CHAPTER NINE:
Harry's eyes opened slowly. He could see someone leaning over him and feel cool fingers press against his forehead, cooling his burning scar. "Harry!" Siria whispered. "Harry, are you alright?" she asked urgently. "Do I look alright?" he groaned as his hand involuntarily moved to his arm. Pulling his fingers away, he stared at the sticky blood that coated his fingers. "What happened?" he asked, glancing around him. "Don't you remember?" Siria asked, lowering her voice. "At Hogwart's, when Voldemort came?" "No," Harry shook his head, trying to clear it. "I don't remember anything." "Voldemort came while the others went to Dumbledore's office and Ron went to get that girl, the girl they said would be good in a time like this," Siria whispered fiercely. "But Voldemort fled when Draco died-" Harry began. "What?" Siria interrupted quickly, staring at Harry with brown eyes that were blazing with sudden fear and confusion. "D-Draco died? My Draco? My brother?" she quickly gripped Harry's arm. Harry looked away, ashamed of himself. He shouldn't have let it slip and he knew it. "I, uh, it doesn't matter. So, what were you saying? Voldemort came to the office. Did he take us away or something?" he said quickly, trying to change the subject. Siria looked at him warily for a moment before shaking her head. "Yeah- you tried to open the door by putting your hand through the broken window and he made the glass fall through your arm. That's how you got hurt. Then, because you fainted, he levitated you out of here and put me under some kind of spell, to make me follow him. I don't know where we are, some forest," she finished off. She, like Harry, glanced around uneasily. "Do the others know we're missing?" he asked. "I suppose so. They should've heard you scream at least. Gosh you scream like a girl!" she stated, smirking at him.
"I do not!" he replied angrily, even though his lips were curved in the slightest of smiles. "You should hear Draco," he added. "I can't wait till I do, though. He doesn't look like me does he?" she frowned, her eyebrows narrowed thoughtfully. "Consider yourself lucky," Harry muttered. Siria smiled and whacked him softly on his uninjured arm. There was an awkward pause before Siria opened her mouth to speak. "Why do you hate my brother so much?" she asked quietly. "Why not?" Harry replied glancing away. "He was always angry and- I dunno, just weird." "Maybe he was upset because he wanted to know me," Siria said, her voice raised in hope. Again, Harry looked away. "S-Siria," he began. "Draco didn't know about you until a week bef- ago," he finished off quickly. He hoped Siria didn't catch his slip up. "Bu-" she began, a hurt puzzled look on her face before there was a slight rustle of leaves and a rush of hurried whispers. "But no one cares about him-" one voice said. "I do! How can I not care? He was my downfall!" "Nonsense. There was something else behind it. A baby boy could not destroy you, of all people!" "Maybe. But maybe he just isn't normal-now be quiet they might hear." Just then, the trees parted and a tall figure stepped forward. Harry didn't need to ask Siria who it was, he'd already guessed by his voice. "There you are, my little pretty ones," Voldemort said, twirling his coat around. "I always knew there was a child molester in him somewhere," Siria muttered under her breath. Harry, however, was too busy trying to see who was half-hidden in the shadows. The man stepped forward, yet his face was still half-hidden in the dark shadows. An owl hooted and flew from its tree, moving the leaves away from the other man's face. Harry gasped, unable to disguise his shock at who it was that stood before him. Sirius Black smirked from the shadows behind Voldemort's back. Voldemort, blatantly aware of Harry's confusion, smiled. Harry could barely breathe, shock taking over. No, it couldn't be, he thought. He wouldn't do that, he said over and over inside his head. Just then, Sirius winked, making sure Voldemort could not see, and drew a pointed finger across his neck, his eyes fixed angrily on Voldemort's back. Harry breathed a sigh of relief and immediately felt a rush of guilt. How could he have ever doubted Sirius' trust? ? Hermione raced down the stairs, her eyes wild as she glanced around. "Are you sure it was You-Know-Who?" she asked Ron for the sixteenth time. He rolled his eyes. "Yes, and if we don't hurry something might happen to Harry or Siria," he said, quickening his step. "And who exactly is this Siria girl? How do we know we can trust her?" Hermione asked, her eyes narrowed slightly. "Hermione, You-Know-Who dragged her in after keeping her in hiding for, I dunno, eighteen years or something," Ron replied. "But, what about all those years when You-Know-Who was half-dead, after what happened with Harry and everything?" she persisted. "How the hell do I know?" Ron snapped, finally getting fed up. Hermione looked slightly taken aback as they made their way towards Dumbledore's office. When they stared in through the door, they paused, glancing warily around the room. "Maybe they went to Harry and Siria," Ron said. Hermione nodded her head and they both turned, Ron leading the way. "What were Draco