Dark Marks, Orders and Auror’s

by Chris5

*Finished* 15 years into the furture. The MoM has passed information onto a feared order of wizards (H&G) in an attempt to end Voldemort. But is it a trap? Both are wanted by Voldemort and the MoM. H/G, R/Hr. *Alternate ending*

4. A Cave-Siren in Hogwarts.

Dark Marks, Orders and Auror's chapter 4.

A Cave-Siren at Hogwarts.

By Chris.

Summary: The Order of Auror—Harry and Ginny—arrive, their first visit to Hogwarts to see Hermione, just in time to save a student there. Harry's keeping suspicions close to his chest.

Chapter 4

A Cave-Siren at Hogwarts.

'You want to go dodge the Whomping Willow?' said Harry with a nostalgic air to him.

Sure enough, as they rounded the corner, following a path that circled the school, in the far distance was the Whomping Willow. Settled behind a patch of other trees that had obviously been planted more recently, it looked almost harmless. It's huge fist-like branches looked static and void of danger as the tree stood completely still, the only movement, that of the leaves dancing softly in the wind. '-It could be fun.'

'I don't think so,' said Ginny, trying to sound disinterested. 'I think we are a little old for games.' Even after her own words registered, Ginny wanted nothing more at that moment, then to run up to the tree, and beat Harry to the knot-like root that opened the secret passage into Hogsmead.

'We play with our targets,' said Harry, shrugging. The wind blew his dark black hair—revealing the lightning-bolt shaped scar on his forehead—which he quickly combed down.

'And I keep telling you not to!'

'You do with all your spells,' said Harry in disagreement. 'Not to mention playing with your potions all the time.'

'It's called torture, Harry,' said Ginny. The were almost at the Whomping Willow, Ginny could almost see the root that opened the secret entrance. If she were to make a dash for it then, she would most definitely beat Harry to it. But of course, she was too stubborn to do so. 'What you do, well, it's all yap, yap, yap.'

'Are you sure-'

'No,' snapped Ginny. 'I do not want to dodge the Whomping Willow... I don't even know why you'd want to. If you're going to get sentimental, then at least do it over something you've actually done! When did you ever dodge the Whomping Willow before?'

'Well, once in a car by accident,' said Harry with a shrug. 'Okay then. Something else to do... Let's walk round the lake.'

'We're supposed to be here to-' Ginny begun, but, knowing her words would more then likely have no effect, she agreed to just one walk around the lake.

They neared the lake, not even a five-minute walk from the Whomping Willow, the body of water reflecting the dark sky above but with a shimmering property as it swayed with the wind. The soft wind, every now and then, cut darting streaks across the lake that seemed almost like silver ribbons before they were once again swamped by the blue. Twenty-five feet out, the water took a darker tone as the shallow waters met deeper ones. There, in the darker regions of water, a large black silhouette darted across the lake. Two large purple tentacles that protruded from the depths, reaching all the way to where Harry and Ginny sat on the bank, signalled the arrival of the giant squid.

'They are the best years of your life, aren't they?' said Ginny with a content sigh. The redhead chucked a morsel of food into the lake, the squid swallowing down whatever it was quickly.

'Now who's getting nostalgic, Gin?' gloated Harry. His eyes met Ginny's as he stared down at the woman that was lying on the grass, her head resting on his lap.

'You know,' drawled Ginny. 'I have a serum of my latest potion in my cloak.'

'And on that note,' said Harry, promptly. 'I would like to add that I feel, in my opinion, no one here is getting sentimental, and furthermore I would like to quickly change the topic.'

'I don't see how we got in here, though,' said Ginny, getting to her feet. The witch dusted her cloak down, sending blades of grass cascading into the waters edge witch caused tiny ripples to break out reaching out into the waters depth until they disappeared.

'Hmmm,' said Harry, still staring into the body of water.

'Another blunder by the Ministry?'

