Chapter 4: A plan is made and ruined

Harry's pov.

Ron and I cleaned up our things and Hermione's since she left her potion and cauldron in her hurry to get to the library. We spent the remaining time until lunch in the common room playing wizard chess.

"She's mental" Ron suddenly said. "Who Hermione?" "Yeah who else? She already has more subjects then us, and now she wants to read about wandless magic?! I'm telling you she's mental, just like her murderous cat." Ron was still convinced that Hermione's cat had it out for his rat.

"She has been acting weird" I said. And it was true, she was carrying around more books than usual, and seemed confused and tired at times. Ron suddenly looked thoughtful.

"Don't you think it is suspicious that the two boys show up right after Black broke out of prison?"

"I don't know perhaps it is a coincidence?"

"Well think about it. Hermione said that you can't apparat on school grounds, but the boys got in anyway, whit means they probably get in anywhere so they could have help Black get out of Azkaban!" Ron was speaking faster and faster in excitement. But I wasn't so sure if I believed him after all Ron was quick to jump to conclusions. "Azkaban has the strictest security of all places, so no one could possibly get out on their own. They must have helped Black!"

"Don't you think they're a little young to be accomplices to a prison break out? And the article said that Black had been in prison in 12 years, so how would they have known him? He has been in prison for most of their life."

"They don't have to know him to break him out of prison, they could have been paid or something" Ron grumbled. He wasn't to happy with his theory getting shot down, but he could see my logic. "Alright it does sound a bit unlikely, but that doesn't mean that it isn't suspicious that they show up like that."

"No you're right it is strange" I agreed with him. Suddenly my attention was needed elsewhere. Ron's knight had just moved over and smashed my king. "Did you even say check? I'm pretty sure you didn't"

"I did say check it's not my fault you weren't listening" Ron was sitting with a smug smile.

"I was distracted by your talking!" My disagreement was halfhearted since I was used to losing to Ron in wizarding Chess.

"That's not an excuse." Ron was full out grinning now. I think his mood improved greatly when Snape's lesson ended early. "Anyway, I'm starving isn't it time for lunch yet?"

I looked at the clock in the common room and saw to my surprise that time has flown by while we played. "It has been lunch time for 15 minutes now!" We quickly packed our chess away and went down to the great hall so we wouldn't miss any more of our dining time.

Ron and I sat at our usual spot and stuffed our faces with Hogwarts delicious food. Hermione came rushing in a little later looking frustrated. Her bag was placed on the floor with a heavy dunk. "I couldn't fine anything useful!" she groaned.

"Relax 'Mione you have only been in the library half an hour, that's not time enough to go through all the books there" Ron said with his mouth full of food.

"Yes that's right, I've only been there a short time." The witch laughed nervously and fingered with thin chain she had around her neck.

"You're acting weird again" I narrowed my eyes at her, and she turned red. I don't know if it was in anger or embarrassment. "I'm not acting weird!" Hermione's voice became louder and the persons near us looked at us in concern. It was, to my surprise, Ron who saved us form an argument.

"So you couldn't find anything at all about wandless magic?"

"Swallow your food before you speak Ron." Hermione said disgusted, before answering his question. "Well there actually a lot of books about wandless magic and theories on the subject, but a most of it is just speculations. We don't really know a whole lot on how people do it, but that's not relevant right now, even if it is fascinating. I did find out that most adults can actually make lights without their wand or light a fire, but the boy did more than just make a light, and that's where I hid a dead end. I couldn't find anything on light with more uses! Then I looked for shadow magic but that's illegal so most of it would be in the restricted arear. And there was absolutely nothing on other forms of transportations other than apparating, and portkeys!" Hermione was getting more and more frustrated.

"You really read a lot in that short time 'Mione" I said in disbelieve. I mean that's impressive even for Hermione. She must have skimmed trough two books at once to get that much information in half an hour.

"Well it didn't do a lot of good." She placed her head on the table and groaned. "I really want to learn more about their magic. I think it could be useful for us."

"Well perhaps we should try and talk to them then" I said

"What no! I still think they're working with Sirius Black. I mean they show up right in the classroom you're in Harry, and you know Black is after you." Ron denied my suggestion.

Hermione asked Ron what he meant, and he explained his conspiracy to her. Much to my displeasure she though Ron had some valid points.

"That could also explain how Black got into the castle on Halloween and attacked the Fat Lady, then got out without anyone finding him. I think perhaps we should go see the two boys." Hermione said slowly. "You know, without them knowing." Ron smiled at her. "Are you suggesting we break the rules? We must be rubbing of on you 'Mione, you never want to do anything fun."

"I don't think it's a good idea. Your dad did say I shouldn't go look for trouble" I told Ron.

"Bloody hell Harry you're starting to sound like 'Mione and Hermione acting more like you. What's next? Fred and George becoming more like Percy?"

