None of them knew.
"We can't waste time here trying to figure it out. Does anyone have some parchment or paper? And something to write with?"
Hermione had a quill but none of them had parchment or ink.
"Let's get out of here. This place gives me the creeps."
The others turned but Harry continued to stare at the engraving on the wall moving closer and closer.
The others turned when they realized he wasn't following. Harry's finger began to trace the carved words and he was murmuring. As he wiped away ancient dust he saw yet another thing carved upon wall just at the bottom of the circle a smallish looking keyhole.
"What is it Harry?"
"Did you find something?"
Harry pointed out the keyhole.
"I didn't notice that before. Where did it come from?"
"It was covered with dust, layers and layers of it. Almost as if it was intentionally hidden."
"Do you really think so?"
"I'm not sure yet."
"Well we really need to leave its, 11:30 now and it will be even later by the time we get back," Hermione pointed out.
"Yeah," added Ron. "We won't be invisible."
"Let's start walking," Harry told his friends. "I was thinking about that. We could wear the cloak when I go back to the Hospital Wing and then you guys can take it back to Gryffindor Tower and wear it just long enough until right before the Fat Lady would be able to see you then go inside."
"That sounds like it will work but what about Renata when we take you back to the Hospital? Is there enough room for four people under the cloak? Three has been pretty tight."
"Its okay. I told you all that night in the forest that I can manage to not be seen," Renata reminded them.
They came to the blockade of rubble and earth causing a temporary halt in conversation. They continued on their way until they reached the chute they had slid down earlier.
Renata pulled the last bottle of thick green goo out of her pocket. She unscrewed the lid and smeared the goo on the bottoms of her shoes and then on her hands. The others followed her example. Then they began the laborious climb up the inside of the chute. The Chamber was miles under the school and the climb back was exhausting. Only three times did they rest and the rests were not of much comfort because they could only be achieved by clogging the pipe with a few large cushions conjured by Hermione and held in place with a freezing spell and removing them when each break was over. They were all breathless when they reached the top.
The four sat panting when they were back in the bathroom.
"Hey I don't hear Myrtle crying."
"You're right."
They checked and Myrtle was nowhere in sight.
"That's funny she doesn't usually leave here," remarked Hermione.
"Ocassionaly she does," said Harry. "Come on let's put the tap back."
When the sink was back in place Renata extracted something blue, in the shape of a circle, slightly squishy and the size of her thumbnail out of her pocket. "I'm going to disappear now but I'll be right behind all of you."
"But Renata you won't be able to see us," Ron pointed out.
"Then, I'll turn invisible, grab someone's hand, then the rest of you can put the cloak on. How's that?"
Harry, Ron and Hermione lined up. Renata opened her mouth and stuck the blue thing onto the roof of it. She vanished before their eyes. Harry felt someone grab his hand, someone he couldn't see. Then three of them threw the cloak over themselves and left the bathroom. The trip back to the Hospital Wing was a slow one because they all had to travel together.
When they reached the Hospital Wing they all listened hard for any voices or footsteps. When they were sure the coast was clear they went inside.
The four of them slipped behind the curtain around Harry's bed. The duplicate Harry was still lying in the bed. Harry got out from under the cloak and found he couldn't move very far. "Er-Renata could you let go of my hand now?"
"Um-of course." She hastily dropped his hand and took the blue thing out of her mouth, making a face, which of course they saw now that she was visible. "This thing tastes awful. It always does."
"What's it made of?" asked Hermione curiously.
"Uh? Hmm. Lemme think a bit." As she continued to speak she took Harry's hair out of the pocket of the duplicate Harry's pajama pocket and he became a fly once more. "I haven't made one in ages; they last for nearly a year and a half, you know. There was mugwart, pine needles, frog tongue, Bubblegum, and the hair of a Demiguise."
"The hair of a Demiguise? That's hard to find."
"I know, it was. Luckily, that's the only hard to find ingredient in it and it can be used again."
"Its really late and the three of you have class tomorrow, you should be leaving."
"Okay, pajama-boy, get back in that bed, Mister. You are ill and need your rest," Renata scolded with an evil grin.
"I re-grew every bone in my arm in a night once, I don't see why I'm still here."
His friends draped the Invisibility Cloak around themselves.
Before they pulled the hood over their heads Ron looked back, "How do we wipe the map clean?"
"Just point your wand at it and say 'Mischief Managed'."
"Okay."
"Now, Harry," Renata said turning serious. "Try not to kill yourself while we're gone, 'k?"
"Sure." Harry stifled a laugh.
"Attaboy, Harry," she good-naturedly ruffled his hair. "Just promise you won't jump off any brooms," Renata added turning around.
Hermione tapped an impatient foot. "Okay stop it you two; Harry, you need rest, and Renata, stop teasing him, its not nice. Besides it is late and we have a Transfiguration Quiz tomorrow." They pulled the hood over their heads and without being seen left the Hospital. Harry was still exhausted from the long and luckless search rolled over and fell asleep.
Harry spent most of the next morning completing his work from the past day. Around noon Harry received a visitor. In fact he received two. The first came around half past eleven.
"Hello Harry! 'ow's it goin'? Yeh feeling alrigh'?"
Harry shoved the books aside and sat up. "Good morning, Hagrid."
"Sorry, I couldn' come 'n' see yeh before. I woulda come yesterday bu' when I was comin' they said yeh 'ad already gone to sleep."
"I was tired yesterday." It was partly true.
"Guess wot? I'm not s'pposed to tell yeh this bu' I heard Dumbledore'll let yeh leave today."
"Really?"
"Tha's wot I heard. Dumbledore, told me he was gonna tell yeh today. Don' tell 'im I told yeh. I gotta go Harry. I got a class to teach. Ginny Weasly's I think."
"Alright, Hagrid, I'll see you later then."
"Bye, Harry!"
Harry sighed and picked up his books again. Harry wasn't too surprised when at quarter past twelve the Headmaster came to see him.
"Good afternoon, Harry."
"Hello, Professor Dumbledore."
"Resting well I see." His eyes twinkled behind their half moon spectacles. "You will be pleased to hear that you may leave the Hospital Wing today."
"Thank you, Professor."
"I suspect Hagrid already told you that though."
"Did you ever find out why I was knocked out so long?"
"No, Harry, we didn't."
"Then why am I being allowed to leave the hospital?"
