Snake Eyes

Owlery Holt

"We do have a bit of a problem", Amelia was explaining, "it's the irregularity of these meetings, and that all these kids are having to pass the word. There's the very real possibility that they could be discovered when they're always dropping by the tables".

"I'll see what I can do", Harry offered.

"How?", she asked.

"Send another owl to Beaux Batons, see what Hermione can come up with. She seldom disappoints".

Hogwarts

Dear Father:

The renewed Quiddich season is off to a positively wonderful start, after last year's hiatus. Luna came up with this idea for a hat, a coiled serpent that would hiss loudly and wave its forked tongue whenever she pulled on the side pom-poms. Corny, but cute and harmless.

Not so some of our team mates. One composed this ditty, Weasley is our King. I don't have any reason to like Ronald Weasley, and a whole lot of reasons not to. But did he deserve this, considering he's the new guy this year?

Weasley is our king
He can not block a single ring
That's why Slytherins all sing
Weasley is our king
Weasley was born in a bin
He always lets the Quaffle in
Weasley will make sure we win
Weasley is our king

Yes, razzing your opponents is a long Quiddich tradition, and, believe me, I've had enough of it myself; I've done it enough myself. But this, almost enough to make me feel for the guy. This went on and on, during the match. It was a hard fought match, as it always is when it's against the Gryffindor's. Even the faculty was involved. McGonagall excused all the Gryffindor players from homework so they'd have more time to practice. Then someone from our side (wink, wink) cast a jinx at the Gryffindor Seeker that made her eyebrows grow so long that they covered her eyes. Professor Snape said it was an unfortunate accident with a Hair Thickening Charm even though more than a dozen witnesses said it was someone from Slytherin who did it.

To make a long story short, the new Gryffindor Seeker, Alice… Something… caught the Snitch to save the game, and her team mate from embarrassment. (Sorry, Dad – I'll do better next time) That's when that damn fool Crabbe deliberately hit a Bludger at Alice, knocking her off her broom. Thankfully, it wasn't too far to the ground, but shook her up. Then that Bole said something that set off a brawl between Alice, Fred, and George and Bole and Montague. McGonagall was livid, and Umbridge banned them from playing. McGonagall was going for a week's detention, but that wasn't good enough for our High Inquisitor. She talked Fudge into yet another Educational Decree that gives her the power to over rule the Professors when it comes to handing out punishments. I suppose Umbridge did this to spite McGonagall. It turns out that she didn't want to allow Team Ravenclaw to reform, and McGonagall and Flitwick took the matter to the Headmaster. You remember Ginny? She's Ravenclaw's Seeker this year, and you know how the High Inquisitor feels about Ginny. Well, anyway, Team Gryffindor is crippled, and will likely lose the Quiddich Cup.

Love,

Draco

He went up to the owlery to send that off to Malfoy Manor. Let the High Inquisitor see he was sending normal mail, just in case she and/or Filch were watching.

Now that the opening match of the Quiddich season was behind them, the meetings of Dumbledore's Army could go ahead. The second meet went better than the first, as everyone was toning their enthusiasm down a notch or two. The Creevey brothers weren't slinging the Expelliarmus wildly; Fred and George curbed their usual urge to prank the other members. There was a more serious atmosphere this time. Neville, however, was still having problems. Amelia took him aside.

"Where did you get this wand?", she asked.

"It belonged to my father", he said. "Gran insisted I take it when I started Hogwarts".

"It's no wonder why you're having such trouble. You know that a wand isn't just some stick you wave around? They're almost alive, and you need a wand that can work with you. I know there's that sentimental attachment, but that's not how it works…"

"It was Gran: she insisted".

"You need a wand you can call your own. We need to get you to Ollivander's for that wand that wants to work with you, and you alone. Then, I imagine we'll see a lot of improvement on your part".

"You think so?"

"Yes, Neville, I do".

"It's just that everyone thought I was nearly a squib".

"You try, and that's the main thing. And a wand of your own will help immensly".

After the lesson: "I'll be joining you later", Harry explained, "Hagrid's back".

"I don't like it", Amelia said, "I don't suppose I can talk you out of it, can I?"

"No, Madam Bones, you can't".

"I thought as much, you and Sirius".

"You say that like it's a bad thing".

Harry was pleased to see that the gamekeeper's cabin was aglow. He, Ginny, Fred, and George made their way through the fresh snowfall. Harry under his invisibility cloak.

Fred knocked with the doorknocker three times. They heard woofing inside.

"Oudda thuh way, Fang", came a gruff voice from within. "Oudda thuh way ye dozy dog!"

Hagrid opened the door.

"Ye kids shouldna come, thuh curfew…"

"Just for a few?"

"Awlrye"

Harry slipped off the cloak.

"Harry! Ye come back? I thaw ye were goin ter dat French school?"

"It's a long story, a lot's been happening since you left. You were missed, I can tell you".

"Yeah", Fred and George agreed, "everyone missed you. Care hasn't been the same without you".

"You just have to tell us!", Ginny insisted.

"Akshully, I doan hafta say nuttin", Hagrid explained.

"Did it have something to do with the giants?", Ginny asked.

"That's what I figured too", Harry agreed.

"Who done tole ye thah? Who ye bin talkin' ter?". He went to put on the pot.

"We sort of guessed", Ginny said.

"Ye kids… never known kids like yez, allays knowin' more'n yez supposeter, an' I ain complementin' yez, no Suh, nosy some be callin' it".

He put on a pot to serve herbal tea while deciding whether to tell them or insist they stay out of it.

"So you've been looking for giants?", Harry more said than asked.

"Dey ain dat hard ter fine, ter be honess", he said, "kind'a big, an' dey tend ter stan' out".

"So where do you find them?", Ginny asked.

"Mountains", he said

"Then why don't the muggles…", Fred began.

"Akshully, dey do, though very few ever lives ter tell uvit. Dare deffs are chalked up ter mountaineerin' accidents, dang'rous sport, thah. An' thuh ones what do survive, well, everbody t'inks dey went koo-koo", he said as he twirled a finger beside his head.

It didn't seem like he was going to say any more, to their disappointment.

"C'mon, tell us about the giants and Harry'll tell you about how he fought off the dementors", George prompted.

Hagrid choked, sputtered, and sprayed a considerable volume of herbal tea all over the table top and beyond.

"Dementors? Ye was attacked by dementors?! Ain never heared of suchating!"

"There's been a whole lot going on since you left", Harry explained. "And it's true, we – I mean my cousin and I – we were attacked right there in Little Whinging. There were two of them, and one nearly gave Dudley the Kiss. Would have too, but forch, Remus taught me the Patronus Charm. Otherwise, they would have gotten the both of us. The Ministry wanted to take my wand…"

"Dey wanted ter take yer wan'?, he asked.

"Oh yes", Harry continued, "first, there was the owl from Mafalda Hopkirk saying Ministry officials were coming to confiscate my wand. Then another from Arthur Weasley telling me not to co-operate, and that Dumbledore was working on it. Then another post from Hopkirk telling me I could keep my wand, but that there was going to be a hearing later that month. That was for underage sorcery in a muggle area, and in front of a muggle".

