A/N Wow!!! A lot of new reviewers!!! I might have to go and get my elfin
toadstool back! I'm so happy!!! Um, I'm sure you all want to read the story
so I'll save the rest of my pointless rambling for the end, kay?… Enjoy!
The
two professors stood in shocked silence as they took what they saw.
Dumbledore's
office was as it had been the day before but there was one overpowering
difference, the room was obscured by black mist and as soon as they had stepped
into the room McGonagall and Snape had watched in horror as the mist gathered
together forming the dark mark and revealing the body of Albus Dumbledore.
McGonagall
grabbed Snape's arm in shock, disbelief etched on her face, Snape winced at the
pressure on his still sore arm. But
didn't take his eyes from the scene before him. The one person Voldemort had feared, this couldn't be happening,
the one person who had given him a second chance, the only one who had ever put
any faith in him. Severus' eyes were
still transfixed on the body but he could feel the rest of his body start to
come back under his control. He tried
to prise McGonagall's hand from his arm but when she clutched even tighter he
gave in and let his other arm fall loosely by his side.
They
must have stood in the doorway for at least ten minutes before they were joined
by Arabella Figg.
"What's
happened?"
The
demanding voice from behind them brought the two stunned professors to their
senses, they stood aside allowing the elderly witch into the room. Arabella Figg had always been a composed type
of person and she didn't change overnight.
"Albus…"
She said softly, she did what the other two hadn't dared and walked over to
where the headmaster lay.
Reaching
towards him hand shaking only slightly and lifted the now frail looking wrist,
"My
God! He's alive!" She exclaimed.
This
outburst brought Snape and McGonagall from their trances,
"What?!"
"How?!"
They
cried
"Does
it really matter? He needs help! And so does Harry. Minerva, go and get Poppy Pomfrey right away!" Ordered Arabella.
Snape,
on feeling the inexpressible relief flood through him had to grab a chair to
stop himself from falling. He laid
Harry down on the floor next to Dumbledore.
Questions
were racing through his head…
What
had happened tonight?
Had
Voldemort done this?
If
so… How?
It
all seemed impossible. And if it had
been Voldemort then how in Merlin's name were Dumbledore and Harry still alive?
Snape
glanced up at Arabella who looked equally shocked and confused.
"Why
are you here anyway Arabella?" He
asked, suddenly curious,
"Weren't
you in Hogsmeade?"
Arabella
fixed him with a piercing glare,
"Voldemort
couldn't get in here without removing the apparition wards, they were alarmed
to my house and I came as soon as the alarm reached me that they were down."
"So
you really think it was him?" Asked
Snape shuddering slightly.
"Of
course it was Severus! Who else would
it be?" Said Arabella angrily.
Just
then McGonagall and Madame Pomfrey arrived.
Poppy
Pomfrey could barely believe her eyes. Albus Dumbledore had never had so much as a cold in the whole time she'd
known him, this… well this was unthinkable! She felt their pulses to reassure herself before conjuring stretchers.
"They
need to be taken to the Hospital Wing. I don't know how much I'll be able to do for them, but we have to get
them there first." She said whilst
trying to avoid looking at the dark mark that was hovering above them.
When
they got to the Hospital Wing, Arabella, Snape and McGonagall helped Madame
Pomfrey to try and waken Dumbledore. But they got no response. Next
they tried Harry, this time when they shouted 'Enervate!' There was a reaction.
Harry
was sent into a frightening type of fit, not dissimilar but worse than the one
he'd had at the start of term. He
jerked about violently and screamed the most terrible heart-wrenching screams
as if from the depths of his soul.
Madame
Pomfrey shook her head in confusion and dismay,
"Knock
him out again."
She
said sadly.
~~~*~~~*~~~
Harry
felt the darkness lift slightly from his mind and immediately wished that it
hadn't. He saw what he'd been fearing
the most, Sirius captured and Dumbledore dead. He couldn't believe it, he'd been too slow, he should have gotten there
sooner, been there to help!
Slowly
he began to make out some sort of vision, he could see a figure approaching
him, the last person he wanted to see. Voldemort.
The
high cold laughter sent a nauseating shudder through him and Harry tried
desperately to block the sound out. And
then he spoke.
'Oh
dear Harry, you haven't been too careful about looking out for this godfather
of yours, still, I'm wiling to be sporting this one time and let you have one
last chance. Give yourself up and he'll
be set free.
Just
to bring it home now, I might even consider taking the soul catcher curse off
of your favourite Professor… Oh no, he
isn't dead. After all these years that
would be too good for him, he needs to really suffer. And only you can stop it Harry.
I
know you'll make the 'right' choice. It's all so sickeningly ironic, the very ones who would do anything to
protect you, being your greatest weakness!
Think
about it Harry…'
Harry
wasn't given the chance to think, at that moment his scar began to hurt worse
than it ever had before, he couldn't think of anything but the incredible pain
that was worse than the cruciatus curse. He screamed and screamed before finally, on the edge of insanity, the
darkness returned.
~~~*~~~*~~~
News
of the attack was broken to the entire school at breakfast the next morning.
The
staff were in disarray. McGonagall and
Snape both seemed to have aged immeasurably during the night and all of the
teachers kept eyeing Dumbledore's empty seat ominously. The students all knew that something was
horribly wrong, and the Gryffindors who had awoken to find Harry missing and
Neville reduced to a quivering wreck unable to say a word, were frantic.
Professor
McGonagall stood shakily in front of the school and spoke in a voice that
hardly sounded her own.
"Voldemort
has attacked Hogwarts."
This
sent a tremor through the students and the Gryffindors eyed Harry's empty seat
with mounting fear.
"We
believe that no-one was killed, but both Professor Dumbledore and Harry Potter
are currently being treated in the Hospital Wing… and… it… isn't looking good
at the moment." She said almost
chocking
"There
will be no classes until further notice and every student will remain in their
Common Rooms unless given specific instructions by a teacher to do
otherwise. Your meals will be served to
you there. That is all I can tell you
for now."
As
she sat down shaking, Professor McGonagall was trying desperately not to let
her stony face break into tears.
The
students however were less controlled. Wails of grief were echoing through the Hall. Most were crying. Others
seemed too shocked to cry.
There
were however a group of Slytherins who looked neither surprised or upset and
were looking around the Hall with looks of superiority. At the middle of this group sat Draco
Malfoy, the only person in the room who was eating the food that sat on the
tables growing cold.
*~*~*~*~*~*
Okies,
there you have it, and no cliffy!
Well,
not a bad one anyway, there's still a lot to explain, but I gotta get you to
come back 4 the next part haven't I! (It shouldn't be a long wait.)
I
was really chuffed about all the reviews I got for the last part! It was brilliant! Even the flames! I
couldn't stop grinning as I wrote this part! I hope you like it, I didn't kill Dumbledore or Sirius, or Harry… yet!
Keep
reading and reviewing!
You
guys make me so happy!!!!
Luv,
Jona
xxx