Dumbledore drew up a chair and sat down by Harry. "Several reasons, Harry. We can find no illness and therefore know no cure. Also you have missed nearly a week of schoolwork and Quiditch practice. You have a lot catching up to do."
"Professor, did anyone find Neville?"
"No, Harry. No one has seen him since the night he disappeared. Harry, tonight you may return to your dormitory but why don't you stay here today until your classes are over today?"
"Thank you, Professor."
"I'm sure your friends will be down to collect you as soon as they are through with their studies for the day. Goodbye."
"Bye, Professor."
When Ron, Hermione, and Renata arrived Harry had finished his work and put on his robes, ready to leave when they got there; he had made no attempt with his hair because it was a lost cause any day.
"Hey, Harry. Happy V-day," Renata called as she came in.
"What?"
"V-Day, its Valentines Day. Today's the fourteenth. Did you know the house-elves made all the food at breakfast pink?"
"They did," confirmed Hermione.
"I heard everything at dinner tonight will be red."
"Pink is just sickening," said Renata.
"Well I'm just glad I get to leave finally." Harry picked up his books, aided by Ron as there were so many of them.
"So any news on Neville?"
"Not yet. How did Dumbledore tell the school Neville was gone?"
Hermione came up to stand next to Harry, slightly shoving aside Renata in the process. "Yesterday he said 'We have some unfortunate news. One of our students, Neville Longbottom of the Gryffindor House, is missing. If anyone knows where he is or what happened to him please report to one of the teachers. Thank you.' And that was all he said on the subject."
"We'll have to think that one over. In the meantime we've got some time to kill before dinner anybody up for a game of Monopoly?" asked Renata.
"Monopoly?" asked Ron.
"It's a Muggle game. Its fun but it takes a while to play. I'll teach you."
They reached the common room.
Renata ran up to her dorm to get the game. She came back down moments later. "This was buried pretty far in my trunk."
"Renata," asked Ron as Renata was dealing out money. "How is it you know so much about Muggle stuff? Like this game."
Automatically Harry answered. "She's part Muggle."
Ron looked up at Harry. "How do you know?"
"She told us she's part Muggle. I don't really remember when though."
"Half credit for remembering I said it but points off for not knowing when," grinned Renata.
"What?"
"Forget it. Everyone choose a little piece here to put on the board then take one of these stacks of money I counted out."
The car, the boat, the horse, and the shoe were put on the board.
"Alright. We'll take turns rolling the dice. You move the number of spaces that are on the dice. If you land on an unowned property you can buy it so other people will owe you money when they land on it. If you land on a property that's owned you've got to pay up. When you have all the properties of the same color you can buy houses or hotels to put on them a property, basically if you do that people owe you more cash when they land on it. Got it? Let's play."
The game went rather slowly as Ron and Harry had never really played before. Harry hadn't played because no one had ever been willing to play with him.
"Oh yeah I got Boardwalk!" cheered Renata. She started singing under her breath as she moved her shoe to the dark blue space labeled Boardwalk. "These boots are made for walking."
Ron nudged Harry, "She's cracked."
"Am not. You sir, now owe me fifty dollars if you should be so unlucky as to land on Boardwalk. Worse the luck once I get Park Place and add houses and a hotel," Renata told Ron.
"Yeah, yeah. Just give me the dice." Ron rolled the dice. "Pennsylvania Avenue! I'll take it."
The pieces continued to move around the board and money flew back and forward.
The last roll before dinner was Harry's. He moved the silver horse piece eight spaces.
"You landed on Park Place, Harry!"
"Harry I'll give you twice what that property is worth if you sell it!" cried Renata.
"Harry don't sell it, she'll be able to get a lot of money out of it."
Harry thought a moment. The only other properties he had were Marvin Gardens and St. James Place. "Renata, I want the other two yellow properties, the other two orange, and five hundred dollars."
"You drive a tough bargain but here you go." Renata handed over the five hundred dollars and the four properties.
"Here's Park Place."
"Yes! Once I put a hotel on Boardwalk it will be worth $2000 each time someone lands on it. I don't know the exchange of it into galleons or pounds though."
"Alright already let's go down to dinner," Hermione said standing up.
"Yeah, c'mon."
They joined the others going to the Great Hall. As had been predicted most of the food had been turned pink and red. As Harry was about to sit down when he heard a voice behind him.
"Hi, Harry. How are you? Are you feeling okay?"
It was Ginny Weasly and she was blushing, a lot.
"Er-hi, Ginny. I'm fine, I guess."
"That's good." She sat down next to him bit didn't say a word to him the rest of the meal.
"Ron?"
"What, Hermione?" He said through a mouthful of flamingo pink mashed potatoes.
She seemed about to say something important but just frowned and said, "Ron, you've got some potato on your chin."
Renata reached over and handed Ron a napkin. "Boy, you're a messy eater," Remarked laughing.
A few moments later Harry looked over to where Hermione sat beside Renata; he wasn't sure but it seemed to him that Hermione had moved her chair a few inches farther away from Renata. Harry shook his head.
"What is it?" asked Ron.
"Nothing. Renata, I'm going to go tell Fred and George that we've got practice as soon as dinner is over. Will you go tell Alicia, Angelina, and Katie?"
"Why don't you go tell them when you tell Fred and George? They are all sitting pretty close."
Harry didn't reply.
"Fine, you big baby. I'll go tell all five of them." Renata got up and walked to where the other Quiditch members were sitting. Harry followed her. "Alright, the Captain here," Renata jerked her head toward Harry, "Says we got practice as soon as dinner is over. Okay, you two, what's wrong?"
Fred and George were wearing glum expressions, but knowing them it could easily be some sort of joke.
"The girls didn't want to give us Valentines Day kisses."
"Is that all? Here." She stuck her hands in her pockets and pulled out a handful of Hershey's Chocolate Kisses. "Hershey's Chocolate Kisses. Knock yourself out."
She went back to her seat and after a moment the twins stuffed the chocolates in their mouths.
When Harry was back in his seat Ron asked, "What was that about?"
"Your crazy brothers." Harry looked over and the twins were smiling and they had several pieces of foil fitted on their noses.
When the meal was over Harry and Renata said goodbye to Ron and Hermione.
Renata called, "Don't mess up the Monopoly board while I'm gone!"
The seven members on the Gryffindor team made their way through the Great Hall and out onto the Quiditch field. "Alright, I've been gone nearly a week how has practice been?"
