A Harry Situation
By Jill Weber/ Jelsemium
Characters copyrighted by J.K. Rowling and used without permission or intent to make a profit.

Chapter 21:  Kidnapped

A Grim Beginning

Plans change.

Harry had expected to go to The Burrow for the remainder of the summer holidays. Instead, the Ministry of Magic had stepped in. The Ministry Aurors had come in without warning and had stunned Snuffles and banished Tiberius. Then they had hustled Harry out of St. Mungo's over the objections of the Haunted Wing's other patient, Hagrid, and Madame Handwerker, director of St. Mungo's and daughter of Albus Dumbledore.

They didn't let Harry send a message. He wasn't even given time to get dressed. Which is how he wound up, bound to a chair in the middle of the courtroom, facing the Council of Magic wearing his Quidditch pyjamas, a grey prison robe and something on his feet that vaguely resembled shoes.

Fudge had insisted that it was all for his own good.

"What's so good about being kidnapped?" Harry had asked him.

Fudge's manner became increasingly sour after that.

The only things that had kept Harry from dying of sheer boredom during his incarceration were the useless and the illegal.

The guards were always nice to him. They talked about Quidditch when they were able to speak to him, and occasionally they would smuggle in some Chocolate Frogs or Bertie Bott's Every Flavor Beans.

However, for the most part, Harry was alone in his cell with nothing to do. Obviously having reading material was right out. No telling what sort of dangerous dark spells might be lurking in the Daily Prophet or those Quidditch magazines! Not that Harry could have read anything, anyway, as they had taken away his eyeglasses. Apparently, his being able to see was not in his own best interest.

All Harry had to work with were Trelawney's normally useless meditation lessons. They were proving beneficial because they allowed him to review the contents of his own mind. Specifically, the contents that had been put in there by Nicely, The Animagus Survival Guide.

Harry knew that Ginny and Hermione were right about Nicely. What she had done was dangerous. What he was doing was not only dangerous, but also highly illegal. However, if he was going to be treated like a criminal, maybe he should at least commit a crime. It afforded him some grim amusement that the Minster of Magic was forcing him to break the law.

When the guards had come to get him that morning, they were apologetic, but firm. He had been summoned before the Council of Magic. Then he was bound to the chair the way the Death Eaters had been at the trial of Barty Crouch, Jr.

"We want a full account of what had happened the night of the Third Task," Fudge told him.

Harry knew that what the Council really wanted was reassurance that Voldemort hadn't really returned. They insisted that he give them details, yet they flinched every time that he said Voldemort's name. Then Fudge had brought up the events surrounding Sirius Black's various escapes – first from Azkaban, then from Hogwarts.

Fudge wanted to make Sirius his scapegoat. He wanted to make out that the whole 'You-Know-Who' resurrection scenario was a ploy by Voldemort's right-hand man.

Harry wasn't having any of it. 

"Mr. Potter, if you are not going to cooperate, then I'm going to have to insist on administering Veritaserum."

"I'm answering your questions, what more can I do?"

"Cornelius, is that legal?" a stocky, grey-haired man objected.

"Rigel, I hadn't heard that you'd come out of retirement," Lucius Malfoy said snidely.

"I am here as an observer, Lucius, as is my right," Rigel replied.

"You don't have any say in the proceedings, however," Mcnair said.

"I'm only asking a question," Rigel said, looking at Mcnair with narrowed eyes.

"Yes, Rigel, I have a signed consent form from his guardians," Fudge said with a smirk. "Mr. Potter, your aunt and uncle were not surprised that you were taken into custody. Apparently, you've been quite the discipline problem for them. Not to mention that your record at Hogwarts is highly suspect."

"My aunt and uncle didn't know how to deal with involuntary magic, Minister," Harry growled. "As for my record at Hogwarts, are you referring to me stopping Quirrell from stealing the Philosopher's Stone for Voldemort, to my killing the basilisk or my getting kidnapped after the Tri-Wizard Tournament?"

"Your teachers had many complaints about your behavior!"

"Really? What exactly did Professor Flitwick, Professor Sinistra, Professor Hagrid, Professor Sprout, Professor Binns, Madam Hooch, or Professor McGonagall have to say against me?" Harry demanded.

"They, well, I did not speak to all of your teachers," Fudge huffed.

"Well, that's all of the teachers that I've had, except for Professor Trelawney and Professor Snape. Professor Trelawney doesn't like me because I keep ruining her predictions that I'm going to die. Did you talk to Professor Remus Lupin? He used to be my Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher."

"It's well known that Lupin was a friend of your father's," Fudge growled.

"And it's equally well known that Professor Snape hated my father," Harry said. "Maybe you should talk to somebody a little less prejudiced about me."

Somebody snorted with amusement.

"That… that is immaterial," snapped Fudge.

"Speaking of school, will I be out of here by the start of term? I don't want to get behind in my studies."

"It… it might not be wise to allow you to go back to school," Fudge said. "There are security factors to consider." He cut off Harry's attempt to answer. "Let's get on with this, Mcnair, the Veritaserum."

Mcnair approached with a vial of clear liquid and a smug expression.

"Aren't you the wizard who acts as executioner for the Committee for the Disposal of Dangerous Creatures?" Harry asked. "Nice to know where I stand as far as Fudge is concerned, isn't it?"

"Yes, Potter," Mcnair sneered. "I remember you. Wouldn't happen to know what became of Hagrid's misplaced Hippogriff, do you?"

"I want a solicitor ," Harry said. "Somebody who will actually stand up for my rights. Where is Professor Albus Dumbledore, Professor Minerva McGonagall or Mr. Arthur Weasley?" He squinted around the room; there was no sign of Dumbledore's silvery hair or Weasley red hair. Nobody moved and nobody spoke.

"Can I at least have my glasses?"

The crowd murmured, but nobody spoke.

There was a brief struggle. Mcnair won, of course, but he retired to his seat nursing the base of his thumb. He glowered at Harry as if he wanted to use his axe on the boy.

The potion froze his throat on its way down, and Harry's vision blurred even more.

Fudge chose to interrogate Harry himself. "So, Mr. Potter," Fudge said. "Please tell us if you have any knowledge of how Hagrid's Hippogriff managed to escape."

A small voice in the back of Harry's mind wanted to tell Fudge everything. It wasn't as convincing as the Imperius curse, so Harry told it to shut up unless it really wanted to go to Azkaban. Harry did feel compelled to answer the question truthfully, though.

