Magnanimous Chapter 2: Losing

Disclaimer: All recognisable characters and places belong to J.K.Rowling. Plot is mine.

With Thanks: To two amazingly amazing people without whom I would have been in serious excrement. These people are Orchid, my Beta, and Sophie, my Gamma (like a beta, but I couldn't resist the parallel with our dearest Runespoor!) My hard disc, on which an entire 25 pages were stored, died. This meant all that lovely work was gone. Luckily, Orchid and Sophie ploughed their inboxes and hard drives for bits of what I'd sent them, and between them they managed to recover all of it except for about 2 pages! I also lost the extremely detailed plan, but that's not too important, as I remember it anyway and still have the original notes.

Also thanks to my dad, who got me a new computer extremely quickly.

Thanks for 13 reviews goes to: willowfairy, willowwiccantara, Lulu81, ast*P, Kersten Chayne, Rebecca15, Solemn Rayne, mutsumi, aliveforever83, ChErRi)*(DrEaMeR, Emerald Raven, Flexi Lexi, jess!

Author's Note: I intend to update weekly. Which means you can look for a new chapter every Tuesday! I also have an updates list, which means you get a polite little message every time I update, complete with link to the new chapter, so it makes it a lot easier for you! If you want to join the list, just leave a note at the end of your review saying you'd like to join and giving your address. (If you were in the update list for Fire and Ice/Darkness and Light, you'll get e-mails for this one anyway.) Oh, and the link to my writing diary is in my profile, where you get updates and daily snippets of writing!

And I think that's all I have to say for this one.

Enjoy!

~*~

The Great Hall was flooded with the undecided brightness you get at noon, when the sun passes overhead and changes from the crisp light of a winter morning to the golden glow of afternoon. Noise filled every corner of the room as the starving students stuffed themselves, making the most of the opportunity to get away from lessons. Over their heads, the enchanted ceiling showed a clear, sharp winter sky, free from the threat of rain.

Hermione wasn't there, having told the boys that she wanted to practice the Rabula charm Flitwick  had taught them yesterday, assuring them that she'd come and get something to eat later. The boys, knowing the futility of arguing against her, had shrugged and given in.

'Snape was in a foul mood.' Ron commented, taking another massive bite of a chicken leg. 'Five feet of homework!'

'Yeah, I know.' Harry replied, looking glum. 'And we have that massive Care of Magical Creatures essay to do. That one on Chizpurfle control, remember?'

Ron groaned. 'Yeah, that's going to take forever. Too much research to do…'

'Well, I asked Hermione and she said she'd try looking in the section on keeping wizardry secret from Muggles.' he replied, biting a ripe tomato. 'Because they sometimes infest electrical things, see, and there's this whole department at the Ministry…'

Harry winced suddenly as another sharp pain flashed through his scar, as though a knife had been plunged into his head. Ron looked up from his plate and frowned.

'Is your scar still hurting?'

Grimly, Harry nodded. 'Just ignore it.' He muttered. 'It's not going to be anything important…'

'It could be He-Who-' Ron pulled himself together. 'I mean, it could be… Voldemort…'

Harry bit into a large piece of potato determinedly. 'Look, even if it is I'm not going to do anything. Not after last time…'

Ron's face fell momentarily at the memory, but he set his jaw determinedly. 'I guess… But you should still…'

'I should nothing.' Harry snapped. 'I'm not going to do the same thing twice, alright?'

''But…' Ron stopped himself, sighing. 'Look, you don't have to do anything. But even if Voldemort's trying to control you… don't you think Dumbledore should know about it?'

A sudden weariness came over Harry: weariness at this discussion, at Ron, at everything. He didn't want to argue any more. 'Alright.' he gave in. 'I'll go tell him. No more than that.'