"Grueling," proclaimed Fred.
"Absolutely exhausting," announced George.
"I'm sure." Harry said sarcastically.
Katie spoke up. "That's not fair to say Harry. We had one easy practice led by Fred and George but then Renata made us come to three more and they were really hard."
"Sorry. I just really want to win that match against Slytherin."
"We will."
"Then after that we'll go on to win the match against they Angels Academy."
Renata grinned. "I'd like to see how that team has been keeping up without me. That is, if my old team wins to play against us."
"Let's start practice." They flew around the field for two hours; catching and throwing the Quaffle, dodging and hitting Bludgers, and catching the Snitch. It was a good, long practice.
"I'll put the balls back in the shed, the rest of you can go inside." Harry told them.
Renata came over. "Here, I'll help with the box." She grabbed one end of the wooden crate. "Harry, is it just me or did Hermione seem a bit distant at dinner?"
"I dunno."
"She seemed upset and mad at me."
Harry locked up the shed. "I don't know what to say."
"Well obviously you're no help," she shook her head. "C'mon let's go in then."
They reached the common room and wanted to resume the board game but Hermione insisted they all had too much homework. They were working late into the night. Hermione, after finishing her homework had begun studying for the O.W.L.s.
"Hermione, you've been studying since mid-January. We don't take the tests 'til the end of the year," complained Ron.
"Well I've got to study everything we've learned since coming here, don't I! I should have started studying at Christmas. Why didn't I?" She returned to her book.
As it grew later people left the common room to go to bed. Harry and Ron left Hermione and Renata as the only ones in the room. Renata wasn't really studying anymore; she just wanted to make sure Hermione didn't stay downstairs all night.
Harry had just put his pajamas on when he realized he had left his particularly hard Transfiguration assignment on the table. He did not want to have to redo it so he started down the stairs. He was almost at the bottom of the steps when he heard voices. One seemed angry, the other relatively calm but a bit confused.
"Why do you always hang around him then?" Hermione asked angrily.
"I'm not interested in him," came Renata's reply. "Why are you mad at me? I thought we were friends, Hermione."
"You're trying to replace me," mumbled Hermione.
"Hermione, come on, you're my best friend. I wouldn't do something like that."
"Then why do you hang around him so much?"
"What are you talking about Hermione? The four of us hang out. It's all friendly. Isn't it? You, me, Harry and Ron, we're all friends."
"Well.!"
"Hermione calm down. You are just really stressed out and I for one don't blame you on it. I mean, come on. We are all upset. Between studying, and the attack last week, Harry's health and now Neville missing too. We are all a bit on the high tension side right now."
Harry heard someone sobbing.
"Come on, Hermione. I think you need to get to bed now. It's been a long week and a hard day." Harry briefly looked down to see Renata leading Hermione up the girls' staircase. When they were gone Harry went down to get his homework. He sat in front of the fire for a few minutes thinking about what he heard and coming to no logical conclusion. He went back upstairs and went to sleep.
Harry had had trouble deciding whether or not to tell Ron about the argument he had heard. He decided against it.
Harry woke up and got dressed. He would be going to his lessons today. He groaned.
On the way down to breakfast Harry saw Seamus and Dean.
"Hi, Harry."
"Long time no see. You were gone nearly a week and we didn't see much of you yesterday. How've you been?"
"Not bad." He saw Ron and Hermione standing off to the side with Renata. "I'll see you two in class." Harry moved off to walk with the others the rest of the way to breakfast and to a very easy first day back.
In Herbology they pruned the singing tulips. History of Magic they took dull notes about a witch named Catalina. The day ended with a review of calling charms in Professor Flitwick's class.
The next day however, when Harry awoke the dorm was empty. He looked at his watch and realized he had overslept. He hurriedly got dressed and went down to breakfast.
"Hey, glad to see you're awake," Renata said.
"Well, I didn't see any reason to wake up. We've got Snape first thing," replied Harry.
"Yeah, but you've got to remember there's always a choice," Renata told him. "You can grin about it and think about the best way to cause trouble in his class or you can gripe about it and think about what the punishment will be when you get caught for making trouble in his class. Then spend detention imagining a swarm of bees attacking him."
All four of them burst out laughing.
Renata flashed one of her extremely common grins. "Laughing is after all the best way to start the day y'know. Even a day with Snape."
After breakfast the Gryffindor fifth years joined the Slytherin fifth years down in the dungeon. Snape came in, "What are you all waiting for? Move along now!"
As usual Harry, Ron, Hermione, and Renata chose seats together near the back of class.
"Today we will be concocting blinding solutions. Take down these notes." He began discussing the ingredients and their importance.
Ron whispered to Harry, "So what do you think?"
"About what?"
I've been talking to you for nearly ten minutes, Harry. Weren't you listening?"
"Sorry, Ron, my head hurts."
"Its not your scar, is it, Harry?"
"No, go back to what you were saying."
"Never mind, Snape's coming."
"Weasly, ten points from Gryffindor and add another scoop of beetle eyes. Potter! Add another vile of liquid silver. Longbottom, your potion is- oh he's not here. Good, then maybe the room will stay in one piece today."
Harry heard Renata whisper to Hermione. "That was malicious. We're all worried sick about Neville and he goes and says that. Its just cruel."
Hermione nodded.
Harry made a mental note to ask Renata if she had had any word from her friend Vanessa.
The rest of the class period passed slowly. Snape, because of Neville's absence kept trying to find someone else to pick on. First it was Renata.
"Delano! How many rose thorns are supposed to be in this potion?"
"Sixteen, Professor."
"How many basil leaves?"
"None, but you should use three thyme leaves. Oh, and harder questions next time would be nice; unless of course you don't know any, that is."
"Ten points from Gryffindor for talking back and a detention Delano."
After that Snape seemed to give up on Renata and he moved on to critizing Harry.
As soon as they were out of the room, Renata remarked, "If that's the best he can do he's losing his touch. Besides, detention can't be that bad and we can make up the lost points in our next class. Boring, how he always says he's taking ten points, be nice if he varied it with an occasional seven or thirteen."
"Why were you talking back anyway?"
"Ah. He'd have taken points and given me a detention anyway; isn't it better if I earn it first? More fun anyway."
As was to be expected things were much better in Defense Against the Dark Arts class.
