A/N: hope you are having a nice Easter. I surely am, since my goat story got a fair share of reviews on Riddikulus – I start to love FictionAlley! ;) Now I can only snigger at my stupidity of having been afraid to post there for years… yeah, I was really stupid!
I thought I'd give a little Easter present by posting this two days earlier than I originally wanted to. This chapter is the last before the 'Big Bang', so just a little bit more patience, and things will finally start to get revealed from the next chapter :)
Chapter 26
Les Miserables
Daniel took a deep breath and nodded. "I understand, sir. I deserved it."
"No, don't get me wrong, son," Albus put a hand on the boy's shoulder. "You are not really expelled – although you'd deserve it -, you just have to leave the school as though you had been expelled. This is just necessary precaution – you have to be kept away from Professor Snape before someone tries to kill him again, using your powers. When the culprit is caught, you'll be welcome back to Hogwarts."
A somewhat happier expression crossed the boy's face, but before he could express his gratitude, Dumbledore cut in: "Who else knows about the chamber besides you?"
"Well…" Dan pursed his lips. He didn't want to tell on his friends, but he just couldn't lie to Dumbledore. "Norbert and Gilda, sir. But they can't have been here again. They are my best friends, and the chamber can only be opened by a descendant of Gryffindor. That page must have been torn out before the book was placed in the chamber, I'm sure about it."
"Yes, that's very likely," the old man nodded.
"Um, sir... what should I tell my parents and friends about my expulsion?"
"I'll talk to your father in person. As for your friends… tell them that parents of several of your schoolmates complained about you conjuring a basilisk… they said you were too dangerous to study at the same school with their children, thus the staff decided to… er… get rid of you."
Dan nodded. "That's a likely tale. I'll tell them."
"Right. Oh, and Daniel, promise me not to mention to anyone that I already know about the chamber. Let it remain our secret."
"I promise, sir."
"Good. When we reach Hogwarts, go and pack your things and say good-bye to your friends. You can also play a bit…" the old wizard gave young Potter an impish grin. "They don't need to know that you are coming back soon."
"But… what if the culprit doesn't get caught? Will I have to stay away from school forever?" Daniel voiced his worry.
"That is something I cannot answer you yet, because not even I know the answer."
* * * * *
"Expelled?" Harry breathed and felt he had to sit down. He dropped himself into the armchair facing the headmaster's desk. "Why, Albus?"
"Calm down, Harry, please," the headmaster told the Charms Professor.
"How could I calm down, for heaven's sake? My son's expelled! I have never known any wizard except Hagrid and Draco to be expelled from Hogwarts! Why? What has Daniel done?"
"Actually he hasn't done anything." Dumbledore said. "Or rather… I'd say it is a certain-point-of-view-thing."
"What do you mean?" the young father furrowed his brow.
"Your son kept sneaking down to Hogsmeade for the past few months."
"But… that's surely not enough reason to expel him, is it?" Harry frowned, remembering his own secret journeys to Hogsmeade in his third year. "And… what would Daniel be doing at Hogsmeade?"
"When he fell into the wishing-well, he found a secret door in the cave beneath. He figured out that it was the door to a chamber built by none other than Godric Gryffindor."
"Gryffindor?" Harry's eyes widened. "Why… why would Gryffindor build a chamber? I mean… we all know why Slytherin built one, but why Gryffindor?"
"Well, it all comes down to Godric's secret liaison with Rowena Ravenclaw. They had this son, Godwin Potter," Harry nodded. "Gryffindor built this chamber for his son. The chamber is some sort of a library with a lot of information that Godwin could have used. Godric sent an owl to the Potters to let them know about this chamber, but it seems the Potters never got that letter and Godwin never got to know about the chamber. Actually, not many people know that good old Godric was a Seer. It is a rare gift for males, usually only females possess it. However, Godric had these skills and foresaw that Godwin would be an Imaginer. So, he acquired a very rare book for his son – a book on Imaginers. He hoped that Godwin would find it useful. However, Godwin never got to read the book. We can only guess why the Potters didn't receive Godric's letter – it could have been any kind of vis maior. The point is that there's a page missing from the book, and I have a very good reason to believe that that particular page had a description of how someone, an outsider, could control an Imaginer's powers, using them for his own purposes."
"But… what does this have to do with Daniel getting expelled?" Harry asked defiantly.
"A lot, Harry," Albus sighed. "Daniel didn't imagine a huge snake at the tournament. Someone else did. Daniel only carried out that person's will. And today, the Bludgers that went berserk… that was also done by Daniel, but he didn't imagine them. Someone else did, just used your son to accomplish it."
"So… does it… does it work like telepathy? That person imagines something, but as they have control over my son, they can make Daniel carry out what they imagine? Using my son as some sort of a channel?"
"I'm afraid so, Harry," the headmaster nodded.
"And what can be done about this? We can't expose my son to the will of some unknown lunatic!"
"I'm sorry, Harry, but for the time being, I can't help Daniel. That is why I decided to send him away from Hogwarts – so to say expel him – until we find out who has been doing these things and stop them. But without that page, I have no idea how they can be stopped… Difficult, very difficult… I must ask you not to tell anyone the real reason for Daniel's expulsion. Your wife is an exception, of course, but make sure that no one else finds out. We can't be careful enough… the culprit is among us."
* * * * *
"Expelled?" Gilda gasped. "But… but why?"
"Long story," Dan hung his head. "And rather difficult, too."
"But… why would Dumbledore expel you without giving a good reason?" Norbert asked. "That's not like him!"
"He has a good reason, mate," Dan replied. "The pseudo-basilisk I conjured. The parents of many Hogwarts students were scared to death and they fear for their children… that I might conjure a real basilisk and kill them all…"
"But that's… that's the most short-sighted thing I have ever heard!" Norbert huffed. "Parents can't be this stupid! Or even if they are, the staff must have more sense than to expel you!"