However, it took Harry a couple of seconds to unfreeze his voice. That gave him time to comb his thoughts out of the grey mold that had suddenly sprouted in him mind. "Hagrid said that Buckbeak must have pulled free," he answered in a dull voice with the dullest part of the truth of the incident.

"Snape said that you must have helped Black escape from Hogwarts. Where were you when Black escaped?"

The lovely part of the Time-Turner affair was that Harry actually had two different, equally truthful stories to choose from. "I was locked in the Hospital Wing with the school nurse, Madam Pomfrey. She was giving me chocolate," Harry said dully. "One of the Dementors that you placed at Hogwarts had tried to kiss me." The best defense was a strong offense. It was the only way Harry's foggy mind could come up with to get Fudge to change the subject.

Fudge obliged by quickly moving on to his next question. He asked Harry about his encounter with Sirius Black in the Whomping Willow. Harry was glad to answer those questions, as the Time-Turner hadn't come in until after that. Besides, if Fudge continued on this line of questioning, he might make good on his assertion that this was for Harry's own good. After all, Sirius' name being cleared would definitely benefit him.

Fudge asked about Sirius' capture and the wizard who had produced the Patronus. There were a few gasps and what sounded like a snigger when Harry admitted that he'd thought his father had rescued him.

Fudge did not ask if Harry had been in two places at the same time, nor did he ask if Harry had been the one to produce the 'Unicorn Patronus.' The practice Harry had at throwing off the Imperius Curse enabled him to shrug off the Veritaserum's suggestion that he volunteer that information.

Fudge switched to interrogating Harry for details about events after the Third Task.

Harry stuck to the same story that he had told the first time, leaving out minor details that Fudge didn't ask about. (Like Sirius being in Hogwarts with Dumbledore's permission, or Dumbledore sending for the 'old gang.') It might have been more difficult keeping these unessential details out of his testimony if Fudge hadn't skimmed over the events that had happened after Harry had escaped from Voldemort. Apparently, the Minister of Magic didn't want to reveal too many details about his own behavior at that time. (Like allowing a Dementor to kiss a man before he could be questioned by the Ministry.)

Fudge was getting increasingly frustrated with Harry's answers and finally one of his minions offered to take over. "I have a way with children," Lucius Malfoy said smugly. He came forward looking like butter wouldn't melt in his mouth.

Malfoy studied Harry with a jaundiced eye and Harry resisted the urge to shrink back.

"Really, Cornelius, do you think it is absolutely necessary to bind the child up like he was a full-fledged Death Eater?" Malfoy purred.

Harry's incredulous look was matched by Fudge's. It then became clear to Harry who had given Fudge the notion to chain him up. It should have been clear to the Council as well, but they were apparently a few pentacles short of a Tarot deck.

"With your permission." Malfoy didn't wait for Fudge to respond. He waved his wand and the chains undid themselves. "I think it's clear that Mr. Potter is telling the truth as he knows it," Malfoy said.

Fudge wasn't the only one who gasped. Harry looked at Lucius Malfoy the same way he would have looked at a Dementor who suddenly started singing Christian hymns.

"Lucius, weren't you listening?" Fudge sputtered. "He claims that you have started supporting You-Know-Who of your own free will!"

Malfoy held up a hand. "I heard him, Cornelius," he said calmly. "I did not say he spoke the truth. I said that he spoke what he thought was the truth. It seems clear to me that somebody is trying to use The-Boy-Who-Lived to convince the wizarding world that the Dark Lord has returned."

Several people gasped. Harry wondered if some of them had just realized who he was. Apparently, their Tarot decks were missing the Major Arcana.

"Sirius Black," snarled Fudge.

The stocky man who had objected to Fudge giving Harry Veritaserum looked ill.

"I think not," Malfoy said smoothly. "If we examine Mr. Potter's testimony, you'll see that there is reason to believe that his belief that Sirius Black is innocent might be true."

Another gasp from the audience. Harry might have gasped as well, except the Veritaserum was dulling his reactions.

"Think, how did Sirius Black escape from Hogwarts?"

"Snape said…" Fudge trailed off.

"Severus Snape is a trifle prejudiced in the matter, don't you think?" Malfoy purred. "Albus Dumbledore, Poppy Pomfrey, and even you can testify to the fact that Mr. Potter had been locked in the Hospital Wing. There is no way for him to have freed Black." Malfoy gave Harry a speculative look, as if he wondered before he continued. "Another point to consider is how did Black escape from Azkaban? Even Snape would have a hard time blaming The-Boy-Who-Lived for that one."

Malfoy began to pace and Harry could sense him gathering the audience into the palm of his hand. Not by magic, but by sheer personality. He also noted how Malfoy kept reminding everybody who Harry was. If Harry hadn't known of Lucius Malfoy's involvement with Tom Riddle's Diary, he might have believed that Malfoy was on his side.

"For the sake of argument, let us suppose that Sirius Black is truly innocent," Malfoy continued.

"But Dumbledore said that Black was the Potters' Secret Keeper," Fudge tried to get control of the situation. He failed miserably.

"True. However, Dumbledore is not infallible," Malfoy said. "We must remember that. However great his achievements are, he is only a man and prone to error. He was fooled by Barty Crouch, Jr.'s impersonation. He trusted Dr. Cressida Opal to treat The-Boy-Who-Lived's recent illness."

Thus reminding the audience that Harry was a) the one who had banished Voldemort so many years ago, b) was still a child and c) had been ill recently.

Malfoy suddenly turned to Harry.  "You said that your parents changed their mind about who to use as their Secret Keeper, did you not?"

"Yes, Sirius Black said that they'd decided that using him was too obvious," Harry croaked out.

"Excellent. This must have been a last minute change. No time to warn Dumbledore about the switch."

"I don't know," Harry was forced to say. He was scared now. If Lucius Malfoy started questioning him on how Sirius had escaped, he was likely to get enough information to have Harry and Dumbledore sent to Azkaban. However, Malfoy didn't seem interested in that.

"Somebody betrayed the Potters," Malfoy said. "Black was framed. Then, years later, someone decided that he needed another scapegoat. Who better than Sirius Black? So, arrange for an escape from Azkaban. Arrange for him to terrorize Hogwarts in an attempt to get at Harry. We would all assume that he was trying to kill Harry, when he was trying to protect Harry."