"Today we shall begin our work with shield spells. There are many types of shield spells. There are some that guard you from physically being hurt such as causing a punch to slide off you. But there are other kinds that will protect you from magically being harmed. Can anyone name a type of either of these spells?"
Hermione's hand shot up. "There's the meter spell, nothing can come within a meter of you for ten minutes after the spell has been performed. Its like they run into an invisible wall."
"Very good but does that work on physical harm, spell harm, or both?"
"Only physical. If someone throws a spell at you it will get through."
"Excellent ten points to Gryffindor."
They took notes through out the lesson and at the end of class tested the spell. Professor Delano conjured a stack of pillows beside her. "Each of you, please take a pillow and a partner."
Everyone went in two lines to take pillows. Harry ended up as Renata's partner; Dean and Seamus were together, as were Ron and Hermione, and Lavender and Parvati.
"Now everyone I want you to take turns practicing the spell. One of you uses the shield spell the other attempts to hit him or her. If the shield works you won't be hit; if it doesn't, well that's why you are using pillows and not rocks. Begin."
"I'll go first." Harry set up the spell and took a step backward as he rubbed his head. "Ow!"
"That will teach you to do the spell right. Look, Harry, you skipped the middle part, blockadoris. Now is it really that hard?" Renata performed the spell and dared Harry to hit her with a book.
"No. I don't hit girls. I'm only throwing this pillow at you because it's a class assignment."
"You 'don't hit girls'? What are we weaker than you? I think that sore head of yours will say something about that if you don't get the spell right next time, now throw that at me."
Harry picked up the pillow. His aim was off and he missed her by a foot and a half.
"What was that? I'm not standing over there! Hit me."
He picked up her pillow and this time his aim was true but a meter in front of Renata the pillow seemed to hit an invisible something and slide down.
"Much better throw. My turn."
They switched off several times and each time Harry was still getting hit in the face.
"Harry, you've got to twitch your wand." The pillow hit Harry in the stomach.
"Harry, its pronounced en-vor-toll-is." He was hit in the leg.
"Harry."
She threw the pillow at him, this time it slid down more than three feet away.
"Harry.well done."
Harry looked over to where Dean and Seamus were. Dean was kicking the pillow like a soccer ball and it seemed to hit Seamus's face nearly every time.
By the time the Professor dismissed the class almost all of them had mastered the spell.
After lunch the fifth year Gryffindors and Slytherins went out onto the grounds to Hagrid's hut.
Hagrid ran over to Harry. "Got a surprise today. Harry come 'elp me. We're gonna see the centaurs. Yeh remember Bane and Firenze and Ronan? Them an' one o' their friends are gonna come."
"Really?"
"Yeah. Yeh wanna come with me the bring 'em over to everyone?"
"Okay."
Hagrid led Harry to the forest. Four centaurs were waiting.
Harry vaguely recognized Ronan, Firenze, and Bane but there was another totally unknown to him. This one was a tan color and she wore a crown of leaves and flowers.
Hagrid leaned down. "Harry stay with 'em while I talk to the students." Harry nodded.
"Greetings, Harry Potter," called Firenze.
Bane stepped forward, "How can you stand there, Harry Potter? It has been written many times in the stars of your death but yet you stand alive and whole."
Ronan pawed the ground; "He stands alive because he must." He spoke in his voice full of sorrow as always.
The other centaur spoke, "I am Aursula, and these are my brothers. Please excuse Bane's hot temper. The stars are not speaking as clearly to him as they once did. As Firenze told you, greetings, Harry Potter."
"Greetings, Aursula."
"Harry Potter, I must warn you the stars predict much hardship for you and possible destruction. Do you still plan to face whatever may come?" asked Aursula. She stared in his eyes and he knew he could not lie.
"I'll try but I don't know that I'll succeed."
"That is all we can ask of you; for should fail, all free creatures of the world are doomed."
Ronan murmured, "So much shall rest on such young shoulders."
It was then that Hagrid came back. "Let's go."
The centaurs told the class about how the stars told them of the future and the story of when centaurs first came to the forest at Hogwarts. When Draco Malfoy was sniggering Bane held his shoulders and kicked him with a hoofed leg, hard enough but not too hard.
Then class was over. Harry felt a strong arm pull him back. It was Firenze.
"Come to the edge of the forest at midnight if you wish to learn more of your destiny. Come alone or you shall not be able to find us." All four centaurs disappeared into the trees.
Harry caught up with his friends.
"What is it Harry?"
"The centaurs." In a quiet voice Harry told his friends what the centaurs had told him before they spoke to the class and what Firenze had said after.
Fifteen minutes later in a corner of the common room the four of them were going over the details.
Renata had the most questions, as she had never heard of when Harry met the centaurs in his first year. "Okay, so you met three of these centaurs in your first year. That's all of them, except the girl.what was her name?"
"Aursula."
"Right. So the four of them were ranting about your destruction, you all went over to the class, they talked to us and then they told you to meet them alone in a dangerous forest in the middle of the night. Are you actually going to go?"
"I think so. But they weren't ranting. Bane said the stars predicted my death many times and he couldn't understand how I was still here. Then Ronan said I was here because I had to be. Then Aursula told me that I would have a lot of problems ahead of me and she asked if I would face them."
"What did you say?"
"She had these eyes you couldn't lie to. I told her I would try."
"What did she say?" Hermione asked quietly.
"If I failed.the free world would be at an end."
Renata, with her head bowed, asked once more: "Will you go?" She looked up straight into Harry's emerald green eyes.
Harry couldn't speak.
Ron and Hermione looking at him, as well as Renata staring in his eyes, all knew his answer without a single word being spoken.
Harry could take it no longer. He stood up and left. Renata rose to go after him but was held back with gentle but firm hands on each shoulder.
"He needs to be alone."
Harry heard the words and was grateful. He needed somewhere to be alone. For nearly an hour he walked around the castle not speaking to anyone nor paying attention to where his feet took him. Harry ended up in front of a set of stairs he had never seen before. Throwing aside any possible caution Harry continued on up the stairs.
The room Harry entered was strange. There were newspapers everywhere, empty bottles of ink, and a few old wooden chairs. Thick dust covered everything.
Harry stepped into the room fully and heard the door slam behind him. He turned, seeing no one he went to inspect the newspapers. He expected to find plethora of old issues from the Daily Prophet, but they weren't.