"So how'd it go?", Hagrid asked, remembering how badly his meeting went when he was pleading Buckbeak's case.

"Wouldn't know", Harry explained, "didn't go".

"Ye dint go?! Harry!"

"It wouldn't've done any good. It was a set-up, and I never would have stood a chance. You were there at the end of last year? You know what Fudge's position on Whatshisname is. He wanted me silenced, and sending me to Azkaban would certainly do that. I'm doing better on the lamm anyway with Sirius. OK, your turn".

"Oh awlrye", he conceded. "Me an' Olympe went lookin' fer giants. It was juss thuh pair of us. Olympe bein' a fine, well dressed woman, well I figgered she would'n be up ter roughin' it, clamberin' over boulders, sleepin' in caves, but she never complained. Not once did she".

"So you knew where you were going?", Ginny asked.

"Dumblederr, he knew, an' he tole us. We was bein' watched, we was…"

"What do you mean?", Fred asked.

"Ye needs ter consider: the Min'stry's been follerin' Dumblederr an' innyone who may be in league with him. So what we done is dis: when we got ter France, we made like we was on holiday, goin' ter Paris like lotsa folk does. Dat's where we gave the berk dat was follerin' us thuh slip".

"How'd you manage that?"

"Wasn hard, not at awl. We figgered dey'd try sumpin like thah. So we took an Air France flight from Charles De Gaulle airport direkly ter Minsk…"

"You went normie air?", Ginny asked.

"Dunnit beferr…"

"No shit?", George asked.

"A coupla years ago err so Ah'se know my way roun' an airport. Olympe, she knows awl boud muggle ways. Our Mins'try tail, he doan know nuttin' boud dat, so's he's still prolly wanderin' bout Charles De Gaulle, lessin sumone come an' got him.

"Inniways, it was juss a question of findin' 'em. After leavin' Minsk, it couldn't'a gone smoother. Trekkin' up thuh mountains lookin' fer signs uvvum. We hadda lay off thuh magic once we was near 'em. Partly cuzz dey doan truss wizards, and partly cuzz Dumblederr warned us thuh Death Eaters might be dere too. It was odds on Youknowwho already sent a delegation ter parley with 'em fer dere favour".

Hagrid paused to take a long draw at his oversized cup.

"Go on!", Harry prompted.

"Innyways, we found'em. Came up over a ridge one nigh' an' dere dey was. In a gully by a small lake. Fires burnin awl roun, castin' shadows. It was like watchin' parts of thuh mountain movin'".

"How big were they?", Ginny asked.

"Oh, I guess twenny feet, the biggest ones, prolly twenny-five or more".

"How many were there?"

"I guess seventy… eighty. Dere used ter be a lot more. Maybe a hunnerd tribes from all over, but dey been dyin' out fer quite a long time now. Wizards kilt a few, dat's true, but mainly dey dunnit ter demseffs. Dere not made ter live like thah, awl bunched together. Dey been dyin' out faster than dey kin replace demseffs. Dumblederr say it's our fault, wizards chasin' 'em away, makin' 'em live far from us. Dey hadda stick together fer dere own protekshun. Still goes against thuh grain".

"You saw them", Harry said, "then what?"

"We waited till mornin'. Dint want ter go down dere at nigh', sneakin' up on 'em is a very dang'rous t'ing ter be doin'. So we waited.

"Once it was light, an' dey was up an' about, we went ter seeum".

"You walked into a giants' camp? Just like that?", Ginny asked.

"Well, no, not exakly. Dumblederr explained what ter do. Ye hafta offer thuh Gurg giffs an show some respeck".

"The… 'Gurg'?", Harry asked.

"He's the chieftain o' thuh tribe".

"How did you know?", Fred asked.

"Dat was easy: thuh Gurg was thuh biggest, ugliest, and thuh laziest. He sat aroun', doin' nuttin' while the ress brung him food – dead goats 'n' such. Name of Karkus. Make him boud twenny-two… twenny-three… must'a weighed as much as two bull elephants… hide like a rhino.

"Innyways, we went inter thuh camp. Dumblederr esplained dat ye needs ter keep yer eyes on ter Gurg an' doan mine thuh ress. Act like ye knows yer bidness, show no sign of uncertainty, so dat's what we done: held our giff up high, kept eye contak wiff Karkus, an ignore ter ress".

"They were OK with that?", Fred asked. "They didn't want to kill the both of you?"

"Some uvum definitely had dat in mine, but dey went real quiet-like, juss in case Karkus wanted ter duit hisseff.

'A giff from Albus Dumblederr fer thuh Gurg o' the Giants in respekful greetin's', we says as we laid it at his feet".

"What did you give him?", Harry asked. "Food?"

"Naw, Karkus kin get all thuh food he wants. We gave him magic. Giants like magic, it's wizards what dey hate, 'specially when we use it agin 'em. Innyway, dat furss day we gave him a branch o' Gubraithian Fire…"

"What's that?", Fred and George asked.

"Honestly", Ginny said, "don't you two ever pay attention? It's everlasting fire; Flitwick's mentioned it on several occasions during Charms".

"Well, I placed dis burnin' branch dat Dumblederr'd bewitched to burn evermore rye at his feet. Not inny wizard could'a dunnit, an' Karkus knowed dat".

"So what did he say?"

"Nuttin, doan speak English, so he called fer sumone who understood our lingo who could interpret fer us".

"So they had someone who could speak English? All that way…"

"Giants get a rye education, an' English bein' an important language of commerce an' everything, of curss dey'd know it. Giants maybe a lotta t'ings, but stupid dey ain't".

"And did he like it?"

"Went down a storm once dey knew what it was. Dat's when we says: 'Albus Dumblederr asks the Gurg to speak wiff his representatives when dey return tomorrow wiff anudder giff'. An' dats where we leff it".

"You didn't do anything?", Ginny asked.

"Yer see, dats how yez do bidness wiff giants. If'n yer try ter force it, it doan go down so swell. Let 'em see yer giff, let 'em see if'n it's valuable. Show 'em yer word's good when ye return as promised. Dat's thuh thing boud giants: ye doan wanna overload 'em wiff information. Dey'd kill yez juss ter simplify things. So we bowed out an' foun' a nice cave where we could stay the night. Thuh necks mornin', we went back, and Karkus was sittin' up, waitin' ter see what we brung him. So we greeted him and laid before him a battle helmet. Goblin made an' nearly indestructible.

"Den we talked, an' Karkus did most of thuh liss'nen. We took dat as a good sign. He knew about Dumblederr, knew he'd argued agin thuh killin' o' the lass o' thuh British giants. Some of the others, thuh ones what had some English listened in. Innyways, dey seemed int'rested in hearin' more. Dint get no agreements one way or thuh odder, but dey dint say 'No'. We promised ter come back the necks day wiff anudder giff.

"Dats when everything wen' awl wrong. Dat nigh' a fight broke out, Ah guess betwixt dem's what agreed wiff Karkus an' dem dat dint. Went on mos' of thuh night, lotsa screamin', yellin', an by thuh necks mornin', the snow was awl stained scarlet from awl thuh blood spilt durin' thuh nigh', an' his head was lyin' at the bottom o' thuh lake…"

"Whose head?", Ginny gasped.