and Ginny doing together in this part of Hogwart's anyway?" Hermione asked curiously. "I don't know. She said something about a trick, leading You-Know-Who here or something," Ron replied. "Maybe, just maybe, if you listened every once a while, you'd find out some interesting things," Hermione said. "I'm sure. Here's the room," Ron said as they reached a door with a cracked window. "Is that blood?" Hermione asked, her nose wrinkled in disgust. Ron's face paled at the thought and he edged closer. "I don't know," he whispered. He stepped forward, and opened the door. There was a loud shout as someone in the room heard the door slam close. "You scared the living sh-" Ron began. "Ron!" Ginny shut him up. "Where have you been?" "Have you ever tried walking into the girl's dormitory at night. Then there was waking this thing up. I could barely yell over her snores," Ron replied. Hermione poked him in the side. "I do not!" she said. "Where's Harry and Siria? And Dumbledore for that matter?" she asked, glancing around the room. "We've been waiting for you. Voldemort's taken them, kidnapped them while they were waiting for us. Dumbledore went with James to see how far they'd gone," Ginny replied. "Who's James?" Hermione asked, confused. Ginny glanced at Ron. "You didn't tell her?" "Well, I kind of-just, well, I forgot, I spose," Ron said. "Forgot? My God, you are dumb. Uh- you see Hermione- well, there is no easy way to put this-" "You're going to make it easy for her? What about with Harry? You just let James barge in like that!" Ron exclaimed. "Yes, well. Anyway, as I was saying, Draco kind of bungled up the Krilic curse-" "He performed the Krilic curse?" Hermione gasped. Ginny stared at Ron. "I forgot to tell her that too," he said sheepishly, looking away. "Well, yes, he did. He was meant to bring his father back, but stuffed it up and brought Harry's father, James back instead," Ginny finished off. Hermione's face paled. Just then, there was a loud crash behind them as James burst into the room, breathless. "Oh my gosh, it really is him," Hermione gasped. "Doh! That's what we said!" Ron replied. "Did you get Harry and Siria? They couldn't have gotten too far could they?" he continued. "We couldn't find them," James panted. "Dumbledore's waiting for us. We have to meet him down at Hagrid's cabin." Ginny nodded and motioned for Ron and Hermione to follow her as she made her way out the door. ?
Dumbledore was waiting for them with Hagrid, who had Fang by his side.
"Where do ya think they are?" Hagrid asked gruffly. He still tried to be overcoming the shock of seeing James Potter again. "I don't know. They may be in Harzodre's forest, where Draco's father was killed, or they may have been Apparated to another part of the world. I don't know how we're going to find them," Dumbledore replied. "Is it possible that they're still in the Forbidden Forest? They may think that we might not look there," Hermione said. "Possibly," James said. "Maybe Hagrid could take Fang to have a look." Hagrid stared at Dumbledore, who nodded his head. "Bellow if you see anything," Dumbledore called out. "Hagrid? Bellow? It'll wake up the whole of Hogwarts!" Ron said. "Is waking up Hogwart's in the middle of the night more important to you than making sure your best friend doesn't die?" Hermione snapped. Ron glared at her. "Hermione, Ron, stop it. We need to concentrate. James, maybe you should see if Sirius could be of any help," Ginny said. Hermione and Ron gasped. "How do you know about Snuffles?" Hermione asked. "I suppose you forgot to tell her that I'm a Mage as well, didn't you Ron?" Ginny glanced at Ron's face. "Well, by the time I said that You-Know-Who was here and he was after Harry, Hermione was down the stairs in no time. Then I mentioned Siria and she wanted to know he she was and then-" "Did you say you're a Mage?" Hermione asked, her eyes wide in awe. "Yes, I did. Now James, are you going to go to Sirius or not?" she asked turning towards James. James nodded his head and spun around. "Is the trapdoor still at the Whomping Willow?" he called out as he ran by Dumbledore, whose face was weary. "Yes," he replied, calling out as James' figure disappeared into the Forest. Just then, there was a ferocious roar from the furthest end of the Forest. " 'Elp!" they heard Hagrid cry out loudly. They heard Fang bark loudly, drowning out Hagrid's words, before there was a loud crack and then silence. ? A light flickered on as Minerva McGonagall stepped out into the hallway in the teacher's dormitory. She closed her pink lace nightgown tighter around her body as she glanced around. "Poppy? Is that you?" she whispered as a figure stepped forward. "I'm insulted," came the long drawl of Snape's voice. "You're insulted? Please!" Madam Pomfrey's voice sounded from behind them. "Lovely pyjama's Severus," she continued, smirking to herself as she took in Snape's bright blue pyjamas, decorated brightly with red, purple, yellow and green monsters. "I happen to like the Teletubbies. My niece sent them to me for Christmas last year," Snape said defensively. "Oh, do shut up!" McGonagall interrupted. "Did any of you hear that horrible shout out there?" "I thought it was Severus