Pandora's Box
Kneazle
DC: I do not own Harry Potter or afflictions to Warner's Bros. or J.K. Rowling's. I merely use the characters for entertainment purposes only. Anything mentioned in this story is afflicted only to its rightful produces. I own nothing but the plot.
AN: Prefer listening to "Lord of the Rings", "Harry Potter" soundtracks or songs which lyrics have been inserted while reading. Also, the Renaissances become teachers. Think of this story to be like X-Men: they fight and teach, and have similar powers to: ex, Hermione = Kitty Pryde [Feb. 20, 02]
**-**
I'm about to break, this is my fate
Am I still damned to a life,
Of misery and hate?
You will never know
What I'd do for you
What you are
Help me through
I'd do it for you
I could have, never lived
If it wasn't, for you
– KoRn, "4U"
**~**
Chapter Six
The room was dark and clammy, smelling of rot and something one couldn't identify with. The young woman walked down this hallway, pausing at this certain room. It used to be the Hogwarts Headmaster's office, but that day nearly four and a half years ago ousted Albus Dumbledore, and he ended up with Minerva McGonagall's old job, and she was stuck helping to teach younger students how to hex and kill.
The young woman was slender, tall and overall a very pretty young woman. She had been a graduate of one of the most elite magical post-secondary educations when Voldemort struck Hogwarts, applying there for job for the next year. She just happened to be in the wrong place at the wrong time. Selene Sinistra was the niece of Professor Sinistra at Hogwarts before everything had happened. The brunette was exceptionally bright, actually, but had one disability that no one but her Auntie Maybell understood. Selene could not see well during the day, in fact, the rays of the sun seemed to bounce off the earth twice as brightly as they should. She could see perfectly fine at night.
"Your eyes are beautiful, Selene. Don't magically correct them!"
"I hate my eyes, Auntie Maybell! Everyone makes fun of me at school!"
"No, no, Selene. Your eyes… are purrfect."
"That joke is so old, Auntie. But I want to change my eyes – how can I show my face with these hideous cat's eyes?"
Yes, Selene's eyes were catlike, being tightly almond shaped, and with a high tint of yellow in them, making her see everything sharper and clearer at night. Hence, her daytime vision was severely jeopardized.
Bugger this all, she thought glumly, until she paused to catch a falling quill. She picked it up when a high pitch voice chilled her to her bones.
"What do you mean, four Death Eaters in London were killed?" came the voice of her Lord, Voldemort.
Selene strained her ears, trying to listen.
"A-Apparently, milord, Pansy Parkinson, Jonathan Avery, Madison Moon and Christopher Nott were all involved in a struggle. There was blood on Pansy's nails and Avery and Nott had swells on the back of their heads and cheeks. Then, after, their attackers used the killing curse on them," reported the voice. Selene knew it; it was the voice of Professor Snape.
"Any idea which wizards did this?" came the soft-spoken voice of the protégé, Tom Riddle. Selene shuddered; he was far too creepy to have any woman fancy him, with his blank face and cool scarlet eyes, but any woman could admit he was good-looking.
"None, sir. The four were in a whore house, and its owner says he has no idea why anyone would kill his customers," said Snape. "Dursley wasn't that stupid to allow any wizard in. In fact, he hates most wizards and witches."
"Dursley?" asked Tom Riddle. Selene wondered why Voldemort hadn't punished him yet; he may be a protégé, but one should never speak aloud in front of the Lord like that, without asked.
"Yes, Dudley Dursley."
Selene jumped and widened her eyes when she heard Tom hiss venomously, "Potter."
"Potter?" Snape squeaked. "Out of status? Could he have…?"
"Yes," snarled Voldemort. "If someone had found him. We had reports of rogue magic all around the Malfoy Manor, the Granger residence in London and even some near the Weasley's."
"He's escaped," said Snape blankly. Nothing was said.
Selene continued moving, slowly as if not to miss anything after that but enough to not be caught eavesdropping.
Protecting her thoughts, she mused, I must leave here! I must tell the world that Harry Potter has escaped!