He touched Harry's shoulder and Harry had to resist the impulse to throw up on Malfoy's shiny boots. "Black went to Hogwarts to protect you, didn't he?"

"Yes," Harry choked out. This was true for his fourth year as well as his third. The Veritaserum wanted him to say that. Harry managed to hold his tongue and he actually felt gratitude that Lucius Malfoy was so effectively hogging the limelight.

"Then Black mysteriously escapes from the escape-proof Hogwarts. A year later, Harry is forced into the Tri-Wizard Tournament, kidnapped and made to sit through a charade to convince him that You-Know-Who is back. This is not Black's style. I knew him in school. He was clever, but this sort of long-term planning was beyond him. I doubt that twelve years in Azkaban have improved his organizational skills or his patience. His attempts to get at Harry prove that. A patient, organized man would not have given himself away by ripping up the portrait that guards the entrance to Gryffindor Tower. I think somebody wants us to believe that You-Know-Who is back. Failing that, they want us to believe that Black is the person behind this plot."

Malfoy stopped a few feet in front of Harry and struck a dramatic pose. "There are three major questions to be answered here. If Black is innocent, then who is behind this? And if Black is innocent, how many other innocents are being held in Azkaban?"  His imperious gaze swept the audience. "Third, who's going to investigate to find out who has truly been wronged?"

Fudge looked like he wanted to throw up.

The stocky man, Rigel, looked like he'd been granted a last-minute stay of execution.

"I think that Mr. Potter can be excused, don't you, Minister?" Malfoy's steely tones brooked no argument. "I think The-Boy-Who-Lived has been through enough today."

"Yes, yes, of course," Fudge said distractedly.

There were censorious murmurs from the crowd. For once they were not aimed at Harry. He managed to get to his feet. He staggered and Rigel hurried forward to lend a shoulder. The guards came forward to escort Harry back to his cell. They didn't try to dislodge Rigel.

"What date is it?"

"Don't worry, Mr. Potter," Rigel said. "I'll make sure that you get on the Hogwarts Express."

"Thank yo… erm…" Harry hesitated.

"Rigel Black," his ally said. "Sirius is my son. You are the first person who ever suggested that my son might be innocent. You cannot know how much it means to me."

Train Tracks:

Plans change.

Ginny had expected to spend August lazing around The Burrow, finishing her essays and getting better acquainted with her future husband. All right, getting better acquainted with Harry. Then Fudge had kidnapped Harry. There was no way around it, Fudge was a monster.

Her father, Headmaster Dumbledore, Professor McGonagall, and Madam Handwerker had raised a stink. Even York Parkinson and Amos Diggory had protested Harry's incarceration. Fudge had been adamant.

Tensions in The Burrow skyrocketed when Percy voiced the opinion that perhaps the Minister was right; that it would better if Harry continued his education somewhere other than Hogwarts.

"There are security issues, you know," Percy said. "He's better off in the Ministry's care."

The twins had had to sit on Ron to keep him from attacking. The three hadn't spoken civilly to Percy since.

Now it was September 1 and the Weasleys had a compartment on the Hogwarts Express to themselves. (Lee Jordan had chosen to sit with Katie Bell. Hermione was at a Prefects' meeting.)

They'd arrived early (to avoid Malfoy and his goons) and had checked all the compartments. None of the other early arrivals had seen Harry, but they'd promised to send him along if he turned up.

Harry never turned up. It was now close to lunchtime and the chances of Harry being at Hogwarts this year seemed dim. Ginny was surprised to realize that she actually felt hungry. She guessed that stomachs don't understand the romance of pining away for your loved one.

"You know, I used to dream about this," Ron said abruptly.

Ginny turned away from the window in surprise. Ron was the last one she expected to break the silence.

"Dream about what?" Fred said. The twins had been uncharacteristically solemn. That was why Fred hadn't added any sarcastic comments to his question.

"Us, having a compartment all to ourselves as we headed off to a new school year," Ron explained. "When I was ten, I'd imagined that this was how we'd always go to Hogwarts. The only one that's missing is Percy."

The others raised their eyebrows at this.

"Missing from the dream," Ron elaborated. "Right now I don't give a…"

"Ron, please," Ginny said.

Ron looked at her, but kept silent. He knew she had to be at least as unhappy that he was about Harry's abduction. He couldn't believe that she was still on speaking terms with Percy.

There was a long silence. Ginny went back to daydreaming about rescuing Harry. She checked on Hedwig, who had to be coaxed into eating. The snowy owl had her head tucked under her wing.

"I wish we'd done that, at least once," George said abruptly. "The five of us heading off to Hogwarts together. Might have been nice."

"Or we might have killed each other by the time we arrived," sighed Fred.

"Do tell," Ginny murmured, listening with half an ear. What she wished she could have done was to ride to Hogwarts with Harry, Ron and Hermione. She wished she had been in on their secrets.

Hermione's large ginger tom leaped into Ron's lap and complained, loudly.

"I keep telling you, Crookshanks, I don't know when Hermione will be back," Ron said. "Weren't you listening? I never rode with Percy. I don't know how long a Prefects' meeting takes."

Crookshanks sighed and flopped over onto his side.

"Doesn't matter," George said glumly. "Percy always rode with the other prefects. He never came back from one of their meetings."

Usually, a comment like that would have provoked a snide comment from Ron or Ginny about how no one in their right minds would want to ride with the twins. Ginny wasn't in the mood and Ron was too furious with Percy to say anything in his favor.

Pixie came over and licked Crookshanks' foot. Pining for Hermione, the tom just sighed deeply and didn't even look at her.

"I think Pixie fancies Crookshanks," Fred said in an effort to lighten the mood. "I mean, she's looking at him the way…" He trailed off.

"The way I look at Harry?" Ginny suggested. A few weeks ago, that comment would have had covered her face with the stereotypical Weasley blush. Just then she said it in such a blasé manner that the casual listener wouldn't have suspected that she was carrying a torch for the Boy-Who-Lived.

"Yeah," Fred replied.

Their attempt at banter keeled over.

Pixie gave up on Crookshanks and jumped into Ginny's lap.

"Fudge can't make him miss school!" Ron burst out. "He needs to finish!"

"That's what Dumbledore's been saying," Fred pointed out. "He and Dad and McGonagall and even Amos Diggory have been after the Council to bring Harry back to Hogwarts."

