Dammit, forgot the disclaimer last time. So, here goes: I do not own
anything that is part of the Harry Potter universe. That all belongs to the
wonderful JK Rowling. I do own the plot, and the character of Ellen Hawkes.
I would like to say that I owned Clemens as well, but he might have
something to say about that. . .
***
*Two years later*
Harry Potter stood staring out of his dormitory window across the Hogwarts grounds. Despite the mounting fears of a direct assault by Voldemort, he was feeling calm, and confident of a victory. Dumbledore would have a plan. Dumbledore was the most powerful wizard in the world, and with Harry coming close to full strength then Voldemort had everything to fear.
The door opened and his best friend, Ron Weasley, walked in.
"Hey, Harry. Heard anything more about the Ireland situation?" Harry shook his head. They had all been informed that morning of an attack by Voldemort at Donegal Castle, their stronghold in Ireland.
"No, I expect Dumbledore will tell us if there's anything to report. Hey, don't look so worried. We'll win." Ron shrugged.
"Have you seen Seamus at all? He hasn't been seen all day."
"Who's he dating at the moment?"
"That redhead from the Hufflepuff Quidditch team."
"Try her dorm, then."
"No, I've just seen her. He wasn't with her."
"Ah. Well, it would be bound to happen sooner or later. Seamus has all the morals of a cat in heat." Ron laughed and sat down on Neville's bed. Harry joined him, stretching out and resting his feet on Ron's lap.
"We have Potions in an hour," he reminded Ron, who made a face.
"Thanks for reminding me. At least Professor Harlow's nicer than Snape."
"Snape's been gone ages. I hope he's okay."
"Who cares?"
"Ron, have you ever heard the phrase, 'the enemy of my enemy is my friend'?"
"Yeah, but Snape's a git." Harry grinned and shook his head.
"You could at least try and be more tolerant. The poor man's got a lot on his plate with this mission. Anyway, has Hermione come back from her meeting with McGonagall yet?"
"Yeah, she's in the common room with Ginny. Let's go and see her!" They got up off the bed. No sooner had they reached the doors than the voice of Professor McGonagall, magically amplified, echoed through the corridors.
"All students please report to the Great Hall immediately! Sit at your House tables and await the arrival of Professor Dumbledore!"
Harry and Ron exchanged a worried glance.
"You don't think something's happened in Ireland, do you?" asked Ron. Harry shrugged, and they hurried out of the door, catching up with the girls in the corridor.
"Any idea what this is all about?" asked Ron, slipping his arm through Hermione's.
"Oh, hello, you two. No, I don't. I was just discussing the new shield charms for the school with McGonagall when Dumbledore came in and asked me to leave. He looked really worried about something. I think it might be to do with Ireland."
"Might explain why Seamus hasn't been seen. . . oh. . ." They had entered the Great Hall. Seamus was already sat at the Gryffindor table with his head in his hands. Dean Thomas was trying to comfort him. They walked over and sat down on the other side of him.
"What's wrong, Seamus?" asked Harry gently, putting his arm around the sobbing Irishman.
"It's me mam." began Seamus, and started howling.
The room, which had been filled with the buzz of nervous chatter, fell silent as Dumbledore entered the room. Hundreds of pairs of eyes turned apprehensively towards the Headmaster. He was looking strained and tired and, to Harry, he looked older than ever.
"I thank you all for responding so quickly," he said quietly. "Those of you who have been directly affected by the news I am about to impart I have spoken to already. You may leave the room if you wish." There was a scraping of chairs and a few students left the Hall. Seamus stayed put, staring at a spot on the table.
"You have all heard that this morning Lord Voldemort attacked Castle Donegal in Ireland. Over the last couple of hours we have received information that Castle Donegal has fallen to Lord Voldemort. Everyone defending the castle has either been killed or captured.
"I have received intelligence that Voldemort plans to amass an army of Death Eaters and launch an attack on Hogwarts from Donegal. We have reason to believe that he will attack towards the end of the school year.
"Certain students in the sixth year and above will be required to remain behind. They will know who they are. The rest of you shall return to your common rooms for the remainder of the day.
"Some new house rules will be coming into effect immediately. The punishments for breaking these rules will be severe. They might seem a little harsh, but they are for your own safety.