**-**
Her Aunt Maybell clucked her tongue in her astronomy room, disapproving of her niece's plan, but not stopping her.
She finished pinning everything together and stood. "You're ready," she said blankly. "I shall miss you, you realize?"
"Of course, Auntie Maybell," said Selene softly, "but I must go. I really do."
"You know it shall be dangerous."
"Of course."
"And you might not make it out alive," continued Sinistra.
"Yes, Auntie Maybell, I know. Please, make it no harder on me," she sniffed. "Dumbledore's death still holds tight to me like a vice grip."
Sinistra nodded, hanging her head. "I understand. Go."
Selene hugged her aunt once, whispering she loved her, and went down to the cells. She was on food duty, and she needed to feed the growing number of prisoners down there before she left.
"Hullo, Selene," said a young woman walking towards her. Selene smiled.
"Ah, Sarah! Do you want to come with me down to the dungeons? I don't fancy feeding them myself," commented Selene, shuddering. "It's so… morbid down there."
"All right," said Sarah reluctantly. "I guess it'll be fine for me to miss a few minutes of my lesson."
Together, they walked down to the dungeons, Sarah commenting on Fleur Delacour and Percy Weasley's conditions.
"They seem so sad down there. Oh, do I ever wish to take their pain away, allow them out to see the sun once again!" she said. Their footsteps tapped and echoed lightly against the gray slabs around them. Selene glanced to the side; almost expecting the long-aged cat called Mrs. Norris, but she had been killed the day Filch had been, refusing to leave his side.
A loyal pet to the end.
Will you be loyal until the end? Asked a voice in Selene's head. Though it was the Dark Lord's, she jumped startled.
Beside her, oblivious to it all, Sarah rambled on. Finally, with Sarah's help, Selene and her finished the cells, eventually moving to Fleur and Percy's cell.
"Hullo," said Percy, tight-lipped. "Come to give us some more of the Death Eater's scraps?"
Selene flinched. Percy had gotten worse lately, sarcastic and demanding, taking it out on all but Fleur. "Sarah?" she asked, turning to the young woman.
"Hmm?"
"What would you say if I said I was going to leave Hogwarts?" she asked nervously. Talking like this could get her killed on the spot, if she wasn't careful.
Sarah's eyes widened. "You're planning on leaving?"
"Tonight," she replied, lying a little. "Would you tell our Lord?"
"If he asks, only," replied Sarah, grinning. "You've been a friend since I was left here. I wouldn't do anything to give you away."
"Good. You should go to your class. Goodbye, Sarah. You've been a friend till the end," she hugged the girl briefly and watched her go. Percy and Fleur watched this in interest. Once Selene was sure that Sarah had disappeared, she turned to the two captives, silencing them with a finger to her lips.
She magically opened the cell doors, and motioned them to follow her, as she was breaking them out.
Percy in stealth followed her, and Fleur behind with greater grace than she had. She motioned, waving her hand, this way.
They had reached the Great Hallway doors, and they slipped through unnoticed by anyone. Once outside, they made a mad-dash to the Forbidden Forest, apparating out of it once they were far enough in.
They appeared in the countryside, far, far away from Hogwarts and possibly outside Scotland.
"Thank you," said Percy, shaking her hand enthusiastically. "Thank you so much!"
"Oui," started Fleur, before switching into English, "Yes, thank you. We are grateful of your help."
"No problem. I heard some things that might be of use to you, though. I must find Harry Potter," she said.
"He's free? The other's did it then!" shouted Percy, hugging Fleur tightly before swinging her lithe body around in a full circle. Fleur laughed, shouted something in jubilancy in French, and then laughed so more.
"You didn't know?" Selene frowned, her light brown hair blowing in the slight wind that smelt of rain.
"No," laughed Percy, calming down. "We were part of the group going to find them to set them free – Oliver's group must have done it without us! The Grangers must have helped them!"
"The Grangers are dead, Mr. Weasley," said Selene softly, her eyes searching the skies. She seemed to be looking for something in particular. "Ah, the North Star, let's head this way."
