Chapter Twenty-Seven
Strengths of Character
The kiss of February refroze the land after a gentle January thaw, and the weeks dragged on as Jennifer found herself drowned in extra work, everything else put on hold as school business took her full attention.
It was due in large part to an unexpected resignation of the Hogwarts' History professor, who, upon being convinced that he was dead by a certain audacious first-year student, immediately wandered out of the classroom for a word with Dumbledore before fading away. The duties of History then fell to the staff who were qualified to teach it, largely Minerva and Severus, who, with the help of the Arithmantics professor, Vector, were able to cover first through fourth year classes. Jennifer had volunteered to take over two of Severus' potion classes when he was asked to teach History in that time slot, and so she too was dragged into the mix. At least fifth, sixth, and seventh were assigned to independent studies and essays, and Jennifer had little doubt that Irma Pince could keep them in line while they were studying in the library.
"I'm done organizing the books and ingredients for you, Professor Craw," Corey said, drawing Jennifer out of her mound of homework marking at her desk.
"All right, Corey, finish your lunch and you can go," she nodded briskly to the boy, flipping over to the next paper and kneading her forehead slightly. But Corey, sitting on the floor near her footlocker, looked at her thoughtfully as he reached over to grab a sandwich off a tray.
"Are you still mad at me? For what happened with Professor Binns?" Corey asked cautiously.
"Oh Corey," Jennifer sighed with exasperation. "I haven't been mad, I've just been busy with the extra work is all. It was bound to happen sometime, but it couldn't have happened at a worse time!"
"At least this is the last of my detentions," Corey said with relief, nibbling on the sandwich.
"Yes, you definitely got McGonagall worked up this time," Jennifer grinned at him, glancing back down at the paper. "She really has low tolerance for students talking back in class and losing their temper. So do I come to think of it. I'd probably have done the same thing," Jennifer decided.
"Would you have given me fifteen points for it too?" Corey grinned. Jennifer frowned disapprovingly at him.
"Dumbledore gave you those points not for being out of line, but for helping the poor soul realize it was time to move on," Jennifer reminded him gently. "Sometimes moving on can be painful, but we all need to get on with life, or afterlife in his case, eventually. Things won't get easier until after you do," she added. There was little doubt that she was speaking not of Binns now, but of Corey.
"I'm not sure I want things to get easier," the boy admitted slowly, looking blankly at his sandwich. "It seems wrong to be happy. Actually, everything seems wrong no matter what I do."
"I know how you feel. I went through that when my mother died, and when I thought my father was dead. Especially when I came to a decision about what I wanted to do with my life I knew that both of them would never have approved of," Jennifer chuckled, "such as teaching at Hogwarts."
"Did you feel guilty about doing it?" Corey asked.
"Well, there always comes a point in everyone's life when you realize that you have to do what's best for you and not anyone else. I knew that my parents loved me and wanted me to be happy first and foremost, and really, no one can decide what's going to make you happy but you," Jennifer said to him gently. "Your parents were wonderful people; they loved you and I'm quite sure they only want you to be happy. So there's no reason to feel guilty for doing what you need to do to accomplish that." Corey ate quietly for a moment, and Jennifer even nibbled on her own lunch before turning back to her work.
"Did you ever ask your father about what he thought of you coming to Hogwarts after you found out he was alive?" Corey asked after a moment.
"You know, I never have," Jennifer looked up thoughtfully. "But now that you mention it, I think I shall next time I visit," she decided, getting up to answer the scratching at the door. Bending down. she picked up a letter an owl had dropped there, groaning loudly when she saw the envelope.
"Oh, great stars! Not another one! Good grief, what does the Ministry think I've done this time? I wish they'd pick on someone else."
"I thought Dumbledore got you off the hook for those three death spell fines from Hogsmeade last month?" Corey asked curiously.
"Corey, I don't know how you heard about that, but I hope you're not repeating it," Jennifer said opening the letter, gaping at it. "Inappropriate storage and use of cursed items without proper licensing? They have got to be kidding! Wait until I get my hands on that skinny, long-necked, brainless…" Jennifer saw Corey watching her and quickly checked her temper. "I'm sure it's just another clerical mistake," she scowled. "I had specific permission to bring those items here for the class to practice on."
"Wow, Professor, you're the only teacher I know who gets in as much trouble as I do," Corey grinned, shaking his head.
"Are you finished with your lunch yet?" Jennifer asked, tapping her foot. Corey quickly got up deciding not to push his luck any further, putting away his tray. Jennifer popped open the door in annoyance to usher him out just to jump back in surprise to notice Dumbledore standing as if ready to knock on the other side. "Sir! Uh, sorry, please come in. All finished, Corey?"
"Yes, Professor Craw," he grinned and sidled out the door. Jennifer quickly closed it behind him, shaking her head.
"He seems to be doing remarkably well," Dumbledore commented with a slight smile.