snoring, as per normal," Madam Pomfrey muttered. McGonagall glared at her. "Yes, I did hear it. I thought perhaps that Hagrid might be doing some work, because I was sure I heard Fang barking as well." "I thought I heard that as well," McGonagall said thoughtfully. Snape's face opened wide a bit in panic. "I'm sure it was just both of your imaginations at work. I was just coming out to get a drink of water," he said, hoping he could convince them that they hadn't heard what they thought they had. "Couldn't you just conjure one up?" Madam Pomfrey asked, confused. "I could, but I prefer to annoy the little house-elves," he smirked and walked past the two ladies, out the door. "I think we ought to check if Albus is in his office. He isn't in bed, I checked already, as soon as I heard that yell," Minerva said. "Yes, I agree," Madam Pomfrey and McGonagall then made their way down towards Dumbledore's office. As they reached it, they glanced around quickly. "What if a students walks past and sees us sneaking into the Headmaster's office in our nightgowns?" McGonagall asked nervously. "We'll just give them a detention. Now hurry up and open the door, I'm freezing!" Madam Pomfrey replied. McGonagall turned the handle and slowly opened the door. They stepped inside and glanced around. "Lumos," McGonagall muttered, raising her wand, filling the room with a dim light. "Albus?" she whispered quietly. A moment later, as the room filled completely with light, she heard Madam Pomfrey gasp in horror behind her. "What is it?" McGonagall asked, turning around. She caught a glimpse of a wrinkled hand lying limp on the floor. "I-Is it A-a-albus?" she whispered, her voice filled with utter fear. "Yes," Madam Pomfrey whispered, her voice cracking slightly. "Oh, God, Minerva! He's dead! We-we have to notify the Ministry at once- we have to send an owl!" "Ye- Yes! I know, but.how? How could he just- die?" Minerva asked, as she bent over the limp body. Madam Pomfrey quickly made her way to the desk and began scrawling a note. ? "Now, whatever happens, we must try our hardest to not let the Ministry hear about this," Dumbledore whispered as Ron, Ginny and Hermione crept behind him, making their way into the forest. "Don't you think they may have already figured something out? I mean, can't they tell if You-Know-Who is around?" Ron asked. "Ron, they spent 17 years looking for Voldemort when he was almost dead. Now, considering he's at his full strength, don't you think it'll be even harder to track him down?" Ginny said as she pushed past him, making her way to Dumbledore. "Ron is too busy thinking about Mum," she whispered in Dumbledore's ear, hoping that Ron couldn't hear. "And Dad. He's going to be a distraction. Do you think we should do something to get him, you know, out of our way or something?" she continued. Dumbledore paused as he thought. "If you think it would be more convenient," he agreed reluctantly. "I don't want to either, but we have to. Don't you see?" Ginny said. Dumbledore nodded. "Alright, here goes," Ginny mumbled as she turned to Ron who was busy practising karate kicks. "You know that I love you, and if anything happens to you, you know that I'll love you, okay?" she said before leaning over and giving Ron a huge kiss on the cheek. "Ginny, what on earth are you doing?" he cried out as he frantically rubbed his cheek with his sleeve. "Now's not the time to get all sisterly. I'm not Harry, you know and I-" His eyes slipped backwards into his skull and he fell to the floor, unconscious as Ginny quietly mumbled a curse into his ear. She raised to fingers to her lips, kissing them and then placing them against Ron's red hair as a tear slipped down her face. "Ginny, come on! We don't have much time!" Dumbledore whispered urgently behind her. "We have to-" Just then, they were interrupted by another huge roar of pain from Hagrid, somewhere off in the distance. It snapped Ginny back into action, and she quickly turned around, slipping her wand into her pocket. "Let's go," she said, brushing past Dumbledore, who took a quick glance at Ron's motionless body before following her. ? Draco stared at his father, unable to keep his mouth hanging open in shock. "That's right; Sirius Black. Stupid old Sirius Black who at this very moment is helping my master, our master to full recovery," Lucius said as he walked slow circles around his son. "Sirius Black? On- on Voldemort's side?" Draco stuttered, his amazement clearly showing on his face. "Yes. On the "enemy's" side," Lucius smirked, cocking his face to get a better look at Draco. "You look different from when I last saw you. Could it be that you have changed, have begun to take a different side?" he said, kicking Draco in the side. "I'm on.I'm on the side I always should've been," Draco replied loudly. "And what side would that be? The right side? Mine?" Lucius responded, kicking him again, causing Draco to push his hand away angrily. "You forgot, there is no pain up here," Draco smirked back at his father, wondering how a child could hate his parent so much. Lucius' smirk slipped off his face and his gaze turned stony. Pulling Draco up by the collar of the robe he was wearing, he whispered menacingly