(A/N This is the last time I'm going to have to do this. So enjoy! Harry Potter and co., do not belong to me, (I can dream though!) they belong to J.K. Rowling. Ok, that's it. I'm done!)

Harry Potter and the Staff of Time

Chapter 25

Crossing Dimensions

Harry felt the world spinning out of control around him. He retched again and fought to regain some semblance of self control. Slowly, his surroundings began to come back into focus. Harry was aware of Savana wailing and screaming. Then, as he became more attuned to his environment, Harry became aware of a pregnant silence from the others surrounding him, and Ron's hands on his shoulders.

"Harry! You've got to get up! Voldemort's going to use the Staff of Time and that can't be good!" Ron whispered urgently.

"I can't do anything without Savana's help...where is she?" Harry asked as he stood up on his unsteady legs.

Then he saw her. Savana was curled up in a miserable ball on the ground, a short distance away from where Ron and he now stood. Fleur and Hermione were attempting to console Savana, but she was resisting their efforts.

A low, keening moan issued from Savana's lips. It increased when Lord Voldemort callously told Peter to remove the body from his sight.

Harry and Ron closed the short distance between the two groups. They added their condolences about Alex, but urged Savana to get herself together long enough to attempt to stop Lord Voldemort from using the Staff of Time.

"That satanic sycophant killed my brother!" Savana hissed with fury in her voice. "Right now, I'd do anything to get back at him...let's get that staff back...so we can make things right."

Harry suddenly flashed back to Merlin's warning to the three of them when Alex was still alive: "You will soon be faced with a grave situation and you will be tempted to resolve it by using the Staff of Time. Do not succumb to that temptation. You must seek another, less obvious path."

Harry now knew Merlin was warning them not to use the staff to travel back in time and change what had happened to Alex. However, Merlin had also given them hope; he had hinted there was another way...Harry decided not to confront Savana with any of that just now...

"...she's too emotionally raw...she needs me to enact any spell with the staff because she isn't a seer...and...we don't have the Staff of Time..."

Harry's thoughts were interrupted by a crackling sound as the Dark Lord activated the Staff of Time. White light sprang from the bottom and the top of the staff. The light spread along the ground until it formed a rough circle which encompassed Lord Voldemort, Fleur, and the group of students. The light eminating from the top of the staff formed a dome over them and eventually melded with the light on the ground. It formed a sheild which cut them off from the Death Eaters and the rest of the world.

Once the bubble had completely formed, the color of the light began to shift to blue, green, gold and pink. It formed varying, shimmering, gossimer bands of color.

"This must be what it's like to be inside the Aurora Borealis!" Hermione speculated with no small amount of wonder.

Her attention was diverted by Lord Voldemort's sudden, angry shriek. "Bite me will you?! You bloody, little muppet!!!"1

The Dark Lord pointed his wand at a small, dark form which was bolting across the ground toward Harry.

"AVAda...kedv....squeek!...squeek!"

Both the wand and the Staff of Time fell to the ground as Lord Voldemort rapidly transformed into a scraggley, black rat, with a white face and blood red eyes.

Harry recognised the small, dark form that was fleeing from Lord Voldemort, as it approached him. A mud encrusted Orion ran up to him. Harry picked the little fellow up and placed Orion on his shoulder.

While Harry was thus occupied, Ron had sprinted over to the Staff of Time, grabbed it, and brought it back to Savana and Harry. (Thankfully, the staff had continued to generate the shield when Lord Voldemort had dropped it.)

Ron would have liked to have grabbed Lord Voldemort's wand when he retrieved the staff, but the Volderat had stood guard over it. The Volderat had roughed up his course, moth eaten, fur, stood up on his hind legs, and made a nasty chittering sound. Ron had wisely backed off. Even as an ordinary rat, Voldemort presented a threat. Ron had no doubt about the ability of that rat to inflict a painful, damaging bite.

"...still, it would have been nice to inflict a bit of pain on old red eye with his own wand...what a lovely bit of poetic justice that would have been." Ron thought.

Ron handed Harry the Staff of Time and said, "I hope you know how to use this! Otherwise, we're done for!"

Harry nodded, then addressed Savana. "I know this is difficult for you...but we all need you to help me...here and now!"

Savana sniffed and nodded. She stood, and with tears still streaming down her face, placed her hands on the Staff of Time along with Harry's.

"This is payback for what you did to my brother!" Savana choked out as they pointed the top of the staff at the Volderat.

Voldemort attempted to attack Harry and Savana, then run, but he found he couldn't do either.

The Volderat glared spitefully at Fleur and Hermione. They had their wands pointed at him and were using the Imobelous spell to prevent him from moving. He was a helpless target for whatever spell it was that Harry and Savana were going to cast, using the Staff of Time.

A few seconds later, Lord Voldemort knew what spell Harry and Savana were using. His sharp, rat enhanced hearing picked up the words Harry and Savana were chanting in unison.

"...ad tempus infinitum, Lord Voldemort,..."

"Merlin must have taught those whelps the Spell of Timeless Imprisonment...I'll be trapped in a dimension without time! NO!!! I was going to use that spell on them...and Dumbledore!...curse the day Queen Mab created Merlin!" Lord Voldemort thought, just as a beam of violet light sprang from the staff and engulfed him.