"He's coming around, yes," Jennifer said in annoyance, then noticed Dumbledore was still watching her. "I'm sorry, sir, I don't mean to be wound up, but I just got another one of these again," she said, her temper rising again as she handed Dumbledore the letter.
"Just this moment?" Dumbledore said, slightly surprised for some reason.
"A moment before you came. I can't believe they've done it to me again! Improper use of cursed items indeed! I've expert level documentation in Curses and Dark magic, everyone knows that, and how come if this was such a problem it didn't come up last year when I first brought these things in?"
"Calm down, Jennifer, I'm sure it's all just a simple misunderstanding," Dumbledore said, holding a hand up.
"Professor, there have been more misunderstandings sent to me this year than any other teacher, even Severus. Shouldn't they be more concerned about finding out what Voldemort and his lot are doing instead of sneezing every time I cast anything? First the paper and then these, I'm so tired of these personal attacks." Jennifer said, pacing.
"I couldn't agree more, Jennifer. I have every intention of following up on this and the paper problem. You are right, it does seem to be getting a bit out of hand."
"A bit? Professor, I just want to know why everyone has turned against me all of the sudden," Jennifer said, looking to face him.
"My dear, I know you don't really believe that everyone has turned against you. In fact, I would say you have nearly an entire castle full of supporters, including me of course," he smiled, looking at her from above the rim of his glasses. "And if you ever really do think everyone has turned against you, feel free to come to me and I'll help dispel the notion." Jennifer felt herself relax, suddenly embarrassed at her flaring temper.
"Thank you sir, you're right of course. I'll let you handle it. What was it you wanted to speak with me about?"
"Ah, yes, I've found a temporary replacement for History, just until the end of the year. The schedule will have to be drastically reworked in unusual time periods, however, because I've managed to get Francis Pyther to agree to come in and teach for a while. We've already started to clean the classroom in the lower dungeon for him, and he should be taking over next week."
"But Professor! I mean, Pyther is a great choice, he's a fountain of living history, but…what about Severus?" Jennifer asked worriedly.
"Oh, I spoke with him about it first. He's not particularly happy about it, but after I reminded him it was his turn to organize OWLS this year, he relented," Dumbledore said with amusement. "I am so glad the three of you took that trip to Germany. I believe it definitely had a positive impact on both of them."
"Too bad it didn't help us find the Tomb," Jennifer sighed. "Lately, I've been getting the strange feeling that time has run out and if something isn't done soon, it'll be too late." Dumbledore's face suddenly took on a serious look, frowning thoughtfully.
"You are the third person who has come and told me that in the last week. Harry and Severus have also come to me separately and mentioned it," Dumbledore said seriously. Jennifer felt a strange chill around her, gazing back at him with matched concern.
Corey somehow managed to get all the way to dinner without getting into trouble. He was glad to be able to rejoin Doug at the table, sitting close to Harry and his friends hoping to hear the latest gossip. As it turned out, he wasn't disappointed.
"There's Snape and Craw now," Ron pointed out nodding up at the table as the Professors, accompanied by Hooch entered and sat down. "She seems calm enough, so perhaps she hasn't heard yet. I know she doesn't read the paper anymore. Got sick of it, I think."
"Well, I don't blame her," Hermione said, glancing up at them. "The nerve of anyone saying all those things about her, not one wit of it is true! After all, everyone knows Craw's one of the leading experts in Cursed Items in the country. Not to mention she had permission from Dumbledore to teach us how to dispel them, that's her job, after all."
"They've got their wires crossed this time for sure," Ginny agreed. "You know Dad wouldn't ever allow them to fine her for that."
"Are you all talking about the letter from the Ministry Craw got today? Because if you are, I was in the room when she got it," Corey said, causing everyone to look up.
"Craw got a letter from the Ministry today?" Harry asked. "How do you know that's where it was from?"
"She was pretty mad about it, something about Cursed Item storage and licenses. She had a hard time controlling her temper in front of me, even. Then Dumbledore came in to talk to her and she shooed me away. What happens to professors who get in trouble, anyhow?" Corey wondered.
"Nothing's going to happen to Professor Craw," Hermione assured him. "Dumbledore himself gave his permission to use items in class. He's not about to let them get away with it."
"Wait a minute, how could the paper have known about this at all if it just happened today? The letters and papers get delivered at the same time, but the paper had it in copy before she even got the fine?" Ron asked. Harry looked around distractedly before turning his attention back to Ron. "Sounds like the paper must have an informant in the Ministry."
"Oh, that's not good at all. Who knows what else they might find out and put in the paper?" Ginny said, looking at Harry. Harry nodded slightly, rubbing his scar absently.
"Let's go talk to Anna about it after dinner," Ron suggested, "now that she's working for the Ministry, maybe she'd have some idea where it might be coming from."
