After a long discussion between Mr and Mrs Weasley, McGonagall, Dumbledore and Pomfrey, it was decided that Ron would stay at Hogwarts for the remainder of the term. Considering there was only eight days left, this wasn't too surprising. Harry was glad though. Being at Hogwarts without Hermione had been, and was still, weird enough. If Ron had been gone as well, Hogwarts might suddenly look very big, and not at all the home it had been to him for the past five and a half years.
Because Ron had seen Madam Pomfrey, he was also exempted from homework for the rest of term. He was discharged from the Hospital Wing on Friday, with instructions to try to increase his workload slowly, while not shying away from physical activity. Apparently, physical activity was supposed to be good for your mental health.
Harry swore to himself that he'd be by Ron's side until they were back at the burrow. The only issue with that was that Harry couldn't attend the HA meeting on the last Friday of term, as he had to go to Slughorn's Christmas party. This meant that Ron would have to lead the session. Harry had already asked Neville if he wanted to help. As the third person in their Defense self-study trio, he would be more than up to task, Harry thought.
However, another problem was that Harry still hadn't decided on a partner. He felt the time was beginning to run out, especially considering the way that Romilda's hawkeyed glance followed him around whenever he was in her vicinity.
Then, on Tuesday, he was forced to make a choice during the second-to-last HA meeting of the term, when Ginny cornered him.
"So, Potter, I think it's time you decide who you want to take to the party with you."
"I have no idea," Harry lamented. "I need someone to help me butter up Slughorn," he added in a whisper.
Ginny looked confused for a moment and then understanding showed in her eyes. "For Dumbledore, right?" she whispered back
Harry nodded.
Ginny bit her lip. "Well, I'm going to be there, of course," she said thinking out loud.
"I know, but I don't want to steal your date with Dean," Harry said truthfully.
"Oh, that's alright," Ginny said, waving that concern away. "He always treats me like I'm some sort of princess anyway, he won't complain," she said grumbling. She didn't seem to be very happy with that attitude, something that baffled Harry. Didn't girls want to be treated like that?
He couldn't help but remark. "Doesn't seem like that when he is snogging you like his life depends on it in the common room."
"Watch it, Potter," Ginny said, narrowing her eyes. Then she shrugged, "He's a boy, he can't help it when I initiate."
"Oh," Harry said dumbly.
"Anyway, I think I have a solution for you," Ginny continued. "Just ask Luna to go with you as a friend, she can entertain Dean by talking about art, and then we can butter up old sluggy. I'm sure Lily won't mind if you explain to her that you want to ask Luna as a friend, and as a friend only."
"I didn't want to meddle in their relationship like that," Harry admitted.
"Nah," Ginny said, waving her hand about, "just make sure you ask Lily if she's okay with it before you ask Luna."
Harry decided to follow that advice, and after the end of the meeting, he asked Lily if he could talk with her for a second. Together they walked a couple of meters away from the crowd, and Harry cast a muffliato.
"What charm was that?" Lily asked interestedly.
"It's called the Muffliato Charm, it creates a buzzing sound in the ears of those near you. It's quite useful when you don't want to be overheard and are in a loud environment," Harry explained.
"You don't want to be overheard?" she questioned.
"Well, no," Harry said, with a smile, "but it has also become something of a reflex."
Lily looked at him quizzically and Harry realized that to someone who was not involved with the craziness that was his life, that statement might sound shady.
"Okay…?" Lily said slowly.
"So, you know about Slughorn's Christmas party on Friday, right? I wanted to ask whether you'd be okay with me asking Luna to come as my guest, as a friend," he emphasized.
"Oh," Lily said, looking away, frowning. "Why Luna?"
"There's no one I'd actually want to go with me as a date, so I wanted to go as a friend, and Ginny's already going with Dean," he explained.
"You could ask Sophie," Lily suggested,"Or Parvati or Lavender."
"I could," Harry said slowly. Lily looked at him. Harry got the feeling she wasn't particularly alright with the idea.