She began walking west when Percy and Fleur caught up with her.
"Dead?" whispered Fleur. Selene nodded, glancing over her shoulder at the part-veela. For someone who had been so composed when she was brought in, she didn't act like it now.
"Yes, dead. They died a few months ago, actually, after the Death Eaters searched the area and found traces of magic leading to their house."
"And?" Percy asked hoarsely. "Did they escape?"
"The Grangers?" Selene shook her head. "Of course not. The others who preformed the magic did, though. Didn't know who did it. Actually, a couple days ago, four rogue wizards tracked and murdered four Death Eaters in London, and The Dark Lord said it was Harry Potter."
"You want to find them?" asked Fleur, suddenly narrowing her eyes as they continued walking. "Why? Did you set us free because your Lord wanted you to?"
"Of course not," she snapped. "I am Professor Selene Eve Sinistra, Hogwarts teacher. I, though, will never be considered a Dark Arts teacher, as I am perfectly a Voldemort-hater, not supporter," she said, spitting out the last word. "I shall not succumb to his will ever."
"Nice speech," commented Percy dryly, "but where are we heading?"
"Err," Selene looked around. "I honestly don't know. I was thinking, head in this direction until it rains, sleep, and then keep walking until we get somewhere. Maybe a building by pure luck."
"The stars are looking down on us today," whispered Fleur to Percy, who sighed and nodded, saying they'd follow. Selene nodded, and together the three of them walked into dense brush, wondering if Voldemort would follow them.
**-**
Ron finally woke up a couple of hours later, realizing that he'd have to accept the fact that now others were getting their powers and soon enough that their time to strike Voldemort might be sooner than they realized.
He listened to the steady pounding of rain against the stain glass window, striking it forcefully before letting its contents slide down peacefully.
"Ron," began Lavender, who sat next to him on the bed, "are you… upset now that you have your powers?"
"No, not really," he sighed, looking out the window. He could see the slight color distortion where the mist hung in the distance.
"But… how do you feel? I mean, you fainted," she said, smoothing her dirty blonde hair down.
"I really don't know, Lav"—Ron was cut off as a shrill alarm went off throughout the castle. "What the!" He threw the covers back, ignored the pounding in his head as he threw on his work shirt, not buttoning it up. He and Lavender left the hospital room, running down the corridors before Ron's super speed kicked in.
He left Lavender running behind him, before he spotted Oliver and Hermione standing in the Entrance Hall. Harry came running down the spiral staircase seconds later, and Lavender a few minutes later. Everyone began popping up.
"Keep the students back!" Shouted Harry, glaring behind him, his wand out and facing the door. Arabella, Cho, Seamus and Dean began to bring the students back like policemen, pushing them further and further up the staircase until Hermione sank into the tiles.
"Where's she going?" demanded Draco, his eyes wide as he looked around, thinking Hermione would pop up a second later behind him.
"I don't know," replied Oliver. He turned to look at Ginny, whose eyes searched the area.
"She's below us… traveling… outside!" she said, blinking in surprise. "She… she says that she's going to check out what's out there tripping the alarm off, but won't take a true look by stepping out of the ground. She says also to stay inside the school and will relay messages via me."
Harry nodded, relaxing his hold. He glanced behind him again and saw the students scared faces. "All right. I think you should all go to your rooms, and start doing your homework. We'll deal with this as we can."
The students mutely began walking up the stairs, the older ones ushering the younger, who were tear-streaked.
Once they were gone, Harry sighed. "Sirius, I'd hate to ask you this –"
Sirius placed a hand up to stop his Godson. "I understand completely, Harry. Remus, Bella, Mundungus? Let's go patrol the halls upstairs."
The four of them then left, their wands out and ready to protect the students with their lives if it truly was Voldemort and his Death Eaters.
Dean glanced back at Harry. "What now?"
"We wait."
**-**
Hermione finished sending Ginny the message and then found herself surrounded by an intense white mist. She sent her thoughts forward and found the three intruders, who were more lost than she was.
