Harry Potter and the Crystal Ball
by Hannah
Chapter Ten ~ Missions
"Harry? Harry!"
Awakening to someone shouting his name and beating on the portrait, which had blown shut during the night, Harry found that he had fallen asleep in one of the large armchairs. The fire had reduced to ashes during the night. Suddenly, the room felt extremely cold as he remembered his situation.
"Harry! Are you in there?"
He recognized the voice as Alice's and immediately crawled to the portrait hole. "Alice!" he exclaimed hoarsely, "we're trapped."
"I know," she grumbled. "And I have bad news."
"What might that be?"
"There is no known spell to open a sealing charm."
A deathly silence prevailed for a few moments. "None?"
"No, not yet," she hesitantly replied. "I'm sorry. But—but I'll try to figure out something. Combine a few spells, perhaps."
"Yeah, all right," he chattered miserably. "But we don't have any food, and only bathroom tap water, and we're out of coal for the fireplace," he added, looked at the pitiful ashes in the grate.
"Um, okay, just a second . . ."
Harry was quiet for a moment. He knew that she probably wanted to concentrate.
"Okay, turn around," she tittered triumphantly.
Harry turned and gasped when he saw a small mountain of various provisions. He saw various foods, mostly canned, some small kegs of water, charcoal for the fireplace.
"Thanks," Harry stuttered.
"No problem. Hey, I'm going to head off to my room and work on combining spells, all right? Don't let anyone panic or anything, and don't you worry yourself too much either, okay? Love you lots!"
"And I you," Harry replied with zeal. He heard the faint sound of Alice's shoes as she slowly walked away from the entrance to Gryffindor Tower.
"Hmm," he mused. "What to do now . . ."
Frowning in deep thought, Harry remembered that boy from yesterday. He didn't remember seeing him before . . .
He stormed up the stairs to the boys' dorm and knocked on one of the doors.
A very sleepy-eyed black-haired boy opened it, rubbing the sleep from his eyes. "Is there a boy named Roy in this house, a recent transfer from the States?"
"Not that I know of, Professor Potter," he replied, obviously bewildered. "I can ask the others—"
"No, no," Harry interrupted, "that's good enough. Get some more sleep; we'll be here for a while."
He headed back down the stairs once the boy had closed the door. So someone had been in Gryffindor Tower . . . someone who shouldn't have been there . . .
"Harry?" Someone else was now at the portrait hole. The muffled voice sounded very close to that of McGonagall.
"Yes?"
"How are you faring? I heard Alice made some food Apparate." Harry had to strain to hear her voice through the glowing barrier between them.
"Yes, she did. We should be fine. The students aren't about yet."
"Well, that's good. The longer they stay sleeping, the less they can worry."
"My philosophy exactly." Harry paused for a moment, and then ventured, "Alice? She's working on a spell?"
"Yes, but you know how it will work out, Harry. Either she already knew a spell and it was Fate that she hide it for a specified period of time, or that there is no spell and . . . well, let's not think of that option, shall we?"
Harry's heart sunk. Of course, Professor McGonagall was right. Alice would either know that there was a spell, or that there wasn't. She was now just biding time. He remembered what she'd told him: "All the world's a stage, Harry. What can I tell you? I am the only great actress you will ever know." Was this just another act in this great play called life?
He realized she was talking to him.
"Harry, did you hear what I said?"
"Hmm, no," Harry mused half-heartedly.
"How much longer until you'll need more supplies?"
Turning to glance at the large pile of food, he said, "Well, I'd say it will last us a day and a half. I hope we're not stuck here that long, though."
"You won't be." McGonagall's voice sounded less than assuring. "Harry?" she ventured apprehensively.
"Hmm?" Harry murmured absently.
"Just don't panic, all right? I'm sure Alice knows what she's doing. I would place my life in her hands."
"That's saying a lot," Harry replied as an attempt at humor.
"Seriously, Harry . . . I know how close the two of you are, and I really think that she'll do just about anything to save you. As a matter of fact, I'm sure of it. Just don't lose hope."
"Thank you."
"We'll be back in a day and a half, if Alice hasn't cracked the spell, for an extra supply package."
"All right. Keep the school running while we're detached, all right?"
