Chapter 16 ~ The Midnight Calling
It was five 'till eleven and the dance was about to end.
"Alright, its time to grab a partner and hold 'em close for the last dance of the night," the lead singer from Linkin Park announced.
~*This is my December*~
~*This is my time of the year*~
~*This is my December*~
~*This is all so clear*~
Harry wrapped his arms around Anistasia's waist and held her close as the song began. She lay her head on Harry's shoulder and looked around as they danced.
"Look at Hermione," she said softly with a smile, "I think she rather likes Fred."
"She does, though, I don't think Ron thinks very kindly about Fred taking Hermione to this ball," Harry replied just as softly, "Ron has told me on many occasions that he fancies Hermione."
~*This is my December*~
~*This is my snow-covered home*~
~*This is my December*~
~*This is me alone*~
"Really," Anistasia asked, "I could have never been able to tell. Ron hides his feelings very well. Of course, I can't always look at that as though it were a good thing."
"Ron seems to have other things on his mind right now," Harry pointed out.
Ron, dancing closely to Angie, was watching Draco dance with Ginny like a hawk.
~*And I'd give it all away*~
~*Just to have somewhere to go to*~
~*Give it all away*~
~*To have someone to come home to*~
"Ron isn't the only one with his eyes on Draco and Ginny," Ani said, referring to Fred and George who were dancing with their partners on opposite sides of the dance floor.
Marcus danced closer to Harry and Ani with Chris in his arms, "I see that the Weasley Brothers aren't going to allow Draco to slip up with their little sis tonight."
Harry laughed, "There isn't a chance in the world. Draco had better be on his best behavior, and it seems as though he has been seeing as no fights have broken out yet."
~*This is my December*~
~*These are my snow-covered trees*~
~*This is me pretending*~
~*This is all I need*~
"Oh, my ----," Chris exclaimed suddenly as she pointed to a dark corner of the dance floor, "Is that…?"
"Snape and Wall," Harry whispered.
It was indeed the two Potion Masters. Harry and Ani made their way closer to the two.
"--- can't be good," Professor Wall was saying, "You shouldn't be here Severus."
"I didn't really come here to dance, my dear, Lauren," he replied, "I just need you to relay the message I have brought for Albus."
"He is in England…"
"I am aware of that, Love. That is why I need you to fly out tonight."
Professor Wall sighed, "I should start out now if I am sure that I will make it by morning."
"No," Professor Snape begged pulling her closer, "At least end the song with me."
~*And I just wish that I didn't feel like there was something I missed*~
~*And I take back all the things I said to make you feel like that*~
~*And I just wish that I didn't feel like there was something I missed*~
~*And I take back all the things that I said to you*~
Harry pulled Ani closer to him. He knew as well as she did what the two professors were talking about. Ani ran a hand down the side of Harry's face and kissed him on the cheek. He knew that he didn't want to see what tomorrow was going to bring.
~*This is my December*~
~*This is my time of the year*~
~*This is my December*~
~*This is all so clear*~
~*Give it all away*~
~*Just to have somewhere to go to*~
~*Give it all away*~
~*To have someone to come home to*~
The last notes of the song died out in the ballroom and Ani and Harry just stood there.
"Thank you everybody! Have a great evening!"
Hermione walked over to them as people began filing out of the ballroom, "Well, don't just stand there! Harry, meet Ani and I in front of our room by no later than eleven twenty. Make sure you have both the invisibility cloak and Ron. Come on, Ani, we have to get your stuff together!"
She pulled Ani away from Harry. He stood there, looking around. Finally, he decided to follow Hermione's orders and went up to the room. Ron was in the common room when Harry arrived.
"Have a good time, Ron," he asked.
"Splendid. Draco is a lucky ol' chap, though. Fred and George caught him giving Ginny a good night kiss. I arrived just in time to keep them from jumping Draco."
"Well, I am going to grab the cloak, then we have to be off. I'll be back in no time."
