at that fateful Quidditch game.
They fanned out and looked somewhat embarrassed when they were besieged by the teaching staff of Hogwarts. Harry hit the bottom landing a heartbeat later, slightly pale at the sight of so many questioning teachers. 'Maybe this was a bad idea…' he thought, steeling himself and squaring his shoulders as Professor Dumbledore reached him.
"Harry… where are the students." He asked patiently, and Harry gestured vaguely.
"They're safe."
"Mr. Potter, please elaborate!" McGonagall was about to blow a blood vessel with the anticipation of the staff behind her.
"Why would he, he loves to play the hero." Harry's nostrils flared as Professor Snape slid from behind the crowd, a sneer on his face. Counting to ten, Harry answered.
"They're in the Chamber of Secrets."
"Oh…" replied Shacklebolt, echoing the sediments of everyone standing around him.
> > >
Hermione helped Professor Sprout over the threshold, the portly witch a little out of breath after the ride they took… so to speak. "I never thought in a million years that I would see the inside of this place." Hermione smiled and dusted her hands off.
"Yes, I'm glad I missed it the first time around."
"The first time?"
"Yes, there was still the basilisk to deal with. I was in the infirmary, petrified."
"Ah… that is correct." Everyone stopped as they came to the snake decorated door. Harry was conversing with Dumbledore near the back, since any one of the AA present could direct the way down to the Chamber. Ron looked over towards them, and frowned as Harry threw up his hands and turned away, extremely angry.
"Harry, could you please?" The raven haired teen looked up and then over everyone's head at the door.
"Why is the door closed?" He asked as he moved through the crowd. Ron shrugged.
"You didn't tell Daphne to keep it closed?"
"Quite the contrary, I told her to keep it open." Harry frowned again and shrugged. A quick rasp in parseltongue rendered the snakes moving, and they all stepped back as the door swung backward, allowing them entry. As soon as he stepped forward into the room, Harry was no longer unsure of himself.
Snape's mouth dropped open. The Chamber was all he thought it would be, dank and dour, Salazar Slytherin's favorite décor. Apparently it had been scrubbed with magical and muggle means, because the blood stains on the ground were faint. Students milled around with surprising order, tents erected with flags waving in various colors, and their escorts quickly scattered. Ms. Greengrass walked up to Harry, whispering in his ear. He nodded, and she walked away, taking two random students who were walking around in a slight daze.
"Madam Pomfrey, if you could Susan to the Healer Tent, and make sure we're in order? We would greatly appreciate it." Poppy stepped forward and cocked her head in confusion.
"In order? What do you mean?"
"Well…" Harry started embarrassed. "I couldn't very well come and ask you what you had in your infirmary to keep it stocked, so we went to the library and looked up what a Healer should have in case of emergencies. We went and bought it, and hopefully it's enough and varied as well, seeing as to how you're so imaginative, you'll probably see the holes that we missed." Snape glared at Harry as he greased Poppy to the point she was blushing and smiling.
"Of course Mr. Potter, of course. Lead the way Ms. Bones." Susan smiled and held out her hand, taking the older woman towards the tent.
"How… organized are you Harry?" Kingsley asked, looking around as word of the teachers' arrival caused an expected shift in the mood of the students. They were pensive, and it became quiet enough that they heard a quill drop.
"As organized as we could be, without letting you know what we were doing."
"And why wouldn't you have let us know?" Professor McGonagall looked to Dumbledore, who smiled faintly and offered no assistance. "Why would you do all of this alone, and not let us help you? Do you think that we have nothing else to teach you?"
"Of course not Professor. That would be crazy. I didn't let the staff in on what we were doing because… because… you wouldn't have let us do it our way." Hermione walked back over with a clipboard and cleared her throat softly. "Hermione, I'm kind of busy."
"We just want you to clear my squad for recovery." She said, handing him the clipboard. Harry looked at it briefly and sighed. "Meet me in Strategy in ten minutes, and we'll sort this out then, okay?"
"Perfect." He turned back towards the professors. "Please, we have ten departments, and we could all use some help. Feel free to look around." Harry pressed the side of his glasses and spoke into his wrist, and simultaneously someone from each tent stepped out, looking around. "They'll show you around. Professors Dumbledore, McGonagall, Shacklebolt, could you accompany me?"
Snape couldn't hide the fact that he was totally intrigued by the set up they had down here, the whole thing was moving like a well oiled machine, and the excitement of being down in the Chamber of Secrets wasn't wearing off. "Professor, would you like a tour?" He found himself looking at Blaise Zambini.
"I didn't know you were a team player, Zambini."
"There's a lot you don't know about me sir." The teen smiled and held out his arm toward the first tent. "Why don't we get started?"
"By all means."
> > >
"We've managed to take the entire kitchen down here, with the house elves, and dinner will be served soon. We don't have any tables, but I'm sure we can transfigure some."