But just as Harry was about to rise from the table, Professor McGonagall raced in from the main entrance, almost running – most unlike her – and was followed by many pairs of curious eyes as she hurried to the staff table. She didn't bother to sit down, but went straight to Dumbledore, with whom she had a hurried conversation. Dumbledore's face became paler and paler. Struggling to hear, Harry could make out only tiny snatches –'Are you sure?' 'I don't know how he's doing it…' 'I don't know, I came straight to you as soon as I realised something was wrong…' 'Everyone, I don't know, but we have to find out what it is!'

After a minute, Dumbledore got out of his chair and he and Professor McGonagall left the Hall as quickly as she had entered. Harry turned to Ron and frowned.

'What was that all about?'

Ron shrugged, taking a bite of pie. 'Dunno… couldn't hear much.' he chewed thoughtfully. 'It must have been really important… I've never seen McGonagall move so fast!'

'Think someone's ill or something?' Harry asked. 'You know, got into a nasty scrape of some sort…'

'Nah, that's Madam Pomfrey's job, not Dumbledore's…' Ron shook his head. 'I reckon it must be someone breaking rules. Hope it's not someone from Gryffindor; we don't need to lose any more points…' Snape, in his temper, had deducted about twenty points from Gryffindor house over the course of the lesson.

'Yeah. Hope it's a Slytherin.' Harry grinned, casting a glance over to Slytherin table. As he did so, something caught his eye that made him frown: Draco Malfoy, usually full of arrogance and in such a public area, was sitting on his own and moodily savaging an innocent carrot. Something was definitely wrong with him…

'Harry? You there?' His attention was drawn back to the Gryffindor table by Ron, who was waving a hand in front of his face and staring bemusedly at him. 'You were staring at Malfoy.'

'Huh? Oh… oh yeah. There's something weird about him…' Harry shook his head. 'Do you see it too or am I just imagining things?'

'What's weird about him? Apart from the fact that he's a blond-haired ferret with sawdust for brains and a membership in the Young Death Eater's Association?' Ron asked, shooting a dark look in his direction.

'I know, but… Well, just look at him. Normally he's the centre of attention and making insulting remarks about… well, everyone in earshot. But today…' They both looked over to where Malfoy had just snapped irritably at Goyle.

'I guess he is acting weird.' Ron shrugged. 'Maybe he's sick. I hope he's sick. He could miss some classes. Imagine, the joy of being Malfoy-free…'

'Yeah, I guess…' Harry shrugged. His mind was drawn away from this by another searing wave of pain through his scar: it took a lot of mental effort to hide it from Ron. He didn't want to get into that again.

The doors flew open again, and everyone looked towards them with great interest, wondering if McGonagall and Dumbledore were back. But it was only Hermione, although she looked just as flustered as McGonagall had a few minutes ago. She raced in and sped to the table.

'Harry, Ron!' she cried out, sitting down hastily in a seat beside them. Her eyes were wide, and her face pale. 'The… something's wrong… I don't know…'

'Hermione, Hermione, calm down!' Harry told her firmly, alarmed by her panic. 'What is it?'

She gulped down a deep breath, obviously trying to pull herself together. 'Watch.' she said, her voice more level but still wobbling, and pulled out her wand. With a perfect swish-and-flick movement from first year Charms, she aimed at Ron's glass of orange juice and intoned, 'Wingardium Leviosa.'

Nothing happened.

'I don't get it, Hermione.' Ron frowned, squinting at the glass. 'I don't see anything…'

'Exactly…' she replied, biting her lip. 'I can't do anything. I've been trying for ages… I can't do a single spell…' Her eyes filled with tears, and she looked like she was about to cry. 'Do you think it's because I'm a… I'm a… Muggleborn?'

'No, no, that's a stupid thing to think!' Ron told her, putting a hand on her shoulder and trying to calm her. 'That's something Malfoy would think. Try it again.'

'I've tried it over and over…' she sniffed, but obligingly did it again. Nothing happened.

'Maybe your wand's broken.' Harry offered hopefully. 'Here, try mine…' he pulled his own out of his bag and handed it to her. 'I know you're not supposed to be able to get as good a reaction with another wizard's wand… but try it.'