"It's not fair!" Ginny exclaimed, as if for the first time.

"But it's legal," growled George. "They had the Dursleys' signatures and everything."

Ron used a word that would have been worth three weeks' detention.

"It's not entirely the Dursleys' fault, Ron," Ginny said, more for the sake of saying something than because she wanted to defend those idiots. "Mr. Granger said he might have been fooled into signing if he had been told that Hermione's safety depended on it."

"Maybe," Ron said, unconvinced. "But the Grangers would have at least tried to get Hermione back when they found out the truth. They wouldn't have abandoned her."

"Yeah," Ginny said.

The door to the compartment slid open. "Aww, what's the matter, Weaselette? Lose your Potty boyfriend?" a familiar mocking drawl.

"Wow, you are so original, Ferret-face," Ron snarled at Draco Malfoy.

Malfoy smoothed back his fair hair and smirked. "You have no room to talk, Weasel. You've never had an original thought in your life."

"Yeah, how about if I shove your ugly head down the toilet?" gritted Ron as he started to his feet.

The twins grabbed him in a rare display of common sense.

"Sorry, Ron, that's not original," Fred said. "The midwife probably said the same thing when she first saw him."

Crabbe tugged on Malfoy's sleeve, but Malfoy shrugged him off.

"You think you're such hot stuff?" he challenged. "Maybe you need to be put in your place!"

"Like how you did last summer?" George asked ironically. He studied Malfoy's face critically. "You really looked better when you were covered with hex marks."

"Shut it, you… Crabbe! Stop that!"

"Looks like your bodyguards want out while they are still able to walk," Ron snickered. "Maybe you should invest in some guards with some guts."

Malfoy shrugged Crabbe's hand off. "We'll see who has guts this year, Weasley," he said. "See how brave you are when the Dark Lord finds where Fudge is hiding your precious little Scar-head."

 He turned to leave, then stopped abruptly and spoke in furious tones. "I-HATE-you."

Hermione, at last, Ginny thought.

However, it wasn't Hermione's voice that answered mockingly, "I-KNOW-that."

It was, however, a blessedly familiar voice. Ron leaped to his feet and shoved the Weird Brothers the rest of the way out of the compartment.

Malfoy and his goons-in-training exited the car with as much dignity as they could muster. Ron paid no attention to them; he was focused on the green eyes, messy black hair and lop-sided grin of the slightly built teen in front of him.

"So, where the bloody hell have you been?" Ron demanded.

"That about sums it up," Harry Potter replied. "Can I sit down? It's been a nasty August."

Ron yanked Harry inside by the lapel of his ratty grey robe. Vaguely, he wondered if Harry had raided Lupin's wardrobe.

Ginny was surprised that the paint didn't start peeling from the walls due to the vehemence of Ron's diatribe. Harry didn't look at all put out. He obviously realized that they had spent a month worrying over him and that Ron needed to vent.

Ron finished with a bellowed, "Now, SIT!" and threw him at the seat next to Ginny.

Instinctively, Harry tried to catch himself and wound up sprawled across both seats, right across Ginny's lap.

"Hi," Ginny said composedly, like she was used boys falling all over her.

Harry jerked around. "Sorry," he muttered. He tried to get up, but couldn't seem to catch his balance. Ron had his suspicions about that, even then. Harry looked a little too comfortable in Ginny's lap.

The twins took a hand… literally. Each grabbed one of Harry's hands and hauled him out of his seat… Ginny's lap… whatever.

"Smashing to see you, old boy," George said, as if he was being funny. "Isn't that right, Ginny?"

"He's not heavy enough to be smashing," Ginny said dryly. She was remarkably blush free and Ron wondered if his plan of fixing her up with Harry was going to work. Maybe she wasn't interested any more? That might explain her calm acceptance of Percy's idiotic backing of Fudge.

"Thanks," Harry said to the twins. He sat down next to Ginny and gave her an apologetic smile.

Ginny handed him Hedwig's cage.

"Hedwig?" Harry asked anxiously.

Hedwig's head popped out from under her wing and Harry reached into the cage to stroke her. "How are you doing old girl?" he asked. "I'm sorry I was gone for so long. I didn't want to be."

Hedwig nibbled on his fingers. She felt thinner than she should be.

"Has she been eating?" One of his worst fears was that Hedwig might pine away for him.

"She's doing as well as can be expected," Ron said. "Ginny has been looking after her. Hagrid dropped by a few times with some owl tonic."

"Thank you," Harry sighed.

Ginny didn't blush; she was too busy worrying. "What happened to your glasses?" she asked. She handed Harry an owl treat.

"Dunno," Harry sighed. He fed Hedwig, and then rubbed the bridge of his nose. "I haven't been able see properly since I was nabbed."

Ron felt guilty about tossing him around like a Quaffle.

"I don't suppose any of you knows where my gear is," Harry added.

"Dumbledore has it," Ron told him. "We took your school trunk and your mum's trunk to The Burrow after Fudge snatched you. We kept hoping that you'd be able to come. We even got all your school supplies when we went to Diagon Alley."

"Wonderful, I can go to the welcoming feast in my pyjamas," sighed Harry.

That was the first time that Ron took note of what Harry was wearing under his grey robe. He had thought those Snitch pyjamas were cool, but Ron didn't think he should be running around in them.

"Ginny, why don't you go get Hermione while we get something for Harry to wear?" George said.

"Um, right," Ginny said. She scuttled up the train. Now that she was safely away from her brothers, she could blush as much as she liked. Oh, wait until she told Hermione that Harry had sat in her lap!

"There's nothing to do for it but to go around and cadge the other Gryffindors for clothing," Ron said. "There's no way he can wear my clothing, I'm a good head and a half taller than he is. Fred and George are too broad. He could probably wear Hermione's robes. They're about the same build," Ron paused, but no jeers came. "Their about the same height and weight, that is, but Hermione isn't here to offer."

All of the fifth-year boys were bigger than Harry. Fortunately for Harry, Colin Creevy had caught him up in size. Even better was when Colin offered an unopened package of underwear.

Harry sighed with relief. "Thanks," he said, making a mental note to be nicer to the Creevy brothers this year.

They couldn't find shoes for him. Colin didn't have an extra set of shoes with him. "I must have left them at home," he said in dismay.

"Don't worry about it," Harry said. "Thanks for everything, Colin."

