"What do you mean, he's petrified?" George demanded.
"A spell is on him, preventing him from moving," Madam Pomfrey said. "Perhaps you should sit down, Mr. Weasley."
She bustled over to his side and helped him into a chair beside his brother's bed.
"Rubeus," Madam Pomfrey said.
Hagrid didn't respond. Harry thought he must still be in shock seeing Fred like this. That any of them had been up to bringing the twin here was a minor miracle, as it was.
"Rubeus," she said more firmly. When he looked vaguely at her, she said, "Rubeus, bring Albus."
"Oh, righ'," he muttered. "I'll do that then."
He shifted off and left through the door. Harry noted how quietly the man closed the door, as though taking care not to disturb Fred.
"Alright," she said when he had gone, "can you two take chairs beside George. Yes, good."
Harry and Hermione brought a couple chairs and sat upon them watching. The Healer went into the next room, returning after a moment with a large book in hand. She leafed through it as she walked. Standing beside Fred, she read, scanning each page quickly before proceeding.
Harry felt a welling sense of helplessness. If Madam Pomfrey couldn't work out how to fix him instantly, as she normally could, what could he do? He hated having nothing to do, and sitting and watching did not make him feel any more connected to the solution at hand.
Hermione sat quietly beside him, her eyes welling with yet to be she's tears. Harry realised that he had been so caught up in feeling bad he couldn't help, that he wasn't upset directly about Fred yet. He just felt his mind stray from thoughts of the twin and try to tackle the problem. If he fixed the problem there would be no issue for Fred in the first place.
George was beside himself, sniffing and just staring at the frozen expression on his brother's face. Harry thought that face fully encapsulated Fred. It had a smile and a bit of a laugh to it, too. The only thing missing was the animation in it that would jump on to the next joke. Here, in both twins, there was no energy, just nothing.
Before Harry could think of what he could do, the Headmaster burst into the room, more full of energy than anyone. His face was fierce and set, and he took in the state of things with a glance.
He moved beside Madam Pomfrey and touched Fred's neck and looked closely into his eyes. A glance exchanged with Madam Pomfrey told him all he apparently needed on that score.
"Please," he said to the three of them seated, "tell me what has happened."
No one spoke for a second, so Harry started.
"We were outside the Entrance Hall," he began, "it's...it's Hermione's birthday and we were wishing her a good one out in the morning light." Harry repeated George's half-truth, knowing the other bit was not relevant.
"Pardon, for I only want to clarify something," Dumbledore said. "Did any of you see someone in the halls on the way down, or notice anything unusual?"
Harry and Hermione shook their heads. "The twins were with me, and we didn't see anyone outside of the common room," Hermione said softly.
"Thank you," he replied. "Go on."
"We were heading back inside," Harry said, "when George noticed Hagrid coming up and some of us stopped to talk to him. Fred had continued to the door though, and we all turned about when we heard a clatter of something falling.
"Fred was on the ground as you see him, the mirror was broken, and the Entrance Hall door closed itself."
"Mirror, what mirror?" Dumbledore asked, his piercing eyes on Harry.
Harry hesitated, but Hermione chimed in. "It was a present from Harry," she said, holding the wooden box out.
Dumbledore took the box in hand, opening it and examining what was inside. Harry could see the reflected light of from the nearest torch playing over the Headmaster's face. He shut the mirror carefully, looking up.
"Poppy," he asked, "Could I bother you to inform the other professors? I will keep an eye on your patient, I assure you."
"Of course, Headmaster," she said, setting down her book and departing in silence.
When he had gone, Dumbledore said, "I can see some magic is in this." He waved the mirror. "It may be irrelevant or may solve this mystery for us. Please, what does this mirror do?"
"It," Harry began, looking at the other two. Their faces were covered with shock. Harry supposed, if anyone would have been able to tell, it would be Dumbledore. Harry sighed. "It's a visual map of Hogwarts. You can say where you want to see and it will show you."
"Show me," Dumbledore said, handing the mirror to Harry.
Harry opened the lid, tapping the corners again, saying, "Benevolent Excellent Society of Twinliness." When the vision changed, he added, "The Great Hall."
Handing it back to Dumbledore, Harry watched the man look at the object with a twinkle in his eye. "You made this?" He said in a way that was almost just a statement.
Harry nodded, feeling embarrassed.
"Remarkable," Dumbledore said.
"Th-thank you," Harry said.
"It does not show people," he observed.
"No," Harry said. "I haven't figured out if that could even work."
"Kitchen," Dumbledore said. He looked at it another moment before saying, "Nor does it show House elves."
"Why would that be different?" Harry asked.
"House elves have their own magic," the Headmaster told them.
"Oh," Hermione said, suddenly. "You wanted to see if the user could be affected by magic through the mirror!"
"Precisely, Miss Granger," Dumbledore said with a smile. "I do not believe so." He handed it to Hermione. "I would caution you to test that if you should make improvements to your map."