Hermione nodded and waved the wand at the glass again. 'Wingardium Leviosa!' she cried, with desperation in her voice, but again there was nothing, not even a ripple.

'Don't be upset, it just means that you can't get any result from my wand. Or maybe my wand's broken too. Let me try.' Harry took his wand back and attempted to perform the same spell, again with no result. 'See? Both our wands must be broken.'

Hermione let out a little sob. Ron pulled out his own wand and handed it to her. 'Try again with mine.'

Nothing.

He frowned and took it back. 'That's strange…' he mused. 'All three of our wands at once?' He tried the spell himself with the same result.

Harry tried to console Hermione. 'Maybe you're under a spell. I bet it's Malfoy or something… Could anyone have cursed you lately?'

Hermione sniffed, and was about to answer, but the door slammed loudly at that moment and this time it really was Dumbledore, striding to the front with a worried look on his face and fear in his eyes. He mounted the platform and turned to face the students. As if on cue, the whole Hall fell silent.

'Students of Hogwarts, may I ask a few minutes of your lunchtime?' he asked, his face unusually grave. 'I need you all to perform a spell… Any spell. Just get out your wands and cast a spell.'

Harry, Ron and Hermione exchanged a look. All three picked up their respective wands and, along with the rest of the Hall, tried to cast a spell.

Not one spell worked.

The Hall filled with gasps and horrified whispers; Dumbledore hung his head. 'Then it is as I feared.' he sighed. 'The school is under the influence of the Aculux curse, a curse which encloses a given area and robs all inside it of their magical powers.' Shock filled the Hall. Dumbledore looked upwards, his blue eyes piercing, the silence absolute. 'It can be stopped. However… if we remain within the field for three days or more, the effects become… permanent.'

~*~

At first glance, the Gryffindor common room looked the same as normal. The fireplace held its usual crackling, glowing flames, casting warmth and light over the luxurious red and gold furnishings. The sofas were thronged with students of all ages, sitting in their customary places with their usual friends.

But look again. Instead of the usual chatter, laughter and complaints leaping like the flickering flames, there was melancholy, semi-silence. The only conversation was stilted, in quiet, despairing tones. The faces, normally brimming with life and smiles, were now white, drawn and stiff, and all smiles were weak and half-hearted. The inhabitants of the paintings and tapestries that thronged the walls, normally lively and animated, were huddled together in one of the larger frames, looking over the common room with worried eyes.

'Orchideous.' Ron waved his wand again, still trying his hardest to do magic out of some vague and random hope. He sighed. 'Orchideous!'

Disgusted by the lack of any reaction whatsoever, he threw his wand down on the table beside him. 'Oh, why am I even bothering? This is hopeless!'

'Don't give up hope.' Hermione advised, looking glum. She had a Muggle fiction book open on her lap, the firelight picking out the almost-hidden words of the title: 'Stranger in a Strange Land, by Robert A. Heinlein'. However, she'd been staring distractedly at page 271 for at least fifteen minutes. 'The teachers are going to talk about it…'

'I guess.' Ron sighed. 'I just wish we knew something… It's the not being able to do anything I hate. Screator!'

This spell, which should have caused Harry to clear his throat noisily, had a predictable lack of effect. Harry merely looked up from the fire, blinked a bit, and stared at the furnishings instead.

'I don't want to do anything.' Harry said, quietly but firmly, not looking up.

'Why not? I mean…' Ron was cut off by an angry glare from Hermione, who mouthed, 'Remember last time?' at him. Ron quickly got the hint, and shut up.

There were a few seconds of uncomfortable silence.

'We don't need to do anything.' Hermione said. 'The teachers are going to do it all. There is absolutely nothing for us to do whatsoever.'

Harry still didn't look up. 'I guess we at least solved the problem of why my scar was hurting.' he said, trying to mask the bitterness he felt.