Harry, Savana, Ron, Fleur and Hermione, all watched in amazement as a cloud of violet light surrounded the Volderat, who was turning back into his human form. Then both Lord Voldemort and the cloud disappeared.

Harry and Savana had felt the Staff of Time draining their life energy as they preformed the spell. Merlin had warned them that the loss of a portion of their life energy was the price they would pay for using a spell this powerful.

Once the cloud containing the Dark Lord had disappeared, Harry and Savana collapsed and the staff stopped generating the light shield. Ron, Fleur, and Hermione were concerned they would be overpowered by the Death Eaters once the shield dropped. They were suprised when they saw none of Lord Voldemort's followers in the area.

Ron rushed forward and grabbed the Staff of Time, while Hermione and Fleur checked on Harry and Savana.

"Zhey are alive, but unconscious. We must get zhem 'elp." Fleur told Ron.

"How do we get them help...and where are the Death Eaters?" Ron asked in confusion.

Ron's back stiffened when he heard Professor Snape's familiar, and unwelcome, voice respond to his second question.

"They saw what happened to their master and they fled before anyone could identify them."

Severus did not add the fact that he had gotten rid of his Death Eater costume during the confusion following Lord Voldemort's entrapment. At the moment, he didn't need to continue with the charade of being a Death Eater and it could work against him to do so.

"Why are you 'ere?" Fleur asked the question that was on Ron and Hermione's minds as well.

They were simply afraid to ask it.

"I am here at the request of Professor Dumbledore and the Ministry of Magic." Severus replied smoothly.

They were interrupted by women screaming and crying. They didn't need to see who it was...they knew someone had reversed the stasis spell on the adult Walkers...and they had just found Alex's body.

Ron did look, however, because he heard an enemy still in their midst. Raven was speaking with Gavin Walker and his voice reached Ron's ears.

"What is that guy doing here?! He's one of Lord Voldemort's top henchmen!" Ron sputtered in anger and fear.

Severus decided to explain the situation before Ron managed to further complicate matters. "Raven was working undercover for Chief Minnehaha and the American Bureau of Magic. He was here to find out what Lord Voldemort was doing and to protect the Walkers."

"He didn't do a very good job of it..." Ron grumbled.

This remark earned Ron a sharp look from Severus. It was not followed by a rebuke or a snide remark, however, so Ron considered himself fortunate.

Severus continued, as though Ron hadn't made any comment. "I will now inform Raven that you understand his purpose here. Then we shall all return to Hogwarts, where we will do what must be done."

Then Severus walked over to the adults, who still surrounded Alex's body, and Ron went back to tell Hermione and Fleur they would be leaving soon. Ron also told the girls about Raven. They looked in the direction of the adults and were shocked to see Christina throw her arms around Professor Snape and hug the stuffing out of him!

"Please, tell me I'm hallucinating!" Ron snickered.

"If you are, it's a group hallucination! I wish we could see Professor Snape's face." Hermione replied.

"Professors do 'ave private lives and this should be kept private." Fleur admonished them.

"But this is so-o-o very good!" Ron whined. "Maybe we could use it to make Professor Snape treat us better."

"He'll make us think we've died and gone to hell, if I know Professor Snape." Hermione told Ron. "Do us all a favor and forget you saw that, Ron. Fleur is right."

Ron sighed in disappointment and waited until the adults reached them. Gavin was stoically carrying his son's body. Raven picked up Harry and Ron handed the Staff of Time to Christina, then picked up Savana.

Fiona removed something from her robe and set it on the ground in the middle of the group. It was an amber amulet with a dragonfly preserved inside of it. Then she chanted a short incantation in which the only recogniseable words were: Hogwarts and tempus fugit.2 The last thing Fiona did was to sprinkle a bit of pixie dust over the amulet.

There was a flash of multi-colored light and they were standing in the hospital wing at Hogwarts. Ron, Gavin, and Raven gently set their burdens onto beds while Madam Pomfrey hurried toward them.

She shooed Ron and Hermione into the next room and told them to stay put until she called for them.

"Wow, I could get used to traveling like that!" Ron told Hermione with a grin.

"I wouldn't even think about it, if I were you." Hermione replied.

"Why ever not? Didn't it give you a rush?" Ron asked.

"Because it's the wizard equivalant of using a Concord jet as an ambulance. Quick, but very expensive." Hermione responded haughtily.

"Oh." Ron looked a bit crestfallen. "Well, as long as we have to stay in here and wait anyway, I'm going to try and catch up on some sleep."

"That's a good idea. I think I'll do that too." Hermione replied with a yawn.

They stretched out on two of the beds in the room and fell asleep as soon as they laid down.

...`~*~`...

Harry drifted toward consciousness. He was in a state which was neither awake nor asleep. Neither grounded in reality, nor the world of dreams.

He heard Professor Dumbledore in discussion with two other men...Gavin Walker...and...Raven?! Harry realised this must be a dream, since it was unlikely these three wizards would ever meet in the real world.

Harry tried to open his eyes. They wouldn't respond to his command, however, they were too heavy...more evidence that he was dreaming. Portions of the discussion between the three wizards drifted through Harry's consciousness;

"...you can't use the staff to go back in time and save Alex!" Professor Dumbledore was telling someone, most likely Gavin.