"Then," Harry said, "he must have seen who cursed him."
"I think he may have," Dumbledore said.
"Can you fix him?" George said in a hoarse voice.
"This is beyond my skill, Mister Weasley," Dumbledore said. "But we will find a cure. I assure you."
"Headmaster!" Came a cry from the hallway outside.
Everyone turned about to see Professor McGonagall charging into the wing. Her hair looked disheveled and her face had paled.
"Calm yourself, Minerva," Dumbledore said. "The boy is in good care."
"No," she said. "Someone has written upon a wall in red letters on the second floor, 'The Chamber of Secrets has been opened. Enemies of the Heir Beware!'"
There was a stunned silence. Dumbledore looked a McGonagall with a serious expression. "Then, it is as I had thought," he said.
"You mean it is true?" She asked, her voice sounding desperate for a negative response.
"There has been an attack," he said, nodding towards Fred. "We must all be cautious."
"What's going on?" Harry asked.
"I do not know," Dumbledore said, frowning. Turning to McGonagall, he said, "Gather all of the students in the Great Hall. Have the house elves serve breakfast, but no one will proceed to classes until a thorough search of the castle has been done."
"Yes, Albus," she said, bustling off with the same hurry as before.
"Can I ask you three to join your classmates in the Great Hall?" Dumbledore asked.
"Of course," Harry said, standing.
Hermione joined him, but George appeared reluctant to leave his brother.
"I promise you can return once the school has been thoroughly searched," Dumbledore said, kindly.
Slowly, the three of them left the wing, all taking one glance back at Fred's frozen expression before they could see him no more. Harry and Hermione each took one of George's arms and led him down to the first floor. He looked as though he were going to collapse at any moment, but they managed to half drag him to a seat at one end of the Gryffindor table.
The Hall was only just beginning to fill with students, many, so far in usual spirits, only exhibiting mild tiredness. As they sat, though, larger crowds began to appear, led by professors. These students were in various levels of alertness but a universal vision of fear had clouded their faces. These students knew something bad had happened.
Hermione saw Ginny walk in, calling out to her, "Ginny," she said, "come here."
The first year approached, and Harry could see she was incredibly pale and terrified, more odd than usual by any stretch. She hardly seemed to notice that Harry was sitting with them.
Percy and Ron made a bee-line for them when he arrived, sitting beside his little sister. "What happened?" Percy asked. "Professor McGonagall said you were nearby when it…when he…"
Hermione briefly repeated the episode in the basics. Her eyes remained rimmed with tears as she spoke. Percy, ever serious and self-important, looked completely shaken at the news. Harry felt waves of guilt flow over him. If it hadn't been for their little morning thing, if he had perhaps proposed the evening instead…these brothers and sister would have their brother with them. He let his head fall heavy, hanging towards his chest while Hermione spoke about it. He noticed she neglected to mention the mirror in this version, but, then, Percy might not like the idea of someone having made something so potentially rule-breaking.
Ron, Ginny, and George said nothing, the former two listened to Hermione carefully while the latter looked at the table as though studying the grains of wood.
"So, they still don't know who's done it?" Percy demanded, sounding angry. He banged his fist on the table. "How could they get away?"
"We don't know," Hermione said. "When we entered the Entrance Hall, it was empty."
"And Madam Pomfrey couldn't…?" he began, sounding sadder, more helpless than a moment before.
"She didn't know what to do," Hermione said, sniffling.
"Nor did Dumbledore," Harry intoned, quietly.
"Someone will know," Percy said.
Harry saw Professor Sprout enter the hall, looking about. The Great Hall was full of animation by this time, with pointing fingers towards the Gryffindor table and exclamations coming from all sides. After a moment, she spotted their group and came over.
"I'm sorry to hear about your brother," she said to George, Percy, and Ginny. "I have a healthy growth of mandrake we've been cultivating in classes. When those are ready for harvesting, we should be able to remove the petrification."
Percy looked up at her with a look of satisfaction in his face. "Thank you," he said. "I'm glad to hear you have found a way to bring him back."
"It's strong restorative, mandrake," she said. "Unfortunately, it has a short shelf life and the school is out."
"Wait," Harry said, raising his head. "Can't we just buy some? Wouldn't someone have it? St. Mungo's might, if not there someone should have a crop ready to go."
"There are very few crops of mandrake," she said sadly. "Hogwarts has the largest. St. Mungo's used the last of their mandrake weeks ago. In fact, they were just asking when our crop would be ready."
"When will it be ready?" Harry asked.
"They are young plants, yet," Sprout said. "I estimate by early summer they will be ready."
"Summer?" Percy asked.
"He's going to be petrified that long?" George practically shouted, drawing attention from around them.
"It might be shorter," she said in a soothing voice. "We will do everything we can to get him sorted. Flitwick said he would research charms for anything relevant. Oh, sorry, I must dash. I just wanted to let you know we will set him right."
