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Chapter 21: As Fast As You Can Fly
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Barbara stood behind the British Airway's reservation desk, looking out the large windows across the room. Snow was barreling towards the ground and she sighed: there would be lots of delays and cancellations, which meant angry people. A man entered the airport to her right and caught her attention immediately. He was tall with white blonde hair and had an intimidating swagger about him.
Lucius Malfoy stared around the Boston airport with disgust before beginning to make his way, quite uncomfortably in his restrictive business suit, to a nearby reservations desk. Barbara watched him coming, an odd feeling of foreboding coming over her. Perhaps it was her woman's intuition, or perhaps just because she really didn't like strangers, but something about him made her feel uncomfortable.
"Welcome to British Airways, how may I help you?" she asked restrainedly, as he approached.
Lucius offered her a forced smile that didn't extend to his dull gray eyes, nor lightened up his pale face. Barbara struggled to smile back.
"My name is Trevor Miles, and I was inquiring about my daughter, Adrienne Miles. It seems she disappeared last night after withdrawing her savings. It's my belief that she may have taken a flight to London earlier today," said Lucius in a business-like tone.
"I'm not allowed to reveal information about who has been traveling on our planes, sorry," she said, the image of the young troubled-looking girl from that early flight haunting her mind.
Lucius' smile wavered.
"She was minor; she had no permission to leave the country. You will tell me if my daughter ran away with the help of your services," he said coldly.
Barbara shifted nervously; she didn't feel comfortable around this man.
"I'm sorry, but our policy does not permit me to release that information," she said.
Lucius's hand slowly moved to his pocket, and he causally withdrew his wand. Inconspicuously, he pointed it at her, having it hidden partially behind the desk.
"Imperio," he muttered and then repocketed his wand. He looked at Barbara and smiled an evil smile. "Tell me whether Adrienne Miles was on a flight to London early this morning," he commanded.
Barbara blinked, her face impassive, her head drooping slightly to the side.
"A young girl by the name of Adrienne Miles boarded the seven A.M. flight earlier today to London. She should have arrived there several hours ago. The girl paid in cash," Barbara said dully.
Lucius's smirk grew.
"I want you to delete all records of her ever being on that flight," he said slowly.
Barbara turned to her computer and started typing. Lucius looked slowly looked around the room; it was empty except for a few receptionists at a desk at the end of the room and for an elderly couple standing by the entrance.
"The records no longer exist," Barbara said dully.
"Are you the only person who spoke with her?" asked Lucius.
"She may have spoken with some flight attendants but those who flew on her plane are currently enroute from London to New York," Barbara replied.
"Thank you, Barbara," said Lucius with mock kindness, "You have been so much help, you have no idea; however, others may come investigating her whereabouts, and I can't have you helping them also." Lucius reached into his pocket and pulled out a small vile. He shook it a little, the purple liquid glinting in the light. "I have something for you, Barbara, for your help; a thank you present, you could say. Drink it."
Lucius handed the vile to Barbara, who slowly opened it and tipped the contents into her mouth. She stood there for a second, placing the vile back into his outstretched hand, and then, her eyes rolled up into her head and she collapsed; dead.
Lucius looked around, no one was watching. With a quiet popping noise, he disapparated.
* * * * *
Harry shivered under his invisibility cloak. He pressed his body against his broom and flew at top speed, watching the scenery fly past below him. He shook himself every once and a while so that the snow, which was falling heavily now, wouldn't build up on his back and give him away. His mind returned to Adrienne. He could picture her, standing on a corner in London, all alone and freezing. Harry urged his Firebolt to fly faster. Hermione had been right, he didn't know if Adrienne was going to be at King's Cross, but he had to try. If Voldemort hadn't been able to catch her at Salem, he wasn't going to let her reach Hogwarts.
Harry didn't know how long he had been flying, but every so often he'd use his wand to check his direction. He bit his lip and shivered; it was so cold and the newly picking up wind didn't help. As Harry flew over the small towns below him, his teeth chattering, and the piercing cold starting to penetrate his dragon-hide gloves, a picture of Adrienne floated through his mind, and something told him he'd have to fly faster.
