Chapter Six
The Rescue
Harry awoke sleepily from his nap, having no idea how much time had passed. He opened his eyes and saw Ron and Hermione talking quietly in two seats across from him. Fred, George, and Lee had left the compartment. The only sounds he could hear were Ron and Hermione's faint whispering and the distant rattle of the train on the tracks.
Hermione looked over at him and saw that his eyes were open.
"Oh, Harry, you're awake."
Ron looked over too. "Been wondering when you were going to wake up. You've been out for practically the whole trip. We should be nearly there."
Harry looked out the window. The sky was very dark from a combination of storm clouds and the approaching twilight. Wild, overgrown forests were flashing past. Ron was right. They should be nearly there.
Harry was about to get up to change into his robes when the train was suddenly rocked very violently. He lost his balance and fell right into Hermione. There was a loud roar (Harry was reminded of the missiles Muggles used), and the train rocked even more violently than before. The glass window shattered inward and Harry tumbled to the floor. The candles in the compartment flickered and died. Harry could hear the squeal of brakes as the train slowed and came to a stop.
"What the-" but Ron didn't even finish the sentence before a third roar thundered outside. It rocked the train more ferociously than either of the previous two blasts. The Hogwarts Express teetered dangerously on the edge of the rails. The fourth blast finally did it. The train was knocked clear off the tracks, and it rolled over onto its side.
Harry, Ron, and Hermione tumbled around the compartment as their luggage rained down on top of them. Hedwig's cage smashed against the wall and burst open. She flapped out, hooting indignantly. A basket of Hermione's tipped over and her large ginger cat, Crookshanks, leapt out and began hissing loudly, the hair on its back raised. Another cage, which had previously been covered with a pair of Ron's robes, also fell. It clattered loudly and the dress robes fell away to reveal a small gray owl, about the size of a tennis ball, inside. It was Pigwidgeon, Ron's owl, and it began hopping around the cage, hooting madly. The three trunks also came tumbling down. Harry saw Ron dive to shelter Hermione from the raining luggage.
After the brief scene of chaos, there was a sudden, eerie stillness. Harry, Ron, and Hermione all lay on the floor surrounded and covered by the contents of their trunks. Shards of glass lay all around them. It was dark. The only faint light came from the stars and moon through the shattered window, which was now directly above them. The cold night air sent a chill down Harry's spine.
In the distance, he could hear yelling, smaller explosions, and blood-curdling screams.
Harry slowly raised his head from his arms and peered around. Ron was also looking around, his face pale, and terror showing in his eyes. Hermione was still cowering beneath him.
Harry slowly got to his feet and found that he had several cuts along his arms. Ron also got up and looked around nervously. Hermione raised her head, glanced cautiously around, then also climbed to her feet.
"What happened?" she whispered, fright in her voice, as she bent down to pick up Crookshanks.
Harry shrugged. He suddenly realized he was very cold and quickly threw on his robes and cloak. The other two did the same.
They stood there in silence for a while, each too terrified to speak, listening to the screams and yells growing steadily louder.
"I think they're getting closer," Harry whispered, listening hard. Ron and Hermione both nodded silently, their eyes wide.
"Let's get outta here," Harry said suddenly, snatching up his wand. Ron picked his up too and also opened Pigwidgeon's cage.
"C'mon, Pig," Ron said, stuffing the tiny owl into his cloak pocket.
Hermione grabbed her wand and also picked up Crookshanks, softly trying to calm him down.
Harry surveyed the surroundings and realized that the window above them was the only way out. He hurriedly began to stack the trunks to provide a way up. Ron and Hermione saw what he was doing and quickly began to help.
Harry suddenly realized how close the screams, yells, and blasts had become.
"We've gotta go," Harry said, urgency in his voice. As though sensing what was going on, Hedwig flew onto Harry's shoulder.
"Hedwig," he whispered to her, "I want you to go. Fly away to somewhere safe for awhile. Come back in a few days. It's too dangerous for you right now."
Hedwig looked back at him dubiously as Harry stroked her.
"Harry!" Ron suddenly whispered. "See if Hedwig will take Pig with her."
"Did you hear that?" Harry repeated to Hedwig. "Will you take Pig with you? And keep him safe?"
Hedwig clicked her beak disapprovingly.
"Please," Harry pleaded, "just this once. For me. Please. Just keep him safe for a few days."
Hedwig stared at Harry with her amber eyes then lowered her head and extended one of her wings.
"Thank you," Harry breathed. Ron scrambled to pull Pig out of his pocket. The tiny owl immediately tried to take off but Ron grabbed it quickly. It sat in the palm of his hand staring up at him, unusually quiet.
"Listen to me," he said to Pig sternly. "You have to follow Hedwig now. Stay close to her." Pig sat there quite still, as though realizing the importance of what he was saying. "You got it?"
As if in answer, Pig flew over to Hedwig and sat next to her, looking at the snowy owl as though waiting for instructions.
Another explosion went off, this time very close to their car.
"C'mon, Harry," Hermione pleaded, her voice trembling, "let's go."
"Okay, Hedwig, I'll see you in a few days," Harry said quickly. And with one last affectionate nip at his hand, she took off into the starry sky, Pig close behind her.
"Let's go," Harry said immediately, and the three of them hurriedly began scrambling up the trunks, out into the cold night air.
Harry was the first to emerge from the compartment, struggling to gain a foothold on the overturned train car. He looked up and down the tracks and discovered the entire train had been derailed. Several cars lay on their sides, smoke coming from within some of them. Dark shapes were scurrying into the woods that surrounded them while taller figures made their way from compartment to compartment as though looking for something, occasionally sending a blast of magic inside. It took Harry several seconds before he fully realized what was going on.
The Hogwarts Express had been attacked and completely derailed. Students were fleeing from the wreckage into the woods as tall, hooded, and masked figures walked along the train, searching its insides. Harry realized immediately what they were but Hermione, who had climbed up beside him, beat him to it.
"Death Eaters," she breathed, pure terror filling her voice.
Harry nodded silently as Ron climbed out and joined them. Harry heard him swear quietly as he gazed around.
"Listen," Harry said quickly, turning to face the other two. "We've gotta get into the forest before they see us. Stay together. And get your wands out." He looked at Ron and Hermione to find them both staring anxiously back at him, and he realized they were waiting on him.
"Let's go."
They scrambled down the side of the train car and took off for the forest at a sprint, trying to stay low to the ground. Harry led the way, Ron and Hermione right at his heels. They reached the edge of the trees just as something large, bright, and green exploded into the sky behind them. All three of them whipped around and Hermione even gave a small scream.
An enormous skull with a snake coming from its mouth, glowing a brilliant green, was rising slowly into the sky. It seemed to be made up of bright lights and a greenish haze. It was the Dark Mark.
The Dark Mark was Voldemort's symbol and was sent into the air by his supporters when they had murdered someone.
More screams filled the night air as the skull hovered above the train, etched sharply against the black sky.
Harry's mind whirled. It was the Dark Mark. Had someone been killed? Hermione was staring up at it, her face very white. Ron looked as though he was about to collapse on the spot.
He turned to look directly at Harry. "Y-y-you think th-that Fr-Fred, George, and G-Ginny are alright, right?" he stammered, his eyes more terrified than Harry had ever seen them.
"Y-yeah, I'm sure they're fine," Harry reassured him. But his voice sounded hollow even to himself.
