Harry Potter and the Crystal Ball
by Hannah
Chapter Twelve ~ Fleeting Fun
Harry awoke to a loud knock on his door.
"Who is it?" he cried sleepily, turning over to try to catch at least a bit more slumber.
"Alice." Her voice rang sweetly.
"Oh, all right," he mumbled crossly. "I'll be there in just a moment."
Throwing on a thick robe of kelly-green flannel, Harry stumbled toward the door. Opening it slowly, he found Alice fully outfitted in her usual attire, well groomed and smiling brightly.
"Sleepyhead," she scolded mockingly. "Classes start in fifteen minutes."
"Oh dear!" Harry exclaimed. "I should go brush my hair and . . . oh, I won't be able to eat, will I?"
"Here, don't fret," Alice reminded him. "I brought you a tray from the Great Hall."
From behind her back she produced a tray piled with various fruits, a steaming bowl of oats, and several glasses of various juices.
"I would have used my magic to create a meal for you," she explained somewhat sheepishly, "but, as you know, I can't do a single thing right now." She sighed. "I don't know how I'm going to teach today." She smiled at him. Suddenly changing her countenance, she exclaimed, "Oh, you'd better hurry and eat, or we'll both be dreadfully late!"
He sat down and shoveled food into his mouth as she grabbed a brush and attempted to give some sort of order to his unruly black locks.
"Your necklace—" he managed to gasp between bites.
"Don't fret, I'll fetch it," she declared, gently lifting it from its place on Harry's bedside table and placing it about her neck. She then waited somewhat impatiently for Harry to finish his meal.
The moment Harry set his spoon down she declared, "Let's go!" and scurried off down the hallway.
Harry snorted amusedly at her antics. He was in no hurry to face his classroom of students. He couldn't even remember the last time he'd tried to teach them. He set off down the hallway at a very deliberate pace. He was in no hurry.
"All right," Harry said, rubbing his hands together as he stood before his classroom, which happened to be filled with students. "It's been some time since we've seen each other, or, well, some time since I've seen some of you—" He broke himself off, finding that he was sweating nervously. Why am I so nervous to face my own students? he asked himself. He didn't have time to answer his own question.
A boy with blue hair said in a bored monotone, "No need for lengthy introductions, teach. Just get it all over with so we can leave."
Harry was stunned. "Now wait just a moment!" he cried indignantly. "I'm one of the most renowned wizards in the history of our kind, and you dare to—"
"Professor Potter?" A meek young girl in the back row held her hand indecisively in the air. "If I may, I would like to ask a question."
"Very well, very well," Harry replied. He was too weary of this whole teaching business to tell the girl to shut up and let him continue with the lessons.
"Do you remember what it was like to be a student?"
"Of course. I only graduated last year," Harry reminded them.
"Then why are your classes so dull?"
Harry was struck dumb. Was that true? Were his lessons boring? Was he as dull as . . . he gasped at the horror of it—Professor Binns?
"My lessons are . . . dull, you say?" he questioned, trying to keep from choking over the words.
"Well—" The little girl looked upset. "Yes . . ."
Harry sighed and sat abruptly. "How would you like to put on a play?" he asked quietly.
"Sir?" asked a mousy, brown-haired boy, obviously perplexed.
"You heard me, a play. About Ioma Bidmin Peroipritandtabaygode, a man who wrote many spells and also created a good number of potions." The name seemed remotely familiar, but he couldn't remember why. "Let's head toward the library for A Collection of 3,491 Magical Plays. There's bound to be a play about such a famous man in there somewhere."
The class brightened, as did Harry. Perhaps this wouldn't be such a dull day, after all.
"God, are you kidding?" Frank exclaimed. "Nothing more dull than teaching . . ."
"Well, I quite enjoy it," Alice declared, somewhat ruffled. "And it's quite a challenge, with me not having any magic at all."
Ron smiled. "Wish I could share in the conversation, but I cannot. So let's change the topic, shall we?"
"Yes," Emily agreed. "How about He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named."
"Why the hell would we want to talk about Voldemort?" Harry nearly shouted. "We all hate the man: let's leave it at that! Voldemort killed—"
"Please, say You-Know-Who or He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named," Ron pleaded.
"And for what reason?" Alice demanded severely. "It's foolishness, it is, to be scared to say a wizard's name. I think the most powerful hold the man has on the magical population is the fear he's managed to strike into everyone. Really, everyone present should make some sort of effort at calling the man Voldemort. It's really too kind to show such an awful man any signs of fear." Finished with her little speech, she gave a little huff and waited with angry eyes for anyone to contradict her.
"And while you're at it, call me Remus," Lupin added. "You did for a while . . . but really, it's ridiculous to call me by my last name. What point is there to it?"
"Righto, old boy," Frank cried. "Voldemort and Remus, an unlikely combination!"
Harry intervened. "Is everyone present going to go to Hogsmeade tomorrow?" he asked.
Everyone answered in the affirmative.
"That's good. Let's plan something."
"How about the Three Broomsticks?" Alice offered.
"Sounds good," Lupin agreed.
"Yeah, we can each have a mug or two of butter beer and discuss the matters at hand," Frank suggested.
"Or, even better, completely forget the 'matters at hand' and pretend like we're students again," Ron countered.
"Wonderful idea!" Lupin proclaimed. "It will be nice to forget all of our responsibilities for one night."
"I agree completely," Emily said affably.
"Very good," Alice concluded. "But what shall we do tonight?"
"Good question . . ." Frank mused. "I'd say dueling, but we'd never stand a chance against you . . ."
"But remember, I have no magic," Alice chided.
"Oh yes," Lupin said. "Well, that narrows possibilities quite nicely, doesn't it? I'm sick of Firestones—"
"Me too," Ron agreed quickly.
"So," Emily thought aloud, "maybe we can play . . . God, I don't know. Great Dragons, there's really nothing to play if you don't have magic. We may as well sit around a campfire and tell ghost stories."
"Well, there is an option," Alice hinted.
"What might that option be, and what would it entail?" Frank asked guardedly. Alice was perpetually trying to talk him into helping her out in small ways. Which, of course, he didn't mind at all. He actually quite enjoyed being picked out of the group to do things for her. He couldn't help but feel a small twinge of jealousy over Harry . . .
"Well, there's such thing as a magic transfer," Alice explained. "If any of you were so inclined to help me . . . or even if all of you just wanted to help me a teeny bit . . ."
Of course, there was a ruckus then, with Harry, Ron, Lupin, and Frank all volunteering at once. Emily couldn't hide her amused smile. "Well, well, well, looks like you've got a passel of donors. I wouldn't mind helping you out."
"Why don't we all?" Harry finally exclaimed. "Though really, she's my girlfriend . . ."
"You want to know what I think?" Lupin asked. "I think that Ron, Frank, Emily, and myself should donate a large portion of our magic to Alice, so that if Fate so calls, the two of you can fend off Voldemort together."
"Really," Alice declared in disgust, "I don't think that's necessary."
"Well, we should each share a part of our magic," Frank insisted. "I mean, I can't even imagine living without mine. I suppose once we're trained in using it, we become dependant upon it. So really, it's only fair that you let the four of us give you a little of our magic. That way we'll all be somewhat equal. And you can play wizarding games with us," Frank added.
"All right, when you make it sound like I'm making the evening more enjoyable for all of you . . . but Harry, they are right, and I don't want you contributing any of your power." She shot him a no-nonsense look.
"All right, all right," Harry exclaimed. "But—"
"No buts!" Alice interrupted. "Now, the four of you hold hands, and I will stand in the middle of the circle." Everyone took a moment to oblige, except for Harry. "All right, now, all of you must recite this simple incantation: Frimpy frumps and grochy grouers, give this person back their powers!"
Everyone just stared at her for a moment. "You're serious, aren't you," Lupin stated incredulously.
"Yes," Alice replied. "I mean, not every spell is sophisticated and in Latin and all that crap. Some incantations are . . . well, quite odd."
"Obviously," Frank mumbled. "Well, let's get it over with, so we can start enjoying ourselves."
"Yes, yes," Lupin agreed.
Together, the four friends performed the spell. A sudden burst of purplish light radiated from Alice, and the circle surrounding her collapsed as the entire quartet fell to the floor. Laughing, they picked themselves up and gathered together once more.
"Did it work?" Lupin asked eagerly.
"Yes, Remus dear, I think it did," Alice replied, giving an experimental zap to a portion of the carpet. It frizzled beneath the lavender flames. With a tight smile, she shot another stream of magic at the carpet, and it was as good as new. "Wonderful!" she exclaimed. "I didn't even realize how much I missed my abilities!"
Harry laughed and embraced her. "Well, I'm glad that you're back to your old self. Now, what game shall we play?"
"Well, let's duel. That was the suggestion. We could even partner up. A three-way duel. Wouldn't that be fun?"
"Yes, I think it would be." Harry smiled. "That is, as long as you and I are matched up."
Alice laughed. "We don't want to monopolize the game, Harry-po."
"Harry-po? What the hell?" Emily shouted, giving way to laughter.
"Sorry, forgot myself," Alice muttered demurely, turning a becoming shade of pink.
"I like it," Harry said, giving her a kiss on the forehead.
"Hmmm," Alice gave a contented little laugh. "And I like it too, if it gets me such wonderful treatment."
Frank laughed. "Enough, enough! Not all of us are gifted enough to earn the affections of the opposite sex."
"Yes well," Lupin declared, "let's start the duels! Oh, um . . . what are the teams?"
"Well, they should be fairly equal . . ." Emily minded. "We can't go having Harry and Alice on the same team, or anything like that."
"Yes . . . this is what I suggest," Lupin professed. "Alice and Frank, Ron and Harry, and Emily and me. Will that do?"
"Sure," Ron exclaimed enthusiastically. He couldn't believe his luck at having Harry as his dueling partner.
"Well, then," Frank said, clearing his throat, "just one question remains: how do you hold a duel between three parties?"
"Ummm . . ." Harry pondered this for a moment. "I guess you just take aim and say a spell, granted you don't hit your own partner."
Lupin laughed. "Very well. Now where's my partner?"
"Over here, Remus," Emily proclaimed with a little wave. She was located in the corner of the room. "Let's piece together some sort of plan."
Lupin nodded his head and made his way over to Emily. They held a short whispered conference.
Harry and Ron headed off for another corner, occupied only by a bright tropical plant. The room was already dark, since it was snowing outside. Only lit by the flickering light of the torches in their sconces, The atmosphere seemed even more eerie in their wavering glow. The shadows cast about the room were ghostly and surreal, and Harry felt his blood rise to the occasion.
"Just like old times, eh, Ron?"
"Yeah, just like old times. Only—" He choked on the word.
"Yes?" Harry sounded concern.
"Only . . . well, Hermione isn't here to knock the socks off of us."
"No, instead, Alice is." Harry gave a little smile. "Cheer up, Ron, she said you'd get her back."
"I know, I know," Ron admitted. "It's just, well, I want her now. We were going to get married soon. I miss spending time with her. Imagine if Alice were suddenly gone from your life. What would you do?"