'I don't know,' said Harry. With a grunt, he pushed himself to his feet, not bothering to brush away the grass on his cloak. 'You'd think the Ministry would do this right. You'd think they would make sure of it, the way they reacted.'

'Yeah, but it has to be... come on, we better get going.'

Harry and Ginny continued walking towards the castle door itself. Five minutes later, the huge oak mass was in sight, looking as bold as ever. They managed to slip inside still wondering exactly how they'd managed to get past the Ministry charms so easily.

'We should go see the fat lady,' chuckled Harry. 'And our old dorms... What do you think the password is?'

'I have no idea,' said Ginny. 'Perhaps they recycle passwords every few years. Might be something we used when we were here.'

'Well, It's better then my guesses,' said Harry. 'You don't think "Please open" would be the password, do you?'

Minutes later, they both found themselves at a flight of stairs, at the top, where a coat-of-arms stood either side, was a junction. The left passageway was a short cut to the Gryffindor common room. By going left, and then behind a great hanging tapestry, they would find themselves on the same floor, just south of the place they had once slept. The path straight-ahead lead—eventually—to the headmasters office, hidden behind the large gargoyle statue. The third path, that which snaked off to the right, winding down far beneath the ground floor, led to the dungeons that ran deep below the school. An icy cold already blew from the right, where, once, long ago, they had both had Potions lessons with Snape. They looked at each other, conflicting ideas running through their heads, they spoke at the same time.

'Left.'

'Straight ahead.'

The decision was made for them. An ear-piercing scream coming from the right path made them both dart down to the isolated and icy cold regions below the castle. Whomever had screamed would more likely then not, not be heard by anyone but themselves; no one would be in the dungeons after dark. Both ran as fast as they could, cold mist escaping their mouths and nose whenever they took a breath. At the bottom of the stairs, they reached another junction. Harry glanced at Ginny for just a second, such a small insignificant glance, they barely made eye contact. They didn't even stop running; Ginny went right and Harry left.

Harry ran as fast as his legs could carry him, his feet pounding the rock hard floor, causing echoes so loud, he was sure someone would hear. Fifteen feet ahead, one of the doors to a converted dungeon was wide open, the lights within shinning out into the dark corridors outside. 'Ginny,' he shouted. He heard his voice again and again as it bounced off the walls of the thin corridor, but no one replied.

The room, had obviously once been a Defence Against the Dark Art's room (Judging by the dusty posters and decorations) but now stood unused. A boy stood in the middle of the room looking... Well, Harry didn't know quite how to describe it. He stood on shaky legs, wobbling ever so slightly as he took one step after another. His body, the way it shook, the way it took only tiny partial steps forward, looked as if it were being forced to do things against his will. As if it were fighting. But his face, his face held an expression of sheer happiness. A wide grin, that showed rows of milky white teeth, was plastered across his face, beneath twinkling, happy eyes. It took a few seconds for Harry to figure out what was going on, but hearing a gagging noise, he finally understood. 'Revealiosa,' he shouted, just as Ginny's heavy footsteps could be heard fast approaching.

Within a flash, a creature appeared on the floor meters from the boy, who was still walking towards it. Every now and then, the student would gain control and take a step back causing the creature to flinch. An ugly dull-brown, the creatures skin was wrinkled and sagged, deep gashes and cuts marking it's body. No more then three feet tall, the creature was one of the ugliest Harry had ever seen, and that included going to every one of Hagrid's lessons without fail when he was at Hogwarts. Underneath the wrinkled skin, the creature was unnaturally thin; the bone structure could be made out where the skin didn't hang. Even more frightening, were the long thin arms that extended out from the creatures skinny body, eventually ending in four sharp, blood covered claws almost five inches in length, that curled round so much, they were starting to dig into the creatures wrist drawing blood. A foul, gagging noise filled the air as the creature shook, the skin wobbling in rhythm.

Holding out and open hand, Harry made a tight fist and the gagging noise stopped; the room silent except the heavy breathing of the three people.

