CHAPTER ELEVEN:
Voldemort stood before Harry, his mouth open as he began to speak. He paused though, just as Harry's eyes began to open. "Maybe I should wait until his father is here," Voldemort mused, staring quizzically at Sirius. "His father is dead. Surely you should know that," Sirius replied, keeping his voice even. Voldemort stared at Sirius. "I know everything, Black. Everything," Voldemort narrowed his eyes slightly at Sirius before turning back to Harry. Harry could see Sirius' face take on a bit of fear, before it turned stony again. "Perhaps, though, it would be better if I just did it. Just snuffed you out, like I snuffed out your parents, without waiting for the chance to bask in the glory of it." Voldemort's fingers twisted slightly on his wand, as though contemplating the thought, before his face broke into a horrible smile and he talked again. "But no- I think I'll wait, a bit longer," he cackled loudly. "Perhaps I could even wait long enough for Dumbledore to arrive." ? "When should we stop him?" Ginny asked impatiently for the hundredth time. "When he is actually about to kill Harry. We don't want him to catch us and kill all of us. We have to catch him off guard," Dumbledore whispered back loudly, waving a hand to silence Ginny, who sighed and leant back. Just then, there were sudden footsteps approaching them from behind. Ginny quickly glanced behind herself, peering into the darkness to see who was coming. James suddenly emerged from the dark shadows, panting heavily. "When are we going to stop him?" he asked, kneeling down beside Dumbledore. "When it's time," Dumbledore replied patiently. "The time is now!" Ginny interrupted suddenly. "I think we should stop him before he does something really bad." "Ginny, we have to stop him when he's distracted with Harry! That way, we'll have the advantage," Dumbledore replied. "I spose," Ginny mumbled, dismally. "But he said he's waiting for James." "Should I appear? Just to trick him?" James asked, staring at Dumbledore. Dumbledore shook his head. "We have to wait until he is ready," he responded. Ginny rolled her eyes slightly. When would he be ready? ? "Really, Professor, you shouldn't act like that at such a time," Hermione muttered, as Snape danced around in circles. "You do the hokey-pokey and you turn around," he sang out, trying to encourage Hermione to join him. "What has gotten into you?" she cried out, as he linked arms with her and attempted to swirl her around in circles. She pulled away and stormed forward, ignoring his antics. What on earth had gotten into him? Only a minute ago he'd been trying to save them.now he was acting like a drunk. Hermione stopped in her footsteps, spinning around. "Professor!" she exclaimed. Snape turned around to face her, pausing in the middle of 'you put your right arm in' to answer her. "Yes?" he tried to walk towards Hermione, but only succeeding in spinning in dizzy circles. "What has happened to you?" she asked. "Are you drunk?" "No-nonsense.I only had a butterbeer before I came here," he sang out. "But what happened to coming to save our ar- our bums?" she asked, stepping back from him as he made his way towards her. "Wha- I don't know what you're talking about," his tongue flapped around. "You know, Harry and You-Know-Who," she shouted out. "You came to help us, you dragged me away.remember? We're supposed to distract the others up in the castle, so they don't ruin Dumbledore's plan!" "What plan?" Snape stopped suddenly. "The plan," Hermione whispered back, her eyes narrowed. "You know." "No," Snape began to dance again, "I don-" Suddenly, as though walking into a pole, he stopped, his eyes turning blood red as they rolled backwards. He sighed, and fell to the floor. Hermione stood, dumbfounded, staring over Snape's unconscious body. "Did it work?" a shrill voice suddenly shrieked out. "Did Dobby help Harry?" it continued. "Dobby?" Hermione exclaimed as the house-elf suddenly burst into view. "What are you doing here? What did you do?" she narrowed her eyes suspisciously. "I helped the great Harry Potter!" Dobby squealed, clapping his hands. "And now the great Mr. Potter's friend will save Harry too!" He wrapped his stubby arms around Hermione's legs and attempted to pull her towards the forest, towards Harry. "What did you do to Snape, Dobby?" Hermione asked, prising Dobby off her. Dobby grinned wickedly. "Dobby spiked his butterbeer." "You did what?" Hermione exclaimed, glancing at Dobby, and then at Snape's motionless body. "Did- did you kill him or something? Pour poison into his drink?" "No! No! Dobby would not kill anyone! No, I put