Thanks to all who are reading faithfully. I hope there are more out there
enjoying it than are currently reviewing. If your read this, please
review, let me know what you think. I'm addicted to reviews-even bad ones.
Note to Jadesky: Ew! As if! Picture me vomiting at the very idea! I am a huge fan of Remus and have absolutely no compunction to write him, picture him, fantasize about him, as anything but straight. No offense to any gay readers. But Remus? I don't think so. Sirius? No way in Hades. Behold, I giveth unto thee Remus. Read on!
Note to Black Dragon: I hope you don't lose interest as a result, but Harry is not the hero of this story, for the reason that I hate to step on JK's toes, as it were. I'd really rather have the satisfaction of reading her version of Harry's story, not writing my own.
CHAPTER EIGHT: The Mark of War
Detention proved to be a doubly bitter pill. Ron had not only failed to win easily, but both players had to endure the rage of both Professor Snape and Professor McGonagall who had forced them to quit playing before the game was finished. McGonagall confiscated their chessmen and made them wait while she conferred quietly with Professor Snape.
Roxanne knew they were in for it when she saw the nasty gleam in Professor Snape's eye as he called them over. Even Professor McGonagall seemed to be stifling a satisfied smile, as if she'd just heard a wickedly funny, but highly inappropriate joke.
"You will both report to my classroom Monday morning," she began, "immediately after breakfast. You will help me with my sixth-year classes- we're beginning human transfiguration-" at these words a look of horror smeared Ron's face, turning it redder than his hair. Professor McGonagall did not need to finish, but she seemed more than delighted to do it. "-and I need some willing subjects for them to practice upon."
"B-But, Professor!" stammered Ron. "I've got Divination-" It was a lame excuse since he'd really almost rather be anywhere than Divination.
But Professor McGonagall was undaunted. "Nice try, Mr. Weasley. I'll speak with Professor Trelawney myself."
Roxanne had no excuses. She knew by the look in Professor Snape's eye that he would be more than willing to sacrifice her services in potions that day.
**********
While being transformed into some fair facsimile of a sheep by a group of unpracticed sixth-years had been plenty humiliating (several of the Slytherins thought it funny to do a sloppy job), it was nothing to the whole school knowing about it. A loud chorus of bleating greeted Ron when he entered the Great Hall for breakfast the next morning. Roxanne decided to skip breakfast altogether. She'd been able to let the jeers of the students roll off her back easily enough, but the merry tittering of the teachers had been quite more than she could take. Instead Roxanne begged some toast from the elves in the kitchen (leaving with a large breakfast neatly wrapped in a napkin), walked out onto the grounds and sat on a rock that jutted out from under the roots of a tree at the edge of the forest. She leaned back against the smooth trunk and ate, picked really, at her breakfast. It wasn't the detention that bothered her, or Ron's growing obsession with beating her at chess, so much as the Malfoy boy. He'd been there, lurking in the shadows at the back of Professor McGonagall's room, sniggering silently at her. In fact, since she and Ron's first chess game she seemed to see him everywhere. He was nearly a copy of his parents-his mother's distasteful face and his father's disdainful, contemptuous attitude. She couldn't decided whether he was purposefully following her, or it if just seemed so-a string of coincidences-or if she'd only just begun to take notice of him.
But Mr. Weasley's warning from last summer gnawed at her. Still, she decided she'd better be certain Draco was up to something before she reported it to Professor McGonagall.
Roxanne checked her watch-she needed to be in Professor Moody's classroom in ten minutes-and, throwing the remains of her breakfast to the giant squid, started for the castle. After yesterday she thought it best to avoid another detention-especially from Professor Moody. She imagined him demonstrating hexes on her to the glee of the fourth-years and shuddered.
But there was Draco Malfoy again, flanked by Crabbe and Goyle as usual, standing near Hagrid's cabin. A large group of kids made their way to the same spot-obviously for one of Hagrid's Care of Magical Creatures lessons She decided she was being paranoid and quickened her pace up the steps. Draco Malfoy watched her until she disappeared into the castle.
**********
Classes on Halloween day were nearly pointless. As usual Snape's class failed to reflect the mood of the rest of the school, but Professor Flitwick more than made up for it. He taught all his classes how to suspend Jack o' lanterns in mid air, and even how to get them to follow someone about like some ghoulish headless horseman joke.
Fred and George Weasley made the most of their last Hogwarts Halloween, trying out dozens of new prank and joke inventions. The closer they came to graduating the more serious they became about opening their own joke shop-and no one doubted they'd be a huge success. The feast that night was as grand as ever and dazzled Roxanne who had never seen anything of its like in her entire life. She noticed Professor Snape had decided to skip the feast. Although he was the epitome of frightening to many of the students and thus fit perfectly into the whole Halloween atmosphere, Roxanne dismissed his absence, deciding Snape just wasn't the party type.