"Well, our relationship hasn't progressed to betrothal," Harry pointed out, "However . . . I would miss her dearly," he confessed. A short, uncomfortable pause ensued. "Let's forget about that and concentrate on the duel. What are we going to do?"
Ten minutes later, A fair-sized circle had been formed in a cleared portion of the room. The fabulous desk and matching chair had been pushed against the wall, her dresser moved as much as it would go, and the delicate, intricately woven carpets had been lain carefully upon the bed. The high-gloss ebony floorboards twinkled beneath their feet.
"Ready?" Alice asked. "Wizards, and witches, bow to your opponents."
Each person in the room bent rather stiffly to the others. Alice's wide sleeves swept gracefully along the floorboards.
"All right . . . may the duel begin!"
Almost instantaneously, Alice had the four torches extinguished. They hissed in as everyone present was cloaked in utter darkness; Harry could smell the smoke emanating from them.
Before he knew what was happening, something hit him squarely in the chest. Not taking the time to investigate the matter, he threw a powerful Engorgement Curse at whoever was standing directly opposite him. He heard someone squeal in the darkness.
A bright, blinding flash of green erupted from the wand that Harry believed to belong to Lupin. It soared in a bright arc above the circle of duelers and landed where Alice should've been. Harry recognized the hex. It was supposed to lock a person's joints so they couldn't move. But he didn't hear the telltale thump that someone had fallen to the ground. She must've used the counter-hex, for it did take a long time for that particular curse to hit its target.
Biting his lip determinedly, Harry shot off a small ball of blue fire. He heard it swish through the air as it landed on someone's robe. With a screech, the person managed to target a stream of water upon the flame. It extinguished itself with an ominous hiss.
Harry heard Frank muttering something somewhere nearby. Suddenly, something glaringly magenta hit Harry squarely on the face. He felt it meld into his very features, and then a searing pain ripped through him. He'd never been acquainted with this spell before.
Throwing all his energy into the task at hand, Harry racked his brain for the perfect defense in this duel. Meanwhile, bright lights and various fluids flew before his eyes as each of his friends took aim at someone with some clever curse. Why couldn't he think of anything?
Maybe, he thought, just maybe, someone doesn't want me to think of any curses. And they've used some sort of curse to keep me from thinking of any!
The only person Harry knew who contained such power was Alice. A very bright curse of canary yellow illuminated the room for a split second. He saw that almost everyone was a wreck of some sort. Emily had sprouted horns, Frank was speckled in warts, Ron looked like he'd been set afire (had he hit Ron, his partner?), Lupin was streaked with various streaks of color, and Alice's beautiful hair had metamorphosed to an ugly shade of pea green. But she had a look of grim determination on her face as she aimed her wand at him and mumbled a curse under his breath.
Suddenly, he was floating in the air above them all. He remembered Alice telling Hermione that the gold inlay in her wand helped increase the speed with which her spells could be performed. Even so, Harry hadn't really realized until then how powerful such a weapon must be.
Dangling in thin air above the others, he lit his wand carefully. "Lumos," he muttered. No one would dream of looking upwards, except for Alice. Even so, she looked busy enough.
He decided there wasn't much he could do, floating nearly ten feet above the rest of the duelers. Turning over so he was floating on his stomach, he made himself as comfortable as possible and settled himself to watch.
Alice was shooting off curses and hexes almost as fast as she could think of them. Sparks and streamers of all colors imaginable, and even some that weren't, made their way from the tip of her wand to the bodies of her three remaining opponents. Suddenly, before the thought could register in Harry's mind, she had disappeared.
You can't Disparate at Hogwarts, Harry reminded himself. But then what did she do?
Lupin managed to re-ignite one of the torches for a few seconds before it was put out by the non-visible Alice.
"Dammit, she used an invisibility spell," Emily screeched. The tidy little circle was no more. Everyone was scattered about the room, hiding behind the bed or the wardrobe or anywhere that would offer the least bit protection.
"Where the hell's Harry?" Lupin asked.
"Dunno," Frank replied. "Maybe he knows how to make himself invisible, too." He shot a snake at Lupin, but it went haywire, and it landed instead right on Harry's back.
"Curse it!" he exclaimed, and then began to speak in Parseltongue, the language of snakes. "Get off my back, damn you," he scolded. The snake dropped down onto the head of some unfortunate victim below. Whoever it was bellowed in surprised.
A bright stream of violet liquid erupted from the end of Emily's wand and landed on Lupin's head. He began to squirm as a second head popped from his skull. "Jumping dragons!" he yelled, and threw back at her a series of red pellets, that exploded on her face in a multitude of scratchy measles.
"I already had the chicken pox!" she screamed at him. "Besides, you're my partner!"
"They're not chicken pox, firstly," he muttered, "they're measles. And secondly, I'm quite sorry about that, but you got me first!" After that, he sent some sort of counter-curse at her.
"Much better," she grumbled, taking aim at Frank with a load of chicken feet.
Suddenly, Harry's wand did something unexpected. Gasping in surprise and terror, it gave off an uncanny red glow before a small explosion blasted from the end of it. Everyone below was in danger of burning into a crispy mess when Alice suddenly became visible once more and shouted incoherently. The flames turned to white doves and fluttered out of the open window.
"My God," Lupin stuttered, dropping his wand in shock. "Let's stop this madness."
"Yes—yes, let's," Emily managed to mumble before she seemingly fainted.
Frank fell onto the bed while Alice re-lit the torches. Her lips had turned a funny shade of white in her concern. As soon as the flames were burning brightly once more, she pointed her wand at Harry and he fell gently back to the floor.
"Who did that?" Lupin asked severely.
"I did," Harry sputtered, "but let me explain! I don't know what happened. I'd been dangling up on the ceiling for a while, and then all the sudden my wand just erupted, but I didn't say any sort of curse or anything like that, and I didn't do anything, really, because I was just as shocked as any of you, really, I was, don't blame me, please, don't—"
"Harry."
"I swear I didn't do it on purpose, it was—"
"Harry." Alice's voice was stern.
"Yes?"
"We know you wouldn't do anything like that on purpose." Alice's hands were shaking so hard that she sat on them as she lowered herself onto the bed in a vain effort to control them. "You just ought to know that that, besides the Unforgivable Curses, that particular hex is one of the most feared. It can cause . . . unthinkable damage." She paused for a moment, and Harry's face drained of what little color was left in it. "It would have burnt down Hogwarts. It stops at nothing. It eats through stone . . . through steel . . . through anything in its path. And it can only be stopped by the counter-hex."
Everyone was quiet for a moment.
"That's all. You just ought to know." She sounded weary. "Now why don't we fix everyone up, and then you can all leave? Seeing as we're going to Hogsmeade tomorrow, we should all get our rest."
"Yes," Lupin managed to stutter.
Alice spent a moment taking the horns out of Emily's head, fixing the extra head that had sprouted out of Lupin's, and reversing all the spells that had caused anyone any damage.
"Good night," she uttered in a tremulous voice as everyone filed out of the door.
"Want me to help you straighten the room?" Harry asked somewhat awkwardly.
"No, I can manage, Harry. Thank you." She smiled tiredly. "I'm just exhausted, otherwise I'd welcome your company. But tomorrow—we'll see plenty of each other tomorrow."
"Yeah, I guess we will." Harry drew her into his arms and gave her a fierce kiss. After a moment, she drew away. "You're sure you can handle it all?" He surveyed the wreckage. Her room looked like several bombs had struck it: the floor was pocked with burn marks and was scuffed and dull, the furniture was streaked in the hues of the rainbow, her bed was hacked through the middle, and the small chandelier in the middle, which was set in a delicate golden design, was missing half of its crystal prisms.
"I'm sure I can manage it," she said with a grim smile. She gave him a short but loving kiss. "Good night, Harry." Her eyes smiled at him, no matter how weary she looked.
Harry turned to go out the door, but then remembered something. "Alice?"
"Yes?" She had been replacing the boards in the floor with wood that spouted from her wand.
"Your hair—"
"I almost forgot!" she exclaimed, and pointed her wand at it. Its golden sheen replaced the dull green it had been.
"Yeah, so . . . g'night." Harry left the room and closed the door behind him, the sound of crystals zooming around in the air filling his ears.
"Remember," Professor McGonagall commanded wearily, "classes are only half-length today. Third years and above are allowed the customary pre- Christmas trip to Hogsmeade. Tomorrow is the start of break. Now enjoy your breakfast."
Harry was sitting up at the staff table today, and McGonagall was seated next to him. "Is everything all right?" he inquired anxiously.
"Oh, yeah, dandy," she replied, her voice dripping with sarcasm. Her severe eyes behind their square rims looked too tired to be real. "Dumbledore's gone, Voldemort is once again on the loose, and I'm sending all the students off on a field trip!"
"There now, Professor McGonagall," Harry murmured soothingly. "We'll look after them . . ."
"I know, I know," she said irritably. "It's just that I'm not cut out for dealing with a school-full of under-aged wizards, and I think the stress is really getting to me."
"Don't worry! Relax, have fun at Hogsmeade."
"Fun, Harry? Fun hasn't been a part of my vocabulary since I began teaching at Hogwarts."
Harry looked, really looked, at Professor McGonagall for the first time, and was shocked by what he saw. Why, she was an old woman! Her wiry black hair pulled back in its severe bun was streaked with white, and her face was lined around the eyes and mouth. Sadness, anger, and hardness veiled the eyes that always showed him such concern. Despite the harsh appearance, her shoulders were drooped and weary, and her hands looked much older than Harry had ever recalled seeing them look.
"Why don't you stay here, take a day off?"
"I wish I could, Harry, but they're my responsibility, whether I want them or not."
"Come on, Professor," Harry insisted. "You need a break! Look at yourself. You must've lost twenty pounds since you've taken over for Dumbledore . . ."
She sighed heavily. "Maybe you're right, Potter. But then who do I put in control? You and your group of friends want some time to relax, correct? So then who do I leave to look after the students?"
"It's not like even you could keep an eye on hundreds of kids at once. Plenty of wizards live in Hogsmeade; there's nothing to worry about in an all-wizard community. Really, Professor McGonagall, take a break!"
"Oh, all right," she said in resignation, "you win."
"Good," Harry exclaimed. "Now eat something before you starve yourself to death. Then who would take over Hogwarts?"
She smiled, as Harry hadn't seen her do in the longest of times, and ate the sausage on the plate before her ravenously.
The sky was dark with angry, boiling thunderheads when the students finally arrived at Hogsmeade. Harry alighted from the horse-less carriage that also contained Alice and Ron. Lupin, Emily, and Frank had had to travel in another carriage.
"Well, it does feel good to get out and stretch one's legs, does it not?" Alice asked, doing just that.
Harry smiled in agreement, but personally thought it wonderful to just breathe fresh air and know that he had no worries, at least for this one evening.
"Well, where to first?" Frank inquired as he lowered himself from a nearby carriage.
