Zelda, Then and Now

Disclaimers: As always the illustrious Ms. Rowling owns the characters. Except for Zelda. This one came before Mental Walls. It's much better.

It was the first day of the fifth year of Harry Potter's study at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. It was also the fifth day of the first battle against Voldemort and his Death Eaters. But no one was looking at it that way. And as Dumbledore made the usual beginning-of-the-year announcements, everyone was wondering when the topic of the battle would be addressed.

All first-year students are advised, as always, not to go into the Dark Forest. It is forbidden for the usual reasons, but even moreso now. And this brings me to the topic which I'm sure all of you have been waiting for. Dumbledore paused, as if he needed to think about what he was going to say. As you all know, our finest aurors have been in battle against Voldemort and his forces for the past five days. The center of the battle is now inside the Dark Forest.

A wave of whispering now passed from table to table. Quiet down, quiet down, Dumbledore said. Hogwarts is doing all it can to help our forces. We have been providing food and medical assistance, and casualties have been coming in over the past few days. I hate, as always, having to expose you to something as horrific as this, but it is necessary for the cause.

Harry and Ron sat quietly, taking all that Dumbledore was saying in, and trying to keep themselves from thinking it was a dream. Hermione sat silently as well, but none of the information was surprising her. No doubt she had been reading every paper on the matter that she could find. Harry noticed that most of the teachers on his list were not present. In their places were several very young professors, including Fleur Delacoeur. Harry assumed that the scheduled teachers were in battle. One professor who WAS still present was Severus Snape. Harry wished that Snape had been gone as well, but understood that his fighting would surely have blown his cover. Harry sighed and continued trying to listen to Dumbledore. But his mind was elsewhere. It was outside. In the Dark Forest. Where the battle was.

Harry's wondering mind was brought abruptly back to the Great Hall and the Griffyndor table as three mud-clad individuals burst through the doors.

Headmaster, we are in dire need of the use of your infirmary.

The students' heads snapped back and forth between the strangers and their Headmaster.

Of course, Dumbledore said. Bring your injured in. I will ask Madame Pomfrey to ready the infirmary. Dumbledore then addressed the students. Any 7th year students with medical training shall be asked, if willing, to report to the infirmary upon your dismissal. Everyone else is to go to your dormitories.

Harry carefully studied the three individuals. When he finally got to the face of the third, he did a double-take. There, beneath unfamiliar robes and a muddy face was his Godfather, Sirius Black. And Sirius was not looking at Dumbledore. He was looking at Harry. But Harry did not receive a smile or even a wink. Sirius looked exhausted. He looked almost worse than he did when he was released from Azkaban. harry fought back the urge to run to Sirius. Just as he was about to give in Sirius and the other two aurors left, supposedly to get their injured. Dumbledore dismissed the students, but rather than returning to his common room as he was ordered, Harry rushed to the infirmary. He reached for the handle of the door, but another hand beat him to it.

Mr. Potter, if I weren't in such a hurry to assist with the injured I would walk you back to your common room personally, since you obviously have forgotten where it is. Professor Snape's tone contained its usual sarcasm, but there was something else in his voice. What was it? Since I can't do that, I'll have to ask you to wait inside the infirmary until someone has time to do so. Was Snape doing him a favor? Had he seen Sirius as well? Harry decided to take it as a favor, and entered the infirmary. But as soon as he was in, he wanted out..

Harry had seen scary things. he had faced a giant snake, a three-headed dog, and even Voldemort himself. But what he saw in the Hogwarts infirmary sent more chills down his spine than anything else he had ever experienced. There were five individuals being cared for. All but one were writhing in pain. the mud on their robes was mixing with blood. Madame Pomfrey and several professors and students were scurrying from bed to bed, trying to soothe. Trying to save. Harry turned back to the unconscious auror. The one who was not screaming. Harry watched as Professor Snape walked up to the bed. A look of shock appeared on his face. Snape snapped at Madame Pomfrey.

Why is no one helping her?

There is no more we can do for her, Professor. And I wasn't aware that we were providing medical assistance to the enemy, Madame Pomfrey replied. As she finished her sentence she pointed to something on the girl's arm. Harry inched closer, attempting to see. It was the Dark Mar. Bold and black. Engraved into the girl's arm.

She is not a Death Eater, Snape said, his tone becoming urgent.

It doesn't matter, replied Pomfrey. There is still nothing I can do. She may live. She may die. I'm surprised she isn't dead already. She was hit with the Killing Curse. Snape looked back at the girl, then looked around for a chair. He grabbed one, and pulled it up to the bed. Harry wanted to know what connection Snape had to the girl, but thought it best not to pry just yet. He found a seat. And he waited. And he watched.