Bill Weasley showed up, though. And after greeting his brothers and sister warmly and sending his mother's regards to Harry and Hermione, sat at the end of the head table next to Roxanne.
"Your hair-it's longer, isn't it?" he asked, leaning back to get a better look at her smooth shoulder length masses of blond.
"Mm. I found a hair-growing potion. I thought I'd give it a try. Do you like it?"
"It'd be much nicer if it were red," he teased, pointing to his own hair, which hung loose about his shoulders. "Mum sends her best."
Roxanne smiled. "Will you tell her 'hello' for me?"
"Tell her yourself-you know how to use an owl, don't you?"
"I've never actually done it, but I think I get the general idea. She wouldn't mind me writing her?" she asked.
"Who? Mother Hen Molly? No way! She's actually a bit put out that one of her little chicks hasn't written yet," he said eyeing her.
"Me?" Roxanne laughed.
"Yup. You've slept in our house-that makes you one of the family."
Roxanne laughed again. "I'll send her a letter tomorrow."
**********
Harry Potter woke with a start. He instinctively reached for his scar and rubbed at it, but there was no pain. Just an odd feeling that something wasn't right. They'd all been up late celebrating Halloween the night before. Luckily it had been on a Friday, so all of Gryffindor tower, Harry judged by the silence, were enjoying a good lie-in. Ron and the others in Harry's room snored away as the morning sunshine began creeping in the eastern window.
Harry dressed quietly in jeans and a t-shirt, then got up to leave, but deciding he'd feel better with his wand, he dug through the robe he'd dropped onto his dresser the night before until he found it.
"Harry?" said Ron blearily behind him. "What's up?"
"Sorry, Ron. I didn't mean to wake you."
"Where are you going?" Ron yawned, sitting up.
"I'm going to see Professor Dumbledore," Harry replied.
Ron was wide-awake now, worry on his face as he looked Harry up and down. "Are you OK? Is it your scar?"
"No. I'm fine. It's just-" Harry stopped. He couldn't quite put a finger on what he felt in his gut. "I had a dream. I don't know. Something just doesn't feel right."
"Give me a minute," said Ron. "I'll come with you."
"No. That's all right. I'll see you at breakfast."
**********
Harry met Professor Dumbledore coming out of his office.
"Harry! You're up early," said Dumbledore with his familiar searching look.
"Professor," said Harry, not sure where to begin, "I-I had a dream-"
"Voldemort?" said Dumbledore pointing to Harry's scar.
"No," he said touching the scar automatically. "No. I'm fine. It was, well-it was dark. I saw Death Eaters-a whole gang of them." Harry paused, remembering. "I heard screaming. I think they were torturing someone. I couldn't see who. Then I saw-" his stomach turned as the image flashed across his mind, "I saw the Dark Mark-only it was dripping blood."
Professor Dumbledore straightened. "Go on."
"That's all, only-well-I've just got this feeling, like something's not right."
"I've had the same feeling this morning," said Dumbledore quietly, furrowing his brow. "Let's hope your dream was only that."
But Dumbledore returned immediately to his office, breakfast forgotten. Harry returned to Gryffindor tower where all was still quiet. Ron had gone back to sleep and Dean and Seamus were still fast asleep as well. But Neville was up, sitting on a wide windowsill, gazing out at the forest.
"Morning Neville," said Harry climbing up beside him. "Can't sleep?"
Neville shook his head without looking at Harry. "I wonder what Hagrid's doing in the forest," Neville said.
Harry looked at him puzzled.
"Out there," said Neville pointing out the window.
Harry looked out to see a thin ribbon of smoke rising out of the trees. He gasped. "It's dark in the forest," he whispered.
"Don't remind me," said Neville who had not gone any closer to the forest than had been absolutely necessary since his night of terrifying detention in his first year.
But Harry was gone. He'd jumped to the floor and sprinted for the door before Neville could finish.
**********
Professor Dumbledore was still in his office when Harry came in breathing hard from his mad dash through the castle.
"Professor-" he gasped. "Smoke-over the forest!"
Dumbledore was at his window. "Yes, I see it," he said quickly. "Harry, how are your legs?"
"My legs?"
"I need you to run, Harry, as fast as you can to Hagrid's cabin. You'll find Remus and Sirius there. Tell the three of them to search the forest, then stay there, Harry. Go! GO!"
Harry didn't hesitate. He ran for all he was worth, skipping stairs and dashing blindly around corners. He was grateful the halls were nearly empty. He ignored the burning in his lungs and ran faster, slowing only long enough to haul the heavy front doors open. He leaped down the stone steps and dashed across the lawn to Hagrid's cabin.
Harry slipped on the wet grass, nearly falling as he ground to a halt before Hagrid's door. He pounded frantically on it, too out of breath to call out. He could hear hurried footsteps inside. He imagined Sirius, not knowing who was knocking, transforming into the now-familiar black dog that Harry had once feared.
