Getting excited in finishing this story! (Squirms in
delight) Only two more, people! All
right, here's chapter 29.
Chapter 29
*************
Harry looked around the office. Dumbledore was standing behind his desk.
"What happened? Did
you get the necklace? Are you all
right?" he asked. Harry felt like he
had lost his voice. He couldn't speak. "Briana, is everything all right?"
Professor Sullivan came behind Harry and Ron, with Hermione
by her side. "Hermione has been
hit. We need to take her to the
hospital wing."
They manage to get to the hospital wing without anyone
seeing. Professor Dumbledore explained
to Madam Pomfrey what had happened, or at least he told her a mere lie.
"Will she be all
right?" asked Ron, his voice quivering.
He looked up to Professor Sullivan.
She looked back at him and smiled weakly.
"Yes, she hadn't
been hit that bad. It was a bad hex but
I'm sure she'll be all right," she answered.
"This is all my
fault. I should've been the one who got
hit with that hex." Professor Sullivan
sighed and sat on the chair next to Hermione's bed. She put her head on her hands.
Harry looked around.
"Where are Sirius
and Remus? Didn't they got out of the portal?" he asked. Professor Sullivan looked around.
"Maybe they are in
the headmaster's office," she replied.
Harry looked at her. He had
something that he always wanted to ask her.
"Professor, why do
you hold your wrist? Do you have a Dark
Mark?"
She looked up at him.
"It's not a Dark Mark, honestly, the Dark Mark is on the left arm. No, I have never been and will not be a
Death Eater. I think I know a lot
better than that. No, it's, er," She
pulled up her sleeve and showed his a scar across her wrist.
"Where did you get
it from?" he mused.
"Er, Harry, there's
something I need to tell you. Harry,
I'm your godmother."
"Er, Professor, I
already know."
"Oh, well, that
difficulty is done. Well, your parents
chose me as second guardian to you. In
other words, if there were anything that would happen to your parents or
Sirius, I would be the person who takes care of you. Now, we all know what happened and, well, I insisted that you
should live with me. But the headmaster
disagreed and he thought it would be best if you were to stay with your
relatives. This scar is a symbol of my
sacrifice to you. I'm sorry if I can't
tell you the whole reason behind it, but sooner or later you will understand. I'm sorry, Harry."
Harry was staring determinedly back at her. "It's all right, you don't have to tell me,
right now, anyway. I understand. So you're my godmother? Am I going to live with you?"
Professor Sullivan opened her mouth to say something, but
Dumbledore walked towards them. Madam
Pomfrey was bustling around Hermione.
"She's all right. Madam Pomfrey will have to take care of her
for two days. But I assure you that she
will not miss your O.W.L.s," he added, his eyes twinkling. "She will be unconscious for the time I have
told you, which is two days. Mr.
Weasley and Potter do not worry about your friend. Now, tell me, what has happened?"
"Maria, she's a
Death Eater," said Professor Sullivan, her eyes getting misty. She turned around to wipe them. "We saw the ceremony. It's just so-" She couldn't talk
anymore.
"Interesting,
interesting. Mad-Eye has hinted that
there will be a traitor again in our midst.
I can see why Voldemort would feel that it is necessary to have a member
of the Order of the Phoenix in his group.
Tell me, does he have the other two necklaces? And where are Sirius and
Remus?" asked Dumbledore, quietly.
"He has them, all
right. Maria used them to get into the
castle during the game. She disguised
as me. I'm betting that she was the one
that broke in the castle that one time."
"Yes, very
understandable. But where are Sirius
and Remus? Didn't they got out of the portal too?" he repeated.
"I didn't see them
coming back in," replied Harry, getting worried. "Maybe they are in your office, Professor."
"Indeed, maybe,
perhaps I should check. I will leave
you in charge here, Briana. Are sure
you are all right, Harry? Ron?" They
both nodded. "Good. Make sure that they are safely back to the
Tower, Briana," he added as he left.
They stayed at the hospital wing for as long as Harry can
remember. That time he wasn't himself. The memories of today flourished like the
events of the Triwizard Tournament of last year. He couldn't help but see them every time he has closed his eyes. Ron wasn't in very good shape either. For the next few days, he kept muttering to
himself and refused to talk to anyone but Harry. If he weren't at the common room at day, he would be at the
hospital wing visiting Hermione.
