Chapter Seven


Back to England...and Hogwarts




Harry woke up slowly, inwardly groaning as he opened his eyes to slits. The seen before him had now changed, it appeared; Hermione was lying next to Ron, and Fred and George were tossing and turning about on the floor. Ginny wasn't there, as far as he could tell.

He stretched his arms as he closed his eyes tightly, attempting to wake himself. After hearing a few pops from his elbows and wrist, he opened his eyes again. The fire was burning brightly in the fireplace, and snow was tumbling gently from the now dark sky. He brought his watch to his nose and squinted at it without putting his glasses back on (he'd taken them off sometime during his nap). It appeared to read eleven seventeen, P.M. One heck of a long nap, he thought with a chuckle.

Harry stood slowly up, then thought better of it and sat back down on the sofa, staring mindlessly at the flames as they cracked and popped. The fire licked at the glass caging surrounding it on the visible side. The fire was very bright indeed; it lit up the whole of the living room with its flickering light. A lot like the common room, Harry mused. The flames settled down a bit, only to flare sharply a moment later. It had nearly burnt itself out. In an odd way, this was partially how Harry felt...burning down the last pieces of the remnents of himself...too much had happened. A lot like the fire.... Burning itself down until it finally faded completely out, all its wood burnt, and no more to come unless someone picked it up....

"Harry?"

Harry jumped at the sound of someone's frail voice from the stairs. His head swiveled slowly around to find Ginny standing there, her red hair shimmering in the flickering light. He turned his attention back to the flames.

"Yes?" he said, reaching for his glasses (how do I keep forgetting these?).

"Are you awake?" Ginny asked, taking a few steps forward.

"Obviously so," he said, smiling. "I woke up a few moments ago."

Ginny took a few more steps forward until she was standing next to his spot on the sofa. She sat down next to him slowly, gazing into the flames like he had been.

Harry suddenly realized he'd been staring at her, and quickly turned back to the fire. It crackled again, then died completely with a loud pop! that echoed through the living room and rest of the house.

"Why're you awake?" Harry asked in a whisper, as to not awake the others.

"One might ask you the same question," said Ginny with a grin.

Harry shrugged.

"I don't really know why I'm awake...." he said slowly. "I think I'd been dreaming of something or other though."

"I got tired of Potions," said Ginny. "I hate that subject."

Harry said nothing for a moment. He just stared blankly into the smothered fire, feeling empty and attempting to recal the dream he'd been having. He couldn't remember anything of it....

"Well," he said slowly, "I think I'll head upstairs to go to bed. We've got to leave early tomorrow morning."

Ginny nodded.

"I think I'll stay here a few more minutes," she said.

"Night, Ginny," said Harry as he walked up the stairs slowly, wondering why a nagging voice told him to stay. He was involved within his mind's conflicts so much that he barely heard Ginny stutter a goodnight. He continued up the stairs, slower still than before.

When he reached his and Ron's room, he walked over to the window and peered outside. Slowly, Harry opened the window and stuck his head outside. The snow had subsided. There was no wind moving at all. There was not a single sound coming from the surrounding forest. Everything had gone deadly still, as it had been when he'd been on his broomstick coming back to the cabin. Something wasn't right....

A shadow darted through the forest. Harry squinted through the darkness as he took out his wand and whispered "Nox." The lights in the room flicked off. The moonlight was casting an eerie shadow down on the forest's many trees, giving them a ghostly glow of a blueish color. Wand clutched tightly in his hand, Harry continued to peer through the window. Another shadow darted around again, twisting and twirling around the forest. Harry stared hard down at the trees, watching the shadow twist and twirl around more as leaves crunched softly under the pattering feet of the figure. Suddenly, the figure raised its arms (Human?), and out of nowhere the wind began to howl wildly. The window slammed down on Harry's neck, causing him to recoil sharply and nearly scream. The glass from the window shattered as he stepped back.