"Karkus', dere were a new Gurg, name of Golgamath: one of the biggest dere, black hair an' teeth ter match, wearin' a necklace of bones, some lookin' awl too human. He was wearin' Karkus' new helmet. So we went awn down dere wiff thuh giff we intended fer Karkus".

"You went down there, even though this Golgamath just ripped off the head on another giant?", Ginny asked.

"'Course we did! We dint come awl dat way ter juss give up. We still needed dere hepp, or at the very leas', a promise of neutrality. Innyways, we made our way inter thuh camp, ter present our necks giff. Ah knowed rye off it weren't good, thuh way Golgamath be leerin' at us. Innyway, we rolled out dis sheet o' dragon skin, sain it was a giff fer thuh Gurg o' the Giants.

"Before I knew it, Ah was upside down by thuh ankles, two of 'em got me. Dat's when Olympe hit them giants wiff the Conjunctivitis Curse. Never seen wand-work so fast. Ruddy marvelous. Good t'ing too, odderwise, we wouldn'a be here.

"Dey dint like thah, bein' we used magick agin 'em – dats what dey hate mos' boud wizards – so we hadda leg it".

"Then you came back?", Harry asked.

"Aw hell no! We stuck aroun' feelin' out thuh sit'iation. Dumblederr gave us a job, an' we wasn' juss gonna quit after three days. We sure dint like what we seen…"

"Did Golgamath rip off more heads?", Fred and George asked.

"Nuttin' like thah, but I wish he hadda".

"How do you mean?"

"It weren't wizards he object ter, juss us. It was as Dumblederr feared: thuh Death Eaters got dere firss, and Golgamath be parlayin' with 'em. Coup'la ovem comin' every day, bringin' giffs fer thuh new Gurg, an' dey wasn' hangin' upside down. So dat's what thuh fight be awl 'boud: dem's what sided wiff thuh Death Eaters, an' thuh ones what sympathized wiff Dumblederr".

"So the Death Eaters persuaded the giants to side with Youknowwho?", Ginny asked.

"Hol' yer hippogryphs, I dint say thah. Me an' Olympe discussed it an' we agreed: juss because Karkus were gone dint mean he dint still have supporters who never wanted Golgamath as Gurg".

"How could you tell?", Harry asked.

"Dat were no problem, the ones what was awl beat ter a pulp were thuh ones we needed ter see. So we'd go out at nigh' searchin' thuh caves, lookin' fer the giants layin' low an' stayin' outta Golgamath's way…"

"You went through caves at night? Looking for giants?", Fred and George said.

"We wasn' ter onny ones; we figgured Golgamath tole thuh Death Eaters we was out dere. Olympe, she wanted ter go an' get 'em, but Dumblederr say ter avoid inny Death Eaters, to not tangle withum, if'n we could hepps it. Ah wuz hard put ter stop 'er. Firey. Ah speck it's thuh French in her, yannow…"

Hagrid paused to stare into the fire, reminiscing. They waited a minute or so.

"So what happened then?", Harry prompted.

"You find the giants?", Fred asked.

"We was nosin' 'round thuh caves, an' boud thuh sixth one, we found three uvum, huddled in this small cave…"

"Must've been pretty crowded?", George asked.

"Not innuff room to swing a kneazle", Hagrid explained.

"They didn't attack?"

"Prolly would'a if'n dey was in inny condition. Golgamath's bunch beat them nearly ter death, an' dey crawled inter the nearest shelter. Innyway, one uvum had a bit o' English so's he could interpret. Dey lissened, an' seemed agreeable, which was more'n we got from Golgamath. We had maybe six or seven convinced at one point…"

"What do you mean, 'at one point'?", Ginny asked.

"Golgamath's bunch caught wind of what we was up ter, an' he sent his gang o' supporters ter attacks thuh ones been meetin' with us. Thuh survivors decided dey dint wan' nuttin more ter do wiff us".

"So there won't be any giants coming?", Fred asked, disappointed.

"Nope, 'fraid not. However, we dun what Dumblederr sent us fer: we delivered his message. Dere's allays thuh chance dat thuh ones what doan wanter foller Golgamath'll remember, realize thah Dumblederr's frien'ly, an' mibbe they'll leave thuh mountains. If'n dey do, den mibbe dey come. I speck dat's thuh bes' we kin ask fer".

"So why so long to come back?"

"It's like dis: we separated ter throw the Death Eaters doggin' our trails off. Recall: Dumblederr dint want no fights, ye see. Bess if'n we keep Youknowwho inter thuh dark concernin' our activities. Led 'em on a rye goose chase. Lost 'em at thuh airport when I boarded thuh flight ter Heathrow".

"Professor", Ginny started in a quiet voice.

"Ummmm…"

"While you were there, did you… perhaps… hear any news about your Mum?"

"Ehhhh…?"

"Never mind… forget I asked…", she wasn't supposed to know about that.

"Dat's alrye, an' yeah, I did hear… Died… years ago. Giant fight, mos' prolloy".

"So sorry for your loss", they all agreed.

"Doan t'ink nuttin' uvit. Doan hardly recall her innyways, wasn' much of a mother, an' she broke me Dad's heart, leavin' like she done…"

The rest of what he intended to say was interrupted by a knocking at the door. They all looked around, surprised. A small figure rippled as a shadow against the closed curtain.

"Fuck! It's her!", Fred hissed as Fang woofed at the door. Ginny's cup slipped her grip, shattering on the stone floor.

"Under here!", Harry ordered as he pulled the Cloak over his head. Fred, George, and Ginny dived under the cover.

"Mugs!", Ginny called out.

Hagrid magicked the three extra mugs back into the cupboard.

"Fang! Shaddap!", he called out. "Who be callin' at a time like this?", as he went to open the door. He pushed the dog aside with a foot and pulled the door open, letting in an icy blast.

Professor Umbridge stood there in her tweed cloak with matching hat with ear flaps. Lips pursed, she leaned back as Hagrid's navel was at her eye level.

"So you're my missing professor? Hagrid, wasn't it?", she said in that faux pleasant tone of voice, but loudly, as though talking to someone hard of hearing, or too stupid to comprehend right away. She invited herself in, bulging eyes scanning the whole room.

"Errrr….", Hargrid began, "doan take dis ter wrong way, as I doan mean ter be rude, but just who the ruddy hell do ye t'ink ye be?"

She swung her handbag at Fang, who looked to be about to rise up to lick her face.

"My name is Dolores Umbridge", she finally introduced herself.

"Ain ye one of dem Mins'try folk? Worked fer Mins'ter Fudge?"

"Why yes", she said, "First Secretary to the Minister, and also Hogwarts Defense Against the Dark Arts Professor".

"Dat's mighty brave of ye. Not many leff who'd 'sider takin' thuh position, given thuh reputation…"

"And High Inquisitor", she added.

"Oh?", Hagrid never heard of any such position. "Whuz dat?"

"Precisely what I was going to ask", as she pointed to the broken china cup Ginny dropped.

"Well thah", he cast a most unwelcome, and guilty, eye towards the corner where Harry, Fred, George, and Ginny were hiding.

"Thah were Fang; he knocked it off'n thuh table with his tail".