"Well, you can ask her, I guess," Lily said reluctantly.
"Great!" Harry said with a smile, and he waved his wand to dismantle the muffliato. He looked over to the crowd but Luna was already gone. He walked over to Ginny.
"Luna went back to Ravenclaw tower?"
Ginny nodded, "You can probably still catch her if you hurry up!"
"Great!". Harry quickly left the Room of Requirement. Outside, he just saw a wink of blonde hair walking around a corner, so he shouted "Luna, wait!" and ran after her.
He turned the corner and saw Luna had stopped right after the corner. He had to twist around to avoid hitting her, resulting in him tripping. This time he didn't catch himself and he landed on the floor.
"Hello, Harry," she said, looking down at him. "This is the second time this term you've almost run into to me," she remarked, "but this time there no wrackspurts around. Actually, just a couple of Kriebis," she said. Harry got up.
"I wanted to ask you something," he said, waving his hand toward an unused classroom they were standing near. They walked in.
"You know about Slughorn's Christmas Party, right?" he began.
Luna nodded, "I heard a Vampire was coming," she said.
"So, I wanted – wait, really?" Harry said, momentarily distracted.
"Yes, I was hoping to interview him, or her, for the Quibbler."
"Oh, that's great then," Harry said, "because I wondered whether you wanted to come with me to the party, as friends." Then, when Luna just looked at him with wide eyes, he hastened to add, "I already talked to Lily about it, she's okay with it."
Luna's eyes narrowed slightly, which in her case just made her eyes look the size they were for other people. "Why would you ask Lily?" she wondered.
"Oh, I thought it might be weird if I just asked you without asking Lily," he said.
"But why?" Luna said, cocking her head.
"Er, because you two are dating?" Harry said slowly.
"Yes, we are," Luna said with a bright smile.
"So, that's why I asked Lily whether I could ask you," Harry explained.
"But why?" she repeated again. Harry wasn't sure what part she wasn't getting. Wasn't it obvious?
"I can't just go ask you, where you're dating someone else!" he exclaimed.
"You can't?" Luna looked thoughtful. Then she didn't speak for a long moment.
"But if you don't want to…" Harry said, trailing off hopefully.
Luna brightened again. "Oh, but I do want to! I'd love to go with you as friends! No one has ever asked me to go to any party!" Her wide smile was enough, to make Harry smile himself. He liked seeing Luna so happy.
"Great! I'll meet you on Friday, at eight o'clock in the Entrance Hall, okay?" he suggested.
"Yay!" Luna said, "I'm so excited!" And she looked it too. She was bouncing slightly as they walked out of the classroom.
- In Her Memory –
That Friday, an hour before Harry had to meet Luna in the Great Hall, he was looking into a mirror in his common room. Neville, Seamus and Ron had already left, they were headed for the HA meeting. Harry was a bit jealous, if he was honest. Seamus had suggested they hold a bit of a Chrismas Party themselves, like they had last year. Harry immediately called Dobby to forbid him from decorating the room with Harry Potter-themed stuff.
Harry frowned as he looked at his reflection. He really should have realized that his only dress robes wouldn't fit anymore. Not that Luna would care, but he knew Slughorn would. In the background he heard Dean getting himself ready. He sighed, what to do? He could try an extension charm, but he wasn't sure whether that work. In the reflection, he spotted the box of Chocolate Cauldrons given to him by Romilda Vane, stuffed under his bed.
"What's the matter, Harry?" Deans voice came from somewhere behind him. Harry turned around and looked at his dorm mate, and chuckled. "I guess I forgot to buy new dress robes last summer, my old ones don't fit anymore."
Dean laughed, "Yeah, you're showing a lot of ankle there mate," he said, "probably too provocative for a party like this."
Harry laughed. "Yeah, I don't really know what to do, though."
"I could try an extension charm for them if you want? I've done so before," Dean suggested.