"Well, perhaps The Three Broomsticks?" Harry suggested. "I don't know, what do you think?"
"I think that sounds wonderful," Lupin exclaimed, patting Harry on the shoulder. "Let's go!"
Glancing over his shoulder to make sure everyone was present, Harry and his friends headed off for the local bar. Harry's all-time favorite treat was butterbeer, a mildly alcoholic but very rich and tasty beverage.
As the group stepped over the threshold, the atmosphere was noticeably warmer and rowdier. The bartender greeted them as they searched about for an empty seat. Already, a few Hogwarts students had found their way to the pub and settled down to a few rounds of butterbeer.
Scanning the crowded room for an empty table, Harry almost dropped a small sack of galleons in surprise. Pushing his way through the melee, he made his way to a somewhat inconspicuous table in the back. "Sirius!" he hissed, just barely audible over the din.
"Harry!" his godfather exclaimed, standing to embrace him shortly. Drawing away, he asked with some concern, "How are you?"
"Well enough," he replied. The rest of the group had followed him and stood somewhat awkwardly about. All of them, that is, except Lupin.
"Remus! Old Moony. How are you?" Sirius bellowed in his deep voice, shaking hands with one of his best friends from his old Hogwarts days. They were an odd-looking pair. Sirius was tall, dark, and appealingly thin. Lupin was thin and awkwardly bleached-looking, his hair noticeably graying despite his young age. The stress of his years as a werewolf had left their mark.
"Fine, fine. How about you, Padfoot, you bloke?" Lupin was grinning from ear to ear.
"I'm doing quite well. Got myself a job at the Ministry . . . I really enjoy myself nowadays."
"That's good, that's good. So, what brings you to these parts?"
"Well, I thought I'd surprise you and drop in for a holiday visit," Sirius admitted. "I thought I'd stay over the Christmas vacation. Is Minerva letting the students return to their homes for Christmas?" Sirius inquired anxiously.
"I believe so . . ." Harry said, confused.
"Dammit!"
"What's wrong?" Emily asked, feeling perplexed.
"Well, the Ministry just made a public announcement. No magical school is to release its students over the holidays."
"What's the bloody Ministry making a move like that for?" questioned an outraged Ron. "So much for a little peace and quiet . . ."
"Well, it's because of Voldemort." Sirius's eyes weren't laughing, for they rarely did. At least, not since he was wrongfully accused of the murder of thirteen people and thrown into Azkaban, the wizarding prison. His eyes had been haunted and shadowed ever since. But, particularly now, there seemed to be something lurking behind those dark doors which Harry had never seemed capable of penetrating.
"Well, well, well, look at the little reunion." Malfoy's voice cut through the racket that the rowdy group of people was creating.
"Malfoy, really, if you're not going to be pleasant, go away," Ron said in an exasperated voice.
"Don't give me a chance, even, do you?" he drawled dully. "What if I say to you that I was going to be pleasant?"
"I'd say you were lying." Lupin shot him a sharp look.
"Oh, give him a chance!" Alice exclaimed.
"Thank you," Malfoy said, turning to look at who had stepped in to save him. He gawked at her. "You're the one—"
"Who you met in Diagon Alley at the beginning of the year that gave you a regretfully severe reprimand," she finished. "I apologize. I didn't need to be sharp."
"No, no, no apology is needed," Malfoy said, waving off her apology.
Harry and Ron looked at each other in disbelief. What had gotten into Malfoy?
"How about some butterbeer?" Alice asked them all. "On me."
"All right," Harry said reluctantly, sitting down beside her while trying to avoid being seated by Malfoy. Everyone else drew out a seat and sat down as well.
"So, what brings you to these parts, Mr. Malfoy?" Lupin asked, settling down by Sirius.
"Actually, Sirius and I had to come together. We're both in the Ministry," he explained, brushing some of his silvery-blonde hair from his gray eyes.
"You're in the Ministry?" Ron looked unbelieving.
"Yes, well, just because my father was a Death Eater doesn't mean that I must be, too. I follow a different set of beliefs." Malfoy's eyes showed plainly his injured pride. Quickly, he tried to change the topic. "So, Potter, you're a teacher?"
"Yeah, History of Spells and Potions."
"New subject, eh?"
"Well, I suppose you can say so. Remember how dull History of Magic used to be?"
Malfoy laughed darkly. "Jumping dragons, yes! That was the most terrible class . . . and the goblin uprising of 1638 was one of panic for all people of Semitosa, Ireland," he said in an uncanny impersonation of the old teacher, Professor Binns.
Harry laughed. "Yeah, anyway, it's a decent subject, I suppose. We're performing a play after Christmas."
"Interesting," Malfoy mused.
Harry was shocked. Malfoy was actually being—pleasant.
"Well," Ron prompted, "the whole Voldemort deal is interesting, isn't it?"
"Yeah, it is," Malfoy admitted. "We're really stumped on this one. You know, the whole thing is somewhat confusing. I heard about the clearing in the Forbidden Forest"—he glanced meaningfully at Ron—"and I must admit, it's got every sign of being a Voldemort attack. Especially those that he's afflicted . . . who are currently being held at the Ministry . . . appears he wants more followers, so he's using the Unforgivable Curses again."
"Ummm . . ." Alice looked eager to change the subject, as did Ron, who's pale face was blazing with hatred for the Dark Lord.
"Looks like the butterbeer is here," Frank interrupted, smiling at the waitress. "Thank you . . ." he mumbled, searching his deep pockets for two galleons and five sickles.
"I said I was paying, remember?" Alice said crossly, handing the smiling witch the money, as well as a three-galleon tip. "Honestly . . ."
"Sorry, sorry, I forgot," Frank muttered apologetically.
"Yeah, sure you did," Lupin said, rolling his eyes. "Although I, too, would like to pay for my own drink."
"My God, can't any of you take a favor every now and then?" she asked incredulously. "I mean, it's the least I can do, to buy you a bloody butterbeer, when you gave me my magic back."
Harry had never seen her look so outraged. Her nostrils were flared, her eyes were bulging, and her hands were akimbo.
"Well excuse us," Harry said. "Pay for the little drinks, by all means."
"Fine then, I will," she retorted, taking a vengeful sip of peppermint tea.
"Oh yeah, you don't drink," Harry mumbled.
"Problem with that?" she asked him.
"No." Harry was glaring at her.
"Jumping dragons, you two, it's a couple of butterbeers, for crying out loud! Take it easy!" Sirius exclaimed.
"I'm sorry," Alice mumbled. "It's just . . . never mind."
"All right then, let's put it all behind us. Make up?" Alice gave Harry a pleading look.
"Sure," Harry agreed, putting out a hand for her to shake. Laughing, she accepted it and shook vigorously.
"For a couple, you two aren't very intimate," Emily giggled.
"Yeah, you two, kiss and make up," Ron said with a wicked smile.
Alice gazed wide-eyed at Harry. "Really, with all these kids mulling about in here . . ."
"Oh, come on, Alice, one quick peck won't hurt you."
"Yeah, one quick peck . . ." she sighed. "You're about as capable at one quick peck as you are at losing to Voldemort . . ."
Harry grinned and leaned closer to her. She gave him an amused, begrudging smile, and just as their lips were about to touch—
"Really, Harry, with everyone watching us?" she exclaimed, pulling abruptly away.
Harry, and the other occupants of their table, laughed softly. "Alice, really, it's a kiss."
"All right . . ." she murmured, "for you."
Harry and she both leaned inward, then, and their lips met briefly. Alice was about to pull back when she found Harry's lips upon hers again. Pulling away briefly once more, she discovered that Harry had his arm around her neck, and she could not escape. With an amused glare, she finally allowed him to kiss her, and they didn't stop until they both needed air.
Both pulled away, each looking deep into each other's eyes. It was then that they realized how quiet the room had grown.
"Whoo-hoo!" The students present burst into wild applause and catcalls.
Alice gave Harry a somewhat embarrassed smile and blushed a pretty shade of pink, but managed to hold herself together.
"Was that so bad?" Harry questioned gently.
"Well, Professor McGonagall will think so. You know how she feels about teacher-teacher relationships . . ."
"Oh. I forgot about that." Harry remembered how strictly Professor McGonagall had preached the new staff about the damage inter-staff relationships could cause the students. "I don't quite understand it, however."
"Neither do I." Emily shrugged.
"Hmmmm . . . well, let's changed the subject, shall we?" Lupin asked.
"Good idea." Sirius looked thoughtful. "I was wondering . . ."
"Yes?" Ron prompted.
"Well, I was going to stay at the Tansy Tavern tonight. I was wondering if, you were not going to be missed too much, perhaps you may want to join me?"
"Well, someone would have to deliver your message about the cancellation of the winter holiday," Alice pointed out. "Also, we'd have to be back in time for any announcements over breakfast . . . but why not?"
"Would we each get a separate room? That wouldn't be any fun," Emily whined.
"I think that they have a room with five beds. If we doubled up, I don't think it would be a problem."
"Yeah, that would work," Ron quipped.
"Good evening," a rather cold voice said. Everyone looked up to see the speaker.
"Good evening, Severus," Alice mumbled demurely with a nod of acknowledgement.
"Mind if I join you?" Harry noticed that Snape's hair was no longer long and greasy, but actually trimmed to a decent-looking length and clean. What was going on?
"What were you talking about?" Snape's voice revealed a genuine interest in the subject.
"Well, we were talking about spending the night in Hogsmeade," Sirius said coldly. He had never gotten along well with Snape, even in their schoolboy days.
"You could join us," Ron added. "There are only eight of us, and the room we were going to reserve has five beds. As long as we all double up . . ."
Snape thought the matter over for a moment. "Okay."
"Well," Lupin exclaimed. He, too, had had a hard time befriending Snape as a student at Hogwarts. He, Sirius, and Harry's father, James, had always been makers of mischief together. And Snape always seemed to ruin their fun. Other than that, however, Lupin remained quiet.
Alice sighed. "Now what do you want to do?"
"Well, Hogsmeade, unlike Hogwarts, has electricity," Sirius stated. "So maybe we could go see one of your Muggle movies?"
"What's a movie?" Draco asked, clearly puzzled.
Ron grinned. "A Muggle invention, isn't it, Harry? Isn't it like a book with visuals or something?"
"You'll see. Come on, let's see what shows there are!"
"Shows? What's a show?" Malfoy pleaded. Alice just laughed. "You'll soon find out." She took his arm and led him out of The Three Broomsticks.
Gone With the Wind was the only show that was of any interest to the group of friends. Alice spent eleven sickles admission on each of them. Once inside the dimly lit theatre, they made their way to the concession stand.
"Whoa, this is odd," Malfoy muttered, his eyes roving over everything.
"Just wait until you see the movie screen!" Harry added. Seeing the questioning look in Malfoy's eyes, he quickly amended, "Never mind, you'll find out in a minute."