Hagrid opened the door a thin crack, but spying Harry flung it open and pulled him inside. Remus Lupin, Harry's former Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher and an old friend of his father's, was seated at the table, a large black dog on the floor beside him.
"Harry?" said Remus standing, suddenly alarmed by the panic in Harry's eyes.
Harry waited for his godfather to transform using the pause to catch his breath enough to be able to speak.
The moment Sirius could he was across the room. "Harry, what is it?"
"Dumbledore sent me. Something's happened. He wants you-all of you-to search the forest."
"The forest? What's happened?"
"I'm not sure. I had a dream. Sirius, I think someone's been attacked." Harry's voice was urgent now.
Sirius, Remus and Hagrid looked at each other for just a moment before Hagrid went for his moleskin overcoat and crossbow. Remus and Sirius threw on their cloaks and pulled out their wands.
"Harry," said Sirius warningly, "stay right here until one of us comes back for you! Fang, stay here and watch out for Harry," he said to Hagrid's enormous boarhound. And the three slipped out the back door and into the forest.
**********
The forest was silent. The three men knew the forest well, but the unnatural silence was alarming, especially for Hagrid who knew it best. The deeper into the tangle of trees they went the darker it became, and the deeper their feeling of foreboding.
Sirius transformed back into a dog and snuffed the air. He could smell an acrid smoke coming from somewhere off in the misty dimness and barking loudly, lunged off toward it. Hagrid and Remus did their best to keep up, calling ahead when they lost sight of him, signaling him to wait. They jogged deep into the blackest part of the forest where the trees grew so thick and dense overhead that little sunlight penetrated to the black earth beneath their feet.
Hagrid and Remus could hear Sirius barking somewhere ahead, an urgent continuous bark that did not stop until they stepped through a line of trees into a small clearing. They could see a small fire pit there, still smoldering. The grass and shrubs had been trampled down and short lengths of rope were strewn here and there.
But Sirius, a man again, was calling to them anxiously. He was pointing up at the dense canopy of tree limbs. There, hung by a rope, and almost invisible against the dark leaves and branches, was what appeared to be a large black bundle. But Remus gasped. Sticking out of the top of the bundle, bound tightly by coils of heavy rope, were two feet-human feet.
"We've got to get him down," shouted Remus urgently. "Ill cut the rope. Sirius?"
"I'll slow him down. Hagrid?"
"I'll do the catchin' then." Hagrid's voice trembled slightly.
They took their positions. Hagrid stepped directly underneath the body, his foot splashing in a small dark pool.
"There's blood here!" he shouted, his voice rising in alarm.
"Steady, Hagrid. We've got to hurry." Sirius raised his wand. "On 'three.' One-two-THREE!"
Sirius and Remus roared their spells at once. The rope was severed by a blast of red light from Lupin's wand and the body drifted gently down into Hagrid's waiting arms. He dropped to one knee as Remus and Sirius bounded to him. They pulled back the cloak the body was wrapped in. Hagrid gasped. Remus placed his fingers on the neck and felt for a pulse. The skin was pale and cold to the touch, the face and hair streaked with blood.
"Hagrid?" said Sirius, stepping back. "Who is she?"
"Roxanne Stewart," breathed Hagrid. He searched Remus' grim expression. "Is she dead?"
"No Hagrid. She's alive. But only just. Sirius-"
"Pick up Harry on your way in," Sirius said before transforming again and bounding off through the forest toward Hogwarts.
Hagrid was near tears.
"Hagrid," said Remus gently, "we've got to get her to the castle if she stands any chance at all-quickly."
Hagrid nodded. Lifting her limp body easily, he stood and lumbered off after Sirius.
Remus remained behind for a few minutes, circling the clearing, then crossing it, scanning the ground as he went, before following Hagrid's trail through the trees.
**********
Harry jumped at the urgent knock at Hagrid's door. Fang barked once and, sensing Harry's uncertainty, promptly scrambled under Hagrid's bed.
"Who's there?" called Harry, pulling his wand from his cloak.
"Harry, it's Remus!" Harry opened the door quickly and Remus grasped his shoulder and pulled him out, urging him toward the castle before Harry could question him. But the urgency in Remus' eyes told Harry it was best to run now. There would be time for asking questions later.
Harry looked ahead as they sprinted over the grass and saw Hagrid carrying a body up the stone steps. He broke his stride for just a step or two. Remus did not wait for him, so he rushed on. They flung open the great front door with a crash for Hagrid to pass through, then hurried on through the castle amid the curious stares and whispers of students milling in and out of the Great Hall for breakfast.
The nearer they came to the hospital wing, the heavier grew the stone that had lodged itself in Harry's stomach. He could go no further. He stopped dead.
"What is it Harry?" panted Remus. "Are you all right?"
Harry gulped. He wasn't sure he wanted to ask the question. "Wh-where's Sirius?"
"He should be in the hospital wing waiting for us."