The boy suddenly realised where he was, a visible shiver ran through him, and, taking one look at the creature he shouted loudly and dived towards Harry and Ginny.

The beast, realised it's prey had awoke, and that other people were infringing on it's hunting ground, because it turned to face Harry and Ginny, revealing blind, milky white eyes and a mouthful of long, dagger-like, rotting teeth. As it dove at the trespassers, obviously enraged at loosing it's lunch, Harry held out his free hand, open palmed, and the creature seemed to hit an invisible barrier mid air. It fell back to the ground hissing angrily. Like a caged animal, it threw itself again and again at the people, but each time hit the barrier. Harry's elbow bent unwillingly each time the creature hit collided with the obstruction.

Harry glanced fleeting at the boy. 'You know what that is?' he said.

'What,' said the boy, as though snapped out of a daze by Harry's words. 'Sorry, what?'

Ginny pulled the boy to his feet, wrapping her cloak around his shivering form. 'Do you know what that is?' she said, softly.

'No, sorry.'

Harry seemed to be completely wrapped up in keeping the beast at large, but managed to grunt, 'Fill him in.'

'It's what's called a Cave-Siren,' said Ginny, looking for recognition in the students eyes. 'Ever heard of one?'

'No,' said the boy, weakly.

Harry once again spoke, still sounding as though her were struggling to talk. 'That's because the last group of them were exterminated from the British Isles fifty years ago. There are only small groups of them alive in the African tropics now. So what's it doing here?'

'You don't think...' said Ginny, trailing off before finishing.

The creature once again threw itself at the barrier and fell to the ground, and Harry once again flinched. 'No! Not even Hagrid would keep one of these,' said Harry, using the brief amount of time the Siren was floored to speak. 'These things are dangerous. Definitely creatures of ancient; on par with Basilisks.'

'Basilisks,' mouthed the boy, his dry throat no longer able to form words.

'Have you heard of a creature called a Siren?' Sea-dwelling creatures that used to lure sailors to their doom,' said Ginny

The boy nodded.

'Well, these are kind of like land-versions of them. Just as ugly, and no less dangerous,' Ginny explained. 'Would you know how to kill a Siren?'

The boy just shook his head.

'Well you're going to kill this one,' said Harry flashing the boy another glance. Seeing the pleading look he received, he added, 'Don't worry, we'll be here all the time. It won't be able to hurt you as long as we're here. You have to face your fears though, sooner rather then later, or they just grow. Always face your fears; never let them get the better of you.

'Do you know about the Imperius curse?'

The student looked at Ginny. 'Yes,' he said, barley above a whisper. 'It's used to control a wizard. Make them do things against their will.'

'Right' said Ginny. 'Well, the Siren is a powerful magical creature. It sits in wait, picks a victim, and when it has chosen it lure's that victim to it with a song. The song is kind of like the Imperius curse, but only to its victim. The victim hears a wondrous song, heavenly in fact—or so I've heard, Cave-Sirens are before my time—and follows. Everyone else just hears a gagging noise.'

'The victim just walks straight to the Siren; lured by it's most beautiful song, and then, BAM-' The boy jumped as Harry shouted the last bit, but never said a word. '-the siren kills them. The Wizard or Witch-'

'Or Muggle,' added Ginny. 'Plenty of those killed by Sirens.'

'-Or Muggle, never knew what hit them. Its song is what's most dangerous. Powerful magic. That's why I'm struggling to hold it back. I'm having to silence its song—not an easy thing to do—and hold this barrier spell in place. But the song is its weakness as well. To kill it, you have to resist its song.'

'I can't,' whimpered the boy.

'Yes you can,' said Harry, angrily. 'We know you can! We heard you break the song enough to shout out for help a minute ago. You can do it again.' Harry threw a glance at Ginny. 'Show him the spell.'

Ginny took out her wand and waved it in a figure of eight motion, saying, 'Reisyance.' Tiny blue sparks jumped from the end of her wand and flew towards the Cave-Siren but instead hit the barrier with an array of lights, never making it to the beast.

