Chapter Three
Nearly as soon as it had begun, it was over. Twenty or so Aurors apparated to the spot, stunning half of the Death Eaters before they could get away. Mrs. Weasley came to the window just behind Moody.
"Oh my," she whispered, grabbing hold of Mr. Weasley's elbow. "Arthur, the children," she warned, and Mr. Weasley nodded and began herding Harry, Ron and Hermione back towards the table to get to the rest of the team, who were too shocked or frightened to even look at the events outside.
"Hagrid, can you take them all out the back way and up to Hogwarts?" Mr. Weasley asked.
Hagrid had sobered up right quick once the Death Eaters had turned up. "Right," he agreed, placing a rather firm hand on Harry's left shoulder.
"Dad, do you have to stay?" Ron asked, trying hard not to sound too apprehensive.
"I ought to. They probably have enough people to control the situation, but this is the first blatant attack as of yet, and it's best if I look into it. Now, Harry, I want you and everyone else to follow Hagrid back up to the school and wait there until we come back for you."
Mr. Weasley was giving Harry a stern look that he didn't quite appreciate. He was about to say something about it when a sudden scorching pain came to his scar and he doubled over, clutching his forehead.
"Harry!" screamed both Hermione and Cho, as they rushed forward to see if he was ok. But Harry, despite his appreciation of Cho's concern and despite the pain, which was still keeping him on the ground, was more panicked about something else.
"Voldemort," he said to Mr. Weasley, who had already guessed what Harry's attack had meant. In the past, Harry's scar, remnants of a failed curse, had always hurt when Voldemort was nearby or planning something terrible. Mr. Weasley snapped into action. After glancing out the window and seeing that the five Death Eaters who had managed to get themselves caught were already being led away by Ministry officials, Mr. Weasley gathered up everyone in their party and led them through the back door of Three Broomsticks, with Hagrid carrying Harry, who had started convulsing from pain.
Avoiding the crowd as much as possible, they made a dash for Hogwarts' grounds, Angelina and Cho both looking very confused. "What's wrong with Harry? Why are we going to Hogwarts?" she whispered to Hermione, who was holding on to Ginny's hand and running to keep up with Hagrid's giant strides.
"Whenever You-Know-Who is close by, Harry's scar hurts. We're probably going to Hogwarts so that Ron's parents can talk to Professor Dumbledore," she answered, turning her attention to her right side to make sure that Ron was still there. "Ron, did you see what happened to those wizards after the Aurors showed up? Were they all right? I couldn't see."
Ron just shook his head. "I don't know. They weren't moving, that I can tell you."
Soon they had all reached the front doors of Hogwarts, but they didn't have to knock. Dumbledore and Professor McGonagall, Hogwarts' Deputy Headmistress, were already waiting at the entrance, obviously aware of what had happened in the village.
"Take him to the infirmary," McGonagall said to Hagrid, who wasn't looking the least bit tired after carrying Harry all that way. Ron and Hermione chased after him, Arthur and Molly Weasley followed Dumbledore and McGonagall up the stairs, and the rest of the team, along with Ginny, were left standing in the entrance way, gasping for breath and not quite knowing what to do.
Meanwhile, Harry had everyone in the infirmary rather anxious. "He's had pains in his scar before, but this just isn't right!" screamed Hermione as Madame Pomfrey tried to control Harry's seizures, which had escalated since entering the school. She was quite right. Harry had been known to have sudden pains in his head, but compared to this they were just light tickles. Harry couldn't even speak or open his eyes, the convulsions were so violent. Madame Pomfrey, ignoring all of the shouts from Ron, Hermione and Hagrid, was busy trying everything to calm Harry down.
"Can't you just give him some Sleeping Potion or something?" suggested Ron, who by now was turning rather pale from fright.
"Not at the moment, since he's apparently choking on his bloody tongue" she snapped, obviously unaccustomed to receiving medical advice from a bunch of fifth years. After a number of charms failed to have any effect, she threw up her hands in exasperation. "I'll just have to stun him!" she cried. But when this did not help Harry's condition in the slightest, she looked very frightened. "Someone go get the Headmaster now!" she ordered. Both Ron and Hermione took off towards the stone gargoyle that led to Dumbledore's office. "The pass word is 'Canary Cream'!" she called after them.