a sleeping draft in it," he said proudly. "How on earth did you make that? And if it was a sleeping draft, wouldn't that make him fall asleep straight away? Why, he's been walking around the whole of Hogwart's," she said confused. "We house-elves have our ways.and our friends around the castle. But- but Dobby do not know why it took so long for the potion to work," his large eyes closed. "Oh, bad Dobby!" he yelled out, howling as he bash his head against the closet tree. "Dobby, stop! Stop it, I said," Hermione shrieked, pulling his potato like body from the tree. "Listen! You can still help save Harry. I'm going up to the castle. Even though I could barely understand him, before Snape.went crazy, he told me that Professor McGonagall and Madam Pomfrey have found out about the plan. I have to distract them, stop them from notifying the ministry." "What can Dobby do?" Dobby's eyes, still filled with tears, blinked slowly up at her. "I- I don't know. Tell you what. You wait right here for me. Don't move an inch. If I can distract them, I'll come back down here.then we can go and save Harry together, okay?" Dobby nodded at her. "So stay here.right here.don't move.not even to scratch your nose." Dobby kept nodding at her as she turned and raced towards the castle. When she was out of sight, he turned around and ran towards the forest. "Don't worry, Harry Potter. Dobby will save you, the great one." ? "Sir, he's waiting for either you or James to show up. You're only making him angrier by making him wait," Ginny explained exasperated. "Have James distract him. Or even you. That way it will be over quicker. We might be able to handle all this before the Ministry is involved." Dumbledore bit his lip in frustration. "I think she's right, Albus. I really do," James said, leaning forward a bit to see clearly. "Good ol' Sirius. Sacrificing himself.for my son," he leaned back. "If we don't intervene now, he might kill Harry and Sirius. He already think Siria's dead," James continued. "Okay! Okay! We'll intervene.but from all sides. Ginny, sneak over to the right of Harry, James to the left. I'll stay here, behind Voldemort. On the count of one, I'll jump up.James, you jump up on two, Ginny three." Ginny and James nodded and began to sneak around, trying to reach their positions as quickly as possible. As soon as they had reached them, Dumbledore jumped up, James quickly following suit, Ginny finishing last. "Are you looking for someone?" James stormed forward, walking towards Voldemort, whose face broke into a smirk as he raised his wand. "Just the one," Voldemort smiled. He heard Sirius gasp behind him loudly as his gaze fell on James. "Like I said Black. I know everything. Everything," he taunted swirling his wand. "Who should I kill first? The old man," he said, turning to stare at Dumbledore, "The stupid mage," he glanced at Ginny, "The idiotic fool," Sirius flinched, "My downfall," Harry groaned and tried to roll away, "Or the very same man I killed seventeen years ago? Decisions, decisions.I wonder.which one?" He raised his wand and turned to Sirius. "I think perhaps you first.for thinking you could trick me. For doubting my power." ? "What are we going to do?" Draco wrung his hands, staring at Lily. "Create a Love Shield," she replied, grabbing his hand. "A love shield? What kind of stupid name is that?" he asked, letting Lily pull him forwards. "Well, they're actually called Joauras, but I think Love shield sounds much nicer," she replied. "Oh, yeah. Me too," Draco mumbled, his face burning. "So, how exactly do we create a love shield?" he asked. "Like this," Lily replied, taking his hands. "Close your eyes." "I hope no one can see me," he muttered, his eyes scrunched up. "No one except me," Lily replied. "Now think of someone you love. Someone who deep down means everything to you." Faces flashed before Draco's closed eyelids. Mum. Ginny. The lead singer of the Wichettes. Ginny. Auntie Brigit. Ginny. Pansy. Ginny. "I- I don't know.I don't love anyone," he cried out. "Yes you do," Lily replied, stretching her arms out. "Breathe in and just let that love for them breathe out with you.whatever you do, don't let go of my hand. Never let go of my hand. Whatever you do." ? Dumbledore, Ginny and James made their way to stand in line with Sirius. With a sharp count to three under their breath, they raised their wands and cried out. "Avada Kedavra," just a second after Voldemort, who'd seen them raise their wands, rolled out of the way. The green flash blinded them for more than a few seconds, the power of the three curses insurmountable. As the flash died