"I thought I heard voices", she said in a much lower voice.

"Thah were a program on thuh Wizardin' Wireless Network", he nodded at the wireless set in the corner.

"There are also four sets of footprints leading straight to your door".

"I must'a missed 'em, thuh callers, I mean. Dint know boud dat".

"Yet, there are no return footprints, care to explain?"

"I shirly canna".

"You do know there is a curfew?", she explained as though talking to a four year old, "that all students are expected to be in their dorms after 9:00?"

"Dats what thuh rules say", Hagrid agreed.

"You wouldn't be covering for any misbehaving students, would you? As a Professor, that is one of your duties: seeing that the rules are followed".

All the while, she was looking under Hagrid's massive bed, big enough to conceal half a class. She opened all the cupboards. Twice, she came dangerously close to bumping into Harry and company. The last time, he has to suck in his stomach.

"If'n ye doan mine", Hagrid protested, "I'd shirly 'preciate a bit o' courtesy. Ye doan see me goin' through yer office".

"Oh, but I do mind, Professor. Your reputation precedes you. As for courtesy, I would have expected that you would have reported in at the Headmaster's office as soon as you arrived from where ever it was you disappeared to, Professor".

"Doan know what yez talkin' boud".

"You indulge your students quite a bit, Professor. We can't have that, oh my no: that will no longer do".

All the while, Umbridge was looking around everywhere. Twice her eyes passed the corner where Harry and the others were concealing themselves.

"No, P'fesser", he said apologetically.

"Good evening, Professor", Umbridge finally took her leave.

"Oh, by the way", she turned back. "Where have you been?", she asked.

"Where've I…"

"Been. Another professor had to cover for you ever since the term started over two months ago. How is it you're so late?"

"Well, I… been away… Fer me health… Some fresh air…"

"I can imagine that a gamekeeper would find fresh air hard to come by", she said sarcastically.

"Well, den… a change o' scenery…"

"The mountains, I imagine?"

"Fuck! She knows!", Harry thought.

"Mountains? Well, no, been to the south of France, sun 'n' sea, yannow".

"You don't seem to have much of a tan".

"Sensitive skin, been usin' sunscreen potion".

"You were seen boarding an airliner in Paris".

"Well, dats where thuh flight wen', south o' France. Me and Olympe…"

"That would be Madam Maxime from Beaux Batons?"

"Thuh vurry same, yep, me and Olympe…"

"How is it you know about muggle airlines?"

"Olympe knows awl bouddat. Where her ideer, akshully".

"Someone might get the idea you were trying to evade magical detection".

"Would'n know nuttin boud thah".

"I see, well, a good evening to you. A warning: don't be less than prompt in carrying out your duties to keep the High Inquisitor informed of your appearances and disappearances".

"Yes, Ma'am, I shirly will".

"Wait!", Ginny hissed at Fred and George, "she may not be gone yet!"

Hagrid was thinking the same, as he pulled back a sliver if curtain: "she gone", he announced.

"Dat were a close shave", Hagrid announced.

"Too close", they agreed.

Before leaving, they filled him in about Umbridge and the High Inquisitor's office, the audits and her new power to dismiss professors, and that Dumbledore could do nothing about any dismissals.

"Please, Hagrid", Ginny pleaded, "don't do anything strange in class. Keep it simple, crups and porlocks won't raise suspicion".

"Trelawney's already on probation", George reminded.

"I have a few ideers fer class…"

"Don't! We wouldn't want to lose you. Just follow Professor Grubbly-Planc's syllabus".

"Been keepin' back a coupla critters. Ah recon aze thuh onny one wiff a d'mestik herd..."

"What critters?", Ginny asked, concerned. "Nothing dangerous, I hope. You heard: that Umbridge bitch is looking for any excuse to dismiss any professors who're too close to Dumbledore!"

"Aze not sain", Hagrid said. "Thah spoil thuh surprise…"

"Hagrid! Listen to me!", Ginny demanded. "If you bring anything to class that's the least bit dangerous, Umbridge will be pist. You don't want to piss her off. Believe me, I know better than anyone else here in this room…"

"How you mean, Ginny?"

"You'll hear all about it soon enough. Just keep it simple: teach us how to care for porlocks, how to tell the difference between knarls and hedgehogs. That's OWL level instruction".

"Thah not very int'restin'. Ah got sumpin really special. Doan worry, dey's not dang'rous, though dey kin take care of themseffs. Ah recon aze thuh onny one in awl of Britain wiff a d'mestik herd.

"Doan be worried boud me", he said as he placed a hand on Ginny's shoulder, causing her knees to buckle. "Sorry boud dat", he said as he pulled her up by the neck of her robe.

"Please reconsider: we don't want to lose you. We don't want to take the chance Umbridge will replace you with another one of her stooges. For the sake of your career, for the sake of your students… all the students of Hogwarts… please reconsider".

"Ah t'ink onnit", he promised, but none of them believed him. They knew Hagrid all too well.

Harry sneaked them back to their Common Rooms under the Cloak, and with the Marauders Map. As he cast the Obliteration Spell to remove their tracks through the snow, Fred spoke up.

"Doesn't look like you got through to him", he said to Ginny.

"I'll plan the whole damn course if I have to. I don't care whether Trelawney stays or goes, but she's not taking down Hagrid!"

Owlery Holt

"'Mornin'", Susan greeted as he left the guest bedroom. "Another bad dream?", she asked.

"No, not really… not anymore. It's not so scary after the 5,000 and third time. Just frustrating… that damn door, and I still can't get through it".

"Why would that bother you? We know it's the Department of Mysteries and likely the Hall of Prophecies. Isn't that what Lucius said?"

"Someone mention my name?", Lucius asked as he turned from the river trout he was frying for his human guests.

"It was that dream again", Harry explained.

"That reminds me, I have the false prophecy ready to go to the Hall of Prophecies. Drop it off later tonight. So how'd it go at Hogwarts?"

"Hagrid's back. Brought news from his trip east".

"You'll have to tell us all about it, but breakfast first".

Harry and Susan were understanding Sirius' aversion to fish morning, noon, and night.

"So what happened?", Lucius asked as they settled in the sitting room.

Harry explained all about Hagrid's and Olympe's trip to the mountains of Belarus. The meeting with the Gurg, Karkus, his overthrow, that the new Gurg, Golgamath, was siding with Voldemort.

"It never ends", Lucius said.

"What never ends?", Sirius asked.

"That these damn fools always side with the ones promising an easy way out. Not hard to figure: Voldemort promises these giants that he'll clear their way back to Britain, that they'll have their revenge, and they'll believe it. Never mind he'll screw them over as soon as he gets what he wants from them".

"You know what they say?", Harry explained. "He who robs Peter to pay Paul can always count on Paul's vote.

"So what does this new prophecy say?"

"According to Dumbledore, Voldmort didn't hear the whole thing. I'm guessing he heard the first two lines. That's enough to send him after Harry.