"Then who is that?" he asked, pointing towards the back of Hagrid as it disappeared through the infirmary door.
Remus nodded with understanding. "It's not Sirius. It's a woman. Hagrid seemed to know her. Said her name is Roxanne."
"Roxanne Stewart?" Harry asked incredulous.
"Yes. You know her?"
"She's-Well, Ron knows her better than me. She's a student here." Harry looked towards the hospital wing door. Now that his fear for Sirius' safety was calmed, he felt torn between his desire to see his godfather and his reluctance to see what horror lay behind that door.
"She's the American? Hagrid was telling us about her last night. This'll no doubt be-" But he was interrupted by a shout from down the hall. Professor Dumbledore was calling and waving them inside. Remus put an arm on Harry's shoulder and they went in together.
**********
Sirius stood just inside the door, out of sight of any passersby. Harry ran to him and they embraced fiercely, relieved to find each other safe. A large curtain was pulled around a bed at the far end of the room, the shadows of Madame Pomfrey and Professor McGonagall bustling behind it. Harry could see their feet, as well as smears of blood on the floor beneath it. Hagrid sat on another bed, his face blank with shock, his coat blotched with large red stains.
Harry sat silently, waiting. Professor Dumbledore and Remus whispered quietly in a corner. Sirius paced sullenly, rubbing his stubbly chin. Sounds of tearing fabric and urgent whispers crackled from behind the screen, jolting them like static electricity. A loud gasp brought their heads whipping around to see Professor McGonagall leaning into view.
"Albus-" she breathed, her face white and lined with worry. The Headmaster crossed the floor quickly and disappeared behind the curtain. The others crossed the floor, coming in closer to hear.
"Wake her, Poppy," Dumbledore commanded.
"But Albus-" she began. "Oh, all right," she whispered, exasperated.
Harry waited, listening, a chill passing over his skull and down his back. He shivered. Sirius placed a hand on his shoulder, steadying him. They heard a scraping noise as the shadow of Professor Dumbledore slid a stool next to the head of the bed and seated himself on it.
A heavy, screeching gasp told them Roxanne had regained consciousness, and her panicked cries told of her pain. Dumbledore whispered soothingly to her and her screams subsided to gasping, rattled breathing. Harry strained to hear, but Dumbledore continued speaking in whispers, Roxanne answering even more quietly.
All eyes were on Dumbledore when he finally emerged from behind the curtain, his shoulders drooping, his pale blue eyes clouded.
"Perfesser," gulped Hagrid, "is she-will she be-"
"I do not know. Madame Pomfrey is doing everything she can for her. I believe it is as you suspected Remus-some type of poison. Whatever it is, it is blocking Madame Pomfrey's attempts to heal her wounds. The spots on the ground were black, Remus?"
"Blacker than black. I've never seen anything quite like it.," said Remus quietly.
"What did they do to her, Professor," asked Harry. Dumbledore looked at him and the lines on his face deepened.
"Harry, maybe you should go," said Sirius quickly at the sight of Dumbledore's grave look.
"No, Sirius. I see no use in keeping this, or anything, from Harry. He is as much a part of this, even more so, as any of us." Dumbledore took a deep breath before continuing. "She was only able to tell me a little. Death Eaters. A wizard with a silver hand-"
"Pettigrew," spat Sirius. Dumbledore went on as if he hadn't heard.
"She was dragged into the forest and attacked, tortured. She recognized only two of them. Lucius Malfoy-"
"I knew it! I knew it! I knew tha' snake'd have summat to do wi' this," hissed Hagrid.
Dumbledore held up his hand to silence the grumbles of agreement. "And Severus Snape."
"Snape!" shouted Sirius, who was hushed loudly. "I was right. You should never have trusted him!" he growled quietly.
"I still trust Severus with my life, Sirius. If it had not been for him," Dumbledore said levelly over the top of his spectacles, "she would likely be dead. She was most insistent that I understand this."
"There's more," said Remus flatly, analyzing the darkness that clouded Dumbledore's eyes.
"Yes. There is more." The Headmaster sighed deeply. "They carved the Dark Mark into the flesh of her back."
Harry went very pale. Sirius cursed under his breath. Remus was comforting Hagrid who had broken into quiet sobs.
"I don't understand," began Harry. "Why?
"It's Malfoy," spat Hagrid angrily. "She made him angry once, and to get his cowardly revenge he had his Death Eater pals do her in."
"There's much more to it than that, Hagrid," explained Dumbledore. "True, Lucius most certainly relished the opportunity to make her pay for her moment of foolishness. But it seems the purpose of the attack was to send a message. Roxanne was most upset that she had failed me, had forgotten the message Lucius Malfoy commanded her to bring me. I assured her the message had been clear-it is written in blood on her back. The Death Eaters have declared war."
"Without Voldemort?" asked Harry.
