As
Harry stared at the grim expression on Professor Dumbledore's face both Sirius
and Professor Lupin rose to greet him. But he made no greeting what so ever. He
had a sudden urge to know what was wrong. What could make Dumbledore so grim?
Finally Dumbledore spoke.
"Harry, how are you? Why don't you have a seat?"
A
chair was added to the two chairs that use to be in front of Dumbledore's desk.
Harry slowly walk towards the chair and sat down. Both Sirius and Professor
Lupin too sat down.
"Fine sir" Harry said, "But what's the problem?"
This
time Professor Dumbledore's Deep Blue eyes met with his. But this time he
decided to keep his eyes in place. He would not back away. He had
responsibilities. Responsibilities that made him stand up to many challenges
and this was a start. He maintained a steady gaze into professor Dumbledore's
blue eyes and in what seemed like a snap of his fingers their gaze was broken
by amazingly Professor Dumbledore. He'd never thought Dumbledore would ever break
one of his piercing gazes, but it had. Today. What was
going on? What was happening? What had happened to that great wizard that was
advising him a few months ago? To Harry it seemed as if he had just gotten old.
Weakened. But they could not afford to loose
Dumbledore at this time. Not when Voldemort was back. Not when hope depended on
him. They had to keep hope. Harry through experience had learned that where
there's hope there's always a possibility. They had to keep hope in Voldemort's
fall. If not there would not be possibility to his fall. But for there to be
hope someone had to stand up to the Challenge. Stand up to Voldemort. But
Dumbledore was in no state to stand up to Voldemort. He had done so years ago,
but now he couldn't. Someone else had to stand up in his place. Some one like himself. Some one has to risk there life and
do so. Someone has to stand up to the greatest threat the wizarding will face
for the past century or so. If not more. He knew the
day would come. Ever since Voldemort's return he knew he would have to do so.
But once again he never expected things to change so soon. Didn't
expect Dumbledore to weaken. But it has happened and now he had to face
reality. He, The-Boy-Who-Lived has to stand up. He has to stand up to
Voldemorts and what he represents. He has to keep hope alive.
"Harry?"
Harry was suddenly snapped out of his thoughts and he was now face to
face with Professor Albus Dumbledore.
"Harry, it seems we won't be able to use the Hogwarts Express to
transport the students from Kings Cross Station to Hogsmade" said Dumbledore
with the same grim expression he held earlier.
So
this was the problem. The Hogwarts Express couldn't be used. The reason was
obvious. Voldemort. The train would be traveling hours
in open area where nearly the entire Hogwarts Population will be vulnerable to
an attack. He remembered how the Dementors had stopped the Hogwarts express for
inspection in his third year. The Death Eaters could do the same. But instead
of just inspecting they'll annihilate the entire train. Hundreds
of Students. No! That was too much of a risk. Children are the hope.
They are what most of the adult wizard population keep their hopes in.
Weasley's were the best example. Harry knew both Mr. & Mrs. Weasley would
do anything for their children and if all of them were to be taken away they
would be left without hope. Without hope of fighting against
Voldemort. This would be the same for thousands of people. No! Hope is
crucial for a victory. Hope must be there and the students must be kept safe. But… But an entire generating of Hogwarts students would
miss out on one of the greatest experiences in their Time at Hogwarts. Especially the first years. Walking
through platform nine and three quarter. Seeing the
scarlet Hogwarts Express waiting for them to be taken to Hogwarts.
Meeting and making friends inside the train like he met Ron and even enemies
such as Draco Malfoy. But it was all part of the Hogwarts Life. It has been so
for many a century. They had no right to take that away from the new comers.
They had to use the Hogwarts Express and keep the students safe at the same
time. Yes! That would be it. But Harry knew it was easier said than done. But
he will make it happen. It was his duty. To protect others
from Voldemort.
He no longer could sit in this
glorious circular office he adored from the first time he stepped into it. No,
he wanted to do something. He wanted to start working. He wanted to sprint out
of the room and head straight back to the Ministry offices. The
Ministry offices where he held some authority. Ministry offices where he
could start working on a plan to use the Hogwarts Express and keep its
occupants safe at the same time. For some reason, it was exactly what he did.
Without giving it another thought, Harry turned around and sprinted towards the
door, amazingly enough the door to Professor Dumbledore's office swung open just as Harry was approaching it and without
reducing his pace he sprinted out of the office, down the self moving stairway
and out of the doorway. He spun around and stepped on the toe of the suit of
Armor, and sprinted into the doorway that erupted. In no time at all he was in
the Ministry offices, panting bent over, All along as he was panting he didn't
notice that it was only his panting he was hearing, nothing else. As he lifted
his head he realized that four aurors and one stunned receptionist was staring
back at him. Quite a site must be, Harry realized. The
Ministry of Magic suddenly appearing at the ministry panting and exhausted.
Nodding in greeting he straightened out, but the four aurors and the ministry
receptionist was far too stunned to greet back. Dusting his robes he headed to
one side of the ministry partition and as he started walking towards his office
at the very back of the massive room, he realized that once again all work had
ceased. It was as if every time he walked out of his office or into the
ministry office complex some kind of message went out to all the ministry
employees to stop working. He didn't like it.
As
he walked towards his office passing partitioned offices of all manner of which
the occupants had froze and were staring back at him, a plan erupted out of no
where. And at that very moment he saw the person whom he wanted to see. The key player in his plan. His plan to
secure the Hogwarts Express. He stopped if front of the partitioned
office. In it he could see Percy Weasley. Thankfully he was working. And
suddenly Percy's head snapped up. And a stunned look came over. Harry had the
feeling as usual Percy was so engrossed in his work to notice anything else
taking place around him. He stood up and looked back at him with the tensest
face he had ever seen on any face. He was just about to think that Percy looked
like someone who just so a ghost, but ghost were way too common around Hogwarts
for people to get so tense every time they saw one. But it was some thing big,
he knew it. Percy, sure is the type to panicky for the simplest matter but so
much? It had to be something, and Harry dared to know what it was, but it was
obviously something he had to know with his newly appointed responsibilities.
Since Percy showed no sign of actually telling him the matter without and
persuasion, so he did what he first had to do. He made a sternest looking face
he could and brought some authority into his voice.
"Percy! What is it?"
A/N: Don't kill me; ok go ahead kill
me I deserve every bit you throw at me. I was sooooooo busy but I know it's no
excuse, I published even this incomplete chap because my g/f was asking me to
post it and since certain ppl (no need to mention them )
hehe were sending me death threats LOL. Well pls pls send my girl friend a mail
to avanthi_d@hotmail.com and thank
her for It is her who got me to do this no matter how
busy I was. J ok? Guys? The next chap I won't promise since I can't. I have
this important exam , real biggy so until 'm through
no promises
Thanks all those who actually read
my fic J