down, the loud cackle of Voldemort's laughter ran through the air. "Looks like you lost again," he laughed. "Got the little house-elf instead me." "House-elf?" James asked, squinting into the shadows in front of them. "Dobby," Harry gasped. Lying motionless in the shadows of the trees, Dobby's potato like figure was spread-eagled, his face and wide eyes locked in a look of fright. "Dobby's dead." "Who on earth is Dobby?" Ginny asked. "Now's not really the time, Ginny," Dumbledore said. "Keep an eye on V-" "AVADA KEDAVRA!" Voldemort suddenly yelled, aiming his wand at Dumbledore. "NO!" Harry screamed out, the green flash again blinding him. His scar throbbed painfully, and he raised a bloody hand to his forehead. Voldemort cackled loudly, and with each bout of evil laughter, Harry's scar hurt more and more. As soon as the blinding flash disappeared, Harry opened his squinted eyes and stared at Dumbledore. "What the hell?" ? Hermione gasped for breath as she reached the castles large doors. She quietly slipped inside, trying to make her way to Dumbledore's office. "Was it down this corridor.or this one?" she mused, talking out loud to herself. "Was what, me lovely?" Peeves hissed suddenly behind her. "Wait til I tell Filch about this.a student (a model student as well) walking the castle at night." he cackled, and took a deep breath, about to yell out, no doubt at the top of his lungs, for Filch. Hermione turned and ducked into a corridor just as Peeves exploded. "STUDENT OUT OF BOUNDS! GRYFFINDOR WALKING THE CASTLE." his voice, followed by devious cackles, floated away. Peeking around the corner, Hermione raised her wand and whispered, "Lumos." The pale light from her wand cast shadows across the corridor. It was empty. Sneaking out again, she began to run down the hall, searching for the gargoyle statue. As she turned a corner for the twentieth time, she glanced around the corridor. "Hey, Hermione," a voice suddenly whispered. "You won't believe what we've just done," said another. Turning around, Hermione stared at Fred and George Weasley, hiding in an empty room. Fred glanced around the corridor. "Is it safe?" he asked. "Safe?" "Yeah. You know, Peeves or Filch aren't around are they?" George explained. "Oh. No, they aren't. What are you doing walking around the grounds? What won't I believe you just did?" Hermione asked hurriedly, glancing around, trying to see down into the far end of the passageway. "You are looking at the two-" "Most brilliant students that will go down in history for-" "Putting some Muggle alcohol that Dad got from the Ministry, called Jack Daniels or some such name-" "Into Snape's butterbeer," Fred finished off. "You did what?" Hermione said astounded. "We put Jack Daniels into Snape's 'bedtime beverage'. Quite clever, don't you think?" "B-but, I thought it was Dobby.I thought Dobby spiked it," Hermione stuttered. Suddenly, though, everything became clear. Both Dobby and the twins had put something in Snape's drink. Alcohol and a sleeping draft. What had she read in that book? '.a sleeping draft, when mixed with/diluted with alcohol of any sort, has it's power slowed. Therefore, it would take longer to work to it's purpose.' "What do you mean Dobby? What would he spike it with?" George's voice interrupted her thoughts. "Uh.nothing. Quick, tell me. How do I get to Dumbledore's office?" she asked, looking at them with hopeful eyes. "Surely you two, of all people, should know." "Hermione, we're offended!" George said, staring at Hermione with a mock hurt look on his face. "Please George. I don't have time this. I have to get to Dumbledore's office. Please," she urged. "Run to the end of this corridor, then take a right. It's in the third corridor to your left after that," Fred said suddenly. "Why do you need to go there? And where have you been? You've got leaves in your hair. And," with a sudden shocked look on his face, as though he'd just realised it, "You're wearing you're pyjamas!" "Such a crime to do at night, isn't it?" she smiled her thanks and began to race down the corridor. As she turned to the right she could hear Fred. "Ron will be so jealous." ? Harry, James, Ginny, Sirius and Voldemort himself stared at Dumbledore in confusion. The curse had no doubt been performed. Yet Dumbledore was still alive. Even he himself was shocked, pinching himself to make sure that he truly was fully there. With a angry groan, Voldemort stepped forward, trying to punch James. His fist rebounded off a golden surface, the contact sending ripples of gold through the air. James stood unmoving, Voldemort's fist having not come anywhere near his