A/N – Okies, here it is… I hope you aren't disappointed!
(Dedicated to Lena)
Draco stared, but after a moment the figure disappeared
altogether.
Wait! You can't
apparate in Hogwarts! Did I just
imagine that?
Draco rushed into the common room taking one good look at
the portrait above the fireplace. The
occupant of the painting glared at him eyeing him with distaste.
Underneath the portrait was a line of Latin, which read…
'Salazar Slytherin greatest of the four founders'
Draco looked around, no-one was paying him much heed except
the portrait, he took off straight away desperate to get out of the Common
Room, away from those piercing green eyes.
*~~~*~~~*~~~*
Having not found a single word about wandless magic in all
their searching Hermione Ron and Neville were on their way back to the Hospital
Wing… When it happened.
Disheartened by their lack of success in the library they
hadn't been paying much attention to their surroundings, this changed however
when a thick tapestry billowed out and abruptly uncovered a very pale and
shaken Draco Malfoy.
"Draco! What on
Earth…" Began Hermione.
"Where's Dumbledore?" Gasped Draco trying to catch his breath.
"We don't know, we were just…" Started Neville.
"Must find him." Muttered Draco ignoring the three stunned Gryffindors and racing down
the corridor.
"Well, that was polite." Said Ron frowning after the Slytherin boy.
"Come on, let's find Harry." Said Neville turning to go.
"No, let's follow him, something's happened, you saw how
pale he looked." Said Hermione still
staring after Draco.
"He always looks pale Herm. And I want to see Harry." Argued Ron.
"Well I'm following Malfoy. It could be important." Said Hermione already striding after their enemy.
Ron and Neville looked at each other, shrugged and followed
her.
*~~~*~~~*~~~*
Madame Pomfrey had found Professor Snape fast asleep in the
small office she'd been pointed to. She
thought it best to leave him that way, after all Snape asleep had to be better than
Snape awake.
She was soon joined by Dumbledore who seemed a little tired
yet happier than he'd been that morning.
"I thought I ought to let him sleep." Said Poppy quietly.
"Yes, perhaps it will help him think more clearly." Agreed Dumbledore.
"How's Harry?" She
asked remembering how disorientated he'd seemed when he'd first woken up.
"He has his memories back, and I'm confident he'll make a
full recovery." Said Dumbledore with a
small smile.
The headmaster's gaze returned to Snape who was snoring gently.
"I doubt that Severus would be pleased to know that we're
here, perhaps we should leave him." He
said, his smile growing.
Poppy nodded and they left the office and it's sleeping
occupant in peace.
"What do you know of centaurs' healing powers Poppy?" Asked Dumbledore in the now deserted
Gryffindor chamber which seemed distinctly empty now that the Order of the
Phoenix meeting had adjourned.
"I've never witnessed anything, but there are rumours that
some centaurs have immense healing powers." She replied.
"I believe that we may be permitted to witness some such
healing." Said Dumbledore, his eyes lit
with anticipation.
Poppy raised her eyebrows, "Really?"
"There is a community of centaurs in our own forest here at
Hogwarts, and they have agreed to aid us in healing Mr Potter."
"That's wonderful Albus!" Said Poppy Pomfrey mentally noting that it would enable her to
concentrate on her other patients of whom there seemed too many.
"I should be returning to the Hospital Wing." She said at the thought.
"Yes. I believe
that is where our dear Minister is at this time." Said Dumbledore.
Poppy scowled
"Perhaps it's time I paid him a visit." Said Dumbledore without a hint of a smile
but with eyes twinkling merrily.
*~~~*~~~*~~~*
As McNair entered the department for Magical Sports he
tried to remain as inconspicuous as possible, it wasn't hard, the place was
practically deserted as the ministry was falling apart after recent events.
He came to the office he'd been heading for.
As soon as he entered the room he realised he'd made a
mistake. Foe-glasses and sneakoscopes
were festooned about the place and amidst all the clutter of papers,
broomsticks and defences his target stood with wand arm outstretched aiming straight
at McNair's forehead.
"Hold it right there!" Yelled the man forcefully.
"I don't think so." Said McNair calmly, with a flick of his wand he took his opponents wand
easily and pointed it at the hapless victim.
"Time for you to start obeying orders directly from my
master instead of that fool Fletcher." Said McNair in his deep growling voice.
Grabbing the man's arm he apparated them both directly to
Azkaban.
"So, you have decided at last to grace me with your
presence." Snarled Voldemort from his
throne.
The man was so panic stricken he could not move.
"Answer when your Lord asks of you!" Screeched Voldemort.
"Yes M-my Lord." Responded the man shaking precariously on his legs.
"You are well placed to serve me. You can deliver the boy straight into my hands. You will do this for me, or you will die."
The man looked as though he were about to argue, then
biting his tongue simply nodded.