"Sure."
She was gone.
Chaos had reigned in Gryffindor Tower when the students discovered their plight.
Harry had asked Ginny to help him keep control of the students. Without the gentle hand of Alice, things didn't run quite as smoothly. Even so, the students did listen to the famous Harry Potter.
Two days had passed since Harry had awoken the first day of their entrapment. Alice had made more food materialize the previous evening. "I'm close," she assured Harry. "Another day or two."
He was hoping she was right. He was sick of having to wear the same clothes again and again. The students were bored and beginning to fight with one another. And he was beginning to lose faith, which McGonagall had severely warned him against.
Harry had produced a sleeping bag with a spell, and he slept in the common room. Meanwhile, Ginny slept on the landing between the two rows of dormitories, in case of an emergency.
All Harry wanted was Alice. He was sure that she could keep everything straight. She had the magical touch of infinite knowledge, and she was the best comforter that Harry had ever met.
"Damn damn damn," he muttered crossly to himself. The other students were not yet awake, and he could hear Ginny's soft snoring from the landing nearby.
Ginny stirred and stretched. She must have opened her eyes because just then, she gave a piercing shriek.
"Harry, come here this instant!"
He stumbled out of the sleeping bag and into the frame of the doorway. He saw Ginny trying to clamber gracelessly to her feet as she stared at small pink barriers that illuminated every doorway up and down the halls.
"Oh my God," he muttered.
"You're telling me!" Ginny stormed. "What are we going to do? They'll need water . . . and privies . . . and food . . . and heaven only knows what else!"
"Well, they each have some water and food, I made sure of that," Harry muttered.
"Well thank God!" Ginny exclaimed.
"And I'm sure they can find something to serve as a toilet temporarily . . ."
Ginny wrinkled her freckled nose in disgust.
"And until then, there's nothing we can do." Harry felt utterly helpless.
"All right. Well, I'm going to . . . I don't know, but I'll find something to do," Ginny whined. "Or else I'll go absolutely nuts!"
"Oh Alice, please hurry," Harry uttered under his breath as he scurried back down to the common room.
Harry must have fallen asleep again, because he awoke an hour or so later to muffled screams from the dormitory rooms.
So they're awake, he thought to himself. Oh Alice! Do hurry!
As though in answer to his prayer, Harry heard rushed footsteps from outside the portrait hole, and then an excited voice exclaiming, "Harry! Oh, Harry, I believe I have the very spell!"
"Alice!" he cried, leaping to his feet and rushing to the pink barrier. "Please, please hurry!"
"All right," she replied. "And your students, their rooms . . .?"
"All closed with barriers," Harry responded quickly. "Is it a dreadfully long spell?"
"Not at all!" she squealed joyfully.
He couldn't hear her saying anything, but within minutes the glowing pink barricade was disintegrating.
Swinging widely open, the portrait hole revealed a beaming Alice standing in the hallway.
And she looked awful.
She had enormous bags under her eyes, as thought she hadn't slept the whole time. She probably hasn't, Harry noted with grimness. Her hair was disheveled, her dark purple dress was terribly wrinkled, and her skin looked more bleached than ever.
But somehow she managed to bound through the portrait hole and wrap her arms around him.
"Oh Harry," she whispered in his ear as he embraced her, "I'm so glad you're alright."
"And I you," he replied softly, "though you don't look it."
He lifted her off her feet and spun her around like a small child. She squealed in delight as he set her down and gently kissed her.
"The children," she managed to gasp.
"Oh, right, better free them. They must be frantic by now."
Alice glided to the stairs, Harry loping behind her. The found Ginny shouting through a pink-glowing doorway, trying to comfort those inside.
"Hush, don't cry," she soothed. "Everything will be fine. I'm—" She cut herself off and glanced at the stairway. Tears of joy sprung to her eyes as she managed to choke, "Alice, thank God!"
She smiled and put her arms around Ron's younger sister. "Don't fret, all will be well in a matter of minutes."
Rushing to her task, Alice proved correct. She gave both Harry and Ginny a quick lesson with the performing of the spell, and within a half- hour, all the students were free.
Harry went to see Professor McGonagall first.