"Go for it!" Harry said, glad to take the help. He remembered that Dean had experience with the charms. After all, Dean had had an enormous growth spurt last year and it only took one detention with Umbridge, for his robes being too short, for him to make sure that would never be an issue anymore.
After a couple of minutes of very careful casting, Harry's dress robes fit again.
"Thanks, Dean, I owe you!"
Dean waved it away, "Might want to comb your hair, though," he said.
Harry laughed self-deprecatively. "Actually, I can't. Apparently it's cursed to stay like this."
"Really?"
Harry nodded, shrugging.
"You do live a strange life, Harry," Dean said, shaking his head.
"Don't I know it," Harry responded dryly.
When Harry, Dean and Ginny descended the staircase into the Great Hall together, Harry walking a few paces in front of the couple, they saw an unusually large amount of girls hanging around. As he made his way down, they as one looked at him and started murmuring to each other.
Luckily, he didn't have to wait long, as Luna arrived only a minute later. She was wearing a set of spangled silver robes that was attracting a certain amount of giggling from the lingering girls. Harry thought she looked quite nice, especially because she didn't wear any of her more, peculiar accessories.
"Hi Ginny, Dean. Hello, Harry," she greeted them with a bright smile. "I'm so excited!"
Harry smiled at her, vowing to himself that he would make sure she had a nice time, even if he had a mission to fulfil.
"Hello, Luna," he greeted his friend-date. Should he give a compliment on how she looked? Or would that be weird?
"You look great, Lu!" Ginny said, grinning at her. This gave Harry the perfect opportunity to say he thought so to.
Luna smiled again, even though Harry could hear some of the girls in the hall make disbelieving noises.
"Shall we go then?" he said.
- In Her Memory –
Forty minutes later, Harry was getting tired of Slughorn verbally frogmarching him around the party, introducing him to "important people". Still, it wasn't all bad, judging from Ginny's wide-eyed look as she soaked in every word Gwenog Jones, the Holyhead Harpies captain, spoke to her and Dean.
Luna had also gotten her wish. To some extent, at least. There was indeed a vampire in attendance, but it wasn't Scrimgeour, who Luna had hoped it was. Harry had decided not to comment on it. But Luna had managed to land an interview with Eldrew Worple, an author, and his friend Sanguini, a vampire. She seemed happy with it.
He also had had a nasty shock, when he was ambushed by none other than Romilda Vane, who had come to the party with Cormac McLaggen. McLaggen didn't seem to act any different than normal so Harry assumed he hadn't been dosed with Love Potion. He was just about to promise Romilda he would spend an hour with her after Christmas, just so she would leave him alone in the meantime when he was rescued by Professor Trewlany of all people.
This led to both Slughorn and, to Harry's horror, Snape joining them. Harry silently marveled at Snape's skill in pretending the conversation didn't include Harry.
His mood increased tremendously, however, when Filch approached dragging Malfoy with him. This was the first time in weeks that Harry had the opportunity to study Malfoy for longer than a single glance. He was shocked at how bad he looked. Malfoy's pale skin made the dark circles under his eyes even more pronounced. He didn't look that much different from Sanguini the Vampire. He inwardly groaned, hoping this wasn't the result of the curse he had used on Malfoy. But no, Harry realized, as he listened to Malfoy, Slughorn, Filch and Snape discussing, there was more than just physical discomfort.
Malfoy looked angry, even a little afraid. It sparked Harry's interest.
When Snape marched Malfoy out of the party, Harry found himself on a crossroads. He desperately wanted to follow Snape and Malfoy, but he hadn't yet achieved his goal.
Although, Harry thought, if I am going to corner Slughorn someway, it'll have to be at the end of the party. He looked around, the party was clearly not even close to winding down.
Decision made, he turned to Luna. "Er, Luna, I'm going to go –"
"- Go be Harry Potter," Luna said cheerfully.
"Right," Harry smiled embarrassedly. As he tried to sneak out of the party, he could distinctively hear Luna tell him to "have fun!"