The one with the power to vanquish the Dark Lord approaches
Born to those who have thrice defied him, born as the seventh month dies
The Dark Lord will mark him, but the Dark Lord will have a power he knows not
The Dark Lord will vanquish the one born as the seventh month dies

"I'm sure this will appeal to his vanity. We know he's after this prophecy, that's what the dream is all about, why Dumbledore's so interested in seeing that corridor into the Department of Mysteries is being patrolled by the Order of the Phoenix. So we get this bit of disinformation into his hands".

"How will we?"

"Isn't it pretty obvious? You're going to get it for him, Harry. It's only a question of when and how. You've said it yourself: Voldemort's growing quite impatient the longer he's frustrated with obtaining this prophecy. Sooner or later, he will run out of options. He won't want to take a chance that someone might succeed where Podmore failed and destroy it before he hears it.

"He's either sending you this vision deliberately, or he's always thinking that he needs you to get it for him, and you're picking up on those stray thoughts without his realizing you know about them. I don't know which just yet, but I don't think it really makes a difference. We know what he's up to, and so does Dumbledore".

"I still don't like it", Sirius said, "Harry: you should cut off these visions. If he finds out, you don't want Whatshisname inside your head".

"He's already there, I'm afraid. We've known it since that first year incident. Every time I got near Quirrel that damn scar acted up, and we know he was possessed. Believe me, it's not a whole lot of fun, having a cursed scar that's always going off".

"We do need to know", Lucius and Amelia agreed.

In the early morning hours, Lucius apparated directly inside the Hall of Prophecies. He had with him a glass sphere that glowed green. He made his way through the racks, climbed up one rack, three-handed, to place the glowing sphere in a vacancy underneath which was a card reading: Harry James Potter and Thomas Marvolo Riddle that was signed A. Dumbledore. A quick dusting charm, and it looked as authentic as any other prophecy sphere.

Hogwarts

Sunday morning, Ginny ploughed through two feet of the snow that fell that night to Hagrid's cabin. Up in the Gryffindor Common Room, Fred, George, and Ron were stuck. The mountain of homework having risen, once again, to alarming proportions. They knew that outside those students who hadn't neglected their homework were entertaining themselves with ice skating on the frozen lake, coasting, and snowball fights. It was another clear, though cold, day – the kind of day one really didn't want to waste by being stuck inside doing neglected homework.

"C'mon, let me in", Ginny pleaded with the Fat Lady.

"No password, no entry", she said. "You don't belong here, Ravenclaw…"

"Don't give me any of that bullshit. Three of my brothers are Gryffindor's, so OPEN UP!", she demanded.

Forch, she was heard, and Ron opened the portal.

"She's not a…"

"Go fuck yourself", Ginny said as she stepped into the Common Room.

"Ginny? Come for a visit?", Ron said.

"How'd it go with Hagrid?", Fred asked.

"Got his lesson plans worked out?", George asked.

Ginny made a sort of squiggly wand move that sent a stream of hot air from the tip which she used to dry her robes that were damp to the knees.

"I wish", she said. "I had to wait for a half hour before he came stumping out of the Forbidden Forest…"

Fred and George both groaned: the forest was filled with just the sorts of critters likely to get Hagrid fired.

"I tried explaining about Umbridge, but I don't think he heard half of what I had to say. All he did was go on and on about what a fabulous surprise he had…"

"He say what's in there?", George asked.

"He said he didn't want to spoil the surprise, and I don't like the sound of that. I tried telling him to follow Grubbly-Planc's lessons, to stick with knarls. He said, and I quote: 'No one in their right mind would rather study knarls than chimera'"

"No shit? Do you suppose…", Fred began.

"No, I don't believe he has a chimera, at least not for a lack of trying based on how hard he said it was to get the eggs. I can't get through to him, that he really needs to stick with critters that can't take off an arm, leg, or head. That's all he wanted to talk about: this great surprise he has for us".

Ginny, robes now dry, put up her wand.

"He is just so damned stubborn", she was complaining. "No common sense whatsoever; still believes that whatever shitstorm he creates Dumbledore will bail him out. I can't seem to make him understand that the whole game's changed with Umbridge here. I fear we'll be saying 'Goodbye' to our Care of Magical Creatures prof in the not too distant future. Hope Grubbly-Planc's still available. Merlin knows who she'll replace Hagrid with".

"I hope you're wrong", Ron said.

"I hope so, too, but I don't think I am".

0xFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFF

The next Monday, Hagrid's return to the staff table was greeted with enthusiasm, especially from the Gryffindor table. Ron, Fred, George, and Lee sprinted up the aisle between the Gryffindor and Slytherin tables to wring his enormous hand. Michael and Horace exchanged eye-rolls. Ginny knew what they were thinking, that Grubbly-Planc's idea of an interesting class didn't involve the possibility that someone's head might get torn off. And that she wasn't an easy 'O'.

Care of Magical Creatures

Hagrid's first lesson upon his sudden return was on a clear, but very cold, day. The class, heavily muffled and charmed against the cold, made their way to the cabin. Ginny was hoping against hope that the High Inquisitor wouldn't be there, as she was concerned with how some, especially the Slytherins, would act if she were. So far, Umbridge was no where to be seen.

"Gather roun", Hagrid called out. He was by the Forest, next to what looked like half a dead cow. "we be workin' in here", he said as he pointed behind him. "Bit more sheltered in dere, an' dey perfer thuh dark", he announced.

"What prefers the dark?", Draco called out.

"Did you hear, what prefers the dark?", he asked Luna.

"No idea", she said.

"Bess be getting' along", Hagrid called out as he hefted the cow with a slight grunt as he slung it over a shoulder. "Stay t'gether an' doan be wand'rin", he admonished as he led the way into the Forest. "We'll be studyin dese critters in deir nat'ral habitat, pretty rare, too. Ah reckon Ah's thuh on'y one who ever managed ter train 'em…"

"You're sure you trained them?", Draco called out. "Not exactly the first time you brought wild animals to class".

Even some Gryffindor's thought he had a fair point.

"'Course dere trained", he said as he hefted the half cow a little higher. "Now, If'n yez all done askin' questions, foller me".

They followed, uneasily, as Hagrid led them deeper into the Forest. About a ten minute walk to a place where the trees grew so thick that it was like twilight, and no snow managed to penetrate to the forest floor.

Hagrid deposited the cow and turned to face the class: "Gather 'roun", he announced. "Dey'll smell thuh fresh meat soon enough, but I'll be callin' 'em as dey like ter know it's me".

The class approached warily, from tree to tree, looking over their shoulders and around the trees, as though expecting to be attacked from and side, any minute.

Hagrid threw back his head, shook the hair out of his face, as he gave a cry like that of some monstrous bird. He waited, then repeated the call. For a third time, Hagrid shook out his hair, expanded his enormous chest and let loose a third blast.

Luna nudged Draco, as she pointed to a gap between two gnarled yew trees. A pair of silver eyes showed through the dark space, growing larger, then appeared attached to a dragonish face and neck. The form of a skeletal, black horse slipped through the trees. Tail swishing, it looked around the students as it sniffed at the meat. Then it tore into the delicacy with its fanged teeth.

Draco wondered what she could possibly be pointing at. Ron whispered to Fred and George: "Why doesn't he call them again? Doesn't look like they're comin'"

Everyone was looking all around everywhere but at the horse who stood just feet away. Luna looked around: the only ones who seemed to be able to see them were Neville, whose eyes followed the swishing black tail, and a stringy Slytherin boy who watched the horse feeding with a look of utter disgust.