face. "That would be your stupid wife," he yelled, eyes blazed with anger at James. "And Draco," Ginny replied softly. Voldemort cursed, and kicked a stone. "Two. Two of them.which makes whatever they're doing to protect you stronger," again, Voldemort kicked a stone, sending it flying over Dobby's lifeless body. "But I wonder." he cackled loudly, suddenly. He began to make his way over to Harry. "They couldn't possible make the shield large enough to cover you as well Harry.lying here so lifeless, so much in pain. I'll guess I'll just have to be satisfied with you.and be glad that at least your father got to see it. Finally." ? "He's going to do it.he's going to kill Harry and we can't reach him," Draco said through gritted teeth. The pain coursed through him, recurring vibrations from the painful twists throughout his body that had occurred when Voldemort performed the curse. "Reach, Draco. Stretch your arms out further.further.DON'T LET GO OF ME," Lily shrieked suddenly as Draco's fingers began to slip from hers. Readjusting his hand so that it was firmly caught in hers, he stretched his arms out. "Move, Harry.move closer, you idiot," he muttered under his breath, the pain almost becoming too much. It was as though he was on fire, as though his whole body was burning up slowly.bit by tortuous bit... "DAMMIT HARRY! I'm supposed to be cold.to be evil, to be cold- hearted.why am I doing this for you?" he yelled out. "Lily.I have to let go.it hurts too much.he must have been lying when he said there was no emotional pain." His eyes began to close as he started to slip into unconsciousness, the world turning black. How can I faint in heaven? He thought suddenly. It wasn't right.something was wrong.How come it didn't hurt Lily like it hurt him? "Please, Draco.try harder." Lily stared at him, her eyes pleading him to do something. "Lily I can't." it's going black.again. Out of the corner of his eyes, he could see Voldemort open his mouth, his wand poised. "This time he'll do it Lily. He really will.we can't, I can't stop it," Draco whispered, trying for the last time in vein to reach out towards Harry. Lily let out a strangled cry. "I thought you would care, Draco.I really did." "AVADA KEDAVRA!" Voldemort's cry echoed through Draco's head, pulsing, pounding his head until he almost felt numb with the pain. Slowly opening his eyes, ignoring Lily's sobs, he stared at Harry. "I can't bear to look, Draco.is he really gone?" Lily sobbed loudly, her eyes shut close. Draco smiled. "No, Lily. He isn't." Lily snapped her head back to look at him. "What?" she whispered softly. She turned her head around and stared at Harry. Her face broke into a huge smile. Staring back at them, red hair flying everywhere, Molly Weasley smiled at them, glancing down at Harry, who lay cowering behind her. "Thank you," Lily said, tears streaming down her face, just as Voldemort bellowed out in rage. ? Hermione stood at the door to Dumbledore's office. There, staring at her with identical sets of wide eyes, Professor McGonagall and Madam Pomfrey stood behind Dumbledore's desk, attaching a note to a tawny owl's foot. "Miss Granger," McGonagall sniffed, wrapping her dressing gown around her body tightly. "How dare you think you have the right to walk around the castle at night. Go! Now! Go back to your dormitory, or I'll-" "Please, Professor," Hermione interrupted, ignoring McGonagall, "You can't, you mustn't send that letter to the Ministry." Madam Pomfrey's face turned deathly pale. McGongall's eyes widened in fury. "How dare you presume you can tell us what we can and can't do," she snapped. "No, you don't understand. You'll ruin everything if you send it. You see, Professor Dumbledore isn't really dead-" "PROFESSOR DUMBLEDORE IS NOT DEAD," McGonagall screeched suddenly. "What makes you think such a thing?" she continued, attempting to be calmer. "Professor McGonagall, just trust me. I know that you think that he's dead, but you can't send the letter to the Ministry. Just give me the note.please, Professor. Please," Hermione pleaded. "Miss Granger, this is no matter of yours. Now take your leave before I expel you," McGonagall shouted out. "No, Professor, I can't, Professor Snape sent me too- MADAM POMFREY! DON'T!" she shrieked suddenly as Madam Pomfrey crept over to the window, the tawny owl perched on her arm. With one swift movement, she pulled the window open and let the owl fly off into the night air. "Now you can't do anything, Hermione," McGonagall said quietly. "You've just ruined it. You've just ruined it all!" Hermione shrieked, racing out the door. She had to find Dumbledore. ?