"Are you all right there, Harry?" Hermione asked, looking at him concernedly as he rubbed his scar, gazing about it apparent confusion.
"I don't know. I keep hearing something… voices, a lot of them." Harry said, shaking his head quickly as if trying to clear it.
"Harry, we're in the Great Hall. Of course you hear voices." Ron said, giving his friend an odd look.
"No, this is different, these are hateful, whispering voices, but it's all jumbled what they're saying, there are so many of them," Harry said.
"Strange…the last time you heard voices, it was when that ancient basilisk was in the pipes," Hermione murmured thoughtfully, looking at him. "Could it be?"
"Snakes! An army of snakes!" Harry said suddenly. "And if I can hear them they must be close by!" He suddenly stood up, looking up towards the head table, and noticed that Snape had been watching him, a look of bewilderment and alarm on his face as well. Once Harry stood, Snape leapt to his feet and out the back of the hall, leaving Craw and several of the other professors watching him in surprise. They then turned to look at Harry, who ran up to Dumbledore.
"Voldemort's getting ready to attack the castle!" Harry warned as Dumbledore and McGonagall rose to their feet. "There's an army of snakes approaching. I can hear them."
"All right, everyone, you know what to do. Harry, go and join your classmates," Dumbledore said quickly, ringing the glass to get the rest of the room's attention. He needn't have bothered, however, for all eyes were already on him. "Our enemies are close at hand, and it is time that they learn that this school can not be taken by force. All students who wish to participate in the ground defense will get their coats and meet Filius in the courtyard. Everyone else report to the dormitories."
Harry went back to his seat looking at his friends with a serious look on his face as some of the other students, including Doug and Corey began to get up.
"Aren't you going to join the defense team?" Corey asked them, wondering why they hadn't moved yet.
"I am," Hermione said reassuringly, reaching over and squeezing Ron's hand a moment before she got up. "Everyone be careful, okay?" she said before joining the other prefects at the head of the lines.
"Come on, Corey," Doug said, impatient to get going.
"You go on, I want to talk to Harry a moment," Corey said, sitting back down. Doug shrugged and followed Hermione. Several other students came to over to them, and Corey quickly recognized them as the other members of the Quidditch team, as well as a couple of Harry's classmates.
"So you're going through with it?" Seamus asked, leaning over the table.
"We didn't work all this time for nothing. And I really want to try Ron's plan. Perhaps we can finally stop this madness once and for all," Harry said. "What did you want Corey? I'm rather busy at the moment," he asked, just as Draco, Crabbe, Justin, and the Patil twins reached them.
"Look, I don't know what you're doing, but I want to go with you," Corey said. Draco rolled his eyes.
"You weren't invited Willowby, why don't you go play with the other first years?" Draco snapped, giving him an icy stare.
"Corey, please go on with Hermione, okay? You don't even have a broom, and you're already in enough trouble without getting into more," Ron said. "Now go on with you."
"Ron's right, Corey, it's too dangerous. You can help out better by joining the ground defense," Harry said gently. But Corey hadn't moved, watching Harry steadily.
"You're going after him, aren't you? After him and his followers?" Corey said quietly, as everyone at the table exchanged glances. "I want to go. If I need a broom, I'll borrow one. He killed my parents too, you know," he said, his eyes determined. Harry studied him thoughtfully.
"All right, I'll let you use my old Firebolt." Harry said, getting up.
"You can't honestly think he can keep up on a broom. He'll just end up getting us all killed," Draco protested, eyeing him with extreme dislike.
"Shut up, Malfoy, no one says you have to come along. I'm sure we can find someone else to lead the Slytherin team," Ron growled. "Besides, he would probably just follow us or tell someone where we were if we didn't take him." Draco gazed at Corey as if debating whether or not to stay, but backed off when the rest of them stood up, including Parvati and her sister who both gave him a disapproving frown.
"We'll meet behind the storage gate in five minutes," Harry said. "Hermione's already convinced the rest of the other prefects to cover for us, so please try not to mess up. We may only have one shot at this." The rest of the students nodded, and hurried to their rooms to get their things.
Jennifer dashed down the Owlery stairs wondering where Severus had taken off to. Hoping he wasn't doing anything irrational, the Defense professor ran out to meet the others at the outside wall. To one side, Filius had lined up the students, and just as she came in full view she witnessed a spectacular sight as a blinding light made up of many strands shot out towards the lake below. There was a slight tremble beneath her feet as a sheet of crystal jetted up out of the water, sealing off the cavern entrance to Hogwarts. It didn't take Jennifer long to figure out why they had done it, for at the edge of the lake was a writhing sea of snakes, two feet long each and black, entering the water in a chaotic swarm. Dark clouds choked the full moon light and the sky grew dimmer and dimmer, making it difficult to see exactly where the lead edge was, but the blackness seemed to continue all the way to the train station, blanketing the entire grounds south of the castle in serpents. Standing at the edge of the steep embankment was Minerva, looking out over the lake steadily as Jennifer headed over to her.