She hurried off, meeting McGonagall at the doorway to the Great Hall. They both went out together. It had just shut when the door burst open and in flew a shocked Lee Jordan.
"I just heard," he said when he had run over.
"You sleep in, Lee?" George muttered.
"Yes," he said, without hesitation. "McGonagall was going about checking the dorm and apparently had a - er - hard time waking me."
"Guess you missed it then," George said, sighing.
"Sorry, man," Lee said, looking upset. "Is it true he's petrified?"
"Yeah," Harry said.
"Bet it's a vast improvement," said a snide voice behind him.
The lot of them turned to see Draco and his cronies, smirking.
"Eat dung, Malfoy," Ron said, suddenly, glaring.
"No thanks," Draco said, chuckling. "But I suppose old statue-face might if we give him some. He can't really do much, can he?"
"What is wrong with you?" Harry demanded, suddenly, cutting off the retorts of the Weasleys. "Their brother was just petrified in a sudden attack and you think it's funny? You really think this is a laughing matter?"
He didn't realise that his voice was growing louder as he went, and frankly, would not have cared. "You know, up to now, you've just been an irritant. Like a bothersome bug that just likes to make that frustrating noise in your ear before flying off. But this? This shows what you really are, a complete dung pile, nasty to look at and worse the longer it's around. I don't care if I get detention for it. If you and your stupid cronies don't scoop yourselves up and find somewhere else to stink, I'll show you how easy I went on Lockhart!"
Harry was standing with his wand in hand by the time he finished. Draco looked rather alarmed, but played it off.
"Come on, boys," Draco said, "looks like the Weasleys have hired themselves a rabid animal to guard them." He started walking off when he tossed back, "Don't know where they would have gotten the money for it…"
Harry turned back toward him, raising his wand.
"Harry," came a voice from behind him. Harry looked back, seeing George's face facing him in an appealing way. "Let him go."
Harry's wand arm sank. He suddenly felt very tired, collapsing back into the chair. The whole morning was a blur and felt much longer than it had actually been. Looking around him, Harry could see that same tiredness expressed across the faces involved. Hermione was wiping up a few stray tears that had made their escape, her face fierce with keeping herself up.
He felt horrible. It had felt so good when he was yelling at Draco, but what did it really accomplish? It made him as much of a fool as the other boy, just making a big show of things. He had no desire to actually attack Draco now. He just wanted to curl up into a ball in his dorm bunk and disappear for a while.
"Wow," said Ron in awe. "I've never seen anyone give it to Malfoy like that."
"Harry," Percy said. "You could have gotten in serious trouble. You should be a better influence on other students, like Ron and Ginny."
"H-he had it coming, though" said Neville, leaning in. "I-I almost wish you could have showed him, H-Harry."
"Th-thanks," Harry said, not really believing it. "Percy's right, though. I went too far. I should have just told him to get lost."
"H-he would come back," Neville said. "He always comes back…"
There was a quiet pause about their group at the table. Harry looked over to the Slytherin table where Draco was sitting about laughing with his fellow students. He had no remorse, at all, no feeling of regret at his words, not even after Harry had thrown back his pettiness in Draco's face. What could you do with someone who cared nothing at all about the people around them?
Just then, Dumbledore strode up to the front of the Hall. The other professors entered behind and stood around the entrance way.
"Sorry for the sudden change in schedule this morning," Dumbledore said, his voice echoing in that reassuring way it always did. "I know there have been a number of rumours whirling around, but I think it is important you know what has happened from me and what we are doing."
He paused for a moment as though waiting for any one to speak. "Fred Weasley, of Gryffindor, was petrified this morning and a message was left upon the wall of a hallway in the school. It warns that the Chamber of Secrets has been opened. Professor Sprout informs me that we have a healthy crop of mandrakes which will allow us to recover him when they are matured. However, I urge caution for all students and staff. We do not know what has caused this petrification, nor if the perpetrator intends to do so again.
"Travel to classes in groups, be watchful, and if you should see anything unusual, please inform any of the staff. We are here to help you. We will send out letters to your parents informing them of the situation, and I have already dispatched an owl to the Ministry. As we are well into what would be your morning classes, classes will resume after lunch. You may remain here, if you wish, and we are all available talk if you have any pressing concerns."
He gave them all a firm smile and worked his way back down to the other professors. After a moment or so, the student body began to move. Many departed through the door. Harry could see some talking to a professor, and small pockets of students remained in their seats, pulling out games of Exploding Snap, Wizards Chess, and the like.
The group around Harry didn't seem to want to move. Between the near-mournful George and pale, unmoving Ginny, none of them appeared ready to go back to their every day activities. Of all the people in the room, they were the most closely affected, the only ones who seemed to really care what had happened.
Harry got up suddenly, decided. There was only one thing he could do.
Hermione looked up, asking, "Where are you going, Harry?"
"I have to go take care of something," Harry said, looking back at her with a determined look. "I'll see you after lunch."