Disclaimer: I don't own Harry Potter. Please don't sue.
They were woken at 7:30 the next day by an irate looking McGonagall. "Classes have been cancelled!" she barked.
Harry and Ron tried their best to not look happy, and Ginny asked, "Why?"
McGonagall stared hard at the four and said, "There was a dungbomb attack around the stairway last night. The stairwell is still too foul to traverse, so we have to cancel classes. I was just wondering if any of you would know how a student would get their hands on a dungbomb that powerful."
Harry had a very strong suspicion that McGonagall knew they had done it, but said, "Are you sure it wasn't a conjured gas? Neville did something like this accidentally two years ago. Maybe the 5th years have been trying to practice in the corridors."
McGonagall shot him a look, and Harry fought to meet her gaze without blinking. Finally, McGonagall said, "Well, I was just wondering. Enjoy your day off, but I should certainly hope that it will never happen again. Am I right?"
Harry and Ron fought not to grin, and merely nodded. McGonagall finally turned around and left the commons. All four let out sighs of relief. Harry and Ron decided to play Wizard's Chess, while Ginny and Hermione talked by the fire.
"I wonder how we'll get food," Harry said, while watching his pieces set themselves up for another game. As if on command, a house elf popped into the common room.
"You is asking for food, sir?" the house elf asked.
"Dobby?" Harry involuntarily asked.
The house elf turned around, and Harry could see it wasn't. "No, sirs. Dobby moved out last year, he did."
Harry realized he hadn't even tried to visit Dobby the last two years and felt a little guilty. "Where," Harry asked, "did Dobby move to?"
The house elf squeaked, "Dumbledore tells Dobby, tells him to move to the Abbottses, and Dobby moves there to care for his Hannah."
All four grinned – none of them doubted that Dobby would be useful in helping Hannah out from her affairs last year. "You is asking for food, sir?" The house elf asked again.
Ron shot a look at Hermione and said, "Just some roast beef sandwiches and pumpkin juice would be nice."
"Are you sure, sir?" asked the elf in surprise, "roast beef sandwiches is simple. We is making you something better, if you wish, sir."
Ron nodded and said, "Just the sandwiches and juice, please." The house elf gave a small yelp when Ron said 'please', and promptly disappeared. Hermione walked over and gave him a hug and a smile.
"Now you're really a member of S.P.E.W." Hermione said softly. Harry noticed that any trace of Hermione's anger from the sorting ceremony was gone.
Ron chuckled and said, "Ah, good ol' spew."
"Not spew!" Hermione said, and hit Ron on the shoulder, "It's S.P.E.W."
Ron laughed and gave Hermione a kiss.
Ginny and Harry laughed at the two of them, and Ginny said, "Have any of you seen Parvati? I don't think I've ever seen her come back down from her room."
The house elf returned and quickly gave Ron the platter with the food. As Ron began eating a sandwich, Harry worriedly exclaimed, "What? Parvati left for the weekend?!"
Ginny was puzzled at Harry's reaction and asked, "What's wrong, Harry?"
Harry didn't answer her, and anxiously asked, "Do any of you know what Parvati did this weekend? Where she went?" No one answered him, but Harry quickly saw the odd look on Hermione's face.
"Hermione!" he asked quickly, "Did Parvati go anywhere this weekend?"
Hermione said, "No," but Harry could tell she wasn't telling the truth.
"Hermione, please!" Harry pleaded, "I need to know; did she go home!" Hermione was about ready to deny it again, but noticed the desperate look on Harry's face, and slowly nodded.
Harry looked extremely alarmed and said, "You three, go to Dumbledore now! Tell him that the Patil twins are meeting, and I'm going to help out," as he ran up the stairs to his room.
As Harry came back down with his pouch of Floo powder, the three were still sitting there. "Harry, the smell…" Ron started.
"Ron! This isn't the time," Harry ordered desperately, "Go now! Parvati's in danger!" This seemed to cut through their indecision, and the three set off to find the headmaster, even through the nauseous air from the dungbomb.
Harry quickly tossed some Floo powder into the commons and shouted, "Patil Residence." Harry found himself in an unknown living room, and no one else was around. Harry quickly drew his wand and began creeping around the house.
As he entered the basement, he found Padma standing silently over Parvati, who was in chains on the stone floor. "Stupefy!" Harry yelled, and breathed a sigh of relief as Padma fell to the ground.
"Oh, thank you, Harry, thank you!" Parvati said, half coherently. Harry walked to untie Parvati, and felt an odd feeling in his stomach. Parvati sobbed as Harry untied her, and as Harry stood back up, he felt something wasn't quite right.