She threw her arms around Harry, just as Alice had done. "Oh, I'm so glad you're all fine!" she managed to sob. Once she had gained control of herself, she scrutinized him. "You look awful," she said bluntly.
Harry hadn't even bothered to look in a mirror, but upon doing so found that he looked just as awful as Alice had. His hair was standing at odd angles all over his head, his clothes were terribly wrinkled, his glasses askew. "Damn, awful is an understatement," he laughed.
Smiling, she asked him if the students were fine.
"Yes, yes, rather startled, I'm afraid, but otherwise just fine."
"Oh good," she replied, relief evident in her voice. "I'm worried about lessons, you know. It's been nearly a month since we've had any. The students are falling dreadfully behind."
"Yes," Harry mumbled absently. A thought hit him rather suddenly. "How are those victims? The ones that Voldemort hit—"
He cut himself off when he saw McGonagall's face fall. "No different, I'm afraid. Most have been chained to beds in the quarters of the Ministry. They are constantly muttering of going off to see their master. Food and drink must be forced down their throats." As though reading Harry's mind, she added gently, "You don't want to see her, Harry. It nearly broke Ron's heart when he went to visit."
He gulped down his fear and said forcefully, "No, I do."
She sighed. "Later, Harry. Later."
He knew there was no arguing with the headmistress of the castle.
"I think I ought to leave," he managed to say. "I need to check on the students."
"I understand." Although her face was hidden from view, Harry knew she was crying. He couldn't bring himself to stay any longer. There was still no word of Dumbledore.
"Alice, I'm going to go and see Hermione, whether you come along or not. Now are you coming?"
Harry had been arguing with her for the past half-hour over the matter. Exasperated over the matter, Harry had lost what cool he still possessed after the past few strenuous weeks.
"Harry, I can't come. I would, but I have to go somewhere, too."
"Where?" He looked at her in bewilderment. Why hadn't she just said so before?
"The Ministry doesn't want me talking about it," she said as she heaved a sigh. "All I can say is that I must leave tonight, that McGonagall knows, and that I will be gone for several days."
Harry looked deep into her eyes, but was astounded to find them void of any emotion whatsoever. Her face looked very resolute. "Fine, fine. I'm leaving tonight."
"Very well," she replied, rising off of his bed where she had seated herself. "I'm going to go pack."
"Is that all the goodbye I get?" Harry asked incredulously.
"Why ever would you ask that?" she asked mischievously.
"Because of this!" Harry cried, flinging his arms about her and giving her a kiss. "I'll miss you. Hurry back, will you?"
"For you, I suppose," she mused. "Now take your arms off of me. I must leave immediately!"
Harry stood back as Alice mumbled something and waved her wand in front of her. She was now wearing her normal wizarding garb. Another spell and a heavy trunk was weighing her down.
"Toodles," she exclaimed, and with one final chant disappeared from the room.
She never ceased to amaze him. But now it was time for Harry to prepare for his own secret visit to his long-time friend, Hermione.
It was black as pitch outside of the Ministry building. Harry hid behind a marble column, trying to decide on his move.
After a long inner debate, Harry decided that his only choice was to ask to see her. He was almost certain Sirius had told him that Seers and other very powerful wizards were constantly kept on guard for intruders. If anyone learned that he was sneaking into the building, he wouldn't stand a chance. He would probably be sublimated before he knew what had hit him.
Strolling up to the large wooden double doors, Harry rapped three times with the heavy golden knocker. Someone lifted the mail flap and a muffled voice said, "Harry Potter? Come in; we knew you were coming."
Without questioning the speaker, Harry stepped into the door, which had been opened without noise. A small wrinkled old man stood before him.
"You're sure you don't wish to turn back? This is your last chance."
"Yeah, I'm sure," Harry said with much less conviction than when he had first headed out.
The man beckoned for Harry to follow him down the long marble hallway. It wasn't lit; the only light was dim glow from an old gas lamp that the stooped guard carried.
Harry was led past numerous doorways before finally reaching a burnished walnut door set deep within the walls.
The man fumbled at his side for a moment, finally producing a ring of keys that Harry hadn't noticed, and certainly hadn't heard clinking, on his way down the hallway.