"Guys, we better go," Hermione whispered.
"You're right," Harry agreed quickly.
They began to make their way deeper into the forest, Hermione having to pull Ron away from the sight of the Dark Mark.
They tripped and stumbled their way through the dark, no one daring to light the path with their wand. They could hear dark shapes hurrying around them on either side. Screams were still cutting sharply through the air, and the dull echoes of explosions thundered behind them.
After several minutes of running blindly through the dark, Ron suddenly gave a yell of pain and went down hard disappearing from view. Harry and Hermione came to a stop and started searching the ground around them.
"Ron...?" Hermione called uncertainly. There was a muffled answer that seemed very distant.
Harry pulled out his wand.
"Harry...don't. What if they see it?"
But Harry ignored her. "Lumos," he muttered and a bright beam of light shot out of the end of his wand, illuminating the ground around them.
Harry saw it instantly. A thick bush a little way back was half-trampled. A wide, deep hole was barely visible through the broken branches. Harry hurried over to it, pulling the branches aside, to peer into the hole.
It was a steep drop but was more than wide enough for a person to fit through.
"Ron?" Harry called downward, Hermione and Crookshanks peering over his shoulder.
A voice, unmistakably Ron's, answered. "I'm down here. Watch out for that first step." He sounded like he was in a lot of pain.
Harry looked back at Hermione. "I'm going down."
She stood there, uncertainly, holding Crookshanks. A sudden explosion nearby seemed to make up her mind. "Okay, I'm going too."
Harry stepped back to allow her to go first and heard her slide down what sounded like a steep, wet slope. With one last look over his shoulder, he climbed into the hole.
The soil was slippery and it was very dark as Harry slid very quickly downward, but after only seconds, he burst out once again into the night air. The hole had opened in the bank of a shallow creek. It was still very dark, but the Dark Mark hovering in the sky cast a dull, eerie green glow on everything.
Harry raised himself from the creek, his robes now soaked and filthy. Ron was sitting on the opposite bank clutching his ankle, with Hermione kneeling beside him.
"I think he may have broken it," Hermione whispered, sounding worried.
Harry swore under his breath. "We've got to find a safer spot than this, then. C'mon, Hermione, help me with him."
Harry went over to Ron and, with Hermione's aid, they helped him under a low overhang nearby. Ron didn't seem as though he knew what was going on. He kept moaning and clutching his ankle, oblivious to everything else around him.
"Hermione, stay with him," Harry told her once they were safely beneath the overhang. "I'm going to look for help."
"But, Harry-"
"Don't worry about me. Just take care of Ron."
Harry quickly made his way down the creek, keeping low and close to the bank. He could hear people in the forest above him yelling and running around frantically. But a pair of older male voices made him stop to listen.
"...damn boy. Where the hell is he?"
"I think he's a lot more trouble than he's worth. We're wasting our time."
"Maybe, but it's Master's orders. He wants Potter alive. Says He's got some matters to settle with him."
Harry peered over the top of the embankment. Two Death Eaters stood there, their backs turned to him. There was a sudden rustling in the trees ahead of them and an instant later, a round-faced boy about Harry's age burst through.
It was Neville Longbottom, a very forgetful boy who slept in the same dormitory as Harry. Right now, he was staring fearfully at the two masked figures after screeching to a halt directly in front of them.
One of the Death Eaters laughed coldly. "Are you lost, boy?" he sneered.
Neville's face was the color of paste. "N-n-n-no. I-I-I w-was j-j-just..." but he couldn't even continue because he was stuttering so badly.
The Death Eater laughed again then his voice turned suddenly hard. "Do you know Harry Potter, boy?"
"W-w-well...I-I...y-y-yes..." Neville stammered.
"Well, where is he?"
"I-I...d-don't know..." Neville whimpered, now scrambling away from the Death Eaters.
But not fast enough. One of them whipped out his wand, directing it at Neville, lying fallen and hopeless on the ground.
"Crucio!" the Death Eater roared.
Neville's high-pitched screams filled the air as he lay on the ground, shaking and twitching uncontrollably. Harry watched, helpless, then saw the utter pain and terror reflected in Neville's eyes. More pain than anyone should ever have to experience...
Throwing caution to the winds, Harry leapt over the embankment, pointing his wand at the Death Eater performing the Cruciatus Curse.
"Expelliarmus!" Harry yelled.
The Death Eater tumbled forward, as though hit by an invisible force, and the wand fell from his hand. Neville's screams abruptly stopped.
The other Death Eater turned, but Harry was faster.
"Expelliarmus!" he yelled again, and watched as the masked figure flew backward a few feet and landed with a loud thud.
But the first Death Eater was back on his feet once more, and Harry realized that he wouldn't be able to fight both of them off much longer.
"STUPEFY!!" Two deep, rough voices roared from the woods, and two jets of red light shot from the trees, striking the two Death Eaters. They both collapsed, unconscious.
Harry immediately sprinted over to Neville, who was still trembling on the ground.
"Neville!" Harry yelled, shaking him softly by the shoulders. "Are you alright?"
Neville looked up at him, his eyes glazed and distant. The terrible pain was still in them.
"H-Harry..." he gasped. "I-I...I didn't know...I...my-my parents...th-they were...screaming..."
"Harry!" called a deep familiar voice.
Harry turned to see a giant man, nearly twice as tall as an average man, running towards him. The giant had long, curly hair and a wild, shaggy beard that nearly covered his entire face. He carried an enormous crossbow in one hand and a large pink umbrella in the other.
"Hagrid!" Harry yelled in relief. "I think something's wrong with Neville."
Hagrid hurried over and knelt beside Neville, who was still mumbling incomprehensively.
"...sorry...so sorry...I didn't know...my fault...it-it's all my fault..."
Hagrid looked up, worried. "I'll let Moody bring him up ter the castle. Let Madam Pomfrey take her look at him."
"Moody!" Hagrid yelled into the trees.
A very bizarre-looking man came limping forward. Limping, because of his carved wooden leg. Alastor Moody had wild, gray hair that surrounded a scar-covered face. Half of his nose was gone. But the strangest thing about him was his eye. One of his eyes was small and dark but the other was very wide and round. The "other" eye was a magical eye that could see straight through most objects. It was a startling blue and moved independently from the normal eye. Hence the nickname, "Mad-Eye".
Moody made his way across the clearing, both of his eyes darting alertly around into the surrounding trees. He stared down at Neville, actually seeming to listen to what he was saying.
"...I'm s-sorry...d-didn't want th-them to suffer...didn't know...all my fault..."
Moody's eye widened slightly then narrowed once more in concentration.
"He needs to see Dumbledore," Moody's voice was low and rough. "Something's wrong..."
"All righ'," Hagrid said standing up. "Yeh take him back ter the castle. I'll handle Harry here."
Moody nodded, picked up Neville, and disappeared back into the forest. Harry heard Neville's frantic whispering fade away then turned to look at Hagrid. But it was Hagrid who spoke first.
"Where's Ron an' Hermione?"
"I left them back down the creek a little ways. Ron hurt his ankle."
"Lead the way then," Hagrid said, his voice full of determination. "I'm s'pose ter bring yeh back ter the castle meself, Dumbledore's orders."
Harry and Hagrid began to make their way back up the creek.
"What happened tonight, Hagrid?" Harry looked over at him. Hagrid's face looked as though it had suddenly turned to stone.