Dan shrugged. "It seems that they do not."
"Oh, Dan… I don't want you to leave," Gilda's eyes filled with tears. "I can't imagine Hogwarts without you."
Daniel felt like laughing at her and telling her not to be so sad because he'd be coming back as soon as possible, but he had been told by Dumbledore to play. So he did. He stepped to the girl and gently wiped away a droplet of tear from her cheek. "Don't cry for me, Gil. We'll see each other one day again. Maybe right during the summer holidays."
"But… what will become of you if you don't finish your studies here?" she sniffed.
"I could still go to Beauxbatons or Durmstrang…" he shrugged.
"No, don't go to Durmstrang! That's an evil place!" she exclaimed. "That school turns out dark wizards!"
"Oh, you little goose. It was a long time ago when it turned out dark wizards… it's a decent school, just like Hogwarts."
"Never call me little goose," she whispered.
"Then what should I call you? Your Majesty?" he grinned.
Seeing the grin on his face, her heart started to ache even more. He was just trying to look happy, but he must be feeling terrible! His grin couldn't deceive her! She also felt terrible. Miserable. She was losing him… suddenly she closed the one-foot gap between them and flung herself on his neck, embracing him so hard that he almost suffocated.
"Gil… you're stifling me," he croaked. He was deeply touched by the girl's affections. For him this 'I'm-expelled-and-sad' thing should have been a mere role of a drama he had to play, but with Gilda Lockhart's trembling and weeping form in his arms he started to feel another way. For her, this situation was real; she truly believed that she'd never see him again… possibly for the first time in his life, Daniel understood what empathy was: understanding others' feelings so deeply that he also started to feel them. He had to blink back a tear and bit his lower lip to stop himself from shouting 'it's not real, I'm not expelled!' – he bit it so hard that it started to bleed.
Before he could realise what was happening, she drew back a bit and plastered her lips to his. This kiss was totally different from the one they had shared on Valentine's Day's night. Back then, it had been innocent and simple, now it was passionate and full of emotions. Pain. Grief. Loss. He ran his hands through her silky, long hair, cupping her chin to hold her in place and kept kissing her as if his life depended on it. He could feel the peculiar taste of blood on her lips – she didn't seem to care that he was bleeding, all she seemed to care for was to hold him as long as she could. He knew that he had to break the magic of the moment. It wasn't easy, but it had to be done by him.
With a resolute motion he pulled back. "I've got to go," he gasped for breath.
She was also breathing hard, one hand plastered over her mouth that had been abandoned by Daniel's lips mere seconds earlier. Tears were now pouring down here cheeks like some tiny cascade.
He wished he could console her, but he wasn't allowed to. He stepped to Norbert and offered him his hand. Young Malfoy shook it with a sad little smile. "I'll be missing you, Potty. If someone had told me ten months ago that my best friend would be a Potter, I would have cursed them to hell… but it's been great to be your friend."
"It's been great to be your friend, too," Dan nodded, then turned back to Gilda and passed her a parchment. "The Marauder's Map. Would you give it to Kevin or the twins for me? I don't feel like looking for them and start over this emotional saying good-bye stuff."
"Of course I'll give it to them," she replied.
"Take care, mate," Norbert added.
"I will," Daniel bent down, scooped up his rucksack and beckoned to Abu to hop onto his shoulder. He gave Gilda a last glance then diverted his stare. "Good bye. See you in summer," and with that he exited the Slytherin common room.
* * * * *
After Dumbledore had announced Daniel's expulsion at dinner, the castle was filled with murmurs about the events: 'Daniel Potter's been expelled! I thought I heard it wrong when the headmaster told us!'
'Me too! I can't believe it! He has just been named Champion! Why would they expel a champion?'
Many students found the news highly interesting and kept guessing why Daniel had to leave. Others were not merely interested in knowing the truth, but also felt sorry for the poor boy.
The twins were unusually silent and Kevin felt miserable. He had just reconciled with his cousin and now he was gone.
"It was nice of him to give us the Map, though, wasn't it?" Valentine said.
"Yeah…" Viviane nodded. "I thought Snape had long confiscated it… it's strange… yesterday I would have given half my leg to have something like the Map, but now I don't feel happy about it."
"You're not alone," Kevin pouted, pushing away his plate of Yorkshire pudding. He simply couldn't eat. He felt so guilty. Daniel had been expelled because of that silly basilisk… had Kevin not begun that mockery with conjuring a lion, then Daniel wouldn't have conjured a snake at all… young Weasley felt miserable – it was all his bloody fault! On the other hand, he had wanted so badly to make up for everything he had done to Daniel during the school year and now he no more had a chance…
"Where's Lily?" Lancelot spoke up.
"Dunno. Probably crying somewhere," Val shrugged.
However, Lily wasn't crying anywhere. She was racing down the corridor, towards Harry's office. Her father wasn't present at dinner, so she suspected that she'd find him there. She ripped open the door of his study and stormed in.
"Why?" she shouted.
"Why what?" he blinked, downright terrified by her expression. There were so many emotions on her face: pain, confusion, and fury, fury, fury.
"It's all your fault, Harry!" she yelled, stamping her foot.
"Why, if I may ask?" he crossed his arms and leant back into his chair, trying to look as calm as possible.
"Because you have spoilt him! I have told you that already, haven't I? You have raised him in the belief that he was allowed to do anything and what's the result? He got expelled! You can be very proud of your fatherly skills, Harry!"