* * * * *
"Master?" said Lucius as he entered Voldemort's chambers, having put on his Death Eater robes so hastily that they hung lopsided.
Voldemort looked up from his chair.
"What did you find, Lucius?" he asked dangerously, his red-eyes glinting still with the anger of not retrieving Adrienne.
"She took a seven A.M. flight to London; she's there now," Lucius replied hastily.
Voldemort's frown slowly turned into a murderous smile, and he brought the tips of his fingers together in thought in front of him.
"Do you know where in London?" he asked.
Lucius shook his head. "WHAT GOOD IS IT TO ME TO KNOW SHE IS IN LONDON IF I DON'T KNOW WHERE, YOU FOOL!" he screamed, jumping up from his chair and advancing on Lucius.
Lucius stepped back, cowering before his master.
"If she, if she came to London, Master, she's . . she's probably trying to get to Hogwarts," Lucius stuttered, staring at Voldemort's wand hand, hoping dearly he wouldn't reach for his wand.
Voldemort titled his head and looked upon Lucius with contempt.
"There are plenty of ways to get to Hogwarts, that still is no help to me," he whispered threateningly.
"My son said she took the train to Hogwarts; she may try and go to King's Cross, seeing as that is the only place from which she knows how to reach the school," Lucius said, swallowing hard.
"What do you think she is going to do? Walk all the way there?" shot Voldemort, slowly reaching for his wand.
Lucius took another step back.
"She has to get there somehow, Master," he said quietly.
Voldemort laughed, the high cackle sounding throughout the chamber, pervading into the far dark corners of the room.
"True, and none of the Potters were too smart; she'll try and get there from King's Cross. Come Lucius, we are going to go rescue that poor child from the blistering cold," hissed Voldemort, another lipless smile spreading over his cruel face.
Lucius sighed a sigh of relief and watched with a calming sense of well-being as Voldemort put away his wand. * * * * *
"Where are you going all alone on Christmas Day?" asked the cabbie as he navigated his way through the snowy London streets.
He was an elderly man, with gray hair and a gray beard, and seemed to think he needed to entertain Adrienne during the trip. Adrienne turned her gaze from the window and looked out the front.
"To visit some friends," she replied, leaning back in her seat and rubbing her hands together.
She had been in the car for fifteen minutes now and she was still freezing; she couldn't seem to get warm. Adrienne pulled the collar of her turtleneck up higher and looked down to inspect her sweater, which still was torn. Adrienne sighed; if she only had her wand, she'd be able to fix it.
'Stupid,' she told herself, 'If you are a Perfect you don't need your wand.'
Adrienne shrugged off the thought, holding on to the last bit of hope that perhaps Voldemort had gotten her mixed up with someone else, that perhaps all those people hadn't died because he had come looking for her. Unfortunately, the image of her escape lingered in her mind: she had performed magic that night, thinking she had a wand when in reality she never had one. Adrienne closed her eyes, wondering how her life could have gotten so complicated so quickly.
"Little girl? You awake?" asked the cabbie, turning around at a stoplight.
Adrienne's eyes fluttered open.
"Oh, yes, just resting my eyes for a second," she replied, another chill sweeping over her body.
"You don't look so good? Are you feeling all right?" he asked, turning back around and continuing to drive.
"I feel fine, thanks though," Adrienne said, rubbing her numb hands.
"It's a bit cold out there, isn't it? They say it is supposed to be even colder tonight and there's a storm coming. Where exactly are you going?" he asked.
Adrienne thought for a second.
"Um, to the country," she replied, turning her attention back to the buildings whizzing past her.
"Well, be careful if you're going to the country; you don't want to get caught in a blizzard before you reach your destination," the cabbie said as he pulled off the road to park in front of King's Cross.
"I'll keep that in mind. Thanks for the ride," said Adrienne, reaching into her pockets, with great difficulty, to retrieve her money.
Adrienne got out of the cab and again felt the cold wall of icy air hit her. She took a deep breath and watched the cab drive away. It was dark now and no stars or moon was visible. Adrienne shivered and half ran towards the station, shoving her hands into her pockets and biting her lip nervously. She still had no idea how to get to Hogwarts.