in his ear. "I could hurt you; it's true. I can hurt you, in more hurtful ways than you could ever imagine. I was lying when I said there was no emotional pain, just like when I was lying about Siria. Now, answer my question, once and for all. Whose side are you on?" Draco stared at the man before him, astonished at how they could turn out so differently. He closed his eyes, and answered. "Harry Potter's." It was such a simple name, yet it brought out the true monster in Lucius, the monster Draco already thought he knew. With a ferocious snarl on his face, he dragged Draco over to a large mirror. At least, that's what Draco thought it was. Lucius thrust Draco's face towards it, so Draco's nose was touching the surface of it. The image of Draco's pale face swirled suddenly, giving way to a slush of dark grey, streaked with blood red. As the colours cleared, Draco could see an image, a forest. He could see Harry, and Siria, along with Voldemort. There was a large form, huddled beneath the tree, it's face covered with thick hair. Draco instantly knew that it was Hagrid. "W-where are they?" he asked, his face ashen white. "The middle of the Forbidden Forest. Look closely, Draco. Who else do you see?" he leant forward and whispered in Draco's ear. "Who else?" Draco peered intently at the mirror, squinting his eyes to see into the trees. There was a movement of some sort, and Draco could see another form step forward, out of the shadows. "Sirius!" he gasped. He heard Lucius cackle softly behind him. "That's right. Good old Sirius. And where do you think they've sent James? Who do you think they sent him to get?" Lucius continued. Draco half- turned towards Lucius and could see the smug smile already brewing on his father's lips. A white fury shook him, taking over his body, making him powerless as to what he did next. "I hate you!" he screamed, pushing his father away. He kicked at him, not caring that Lucius couldn't feel anything; it kept him down. "I hate you, and I hate the fact that you are my father!" he spat at him, and, with one last kick, he twirled around, racing off as fast as he could. "You'll be sorry. You'll be really sorry when I live again." he heard Lucius yell out from behind him. Draco ignored him as he ran, further and further away. All of a sudden, he ran straight into a slim figure; the figure swayed back at a bit, but it did not fall down. Looking up, he stared into bright, emerald green eyes. Soft red hair fell in gentle curves down to the lady's shoulders, and she smiled at him as she spoke. "I have waited for you," Lily Potter said, holding his hand as she pulled him onwards. "We have to help James and Harry; we have to help them," she said. Draco let himself be pulled along as he registered her words. "How can we save them if they are alive, and we are dead?" he asked, making her stop in her footsteps. "Draco, there are many different deaths, many different ways in which death can be used. Death can be seen as evil, and useless, but death can help one person, a loved one, help another who is still alive. Don't you see? It has been James and I who have helped Harry all these years, helped him run away from his horrible cousin, help him set boa constrictors free.Don't you see? We can help them!" she said, urging him on again. She pulled him to a mirror, similar to the one that Lucius had shown him. Glancing around, Draco realised that they were bathed in a soft, glowing light, unlike the dark shadows that had been there when he was with his father. "Where am I now? How come this is different to where my father is?" he asked curiously, staring around as the mist began to disappear, and he could see soft clouds float by. Lily smiled. "As I said, there are many different deaths. Your father died an evil one, where he died for himself. But you died for James and, though you hate to admit it, you died for my son too. And I thank you for that Draco," she whispered as a small tear slipped down her face. Draco smiled and glanced around again, entranced by the golden softness the place seemed to emit. This must be heaven, he thought. Lily glanced over to him and smiled again. "Heaven is further on Draco. You may be able to live again if you stay here, Draco." "Where is here?" Draco whispered. "Anywhere you want," she whispered, before a ray of light burst from a cloud behind her. She turned around. "I have to go.but, together, Draco, you and I can save the others." The ray of light opened wide and she disappeared in the bright glow. Draco was left standing alone. Anywhere you want, she'd said. What did that mean? Did it mean he could be where ever he wanted to be? With whoever he wanted to be with. Closing his eyes, he tried to imagine himself in the Forbidden Forest, trying to remember something from his detention with Harry in it in their first year. As he opened his eyes, he was hidden by a dark shadow, under a tree. He could hear low, murmured voices. Turning around, he stared at Ginny as she leant over Ron's motionless figure, pressing two fingers against his hair. Dumbledore spoke and there was a giant roar from further on in the forest before Ginny replied. They walked away and Draco spoke again. "Come, Lily."