Gladly, she jogged ahead a few paces, found herself in swirling white mist around her feet before she allowed her body to rearrange the atoms of a huge tree truck. Slipping in it, she leaned forward and watched the three come closer to where she was.
"Where are we?" the first voice asked, clearly confused. "Is this England still?"
The second, a French voice, clipped, "Well, obviously, Selene, where else would we be?"
They appeared in Hermione's view and she nearly fell out of the tree in shock; it was Fleur, Percy and this other lady – but more so, it was Percy and Fleur and they were all right!
Ginny!! Hermione screamed in her mind. Back in the castle, Ginny swore colorfully and tripped over her feet, barely catching herself.
What! She replied.
It's Percy! And Fleur! They're all right! Replied Hermione happily, grinning in the tree crazily. She watched them pass, before she leaned out, half in and half out of the tree. Her torso and waist were visible but everything below was not.
WHAT? Ginny's voice rocked in Hermione's mind.
Yeah, that was my first thought too, she grinned. Shall I talk to them?
They're alone? Here?
Well… not alone…
HERMIONE! Came a new voice. Hermione was startled to realize it was Harry. She bit her lips in confusion to respond verbally and not mentally, but landed softly out of the tree, trailing closely behind the three.
Harry? Since when can you do this? She asked, tilting her head.
Since now. Who's with Percy and Fleur?
This… brunette lady. She could pass for a cousin or relative of Draco's, actually. She looks like a brown haired veela, Harry. She's gorgeous, and she… well… I don't know. Should I talk to Percy and Fleur? She wondered, sinking into a rock as Fleur looked suspiciously back.
"I think someone is following us," she whispered to Percy, who looked back.
"Fleur, don't be paranoid. There's no one here," he snapped. "Selene, slow down, we can't keep up!"
Ah! Her name is Selene… you know? She reminds me of Sinistra.
Professor Sinistra? Ginny had joined the conversation again.
Yes, the very same. They look a bit alike too, said Hermione, her head above the rock. Can I please talk to them now?
Sure. Have fun, said Harry.
We'll tell the others. See you later Herm. Oliver sends his love said Ginny giddily.
Tell him I love him, melted Hermione, feeling her atoms rearrange everything she stepped on. She sank a few inches into the ground and often felt light-headed.
She grinned as she saw them pause in the forest by a stream. Selene, the tall brunette, sat on a rock and Fleur went waddling into the river.
"Be careful," warned Percy. Fleur nodded, retorting in French. Percy grinned, tugged hi shoes off and wiggled his toes. "Ah, that feels good. How long have we been walking?"
His red hair was plastered to his head, dripping wet, and he was much paler than he used to be.
"About the whole day now," said Selene, her own brown hair looking clammy and heavy. Fleur alone looked calm and unaware of how wet she was.
Hermione began walking up to them, not making a sound as her feet disappeared through fallen branches and rocks. She watched Percy yawn, stretch and tilt his head back.
"I wonder how my little brothers are doing."
"How old are they?" asked Selene, making conversation. Percy sat up again, put his shoes on and replied.
"Fred and George are twins, and they are both twenty-three I think," said Percy, as he jumped up, swinging himself from a thick tree branch. He then curled his spine, lifted his legs and pulled himself up to sit on the branch. He reached forward and plucked an apple from its place. "Ron would be twenty-one, part of the group who was frozen by Voldemort all those years ago. And Ginny, our little sister and youngest, is a year younger than Ron. Twenty she is."
He tossed the apple down, and Selene caught it easily. "I don't have any siblings. Professor Sinistra… or rather, my Auntie Maybell, is my only living relative now."
"Parents?" asked Percy, turning away from her. Hermione decided to make her move now. She sidled up to the truck, rearranged the atoms when Selene wasn't looking, and allowed herself to be pulled up through its growth patterns.
She appeared on a branch opposite and just as thick as Percy's. As he reached for another apple near her hand, she plucked it before him and offered it out.
