Disclaimer: I don't own any characters.

ooooo

Chapter 28

The three boys sat next to the bed of the now subdued Hermendigo. It had taken three fairly strong calming potions to get it to fall asleep. Now it was resting peacefully.

"I still can't believe that's actually her," said Ron, flinching slightly as a low growl escaped her lips. "She's not waking up is she?"

"Maybe she's just snoring," Harry suggested, not wanting Ron to panic.

"And maybe the Dark Lord just needs therapy," Draco replied, sarcastically.

At the sound of his voice, the Hermendigo's eyes snapped open revealing glistening yellow orbs. She let out a loud growl and struggled against the chains that bound her apparently trying to get at Draco.

It was his yell of surprise and the sound of his chair clattering to the floor that alerted the nurse.

She quickly rushed in, stunned the beast and administered another calming potion.

"What was that all about?" asked Harry looking at Draco.

"How the hell should I know?" he said looking offended.

"You didn't do anything to her did you?" Ron spat, accusingly.

"You mean besides save her life? Let's say we ask her once she's had a good shave. Until then, I'm going for a walk."

Without another word, he stormed out of the room.

"You don't think he did anything to her do you?" Ron asked.

"I don't know. I mean, how many times has Hermione been mad at us and we didn't even know it," Harry reasoned. He really wanted to give Draco the benefit of the doubt, but he was Draco after all.

"I guess," Ron said looking out the window.

"I hope they're okay," said Harry. No one knew better what dangers lay in the forest and that's what worried him.

... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ...

It seemed to get darker with every step they took.

They had charmed Snape's wand to point in the direction of the wendigo and it kept pointing deeper and deeper into the forest.

Phoebe was continually gasping his arm tighter and tighter at the smallest sign of movement. Apart from the growing loss of feeling in his arm, Snape wasn't complaining.

"What's that?" Paige said suddenly making everyone jump.

"What's what?" said Piper looking in the direction Paige was pointing.

Slowly a unicorn emerged from the bushes ahead.

"Aw. We haven't seen one of these in a long time," said Phoebe cooing over the animal.

"You've seen one before?" Snape asked surprised.

"Yeah, before Wyatt was born. The elders sent it as a gift," Piper explained.

"Someone gave you a unicorn as a gift?" he asked disbelievingly.

"Not to keep. It's a long story," said Paige.

Snape, however, wasn't listening anymore. His wand had trembled in his hand and before he could react the wendigo had torn through the bushes and sank its teeth into the side of the unicorn.

He barely had time to push Phoebe aside before it reached them. He hurled a stunning spell at it and Piper froze it once it was down.

"Quick, throw the potion," said Paige.

"Wait. I don't think it will work," Snape interrupted.

"Why not?" asked Piper.

"The unicorn's blood will protect it. Unicorn's blood will keep you alive even if you are an inch from death, but you will be cursed with a half life," he explained.

"That would explain why it's not human during the day like it should be," said Phoebe.

"Well we have to try," said Piper. "We throw it on three. One, two, three!"

As soon as the potions hit the wendigo, it unfroze and began to burn alive. Though, instead of disappearing like demons usually did when they were vanquished, it started to transform.

The hair thinned and the limbs grew smaller until finally a man was left.

Snape rushed over and put his cloak over the naked man.

Paige gasped. "Oh my god. Isn't that..."

"Paul. Voldemort must have finally gotten to him," said Phoebe burying her face in Snape's chest.

Piper realized that Paul was still breathing and rushed over to his side. He was gasping for breath but trying to talk at the same time.

"Harry...Hellmouth," he whispered before going still.

Piper called for Leo but it was too late. Together, they all orbed out of the forest figuring it would be safer than walking.

"I don't understand," Snape whispered to Phoebe once they were out of the forest. "Why couldn't Leo heal him?"

"Leo can't heal the dead," she said in a voice so solemn that he didn't dare press the matter.

Once they were back in the castle, they headed straight for the hospital wing to check on Hermione. When they got there, they found Harry and Ron blushing furiously and facing the wall while the curtains were drawn around Hermione's bed.

"Oh, we probably should have mentioned the whole naked thing," said Phoebe.

"We figured out what was happening before it got too far and we closed the curtains," said Harry sheepishly with Ron still blushing next to him.

Hearing everyone in the room, Hermione decided to pull the curtain back. She still looked a little pale, but her hand was completely healed. She gave one look around the room and gave a small sigh of disappointment that Phoebe felt and couldn't ignore.

"Do you guys mind if a have a few minutes alone with Hermione?" asked Phoebe much to Hermione's surprise.

No one asked why and they all left the room silently.

"What's wrong?" Phoebe asked sitting next to Hermione on the bed.

"I feel a little dizzy but other than that I'm okay."

Phoebe smiled. "That's not what I meant."

Hermione just looked at her, confused.

"Um, okay, let me explain. I'm an empath, and when anyone around me is feeling a particularly strong emotion I feel it too. And you are very, very sad right now."

Hermione looked at her lap and when she looked back at Phoebe, she looked close to tears. But Phoebe knew they were not tears of sadness, but of frustration, anger and confusion.

"I knew he hated me but I didn't think he would leave me to die!" she said suddenly.

"Who?"

"Draco!"

"Oh honey, is that what you think? You need to talk to him."

"No. I'm not talking to that good for nothing twat!" she snapped looking down.

"Well, it looks like you don't have much of a choice."

"And why is that?" she asked looking up. But her question was answered when she saw him stepping into the room.

