Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix- Chapter 30
The month of April was rainy and cold, but by May the sun had come back out and the flowers and trees on the grounds of Hogwarts had blossomed.
Hermione was studying harder than ever now. They only had a month until their O.W.L exams. Harry and Ron were studying too. They would sit at a table in the library quizzing each other while Hermione made her flawlessly organised notes. The whole of the fifth year could be found in the library or common rooms. The other students of Hogwarts could be found studying as well, but the majority stayed outside now that the weather was nice.
"Ugh! These books are so heavy!" Complained Justin Finch-Fletchly from Hufflepuff. He sat beside Hermione and dropped his books on the table with a thunk. Hermione glared up at him irritably. Justin began flipping through some of the books. He already had a bored expression on his face. Harry turned around when he heard a shout and head to stifle a laugh when he saw the Weasley twins balancing about eight thick books precariously on top of each other. They were taking their N.E.W.Ts at the same time the fifth years were taking their O.W.Ls. Harry turned back to his own work and struggled to concentrate. He was doing some Defence Against the Dark Arts homework. It was revision from last year. Professor Lupin was very efficient in his planning and had laid out certain week dedicated to revision in the lesson. That way students could ask him questions and they could take the time to study everything in order of when they did it; the years they did it. The had already revised every thing they had done in their first year, their second year (not that they had actually learned much in that year) and their third year. Ron was revising Potions: How to make a dreamless sleep draught. He was sitting with his nose inches from the paper. He had his left hand buried in his hair and his right hand was holding the paper. The lines in his face showed how tired and frustrated he was. Hermione had bags under her eyes and was writing as fast as she could. Harry glanced at the clock. It was nine o'clock at night. The library was closing. He watched as Madame Pince walked from table to table telling them she was closing the library and to take what books they needed. Hermione put up a fuss, of course, when they were asked to leave. She then gathered as many books as she could and demanded Harry and Ron to help her.
They resumed studying in the Common room, like many others. Harry looked to his left and saw Seamus fast asleep on his Divination book and saw Dean writing furiously. Lavender was reading quietly in a corner, her eyebrows were knitted together. He saw some of the younger students and year sixes playing games or reading, some on their way up to bed. Harry looked over and was surprised to see Fred, George and Lee studying hard and QUIETLY in the corner. Harry only snapped back to his book as the clock chimed ten. Harry managed to finish the paper he was working on then looked at the clock again and couldn't believe it when it said eleven thirty. He dragged himself and told Ron and Hermione that he was going to bed. Hermione barely acknowledged him and Ron grunted his reply. Harry climbed into his four poster bed, looking at Neville and Seamus' sleeping forms, before he fell back into his bed and slipped into a deep sleep.
* * *
The clock chimed three and a glint of silver appeared in the room of Harry, Ron, Dean, Seamus and Neville. Harry woke up with a start, his eyes automatically drawn to the orb. The orb began its familiar descent out of the room and down the stairs. For the third time Harry followed the orb out of the Common room. Yet again the orb led him to the front hall, but this time, instead of leading him to the dungeons, it took his to the large front doors. Harry didn't pause as he followed the glowing orb through the grounds. They approached the Forbidden Forest. The orb hovered in place for a minute as though making sure it had Harry's complete attention, before entering the Forest. He wound through the trees, his eyes never left the radiant orb. As it reached a highly dense place in the forest the orb stopped and Harry did as well. The orb faded out and Harry began to wake from his reverie. He blinked and looked around. Suddenly he heard a sound from the right. Harry whirled around. He heard a familiar voice hiss, "I would kill you, but I can't. Stup-" But the voice wasn't able to finish his spell. A suddenly blinding white light pierced through the dark of their vicinity. Harry heard the well-known "whirr" of a motor. There was a hissing sound from the bushes on Harry's right and a noise of something departing. Harry watched as the blue Ford Anglia pulled up beside him. He hadn't been so happy to see a car since this very one rescued him, Ron and Fang from the spiders. The driver door opened up and Harry gratefully hopped in. He was shaking slightly. That time the person had come very close to getting him.
He got back to the school at about quarter past four and was wondering how on earth he had got all the way to the Forest without a supervising teacher or a student with sleeping problems seeing him. He then wondered how he was going to get back to Gryffindor Tower without anyone seeing him. The car dropped him off by the front doors and thanked it appreciatively. The car tooted at him and rumbled off into the Forest again. Harry shivered as he looked around into the shadows and ran up the stairs to the school.
He tiptoed down the hall, at every corner stopping to check the next hall. He finally reached the Fat Lady without running into any teachers. She was fast asleep.