"Well I don't have the time to sneak around right now even if I though it were a good idea. The quidditch match is tomorrow."

"Yeah against Hufflepuff since Malfoy is not well enough to play yet." Ron said sourly. "That prat just don't wanna play in the rain." He had ranted for an hour when I told him, he was almost as bad as my quidditch captain Oliver Wood. The team captain's whole plan was ruined since we were playing against a different team, and he had to come up with a new strategy overnight. The worst part was that we had to listen to him panic.

"How about we make a deal?" Hermione asked. "If the two boys are not out of the hospital wing by the time you're done with your match, we will go see them. Without them knowing of course."

"I agree with Hermione" Ron told me. They were both looking at me expectantly, since it was my invisibility cloak the wanted to use to sneak around in.

"All right then. A quick in and out, nothing more okay?"

"You got it Harry, now let us get to class." We hurried to the DADA room to get some of the good seats, it was after all everyone's favorite class. I spotted Oliver Wood as we walked down the corridors, and I had to hold back a sigh. Lately he had been stopping me all the time to give me advise for the upcoming match, I think it was a way for him to deal with his nerves, but it was beginning to annoy me a little. I told Ron and Hermione to go on without me, since I knew this could take some time. 15 minutes later I opened the door to the class room while apologizing for my lateness. I was out of breath from running all the way here, so it took a couple of seconds before I took in what was happening. Snape was standing in front of the class and scolded me for being 5 minutes late. Apparently professor Lupin was sick so Snape had to take over his classes, and by doing so made it the worst lesson I had ever had. He criticized my favorite teacher, taught us outside the lesson plan and gave us extra homework. He even made Hermione cry! The only good thing that came out of the lesson was that Ron's detention was in the hospital wing, but first Monday evening. Ron did not think it was that great since he had to clean without using magic, but he did agree that it gave us an opportunity to spy on the two strangers, if they were still there after the weekend. Snape's lesson had ruined our Friday evening and the whole class left in a bad mood.

It was storming badly Saturday morning, the day of the match. The whole team was looking gloomy but worst of all was our captain. Oliver looked like he was about to throw up and he hadn't even touched his breakfast.

Sone after we were all out on the field trying not to get blown away. The match was going horrible, and I couldn't see anything before Hermione fix up my glasses to be water-resistant. After that it went alright, I mean at least I didn't almost collide with my fellow players anymore. I was scouting for the golden snitch when I saw something that shocked me to the core. A lighting strike lite up the world for a second, and the big black dog that I had seen once before when I almost got run over by the bus, was watching me from an empty tribute. I almost fell off my broom, but when I looked again it was gone.

"Harry, Harry behind you!" Wood was yelling desperately at me, and when I turned around, I saw Cedrick Diggory going after the snitch. I flew as fast as I could to catch up when something weird happened. The whole stadium went quiet as a grave and a scary chill went over me. I looked down and saw hundreds of dementors on the field below me. A cold wary feeling spread from my head to my toes and I was honestly afraid I was going to die. The last thing I heard before everything went black was a woman's scream.

When I woke up again, I was in the hospital wing surrounded by the whole team excepted for our captain. They looked like they just came back from a mud bath. Ron and Hermione were there as well looking very concerned and pale. They were all asking me how I was and talking about what happened. We lost the match and Wood didn't intent on taking Diggory up on his offer on a rematch. They showed we what was left of my broom, and my heart broke at the sight of the splinters.

Ten minutes later Madam Pomfrey shoed the team out and only Hermione and Ron were left. With the group of people gone, I had free view of the patient who laid four beds down to my right.

It was the black-haired boy who had almost vanished that day in Snape's lesson. He was sleeping and looked a lot better then when I first saw him. The blond who was with him that day was standing behind Madam Pomfrey and was looking at me. He did not look like someone who could assist with a prison break out. He was tall and athletic and looked to be around 15 or 16 years old but he had a friendly face.

The nurse gave me some chocolate and told me it would be best it I stayed the rest of the weekend here. When she had checked up on me, she went over to a first year who had hexed herself blue, but the blond boy did not follow her. Instead he went over to me. Ron and Hermione tensed when he came closer, but they didn't say anything.

"You were in the class me and Nico interrupted right?"

That was not what I had expected him to say but I nodded anyway.

"Yeah sorry about that, it was an accident." He laughed a little nervously and then reached out his hand. "My name is Will Solace" I looked a little wary on his hand before I shook it nervously.

"Harry Potter" I told him tiredly and waited for him to awestruck like most when they realize who I am. But instead he looked at our hands and frowned.

"You're very cold and drained. I could heal you for that if you would like it."

"No that's okay." I said quickly, and he frowned some more. I think he could sense that I didn't trust him. But then he smiled to me like it didn't matter.

"Alright but tell me if you change your mind okay?" He then moved on to introduce himself to my friends as well.