"You-Know-Who," he said, his face set.
Harry was about to ask another question but Hagrid started talking again. "His Death Eaters attacked yer train. Cowardly thing ter do, attackin' a train full o' kids. Place where you was least protected." Hagrid shook his head sadly. "Shouldn'ta bin so exposed like it was. Shoulda bin some protection, but You-Know-Who took care o' that."
"How?" Harry asked, a sense of foreboding creeping up on him.
"Well, fer starters, we've bin kinda short-handed lately. What with Sirius an' Snape out all the time. An' recently, with Lupin's disappearance." Harry started at these words, but Hagrid continued. "So Dumbledore decided ter place a few wizards along the way. Act as lookout guards. If there was any sign o' trouble, they were ter notify Dumbledore immediately."
"But on'y an hour ago, Dumbledore gets this news that there's Death Eaters bin seen in the Forbidden Forest, see? An' since the Forest is righ' outside Hogwarts, Dumbledore pulls me an' Moody back ter help out. We had the last leg o' the train's journey ter watch over. In fac', the school can' be more'n a few miles away."
"Anyhow, we rushed back ter see what was goin' on an' followed Dumbledore in ter the Forest. Searched a long time we did, but never found nothin'. All o' sudden, Dumbledore gets word that the train was attacked. 'Course he knew righ' then that we'd bin tricked. Sent me an' Moody back ter help out an' gave me orders ter bring yeh back safely. An' good thing we found yeh too."
"So you and Moody are the only two out here?" Harry asked.
"Nah," Hagrid replied, "I reckon Arabella, Mundungus, an' some o' the others are out here too by now. An' o' course Charlie an' his Dragon Riders."
Harry looked over at Hagrid in surprise. "Charlie? Charlie Weasley?" Hagrid nodded. "He-they can ride dragons?"
Hagrid winked at Harry. "Well, not s'posed ter be able ter do it. They're smaller dragons, mind. Opaleye's, I think. Not as aggressive as some o' the other breeds. But that's how some o' the students are gettin' back ter the castle t'night."
Harry wished briefly that he was flying back to the castle on a dragon, but quickly changed his mind. He'd had his fair share of experiences with dragons in the past.
They had arrived at the spot where Ron and Hermione were waiting. He saw Hermione look up, surprise registering on her face, then wave them over.
Ron was unconscious, apparently passed out from the pain. Hagrid looked down at him, concerned, as they made their way over to the ledge.
"Alrigh' there, Hermione?"
"Yes," she replied, "but I think Ron may have broken his ankle."
Hagrid bent down to have a look at it then straightened up. "It's broken alrigh', but nothin' Madam Pomfrey can' fix. But let's get goin'."
He reached into one of the many pockets of his large overcoat and withdrew a crumpled quill and sheet of parchment. He scribbled something very hastily onto the paper, folded it, then reached once more into his overcoat. This time he withdrew a small hairy animal, less than three foot long, with short legs and long-clawed toes. It was a badger.
Sticking the note into the badger's mouth, he muttered "Dumbledore" and immediately it was sprinting swiftly away. Harry couldn't remember ever seeing an animal move that fast.
"Shouldn't take too long," Hagrid said.
They stood there in silence until Harry decided to ask some of the questions that had been on his mind.
"So when did Lupin disappear?"
Hagrid gave Harry a look that suggested they probably shouldn't be talking about it but answered anyway. "Almos' two months ago. Sirius had contacted him a few days before ter let him know that You-Know-Who was back an' suddenly he jus' disappeared. His house was empty but there wasn't any sign o' a struggle. Haven't heard nothin' since."
"Probably nothin' ter worry abou' really," Hagrid added, although Harry thought he detected a hint of worry in his voice.
Harry became aware of a low rumbling that was growing steadily louder. He looked around, searching for the source of the noise. It had grown to a roar and suddenly, an enormous motorcycle fell out of the sky directly in front of them.
Harry gasped in shock, but Hagrid seemed quite undisturbed by it. He picked up Ron and began walking over to the motorcycle, beckoning Harry and Hermione to follow.
As Harry made his way over to the bike, he couldn't help but feel that he had seen it somewhere before. He had no idea where, but there was something oddly familiar about it...
Hagrid was already on the motorcycle, Ron secured tightly behind the handlebars. Harry and Hermione climbed aboard behind them. Harry grabbed the back of Hagrid's thick overcoat and Hermione slid her arms around Harry's waist. He was glad that it was dark so that she couldn't see how red his ears had turned.
"Ready?" Hagrid called, glancing back over his shoulder. Harry and Hermione both nodded, and they were off.
The roar of the engine ripped through the air as it rose quickly from the ground. The wind was whipping his hair violently, and Harry felt Hermione tighten her grip. He chanced a look down at the ground and from their height, could see the full extent of the damage.
Harry doubted whether the Hogwarts Express would ever ride again. The train was completely off the tracks. Many cars were overturned and several more were engulfed in flames. Harry thought that it looked like an enormous, dead snake. The Dark Mark was still in the sky, though slightly faded. There were still people running through the forest below, but not as many, Harry noticed, as there had been before.
Dark shapes were lifting from the ground, taking flight all around them. They beat their wings, slowly but gracefully, as small figures rode atop them. Harry realized they were dragons.
Off in the distance, Harry thought he could make out the silhouette of a vast castle. They were closing in rapidly upon it. Directly beneath them lay a quiet village. It was Hogsmeade, the only entirely magical settlement in all of Britain. Third year students and above were allowed to visit the village on assigned weekends with permission from their parents or guardians. There were several interesting places to go in Hogsmeade...Honeydukes, Zonko's, the Three Broomsticks, the Shrieking Shack...Harry let his mind wander as he imagined himself buying bags of sweets in Honeydukes, then stopping by the Three Broomsticks for a warm butterbeer...
Harry came out of his reverie when he realized they were beginning their descent. The castle was growing ever closer, its numerous walls and towers illuminated by the lights of dozens of windows.
Hagrid brought the bike down on the wide, sloping lawns stretching before the castle. He steered them up to the great oak front doors then came to a stop at the foot of the stone steps. Before they even got off the bike, one of the doors flew open and two people came rushing out.
Professor McGonagall was a tall witch with black hair and square glasses. Normally, she was rather stern-looking and severe but at the moment, her face bore an expression of extreme relief.
"Hagrid!" she gasped. "You're back, and he's okay!"
"O' course, Professor," Hagrid replied.
The other wizard was tall, thin and very old. His long silvery hair and beard caught the moonlight as he walked. The face bore its usual expression of kindness but the twinkle in the eyes behind the half-moon spectacles was gone, and there was a strain in the lines of his face that hadn't been there the year before. It was Professor Dumbledore.
He came to a halt in front of Harry, his eyes full of concern.
"Are you alright, Harry?" he asked gently.
Harry nodded then pointed to Ron. "I'm fine but Ron hurt his ankle."
Dumbledore turned his attention to Ron. "Ah, Mr. Weasley. Of course, he shall receive assistance immediately. Minerva," he called back to Professor McGonangall, "would you be so kind as to help our friend Mr. Weasley here up to the hospital wing?"
"Of course," Professor McGonagall answered. Harry watched as she conjured a floating stretcher out of thin air. Hagrid lay Ron on it, then Professor McGonagall carried Ron up the stone steps and inside.