'Does it still hurt?' Ron asked without much curiosity.

'Actually…' Harry frowned thoughtfully, 'It hasn't hurt at all since lunchtime.'

Ron and Hermione looked puzzled at this piece of information. 'But that doesn't make sense…' Hermione said slowly. 'Wouldn't Voldemort stay close to the spell? After all, Dumbledore and the rest of the staff are going to end up doing something…'

'Yeah… I don't get that either.' Harry admitted. Any speculation on the matter was cut off, however, by the approach of Professor McGonagall. The recent events had left her face looking grey and even more lined than usual; her eyes bore the burdens of responsibility. When she spoke, her voice held only the remnants of her stern, clipped tone.

'Mr. Weasley, Miss Granger, a word if you please.' she asked. 'The teachers are holding a meeting about the… recent developments… and as such, the Prefects are in positions of responsibility. Now, we don't expect anything to go much amiss over the course of the meeting… but if anything does, the meeting is in my office. Come only if it's urgent.'

Both Ron and Hermione nodded. 'You can depend on us, Professor.' Ron said, glad simply to have something to do that could help.

'I'm sure I can, Mr. Weasley.' She replied, with a small smile that faded quickly. 'I only wish we could be as sure of some of the other houses…'

'What do you mean?' Harry asked with a frown. McGonagall looked reluctant.

'Well, I suppose it doesn't matter if I tell you… One of the Slytherin prefects has gone missing. Draco Malfoy. Along with a few others, but it means Slytherin house is a prefect short… In one of the other houses it wouldn't matter, but a few of the Slytherins have, shall we say, disreputable backgrounds. I know you think badly of him … but Dumbledore gave him the position for a reason, you know.'

McGonagall sighed and got to her feet. 'I've wasted too much time chatting: I need to go and tell the other Gryffindor Prefects and then get to the meeting. Now, if anyone wants to leave the common room they have to go in groups of three or more, and no one is to leave the building. Alright?'

Ron and Hermione nodded their assent, and McGonagall left them. The three friends looked at each other, eyes wide.

'Malfoy's gone missing!' Ron exclaimed. 'I should have known it… slimy ferret!'

'It's not surprising really.' Harry said with weariness in his voice. 'Can you imagine Lucius Malfoy letting his precious son become a Squib? They probably expel Squibs from the family. No, no, I'm being too kind. They probably burn them at the stake.'

Ron started suddenly. 'Did you hear something?' he asked, looking around in confusion.

'Like what?'

'Like… a voice or something…' Ron was now staring wildly at points in thin air. 'I didn't hear what it said… sounded angry though.'

Hermione frowned. 'I didn't hear anything.' She shrugged. 'Are you sure you're alright?'

'Yeah, I'm alright…' Ron settled back down. 'Must be imagining things… too worried. I wish I knew what was going on… eavesdrop on that meeting or something.'

'We aren't going to do anything.' Harry said. 'We aren't going to go racing off on another adventure again!'

The silence was practically deafening.

'We wouldn't be getting into danger, Harry.' Ron wheedled. 'Just… finding out what's going on and what they're going to do about it. That's all.'

'I don't want anything to do with this.' Harry was adamant.

'And we're supposed to be staying here. We're Prefects. We're supposed to be responsible.' Hermione protested, glaring pointedly at Ron's badge.

Ron's face took on a pleading expression. 'There are four other prefects, Hermione… And Harry, I promise you we won't do anything. I just want to know what the teachers are planning to do. How can that hurt anyone?'

Harry's face flickered as a brief internal struggle occurred between his firm dislike of doing things that could get people hurt and his natural curiosity. 'Alright,' he said eventually, 'We'll go listen in. But nothing more!'

Ron grinned. 'Thanks, Harry. Hermione, are you in?'

She sighed huffily. 'I guess I have to be, as we're only allowed out of this tower in threes.'

'Great!' Ron was practically beaming, and it caused his friends some comfort that at least what they were going would make him happy. 'Harry, go get the Invisibility Cloak.'