Harry had tried to remain calm in vain. He was just as upset about Daniel leaving Hogwarts as Lily was, and Lily had no right to talk to him like that! He had not spoilt his son! Well, a little bit, maybe, but it wasn't the reason why the boy had been expelled. And he couldn't even tell his daughter the real reason… She had no idea that the situation was much more serious than she thought, she had no idea that her brother had scary powers that were endangering other peoples' lives. She had no idea that some lunatic was using her little brother as a tool to kill Snape with. She couldn't imagine what terrible things someone with control over a powerful Imaginer could accomplish! She had no idea that Daniel could cause not only Snape's death but the destruction of whole Hogwarts or the whole wizarding world as well… but Harry was aware of these things. The knowledge settled into his brain, onto his thoughts, crushing them with its terrible weight… he was scared for his son, he was scared for the wizarding world… and insolent little Lily here was shouting at him that he had spoilt Daniel. A cogwheel in his mind broke, causing the one next to it break, sending a tremor throughout his brain, down into his body… he was shaking with suppressed emotions and he couldn't hold them back anymore… it burst out of him like an erupting volcano.
"HOLD YOUR TONGUE!" he yelled at his daughter, jumping up from his seat. "YOU HAVE ABSOLUTELY NO IDEA WHAT YOU ARE TALKING ABOUT!"
She had never heard her father shouting like this. She cringed, both with shock and fear. His eyebrows were knitted and his emerald eyes had narrowed, but they were very clearly gleaming with fury. His hands were balled into fists and he looked like he'd hit her if she uttered another word. She took a step backwards, horror and disgust on her features. "I hate you," she whispered and ran out.
Harry sank back into his chair, pressing his hands to his forehead. It was aching like hell. "Calm down…" he mumbled to himself. "Just your nerves… nothing but your nerves…" he massaged his forehead, trying to chase the excruciating pain away. His eyes started to water and the world became blurry. "What is happening?" he sighed. He hadn't felt so terrible for thirteen years…
* * * * *
Remus Lupin was just about to steer his son into his room and tell him a bedtime story when he saw Harry dash past. Although he still felt mad at his onetime friend, now he couldn't help but feel sorry for him. Having your child expelled from Hogwarts couldn't be a nice experience… he hoped that his little James would never get into such a situation.
"Dad…" the boy spoke up, dropping himself on his bed, while his father entered the bathroom. "As Harry Potter ran by us, something occurred to me. Something that I wanted to ask you since morning but forgot."
"What, Jamie?" Remus called from the bathroom. He had just turned on the tap to make a nice bath for his son.
"Did you really used to be a werewolf?"
Splash.
Remus had fallen into the tub.
"Whaaaat?" Another splash could be heard – he was trying to get out of the water.
He quickly performed a drying charm on himself and padded back into the child's bedroom. "Where did you get that idea?" he asked in a hoarse voice, sitting down next to Jamie. He and his wife had agreed to keep his onetime lycanthropy a secret from their son. Who could have told Jamie?
"I just… heard stuff," the boy shrugged. "Is it true or not?"
"Well… there's no use lying, James. It is. I was indeed a werewolf. Then one day… I stopped being one. Don't ask how, because I don't know."
"But I know," the boy said, reaching for his favourite stuffed yeti. "It was done by Harry Potter."
Remus knitted his brows. "What are you talking about?"
"Harry Potter caught a magic goldfish at Durmstrang," Jamie replied, tossing his yeti from one hand into the other. "And one of the three wishes was to make you a normal human again."
Lupin simply couldn't believe this. "Who told you this?"
"No one. I overheard Daniel Potter telling it to his friends. They didn't see me there. I just heard it and I thought I'd ask you."
Remus's mind was racing. Indeed, Harry had been at Durmstrang at the time he turned back into a human. Harry's son had been a squib… and then he had become a wizard. The fish must have done it! But then… then… Harry had wasted a wish on him! And he had called him selfish! SELFISH! For heaven's sake, how could he?
Remus had never felt so guilty. He had been so nasty to Harry for months! When it had been Harry who had actually given him a life! A real life!
He propped his elbows onto his knees, hiding his face into his palms. He must have remained that way for minutes.
"Daddy?" the little boy reached out to pat his shoulder. "Are you all right?"
"I'm fine," Remus looked up with a haunted expression. "I just have never felt this stupid before."
* * * * *
Harry didn't know where he was going – for the second time this year. He had felt like this after the fire: aimless, absolutely having no idea what he was doing, where he was going… he just felt he had to go.
The sky was already pitch-black, myriads of stars shining above. The fragrant air of the late-spring/early-summer night cleared his head a bit. He sank down onto a fallen trunk, taking deep breaths, letting the sweet smell of lilacs penetrate his lungs. He felt so confused, so worried, so… he couldn't really express it with words. He wished that this nightmare would end… that everything would be settled… but whenever something seemed to be settled something new cropped up to make his life a hell. His gaze wandered upwards, to the small celestial lights. He caught himself wondering what he would be able to read from the stars if he had paid better attention at Trelawney's classes.
Trelawney…
Damn the old rook, she seemed to be right again!
Shock after shock, grief after grief…
His son getting into Slytherin… his friendship to Remus destroyed… Ginny losing their baby… their house burning down and Hedwig dying… Daniel almost dying when falling into that well… Lily hating him with more and more passion every day… Daniel expelled… what was next?
He didn't dare imagine what could come after these.
Suddenly he felt something nudge him from behind. He jerked out his wand from his pocket and turned around in a split-second to curse any attacker, but only saw Angel, the baby-unicorn standing behind the trunk, eyeing him with her huge amber eyes.
"Hey… I didn't want to scare you with any foolish wand-waving," he whispered, reaching out to stroke the little animal's muzzle. Although Professor Grubbly-Plank had told them in his fourth year that unicorns liked a woman's touch and the younger that woman the better, it seemed that Angel didn't mind an adult male touching her. She nuzzled herself close to Harry, her golden fur shining in the darkness like some unicorn-shaped lamp.
