Chapter Fifteen- The Second flight of the Fat Lady
The room was full of people when everyone entered. Professor Dumbledore was sitting behind his desk, wearing magenta robes, his hands placed together atop the desk. Arthur Weasley was sitting in a chair in front of Dumbledore's desk, and Cornelius Fudge was standing. Harry looked at Fawke's perch, and it was empty. All three heads turned to look at the new arrivals.
"G-Ginny!" shrieked Mr. Weasley, leaping out of his seat.
"And Mr. Creevy" said Fudge. He then looked at Umbridge. "Galloping Gargoyles! Dolores!"
Dumbledore stood up.
"What has happened Minerva?" Dumbledore asked, standing and walking towards them.
"I have the slightest idea, Albus. I was on my way here, and I ran into all of them. They only told me they needed to see you immediately," Professor McGonagall said.
"Naturally" said Dumbledore, helping Umbridge into a seat.
"M-My goodness! What has happened to her Albus?" Fudge said, his face growing red.
"I am not sure, Cornelius. She seems to be in a state of shock," Dumbledore said, examining her. He then turned to the others. "How is it you three arrived back safely?" he said, addressing Ginny and Colin.
"Its kind of hard to explain, Professor" said Ginny. "We've been in Hogsmeade for over a week, making sure no death eaters followed us, when the three of us escaped from Vold-You-Know-Who. It was hard because we had Professor Umbridge with us. We met a wizard family along the way back, and used their fire to get to the shrieking shack."
Dumbledore looked very surprised.
"What are we going to do about her, Albus? Surely there must be a way to-to cure her condition" Mr. Weasley said, staring at Umbridge.
"Minerva, would you kindly fetch Professor Snape, and ask him to please bring up a bottle of his strongest Calming Remedy" Dumbledore asked, calmly.
"Sure" McGonagall left the room.
"Albus, maybe they can tell us who kidnapped them," said Fudge.
Mr. Weasley looked at Fudge as though he were mad and dangerous. "Cornelius, I thought you might have figured that out by now-"
"No, No. I mean, who it was that came to the castle and abducted them" Fudge cut in.
"Oh. It was Kevin Davidson"
"The child that was expelled back in October Albus? Wasn't he killed by you- know-who?" Fudge asked.
"Yes"
"He's not dead," said Colin. "He's still alive"
"How? The Aurors found his body-"
"That wasn't him. It was You-know-who's death eater, Avery. You-Know-Who used the Polyjuice Potion to fool the death eaters, when he killed Avery"
Dumbledore did not look surprised. It was as though he had expected something like this to happen. The door opened once more, and Professor McGonagall entered followed closely by Snape. Snape was carrying a bottle of sea-foam green liquid. He looked completely taken aback when he saw Colin, Ginny and Professor Umbridge slumped in the chair. However, he payed no attention to two of his own students, and since he had completely hated Umbridge last year, he acted as though they never existed.
"You called, Headmaster?" Snape said, entering the room, and walking straight past Colin, Ginny and Umbridge.
"Yes. Have you got the potion Serverus?"
"Yes" said Snape, handing the bottle over to Dumbledore.
"Albus, do you think it is wise for the students to still be here?"
"I must keep Ms. Weasley and Mr. Creevy. Professor McGonagall, would you kindly escort the other students' back to their common rooms. You all are to stay in your dorms. Dinner will be brought up to you shortly. Oh, and I also award Fifty points to each of you for your tremendous act of bravery" Dumbledore said, smiling.
"Come along," said Professor McGonagall, as she began to walk to the door. The other's followed. As they turned around to leave, Harry couldn't help but notice a small burst of flame and a golden feather drop from it. The flame disappeared. Harry knew that the flame had come from Fawkes, and that it was a warning. But if only Harry knew. The door closed behind them, as they headed back to their common rooms.
* * * * * *
The news of the return of Colin and Ginny spread so quickly, Harry thought a quickening charm had been placed around the school. By the first week of December, the Aurors and Security trolls left the castle. Fudge and Mr. Weasley returned to the Ministry. The school finally settled down by the end of the first week, and things were back to normal. Harry was still thinking about the warning that Fawkes had sent the night they left Dumbledore's office.
He and Sirius met again, this time in an empty room on the second floor. Harry told him everything he knew, except for the location of the orbs. He didn't want to let adults know he knew where they were. However, he was falling behind on his studies. He received a shock when he received a History of Magic exam back.
"Oh my-you didn't even get a grade Harry," Hermione said. She was reviewing the paper.
"What does "D" stand for again?" Ron asked as they walked to Transfiguration.