Adrienne looked around the empty station, remember how only several months ago she was following Professors Glenn and Hartel through the multitudes, trying to find their way to Platform 9 and 3/4.
"How come you guys can't be here now?" she whispered as she walked by a coffee stand.
The warm smell was enticing but Adrienne didn't buy any; her stomach still didn't feel quite stable after that plane ride. Adrienne slowly trudged towards the barrier between platforms nine and ten. She looked around and then slowly walked towards it. In an instant she was on the other side, the wind blowing furiously, snow swirling up around her face.
"Great, it has to be a blizzard today!" she screamed into the dark night. Adrienne wrapped her arms around her torso and stood shivering. "I'll never make it like this," she whispered, the pain of white knives sticking throughout her body as the cold wind blew over her.
Adrienne ducked her head against the wind and trudged to the edge of the track. She looked down the ways to her right; barely able to see anything in front of her.
"I'm going to freeze," she whispered.
Adrienne looked at the ground, kicking the snow with her now soaked running shoes. Something glimmered in the faint light coming from the few stars that had poked through the clouds. Adrienne tilted her head and bent down, sticking her fingers into the icy snow. The little sensation left in them quickly faded as Adrienne struggled to pick up a bronze knut. Adrienne straightened up and stared at the little coin lying in her hand. She then turned her attention to her blue fingers.
'Where's the Perfect?' came the cold voice from the hallway. Adrienne shivered, trying to push it back into her memory. Her mind said it again. Adrienne swallowed and stared at the coin, her eyes watering in the freezing cold.
"Perfects can do magic without a wand," she whispered.
Adrienne shut her eyes and slowly let the image of a pair of gloves float into her mind. She focused her entire mind on it, temprorarily blocking out the cold, blocking out the pain shooting through her body as frostbite set in. With a last surge of concentration, she willed the single knut in her hand to transfigure into a pair of gloves.
Adrienne stood there, at the edge of the train tracks, her hair wiping back behind her in the freezing wind, frozen tears adorning her cheeks, her right hand outstretched. Adrienne slowly forced her eyes to open and her face fell. She hadn't done it; a single bronze knut still lay in her hand, and no gloves were anywhere around her.
"AHHHHH!" she screamed and with all her might threw the knut out over the tracks. It disappeared into the snow. Adrienne looked around her; the darkness of Christmas night pressing in on her, her entire body freezing, the bleakness of her situation finally pushing itself back into her mind.
* * * * *
Voldemort strode out of his chamber, Lucius at his heels.
"I want you to partially lock the barrier at King's Cross, Lucius; that way if she's already through it she can't go back, but keep the transfer from the Muggle world to the platform still open," Voldemort said, pulling on a thick pair of gloves.
Lucius nodded and drew his wand.
* * * * *
Adrienne shook her head; tears flowing down her face now. She had promised she'd escape, that she'd get to Hogwarts. She had promised Professor Glenn that, and now she was stuck. Adrienne turned and headed very slowly back to the barrier.
"I'll never be able to follow the tracks to Hogwarts, I'll freeze," she mumbled, her lips cracking as she spoke. Adrienne took a deep breath before walking towards the gate.
"Ouch!" she muttered, rubbing her nose and staring at the gateway in front of her.
Adrienne stuck out a frozen, blue hand and tried to push it through: she met an invisible barrier. Her eyes widened in fear.
"Someone there?" she called, now pounding her hands on the empty air, trying to break down the barrier. "Someone closed the barrier!" she whispered, horrified.
Adrienne stepped back from it, raising a hand to her mouth, "I'm trapped." She turned and looked out over the large embankments of snow that were building up along the platform. Adrienne shivered in the building cold.
"No!" she whispered, and slowly leaned back against the barrier.
She slid down the invisible wall and settled on the ground, drawing her legs up to her chest and hugging them, tears flowing down her face, freezing within minutes. An intense fear took a hold of her heart, ensnaring her mind and her feelings, her entire body yelling at her, "You're going to freeze to death!"