Muttering some obscure spell, the man inserted a rusted and very non- extraordinary looking key into the lock. With much grating, the tumblers clicked into place and the door begrudgingly swung open.
Harry swallowed as he was led into a narrow, dark room with beds lining the far wall. "He's here," the man said quietly.
"Who's here?" Harry questioned.
"Ron. So is Dumbledore."
"God . . ." Harry ran his fingers through his thick and unruly dark hair.
"Here, the three of them are together. But they won't recognize you." The man's eyes were emotionless as he pointed to the beds on the far right of the room.
Harry wandered in that direction, trying to force his eyes to focus in the blackness of the room. What kind of place was this? As his eyes began to adjust, he could see the forms of people lying, mostly prone, upon the beds, manacled with long chains that were hooked into the walls and the floor.
Upon reaching the wall, Harry turned to face the three beds closest to it. He was shocked and hurt by what he saw.
His three friends lay, very disheveled, upon the beds, bolted to them with very long chains. Hermione was thrashing about.
Harry ran over to the bedside. "Hermione! It's me, Harry. Please, Hermione . . ."
She looked up into his face, her eyes lit by a mad glow. Her tangled auburn hair added to her crazy appearance. "Harry? As in, Harry Potter?" she asked in a raspy voice not at all her own. "You're the one he wants killed . . . if you don't leave me be, maybe I'll be forced to do so myself."
"Hermione, please—" Harry reached out to hold her hand, but she drew it away as best she could and gnashed her teeth at him.
"Keep your distance, you beast!" she screamed in rage.
Tears streaming down his cheeks, Harry turned away. He could stand to see no more. He didn't dare try to awaken Dumbledore or Ron, scared to see what would have become of them.
"Dear God, get us out of this mess." Harry ambled back down the long corridor (that's really all it was), thanked the guard who had admitted him, and then mounted his broomstick and flew off into the night.
Dear Harry,
I should be back within a few days' time. Don't worry much about me; the mission is simple and under control, although very dangerous. I cannot say more, but you may wish to check the newspapers from the magical community. I'm sure they will keep you up to date.
I told you that you oughtn't to have gone! But what's the use of 'told-you- so's?'
I left you my crystal ball necklace. You wouldn't know how it functions, but if anything is askew you will know, I assure you. Just do be careful, Harry! Your situation is almost as sticky as mine.
I love you bunches, hope all is well, and will see you within the week. Best of luck to you, Harry.
Alice
As Harry finished reading the letter that Alice had left in his room, he picked up the necklace, which sat on his dresser beside the note. He admired the fine golden chain and the swirling mists within it. She had turned them red somehow.
"I wonder what she meant, I'd know how to work it . . ." he thought aloud.
Peering intently into its depths, Harry was shocked to see a large, cat- like eye staring back at him from deep within the murky interior of the crystal. He dropped it, but it did not shatter. Shaking slightly, he bent to retrieve it. What had just happened?
I'm just tired, he told himself. That's all. I'm starting to see things. Jumping dragons, I need to sleep! That's all. In the morning, everything will be fine.
Harry crawled into bed, clutching the necklace close.
Harry awoke in the morning to find the sun streaming through his window, illuminating Hedwig, who was perched on the sill.
"Hedwig," he murmured, "what have you brought me?"
She flew over to where he was sitting in bed and dropped a newspaper into his lap. She then flew out the window.
"Fine, be that way," Harry shouted after her.
Shaking the newspaper open, Harry's eyes strayed to the headline on the front page.
1.1
1.2 MYSTERIOUS ATTACK ON GERMAN CITIES LEAVE MINISTRY STUNNED
1.3 Frowning, Harry skimmed the article. His heart skipped a beat when he read the passage. He read a paragraph aloud to himself, just to make sure it was real.
1.4
1.5 "Famed sorceress Alice Oak of the States has arrived on scene and is currently trying to keep the assaults under control. 'It's a cat,' she told reporters today. 'A leopard, I believe. It appears to be possessed by something. Perhaps Voldemort.' She has promised to keep us updated."
1.6
1.7 "Jumping dragons," Harry moaned. He turned back over in bed, not ready to face the new day. He just hoped that Alice would be all right.
by Hannah
Chapter Ten ~ Missions
"Harry? Harry!"