Harry's eyes opened slowly. He could see someone leaning over him and feel cool fingers press against his forehead, cooling his burning scar. "Harry!" Siria whispered. "Harry, are you alright?" she asked urgently. "Do I look alright?" he groaned as his hand involuntarily moved to his arm. Pulling his fingers away, he stared at the sticky blood that coated his fingers. "What happened?" he asked, glancing around him. "Don't you remember?" Siria asked, lowering her voice. "At Hogwart's, when Voldemort came?" "No," Harry shook his head, trying to clear it. "I don't remember anything." "Voldemort came while the others went to Dumbledore's office and Ron went to get that girl, the girl they said would be good in a time like this," Siria whispered fiercely. "But Voldemort fled when Draco died-" Harry began. "What?" Siria interrupted quickly, staring at Harry with brown eyes that were blazing with sudden fear and confusion. "D-Draco died? My Draco? My brother?" she quickly gripped Harry's arm. Harry looked away, ashamed of himself. He shouldn't have let it slip and he knew it. "I, uh, it doesn't matter. So, what were you saying? Voldemort came to the office. Did he take us away or something?" he said quickly, trying to change the subject. Siria looked at him warily for a moment before shaking her head. "Yeah- you tried to open the door by putting your hand through the broken window and he made the glass fall through your arm. That's how you got hurt. Then, because you fainted, he levitated you out of here and put me under some kind of spell, to make me follow him. I don't know where we are, some forest," she finished off. She, like Harry, glanced around uneasily. "Do the others know we're missing?" he asked. "I suppose so. They should've heard you scream at least. Gosh you scream like a girl!" she stated, smirking at him.
"I do not!" he replied angrily, even though his lips were curved in the slightest of smiles. "You should hear Draco," he added. "I can't wait till I do, though. He doesn't look like me does he?" she frowned, her eyebrows narrowed thoughtfully. "Consider yourself lucky," Harry muttered. Siria smiled and whacked him softly on his uninjured arm. There was an awkward pause before Siria opened her mouth to speak. "Why do you hate my brother so much?" she asked quietly. "Why not?" Harry replied glancing away. "He was always angry and- I dunno, just weird." "Maybe he was upset because he wanted to know me," Siria said, her voice raised in hope. Again, Harry looked away. "S-Siria," he began. "Draco didn't know about you until a week bef- ago," he finished off quickly. He hoped Siria didn't catch his slip up. "Bu-" she began, a hurt puzzled look on her face before there was a slight rustle of leaves and a rush of hurried whispers. "But no one cares about him-" one voice said. "I do! How can I not care? He was my downfall!" "Nonsense. There was something else behind it. A baby boy could not destroy you, of all people!" "Maybe. But maybe he just isn't normal-now be quiet they might hear." Just then, the trees parted and a tall figure stepped forward. Harry didn't need to ask Siria who it was, he'd already guessed by his voice. "There you are, my little pretty ones," Voldemort said, twirling his coat around. "I always knew there was a child molester in him somewhere," Siria muttered under her breath. Harry, however, was too busy trying to see who was half-hidden in the shadows. The man stepped forward, yet his face was still half-hidden in the dark shadows. An owl hooted and flew from its tree, moving the leaves away from the other man's face. Harry gasped, unable to disguise his shock at who it was that stood before him. Sirius Black smirked from the shadows behind Voldemort's back. Voldemort, blatantly aware of Harry's confusion, smiled. Harry could barely breathe, shock taking over. No, it couldn't be, he thought. He wouldn't do that, he said over and over inside his head. Just then, Sirius winked, making sure Voldemort could not see, and drew a pointed finger across his neck, his eyes fixed angrily on Voldemort's back. Harry breathed a sigh of relief and immediately felt a rush of guilt. How could he have ever doubted Sirius' trust? ? Hermione raced down the stairs, her eyes wild as she glanced around. "Are you sure it was You-Know-Who?" she asked Ron for the sixteenth time. He rolled his eyes. "Yes, and if we don't hurry something might happen to Harry or Siria," he said, quickening his step. "And who exactly is this Siria girl? How do we know we can trust her?" Hermione asked, her eyes narrowed slightly. "Hermione, You-Know-Who dragged her in after keeping her in hiding for, I dunno, eighteen years or something," Ron replied. "But, what about all those years when You-Know-Who was half-dead, after what happened with Harry and everything?" she persisted. "How the hell do I know?" Ron snapped, finally getting fed up. Hermione looked slightly taken aback as they made their way towards Dumbledore's office. When they stared in through the door, they paused, glancing warily around the room. "Maybe they went to Harry and Siria," Ron said. Hermione nodded her head and they both turned, Ron leading the way. "What were Draco and Ginny