Adrienne shut her eyes and let the cold sweep over her.
* * * * *
Harry flew closer to the ground and squinted against the snow attacking him from all sides. He could barely see, but he could just make out the faint glow of London below him, the light fighting through the snow. Harry flew into a steep dive, only pulling up when he was several feet above the rooftops. His eyes scanned the street and the shops; he had seen this part of London before. Harry smiled slightly and turned down a silent street, his smile widening when he saw the sign for King's Cross ahead of him: He had made it.
* * * * *
"Joe, have you heard anything about Adrienne?" asked Mia, slowly pulling herself into a sitting position.
Joe bent over to help his wife sit up.
"No, Mia, I haven't. Julia said that the Ministries are looking for her, but they don't have a clue where to start," he said quietly, looking down at his worried wife.
Mia's face fell.
"Did they check the airport?" asked Mia thoughtfully, reaching for the glass of potion her doctor had left her.
Joe nodded.
"There's no record of an Adrienne Miles taking a flight to London since August, Mia," he said slowly, his heart filling with a cold dread: Perhaps she had never made it to the airport, perhaps she had succumbed to the cold in her attempt to get to Boston. Joe shut his eyes in horror. He felt a soft touch on his cheek and opened his eyes. Mia smiled at him slightly.
"She wouldn't have given up like that; she wouldn't just give up," Mia replied.
Joe smirked at her, "How did you know what I was thinking?"
Mia smiled even more.
"That's what you get from spending all your life dueling, you learn to anticipate the thoughts and actions of others," she said, her eyes sparkling for the first time since the attack.
Joe shook his head.
"All right, miss know-it-all, now what am I thinking," he said, leaning over a little more.
Mia raised an eyebrow.
"You're thinking it's about time we give our parents that grandchild they are always asking for," she said.
Joe smiled victoriously and leaned back in his chair.
"Oh, I hate to break it to you darling, but you are only partly right; some mind reader you are, fifty percent correct? I don't know about in yours, but in my classes that's failing," he said in the joking manner that had disappeared over the last 20 or so hours.
Mia shook her head impatiently.
"But I wasn't finished yet, stop rushing me," she said, taking a sip of her potion, her disgusted face making Joe laugh.
"All right, soothsayer, continue," he replied.
"And, your wondering if I would mind skipping through all the usual steps of parenthood and start at what, the age of fifteen?" she asked, raising her eyebrows victoriously.
Joe sighed.
"What do you think she'd say?" he asked quickly, looking down at his hands.
Mia laughed.
"Well now, Joe, you seem more nervous about this than you were about asking me to marry you," replied Mia.
Joe looked up, his eyes glinting.
"That's because if you said no, I was prepared to use desperate measures, mainly a certain unforgivable curse," he replied.
"Ah, resorting to forced marriages, eh?" she asked, reaching for his hand.
Joe leaned over and kissed the tip of her nose.
"What do you think she'd say if we asked her, Mia?" he asked again, his face serious and set.
Mia looked at him.
"I say, wherever she is, Joe, she is the only one who'll know that answer," Mia replied. She shook her head disbelievingly, "I still can't see her being a Perfect. I don't understand that at all."
Joe looked at her.
"She definitely doesn't live up to their reputation," he agreed and then turned his face serious again.
"How can we be joking like this when she is out there alone, and possibly in danger?" he asked quickly, mentally criticizing himself for letting himself enjoy the last few minutes.
Mia squeezed his hand.
"That's because, Adrienne is safe, dear," she whispered.
Joe looked at Mia curiously.
"How can you be sure?"
Mia smiled and looked around the white hospital room, her mind completely at peace. "Because."
* * * * *
Harry landed in a dark corner of an alley next to the station. He ripped off his invisibility cloak and looked around to make sure that no one had seen him. He tucked his Firebolt under his winter cloak and ran towards the entrance, pulling open the heavy door and running in. Had there been no wind, he may have heard the slight popping from across the street, as two figures apparated in the dark.
Harry looked around wildly, his eyes taking in the empty station.
"Adrienne?" he called.