Hermione was as always thirsting for knowledge. "How would you have healed him, like what spell would you have used?"

"It is not really a spell but a family gift I suppose." Will brushed her of quickly and changed the subject before she could ask any further. "Do you think you could tell me where the teacher you had that day is? Professor Snape I think his name was. I want to thank him for his help with the unicorn draught."

"You want to thank Snape?" Ron exclaimed. He looked shocked at the thought of anybody wanting to thank our potion teacher.

Will looked confused at Ron's outburst. "Why shouldn't I want to thank him?"

"He's horrible" Ron said like it explained everything.

"Well he helped save a total stranger so I don't think he can be that bad. If he hadn't given me the unicorn milk Nico would have died, so I would like to talk with him."

"I can show you were his office is." Hermione offered.

"Thank you" Will nodded to her.

"So how did you get so injured?" I asked

Will smiled a little "We were attacked by an angry dog." My moth dropped open. Could it be that I wasn't the only one who had seen the Grim? Hermione on the other hand did not find his answer satisfying.

"You can do magic, but you still got mauled by a dog?" she asked skeptical.

"Don't underestimate big dogs!" the blond warned her. I haven't told anyone else but Ron and Hermione about the black dog I had seen, and if it was the Grim like Professor Trelawney warned me, then perhaps it could really maul a magic user. I could feel an ice block forming in my stomach. The Grim was a sign of death and Will's friend had been close to dying when he came here. I couldn't help but fear it was the same fate waiting for me. I wanted to ask how they survived the dog, but Madam Pomfrey interrupted before I could question him anymore.

"Will can you come help me?"

"Of course, Mrs. Pomfrey. Will you tell me when you're ready to leave?" he asked Hermione who nodded. Before he left, he turned his blue eyes to me. "I'm sorry about what happened to your broom man." It was the last thing I wanted to talk about with a stranger, but I thank him anyway. He had after all looked a bit confused as to why a broom was so important to me, but was trying to be sympathetic any way. It was nice of him, but I couldn't help to find it a bit suspicious how overly friendly he was. Was he just trying to butter me up and get on my good side? Madam Pomfrey called for Will again, and he hurried over to see what she wanted. We sat in silence for a few moments and watched Will helping out with small jobs. He seemed more at easy now than when he talked with us. It looked like he felt at home surrounded by sick people and medical equipment. After a little while Ron found a deck of card and we played a couple of games.

At lunch time a house elf showed up and gave Will a container and a plate of food. He chatted with the elf that he called Tabby while he ate. She was not as submissive as Dobby and seemed to enjoy talking with the boy more than she seemed to worship him. When Will was done with his food, he said something to her in a low voice so we couldn't over hear it. Tabby disappeared but showed up a few minutes later in front of my bed with three plates of food.

"Master Will said you have not eaten lunch yet, so Tabby though she would bring you some." She told us.

"Uhm thank you Tabby that's very kind of you." I was a little wary of house elves after meeting Dobby, but the food Tabby brought us look like the food we were normally served in the Great Hall.

"You're welcome." She said and looked at us with her bug brown eyes. "Do you need anything else sirs and madam?" I declined and she curtsied before disappearing with a snap of her fingers again.

"I didn't think guest were allowed to eat in here." Hermione wondered. We looked over at Will, but he just winked at us. Again I found his overly friendliness weird and suspicious.

Ron shrugged "Well we got it now and I'm starving so lets just eat here." He said before digging in. Ron was easy to win over if you just used his appetize.

"Do you think he's in a coma?" Hermione was looking over at Will who sad by his friend's bedside. When I turned my head, I could see the blond spoon feeding his sleeping friend with porridge from the container Tabby had brought him. It wasn't the cleanest processes, but Will never looked disgusted when he had to dry away spit and food from his friend's face, he just looked sad. "Well I don't think you can just sleep naturally through being force fed like that." Ron said in a matter of fact voice with his mouth full of food. It was kind of sad to see one so young being so helpless, and I did feel a little sorry for Will who had to take care of his friend. It must be lonely I suddenly realized, spending his day watching over the sleeping boy. It could explain why Will was so open I thought while slowly eating my potatoes.

We finished our meal, and Ron and Hermione had to go back to the common room. They assured we that they would come back later today, and Hermione said she would bring my homework with her. Ron and I just shared a look at her comment, it was just so typical her.

She went over and to Will who had finished feeding the other patient.

"We're ready to leave if you wanted to come with."

"Ah yes that would be very nice."

Hermione gave the blond a strained smile and the three people went through the door and left me alone with the sleeping boy.

Authors note: So that was chapter 4! I hope you enjoyed it. It was definitely the most difficult chapter to write, but I hope it is not something you can see within the chapter. Next we will see Snape and Will interact again. Nico is going to wake up soon too!

Thank you very much to all who follows this story, and to all who reviews: you're the best!