Chapter 12: Sleepless nights
Ron and Hermione, instead of studying for their finals, spent all their time in the library trying to find anything that could help Harry. Harry on the other hand had been expanding his horizons in the field of practical jokes. Him and Malfoy had put jinxes on brooms, food, and toilets causing several people to become very sick. Hermione was very surprised with Harry's new expertise in curses and spells. The teachers you could tell were clearly preoccupied with other things. Most just allowing their classes to run free or assigning six chapters to read and leaving. Ron and Hermione checked in with Dumbledore everyday to check on their progress. The teachers had come up with thirty different spells that could possibly work. The plan was to get Harry outside and alone next Saturday night and explain the situation to him, hopefully he would cooperate, if not, other measures would be taken. Ron and Hermione were on edge when Saturday finally arrived, not able to sit still. As the day progressed their case of the jitters increased. Dinner had passed and Hermione was sitting in a chair in the common room reading a book and glancing at Ron who was pacing back and forth in front of the fire. It was getting late and the Gryffindor common room was left disserted. Hermione suddenly slammed her book shut.
"I'm going to bed, you're making me crazy!" she said as she got up from her chair.
"How can you think of sleep at a time like this?" Ron exclaimed.
"Look, Ron, tomorrow either everything will be back to normal or …"
"Or what?"
"Or, we'll try again the day after, and the day after that, but if I know Harry," Hermione said as she began to walk up the stairs "he wont give up without a fight." and with that she turned in for the night. Ron finally decided to do the same, knowing that Professor McGonagall would soon be up to get Harry. He dragged himself up the stairs and changed into his pajamas, looked at Harry asleep in his bed, and laid down in his knowing full well that he would not be getting much sleep this night.
Harry woke with a start to find himself completely upright and awake, and unlike so many sleepless nights, he felt at peace . He got out of bed slowly, careful not to wake anybody, especially Ron, who Harry saw was sleeping soundly. He picked up Snake from his top dresser drawer (which he had filled with soft blankets for the snakes comfort) and wrapped the snake around his neck.
"Wheresss are we going?" asked Snake.
"I don't know, but I need to take a walk right now." Harry replied as reached into his trunk and pulled out his invisibility cloak. He wrapped himself with it and went out of the dorm room.
Ron had only just laid into bed when he heard Harry stir. He laid as quiet as he could and heard the hissing and slurring of Parseltonge. He risked a peek, just barely opening he eyes to see nothing at all, but Ron knew Harry was still there and he didn't move even when he heard the dorm room door shut. He waited until he was sure Harry was gone and than he slipped out of his bed and dove right into Harry's chest looking for the very old looking piece of parchment. Finally he found the Mauraders Map and took chase. He noted that most of the teachers had gathered out on the Quidditch Field and McGonagall was leaving the group headed towards the common room. Harry was already at the bottom of the stairs. Ron tip toed down the stairs. When he reached the bottom he saw that McGonagall was passing her office and thought "If Hermione were here she'd tell me to do the smart thing and get help, but she would also know who she was talking to and wouldn't hold it against me." He ran out the door behind his friend who was headed to the Forbidden Forest.
Harry didn't know where he was going but he knew that whatever it was, it was in this direction. He walked for what seemed like miles, changing directions a couple of times but completely focused on reaching his goal. He didn't even notice the coldness of the night, or the howling and screeching noises of the dreary forest. Ron noticed, however, but ignored his fear, his frozen hands, and his bruised feet and kept his eye on the little black dot labeled Harry, careful no to come too close. Harry fought his way through some rough bushes and saw in the clearing behind them exactly what he was looking for. He let the cloak fall to the ground. Ron's fear doubled when Harry's dot disappeared from the map. He looked around frantically and ran in the direction that Harry had been going in.
"Professors," Professor McGonagall said, rushing up to the crowd out of breath, Hermione right behind her. "Professors, Harry was not in his quarters, and Ron is missing as well."
"Hermione," Dumbledore said as he turned to face her "where do you think they would go?"
"I don't know Sir, but wherever Harry is I'm sure Ron's not far behind." Hermione said not even trying to hide the helpless note in her voice.
Dumbledore waved his wand in the air and seconds later the slightly glowing, winged Seer was hovering above his left hand. "Find them, and stay out of sight." the ball became transparent and then shot off suddenly making for the dark silhouetted trees of the forest. " Let go!" Dumbledore exclaimed as he waved his wand, lifting the group up on what looked like blue lightning and they were off, leaving Hermione standing alone in the dark.
Harry walked up to the man standing in the center of the clearing, ignoring all the other people who were standing behind him.
"Hello, master." Harry said as he bent down, taking Voldemort's hand and kissing it. "I've been waiting so long for this moment."
Voldemort turned to his followers and laughed.
"You see, this is even better than I could of hoped for. If you can't beat them, make them join you!" He said, motioning to Harry. "Harry, say yes."
"Yes"
"Say no."
"No"
"Bark like a dog."
"Aarf, aarf, aarff, aaff"
" Stop. Stop." Voldemort said, laughing hysterically. "Harry my boy, the son I never had." Voldemort, placing his right arm around Harry to face his followers. "You and I are going to do extraordinary things together." Just then there was a rustling in the bushes. With a few grunting sounds out came Ron who fell on his left shoulder. He looked up to see Voldemort and his posy glaring at him including Harry.
"Oh…"