"We can't waste time here trying to figure it out. Does anyone have some parchment or paper? And something to write with?"
Hermione had a quill but none of them had parchment or ink.
"Let's get out of here. This place gives me the creeps."
The others turned but Harry continued to stare at the engraving on the wall moving closer and closer.
The others turned when they realized he wasn't following. Harry's finger began to trace the carved words and he was murmuring. As he wiped away ancient dust he saw yet another thing carved upon wall just at the bottom of the circle a smallish looking keyhole.
"What is it Harry?"
"Did you find something?"
Harry pointed out the keyhole.
"I didn't notice that before. Where did it come from?"
"It was covered with dust, layers and layers of it. Almost as if it was intentionally hidden."
"Do you really think so?"
"I'm not sure yet."
"Well we really need to leave its, 11:30 now and it will be even later by the time we get back," Hermione pointed out.
"Yeah," added Ron. "We won't be invisible."
"Let's start walking," Harry told his friends. "I was thinking about that. We could wear the cloak when I go back to the Hospital Wing and then you guys can take it back to Gryffindor Tower and wear it just long enough until right before the Fat Lady would be able to see you then go inside."
"That sounds like it will work but what about Renata when we take you back to the Hospital? Is there enough room for four people under the cloak? Three has been pretty tight."
"Its okay. I told you all that night in the forest that I can manage to not be seen," Renata reminded them.
They came to the blockade of rubble and earth causing a temporary halt in conversation. They continued on their way until they reached the chute they had slid down earlier.
Renata pulled the last bottle of thick green goo out of her pocket. She unscrewed the lid and smeared the goo on the bottoms of her shoes and then on her hands. The others followed her example. Then they began the laborious climb up the inside of the chute. The Chamber was miles under the school and the climb back was exhausting. Only three times did they rest and the rests were not of much comfort because they could only be achieved by clogging the pipe with a few large cushions conjured by Hermione and held in place with a freezing spell and removing them when each break was over. They were all breathless when they reached the top.
The four sat panting when they were back in the bathroom.
"Hey I don't hear Myrtle crying."
"You're right."
They checked and Myrtle was nowhere in sight.
"That's funny she doesn't usually leave here," remarked Hermione.
"Ocassionaly she does," said Harry. "Come on let's put the tap back."
When the sink was back in place Renata extracted something blue, in the shape of a circle, slightly squishy and the size of her thumbnail out of her pocket. "I'm going to disappear now but I'll be right behind all of you."
"But Renata you won't be able to see us," Ron pointed out.
"Then, I'll turn invisible, grab someone's hand, then the rest of you can put the cloak on. How's that?"
Harry, Ron and Hermione lined up. Renata opened her mouth and stuck the blue thing onto the roof of it. She vanished before their eyes. Harry felt someone grab his hand, someone he couldn't see. Then three of them threw the cloak over themselves and left the bathroom. The trip back to the Hospital Wing was a slow one because they all had to travel together.
When they reached the Hospital Wing they all listened hard for any voices or footsteps. When they were sure the coast was clear they went inside.
The four of them slipped behind the curtain around Harry's bed. The duplicate Harry was still lying in the bed. Harry got out from under the cloak and found he couldn't move very far. "Er-Renata could you let go of my hand now?"
"Um-of course." She hastily dropped his hand and took the blue thing out of her mouth, making a face, which of course they saw now that she was visible. "This thing tastes awful. It always does."
"What's it made of?" asked Hermione curiously.
"Uh? Hmm. Lemme think a bit." As she continued to speak she took Harry's hair out of the pocket of the duplicate Harry's pajama pocket and he became a fly once more. "I haven't made one in ages; they last for nearly a year and a half, you know. There was mugwart, pine needles, frog tongue, Bubblegum, and the hair of a Demiguise."
"The hair of a Demiguise? That's hard to find."
"I know, it was. Luckily, that's the only hard to find ingredient in it and it can be used again."
"Its really late and the three of you have class tomorrow, you should be leaving."
"Okay, pajama-boy, get back in that bed, Mister. You are ill and need your rest," Renata scolded with an evil grin.
"I re-grew every bone in my arm in a night once, I don't see why I'm still here."
His friends draped the Invisibility Cloak around themselves.
Before they pulled the hood over their heads Ron looked back, "How do we wipe the map clean?"
"Just point your wand at it and say 'Mischief Managed'."
"Okay."
"Now, Harry," Renata said turning serious. "Try not to kill yourself while we're gone, 'k?"
"Sure." Harry stifled a laugh.
"Attaboy, Harry," she good-naturedly ruffled his hair. "Just promise you won't jump off any brooms," Renata added turning around.
Hermione tapped an impatient foot. "Okay stop it you two; Harry, you need rest, and Renata, stop teasing him, its not nice. Besides it is late and we have a Transfiguration Quiz tomorrow." They pulled the hood over their heads and without being seen left the Hospital. Harry was still exhausted from the long and luckless search rolled over and fell asleep.
Harry spent most of the next morning completing his work from the past day. Around noon Harry received a visitor. In fact he received two. The first came around half past eleven.
"Hello Harry! 'ow's it goin'? Yeh feeling alrigh'?"
Harry shoved the books aside and sat up. "Good morning, Hagrid."
"Sorry, I couldn' come 'n' see yeh before. I woulda come yesterday bu' when I was comin' they said yeh 'ad already gone to sleep."
"I was tired yesterday." It was partly true.
"Guess wot? I'm not s'pposed to tell yeh this bu' I heard Dumbledore'll let yeh leave today."
"Really?"
"Tha's wot I heard. Dumbledore, told me he was gonna tell yeh today. Don' tell 'im I told yeh. I gotta go Harry. I got a class to teach. Ginny Weasly's I think."
"Alright, Hagrid, I'll see you later then."
"Bye, Harry!"
Harry sighed and picked up his books again. Harry wasn't too surprised when at quarter past twelve the Headmaster came to see him.
"Good afternoon, Harry."
"Hello, Professor Dumbledore."
"Resting well I see." His eyes twinkled behind their half moon spectacles. "You will be pleased to hear that you may leave the Hospital Wing today."
"Thank you, Professor."
"I suspect Hagrid already told you that though."
"Did you ever find out why I was knocked out so long?"
"No, Harry, we didn't."
"Then why am I being allowed to leave the hospital?"