"Oh an' here comes anudder one", Hagrid announced as the second "horse" folded its wings and started tearing into the cow.

"If'n yez kin seeum, raise yer hands", Hagrid called out.

"See… what?", Ron called out.

Luna, Neville, and that unfamiliar boy were the only ones with hands up.

"Excuse me", Draco called out, "but what – exactly – are we supposed to be seeing?"

Luna gave a nudge and pointed to the cow. Strips of flesh were peeling away, rising in a curve before disappearing.

Parvati squealed: "What's doing it?", she called out. "What's eating it?!", she demanded.

"Thestrals", Hagrid announced.

"Thestra… what?", Ron asked.

"Thestrals", Hagrid repeated himself. "Kin innyone tell us why mos' uv yez canna seeum?"

Most looked around, clueless.

"Naw, not ye, Luna", Hagrid said when her hand went up, "I knows ye knows thuh answer. Innione else?"

"Yes, Miss Ginny?", Hagrid said.

"You can't see thestrals unless you've seen death".

"Exackly, Miss Ginny, an' have ten points fer Ravenclaw…"

"YUCK!", Parvati called out. "They're harbingers nothing good. They bring all sorts of misfortune and bad luck!"

Two more came out of the forest, one stepping right in front of Parvati. "Something just touched me!", she squealed.

"Thas not rye", Hagrid shook his massive head. "Hogwarts has a herd of aboud a hunnerd. Thass juss some silly, ig'nant superstition, ain nuttin ter it. Thestrals are quy clever an' dead useful. Ever year, dey pull the carriages from Hogsmeade. Yez been in contac with 'em ever since yer second year, an' ye dint even know it. Has innyone had inny bad luck? Inny tragedies? Innyone?"

He waited. No one said a thing.

"Dass what Ah been sain a'long: folks doan like 'em cuzz dey remin' us of dem's we loved and miss. Dey canna hepps it, canna hepps bein' what dey is…

"Hem, hem!", Umbridge had arrived. Hagrid, not knowing about this habit of hers, looked around, thinking one of the thestrals had made it.

"HEM! HEM!", she made it more insistently, getting Hagrid's attention.

"Oh, Hi there…", he called out.

"I trust you received the note I sent to your cabin, telling you about your audit?"

"Shirly, I did. Glad ter see ye foun' us", he said. "As ye can see… or maybe ye canna… we're doin' thestrals dis mornin'".

"Excuse me", she said, "what did you say?", she asked as she put her hands behind her ears.

"Thestrals", Hagrid repeated, "large, winged horses, yannow".

He flapped his arms, and she wrote something, but said it loudly enough to be sure she was heard.

"Has… to… resort… to… crude… sign… language"

"Well, innyway, what was Ah sain…"

"Appears… to… have… short… term… memory… problems"

"Well, Ah was aboud ter tell yez how we gotta herd", he regained his train of thought. "Dis one here...", he patted the first thestral to appear, though looking like a mime, "… name of Tenebrus, he was thuh firs' one born here in thuh foress. He's my fav'rite. Started with a male an' five females…"

"You are aware, are you not Professor, that the Ministry has classified thestrals as dangerous wildlife?", Umbridge interrupted loudly.

"Thah ain true", Hagrid disagreed. Nuttin dang'rous boud thestrals. T'aint a gent'ler critter. Thah's juss an ig'nant superstition. Oh sure, dey migh' take a nip outta yez if'n ye doan treat 'em rye…"

"Shows… utter… disregard… for… regulations… seems… to… delight… in… the… possibility… of… wildlife… accidents…"

"Now hole on", Hagrid protested, "even a dog'll take a nip if'n ye doan treat him rye. Dass true of inny critter. It's juss thuh death thing, folks t'inkin' dey's bad omens dint dey? Dey juss dint unnerstan' did dey?"

"I have enough for now", Umbridge cut him off. "I'm going to…", she walked in place, "… walk among the class…", she pointed to each student in turn, "… to ask them some questions…", she pointed at her mouth.

Hagrid wondered, flummoxed, as to why she was doing this, as if he didn't speak English just fine.

"You bitch!", Ginny hissed through clenched teeth beneath her breathe. "You evil old cunt! I know what you're doing!"

"Ummmm… innyways… thestrals… There's loads of good things aboud dem…"

Umbridge stepped up to Pansy Parkinson: "Do you have any problems understanding what Professor Hagrid says?"

"No. Ma'am, none at all", she said. Umbridge looked positively shocked and surprised. She expected all Slytherins to automatically be on her side.

"I understand you can see the thestrals?", she asked of Neville.

"Yes, Professor".

"Whom did you see die?", she asked with utter indifference.

"With all due respect, that's none of your business, Professor".

"Twenty points from Gryffindor for insolence", she said. "Let's try again, shall we? What do you think of the thestrals?"

"They're OK, I guess…"

"Students… seem… too… intimidated… to… admit… they're… frightened…"

"I'm not afraid of them!", Neville protested.

"Ten more points from Gryffindor for that outburst. I'm finished questioning you, so you don't dare question me or I'll add a detention. Is that understood, Mr. Longbottom?"

"Yes, Professor"

"Innyways, Ah was sain, if'n ye has a thestral, ye woan hafta worry boud getting' lost. Dey have an amazin' sense of direction…"

"Professor Hagrid", Umbridge said, "you'll receive…", she imitated snatching something from the air, "… your evaluation…", she pointed at her clipboard, "… in ten days…", as she held up ten fingers.

"That, foul, lying, twisted, old gargoyle!", Ginny was complaining as they made their way back to the castle. "You see what she's trying to do?"

"Hold on", Ron protested, "I thought you and the rest of the book worms wanted Grubbly-Planc back?"

"Not like this", Ginny explained, "she's making Hagrid out to look like some sort of dim-witted troll just because he has a Northern accent. That's not right, and it wasn't a bad lesson at all. He's right about thestrals: they classify them as dangerous because you can't see them if you haven't seen death. It is just an ignorant superstition, just like Hagrid said. If they were that dangerous, then how come we haven't seen any accidents with the carriages?"

"Good point", George agreed.

0xFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFF

December arrived with even more snow, and an avalanche of homework for Fred, George, and the rest of the Fifth Years. So far, no word about Hagrid, and whether he was on probation or not. He did, however, seem to finally take Ginny's advice. The next time Umbridge dropped by his class, held in the warmth of the cabin, he was teaching how to recognize crups. These magical animals looked a lot like a Jack Russel terrier, except for the forked tail.

The final lesson of the DA, Harry had an announcement.

"Everyone", he called out as he pointed to a basket, "we have a solution to the communication problem. Everyone, take one". He passed the basket around. Inside were Galleons.

"If you'll notice right around the rim", he indicated where to look, "you will see a number. On real Galleons, it's a serial number that keeps track of the mint where the coins were struck. On these, the numbers will change to tell you the date and time of the next meet-up. These Galleons will grow warm in your pocket to let you know there's a new message incoming. That way, we won't need to be seen together all the time, and if Umbitch makes you turn out your pockets, there's nothing suspicious about having one or more Galleons. Just be careful you don't spend them".