Harry went to his bed and pulled the invisibility cloak from the duffle bag under his bed. Carefully, he walked back to where Ron was. They both walked out of the room and across the hall. Ani and Hermione were standing outside carrying a large bag of things.
"Ginny seems to have had a great time tonight," Ani informed Ron, "She is prancing around like she had just had her first kiss!"
"She did," Ron grumbled, then turned his attention to the bag in her hand, "What is all of this?"
"Crystal ball, candles, potion ingredients ----"
"Potion ingredients," Ron exclaimed, "You told me that we are conducting a séance, not making a potion!"
"Be quiet, Ron," Hermione ordered, "Of course we aren't making a potion. We need these for summoning charms. Anyways, we had better get a move on."
Harry threw the invisibility cloak over the four of them and Hermione led the way.
"Are you sure you know where you're going, Hermione," Ron asked.
"Yes, I have checked and double checked the map in A History of South Gravewitch School of Magic."
"I'll give ten galleons to anyone who can say that title ten times fast," Harry whispered.
"A History of South Gravewitch School of Magic; A History of South Gravewitch School of Magic; A History ----"
"Ron, shut up! You're going to get us caught!"
Ron hushed immediately and Hermione continued to lead them down corridors and up steps. In no time at all, Harry and the others were lead into the East Tower.
"It is half past eleven. We are making very good time," Hermione whispered.
They climbed the stairs of the tower for another fifteen minutes. The spiral staircase ended abruptly, showing the four young witches and wizards the doorway to their destination.
Ani reached for the door and tried to turn the knob, "Its locked."
"Not surprising," Hermione answered, "Alohomora."
The door's lock made a small "click" and Ani opened the door. Once the four of them were inside and the door was, again, shut and locked, Harry pulled the invisibility cloak off of him and his three companions. The room around them was pitch black.
"Lumos," four voices whispered in unison.
Once their wands began giving off light, Ani walked to the middle of the room.
"We have to work quickly. Its almost twelve," she said, "The three of you take the candles out of my bag and make a huge circle. Make sure unicorn blood outlines the candle base of each one. I will be along to help you as soon as I get my things set up."
They worked for quite some time. Once everything was set up, Ani took the largest candle and set it in the middle of the circle. Ani sat down. The rest followed.
"We are going to work on calling the spirit of Rose first," Anistasia said, "Join hands and close your eyes," they did as Ani said and she continued, "Of the three spirits that haunt this room, Rose Gravewitch, we are calling you. On the night before you were to become a Death Eater, you were killed in this room. I know that you foresaw your death and you foresaw the future of this school. I need to ask you some things about that ----"
A cold wind picked up in the room. Harry gripped Ani's hand tightly. Ani opened her eyes, which were now cold and white. When she spoke, her voice was not her own.
"I am here. Why must you disturb my peace?"
Harry, Ron and Hermione opened their eyes. Scared by the look on her face, Harry and Hermione let go of her hands.
"Rose," Hermione asked.
"Yes, my dear," Rose's spirit answered through Anistasia's body, "Who are you?"
"I am Hermione Granger. Our friend, whose body you have possessed, has been having visions of things – she thinks it is the future. I know that you have seen the future of this school as well as seeing your own death. Do you remember what you saw?"
Ani smiled and Rose's voice spoke, "I have been trying to tell you, through your friend, what is to come. Ever since she saw something in his eyes," she pointed to Harry, "she has been trying to find out what it meant."
"What did she see in my eyes," Harry asked, "Why didn't she tell me that she saw something?"
"She didn't want to scare you," Rose replied, "This girl cares for you very much. She loves you and will follow you wherever you will go…whatever path you choose. It is her destiny, no doubt."
"What is her destiny," Harry asked, "What is my destiny? Does it involve this school? Is that how you know?"
"I tried to tell you earlier today, but her body is too weak, as it is again now. I am slipping…ball…"
Anistasia gasped as Rose's spirit left her body and fell against Harry. He cradled her.