"I have no doubt they were under Voldemort's orders. Now that he is back in power, I doubt they have the courage, or the strength, to do anything unless he commands it."
Note to Jadesky: Ew! As if! Picture me vomiting at the very idea! I am a huge fan of Remus and have absolutely no compunction to write him, picture him, fantasize about him, as anything but straight. No offense to any gay readers. But Remus? I don't think so. Sirius? No way in Hades. Behold, I giveth unto thee Remus. Read on!
Note to Black Dragon: I hope you don't lose interest as a result, but Harry is not the hero of this story, for the reason that I hate to step on JK's toes, as it were. I'd really rather have the satisfaction of reading her version of Harry's story, not writing my own.
CHAPTER EIGHT: The Mark of War
Detention proved to be a doubly bitter pill. Ron had not only failed to win easily, but both players had to endure the rage of both Professor Snape and Professor McGonagall who had forced them to quit playing before the game was finished. McGonagall confiscated their chessmen and made them wait while she conferred quietly with Professor Snape.
Roxanne knew they were in for it when she saw the nasty gleam in Professor Snape's eye as he called them over. Even Professor McGonagall seemed to be stifling a satisfied smile, as if she'd just heard a wickedly funny, but highly inappropriate joke.
"You will both report to my classroom Monday morning," she began, "immediately after breakfast. You will help me with my sixth-year classes- we're beginning human transfiguration-" at these words a look of horror smeared Ron's face, turning it redder than his hair. Professor McGonagall did not need to finish, but she seemed more than delighted to do it. "-and I need some willing subjects for them to practice upon."
"B-But, Professor!" stammered Ron. "I've got Divination-" It was a lame excuse since he'd really almost rather be anywhere than Divination.
But Professor McGonagall was undaunted. "Nice try, Mr. Weasley. I'll speak with Professor Trelawney myself."
Roxanne had no excuses. She knew by the look in Professor Snape's eye that he would be more than willing to sacrifice her services in potions that day.
**********
While being transformed into some fair facsimile of a sheep by a group of unpracticed sixth-years had been plenty humiliating (several of the Slytherins thought it funny to do a sloppy job), it was nothing to the whole school knowing about it. A loud chorus of bleating greeted Ron when he entered the Great Hall for breakfast the next morning. Roxanne decided to skip breakfast altogether. She'd been able to let the jeers of the students roll off her back easily enough, but the merry tittering of the teachers had been quite more than she could take. Instead Roxanne begged some toast from the elves in the kitchen (leaving with a large breakfast neatly wrapped in a napkin), walked out onto the grounds and sat on a rock that jutted out from under the roots of a tree at the edge of the forest. She leaned back against the smooth trunk and ate, picked really, at her breakfast. It wasn't the detention that bothered her, or Ron's growing obsession with beating her at chess, so much as the Malfoy boy. He'd been there, lurking in the shadows at the back of Professor McGonagall's room, sniggering silently at her. In fact, since she and Ron's first chess game she seemed to see him everywhere. He was nearly a copy of his parents-his mother's distasteful face and his father's disdainful, contemptuous attitude. She couldn't decided whether he was purposefully following her, or it if just seemed so-a string of coincidences-or if she'd only just begun to take notice of him.
But Mr. Weasley's warning from last summer gnawed at her. Still, she decided she'd better be certain Draco was up to something before she reported it to Professor McGonagall.
Roxanne checked her watch-she needed to be in Professor Moody's classroom in ten minutes-and, throwing the remains of her breakfast to the giant squid, started for the castle. After yesterday she thought it best to avoid another detention-especially from Professor Moody. She imagined him demonstrating hexes on her to the glee of the fourth-years and shuddered.
But there was Draco Malfoy again, flanked by Crabbe and Goyle as usual, standing near Hagrid's cabin. A large group of kids made their way to the same spot-obviously for one of Hagrid's Care of Magical Creatures lessons She decided she was being paranoid and quickened her pace up the steps. Draco Malfoy watched her until she disappeared into the castle.
**********
Classes on Halloween day were nearly pointless. As usual Snape's class failed to reflect the mood of the rest of the school, but Professor Flitwick more than made up for it. He taught all his classes how to suspend Jack o' lanterns in mid air, and even how to get them to follow someone about like some ghoulish headless horseman joke.
Fred and George Weasley made the most of their last Hogwarts Halloween, trying out dozens of new prank and joke inventions. The closer they came to graduating the more serious they became about opening their own joke shop-and no one doubted they'd be a huge success. The feast that night was as grand as ever and dazzled Roxanne who had never seen anything of its like in her entire life. She noticed Professor Snape had decided to skip the feast. Although he was the epitome of frightening to many of the students and thus fit perfectly into the whole Halloween atmosphere, Roxanne dismissed his absence, deciding Snape just wasn't the party type.
Bill Weasley showed up, though. And after greeting his brothers and sister warmly and sending his mother's regards to Harry and Hermione, sat at the end of the head table next to Roxanne.