"It's a good thing that Colin doesn't have anything resembling self-consciousness," Ron said after they got back to their compartment. "I would have never thought to offer poor ickle Harry-kins…"

Harry threw the ratty grey robe at him to shut him up. He slid out of the now ragged pyjamas and was tempted to throw them out the window. He never wanted to see those things again, even if he wound up sleeping in his clothes.

"I'll take those," George said, gathering up the discarded clothes.

Harry assumed that George would destroy them somehow.

"Pity you're too dainty to wear some of our shoes," Ron said, as Harry finished tugging on his new underwear and borrowed clothing.

Harry rolled his eyes.

Good News:

It's easy enough to find someone on a train. There are only two directions to look in. It didn't take Ginny long to find Hermione.

Hermione took one look at Ginny's beaming face and her eyes went wide. "He's here!?"

Ginny nodded her head so fast that her hair flew in her face and she had to dig her way free.

"How on earth did he get himself on the train?" Hermione demanded.

Ginny shrugged. "He hasn't said, yet," she said.

"Typical," Hermione sighed.

"Maybe the five of us can drag it out of him," Ginny said without much conviction.

"Come on," Hermione said eagerly.

"No rush," Ginny said. "Harry needs to get changed."

"Changed into what?" Hermione said. "His trunk isn't here."

"Changed into whatever they can beg or borrow off our fellow Gryffindors," Ginny said.

Fred was standing guard at the door. "Hello, ladies, do you have a reservation?"

"Oh, shut it," Ginny said.

"I thought you would want me to open it," Fred said. He knocked on the door. "All decent in there?"

"Yeah," Ron called. "They can come in."

"Where's Harry?" Hermione demanded, bursting into the compartment.

Ron and George moved back so that Hermione could see Harry.

Her eyes widened and the next thing Harry knew, her arms were around him and she was kissing him… on the mouth.

"Mrph?" Harry felt like his eyes were going to pop from his head. When Hermione stepped back, looking rather pink, Harry could tell that he wasn't the only one who was disconcerted.

Ron stopped feeling guilty about tossing Harry around like a Quaffle.

"Harry!" Hermione said. "How good to see you!" Hermione smoothed down the front of her robes self-consciously.

"Erm, thanks," Harry managed. He touched his bottom lip gingerly.

"Hermione? We've been trying to find some shoes to fit Harry," Ginny said calmly, as if Hermione snogging Harry was an everyday occurrence.

Hermione looked down at Harry's bare feet. "Erm, maybe my boots will fit," she said. "They're a bit too big for me. I was going to shrink them when I got to Hogwarts." She gave him a sunny smile. "Consider yourself lucky that I don't buy stylish shoes like Lavender and Parvati."

"I'd have to go barefoot," Harry agreed. He'd seen enough of their shoes to know what Hermione meant by 'stylish.'

Hermione's boots were too small, but not by much. Hermione said. "Here I'll just enlarge them a bit… how do they feel?"

Harry tried them on and took a few steps. "They'll do," he said. "Thanks."

"Here are some socks that should fit," Ginny added, pulling some socks out of her trunk. They were bright blue with the letter 'F' stitched into the toes in yellow thread.

"Hey, those are my socks!" Fred sputtered, looking at the initial on the toes. "How'd they get into your trunk?"

Ginny just smiled sweetly at him. "Maybe the sock fairy put them into my trunk when I wasn't looking."

Fred had some interesting comments to make on the subject of sock fairies.

Harry ignored this exchange as he pulled the socks and boots on. They could hear the lunch cart rattling down the corridor. He made a face. "I think I left my money in my other robes," he said.

"Lunch is on me," Hermione said grandly. She paid for lunch, ignoring the Weasleys protests. "Mum and Dad gave me some extra spending money this year." She brushed the front of her robes self-consciously. The silver badge on her robes sparkled with her movements.

Harry had to concentrate on not wolfing everything down, but he did drink so much pumpkin juice that Fred had to go get another round. "Thanks, Hermione," Harry said. "I see they made you a Prefect," he added when he could stop eating long enough to speak. "You certainly earned it."

Hermione turned pink. Ron thought that looked adorable on her. He wished the others would disappear so he could tell her that. No, wait; he didn't want Harry to disappear again. He'd settle for Harry going to sleep while his siblings disappeared.

Of course, all that drinking had a predictable result on Harry.

Ron accompanied Harry to the loo, claiming he had to use it as well. Harry was grateful for the company. He suspected that Ron had come along to keep an eye on him, and he was grateful for that, too. He didn't want to disappear again.

There was no way Ron was going to let Harry out of his sight until they were safely at Hogwarts. Maybe not even then. In spite of what Hermione thought, he did read, and some of those stories… too many of those stories… had wizards disappearing, then reappearing only to disappear again.

He wasn't jealous because Hermione had kissed Harry. After all, she'd been worried about him, too. The kiss hadn't meant anything to either of them. Nothing romantic, anyway. If he kept telling himself that, he might actually start to believe it. He'd get there faster if Harry didn't keep touching his mouth as if it were still tingling.

"Something wrong with your mouth, Harry?" Ron asked casually.

"I think I split my lip," Harry replied absently.

"Oh," Ron said, surprised that Harry actually had an acceptable answer for that. Ron believed him, of course. He didn't want a repeat of last year's stupid row. Ron would believe Harry, that was all there was to it. Moreover, he was going to keep telling himself that until it worked.

When they got back, they found that Fred had somehow secured a jug of pumpkin juice and some more food. Enough for all of them for the rest of the trip.

"I just used my boyish charm on her," Fred said loftily when asked about the jug.

"You told her it was for Harry," Ginny translated.

"Okay, I used Harry's boyish charm on her," Fred said with no sign of embarrassment.

Ron and Hermione looked to see if Harry had a reaction to this, but he was much too interested in the pumpkin pasties that Fred had given him to pay much attention to what was being said.

"Harry, how did you get on board? We checked all the cars," Hermione said.

"And Mum and Dad were keeping an eye out for you," Ron added. "They'd have told us if you'd arrived at the last moment."

"I was in the baggage compartment," Harry said. He had a coughing fit and had to cover his mouth before he sprayed everybody with food.

Hermione had a handkerchief ready when he was finished.

"Thanks," Harry said.

"Are you all right?" Ginny asked.

