Chapter 24:



Harry stretched out his arms. He was stiff from writing the OWLs.

"Harry, have you seen Hermoine?" Ron called to him. Harry looked up. Ron came charging down the corridor.

"No, I haven't seen her since we all split up to do our tests."

"She promised me that she'd meet me before supper, but the diner bell rang I and can't find her anywhere." Harry felt a chill crawl down his spine.

"Come on, Ron. We've got to tell someone she's missing." A thought struck him. "Have you seen Patrice?"

"No, I haven't."

"Ron, last time they went missing together they were kidnaped by Voldemort's servants." He ignored Ron's violent shudder at Voldemort's name. "Mrs Coeur will go after them."



They ran to Mrs Coeur's office, but the lights were out. No one was there.

"Mister Potter, Mister Weasely, aren't you two supposed to be at diner?" asked a voice. Harry felt the blood drain from his face.

"Yes, Professor Snape," he replied, trying to think of a way to avoid the professor.

"That's five points from Gryffindore, and ten if I see you two again."

"Yes, Professor Snape," Harry mumbled.

"Where are your two other friends, Potter? I hope they are in diner, or else that's another five points." A sneer curled up on his face.

"Sir, I, well."

"Out with it Potter."

"We don't know exactly where they are, sir. I haven't seen them since Professor Coeur took them to their tests." Snape's face went white.

"Go to diner, boys. Stay with the other Gryffindores. If I catch either of out of bounds I will deduct fifty points from Gryffidore. Now go."



Harry followed after Ron. He glanced back at the professor, but Snape was already moving down the hall. His steps were quick.

"Ron, something's up." He glanced back to make sure Snape was gone, then he continued. "He was afraid, Ron. Snape's never afraid."

"We have got to find her, Harry!"

"After diner, Ron, we'll get my cloak."

"Got it. But, can't we go now?"

"No. Snape will have probably told another professor that we were wandering during diner hour. Then we'd be caught for sure."



Diner seemed to be painfully long. Ron and Harry shot upstairs to his room. Harry flipped his trunk open. He gasped. His things had been rearranged. The old photo album with his parents' pictures was on top, and he always left it on the bottom.



Harry pulled his things out, and then he pulled up the fake bottom of his trunk.

"Ron, we have a serious problem."

"What?"

"My cloak is gone."

"What?" Ron shot over to look in the trunk. "But the only people who knew where it was, would be you, me-"

"And Hermoine."



* * * * * * * * * * * *



Patrice slowly opened her eyes. She was surprised to find herself in control enough to even open her eyes. Being possessed by Voldemort had been painful. She had been in a swirling, angry darkness.

"Have a pleasant sleep, girl?" hissed a voice.

"No, I can't say I did," Patrice replied. She struggled to stand. There was something heavy around her. It took her foggy mind a moment to realize she was chained to the ground. "Love the fashion accessories, though."

"Well, I need to rest too, after all, I am human." He chuckled.

"You stretch the definition," she replied softly. "Why let me out of the darkness?"

"Because, unlike your mother, you have information I would like to get. That requires you to be conscious."

"I am not going to give anything to you. I would never betray my friends to you."

"Perhaps, perhaps not." She felt him draw closer, but she could not see. It was still too dark. "You have marvelous power, girl. Join us. There will be a great reward for you when we triumph."

"I would never sell my soul to you."

"Never say never. After all, your body already belongs to me. Make it complete, and I guarantee it will be easier for you." He chuckled again. "Do not answer now. Enjoy a night in the darkness, alone. I will return for you in a few days, when I have more time to break you. Until then, girl, enjoy yourself." His dark presence receded, and Patrice was left alone.



Patrice shivered. She was so cold, so lonely. She could hardly remember a time when she had been this lonely. . . She always had her family, and when she was twelve, Athena, to keep her company. But she had forfeited Athena, given her link to Kalina. She knew she was going to die. The phoenixes would not allow her to live, they would not let Voldemort have access to their precious secrets. Ironically, she could not give him that information. The information was slowly leaving her memory. When it did it would be gone forever, locked inside Kalina. She could not give Voldemort what he desired because her knowledge of all things phoenix was sealed within her phoenix powers. Kalina would safe-guard it for her.