Laughter sounded through the forest. Not high laughter like Harry was used to; this was rather low pitched, but maniacal all the same. Harry crawled to the window, still clutching the back of his neck, and saw that the figure was still twirling in circles. But something was different about it...its arms seemed to be spinning so fast that Harry saw more than one at a time.... The wind stopped howling abruptly, and laughter rang through the forest again. All was silent for a moment after that.

"Potter...." a low voice sneered. "Run...run.... Now.... Just run...."

Well, thought Harry, I think I'll run. But his legs seemed unwilling to form an agreement with his mind; he stood transfixed to the spot, watching the twirling figure without blinking. Suddenly, a long phrase of words that sounded like Latin to Harry rang out sharply, and the wind howled once more shrilling. A ghostly whistling rang sharply, as more words were cried into the night. The woods before him were suddenly lit with bright torchlight, but no torches were in sight, and no figures appeared. The shadowy figure had disappeared.

Harry snapped back to reality and ran down the stairs quickly, only pausing to release Hedwig (she flew away into the opposite direction of the torchlight) and grab his Firebolt. He came to a hault downstairs. Ginny was still sitting on the sofa, staring at the now roaring fire.

"What - "

"We've got to get out of here," Harry interupted Ginny. "I'm not joking. Now."

Without waiting for an answer, Harry quickly and quietly woke Ron, Hermione, Fred, and George, then ran to Mr. Weasley's room and woke him.

"What's wrong, Harry?" George asked as Harry and Mr. Weasley came back into the room.

"Torches," said Harry breathlessly, "laughter...figure...go! Now! Don't argue with me! Get on your broomsticks and go!"

Harry took his Firebolt outside and padded softly through the snow. The wind was still howling wildly, but the laughter had stopped. He couldn't see if the torches were there; the window was facing the back of the house.

"Ginny, get on," he commanded as Ginny and the others ran out. "We've got to get out of here."

Ginny climbed on the back of the Firebolt without hesitation. Harry kicked off quickly, without waiting for the others. He flew straight towards the forest they'd raced through hours before. He looked back over his shoulder to see the others were following. He didn't stop until he came to the clearing, and there he landed sofly on the snow, letting Ginny off the back of his broomstick as he did.

The others arrived a moment later.

"Harry, what is going on?" Hermione asked in her superior tone.

Harry opened his mouth to answer, but was cut short. A loud explosion had sounded throughout the stillness of the forest. Upon looking through the trees, they saw the cabin was engulfed in flames. Hermione's mouth hung open wordlessly, as did everyone else's but Harry's. Harry just watched their cabin flare up brightly, a glazed look in his eyes.

"We...we could've been in that..." said Hermione slowly.

"Just lucky I have a thing for trouble," said Harry. And that I don't listen to nagging voices, he added to himself. "The Ministry'll be here soon, won't they?"

Mr. Weasley nodded.

A moment later, Harry's suspicions were confirmed; maroon cars labled "Switz Ministry" were pulling up through the