He shook his head. Luna may be smart, but she clearly didn't understand the concept of stealth, Harry thought fondly.
- In Her Memory –
Harry made his way back to the party, saying a silent thank you to Dumbledore for insisting on always keeping his invisibility cloak with him. His head was working overtime. What in the hell had he just overheard?
As he slowly walked back, the things he had heard connected with the things he had noticed. Malfoy had been given some sort of task. Harry would bet his Gringotts Vault on that being what Malfoy was doing in the Room of Requirement, and why Crabbe and Goyle were standing around that corridor. That would also explain the comment Malfoy had made, about having more important things to do than playing quidditch. But what task did the Slytherin have? Harry was sure Malfoy had been lying when he said he had nothing to do with it. But what was 'it'?
And who had given him the task? It hadn't been his father, that was for sure. Malfoy's emphasized use of him, had made Harry's hairs on his neck stand up. That could mean only one person, right? If Voldemort had given Malfoy a task, that would explain why Malfoy was looking sick and afraid.
His mind wandered back to the duel they had had, the way Malfoy grabbed his lower arm, and the black he had seen through one of the cuts he had made… "No, way,´ Harry thought. It couldn't be what he thought it was, right? Was it likely that Voldemort would recruit someone still at Hogwarts? Even mark him?
Yes, he would, Harry concluded angrily. He, and Lucius both, had shown no issues with using Ginny for their schemes. So, Malfoy, with his parents and his Aunt being deep into Voldemort's inner circle, was actually very likely to be recruited early.
Then there was Snape. That slimy, two-face, evil, git! Harry seethed. Dumbledore trusted him, and there he was, going behind the Headmasters back, trying to aid Malfoy. And what was that business about an Unbreakable Vow? What was that?
He stopped walking. The party was to the left, and both the Gryffindor common room and the Headmaster's office were straight ahead. He breathed in deeply. His brain was still firing on all cylinders.
Alright, Harry, he thought to himself, one thing at a time. There was nothing he could do about what he had heard, right now, except try to seek out Dumbledore. But he had told the Headmaster that he was going to try to get the memory tonight, so he couldn't just not try and then show up. There was also, the fact that he had left Luna at the party.
He grudgingly made his way back to the party, wearing his invisibility cloak. He sneaked upon on Luna, who was speaking with Sanguini again in a corner of the room. He waited for a moment, then saw his chance when Sanguini was distracted by a group of girls walking past. He quickly walked over and removed the cloak.
"Hey, Luna, are you enjoying the party?" he said, through a fake smile.
Luna started and turned around. "Hi, Harry, yes, I am!"
"Great," he said, smiling in earnest this time, "want to go check where Ginny and Dean are?"
"Sure!" Luna said cheerfully. They made their way through the room. As they walked past the ancient gramophone, Luna turned around and said something, but because of the loud music, he couldn't hear her.
He leaned forward, and she stood up on her toes and said in his ear, "Ginny told me that you and she had something to do tonight?"
Harry, who had been distracted by the smell of butterbeer on Luna's breath and the sweet smell of something he couldn't place, didn't answer immediately. Where had he smelt that mix of smells before?
"Oh, she told you?" he said when he remembered he had to answer.
"She said I would have to distract Dean at some point," Luna said, "we can talk about art!"
"Yes, you can," Harry said laughing. He leaned in again, "I hope you're not drinking too much butterbeer," he said, honestly a bit concerned.
"Oh, that's okay, Ginny has been diluting my drinks with water," Luna answered, "Ginny always takes care of me," she said, losing focus in her eyes for a second, probably thinking back to some previous event. She then hummed something that sounded like "Weasley is our king".
They made their way over to where Ginny and Dean were standing. Luna immediately started asking Dean about his latest projects. Ginny winked at Harry. He smiled broadly, and then looked around, scouting the room for Slughorn. He was talking to some Harry didn't know.
"We'll need a conversation starter of some sort," he said to Ginny.
"Easy," Ginny said, "Let's give it thirty minutes, then you ask him to talk in private. How's that?"