"Not really," Harry coughed into Hermione's handkerchief. "I spent the first part of summer imprisoned, the second part sick and the third part sick and imprisoned."

"You were sick? Didn't Fudge get a doctor for you?" Hermione asked.

"I think it was the stench that made me feel sick. That cell smelled of vomit and urine and those orange spiky plants in Greenhouse Two," Harry muttered.  "Fudge brought in some prison doctor who gave me some cough potion. He wanted to have me moved to the prison infirmary, but Fudge wouldn't let him. Thought it wasn't secure enough." Harry finished off with a cough.

"I see," Hermione said. Her forehead puckered up worriedly. "Harry…"

"Hermione, can we just not talk about it just now? I don't feel good. Dumbledore's going to want a full report and I don't want to go over this twice."

"Oh, sorry," Hermione said, somewhat subdued.

"Thanks," Harry sighed and leaned back in his seat. He was asleep within moments.

Ginny studied his profile. His cheekbones stood out prominently, and his face was pasty. He looked like he hadn't eaten properly in months. She felt a surge of hatred for Fudge. This was all his fault. His blindness had cost Harry a month of her Mum's cooking and sunshine and good times. All because Fudge was afraid of doing something socially unacceptable. He was afraid to face the truth.

"Guess we're going to have to wait to find out what happened," sighed George.

"And we'd better be included in this," Fred warned Ron and Hermione.

"Amen," Ginny added.

"Deal," Ron said. "There are a lot of things I think you should be included in, but it's not my decision."

"We'll talk to Dumbledore as soon as we can," Hermione added.

"Speaking of talking to Dumbledore, is there any way to send him an owl about Harry?" Ron asked.

Hermione shook her head. "There's a new rule. Nobody is allowed to send owls from the train. It's supposedly for the owls' safety, but I think they're worried about…" she stopped. It wasn't as if the Hogwarts Express was a secret. What could the Death Eaters learn from the students? "I'm not sure what they're worried about. It's got to be about You-Know-Who, though."

"We'll find out soon enough," Ron said gloomily. He looked at the sleeping Harry. He was at just the right angle to notice that there was a cut on Harry's lower lip. "Maybe even too soon," he added.

The Welcoming Feast

Harry woke up half an hour or so before the train arrived at Hogsmeade station. He and Hermione fiddled around in an attempt to make Harry some temporary spectacles, but nothing they tried worked.

"Really, Hermione," Ginny said comfortingly. "Even you can't be expected to learn optometry in twenty minutes without so much as an instruction manual."

"I suppose not," Hermione said. "Sorry, Harry."

"Not your fault," Harry said absently. His attention was on the outside of the train and he rushed out the door as soon as the train had stopped moving.

"What's your hurry?" Ron complained as he chased after him. It didn't take him long to work out who Harry had gone to see. Hagrid was hard to miss, even with bad eyes.

"Harry! Yeh made it!" Hagrid's voice boomed out cheerfully. He engulfed Harry in a bear hug and seemed more than a little reluctant to release him.

"Maybe we should have kept his presence quiet," Hermione murmured.

"You're kidding," George said. "Malfoy saw him, so all of Slytherin must know that he's here."

"Ah, good point," Hermione said. She went with Ron to extract Harry from Hagrid's embrace and to assure the gamekeeper that they would not let Harry out of their sight until they got to Hogwarts.

The trip up to the castle was without incident, until they entered the Great Hall. Fred and George, who were in the lead, stopped in their tracks with cries of dismay. Ron, who could see over their heads, stopped and gaped at the head table.

Ginny, Hermione and Harry had to shove their way past the knot of Weasley boys so they could see what was wrong. Ginny's eyes almost popped out of her head.

Harry's eyesight wasn't so poor that he couldn't see the head table and the flaming red hair of the occupant between Flitwick and Snape. Hermione looked at the head table and then at Harry. Then they had to lean on each other to keep from falling to the floor, they were laughing that hard.

"Bill?" Ginny said uncertainly. "What's he doing here?"

"He must be the new Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher," Ron said delightedly.

"We're doomed," George moaned.

"Huh? Why?" Hermione said. "I thought you'd be glad to see your brother."

"He knows all our tricks," George explained.

"He taught them to us," Fred said gloomily. "It's not going to be easy to get around him this year."

"I bet Mum will have a heart attack when she sees that he still has the pony tail and the earring," Ginny observed. She shoved her brothers into moving out of the doorway.

"I think Snape may have a heart attack now," Ron said dreamily as he found a seat.

Snape looked as though he'd been sucking sour lemons all day.

Hermione and Harry, still sniggering maniacally, managed to get to the table and sit down on either side of Ron.

Ginny quickly snaked into the seat on Harry's other side.

The twins were still too shocked to seize the opportunity to tease Ginny about her obvious Harry crushing.

Bill looked down at Gryffindor table and grinned at his siblings. He raised his goblet to them. Ron and Ginny returned the salute.

The twins saluted, but not with their goblets.

Bill's eyebrows went up, but before he could make any response to the twins' rude gestures, he met Harry's eyes.

Harry raised his goblet, but Bill almost dropped his in his attempt to get McGonagall's attention.

"Hagrid must not have had time to tell anybody," Hermione observed.

"Guess not," Ron agreed.

Bill caught Flitwick's eye and gestured toward Harry. Flitwick looked in the indicated direction and his eyes widened and he plucked at McGonagall's sleeve.

Snape looked at the same time Flitwick. He saw Harry and very carefully put his goblet back on the table.

Harry was disappointed that Snape didn't have more of a reaction. However, McGonagall's reaction made up for Snape's deadpan.

McGonagall gave Flitwick a stern look and frowned when Flitwick pointed to the Gryffindor table. When she looked, Harry stood up and raised his goblet to her. McGonagall's eyes went wide and she spilled her red wine all over Dumbledore's saffron yellow robes and silvery beard.

Dumbledore gave her an inquiring look over the top of his half-moon spectacles. When he realized that his deputy had yet to notice the fate of her wine, he looked in the direction of her gaze. When he saw Harry, fifty years dropped from his face.

He saluted Harry with his goblet. Then he leaned over and said something to McGonagall that made her stare down at her empty wine goblet in horror. Harry never expected to see McGonagall blush, but her face turned a nice shade of burgundy.

"Never thought I'd see McGonagall lose it like that," Fred said dreamily.