The flight back to England was much less exciting than the one there. Everyone was very quiet, and to Harry the Weasleys and Hermione looked very scared. Harry had found that the bathrooms had bathtubs in them, much like the prefects' bathroom at Hogwarts. He took a very long bath on the way back, letting the events of the day sink in.
Eventually the flight ended though, and Harry climbed out wordlessly to see that they were back at Kings Cross Airport. He walked slowly through the crowds of people there, following Mr. Weasley silently, as did the others. Harry felt empty once more. He had just saved his friends and Mr. Weasley's lives. How had he known, though? The shadowy figure had told him to run, but he hadn't, had he? Then that weird spell had been cast....
The thought that had been threatening to come but wouldn't finally popped out: Could Voldemort have been behind it? How? Wasn't he in England? He's everywhere, that nagging voice said suddenly. Mr. Weasley extended his hand, and a Portkey was clutched in it. They were in the mens' bathroom this time. Harry heard Mr. Weasley's distant voice count to three, then he touched the Portkey, and everything began to spin.
His feet slammed down on the ground a moment later, and he dusted himself off as Hermione, Ginny, Fred, and George stood slowly.
"Oh, Arthur!"
Harry twirled around to see Mrs. Weasley standing in the doorway of the kitchen. With a sharp cry of relief, she ran over to them and hugged them all very tightly.
"I heard your cottage had been blown up and that you hadn't been found and I got so worried!" she cried very quickly. "I'm so glad you're all safe!"
And she hugged them again.
"How did you manage to make it out?" she asked, once more pulling off.
"Harry...Harry told us all to leave.... So we did," said Mr. Weasley slowly. "Harry saved us...."
And so Mrs. Weasley hugged Harry very tightly.
"You all go right to bed and get some sleep!" she commanded.
Harry nodded and then followed Ron upstairs to Ron's room. Hedwig was perched on the windowsill, hooting at Harry curiously. Harry noticed for the first time how dull the sky was. It had apparently been raining in England as of late.
"Well," said Ron slowly, "only a week till school starts again."