"McNair! You must
return to the Ministry, do your best to maintain the discord amongst our
enemies."
The Death Eater bowed low before fleeing from the Dark
Lord's presence.
"Now. You will tell
me where that low-life scum Fletcher is hiding." Hissed Voldemort glaring at the man before him who was trembling
even harder.
"L-lord, I don't know w-where…"
"Crucio!" Yelled
Voldemort sending the spell at the stricken man.
"You will tell me all I wish to know Mr Equuleus. Make no mistake about that."
*~~~*~~~*~~~*
On their way to the Hospital Wing Madame Pomfrey and
Professor Dumbledore were accosted by a white-faced Draco Malfoy.
"Draco! What's the
matter?" Asked Dumbledore holding Draco
up by the shoulder.
"P-professor… Harry, he's in trouble, my father… Asked me…
Spies everywhere... Slytherin"
The words tumbled out of Draco's mouth in a flurry.
The usually articulate Slytherin was slightly out of breath
and obviously shaken.
"Come with me Draco. There are no spies where I'm taking you." Said Dumbledore assertively.
"Tell Fudge I'll be with him shortly." He muttered to Madame Pomfrey.
Dumbledore then noticed Draco's three pursuers.
"And if you should see them, please inform Harry's friends
that he is in my office and probably wants to see them, Thankyou Poppy." He added eyes twinkling as he heard the
three Gryffindors take off back down the corridor.
"Come Draco." He
said steering the boy back towards the Gryffindor Chamber.
*~~~*~~~*~~~*
Harry and Sirius had been quite glad when Dobby had
unceremoniously stumbled into the room breaking the uneasy silence that had
fallen.
"Master Harry sir! Dobby
is so glad to see you sir! Dobby was
thinking you had gone forever!" The
house elf had tears streaming down his face and Harry handed him the red hankie
he'd conjured earlier.
This simple gesture sent the house elf into even greater
wails of joy and it was all Sirius could do not to laugh at the poor creature.
"Dumbledore said you could get us something." Said Sirius suddenly jolting Dobby from his
tears.
"Yes Sir. Anything
you is wanting." Replied Dobby with a
bow.
"Great," said Harry, "Could you possibly get me a bowl of
soup please, oh, Sirius, did you want anything?"
His godfather shook his head.
With another bow Dobby disappeared with a bang.
Harry and Sirius were not alone for long though, soon they
heard three people making their very noisy way up the staircase.
As soon as they burst into the room Harry's heart soared.
"Ron! Neville! Hermione!" He yelled.
The three of them raced over.
"Oh Harry you remember us!" Gasped Hermione fighting very hard not to fling her arms around
him.
"Of course he does." Muttered Ron grinning at Harry.
"Harry."
The seriousness in Neville's voice caught Harry's attention
straight away.
"Yes?" He replied
with slight apprehension.
"Why didn't you tell us you were going?"
Ron and Hermione looked confused but Harry understood
straight away.
"I couldn't Neville. You would have tried to stop me. I had to do it, and I had to do it alone." He said glancing at Sirius.
"You don't always have to do things alone Harry. The three of us could help you." Said Neville indicating himself, Ron and
Hermione.
"I know." Said
Harry, "And believe me, not having your friends with you… not even being able
to remember their names, it really makes you appreciate them."
Neville nodded "I'm sure it does."
Harry suddenly realised what he'd said and mentally kicked
himself for saying it. He was
exceptionally glad when Dobby returned and the glazed look that Neville wore
when he thought of his parents disappeared.
"Is you wanting anything else Harry Potter Sir?" Asked Dobby eagerly.
"Anyone?" Asked
Harry. They all shook their heads.
"No Thankyou Dobby." The house elf grinned and disappeared once more with a bang.
"I think I'd better go and find Dumbledore." Said Sirius suddenly getting up.
Seeing Harry's nervous glance he grinned. "I'll be back, promise."
So the four friends launched into a discussion as Sirius
left the office.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
****
Disclaimer : I do not own Harry Potter or any of the things
that are associated with the HP books, I am not getting money for this and I am
not J.K. Rowling. I am a simple teenage
girl with too much time during the holidays and with no money!
****
btw my sister has been working really hard on her fic (Which has meant less computer time for me!) But it would be great if you could check it out… But BE NICE!!!!!
Okay, here's the bad news… My Dad has told me in no uncertain terms that if my school work isn't up to scratch this year he will ban me from the computer… completely! If this happens obviously it will be even harder for me to carry on with this fic, I will try as valiantly as possible to do what I can but… You may notice a dramatic fall in the rate of posting / quality (*Cough* what quality?! *Cough*) and length of this thing… Hopefully that wont be the case… Only time shall tell…
Love you guys! Thanks a lot for the reviews!
Luv
Jona
xxx