No one answered and the coffee man looked up from his magazine, a curious expression flitting over his face as he looked at Harry's outfit.
"Happy Christmas, sir!" Harry called and then started running towards the barrier between platforms 9 and 10. T
he coffee man shook his head, mumbled something about crazy gits and turned back to his magazine.
Harry skidded to a stop in front of the familiar barrier, a smile of relief engulfing his face. He looked around him to make sure no one was watching and then stepped through the barrier.
"Umph," he grunted as he landed face first in a pile of snow.
"Oh, cold," he half shouted, pulling himself up and rubbing the part of his face that had hit the snow.
He turned around to see what he had tripped over.
"Adrienne?" he asked, running forward and kneeling down in front of her.
It was Adrienne all right. Her head hung forward, her hair frozen from all the snow landing in it.
"Adrienne, it's Harry, Adrienne?" Harry grabbed her shoulder and shook it.
Her head lulled forward and bounced several times.
"Adrienne!" Harry lifted up her head and gasped.
Her face was white, a blue tinge swirled through it. Her hair was stuck to her face where it had frozen to her tears and to the blood from her frozen and cracked lips. Her eyes were half open, frozen tears shimmering in the corners.
"Adrienne!" Harry said again, reaching down her neck, looking for a pulse.
A weak, slow pulsation beneath his fingertips reassured him, and he reached again for her shoulders.
"Come on, Adrienne, we have to get you back to the castle," he said, shaking her shoulders roughly.
Adrienne's eyes moved slightly.
"Harry?" she asked through her frozen lips.
Harry nodded and pulled some of her hair from her face.
"I'm so cold, Harry," she whispered.
"I know, Adrienne, come on, stand up." Harry stood up and grabbed her hands.
Adrienne didn't move.
"Adrienne, hold my hand, I'll help you up," he said, his teeth beginning to chatter.
"I can't move them," stuttered Adrienne.
Harry bent down, reached his arms under hers, and heaved her up.
"Can you stand?" he asked.
Adrienne nodded slightly. Harry let go of her and pulled his Firebolt from under his cloak. It floated it front of him, waiting for him to mount it. Harry turned around to face Adrienne, who was swaying slightly in her effort to keep standing.
"You have to sit behind me, I have to steer," he said, "Can you get on?"
Adrienne nodded and stepped forward; with great effort, she mounted the broom, and hovered there, only holding on with her knees, nursing her frozen hands in front of her. Harry pulled out his invisibility cloak and threw it over her and, then, looked down at his gloved hands. He yanked off his gloves, reached under the cloak and found her hands, slipping them into his warm gloves. He checked his pocket for his wand, making sure it was still there, and then mounted his broom in front of her.
"Hold on to my waist, that way you won't fall," he instructed, pulling the invisibility cloak over him and leaning forward to take off.
"Where do you think the girl is?" a familiar voice pierced the night sky, and Harry felt Adrienne flinch behind him.
He turned his head, and his heart skipped a beat. Standing behind him were two robed men, and a pair of evil red eyes that glinted in the darkness.
"The Perfect, where is she?" asked the man again.
Harry slowly leaned forward and took off. Adrienne tightened her grip as they slowly rose into the air. Harry was afraid to start off too fast, fearing she'd fall. Adrienne sat stiffly, trying to remember where she had heard that voice before, and then it hit her, he was the man from her dreams. She jerked around to look at the two men about twenty feet below them. The invisibility cloak slipped off her. Just at that moment, two red eyes pierced the darkness along with a shout.
"She's up there! Stupify!" Voldemort yelled.
"Harry, dive now!" Adrienne managed, ripping her lips again and the metallic taste of blood filling her mouth.
Harry dived, but not quick enough; the curse hit Adrienne, and she fell to her right, stunned.
"Adrienne!" Harry shouted, catching her arm as she fell, his other arm reaching for his wand.
He flattened himself against his broom; still hidden by his invisibility cloak. He tossed his left hand behind him and shouted "Impedimentia!" The flashes of ill-aimed curses behind him quit for several seconds, and Harry threw his invisibility cloak off his head, shoved his wand in his mouth, and grabbed Adrienne with both hands, yanking her up onto the broom in front of him.