Raven said, "Just using the spell to trap Lord Voldemort nearly killed both of those kids...the only reason they're going to recover is due to Severus's potion...the spell you're talking about requires even more energy."

"I can't do anything about Alex, right now anyway." Gavin replied in a strained voice. "Those two kids are the only people I know of who are able to use the staff and they're..."

"What is that rat doing?!" Raven interrupted.

"He appears to be retrieving something from that jacket pocket." Professor Dumbledore observed mildly. "May I help you with that, Orion?"

"Isn't that the jacket Alex was wearing when he was...gulp...killed?" Gavin asked with a hiccough.

Harry heard no response. The next sound he heard was a gasp from Professor Dumbledore.

Then Professor Dumbledore said, "This is the Stone of Morpheous! It is a very powerfull talisman against the dark arts. If Alex had this in his possession when Lord Voldemort cast that spell on him, he may not be lost to us."

"He still looks dead to me." Gavin said sadly.

"Alex would appear to be dead, but this stone would protect a spark of life which could be re-kindled." Professor Dumbledore explained.

"I still think the Staff o...." Gavin began to say.

But, Harry couldn't hear the rest of what Gavin was saying, because Merlin had appeared to him and whispered something in Harry's ear.

"Merlin said, we must seek a different path." Harry said thickly.

Then Harry sank deep into a state of unconsciousness and said no more.

"What did the boy say?!" Gavin asked anxiously.

Professor Dumbledore repeated the phrase.

"I suppose he means we shouldn't use the Staff of Time, by that. What else can we do?" Gavin asked.

"I believe I may be able to answer that." Raven told them. "This may seem kind of off the wall...and the idea only occured to me after Albus found the Stone of Morpheous...the boy's comments convinced me to at least suggest this solution to you...I may be able to cross the boundry between this world and the spirit realm to retrieve Alex's spirit."

"You're right. It sounds like so much mumbo jumbo to me." Gavin replied with a hint of suspicion in his voice.

Professor Dumbledore, however, looked thoughtful and cautioned Gavin, "I believe we should listen to what this man has to say. There is precident in his suggestion. It is not merely fantasy or legend."

Gavin appeared unconvinced, so Raven decided to explain his proposal in a little more detail.

"I am not called Raven because of my ability to turn into one. I was given the name when I was a boy, because my people believe I am touched by the spirit of Raven."

"This is all very nice, but..." Gavin began to say.

"My point..." Raven interrupted. "...is that my people believe Raven is able to transcend the barrier between the world of mortals and that of the spirits. I have been endowed with that gift. I would like to try to bring Alex's spirit back to his body and this world. If that meets with your approval?"

Gavin mulled over this new bit of information for a few minutes. Then he asked, "Have you ever done this before?"

Raven nodded his head in the affirmative. "Three times, and all were successfull."

Raven didn't add that Chief Minnehaha had suspected a situation like the one with Alex would arise. The chief had told the Bureau it was important to assign this task to Raven.

"I wonder how the chief knew Alex would be protected from the worst effects of the curse by that talisman?" Raven thought.

The only person who could answer that question, however, was Chief Minnehaha himself. Raven knew he would never reveal that information to him, or to anyone.

"What do you think we should do?" Gavin was addressing Professor Dumbledore.

"I suspect this is the 'different path' Merlin spoke of." Professor Dumbledore replied with a sage nod of his head.

"Let's do it then." Gavin agreed with a sigh of exhaustion.

Raven nodded and rubbed his hands together. "All right then. Let's get this show on the road. Time is of the essence. I'll need to gather a few things for the ceremony and I'll need you to move Alex to a private room. Only Alex and I may be present during the ceremony. Otherwise, there could be...complications."

"I had hoped to remain with my son..." Gavin began to protest, but Albus interrupted him.

"You can accomplish nothing by doing so, and you are exhausted. You should go with the others and rest."

"But what about Harry and Savana?...someone should be there with them when they awaken..." Gavin continued to protest.

"Severus has assured me that it will be quite some time before they have recovered enough to awaken..." Albus began to assure Gavin.

"But wouldn't Madam Pomfrey be more qualified to make that decision? Severus is only the potions master, after all and..."

Raven, who was beginning to feel pressed for time, decided to re-assure Gavin. So he could ready Alex and himself for the ceremony.

"Please, Gavin, Severus is an expert in such matters and has dealt with a similar situation once before."

Raven hoped Gavin wouldn't demand any proof, or particulars, since he had fabricated this last bit of information in order to facilitate Gavin's departure.

Gavin's shoulders slumped and he agreed he could use a rest.

"There's a good fellow." Albus murmured as he escorted Gavin out of the room.

Raven quickly contacted Severus to arrange for the few ceremonial items he needed that he wasn't carrying with him. Then he notified Madam Pomfrey to arrange for a room and to transfer Alex to it. Last, Raven began to prepare himself for what he knew would be an arduous and draining spiritual journey.

Raven settled himself next to Alex within the sacred circle he had circumscribed in the small isolation room Madam Pomfrey had assigned to them. He burned some sacred herbs and preformed rites of the ritual, while he chanted to the spirits. All of these actions allowed Raven to enter a trance-like state which enabled him to communicate with the spirits.

Raven felt himself leave his body behind as he reached the deepest level of the trance. He moved into an area of rosey light. There, Raven felt a part of, and surrounded by, love, joy, and peace.