"What just happened," Ani asked; her voice was back to normal and her eyes were green again.
"No time to explain now," Hermione said, "You need to get to the crystal ball. Rose is going to send you something."
Ron spoke up, "Hermione, do you have any respect whatsoever? A ghost has just possessed Anistasia and you want her to work harder. If I didn't know any better, I'd think you were jealous of her. Everyone knows you have been after Harry ever since you laid eyes on him ---"
"Some nerve you have," Hermione exclaimed, "As a matter of fact, I don't have a thing for Harry. If truth be told ---"
"Please, stop arguing," Ani interrupted, "We have to work to ---"
"--- I have liked you for the past five flippin' years," Hermione finished.
Ron, who was sitting beside her, couldn't say a word. After a moment of dead silence, Ron pulled Hermione closer to him and kissed her.
Anistasia smiled, "All right, you two, break it up. We have a job to do."
Hermione reluctantly pulled away and nodded. Ani brought the crystal ball closer to her and placed her hands above it.
"Crystal ball, knowing all, show me what I want to see. Tell me now what I please, to these locked doors I need the keys."
After a moment, Ron asked, "Ani, what do you see?"
"Nothing," she replied, opening her eyes, "Nothing at all."
Harry sighed, "I think it's about time we headed back to our rooms."
Anistasia gathered her stuff and the three others blew out the candles. Hermione unlocked the door and the cloak was thrown over them once again. They headed out. For thirty minutes, they walked, but there was no sign of the dormitories.
"Hermione, where are we," Ron asked.
"Um…we are…lost," she said.
"What do we do now," Ani asked.
"Keep walking," Hermione said, "There is nothing more we can do."
They kept walking and soon found themselves in the entrance hall, which was guarded by prefects.
"Should we ask the prefects for help," Ron asked.
"No," Harry replied, "We will get in horrible trouble if they know what we have been up to. We have to sneak past them."
They began to sneak past, but Anistasia tripped over Ron's foot and sent the group sprawling to the ground. The invisibility cloak slid across the floor, Ani's possessions spilled all over the hall and the four Hogwarts students became visible. The prefects turned to them all piled upon the ground.
"Four students out of bed," one of them chuckled, "and four Hogwarts students at that! Get up! Come with me!"
They got up and three prefects led them to Headmaster Farmer's office. The lead prefect (the one who found them) knocked on the door.
"Come in," the headmaster called.
The prefect opened the door and allowed the Hogwarts students in first. Anistasia was in the lead, followed by Harry, Ron, then Hermione.
"What is the meaning of this, Charles," Headmaster Farmer asked.
"Brian, Drew and I found these four sneaking around," the prefect who found them answered, "They were under an invisibility cloak, which Brian is holding. Drew is carrying the stuff that they had with them."
Headmaster Farmer nodded, "Very well, then. Leave their things and fetch their professors."
"Yes, ma'am."
Brian and Drew placed their things on the headmaster's desk and left with Charles. Harry had a terrible feeling in his stomach. It was one thing to be caught sneaking around Hogwarts after hours but…he couldn't bear to look up at his professors as they walked into the room. Apparently, Madam Hooch, Oliver and Professor Roberts weren't told who the culprits were by the surprised look upon their faces when they spotted Harry.
"Michelle, do you mind if we have a word with them alone," Professor Roberts asked.
"Not at all," Headmaster Farmer replied, "Take your time."
Headmaster Farmer left the room and Professor Roberts turned to the students.
"Anistasia Willow, Ronald Weasley, Hermione Granger and Harry Potter," she began, "The four students I would least expect to see under these circumstances – and Gryffindor students at that. I am aware that I am the least qualified person to be speaking to you right now, but Professor McGonagall will have her words once you return to school as well as a punishment. I will be sending an owl to her as soon as we are done here."
Harry groaned. He has known McGonagall for five years now and he knew that she wouldn't take this report very lightly.