Dumbledore drew up a chair and sat down by Harry. "Several reasons, Harry. We can find no illness and therefore know no cure. Also you have missed nearly a week of schoolwork and Quiditch practice. You have a lot catching up to do."
"Professor, did anyone find Neville?"
"No, Harry. No one has seen him since the night he disappeared. Harry, tonight you may return to your dormitory but why don't you stay here today until your classes are over today?"
"Thank you, Professor."
"I'm sure your friends will be down to collect you as soon as they are through with their studies for the day. Goodbye."
"Bye, Professor."
When Ron, Hermione, and Renata arrived Harry had finished his work and put on his robes, ready to leave when they got there; he had made no attempt with his hair because it was a lost cause any day.
"Hey, Harry. Happy V-day," Renata called as she came in.
"What?"
"V-Day, its Valentines Day. Today's the fourteenth. Did you know the house-elves made all the food at breakfast pink?"
"They did," confirmed Hermione.
"I heard everything at dinner tonight will be red."
"Pink is just sickening," said Renata.
"Well I'm just glad I get to leave finally." Harry picked up his books, aided by Ron as there were so many of them.
"So any news on Neville?"
"Not yet. How did Dumbledore tell the school Neville was gone?"
Hermione came up to stand next to Harry, slightly shoving aside Renata in the process. "Yesterday he said 'We have some unfortunate news. One of our students, Neville Longbottom of the Gryffindor House, is missing. If anyone knows where he is or what happened to him please report to one of the teachers. Thank you.' And that was all he said on the subject."
"We'll have to think that one over. In the meantime we've got some time to kill before dinner anybody up for a game of Monopoly?" asked Renata.
"Monopoly?" asked Ron.
"It's a Muggle game. Its fun but it takes a while to play. I'll teach you."
They reached the common room.
Renata ran up to her dorm to get the game. She came back down moments later. "This was buried pretty far in my trunk."
"Renata," asked Ron as Renata was dealing out money. "How is it you know so much about Muggle stuff? Like this game."
Automatically Harry answered. "She's part Muggle."
Ron looked up at Harry. "How do you know?"
"She told us she's part Muggle. I don't really remember when though."
"Half credit for remembering I said it but points off for not knowing when," grinned Renata.
"What?"
"Forget it. Everyone choose a little piece here to put on the board then take one of these stacks of money I counted out."
The car, the boat, the horse, and the shoe were put on the board.
"Alright. We'll take turns rolling the dice. You move the number of spaces that are on the dice. If you land on an unowned property you can buy it so other people will owe you money when they land on it. If you land on a property that's owned you've got to pay up. When you have all the properties of the same color you can buy houses or hotels to put on them a property, basically if you do that people owe you more cash when they land on it. Got it? Let's play."
The game went rather slowly as Ron and Harry had never really played before. Harry hadn't played because no one had ever been willing to play with him.
"Oh yeah I got Boardwalk!" cheered Renata. She started singing under her breath as she moved her shoe to the dark blue space labeled Boardwalk. "These boots are made for walking."
Ron nudged Harry, "She's cracked."
"Am not. You sir, now owe me fifty dollars if you should be so unlucky as to land on Boardwalk. Worse the luck once I get Park Place and add houses and a hotel," Renata told Ron.
"Yeah, yeah. Just give me the dice." Ron rolled the dice. "Pennsylvania Avenue! I'll take it."
The pieces continued to move around the board and money flew back and forward.
The last roll before dinner was Harry's. He moved the silver horse piece eight spaces.
"You landed on Park Place, Harry!"
"Harry I'll give you twice what that property is worth if you sell it!" cried Renata.
"Harry don't sell it, she'll be able to get a lot of money out of it."
Harry thought a moment. The only other properties he had were Marvin Gardens and St. James Place. "Renata, I want the other two yellow properties, the other two orange, and five hundred dollars."
"You drive a tough bargain but here you go." Renata handed over the five hundred dollars and the four properties.
"Here's Park Place."
"Yes! Once I put a hotel on Boardwalk it will be worth $2000 each time someone lands on it. I don't know the exchange of it into galleons or pounds though."
"Alright already let's go down to dinner," Hermione said standing up.
"Yeah, c'mon."
They joined the others going to the Great Hall. As had been predicted most of the food had been turned pink and red. As Harry was about to sit down when he heard a voice behind him.
"Hi, Harry. How are you? Are you feeling okay?"
It was Ginny Weasly and she was blushing, a lot.
"Er-hi, Ginny. I'm fine, I guess."
"That's good." She sat down next to him bit didn't say a word to him the rest of the meal.
"Ron?"
"What, Hermione?" He said through a mouthful of flamingo pink mashed potatoes.
She seemed about to say something important but just frowned and said, "Ron, you've got some potato on your chin."
Renata reached over and handed Ron a napkin. "Boy, you're a messy eater," Remarked laughing.
A few moments later Harry looked over to where Hermione sat beside Renata; he wasn't sure but it seemed to him that Hermione had moved her chair a few inches farther away from Renata. Harry shook his head.
"What is it?" asked Ron.
"Nothing. Renata, I'm going to go tell Fred and George that we've got practice as soon as dinner is over. Will you go tell Alicia, Angelina, and Katie?"
"Why don't you go tell them when you tell Fred and George? They are all sitting pretty close."
Harry didn't reply.
"Fine, you big baby. I'll go tell all five of them." Renata got up and walked to where the other Quiditch members were sitting. Harry followed her. "Alright, the Captain here," Renata jerked her head toward Harry, "Says we got practice as soon as dinner is over. Okay, you two, what's wrong?"
Fred and George were wearing glum expressions, but knowing them it could easily be some sort of joke.
"The girls didn't want to give us Valentines Day kisses."
"Is that all? Here." She stuck her hands in her pockets and pulled out a handful of Hershey's Chocolate Kisses. "Hershey's Chocolate Kisses. Knock yourself out."
She went back to her seat and after a moment the twins stuffed the chocolates in their mouths.
When Harry was back in his seat Ron asked, "What was that about?"
"Your crazy brothers." Harry looked over and the twins were smiling and they had several pieces of foil fitted on their noses.
When the meal was over Harry and Renata said goodbye to Ron and Hermione.
Renata called, "Don't mess up the Monopoly board while I'm gone!"
The seven members on the Gryffindor team made their way through the Great Hall and out onto the Quiditch field. "Alright, I've been gone nearly a week how has practice been?"