Awakening to someone shouting his name and beating on the portrait, which had blown shut during the night, Harry found that he had fallen asleep in one of the large armchairs. The fire had reduced to ashes during the night. Suddenly, the room felt extremely cold as he remembered his situation.
"Harry! Are you in there?"
He recognized the voice as Alice's and immediately crawled to the portrait hole. "Alice!" he exclaimed hoarsely, "we're trapped."
"I know," she grumbled. "And I have bad news."
"What might that be?"
"There is no known spell to open a sealing charm."
A deathly silence prevailed for a few moments. "None?"
"No, not yet," she hesitantly replied. "I'm sorry. But—but I'll try to figure out something. Combine a few spells, perhaps."
"Yeah, all right," he chattered miserably. "But we don't have any food, and only bathroom tap water, and we're out of coal for the fireplace," he added, looked at the pitiful ashes in the grate.
"Um, okay, just a second . . ."
Harry was quiet for a moment. He knew that she probably wanted to concentrate.
"Okay, turn around," she tittered triumphantly.
Harry turned and gasped when he saw a small mountain of various provisions. He saw various foods, mostly canned, some small kegs of water, charcoal for the fireplace.
"Thanks," Harry stuttered.
"No problem. Hey, I'm going to head off to my room and work on combining spells, all right? Don't let anyone panic or anything, and don't you worry yourself too much either, okay? Love you lots!"
"And I you," Harry replied with zeal. He heard the faint sound of Alice's shoes as she slowly walked away from the entrance to Gryffindor Tower.
"Hmm," he mused. "What to do now . . ."
Frowning in deep thought, Harry remembered that boy from yesterday. He didn't remember seeing him before . . .
He stormed up the stairs to the boys' dorm and knocked on one of the doors.
A very sleepy-eyed black-haired boy opened it, rubbing the sleep from his eyes. "Is there a boy named Roy in this house, a recent transfer from the States?"
"Not that I know of, Professor Potter," he replied, obviously bewildered. "I can ask the others—"
"No, no," Harry interrupted, "that's good enough. Get some more sleep; we'll be here for a while."
He headed back down the stairs once the boy had closed the door. So someone had been in Gryffindor Tower . . . someone who shouldn't have been there . . .
"Harry?" Someone else was now at the portrait hole. The muffled voice sounded very close to that of McGonagall.
"Yes?"
"How are you faring? I heard Alice made some food Apparate." Harry had to strain to hear her voice through the glowing barrier between them.
"Yes, she did. We should be fine. The students aren't about yet."
"Well, that's good. The longer they stay sleeping, the less they can worry."
"My philosophy exactly." Harry paused for a moment, and then ventured, "Alice? She's working on a spell?"
"Yes, but you know how it will work out, Harry. Either she already knew a spell and it was Fate that she hide it for a specified period of time, or that there is no spell and . . . well, let's not think of that option, shall we?"
Harry's heart sunk. Of course, Professor McGonagall was right. Alice would either know that there was a spell, or that there wasn't. She was now just biding time. He remembered what she'd told him: "All the world's a stage, Harry. What can I tell you? I am the only great actress you will ever know." Was this just another act in this great play called life?
He realized she was talking to him.
"Harry, did you hear what I said?"
"Hmm, no," Harry mused half-heartedly.
"How much longer until you'll need more supplies?"
Turning to glance at the large pile of food, he said, "Well, I'd say it will last us a day and a half. I hope we're not stuck here that long, though."
"You won't be." McGonagall's voice sounded less than assuring. "Harry?" she ventured apprehensively.
"Hmm?" Harry murmured absently.
"Just don't panic, all right? I'm sure Alice knows what she's doing. I would place my life in her hands."
"That's saying a lot," Harry replied as an attempt at humor.
"Seriously, Harry . . . I know how close the two of you are, and I really think that she'll do just about anything to save you. As a matter of fact, I'm sure of it. Just don't lose hope."
"Thank you."
"We'll be back in a day and a half, if Alice hasn't cracked the spell, for an extra supply package."
"All right. Keep the school running while we're detached, all right?"