"No two ways about it, Harry," George said. "You're definitely on the 'A' list as far as Weasley Wheezes parties go."

"You mean he wasn't already?" Ron asked ironically.

They sat as patiently as possible through the Sorting Hat's song and through all the Sorting. After the Sorting was over, Dumbledore stood up. "It gives me great pleasure to welcome you all back to school this year. Unfortunately, there may be dark times ahead of us. As you may know, last year, the Tri-Wizard Tournament was corrupted. Two students were kidnapped and one, Cedric Diggory, was murdered. I would like to ask for a moment of silence in his honor."

The Great Hall went quiet, except for a few sniffles from the Hufflepuff table.

Harry looked over at the Ravenclaw table. Cho Chang sat straight-backed and dry eyed. She met his gaze, but he could not decipher her expression. He sighed. At some point he was going to have to talk to her. She deserved to know what had happened that night.

"Thank you," Dumbledore said. "Cedric Diggory was a good person who was in the wrong place at the wrong time. He was a boy who loved Quidditch and dancing and enjoying his life. This year, to honor his love of life, we shall be having a special fancy dress party for Halloween. All years are free to attend. There will also be a Yule ball the day before the Christmas break."

A sudden murmuring broke out.

"Thank you for your kind attention, now, to business… food!"

The platters filled themselves, and after a while, feast became as boisterous as ever. Harry managed not to stuff himself sick by saving some room for a treacle tart.

Even as he ate his pudding, Harry knew that he'd have to face the music sooner or later. He opted for sooner, while he could still play the "I'm sick and was unjustly imprisoned" card. After the welcoming feast, he headed up to the Head Table, where Dumbledore, McGonagall and Bill Weasley were waiting. Ron and Hermione followed automatically.

Ginny watched them leave and sighed to herself. Then she turned and headed up to Gryffindor Tower with Neville and Colin Creevy.

Confessions of an Animagus (1):

Ron and Hermione looked around the office, wide-eyed. While the others were taking in the room, Harry went over to Fawkes' stand to greet the phoenix.

"Good evening," Professor Dumbledore said. "There is a lot of information that we need to discuss tonight, so, please, take a seat."

Ron and Hermione sat down on a sofa near the fire. Harry remained standing next to Fawkes. He looked around at everybody. There were several familiar faces besides Dumbledore. Prof. McGonagall, Professor Moody, and Bill Weasley were all present. However, there was no Remus Lupin and no Sirius, in any form.

"Harry, you have no idea how glad I am to see you," Dumbledore said quietly.

Startled by Dumbledore's weary tone, Harry studied the headmaster's face uneasily. "I sense a 'but' in there," he said.

Dumbledore smiled faintly, but the twinkle was missing from his eye. "I am curious as to how you got on the train," he said.

Harry took a deep breath. He'd been expecting this, after all. "I got to the station early. The baggage compartment was open, so I went inside." He decided that this needed some elaboration. "I was hoping to find my school trunk." He sighed. "I guess I fell asleep."

Dumbledore frowned at him. "I'm surprised the train crew didn't see you in there." He studied Harry over the top of his half moon spectacles.

"Well… actually, I suppose they did see me," Harry said. "I think they moved me to get the trunks in. I woke up on a bench on the platform."

"They didn't tell anybody you were there," Dumbledore said, frowning.

"Well, they kind of, well, they didn't realize who I was." Harry made a face. "Or even what I was."

Hermione scowled. "You transfigured yourself, didn't you?" she didn't wait for an answer. "Harry! How could you? You know that's dangerous!"

"I didn't think I had much choice!" Harry retorted. "I'm getting bloody sick and tired of being kidnapped! I wanted to hide, but I didn't want to miss the train. Besides, I can see better as a cat." He rubbed the bridge of his nose. "I don't suppose anybody has any idea what's become of my glasses?"

"I'm sorry, Harry," Dumbledore said. "Fudge has been remarkably uncommunicative lately. We do have your gear."

"You're an Animagus, then?" McGonagall asked.

Harry nodded.

There was a noticeable pause in the conversation. Dumbledore's left eyebrow went up and his gaze sharpened. McGonagall's lips thinned. Bill crossed his arms across his chest and made a point of waiting patiently.

"I can change into an Abyssinian cat," Harry elaborated, suddenly realizing what they were waiting for.

Dumbledore sighed. "That's a very difficult spell," he said. "I presume you've been studying this since you found out that your father was an Animagus?"

"No," Hermione said. "He found the Animagus Survival Guide in a trunk that belonged to his mother. It was written by the Marauders."

Dumbledore's right eyebrow joined the left in vertical ascension. "I see." His gaze returned to Harry's face. "That's still quite an impressive feat, Mr. Potter."

"Not really," Harry said. "Nicely actually stuck the ability… the blueprint, I think she called it… right into my brain."

Hermione gave Ron a stern look.

"Mr. Weasley?" Dumbledore asked.

"Yeah, she did it to me, too," Ron admitted.

"Ron!" Bill cried. "Are you insane?"

"Well, it's not like I knew she was going to do anything!" Ron said defensively. "I just wanted to know what my Animagus animal was going to be! I thought she was going to show me a picture and next thing I knew, I was an owl!"

"When did you decide to become an Animagus?" Professor McGonagall asked.

"I'm not sure," Ron said. "We were discussing it while Harry was in the hospital and it seemed like a brilliant thing to do. I mean, Animagi have got to be the best…" He trailed off, suddenly realizing it looked like he was trying to butter up McGonagall.

"I see," McGonagall said sternly. However, she wasn't quite as thin-lipped as before.

"Anyway," Harry continued. "I know we agreed that we should tell Dumbledore, but I wish you had let me speak for myself, Hermione."

"Sorry," Hermione said meekly.

Actually, Harry was almost glad that she had spoken up. He had known that he would have to tell Dumbledore about Nicely. However, he was reluctant to bring up Sirius' role in this.  Fortunately, he'd never had a chance to tell Ron and Hermione where Nicely had come from. He wouldn't have been able to lie directly to Dumbledore and now he didn't have to.

He would tell Dumbledore, eventually. Harry just wanted to talk to Sirius beforehand.

"Yes, I am an Animagus. Most of what I learned came from The Animagus Survival Guide. There was also some stuff in the Transfiguration texts that we'd been studying." Harry sighed. "Nicely put a big blob of information about Animal Transfiguration into my brain and I haven't had anything to do for the past three weeks than study it."