Harry didn't have a better idea, so they made their way over, grabbing drinks on the way there.
As it turned out, they didn't need a conversation starter.
"Harry, m'boy! And Miss Weasley!" Slughorn said jovially as they approached. He put his hands on their shoulders.
"Let me take a look at the two of you," the man said, with even more exuberance than normal. Harry suspected he had been enjoying the drinks.
"I just saw the two of you from behind," Slughorn explained, "and for a moment I thought I saw James and Lily Potter reborn!" He smiled sadly. "But from this angle, you don't look like Lily that much, Miss Weasley."
"I'm… sorry?" Ginny said confusedly. Harry blushed in embarrassment, being linked like that with Ginny.
"My apologies, Miss Weasley," Slughorn said, shaking of his lamenting. "When one reaches my age, Christmas often becomes a time to think back on all those you've lost. But don't let this old man keep you from enjoying the festivities!"
"Oh, that's okay, Professor," Harry said honestly, "I enjoy hearing about my parents."
"And I hope the party is not done yet?" Ginny said, acting hopefully, "I'm enjoying it ever so much."
Harry almost choked on the butterbeer he had just swallowed. Ginny smiled wickedly at him. Slughorn didn't seem to notice how fake that had sounded.
"I'm happy to hear that!" Slughorn beamed, "and am I correct in stating I saw you talking with Gwenog Jones? Any aspirations to go pro?"
Ginny looked at Harry quickly, and held his gaze as she said. "Actually, yeah, I have been thinking about it. Talking with Gwenog gave me a better idea of how to prepare myself!"
"That would be awesome, Ginny! I'm sure you'll have no trouble!" Harry said, genuinely enthusiastic. Now, he understood what McGonagall had meant when she said Ginny's idea for a reserve team was mostly for her own benefit.
"And that means, something coming from your Quidditch Captain!" Slughorn boomed.
They made small talk for the next couple of minutes. Ginny just knew the right question to ask, and Harry was glad for her taking charge. She made sure to ask questions or make statements that Harry could speak on. They continued like this until Ginny squeezed his arm, raised her eyebrows and nodded her head.
"Professor, there was something I hoped I could discuss with you. In private," he added in whispers.
"Of course, Harry, my boy. Let's go into my office!"
Harry followed him, stopping here and there to let Slughorn talk with people for a sentence or three.
As they entered Slughorn's office, the Potion Professor was the first to speak up. "Now, Harry, have you had any success with the potion we brewed?"
Harry hadn't even realized they had never told Slughorn what had happened. It did give him an opportunity, though.
"Oh, well, yes, and no. The potion did work, but something happened that is preventing me from continuing to the next phase," he said. He was taking a risk here, but he thought being honest would help Slughorn trust him. Well, honest to some extent at least.
Slughorn's brow furrowed. "Something is preventing you from continuing the Animagus process? I don't believe I have ever heard of something like that. Do you have an idea what the problem is?"
Harry hesitated slightly. He made a point of looking around the office. "We cannot be overheard, right?"
Slughorn waved his wand to activate his wards, and Harry could hear the volume of the party dwindle to non-existent.
"And I can trust you with another secret, Professor?"
"Of course, Harry, of course!" Slughorn said eagerly.
"The reason I can't move on to the next phase is that my Animagus form wants something from me, something very important. Which is actually why I wanted to talk to you in private, because I know you can help me," he explained.
"Well, why don't you explain what it is, and I'll see what I can do," Slughorn said genially.
"Professor, have you read the Daily Prophet over the summer? Have you seen how they keep referring to me?" Harry said.
" 'The Chosen One'," Slughorn scoffed, "the Prophet has indeed been becoming more sensationalist by the year, I really should-"
"They're right. It's true," Harry said, interrupting Slughorn. The professor's face whitened dramatically.
"You are the Chosen One?" he whispered with wide eyes.