Voldemort stood before Harry, his mouth open as he began to speak. He paused though, just as Harry's eyes began to open. "Maybe I should wait until his father is here," Voldemort mused, staring quizzically at Sirius. "His father is dead. Surely you should know that," Sirius replied, keeping his voice even. Voldemort stared at Sirius. "I know everything, Black. Everything," Voldemort narrowed his eyes slightly at Sirius before turning back to Harry. Harry could see Sirius' face take on a bit of fear, before it turned stony again. "Perhaps, though, it would be better if I just did it. Just snuffed you out, like I snuffed out your parents, without waiting for the chance to bask in the glory of it." Voldemort's fingers twisted slightly on his wand, as though contemplating the thought, before his face broke into a horrible smile and he talked again. "But no- I think I'll wait, a bit longer," he cackled loudly. "Perhaps I could even wait long enough for Dumbledore to arrive." ? "When should we stop him?" Ginny asked impatiently for the hundredth time. "When he is actually about to kill Harry. We don't want him to catch us and kill all of us. We have to catch him off guard," Dumbledore whispered back loudly, waving a hand to silence Ginny, who sighed and leant back. Just then, there were sudden footsteps approaching them from behind. Ginny quickly glanced behind herself, peering into the darkness to see who was coming. James suddenly emerged from the dark shadows, panting heavily. "When are we going to stop him?" he asked, kneeling down beside Dumbledore. "When it's time," Dumbledore replied patiently. "The time is now!" Ginny interrupted suddenly. "I think we should stop him before he does something really bad." "Ginny, we have to stop him when he's distracted with Harry! That way, we'll have the advantage," Dumbledore replied. "I spose," Ginny mumbled, dismally. "But he said he's waiting for James." "Should I appear? Just to trick him?" James asked, staring at Dumbledore. Dumbledore shook his head. "We have to wait until he is ready," he responded. Ginny rolled her eyes slightly. When would he be ready? ? "Really, Professor, you shouldn't act like that at such a time," Hermione muttered, as Snape danced around in circles. "You do the hokey-pokey and you turn around," he sang out, trying to encourage Hermione to join him. "What has gotten into you?" she cried out, as he linked arms with her and attempted to swirl her around in circles. She pulled away and stormed forward, ignoring his antics. What on earth had gotten into him? Only a minute ago he'd been trying to save them.now he was acting like a drunk. Hermione stopped in her footsteps, spinning around. "Professor!" she exclaimed. Snape turned around to face her, pausing in the middle of 'you put your right arm in' to answer her. "Yes?" he tried to walk towards Hermione, but only succeeding in spinning in dizzy circles. "What has happened to you?" she asked. "Are you drunk?" "No-nonsense.I only had a butterbeer before I came here," he sang out. "But what happened to coming to save our ar- our bums?" she asked, stepping back from him as he made his way towards her. "Wha- I don't know what you're talking about," his tongue flapped around. "You know, Harry and You-Know-Who," she shouted out. "You came to help us, you dragged me away.remember? We're supposed to distract the others up in the castle, so they don't ruin Dumbledore's plan!" "What plan?" Snape stopped suddenly. "The plan," Hermione whispered back, her eyes narrowed. "You know." "No," Snape began to dance again, "I don-" Suddenly, as though walking into a pole, he stopped, his eyes turning blood red as they rolled backwards. He sighed, and fell to the floor. Hermione stood, dumbfounded, staring over Snape's unconscious body. "Did it work?" a shrill voice suddenly shrieked out. "Did Dobby help Harry?" it continued. "Dobby?" Hermione exclaimed as the house-elf suddenly burst into view. "What are you doing here? What did you do?" she narrowed her eyes suspisciously. "I helped the great Harry Potter!" Dobby squealed, clapping his hands. "And now the great Mr. Potter's friend will save Harry too!" He wrapped his stubby arms around Hermione's legs and attempted to pull her towards the forest, towards Harry. "What did you do to Snape, Dobby?" Hermione asked, prising Dobby off her. Dobby grinned wickedly. "Dobby spiked his butterbeer." "You did what?" Hermione exclaimed, glancing at Dobby, and then at Snape's motionless body. "Did- did you kill him or something? Pour poison into his drink?" "No! No! Dobby would not kill anyone! No, I put a sleeping