"Well, I better get goin', sir," Hagrid said to Dumbledore as he climbed back onto his motorbike. "I'm sure the others could use me help yet tonight. G'night, sir."
"Good night, Hagrid," Dumbledore said, "and thank you very much. Let me know when you get back for the night. I'll be needing to talk to you."
With a nod and a final farewell, Hagrid started the motorcycle's powerful engine and roared away into the night.
Dumbledore turned to Harry and Hermione. "I'm sure that it has been a long night for both of you, but before I send you up to your dormitories for the night, I would like a few words."
Harry and Hermione nodded and followed him up the steps into the cavernous entrance hall. A wide, well-polished marble staircase leading to the second floor lay directly in front of them. The door to the Great Hall, where all meals were held, was to their right. Usually on the first day of school, it was packed full of students all getting ready for the start of term feast and Sorting Ceremony, but tonight it was eerily empty and silent.
Dumbledore led them up the marble staircase, his long, purple robes trailing behind him. They turned down one corridor, then another, up a flight of stairs, turned one last corner and found themselves in a hallway that contained a large, stone gargoyle. Dumbledore strode up to it, muttered something that sounded suspiciously like "Fizzing Whizbee", and the gargoyle came to life, stretching and giving a great yawn, then moved aside as the wall behind it opened.
They went into the opening, the wall closing behind them, and made their way up a spiraling stone staircase that actually moved (much like a Muggle escalator). After many spirals upward, they found themselves at an oak door, with a polished brass knocker in the shape of a griffin. Not bothering to knock, Dumbledore opened the door and they went inside.
Dumbledore's office was a large, circular, beautifully decorated room. There were a variety of strange little instruments and objects sitting on tables and shelves all about the room. Portraits of previous headmasters and headmistresses lined the walls, all looking suspiciously at Harry and Hermione as they entered. Fawkes, Dumbledore's pet phoenix, was sitting upon a perch next to the door, looking splendid with his scarlet-and-gold feathers and long, graceful tail. A monstrous wooden desk sat at the other end of the room, an ornate chair behind it. Three more chairs were in front of it, but one was already occupied.
"Sirius!" Harry exclaimed and rushed over to embrace his godfather.
Sirius Black was a tall, thin man with short black hair. He would have been very handsome and had an almost boyish appearance...except for his eyes. His eyes spoke of someone who had seen horrors that most people could only imagine...
"Harry," greeted Sirius, "it's great to see you. And safe. How are you, Hermione?"
"Fine, thank you," Hermione replied politely.
Sirius held Harry at arm's length, looking at him, an expression of wonder on his face. "It's amazing how much you look like your father, especially with you getting older..." he trailed off as though he was remembering some distant memory.
Harry nodded, smiling. Sirius had been his father's best friend before he had died. He had been the best man in his parents' wedding and had also been appointed as Harry's godfather.
All four of them took a seat, but it was Dumbledore who started.
"So," he began, "I need you and Hermione to tell me exactly what happened tonight, Harry."
Together, Harry and Hermione related the story to Dumbledore and Sirius. They told them about how the train had been abruptly attacked and their flight into the forest. When they reached the part about the Dark Mark, Harry noticed the profoundly grave expression on Dumbledore's face. They told about Ron's fall and how Harry went to look for help. Harry had to take over from there and told about how the Death Eaters had used the Cruciatus Curse on Neville. A great sadness filled Dumbledore's eyes at this, and Harry even thought it looked as though he was close to tears. Harry told how Hagrid and Moody had rescued them and how Hagrid had brought them back to the castle.
After the tale was done, they sat in silence. Dumbledore sat with his head resting on his clasped hands, deep in thought. Sirius merely sat there, glancing between Harry and Dumbledore.
Finally Dumbledore spoke, although it seemed as though it was more to himself than anyone else. "Well...the Dark Mark...we shall see...we shall see...And of course I shall need to pay a visit to Mr. Longbottom."
Dumbledore finally looked up, and Harry was surprised at how old, tired, and worn out he suddenly looked. "Thank you, you two. I suggest that you now go up to your dormitories and get some much-needed rest. After all, classes begin tomorrow."
Harry looked over at Sirius. "Are you...?"
"I'm afraid I can't stay here at Hogwarts, Harry," Sirius said. "Too much of a risk. But I'll be nearby if you need me. Just send an owl."
"Okay," said Harry, standing up.
"But what about the Sorting?" Hermione asked suddenly.
"I'm afraid it was impossible to manage to have the feast tonight," Dumbledore said, regret in his voice. "What with students arriving at all different hours and many needing a visit to the hospital wing, it would have been very difficult to pull off. Professor McGonagall is handling the Sorting in private as the first-years arrive. The start of term announcements will be made over breakfast tomorrow morning. I'm sorry," he added sincerely, "but I'm afraid it's the best we could do."
Harry and Hermione gave their final good-nights to Dumbledore and Sirius then left the office. They proceeded down the spiral staircase, emerging from behind the gargoyle, and began making their way up to their dormitories in Gryffindor Tower. They climbed staircase after staircase wearily and trudged their way down the corridors.
Finally, when they were just about ready to turn the final corner into the final corridor, Hermione reached over and put her arm around Harry. It was so completely unexpected that Harry didn't even know how to react. But he didn't pull away even when she lay her head on his shoulder. Harry felt a strange closeness to her that he couldn't remember ever feeling in his life.
At the end of the corridor was a large portrait of a fat lady in a pink dress. She was snoozing gently in her frame when Harry and Hermione walked up.
"Oh, dear, I'm sorry," the Fat Lady apologized as she shook herself awake. "I must have dozed off. Go on in. Don't worry about the password yet since things have been pretty unusual all night." She suddenly eyed them as though seeing them for the first time. "Are you two...?" she asked pointing her finger back and forth between them.
"No," Harry said sleepily.
The Fat Lady didn't move.
"Please," Harry sighed, exasperated. "Open up. We're tired."
The Fat Lady gave them one last look, then, realizing they weren't going to say anything more, she swung open with a frustrated sigh.
The Gryffindor common room on the other side of the portrait hole was a large, cozy circular room. It was stuffed with large, oversized, comfy-looking armchairs, and a welcoming fire blazed warmly in the fireplace. At the moment, it was completely deserted.
Hermione turned to Harry, hugging him tightly. "I'm so glad we made it back safely, Harry. Once again it was because of you. Thank you. I don't know what I'd do without you," she whispered. Harry didn't say anything. He didn't know what to say.
She let go of him, smiling.
"Good night, Harry," she said and climbed the steps leading to the girls' dormitories, disappearing from view.
Harry made his way over to the staircase that led to the boys' dormitories and began to climb. He reached the very top and flung open the wooden door. Inside was the one place that Harry considered home more than anywhere else.
It was a circular room with high, narrow windows. Five four-posters, all with deep red velvet hangings were spaced around the room.
Harry noticed that Dean and Seamus were both back already, sound asleep in their beds. He assumed Ron and Neville were in the hospital wing.
At the foot of his bed, someone had brought up his trunk. It was slightly battered, but after a quick check inside, it seemed as though all of his things had been thrown back in it.
He took off his glasses and set them on the bedside table. His head was very full of thoughts and questions about the day's events. It's usually pretty hard for a person to get to sleep when there's a lot on their mind, but somehow, Harry Potter was asleep before his head hit the pillow.