"You also needed some warmth, huh?" he smiled sadly. "I understand. Speaking of warmth…" he realised that he should have paid his family a visit, at least to comfort Ginny. Surely Daniel must have told his mother the reason of his expulsion when he arrived at their Hogsmeade home hours earlier, but she needed Harry's explanation as well… "I must visit my wife," he told the small animal, feeling a bit silly that he was talking to her – could she understand him at all? "Be a good girl, okay?" he gave Angel a final pat and headed down the path towards the wizard village.
* * * * *
He found Ginny in the garden. Although it was already eleven p.m., she was sitting in the arbour near the pond, listening to the frogs' croaking and the little noises of the crickets. She couldn't sleep. She was way too upset for that.
Daniel had come home hours earlier. At first Ginny had had no idea what her son could be doing at their gate late in the evening. Then he had told her.
She had thought she'd die on the spot. Expelled. Her son expelled! The boy had dropped his luggage and embraced his mother, whispering, "It's okay, mum, it's not for real. They didn't even snap my wand in half."
She had had no idea what to say, so she had steered him inside and he had told her the details. She had been appalled to hear about a chamber built by Godric Gryffindor and had been scared to get to know that Daniel had been controlled by someone – that someone had had him on a string, playing with him like a puppeteer with a marionette…
Now Daniel was up in his room, probably sleeping peacefully. But Ginny couldn't find her peace. Her mind was in turmoil, trying to find out who and why would use her son like that… suddenly the gate opened and she got shaken out of her reveries.
"Harry?" she whispered, jumped up and hurried towards him. At midway between the gate and the pond they met in a tight hug.
"Oh, Harry…" she trembled in his arms. "What is going on here?"
"I wish I knew, Gin," he sighed. "Daniel told you what has happened, hasn't he?"
"Yes he did… but I don't understand a thing. What evil creature would treat him like that? And why use him to do away with Snape? Why our son?"
"I don't know. But we'll find out, sweetheart. We will."
"This is… so much of a mystery to me. The chamber, that book, the rogue Bludgers… I'm afraid for Daniel. He is so powerful… and if his powers are used for bad, then… I can't and don't want to imagine what will happen."
He had no idea what to answer, how to calm her down, because he was just as worried and confused as she was. Their son was indeed powerful. Powerful beyond imagination – in both senses of the word. He just didn't want to imagine what an Imaginer under bad influence was capable of… So, instead of talking, he only held her, caressing her hair and nuzzling his face into her neck.
"Touch me, Harry," she whispered.
"I am touching you," he whispered back.
"Not that way," she pulled back a bit. "I need you. I need your warmth and love," she cupped his face and stared into his beautiful eyes that looked a velvety dark-green in the darkness of the night. "Just love me, Harry… and make me forget about everything."
"As you wish, my lady," he said softly and wanted to scoop her up to carry her into the house, but she motioned him to stop.
"Not in there."
"Then… where?" he looked around then it suddenly dawned on him. "You… you don't mean that you want it… here? Outside?"
"We have done it in quite peculiar places, Harry. So why not try it here?"
"Because anyone could see or hear us. You're a screamer, dear."
She let out a small chuckle. "I think I'll be able to stop myself from screaming. Come," she took his hand and led him back into the arbour that encircled them with its intertwined vines, obscuring the outside world. Nothing else existed but the two of them and those few frogs croaking in the pond.
He lowered her gently to the grass and started showering her face and neck with feather-light kisses. All of a sudden, he stiffened and pulled back a bit.
"What?" she groaned, feeling very 'Harry-deprived'.
"That frog," he whispered. "It's watching us."
She giggled and pulled out her wand, sending a Stunner at the unfortunate animal. "Now he's not watching anymore. Really, dear, when did you develop this 'someone's-watching-us'-complex?"
He blushed. "The very first time we made love in the Prefect's Bathroom. Myrtle turned out to have seen it all."
"Really?" she wrinkled her nose. "Well, she's not here at the moment… so, what are you waiting for?" with that she grabbed his robes and pulled him down to her, plastering her lips to his. Daniel's expulsion and the mysterious person machinating with Dan's powers were forgotten, along with the frogs in the pond.
* * * * *
Draco was in a bad mood. Very bad mood, indeed. He was coming home from his bank, fuming. His bank was running fine; no goblins had been threatening him with anything for a while, so he should have been a happy and satisfied man. Still, he wasn't.
For one, there was that thing with his parents. Lucius and Narcissa had allegedly left the country for some secret Ministry of Magic mission, but supposedly they should have left at least some of their house-elves behind. But they hadn't.
Draco had visited Malfoy Manor for a couple of times in the last few weeks, but the building and its park were deserted. A deserted building, though, should have been covered with dust and cobwebs. However, Draco was a keen observer and it occurred to him that there was no dust or cobwebs in the manor. It looked as tidy as always. But the house-elves weren't there. Then… who had been keeping it clean? He had no idea.
Dumbledore had met Cornelius Fudge about two weeks ago to question him about Lucius Malfoy's mission, but the Minister of Magic seemed to know nothing about it at all. Certainly, if the mission had been so secret, then the Minister wouldn't talk about it, but Albus had told Draco about Fudge's reaction when he asked the question. "He looked surprised. Cornelius has never been good at hiding his emotions. They always show on his face, and they did this time as well. When I asked him about your father and mother's mission, his eyes widened in surprise. Then he said that he had no idea what I was talking about. I knew that he wasn't lying. I usually notice when people are lying to me, and Cornelius wasn't. He really had no idea about a mission. Thus, there is no mission. I asked Fudge whether he had seen Lucius at all, but he said he hadn't," – Dumbledore's words echoed in Draco's mind.
So, there was no mission. His father had made it up. But why? Something told young Malfoy that his father was up to something. He just hadn't the vaguest idea what. Neither did he know how the missing skeleton of Tatyana Fiodrovna fit into the puzzle.
Then there was Gabrielle's case. If this Lucius-business hadn't been driving Draco crazy enough, then Miss Delacour (Mrs. Malfoy, for the time being) would have.