draft in it," he said proudly. "How on earth did you make that? And if it was a sleeping draft, wouldn't that make him fall asleep straight away? Why, he's been walking around the whole of Hogwart's," she said confused. "We house-elves have our ways.and our friends around the castle. But- but Dobby do not know why it took so long for the potion to work," his large eyes closed. "Oh, bad Dobby!" he yelled out, howling as he bash his head against the closet tree. "Dobby, stop! Stop it, I said," Hermione shrieked, pulling his potato like body from the tree. "Listen! You can still help save Harry. I'm going up to the castle. Even though I could barely understand him, before Snape.went crazy, he told me that Professor McGonagall and Madam Pomfrey have found out about the plan. I have to distract them, stop them from notifying the ministry." "What can Dobby do?" Dobby's eyes, still filled with tears, blinked slowly up at her. "I- I don't know. Tell you what. You wait right here for me. Don't move an inch. If I can distract them, I'll come back down here.then we can go and save Harry together, okay?" Dobby nodded at her. "So stay here.right here.don't move.not even to scratch your nose." Dobby kept nodding at her as she turned and raced towards the castle. When she was out of sight, he turned around and ran towards the forest. "Don't worry, Harry Potter. Dobby will save you, the great one." ? "Sir, he's waiting for either you or James to show up. You're only making him angrier by making him wait," Ginny explained exasperated. "Have James distract him. Or even you. That way it will be over quicker. We might be able to handle all this before the Ministry is involved." Dumbledore bit his lip in frustration. "I think she's right, Albus. I really do," James said, leaning forward a bit to see clearly. "Good ol' Sirius. Sacrificing himself.for my son," he leaned back. "If we don't intervene now, he might kill Harry and Sirius. He already think Siria's dead," James continued. "Okay! Okay! We'll intervene.but from all sides. Ginny, sneak over to the right of Harry, James to the left. I'll stay here, behind Voldemort. On the count of one, I'll jump up.James, you jump up on two, Ginny three." Ginny and James nodded and began to sneak around, trying to reach their positions as quickly as possible. As soon as they had reached them, Dumbledore jumped up, James quickly following suit, Ginny finishing last. "Are you looking for someone?" James stormed forward, walking towards Voldemort, whose face broke into a smirk as he raised his wand. "Just the one," Voldemort smiled. He heard Sirius gasp behind him loudly as his gaze fell on James. "Like I said Black. I know everything. Everything," he taunted swirling his wand. "Who should I kill first? The old man," he said, turning to stare at Dumbledore, "The stupid mage," he glanced at Ginny, "The idiotic fool," Sirius flinched, "My downfall," Harry groaned and tried to roll away, "Or the very same man I killed seventeen years ago? Decisions, decisions.I wonder.which one?" He raised his wand and turned to Sirius. "I think perhaps you first.for thinking you could trick me. For doubting my power." ? "What are we going to do?" Draco wrung his hands, staring at Lily. "Create a Love Shield," she replied, grabbing his hand. "A love shield? What kind of stupid name is that?" he asked, letting Lily pull him forwards. "Well, they're actually called Joauras, but I think Love shield sounds much nicer," she replied. "Oh, yeah. Me too," Draco mumbled, his face burning. "So, how exactly do we create a love shield?" he asked. "Like this," Lily replied, taking his hands. "Close your eyes." "I hope no one can see me," he muttered, his eyes scrunched up. "No one except me," Lily replied. "Now think of someone you love. Someone who deep down means everything to you." Faces flashed before Draco's closed eyelids. Mum. Ginny. The lead singer of the Wichettes. Ginny. Auntie Brigit. Ginny. Pansy. Ginny. "I- I don't know.I don't love anyone," he cried out. "Yes you do," Lily replied, stretching her arms out. "Breathe in and just let that love for them breathe out with you.whatever you do, don't let go of my hand. Never let go of my hand. Whatever you do." ? Dumbledore, Ginny and James made their way to stand in line with Sirius. With a sharp count to three under their breath, they raised their wands and cried out. "Avada Kedavra," just a second after Voldemort, who'd seen them raise their wands, rolled out of the way. The green flash blinded them for more than a few seconds, the power of the three curses insurmountable. As the flash died down, the