Chapter Ten: Shadows of Danger

Harry found the common room filtering empty as the Gryffindors began to tire of cheering Dean every time he tried to say something. Getting some odd looks, or suspicious in the twins' case, Harry walked down from one stairwell and up the other. Climbing the stairs, he opened the door in time to hear Ron yelp in pain again. 'Shut up you big baby,' Hermione nagged, dabbing at one of the myriad of cuts on Ron's chest. 'You didn't make this much fuss when Norbert bit you.' 'Don't remind me,' Ron groaned, wincing again when she wiped another of the cuts. Looking up, he noticed Harry and the unconscious smile he wore. 'I see you escaped the wrath of the furball,' Ron commented, shooting a glare at Crookshanks who was nestled on Harry's bed. 'Where'd you hide out?' 'Up the stairwell,' Harry replied, lifting Crookshanks gingerly and sitting down on his bed. Leaning against his pillows he put Crookshanks back into his lap, where, after a few seconds pawing, the cat settled, purring contentedly. 'What's on your mind?' Hermione asked, not looking at Harry but instead working on a graze that practically bisected Ron. 'I was thinking,' Harry said, not quite realising what he was saying, 'when I'll have to stop worrying about how much I care for someone.' Sitting there, absently stroking Crookshanks, he was suddenly aware of the silence coming from Hermione and Ron. 'What?' Hermione's mouth moved but no sound came out, but Ron let a comment through. 'It's just a bit grim, isn't it? Why would you say that?' Harry let out a sigh, 'Because I do care for people, enough that it's going to put them in danger.' Shifting his weight he turned to face them, still keeping Crookshanks on his lap. 'You can't tell anyone, I'm not even supposed to tell you - I wasn't even supposed to know.' Almost unconsciously Hermione raised her wand and flicked it at the door, closing and securing it against entry. 'Malfoy's father, he's sent a demon after me, it targets anything or anyone that I care for - anyone I feel responsible for.' 'You mean Dumbledore wasn't going to tell you?' Ron asked incredulously, 'Was he just going to wait for this demon to attack all of us?' 'He just didn't want Harry to worry, did he Harry?' Hermione said, her voice quiet as Harry nodded back. 'It was the smart thing to do.' 'What? To hell with the smart thing!' Ron exclaimed, 'You do realise the demon doesn't go for Harry, would you not like knowing about something stalking you?' 'Do you always have to think about yourself?' Hermione snapped suddenly, and then without another word she stormed out. 'I wasn't!' Ron shouted after her, then mumbled to himself quietly, 'I was thinking about you.' Looking up quickly he saw that Harry had settled down again, his eyes closed and forehead creased in worry, but still asleep. Sighing he drew Harry's curtains, then pulled his own shut before climbing into bed, closing his eyes he felt sleep coming almost instantly. In the silence he didn't hear Harry whisper, 'I was thinking of someone too.'

* * *

Another figure appeared, crumpled on the floor, Harry turned them over to reveal Ginny's face, pale and lifeless. 'No!' he heard his own voice as he lifted her, shook her shoulders in vain, 'Ginny, no! Wake up! WAKE UP!' He heard a grating of steel, and a flash of silver appeared in his vision, drawing back he felt the blade of the dagger plunge into his chest, slicing through his flesh, cold death penetrating him.

Harry awoke, his chest heaving violently as he sat up, dislodging Crookshanks who spat at him, withdrawing his claws. Lifting his shirt, Harry found only small red marks where the cat had pawed through the cloth. Rubbing sleep from his eyes, Harry pulled back his curtains to find the others emerging from their beds, all yawning and stretching. 'Breakfast?' Harry asked Ron, pulling on a fresh shirt. 'No time,' Ron replied, putting his left shoe on his right foot, 'Divination.' 'I sense you will all find an irresistible attraction to sleeping in my class,' Seamus remarked, his voice going all wavy and sing-song. 'Come on,' said Harry to Ron, 'the sooner we can go, the sooner I can go on living.'