"Oh, Harry, can we go back to Hogwarts. Please!" Parvati sobbed.
Harry was about ready to turn around, and thought of something. "In just a minute, Parvati," he said, "I want to revive Padma."
"Harry, don't! She's not back! Voldemort has control of her!" Parvati said in a scared voice.
"Calm down, it will be alright," Harry said. Harry knelt down, and pointed his wand at Padma. However, as he was about to perform the waking spell, he saw a glint to his right. Without thinking, he dived forward, and heard something rip his robes, but fortunately didn't feel anything hit his skin.
Harry looked up, and saw Parvati bringing down a ceremonial dagger towards him again. Harry brought his arm up, and managed to stop the second attack. The two grunted, but neither was able to throw the other off. Finally, Harry kicked the assailant in the shin and recovered his wand.
"Stupefy!" he cried again, just as Patil turned around to face him. I was right, Harry thought, they switched. Harry revived the girl who he originally thought was Padma.
"Harry," sobbed the real Parvati, "I'm sorry. Padma was in chains, and held me there with the Imperius curse." She ran over to him, but Harry stopped her and pointed his wand at her. He wasn't taking any more chances.
"Harry, what…" Parvati stammered.
"What did Ginny's note I showed you last year say, and why did I show it to you?" Harry asked, his voice hard.
Parvati stammered, and said, "It said she was angry at me for asking you to the Christmas dance."
Harry whispered, "It is you," and walked over to comfort her. Parvati began to cry on his shoulder when Harry looked down at Padma. Her eyes were starting to glow red, which couldn't be good.
"Parvati, we've got to leave now," Harry said urgently. Parvati nodded jerkily, and the two quickly made their way upstairs.
Harry ducked as he saw two death eaters Apparate in the yard outside. Harry and Parvati kept low and made their way to the fireplace. As soon as Harry stood up and was about to pull out his Floo powder, the front door opened and the two death eaters walked in.
"Inpedimentia!" Harry called, barely beating the death eaters at casting his spell. Both death eaters were frozen in their places, wands almost completely done casting. Harry quickly grabbed his pouch of Floo powder and grabbed Parvati.
"Gryffindor Commons!" Harry yelled, and the two left as the death eaters became unfrozen.
Harry spilled out of the fireplace holding onto Parvati. Parvati immediately broke down and started crying into Harry's robes.
"I'm so sorry, Harry. I'm so sorry! I thought… I thought…" Parvati sobbed.
Harry gently patted her back, and chanted, "It's ok, It's ok. We're back at Hogwarts. We're safe."
Ginny, Ron, Hermione, and Dumbledore entered the commons. Ginny's initial look of suspicion at the two huddled together turned to sorrow as she saw the shattered Parvati. Dumbledore sighed and said, "Harry, is everything all right? I take it there weren't any problems at the Patil residence."
Harry nodded back, and Dumbledore said, "Then I will see you all tomorrow. Parvati, I would like to talk to you about Padma, but that can wait until tomorrow as well."
Dumbledore left, and Parvati resumed sobbing into Harry's shoulder. After a few minutes, she cried herself to sleep, and Harry gently carried her form up the stairs. When he arrived to the 7th years girls dorms, the door opened before him on its own, and Harry softly deposited Parvati on her bed and made his way downstairs.
Harry slouched down on one of the chairs, and Ginny ran over to him.
"What's wrong, Harry? What happened?" Ginny asked.
Harry bowed his head, and said, "Voldemort preyed on Parvati. He sent her a letter, about how Padma was supposedly regaining control and was about to kick Voldemort out of her body. He got Parvati to come over to her house where he was waiting."
Ginny gasped, and embraced Harry. Harry softly continued, "It's worse. Voldemort must have known I would come, and prepared a trap. He tied himself up, and forced Parvati to stand over him with the Imperius curse. When I arrived, I thought Parvati was Padma, and Padma was Parvati. I almost took Voldemort back here to Hogwarts. When I insisted we wake Parvati – who I thought was Voldemort – up before we left, Padma attacked me with a dagger. I managed to stun him, and get back here. Before we left, we found two death eaters. I imagine that if I took Voldemort back here, the death eaters would've killed the real Parvati, so that we'd never know until it was too late."
Ginny's jaw hung as she listened to Harry's story. "Harry, that's… that's horrible!"
Harry nodded and said, "Parvati's really going to need her friends to help her out these next few days. Ginny simply nodded, and the two sat with each other in silence.
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A quick note: It's fun trying to decide what pronouns to use for Padma/Voldemort…
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