Chapter 10: "I Found Her…"

Chapter 10: "I Found Her…"

Harry froze with fear. This couldn't be happening; it must be a nightmare.

"So, we meet again, Harry Potter," Voldemort hissed, "Crucio!"

Harry writhed in pain. It felt as though someone were attacking him, just beating him for the fun of it. Then suddenly, it stopped. Harry opened his eyes gingerly. Looking up, he saw McGonagall, Hermione, Ron, Cho, Sirius, and Connerly. He looked around frantically, but didn't see Voldemort. Instead, he realized that most in the room were staring at him, and those who weren't were gathered around Dumbledore's chair.

Harry finally realized Dumbledore was in the chair, a very beaten and bruised Dumbledore.

"What happened?" Harry cried, standing up.

"You attacked him," Hermione whispered, "You attacked Professor Dumbledore…"

Harry couldn't feel his legs any longer. He stood there, horrified, then feeling sick to his stomach. He had just attacked his mentor, his hero.

Dumbledore spoke up, though, before anyone. "Don't apologize, Harry. You didn't do anything; it wasn't your fault."

Harry knelt before Dumbledore's desk, tears springing to his eyes. "Why is this happening, Professor Dumbledore? How?"

"For a long while, we weren't sure, Harry," Sirius answered, "But now we know. Senyas Capturars. The Dream Controlling curse."

The whole room was silent, though Sirius went over and placed his hand on Harry's shoulder.

Dumbledore continued for him. "It enables a person to control another by hurting them in their dreams. Whatever is done to you in that dream, you imitate upon whomever your controller chooses. It hasn't been used for over one hundred years. That's why we weren't sure what was happening."

"It can be fought, though, can't it?" Ron asked anxiously.

"Only if the controller is found… He must be a strong wizard."

"Albus, you don't think…?" Connerly asked, breaking off.

"No, Catherine, I don't think it is Voldemort. The controller must be on school grounds and we know for a fact that Voldemort is nowhere near here. Whoever it is, he is in this school."

They were silent a moment, then McGonagall began to help Dumbledore up. "We need to take you to the hospital wing, Albus. You'd better come too, Mr. Potter. I'm sure Poppy will want a look at you."

"No, I'm fine. No one needs to know what happened."
Dumbledore looked at them inquisitively. "Maybe you ought to tell Professor Dumbledore," Harry said, "No one else, though. I don't want anyone to be harmed in any way."

He glanced at Cho, who returned a grateful look.

Harry was glad to get back in the dormitory. He napped the remainder of the afternoon. When the sun set, he finally got up and went down to the common room. There he met Ron, who explained that Hermione was already in the Great Hall. So the two set off, Harry finally realizing how hungry he was

When they got to the entrance hall, however, it was blocked by a group of people. They were all gathered around something. Harry listened closely, and heard Draco's familiar voice, sobbing.

"I just found her! I was in the woods and saw her lying there, just lying there. I found her…"

Ron had managed to push his way through the small crowd, but stopped suddenly. Harry edged around his friend, then stopped when he saw Draco crying on the ground… and Ginny Weasley. Her face was surprised and lifeless, a look Harry remembered well from last year…

****

Ron refused to leave his bed. He was there a whole week, and hadn't even come down for meal times. Harry and Hermione had tried to console him, but their words seemed useless. It was all too much for him.

All of Gryffindor was in mourning. Everyone knew the Weasley family well and felt for them dearly. When Ron finally did start going back to class, it was in a stupor. He didn't speak at all. Not even Hermione could coax a word from him. It was as if he had just stopped caring.

After begging Ron to come, who only shook his head in reply, Harry and Hermione went to the library. They originally wanted to find out about the Dream Controlling curse, but the best information was only in the restricted section and all of their teachers refused to give them permission, telling them they shouldn't be the ones trying to solve things.

They found a few things in defending against it, though. If someone attacked you under they curse, it took a small shock or blow to bring them out of it. They would remember nothing of what happened, not even the dream they had. The real key to protecting yourself was knowing how to recognize a person under the curse. They would have a vacant look about them, not speak a word, and not even respond to any verbal communication. After taking notes on the Dream Controlling curse, they set off to an empty classroom to practice defending against it.

"Do you think Ron will be okay?" Harry asked after magically knocking a pillow off one of the desks.

"I hope so," Hermione sighed, "Why Ginny? What did she ever do to anyone?"

"What did Percy do?" Harry replied, bitterly, "What did Cedric do? What did my parents do? Voldemort doesn't kill people who did something. He just kills…"

They soon left the classroom, heading for the Gryffindor tower. When they turned the final corner, they spotted Neville in front of the Fat Lady's portrait, pacing nervously. When he saw the two friends, he rushed up to them.
"Harry! I told him… I didn't even think at the time! I could only think of Ginny… I only mentioned it to him and he went running! I didn't know!"

"Whoa, Neville," Harry said, holding the frantic boy's shoulders, "Relax. Tell us exactly what happened."

Neville took a deep breath. "The night Ginny…was found… I was in our dormitory. I happened to glance out the window and saw two people. Draco and Ginny were heading for the woods. I didn't even think! I just told Ron! He didn't say a word, just started running…"

Harry went white. Shaking his head, he frantically asked, "Where did Ron go?"

"I don't know! He just started running that way," Neville answered, pointing down the corridor.

