Chapter 26: A Time To Regroup

Chapter 26

A Time to Regroup

Hailee turned to start for the dungeons. "No," Harry grabbed her arm. "We need to go to the hospital wing. Ginny needs me and the Order needs you. You have to explain what happened."

Hailee started to protest, "I can…."

"Wait we all know you can but you agreed to help the Order. Hailee, from personal experience I have had that idea too. I have to save everyone. I have to fight Voldemort. The whole ruddy thing but damn it, Hailee, you are part of something here not what it is all about none of us are. I love you but we need to be here for everyone, not just the ones that we love." Harry gently admonished.

"Ok, I'm sorry I lost my head. 'Bout time someone deflated my big head." Hailee admitted.

She took Harry's hand and they headed towards the hospital wing. With a smirk on his face, Harry said. "That was a classic look on Snape's face when that snake came from your hands. I would have loved to have a camera." He squeezed her hand and they moved on in silence.

When Hailee walked in the hospital wing Mrs Weasley engulfed her in an embrace. "Thank you thank you, my dear, once again you have saved our family." Hailee took Mrs Weasley into her embrace where they both sobbed; silently it passed between them that she would find George too, but did not speak it aloud.

Remus entered the room and Dumbledore started to speak. "Alright, let's have a report from all of the parties that were out. Fred, I know it wasn't much time but did you find anything?"

"Wood is on board, Angelina and her parents also just send them word. I have some concerns. I ran into Marcus Flint. He asked me about seeing you, but I got the feeling he wasn't being honest. I think he was with someone. He kept watching over my shoulder. It was an accident I saw him but I got the feeling it wasn't an accident that he ran into me." Fred informed. "That was as far as I got before I got the note on Charlie, and went straight St. Mungos."

"Very well I shall make contact with Wood and Angelina's family as soon as I can. Now Harry. What did you see watching the Dursley's?"

"Well to be honest we didn't see much of anything. There were some strangers in the neighbourhood, but when I made contact with Aunt Petunia, she said that there had been a family accident with a small aeroplane for the people down the street.

She said' Nothing was out of the ordinary except it seemed that Dudley had finally started to lose some weight.' He was at school at Smeltings so I didn't see him. I left Merlin with her so that she could contact me or us if she needs to immediately. "Harry itemized. "Hailee she said to thank you for the owl. She is very friendly, except towards Uncle Vernon, she bit him." Hailee laughed aloud.

"Alright, then we will leave it to them now. I trust Petunia can handle getting us if they need. I don't think there should be a problem there most of the school knew you were not close to them and most know that you are not there anymore." Dumbledore said. "Ok Remus what happened on your mission."

Remus began to tell them all that they found. When he came to the note about Snape and Narcissa, the room gasped. Remus pulled it from his pocket and handed it to Dumbledore, who looked defeated. Everyone in the room knew that he was disappointed in himself for letting Snape fool him. Remus stopped where he left Hailee in the alley of the hospital. "Hailee I think that is your queue to take over." Hailee began by telling them about the two people that she had trapped in the waiting room and about how George came in and how he ate the shredded skin of boomslang. She quivered.

"What is it?" Dumbledore questioned. He walked to Hailee and put a fatherly hand on her shoulder.

"You see sir he did all of this because I told him something. I know it isn't common knowledge and I let him bait me. Our first potions class. He wanted me to tell him what a Wicken Well potion was and then asked what the key ingredients were. I said what they were but then I went further by telling him that the shredded skin of boomslang was what made you turn back in a polyjuice potion. Therefore, he must have brewed the polyjuice potion with either a very low amount of shredded skin of boomslang or none. It brews much faster without it. He then took some and chewed it in front of me as George and turned himself back into Snape."

Eyes twinkling and a small smile on his face, Dumbledore said. "You are such a clever witch. I guess you took old Severus to school that day, but it is not your fault. Never blame your power or knowledge for what others do Hailee."

"Sir not to interrupt but may I go to the dungeons now I have a potion to brew?" Hailee looked to Remus who had such a look of surprise on his face. "He needs his wolf bane potion. He didn't get it last month and it is almost time again. "

"Certainly you may, but I would like it if you and Hermione worked on it I think Hogwarts two brightest should be there for something this complex," Dumbledore said.

Hermione blushed "Yes I would be happy to help you, Hailee. We need to make a trip to the restricted section. Is that ok Professor?"

Dumbledore chuckled. "You have my permission to always use the restricted section, Hermione. You go ahead and get the books you need from there and Miss Potter will accompany Remus, Harry and Myself to the dungeons we have some individuals to interrogate. Arthur would like to join us?"

"Molly, you are ok for a bit?" Mr Weasley asked.

"Certainly Arthur." Mr Weasley leaned over and kissed Ginny's head. Harry followed only his kiss lightly met her lips and he whispered in her ear. She gave a weak smile. Mr Weasley went over to his son Charlie. They locked eyes.