"I am," Harry confirmed calmly. "And I need to defeat Voldemort before my Animagus form accepts me," he continued, not stopping when Slughorn let out a frightened meep when he spoke the name, "And I need your help to do so."
"You're asking me … you're asking me to, what are you asking me?" Slughorn said, stumbling over his words, the fear clear in his voice. He reached into a pocket and pulled out a handkerchief.
"I'm not asking you to fight or anything, the only thing I want is information."
"What kind of information?" Slughorn said weakly.
"I need to know what you told Tom Riddle about Horcruxes," Harry said firmly.
Slughorn stumbled backwards, falling backwards into his chair. "Dumbledore," he whispered. "Dumbledore put you up to this!" he accused Harry.
"Yes," Harry said baldly.
Slughorn looked angry, "Well, then you know that I don't know anything about Horcruxes."
"Don't take me for a fool, professor," Harry roughly, "I bet he asked about creating seven, right?"
"How do you –" Slughorn began, but Harry kept talking.
"That's why he didn't die after he killed my Mum and Dad, because he had created Horcruxes. That's how he came back two years ago. If my mum hadn't sacrificed herself to save me," Harry rolled on through, hitting every weakness he knew Slughorn possessed, "if I had died and Voldemort had lived, we might have never known about the Horcruxes. Then you would have been the only one with that knowledge."
Slughorn was shaking his head but looked unwillingly and morbidly curious.
"I need that memory, I need your help to defeat the wizard that killed Lily Evans."
Slughorn was speechless and clearly terrified.
"I won't blame you for anything," Harry promised, "Except if you decide to not be brave like my mother was. But if you do, you'll fix everything you might blame yourself for."
Slughorn just stared at him, tears forming in his eyes.
- In Her Memory –
When Harry walked back into the party, the memory in a glass vial in his pocket, he smiled broadly at Ginny. She smiled back, having received his message. He then looked around for Luna. He spotted her talking with the Slytherin girl that sometimes came to the HA meetings. As the party had progressed, people had let loose and there was some dancing going on. Feeling good about having achieved his mission, he walked over to Luna. As he approached, the Slytherin girl's eyes widened and she bid a hasty goodbye to Luna.
Luna turned around and smiled up at him. "Hi, Harry!" she said enthusiastically, her eyes as wide as always. Her cheeks were red and, even watered-down, the butterbeer was clearly starting to have some effect.
"Hey, Luna, I'm done with what I needed to do," he said.
Luna's eyes widened even more, in an eager fashion. "Yay!" she half-squealed, "Then we can go dancing!" and without warning, she grabbed Harry's arm and dragged him over to where people were dancing.
Harry leaned in to tell her that he did have to go speak with Dumbledore, but Luna ignored him. He smelled that smell again.
Harry's only experience with dancing was the Yule Ball, and while that hadn't been a complete disaster, at least, when it came to the formal part of the dancing, he still had no idea what to do. Luna seemed to dance to her own beat, because Harry was quite sure she wasn't in time with the music. Somehow, she pulled it off, though, even if her dance moves were attracting a lot of attention. She was currently slowly turning around and around, waving her hands above her head with her eyes closed. Harry just, sort of, stood there, tapping his foot.
"Oh, come on, Harry," Luna said, her eyes still closed, "you can do better than that!"
She grabbed his hands and moved them about, making Harry look like some sort of puppet-zombie. He couldn't help but laugh as he imagined how that looked from the outside. He could hear Ginny's laugh from somewhere to the side. He had to admit that it felt nice, to just let loose for a moment.
Luna opened her eyes and they gazed at each other for a moment. Luna smiled at him with such an open, joyous expression in her eyes that it made Harry blush.
Fifteen minutes later, Harry and Luna made their way to Ravenclaw common room. Ginny and Dean had left earlier. Harry had managed to let loose for about ten minutes before he decided that he needed to go to Dumbledore. Luna had pouted, which had almost made Harry stay, but she came along willingly.