She hadn't been talking to him since the last day of the tournament. All right, that had been only yesterday, but to Draco, it seemed to be an eternity. He wanted her. He wanted her as badly as he had never wanted a woman… but she was ignoring him. A Malfoy had never been ignored before! This was scandalising! Scandalising, yet tantalising. He felt he'd go mad with desire if she kept playing the ice queen any longer… speaking of desire… Draco heard strange noises as he entered his garden.
"Kitty-kitty-kitty…" he bent down, looking for some stray cat. There was none. He shrugged and walked towards his house. Then he heard it again. "Lumos," he said quietly, holding out his wand in front of himself. One could never be careful enough… who knew, some goblins might be lurking in the bushes, waiting for the opportunity to attack him… but no. Goblins never used to purr and… moan… and chuckle. He squinted into the neighbouring garden, seeing a bush shake madly. "Damn you, Potter," he whispered. "Why is that I never get any?"
* * * * *
For the next few days, the students of Hogwarts barely talked about anything else but Daniel Potter's expulsion. Lily Potter kept sending her father dark glances, making him shiver every time she looked at him. Her green eyes were icy. He wished she'd listen to him, but she wasn't willing to. Harry had never known a child so hostile to its father before. Perhaps only Dudley when he hadn't got as many presents as he had expected. But Dudley's tantrums couldn't be compared to Lily's silent hatred. For he knew that it was pure hatred and disgust radiating from her eyes. It made him very sad and he cursed the moment he had let Cho kiss him in the changing room. On the other hand, he had the impression that the Cho-incident had only triggered something in Lily – something that had been lurking in her for a long time. Seeing her father snogging another woman was just the last straw for her. Harry wondered what the first straw had been… somehow, he felt that something was amiss with his daughter. Something had been seriously amiss with her for months. But what?
Harry noticed that it wasn't only his daughter who had problems. Gilderoy Lockhart seemed to be spending more and more time with Gilda who seemed very broken. Harry knew that she had been a close friend of Daniel's, although he had had no idea how close a friend she had been. Gilda had also magicked back her original hair-length and looked rather boyish than girlish again.
Even the always so chipper twins looked slightly depressed, while Kevin was not only slightly depressed – he was blaming himself a lot for not having reconciled with Dan any sooner. It was only Lancelot who dared mention once that Daniel had deserved what he got because he had always been up to no good. With this declaration, he earned a new punch in the nose from Kevin and a jelly-leg jinx from Valentine. Speaking of Valentine, she was still infatuated with Snape, but she had finally erased those little hearts from her timetable. And speaking of Professor Snape – he had recovered from his injuries and was working again, but didn't seem the same. He seemed a bit jittery, as though he was afraid that someone would cast the Killing Curse on him any second. Harry couldn't blame him for it. Snape wasn't exactly young anymore – he was about 55 and had quite many grey hairs and wrinkles. Well, he had gone through a lot, which could explain his nervousness. He also kept avoiding the caretaker for some reason. His teeth, though, were still wonderfully shiny, and Gilderoy Lockhart was still envious of them.
About a week after the unfortunate Quidditch match, when Harry thought that nothing could surprise him anymore, he saw the Minister for Magic enter Dumbledore's office. He wondered what Fudge could be doing here at a time when there was nothing for the Ministry to do at Hogwarts. Fudge looked jumpy about something. Harry knew that it wasn't his business, so he made a mental shrug and hurried off to class with the sixth-year Ravenclaws.
* * * * *
"Have a seat, please, Cornelius," the headmaster said with a jovial smile. "To what do I owe the honour of your visit?"
"Well, you won't be smiling like that when you get to know the news, Albus," the Minister for Magic replied, pinching his striped trousers to be able to sit down.
"Hm… you look and sound somewhat… jittery. A cup of tea?"
"No, thank you," Fudge shook his head, his beady little eyes twitching with nervousness.
"Then… may I know the reason of your visit?"
"Well… there's some disturbing news, Albus," Cornelius said, crumpling his lime-green bowler hat. "From Azkaban."
The headmaster gave him a bemused stare. "Have the Dementors started kissing each other?"
"Don't joke with this, Albus, this is a serious matter!" Fudge said through gritted teeth. "I got to know that the prisoners – well, the Death Eaters - have been having problems… with their marks."
"Their Dark Marks?" Dumbledore raised an eyebrow.
"Exactly. They have been giving them pains for a while. Allegedly, the marks do not look red or black, but the skin around them is burning. Albus… you don't think… you don't think that he is back?"
"Of course I don't, Cornelius!" the old wizard waved indignantly. "Voldemort can't have returned."
Fudge cringed, hearing the name of Voldemort. "What… what makes you so sure about it?"
"He died," Albus leant back into his armchair, resting his hand on Fawkes who had flown into his lap. "Harry Potter, Ronald Weasley, Hermione Granger Weasley and Severus Snape saw him die."
At the mention of Snape's name, Fudge snorted irritably. He clearly still held Severus for a Death Eater. "I know. They said that You-Know-Who's body exploded and turned into some column of fire, but… what if he only lost his body and powers again, but his soul kept living in our world, just like the first time? What if he managed to gather enough power to return fully again?"
"Cornelius," Albus gave the other man a meaningful look. "He died. He did not only lose his powers and body, but he really died. And can't have come back."
"Then… what about… reincarnation? I for one don't believe in it, but… who knows?"
"It is out of the question, Cornelius. Wizards and witches who have murdered people out of evilness in their lives are denied the chance to be reborn. You should have read 'Death and beyond', an excellent book."
"But… Albus… can't books be mistaken?"
"Well… certainly they can. But not this one. There is no knowledge of even one single dark witch or wizard reincarnating. Trust me that Voldemort hasn't, either."
"Then what do you explain the Dark Marks with?" the Minister demanded.