"I don't recognize the breed…poisonous, no doubt?" Jennifer asked.
"I expect so, although I do not recognize them either," Minerva admitted. "Have you seen Severus?"
"Not since he left at dinner," Jennifer frowned in concern. "Where's Dumbledore?"
"Right here," Dumbledore said calmly, coming up beside them. "I had to have a word with Filius. And don't worry about Severus. I sent him out on Ruby to take a look around."
"Professor! They're almost to the halfway point," Filius shouted over to them. Dumbledore nodded with a determined sparkle lighting his eyes.
"Very well, fire! Or should I say, ice?" Dumbledore said. In unison, several hundred students under Filius' directing pointed their wands towards the lake; shouting out, "Freeze!" in a solid clear voice. Another large beam of light, this one tinged with pale blue, shot past the three standing at the edge and hit the water full force, instantly turning it to ice. It quickly spread out from the center of the lake encasing everything in it, leaving some snakes writhing halfway embedded helplessly, and many others stuck underneath it.
"There, that should slow them down a bit," Dumbledore said pleased. Jennifer uncovered her eyes and looked over at it in awe. But strangely enough, the snakes on the shore did not seem intimidated by the fate of their counterparts, and began to carefully work their way onto the slippery cold surface.
"I don't understand. How could he possibly have this much control over so many?" Jennifer said as another swarm began to emerge from the shoreline.
"I'm not sure that he does, at least, not as much control over them as he'd like," Dumbledore mused. There was a stiff beating of wings, and the three looked up to see Severus descend on the pegasus, looking even more solemn than usual.
"Voldemort and about a dozen Death Eaters are just beyond the train station near the Dark Forest, just beyond the grounds border. There are no other creatures, but there seem to be an endless supply of snakes. These aren't normal snakes, Professor, they don't seem to have individual consciousness; it's as if they were coming from the same spell."
"So many? From the same spell?" Minerva asked in amazement. Jennifer found herself getting a sinking feeling, getting dreadfully suspicious.
"They're voracious, all they seem to be concerned with is finding as many targets as possible, and don't seem to care who they strike. In fact, I think they'd turn on Voldemort in an instant if he hadn't control over them. However he's doing it, I think the control is strained. If we can find a way to break it, he will be as susceptible to these vermin as us, if not more so since he's closer," Severus informed them.
"Vermin... this isn't vermin..." Jennifer said suddenly gazing out in horror over the lake. "This is pestilence! The snakes are the vessels of the Plague spell!" she cried out, trying to keep herself calm. "He's found the Tomb, there can be no doubt of that now!"
"Good lord, and they're in the water!" Minerva said. "They might contaminate the cistern!"
"We have to be careful how to exterminate them. If we try to kill them, they might spread the plague in the air. They have to be killed with fire," Jennifer told Dumbledore who quickly nodded.
"Filius, cast a still air spell over the entire grounds, and then try to construct a barrier around the school, it needs to be quarantined immediately," Dumbledore said.
"Professor Flitwick, no wait! Professor Dumbledore!" Hermione ran up suddenly, looking frantic. "We can't close off the school yet! Harry organized the Quidditch teams and a few other good flyers and they're out there on their own," she blurted out. "If we seal it off now, they might get shut out."
"Severus, go see if you can find them. Even if you cannot, meet us back here in ten minutes. Filius, go find Filch and check the charms on the water and make sure it's filtering this out. Jennifer, take over the students and do what you can do to stop the spell from spreading. Minerva, go get the scroll and meet me back here in a few minutes. It's high time we tested that other spell we decoded."
"Where are you going?" Minerva asked suspiciously as Dumbledore began to walk away.
"I'm going to go to have a few words with our assailant," the Headmaster said calmly, and walked into a thin mist.
"There they are," Harry pointed out as the thirty three students hovered above the edge of the forest, hoping to blend in with the shadows of the tops of the trees. "Just as I thought, they're standing within distance of the tunnels in case they can't Disapparate out."
"At least we outnumber them. Looks like there's only about a dozen of them, we got over twice that many," Ron said.
"If you don't count the snakes," Harry said grimly. "And there's something odd about them. They speak in the same language but they don't behave like snakes at all."
"Well at least they can't fly," Ron said. "They won't be able to get to us so long as we stay on are brooms. But it's strange there are so few Death Eaters here, when we know he's got tons more now. Why would he risk trying to take on Hogwarts with so few, especially with Dumbledore at the school?"
"Dumbledore's not in the school at the moment," Susan said, staring wide-eyed below them.
"Yes he is, he was at dinner, remember?" Justin reminded her. "What are you looking at? Whoa," he said suddenly. Corey, trying to listen in, careened his head forward so he could see what the squad leaders were looking at. That was when he saw Dumbledore, walking calmly out of the mist hovering around the forest and heading towards the thirteen figures.
