A/N:  I realized in writing this chapter that the Gryffindors had 3 lessons back-to-back when they should have gone to lunch immediately after Andranos' class.  To put it simply, I fucked up.  In my zeal to put in the death of Moody, I fucked up.  But then again, I've seen countless more fuck ups in some of the other stories I have read, including one in which Harry is going into his fifth year and Dumbledore says in the beginning that the third floor corridor on the right hand side is off limits.  In retrospect of my fuck up, it is a small fuck up.  And most of you probably wouldn't have noticed it unless I told you it was there.  For the sake of argument, lets assume that Harry and his classmates went to lunch after Andranos' class but before they went to Moody's.  It doesn't impact the story that much anyway.

            Chapter 7

            The Beginning

             Harry left his flabbergasted classmates at the door to the late Professor Moody's class and ran straight for the stone gargoyle on the second floor, which led to the headmaster's office.  When he got there, Professor Dumbledore, with Andranos close behind, greeted him.  "Professor, come quick," Harry shouted whilst catching his breath.

            "What, is someone hurt?" Andranos said with a worried expression on his face before Dumbledore could answer.

            "Yes, its Professor Moody."

            "Oh that," Andranos replied.  "Its nothing to be worried about"

            "What do you mean 'its nothing to be worried about'?  He's DEAD!"

            "Is he by any change hanging from the ceiling in a sort of, noosey rope motif?"

            "Yeah, but…"

            "Then don't worry about it."

            "Harry, Harry," Dumbledore cut in, "please go and tell your classmates to assemble in the great hall.  There are a few announcements that have to be made."

            Harry did as he was asked and then proceeded to the great hall with his fellows.  When he got there, he was surprised to see the entire school piling into it.  After a few minutes, the teachers came in through a side door, followed by Andranos.  They quickly took their seats and the sorcerer stood in front of the staff table, in front of Dumbledore, holding a crystal ball in his hand.

            "I know that we have called you all from your classes," Dumbledore began, "but there are few things that you need to know that cannot wait.  You may have heard a gong sounding outside very recently.  Andranos has informed myself and the other teachers to its significance.  Hogwarts has been laid under siege by Lord Voldemort.  Andranos will elaborate."

            "Thank you.  The Fyndow academy is a school devoted to training battle mages.  I have consulted my superiors at the academy and been informed that a group of men, one of them fitting Lord Vodemort's description, hired three battle sorcerers from them a few days ago.  One Invoker, one Conjurer, and a Transmuter.  I have also been informed that they have hired a necromancer.  The gong that sounded was part of a ritual to notify the enemy that they are under siege.  The four sorcerers are highly trained and have entered into mercenary contract with Lord Voldemort.  The siege at this phase will be composed of the continuous thick fog you see out there now, as well as a heavy storm with TARGETED lightning strikes.  You can also expect to see probes being sent in.  Simply put, if you are exposed, They Will Kill You."

            "Thank you Andranos," Dumbledore said.  "For this reason, all outside activities, including quidditch, have been canceled indefinitely for your own protection.   We would send you home, but there is no way we could do that without going through the sieged area.  While you come to grips with this turn of events, classes will be suspended for the remainder of today and the whole of tomorrow."  When he finished, he motioned that the students were free to go and promptly stood up and left the hall through the side door that he came in.  The rest of the teachers soon followed him while Andranos dimension doored out.

            Harry, Ron and Hermione sat in their seats while most of the other students filed out.  "Could I have a word with you?"  Harry spun around to see Andranos standing behind him leaning over.

            "Yeah, I guess so."

            Andranos opened another dimension door and stood beside it.  "A word with you, in my lab."

            "I don't suppose Ron and Hermione could come too?"

            "I suppose so," he said as he opened two more dimension doors.  Ron got up and stepped through the first one and it closed behind him.  Then Hermione got up and stepped through the second one, which also closed as soon as she stepped into it.  Harry slowly stood and examined the doorway.  The humming of it made him feel surprisingly relaxed.  "How long are you going to fucking stand there?"  Harry finally decided to step into it.  When he did, he was amazed to see Andranos' lab as soon as his face broke the surface.  He glanced around to see Ron and Hermione already standing there examining all the little trinkets on the shelves.  Another dimension door opened seconds after Harry arrived from which Andranos stepped out of.

"Now, for what I was saying; the imperial slave masters found something unusual while they were sorting new subjects."  As he slowly said this, Andranos crossed the room and placed his crystal ball on a little stand, which lay upon a table in one corner of the room.  He said Seenuko-dapada as he rested his hands on the ball.  Immediately, a large, male, bald head emerged from the crystal ball and floated at eye level to Andranos.  "I have him with me now," Andranos said addressing the head.

"Seenyak oulakwega semyooka semtotu frynakupu seenak, quakee nukya vantoon," the head said back to him, rolling its eyes occasionally.

"That's fine do you have him with you."

"Gerok zemuk seenakua seenakua nee-shum, Fyndow."