"My parents died in a raid in London, led by Voldemort," said Selene from below.
"Here you go," said Hermione, offering the apple out to Percy's waiting hand.
"Oh, thank you," he replied, and Selene, below looked up asking, "what did you say?"
Percy did a double take and instantly fell out of the tree.
"Oh dear," said Hermione giggly. "I didn't mean for that to happen."
Fleur screamed and came rushing out of the water to Percy's sided, who moaned and looked up.
"Where's the pixie?" he moaned. Selene was also at his side, and was stroking his forehead.
Hermione giggled as she jumped out of the tree, landing softly on the ground. She looked up and around at the group. She looked down at Percy and her laughing face turned serious.
"Oops," she said, kneeling by Percy's side. "Sorry, Percy. I didn't mean to scare you, you know. Ginny said it was okay for me to play a bit with you before taking you guys back to the castle. Here, let me heal that."
She finished her quick explanation by placing her hand over a bump on the back of Percy's head. A soft green light appeared underneath her palm and seconds later the bump was gone.
Fleur stared at her before firing off a French verbal assault.
Hermione raised her hands, "whoa, Fleur, calm. All I'm suppose to do is take you to Bingingham Castle, all of you." She looked pointedly at Selene, as if asking, who are you? But decided against it.
She motioned them to follow her right into the swirling mist that had reappeared a few paces later.
"We can't go that way, Hermione," said a groggy Percy, who stared at her. "We'll get lost in there."
"No we won't," said Hermione. "That's where the castle is. Come on. With me as a guide you won't get lost. Ginny and Harry will lead us if we get lost."
"Harry? As in Harry Potter?" Selene asked, her interest perking up instantly. "All right! Let's go!"
Hermione stared at her, pondering her intentions, but dubbing her worthy she moved forward with Percy and Fleur a stone-throw behind her. Soon, they reached a tall, stone covered gate.
"One second," she said, before striding forcefully towards it.
"Hermione!" shouted three voices – Percy, Fleur and Selene's.
She went right through the gate, and opened it from the inside. "This way please," she instructed, and they filed in staring at her.
The gate closed with a loud snap. Percy gapped but said nothing as they walked in silence in the rain, the large castle growing larger with every pace. Soon, they were at the doors. Hermione grinned, posed like Vana White, and said, "Welcome to Bingingham Castle, also known as the Institute of Magical Studies."
The trio gasped as the doors opened and a bunch of people stood waiting for them. Hermione moved to go talk with Oliver Wood, and Percy found himself in a giant Ron-and-Ginny bear hug.
Fleur and Padma were talking, and the brunette Hermione had said was named Selene went straight to talk to Harry.
After a few minutes, introductions were made, jokes were said, and hugs returned. Sirius finally came down the stairs, demanding to know where the fire was, but jumped when he saw Percy.
Soon, the rest of the school was around in the Great Hall.
"Can you tell the House Elves we'll be having an early dinner?" Harry asked Hermione. She nodded, kissed Oliver quickly on the cheek and sank into the ground.
Fleur screamed, pointing at the spot she used to be standing on. Percy walked over gingerly where she had stood, waving his hands around and muttering, "ingenious," over and over.
Harry laughed, lead Selene by the arm into the Mess Hall, the students in front, with or behind the group.
**-**
"So let me get this straight," said Hermione over dinner, as they sat in their C-shaped table, "Voldemort has a protégé?"
"Yes. And his name is Tom Riddle," Selene answered.
There were five sounds of people spitting their drinks/food out, five sounds of people coughing, and five exclamations of, "WHAT?"
Selene, confused, described him, the five faces growing paler as she did so. "About Oliver's height, scarlet eyes, pale, messy black hair and relatively good-looking… um… quiet, morose, I suppose. Smart and powerful, too."
Harry sighed. "About sixteen years old?"
Selene shook her head. "Oh no! No, Tom is about your age, Harry."
Ginny choked again, and sent her thoughts out to Draco, Harry, Ron and Hermione, how the hell can Riddle be the same age of us if he's Voldemort?