"Wait here," Harry told them. "But watch for my signal. If you see it, Ron, you go ahead with your plan."
"Alright, Harry, be careful," Ron said. Harry slowly lowered his broom, and Corey, waiting only a moment for him to get slightly ahead, lowered his own and followed, ignoring the urgent hisses from Ginny and Ron as he did so. He had every intention of seeing the person responsible for his parents' deaths, and nothing was about to stop him.
The heavy fog and mist around the Dark Forest cloaked around them as they neared the ground, leaving Corey slightly frustrated for the unclear view. Harry, however, quietly set his broom on the ground and shrugged off his cloak. Corey blinked, for Harry's body had disappeared, and as he watched Harry's hand pulled on something by his neck and the rest of him disappeared as well. Corey wished he'd thought to bring an Invisibility Potion but he hadn't, so had to resort to more mundane measures, dismounting and lying flat and still on the ground so he could see below the fog. He succeeded in only getting a good view of Dumbledore's back, but decided that was going to be about as good as it was going to get. It never occurred to him that he was also in the line of fire had they decided to attack the wizard.
"Do not bother to try. I've come under a Veil of Parlay," Dumbledore was saying, waving off the wands pointed in them as if they held no power at all. "I see you have acquired the Staff of Eyre. I had been wondering exactly how you were able to curb the spell's appetite. I had not known it had been left in Salazar's Tomb, but I can surmise that was where you must have got it from."
"Whatever game you are up to, Dumbledore, it is pointless. I now have knowledge even you have not acquired. Your school is defenseless against the powers I have. You failed to keep me from the Tomb that was by blood only mine to claim, and your students will have mere hours to live as the plague takes hold of your precious school," Voldemort said with hatred and apparent disgust.
"I always knew this day would come, Tom, that you would begin to believe your own lies. You've told them for so long, persuaded so many…so many good people to listen to them; it was inevitable that you yourself would fall prey to them. I knew the day would come when you would make that third mistake, the one that would finally start you down the last few steps to your own final destruction. So I have come to say goodbye to you, Tom, for we will not meet again. It is a pity that you allowed your hatred and quest for revenge to carry you to such an evil path, and quite regrettable that you would not listen to my council when I offered it so long ago. At least I succeeded from allowing many others I hold dear to fall in your clutches, and I am also quite proud of all of those who chose death rather than follow that same path. For what you fail to realize is although you may now know all the spells of death, you hold no power over it. Those who pass on escape you forever, and those who cause it only doom themselves to its service. It'd do well for your followers to remember that, for perhaps it's not too late for all of them," he said thoughtfully, glancing at the cloaked figures. "Well, I have said my peace, and I will leave you now, for I believe you are going to have your hands full in a moment. Farewell, Tom," Dumbledore said. The mist suddenly gathered around him and he faded into it, leaving Voldemort standing there clutching the staff in seething anger.
"This may indeed be the last time we meet, but it will not be me who will be leaving," Voldemort growled angrily, raising his staff towards the lake as another wave of snakes seemed to rain down out of an ominous cloud just above it. "He will have the pleasure of watching those he cares about die around him first!"
"I wouldn't count on that, Voldemort!" a voice shouted out from the darkness. Voldemort and several of his followers spun about, looking for the origin of the voice.
"Harry Potter," Voldemort hissed. "I should have known you would not cower in the castle. Come out, boy, and witness the true strength of darkness! You wish to destroy me, don't you? To be the hero you always imagined yourself to be? Well, now's your chance," he said, smiling mockingly. "Don't be shy, this is your last opportunity to save your friends from certain death."
"Do you really think I'm stupid enough to try and face you when you have twelve others here to defend you?" Harry's voice said. "And what of your own 'friends,' Voldemort? Many of your followers have children in Hogwarts at this very moment. Do they all know you're in the process of murdering them? But then why would you care, since you've already made certain they'd all die if anything happened to you with that Dark Mark of yours. I bet you haven't gotten so many followers since that news broke, have you?"
Corey was then aware that one of the Death Eaters was heading towards him, and he cautiously crawled backwards, holding his breath. For a moment, he had thought for sure he had been seen, but the Death Eater passed by him instead, searching the other side of him.
"Oh, their sacrifices will not be in vain, Potter, for my enemies will also fall, and nothing will left in my way," Voldemort hissed.
"Your way, never our way. Listen to him, Death Eaters, don't you see what he's doing? Whatever he's promised you, whatever he's threatening you with, he's just using you! If he'd kill your children, you think he'd hesitate to kill you? Maybe it's time you faced the facts. Now, Ron!"
A blinding flash of sunlight lit up the area as Voldemort yelled out in rage. Flying around them came thirty-one students on brooms, never staying still enough to become targets. On the ground, Corey scurried onto his own broom to join the ranks, watching curiously as the light began to dim. The cowls on the Death Eaters had been ripped away, and although Corey didn't recognize them, he was sure some of the other students did.