"I don't give a shit what they say at the academy.  Besides, now is not the time to discuss it.  Do you have him with you or do I have to come over there myself and get him personally?"

"Seenakuma!  Nakya kwaku jeanarok geish shituma Natou lak feen-nakaruseentarikxyl samuka nee! Finakaru simeek."

"It's about fucking time."  Andranos looked over to Harry and said, "Alright Harry, come here and place your hands on the ball."

"Why?"

"You wizards use owls to carry letters back and forth, that's how you communicate.  We sorcerers use crystal balls to channel psionic energy in order to communicate with each other directly.  Now, come over here and place your hands on the ball, there's someone there that wants to talk to you."

Harry slowly approached the ball, when he got there, he sat down at a chair Andranos drew for him and placed his hands on the sides of the crystal.  Instantly, it seemed as if the room was spinning and he felt disorientated.  When the feeling subsided he looked about to see he was sitting in a high backed wooden chair and in a room wholly different than Andranos' lab.  It was circular with wooden paneling on the walls, floor, and ceiling.  The room was devoid of doors and windows.  He glanced at he table to see the exact same crystal ball in his hands and then looked up to see his godfather sitting across the table.

"Don't take your hands off of the ball or you'll break contact," he heard Andranos say behind him.  Harry looked around but was unable to see him.  "Don't bother looking for me, you are experiencing a visual hallucination.  While the room you think you are sitting in does not exist, I can assure you the man you see across from you does."

"Harry," Sirius said to him, "are you looking for something?"

"Oh, one other thing I should say," The disembodied voice continued, "you are in a private conversation.  Your friend can't see or hear me and we can't see or hear him, but we can hear everything You are saying."

"Um, no.  I, er, was just having a look around," Harry said back to Sirius.  "I thought you were…I heard you were…I was told you would…be dead."

"No, not yet Harry."

"It's all over the papers, your being captured."

"Yes, I was sitting down to write a reply to your letter.  I saw the ministry wizards coming the house and sent Hedwig out before giving myself up.  What I Was going to say in the letter was with what you described, combined with everything I've ever heard and read about sorcerers is that they are psychotic.  I Was going to say that you should keep a close eye on this 'Andranos' and write back to me with any more news.  Well, this is no longer what I think about them. But I'll come to that in a minute.  The reason I gave myself up was that if I resisted, I figured they would kill me.  I also figured that they would have the dementors summoned to 'kiss' me, but I would find a way to escape before it could happen.  I was surprised to be confronted by a several men that looked like they were straight out of the Middle Ages, dressed in brigandines with swords around their waist.  They confiscated the wand I was using and blindfolded me.  Next thing I knew I was being led into a courtyard filled with what seemed the entire population of Azkaban, minus the dementors.  Two people, whom I found out later to be sorcerers, tried to cast a spell on me, failed, tried to cast it again, failed again, and then threw me in a cell.  They came back the next day with a woman dressed in a white linen gown.  She placed a hand on my forehead and left a minute later.  When they returned, they said that they gave their word I was free to go, and by the way, it seams it's in their religion to always keep their word, no matter what.  They gave me a bath, an enormous meal, god it was good, and a room that looked fit for royalty."

"But, I don't understand," Harry interjected.  "They set you free for no reason?  No trial?  No questions?"

"What are you talking about Harry," Andranos said.

"Yes, I'm getting to it," Sirius said to no one, looking up at the ceiling.  "Look, I'm trying to say everything important."

"Now, Harry," Andranos said, "I might be able to help with this little misunderstanding, but I would have to come in there, may I have your permission?"

"No, I'm trying to have a chat with my godfather will you please leave me alone."

"Will you please stop it!  I'm not doing anything I'm not supposed to.  No, I've already talked to him," Sirius said, again talking to nobody.  "I'm trying to stay calm, Natou, but you are really Pissing me off.  Fine.  I'm sorry about that Harry, but there's someone on this side who's trying to…it's not important.  Needless to say, I am free and you don't have to worry about me.  I can't talk anymore, I have to go.  I'm sorry Harry but I have to go, I'll talk to you later."

"Ok but, er…"

"Yes?"

"…Nothing.  Goodbye Snuffles."

"Goodbye Harry."  As soon as Sirius said this, he seamed to evaporate into a wisp of smoke.  Harry took his hands off the ball and the feeling of disorientation and the room spinning returned.  After a few moments it subsided and Harry found himself back in Andranos' lab.

"Harry," Hermione said, "did I hear you correctly?  That Sirius is alive?  That Sirius has been set free?"

Harry told her, and everyone else in the room, what Sirius had just told him.

"Now I'm as confused as you Harry.  Why would they just set him free like that," Ron said.

"I can answer that," Andranos said from where he was sitting at the table.  "Well, that woman in the white linen gown he was talking about, was a Psi.  Basically put, she read his thoughts, discovering, I assume, that he did not commit the crime that he was found guilty of.  They were alerted when the spell that should have changed him into a lich, didn't work.  The spell will only work on people that are inherently evil, or have committed a truly evil act.  Now, if you will excuse me, I have a lot of things to do right now.  Would you like a door to somewhere, or would you rather walk?"