"How did you do all of this without anyone knowing?"
"I don't know; I'm not in the Evacuation Squad." Blaise said flippantly. Snape looked down at this student with obvious distaste, and if Zambini noticed, he didn't show it. "Here we have the Healer tent, and here we have…" He stopped and looked in three boxes filled with glass balls. Tapping his star on his thumb ring, he started pulling out different balls from the boxes and putting them on the floor gently.
"Yeah Zambini? We're kind of busy." Seamus' voice rang out as if he were right behind Snape, who turned around to see if the Gryffindor was indeed behind him.
"I know, but I want to know who you told to bring the supplies from the Hufflepuff common room?"
"Talk to Terry and Hermione, they'd know. What's wrong?"
"They mixed everything up! The immediates are mixed in with the delays. Some idiot just lumped them all together! I'm not going to be able to sort them out right now!"
"Bloody hell!"
"Seamus, a teacher is present."
"And you're contacting me? What in bloody hell did Ron say in the last meeting?"
"All the teachers are down here Seamus, you idiot. Harry brought them down here." Blaise said patiently, totally ignoring Snape now.
"Oh."
"Right."
"Yeah… I'll contact Terry, you go get Hermione and find out who went with whoever got the supplies from that area, and then we'll roast them. Over."
"Over." Blaise turned back to Professor Snape and smiled. "Watch your step, our tour continues."
>
"And there were actually four dragons before they disappeared from our sensors." Parvati pointed at a map that depicted Hogwarts from the air. Dumbledore looked at it with great interest, noting the marks where the wards were stationed.
"What sensors could you have airborne?"
"A simple ward that has a ten foot radius, at one hundred, one hundred and fifty, two hundred and two hundred and fifty feet above the Dark Tower, one hundred feet in each direction." Tedros supplied. "I put them up there."
"What did you ward?" Professor Vector asked interestedly, looking around the tent. It was a magical tent of course, with a large great room; comfortable chairs in plush purple dotted the open area, a long table along one wall.
"Quaffles." Fred and George smiled.
"And you just spelled them to stay up?" They asked in unison. Hermione beamed.
"Yes. Seamus came up with the idea, and Ron decided that quaffles would serve the best use." She said as she held out a clipboard to Harry, who took it after he adjusted his glasses.
"You should have told us you had sensors up! We could have used the information as well!" McGonagall said angrily. Shacklebolt looked at the maps in interest, marveling at the wonderful details that they held.
Harry looked down at the clipboard and rubbed his left temple. "Hermione, have the guard rotated, and get some tables transfigured. I think we're all hungry. As for this issue, I'll allow five people back up to get the stuff, but don't stress yourself… I think we can all live without them."
"Harry!" Hermione shook her head and yanked the clipboard back from him, causing her to drop it on the ground. Professor Dumbledore swooped down and picked it up quickly, allowing his eyes to rove over the contents.
"I think we should have known this earlier. Messers Malfoy, Crabbe, Goyle, and Ms. Parkinson aren't accounted for."
"That doesn't look too good Headmaster." Kingsley said, raising one eyebrow. "Why am I not surprised?"
>
Seamus picked at his jeans and looked up at the sky again with boredom. "How long do we have to stay up here?"
"You don't have to stay up here. I volunteered, and Luna is coming up here later." Neville said irritably. "Why are you here?"
"Because I don't like caves."
"The Chamber of Secrets isn't really a cave like that."
"It's cave enough. Besides, how would you know? You wouldn't go down until the Basilisk had been banished." Seamus reminded him, rolling his eyes.
"Look, I don't like snakes. I don't like the smell of dead things. So hold it against me."
"I probably will." Neville shielded his gaze and looked around the sky once more, trying to take his mind off of his annoying classmate more than staying on guard. "So, what's with you and Luna?"
"What?"
"What's with you and Luna? Are you hot and heavy?"
"Hot and heavy?" The squeak always came back in his voice when he was on the subject of Luna Lovegood.
"Yeah, you know… snogging and stuff."
"That's none of your business!" Neville's face flamed as he looked away, taking a drink of juice that was left for him.
"Aye, but I still want to know." Seamus practically chortled with glee. "Come on, give me the details. We've all wondered how good of a snog you could get with Loony Lovegood."
"DON'T CALL HER THAT!" Neville stood up and glared down at the Irishman. "You can't call her that anymore!"
"Alright, alright. I dinna know it was so sensitive a subject for you." Seamus sighed and looked back up at the sky just in time for a dark shape to pass behind the clouds. "Uh… Neville?"
"I don't want to talk to you anymore."
"No, no! Look!" He pointed at the sky and stood up. At the exact same time, both he and Neville's AA stars started vibrating. The threat had reached Hogwarts.