"Your hair-it's longer, isn't it?" he asked, leaning back to get a better look at her smooth shoulder length masses of blond.
"Mm. I found a hair-growing potion. I thought I'd give it a try. Do you like it?"
"It'd be much nicer if it were red," he teased, pointing to his own hair, which hung loose about his shoulders. "Mum sends her best."
Roxanne smiled. "Will you tell her 'hello' for me?"
"Tell her yourself-you know how to use an owl, don't you?"
"I've never actually done it, but I think I get the general idea. She wouldn't mind me writing her?" she asked.
"Who? Mother Hen Molly? No way! She's actually a bit put out that one of her little chicks hasn't written yet," he said eyeing her.
"Me?" Roxanne laughed.
"Yup. You've slept in our house-that makes you one of the family."
Roxanne laughed again. "I'll send her a letter tomorrow."
**********
Harry Potter woke with a start. He instinctively reached for his scar and rubbed at it, but there was no pain. Just an odd feeling that something wasn't right. They'd all been up late celebrating Halloween the night before. Luckily it had been on a Friday, so all of Gryffindor tower, Harry judged by the silence, were enjoying a good lie-in. Ron and the others in Harry's room snored away as the morning sunshine began creeping in the eastern window.
Harry dressed quietly in jeans and a t-shirt, then got up to leave, but deciding he'd feel better with his wand, he dug through the robe he'd dropped onto his dresser the night before until he found it.
"Harry?" said Ron blearily behind him. "What's up?"
"Sorry, Ron. I didn't mean to wake you."
"Where are you going?" Ron yawned, sitting up.
"I'm going to see Professor Dumbledore," Harry replied.
Ron was wide-awake now, worry on his face as he looked Harry up and down. "Are you OK? Is it your scar?"
"No. I'm fine. It's just-" Harry stopped. He couldn't quite put a finger on what he felt in his gut. "I had a dream. I don't know. Something just doesn't feel right."
"Give me a minute," said Ron. "I'll come with you."
"No. That's all right. I'll see you at breakfast."
**********
Harry met Professor Dumbledore coming out of his office.
"Harry! You're up early," said Dumbledore with his familiar searching look.
"Professor," said Harry, not sure where to begin, "I-I had a dream-"
"Voldemort?" said Dumbledore pointing to Harry's scar.
"No," he said touching the scar automatically. "No. I'm fine. It was, well-it was dark. I saw Death Eaters-a whole gang of them." Harry paused, remembering. "I heard screaming. I think they were torturing someone. I couldn't see who. Then I saw-" his stomach turned as the image flashed across his mind, "I saw the Dark Mark-only it was dripping blood."
Professor Dumbledore straightened. "Go on."
"That's all, only-well-I've just got this feeling, like something's not right."
"I've had the same feeling this morning," said Dumbledore quietly, furrowing his brow. "Let's hope your dream was only that."
But Dumbledore returned immediately to his office, breakfast forgotten. Harry returned to Gryffindor tower where all was still quiet. Ron had gone back to sleep and Dean and Seamus were still fast asleep as well. But Neville was up, sitting on a wide windowsill, gazing out at the forest.
"Morning Neville," said Harry climbing up beside him. "Can't sleep?"
Neville shook his head without looking at Harry. "I wonder what Hagrid's doing in the forest," Neville said.
Harry looked at him puzzled.
"Out there," said Neville pointing out the window.
Harry looked out to see a thin ribbon of smoke rising out of the trees. He gasped. "It's dark in the forest," he whispered.
"Don't remind me," said Neville who had not gone any closer to the forest than had been absolutely necessary since his night of terrifying detention in his first year.
But Harry was gone. He'd jumped to the floor and sprinted for the door before Neville could finish.
**********
Professor Dumbledore was still in his office when Harry came in breathing hard from his mad dash through the castle.
"Professor-" he gasped. "Smoke-over the forest!"
Dumbledore was at his window. "Yes, I see it," he said quickly. "Harry, how are your legs?"
"My legs?"
"I need you to run, Harry, as fast as you can to Hagrid's cabin. You'll find Remus and Sirius there. Tell the three of them to search the forest, then stay there, Harry. Go! GO!"
Harry didn't hesitate. He ran for all he was worth, skipping stairs and dashing blindly around corners. He was grateful the halls were nearly empty. He ignored the burning in his lungs and ran faster, slowing only long enough to haul the heavy front doors open. He leaped down the stone steps and dashed across the lawn to Hagrid's cabin.
Harry slipped on the wet grass, nearly falling as he ground to a halt before Hagrid's door. He pounded frantically on it, too out of breath to call out. He could hear hurried footsteps inside. He imagined Sirius, not knowing who was knocking, transforming into the now-familiar black dog that Harry had once feared.