The Rescue
Harry awoke sleepily from his nap, having no idea how much time had passed. He opened his eyes and saw Ron and Hermione talking quietly in two seats across from him. Fred, George, and Lee had left the compartment. The only sounds he could hear were Ron and Hermione's faint whispering and the distant rattle of the train on the tracks.
Hermione looked over at him and saw that his eyes were open.
"Oh, Harry, you're awake."
Ron looked over too. "Been wondering when you were going to wake up. You've been out for practically the whole trip. We should be nearly there."
Harry looked out the window. The sky was very dark from a combination of storm clouds and the approaching twilight. Wild, overgrown forests were flashing past. Ron was right. They should be nearly there.
Harry was about to get up to change into his robes when the train was suddenly rocked very violently. He lost his balance and fell right into Hermione. There was a loud roar (Harry was reminded of the missiles Muggles used), and the train rocked even more violently than before. The glass window shattered inward and Harry tumbled to the floor. The candles in the compartment flickered and died. Harry could hear the squeal of brakes as the train slowed and came to a stop.
"What the-" but Ron didn't even finish the sentence before a third roar thundered outside. It rocked the train more ferociously than either of the previous two blasts. The Hogwarts Express teetered dangerously on the edge of the rails. The fourth blast finally did it. The train was knocked clear off the tracks, and it rolled over onto its side.
Harry, Ron, and Hermione tumbled around the compartment as their luggage rained down on top of them. Hedwig's cage smashed against the wall and burst open. She flapped out, hooting indignantly. A basket of Hermione's tipped over and her large ginger cat, Crookshanks, leapt out and began hissing loudly, the hair on its back raised. Another cage, which had previously been covered with a pair of Ron's robes, also fell. It clattered loudly and the dress robes fell away to reveal a small gray owl, about the size of a tennis ball, inside. It was Pigwidgeon, Ron's owl, and it began hopping around the cage, hooting madly. The three trunks also came tumbling down. Harry saw Ron dive to shelter Hermione from the raining luggage.
After the brief scene of chaos, there was a sudden, eerie stillness. Harry, Ron, and Hermione all lay on the floor surrounded and covered by the contents of their trunks. Shards of glass lay all around them. It was dark. The only faint light came from the stars and moon through the shattered window, which was now directly above them. The cold night air sent a chill down Harry's spine.
In the distance, he could hear yelling, smaller explosions, and blood-curdling screams.
Harry slowly raised his head from his arms and peered around. Ron was also looking around, his face pale, and terror showing in his eyes. Hermione was still cowering beneath him.
Harry slowly got to his feet and found that he had several cuts along his arms. Ron also got up and looked around nervously. Hermione raised her head, glanced cautiously around, then also climbed to her feet.
"What happened?" she whispered, fright in her voice, as she bent down to pick up Crookshanks.
Harry shrugged. He suddenly realized he was very cold and quickly threw on his robes and cloak. The other two did the same.
They stood there in silence for a while, each too terrified to speak, listening to the screams and yells growing steadily louder.
"I think they're getting closer," Harry whispered, listening hard. Ron and Hermione both nodded silently, their eyes wide.
"Let's get outta here," Harry said suddenly, snatching up his wand. Ron picked his up too and also opened Pigwidgeon's cage.
"C'mon, Pig," Ron said, stuffing the tiny owl into his cloak pocket.
Hermione grabbed her wand and also picked up Crookshanks, softly trying to calm him down.
Harry surveyed the surroundings and realized that the window above them was the only way out. He hurriedly began to stack the trunks to provide a way up. Ron and Hermione saw what he was doing and quickly began to help.
Harry suddenly realized how close the screams, yells, and blasts had become.
"We've gotta go," Harry said, urgency in his voice. As though sensing what was going on, Hedwig flew onto Harry's shoulder.
"Hedwig," he whispered to her, "I want you to go. Fly away to somewhere safe for awhile. Come back in a few days. It's too dangerous for you right now."
Hedwig looked back at him dubiously as Harry stroked her.
"Harry!" Ron suddenly whispered. "See if Hedwig will take Pig with her."
"Did you hear that?" Harry repeated to Hedwig. "Will you take Pig with you? And keep him safe?"
Hedwig clicked her beak disapprovingly.
"Please," Harry pleaded, "just this once. For me. Please. Just keep him safe for a few days."
Hedwig stared at Harry with her amber eyes then lowered her head and extended one of her wings.
"Thank you," Harry breathed. Ron scrambled to pull Pig out of his pocket. The tiny owl immediately tried to take off but Ron grabbed it quickly. It sat in the palm of his hand staring up at him, unusually quiet.
"Listen to me," he said to Pig sternly. "You have to follow Hedwig now. Stay close to her." Pig sat there quite still, as though realizing the importance of what he was saying. "You got it?"
As if in answer, Pig flew over to Hedwig and sat next to her, looking at the snowy owl as though waiting for instructions.
Another explosion went off, this time very close to their car.
"C'mon, Harry," Hermione pleaded, her voice trembling, "let's go."
"Okay, Hedwig, I'll see you in a few days," Harry said quickly. And with one last affectionate nip at his hand, she took off into the starry sky, Pig close behind her.
"Let's go," Harry said immediately, and the three of them hurriedly began scrambling up the trunks, out into the cold night air.
Harry was the first to emerge from the compartment, struggling to gain a foothold on the overturned train car. He looked up and down the tracks and discovered the entire train had been derailed. Several cars lay on their sides, smoke coming from within some of them. Dark shapes were scurrying into the woods that surrounded them while taller figures made their way from compartment to compartment as though looking for something, occasionally sending a blast of magic inside. It took Harry several seconds before he fully realized what was going on.
The Hogwarts Express had been attacked and completely derailed. Students were fleeing from the wreckage into the woods as tall, hooded, and masked figures walked along the train, searching its insides. Harry realized immediately what they were but Hermione, who had climbed up beside him, beat him to it.
"Death Eaters," she breathed, pure terror filling her voice.
Harry nodded silently as Ron climbed out and joined them. Harry heard him swear quietly as he gazed around.
"Listen," Harry said quickly, turning to face the other two. "We've gotta get into the forest before they see us. Stay together. And get your wands out." He looked at Ron and Hermione to find them both staring anxiously back at him, and he realized they were waiting on him.
"Let's go."
They scrambled down the side of the train car and took off for the forest at a sprint, trying to stay low to the ground. Harry led the way, Ron and Hermione right at his heels. They reached the edge of the trees just as something large, bright, and green exploded into the sky behind them. All three of them whipped around and Hermione even gave a small scream.
An enormous skull with a snake coming from its mouth, glowing a brilliant green, was rising slowly into the sky. It seemed to be made up of bright lights and a greenish haze. It was the Dark Mark.
The Dark Mark was Voldemort's symbol and was sent into the air by his supporters when they had murdered someone.
More screams filled the night air as the skull hovered above the train, etched sharply against the black sky.
Harry's mind whirled. It was the Dark Mark. Had someone been killed? Hermione was staring up at it, her face very white. Ron looked as though he was about to collapse on the spot.
He turned to look directly at Harry. "Y-y-you think th-that Fr-Fred, George, and G-Ginny are alright, right?" he stammered, his eyes more terrified than Harry had ever seen them.
"Y-yeah, I'm sure they're fine," Harry reassured him. But his voice sounded hollow even to himself.