'Thanks for that,' muttered Harry.

'Sorry,' said Ginny, biting her lip. 'The key to resisting the song is to try and concentrate on a gagging sound. Listen with everything you have in you for it's true song. When you're out of it's control, keep listening for the gagging, and you'll weaken it. The longer you resist, the easier the spell will be. You try it.'

The boy drew his wand, the device shaking in his trembling grip. In a fluid motion he swished a figure of eight and squeaked, 'Reisyance.'

Nothing happened.

'Pronounce it: RE-ISY-ANCE,' said Ginny. 'Give it another go.'

Once again, the boy spun his wand in a shaky grip, and said the words. This time it worked. From the end of his wand, a spray of blue sparks darted straight for the creature, once again causing a show of multicoloured lights as they hit the barrier. He practiced three more times, each time, the show of sparks became greater and more spectacular.

'You're ready,' said Harry. 'When I-'

'One more go,' the boy gasped.

'The sooner you do it,' said Ginny, encouragingly. 'The sooner you get to go to leave.'

'Alright,' said Harry shooting an encouraging grin at the boy. 'On the count of three. Three... two... one.'

Once again, a sickening gagging filled the air, and the boy who had looked anxious, terrified even, seconds before, looked as though Christmas had come early. One tentative step after another, he approached the now pacified beast. Ginny and Harry practically cheered the boy on.

'Come on.'

'You can do it.'

The boy was getting dangerously close. He took one half-step forward, then paused abruptly. His facial expression had changed from that of joy to a picture of concentration, his head tilted at an angle to allow him to listened for a gagging sound. He took a step back, and the creature hissed and visibly cringed. Another step back, the beast cringed again, it's whole body shaking.

'Listen to the gagging. The gagging of the beast,' Ginny said even though the boy couldn't hear her.

Once again the beast cringed, digging its claws even deeper into its wrists, pools of blood forming on the floor. Another step back, and the gagging grew quieter. Then, with a wave of a wand, blue sparks filled the air, showering down on the beast which let out a hideous shriek, and collapsed writhing on the floor. Ginny and Harry rushed forward and caught the boy from either side just before he collapsed.

'Well done,' said Harry.

'Not many people can say they've killed a Cave-Siren these day's,' said Ginny.

The boy seemed to be in a daze, unable to even stand on his own two feet. 'Thank you Miss Granger,' he said with a silly grin. 'I'm happy to have been a help. Anything for your school, headmistress. And may I add how nice your hair looks today...'

Ginny found the urge to laugh almost too much, as did Harry. 'What house are you in?' said Ginny, biting her lip so she wouldn't laugh.

'Hufflepuff, Miss.'

'Hufflepuff,' said Harry, sounding disappointed. 'Oh well, better that then Slytherin... Ginny, I think we should take him-'

The boy suddenly seemed wide awake. 'Ginny!' he repeated, opening his mouth in surprise. 'Ginny Weasley?.. Then that must mean you're.' His gaze shifted to Harry, where he stared wide-eyed at his lightning-bolt- shaped scar on his forehead. 'Harry Potter,' he mouthed.

'Nice going, Harry,' said Ginny.

'Well he seemed well out of it.'

The student stared at Harry and Ginny in complete awe. 'Whoa! What are you doing here?'

'We've come to see Miss Granger,' said Harry. He pretended to ignored the blush that engulfed the Hufflepuff's face at the mention of Hermione.

'The thing is,' added Ginny. 'We were hoping to keep it quite.'

'Well...' began the boy, pausing to debate the matter. He was standing with two of the most famous, and feared wizards and witches of modern times. The only two people, apart from Albus Dumbledore that had ever stood up to Voldemort... He'd be famous just for meeting the two fugitives, not to mention the fact he defeated a Cave-Siren... Then again, he owed them his life. 'Okay, I'll keep quite, because you saved me from the Siren, so you can't be that bad.'