"For the time being, Cornelius, nothing. There are too many questions at the moment that I don't know the answers for. This is one of them. Rest assured that we'll find out."
"Find out, eh?" Fudge snapped. "But what if we find out too late?"
* * * * *
The Minister had barely left the headmaster's office when a new visitor arrived: Cho Chang.
"Sorry to disturb you, Professor," she said, "but I need to talk to you."
"You do not disturb me in the least. What can I help you with?" Albus forced a smile to his face, though he didn't really feel like smiling after Fudge's news.
"Well… the problem is that one of my restaurants in the United States has gone bankrupt and I have to travel there immediately. You may wonder what this has to do with my visit, so… I have a bad feeling, Professor. A feeling telling me that something will happen and I'll never see my daughter again…" she lifted her head to look into Dumbledore's eyes, and he saw that she was on the verge of tears. "Professor, I might be just paranoid, but my feelings have never proven to be wrong yet. I had the same bad feeling before the third task… before Cedric's death. I just want to make sure that if something… happens to me, then my daughter will be taken care of. That is why I'm here."
"Yes? I'm listening, Miss Chang," Albus nodded.
"Well, the point is that Liu has always wanted a big, happy family. I have never been able to give it to her. But if something should happen to me, she'll be left alone. I do not have any relatives left, no one who could take care of her, no one who could offer her the family she has always wanted. I'd like to… to ask you to talk to Harry Potter. If I don't return from this journey, then… ask him to take care of my Liu. He has the big, happy family that my daughter needs."
"I understand, Miss Chang, but… may I ask why you don't go to him and ask him personally?"
"Well… the fact is that… Harry doesn't want to see me. At least I don't think he does. He is mad at me, for a good reason that I do not wish to reveal…" she pursed her lips. "I just cannot go there and ask him. But you can… I love my daughter more than anything, Professor… and I just want to secure her a happy future. No doubt that she'll have enough money for a whole life, given my restaurants' incomes, but money cannot substitute a family, can it?"
"Certainly it can't," Albus replied. "If this is your wish, I will talk to Harry… but only if something happens to you, which I hope will not."
Cho gave him a small smile. "Thank you," she was just about to stand up when her glance fell on a book on the headmaster's desk. "Oh, the book of Imaginers!"
Albus knitted his eyebrows. "You know this book?"
"Yes, I do. I have seen a copy of it in the National Wizarding Library of Arizona," she replied. "I remember it quite clearly, because I spent a lot of time in that library when I used to live in the States. I even read into it."
"It is most curious, Miss Chang. Do you know that only two copies of this book exist? Only two copies in the whole world?"
"Really?" she looked surprised. "Interesting."
"Miss Chang, I offer you a deal," the headmaster said. "I accompany you to your bankrupt restaurant and defend you from anything bad that you fear could happen to you, and in return you accompany me to that library. I need to see that book."
"Well, certainly, Professor. But… why is that book so important, if you have one copy yourself?"
"Because, dear Miss Chang, there is one page missing from this one, and I hope to find that page in its brother."
* * * * *
Snape was about to teach the seventh years some very tricky cross-species changing potion the following day, and there was one ingredient he didn't remember, no matter how much he strained his mind. The description of that particular potion was in only one book – My true love – Potions, and he had lent that book to Mr. – er, Miss – Bradley before Christmas. Though he disliked the idea of visiting the caretaker very much, he had no other choice if he wanted to give a proper lecture to the seventh years.
So, he headed for Bradley's room. He knocked on the door, but no one answered. Perhaps the caretaker wasn't 'at home'. But it was already ten p.m., so what would she be doing away?
Snape didn't ponder this, but looked around to make sure that no one was near, and for the second time in his life, he sneaked into Bradley's room. He felt a bit guilty, but he was just taking back a book that belonged to him, so why have pangs of remorse?
The room was totally dark, so the Professor whispered Lumos, and the beam of light fell on the opposite wall. He almost dropped his wand.
There was a script on the wall in shining silver letters:
YOU SEEM TO BE RESISTANT TO DEATH, SNAPE, BUT SHE ISN'T
Snape gulped and directed his wand downwards, illuminating the prone body of the caretaker lying right under the script. The situation was so much like those attacks nineteen years earlier… but there was no basilisk anymore, was there?
He rushed to Bradley and patted her face, but she didn't react. Her eyes were closed and she was cold, as though she were dead. Severus touched her neck and felt a very faint throbbing. "Thanks heaven," he sighed. She was still alive.
He scooped her up and hurried up to the infirmary.
"Sorry to bother you at such a late hour, Poppy, but this is urgent."
The old matron yawned and motioned the Potions Professor to place Bradley on a nearby bed.
"What happened to her?"
"I don't know, Poppy, but I think she must have been cursed or poisoned," Severus croaked, his face paler than ever before. "Can you save her?"
"I'll do everything in my power," Madame Pomfrey nodded and pulled off the robes of the unconscious woman to be able to run a scanning-charm on her. While Pomfrey's eyebrows knitted with concentration and concern over the patient's condition, Snape's eyebrows raised high, seeing the quite distinct bulge of the caretaker's belly – a bulge that had been concealed by her robes.
He staggered backwards and had to sit down on a neighbouring bed, not feeling his legs to be strong enough to support his weight.
She was pregnant. Very possibly with his child… and he hadn't even known! He bloody well should have realised it! At least after she had collapsed in March! But no, he had been so damn blind! He had never felt like such an idiot before, neither had he felt so miserable… she was with a child… and she seemed to be dying.
A/N: getting eviler and eviler, huh? ;)
Inken: yes, all teachers but Snape voted for Dan. Dan and Gilda will get together in chapter 30. No, Ginny won't find out about that kiss. I think I have written enough of 'Ginny-being-jealous' in TGSaWCS, I don't want to write such things anymore. Yes, the Greatest Enemy is the one who's controlling Dan. And yes, he/she has been introduced already. You'll find out who they are in the next chapter (yay, finally!)