"Sure."
She was gone.
Chaos had reigned in Gryffindor Tower when the students discovered their plight.
Harry had asked Ginny to help him keep control of the students. Without the gentle hand of Alice, things didn't run quite as smoothly. Even so, the students did listen to the famous Harry Potter.
Two days had passed since Harry had awoken the first day of their entrapment. Alice had made more food materialize the previous evening. "I'm close," she assured Harry. "Another day or two."
He was hoping she was right. He was sick of having to wear the same clothes again and again. The students were bored and beginning to fight with one another. And he was beginning to lose faith, which McGonagall had severely warned him against.
Harry had produced a sleeping bag with a spell, and he slept in the common room. Meanwhile, Ginny slept on the landing between the two rows of dormitories, in case of an emergency.
All Harry wanted was Alice. He was sure that she could keep everything straight. She had the magical touch of infinite knowledge, and she was the best comforter that Harry had ever met.
"Damn damn damn," he muttered crossly to himself. The other students were not yet awake, and he could hear Ginny's soft snoring from the landing nearby.
Ginny stirred and stretched. She must have opened her eyes because just then, she gave a piercing shriek.
"Harry, come here this instant!"
He stumbled out of the sleeping bag and into the frame of the doorway. He saw Ginny trying to clamber gracelessly to her feet as she stared at small pink barriers that illuminated every doorway up and down the halls.
"Oh my God," he muttered.
"You're telling me!" Ginny stormed. "What are we going to do? They'll need water . . . and privies . . . and food . . . and heaven only knows what else!"
"Well, they each have some water and food, I made sure of that," Harry muttered.
"Well thank God!" Ginny exclaimed.
"And I'm sure they can find something to serve as a toilet temporarily . . ."
Ginny wrinkled her freckled nose in disgust.
"And until then, there's nothing we can do." Harry felt utterly helpless.
"All right. Well, I'm going to . . . I don't know, but I'll find something to do," Ginny whined. "Or else I'll go absolutely nuts!"
"Oh Alice, please hurry," Harry uttered under his breath as he scurried back down to the common room.
Harry must have fallen asleep again, because he awoke an hour or so later to muffled screams from the dormitory rooms.
So they're awake, he thought to himself. Oh Alice! Do hurry!
As though in answer to his prayer, Harry heard rushed footsteps from outside the portrait hole, and then an excited voice exclaiming, "Harry! Oh, Harry, I believe I have the very spell!"
"Alice!" he cried, leaping to his feet and rushing to the pink barrier. "Please, please hurry!"
"All right," she replied. "And your students, their rooms . . .?"
"All closed with barriers," Harry responded quickly. "Is it a dreadfully long spell?"
"Not at all!" she squealed joyfully.
He couldn't hear her saying anything, but within minutes the glowing pink barricade was disintegrating.
Swinging widely open, the portrait hole revealed a beaming Alice standing in the hallway.
And she looked awful.
She had enormous bags under her eyes, as thought she hadn't slept the whole time. She probably hasn't, Harry noted with grimness. Her hair was disheveled, her dark purple dress was terribly wrinkled, and her skin looked more bleached than ever.
But somehow she managed to bound through the portrait hole and wrap her arms around him.
"Oh Harry," she whispered in his ear as he embraced her, "I'm so glad you're alright."
"And I you," he replied softly, "though you don't look it."
He lifted her off her feet and spun her around like a small child. She squealed in delight as he set her down and gently kissed her.
"The children," she managed to gasp.
"Oh, right, better free them. They must be frantic by now."
Alice glided to the stairs, Harry loping behind her. The found Ginny shouting through a pink-glowing doorway, trying to comfort those inside.
"Hush, don't cry," she soothed. "Everything will be fine. I'm—" She cut herself off and glanced at the stairway. Tears of joy sprung to her eyes as she managed to choke, "Alice, thank God!"
She smiled and put her arms around Ron's younger sister. "Don't fret, all will be well in a matter of minutes."
Rushing to her task, Alice proved correct. She gave both Harry and Ginny a quick lesson with the performing of the spell, and within a half- hour, all the students were free.
Harry went to see Professor McGonagall first.