loud cackle of Voldemort's laughter ran through the air. "Looks like you lost again," he laughed. "Got the little house-elf instead me." "House-elf?" James asked, squinting into the shadows in front of them. "Dobby," Harry gasped. Lying motionless in the shadows of the trees, Dobby's potato like figure was spread-eagled, his face and wide eyes locked in a look of fright. "Dobby's dead." "Who on earth is Dobby?" Ginny asked. "Now's not really the time, Ginny," Dumbledore said. "Keep an eye on V-" "AVADA KEDAVRA!" Voldemort suddenly yelled, aiming his wand at Dumbledore. "NO!" Harry screamed out, the green flash again blinding him. His scar throbbed painfully, and he raised a bloody hand to his forehead. Voldemort cackled loudly, and with each bout of evil laughter, Harry's scar hurt more and more. As soon as the blinding flash disappeared, Harry opened his squinted eyes and stared at Dumbledore. "What the hell?" ? Hermione gasped for breath as she reached the castles large doors. She quietly slipped inside, trying to make her way to Dumbledore's office. "Was it down this corridor.or this one?" she mused, talking out loud to herself. "Was what, me lovely?" Peeves hissed suddenly behind her. "Wait til I tell Filch about this.a student (a model student as well) walking the castle at night." he cackled, and took a deep breath, about to yell out, no doubt at the top of his lungs, for Filch. Hermione turned and ducked into a corridor just as Peeves exploded. "STUDENT OUT OF BOUNDS! GRYFFINDOR WALKING THE CASTLE." his voice, followed by devious cackles, floated away. Peeking around the corner, Hermione raised her wand and whispered, "Lumos." The pale light from her wand cast shadows across the corridor. It was empty. Sneaking out again, she began to run down the hall, searching for the gargoyle statue. As she turned a corner for the twentieth time, she glanced around the corridor. "Hey, Hermione," a voice suddenly whispered. "You won't believe what we've just done," said another. Turning around, Hermione stared at Fred and George Weasley, hiding in an empty room. Fred glanced around the corridor. "Is it safe?" he asked. "Safe?" "Yeah. You know, Peeves or Filch aren't around are they?" George explained. "Oh. No, they aren't. What are you doing walking around the grounds? What won't I believe you just did?" Hermione asked hurriedly, glancing around, trying to see down into the far end of the passageway. "You are looking at the two-" "Most brilliant students that will go down in history for-" "Putting some Muggle alcohol that Dad got from the Ministry, called Jack Daniels or some such name-" "Into Snape's butterbeer," Fred finished off. "You did what?" Hermione said astounded. "We put Jack Daniels into Snape's 'bedtime beverage'. Quite clever, don't you think?" "B-but, I thought it was Dobby.I thought Dobby spiked it," Hermione stuttered. Suddenly, though, everything became clear. Both Dobby and the twins had put something in Snape's drink. Alcohol and a sleeping draft. What had she read in that book? '.a sleeping draft, when mixed with/diluted with alcohol of any sort, has it's power slowed. Therefore, it would take longer to work to it's purpose.' "What do you mean Dobby? What would he spike it with?" George's voice interrupted her thoughts. "Uh.nothing. Quick, tell me. How do I get to Dumbledore's office?" she asked, looking at them with hopeful eyes. "Surely you two, of all people, should know." "Hermione, we're offended!" George said, staring at Hermione with a mock hurt look on his face. "Please George. I don't have time this. I have to get to Dumbledore's office. Please," she urged. "Run to the end of this corridor, then take a right. It's in the third corridor to your left after that," Fred said suddenly. "Why do you need to go there? And where have you been? You've got leaves in your hair. And," with a sudden shocked look on his face, as though he'd just realised it, "You're wearing you're pyjamas!" "Such a crime to do at night, isn't it?" she smiled her thanks and began to race down the corridor. As she turned to the right she could hear Fred. "Ron will be so jealous." ? Harry, James, Ginny, Sirius and Voldemort himself stared at Dumbledore in confusion. The curse had no doubt been performed. Yet Dumbledore was still alive. Even he himself was shocked, pinching himself to make sure that he truly was fully there. With a angry groan, Voldemort stepped forward, trying to punch James. His fist rebounded off a golden surface, the contact sending ripples of gold through the air. James stood unmoving, Voldemort's fist having not come anywhere near his face. "That