Hermione shrugged, and Harry growled. Draco and Ron were impassive.
"Did I miss something here?" asked Seamus, looking around the table.
"Yeah," Cho agreed, "I feel like I'm missing the final piece to a jig-saw puzzle."
"Tom Riddle," mused aloud Neville. "You can make the word 'Lord' out of his name, and have the letters, 't', 'm', 'i', 'd' and 'e' left."
"Marvolo," said Ginny quietly.
"Pardon?" said Oliver.
"Tom Riddle's middle name. Tom Marvolo Riddle," said Ginny very quietly. Neville quickly did the unscrambling in his head, and when he finished he swore.
"I Am Lord Voldemort?" he rasped out. "No letters left. It all fits. But, if Tom Riddle is Voldemort, how is there a Lord Voldemort?"
Padma, Arabella, Hermione and Dean laughed out loud at the absurd sound of that phrase.
Ron said, "In the second year, Ginny was… well, in the Chamber of Secrets. Harry and Tom (the past Voldemort) dueled. He was exactly as how Selene here described him. Whatever it is, Voldemort has become powerful enough to still have the powers he attained throughout the years and have a younger body."
Hermione caught on. "He's using a polyjuice potion or something on someone to pretend they're Voldemort, while the true Dark Lord is not wearing a mask but is standing out in the world."
The high table went quiet, listening to the happy sounds of the students. Harry changed the subject. "Find any good spells for the transportation, Hermione?"
Hermione placed down her fork, finished chewing and said, "actually, I think I may have stumbled upon something in my Great-Grandmother's BOS. Give me until tomorrow. I think I may have something that will work easily."
Harry grinned at her, said, "that's my girl," before returning to his meal. Hermione seemed a bit worried about his lack of attention to the Voldemort situation, but said nothing. She did, however, tell this to Ron later that evening as they walked together back to their classrooms (Charms and Transfiguration were beside each other).
"I don't know, Herm," said Ron thoughtfully. "Remember back that first night when we said what we wanted to do once we defeat Voldemort?"
"Yeah," said Hermione tight-lipped. "Harry said he just wanted to kill him, avenge people Voldemort killed… and then trailed off."
"I wonder what he was going to say after it," commented Ron, opening the door. He shut it quickly, from his neck to his hair roots a bright red.
"What is it Ron?" asked Hermione, staring at him like he grew another head. "Something wrong…" she opened the door, and also shut it quickly.
"Well?" Ron squeaked. "Shall we use your classroom to get your things first?"
Hermione nodded, and tried very hard to get the mental image of Sirius Black and Arabella Figg snogging out of her mind. Oh boy, did she have a story to tell Oliver tonight.
**-**
Hermione looked up from her desk, her fifth years talking excitedly as she had promised to teach them their first wandless magic lesson once they finished their work. She a few of them had a few questions left, Hermione was allowed time to rest and mark some papers when a newspaper landed in front of her.
"What's this?" she asked, looking up at Harry's cool face.
"Read," he said coolly. Raising her eyebrows, she lifted the paper up and read it.
The Daily Prophet, Issue 4556, April 18
BOY WHO LIVED ALIVE AGAIN? AVENGING US ALL?
Can it be? Is it true? Rumors have fired off everywhere lately, but it's the truth people – Harry Potter is back! Along with his best friends Ronald Weasley and Hermione Granger, they are now in hiding, supposedly with Draco Malfoy, Ginny Weasley, Dean Thomas, Seamus Finnigan, Neville Longbottom, Blaise Zabini and Lavender Brown.
Apparently, four months ago, a group of rogue wizards (Quidditch player, Keeper Oliver Wood, Fred and George Weasley, Percy Weasley, Fleur Delacour, Padma Patil, Cho Chang and recently deceased Roger Davis) had left their safety and homes to find clues as to where the locations of our heroes were. They were in that O'Sahar desert, actually, and they were set free!