The figure of an elderly Native American man coalesed in front of Raven. It was his great-great grandfather, Morning Star, an important Navaho shaman.

"It is good to see you, my grandson." Morning Star greeted Raven.

"Grandfather, I am honored by your presence. The spirits have told me you will guide me to the man I seek, Alex Burke-Walker." Raven replied.

"I will bring you the man you seek. He has not yet crossed the threshold. He can still return to your world." Morning Star said.

Morning Star dissolved into the light and returned almost immediately with a confused looking Alex Walker.

"What is going on?!" Alex asked. "One minute I'm in a stand-off with the king of evil...the next, I'm a human nebula here in la-la land...what gives?...And what are you doing here?!" This last question dripped with suspicion.

"Please, excuse him, grandfather. He is as irreverent as he has always been." Raven muttered.

"Raven is my grandson and he is here to guide you back from this world to the world of the flesh." Morning Star informed Alex. "All of your questions will be answered in time. For the moment, however, you must place your trust in Raven, or he will not be able to complete the journey."

Alex began to protest. "But, he worked with..."

"Place your trust in Raven." Morning Star re-itinerated in parting.

Then he disappeared back into the misty pink light.

"Alex, I know this is difficult for you, but if you want to go back to your life and the people you love...you must trust me to guide you there. I am your only hope." Raven told Alex somberly.

Alex took a deep breath, held it for a moment, then exhaled and nodded his head. "I'll give it all I've got." He promised.

"Then take my hand and hold onto it, tightly." Raven instructed Alex.

Alex did as Raven had instructed and immediately found himself being pulled back through a vortex.

"This is alot like using a portkey." Alex thought.

Alex opened his eyes and looked around the small room. His gaze stopped and fixed on Raven.

"I feel like I've been trampled by a herd of unicorns." Alex muttered thickly. "You promised to explain all of this to me...I'm listening."

Raven explained all that had happened to Alex since Lord Voldemort had leveled the curse on him, including the reason Raven had been with the Death Eaters. Raven made a point of congratulating Alex for having the foresight to carry the Stone of Morpheous with him.

"...without that talisman, there would not have been anything to bring back." Raven concluded. "Lord Voldemort would have succeeded with his plan."

"I wish I could take the credit for that, but I didn't bring the stone. I know who did put it in my pocket though, and I need to thank him as soon as I'm able to." Alex replied.

His voice was still thick with fatigue. Alex gave into his overwhelming need to sleep.

Raven cleaned up the ceremonial sight. Then, as he watched the dawn break through the window, Raven decided to tell Professor Dumbledore of his successfull quest and let him decide when to tell the others.

...`~*~`...

Alex, Harry, Fleur, Savana, Hermione, and Ron were still asleep when the sun set that evening.

Professor Dumbledore had told the adults, who had awakened in the late afternoon, the good news about Alex. Then he had assured them that the young people were safe and would probably sleep for quite awhile longer.

"...they went for several days without much sleep. Madam Pomfrey believes they are simply catching up on their rest." Professor Dumbledore explained. "We could wake them up, if you feel you must speak to them immediately."

Fiona pulled a chair up next to Alex's bed and lovingly smoothed his hair back from his face. Alex shifted slightly in his sleep, but allowed his mother to continue. Fiona thrilled to the sweet, warm feeling of life flowing through her son once again.

"No. Thankyou for offering, though. We don't want to disturb them." Fiona responded. "Raven, how can we ever thank you?"

Fiona knew there was no way they would ever be able to repay Raven for what he had done. The question had been largely rhetorical, so she was suprised when Raven responded to it.

"You may thank me by helping someone else who needs your aide...pass it on, so to speak...of course, whether or not you choose to do so is entirely up to you...you are not beholden to me."

"What a lovely concept!" Christina gushed. "I do believe I'm going to give it a go myself."

Madam Pomfrey appeared at the door. Her bearing indicated her disapproval of the amount of activity in the room.

Professor Dumbledore noticed her stern expression and decided it was time for the adults to go elsewhere.

"Perhaps we should adjourn to my office for tea." He suggested.

The others agreed, with the exception of Fiona.

"I'd prefer to stay here and savore the moment. If that's all right." She said with a small smile. "I know Alex is out of danger, but I also know he'll be off on another adventure as soon as he is able."

Professor Dumbledore nodded in understanding. He then bowed slightly at the waist in respect, and left with the others.

...`~*~`...

Harry swam back to the world through swirling mists of dreams. Once he had opened his eyes, Harry tried to make sense of the dreams he had been having over the past couple of days. He couldn't decide what had been a dream, and what had really happened.

"Did we really trap Lord Voldemort, and did he really kill Alex?" Harry wondered in confusion.

Harry decided he needed a drink of water. His mouth tasted like he had been sucking on a pair of sweat socks that hadn't been washed in months! Harry reached over to the table next to him and found a glass of water, which he gulped down, as well as his glasses.

Harry put on his glasses and was suprised to find himself in the hospital wing at Hogwarts. He was frusterated to find that, no matter how much he sifted through his memories, he couldn't remember how he had come to be here.

"How did I get here?!" Harry said softly, as he searched his memory once more.

"If you find out, be sure to tell me. Because I don't know how I got here either." Replied a slightly sarcastic, feminine voice.