would be your stupid wife," he yelled, eyes blazed with anger at James. "And Draco," Ginny replied softly. Voldemort cursed, and kicked a stone. "Two. Two of them.which makes whatever they're doing to protect you stronger," again, Voldemort kicked a stone, sending it flying over Dobby's lifeless body. "But I wonder." he cackled loudly, suddenly. He began to make his way over to Harry. "They couldn't possible make the shield large enough to cover you as well Harry.lying here so lifeless, so much in pain. I'll guess I'll just have to be satisfied with you.and be glad that at least your father got to see it. Finally." ? "He's going to do it.he's going to kill Harry and we can't reach him," Draco said through gritted teeth. The pain coursed through him, recurring vibrations from the painful twists throughout his body that had occurred when Voldemort performed the curse. "Reach, Draco. Stretch your arms out further.further.DON'T LET GO OF ME," Lily shrieked suddenly as Draco's fingers began to slip from hers. Readjusting his hand so that it was firmly caught in hers, he stretched his arms out. "Move, Harry.move closer, you idiot," he muttered under his breath, the pain almost becoming too much. It was as though he was on fire, as though his whole body was burning up slowly.bit by tortuous bit... "DAMMIT HARRY! I'm supposed to be cold.to be evil, to be cold- hearted.why am I doing this for you?" he yelled out. "Lily.I have to let go.it hurts too much.he must have been lying when he said there was no emotional pain." His eyes began to close as he started to slip into unconsciousness, the world turning black. How can I faint in heaven? He thought suddenly. It wasn't right.something was wrong.How come it didn't hurt Lily like it hurt him? "Please, Draco.try harder." Lily stared at him, her eyes pleading him to do something. "Lily I can't." it's going black.again. Out of the corner of his eyes, he could see Voldemort open his mouth, his wand poised. "This time he'll do it Lily. He really will.we can't, I can't stop it," Draco whispered, trying for the last time in vein to reach out towards Harry. Lily let out a strangled cry. "I thought you would care, Draco.I really did." "AVADA KEDAVRA!" Voldemort's cry echoed through Draco's head, pulsing, pounding his head until he almost felt numb with the pain. Slowly opening his eyes, ignoring Lily's sobs, he stared at Harry. "I can't bear to look, Draco.is he really gone?" Lily sobbed loudly, her eyes shut close. Draco smiled. "No, Lily. He isn't." Lily snapped her head back to look at him. "What?" she whispered softly. She turned her head around and stared at Harry. Her face broke into a huge smile. Staring back at them, red hair flying everywhere, Molly Weasley smiled at them, glancing down at Harry, who lay cowering behind her. "Thank you," Lily said, tears streaming down her face, just as Voldemort bellowed out in rage. ? Hermione stood at the door to Dumbledore's office. There, staring at her with identical sets of wide eyes, Professor McGonagall and Madam Pomfrey stood behind Dumbledore's desk, attaching a note to a tawny owl's foot. "Miss Granger," McGonagall sniffed, wrapping her dressing gown around her body tightly. "How dare you think you have the right to walk around the castle at night. Go! Now! Go back to your dormitory, or I'll-" "Please, Professor," Hermione interrupted, ignoring McGonagall, "You can't, you mustn't send that letter to the Ministry." Madam Pomfrey's face turned deathly pale. McGongall's eyes widened in fury. "How dare you presume you can tell us what we can and can't do," she snapped. "No, you don't understand. You'll ruin everything if you send it. You see, Professor Dumbledore isn't really dead-" "PROFESSOR DUMBLEDORE IS NOT DEAD," McGonagall screeched suddenly. "What makes you think such a thing?" she continued, attempting to be calmer. "Professor McGonagall, just trust me. I know that you think that he's dead, but you can't send the letter to the Ministry. Just give me the note.please, Professor. Please," Hermione pleaded. "Miss Granger, this is no matter of yours. Now take your leave before I expel you," McGonagall shouted out. "No, Professor, I can't, Professor Snape sent me too- MADAM POMFREY! DON'T!" she shrieked suddenly as Madam Pomfrey crept over to the window, the tawny owl perched on her arm. With one swift movement, she pulled the window open and let the owl fly off into the night air. "Now you can't do anything, Hermione," McGonagall said quietly. "You've just ruined it. You've just ruined it all!" Hermione shrieked, racing out the door. She had to find Dumbledore. ?