She threw her arms around Harry, just as Alice had done. "Oh, I'm so glad you're all fine!" she managed to sob. Once she had gained control of herself, she scrutinized him. "You look awful," she said bluntly.
Harry hadn't even bothered to look in a mirror, but upon doing so found that he looked just as awful as Alice had. His hair was standing at odd angles all over his head, his clothes were terribly wrinkled, his glasses askew. "Damn, awful is an understatement," he laughed.
Smiling, she asked him if the students were fine.
"Yes, yes, rather startled, I'm afraid, but otherwise just fine."
"Oh good," she replied, relief evident in her voice. "I'm worried about lessons, you know. It's been nearly a month since we've had any. The students are falling dreadfully behind."
"Yes," Harry mumbled absently. A thought hit him rather suddenly. "How are those victims? The ones that Voldemort hit—"
He cut himself off when he saw McGonagall's face fall. "No different, I'm afraid. Most have been chained to beds in the quarters of the Ministry. They are constantly muttering of going off to see their master. Food and drink must be forced down their throats." As though reading Harry's mind, she added gently, "You don't want to see her, Harry. It nearly broke Ron's heart when he went to visit."
He gulped down his fear and said forcefully, "No, I do."
She sighed. "Later, Harry. Later."
He knew there was no arguing with the headmistress of the castle.
"I think I ought to leave," he managed to say. "I need to check on the students."
"I understand." Although her face was hidden from view, Harry knew she was crying. He couldn't bring himself to stay any longer. There was still no word of Dumbledore.
"Alice, I'm going to go and see Hermione, whether you come along or not. Now are you coming?"
Harry had been arguing with her for the past half-hour over the matter. Exasperated over the matter, Harry had lost what cool he still possessed after the past few strenuous weeks.
"Harry, I can't come. I would, but I have to go somewhere, too."
"Where?" He looked at her in bewilderment. Why hadn't she just said so before?
"The Ministry doesn't want me talking about it," she said as she heaved a sigh. "All I can say is that I must leave tonight, that McGonagall knows, and that I will be gone for several days."
Harry looked deep into her eyes, but was astounded to find them void of any emotion whatsoever. Her face looked very resolute. "Fine, fine. I'm leaving tonight."
"Very well," she replied, rising off of his bed where she had seated herself. "I'm going to go pack."
"Is that all the goodbye I get?" Harry asked incredulously.
"Why ever would you ask that?" she asked mischievously.
"Because of this!" Harry cried, flinging his arms about her and giving her a kiss. "I'll miss you. Hurry back, will you?"
"For you, I suppose," she mused. "Now take your arms off of me. I must leave immediately!"
Harry stood back as Alice mumbled something and waved her wand in front of her. She was now wearing her normal wizarding garb. Another spell and a heavy trunk was weighing her down.
"Toodles," she exclaimed, and with one final chant disappeared from the room.
She never ceased to amaze him. But now it was time for Harry to prepare for his own secret visit to his long-time friend, Hermione.
It was black as pitch outside of the Ministry building. Harry hid behind a marble column, trying to decide on his move.
After a long inner debate, Harry decided that his only choice was to ask to see her. He was almost certain Sirius had told him that Seers and other very powerful wizards were constantly kept on guard for intruders. If anyone learned that he was sneaking into the building, he wouldn't stand a chance. He would probably be sublimated before he knew what had hit him.
Strolling up to the large wooden double doors, Harry rapped three times with the heavy golden knocker. Someone lifted the mail flap and a muffled voice said, "Harry Potter? Come in; we knew you were coming."
Without questioning the speaker, Harry stepped into the door, which had been opened without noise. A small wrinkled old man stood before him.
"You're sure you don't wish to turn back? This is your last chance."
"Yeah, I'm sure," Harry said with much less conviction than when he had first headed out.
The man beckoned for Harry to follow him down the long marble hallway. It wasn't lit; the only light was dim glow from an old gas lamp that the stooped guard carried.
Harry was led past numerous doorways before finally reaching a burnished walnut door set deep within the walls.
The man fumbled at his side for a moment, finally producing a ring of keys that Harry hadn't noticed, and certainly hadn't heard clinking, on his way down the hallway.