Together they walked to the entrance of the Ravenclaw common room, while Luna updated Harry on her Parseltongue Project. She had managed to create a quill that transcribed her words into the English phonetic alphabet rather than the actual alphabet. For the next step she needed Harry. He had to sit with her quill and say something in Parseltongue. Whatever the quill would transcribe would determine their next steps.
"And you want to try to create a Runic alphabet, right?" he questioned.
"Yes," Luna confirmed, "I was hoping for your help there also. I was hoping the Chamber of Secrets might have some clues for that."
"You want me to take you down there?" Harry said surprised.
She nodded and moved closer to him. She whispered. "I need you to protect me from the Blibbering Humdingers down there. Ginny was infested by them after she was taken."
"Right," Hary said. "We'll figure something out," he promised.
Luna steered them to a side corridor. Harry was amused to see the entrance was a door sporting a bronze knocker, in the form of an Eagle.
Luna went up to it, and the Eagle came to life. "What is always in front of you but can't be seen by most?"
"The password is a riddle?" Harry asked surprised.
"The riddle only changes every other day, so I know the answer," she answered distractedly. "I like to think of new answers, though," she told him.
Of course, Harry thought with fondness.
"I guess.. maybe…," Luna murmured. Then she straightened up. "Eyes!" she said to the eagle.
"How so?" it demanded.
"We are our brains, so our eyes are in front of us," she declared, "and because we see with our eyes, we can't see our eyes."
The Eagle just said, "You forgot the existence of mirrors."
"Awh," Luna said dejectedly, "That's right. In that case, the answer is 'the future."
Harry could swear the Eagle rolled its eyes before the door opened. Luna looked at him.
"I think I'm supposed to say ' Well, this is me,'" she said with a small smile, "at least, that is what the girls in Ginny's books always say to the boy when he brings her home."
Harry quickly stored that information away as a possible means to tease Ginny. Then Luna walked up to him and hugged him.
"I had fun, Harry, thank you," she said before standing up on her tiptoes and kissing Harry on the cheek. Harry was so shocked, that he almost forgot to wish her good night.
He could feel the kiss on his cheek all the way toward the Headmaster's office.
- In Her Memory –
"Harry?" Dumbledore said, coming down the stairs to his private chambers, buttoning a robe over what, to Harry's horror, seemed to be a nightshirt. "To what do I owe this late visit?"
"I got it!" Harry said excitedly, pulling the vial from his pocket. "I've got Slughorn's memory!"
The Headmaster looked stunned for a moment before his face split into a wide smile.
"That is spectacular news, Harry! Very well done indeed!"
A minute of five later, Harry and Dumbledore had returned from the Pensieve.
"It's what we expected," Harry remarked.
"Yes," Dumbledore said, "but now we know for sure."
"What now?" Harry asked.
"Now, I will intensify my search for objects that might be, and places that might store, Horcruxes.
Harry was just about to ask whether he had any clues to go on when one of Dumbledore's instruments went haywire.
Dumbledore spun around to grab it and studied it for a moment. He grabbed his wand and multiple Phoenix Patroni shot in every direction. Something was wrong.
"Professor, what's happening?"
"Come with me, Harry, and stay close. Wand out." Dumbledore commanded instead. Harry got up and they made their way down the staircase, not even stopping for the Headmaster to transfigure his clothes into something more appropriate.
When they stepped outside, Harry could hear quick footsteps coming in their direction.
Not a moment later, Flitwick and McGonagall came racing around the corner. In the distance, Harry thought he could hear Mad-Eye's characteristic thud coming closer as well.
"Albus?" Professor McGonagall asked worriedly.
The Headmaster looked sad for a moment. "The wards just indicated to me that someone within Hogwarts has died."
Harry's heart stopped, and the fact he froze was the only reason he didn't join Flitwick and McGonagall in their cries of dismay. The Headmaster didn't waste a second to give his commands, however.
"Filius, you contact the ghosts and Argus. Minerva, you inform the other teachers and the Head Boy and Girl. I have already notified Poppy. We can't be sure what has happened, so we need to assume the worst, but we also need to find out what has happened. I'll meet Alastor and the other Aurors."