"Get out," she growled.

"Is that the thanks I get for saving you?" he asked eyebrow arched.

"Saving me? You left me!" she yelled.

"I transformed and went to get help!" he yelled back.

"You did?" she asked suspiciously, starting to calm down.

"Yes, I did. Wait," he said realization dawning, "is that why you tried to attack me?" he said, tone furious.

"I was angry," she shrugged.

"So you tried to eat me?!"

"It's not like you would have died. You would have just turned into a wendigo too," she said matter-of-factly.

"Like that's much better!" he yelled.

Phoebe was so busy watching the two argue, that she almost didn't step in to mediate.

"Okay, okay. Everyone just calm down. Hermione, thank him."

Hermione glared at the older witch while Draco smirked triumphantly.

"Thank you for saving my life," she mumbled.

"And?" Phoebe supplied.

"And I'm sorry I tried to eat you."

He was smirking, but it quickly left his face when Phoebe looked at him expectantly.

"Apology accepted and you're welcome," he drawled.

Satisfied, Phoebe was about to speak, but was cut off when Draco continued.

"And...I don't hate you...that much...anymore." He walked out of the room leaving Hermione speechless, and Phoebe proud.

"I'm gonna leave you alone now. Give you some time to think."

Phoebe left the room with Hermione's wave of confusion still washing over her.

"What was that all about?" a voice asked making Phoebe jump.

"Don't sneak up on me like that. I could have seriously hurt you."

"I doubt that," Snape said, looking amused at the thought.

"Tell it to the back of your head."

"Fair enough."

"It was Hermione. She was mad at Draco because she thought he left her to die, so she tried to eat him."

Snape let out a snort.

"It's not funny. Those two have a lot of issues to work through. They're both confused, especially Draco. It's like he's having a hard time believing he's doing the right thing."

"He has Lucius to thank for that. Just last year, Draco wouldn't be caught dead talking to Potter or Weasley or especially Miss Granger unless he was insulting them. It's all the Dark Lord's doing, I'm afraid."

"Why do you call him that?"

"Old habits die hard."

"Try."

They had reached the front door and were surprised to find it open. They were even more surprised to find the 'Manor' full of people.

"I guess Dumbledore decided to move the meeting up," said Phoebe as they walked over to Harry and Ron who were standing and talking to a man and woman who, judging by their hair, had to be Ron's parents.

"Arthur, Molly," Snape said nodding his head.

"Hi. I'm Phoebe. Nice to meet you."

"You too dear," said Molly a little dismissively and turned to look at Harry and Ron sternly.

"Mum, please," Ron pleaded.

"I don't care what Dumbledore says, you're too young. You too Harry."

"With all due respect Molly," Snape cut in, "The D-... Voldemort doesn't care how old Potter is, he's going to try and kill him regardless and I think the more information Potter has, the better. As for your son, on the other hand, that is your decision, but bear in mind that Mr. Potter here will tell him everything anyway."

They were all speechless. No one could believe what had just come out of Snape's mouth. Not only had he said Voldemort's name, but he had also just taken Harry's side.

It was only then that Molly noticed how close Phoebe and Snape were standing. Phoebe felt Molly's wave of disbelief and sent her a wink.

Dumbledore finished talking with Remus and turned to face everyone in the room.

"Due to the events that took place this afternoon, I have called you all here. No doubt you all know by now that Paul Daniels is dead. He was captured and used by Voldemort to turn Miss Granger into a wendigo in an attempt to distract us from his larger plans. While we do not know exactly what he is planning, we do know that it involves a magical seal that is located at the bottom of a ruined Muggle town that was known as Sunnydale. Paul was also able to provide us with another clue before he died. He linked Harry's name with a word we had not heard before: hellmouth."

"Whatever it is it doesn't sound good," Tonks interrupted.

"I agree," Kingsley said speaking up. "I think we should monitor that seal from a safe distance, since it seems to possess people."

"But there'll probably be Death Eaters guarding it," said Paige.

"Which is the reason why we should keep our distance," said Piper.

"You all bring up good points," said Dumbledore. "Until we have more information, we will monitor the Death Eaters' activities around the seal. I urge you all to be safe and any sign of strange activity should be reported to another Order member immediately."

The finality of his tone took Harry by surprise. "That's it?"

"Do you have something to add?" Dumbledore asked in an encouraging tone.

Everyone looked at him and he blushed but held his ground. "There has to be something we can do. We need more information. Phoebe can't you go to the seal and try to get a premonition off of it?"

"I don't see why not," she said.

"But it would possess you like it did Piper," said Tonks.

"Only for a few minutes though, right?" Phoebe asked.

"Or until someone smacks you," added Paige.

"We could orb there, freeze the guards, I get the premonition then we leave and wait for the seal's magic to wear off here. I would be safer here anyway."

Harry silently thanked Phoebe. Somehow he knew she got the message. He knew he was asking a lot of her but he couldn't just sit back and wait for Voldemort to hatch his plan.

Dumbledore looked like he was thinking it over and Snape was glaring daggers at Harry, which Phoebe saw.

"It is up to you, Phoebe," Dumbledore finally said.

"I'll do it. No problem."

"I'm coming with you," Snape said catching a few people by surprise.

"I wouldn't have it any other way," she said smiling, and she got on her toes and kissed his cheek which effectively caught everyone else in the room by surprise.

Dumbledore, however, stood there with his blue eyes shining brighter than they had in a long time.