Alexander Phoenix: yes, I admit, I'm very bad ;)
2Coolio: mean, yes. And it'll get meaner.
jennaration: What does HMPH mean? Just curious. Or is that just a 'snort-sound'? Glad you like my language, LOL.
CloverWeave: you wrote: "is it a new enemy, and old enemy, or so-called friend that's controlling Dan?" I can tell you one thing: you'll find out in the next chapter. MWAHAHA!
Makayla P.: a playstation? That's cool, I never had one. But I'm not really into computer games, so I don't miss it.
xaebhal: well, you saw Harry and Ginny's reaction to Dan's expulsion.
Cassandra Anthemyst: yes, of course it's a safety issue. Yes, Tatyana would the obvious. Probably that's why it isn't she ;)
Katrina: Lily controlling Dan? Weird idea. Yeah, Remus is nasty, isn't he? But he won't stay that way forever! Are you Chinese? I never knew! :) Do you live there, or did only your ancestors live there? When was the page torn… that is the question. And I'm not telling right now! *evil grin*
Tap Dancing Widow: hehe, glad you liked the 'because of my teeth' part!
Red Ridding Hood: yeah, Cho's despicable, isn't she? *Agi grins at Bucky, her number one friend in Cho-hating* Yes, I've seen some episodes of Seventh heaven, I liked it, it was cute. What's the difference between no and not? Hm… can't explain. You've got to 'feel' which one to use, and sometimes even I tend to mix them up.
figgiesblazin: one week isn't that long, is it?
ArgiCallista: thanks for pointing out my mistake, sometimes I write new instead of knew and now instead of know.
Lioness-07863: you thought it wasn't Dumbledore? Did you think it was a clone, or someone who polyjuiced himself to be Dumbledore? Hehe… no, it was really Albus, trust me.
Toby Haine: I hope I CAN outdo myself in the next chapter, and in the chapter after that one. You'll be very surprised at certain things. Thanks a lot, Toby… I felt myself grinning all along when I read your review. And yes, I'm exactly as modest as you think I am :)
C-chan: yes, that's why I made James Lupin so talkative :) Yes, I absolutely LOVE Lee's comments, they're so funny! LOL, that parody must have been good, Harry trying to catch a Bludger instead of the Snitch. Of course Albus expelled him to protect the others :) I don't think I'll watch The Core, I don't like the catastrophe-films, but recently I've seen a very hilarious movie: Johnny English with Rowan Atkinson. I can recommend it to everyone!
Mage: no, it isn't Tatyana. She's fits into the puzzle in another way.
Inigma: hm… maybe. No problem with twisted minds, my mind is totally twisted, too :D
SiriDragon: Beryl and Snape will shove their pride into bags in the next chapter – finally :) Glad you liked Gilderoy's colour-blindness.
Princess Ginny: Lily will forgive Harry soon… in two chapters.
King Jasbon: when is your birthday? Anyway, happy birthday! Don't be mad at me please, but I can't send you the rest of the fic… I'm not the type to favour anyone like that. The only person whom I sent it got it because she's Hungarian like me (hehe, that's evil discrimination, isn't it?;)
Wizzabee: I hope you no more find Dan's expulsion fishy. I promise you that Ginny won't find out about the Harry/Cho kiss.
maureen: my fave girl's name is Lily, too :) Oh, so a linguistics expert made up Parseltongue? That's interesting. So, I made you dislike Cho? Hm… funny… other people told me I made them like Gilderoy, I never thought my fics had such effect on people's attitudes towards certain characters. LOL. Lily won't tell her mum about the kiss. Beryl couldn't have placed Quietus on Snape, since she's a Muggle.
Lana Riddle: yes, poooor Dan!
PheonixFire: no, I'm not crazy, I can assure you of that. Dan HAD TO be expelled for plot reasons, it's a strategic move. Tatyana's spirit in the well? Whew, that's an interesting idea. Now come on, she DOESN'T live in Lily!
Houou: what? Dan tampered with school property? LOL. Snape's teeth as school property? Even bigger LOL! What does AWOL mean? No, Lucius doesn't have another person's spirit in his body. What's Kool AId?
Nefertiri: Philippe using Tatyana's powers? Oh my, you people make up the weirdest theories ever! I'm proud of you all, you're so imaginative! I haven't read And Then There Were None, I've only read one Agatha Christie book, and I don't know its English title. No, Albus isn't evil. Lily the evil? Hm… that's interesting again. Now you see that Remus thinks that Harry isn't selfish.
goldenstar555: yes, the poor one :(
Missy: I hope you didn't think this was a bad/boring chapter. Your signature is nice, but don't you think it's a bit too long? Anyway, I love the way you used § instead of s :)
BigDaddy753: thanks :D
Lady Marie: I hate Cho, too!
apple-pie: yes, the one who torn out the page is the Enemy. Glad you liked the 'because of my teeth' part ;)
VegaKeep: yes, probably Dan shouldn't have let on that he was breaking rules, but he knew that he had to tell Dumbledore if they ever wanted to catch the one controlling him.
Chrissi: thanks a lot! Many people have told me already that I've improved a lot since TGSiHH, but it always makes me happy when they tell me again and again! :D I started writing TGSiHH two years ago (in May of 2001), and I've learnt a lot since then, both in spelling/grammar and style. When I re-read TGSiHH, I also realised that it was pretty childish and TGEEF is much more 'grown-up'.
sabby: no, Harry and Ginny wouldn't be mad at Dan, they're just sad. Glad you liked the last chapter :)
Sky: who was ignored? Who died? Yes, last chapter was really evil, but the evilest part is yet to come.