Several seconds passed and the impedimentia curse wore off, leaving Voldemort and Lucius staring up into the sky, watching Harry throw his invisibility cloak back over him and Adrienne.
Voldemort cursed and hit Lucius upside the head in anger.
* * * * *
Harry flew as fast as he could, leaning over Adrienne, one hand steering, the other holding onto his unconscious twin. He turned around several times, breathing hard, his heart thumping in his chest: he wasn't being followed. After several minutes, he slowed down and hovered in mid air, pulling his wand out of his mouth and pointed it at Adrienne.
"Enervate" he whispered.
Adrienne stirred and then screamed: she was leaning over the broom, her lower half on one side, her upper half on the other, and an inch or so of her stomach actually touching the broom.
"Shh, I have you," Harry whispered, holding on tightly to the back of her sweater.
"Pull me up!" she ordered, reaching up to try and grab the broom, but her hands wouldn't cooperate.
"I'll land, hold on" Harry whispered.
He entered a slight dive, worrying that if he dived to steeply she'd fly off the front. Once he landed, Adrienne rolled off and laid on the snow covered ground.
"That, he, that man, he was, I've seen him, in my dreams, that's the man!" she whispered incoherently.
Harry pulled her off the ground.
"Well, he's back there, and we are up here, get back on," he whispered, helping her onto the broom again and mounting in front of her.
He threw the invisibility cloak back over her and again flew into the air. They flew in silence, Adrienne struggling to stay awake, her arms gripping Harry's waist with all her quickly fading strength, her tired body ready to give up.
"Why were you there, at the station?" she whispered into the silent night.
"I came looking for you," Harry replied, checking his direction and then turning slightly to the right.
Adrienne blinked several times.
"Why?" she asked, hoarsely.
"I couldn't let you freeze, could I?" Harry replied. vAdrienne didn't say anything, another wave of cold sweeping over her. She slowly shut her eyes and leaned forward, resting her head on Harry's back. Harry sat up straight.
"Adrienne!" he called, elbowing her.
Adrienne jerked back awake and sat back up.
"That hurt," she whispered, struggling to regain her breath.
"You have to stay awake, Adrienne," said Harry, leaning forward and flying at maximum speed, 'she's not going to last much longer,' he told himself, 'distract her.'
"What happened last night, Adrienne?" he asked, rather stupidly and then cursed himself for asking such a dumb question.
Adrienne shuddered, remember the images of all the dead people, of Professor Glenn making her promise to get to safety. She shut her eyes, tears again rolling down her face.
"I don't want to talk about it," she whispered, her head nodding forward with exhaustion.
"Ok, um, I really liked your present, Adrienne, you have no idea how much that means to me," replied Harry, his eyes searching desperately through the snowy sky; they should be almost there by now.
Adrienne didn't reply.
"Adrienne?" called Harry again.
She didn't answer and Harry felt her grip loosen and her body fall against his, "Adrienne!"
She didn't respond. Harry grabbed her hands and held them so she wouldn't fall off and turned his head; he couldn't see her, but saw her breath condensing in the air.
"Hold on, Adrienne," he whispered, and leaned forward, telling himself that this was a game he couldn't afford to loose.
After several minutes, a familiar mountain range came into view and Harry began a steep descent; he didn't want to miss Hogsmeade. Slowly, through the thick snow falling all around him, he began to make out the dark images of the little wizarding town below him. They were almost there.
* * * * *
Hermione and Ron sat quietly in the Gryffindor common room, watching the dying fire in the fireplace, neither one of them willing to relight it.
"Do you think they are all right?" asked Ron quietly, looking away from the flickering flames.
Hermione looked at him.
"I'm sure they are, Ron," was all she could manage to say. She wrapped her arms around herself and sighed.
"Do you think he found her?" asked Ron suddenly.
Hermione took a deep breath; logic told her that him finding Adrienne was nearly impossible, but her heart told her that if she gave up the faith, then it would make it even more impossible.
"He seemed determined to; Harry has never failed at what he's set his mind on doing," Hermione answered, her eyes red from silent tears.