"That was very dangerous, Harry," Dumbledore said quietly.

"I know," Harry said. "It just seemed more dangerous to leave that bit of information lying around in my brain with no real restraints over it."

"He has a point, Albus," McGonagall said. "Now that the two of them have had this… blueprint… planted in their brains, something will have to be done about it." She gave them a beady glare. "And, as I am the only fully qualified and legally registered Animagus in sight, I guess it will be up to me."

"I see," Dumbledore said. "I will leave matters in your hands, then."

The glance that Dumbledore and McGonagall exchanged reminded Hermione of some of the looks her parents exchanged. Not the loving kind, the ones that seemed to pass secret information. She was relieved that Harry and Ron would get some proper training. She didn't want to see them in trouble, but a little discipline wouldn't do them any harm.

Harry sighed and leaned against the mantle. Things could have been worse, he supposed. He didn't expect that the Animagus lessons would be much fun, but it would definitely be worth it. He'd have to remember to owl Sirius… No, he wasn't allowed to send owls to Sirius.

Dumbledore cocked his head and looked at Hermione. "And what of yourself, Miss Granger?"

Hermione shook her bushy head. "I don't believe that The Animagus Survival Guide put anything in my head."

"Nicely tried to, though," Ron said. "But Hermione stared her down and set her on fire."

"Well, now, Miss Granger, how did you accomplish that?" McGonagall asked.

"I'm not sure," Hermione admitted. "I think the book tried to put a blueprint in my mind, but I blocked it."

"And Nicely burst into flame out of frustration?" Ron asked. "You know, the way that the Sphinx threw herself off a cliff when Oedipus answered her question."

Hermione eyed him narrowly. "You've been reading behind my back," she accused.

Ron grinned at her.

There was a muffled snort of laughter from Moody and Harry jerked out of the half-doze that he'd fallen into. He'd almost forgotten that the old Auror was there. That would have cost him points last year. He sighed and wished they could just go to bed. He wondered if he would have to borrow pyjamas or if his trunk was nearby.

"What are you doing here, Professor Moody?" Hermione asked. "Are you going to be teaching a class?"

"Nah," Moody said. "I'm retired. I'll be taking it easy in my nice, peaceful retirement."

"And you've decided to settle down in nice, peaceful Hogsmeade, have you?" Ron asked.

Moody's face twisted in a smile. "Full marks, Mr. Weasley." He sighed. "Pity I never did have you for a class."

"I dunno," Ron said. "Would you have transfigured Malfoy into the incredible bouncing ferret?"

"Let me think about that," Moody said, rubbing his chin.

"Alastor!" McGonagall said in indignation.

Everyone seemed to relax a bit at Moody's comments. Harry wondered about Moody's tone. It didn't seem like him to make jokes. However, he'd never spoken with the real Alastor Moody. He leaned his head against his arm and thought that it was too warm to keep standing next to the fire. He didn't move, however.

"So, Ron, what kind of owl are you?" Bill wanted to know.

"A long-eared owl," Ron said proudly.

"Cool," Bill said. He caught McGonagall's eye. "In an incredibly stupid and dangerous way, of course."

"Says the man who walks into cursed tombs for a living," Ron sniped back. However, his chest puffed out at having impressed his older brother. "So, why'd you become the Defense Against Dark Arts teacher? Isn't that a bit tame for you?" he asked. "And why didn't anybody tell us?"

"I wanted somebody who was in the Order to take the position," Dumbledore said. "I have a feeling that I'm going to need all the allies that I can get nearby."

"We didn't tell you because it was supposed to be a surprise," Bill explained patiently. "The official unofficial rumor is that I'm here to keep the twins in line. That's enough risk for any sane wizard."

Bill grinned and Hermione felt her pulse flutter. "Oh, don't even start that. He's too old and he's the wrong Weasley," she told herself. She looked over at Ron, but he didn't seem to have noticed anything.

"Sane wizard? Then what does that have to do with you?" Ron said. "Speaking of the twins," he continued before Bill could answer. "We think that Fred and George should be included in the Order."

"Ginny and Neville as well," Hermione spoke up.

"Neville?" Ron demanded. "Why Neville?"

"He did help save Harry's life," Hermione pointed out.

"But only from…" Ron stopped when he realized that he didn't know if Moody and McGonagall knew about Sirius.

"Sirius Black," McGonagall finished for him. "Yes, I know whose side he's on." McGonagall said. "Albus has filled the Order in on what happened after the Tri-Wizard Tournament. However, neither Longbottom nor your sister realized that Black was trying to protect Harry. Their courage deserves recognition."

"You're not going to get my sister involved in this!" Bill protested. "She's just a kid!"

"She's already been involved in this!" Ron said hotly. "Or hasn't anybody filled you in on the Chamber of Secrets?"

"That's different!" Bill exclaimed. "She was just a randomly chosen victim. It could have been anybody!"

"Randomly chosen my elbow!" Ron said. "She was picked, deliberately!"

Bill gaped. "You can't mean that!"

"Yes, I can," Ron said in icy tones. "Didn't anybody tell you? Tom Riddle's diary was slipped into her Hogwarts' gear because she's Arthur Weasley's daughter."

Bill turned green. "Who-would-do-that?" he croaked.

"I think it might be best for Mr. Potter to explain…" Dumbledore trailed off. "Harry?" He stood abruptly.

Everyone looked at Harry when Dumbledore spoke.

Noticing that Harry was literally asleep on his feet and in danger of falling into the fire, Ron leaped up and grabbed the smaller boy. He and Bill carried Harry over to the sofa.

Harry stirred and sighed, but did not awaken.

"He's burning up," Ron said, putting his hand on Harry's forehead. "Why doesn't he ever say anything?"

Dumbledore studied Harry's limp form with a troubled frown. "I'm afraid that Mr. Potter is too accustomed to keeping his own counsel," he said. "This is a habit that we will have to cure him of, for all our sakes."

Author's Notes:

Thanks to everyone who has read, reviewed and put me on their favorites list!

The good news, the story is finished. The bad news is that, in the interest of speed, the Review Responses will be postponed until the final chapter.

Some quick responses:

Nicely called Sirius.

Sirius did not know that Ginny, Neville and Pansy were in the room. He kept Opal talking so he could get close enough to grab Harry.

Happy Reading!