"Ah, and a movie is not a movie without popcorn," Alice proclaimed. She bought each of them a Coke and a bucket of popcorn, too. "I can't believe they sell Muggle food at a theatre located in a magical town," she expressed gleefully. "I haven't been to a movie in ages. Not since I came to Hogwarts!"
"Calm down, for the sake of all of us," Harry said. "It's just a movie. It's still twenty minutes until the movie starts. Let's sit down in the theatre."
But all their wizard friends were quite intrigued with the concept, and refused to 'calm down.' Once seated within the theatre, all of them bombarded Harry and Alice with a seemingly endless load of questions.
"What's that?" Ron requested, pointing to the large screen.
"It's the screen," Harry answered shortly.
"How about that?" Emily announced, citing the projector in the back.
"That's what the film is fed through," Alice explained. "Then the movie shows up on the screen."
Ten minutes before the show began, the previews started. Sirius nearly fell out of his seat. "Jumping dragons!" he shouted. "What's going on?"
"Shhhh, it's the previews," Alice patiently informed. "They show what movies are showing soon. And you really must make a point of being quiet. Other people are in the theatre, too."
The next four hours were filled with the laughter of wizards, saying, "What will these Muggles think of next?" and "What queer customs these Americans have," and "How odd the Muggles act!" Alice tried not to giggle at their antics.
"How ridiculous they sound," she whispered to Harry.
"Yes, well, it may be a very intriguing story, but I must admit that I do see their point."
They left the theatre around ten, but none of them were tired yet. Lupin, Sirius, Snape, Malfoy, Emily, Ron, and Frank were still flinging question after unending question at Harry and Alice.
"Did that really happen? Did the American Muggles really shoot off those funny metal wands at each other?" Snape scoffed.
"Yes, they did," Alice said. "The American Civil War. Foolish, really, for the Southerners really stood no chance against the well- equipped Northerners. However, their proclamation of Sates' Rights made sense."
"Hmmm, very well," Frank reflected. "Much like the American Revolution . . . really, you Americans are a touchy lot."
"Well!" Alice sputtered, holding herself straight. Luckily, she decided to say nothing in return.
"Now what shall we do?" Emily intoned. "More Muggle things? Really, they do know how to get their kicks."
"Well, what other amusements are to be found in Hogsmeade?" Malfoy prompted.
"Well, we've been to The Three Broomsticks," droned Frank. "We've also seen the movie. There's a dance floor, and—oh! Sirius, the students will be heading back any minute. Shouldn't we send word with one of the teachers?"
"Yes, well, I'll go tell Professor Sprout that the students are to remain on campus during the holidays. I will also inform her that you are all staying over night." He hightailed back for the carriages. Seeing as the crowds in the streets were already dwindling, Harry deduced that most of the students were already loaded into the carriages. He prayed hurriedly that Sirius would be able to relay the message to someone.
"So, to continue your list, Frank," Lupin prompted.
"Well, I suppose we could stop by the joke shop and just look around, or we could stroll along by the river that winds about a mile east of here, or perhaps hike up Poignant Peak, the nearby mountain, or there's a shop full of the fashionable clothing of the wizarding community . . . or we could just go straight to the hotel. Find something to do there."
"Hmmm . . . what do you think, Malfoy?" Alice asked.
"I vote dancing," he replied. "I haven't done that for a while."
"I want to our little inn or whatever you'd call the place," Snape admitted. "I don't remember the last time I got a decent night's rest."
"Yeah, let's go to the Tansy Tavern. I'm spent." Harry looked it, too. Alice's forehead creased with worry.
"Are you okay?" she asked.
"Yeah, fine. Just need some sleep . . ." Without warning, he collapsed. Alice knelt by his side, her skirts trailing in the patches of mud left in the icy streets. Biting her lip, she slid one thin arm under his legs and the other behind his back. Ron moved forward to help; she looked too delicate to lift a housecat. But obviously, there was more to her strength than physical appearances allowed seen, for she managed to lift him, though her arms shook noticeably.
"I'll meet you at the tavern," she managed to hiss between gritted teeth. "Room 50A."
"Yes, all right. We'll be there in a few moments. As soon as Sirius returns," Frank assured her.
But Alice was already stumbling through the street and toward their lodging.
"He's burning up," Alice reflected.
"But he's shivering!" Malfoy pointed out.
"The thermometer says his temperature is 103.5," Emily whispered, her dark face wan.
The others sat on the queen beds in the room, looking with unconcealed anxiety at Harry's prone figure, which was nearly hidden under a mass of blankets and pillows. He lay trembling, his eyes shut, his face white, but with an exaggerated rosy glow to his cheeks.
"Just a fever," Sirius insisted, though he didn't sound any too certain.
"Should we summon a doctor?" Lupin queried.
"No," Alice said wearily. "Do any of you have a cauldron?"
"Yes," Snape divulged as he went to a sack, which he'd carried with him all day.
"Thank you," she murmured, lighting a small stove with a flick of her wand. She took the worn leather pouch that she'd shown to Harry on the train to Hogwarts. It seemed so long ago! Wearily, she set to work drawing the necessary ingredients from it.
"A pinch of flodgeworm brain, powdered; a twig of lupine; a teaspoon of ginseng extract; a fresh toad liver; and the wart of a cow of two years," she muttered to herself, adding the ingredients to the cauldron.
When it was done stewing, she drained the oozing tonic into a glass, which she found on the chipped porcelain sink, and handed it to Malfoy. He held his nose; it did possess an unusually strong odor.
"I'm going to hold his head up," Alice instructed, "while you pour the potion down his throat. Ready?" she inquired, holding Harry's mouth slightly open.
"I suppose," Malfoy returned, looking utterly disgusted as he poured the slimy mixture down his mouth. "What's it supposed to do, anyhow?"
"Well, it's supposed to help cool the body," she replied. "Reduce fever and all that."
"Hmph," Malfoy snorted. "All that would do would be to make me utterly nauseous!"
"Hmmm, guess it could do that too," Alice admitted. They all fell silent for several minutes as Alice held a thermometer in Harry's mouth. Ron leaned over.
"Incredible," he breathed. "His temperature is falling visibly . . ."
Harry gave a sudden, loud sputter that sent Emily backward with a startled squeak. Swallowing once or twice, he gave a long, drawn out exhalation and quite startlingly sat bolt upright in bed. "Let's go out and do something!" he exclaimed. "Come on . . . let's have fun while we're not in the castle!"
Alice laughed. "It also tends to overexcite the person on whom it is used," she informed everybody. "Yet I think it best you to stay here, Harry, for a while, seeing as you did have a frighteningly high fever. Anyone else, however, who wishes to go out for a bit of fun ought to take advantage of the opportunity."
"Oh come on, I really want to get out of here and do something," Harry complained, pushing back the coverlet that Alice had draped over him.
"I'll stay with you, Harry," Ron said. "I don't mind. And it's really been ages since we've sat down like old times and just talked to one another, even if we do share your bedroom right now." Ron was bunked out on a couch that Alice had Apparated for him.
"Yeah, alright." Harry unwillingly accepted the offer. Then his face brightened visibly. "Wait! Alice, you know what I've always wanted to do?"
"Yes," she replied, heaving a sigh.
"Yeah, well, you would," Harry continued. "Anyhow, I've always wanted to go inside your mind. Just for a few moments. I just want to see what it's like, to know everything about everyone."
"You couldn't handle it," she said frankly.
"But I could! Couldn't we all handle it?" Harry asked the others. Frank looked skeptical, Sirius looked thoughtful, and Snape looked plainly doubtful.
"Come on, just for a minute," Harry pleaded.
"All right, but don't blame me if you end up with a terrible headache." Alice sat down on the bed, beside Harry, and clasped his hand. Squeezing her eyes tightly shut, she took a deep breath and muttered something incoherent.
Immediately, Harry was thrown into a more chaotic world than he had ever thought possible. Thoughts zoomed around in his mind faster than he could process them. Briefly, he recognized events as they whirred by in a sickening blur: a man in China was dying of malnutrition, a child in South Africa was playing with the mud outside her hut, a teacher in America was grading test papers (he thought they could be history reports, but he wasn't sure). The thoughts didn't stop coming. They kept rushing at him, hitting him full-force and without mercy. One after the other after the other, they kept up a steady fusillade of mind-boggling snippets of thoughts, happenings, and various texts.
"My God, make it stop," Harry managed to moan between it all.
And as suddenly as it began, it was gone. His own thoughts seemed lethargic and petty compared to all that which had been going through the head of the concerned-looking woman sitting next to him.
"Are you all right, Harry?" she questioned, looking into his face with luminous, violet eyes.
"Fine, fine . . . just a pounding headache," he muttered, holding his head between his hands as though it were ready to explode.
"Anyone else wish to try?" she asked congenially, looking around the others present. They shook their heads mutually.
"Well, then, I suppose it best that we prepare to leave," Malfoy proclaimed, making a pair of ice skates appear in the air before him.
"Good idea," Lupin agreed emphatically.
The group bustled about, readying themselves for the biting cold out- of-doors. Finally, they were ready to leave.
"Goodbye, boys. We'll be back in a bit," Emily shouted over her shoulder as she closed the door behind the last of them.
"Well, now we're alone," Ron said after a rather uncomfortable silence.
"Yeah, I guess we are."
Silence again.
"You know," Ron exploded, "we really oughtn't be so awkward with one another! We're best friends. I don't know why we can't talk to one another."
"I agree." Harry was biting his lip thoughtfully.
"I mean, just because Hermione is being held under Voldemort's power because Voldemort is using the Unforgivable Curses does not mean that we should let that come between us. Heaven knows, I was under it for a while."
"Was that what happened to you that day?" Harry asked, quite interested.
"Yes. But that was the odd thing. It must've been a Death Eater acting under Voldemort's orders, because it wasn't his voice. It sounded disguised. Husky and deep, somewhat forced," Ron admitted slowly.
"So why did you get released when . . . well, when Hermione and the others were not?"
"I suppose Voldemort realized he didn't want, or need, me to be out of the way. I mean, Hermione poses a major threat, since she knows so much. But wouldn't he also want to get Alice out of the way?"
"No, not necessarily. I believe, actually, that he wants to kill the both of us. I mean, Alice and myself. What else could he possibly want? Once the two of us are out of the way, he's got nothing to stop him. What puzzles me is that if he doesn't hesitate to play dirty, why doesn't he just get rid of the both of us using a curse and move on with his plans?"
"Because he wants to be able to say that he defeated the both of you. The two most famous, evil-fighting witch and wizard in the world. And probably in all of history. I think it all makes sense," Ron stated.
"I suppose so. Well, what about jobs? What were you doing before you came here? Did you get a job selling Quidditch supplies?"
They spent a good hour conversing and laughing, just like they used to do. In the middle of a match of wizarding chess, the door flew open quite abruptly. An extremely white-faced Lupin stood in the doorframe, a slight breeze stirring his graying hair.
"What is it?" Harry asked, a chill sweep of dread sweeping over him as a terrible sense of foreboding swept over him.