"Where'd you get these?", he was asked.

"It was Hermione's idea; she prepared them for us", he explained.

"Since we won't meet again before the end of the holidays", Amelia announced, "I thought we'd review. So far, you've learned the disarming spell, the stunning spell, and the impediment jinx. After the holidays, then we can get started with the Patronus Charm.

"I thought we could practice the Impedimentia jinx for the first ten minutes", she said.

Everyone paired off and fired off: "Impedimentia!"

While their partners waited to unfreeze, they all looked around at how others were doing. Harry saw that Neville was improving fast. He froze Padma three times in a row. After the ten minutes:

"That's all very good", Amelia congratulated. "Next, we'll review Stunning, then finish up with disarming".

They laid out the cushions to practice the Stupify spell. Neville's only mistake was stunning Parvati instead of his partner for this exercise, Dean Thomas.

At the end of the hour, Amelia gave them all a pep talk, congratulating them for how well they'd done, how far they'd come. They left by ones and twos, saying 'Merry Christmas' as they went back to their dorms. Harry and Amelia stayed behind to gather up and put away the cushions.

"What's on your mind?', Amelia asked.

"This is all well and good, but it's one thing here in the Room, but what about outside, under real fire?"

"It's not the same", she agreed. "It never is, but it's a whole lot more than they'd have otherwise. How was it when those dementors showed up? You had only practiced with Lupin, hadn't you?"

"Yes…"

"Yet you produced a Patronus under fire, didn't you? I hope your friends here never need anything we're teaching, but if they do, they'll be as prepared as well as they can be. You just have to trust they'll know what to do".

Owlery Holt

It began as a rather silly dream. Harry was back at Hogwarts, the Room of Requirement. It was just he and Cho Chang. ("I never much liked her") some part of his mind reminded.

"What?", he asked her.

"You said you had Chocolate Frog cards for me".

"I did?"

"Cedric was always giving me his cards".

With that, she withdrew handful after impossible handful of these cards from inside her robe and threw them into the air where they seemed to replicate to impossible numbers that settled slowly to the floor

"Did you lure me here under false pretenses?", Cho asked.

The next time he looked, Cho was gone, but Hermione was there instead.

"You did promise, Harry", she reminded. "It's only fair, you should give her your Firebolt".

"No, not that…"

"You're not using it as you don't play Quiddich anymore…"

The dream changed. This time, his whole body had changed. Now it was sleek and powerful as he slithered along a totally dark corridor. Though there wasn't a trace of visible light, he could still see in strange colours. Through metal bars and down a cool, stone floor, the residual warmth of the torch sconces and the stone walls glowed almost as brightly as though they were still lit.

Around a corner, and he saw the heat of a body. It was a man with his back against the wall just in front of a sealed door. He stuck out and waved his tongue and tasted the man's scent. He was dozing, sleeping on duty. No matter, let him sleep: he had a more important job.

As he was slipping up on the man, he jerked awake. He stood, a gossimer cloak dropping around his feet, he towered over Harry. He was pulling a wand from his belt. Now he had no choice: he reared up and struck. Once, twice, a third time: he felt his fangs penetrate his flesh, tasted the blood, felt ribs crack under powerful jaws. The man slumped back against the wall, and slid down to collapse on the floor. Blood streaks marking where he slid down the wall. A thick, dark pool of blood slowly spreading across the floor. He got a good look at who this was…

His head felt fit to explode.

"Harry? Harry!"

He was vaguely aware someone was calling his name…

"HARRY! HARRR-RRRYYYYY!"

He was awake, soaked in cold sweat, the covers and sheets wrapped all around him like a strait jacket. It felt like a white hot poker jabbing his head. He was aware of someone's looking down at him. It took him awhile to register who this was: Susan Bones. More figures at the foot of the bed. He clutched his head, the pain actually blinding him. He rolled over just in time to vomit over the edge of the mattress.

"I… think he's really sick. Maybe we should call someone…"

"You OK?", Sirius asked.

Harry tried forcing himself to sit up, breathing heavily, resisting the urge to throw up again…

"Listen", he forced out. "It's Mr Weasley… he's been attacked… I mean I attacked him… Blood everywhere… He's dying…"

"What are you talking about?", Amelia asked.

"It was just a dream", Sirius said, "just a nightmare…"

"No!", he insisted. "It wasn't! I was there; I did it!

"I'd better check this out", said a high pitched, squeaky voice. Lucius Lutra.

"Susan: sit with him", he ordered.

Lucius led Sirius and Amelia to the main drawing room, and turned on all the lights.

"Do you really think there's anything to this?", she asked.

"He's had these visions before", Sirius said.

"We're about to find out", with that, Lucius disapparated straight to the Department of Mysteries.

"I don't think…", Susan said.

"I have to", Harry sat up and got up.

Lucius quickly found Arthur Weasley right where Harry said: just outside the entrance to the Department of Mysteries. Getting attention was no problem: Lucius fired a curse at the door, instantly setting off the wards. He disapparated just ahead of the aurors.

"It's like Harry said: Arthur Weasley in that corridor leading to the Department of Mysteries. He's is a bad way, still alive, but it looks like he's a gonner…"

"How can we tell?"

"He'll be on his way to St Mungos for sure. However, we have a more pressing matter, and that's letting the rest of the family know what's happened. Best they hear it from one who's known, and not some anonymous contacts. I'll be on my way to the Burrow".

With that, Lucius disapparated.

The Burrow

Lucius apparated straight into the house. He could see from Molly's "clock" that Arthur was still alive, as its hand pointed to "mortal danger". He called out with that high pitched, loud otter-voice which nature intended to be heard through dense forest. That got Molly's attention, as she came down the stairs, wand in hand.

"Hold your fire!", he called out. "It's me: Lucius".

"What are…", she started to ask, before consulting her "clock".

"That's what I came to tell you", he explained. "Arthur's been hurt. At the Department of Mysteries, he was on guard duty for the Order of the Phoenix…"

He wondered if Molly had heard a word he said. This was her greatest, secret fear: that one or more of her family would die while on duty. It was the very image of her husband, lying in a pool of blood, that a boggart used to terrify her back at 12 Grimmauld. She was wailing.

"I'll get you something", he said. He recalled from his last visit where they kept the Ogden's.

"Here, drink this", he offered the fire whiskey.

"Wha… what… happened?", she was finally able to ask.

"Arthur was attacked right outside the Department of Mysteries where he was on guard. A giant snake…"

"A… snake?!", she asked, incredulous.

"That's what it was, yes. Last time I could see, he was still alive, but honestly, he's in a bad way. Probably on his way to St Mungos".

"The kids… I have to go".

"I'll take my leave, and hope for the best for Arthur".

"Thank you, again, for saving the family".

"I'll accept for Harry".

"Harry?"

"Yes, it was he who saw the whole thing. One of his visions".

Lucius apparated back to Owlery Holt.

Hogwarts: Dumbledore's Office

"Attacked? Arthur?", Dumbledore asked. Molly flooed straight to Dumbledore's office. Forch, he was still up.