Saiyuki Parker: I haven't been smoking anything, don't worry… but when we reach chapter 28, you might ask again if I had been smoking something ;)
weirdo_without_a_clue: yes, you're right about Lily. It's Gilderoy, not gildory :) I'm not the type to kill off too many people, sorry.
Myr Halcyon: don't worry, all Dan and Gilda will do is kiss. I promised my readers at the beginning of this fic that no underage people will have sex in it, and I keep my word. Glad you like Lily's personality (you're the only one who does). Aha, you referred to the Romantic era… I should have realised, stupid me! What does your dress for the prom look like?
GdCharlotte: I'm glad you like the evil stuff :)
Altec: Dumbledore expelled Dan for security reasons, not because he had been breaking rules.
AmandaPanda: well, the expulsion got explained, didn't it?
seashell: this 'someone's using Tatyana's powers' is an interesting theory, but I'm sorry, it's incorrect. Yeah, I named Beryl intentionally, because beryl was something the chemical formula of which I managed to find and I thought it'd be fun to include into the fic the way I'm going to do in the next chapter. You'll find out who's behind everything in the next chapter. And no, it's not a new random character. Haha, I also would like to use a hair-growing charm, my hair also grows extremely slowly! I didn't want to describe Dan's feelings when those things with the Bludgers happened, because I wanted to keep the readers unknowing for a while… I love it when I can confuse you ;) I don't think that Neville will turn bitter just because everyone cheered Harry. He's not the type to want to be famous. No, it wasn't Dan who set the spiders on Snape, he just stopped the spiders from killing Snape. Neither did he set fire to the house. I can't explain why I loathe Cho, but I've never liked her – and I'm not alone with this, there are lots of people who hate her, too. No, Lily isn't an Imaginer in any way. And her bad temper has nothing to do with P.M.S. ;) No, the miscarriage wasn't done by Dan, either. Dan isn't the type to think of suicide. Gilderoy does nothing to Gred and Forge, he's just angry with them. You pictured Dan telling 'I did it' really well! :D About the missing page: wait till chapter 28 and 29, and you'll find out.
Kit Cloudkicker: yes, I love keeping you on pins and needles! :D
Phoenix_Kiss02: perhaps you'll manage to like Lily later, just wait it out.
Wood's secret lover: no, Dan isn't the type to sit at home and cry! Magical Garbage Man is just a pun, I already used it in TGSiHH, because its acronym is MGM, like that of Metro Goldwyn Mayer.
Romina: yes, Voldemort did die in TGSiHH. I'm not doing a sequel for this fic, but after reading OotP I'll surely find new topics to write about :) The story has 31 chapters.
kitch: no, this fic is the final one in the trilogy, it won't have any sequels. I might write outtakes to my trilogy, just like Starry Night and Racoon Bite and Gadding with Goats, but they'll be short, since they're just outtakes. I post one chapter a week.
Indigo Ziona: I totally agree with you about Snape. I don't think that he's still a virgin at the age of forty-something, but I think he surely didn't have many women… he's just not the type. The Snape/Hermione fics irritate me a lot, once I read two such fics and never again. Glad you liked my portrayal of Snape's inner struggle :D No, in fact Ginny will never get to know about Harry and Cho kissing. Your guess about James Lupin was right :)
dipstick: yes, you're on the right track :)
X-Tow-Naga: I liked your theory, sounds really imaginative, but of course it's incorrect.
K. C. Hunter: nice to see you again! I'm always so happy if a 'lost' reader returns! :D
JenniferW: no, Beryl isn't the resurrected Tatyana. Dan's expulsion was for security reasons.
heavenly182angel: the cliffie at the end of chapter 25 wasn't the ultimate torture for my devoted readers. The real torture is yet to come!
Elfangor19: no, not Tatyana.
Punky Poet: no, it isn't Tatyana.
The Millenium One: since Albus wanted everyone to believe that Dan had been expelled, not suspended, he rather used the word expelled (although we know that it's really just a suspension).
Angela: I totally understand what you mean, and all I can say is wait for the Dan/Gilda discussion in chapter 30, and I can assure you that you'll be satisfied with me :)
XR: sorry, I've never been good at Chemistry.
TaMaraR: Harry didn't really cheat on Ginny… it was just a kiss, after all.
ruffled owl: well, Harry did come close to a nervous breakdown in this chapter, didn't he? And even worse things are coming for the poor guy… *sniff, sniff* I'm so evil to him!
Kamatazi Yumi: well, Gilda got rid of her long hair, didn't she? :) Glad you think I still have 'the spark' :D No, I haven't read Not Really a Weasley. Who is it about? I mean, which Weasley?
Zenon Lee: glad to see ya again! The Hogwarts festivities are over, so the tragic match can't affect it. About Tatyana's possible resurrection… wait till chapter 29 and you'll find out. The same stands for Lucius' involvement.
Katie Bell: are you shocked? ;) Btw, thanks for reviewing on Riddikulus!
Kristen Michelle: you know what? I have actually thought of you today: 'what could have happened to Kristen Michelle?' And then I got a review from you… I was so happy! So, you think I can't top Hedwig being killed. Oh… I'm sure I can ;)
Laura: I'm glad you like my fics so much :) When you wrote that you were sorry that Minerva wasn't pregnant, I started giggling uncontrollably… you know, originally I was playing with the thought of making her pregnant, but I decided against it, since other women are pregnant in the fic: Ginny and Beryl. Glad you liked the Minerva/Aberforth pairing :D The only one who voted for Kevin was Snape, all the other teachers voted for Dan.
Any last requests: thanks for pointing out that mistake with the kiwi. Yeah, we in Hungary use the word for the fruit. Yes, the one controlling Dan and making Lily be so weird is the same.
Relena: thanks for reviewing. Don't worry, your English is quite good :) Yes, I know that TGSiHH is being translated into French by Sabrinette, she asked for my permission and I let her translate it :)