Harry recognised the voice as Savana's. He turned toward the sound of her voice and gave Savana a half-hearted wave.

"Well, you've answered one of my questions at least." Savana responded with a smile.

"But...I haven't answered any..." Harry stuttered.

"You couldn't have sent me these flowers, not if you were in here with me. Question answered." Savana replied with a grin. "Unfortunately, I still don't know who sent them. If it weren't for the roses, this bouquet would be the same as the one I got last winter. I wonder if it was sent by the same person?"

"If it was...sent by the same person, that is...I hope it dosen't contain any warnings...like the last one did. Oh, I forgot...you weren't awake for that...Alex found the note..." Harry had begun to muse a bit, so he didn't immediately notice the effect of his words on Savana.

Savana's eyes welled up with tears and she felt sick to her stomach due to Harry's casual mention of her dead brother.

"I miss him so much! I thought I'd feel better after we punished Lord Voldemort, but I don't. It didn't bring Alex back, and that's all that really matters." Savana sobbed.

"Savana, I'm sorry. I said that without thinking." Harry apologised softly. "As you are so fond of saying; open mouth, insert foot."

Harry had hoped this little quip would at least make Savana smile, but she was so grief stricken that she didn't even acknowledge what he had just said.

"Why did that red-eyed freak kill my brother?!...and why didn't Alex fight him...why didn't he use a counter-curse or something?! I'm so angry at them both!" Savana was beginning to babble.

Harry wasn't sure what he was hearing was correct. He could think of no reason for Savana to be angry with Alex. Harry decided to try to reason with her.

"There is no counter-curse for the three unforgivable curses...Lord Voldemort killed my parents with that curse...no one survives it." Harry told her softly.

"You did." Savana choked out through her tears.

Harry sighed. He couldn't argue with that.

A soft knocking sounded at the room's door. The door opened a crack. Madam Pomfrey poked her head in and addressed them.

"Good! You're finally awake. I have a visitor for you."

Madam Pomfrey opened the door wider and waved the visitor forward. Harry and Savana nearly died from shock when Alex entered the room.

Savana rushed to her brother and engulfed him in a hug.

"Alex!...but you...how did you..." Savana cried.

"Whoa there, baby sister!" Alex said with a laugh as he attempted to disentangle himself from her. "Give me half a chance and I will explain all."

Harry finally found his voice. "B-but, you were killed! How..."

Alex sat down next to his sister and launched into the tale of his rescue.

"...and...so...thanks to the efforts of Orion and Raven...here I am!" Alex told them with a grin. "I was able to thank Raven, but I haven't been able to thank Orion yet. Mom said he's visiting Professor Dumbledore at the moment...Hey! You've got another bouquet from your secret admirer...with dark pink roses yet!...could this be love?" Alex teased his sister as he reached into the flowers and withdrew a small, unsealed envelope.

"Well, lookey here! I done found a luv letter!" Alex ribbed his sister. "I best read it, soz I kin 'cide if'n it's too hot blooded fer your sweet 'lil eyes!"

"That's mine! Give it back!" Savana demanded as she made a grab for the envelope.

But Alex nimbly dodged his sister, opened the letter and began to read it in a high-pitched, sing-song voice.

"Dearest Savana, Please reguard this as a warning...Alex abruptly dropped his playfull tone and his voice became serious as he continued to read...because I care about what happens to you. I have it on good authority that the Death Eaters are furious with you (as well as the others involved) for exiling Lord Voldemort. They intend to exact retribution from all of you. Please, be careful."

Alex's hands shook a little as he replaced the letter in its envelope.

"Does this ever end?" He asked softly.

Harry sighed and shook his head in a negative fashion. "I think we must show this to Professor Dumbledore, as soon as possible."

"Let's get dressed and get out of here." Savana suggested.

They grabbed their clothes, quickly dressed and met again in the hall a few minutes later. From there, they went in search of Professor Dumbledore.

...`~*~`...

Draco Malfoy was in a quandary. His father had met him in Hogsmeade the day before. (Draco wondered what excuse Lucious had used with Professor Dumbledore in order to allow Draco to leave the school grounds.) Lucious had been rabid with anger. He told Draco what had transpired at Stonehenge and demanded that Draco tell him everything he knew about it.

Draco had feigned innocence and had only told his father what Professor Dumbledore had told all of the students affected by Professor Snape's absence.

"...as for Potter and his muppet friends...I don't know anything more than just rumor...I just thought they were ill...I heard someone say they were all in hospital...I had hoped it was a fatal disease." Draco had forced himself to sneer.

Actually, for the first time in his life, Draco found himself in total disagreement with his father and believed he was seeing Lucious for what he truly was; totally self-centered and interested only in power. While Draco still detested Potter and the others, Savana had caused Draco to look at this entire thing from a different point of view. That perspective caused him to question some of his father's philosophies and activities. Draco found he wasn't quite so anxious to please his father anymore. Yet, he wasn't ready to rebel against everything he had been raised to believe in, either.

Lucious had told Draco that Potter and Savana had become the top targets on the Death Eater 'hit list.'

Draco found himself in the position of wanting to forewarn Savana once again. Even if it meant warning Potter, Weasley and the other trash Savana surrounded herself with.