doing together in this part of Hogwart's anyway?" Hermione asked curiously. "I don't know. She said something about a trick, leading You-Know-Who here or something," Ron replied. "Maybe, just maybe, if you listened every once a while, you'd find out some interesting things," Hermione said. "I'm sure. Here's the room," Ron said as they reached a door with a cracked window. "Is that blood?" Hermione asked, her nose wrinkled in disgust. Ron's face paled at the thought and he edged closer. "I don't know," he whispered. He stepped forward, and opened the door. There was a loud shout as someone in the room heard the door slam close. "You scared the living sh-" Ron began. "Ron!" Ginny shut him up. "Where have you been?" "Have you ever tried walking into the girl's dormitory at night. Then there was waking this thing up. I could barely yell over her snores," Ron replied. Hermione poked him in the side. "I do not!" she said. "Where's Harry and Siria? And Dumbledore for that matter?" she asked, glancing around the room. "We've been waiting for you. Voldemort's taken them, kidnapped them while they were waiting for us. Dumbledore went with James to see how far they'd gone," Ginny replied. "Who's James?" Hermione asked, confused. Ginny glanced at Ron. "You didn't tell her?" "Well, I kind of-just, well, I forgot, I spose," Ron said. "Forgot? My God, you are dumb. Uh- you see Hermione- well, there is no easy way to put this-" "You're going to make it easy for her? What about with Harry? You just let James barge in like that!" Ron exclaimed. "Yes, well. Anyway, as I was saying, Draco kind of bungled up the Krilic curse-" "He performed the Krilic curse?" Hermione gasped. Ginny stared at Ron. "I forgot to tell her that too," he said sheepishly, looking away. "Well, yes, he did. He was meant to bring his father back, but stuffed it up and brought Harry's father, James back instead," Ginny finished off. Hermione's face paled. Just then, there was a loud crash behind them as James burst into the room, breathless. "Oh my gosh, it really is him," Hermione gasped. "Doh! That's what we said!" Ron replied. "Did you get Harry and Siria? They couldn't have gotten too far could they?" he continued. "We couldn't find them," James panted. "Dumbledore's waiting for us. We have to meet him down at Hagrid's cabin." Ginny nodded and motioned for Ron and Hermione to follow her as she made her way out the door. ?
Dumbledore was waiting for them with Hagrid, who had Fang by his side.
"Where do ya think they are?" Hagrid asked gruffly. He still tried to be overcoming the shock of seeing James Potter again. "I don't know. They may be in Harzodre's forest, where Draco's father was killed, or they may have been Apparated to another part of the world. I don't know how we're going to find them," Dumbledore replied. "Is it possible that they're still in the Forbidden Forest? They may think that we might not look there," Hermione said. "Possibly," James said. "Maybe Hagrid could take Fang to have a look." Hagrid stared at Dumbledore, who nodded his head. "Bellow if you see anything," Dumbledore called out. "Hagrid? Bellow? It'll wake up the whole of Hogwarts!" Ron said. "Is waking up Hogwart's in the middle of the night more important to you than making sure your best friend doesn't die?" Hermione snapped. Ron glared at her. "Hermione, Ron, stop it. We need to concentrate. James, maybe you should see if Sirius could be of any help," Ginny said. Hermione and Ron gasped. "How do you know about Snuffles?" Hermione asked. "I suppose you forgot to tell her that I'm a Mage as well, didn't you Ron?" Ginny glanced at Ron's face. "Well, by the time I said that You-Know-Who was here and he was after Harry, Hermione was down the stairs in no time. Then I mentioned Siria and she wanted to know he she was and then-" "Did you say you're a Mage?" Hermione asked, her eyes wide in awe. "Yes, I did. Now James, are you going to go to Sirius or not?" she asked turning towards James. James nodded his head and spun around. "Is the trapdoor still at the Whomping Willow?" he called out as he ran by Dumbledore, whose face was weary. "Yes," he replied, calling out as James' figure disappeared into the Forest. Just then, there was a ferocious roar from the furthest end of the Forest. " 'Elp!" they heard Hagrid cry out loudly. They heard Fang bark loudly, drowning out Hagrid's words, before there was a loud crack and then silence. ? A light flickered on as Minerva McGonagall stepped out into the hallway in the teacher's dormitory. She closed her pink lace nightgown tighter around her body as she glanced around. "Poppy? Is that you?" she whispered as a figure stepped forward. "I'm insulted," came the long drawl of Snape's voice. "You're insulted? Please!" Madam Pomfrey's voice sounded from behind them. "Lovely pyjama's Severus," she continued, smirking to herself as she took in Snape's bright blue pyjamas, decorated brightly with red, purple, yellow and green monsters. "I happen to like the Teletubbies. My niece sent them to me for Christmas last year," Snape said defensively. "Oh, do shut up!" McGonagall interrupted. "Did any of you hear that horrible shout out there?" "I thought it was Severus