A\N: You have all the right to shout, scream and yell at me. You really do. I had no excuse whatsoever to delay this chapter, especially as I had most of it written a long time ago… But, but, but  – you should have reviewed more, you know you should… Anyway, thanks to those who did review: Iniysa, StarRuby (You're trying to find hidden meanings too much ;) ), Queen Cari, Kemenran, Urania, chiliz, Lion of Gryffindor.

OK, enough with the babbling, and on to the chapter:

Chapter 16: The first attack

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"Hey, let's go visit Hagrid!" suggested Ron. He and Harry were having a free period, while Hermione was in Arithmancy, and they were looking for something to do.

"Yeah, let's go," said Harry enthusiastically, "I haven't seen him for a while now."

They went down to the Entrance hall, and went outside to the grounds. The weather was fine at first, but it started raining just as they went out, so they ran all the way to Hagrid's cabin as fast as they could.

"Hagrid, let us in before we get soaked," called Ron, banging on the door.

"Comin'!" sounded Hagrid's voice, and next moment he let them in.

"What're you doin' outside in this weather?" he asked.

"We've come to see you," said Ron. "We don't have anything else to do."

"On'y don't tell me tha' you don't have any homework," said Hagrid half-seriously.

"Emmm…It can wait," said Ron defensively.

"Don't let Hermione hear you say that," winked Hagrid. "Anyway, want something to eat?"

"Er… no, thanks, Hagrid, we had breakfast not long ago," said Harry. As much as he liked Hagrid, it was almost impossible to eat the food he made.

They were talking for a while, just as something unexpected happened. Suddenly, Harry's scar started hurting badly, the way it didn't hurt for a long time already. In his head, he could hear the now-familiar cold voice: "Kill them!"

Far ahead, he was hearing Ron and Hagrid's anxious voices calling his name. "Harry! Harry! What is it?"

"My scar," he whispered through the pain. Slowly, the pain receded, and he opened his eyes, though his vision was still blurred. It felt like waking up after a nightmare – he was breathing heavily, and felt nauseous. Hagrid and Ron were looking at him in concern, and Ron looked scared.

"Is it You-Know-Who? Did you have a vision? What happened?" he asked.

"Not a vision – I heard him – he ordered to kill somebody – more than one person," muttered Harry.

"Harry, yeh should tell Dumbledore," said Hagrid, who was very pale. "Come'n, Ron, help me take him there."

"It's all right, I can walk," said Harry, but as he stood up, he swayed, and almost collapsed on the chair. His head was dizzy, and the nausea hasn't passed yet.

"You know what, I'll go and call Dumbledore. Yeh stay here, and don't go anywhere," said Hagrid worriedly. "Ron, stay with him." He emerged out of his cabin, and strode towards the castle, ignoring the pouring rain that was outside now.

Shortly afterwards, he was back, along with Dumbledore.

"What happened, Harry?" asked Dumbledore, sharply and softly at once.

"My scar hurt, and I heard Voldemort saying 'Kill them'," said Harry, still feeling shaky. "I didn't see anything… But he was feeling… I dunno, relaxed… He wasn't angry or happy or anything, just… calm."

Dumbledore looked thoughtful. "How do you feel now?" he asked.

"Like I'm sick," Harry swallowed. "But it's been that way before. I'll be alright, I guess."

"Are you sure?" Harry nodded. "Well, I'm sure you understand – I must leave you now, check if anything happened. Stay here for a while, and you can be dismissed from the rest of your lessons today, if you want to."

"Thanks, Professor," Harry said gratefully, and tried to nod, but that only made his head ache more.

"You're welcome, Harry," smiled Dumbledore, standing at the door. A moment later, his smile was gone, and he hurried outside.

"Yeh know, Harry, yeh really should wear that talisman I sent – it might help yeh," said Hagrid pensively.

"What talisman? Oh, the pendant you gave me, sure, I'll put it on when I'll be in my dormitory," said Harry.

Sure enough, upon coming to the common room some time later, he pulled out his trunk and found the silver chain. The green stone twinkled lightly as he took it out and put it on himself. He didn't think that this talisman, or whatever it was, could help him in any way, but there was no harm in putting it on.

He stayed in the common room all that day, resting at first, and doing Potions homework later (He had to work hard in order to stay in Snape's classes, but he was doing fine up to now). As the evening drew closer, he became hungry, and went down to the Great Hall to have a dinner. The school looked very empty as he walked down the stairs, which made him wonder if anything has happened. He entered the Hall with a preoccupied feeling, and was shocked at the sight that met his eyes. 

A\N: That's enough, don't you think?? Naaahhh, I'm not leaving you with a cliffie, keep reading:

Everybody in the hall was quiet, and there were a few students crying. A few people turned to look at Harry as he went over to the Gryffindor table, and some of them were whispering with their friends. Harry hurried to find Ron and Hermione, who were sitting at the far end of the table with Ginny. All of them looked subdued, especially Ron and Ginny.

"What happened?" he asked, becoming worried.

"The Death Eaters attacked the Ministry of Magic," whispered Hermione. "There are about twenty casualties, and many others were injured."

"Who…" Harry didn't finish the question. Ron raised his head. "Percy is hurt," he said in a hoarse voice. "He's in St. Mungo's now, Mom sent an owl – they're with him."

"I… I'm sorry," said Harry quietly, unsure what he was supposed to say. Percy hasn't been a part of the Weasley family for over a year now – but what does it matter now? Percy could have been one of those who died, and so could…

"Ron, is your Dad okay?" asked Harry suddenly.

"He's fine – he was in his office when it happened, they didn't get there," Ron answered. "Ginny, come on, we should get ready," he said to his sister. She stood up quietly, and both of them turned to leave.

"Why…?" Harry looked at Hermione questioningly.

"The students whose relatives were wounded or… or killed," she swallowed, "are allowed to visit them, or to…" she broke off. Harry patted her on the shoulder, trying to comfort her, and she finished her sentence. "To attend the funerals." Hermione's eyes were filled with tears, and Harry hugged her awkwardly, not knowing what to do or say. Looking around the hall, he could see many students doing the same. Cho Chang was sitting at the Ravenclaw table, consoling her friend, Marietta Edgecombe, who was shaking and sobbing hysterically.

Most of the students stayed in the Great Hall for a long time that evening. A special edition of the Daily Prophet was delivered to those who had a subscription. The first page was black, and a picture of a big candle was glowing on it. Around it were written the names of the twenty-one victims of the attack, and photographs of a few of them were attached. It turned out that Marietta's mother, Laura, was killed in the attack. Harry glanced at the place where she's been sitting, but she was already gone, and Cho was sitting there alone, wiping her own tears. Harry's gaze flickered towards the Slytherin table, and a shiver went down his spine. Single students were sitting there, looking sad, but most of the house was gone. Probably having a party, thought Harry angrily. He turned away, unable to think about the Slytherins any longer. Nearby, at the Hufflepuff table, Susan Bones was saying goodbye to her friends, trying to sound as cheerful as she could. According to the Prophet, her aunt, Amelia Bones, was injured badly, and Harry guessed that she was going to see her.

That night, Harry couldn't fall asleep. Lying in his bed, staring at Ron's empty four-poster, he kept hearing those ruthless words he had heard earlier that day – "Kill them… Kill them… Kill them…" All the bad memories of his life were running through his head – Cedric, dead at the graveyard; Voldemort, rising from that cauldron; Sirius, falling through the veil… Flashes of green light, and a terrible, inhuman laughter, over and over again…

A\N: Now it's really over, the only thing left is for you to review. And remember – the more reviews I get, the less time you will have to wait for the next chapter.