"Umm, umm, excuse me? Fairy Wings. Um, excuse me!" Harry dared to raise his voice above the whisper he had been using. The Fat Lady woke with a start.
"Now how did you get out there? I haven't opened to let anyone out. Are you just coming to bed?" Harry stared at her in shock.
"Fairy Wings." He muttered. She sighed and mumbled something about teenagers being all the same and swung open. Harry crawled in and collapsed in a chair. He stayed there until morning broke. He watched as the fire burnt out and the room was lit with sun light. He sat as students came down the stairs to go to breakfast and to go to classes. Harry remained sitting there until Ron came tearing down the stairs with Hermione at his heels. They were both still in their robes, as Harry was.
"Where have you been?" Ron panted.
"Your bed was empty and Ron and I couldn't find you!" Hermione wailed. Harry just looked at them blankly. He was still in shock. Hermione and Ron sat across from Harry on the couch together. Students were walking through the Common room, gathering there and talking. They got a few surprised looks. They were still in their pyjamas and classes started soon.
The room slowly cleared out as the students went to breakfast or early lessons. Hermione didn't bother moaning about the possibility of being late. She just sat, waiting for Harry to be ready to tell them what happened. Slowly Harry began. He told them the whole thing, even about the dreams he had been having recently. They were worse then the ones from before and more frequent. Now he was seeing figures, no faces, just the figures of people. The shouting was clearer and it sounded like many voices. He told them that he recognised the voice that had tried to attack him a few hours ago was the voice haunting his dreams. The one telling he that he was going to get Harry and that Rona and Hermione and the other person was going to pay too. He told them how in the last dream he had had the voice had told him that the other person was paying his debt slowly, but the finale would come later. Harry didn't understand what he meant, but he told Ron and Hermione in case they did.
"Harry," Hermione started carefully, "You HAVE to tell some one. Please Harry!" He looked at the desperation in her eyes and looked to Ron who was nodding solemnly.
"I will." Both Ron and Hermione looked momentarily shocked, which then turned to relief. Harry nodded again.
"I will tell Lupin, Snuffles and Dumbledore after we get dressed. You guys will come, won't you?" Harry looked at them. Neither one hesitated in nodding eagerly. Harry managed a smile and stood up.
The month of April was rainy and cold, but by May the sun had come back out and the flowers and trees on the grounds of Hogwarts had blossomed.
Hermione was studying harder than ever now. They only had a month until their O.W.L exams. Harry and Ron were studying too. They would sit at a table in the library quizzing each other while Hermione made her flawlessly organised notes. The whole of the fifth year could be found in the library or common rooms. The other students of Hogwarts could be found studying as well, but the majority stayed outside now that the weather was nice.
"Ugh! These books are so heavy!" Complained Justin Finch-Fletchly from Hufflepuff. He sat beside Hermione and dropped his books on the table with a thunk. Hermione glared up at him irritably. Justin began flipping through some of the books. He already had a bored expression on his face. Harry turned around when he heard a shout and head to stifle a laugh when he saw the Weasley twins balancing about eight thick books precariously on top of each other. They were taking their N.E.W.Ts at the same time the fifth years were taking their O.W.Ls. Harry turned back to his own work and struggled to concentrate. He was doing some Defence Against the Dark Arts homework. It was revision from last year. Professor Lupin was very efficient in his planning and had laid out certain week dedicated to revision in the lesson. That way students could ask him questions and they could take the time to study everything in order of when they did it; the years they did it. The had already revised every thing they had done in their first year, their second year (not that they had actually learned much in that year) and their third year. Ron was revising Potions: How to make a dreamless sleep draught. He was sitting with his nose inches from the paper. He had his left hand buried in his hair and his right hand was holding the paper. The lines in his face showed how tired and frustrated he was. Hermione had bags under her eyes and was writing as fast as she could. Harry glanced at the clock. It was nine o'clock at night. The library was closing. He watched as Madame Pince walked from table to table telling them she was closing the library and to take what books they needed. Hermione put up a fuss, of course, when they were asked to leave. She then gathered as many books as she could and demanded Harry and Ron to help her.