Harry heaved himself up off the sofa and headed up the stairs to the boys' dormitory. Ron and Hermione awaited his return with impatience.

After five minutes, they were starting to get worried. Their eyes focused constantly on the top of the stairs, waiting for Harry to come back. But there was no sign of anyone whatsoever. Time dragged on, crawling slowly.

Another five minutes later, Ron couldn't keep quiet anymore. 'What's taking him so long?' he wondered aloud.

'I've no idea.' Hermione replied, fidgeting. 'Do you think we should go up and see?'

Ron nodded his approval, getting up off the sofa, and together with Hermione practically ran up the stairs to the boys' dormitory.

The room was dark, but a flickering light at one end indicated Harry's presence. As they got closer, they found Harry digging through his trunk, using a lit candle to examine the contents while trying not to drip wax on his things. Random things were strewn across the floor, where he had thrown them carelessly.

'It's not here.' He said urgently. 'The Invisibility Cloak. It's gone.'

'What?' Ron gasped incredulously, dropping to his knees and rifling through the trunk with Harry. 'But… it can't be!'

'It is.' He said grimly, standing up. 'I've looked all over. And I know I didn't leave it at the Dursleys, because we used it to sneak out to Hagrid's hut on his birthday, remember?'

Hermione frowned. 'Did you leave it out there?' she asked, knowing perfectly well he hadn't but asking anyway.

'No, I remember bringing it back… we were under it then, remember? I put it right here.' He indicated a spot in his trunk. 'Now it's gone.'

'That's weird…' Ron said, straightening up from the trunk and frowning. 'But that means someone must have stolen it…'

'Exactly.' Harry nodded. 'But who? Only we know about it.'

'It's strange…' Hermione said, looking worried. 'And it means we can't go and eavesdrop.'

'There has to be a way…' Ron said, looking downcast. 'There was this book I read once, this Muggle book Dad had just disenchanted – someone put a Confunding Hex on it, can you imagine – and they were eavesdropping in there. They used the ventilation system in this building…'

'There's a ventilation system around McGonagall's office, but it's far too small to get into.' Hermione shook her head. 'Just basically gaps in the walls to prevent damp… you'd have to be tiny to get in there, like a snake.'

Like a snake...

'One minute…' Harry said, the spark of a plan growing in his mind. 'A snake. A snake could get into those gaps…'

'Yeah, but we aren't snakes.' Ron pointed out moodily. 'And it's not like one could tell us what…' His sentence faded out as he realised what Harry was thinking of. 'But it could talk to you!'

'Oh Harry, that's genius!' Hermione exclaimed, impressed. 'But where do we get a snake?'

'Not a snake.' Harry replied, grinning. 'A Runespoor.'

~*~

Notes: The Chizpurfles mentioned at the beginning of the chapter were stolen from Fantastic Beasts. 'Stranger in a Strange Land' by Heinlein, the book Hermione was reading, is an actual book and happened to be lying on my desk at the time of writing. It's a good book. Go read it.

Latin: 'Rabula', which was mentioned briefly as the charm Hermione was practicing, is the Latin word for 'wrangling lawyer'. No, I haven't a clue what the 'Rabula' charm would actually do. Ideas welcomed, especially funny ones.

'Aculux' is a mash of 'acutus' and 'lux', or 'sharp light'. You'll first see why in chapter… 4, I think it is.

'Screator' is Latin for 'person who clears their throat loudly'. What kind of society would actually need a word for that, I don't know… But thus it stands.

The other two spells used (Wingardium Leviosa and Orchidaeous) were both from the books.

Other: And lo, the plot beginneth… So, where did the Invisibility Cloak go? What are the teachers planning to do? Will all the students of Hogwarts lose their magic, or will Voldemort's evil scheme be stopped in time?

Well, you'll have to wait for next week, won't you? Oh, and review. Review or suffer indescribable torture…