Once Lucious was convinced that Draco had divulged all he knew, Lucious promptly dropped Draco back at Hogwarts and went about his own business.

"It was nice to see you too, father...so sporting of you to travel this distance just to chat and let me know how much you care...have a nice life!" Draco thought with anger as he walked back to the castle.

Draco felt used by his father and he resented it. The fact that he had spent his entire life trying to please Lucious, and that Lucious had given him little in return, wasn't lost on Draco. So, in a fit of rebellion, Draco decided to risk warning Savana for the second time since he had met her.

...`~*~`...

Albus Dumbledore rang up tea service for 10, to be served in his office.

"I do believe this is one of the larger groups I've met with here." He commented as he settled himself in a comfortable chair. "It is unfortunate that the circumstances which have brought us together here are so unpleasant. Now then, may the rest of us see this mysterious note?"

Alex produced the note, which Professor Dumbledore promptly read outloud to the assembled group. That group consisted of the three adult Walkers, Fleur, Alex, Harry, Savana, Hermione, and Ron.

"We must take this warning seriously." Professor Dumbledore said in a somber voice as he handed the note to Savana. "You will all be safe, as long as you remain here at Hogwarts, and it is another month until the end of term. I am sure we will be able to find ways to protect you over the summer holiday, before that time approaches."

There was a palpable decrease of tension in the room once Professor Dumbledore had said that. Savana, however, frowned in consternation. Somewhere along the way, she had forgotten about the end of term tests and she would need to do alot of catch-up studying if she even hoped to pass them.

Professor Dumbledore seemed to sense Savana's thoughts and smiled knowingly at her.

Doby and another house elf arrived with afternoon tea just then, and all conversation came to a halt while they helped themselves to some tea and warm scones.

Savana was delighted to find a pot of aromatic coffee among the beverage choices. She poured a cup of the coffee and savored both the smell and the taste.

Orion appeared as the scent of food permeated the room. He scampered over to Alex and climbed up onto his lap. They were clearly happy to see each other.

"I wanted to thank you for putting the Stone of Morpheous into my pocket before we left here, Orion. You saved my life." Alex told his pet in a deeply heartfelt tone of voice. "Would it be O.K. with all of you if I give Orion some of my scone?"

"I believe our little hero deserves a treat, don't you?" Professor Dumbledore agreed with a smile.

There wasn't even a hint of dissent from the others, so Professor Dumbledore produced a rat sized scone with clotted cream and strawberry jam. He presented it to Orion with a small flourish.

Orion delicately plucked the treat from Professor Dumbledore's fingers. He sat back on his haunches and ate his treat with great relish.

Harry took a sip of tea before he observed; "We actually owe both Alex and Orion a debt of gratitude. If Alex hadn't made sure Orion escaped...then Orion wouldn't have bitten Lord Voldemort and turned him into a rat...we wouldn't have gotten the Staff of Time back...and Lord Voldemort would be extremely powerfull...instead of trapped in time. A toast to Alex and Orion!"

"A toast to all of our heros!" Christina cried and raised her teacup.

"A toast to Lord Voldemort's infinite exile!" Alex said as they touched cups.

"Here, here!" Cried the others in unison as they followed suit.

After they had drunk the toast, Gavin decided to clear up a question he had.

"Exactly what did you do to rid us of the Dark Lord's presence and is it permanent?"

Harry and Savana began to answer Gavin's questions at the same time. Then they both stopped and looked at each other.

Savana giggled, then said, "You take it, Harry. I'd prefer to sit back and enjoy this coffee while I can."

"Ah...O.K." Harry cleared his throat, then continued with the explaination. "Merlin taught us a few spells we could use in conjuntion with the Staff of Time. One of them was the Spell of Timeless Imprisonment. That is the spell we used on Lord Voldemort. Merlin didn't say anything about how long the spell would last, so I can't answer the second part of your question."

"What did that spell do to Lord Voldemort?" Fiona asked.

"It trapped him in a dimension where time, at least as we know it, does not exist. It was quite ingenius of you to use that particular spell...yes...quite clever indeed." Professor Dumbledore nodded his head in approval as he said this. "I can also answer the second part of your question. Lord Voldemort will be trapped there for infinity..."

"Yes! That's brilliant!" Ron crowed.

Ron suddenly realised he had interrupted Professor Dumbledore. "Ummm...I'm sorry."

Professor Dumbledore smiled and said, "Your excitement is quite understandable. However, as I was saying, it is possible for someone to release Lord Voldemort from the spell. Long ago, I recall learning that Merlin had provided an 'escape clause' for every spell that he employed."

"I remember reading that same thing while we were researching the Staff of Time." Hermione informed them. "Merlin provided those so he, or anyone he deemed worthy, could be released if the spells were used against his allies, or against him."

Professor Dumbledore resumed his narrative. "Quite right, Hermione. I took the liberty of researching the Staff of Time, as well as the spells which could be cast with it. If I recall the information correctly, Merlin provided one method of releasing the Spell of Timeless Imprisonment and Morgain LeFey created another. You see, she feared Merlin would use the spell against her. Merlin's method was a counter spell which could only be cast using the Staff of Time..."