'We didn't save you,' said Harry. 'That wasn't us-'

'That was you. You-'

'I think I was talking-'

'Grow up, Harry. You defeated that Siren... Er...'

'Marcus. Marcus Lockey.'

'You defeated that Siren, Marcus. We just pointed you in the right direction.'

'I will not grow up. I was talking... We best get you to your dormitory, Marcus.'

Ginny picked up the brown bony creature that laid dead on the floor by its feet. Harry shot her a disgusted look. 'What? We should show it to Hermione,' Ginny defended. 'There could be more of them.'

'What do you mean, "grow up"?'

~*~

Harry and Ginny walked Marcus Lockey back to his common room in case there should be any more Cave-Sirens. Fortunately, there was not, and the journey was filled with jokes, tales of Harry and Ginny's years at Hogwarts, and of course, quite bickering regarding the "Grow up" situation. The journey to Hermione's office wasn't quite so easy however, and had a very close encounter with a teacher that prowled on of the hall. At one point, if the teacher had taken two steps more, he would have seen Harry and Ginny. Soon after the close encounter, they found themselves outside a large gargoyle statue that opened into the headmasters office. After much deliberation of how to get in, Harry and Ginny did finally get past the stone block, not by guessing the password or by using magic, but by luck. Hermione somehow knew they were there and had let them in.

'Harry, Ginny,' said Hermione, hugging them in turn. 'How did you get in here?'

'We don't know,' shrugged Harry. 'The Ministry probably screwed up again.'

'Take a look at this,' said Ginny. She dropped the Cave-Siren onto Hermione's desk; the body squelched as it hit.

'Is that what I think it is,' Hermione begun. The headmistress removed the creature from her desk and dropped it to the floor where she proceeded to prod and poke it with her wand. 'Oh my,' she gasped. 'Where did you find this?'

'Just rescued one of your students from it in the dungeons,' said Ginny. 'There might be more,' she added.

Hermione looked nervously at the Siren on the floor. 'Do you think it was sent on purpose?' she asked.

'Possibly. We don't really know. But you best not take any chances though, they have been know to travel in groups,' said Harry.

Hermione looked nearly sick; her face turning pale. 'I'll send an owl straight away,' she said quickly, mentally kicking herself. 'I can't believe I let one of those things get in... And nearly get to one of the students.'

'You couldn't have known. They're supposed to be extinct from the British Isles, and most of the world for that matter,' said Harry.

'We've never seen one before,' said Ginny, still surprised that they'd come across such a creature. 'And we've been all over the place.'

'I know. But still....'

'Still nothing,' said Harry, expressively. 'There was nothing you could have done, trust me.' His eye's fell on a letter Hermione grasped possessively in her hands. She must have been reading it before they arrived. 'What's that?'

'A letter from Ron.'

Harry grinned. His two best friends had been together for as long as he could imagine, and not without reason, they made a perfect couple. 'How are you two doing?' he said.

'Yeah, when's the wedding?' said Ginny with a grin of her own. 'I expect to be a brides maid.'

'We broke up six months ago.'

'Oh!' Harry and Ginny said together, looking extremely uncomfortably. Harry shifted uneasily in his seat, as did his counterpart, neither knowing what to do or say. 'Sorry.'

'I can't believe you didn't know,' said Hermione, astonished. 'We had a bad argument over something, and one thing lead to another... It wasn't nice. But I think we're mending. He even asked me out to dinner-' Hermione crossed the room to the chest of draws and put the letter in one of them.

Ginny just got a glance of something both familiar and interesting before Hermione closed the draw again. The red head tapped Harry under the table, but Hermione started speaking again, and he wasn't paying attention.

'-But enough about me,' continued Hermione. 'How have you two been? What have you been up too, apart from tackling Sirens and taking down Death Eaters?'

'Well we've mainly just been running from the Ministry and Voldemort,' said Harry in a much too flippant tone. The three of them shared an awkward laugh. 'But, yeah, mostly we've been catching dark wizards left, right and centre.'