"We are needed back at the castle immediately," Lupin finally managed to croak. "A student has been abducted."
by Hannah
Chapter Twelve ~ Fleeting Fun
Harry awoke to a loud knock on his door.
"Who is it?" he cried sleepily, turning over to try to catch at least a bit more slumber.
"Alice." Her voice rang sweetly.
"Oh, all right," he mumbled crossly. "I'll be there in just a moment."
Throwing on a thick robe of kelly-green flannel, Harry stumbled toward the door. Opening it slowly, he found Alice fully outfitted in her usual attire, well groomed and smiling brightly.
"Sleepyhead," she scolded mockingly. "Classes start in fifteen minutes."
"Oh dear!" Harry exclaimed. "I should go brush my hair and . . . oh, I won't be able to eat, will I?"
"Here, don't fret," Alice reminded him. "I brought you a tray from the Great Hall."
From behind her back she produced a tray piled with various fruits, a steaming bowl of oats, and several glasses of various juices.
"I would have used my magic to create a meal for you," she explained somewhat sheepishly, "but, as you know, I can't do a single thing right now." She sighed. "I don't know how I'm going to teach today." She smiled at him. Suddenly changing her countenance, she exclaimed, "Oh, you'd better hurry and eat, or we'll both be dreadfully late!"
He sat down and shoveled food into his mouth as she grabbed a brush and attempted to give some sort of order to his unruly black locks.
"Your necklace—" he managed to gasp between bites.
"Don't fret, I'll fetch it," she declared, gently lifting it from its place on Harry's bedside table and placing it about her neck. She then waited somewhat impatiently for Harry to finish his meal.
The moment Harry set his spoon down she declared, "Let's go!" and scurried off down the hallway.
Harry snorted amusedly at her antics. He was in no hurry to face his classroom of students. He couldn't even remember the last time he'd tried to teach them. He set off down the hallway at a very deliberate pace. He was in no hurry.
"All right," Harry said, rubbing his hands together as he stood before his classroom, which happened to be filled with students. "It's been some time since we've seen each other, or, well, some time since I've seen some of you—" He broke himself off, finding that he was sweating nervously. Why am I so nervous to face my own students? he asked himself. He didn't have time to answer his own question.
A boy with blue hair said in a bored monotone, "No need for lengthy introductions, teach. Just get it all over with so we can leave."
Harry was stunned. "Now wait just a moment!" he cried indignantly. "I'm one of the most renowned wizards in the history of our kind, and you dare to—"
"Professor Potter?" A meek young girl in the back row held her hand indecisively in the air. "If I may, I would like to ask a question."
"Very well, very well," Harry replied. He was too weary of this whole teaching business to tell the girl to shut up and let him continue with the lessons.
"Do you remember what it was like to be a student?"
"Of course. I only graduated last year," Harry reminded them.
"Then why are your classes so dull?"
Harry was struck dumb. Was that true? Were his lessons boring? Was he as dull as . . . he gasped at the horror of it—Professor Binns?
"My lessons are . . . dull, you say?" he questioned, trying to keep from choking over the words.
"Well—" The little girl looked upset. "Yes . . ."
Harry sighed and sat abruptly. "How would you like to put on a play?" he asked quietly.
"Sir?" asked a mousy, brown-haired boy, obviously perplexed.
"You heard me, a play. About Ioma Bidmin Peroipritandtabaygode, a man who wrote many spells and also created a good number of potions." The name seemed remotely familiar, but he couldn't remember why. "Let's head toward the library for A Collection of 3,491 Magical Plays. There's bound to be a play about such a famous man in there somewhere."
The class brightened, as did Harry. Perhaps this wouldn't be such a dull day, after all.
"God, are you kidding?" Frank exclaimed. "Nothing more dull than teaching . . ."
"Well, I quite enjoy it," Alice declared, somewhat ruffled. "And it's quite a challenge, with me not having any magic at all."
Ron smiled. "Wish I could share in the conversation, but I cannot. So let's change the topic, shall we?"
"Yes," Emily agreed. "How about He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named."
"Why the hell would we want to talk about Voldemort?" Harry nearly shouted. "We all hate the man: let's leave it at that! Voldemort killed—"
"Please, say You-Know-Who or He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named," Ron pleaded.
"And for what reason?" Alice demanded severely. "It's foolishness, it is, to be scared to say a wizard's name. I think the most powerful hold the man has on the magical population is the fear he's managed to strike into everyone. Really, everyone present should make some sort of effort at calling the man Voldemort. It's really too kind to show such an awful man any signs of fear." Finished with her little speech, she gave a little huff and waited with angry eyes for anyone to contradict her.
"And while you're at it, call me Remus," Lupin added. "You did for a while . . . but really, it's ridiculous to call me by my last name. What point is there to it?"
"Righto, old boy," Frank cried. "Voldemort and Remus, an unlikely combination!"
Harry intervened. "Is everyone present going to go to Hogsmeade tomorrow?" he asked.
Everyone answered in the affirmative.
"That's good. Let's plan something."
"How about the Three Broomsticks?" Alice offered.
"Sounds good," Lupin agreed.
"Yeah, we can each have a mug or two of butter beer and discuss the matters at hand," Frank suggested.
"Or, even better, completely forget the 'matters at hand' and pretend like we're students again," Ron countered.
"Wonderful idea!" Lupin proclaimed. "It will be nice to forget all of our responsibilities for one night."
"I agree completely," Emily said affably.
"Very good," Alice concluded. "But what shall we do tonight?"
"Good question . . ." Frank mused. "I'd say dueling, but we'd never stand a chance against you . . ."
"But remember, I have no magic," Alice chided.
"Oh yes," Lupin said. "Well, that narrows possibilities quite nicely, doesn't it? I'm sick of Firestones—"
"Me too," Ron agreed quickly.
"So," Emily thought aloud, "maybe we can play . . . God, I don't know. Great Dragons, there's really nothing to play if you don't have magic. We may as well sit around a campfire and tell ghost stories."
"Well, there is an option," Alice hinted.
"What might that option be, and what would it entail?" Frank asked guardedly. Alice was perpetually trying to talk him into helping her out in small ways. Which, of course, he didn't mind at all. He actually quite enjoyed being picked out of the group to do things for her. He couldn't help but feel a small twinge of jealousy over Harry . . .
"Well, there's such thing as a magic transfer," Alice explained. "If any of you were so inclined to help me . . . or even if all of you just wanted to help me a teeny bit . . ."
Of course, there was a ruckus then, with Harry, Ron, Lupin, and Frank all volunteering at once. Emily couldn't hide her amused smile. "Well, well, well, looks like you've got a passel of donors. I wouldn't mind helping you out."
"Why don't we all?" Harry finally exclaimed. "Though really, she's my girlfriend . . ."
"You want to know what I think?" Lupin asked. "I think that Ron, Frank, Emily, and myself should donate a large portion of our magic to Alice, so that if Fate so calls, the two of you can fend off Voldemort together."
"Really," Alice declared in disgust, "I don't think that's necessary."
"Well, we should each share a part of our magic," Frank insisted. "I mean, I can't even imagine living without mine. I suppose once we're trained in using it, we become dependant upon it. So really, it's only fair that you let the four of us give you a little of our magic. That way we'll all be somewhat equal. And you can play wizarding games with us," Frank added.
"All right, when you make it sound like I'm making the evening more enjoyable for all of you . . . but Harry, they are right, and I don't want you contributing any of your power." She shot him a no-nonsense look.
"All right, all right," Harry exclaimed. "But—"
"No buts!" Alice interrupted. "Now, the four of you hold hands, and I will stand in the middle of the circle." Everyone took a moment to oblige, except for Harry. "All right, now, all of you must recite this simple incantation: Frimpy frumps and grochy grouers, give this person back their powers!"
Everyone just stared at her for a moment. "You're serious, aren't you," Lupin stated incredulously.
"Yes," Alice replied. "I mean, not every spell is sophisticated and in Latin and all that crap. Some incantations are . . . well, quite odd."
"Obviously," Frank mumbled. "Well, let's get it over with, so we can start enjoying ourselves."
"Yes, yes," Lupin agreed.
Together, the four friends performed the spell. A sudden burst of purplish light radiated from Alice, and the circle surrounding her collapsed as the entire quartet fell to the floor. Laughing, they picked themselves up and gathered together once more.
"Did it work?" Lupin asked eagerly.
"Yes, Remus dear, I think it did," Alice replied, giving an experimental zap to a portion of the carpet. It frizzled beneath the lavender flames. With a tight smile, she shot another stream of magic at the carpet, and it was as good as new. "Wonderful!" she exclaimed. "I didn't even realize how much I missed my abilities!"
Harry laughed and embraced her. "Well, I'm glad that you're back to your old self. Now, what game shall we play?"
"Well, let's duel. That was the suggestion. We could even partner up. A three-way duel. Wouldn't that be fun?"
"Yes, I think it would be." Harry smiled. "That is, as long as you and I are matched up."
Alice laughed. "We don't want to monopolize the game, Harry-po."
"Harry-po? What the hell?" Emily shouted, giving way to laughter.
"Sorry, forgot myself," Alice muttered demurely, turning a becoming shade of pink.
"I like it," Harry said, giving her a kiss on the forehead.
"Hmmm," Alice gave a contented little laugh. "And I like it too, if it gets me such wonderful treatment."
Frank laughed. "Enough, enough! Not all of us are gifted enough to earn the affections of the opposite sex."
"Yes well," Lupin declared, "let's start the duels! Oh, um . . . what are the teams?"
"Well, they should be fairly equal . . ." Emily minded. "We can't go having Harry and Alice on the same team, or anything like that."
"Yes . . . this is what I suggest," Lupin professed. "Alice and Frank, Ron and Harry, and Emily and me. Will that do?"
"Sure," Ron exclaimed enthusiastically. He couldn't believe his luck at having Harry as his dueling partner.
"Well, then," Frank said, clearing his throat, "just one question remains: how do you hold a duel between three parties?"
"Ummm . . ." Harry pondered this for a moment. "I guess you just take aim and say a spell, granted you don't hit your own partner."
Lupin laughed. "Very well. Now where's my partner?"
"Over here, Remus," Emily proclaimed with a little wave. She was located in the corner of the room. "Let's piece together some sort of plan."
Lupin nodded his head and made his way over to Emily. They held a short whispered conference.
Harry and Ron headed off for another corner, occupied only by a bright tropical plant. The room was already dark, since it was snowing outside. Only lit by the flickering light of the torches in their sconces, The atmosphere seemed even more eerie in their wavering glow. The shadows cast about the room were ghostly and surreal, and Harry felt his blood rise to the occasion.
"Just like old times, eh, Ron?"
"Yeah, just like old times. Only—" He choked on the word.
"Yes?" Harry sounded concern.
"Only . . . well, Hermione isn't here to knock the socks off of us."
"No, instead, Alice is." Harry gave a little smile. "Cheer up, Ron, she said you'd get her back."
"I know, I know," Ron admitted. "It's just, well, I want her now. We were going to get married soon. I miss spending time with her. Imagine if Alice were suddenly gone from your life. What would you do?"
