26. Frantic Warning
For the next two week and a half, Harry felt like he was floating on clouds. The horror of the O.W.L.s was almost completely erased from his mind. The Gryffindor House was ecstatic to learn that their star Seeker would be flying for them in the Quidditch Cup. that Saturday, he even managed to patch things up with Ginny.
The common room was crowded and they quite literally bumped into each other. "Oh! Harry exclaimed, "Sorry about that."
Ginny didn't quite meet his eyes. "It's all right."
Harry felt the words jamming up in his brain but tried anyway, "I, uh, I guess I'm sorry about a lot of things."
She still didn't meet his eyes and Harry felt himself sinking a bit further into the floor, "I'm sorry I ignored you."
Her eyes finally met his and Harry thought she might start to cry, "Are you?"
"Yeah."
She seemed to consider this for a moment, her expression darkened a touch, "Well you'd better be!" Harry took a half-step back from the unexpected outburst.
"I am! Really!"
She considered again, "Really?"
"Really." Harry eyed her uneasily, still feeling a bit off balance.
She darted forward and grabbed his collar, then kissed him hard.
"Tell you what Harry," she grinned mischievously, "Buy me flowers and we'll call it even." She kissed him again and walked away.
Harry noticed that most of the common room was staring at him. Fred and George's identical faces lit up with identical predatory smiles.
"You just kissed my sister," Fred began.
"Mine too," George chimed in.
Harry blinked, "You mean Ron didn't tell you?"
"Oh no."
"No he didn't."
"I suppose he wanted to protect you." Both boys had come over to stand on either side of Harry.
"Protect me?"
George draped an arm around Harry's shoulder in a friendly fashion, "Oh yes, you see Harry-"
Fred draped his arm across Harry's other shoulder, "You're a marked man now."
Harry found it was suddenly difficult to swallow.
* * *
Despite a dramatic increase in pranks directed his way by the twins, Harry's good spirits continued to hold until the Friday night before the Quidditch cup. Professor McGonagall was walking him back to Gryffindor tower after dinner when the sounding of boots thudding rapidly on stone announced the approach of Ryan Argano. He almost skidded to a halt in front of Professor McGonagall. He was slightly out of breath and looked a bit more high strung than usual.
Professor McGonagall favored him with a worried glance, "What's the matter Ryan?"
"Headmaster Sideson has called an emergency meeting for nine o'clock tonight. He wants to talk about the st-" he caught Harry's curious expression and caught himself, "He says it's very important. Nine o'clock in the Headmaster's lounge."
"Thank you Ryan, I'll be sure to attend."
Argano nodded, "Of course, see you then." He turned and hurried away, presumably to inform someone else.
McGonagall shook her head in concern, "All right Harry, let's get you back to Gryffindor."
Almost as soon as the portrait hole had closed, Harry rushed to find Ron and Hermione. To his relief, they were in the common room. He sat down quickly and whispered, "I need your help?'
Hermione looked startled by his intense expression, "Our help? With what?"
"There's a meeting tonight, about the Staff Draconis. I want to sneak in and see what's going on."
Hermione looked like she might object but Ron leaned forward, "What do we do?"
"The first step is for me to sneak out of the tower. We'll fool the Fat Lady by having you two go out to the library or something, and I'll sneak out in my invisibility cloak."
"You know where the meeting is?"
"I'll use the Marauder's Map. Speaking of, where's Ginny?"
Hermione nodded towards the girls' tower, "In her room, I'll get her." She stood and hurried up the staircase.
Harry nodded to Ron, "Let's go."
They rushed up the spiraling stairs to their room, where Harry threw open his trunk and pulled out his invisibility cloak. A moment later there was a knock on the door and Hermione and Ginny entered. Hermione grabbed Ron and pulled him out of the room and down the stairs.
Ginny held out the map, "Hermione said you needed this?"
Harry nodded, "Thanks."
She sighed a bit wistfully, "Just once I wish I could come with you on one of your adventures." She stepped closer and wrapped her arms around his waist.
Harry nodded and found that, for a wonder, his tongue didn't seem to be tied in knots. "I wish you could come too. But here,' He picked up the rose that had been lying on his nightstand, "you said you wanted flowers."
She took it gingerly, "Thanks." They kissed for a moment, "Be careful, all right?"
"You know it. I'll be back soon." He kissed her again, then pulled on his cloak and hurried down the stairs. Ron and Hermione were loitering by the portrait hole. "Come on," Harry whispered.
Ron went first and held the portrait open for Hermione. Harry slipped out before her and waited till the portrait had closed, then the three of them set off down the corridor. Just as they were about to part ways, Hermione gasped. "Harry, how are you getting back in?"
Harry considered for a moment, "I'll have to back at ten, when the library closes."
Ron nodded, "All right, good luck."
Harry rushed off and, even with the Marauder's map it was difficult to get to the Headmaster's lounge. It was even more difficult since he had to take out of the way routes to avoid the crowd. He arrived at the lounge two minutes before nine and slipped in behind Ryan Argano.
The meeting was comprised of Marcus Sideson, Minerva McGonagall, Ryan Argano, Hagrid, Madame Hooch, and Professor Sprout. Sideson began with little preamble.
"We have received word from Severus Snape that the Death Eaters are planning an all out assault on the castle, and they plan to use apparation. We must repair the Staff Draconis before they can strike."
"Actually," Ryan cut in, "ideally we would repair the Staff during the attack. This would repel anyone that apparates within the grounds in the hour before the Staff is prepared. Repelled quite violently I believe."