"Not one student parent here! Now I understand why you came with so few this time. You didn't want them to find out, did you? What did you have planned for your own followers who turned against you afterwards, Voldemort?" Harry's voice asked. It was then as Voldemort looked up that he recognized two students looking down at him from their brooms, their faces pale and expressions icy cold.
"What are you two doing here? How dare you be helping him? You will die for betraying me!" Voldemort shouted, breaking into a rage when he saw Crabbe and Malfoy.
"The way I understand it, we were dead anyhow," Draco said coldly. "Who has betrayed whom, Voldemort? The only reward you had in mind for any of us was death. I follow only the will of my father, and in his name, I officially denounce you as a traitor and an enemy of our family!"
"Then you die first," Voldemort hissed and pointed the staff at Draco. But just before he finished casting the Unforgivable Death spell, another voice near to him was shouting, "Expelliarmus!" and the staff he was holding was flung to the ground.
"Now!" Harry yelled, and the entire force yelled out, "Stupefy!" In complete unison, and Voldemort went flying back and suddenly vanished. "Damn it!" Harry swore as he pulled off the hood of his cloak, grabbing the staff.
"All right, nobody move! We're not afraid to use these!" Ron ordered, pointing his wand at the remaining Death Eaters. "You might as well stay, we got you all on film, and it's going right to Dumbledore. You'd be safer at this point just surrendering calmly."
"Watch it, everyone! Look at the snakes!" Justin cried out. Corey glanced over to see that the snakes, once heading only for the school, had begun to spread out, heading in every direction. "Harry, do something!"
"I don't know how to make this thing work!" Harry shouted back as he fiddled with the staff.
To make matters worse, a dreadful, chilling sound howled nearby…the howl of a wolf. A second howl joined over top of it, but the second one was different, as if it had a note of warning in it. They both seemed to have come from the woods.
"Now what are we going to do?" Ron asked. Corey looked expectantly at Harry, who was sighing softly. Harry was about ready to let the Death Eaters go when he noticed a large group running towards them from the station, petrifying snakes on their way past.
"It's Dad!" Ginny said, landing beside Harry, "And he's got a whole slew of others with him."
"Nobody move!" Arthur Weasley called as he ran up with his wand out, several of his guards heading towards the robed figures, blinking in amazement when they saw some of the folk among them. Coming up beside him was Anna Hughes, quickly trying to take in the situation, gnawing on her lip slightly when her eyes met one of the figures. "Good heavens, Ederick, is that you?" Arthur said in shock.
"Ederick Thurspire, Deputy Minister of investigations is a Death Eater?" Someone hiding behind the line of ministers said excitedly, trying to get a peek. A short thin man wearing a long pointed cap with a large silver pin engraved with the word, "PRESS" bobbed in the crowd, trying to get into a position to take photos.
"And here I was thinking I'd finally get an exclusive," Ron muttered.
"What's that light over the castle?" Parvati suddenly asked. Four strands of light of different colors had braided together to form a single beam at the end aimed at one of the towers of Hogwarts. Then, a winged beast larger than anything Corey had ever seen before soared into view, followed by another and another…circling the castle proper.
"Wow! Dragons! Real live dragons!" Corey said excitedly. "You don't think they're attacking, do you?" he asked, suddenly worried about Snape and Craw. Determined not to lose another set of parents without a fight, Corey kicked the broom forward into high gear, shooting off over the lake.
"No, Corey, wait!" Harry cried out and took off after him despite the shouts of the others.
Severus landed Ruby and walked over to where Jennifer and Minerva were standing just as Dumbledore returned to join them.
"I saw no signs of them on the grounds or over the lake, sir," Severus said with exasperation.
"Well, they aren't inside the castle, I'm certain of that," Minerva added.
"It's all right, I know where they are," Dumbledore said calmly. "Harry has quite a few students with him, in fact, including Corey."
"Corey?" Jennifer looked up from the spell she was studying, handing it to Severus. "Where is he? What are they doing?"
"They are, if I'm not mistaken, about to try and take on Voldemort and his men on the other side of the border," Dumbledore said.
"What? And you just left them there?" Severus snapped in surprise.
A howl sounded faintly in the distance, joined by another, more urgent howl. Severus and Jennifer glanced at each other worriedly.
"Severus, memorize that spell Jennifer just gave you, quickly now, the four of us shall cast it together. We must do our part, just as surely as they must be allowed to do theirs," Dumbledore said firmly, glancing at both Severus and Jennifer. "We can not protect them all the time." Dumbledore reached in his robe and took out a large wand case that Jennifer recognized immediately as the one her wand came out of. There was only one left in there, the black one, and she watched as Dumbledore gently took it out and closed the case. "Severus, I'd like you to use this wand when we cast the spell. If we're going to do this, we might as well do it right. I'm sure that the wand's curse won't affect you now," Dumbledore said, offering the wand out. Severus studied Dumbledore for a long moment before he nodded and took it, handing the scroll back to Minerva. Dumbledore then took Minerva and Jennifer's hand, and Jennifer took Severus' as the spell sync was cast over them, the familiar webbing feeling draping over them.