"Well, our relationship hasn't progressed to betrothal," Harry pointed out, "However . . . I would miss her dearly," he confessed. A short, uncomfortable pause ensued. "Let's forget about that and concentrate on the duel. What are we going to do?"
Ten minutes later, A fair-sized circle had been formed in a cleared portion of the room. The fabulous desk and matching chair had been pushed against the wall, her dresser moved as much as it would go, and the delicate, intricately woven carpets had been lain carefully upon the bed. The high-gloss ebony floorboards twinkled beneath their feet.
"Ready?" Alice asked. "Wizards, and witches, bow to your opponents."
Each person in the room bent rather stiffly to the others. Alice's wide sleeves swept gracefully along the floorboards.
"All right . . . may the duel begin!"
Almost instantaneously, Alice had the four torches extinguished. They hissed in as everyone present was cloaked in utter darkness; Harry could smell the smoke emanating from them.
Before he knew what was happening, something hit him squarely in the chest. Not taking the time to investigate the matter, he threw a powerful Engorgement Curse at whoever was standing directly opposite him. He heard someone squeal in the darkness.
A bright, blinding flash of green erupted from the wand that Harry believed to belong to Lupin. It soared in a bright arc above the circle of duelers and landed where Alice should've been. Harry recognized the hex. It was supposed to lock a person's joints so they couldn't move. But he didn't hear the telltale thump that someone had fallen to the ground. She must've used the counter-hex, for it did take a long time for that particular curse to hit its target.
Biting his lip determinedly, Harry shot off a small ball of blue fire. He heard it swish through the air as it landed on someone's robe. With a screech, the person managed to target a stream of water upon the flame. It extinguished itself with an ominous hiss.
Harry heard Frank muttering something somewhere nearby. Suddenly, something glaringly magenta hit Harry squarely on the face. He felt it meld into his very features, and then a searing pain ripped through him. He'd never been acquainted with this spell before.
Throwing all his energy into the task at hand, Harry racked his brain for the perfect defense in this duel. Meanwhile, bright lights and various fluids flew before his eyes as each of his friends took aim at someone with some clever curse. Why couldn't he think of anything?
Maybe, he thought, just maybe, someone doesn't want me to think of any curses. And they've used some sort of curse to keep me from thinking of any!
The only person Harry knew who contained such power was Alice. A very bright curse of canary yellow illuminated the room for a split second. He saw that almost everyone was a wreck of some sort. Emily had sprouted horns, Frank was speckled in warts, Ron looked like he'd been set afire (had he hit Ron, his partner?), Lupin was streaked with various streaks of color, and Alice's beautiful hair had metamorphosed to an ugly shade of pea green. But she had a look of grim determination on her face as she aimed her wand at him and mumbled a curse under his breath.
Suddenly, he was floating in the air above them all. He remembered Alice telling Hermione that the gold inlay in her wand helped increase the speed with which her spells could be performed. Even so, Harry hadn't really realized until then how powerful such a weapon must be.
Dangling in thin air above the others, he lit his wand carefully. "Lumos," he muttered. No one would dream of looking upwards, except for Alice. Even so, she looked busy enough.
He decided there wasn't much he could do, floating nearly ten feet above the rest of the duelers. Turning over so he was floating on his stomach, he made himself as comfortable as possible and settled himself to watch.
Alice was shooting off curses and hexes almost as fast as she could think of them. Sparks and streamers of all colors imaginable, and even some that weren't, made their way from the tip of her wand to the bodies of her three remaining opponents. Suddenly, before the thought could register in Harry's mind, she had disappeared.
You can't Disparate at Hogwarts, Harry reminded himself. But then what did she do?
Lupin managed to re-ignite one of the torches for a few seconds before it was put out by the non-visible Alice.
"Dammit, she used an invisibility spell," Emily screeched. The tidy little circle was no more. Everyone was scattered about the room, hiding behind the bed or the wardrobe or anywhere that would offer the least bit protection.
"Where the hell's Harry?" Lupin asked.
"Dunno," Frank replied. "Maybe he knows how to make himself invisible, too." He shot a snake at Lupin, but it went haywire, and it landed instead right on Harry's back.
"Curse it!" he exclaimed, and then began to speak in Parseltongue, the language of snakes. "Get off my back, damn you," he scolded. The snake dropped down onto the head of some unfortunate victim below. Whoever it was bellowed in surprised.
A bright stream of violet liquid erupted from the end of Emily's wand and landed on Lupin's head. He began to squirm as a second head popped from his skull. "Jumping dragons!" he yelled, and threw back at her a series of red pellets, that exploded on her face in a multitude of scratchy measles.
"I already had the chicken pox!" she screamed at him. "Besides, you're my partner!"
"They're not chicken pox, firstly," he muttered, "they're measles. And secondly, I'm quite sorry about that, but you got me first!" After that, he sent some sort of counter-curse at her.
"Much better," she grumbled, taking aim at Frank with a load of chicken feet.
Suddenly, Harry's wand did something unexpected. Gasping in surprise and terror, it gave off an uncanny red glow before a small explosion blasted from the end of it. Everyone below was in danger of burning into a crispy mess when Alice suddenly became visible once more and shouted incoherently. The flames turned to white doves and fluttered out of the open window.
"My God," Lupin stuttered, dropping his wand in shock. "Let's stop this madness."
"Yes—yes, let's," Emily managed to mumble before she seemingly fainted.
Frank fell onto the bed while Alice re-lit the torches. Her lips had turned a funny shade of white in her concern. As soon as the flames were burning brightly once more, she pointed her wand at Harry and he fell gently back to the floor.
"Who did that?" Lupin asked severely.
"I did," Harry sputtered, "but let me explain! I don't know what happened. I'd been dangling up on the ceiling for a while, and then all the sudden my wand just erupted, but I didn't say any sort of curse or anything like that, and I didn't do anything, really, because I was just as shocked as any of you, really, I was, don't blame me, please, don't—"
"Harry."
"I swear I didn't do it on purpose, it was—"
"Harry." Alice's voice was stern.
"Yes?"
"We know you wouldn't do anything like that on purpose." Alice's hands were shaking so hard that she sat on them as she lowered herself onto the bed in a vain effort to control them. "You just ought to know that that, besides the Unforgivable Curses, that particular hex is one of the most feared. It can cause . . . unthinkable damage." She paused for a moment, and Harry's face drained of what little color was left in it. "It would have burnt down Hogwarts. It stops at nothing. It eats through stone . . . through steel . . . through anything in its path. And it can only be stopped by the counter-hex."
Everyone was quiet for a moment.
"That's all. You just ought to know." She sounded weary. "Now why don't we fix everyone up, and then you can all leave? Seeing as we're going to Hogsmeade tomorrow, we should all get our rest."
"Yes," Lupin managed to stutter.
Alice spent a moment taking the horns out of Emily's head, fixing the extra head that had sprouted out of Lupin's, and reversing all the spells that had caused anyone any damage.
"Good night," she uttered in a tremulous voice as everyone filed out of the door.
"Want me to help you straighten the room?" Harry asked somewhat awkwardly.
"No, I can manage, Harry. Thank you." She smiled tiredly. "I'm just exhausted, otherwise I'd welcome your company. But tomorrow—we'll see plenty of each other tomorrow."
"Yeah, I guess we will." Harry drew her into his arms and gave her a fierce kiss. After a moment, she drew away. "You're sure you can handle it all?" He surveyed the wreckage. Her room looked like several bombs had struck it: the floor was pocked with burn marks and was scuffed and dull, the furniture was streaked in the hues of the rainbow, her bed was hacked through the middle, and the small chandelier in the middle, which was set in a delicate golden design, was missing half of its crystal prisms.
"I'm sure I can manage it," she said with a grim smile. She gave him a short but loving kiss. "Good night, Harry." Her eyes smiled at him, no matter how weary she looked.
Harry turned to go out the door, but then remembered something. "Alice?"
"Yes?" She had been replacing the boards in the floor with wood that spouted from her wand.
"Your hair—"
"I almost forgot!" she exclaimed, and pointed her wand at it. Its golden sheen replaced the dull green it had been.
"Yeah, so . . . g'night." Harry left the room and closed the door behind him, the sound of crystals zooming around in the air filling his ears.
"Remember," Professor McGonagall commanded wearily, "classes are only half-length today. Third years and above are allowed the customary pre- Christmas trip to Hogsmeade. Tomorrow is the start of break. Now enjoy your breakfast."
Harry was sitting up at the staff table today, and McGonagall was seated next to him. "Is everything all right?" he inquired anxiously.
"Oh, yeah, dandy," she replied, her voice dripping with sarcasm. Her severe eyes behind their square rims looked too tired to be real. "Dumbledore's gone, Voldemort is once again on the loose, and I'm sending all the students off on a field trip!"
"There now, Professor McGonagall," Harry murmured soothingly. "We'll look after them . . ."
"I know, I know," she said irritably. "It's just that I'm not cut out for dealing with a school-full of under-aged wizards, and I think the stress is really getting to me."
"Don't worry! Relax, have fun at Hogsmeade."
"Fun, Harry? Fun hasn't been a part of my vocabulary since I began teaching at Hogwarts."
Harry looked, really looked, at Professor McGonagall for the first time, and was shocked by what he saw. Why, she was an old woman! Her wiry black hair pulled back in its severe bun was streaked with white, and her face was lined around the eyes and mouth. Sadness, anger, and hardness veiled the eyes that always showed him such concern. Despite the harsh appearance, her shoulders were drooped and weary, and her hands looked much older than Harry had ever recalled seeing them look.
"Why don't you stay here, take a day off?"
"I wish I could, Harry, but they're my responsibility, whether I want them or not."
"Come on, Professor," Harry insisted. "You need a break! Look at yourself. You must've lost twenty pounds since you've taken over for Dumbledore . . ."
She sighed heavily. "Maybe you're right, Potter. But then who do I put in control? You and your group of friends want some time to relax, correct? So then who do I leave to look after the students?"
"It's not like even you could keep an eye on hundreds of kids at once. Plenty of wizards live in Hogsmeade; there's nothing to worry about in an all-wizard community. Really, Professor McGonagall, take a break!"
"Oh, all right," she said in resignation, "you win."
"Good," Harry exclaimed. "Now eat something before you starve yourself to death. Then who would take over Hogwarts?"
She smiled, as Harry hadn't seen her do in the longest of times, and ate the sausage on the plate before her ravenously.
The sky was dark with angry, boiling thunderheads when the students finally arrived at Hogsmeade. Harry alighted from the horse-less carriage that also contained Alice and Ron. Lupin, Emily, and Frank had had to travel in another carriage.
"Well, it does feel good to get out and stretch one's legs, does it not?" Alice asked, doing just that.
Harry smiled in agreement, but personally thought it wonderful to just breathe fresh air and know that he had no worries, at least for this one evening.
"Well, where to first?" Frank inquired as he lowered himself from a nearby carriage.