"No-one is to go anywhere alone, and always let other people know where you are going. Your teachers will escort you all to and from classes. No one is to be allowed out of the castle after dark for any reason. All future visits to Hogsmeade and all Quidditch matches have been suspended. Students are expected to be in their dormitories no later than eleven, and no one is to leave their common room after dinner unless there is a real emergency. Finally, I charge you all to keep your eyes open. Report anything suspicious immediately to a Prefect, who will then notify a member of staff.
"Thank you all for listening. I hope you will all support each other throughout this difficult time." Dumbledore sat down again. The conversations started up again, and people began to leave the Great Hall. Harry looked over to the Slytherin table and was surprised to see Draco Malfoy looking subdued. Ron nudged Harry's arm.
"Look at that git. You'd think he'd be swanking about this for months, wouldn't you?" Harry nodded. Noticing that the students that were left were moving towards the High Table, Harry, Ron, Hermione and Seamus joined them.
Harry was more than a little surprised when Draco Malfoy sat down opposite him. Ron was livid.
"What the bloody hell's he doing here?" he yelled.
"Calm down, Mr Weasley," sighed Dumbledore.
"But his dad's a Death Eater! He's a complete and utter gimboid!"
"Mr Weasley, Mr Malfoy is a spy for us. He came to me at the start of term and told me he wanted to help. Now if you will just sit back down, we can begin."
*
Later that night, Harry, Ron, Hermione and Seamus were sat talking in a corner of the Gryffindor common room. Dean had fallen asleep in front of the fire, and they were trying to cheer Seamus up without making enough noise to wake the dead.
Ron was staring out of the window, trying to see something in the darkness.
"Hang on, there's someone walking around out there," he announced.
"It's probably Hagrid or a teacher. Come and play chess," said Harry.
"No, it's. . . hang on, it's Malfoy!"
"Come off it, Ron, you just want to catch him doing something. He's changed, can't you see?" said Hermione, reasonably.
"But what's he doing outside after dark? He's up to something! I'm going to see what it is!" announced Ron, snatching up his cloak.
"You do, and it's my duty as Head Girl to report this. No one is allowed out after dark. You'll get into trouble."
"But he might be. . ."
"Come off it, Ron. You're just seeing things. Now sit down and play chess." Ron put his cloak down reluctantly, and went back to staring out of the window, trying to see Malfoy again. Was he seeing things? No, that was definitely the glint of moonlight on blond hair out by the Forest. Ron watched as Malfoy disappeared from sight, his eyes narrowed.
"What the bloody hell are you up to, Draco Malfoy?"
***
*Two years later*
Harry Potter stood staring out of his dormitory window across the Hogwarts grounds. Despite the mounting fears of a direct assault by Voldemort, he was feeling calm, and confident of a victory. Dumbledore would have a plan. Dumbledore was the most powerful wizard in the world, and with Harry coming close to full strength then Voldemort had everything to fear.
The door opened and his best friend, Ron Weasley, walked in.
"Hey, Harry. Heard anything more about the Ireland situation?" Harry shook his head. They had all been informed that morning of an attack by Voldemort at Donegal Castle, their stronghold in Ireland.
"No, I expect Dumbledore will tell us if there's anything to report. Hey, don't look so worried. We'll win." Ron shrugged.
"Have you seen Seamus at all? He hasn't been seen all day."
"Who's he dating at the moment?"
"That redhead from the Hufflepuff Quidditch team."
"Try her dorm, then."
"No, I've just seen her. He wasn't with her."
"Ah. Well, it would be bound to happen sooner or later. Seamus has all the morals of a cat in heat." Ron laughed and sat down on Neville's bed. Harry joined him, stretching out and resting his feet on Ron's lap.
"We have Potions in an hour," he reminded Ron, who made a face.
"Thanks for reminding me. At least Professor Harlow's nicer than Snape."
"Snape's been gone ages. I hope he's okay."
"Who cares?"
"Ron, have you ever heard the phrase, 'the enemy of my enemy is my friend'?"
"Yeah, but Snape's a git." Harry grinned and shook his head.
"You could at least try and be more tolerant. The poor man's got a lot on his plate with this mission. Anyway, has Hermione come back from her meeting with McGonagall yet?"
"Yeah, she's in the common room with Ginny. Let's go and see her!" They got up off the bed. No sooner had they reached the doors than the voice of Professor McGonagall, magically amplified, echoed through the corridors.
"All students please report to the Great Hall immediately! Sit at your House tables and await the arrival of Professor Dumbledore!"
Harry and Ron exchanged a worried glance.