Madame Hooch shook her head, "I'm sorry gentlemen, but there's just no way to get to it. The winds surrounding it are too strong."
Ryan ground a fist into his palm, "Then how did it get broken in the first place."
Sideson looked grave, "You all recall the storm on the first night of school? It was a magical storm. Three enchanted lightning strikes skewed the staff from its mounting."
Professor McGonagall folded her arms, "Well, if we got to the staff, how would we fix it?"
"That's the one shred of good news, it just has to be realigned properly."
Hagrid shrugged, "Well how do we know if it's realigned right?"
"I'm told it would be quite obvious, but it's a moot point since the enchanted winds prevent anyone from approaching it."
Argano spoke into the silence, "Have Potter do it."
Professor McGonagall gasped, "What? Send him to his death? Ryan, you know better than anyone the limits of his holding spell. Reactivating that Staff would destroy him."
"I know that, but it's better just him than a couple hundred students."
Professor McGonagall gaped at him, "I can not believe that even you would suggest such a thing! Pragmatism is one thing, but ordering a fifteen year old boy to his own death? That's a decision you can make with soldiers, not students."
Sideson glared at Ryan, "That is not an option, so forget it. If we can't repair the staff, we'd have to evacuate the school. But judging from Snape's communication, there isn't time for that, so we'll have to look to defenses." Here he looked at Ryan, "Professor Argano, are you prepared to do what you must?"
Ryan looked pale and it was the first time Harry wondered just how old he was. He seemed to have aged incredibly since the first time he had seen him. He nodded and rested his hands softly on his guns.
Sideson nodded and turned to Professor McGonagall, "Professors McGonagall and Sprout, will you be able to direct the students in the event of an attack?"
Both nodded.
Madame Hooch raise her hand, "Will we continue with the Quidditch Cup tomorrow?"
Sideson considered for a moment, then nodded, "We need to keep things as normal as we can for the students. The main key is that we are prepared in case of emergency."
Madame Hooch caught his eye, "Should we let Potter fly if there might be an attack?"
"Yes," Professor McGonagall glared fiercely at each of them in turn, "That boy has done more for all of us than we could ever repay him for, I for one am going to keep my word. He deserves that at least."
Sideson seemed to weigh what they said carefully and Harry held his breath. "Very well." Harry silently released his breath in relief.
Sideson clapped his hands together, "All right, we need to alert all the teachers tonight, I want all of them prepared for combat tomorrow if need be."
Professor Sprout raised an eyebrow, "You mean…?"
Sideson nodded, "Yes, we'll spread the word tonight."
Professor McGonagall unrolled a large map of the castle dungeons. "These are the lower chambers and catacombs, we need to identify the most defensible positions and figure out who will go where and what teachers will be responsible for what groups."
Their planning session began from there, with a list of teachers slowly being tallied off for assignments. Harry glanced at his watch, it was almost a quarter to ten and he suddenly had to wonder how he was going to get out without anyone noticing. He began to edge closer to the door, hoping someone would need to leave shortly.
"Hagrid, will you be able to take the fourth year Ravenclaws?"
Hagrid nodded, "Yes Professor, but I can't use magic."
Sideson glanced at Professor Argano, "Sounds like your area of expertise. Take Hagrid and help him prepare." Ryan nodded and stood. He led Hagrid out the door and Harry slopped out behind them.
Harry ducked down a side hallway just as Ryan started taking stock, "All right, so you've got a crossbow right?"
Harry bolted through the dizzying maze of corridors and stairways that connected the staff wing to the main part of the school. At five minutes after ten he skidded around the corner leading to Gryffindor tower. Ron and Hermione were standing there making awkward conversation with the fat lady and Harry felt a pang of guilt for keeping them waiting.
He sidled up next to Ron and whispered, "Sorry I'm late."
The Fat Lady turned to Ron and lifted an eyebrow, "I'm sorry dear did you say something?"
Ron shook his head, "I uh, just had something caught in my throat." He glanced at his watch, "Looks like we should go Hermione."
She nodded quickly, "Oh yes, it is getting late. Thank you for talking to us ma'am. Apple tarts."
"Oh, any time dear," the portrait replied as the canvas swung open.
When the portrait had closed Harry pulled off the cloak. Ron and Hermione turned to him expectantly. "Well," Ron began, "what did you find out?"
Harry considered them both grimly, "The teachers are preparing for war."
Hermione gasped, "War? What are you talking about?"
"Snape sent Sideson a message about an attack, now they're working on evacuation plans, defense strategies, the works."
"When's the attack?"
"It could be as soon as tomorrow." Harry sighed shakily, "I think we'd better get some rest."
Hermione and Ron nodded solemnly and withdrew. Harry headed towards the stairs when a soft voice stopped him. "Harry?"
He turned, "Hi Ginny."
She stood slowly from where she had been waiting on the couch, "Did it go all right?"
"Yes, have you been waiting there all night?"
She batted her eyes shyly, "Yeah, I guess."
He pulled out the Marauder's Map and handed it to her, "Thanks."
She shook her head, "It's yours." She stepped closer and studied his expression, "What's the matter Harry?"
"Tomorrow, I want you t be careful."
"What's going to happen?"
"I don't know, just please, be careful."
She closed the space between them and rested her head against his chest. "You be careful too. I'm not going to lose you am I?"
Harry shook his head. "No." He brought her chin up with his hand, "I promise."
"I'm scared Harry."
He kissed her then and held her as tightly as he could. "So am I Ginny, so am I."