"Well, perhaps The Three Broomsticks?" Harry suggested. "I don't know, what do you think?"
"I think that sounds wonderful," Lupin exclaimed, patting Harry on the shoulder. "Let's go!"
Glancing over his shoulder to make sure everyone was present, Harry and his friends headed off for the local bar. Harry's all-time favorite treat was butterbeer, a mildly alcoholic but very rich and tasty beverage.
As the group stepped over the threshold, the atmosphere was noticeably warmer and rowdier. The bartender greeted them as they searched about for an empty seat. Already, a few Hogwarts students had found their way to the pub and settled down to a few rounds of butterbeer.
Scanning the crowded room for an empty table, Harry almost dropped a small sack of galleons in surprise. Pushing his way through the melee, he made his way to a somewhat inconspicuous table in the back. "Sirius!" he hissed, just barely audible over the din.
"Harry!" his godfather exclaimed, standing to embrace him shortly. Drawing away, he asked with some concern, "How are you?"
"Well enough," he replied. The rest of the group had followed him and stood somewhat awkwardly about. All of them, that is, except Lupin.
"Remus! Old Moony. How are you?" Sirius bellowed in his deep voice, shaking hands with one of his best friends from his old Hogwarts days. They were an odd-looking pair. Sirius was tall, dark, and appealingly thin. Lupin was thin and awkwardly bleached-looking, his hair noticeably graying despite his young age. The stress of his years as a werewolf had left their mark.
"Fine, fine. How about you, Padfoot, you bloke?" Lupin was grinning from ear to ear.
"I'm doing quite well. Got myself a job at the Ministry . . . I really enjoy myself nowadays."
"That's good, that's good. So, what brings you to these parts?"
"Well, I thought I'd surprise you and drop in for a holiday visit," Sirius admitted. "I thought I'd stay over the Christmas vacation. Is Minerva letting the students return to their homes for Christmas?" Sirius inquired anxiously.
"I believe so . . ." Harry said, confused.
"Dammit!"
"What's wrong?" Emily asked, feeling perplexed.
"Well, the Ministry just made a public announcement. No magical school is to release its students over the holidays."
"What's the bloody Ministry making a move like that for?" questioned an outraged Ron. "So much for a little peace and quiet . . ."
"Well, it's because of Voldemort." Sirius's eyes weren't laughing, for they rarely did. At least, not since he was wrongfully accused of the murder of thirteen people and thrown into Azkaban, the wizarding prison. His eyes had been haunted and shadowed ever since. But, particularly now, there seemed to be something lurking behind those dark doors which Harry had never seemed capable of penetrating.
"Well, well, well, look at the little reunion." Malfoy's voice cut through the racket that the rowdy group of people was creating.
"Malfoy, really, if you're not going to be pleasant, go away," Ron said in an exasperated voice.
"Don't give me a chance, even, do you?" he drawled dully. "What if I say to you that I was going to be pleasant?"
"I'd say you were lying." Lupin shot him a sharp look.
"Oh, give him a chance!" Alice exclaimed.
"Thank you," Malfoy said, turning to look at who had stepped in to save him. He gawked at her. "You're the one—"
"Who you met in Diagon Alley at the beginning of the year that gave you a regretfully severe reprimand," she finished. "I apologize. I didn't need to be sharp."
"No, no, no apology is needed," Malfoy said, waving off her apology.
Harry and Ron looked at each other in disbelief. What had gotten into Malfoy?
"How about some butterbeer?" Alice asked them all. "On me."
"All right," Harry said reluctantly, sitting down beside her while trying to avoid being seated by Malfoy. Everyone else drew out a seat and sat down as well.
"So, what brings you to these parts, Mr. Malfoy?" Lupin asked, settling down by Sirius.
"Actually, Sirius and I had to come together. We're both in the Ministry," he explained, brushing some of his silvery-blonde hair from his gray eyes.
"You're in the Ministry?" Ron looked unbelieving.
"Yes, well, just because my father was a Death Eater doesn't mean that I must be, too. I follow a different set of beliefs." Malfoy's eyes showed plainly his injured pride. Quickly, he tried to change the topic. "So, Potter, you're a teacher?"
"Yeah, History of Spells and Potions."
"New subject, eh?"
"Well, I suppose you can say so. Remember how dull History of Magic used to be?"
Malfoy laughed darkly. "Jumping dragons, yes! That was the most terrible class . . . and the goblin uprising of 1638 was one of panic for all people of Semitosa, Ireland," he said in an uncanny impersonation of the old teacher, Professor Binns.
Harry laughed. "Yeah, anyway, it's a decent subject, I suppose. We're performing a play after Christmas."
"Interesting," Malfoy mused.
Harry was shocked. Malfoy was actually being—pleasant.
"Well," Ron prompted, "the whole Voldemort deal is interesting, isn't it?"
"Yeah, it is," Malfoy admitted. "We're really stumped on this one. You know, the whole thing is somewhat confusing. I heard about the clearing in the Forbidden Forest"—he glanced meaningfully at Ron—"and I must admit, it's got every sign of being a Voldemort attack. Especially those that he's afflicted . . . who are currently being held at the Ministry . . . appears he wants more followers, so he's using the Unforgivable Curses again."
"Ummm . . ." Alice looked eager to change the subject, as did Ron, who's pale face was blazing with hatred for the Dark Lord.
"Looks like the butterbeer is here," Frank interrupted, smiling at the waitress. "Thank you . . ." he mumbled, searching his deep pockets for two galleons and five sickles.
"I said I was paying, remember?" Alice said crossly, handing the smiling witch the money, as well as a three-galleon tip. "Honestly . . ."
"Sorry, sorry, I forgot," Frank muttered apologetically.
"Yeah, sure you did," Lupin said, rolling his eyes. "Although I, too, would like to pay for my own drink."
"My God, can't any of you take a favor every now and then?" she asked incredulously. "I mean, it's the least I can do, to buy you a bloody butterbeer, when you gave me my magic back."
Harry had never seen her look so outraged. Her nostrils were flared, her eyes were bulging, and her hands were akimbo.
"Well excuse us," Harry said. "Pay for the little drinks, by all means."
"Fine then, I will," she retorted, taking a vengeful sip of peppermint tea.
"Oh yeah, you don't drink," Harry mumbled.
"Problem with that?" she asked him.
"No." Harry was glaring at her.
"Jumping dragons, you two, it's a couple of butterbeers, for crying out loud! Take it easy!" Sirius exclaimed.
"I'm sorry," Alice mumbled. "It's just . . . never mind."
"All right then, let's put it all behind us. Make up?" Alice gave Harry a pleading look.
"Sure," Harry agreed, putting out a hand for her to shake. Laughing, she accepted it and shook vigorously.
"For a couple, you two aren't very intimate," Emily giggled.
"Yeah, you two, kiss and make up," Ron said with a wicked smile.
Alice gazed wide-eyed at Harry. "Really, with all these kids mulling about in here . . ."
"Oh, come on, Alice, one quick peck won't hurt you."
"Yeah, one quick peck . . ." she sighed. "You're about as capable at one quick peck as you are at losing to Voldemort . . ."
Harry grinned and leaned closer to her. She gave him an amused, begrudging smile, and just as their lips were about to touch—
"Really, Harry, with everyone watching us?" she exclaimed, pulling abruptly away.
Harry, and the other occupants of their table, laughed softly. "Alice, really, it's a kiss."
"All right . . ." she murmured, "for you."
Harry and she both leaned inward, then, and their lips met briefly. Alice was about to pull back when she found Harry's lips upon hers again. Pulling away briefly once more, she discovered that Harry had his arm around her neck, and she could not escape. With an amused glare, she finally allowed him to kiss her, and they didn't stop until they both needed air.
Both pulled away, each looking deep into each other's eyes. It was then that they realized how quiet the room had grown.
"Whoo-hoo!" The students present burst into wild applause and catcalls.
Alice gave Harry a somewhat embarrassed smile and blushed a pretty shade of pink, but managed to hold herself together.
"Was that so bad?" Harry questioned gently.
"Well, Professor McGonagall will think so. You know how she feels about teacher-teacher relationships . . ."
"Oh. I forgot about that." Harry remembered how strictly Professor McGonagall had preached the new staff about the damage inter-staff relationships could cause the students. "I don't quite understand it, however."
"Neither do I." Emily shrugged.
"Hmmmm . . . well, let's changed the subject, shall we?" Lupin asked.
"Good idea." Sirius looked thoughtful. "I was wondering . . ."
"Yes?" Ron prompted.
"Well, I was going to stay at the Tansy Tavern tonight. I was wondering if, you were not going to be missed too much, perhaps you may want to join me?"
"Well, someone would have to deliver your message about the cancellation of the winter holiday," Alice pointed out. "Also, we'd have to be back in time for any announcements over breakfast . . . but why not?"
"Would we each get a separate room? That wouldn't be any fun," Emily whined.
"I think that they have a room with five beds. If we doubled up, I don't think it would be a problem."
"Yeah, that would work," Ron quipped.
"Good evening," a rather cold voice said. Everyone looked up to see the speaker.
"Good evening, Severus," Alice mumbled demurely with a nod of acknowledgement.
"Mind if I join you?" Harry noticed that Snape's hair was no longer long and greasy, but actually trimmed to a decent-looking length and clean. What was going on?
"What were you talking about?" Snape's voice revealed a genuine interest in the subject.
"Well, we were talking about spending the night in Hogsmeade," Sirius said coldly. He had never gotten along well with Snape, even in their schoolboy days.
"You could join us," Ron added. "There are only eight of us, and the room we were going to reserve has five beds. As long as we all double up . . ."
Snape thought the matter over for a moment. "Okay."
"Well," Lupin exclaimed. He, too, had had a hard time befriending Snape as a student at Hogwarts. He, Sirius, and Harry's father, James, had always been makers of mischief together. And Snape always seemed to ruin their fun. Other than that, however, Lupin remained quiet.
Alice sighed. "Now what do you want to do?"
"Well, Hogsmeade, unlike Hogwarts, has electricity," Sirius stated. "So maybe we could go see one of your Muggle movies?"
"What's a movie?" Draco asked, clearly puzzled.
Ron grinned. "A Muggle invention, isn't it, Harry? Isn't it like a book with visuals or something?"
"You'll see. Come on, let's see what shows there are!"
"Shows? What's a show?" Malfoy pleaded. Alice just laughed. "You'll soon find out." She took his arm and led him out of The Three Broomsticks.
Gone With the Wind was the only show that was of any interest to the group of friends. Alice spent eleven sickles admission on each of them. Once inside the dimly lit theatre, they made their way to the concession stand.
"Whoa, this is odd," Malfoy muttered, his eyes roving over everything.
"Just wait until you see the movie screen!" Harry added. Seeing the questioning look in Malfoy's eyes, he quickly amended, "Never mind, you'll find out in a minute."