Muttering some obscure spell, the man inserted a rusted and very non- extraordinary looking key into the lock. With much grating, the tumblers clicked into place and the door begrudgingly swung open.
Harry swallowed as he was led into a narrow, dark room with beds lining the far wall. "He's here," the man said quietly.
"Who's here?" Harry questioned.
"Ron. So is Dumbledore."
"God . . ." Harry ran his fingers through his thick and unruly dark hair.
"Here, the three of them are together. But they won't recognize you." The man's eyes were emotionless as he pointed to the beds on the far right of the room.
Harry wandered in that direction, trying to force his eyes to focus in the blackness of the room. What kind of place was this? As his eyes began to adjust, he could see the forms of people lying, mostly prone, upon the beds, manacled with long chains that were hooked into the walls and the floor.
Upon reaching the wall, Harry turned to face the three beds closest to it. He was shocked and hurt by what he saw.
His three friends lay, very disheveled, upon the beds, bolted to them with very long chains. Hermione was thrashing about.
Harry ran over to the bedside. "Hermione! It's me, Harry. Please, Hermione . . ."
She looked up into his face, her eyes lit by a mad glow. Her tangled auburn hair added to her crazy appearance. "Harry? As in, Harry Potter?" she asked in a raspy voice not at all her own. "You're the one he wants killed . . . if you don't leave me be, maybe I'll be forced to do so myself."
"Hermione, please—" Harry reached out to hold her hand, but she drew it away as best she could and gnashed her teeth at him.
"Keep your distance, you beast!" she screamed in rage.
Tears streaming down his cheeks, Harry turned away. He could stand to see no more. He didn't dare try to awaken Dumbledore or Ron, scared to see what would have become of them.
"Dear God, get us out of this mess." Harry ambled back down the long corridor (that's really all it was), thanked the guard who had admitted him, and then mounted his broomstick and flew off into the night.
Dear Harry,
I should be back within a few days' time. Don't worry much about me; the mission is simple and under control, although very dangerous. I cannot say more, but you may wish to check the newspapers from the magical community. I'm sure they will keep you up to date.
I told you that you oughtn't to have gone! But what's the use of 'told-you- so's?'
I left you my crystal ball necklace. You wouldn't know how it functions, but if anything is askew you will know, I assure you. Just do be careful, Harry! Your situation is almost as sticky as mine.
I love you bunches, hope all is well, and will see you within the week. Best of luck to you, Harry.
Alice
As Harry finished reading the letter that Alice had left in his room, he picked up the necklace, which sat on his dresser beside the note. He admired the fine golden chain and the swirling mists within it. She had turned them red somehow.
"I wonder what she meant, I'd know how to work it . . ." he thought aloud.
Peering intently into its depths, Harry was shocked to see a large, cat- like eye staring back at him from deep within the murky interior of the crystal. He dropped it, but it did not shatter. Shaking slightly, he bent to retrieve it. What had just happened?
I'm just tired, he told himself. That's all. I'm starting to see things. Jumping dragons, I need to sleep! That's all. In the morning, everything will be fine.
Harry crawled into bed, clutching the necklace close.
Harry awoke in the morning to find the sun streaming through his window, illuminating Hedwig, who was perched on the sill.
"Hedwig," he murmured, "what have you brought me?"
She flew over to where he was sitting in bed and dropped a newspaper into his lap. She then flew out the window.
"Fine, be that way," Harry shouted after her.
Shaking the newspaper open, Harry's eyes strayed to the headline on the front page.
1.1
1.2 MYSTERIOUS ATTACK ON GERMAN CITIES LEAVE MINISTRY STUNNED
1.3 Frowning, Harry skimmed the article. His heart skipped a beat when he read the passage. He read a paragraph aloud to himself, just to make sure it was real.
1.4
1.5 "Famed sorceress Alice Oak of the States has arrived on scene and is currently trying to keep the assaults under control. 'It's a cat,' she told reporters today. 'A leopard, I believe. It appears to be possessed by something. Perhaps Voldemort.' She has promised to keep us updated."
1.6
1.7 "Jumping dragons," Harry moaned. He turned back over in bed, not ready to face the new day. He just hoped that Alice would be all right.