"Guys, we better go," Hermione whispered.
"You're right," Harry agreed quickly.
They began to make their way deeper into the forest, Hermione having to pull Ron away from the sight of the Dark Mark.
They tripped and stumbled their way through the dark, no one daring to light the path with their wand. They could hear dark shapes hurrying around them on either side. Screams were still cutting sharply through the air, and the dull echoes of explosions thundered behind them.
After several minutes of running blindly through the dark, Ron suddenly gave a yell of pain and went down hard disappearing from view. Harry and Hermione came to a stop and started searching the ground around them.
"Ron...?" Hermione called uncertainly. There was a muffled answer that seemed very distant.
Harry pulled out his wand.
"Harry...don't. What if they see it?"
But Harry ignored her. "Lumos," he muttered and a bright beam of light shot out of the end of his wand, illuminating the ground around them.
Harry saw it instantly. A thick bush a little way back was half-trampled. A wide, deep hole was barely visible through the broken branches. Harry hurried over to it, pulling the branches aside, to peer into the hole.
It was a steep drop but was more than wide enough for a person to fit through.
"Ron?" Harry called downward, Hermione and Crookshanks peering over his shoulder.
A voice, unmistakably Ron's, answered. "I'm down here. Watch out for that first step." He sounded like he was in a lot of pain.
Harry looked back at Hermione. "I'm going down."
She stood there, uncertainly, holding Crookshanks. A sudden explosion nearby seemed to make up her mind. "Okay, I'm going too."
Harry stepped back to allow her to go first and heard her slide down what sounded like a steep, wet slope. With one last look over his shoulder, he climbed into the hole.
The soil was slippery and it was very dark as Harry slid very quickly downward, but after only seconds, he burst out once again into the night air. The hole had opened in the bank of a shallow creek. It was still very dark, but the Dark Mark hovering in the sky cast a dull, eerie green glow on everything.
Harry raised himself from the creek, his robes now soaked and filthy. Ron was sitting on the opposite bank clutching his ankle, with Hermione kneeling beside him.
"I think he may have broken it," Hermione whispered, sounding worried.
Harry swore under his breath. "We've got to find a safer spot than this, then. C'mon, Hermione, help me with him."
Harry went over to Ron and, with Hermione's aid, they helped him under a low overhang nearby. Ron didn't seem as though he knew what was going on. He kept moaning and clutching his ankle, oblivious to everything else around him.
"Hermione, stay with him," Harry told her once they were safely beneath the overhang. "I'm going to look for help."
"But, Harry-"
"Don't worry about me. Just take care of Ron."
Harry quickly made his way down the creek, keeping low and close to the bank. He could hear people in the forest above him yelling and running around frantically. But a pair of older male voices made him stop to listen.
"...damn boy. Where the hell is he?"
"I think he's a lot more trouble than he's worth. We're wasting our time."
"Maybe, but it's Master's orders. He wants Potter alive. Says He's got some matters to settle with him."
Harry peered over the top of the embankment. Two Death Eaters stood there, their backs turned to him. There was a sudden rustling in the trees ahead of them and an instant later, a round-faced boy about Harry's age burst through.
It was Neville Longbottom, a very forgetful boy who slept in the same dormitory as Harry. Right now, he was staring fearfully at the two masked figures after screeching to a halt directly in front of them.
One of the Death Eaters laughed coldly. "Are you lost, boy?" he sneered.
Neville's face was the color of paste. "N-n-n-no. I-I-I w-was j-j-just..." but he couldn't even continue because he was stuttering so badly.
The Death Eater laughed again then his voice turned suddenly hard. "Do you know Harry Potter, boy?"
"W-w-well...I-I...y-y-yes..." Neville stammered.
"Well, where is he?"
"I-I...d-don't know..." Neville whimpered, now scrambling away from the Death Eaters.
But not fast enough. One of them whipped out his wand, directing it at Neville, lying fallen and hopeless on the ground.
"Crucio!" the Death Eater roared.
Neville's high-pitched screams filled the air as he lay on the ground, shaking and twitching uncontrollably. Harry watched, helpless, then saw the utter pain and terror reflected in Neville's eyes. More pain than anyone should ever have to experience...
Throwing caution to the winds, Harry leapt over the embankment, pointing his wand at the Death Eater performing the Cruciatus Curse.
"Expelliarmus!" Harry yelled.
The Death Eater tumbled forward, as though hit by an invisible force, and the wand fell from his hand. Neville's screams abruptly stopped.
The other Death Eater turned, but Harry was faster.
"Expelliarmus!" he yelled again, and watched as the masked figure flew backward a few feet and landed with a loud thud.
But the first Death Eater was back on his feet once more, and Harry realized that he wouldn't be able to fight both of them off much longer.
"STUPEFY!!" Two deep, rough voices roared from the woods, and two jets of red light shot from the trees, striking the two Death Eaters. They both collapsed, unconscious.
Harry immediately sprinted over to Neville, who was still trembling on the ground.
"Neville!" Harry yelled, shaking him softly by the shoulders. "Are you alright?"
Neville looked up at him, his eyes glazed and distant. The terrible pain was still in them.
"H-Harry..." he gasped. "I-I...I didn't know...I...my-my parents...th-they were...screaming..."
"Harry!" called a deep familiar voice.
Harry turned to see a giant man, nearly twice as tall as an average man, running towards him. The giant had long, curly hair and a wild, shaggy beard that nearly covered his entire face. He carried an enormous crossbow in one hand and a large pink umbrella in the other.
"Hagrid!" Harry yelled in relief. "I think something's wrong with Neville."
Hagrid hurried over and knelt beside Neville, who was still mumbling incomprehensively.
"...sorry...so sorry...I didn't know...my fault...it-it's all my fault..."
Hagrid looked up, worried. "I'll let Moody bring him up ter the castle. Let Madam Pomfrey take her look at him."
"Moody!" Hagrid yelled into the trees.
A very bizarre-looking man came limping forward. Limping, because of his carved wooden leg. Alastor Moody had wild, gray hair that surrounded a scar-covered face. Half of his nose was gone. But the strangest thing about him was his eye. One of his eyes was small and dark but the other was very wide and round. The "other" eye was a magical eye that could see straight through most objects. It was a startling blue and moved independently from the normal eye. Hence the nickname, "Mad-Eye".
Moody made his way across the clearing, both of his eyes darting alertly around into the surrounding trees. He stared down at Neville, actually seeming to listen to what he was saying.
"...I'm s-sorry...d-didn't want th-them to suffer...didn't know...all my fault..."
Moody's eye widened slightly then narrowed once more in concentration.
"He needs to see Dumbledore," Moody's voice was low and rough. "Something's wrong..."
"All righ'," Hagrid said standing up. "Yeh take him back ter the castle. I'll handle Harry here."
Moody nodded, picked up Neville, and disappeared back into the forest. Harry heard Neville's frantic whispering fade away then turned to look at Hagrid. But it was Hagrid who spoke first.
"Where's Ron an' Hermione?"
"I left them back down the creek a little ways. Ron hurt his ankle."
"Lead the way then," Hagrid said, his voice full of determination. "I'm s'pose ter bring yeh back ter the castle meself, Dumbledore's orders."
Harry and Hagrid began to make their way back up the creek.
"What happened tonight, Hagrid?" Harry looked over at him. Hagrid's face looked as though it had suddenly turned to stone.