Hermione finally took in Harry and Ginny's clothing. 'Dressing like a Dementor now, are we? Don't you think that's a bit much?' she said, disapprovingly.

'Maybe,' Harry drawled, slyly. 'But you know what else is a bit much?'

'No, what?' said Hermione, warily.

'Snape,' said Harry with his version of a look of disapproval. 'Severus "I'm a slimy git" Snape.'

'Almost ran into him on the way up here,' explained Ginny. 'It's like he has a homing device.'

'I can't believe he's here,' said Harry looking pointedly at Hermione. 'That you would hire him! Don't tell me you let him get away with what he used to?'

'Maybe we should pay him a visit,' said Ginny with a smirk. 'I'm sure he'd love that.'

'Leave Snape alone. I don't want you stating a fight in my school. I mean it!' Hermione warned.

'Okay then...' said Harry, sighing like a child who didn't get their own way. 'But I was really looking forward to it....' Harry suddenly changed the topic. 'Oh, Herm, have you got any news or messages for us from Dumbledore?'

'No, Dumbledore didn't ask me to give you any messages.'

Ginny kicked Harry under the table as she once again attempted to get a message across to him. 'Oh,' said Harry glaring at Ginny. 'OH...' Harry suddenly caught on. 'Er... Hermione, you wouldn't have anything to drink, would you?'

'Sure,' said Hermione, tapping the desk with her wand. Immediately a silver machine popped up from the desk. 'What would you like?'

Harry and Ginny replied together:

'Butterbeer would be nice.'

'I'm fine thanks.'

Hermione poured out a large glass of butterbeer for Harry and again offered Ginny a drink which she declined.

Harry accepted the drink and gave Hermione a small grin. 'Thanks.'

Ginny stood to take a look at a book that stood on a shelf next to Hermione's chest of draws whilst Harry sipped his butterbeer waiting for her to give the sign. As soon as Ginny coughed, Harry immediately, "accidentally" spilt some of his butterbeer. 'Oh god, sorry. Here let me get that.'

'Don't be silly Harry, I'll get it,' said Hermione darting forward to clean up the mess. Ginny used the diversion to open the chest of draws and slip something into her robes.

'Sorry,' Harry muttered again, feigning embarrassment.

'We best be off then,' said Ginny.

Hermione looked disappointed. 'So soon?'

'No rest for the wicked,' Harry grinned. 'Listen Herm, things should settle down soon. Things involving me and Gin. When they do, we should all get together again. The old gang, the dream team, back, live and kicking.'

'I look forward to it. Send me an owl...' said Hermione hugging her friends goodbye. 'It was good to see you again Harry, even if it were only for a few minutes. You too Ginny, I'll tell Ron and your family how well you look.'

'Thanks.'

'Good to see you too, Herm' came simultaneous responses as Harry and Ginny made a hasty retreat.

Almost as soon as they had arrived, Harry and Ginny were gone, leaving Hermione alone to ponder the strange meeting with the friends she hadn't seen in a long time.

~*~

'What was it?' asked Harry, excitedly, once they were outside the castle approaching the edge of the forbidden forest. 'What did you get?'

Ginny produced the sheet from her robes. 'Here I though, since you were getting sentimental, you'd want it.'

Harry had to look at what Ginny had handed him twice before he realised what it was. 'Cool. Thanks Gin.'

At the edge of the forest, a crow cawed loudly.

'Well, look at that,' said Harry. They watched the black bird dart across the skyline and over the castle tops until it disappeared. 'Who would have imagined, a crow?'

End Chapter 4—A Cave-Siren at Hogwarts.

Disclaimer: This story is based on characters and situations created and owned by JK Rowling, various publishers including but not limited to Bloomsbury Books, Scholastic Books and Raincoast Books, and Warner Bros., Inc. No money is being made and no copyright or trademark infringement is intended.