Priori Incantatem
By Mrs Grim

Chapter 7
Imperio!



Harry awoke from a dreamless sleep and stared at the curtains around his bed where faint rays of sunshine could be seen trying to break through the fabric. For a moment in time he forgot everything that had happened. For a moment he thought that all was right with the world.

And then he remembered where he was going today.

The Dursleys'.

He sat up and very calmly got out of bed to get dressed. Ron was still sleeping peacefully. Harry felt a pang of jealousy. Ron had a real home to go to.

He went down to the common room and glanced at his watch. It was a quarter to six. Harry decided that he would enjoy his last day of freedom on the Quidditch field, riding his Firebolt. Maybe he could fly away. He was surprised, however, when he beheld Hermione, dressed and wide awake, seated in a chair staring fixedly at him.

"Hermione?" he asked slowly.

Hermione stood up, her eyes softening in relief, "Thank goodness! I was afraid that I'd have to go wake you up. Harry, there's something wrong!"

Harry was not in the best of moods, "Well, of course there's something wrong! For starters, Hogwarts is closing, then, Dumbledore is a dead man walking, and Voldemort'll probably burst in here and kill us all any second."

"Harry! Get a grip! I know there's a lot going on, but you have to listen to me! Fred and George-"

"What about us?" Fred asked, walking down the stairs.

Hermione groped for words, "...nothing," she said finally.


~~*~~



Dumbledore sat at his desk calmly listening to Sirius and Snape battle it out.

"And just how can you help us? A convicted murderer..."

"So we should listen to you! To the convicted Death Eater?!"

"Shut up, Black, or so help me God I'm going to-"

He stopped suddenly and turned his head to look at Dumbledore who's gaze seemed to be boring into his skull.

"Now that you two have decided to act like responsible adults instead of squabbling children, we can discuss the future of Hogwarts."

"Headmaster," Snape said quickly. "I can't go back."

Dumbledore didn't bat an eye, "Why not, Severus?"

"I only just found out, it was really luck. Igor was caught. I've no doubt that he told them everything... after being tortured, I mean."

Dumbledore closed his eyes briefly, "That is a blow for us indeed."

Snape was actually dreading to say the next words, "And, and Peter Pettigrew is dead."

Sirius' face was quite expressionless. There was silence for a moment as these words sunk in.

"Then we are faced, gentlemen, with a great challenge. It is up for you to overcome your differences and become leaders in this our war. Sirius, I have no answers for you. There is only one hope. That the new Minister of Magic will be on our side."

Sirius was about to speak when the door to Dumbledore's office opened and Hagrid walked through, his face ghastly pale.

"Headmaster, yeh've- yeh've got ter come! She needs help!"

Dumbledore didn't say a word, but hurried from his office as quickly as a man half his age and followed Hagrid out to his home. Sirius and Snape were close on his heels.

"Who is it Hagrid?" Dumbledore asked as they ran down the path to Hagrid's hut.

"I der know, sir, she was in no condition ter talk. It's a wonder she had ernough strength to apparate here. I found her just inside the Hogwarts gates. I don' know what would der happened if I hadn't been walking there..." He broke off as they entered his hut.

Snape was aware of the stench immediately. How could Hagrid stand it here?

In the corner, on Hagrid's large bed, lay a woman. Her robes were badly singed and her hair was in knots around her face. She only had one shoe on and it was in poor condition.

Dumbledore knelt by her and whispered some words. Her eyes opened slowly.

"Albus Dumbledore, I presume?" her voice was clear and unwavering.

"Yes, and you are?"

"Very much relieved." she said and sunk into a faint.

~~*~~


After a while, the common room was crowded. Everyone was starting to head down for their last breakfast in the Great Hall. The suitcases and bags were piling up as students rushed to pack to be ready for the train after breakfast.

Hermione pushed her way over to Harry, "Harry, I was trying to tell you earlier-"

"Hermione, not now! I'm busy! I only have a couple more hours left in Hogwarts for goodness sakes!"

Hermione grabbed Harry's robes and slammed his back into a near by wall.

"What I'm trying to tell you, you self-centered imbecile, is that Fred and George are under the Imperius curse!"

Harry was shocked speechless.