* * *

As Harry predicted, Professor Trelawney remarked no less then three times on her belief a tragic death was imminent as the moon cycled into alignment with Neptune. As Seamus predicted, Dean found himself being continually pushed upright by Neville as his face came dangerously close to dipping into the bowls they were given. Throughout the lesson only Lavender and Parvati were successful in discovering images in their Seeing Potions. Slightly more heartening was the fact that one had been of the Quidditch team, and both swore they had seen Ron flying around - although this was more of a disappointment to Dean. Walking to the next lesson, Harry noticed Hagrid emerging from a corridor as they passed through the Entrance Hall. With a gesture to Ron, who had already started walking off with Hermione anyway, Harry went over to where the giant gamekeeper was standing, smiling at the students. A smile that faded a little, but was soon replaced, as Harry approached him. 'Alright Harry?' he asked, his eyes darker then usual. 'Out of Divination I can't help but feel fine,' Harry replied, 'Are you okay?' he continued, his eyes showing concern. Bringing his arm forward, Hagrid pulled back his sleeve to show Harry a bandage that covered his arm and hand. 'Fang got a bit over excited, yeh know?' and before Harry could reply, Hagrid smiled and in a few giant steps was out the front doors. Harry thought about going after him, something was still bothering him.and then it clicked. Fang, Hagrid's arm, there was no way the large, but kind- hearted boarhound had bitten Hagrid, even if he had been excited. Instead of following Hermione and Ron to class, Harry went up the main stairs, tracing a familiar path until he was outside the gargoyle that marked the entrance to Dumbledore's office. 'Jelly Slugs,' he said, then started up the stairs, moving quickly as the gargoyle hopped aside. Approaching the door, he heard raised voices coming from within the office, neither of them was Dumbledore's though. 'You mean to tell me that the creature is already here?' the voice was familiar, but Harry couldn't place it in his mind as he listened. 'Yes,' Harry recognised the bitter tones of Snape, 'and it's already attacked - so much for your idea of protection.' 'Gentlemen,' Dumbledore's calm tones cut in. 'No one is at fault here Severus,' Harry could almost imagine the over the glasses stare that Snape would be receiving. 'And I apologise for not informing you of the attack straight away Julian.' Kilmorie! So that was the other voice. 'As it stands, the Cambirer demon is indeed here, and already it has begun to work against Harry. Don't worry about blame now, instead worry about how to save further allocations of it.' There was a silence, and then Harry heard Dumbledore shift some papers. 'If that is all for now, I'll see you both later, and would you please send Harry in on the way out?' The door swung open, and Harry found himself briefly glaring into the amused orange eyes of Kilmorie before the man swept aside. Walking in, Harry found himself both nervous and confident, watching the professors leave before turning to face Dumbledore. 'You heard enough to confirm your guess?' Dumbledore opened, seemingly reading Harry's mind. 'The Cambirer attacked Hagrid?' 'Correct, a few minutes after you left I understand, he said he thought you'd come back for something. Fortunately for Hagrid, Fang was there, animals can sense demonic presence you know,' the old wizard added the last part as if Harry was taking a class from him then and there. 'As soon as the door was opened he leapt out, the Cambirer only managed to strike Hagrid's forearm before it was tackled by Fang. We've no idea where it went, Hagrid pulled Fang back inside and barricaded the door.' 'But.surely we would have seen it?' Harry wondered aloud, before looking back at Dumbledore. 'Shadows move in the darkness Harry,' Dumbledore replied, gesturing towards the candles about the room, extinguishing them apart from one. 'Who can tell what they disguise?' as Harry watched, a shadow crossed the one patch of wall still lit, and Harry felt, as well as saw, Fawkes land on his shoulder. But just as quickly the shadow elongated, forming a hand that gripped Harry's shoulder cruelly, with a swiftness Harry could barely perceive, a second shadow crossed the wall. He felt his chest tighten as a silhouette of a knife plunged into his own, a painful and terrifying reminder of his dream. Turning his head slowly, Harry looked to his shoulder and instead saw Fawkes, still peacefully preening himself. Turning back, he found Dumbledore had silently moved to stand in front of him, a involuntary shudder ran through Harry. If Dumbledore could sneak up on him, he would stand no chance against a demon trained to kill him. 'Don't trust the shadows Harry,' Dumbledore said, 'they will hide death until it strikes.'