They resumed studying in the Common room, like many others. Harry looked to his left and saw Seamus fast asleep on his Divination book and saw Dean writing furiously. Lavender was reading quietly in a corner, her eyebrows were knitted together. He saw some of the younger students and year sixes playing games or reading, some on their way up to bed. Harry looked over and was surprised to see Fred, George and Lee studying hard and QUIETLY in the corner. Harry only snapped back to his book as the clock chimed ten. Harry managed to finish the paper he was working on then looked at the clock again and couldn't believe it when it said eleven thirty. He dragged himself and told Ron and Hermione that he was going to bed. Hermione barely acknowledged him and Ron grunted his reply. Harry climbed into his four poster bed, looking at Neville and Seamus' sleeping forms, before he fell back into his bed and slipped into a deep sleep.
* * *
The clock chimed three and a glint of silver appeared in the room of Harry, Ron, Dean, Seamus and Neville. Harry woke up with a start, his eyes automatically drawn to the orb. The orb began its familiar descent out of the room and down the stairs. For the third time Harry followed the orb out of the Common room. Yet again the orb led him to the front hall, but this time, instead of leading him to the dungeons, it took his to the large front doors. Harry didn't pause as he followed the glowing orb through the grounds. They approached the Forbidden Forest. The orb hovered in place for a minute as though making sure it had Harry's complete attention, before entering the Forest. He wound through the trees, his eyes never left the radiant orb. As it reached a highly dense place in the forest the orb stopped and Harry did as well. The orb faded out and Harry began to wake from his reverie. He blinked and looked around. Suddenly he heard a sound from the right. Harry whirled around. He heard a familiar voice hiss, "I would kill you, but I can't. Stup-" But the voice wasn't able to finish his spell. A suddenly blinding white light pierced through the dark of their vicinity. Harry heard the well-known "whirr" of a motor. There was a hissing sound from the bushes on Harry's right and a noise of something departing. Harry watched as the blue Ford Anglia pulled up beside him. He hadn't been so happy to see a car since this very one rescued him, Ron and Fang from the spiders. The driver door opened up and Harry gratefully hopped in. He was shaking slightly. That time the person had come very close to getting him.
He got back to the school at about quarter past four and was wondering how on earth he had got all the way to the Forest without a supervising teacher or a student with sleeping problems seeing him. He then wondered how he was going to get back to Gryffindor Tower without anyone seeing him. The car dropped him off by the front doors and thanked it appreciatively. The car tooted at him and rumbled off into the Forest again. Harry shivered as he looked around into the shadows and ran up the stairs to the school.
He tiptoed down the hall, at every corner stopping to check the next hall. He finally reached the Fat Lady without running into any teachers. She was fast asleep.
"Umm, umm, excuse me? Fairy Wings. Um, excuse me!" Harry dared to raise his voice above the whisper he had been using. The Fat Lady woke with a start.
"Now how did you get out there? I haven't opened to let anyone out. Are you just coming to bed?" Harry stared at her in shock.
"Fairy Wings." He muttered. She sighed and mumbled something about teenagers being all the same and swung open. Harry crawled in and collapsed in a chair. He stayed there until morning broke. He watched as the fire burnt out and the room was lit with sun light. He sat as students came down the stairs to go to breakfast and to go to classes. Harry remained sitting there until Ron came tearing down the stairs with Hermione at his heels. They were both still in their robes, as Harry was.
"Where have you been?" Ron panted.
"Your bed was empty and Ron and I couldn't find you!" Hermione wailed. Harry just looked at them blankly. He was still in shock. Hermione and Ron sat across from Harry on the couch together. Students were walking through the Common room, gathering there and talking. They got a few surprised looks. They were still in their pyjamas and classes started soon.
The room slowly cleared out as the students went to breakfast or early lessons. Hermione didn't bother moaning about the possibility of being late. She just sat, waiting for Harry to be ready to tell them what happened. Slowly Harry began. He told them the whole thing, even about the dreams he had been having recently. They were worse then the ones from before and more frequent. Now he was seeing figures, no faces, just the figures of people. The shouting was clearer and it sounded like many voices. He told them that he recognised the voice that had tried to attack him a few hours ago was the voice haunting his dreams. The one telling he that he was going to get Harry and that Rona and Hermione and the other person was going to pay too. He told them how in the last dream he had had the voice had told him that the other person was paying his debt slowly, but the finale would come later. Harry didn't understand what he meant, but he told Ron and Hermione in case they did.
"Harry," Hermione started carefully, "You HAVE to tell some one. Please Harry!" He looked at the desperation in her eyes and looked to Ron who was nodding solemnly.
"I will." Both Ron and Hermione looked momentarily shocked, which then turned to relief. Harry nodded again.
"I will tell Lupin, Snuffles and Dumbledore after we get dressed. You guys will come, won't you?" Harry looked at them. Neither one hesitated in nodding eagerly. Harry managed a smile and stood up.