"That's what I said!", Molly insisted. "The kids: they have to know!"

"How do you know this?"

"Does it matter! Albus!"

"I'm afraid it does".

"Harry. It was Harry: he saw the attack in a vision…"

Dumbledore said nothing, but fetched one of his peculiar silver instruments from the spindly table where it sat, inert. He brought it to his desk, and gave it a tap with his wand. It began to whirr and tick. Green puffs of smoke issued from its miniature smoke stack. The puffs turned into a steady stream of smoke. A serpent's head appeared, opened its mouth.

"Naturally, naturally", he said to himself.

Molly wondered what this was all about.

"In essence, divided?", he asked.

The smoke serpent split into two distinct serpents. He tapped the instrument again, and it deactivated.

Dumbledore got up and went to the wall where the portraits of past Headmasters and Mistresses hung.

"Everard", he called out. "You too, Dilys"

The subjects, looking like they were fast asleep opened their eyes at once.

"You heard?"

"Yes", replied a sallow-faced wizard with short, black bangs spoke up.

"Always", said an older woman with long, silver ringlets.

"I need you to check out what happened at the Ministry, and what's going on at St Mungos"

"Right away", Everard slipped from his frame.

"I'll keep watch", the woman, Dilys, promised.

"Everard and Dilys were two of the most renouned Headmasters and Headmistresses of Hogwarts. They have portraits in almost every wizarding institution", Dumbledore explained.

"This is serious, and I will need to have a talk with Harry…"

He held up a hand to silence her objection: "I know you're in contact with this Order of the Otter, and I know they have Harry. Ever since Harry was here during his first year, I have known that he shares a special connection with Voldemort. We saw how he reacted to Voldemort in Quirrel. At first, it was just his sensing Voldemort's proximity, or sensing his feelings, especially powerful emotions.

"Now, I fear it's gone beyond that. These visions demonstrate that the ties between Harry and Voldemort are growing stronger, and I fear the consequences should Voldemort realize what Harry's doing. Molly, I must insist: I need to discuss this with him ASAP".

Everard was back within a few minutes: "It's as she said. Everyone's talking about the snake attack. The aurors have been all over the Department of Mysteries, but there's no sign of that snake anywhere. They're saying that Arthur Weasley was undoubtedly attacked by something pretty big, and it could easily have been a snake. He left alive, but badly hurt. He's been rushed to St Mungos".

"Minerva, would you go to Gryffindor Tower and bring Fred, George, and Ron. Alert Filius to bring Ginny".

"Right away, Professor", McGonagall left to get the kids.

"We'll be needing extra chairs".

Before leaving, McGonagall conjured enough chairs for everyone.

Dilys returned: "Found him at St Mungos. He was brought in, alive, and was sent straight to emergency. I'm sorry, but I don't know his current condition".

"Hell's goin' on?", they heard Fred's complaint.

McGonagall ushered the three Weasley boys into the office.

"Mom?!", they asked.

"Please, be seated", Dumbledore invited. "Ginny should be here soon".

He went to the stand where Fawkes, the phoenix, was asleep. He gently stroked the bird until his head emerged from under a wing.

"We need a look-out", Dumbledore said to his pet as if he understood every word. The phoenix disappeared in a flash of fire.

"What's goin on?!", Fred and George called out.

"Yeah", Ron agreed, "in the middle of the night!"

"When your sister arrives, I will explain", Dumbledore promised.

Ginny soon arrived with Flitwick.

"Have a seat", Dumbledore said before she could say a word.

"I have some bad news, I'm afraid", Dumbledore started. "It's your father: he's been attacked…"

"Attacked?!", they called out.

"How?", Fred and George asked.

"Who?", Ron asked.

"Is he all right?", Ginny asked.

"So far as I know, the last word I have, is that Arthur is alive, but barely. It's bad, and the healers are trying to save his life as we speak…"

"Howcanthishappen?!", Ginny wanted to know.

"I'm not certain myself, but he was on duty for the Order, keeping watch over the Department of Mysteries. He was attacked by a snake…"

"How could a snake get inside the Ministry?!", Ginny wanted to know.

"I have no idea, but I'm sure the aurors are working on it".

"When can we see him?"

"I don't know that either", Dumbledore said. "I'm sending all of you to HQ. It's closer to St Mungos than the Burrow, and you'll be safer there until I can get this thing figured out".

"How will we go? The floo?"

Dumbledore went through his overstuffed closet, and fished out a small, fire-blackened kettle that hardly looked big enough to contain one can of baked beans.

"By portkey, I'm not certain that Hogwarts Floo Network connections aren't compromised".

He pointed his wand at the small kettle: "Portus"

The kettle glowed with a strange blue light as it hopped and jumped as though moved by its own private earthquake. It returned to normal after about five seconds or so.

There was a flash of light up by the ceiling, and a single golden feather floated to the ground. Dumbledore reached out to catch it.

"Fawkes' warning", he announced. "She knows you're out of your dorms. Minerva: head her off, delay her, any way you can".

Ginny didn't need to ask who the "she" that knew they weren't in their dorms was.

"Right away, Professor".

McGonagall left in a swirl of green tartan.

"You've used a portkey before? Take hold of the kettle, even just a finger will do. I will stop by when I am able. On the count of three: One (tap)… Two (tap)… Three (tap)…" Molly and the kids were gone in an instant.

Owlery Holt

"I need to see it", Lucius requested. He'd set up his memory thief again. "You've done this before".

"I… don't know…"

"What's the problem? Harry, tell me?"

"It's just that, well… I was the snake that attacked Mr Weasley"

"You didn't do it".

"What if I did it?"

"I can assure you: that's not possible. Voldemort can't come in here, sneak you out of bed, take you to the Department of Mysteries, turn you into a snake, and bring you back without me, or Sirius, or Madam Bones knowing about it".

"What about Quirrel? What about Ginny?"

"What about them? Do you have periods of time you can't account for? Ever find yourself somewhere without knowing how you got there, or why you went there?"

"Well… no…"

"Then you aren't possessed, and you have nothing to worry about".

"What if I hurt someone when you bring it back?"

"You wouldn't do that. I have more faith in you than that".

"If you're sure?"

"I am. It's important".

Harry put on the headset: "Just relax, and I'll bring up the memory".

It was hard, having to live through the vision all over again.

"Well?", Harry asked.

"I'm afraid we have a problem, a big one".

"And that would be?"

"This connection with Voldemort: it's getting stronger. If he doesn't know about it by now, it won't be too much longer. If that psychic connection turns into a two way street, you very well could wind up possessed".

"How is that possible? It was a snake".

"A snake who's possessed somehow. We know he has this alter ego, this familiar that's much more than just a pet. Before, your visions were from a third person point of view. This time, you were in that snake, right there with Voldemort, seeing everything through his eyes…"

"You mean, I could have prevented it?"

"No, Harry, that's not what I mean. What I do mean is you connected more closely than ever before. He's got to know. If he hasn't figured it out by now, one or two more of these 'visions', and he will".

"What do I do about it?"

"You're an accomplished Occlumens. Shut him out, and stop these 'dreams'. Seal the door before he ever knows there was one".

"What about the intel?"

"We'll get it the old fashioned way".