The sound of the portrait door opening made the two friends jump. Hermione turned. Silhouetted in the doorway were two people, and she didn't have to take any wild guesses on who they were.
"Miss Granger, Mr. Weasley?" asked Professor McGonagall as she stepped through the hole, Professor Dumbledore right behind her.
"Yes, Professor?" asked Hermione wearily; she really didn't want to have to lie about where Harry was.
"It's quite dark in here." Professor McGonagall pointed her wand at the fireplace, relighting the dying embers, and then tossed her wand at various torches, illuminating the silent room.
"How is Harry doing?" asked Dumbledore, looking from the Hermione to Ron. Ron's eyes widened nervously.
"Um, well, he's sure she'll be all right," said Ron unsurely.
Professor McGonagall raised an eyebrow, taking in Ron's skeptical face.
"Is he up in his dormitory?" asked Professor Dumbledore, his eyes piercing Hermione.
Hermione looked away and shot a glance at Ron.
"He's asleep and doesn't want to be disturbed," said Ron quickly, nodding his head rapidly, making him look exactly like he was hiding something.
"Well, I must speak to him," said Professor Dumbledore, quickly striding towards the staircase.
Hermione stood up.
"No, really, Professor, he's fine. He just, um, needed to think and that's what he's doing. Just let him be," she said nervously, twisting her hands, deciding that lying to teachers was not her forte.
Professor McGonagall raised her other eyebrow and shot a glance at Dumbledore.
"Are you two hiding something?" she asked, eyeing Hermione and Ron suspiciously.
"No, no."
"Definitely not," finished Hermione, taking a step backwards.
"Nope, just two friends, in a common room, not hiding anything," added Ron very quickly, nodding his head stupidly.
"He isn't there is he?" asked Professor Dumbledore slowly.
Hermione opened her mouth and then shut it. Ron just stood there.
"Where did he go?" asked Professor McGonagall sternly, putting her hands on her hips.
"To King's Cross, to find Adrienne," muttered Hermione, shaking her head; so much for keeping a secret.
"Why does he think she's at King's Cross?" asked Professor McGonagall, paling; but Professor Dumbledore had already strode over to her and grabbed her arm.
"Minerva, come; Miss Granger, Mr. Weasley, you too."
* * * * *
Harry smiled as the light of Hogwarts came into view, strong enough to penetrate the thick snow. Harry turned around to make sure Adrienne was still breathing; her breath was coming a lot slower now, and she was slipping to the right side of the broom. Harry had all he could do to hold onto her hands.
"Just a little longer, Adrienne," he whispered into the night and began his descent, flying over the Quidditch pitch, his eyes locked on the Entrance Doors.
* * * * *
Professors Dumbledore, McGonagall walked quickly through the castle, Ron and Hermione following their billowing robes.
"You two," said Dumbledore, turning once they reached the Entrance Hall, "I want you to go down to the Whomping Willow and get Sirius. Don't startle him, or he might curse you. You need to bring him back to the castle at once."
Hermione and Ron nodded and turned towards the large oak doors just as they burst open. Snow flew into the room; a bulky figure appeared in the doorway and slowly walked through the door.
"Harry!" yelled Hermione, relieved as he came into view.
Harry smiled halfheartedly and lowered Adrienne to the ground, unable to carry her anymore.
"Is that Adrienne?" asked Professor McGonagall, racing forward with Professor Dumbledore.
"Oh my goodness," gasped Hermione, raising a hand to her mouth in horror, falling back against Ron, who grabbed her shoulders to keep her upright.
Adrienne lay on the ground, her face sheet white, her eyes shut, frozen tears running from her eyes down her face, frozen blood covering her lips. Professor Dumbledore bent down and slipped an old hand under her chin, feeling for a pulse. He didn't move for several seconds. Then, not bothering to conjure a stretcher, with greater strength than neither Harry, Ron, Hermione, or Professor McGonagall knew he had, lifted the girl off the now snow covered Entrance Hall and half ran in the direction of the hospital wing, the other four following behind in a silent procession of fear and hope.