"Grueling," proclaimed Fred.
"Absolutely exhausting," announced George.
"I'm sure." Harry said sarcastically.
Katie spoke up. "That's not fair to say Harry. We had one easy practice led by Fred and George but then Renata made us come to three more and they were really hard."
"Sorry. I just really want to win that match against Slytherin."
"We will."
"Then after that we'll go on to win the match against they Angels Academy."
Renata grinned. "I'd like to see how that team has been keeping up without me. That is, if my old team wins to play against us."
"Let's start practice." They flew around the field for two hours; catching and throwing the Quaffle, dodging and hitting Bludgers, and catching the Snitch. It was a good, long practice.
"I'll put the balls back in the shed, the rest of you can go inside." Harry told them.
Renata came over. "Here, I'll help with the box." She grabbed one end of the wooden crate. "Harry, is it just me or did Hermione seem a bit distant at dinner?"
"I dunno."
"She seemed upset and mad at me."
Harry locked up the shed. "I don't know what to say."
"Well obviously you're no help," she shook her head. "C'mon let's go in then."
They reached the common room and wanted to resume the board game but Hermione insisted they all had too much homework. They were working late into the night. Hermione, after finishing her homework had begun studying for the O.W.L.s.
"Hermione, you've been studying since mid-January. We don't take the tests 'til the end of the year," complained Ron.
"Well I've got to study everything we've learned since coming here, don't I! I should have started studying at Christmas. Why didn't I?" She returned to her book.
As it grew later people left the common room to go to bed. Harry and Ron left Hermione and Renata as the only ones in the room. Renata wasn't really studying anymore; she just wanted to make sure Hermione didn't stay downstairs all night.
Harry had just put his pajamas on when he realized he had left his particularly hard Transfiguration assignment on the table. He did not want to have to redo it so he started down the stairs. He was almost at the bottom of the steps when he heard voices. One seemed angry, the other relatively calm but a bit confused.
"Why do you always hang around him then?" Hermione asked angrily.
"I'm not interested in him," came Renata's reply. "Why are you mad at me? I thought we were friends, Hermione."
"You're trying to replace me," mumbled Hermione.
"Hermione, come on, you're my best friend. I wouldn't do something like that."
"Then why do you hang around him so much?"
"What are you talking about Hermione? The four of us hang out. It's all friendly. Isn't it? You, me, Harry and Ron, we're all friends."
"Well.!"
"Hermione calm down. You are just really stressed out and I for one don't blame you on it. I mean, come on. We are all upset. Between studying, and the attack last week, Harry's health and now Neville missing too. We are all a bit on the high tension side right now."
Harry heard someone sobbing.
"Come on, Hermione. I think you need to get to bed now. It's been a long week and a hard day." Harry briefly looked down to see Renata leading Hermione up the girls' staircase. When they were gone Harry went down to get his homework. He sat in front of the fire for a few minutes thinking about what he heard and coming to no logical conclusion. He went back upstairs and went to sleep.
Harry had had trouble deciding whether or not to tell Ron about the argument he had heard. He decided against it.
Harry woke up and got dressed. He would be going to his lessons today. He groaned.
On the way down to breakfast Harry saw Seamus and Dean.
"Hi, Harry."
"Long time no see. You were gone nearly a week and we didn't see much of you yesterday. How've you been?"
"Not bad." He saw Ron and Hermione standing off to the side with Renata. "I'll see you two in class." Harry moved off to walk with the others the rest of the way to breakfast and to a very easy first day back.
In Herbology they pruned the singing tulips. History of Magic they took dull notes about a witch named Catalina. The day ended with a review of calling charms in Professor Flitwick's class.
The next day however, when Harry awoke the dorm was empty. He looked at his watch and realized he had overslept. He hurriedly got dressed and went down to breakfast.
"Hey, glad to see you're awake," Renata said.
"Well, I didn't see any reason to wake up. We've got Snape first thing," replied Harry.
"Yeah, but you've got to remember there's always a choice," Renata told him. "You can grin about it and think about the best way to cause trouble in his class or you can gripe about it and think about what the punishment will be when you get caught for making trouble in his class. Then spend detention imagining a swarm of bees attacking him."
All four of them burst out laughing.
Renata flashed one of her extremely common grins. "Laughing is after all the best way to start the day y'know. Even a day with Snape."
After breakfast the Gryffindor fifth years joined the Slytherin fifth years down in the dungeon. Snape came in, "What are you all waiting for? Move along now!"
As usual Harry, Ron, Hermione, and Renata chose seats together near the back of class.
"Today we will be concocting blinding solutions. Take down these notes." He began discussing the ingredients and their importance.
Ron whispered to Harry, "So what do you think?"
"About what?"
I've been talking to you for nearly ten minutes, Harry. Weren't you listening?"
"Sorry, Ron, my head hurts."
"Its not your scar, is it, Harry?"
"No, go back to what you were saying."
"Never mind, Snape's coming."
"Weasly, ten points from Gryffindor and add another scoop of beetle eyes. Potter! Add another vile of liquid silver. Longbottom, your potion is- oh he's not here. Good, then maybe the room will stay in one piece today."
Harry heard Renata whisper to Hermione. "That was malicious. We're all worried sick about Neville and he goes and says that. Its just cruel."
Hermione nodded.
Harry made a mental note to ask Renata if she had had any word from her friend Vanessa.
The rest of the class period passed slowly. Snape, because of Neville's absence kept trying to find someone else to pick on. First it was Renata.
"Delano! How many rose thorns are supposed to be in this potion?"
"Sixteen, Professor."
"How many basil leaves?"
"None, but you should use three thyme leaves. Oh, and harder questions next time would be nice; unless of course you don't know any, that is."
"Ten points from Gryffindor for talking back and a detention Delano."
After that Snape seemed to give up on Renata and he moved on to critizing Harry.
As soon as they were out of the room, Renata remarked, "If that's the best he can do he's losing his touch. Besides, detention can't be that bad and we can make up the lost points in our next class. Boring, how he always says he's taking ten points, be nice if he varied it with an occasional seven or thirteen."
"Why were you talking back anyway?"
"Ah. He'd have taken points and given me a detention anyway; isn't it better if I earn it first? More fun anyway."
As was to be expected things were much better in Defense Against the Dark Arts class.