Dumbledore turned to Fred. "I need you to go to your shop open for business and to keep your eyes open. I will contact you very soon. Ron, will you go too? Do not leave the sight of one another." Fred did not question him he simply walked to the fire to floo to his shop in Diagon Alley. Everyone knew that he was riddled with worry. His twin was missing and that was a devastating blow. Secretly Harry thought that maybe Dumbledore was keeping him busy. Ron looked at Harry an agreement passed between them. A newer stronger bond of friendship was forming between them. With a rush of green flame, the brothers disappeared.

Hermione kissed her parents and told them not to worry they were in the safest place on earth. "Mrs Weasely and Madam Pomfrey will take good care of you."

Just then, about four house elves walked in carrying a large tray of sandwiches. Realizing just how hungry they were everyone grabbed some and then started on towards their task. Mrs Weasley made a plate for everyone that was in bed.

Dumbledore lead Remus, Harry, Hailee and Mr Weasley towards the dungeon. Dumbledore walked up to the two Snapes hanging from the shackles that Filch had kept just in case. "So whom might you be?" He asked the one he knew to be the fake Snape. "Let's see. Hailee, you know what we need could you please make your way to Severus' former office and get what we need. " Hailee nodded and left the room.

"You old fool. How can you not have known that I would never be loyal to you or your mud blood's I have hated them since before I was here as a student. Why would simply being involved with you change who I am and who I want to be? You are going to lose this war and it will be your fault that the Dark Lord will kill so very many of you." Snape sneered.

Without missing a beat Harry stepped forward and without a second thought, he brought his clenched fisted to Snape's unsuspecting hooknose. From the sound, it made everyone in the room knew it was broken. The second Snape let out a cry as well and began cursing at Harry. Hailee returned. She heard what was going on.

All of the sudden the light in her head came on and she put some of the puzzle together. She figured it out and wasted no time in beginning on Snape.

"YOU BASTARD! AND THIS I AM SURE WE WILL FIND IS YOUR BITCH TOO!" Dumbledore looked at Hailee with shock. "You didn't take him to just get at me or the Order. He was a pawn for your senseless wench. You know Snape that waste of a woman may have money but she will never truly love you. She has used you. Now you will both be in Azkaban. I dare say knowing how evil Draco and Lucius are your life expectancy just got very short anyway."

Dumbledore took Hailee's shoulder and spun her around. "Miss Potter, what on earth are you talking about?"

Hailee jumped with Dumbledore's touch. She had forgotten anyone else in the room. "We need to go to St. Mungos soon."

"You are smarter than I have given you credit for mud blood," Snape said.

"You know the connections that I have with the ministry, mud blood. I will go nowhere near Azkaban. After all, it wasn't on chance alone that I didn't go when Lucius did or when my coward of a son did. Now, do you think that filthy little creature you are will send me? "The fake Snape laughed.

Hailee took her hand and clasped it around the neck of the false Snape. His mouth opened as he gasped for breath. Hailee shoved the shredded skin of boomslang into the waiting mouth. "Swallow it Narcissa or I will make you swallow it!" Slowly she started to chew. Her slimy black hair turned a florescent blonde and the crooked nose withdrew to a smaller more feminine feature.

"Oh dear Merlin, that wasn't Narcissa I took to St. Mungos," Remus exclaimed.

Hailee turned to him. "Remus please go help Hermione, Mr Weasley I need you to take me to the Narcissa we found. She is there but I may need your help to get in." Hailee blushed, "Sorry Professor I should let that be up to you."

Dumbledore chuckled and looked down on Hailee. "You just did exactly what I would have done so what is next?"

Now Hailee was nervous. She felt like she was having the biggest exam of her life. She took a deep breath. "Call Fred and Ron back here. Then get as many of the Order members here by whatever means you use to contact them. I would also see if Aunt Petunia might consent to come or someone needs to quiz her further. I don't trust what Harry said about Dudley losing weight. Harry, you said no diet worked for him in the past. There is something wrong there, but I can't quite put my finger on it. "Behind the backs of the Order members in the room, Snape looked at Narcissa. Only this time his look of shock was mixed with fear. "Call Merlin back we need him here. He may be needed for the battle to help heal those that get hurt. "

Again, Dumbledore smiled at Hailee. "You are so very clever, I think you are right on with this. Let it be done. Harry go to the hospital wing inform them of the situation. Then floo to Diagon alley and get Ron and Fred quickly. Then the three of you protect the wing in case. This war is closer than we would all like. Hailee head to St Mungos with Arthur, take the shredded skin of boomslang. If we are correct, bring him here to the hospital wing. Remus go-to Hermione not only to help but also to protect. Aurors are on their way to fetch these three... oh yes and Narcissa you need to know they want you too. Cornelius was most taken back by the letter that was in your home admitting loyalties to Voldemort. Even Corneilus will not support you now that your loyalties are public knowledge"

Narcissa hissed at Snape who looked like he was a child being chastised for taking one too many cookies.

The Order scattered. Harry went to the hospital wing. Remus headed off towards the dungeon where Hermione was. Dumbledore headed for his office presumably to contact the order members. Arthur took Hailee's hand and they headed for St. Mungos.