"You don't think something's happened in Ireland, do you?" asked Ron. Harry shrugged, and they hurried out of the door, catching up with the girls in the corridor.
"Any idea what this is all about?" asked Ron, slipping his arm through Hermione's.
"Oh, hello, you two. No, I don't. I was just discussing the new shield charms for the school with McGonagall when Dumbledore came in and asked me to leave. He looked really worried about something. I think it might be to do with Ireland."
"Might explain why Seamus hasn't been seen. . . oh. . ." They had entered the Great Hall. Seamus was already sat at the Gryffindor table with his head in his hands. Dean Thomas was trying to comfort him. They walked over and sat down on the other side of him.
"What's wrong, Seamus?" asked Harry gently, putting his arm around the sobbing Irishman.
"It's me mam." began Seamus, and started howling.
The room, which had been filled with the buzz of nervous chatter, fell silent as Dumbledore entered the room. Hundreds of pairs of eyes turned apprehensively towards the Headmaster. He was looking strained and tired and, to Harry, he looked older than ever.
"I thank you all for responding so quickly," he said quietly. "Those of you who have been directly affected by the news I am about to impart I have spoken to already. You may leave the room if you wish." There was a scraping of chairs and a few students left the Hall. Seamus stayed put, staring at a spot on the table.
"You have all heard that this morning Lord Voldemort attacked Castle Donegal in Ireland. Over the last couple of hours we have received information that Castle Donegal has fallen to Lord Voldemort. Everyone defending the castle has either been killed or captured.
"I have received intelligence that Voldemort plans to amass an army of Death Eaters and launch an attack on Hogwarts from Donegal. We have reason to believe that he will attack towards the end of the school year.
"Certain students in the sixth year and above will be required to remain behind. They will know who they are. The rest of you shall return to your common rooms for the remainder of the day.
"Some new house rules will be coming into effect immediately. The punishments for breaking these rules will be severe. They might seem a little harsh, but they are for your own safety.
"No-one is to go anywhere alone, and always let other people know where you are going. Your teachers will escort you all to and from classes. No one is to be allowed out of the castle after dark for any reason. All future visits to Hogsmeade and all Quidditch matches have been suspended. Students are expected to be in their dormitories no later than eleven, and no one is to leave their common room after dinner unless there is a real emergency. Finally, I charge you all to keep your eyes open. Report anything suspicious immediately to a Prefect, who will then notify a member of staff.
"Thank you all for listening. I hope you will all support each other throughout this difficult time." Dumbledore sat down again. The conversations started up again, and people began to leave the Great Hall. Harry looked over to the Slytherin table and was surprised to see Draco Malfoy looking subdued. Ron nudged Harry's arm.
"Look at that git. You'd think he'd be swanking about this for months, wouldn't you?" Harry nodded. Noticing that the students that were left were moving towards the High Table, Harry, Ron, Hermione and Seamus joined them.
Harry was more than a little surprised when Draco Malfoy sat down opposite him. Ron was livid.
"What the bloody hell's he doing here?" he yelled.
"Calm down, Mr Weasley," sighed Dumbledore.
"But his dad's a Death Eater! He's a complete and utter gimboid!"
"Mr Weasley, Mr Malfoy is a spy for us. He came to me at the start of term and told me he wanted to help. Now if you will just sit back down, we can begin."
*
Later that night, Harry, Ron, Hermione and Seamus were sat talking in a corner of the Gryffindor common room. Dean had fallen asleep in front of the fire, and they were trying to cheer Seamus up without making enough noise to wake the dead.
Ron was staring out of the window, trying to see something in the darkness.
"Hang on, there's someone walking around out there," he announced.
"It's probably Hagrid or a teacher. Come and play chess," said Harry.
"No, it's. . . hang on, it's Malfoy!"
"Come off it, Ron, you just want to catch him doing something. He's changed, can't you see?" said Hermione, reasonably.
"But what's he doing outside after dark? He's up to something! I'm going to see what it is!" announced Ron, snatching up his cloak.
"You do, and it's my duty as Head Girl to report this. No one is allowed out after dark. You'll get into trouble."
"But he might be. . ."
"Come off it, Ron. You're just seeing things. Now sit down and play chess." Ron put his cloak down reluctantly, and went back to staring out of the window, trying to see Malfoy again. Was he seeing things? No, that was definitely the glint of moonlight on blond hair out by the Forest. Ron watched as Malfoy disappeared from sight, his eyes narrowed.
"What the bloody hell are you up to, Draco Malfoy?"