"No, I'll walk," Harry and Ron said almost simultaneously.

"Actually, could I have a word with you about a few things," Hermione said, shocking her friends.

"No.  I'm very busy at the moment and can't spare the time, perhaps another time."

"Fine.  I'll walk."  With that, the three left the lab and started to wind their way up the castle.

"What did you want to talk with him about," Ron asked as they passed the great hall.

"It's nothing You need to worry about, Ron."

"Ok, ok.  I was only asking."

When they passed the library, Hermione broke off and went in saying, "Don't worry, I just have to look something up."  Harry took that to assume she would be in there all day.  He was proven correct when she did not return until well after night had fallen, Ron and he having spent their day talking while playing many games of chess and Exploding Snap.  When she did return, she flopped down in the nearest empty chair with the expression 'talk to me at your own peril' written across her face.  Harry watched her doggedly for her mood to lighten, but it took a good fifteen minutes.  When he got up to approach her about what she was looking up in the library, a dimension door opened in the middle of the room.  Andranos stepped through and jumped into a chair.

"What the hell are you doing here," Harry caught himself saying.

Andranos threw his head to look at Harry and said, "Do you know how hard it is to relax in the Slytherin common room?  I swear, if I hear Draco Malfoy talking about his father one more time, I'm going to kill him."

"Well why'd you have to come here," Ron threw at him.

"Why not?  Is there a rule that says a Slytherin can't be in the Gryffindor common room?"

"Hermione, you want to field that one," Harry said.

"Yes, there is."

"Fuck the rule.  I don't give a shit about the rule.  Besides, I came here specifically to see if your female friend here still wanted to have a chat."

"Yes, I do.  But why couldn't you do it before but you're free to do it now?"

"Well, oh by the way, that Lord Voldemort's a real prick.  I mean, he kept trying to get them to kill me and your headmaster, and when they refused, he tried to do it himself.  I'll tell you this, he does Not look good as a fluffy bunny rabbit," Andranos answered as he started laughing.

"What do you mean he tried to kill you and Dumbledore," Harry remarked.

"Well, that's the reason I couldn't talk with you before.  I was instructed by the emperors to accompany your headmaster for a formal parley with Lord Voldemort.  The point of which was to discern what the purpose of their siege was and to see if a negotiation for surrender could be worked out.  By the way, they were insistent on there being no surrender.  Their purpose is to take control of the castle in as complete a state as possible.  If you could please circulate that among the students you would be saving me a shit load of trouble."

Taken aback, Hermione responded only with a "Oh, that's a pretty good reason."

"What did you want to ask me, or more to the point, will it take very long?"

"Well, I wanted to ask you a just a few things, but they are rather big things, I expect."

"Ok, then."  Andranos opened a pair of dimension doors and motioned for Hermione to take one of them.  He took one of them after motioning that the other was for her to take.

Hermione got up and walked over to the doorway, "It's not a problem with You if I go, is it Ron?"

"Why would it be?"

"Ok," she said before turning back and walking through the door.

Ron went to bed shortly thereafter, Harry choosing to wait up to for Hermione to come back, under the pretense of wanting to do some of his homework.  She didn't get back until well after midnight, startling Harry, who was dozing off in a chair.

When she entered the tower, via Another dimension door, Hermione paused only long enough to say goodnight to Harry before going to bed.  Feeling a bit frustrated, Harry decided to go up to bed himself.  Harry got to the room to find blood splattered all across the walls, the bodies of his bunkmates strewn about the place in a horribly grotesque manner.  He approached Ron and saw his belly slashed open, and his intestines had been used to tie him up.  He heard a wheezing sound come over from where Neville's body was.  Harry ran over to him in an effort to help him but when he got there, he saw Voldemort crouching on the floor, making the sound.  The Dark Wizard pounced on him and wrapped his hands around Harry's throat.  With an evil look in his eyes, he shoved Harry to the floor and said, "Time to wake up Harry."

Harry nearly knocked Hermione to the floor as he jumped out of the chair, arms swinging.  Once he had calmed down, Harry sat back down to see Hermione standing beside him.  "Are you alright Harry?"

"Y-Yeah.  I'm fine," Harry responded.  "When did you get back?"

"Just a minute ago."

Harry looked at his watch and found it to be just after midnight.  "What took you so long in coming back?"

"Well, Andranos and I sat down and started talking, there where a few things I wanted to ask him about the politics of his country.  It came up a ways through about the house elves here at Hogwarts.  He wanted to go down and have a talk with them and wanted me to go with him.  It turns out the elves do not speak elvish, which he is fluent in, and his translator doesn't work on them, so he needed me as a go-between to talk to them.  I'm going to bed Harry, are you going to sleep in that chair a bit more, or are you going up too?"

"No, I think I'll go to bed, It'd be more comfortable that sleeping here at least."  And with that, he went up to bed, finding no blood, no dead bodies, nothing unusual at all.  There he slept soundly all through the night.