Harry and Hermione didn't wait another second. They started racing down the hall, hoping they would find Ron before he found Draco. If Draco was Voldemort's supporter, there was no telling what he could do.

****

Ron was running blindly. He didn't know where Draco was, or even where to begin to look. He didn't care. Blood was pounding in his brain; hate coursed through his veins. Ron didn't know how but he would make Draco pay.

When Ron skidded around a corner, he spotted Draco exiting the trophy room. Eyes flashing, he ran full steam at his enemy.

"You monster!" Ron cried, tackling the blond boy back into the empty trophy room.

The two wrestled on the ground awhile. Draco managed to pull out his wand, but Ron knocked it from his hand. A few tumbling moments later, Draco kicked Ron off of him. Ron quickly bounded to his feet, pointing his wand at Draco. Both tried to catch their breaths, Draco sprawled on the floor and Ron's eyes flashing.

Harry and Hermione burst through the door, but froze immediately at the sight. Neither of the other boys even acknowledged that they had entered.

"If I knew the killing curse, so help me, Malfoy, you wouldn't be breathing!"

"Kill me, Weasley!" Draco yelled, his eyes furious and teary, "I don't care how you do it! If you have any merciful bone in your body, kill me! It would be far better than the hell I'm going through now!"

Ron had his teeth tightly clenched, staring loathingly at the boy. He was holding his wand so tightly that his arm began to shake. Draco, too, had clenched teeth and still hadn't moved from the floor. Harry and Hermione were glued to the spot, unsure of what to do.

"Why?" Ron said tersely, "Tell me why, in God's name, you killed an innocent little girl?"

"She wasn't supposed to be killed!" Draco cried, pinpricks coming to his eyes, "She wasn't supposed to even be there! He was watching me, and if he knew I had a soft spot, I would be dead!"

Draco's breathing became labored, but he went on. "I took her to the woods. She was only supposed to be questioned! I didn't know! Then that green light…and she slumped to the ground. He told me to carry her back, to act as though I had just found her. She was so small… He told me to pretend to cry but I swear, Weasley, I've never cried more real tears in my life!"

Ron's expression hadn't changed, except tears were coursing down his cheeks. His knuckles were white from holding his wand so tight. He was breathing deep and quick, as though choking.

Then, his wand slipped from his hand, clattering to the floor. He fell to the ground, burying his face in his hands, his shoulders shaking. Hermione ran to him, embracing him tightly. He hugged her back, crying into her shoulder. Harry, finally shaking off his shock, pulled Draco up by his collar, staring angrily into his eyes.

"I'm taking you to Dumbledore, Malfoy. You're going to rot in Azkaban!"

"There's not going to be an Azkaban, Potter! Voldemort has the dementors on his side and they're going to rebel the ministry within a week!"

Harry's teeth remained clenched, but his eyes betrayed a flash of surprise. "How would you know, Malfoy?"
"My dad's one of Voldemort's biggest supporters. He knows everything," Malfoy answered, glaring right back at Harry, "You and I could never be friends, Potter. I could never feel anything but hate for you. But I can't be a follower of someone who would kill an innocent girl."

Harry glowered at him suspiciously. "What are you saying?"

"From now on, I'm against Voldemort. If that means being on your side, so be it. I'm not going to just watch the innocent die."

Ron looked up, tears still streaming but his sobs were ended.

"Why should we trust you, Malfoy?" he said, his voice strained, "You've never been anything but You-Know-Who's supporter. How do we know you will change now?!"

"You don't. You can either trust or suspect me, but I'm on your side."

Wiping his final tears, Ron stood up. Hermione held his hand supportively.

"Harry, let's take him to Dumbledore."

Harry led the way, holding Draco by the nape of his neck. The four tromped down the corridors without meeting anyone.

"Peppermint humbug," Harry spat at gargoyle, causing it to move aside.

They went up the moving stars, then Harry flung open the door. Dumbledore, Snape, and Sirius all jumped in surprise. Defiantly, Harry flung Draco to the ground.

"Here's the murderer of Ginny Weasley!"

~*~*~

A/N: I hope not all of you were suspecting that. It kind of took me by surprise when I wrote it. ^-^

There should be a few more surprises in store. ^-^

So many reviews!!! I can't stop grinning! Thank you all!

Rachel- Thanks! I guess this chapter answered that…^-^

Starry Eyed Dreamer- Wow! So many wonderful reviews from you! Thank you so much!

Darth Yoda- I'm writing, promise! ^-^

Jona- This chapter isn't that much of a cliffy, eh? Sorry that I posted one right when you had to leave your

computer, though.

Lady Grizabella- You're reviews are always so nice! Thanks oh-so-very much!

Jedi Cosmos- I updated!!!

Person- If you are who I think you are, that is an amazing compliment. Thanks!

Abbey- I know. Don't worry, Harry doesn't have too many life threatening situations left. *grins*

~*Dumbledore's True Love*~- Nope, Harry's never going to get a break.

Daydreamer (Franny)- Heeheehee…

Jeanne (Jess)- Stop making me want to post the last chapter! ^-^

Tinabedina- Well, here's the next part! ^-^

Lily- I'm writing as much as I can, though school will be up again tomorrow, taking

away my precious time. *sigh*

Thank you all!

-Ady