"Ah, and a movie is not a movie without popcorn," Alice proclaimed. She bought each of them a Coke and a bucket of popcorn, too. "I can't believe they sell Muggle food at a theatre located in a magical town," she expressed gleefully. "I haven't been to a movie in ages. Not since I came to Hogwarts!"
"Calm down, for the sake of all of us," Harry said. "It's just a movie. It's still twenty minutes until the movie starts. Let's sit down in the theatre."
But all their wizard friends were quite intrigued with the concept, and refused to 'calm down.' Once seated within the theatre, all of them bombarded Harry and Alice with a seemingly endless load of questions.
"What's that?" Ron requested, pointing to the large screen.
"It's the screen," Harry answered shortly.
"How about that?" Emily announced, citing the projector in the back.
"That's what the film is fed through," Alice explained. "Then the movie shows up on the screen."
Ten minutes before the show began, the previews started. Sirius nearly fell out of his seat. "Jumping dragons!" he shouted. "What's going on?"
"Shhhh, it's the previews," Alice patiently informed. "They show what movies are showing soon. And you really must make a point of being quiet. Other people are in the theatre, too."
The next four hours were filled with the laughter of wizards, saying, "What will these Muggles think of next?" and "What queer customs these Americans have," and "How odd the Muggles act!" Alice tried not to giggle at their antics.
"How ridiculous they sound," she whispered to Harry.
"Yes, well, it may be a very intriguing story, but I must admit that I do see their point."
They left the theatre around ten, but none of them were tired yet. Lupin, Sirius, Snape, Malfoy, Emily, Ron, and Frank were still flinging question after unending question at Harry and Alice.
"Did that really happen? Did the American Muggles really shoot off those funny metal wands at each other?" Snape scoffed.
"Yes, they did," Alice said. "The American Civil War. Foolish, really, for the Southerners really stood no chance against the well- equipped Northerners. However, their proclamation of Sates' Rights made sense."
"Hmmm, very well," Frank reflected. "Much like the American Revolution . . . really, you Americans are a touchy lot."
"Well!" Alice sputtered, holding herself straight. Luckily, she decided to say nothing in return.
"Now what shall we do?" Emily intoned. "More Muggle things? Really, they do know how to get their kicks."
"Well, what other amusements are to be found in Hogsmeade?" Malfoy prompted.
"Well, we've been to The Three Broomsticks," droned Frank. "We've also seen the movie. There's a dance floor, and—oh! Sirius, the students will be heading back any minute. Shouldn't we send word with one of the teachers?"
"Yes, well, I'll go tell Professor Sprout that the students are to remain on campus during the holidays. I will also inform her that you are all staying over night." He hightailed back for the carriages. Seeing as the crowds in the streets were already dwindling, Harry deduced that most of the students were already loaded into the carriages. He prayed hurriedly that Sirius would be able to relay the message to someone.
"So, to continue your list, Frank," Lupin prompted.
"Well, I suppose we could stop by the joke shop and just look around, or we could stroll along by the river that winds about a mile east of here, or perhaps hike up Poignant Peak, the nearby mountain, or there's a shop full of the fashionable clothing of the wizarding community . . . or we could just go straight to the hotel. Find something to do there."
"Hmmm . . . what do you think, Malfoy?" Alice asked.
"I vote dancing," he replied. "I haven't done that for a while."
"I want to our little inn or whatever you'd call the place," Snape admitted. "I don't remember the last time I got a decent night's rest."
"Yeah, let's go to the Tansy Tavern. I'm spent." Harry looked it, too. Alice's forehead creased with worry.
"Are you okay?" she asked.
"Yeah, fine. Just need some sleep . . ." Without warning, he collapsed. Alice knelt by his side, her skirts trailing in the patches of mud left in the icy streets. Biting her lip, she slid one thin arm under his legs and the other behind his back. Ron moved forward to help; she looked too delicate to lift a housecat. But obviously, there was more to her strength than physical appearances allowed seen, for she managed to lift him, though her arms shook noticeably.
"I'll meet you at the tavern," she managed to hiss between gritted teeth. "Room 50A."
"Yes, all right. We'll be there in a few moments. As soon as Sirius returns," Frank assured her.
But Alice was already stumbling through the street and toward their lodging.
"He's burning up," Alice reflected.
"But he's shivering!" Malfoy pointed out.
"The thermometer says his temperature is 103.5," Emily whispered, her dark face wan.
The others sat on the queen beds in the room, looking with unconcealed anxiety at Harry's prone figure, which was nearly hidden under a mass of blankets and pillows. He lay trembling, his eyes shut, his face white, but with an exaggerated rosy glow to his cheeks.
"Just a fever," Sirius insisted, though he didn't sound any too certain.
"Should we summon a doctor?" Lupin queried.
"No," Alice said wearily. "Do any of you have a cauldron?"
"Yes," Snape divulged as he went to a sack, which he'd carried with him all day.
"Thank you," she murmured, lighting a small stove with a flick of her wand. She took the worn leather pouch that she'd shown to Harry on the train to Hogwarts. It seemed so long ago! Wearily, she set to work drawing the necessary ingredients from it.
"A pinch of flodgeworm brain, powdered; a twig of lupine; a teaspoon of ginseng extract; a fresh toad liver; and the wart of a cow of two years," she muttered to herself, adding the ingredients to the cauldron.
When it was done stewing, she drained the oozing tonic into a glass, which she found on the chipped porcelain sink, and handed it to Malfoy. He held his nose; it did possess an unusually strong odor.
"I'm going to hold his head up," Alice instructed, "while you pour the potion down his throat. Ready?" she inquired, holding Harry's mouth slightly open.
"I suppose," Malfoy returned, looking utterly disgusted as he poured the slimy mixture down his mouth. "What's it supposed to do, anyhow?"
"Well, it's supposed to help cool the body," she replied. "Reduce fever and all that."
"Hmph," Malfoy snorted. "All that would do would be to make me utterly nauseous!"
"Hmmm, guess it could do that too," Alice admitted. They all fell silent for several minutes as Alice held a thermometer in Harry's mouth. Ron leaned over.
"Incredible," he breathed. "His temperature is falling visibly . . ."
Harry gave a sudden, loud sputter that sent Emily backward with a startled squeak. Swallowing once or twice, he gave a long, drawn out exhalation and quite startlingly sat bolt upright in bed. "Let's go out and do something!" he exclaimed. "Come on . . . let's have fun while we're not in the castle!"
Alice laughed. "It also tends to overexcite the person on whom it is used," she informed everybody. "Yet I think it best you to stay here, Harry, for a while, seeing as you did have a frighteningly high fever. Anyone else, however, who wishes to go out for a bit of fun ought to take advantage of the opportunity."
"Oh come on, I really want to get out of here and do something," Harry complained, pushing back the coverlet that Alice had draped over him.
"I'll stay with you, Harry," Ron said. "I don't mind. And it's really been ages since we've sat down like old times and just talked to one another, even if we do share your bedroom right now." Ron was bunked out on a couch that Alice had Apparated for him.
"Yeah, alright." Harry unwillingly accepted the offer. Then his face brightened visibly. "Wait! Alice, you know what I've always wanted to do?"
"Yes," she replied, heaving a sigh.
"Yeah, well, you would," Harry continued. "Anyhow, I've always wanted to go inside your mind. Just for a few moments. I just want to see what it's like, to know everything about everyone."
"You couldn't handle it," she said frankly.
"But I could! Couldn't we all handle it?" Harry asked the others. Frank looked skeptical, Sirius looked thoughtful, and Snape looked plainly doubtful.
"Come on, just for a minute," Harry pleaded.
"All right, but don't blame me if you end up with a terrible headache." Alice sat down on the bed, beside Harry, and clasped his hand. Squeezing her eyes tightly shut, she took a deep breath and muttered something incoherent.
Immediately, Harry was thrown into a more chaotic world than he had ever thought possible. Thoughts zoomed around in his mind faster than he could process them. Briefly, he recognized events as they whirred by in a sickening blur: a man in China was dying of malnutrition, a child in South Africa was playing with the mud outside her hut, a teacher in America was grading test papers (he thought they could be history reports, but he wasn't sure). The thoughts didn't stop coming. They kept rushing at him, hitting him full-force and without mercy. One after the other after the other, they kept up a steady fusillade of mind-boggling snippets of thoughts, happenings, and various texts.
"My God, make it stop," Harry managed to moan between it all.
And as suddenly as it began, it was gone. His own thoughts seemed lethargic and petty compared to all that which had been going through the head of the concerned-looking woman sitting next to him.
"Are you all right, Harry?" she questioned, looking into his face with luminous, violet eyes.
"Fine, fine . . . just a pounding headache," he muttered, holding his head between his hands as though it were ready to explode.
"Anyone else wish to try?" she asked congenially, looking around the others present. They shook their heads mutually.
"Well, then, I suppose it best that we prepare to leave," Malfoy proclaimed, making a pair of ice skates appear in the air before him.
"Good idea," Lupin agreed emphatically.
The group bustled about, readying themselves for the biting cold out- of-doors. Finally, they were ready to leave.
"Goodbye, boys. We'll be back in a bit," Emily shouted over her shoulder as she closed the door behind the last of them.
"Well, now we're alone," Ron said after a rather uncomfortable silence.
"Yeah, I guess we are."
Silence again.
"You know," Ron exploded, "we really oughtn't be so awkward with one another! We're best friends. I don't know why we can't talk to one another."
"I agree." Harry was biting his lip thoughtfully.
"I mean, just because Hermione is being held under Voldemort's power because Voldemort is using the Unforgivable Curses does not mean that we should let that come between us. Heaven knows, I was under it for a while."
"Was that what happened to you that day?" Harry asked, quite interested.
"Yes. But that was the odd thing. It must've been a Death Eater acting under Voldemort's orders, because it wasn't his voice. It sounded disguised. Husky and deep, somewhat forced," Ron admitted slowly.
"So why did you get released when . . . well, when Hermione and the others were not?"
"I suppose Voldemort realized he didn't want, or need, me to be out of the way. I mean, Hermione poses a major threat, since she knows so much. But wouldn't he also want to get Alice out of the way?"
"No, not necessarily. I believe, actually, that he wants to kill the both of us. I mean, Alice and myself. What else could he possibly want? Once the two of us are out of the way, he's got nothing to stop him. What puzzles me is that if he doesn't hesitate to play dirty, why doesn't he just get rid of the both of us using a curse and move on with his plans?"
"Because he wants to be able to say that he defeated the both of you. The two most famous, evil-fighting witch and wizard in the world. And probably in all of history. I think it all makes sense," Ron stated.
"I suppose so. Well, what about jobs? What were you doing before you came here? Did you get a job selling Quidditch supplies?"
They spent a good hour conversing and laughing, just like they used to do. In the middle of a match of wizarding chess, the door flew open quite abruptly. An extremely white-faced Lupin stood in the doorframe, a slight breeze stirring his graying hair.
"What is it?" Harry asked, a chill sweep of dread sweeping over him as a terrible sense of foreboding swept over him.
"We are needed back at the castle immediately," Lupin finally managed to croak. "A student has been abducted."