snoring, as per normal," Madam Pomfrey muttered. McGonagall glared at her. "Yes, I did hear it. I thought perhaps that Hagrid might be doing some work, because I was sure I heard Fang barking as well." "I thought I heard that as well," McGonagall said thoughtfully. Snape's face opened wide a bit in panic. "I'm sure it was just both of your imaginations at work. I was just coming out to get a drink of water," he said, hoping he could convince them that they hadn't heard what they thought they had. "Couldn't you just conjure one up?" Madam Pomfrey asked, confused. "I could, but I prefer to annoy the little house-elves," he smirked and walked past the two ladies, out the door. "I think we ought to check if Albus is in his office. He isn't in bed, I checked already, as soon as I heard that yell," Minerva said. "Yes, I agree," Madam Pomfrey and McGonagall then made their way down towards Dumbledore's office. As they reached it, they glanced around quickly. "What if a students walks past and sees us sneaking into the Headmaster's office in our nightgowns?" McGonagall asked nervously. "We'll just give them a detention. Now hurry up and open the door, I'm freezing!" Madam Pomfrey replied. McGonagall turned the handle and slowly opened the door. They stepped inside and glanced around. "Lumos," McGonagall muttered, raising her wand, filling the room with a dim light. "Albus?" she whispered quietly. A moment later, as the room filled completely with light, she heard Madam Pomfrey gasp in horror behind her. "What is it?" McGonagall asked, turning around. She caught a glimpse of a wrinkled hand lying limp on the floor. "I-Is it A-a-albus?" she whispered, her voice filled with utter fear. "Yes," Madam Pomfrey whispered, her voice cracking slightly. "Oh, God, Minerva! He's dead! We-we have to notify the Ministry at once- we have to send an owl!" "Ye- Yes! I know, but.how? How could he just- die?" Minerva asked, as she bent over the limp body. Madam Pomfrey quickly made her way to the desk and began scrawling a note. ? "Now, whatever happens, we must try our hardest to not let the Ministry hear about this," Dumbledore whispered as Ron, Ginny and Hermione crept behind him, making their way into the forest. "Don't you think they may have already figured something out? I mean, can't they tell if You-Know-Who is around?" Ron asked. "Ron, they spent 17 years looking for Voldemort when he was almost dead. Now, considering he's at his full strength, don't you think it'll be even harder to track him down?" Ginny said as she pushed past him, making her way to Dumbledore. "Ron is too busy thinking about Mum," she whispered in Dumbledore's ear, hoping that Ron couldn't hear. "And Dad. He's going to be a distraction. Do you think we should do something to get him, you know, out of our way or something?" she continued. Dumbledore paused as he thought. "If you think it would be more convenient," he agreed reluctantly. "I don't want to either, but we have to. Don't you see?" Ginny said. Dumbledore nodded. "Alright, here goes," Ginny mumbled as she turned to Ron who was busy practising karate kicks. "You know that I love you, and if anything happens to you, you know that I'll love you, okay?" she said before leaning over and giving Ron a huge kiss on the cheek. "Ginny, what on earth are you doing?" he cried out as he frantically rubbed his cheek with his sleeve. "Now's not the time to get all sisterly. I'm not Harry, you know and I-" His eyes slipped backwards into his skull and he fell to the floor, unconscious as Ginny quietly mumbled a curse into his ear. She raised to fingers to her lips, kissing them and then placing them against Ron's red hair as a tear slipped down her face. "Ginny, come on! We don't have much time!" Dumbledore whispered urgently behind her. "We have to-" Just then, they were interrupted by another huge roar of pain from Hagrid, somewhere off in the distance. It snapped Ginny back into action, and she quickly turned around, slipping her wand into her pocket. "Let's go," she said, brushing past Dumbledore, who took a quick glance at Ron's motionless body before following her. ? Draco stared at his father, unable to keep his mouth hanging open in shock. "That's right; Sirius Black. Stupid old Sirius Black who at this very moment is helping my master, our master to full recovery," Lucius said as he walked slow circles around his son. "Sirius Black? On- on Voldemort's side?" Draco stuttered, his amazement clearly showing on his face. "Yes. On the "enemy's" side," Lucius smirked, cocking his face to get a better look at Draco. "You look different from when I last saw you. Could it be that you have changed, have begun to take a different side?" he said, kicking Draco in the side. "I'm on.I'm on the side I always should've been," Draco replied loudly. "And what side would that be? The right side? Mine?" Lucius responded, kicking him again, causing Draco to push his hand away angrily. "You forgot, there is no pain up here," Draco smirked back at his father, wondering how a child could hate his parent so much. Lucius' smirk slipped off his face and his gaze turned stony. Pulling Draco up by the collar of the robe he was wearing, he whispered menacingly