"You-Know-Who," he said, his face set.
Harry was about to ask another question but Hagrid started talking again. "His Death Eaters attacked yer train. Cowardly thing ter do, attackin' a train full o' kids. Place where you was least protected." Hagrid shook his head sadly. "Shouldn'ta bin so exposed like it was. Shoulda bin some protection, but You-Know-Who took care o' that."
"How?" Harry asked, a sense of foreboding creeping up on him.
"Well, fer starters, we've bin kinda short-handed lately. What with Sirius an' Snape out all the time. An' recently, with Lupin's disappearance." Harry started at these words, but Hagrid continued. "So Dumbledore decided ter place a few wizards along the way. Act as lookout guards. If there was any sign o' trouble, they were ter notify Dumbledore immediately."
"But on'y an hour ago, Dumbledore gets this news that there's Death Eaters bin seen in the Forbidden Forest, see? An' since the Forest is righ' outside Hogwarts, Dumbledore pulls me an' Moody back ter help out. We had the last leg o' the train's journey ter watch over. In fac', the school can' be more'n a few miles away."
"Anyhow, we rushed back ter see what was goin' on an' followed Dumbledore in ter the Forest. Searched a long time we did, but never found nothin'. All o' sudden, Dumbledore gets word that the train was attacked. 'Course he knew righ' then that we'd bin tricked. Sent me an' Moody back ter help out an' gave me orders ter bring yeh back safely. An' good thing we found yeh too."
"So you and Moody are the only two out here?" Harry asked.
"Nah," Hagrid replied, "I reckon Arabella, Mundungus, an' some o' the others are out here too by now. An' o' course Charlie an' his Dragon Riders."
Harry looked over at Hagrid in surprise. "Charlie? Charlie Weasley?" Hagrid nodded. "He-they can ride dragons?"
Hagrid winked at Harry. "Well, not s'posed ter be able ter do it. They're smaller dragons, mind. Opaleye's, I think. Not as aggressive as some o' the other breeds. But that's how some o' the students are gettin' back ter the castle t'night."
Harry wished briefly that he was flying back to the castle on a dragon, but quickly changed his mind. He'd had his fair share of experiences with dragons in the past.
They had arrived at the spot where Ron and Hermione were waiting. He saw Hermione look up, surprise registering on her face, then wave them over.
Ron was unconscious, apparently passed out from the pain. Hagrid looked down at him, concerned, as they made their way over to the ledge.
"Alrigh' there, Hermione?"
"Yes," she replied, "but I think Ron may have broken his ankle."
Hagrid bent down to have a look at it then straightened up. "It's broken alrigh', but nothin' Madam Pomfrey can' fix. But let's get goin'."
He reached into one of the many pockets of his large overcoat and withdrew a crumpled quill and sheet of parchment. He scribbled something very hastily onto the paper, folded it, then reached once more into his overcoat. This time he withdrew a small hairy animal, less than three foot long, with short legs and long-clawed toes. It was a badger.
Sticking the note into the badger's mouth, he muttered "Dumbledore" and immediately it was sprinting swiftly away. Harry couldn't remember ever seeing an animal move that fast.
"Shouldn't take too long," Hagrid said.
They stood there in silence until Harry decided to ask some of the questions that had been on his mind.
"So when did Lupin disappear?"
Hagrid gave Harry a look that suggested they probably shouldn't be talking about it but answered anyway. "Almos' two months ago. Sirius had contacted him a few days before ter let him know that You-Know-Who was back an' suddenly he jus' disappeared. His house was empty but there wasn't any sign o' a struggle. Haven't heard nothin' since."
"Probably nothin' ter worry abou' really," Hagrid added, although Harry thought he detected a hint of worry in his voice.
Harry became aware of a low rumbling that was growing steadily louder. He looked around, searching for the source of the noise. It had grown to a roar and suddenly, an enormous motorcycle fell out of the sky directly in front of them.
Harry gasped in shock, but Hagrid seemed quite undisturbed by it. He picked up Ron and began walking over to the motorcycle, beckoning Harry and Hermione to follow.
As Harry made his way over to the bike, he couldn't help but feel that he had seen it somewhere before. He had no idea where, but there was something oddly familiar about it...
Hagrid was already on the motorcycle, Ron secured tightly behind the handlebars. Harry and Hermione climbed aboard behind them. Harry grabbed the back of Hagrid's thick overcoat and Hermione slid her arms around Harry's waist. He was glad that it was dark so that she couldn't see how red his ears had turned.
"Ready?" Hagrid called, glancing back over his shoulder. Harry and Hermione both nodded, and they were off.
The roar of the engine ripped through the air as it rose quickly from the ground. The wind was whipping his hair violently, and Harry felt Hermione tighten her grip. He chanced a look down at the ground and from their height, could see the full extent of the damage.
Harry doubted whether the Hogwarts Express would ever ride again. The train was completely off the tracks. Many cars were overturned and several more were engulfed in flames. Harry thought that it looked like an enormous, dead snake. The Dark Mark was still in the sky, though slightly faded. There were still people running through the forest below, but not as many, Harry noticed, as there had been before.
Dark shapes were lifting from the ground, taking flight all around them. They beat their wings, slowly but gracefully, as small figures rode atop them. Harry realized they were dragons.
Off in the distance, Harry thought he could make out the silhouette of a vast castle. They were closing in rapidly upon it. Directly beneath them lay a quiet village. It was Hogsmeade, the only entirely magical settlement in all of Britain. Third year students and above were allowed to visit the village on assigned weekends with permission from their parents or guardians. There were several interesting places to go in Hogsmeade...Honeydukes, Zonko's, the Three Broomsticks, the Shrieking Shack...Harry let his mind wander as he imagined himself buying bags of sweets in Honeydukes, then stopping by the Three Broomsticks for a warm butterbeer...
Harry came out of his reverie when he realized they were beginning their descent. The castle was growing ever closer, its numerous walls and towers illuminated by the lights of dozens of windows.
Hagrid brought the bike down on the wide, sloping lawns stretching before the castle. He steered them up to the great oak front doors then came to a stop at the foot of the stone steps. Before they even got off the bike, one of the doors flew open and two people came rushing out.
Professor McGonagall was a tall witch with black hair and square glasses. Normally, she was rather stern-looking and severe but at the moment, her face bore an expression of extreme relief.
"Hagrid!" she gasped. "You're back, and he's okay!"
"O' course, Professor," Hagrid replied.
The other wizard was tall, thin and very old. His long silvery hair and beard caught the moonlight as he walked. The face bore its usual expression of kindness but the twinkle in the eyes behind the half-moon spectacles was gone, and there was a strain in the lines of his face that hadn't been there the year before. It was Professor Dumbledore.
He came to a halt in front of Harry, his eyes full of concern.
"Are you alright, Harry?" he asked gently.
Harry nodded then pointed to Ron. "I'm fine but Ron hurt his ankle."
Dumbledore turned his attention to Ron. "Ah, Mr. Weasley. Of course, he shall receive assistance immediately. Minerva," he called back to Professor McGonangall, "would you be so kind as to help our friend Mr. Weasley here up to the hospital wing?"
"Of course," Professor McGonagall answered. Harry watched as she conjured a floating stretcher out of thin air. Hagrid lay Ron on it, then Professor McGonagall carried Ron up the stone steps and inside.