"Hermione!" Ron, behind her, was furious, "What on earth are you talking about! My- my brothers? The Imperious curse?!"

Hermione put a hand to her ear, "Ron, do be quiet-"

" 'Be quiet'!!?!!" People were starting to glance at them. Harry led them away from the throng. Ron continued to glare.

Harry spoke thoughtfully, "No, Ron-listen-she's right."

"Wh-what?" Ron was shocked, "Not you too..." He tried not to dwell on the fact that both of his best friends had somehoe lost their minds.

"Just listen! I knew that there was something wrong. Something that I just couldn't place at the time," he swallowed. "But, but now I remember."

Hermione nodded, "I only noticed it now. They were acting so strange last night and they weren't themselves. They went somewhere Ron."

"Well, well, they're always going places, you know. Playing pranks and stuff."

"No, Ron! Listen!" Hermione begged. "Do you remember the night that the Ministry was destroyed?"

Ron nodded with exasperation, "Yes, but-"

Hermione raised her voice, "Do you remember what Fred and George said?"

Ron was confused, "Well, they said that You-Know-Who was there and 'Run for your lives!' and stuff like that."

"Ron," Harry told him, "they said that Voldemort was there."

Ron flinched, "Don't say that name!"

"Ron, Fred and George said his name."

Ron wrinkled his forehead in thought.

Hermione spoke, "I didn't notice it at the time. None of us did. There was so much going on! But- but I'm sure," she said firmly, "that we're right. Is there any other explanation? They were in the same room as him and they got out alive. I don't know why I didn't notice it before..."

Harry's eyes widened suddenly, "But- but if that's true, then, then Voldemort, he knows everything that Dumbledore told us! He knows that he's dying!"

Hermione's mouth fell open, "I- I didn't even realize that! Oh, no Harry!"

"We've got to go tell him now!" Ron said fervently. "You guys are right. I'm sorry, I guess I'm a little tired."

"But," Hermione started, "Dumbledore's not here, Fred and George told me..."She stopped. "He is here! He's not at a meeting!!" Harry and Ron gave her confused looks, "Oh I must see him! There's so much to tell!"

"Hermione," Ron asked, "Are you not telling us something?"

"I'll tell you along the way," she said and they hurried off to Dumbledore's office.

~~*~~


Black smoke sifted from the fireplace as the ashes were disturbed. The room was bare and silent and no one seemed to be at home.

Narcissa stepped out of the fireplace and looked about in hopes of seeing a familiar face. She hadn't known where to go. There was only one place she had thought of. One old friend who would take her in.

Serena emerged, coughing and brushing dust from her robes. She surveyed the dark room warily.

"Remus!" Narcissa called hopefully. It was only a hope. She could see that there was no one here. He was on a mission for Dumbledore, she was sure.

"Who?" Serena asked, puzzled. "Where are we and who is Remus?"

"An old friend," Narcissa replied, her lips curving into a smile. "He's probably out on Dumbledore's business."

Serena nodded. Obviously she knew who Dumbledore was. Narcissa was suddenly frowning as she considered her companion. Shouldn't she be at a school? Shouldn't she be honing her magic powers and learning instead of serving a stuffy old family? Why was it like this?

"Are you- magical, Serena?"

Serena laughed at her look, "You won't offend me. I'm not a squib, if that's what you mean. I know quite a bit, but not, I daresay, as much as the educated class of my age."

Narcissa nodded. Life was unfair. She of all people should know that. She clasped the girl's hand in hers and moved towards the kitchen, vowing that she would get a chance in the world. She wouldn't let her end up a servant.

"Let's see he left us anything edible…" A casserole and a jug of pumpkin juice were produced and Narcissa was glad for the absence of mold. Remus had always been a very good cook.

"Good old Moony," she murmured.

~~*~~


A/N: Thank you for the reviews!!! Did anyone guess correctly what was wrong with the twins?

Ginger- You are sooooo cool! I'm glad you are enthused about my humble 'ittle story! Hope you like it!!!

siriuslyinlove: You are one of the nicest people! Thank you for sticking with the story!

Laura-Grace: I know! Poor Sirius! But- he'll be alright! I love him! ^_^

Wormtail's worst enemy: Love the name! Thanks for reading!!!

Mrs Grim