Hagrid opened the door a thin crack, but spying Harry flung it open and pulled him inside. Remus Lupin, Harry's former Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher and an old friend of his father's, was seated at the table, a large black dog on the floor beside him.
"Harry?" said Remus standing, suddenly alarmed by the panic in Harry's eyes.
Harry waited for his godfather to transform using the pause to catch his breath enough to be able to speak.
The moment Sirius could he was across the room. "Harry, what is it?"
"Dumbledore sent me. Something's happened. He wants you-all of you-to search the forest."
"The forest? What's happened?"
"I'm not sure. I had a dream. Sirius, I think someone's been attacked." Harry's voice was urgent now.
Sirius, Remus and Hagrid looked at each other for just a moment before Hagrid went for his moleskin overcoat and crossbow. Remus and Sirius threw on their cloaks and pulled out their wands.
"Harry," said Sirius warningly, "stay right here until one of us comes back for you! Fang, stay here and watch out for Harry," he said to Hagrid's enormous boarhound. And the three slipped out the back door and into the forest.
**********
The forest was silent. The three men knew the forest well, but the unnatural silence was alarming, especially for Hagrid who knew it best. The deeper into the tangle of trees they went the darker it became, and the deeper their feeling of foreboding.
Sirius transformed back into a dog and snuffed the air. He could smell an acrid smoke coming from somewhere off in the misty dimness and barking loudly, lunged off toward it. Hagrid and Remus did their best to keep up, calling ahead when they lost sight of him, signaling him to wait. They jogged deep into the blackest part of the forest where the trees grew so thick and dense overhead that little sunlight penetrated to the black earth beneath their feet.
Hagrid and Remus could hear Sirius barking somewhere ahead, an urgent continuous bark that did not stop until they stepped through a line of trees into a small clearing. They could see a small fire pit there, still smoldering. The grass and shrubs had been trampled down and short lengths of rope were strewn here and there.
But Sirius, a man again, was calling to them anxiously. He was pointing up at the dense canopy of tree limbs. There, hung by a rope, and almost invisible against the dark leaves and branches, was what appeared to be a large black bundle. But Remus gasped. Sticking out of the top of the bundle, bound tightly by coils of heavy rope, were two feet-human feet.
"We've got to get him down," shouted Remus urgently. "Ill cut the rope. Sirius?"
"I'll slow him down. Hagrid?"
"I'll do the catchin' then." Hagrid's voice trembled slightly.
They took their positions. Hagrid stepped directly underneath the body, his foot splashing in a small dark pool.
"There's blood here!" he shouted, his voice rising in alarm.
"Steady, Hagrid. We've got to hurry." Sirius raised his wand. "On 'three.' One-two-THREE!"
Sirius and Remus roared their spells at once. The rope was severed by a blast of red light from Lupin's wand and the body drifted gently down into Hagrid's waiting arms. He dropped to one knee as Remus and Sirius bounded to him. They pulled back the cloak the body was wrapped in. Hagrid gasped. Remus placed his fingers on the neck and felt for a pulse. The skin was pale and cold to the touch, the face and hair streaked with blood.
"Hagrid?" said Sirius, stepping back. "Who is she?"
"Roxanne Stewart," breathed Hagrid. He searched Remus' grim expression. "Is she dead?"
"No Hagrid. She's alive. But only just. Sirius-"
"Pick up Harry on your way in," Sirius said before transforming again and bounding off through the forest toward Hogwarts.
Hagrid was near tears.
"Hagrid," said Remus gently, "we've got to get her to the castle if she stands any chance at all-quickly."
Hagrid nodded. Lifting her limp body easily, he stood and lumbered off after Sirius.
Remus remained behind for a few minutes, circling the clearing, then crossing it, scanning the ground as he went, before following Hagrid's trail through the trees.
**********
Harry jumped at the urgent knock at Hagrid's door. Fang barked once and, sensing Harry's uncertainty, promptly scrambled under Hagrid's bed.
"Who's there?" called Harry, pulling his wand from his cloak.
"Harry, it's Remus!" Harry opened the door quickly and Remus grasped his shoulder and pulled him out, urging him toward the castle before Harry could question him. But the urgency in Remus' eyes told Harry it was best to run now. There would be time for asking questions later.
Harry looked ahead as they sprinted over the grass and saw Hagrid carrying a body up the stone steps. He broke his stride for just a step or two. Remus did not wait for him, so he rushed on. They flung open the great front door with a crash for Hagrid to pass through, then hurried on through the castle amid the curious stares and whispers of students milling in and out of the Great Hall for breakfast.
The nearer they came to the hospital wing, the heavier grew the stone that had lodged itself in Harry's stomach. He could go no further. He stopped dead.
"What is it Harry?" panted Remus. "Are you all right?"
Harry gulped. He wasn't sure he wanted to ask the question. "Wh-where's Sirius?"
"He should be in the hospital wing waiting for us."
"Then who is that?" he asked, pointing towards the back of Hagrid as it disappeared through the infirmary door.