"Aim it at the Owlery," Dumbledore said with a gleam in his eye. The four professors, with the founders' wands in hand, raised them up in unison as the words to the spell tumbled into the air.
"Familarus transforme ignis animus!"
Jennifer watched as a deep blue strand came from her wand, and blinked in amazement when the other wands held different colors, red, yellow and green, even though the same spell was cast. Unlike other times that spell sync had been used, the four lights seemed to intertwine with each other instead of go out like one source, and as it touched the Owlery, a burst of colors sparkled through air. From the tower a string of owls took flight, and just as they cleared the tower an incredible transformation occurred as the owls grew in size as the Familiars to Firebreathers spell took hold.
With the power of the four professors, the spell quickly turned the feathered faire into an arsenal of dragons that swooped experimentally as they tested their new form. It did not take them long to figure out what was they were meant to do, and with deadly accuracy the dragons began to torch the snakes as they approached. A large hawk, her size muted by the great forms around her, dove through the onslaught to light on the embankment, returning to her human form as she touched the ground. Madame Hooch strode quickly up to the four with a fiery look in her amber eyes.
"The snakes have broken control, Professor, like you said they would. They're starting to dart out in all directions," Rolanda said. Without a word Jennifer ran over to the students, quickly getting their attention and having them get back in sync.
"We can't wait any longer, everyone prepare to cast barrier of force and aim it between the lake and the station, concentrate on trying to encircle the castle with it," Jennifer instructed them, then turned to face it, adding her own power to the hundreds of students standing with her.
"Murus orbis!"
A crackle of power could be felt around Jennifer as she cast along with them, a surge of power unlike anything she'd ever felt before. From the point that they had started a shimmering haze appeared, wafting back over them and running in a dome formation using them as the center, walling off not only the castle but also the Quidditch grounds, part of the forest, and a small portion of the mountains behind them. Now that that was done, there was only the cloud itself to worry about, for Jennifer was quite certain it was still producing snakes, and would for hours before it would finally run out of steam. Even with the owl turned dragons, this was going to pose a problem. From what she read, the spell they had just cast did not last longer than a few minutes, and other methods of fire would require them to get closer. She had to take out the cloud, she knew. Jennifer went over again and again in her mind how the spell was cast, hoping to find a weakness.
Every spell had a weakness, she coaxed herself. Every curse has a counter, and every cloud… hitting herself in the head for missing the obvious, Jennifer took out her broom and hopped on, pushing it forward as she headed towards the cloud. It was hovering over the lake near the edge of the forest, and Jennifer veered her protesting broom into a sharp angle. The broom, to its credit, was doing everything in its power to keep Jennifer astride it despite her insistent maneuvers, already forcing the automatic to go faster than it was charmed to do. But as she neared the cloud and began to circle to get close enough to cast, Jennifer had also gotten uncomfortably close to the edge of the trees. Determined to do its job to keep her safe, the broom jerked forward away from branches, and Jennifer, trying to fight it, finally pulled the broom straight up. Panicking to try to get a better hold of the broom, Jennifer lost her grasp completely and slid off the end, falling towards the snake infested waters below.
Strangely enough, she felt herself slow down as a gentle breeze surrounded her from above her, watching in confusion as her broom smacked into the shallow water so hard it broke into pieces. It was her hair barrette, she realized with a start; the raven and dove had suddenly come alive, flapping with unnatural strength to slow her descent. But as she looked down, she realized that her danger was far from over.
Excited to have a victim at last, as she landed in the water, several of the snakes quickly latched onto her as she struggled to escape. Sparks flew from her wand as small jets of fire burned off the snakes, but even more began to gather around her. She scrambled to the shore, feeling weak and her stomach churning from the bites. She coughed painfully and took a potion just to keep herself steady, turning towards the lake to draw a circle of fire between her and the line of snakes. It was as she was doing this that she heard a very loud howl coming out of the forest behind her. She turned around just as the creature broke free from the woods. The werewolf had only one arm, and its remaining claw was covered in silver colored Unicorn blood. Sickened from disease, Jennifer tried to cast, but no magic came out of it as the beast suddenly charging her.