in his ear. "I could hurt you; it's true. I can hurt you, in more hurtful ways than you could ever imagine. I was lying when I said there was no emotional pain, just like when I was lying about Siria. Now, answer my question, once and for all. Whose side are you on?" Draco stared at the man before him, astonished at how they could turn out so differently. He closed his eyes, and answered. "Harry Potter's." It was such a simple name, yet it brought out the true monster in Lucius, the monster Draco already thought he knew. With a ferocious snarl on his face, he dragged Draco over to a large mirror. At least, that's what Draco thought it was. Lucius thrust Draco's face towards it, so Draco's nose was touching the surface of it. The image of Draco's pale face swirled suddenly, giving way to a slush of dark grey, streaked with blood red. As the colours cleared, Draco could see an image, a forest. He could see Harry, and Siria, along with Voldemort. There was a large form, huddled beneath the tree, it's face covered with thick hair. Draco instantly knew that it was Hagrid. "W-where are they?" he asked, his face ashen white. "The middle of the Forbidden Forest. Look closely, Draco. Who else do you see?" he leant forward and whispered in Draco's ear. "Who else?" Draco peered intently at the mirror, squinting his eyes to see into the trees. There was a movement of some sort, and Draco could see another form step forward, out of the shadows. "Sirius!" he gasped. He heard Lucius cackle softly behind him. "That's right. Good old Sirius. And where do you think they've sent James? Who do you think they sent him to get?" Lucius continued. Draco half- turned towards Lucius and could see the smug smile already brewing on his father's lips. A white fury shook him, taking over his body, making him powerless as to what he did next. "I hate you!" he screamed, pushing his father away. He kicked at him, not caring that Lucius couldn't feel anything; it kept him down. "I hate you, and I hate the fact that you are my father!" he spat at him, and, with one last kick, he twirled around, racing off as fast as he could. "You'll be sorry. You'll be really sorry when I live again." he heard Lucius yell out from behind him. Draco ignored him as he ran, further and further away. All of a sudden, he ran straight into a slim figure; the figure swayed back at a bit, but it did not fall down. Looking up, he stared into bright, emerald green eyes. Soft red hair fell in gentle curves down to the lady's shoulders, and she smiled at him as she spoke. "I have waited for you," Lily Potter said, holding his hand as she pulled him onwards. "We have to help James and Harry; we have to help them," she said. Draco let himself be pulled along as he registered her words. "How can we save them if they are alive, and we are dead?" he asked, making her stop in her footsteps. "Draco, there are many different deaths, many different ways in which death can be used. Death can be seen as evil, and useless, but death can help one person, a loved one, help another who is still alive. Don't you see? It has been James and I who have helped Harry all these years, helped him run away from his horrible cousin, help him set boa constrictors free.Don't you see? We can help them!" she said, urging him on again. She pulled him to a mirror, similar to the one that Lucius had shown him. Glancing around, Draco realised that they were bathed in a soft, glowing light, unlike the dark shadows that had been there when he was with his father. "Where am I now? How come this is different to where my father is?" he asked curiously, staring around as the mist began to disappear, and he could see soft clouds float by. Lily smiled. "As I said, there are many different deaths. Your father died an evil one, where he died for himself. But you died for James and, though you hate to admit it, you died for my son too. And I thank you for that Draco," she whispered as a small tear slipped down her face. Draco smiled and glanced around again, entranced by the golden softness the place seemed to emit. This must be heaven, he thought. Lily glanced over to him and smiled again. "Heaven is further on Draco. You may be able to live again if you stay here, Draco." "Where is here?" Draco whispered. "Anywhere you want," she whispered, before a ray of light burst from a cloud behind her. She turned around. "I have to go.but, together, Draco, you and I can save the others." The ray of light opened wide and she disappeared in the bright glow. Draco was left standing alone. Anywhere you want, she'd said. What did that mean? Did it mean he could be where ever he wanted to be? With whoever he wanted to be with. Closing his eyes, he tried to imagine himself in the Forbidden Forest, trying to remember something from his detention with Harry in it in their first year. As he opened his eyes, he was hidden by a dark shadow, under a tree. He could hear low, murmured voices. Turning around, he stared at Ginny as she leant over Ron's motionless figure, pressing two fingers against his hair. Dumbledore spoke and there was a giant roar from further on in the forest before Ginny replied. They walked away and Draco spoke again. "Come, Lily."