"Well, I better get goin', sir," Hagrid said to Dumbledore as he climbed back onto his motorbike. "I'm sure the others could use me help yet tonight. G'night, sir."
"Good night, Hagrid," Dumbledore said, "and thank you very much. Let me know when you get back for the night. I'll be needing to talk to you."
With a nod and a final farewell, Hagrid started the motorcycle's powerful engine and roared away into the night.
Dumbledore turned to Harry and Hermione. "I'm sure that it has been a long night for both of you, but before I send you up to your dormitories for the night, I would like a few words."
Harry and Hermione nodded and followed him up the steps into the cavernous entrance hall. A wide, well-polished marble staircase leading to the second floor lay directly in front of them. The door to the Great Hall, where all meals were held, was to their right. Usually on the first day of school, it was packed full of students all getting ready for the start of term feast and Sorting Ceremony, but tonight it was eerily empty and silent.
Dumbledore led them up the marble staircase, his long, purple robes trailing behind him. They turned down one corridor, then another, up a flight of stairs, turned one last corner and found themselves in a hallway that contained a large, stone gargoyle. Dumbledore strode up to it, muttered something that sounded suspiciously like "Fizzing Whizbee", and the gargoyle came to life, stretching and giving a great yawn, then moved aside as the wall behind it opened.
They went into the opening, the wall closing behind them, and made their way up a spiraling stone staircase that actually moved (much like a Muggle escalator). After many spirals upward, they found themselves at an oak door, with a polished brass knocker in the shape of a griffin. Not bothering to knock, Dumbledore opened the door and they went inside.
Dumbledore's office was a large, circular, beautifully decorated room. There were a variety of strange little instruments and objects sitting on tables and shelves all about the room. Portraits of previous headmasters and headmistresses lined the walls, all looking suspiciously at Harry and Hermione as they entered. Fawkes, Dumbledore's pet phoenix, was sitting upon a perch next to the door, looking splendid with his scarlet-and-gold feathers and long, graceful tail. A monstrous wooden desk sat at the other end of the room, an ornate chair behind it. Three more chairs were in front of it, but one was already occupied.
"Sirius!" Harry exclaimed and rushed over to embrace his godfather.
Sirius Black was a tall, thin man with short black hair. He would have been very handsome and had an almost boyish appearance...except for his eyes. His eyes spoke of someone who had seen horrors that most people could only imagine...
"Harry," greeted Sirius, "it's great to see you. And safe. How are you, Hermione?"
"Fine, thank you," Hermione replied politely.
Sirius held Harry at arm's length, looking at him, an expression of wonder on his face. "It's amazing how much you look like your father, especially with you getting older..." he trailed off as though he was remembering some distant memory.
Harry nodded, smiling. Sirius had been his father's best friend before he had died. He had been the best man in his parents' wedding and had also been appointed as Harry's godfather.
All four of them took a seat, but it was Dumbledore who started.
"So," he began, "I need you and Hermione to tell me exactly what happened tonight, Harry."
Together, Harry and Hermione related the story to Dumbledore and Sirius. They told them about how the train had been abruptly attacked and their flight into the forest. When they reached the part about the Dark Mark, Harry noticed the profoundly grave expression on Dumbledore's face. They told about Ron's fall and how Harry went to look for help. Harry had to take over from there and told about how the Death Eaters had used the Cruciatus Curse on Neville. A great sadness filled Dumbledore's eyes at this, and Harry even thought it looked as though he was close to tears. Harry told how Hagrid and Moody had rescued them and how Hagrid had brought them back to the castle.
After the tale was done, they sat in silence. Dumbledore sat with his head resting on his clasped hands, deep in thought. Sirius merely sat there, glancing between Harry and Dumbledore.
Finally Dumbledore spoke, although it seemed as though it was more to himself than anyone else. "Well...the Dark Mark...we shall see...we shall see...And of course I shall need to pay a visit to Mr. Longbottom."
Dumbledore finally looked up, and Harry was surprised at how old, tired, and worn out he suddenly looked. "Thank you, you two. I suggest that you now go up to your dormitories and get some much-needed rest. After all, classes begin tomorrow."
Harry looked over at Sirius. "Are you...?"
"I'm afraid I can't stay here at Hogwarts, Harry," Sirius said. "Too much of a risk. But I'll be nearby if you need me. Just send an owl."
"Okay," said Harry, standing up.
"But what about the Sorting?" Hermione asked suddenly.
"I'm afraid it was impossible to manage to have the feast tonight," Dumbledore said, regret in his voice. "What with students arriving at all different hours and many needing a visit to the hospital wing, it would have been very difficult to pull off. Professor McGonagall is handling the Sorting in private as the first-years arrive. The start of term announcements will be made over breakfast tomorrow morning. I'm sorry," he added sincerely, "but I'm afraid it's the best we could do."
Harry and Hermione gave their final good-nights to Dumbledore and Sirius then left the office. They proceeded down the spiral staircase, emerging from behind the gargoyle, and began making their way up to their dormitories in Gryffindor Tower. They climbed staircase after staircase wearily and trudged their way down the corridors.
Finally, when they were just about ready to turn the final corner into the final corridor, Hermione reached over and put her arm around Harry. It was so completely unexpected that Harry didn't even know how to react. But he didn't pull away even when she lay her head on his shoulder. Harry felt a strange closeness to her that he couldn't remember ever feeling in his life.
At the end of the corridor was a large portrait of a fat lady in a pink dress. She was snoozing gently in her frame when Harry and Hermione walked up.
"Oh, dear, I'm sorry," the Fat Lady apologized as she shook herself awake. "I must have dozed off. Go on in. Don't worry about the password yet since things have been pretty unusual all night." She suddenly eyed them as though seeing them for the first time. "Are you two...?" she asked pointing her finger back and forth between them.
"No," Harry said sleepily.
The Fat Lady didn't move.
"Please," Harry sighed, exasperated. "Open up. We're tired."
The Fat Lady gave them one last look, then, realizing they weren't going to say anything more, she swung open with a frustrated sigh.
The Gryffindor common room on the other side of the portrait hole was a large, cozy circular room. It was stuffed with large, oversized, comfy-looking armchairs, and a welcoming fire blazed warmly in the fireplace. At the moment, it was completely deserted.
Hermione turned to Harry, hugging him tightly. "I'm so glad we made it back safely, Harry. Once again it was because of you. Thank you. I don't know what I'd do without you," she whispered. Harry didn't say anything. He didn't know what to say.
She let go of him, smiling.
"Good night, Harry," she said and climbed the steps leading to the girls' dormitories, disappearing from view.
Harry made his way over to the staircase that led to the boys' dormitories and began to climb. He reached the very top and flung open the wooden door. Inside was the one place that Harry considered home more than anywhere else.
It was a circular room with high, narrow windows. Five four-posters, all with deep red velvet hangings were spaced around the room.
Harry noticed that Dean and Seamus were both back already, sound asleep in their beds. He assumed Ron and Neville were in the hospital wing.
At the foot of his bed, someone had brought up his trunk. It was slightly battered, but after a quick check inside, it seemed as though all of his things had been thrown back in it.
He took off his glasses and set them on the bedside table. His head was very full of thoughts and questions about the day's events. It's usually pretty hard for a person to get to sleep when there's a lot on their mind, but somehow, Harry Potter was asleep before his head hit the pillow.