Remus nodded with understanding. "It's not Sirius. It's a woman. Hagrid seemed to know her. Said her name is Roxanne."
"Roxanne Stewart?" Harry asked incredulous.
"Yes. You know her?"
"She's-Well, Ron knows her better than me. She's a student here." Harry looked towards the hospital wing door. Now that his fear for Sirius' safety was calmed, he felt torn between his desire to see his godfather and his reluctance to see what horror lay behind that door.
"She's the American? Hagrid was telling us about her last night. This'll no doubt be-" But he was interrupted by a shout from down the hall. Professor Dumbledore was calling and waving them inside. Remus put an arm on Harry's shoulder and they went in together.
**********
Sirius stood just inside the door, out of sight of any passersby. Harry ran to him and they embraced fiercely, relieved to find each other safe. A large curtain was pulled around a bed at the far end of the room, the shadows of Madame Pomfrey and Professor McGonagall bustling behind it. Harry could see their feet, as well as smears of blood on the floor beneath it. Hagrid sat on another bed, his face blank with shock, his coat blotched with large red stains.
Harry sat silently, waiting. Professor Dumbledore and Remus whispered quietly in a corner. Sirius paced sullenly, rubbing his stubbly chin. Sounds of tearing fabric and urgent whispers crackled from behind the screen, jolting them like static electricity. A loud gasp brought their heads whipping around to see Professor McGonagall leaning into view.
"Albus-" she breathed, her face white and lined with worry. The Headmaster crossed the floor quickly and disappeared behind the curtain. The others crossed the floor, coming in closer to hear.
"Wake her, Poppy," Dumbledore commanded.
"But Albus-" she began. "Oh, all right," she whispered, exasperated.
Harry waited, listening, a chill passing over his skull and down his back. He shivered. Sirius placed a hand on his shoulder, steadying him. They heard a scraping noise as the shadow of Professor Dumbledore slid a stool next to the head of the bed and seated himself on it.
A heavy, screeching gasp told them Roxanne had regained consciousness, and her panicked cries told of her pain. Dumbledore whispered soothingly to her and her screams subsided to gasping, rattled breathing. Harry strained to hear, but Dumbledore continued speaking in whispers, Roxanne answering even more quietly.
All eyes were on Dumbledore when he finally emerged from behind the curtain, his shoulders drooping, his pale blue eyes clouded.
"Perfesser," gulped Hagrid, "is she-will she be-"
"I do not know. Madame Pomfrey is doing everything she can for her. I believe it is as you suspected Remus-some type of poison. Whatever it is, it is blocking Madame Pomfrey's attempts to heal her wounds. The spots on the ground were black, Remus?"
"Blacker than black. I've never seen anything quite like it.," said Remus quietly.
"What did they do to her, Professor," asked Harry. Dumbledore looked at him and the lines on his face deepened.
"Harry, maybe you should go," said Sirius quickly at the sight of Dumbledore's grave look.
"No, Sirius. I see no use in keeping this, or anything, from Harry. He is as much a part of this, even more so, as any of us." Dumbledore took a deep breath before continuing. "She was only able to tell me a little. Death Eaters. A wizard with a silver hand-"
"Pettigrew," spat Sirius. Dumbledore went on as if he hadn't heard.
"She was dragged into the forest and attacked, tortured. She recognized only two of them. Lucius Malfoy-"
"I knew it! I knew it! I knew tha' snake'd have summat to do wi' this," hissed Hagrid.
Dumbledore held up his hand to silence the grumbles of agreement. "And Severus Snape."
"Snape!" shouted Sirius, who was hushed loudly. "I was right. You should never have trusted him!" he growled quietly.
"I still trust Severus with my life, Sirius. If it had not been for him," Dumbledore said levelly over the top of his spectacles, "she would likely be dead. She was most insistent that I understand this."
"There's more," said Remus flatly, analyzing the darkness that clouded Dumbledore's eyes.
"Yes. There is more." The Headmaster sighed deeply. "They carved the Dark Mark into the flesh of her back."
Harry went very pale. Sirius cursed under his breath. Remus was comforting Hagrid who had broken into quiet sobs.
"I don't understand," began Harry. "Why?
"It's Malfoy," spat Hagrid angrily. "She made him angry once, and to get his cowardly revenge he had his Death Eater pals do her in."
"There's much more to it than that, Hagrid," explained Dumbledore. "True, Lucius most certainly relished the opportunity to make her pay for her moment of foolishness. But it seems the purpose of the attack was to send a message. Roxanne was most upset that she had failed me, had forgotten the message Lucius Malfoy commanded her to bring me. I assured her the message had been clear-it is written in blood on her back. The Death Eaters have declared war."
"Without Voldemort?" asked Harry.
"I have no doubt they were under Voldemort's orders. Now that he is back in power, I doubt they have the courage, or the strength, to do anything unless he commands it."