"Whoa! That's why he made us learn three different spells!" Savana cried in amazement with her epiphany. "Merlin taught us 3 spells: the first was to be used to travel in time; the second was the Spell for Timeless Imprisonment; and the third was the spell to release the Spell for Timeless Imprisonment. At that time, I couldn't understand why we needed to learn the third spell. Now I get it! Merlin was afraid the spell would be used against us!"

Professor Dumbledore nodded, then picked up the thread of his narrative. "Only a very limited number of wizards and witches are able to use the Staff of Time, however. One must also have the staff in their possession in order to cast that spell. Therefore, Morgain LeFey created a talisman which would accomplish the same thing. This talisman, however, could be used by anyone with the knowlege to do so. Merlin saw this as a threat to his power, so he had the talisman broken into pieces. He then hid the pieces in distant geographical areas where they would be impossible to find and reunite. Most of the information on the talisman is obscure, or lost to us entirely. Thus, it does not pose a threat. The Staff of Time, however, represents a clear and present danger to us. One which must be dealt with, permanently. It is not inconcievable for the Death Eaters to find someone who can use the Staff of Time and for them to steal it for that purpose. We can protect the staff here, at Hogwarts, for a short time. The only way to permanently rid ourselves of the danger it poses, however, is to return the staff to its guardians on the island of Avalon."

"So why screw around with keeping the Staff of Time here. If it's that dangerous, we should take it to Avalon now and be done with it." Savana reasoned outloud.

"It's not that simple, Savana." Harry cautioned her. "The location of Avalon is not known and much of the information is shrouded in myth and legend. We must discover where Avalon is located before we can go there."

"Christina, Gavin and I could begin researching the topic." Fiona volunteered. "You have tests to study for and school work to do."

"That's a good idea. I would just as soon do something useful, since we need to stay here until it is safe to return home." Christina added.

The discussion then turned to other topics, but Savana was left wondering if she would ever be allowed to return to her American home and school.

...`~*~`...

Two days before the end of term, Savana learned the answer to one of the minor mysteries which had occasionally occupied her mind during the past year.

Savana had been searching for a book in the library stacks when she overheard her name hissed in a malicious tone of voice by someone on the other side of the book shelves near where she stood.

Savana stealthily removed a book from the shelf in front of her and peeked through the space she had created to see who was talking about her. Savana could see enough of Pansy Parkinson's face to identify her as the speaker. The identity of the other girl, however, was a mystery. The girl's back was to Savana and she remained in that position.

Savana was not ashamed to listen to as much of Pansy's tirade as she could. "It is my name Pansy is dragging through the mud. I should know what she's saying about me."

Savana reasoned.

"...and she told me that Draco has been sending that Yank tramp love poems and flowers!" Pansy fumed with self-rightous indignation.

"I've suspected she had her sights set on Draco from the beginning...she's constantly throwing herself at him!" The other girl asserted in agreement.

"I am not!" Savana thought indignantly. "What planet are you two vixens from, anyway?!"

Savana fought the urge to shout insults at them.

Pansy was speaking again. "You saw the way she was throwing herself at poor Draco during the spring formal?! I wanted to turn Savana into the warty, little toad that she is!"

Pansy acted as though she had been greatly injured by Savana's behavior at this point and the other girl patted Pansy on the shoulder in a gesture of comfort.

"I only had a few dances with Draco that night, and he asked me, not the other way around." Savana fumed. "He needed to do something to get away from you, dog face. You were smothering him!"

"I must do something to protect my sweety from her...who knows what she'll do to get his attention over the summer?!" Pansy whined piteously.

"I think you should tell Draco's parents about her. I heard they detest that girl, so I'm sure they'll support you." The girl viciously suggested.

"That's a brilliant idea! I'll do that as soon as we get home!" Pansy replied enthusiastically. "Do you know what else I heard about her?" Pansy asked in a conspirital tone of voice as they found the book they'd been looking for and began to walk away. "I heard the Death Eaters want her head because..."

Savana replaced the book on the shelf as tears welled up in her eyes. "I can't stand that mental midget and her cronies. I should have dropped that entire shelve of books on their heads!"

Savana did some deep breathing exercises to calm herself. Once shee had reached a reasonable approximation of that state, she thought about the first portion of what Pansy had said.

"So, Draco Malfoy is the secret admirer who has put himself at risk to warn me. This is an interesting turn of events." Savana thought.

Savana didn't find the situation amusing, as Harry or the others might have. She had actually grown to like and respect Draco, as she had gotten to know him better. Draco had even become comfortable enough with her to tell jokes during potions lab.

Savana was very aware of the tension between Draco and her friends here. Therefore, she had never discussed her feelings about him with any of them.

"Now that I know him better, I could see myself going out with Draco." She thought. "Maybe that's why Professor Snape keeps putting us together as lab partners."

Savana's musings then settled upon Pansy's idea to blab about Savana to Draco's parents. She saw how dangerous that plot would be to Draco.

"Turn about is fair play." Savana thought with a smile. "I'll just send Draco a little warning. That way, he'll at least know what Pansy's up to before it all comes crashing down on his head."