"Of course, before I send the owl to your head of house, I need to get some things out of you," Professor Roberts continued, "First of all whose things are these?"
"The cloak is mine," Harry replied quietly.
"The bag and everything else is mine," Anistasia said just as softly.
"So, Mr. Potter and Ms. Willow, do you mind explaining to me what you were doing with two companions, an invisibility cloak, candles and a crystal ball? Not to mention various potion ingredients including unicorn blood, basilisk scales and black widow venom."
"I will explain, professor," Hermione volunteered, "This whole thing was my brilliant idea. I read about Rose Gravewitch and wanted to speak with her. Harry brought his cloak so we could get up to the East Tower without being seen and Ani brought her Divination supplies so we could conduct a séance."
"What was your role, Mr. Weasley," Professor Roberts asked.
"It was a supporting role, Professor Roberts," he replied in almost a whisper, "I tagged along to help them with their mission."
"It didn't pay off, now did it," she asked, then sighed, "Come with me, Ron and Hermione. I will escort you back to your rooms while Madam Hooch and Coach Wood deals with their end of business."
They left and Madam Hooch stepped up, "As representatives of our school and our Quidditch team, I am ashamed with the both of you. You may have great skill on the field, but if you ruin your reputation by doing stupid things like this, your skills wont be worth anything."
"Yes," Oliver butted in, "I am thoroughly ashamed in both of you!"
Madam Hooch, Ani and Harry looked to Oliver. It was evident that he was just learning how to treat them like students and not teammates.
"Please, Oliver…I think that I should handle this," Madam Hooch said, then continued, "I have half a mind to pull you both out of the game tomorrow, but my best interest has kicked in and, luckily, I wont. If truth were to be told, you two are the best players we have. Your partnership is greater than anything I could have ever seen in amateur Quidditch players both on and off the field. Though, if I hear that either of you step a toe out of line again, it will be my duty to expel you from the House team, do you understand?"
"Yes ma'am," they both answered quietly.
Madam Hooch handed them back their things and led them back to their rooms. As they parted, Harry smiled weakly at Ani and mouthed, "Good night, Love." Ani did the same and they both went to bed.
Headmaster Dumbledore was sitting at his desk and a quill in hand, positioned over the top left hand side of a piece of parchment. The squealing of the feather resounded like deaf complaints. Before words covered half the page, the tawny owl, known as Professor Wall, flew into the open window. The feather stopped and Professor Wall appeared before him.
"Professor," he began, "why aren't you in America?"
"Severus had asked me to relay a message to you," she panted, still trying to catch her breath from the long flight.
"Severus? Does this mean ---?"
"Yes, Headmaster. Voldemort has followed Harry to America and he is planning to attack."
"When?" Dumbledore's voice was sharp and urgent.
"He does not know, sir," Wall replied quietly, "None of the Death Eaters do. Voldemort told them that they would attack when the Dark Mark appears in the sky. I assume it will be one night soon."
"I cannot leave Hogwarts now, if that is what you came here to ask me to do. There are events that will take place soon that I must be here to take care of."
"Events that are more important than the threat of an attack by Voldemort?"
Albus placed the quill on his desk, "The giants that Hagrid had sided with earlier this year has now made a change in the alliance. Voldemort offered them more than I had in return for their loyalty, and the giants believed that Voldemort would give it to them. The giants will attack the school one day soon, and I must make plans to protect the students and the teachers."
"The attack, Headmaster…Harry…"
"I cannot do anything about it at this time. The school is under the threat of a deadly and devastating attack and it is my responsibility as headmaster to be here to defend the school in any way possible. Godric is an America…he is a wiser and stronger wizard than I. Fly back to him and inform him about what is happening. Thus, remember this – we are as strong divided as we are united."
Professor Wall nodded, morphed and flew away. With the gleam of the moonlight, Dumbledore watched her fly away. In his eyes, there was a look as if for the first time in his life, he feared the future.