Just then she heard an angry neigh and saw someone leap into view from above, putting himself between Jennifer and the werewolf. Like reliving a nightmare, Jennifer heard herself shouting Severus' name as the werewolf bit deep into his wand arm, causing him to cry out in pain. Reaching into his pocket, Severus took out a pouch and beamed the werewolf in the face. Powdered wolf bane poured out, causing it to let go. Fearing for Severus, Jennifer found some renewed strength and forced herself to her feet, reaching in her cloak for her silver dagger. But before she could get closer, another wolf bounded from the woods and tackled the first from behind and the two engaged in a fierce battle. It lasted but a few moments, but to Jennifer, standing there afraid of hitting the wrong target, it seemed to go on forever. The one-armed wolf, weakened already by the powder, took off into the woods followed closely by the other, who followed him into the brush. Grabbing a piece of cloth from her pocket and covering her face, Jennifer rushed to Severus side where he lay wincing from the pain of his mangled arm.
Choking back tears, Jennifer conjured up some bandages, carefully pulling back what was left of his sleeve as he gritted his teeth. She tried to keep her mind from racing, but it was too much to bear. Severus certainly must have been infected; the bite was too deep for her to believe otherwise. A bite for which she knew there was yet to be a cure.
"Hold still, Severus, please, try to relax, everything's going to be all right," Jennifer said, her voice wavering, her own sickness forgotten as she worked to bandage his arm.
"Never mind me. We need to get you out of here, your face is as grey as stone," he said weakly. "What were you thinking taking off like that? I thought you'd finally grown out of that spur of the moment insanity!"
"I was trying to get to the cloud. I think I know how to dispel it," Jennifer explained, wincing as he did as she wrapped his arm. "I'm sorry, I wasn't expecting to fall off my broom," she explained, realizing at once how idiotic that sounded. "How do you feel?"
"Oh, you're worried about…no, Jennifer, I'm all right, everything's going to be all right," Severus assured her, trying to sit up.
"Of course everything's going to be all right," Jennifer said as her eyes watered, nodding fervently. "We can work through anything as long as we're together."
"Jennifer, look at me," Severus demanded, grabbing her shoulder with his good arm insistently. "I took the Potion, Jennifer. That is was what I wanted to talk to you about before all of this broke out. The effects of bites and poisons no longer affect me, nor does contagion," he explained as her eyes went wide with surprise. He pulled down the cloth off her nose and mouth. His face then turned grave. "I am fine, but your lips are turning blue. We need to get you to the hospital wing," he said, finding the energy to get up.
"Professor Snape! Professor Craw! What are you two doing out here?" A young voice called from above.
"I could ask you the same thing, Corey Willowby," Severus snapped weakly. "Stay up there, Potter!" Harry, who had been getting ready to land to try to help, hovered back up to Corey's side.
"Professor, Voldemort got away, but there's something in the forest. We just saw it, and it's inside the shield, something I've never seen before…" Harry started.
"Whatever it is will have to wait for someone else to deal with. Jennifer is sick and we need to get her to the castle," Severus said, helping her to her feet.
"Not until I dispel that cloud," Jennifer said stubbornly.
"I'll do it, just tell me what to do!" Corey volunteered, concerned over her appearance.
"That spell was my responsibility to guard," Jennifer said stubbornly. "It's my responsibility to clean it up when it's misused. Besides, I'm not sure this counterspell is going to work, and you don't need to be around if something goes wrong."
"You two had better get back to the castle. I'll take her up," Severus said.
"No, I'm going to make sure you get back all right," Corey said. "I've already lost my real parents, I'm not about to lose the two who are going to be my new ones!"
"I'm going wherever Corey's going to make sure he stays out of trouble," Harry said.
"Can we please just go?" Jennifer said before launching into a series of coughs. Severus and Jennifer somehow managed to get on Ruby's back and the four of them, two on broom and two on the winged horse; spiraled towards the cloud that was even still dropping snakes onto the ground. "Stay back, you two," Jennifer insisted as they neared, and gathering up the rest of her strength she began to chant softly to herself:
"Every spell has a dispel, every shadow has a light, every cloud has a silver lining." After saying it over several times until her focus cleared she pointed at the cloud, calling out in a strong voice, "Argentium nimbus!"
A brilliant silver light shot out of her wand and struck the cloud, and suddenly the cloud became lined with pure light. The light grew stronger and stronger and consumed it, the counterspell consuming it so quickly and completely that the cloud became a beacon of light so bright that the surrounding area was lit up as if it were midday. The beams surrounded the snakes in their path, and they disappeared, disintegrating as if they had never been there. Temporarily blinded, the four struggled to get farther away from it, trying to clear the spots from their eyes.
"Good lord, Jennifer, you could have warned us," Severus said as he tried to guide the blind Pegasus towards the castle lawn. "The entire sky is lit up. I wonder how far this light stretches?"
"I'm sorry! I didn't know it was going to do that! I just made the damn thing up half an hour ago," Jennifer explained, coughing weakly, feeling incredibly dizzy.
"You cast that spell cold?" Severus said in total amazement. But Jennifer, exhausted from the sickness and the spell, suddenly fell unconscious and Severus quickly grabbed a hold of her, wincing as he coaxed Ruby down with his injured arm.