"Do we raise the alarm for the students?" Flitwick asked. The headmaster shook his head, "They should be safe in their dormitories, assuming what has happened hasn't happened there."
The next five minutes were a whirlwind of short Patronus messages, ghosts popping in and out of walls, and quick words with the Aurors.
Then a silver cat appeared in front of them, speaking in the voice of McGonagall.
"Horace has not responded yet,"
Harry's insides froze, and his mind jumped to the worst conclusions he could imagine. Had he been too rough in his desire to get the memory?
Because he had stopped walking, Dumbledore stopped also and turned around.
"Harry, it's too early to conclude anything," he said. "Let's hurry to Horace's office," and with that, they hurried their way there. Harry took a moment to marvel at how fast the Headmaster was moving, even in his old age.
They met Mad-Eye on the way there, who greeted them gruffly.
"Slughorn?" he informed. The Headmaster nodded and quickened his pace yet again.
When they approached Slughorn's offices Harry saw that the party had ended some time ago. The door to Slughorn's office was closed.
The Headmaster knocked loudly, "Horace?" he called. No response. Harry swallowed.
After Slughorn failed to answer a second call, the Headmaster waved his wand to override the protective enchantments on the door and pushed it open.
Harry's stomach plummeted.
Slughorn was lying on the floor, still, with foam coming from his mouth. Next to his hand, a crystal tumbler lay on the ground, the liquid it held spilt on the floor.
"Oh, Horace," Dumbledore sighed sadly. Mad-Eye made his way over and started casting spells. He turned to Dumbledore, "Most probably poisoned," he grunted. "I can give you a minute before I have to report to the actual Aurors," he grimaced, his opinion of those Aurors clear in his voice.
The Headmaster nodded and Mad-Eye left. Dumbledore waved his wand. Harry couldn't tear his eyes from the lifeless form of the man he had just spent an entire evening buttering up. Unwillingly, the thought that at least his secrets would be safe for now crept into his minded. He shivered.
The Headmaster finished his casting and sighed and turned to Harry.
"Horace was poisoned, and I'm quite sure that he did not do so on purpose," he said gravely.
"How do you know?" Harry questioned weakly, hoping Dumbledore was right.
"I've known Horace for decades, if he were to poison himself, I very much doubt he'd choose such an expensive drink to do so with," he said, nodding to an opened bottle on the table. "But more importantly, the residual magic in the room suggests otherwise, it lacks the spiked nature you'd expect if it was self-inflicted."
Dumbledore walked out of the office, with Harry in tow, and they waited for the Aurors and the Professor's search of the castle to finish.
Harry watched as the Aurors sealed Slughorn's office in Crime Scene charms. One of them stood in the room for multiple minutes, studying every part. Dumbledore explained she was recording the room into her memory, so they could then use the Auror's Pensieve to revisit the crime scene.
They left them to their business and they walked toward Professor McGonagall who was hurriedly heading their way. "Horace?" she whispered. The Headmaster shook his head.
McGonagall put her hand on her chest, "Oh, Merlin, what happened?"
After the Headmaster explained what they thought had happened, McGonagall fixed her eyes on Harry.
"And why are you here, Mr Potter?"
"Harry and I had business tonight," Dumbledore explained, "but we'll have to continue that another day, Harry." Harry nodded.
As McGonagall escorted Harry to the Gryffindor Common Room, Harry realized he hadn't even told Dumbledore about what Snape and Malfoy had said to each other. And where had Snape been during the search?
AN:
I think this was one of my favourite chapters to write thus far. Just being able to write Luna and Harry having fun, even only for a couple of sentences was very welcome to do. Also, the ending was something I had not planned on at all, but as I was writing the chapter I just knew it had to happen. It's not really a cliffhanger, it won't take much imagination to guess what happened, I think.
Hope you enjoy! And don't be shy to leave a review!