Joined them was Potter's Godfather, ex-convict Sirius Black, werewolf Remus Lupin, Arabella Figg and con artist Mundungus Fletcher. They had disappeared together, rumored to be starting a new Hogwarts for us all – for the new generation. This school has no proof of being in existence, but there are a group of children who have disappeared from their homes, and all are of magical descent.
Now, as we all know, Hogwarts is home and location of all Dark (or good) Arts, lead by Lord Voldemort himself. There, students are taught the ways of a Death Eater and by the age of sixteen initiated into their group.
Speaking of Death Eaters, four were found dead four days ago – Pansy Patricia Parkinson, Madison Scott Moon, Christopher Nott and Jonathan Edward Avery. Who killed them? Prime Minister Lucius Malfoy insists it were a band of rebel wizards, but this reporter believes it was none other than The Boy Who Lived.
So is it true? Are they back? I believe so, but the question is, does Britain?
Hermione sighed. "Harry, we're out in the open now. I feel like Batman."
"Batman?" Harry asked, appalled. "Why Batman?"
Hermione giggled a little before replying, "'cause he's got the bat-signal and we have the mark of fighting against Death Eaters."
"Wouldn't they be like Batman, and us like Spiderman?" asked Harry, confused. "Batman has his bat-signal: the Dark Mark. Spiderman is good and just has his costumes and fights evil: like us."
"I suppose," rolled her eyes, Hermione. "Knock down all my ideas, why don't you?"
"No, not all." He said, he walking out of the room. "Just some."
Hermione stood, smiled at her class and asked, "Ready to learn wandless magic?"
**-**
Harry rubbed his temples as the new editions to the Renaissance, Salvation and Old Crowd sat around the King Arthur table.
"So what do we do now?" he asked suddenly, into the quiet room. No one moved, but a squeak came from someone shifted in his or her seat. Rain splattered against the high windows, the only other sound in the room. No one knew what to say, after they had all read the article.
Beside Oliver, Hermione closed her eyes. This was serious, and there was no way avoiding coming public now. She needed that theory to be working soon – she knew Riddle would get new students to go to Hogwarts to get new Death Eaters. They had to do something soon… the ball wasn't in their court yet, but hanging over the net. One hit and it would be theirs… or Riddle's.
"Harry," said Hermione, standing, "I thinks it's best for me to get working on the transportation theory. I think I have it down to a T, but… it's not tested. We should get as many students as we can here right away, because Riddle might round new ones up to get more Death Eaters. We need students here to learn the light ways."
Harry nodded, and pointed at Seamus, Dean, Blaise and Neville. "You guys, can you go to my office and start sending owls out to all the families who inquired about the school?"
They nodded, gathered their papers and left, rushing out of the room. Harry then looked at Ginny, Lavender and Cho. "Gin, you know the spell that McGonagall used for the book at Hogwarts?"
"Yeah, it's an advanced searching-spell. I know it like I know my name," said Ginny.
Harry nodded, and sent them off, in charge of finding a blank book to use, then spell, and then copy the name appearing on that one on a sheet and sending it to his office where the men would be sending out owls.
"Sirius," Harry turned to him, "I need you to tell the students that they will have new roommates arriving soon. Can Remus, Arabella and Mundungus go with you? There are at least ten rooms for each of you to check. Then, can you run an inventory with Percy, Fleur and Selene, to see how many beds and sheets and such we have available?"
They nodded, and those seven left the room, leaving only Harry, Draco, Hermione, Padma, Ron and Oliver.
"What do we do?" asked Padma.
Harry turned to Oliver and Hermione. "You two are going to perfect that spell. Ron, you and Padma are going to go around the castle, find the storage planning room, and try to find those blueprints for the Knight Bus that we had stolen with the Marauder's Map. Draco and I will send an owl to the reporters, and then do the owners in Diagon Alley and Hogsmeade, asking for any supplies that would be useful for our school.
"Got that?"
The group nodded and split, rushing around the castle in hopes of getting that ball to be in their court. After all, Hermione didn't want to think about what would happen if Voldemort got it before them.
**-**