"Today we shall begin our work with shield spells. There are many types of shield spells. There are some that guard you from physically being hurt such as causing a punch to slide off you. But there are other kinds that will protect you from magically being harmed. Can anyone name a type of either of these spells?"
Hermione's hand shot up. "There's the meter spell, nothing can come within a meter of you for ten minutes after the spell has been performed. Its like they run into an invisible wall."
"Very good but does that work on physical harm, spell harm, or both?"
"Only physical. If someone throws a spell at you it will get through."
"Excellent ten points to Gryffindor."
They took notes through out the lesson and at the end of class tested the spell. Professor Delano conjured a stack of pillows beside her. "Each of you, please take a pillow and a partner."
Everyone went in two lines to take pillows. Harry ended up as Renata's partner; Dean and Seamus were together, as were Ron and Hermione, and Lavender and Parvati.
"Now everyone I want you to take turns practicing the spell. One of you uses the shield spell the other attempts to hit him or her. If the shield works you won't be hit; if it doesn't, well that's why you are using pillows and not rocks. Begin."
"I'll go first." Harry set up the spell and took a step backward as he rubbed his head. "Ow!"
"That will teach you to do the spell right. Look, Harry, you skipped the middle part, blockadoris. Now is it really that hard?" Renata performed the spell and dared Harry to hit her with a book.
"No. I don't hit girls. I'm only throwing this pillow at you because it's a class assignment."
"You 'don't hit girls'? What are we weaker than you? I think that sore head of yours will say something about that if you don't get the spell right next time, now throw that at me."
Harry picked up the pillow. His aim was off and he missed her by a foot and a half.
"What was that? I'm not standing over there! Hit me."
He picked up her pillow and this time his aim was true but a meter in front of Renata the pillow seemed to hit an invisible something and slide down.
"Much better throw. My turn."
They switched off several times and each time Harry was still getting hit in the face.
"Harry, you've got to twitch your wand." The pillow hit Harry in the stomach.
"Harry, its pronounced en-vor-toll-is." He was hit in the leg.
"Harry."
She threw the pillow at him, this time it slid down more than three feet away.
"Harry.well done."
Harry looked over to where Dean and Seamus were. Dean was kicking the pillow like a soccer ball and it seemed to hit Seamus's face nearly every time.
By the time the Professor dismissed the class almost all of them had mastered the spell.
After lunch the fifth year Gryffindors and Slytherins went out onto the grounds to Hagrid's hut.
Hagrid ran over to Harry. "Got a surprise today. Harry come 'elp me. We're gonna see the centaurs. Yeh remember Bane and Firenze and Ronan? Them an' one o' their friends are gonna come."
"Really?"
"Yeah. Yeh wanna come with me the bring 'em over to everyone?"
"Okay."
Hagrid led Harry to the forest. Four centaurs were waiting.
Harry vaguely recognized Ronan, Firenze, and Bane but there was another totally unknown to him. This one was a tan color and she wore a crown of leaves and flowers.
Hagrid leaned down. "Harry stay with 'em while I talk to the students." Harry nodded.
"Greetings, Harry Potter," called Firenze.
Bane stepped forward, "How can you stand there, Harry Potter? It has been written many times in the stars of your death but yet you stand alive and whole."
Ronan pawed the ground; "He stands alive because he must." He spoke in his voice full of sorrow as always.
The other centaur spoke, "I am Aursula, and these are my brothers. Please excuse Bane's hot temper. The stars are not speaking as clearly to him as they once did. As Firenze told you, greetings, Harry Potter."
"Greetings, Aursula."
"Harry Potter, I must warn you the stars predict much hardship for you and possible destruction. Do you still plan to face whatever may come?" asked Aursula. She stared in his eyes and he knew he could not lie.
"I'll try but I don't know that I'll succeed."
"That is all we can ask of you; for should fail, all free creatures of the world are doomed."
Ronan murmured, "So much shall rest on such young shoulders."
It was then that Hagrid came back. "Let's go."
The centaurs told the class about how the stars told them of the future and the story of when centaurs first came to the forest at Hogwarts. When Draco Malfoy was sniggering Bane held his shoulders and kicked him with a hoofed leg, hard enough but not too hard.
Then class was over. Harry felt a strong arm pull him back. It was Firenze.
"Come to the edge of the forest at midnight if you wish to learn more of your destiny. Come alone or you shall not be able to find us." All four centaurs disappeared into the trees.
Harry caught up with his friends.
"What is it Harry?"
"The centaurs." In a quiet voice Harry told his friends what the centaurs had told him before they spoke to the class and what Firenze had said after.
Fifteen minutes later in a corner of the common room the four of them were going over the details.
Renata had the most questions, as she had never heard of when Harry met the centaurs in his first year. "Okay, so you met three of these centaurs in your first year. That's all of them, except the girl.what was her name?"
"Aursula."
"Right. So the four of them were ranting about your destruction, you all went over to the class, they talked to us and then they told you to meet them alone in a dangerous forest in the middle of the night. Are you actually going to go?"
"I think so. But they weren't ranting. Bane said the stars predicted my death many times and he couldn't understand how I was still here. Then Ronan said I was here because I had to be. Then Aursula told me that I would have a lot of problems ahead of me and she asked if I would face them."
"What did you say?"
"She had these eyes you couldn't lie to. I told her I would try."
"What did she say?" Hermione asked quietly.
"If I failed.the free world would be at an end."
Renata, with her head bowed, asked once more: "Will you go?" She looked up straight into Harry's emerald green eyes.
Harry couldn't speak.
Ron and Hermione looking at him, as well as Renata staring in his eyes, all knew his answer without a single word being spoken.
Harry could take it no longer. He stood up and left. Renata rose to go after him but was held back with gentle but firm hands on each shoulder.
"He needs to be alone."
Harry heard the words and was grateful. He needed somewhere to be alone. For nearly an hour he walked around the castle not speaking to anyone nor paying attention to where his feet took him. Harry ended up in front of a set of stairs he had never seen before. Throwing aside any possible caution Harry continued on up the stairs.
The room Harry entered was strange. There were newspapers everywhere, empty bottles of ink, and a few old wooden chairs. Thick dust covered everything.
Harry stepped into the room fully and heard the door slam behind him. He turned, seeing no one he went to inspect the newspapers. He expected to find plethora of old issues from the Daily Prophet, but they weren't.