One week later, Harry stood with his luggage at Kings Cross, in front of the barrier between platforms nine and ten. He was acting as though he was having a conversation with Ron, Hermione, and Ginny, when he leaned against the barrier and fell through - the only way to get to the Hogwarts Express, the scarlet steam engine that awaited them on the other side of the barrier they'd just passed through.
"Well," Harry murmured, "seems like forever since I've seen the Hogwarts Express."
"I'm going to go get us a compartment," said Hermione.
"I'll go with you," Ron said absentmindedly, completely unaware that Hermione had blushed when he'd spoken.
Harry just stared at them as they walked off towards the train with their luggage. Ginny followed them a moment later, leaving Harry to his thoughts. The crowd around him was filled with noise; mostly from the annoyed hoots from the many owls around, but also from the children's parents that were bidding them goodbye. Harry was about to take a step towards the plane when a voice behind him made him start.
"Will you be all right, Harry?" Mrs. Weasley was standing behind him, her brow furrowed and her eyes full of concern.
"Yes," he said. "I'm okay. Just a little...well, shaky, I suppose...."
"Bye, dear," said Mrs. Weasley. "Now go on and find Ron. You watch after him, now. Don't let him get into trouble."
Harry grinned.
"Of course," he said. He bid her farewell, then headed for the train. He didn't have to look for Ron, Hermione, and Ginny long; they were in the first compartment he went to it. He was thankful for this; Hedwig had been a lot of trouble earlier today - she seemed very excited or anxious one.
He climbed into the compartment and took a seat next to Ron. Hermione and Ginny were sitting on the other side; Hermione was reading Standard Spells, Grade Five, and Ginny was staring absentmindedly out the window. Harry took to Ginny's idea; he didn't feel like looking at his studies just this moment. Mrs. Weasley had gone to Diagon Alley and picked up their supplies for them, as they were sleeping mostly, and she didn't want to disturb them. Harry had been given emerald dress robes once more. He suspected another ball was on the way.
As the train began to move, Mrs. Weasley waved goodbye to them all, then disappeared with the blink of an eye. Harry pressed his nose against the glass until the window fogged over with his breath. He pulled himself back, not knowing what to say to Ron or Hermione, who were both watching his every move, as though they thought he wasn't noticing.
"So," said Harry slowly, "back to Hogwarts. I kind of missed it, really."
Ron nodded his agreement but said nothing. Harry twidled his wand through his fingertips, staring out the window at the fast-moving ground. Kings Cross was now all but gone in the distance. Harry turned back to see everyone looking at him, but they quickly turned their attention to something else.
"Harry..." said Ron slowly, "what did you see in the forest that made you come get us?" He'd said it as though the words were going to catch fire in his mouth. Harry took a deep, sharp breath.
"I don't know," he said. "Something."
"What kind of something?" Hermione pressed.
"Like I said: I don't know."
"Didn't you get a good look - "
Harry slammed his fist against the window, nearly shattering the glass.
"I don't know what I saw," he said through gritted teeth. "It was dark, I was tired, and the figure was shadowy. I don't know. Drop it."
The tone of finality in his voice didn't seem to satisfy Ron.
"Why didn't you light your wand?" he asked.
"D'you think I wanted to die in Switzerland, Ron?" Harry asked, mentally counting to ten. "The thing knew I was there already, but I didn't know if it knew who I was. Anyone with eyes can see this scar." He jerked his bangs up, revealing his lightning bolt scar he'd gotten from the curse Voldemort had used against him.
This shut Ron up. The next half of their trip to Hogwarts was awkwardly silent; no one seemed to wish to speak. About halfway through, however, the compartment door slid open. Expecting to see the witch that sold food, Harry stood up for a moment, until he saw the figure of his arch-enemy: Draco Malfoy.
"It's you," Harry snarled. "Thought you'd be content to stay with your pureblood idiots."
Malfoy's casual frame stiffened for a moment, then he calmly brushed back his silvery blond hair, his gray eyes intent.
"So," he said, smirking, "heard you nearly got yourself killed, Potter. Pity you didn't, really, so then I wouldn't have to be here right now, I'd be attending a memorial service in honor of Potty, Weasel, and Mudblood."
Harry sprang from his seat.
"You say one more word, Malfoy," he hissed icily, "and I'll be in Azkaban when I'm finished with you. You think Muggle borns aren't s'pposed to be here? Hermione could kill you this quick" - he snapped his fingers - "so I wouldn't mess with the Muggle borns, if I were you, which I'm thankfully not."
Malfoy sneered at Harry.
"You'll end up like your sorry parents one day - "
Ron had sprang from his seat and punched Malfoy dead in the nose, while Harry had hexed Crabbe and Goyle, Malfoy's bodyguards. Ron punched Malfoy again, then threw him out of the compartment; Harry kicked Crabbe and Goyle out roughly.
"Idiots," Harry snapped. Hermione had her hand over her mouth in shock, as did Ginny. "What? You'd have done the same thing if some idiot was insulting your dead parents!"
Once more, everyone was shut up by Harry's statement, and they stared at Harry blankly.
"What?" he snapped again, then sighed. "Sorry, I know I've been tense lately. You'd be tense too if something had spoken to you in the forest."
"It...it spoke to you?" Ginny asked after a moment of silence.
"Yes. Very, very scary voice," said Harry, shuddering slightly. "Crazy, maniacal laughter, too. Deeper than Voldemort's cackles always are." Everyone flinched at the name except for Harry. "It was weird...it was like the thing was controlling me...it told me to run, but it took me a while to regain my composure....
"Anyway," he continued, "I ran to get you all, though I half expected our brooms to blow up or something of that nature. It was scary. Voldemort-level scary. It was just...scary..."
They were once more silent, and remained silent for the rest of the trip. Harry bought some Chocolate Frogs to snack on, but sooner than he'd hoped they were pulling into the Hogsmeade station and climbing out of the train.
As they did, Harry saw a giant form among the many first years gathered around.
"Hey Hagrid!" Harry called happily.
"Good ter see yeh, Harry," Hagrid called back. "Have a good summer?"
"As good as one can be with Muggles," Harry answered with a grin. "See you later!"
Hagrid nodded, then continued calling for first years - they traditionally went to Hogwarts by boat across the lake. Last year there had been a horrible storm while they had gone across, but somehow they'd all made it back in one piece (except for Dennis Creevey, who'd fallen in). Today there was just a soft mist, so they'd be all right.
Harry, Ron, Hermione, and Ginny climbed into the same horse-drawn carriage, and soon they were traveling slowly down the muddy, bumpy bathway to Hogwarts.