After the two days, Hermione woke up. She was anxious and relieved. Anxious, because she thought she had missed
the O.W.L.s. Relieved, because she
thought that Harry and Ron had died.
"Thank goodness you
two are all right," she said the first time she had woke. "So what happened? Did we beat them?"
"Er, let's just say
that you just glad we were out of there before anything else happened," Harry
remarked.
"Oh," she
said. She glanced at Ron, who remained
quiet. "Well, what's the matter with
you? Have you got the Silent Charm or
something?"
"No, it's just
I-you should have, you know-took that curse for me," he said meekly.
"Oh, come on, Ron,
don't be stupid. You would have done
the same thing for me," said Hermione simply.
"Yeah, but, you
know, I don't reckon you had to suffer so much to…"
"Don't worry about
it, Ron. The kind of girls Hermione and
I are, well, let's just say that we aren't damsels in distress type, am I
right, Hermione," said Professor Sullivan.
She just came in the hospital wing.
Hermione grinned at her. "Are
you all right, Hermione?"
"Fine, thank you,
professor," she replied.
"Good, then I would
hope to see you on Friday for you O.W.L.s?" she asked.
"Ugh, why do I have
the feeling that I would rather face those Death Eaters again rather than do
this," said Ron. It was a bright Friday
morning and sunlight has flooded the windows of the Great Hall. "I mean I would rather go outside and lazy
on about all day."
"Oh, honestly, Ron,
we have to do this sooner or later," said Hermione. "And besides, it's only going to be one day."
"Yeah, one day of
misery," muttered Harry.
"You two, we had a
lot of practice and I know you two are ready.
The O.W.L.s aren't that bad.
Don't be too nervous."
It was the Friday that they were to take their O.W.L.s. The fifth years have a special schedule that
they would have to follow all day. They
had gotten each a schedule to see what were they in for.
"It says right here
that we will have the written exams with the Ravenclaws first. Then the practical exams will be in the
afternoons with them again," said Hermione as she was looking through her
schedule.
"Well, it isn't
that bad. It's the Ravenclaws, right? I
mean it's a good thing it's not the Slytherins. They'll do anything to get us failing this test," said Ron.
They arrived in a huge classroom. Professor Mcgonagall was their teacher for the written O.W.L.s.
"Seat far apart
from each other. There will be no
cheating. Do your very best. When you are finished, stay seated till
everyone has finished. I will be
observing every single one of you. Good
luck."
Harry and Ron looked at each other. They knew that this wasn't going to be a
nice experience. They were given rolls
of parchment from different subjects (ex. Potions, transfigurations,
etc.). They were also given special
types of quills that were bewitched with an Anti-Cheating Charms. Harry felt like he was there for eternity
answering questions like what were the ingredients for a certain poison. After they had finished the written part of
the O.W.L.s. The lunch break was much
longer than usual.
After lunch, they were to go to the grounds of the
castle. Professor Sullivan greeted them
warmly as they approach her.
"Hello, I will be
your teacher for the practical O.W.L.s.
Get into groups of two and we will be dueling first. Then I will ask you to come to me
individually for the curses and charms and transfiguration test. Good luck."
Harry and Ron were partners in the dueling test. They had fun dueling that they almost forgot
that they were taking the O.W.L.s.
After the duel, the Gryffindors and Ravenclaws were called in
alphabetical order. Hermione, as Harry
can tell by the superior look on her face, had done very well. Finally, it was Harry's turn. Hermione and
Ron bid him good luck. He walked
towards Professor Sullivan.
"Hello, don't
reckon I'll go easy on you," she teased.
"Just because I'm your godmother."
She winked at him. "All right,
we will start with the Stunning Spell."
It took an hour for the test to finish. All Harry had to do is to perform the spells
that Professor Sullivan told him to do. When he was finished, he and Hermione
waited for Ron to go on. As they went up to the common room, relieved to have
survived the exam, Professor Flitwick told them to follow him.
"The Headmaster
needs to see you three," he said. He
led to the headmaster's office.
Dumbledore was behind his desk.
He looked somber and was holding a piece of parchment. He looked up.
"Have a seat, you three,"
he said. "I have something to tell you
three." He added a piece of parchment to Harry.
Harry read it. His
eyes widened. "Sirius and Remus had
been kidnapped?"
All right, that's all! Please leave a review.