Patrice closed her eyes. She could feel the pendant her father had sent her. She could no longer communicate with him either. To protect him she had stored that knowledge away with her other powers. He needed to live, to ensure Harry could live. Harry needed to live. He still had a chance, he just needed to grow up a bit. . .



Patrice began to cry. She could not help it. She felt so weak, so alone. An owl hooted somewhere outside.

"Athena, forgive me. Please, find happiness with Kalina." She could almost hear Athena calling out to her. She missed her friend. Athena had been with her for so long, but it was nothing more then a memory. For a moment, Patrice understood why her sister had been so depressed when Mako, her sparrow familiar, had been killed. At least she knew that Athena was alright, for now. She was the one who was going to die.



Patrice heard another hoot, closer this time. It came from inside her dark prison.

"Athena?" Patrice whispered. She banished the thought. It couldn't be Athena. Athena could no longer sense her. She had cut that link, passed it to Kalina.

"Whooo," came the mournful call. Patrice pulled herself up so she was sitting. She knew Athena's call.

"Athena!" she called louder. She heard a soft flapping, then scraping on stone. Soft feathers nudged against her hand. "Is that you Athena?"

"Who," was the response. The owl gave her an affectionate nip. Patrice smiled, gently stroking her owl with a finger. She heard the shuffle of feet.

"Hide, Athena," Patrice whispered. Athena did not move.



Light suddenly exploded into Patrice's vision. She looked up, and she saw Hermoine standing outside her cell. She held a flashlight and her wand.

"Hermoine? How did you find me?"

"Athena did most of the work."

"Athena? You can talk to Athena?" Patrice asked, her head reeling.

"Yes." Hermoine cast a few spells, and had Patrice free in a matter of minutes. Patrice hugged her friend. "Let's get you out of here, Patrice."

"Hermoine, it doesn't matter where we go. He'll be able to find me. And pretty soon the Phoenixes will come to get me."

"Your sister said she'd buy me some time." Hermoine threw the invisibility cloak over them both. "It took me a long time to find you. I'm not giving up on you. If I have to, I'll plead your case to the head of our order."

"Hermoine, leave me, please."

"No." Hermoine grasped her firmly. "I'll get us out of here."

"Apparate away, Hermoine."

"I can't. I don't know how."

"Let my magic guide you. It's one of the skills that is part of my magic I passed on to you."

Hermoine was silent for a moment. "Why me, Patrice?" she asked softly.

"I thought I had given my powers to Kalina, but the spell transferred my powers to the most compatible Phoenix member in a kilometer range. Apparently, you're more compatible then Kalina." Patrice heaved a sigh. "But you are going to be caught, and if you're caught you'll be killed for sure. Leave me."

"No. You are my friend, and I am not giving up on you." Hermoine closed her eyes for a moment. Patrice saw a cat inch toward them in the darkness, and she felt a jolt.



When Patrice could see again she was staring up at the star-filled sky.

"Hermoine, you okay?"

"Fine," Hermoine muttered. Her head was floating above Patrice.

"Cloak," Patrice said. Hermoine laughed and pulled the cloak off.

"I wish you had warned me that I'd have such a headache if I did that," Hermoine muttered, pressing a hand to her temple.

"Hermoine, you just transported me, our familiars and yourself in a single spell. You wouldn't be able to do it if you didn't have my powers working with your own." Patrice stood. Athena flew over to her, sitting on her shoulder.

"Oh, Athena, I'm sorry, my friend. You don't belong with me. Hermoine's your mistress now." Athena blinked at her.

"I'm sorry, Athena. Forgive me, but I cannot be your mistress any more! Go to Hermoine!" Athena jumped off her shoulder, looking hurt. She landed on Hermoine's shoulder.



Patrice burst into tears. She began running up the grassy hill. She didn't know where she was running, but she had to get away from them. Their friendship would destroy them.

"You did not think I would let you get away that easily?" asked a voice. "You chose poorly, Patrice." Patrice screamed. She heard Hermoine call her name, and then the stars were gone. She was plunged into a cold, angry darkness. This time she knew there was no escaping for her.