A short time later, Savana had composed a note and decided on a method of delivery. The note she had composed read:

"Draco, I overheard Pansy Parkinson plotting to tell your parents that

you and I are romantically involved. She intends to do this as soon

as she arrives home. I know this would cause you no end of trouble

with your parents. I hope that by forewarning you, you will be able

to defuse the situation, somehow. I care about you and wish you

the best of luck. Yours, Savana"

Savana had decided to deliver the note inside a box of Draco's favorite cookies. She had decided to ask Professor Snape to deliver the cookies. Savana suspected Professor Snape was aware of Draco's feelings toward Savana. Therefore, he might be sympathetic to her cause. If it turned out that was not the case...well...Savana was not above a bit of blackmail. She only need mention aunt Christina's diaries and let Professor Snape choose as he might.

Savana wore a smile as she enclosed her note in the package and set about putting her plan in motion.

...`~*~`...

A few days later, Savana stood out by the Hogwart's Express with Harry, Ron, and Hermione. The train was loading with students who were heading home for the summer holiday. Ron, Harry and Hermione would be riding the train to their respective families and homes. Savana and the Walkers, however, would remain at Hogwarts a bit longer.

Professor Dumbledore, with the help of several other wizards and witches, had nearly completed the layering of several spells and enchantments upon the Walker estate. Most of the repairs on the property had also been completed.

The down side of all of this was that none of the Walkers would be able to return to the U.S.A. anytime soon. There, they would be exposed there to the threats of the Death Eaters and their agents. Since the Walkers were no longer anonymous, they could no longer blend in, as they had done before.

Savana had begun to fear she would never see her friends and schoolmates again.

There was some good to be found in the situation, however. Harry, and possibly Ron and Hermione as well, would be spending most of the summer at the Walker estate, since it would be a protected place.

"Your father told me I could come to the estate at the beginning of July." Harry told Savana and the others with a smile. "The less time I spend at the Dursley's, the better for all concerned, especially me."

Hermione smiled, then said, "Good, then perhaps you'll have a proper birthday celebration this year. Savana, I do hope my parents will allow me to come and stay for awhile. The note from Professor Dumbledore should help to convince them to let me visit."

"Even though Alex won't be there?" Savana teased her friend. "I'm really going to miss him, but mom and dad won't let me go with...Professor Dumbledore thinks it would be too dangerous."

Savana looked around them, to make sure no one was within hearing range before she finished her thought.

"The only reason Alex gets to go to Avalon is because everyone thinks he's still dead."

"I've noticed that he's been in hiding since Raven brought him back." Ron commented.

Professor Dumbledore and the adults had decided it would be best for Alex to bring the Staff of Time to Avalon. Very few people knew Alex had not been killed at Stonehenge, and those who did had all been sworn to secrecy.

Professor Dumbledore had kept Alex hidden with Sirius Black since Alex's recovery.

Orion had gone with Alex. He had chosen to remain with his friend.

Raven would be accompanying Alex. His cover story as a Death Eater remained intact. They all felt that fact would be a definate advantage to Alex, as well as to the mission.

Ron grinned as he said, "On a brighter note, my parents said I can come visit too. Actually, with the Death Eaters up to who knows what mischief, dad said he'd be more comfortable with me at your place anyway. It being protected and all."

"Perhaps Ginny should come along with you." Savana suggested. "If your parents are that concerned for your safety...Ginny could be affected as well. I'm sure it would be fine with my aunt and parents...and we certainly have the room..."

The train whistle bew to hurry the straglers along.

Savana hugged her friends and waved 'farewell' as Ron, Hermione, and Harry boarded the train.

After the three had settled in a compartment, Harry stared out the window and mused about the past, as well as the future.

Harry knew his relatives would not appreciate his return to them, especially if Uncle Vernon was still out of work. They would probably ship him off to the Walker estate as soon as they were able to. That was more than fine with Harry. He could see only one possible negative complication with the entire plan, Professor Snape.

Professor Snape had renewed his relationship with Christina Walker. Which meant he would be a frequent visitor to the Walker estate this summer.

"If all else fails...I shouldn't have too much trouble staying out of Professor Snape's way...It is a large estate,after all." Harry reasoned.

Harry knew he should feel relatively safe, now that they had trapped Lord Voldemort. He didn't though. Harry had a niggling worm of worry buried deep inside of his gut.

"All is not well!" It whispered to him.

Harry knew the feeling was not directly related to the Death Eaters. They certainly presented a threat to him which could not be ignored. However, it was blunted significantly without Lord Voldemort to unite their forces.

Many of the Death Eaters had gone underground again. Just as they had done when Harry had first driven the Dark Lord away. The Ministry was actively prosecuting those Death Eaters that it was able to. Rumor had it that some had already been sent to Azkaban prison.

The feeling was not related to the Staff of Time, either. Harry had the utmost faith in the abilities of Alex and Raven to bring the staff safely to Avalon.

Harry suspected the feeling was warning him about something which was infinately more obscure; Morgain's talisman.

"Could the Death Eaters find the pieces, reunite them and release Lord Voldemort from the spell we used to imprison him?" Harry wondered. "Nah! Professor Dumbledore said that was impossible!"

Harry turned his attention toward a conversation with his friends.

Deep within the shadowed recesses of Harry's mind, though, the doubt persisted. It whispered to him in his dreams. Could it be possible for someone to bring Lord Voldemort back to this world?

1. Muppet: A Brittish slang term for fool.

2. Tempus Fugit: A Latin phrase which translates as: time flees, or flies.

"That's all there is, there ain't no more;

Harry got the apple, Voldemort the core."