"Dreadful. He's grading us by O.W.L standards" Hermione answered, as they entered McGonagall's room and took their seats in front of the room. Today, they would be transfiguring animals into different objects.
"Well, that means's you've just got to apply yourself more" said Ron.
"Look who's talking. You didn't get any better than he did Ron!" Hermione hissed. "You only got an A"
Ron flushed red. Professor McGonagall swept into the room, looking stern as usual.
"Good Afternoon everyone. Now, today's lesson is quite difficult so we shall not waste any time" she said, taking a cage with a Parrot from atop her desk, opening it, and letting the parrot rest atop her desk. "Now, transfiguring animals into different objects is often the most difficult part of wizardry. It involves the mind to become relaxed and the movement of the wand to be exactly precise. I assume that you all have read chapter fourteen in your books"
The entire class nodded, and some muttered yes. They seemed eager to begin their transfiguration of animals.
"Now, the first step is to point your wand directly at the animal," she continued, demonstrating every movement. "The next step is to wave the wand twice while saying at the same time, and very clearly, Manis Trettius" and at that moment, a jet of blue light and the animal began to change shape and turned into a Candle.
The class was in direct amazement. Now, work amongst your partners and begin. Make sure you tell your partner what he or she is doing wrong. Mr. Finnagan, If you do that to that owl one more time, I shall put you in detention" Professor McGonagall said. Seamus flushed red. "You may begin"
The class began to speak, mostly in the incantation Professor McGonagall said before. Harry and Ron began speaking lowly, while practicing.
"You know something, You-Know-who's been a little quiet since Ginny, Colin and Umbridge returned" Ron said, nearly poking the Iguana in the eye.
"That's the way he works" Harry said. "He tried to stay hidden last-ouch!" he said. His scar had just seared with a sharp white-hot pain. He clutched his head but his eyes began to water. The scar was burning so badly, that Harry couldn't keep his balance. He could only see blurry shapes appearing in front of his face before he was launched onto the floor, and blacked out.
Harry found himself in the hospital wing a few hours after he had passed out. He was still fully dressed, and when he awoken, saw Ron and Hermione sitting next to each other on the side of his bed. Ginny, Luna and Neville sat on the other side. They were all silent. Harry opened his eyes a little wider.
"Harry!" said Ginny, who beamed at him. She seemed quite happy that he was all right.
"Are you alright Harry?" asked Hermione.
"Yes-no."
"What happened? You started clutching your head and then you fell off your chair" Ron said.
"I saw-I-" but Harry seemed unable to speak. It was as though a tight knot closed in over his throat. He had another vision in Professor McGonagall's class, and he didn't like what he saw. He had seen Voldemort torturing someone, and it looked as though it was someone of vital importance because Voldemort was yelling. Was he trying to get information about the orbs?
"What did you see?" Luna asked, dreamily.
"Nothing.it was just a bad headach-"
"Come on Harry. We all know you don't fair well when it comes to lying" Hermione said. "Was it something with Voldemort?"
Harry didn't want to say, but he nodded anyway. "Yeah. Voldemort was torturing someone.they were all bloody, and Voldemort was yelling at them. I couldn't hear what he was yelling, but it must have been something to do with the orbs"
"Did you see who the person was?" asked Neville, who was now white and shaking.
"No. Her face was too bloody."
"So, it was a woman?" asked Ginny.
"Yes" said Harry.
And another deep silence fell amongst the group. Harry was happy for the silence, because he really didn't feel like speaking, but he did feel like leaving the hospital wing. He was in luck. Madam Pomfrey swept into the room, looking agitated and flustered.
"Oh, of all the nerve! They'll wake the dead with all that racket!" she said, coming over to Harry. "Are you feeling better, Potter?"
"Yes"
"Good" and at that, there were voices shouting. "What are they thinking? They're going to wake the castle!"
"What's going on, Madam Pomfrey?" asked Hermione.
"Some has broken into the castle, again! And now the fat lady is missing again"
The room was full of people when everyone entered. Professor Dumbledore was sitting behind his desk, wearing magenta robes, his hands placed together atop the desk. Arthur Weasley was sitting in a chair in front of Dumbledore's desk, and Cornelius Fudge was standing. Harry looked at Fawke's perch, and it was empty. All three heads turned to look at the new arrivals.
"G-Ginny!" shrieked Mr. Weasley, leaping out of his seat.
"And Mr. Creevy" said Fudge. He then looked at Umbridge. "Galloping Gargoyles! Dolores!"
Dumbledore stood up.
"What has happened Minerva?" Dumbledore asked, standing and walking towards them.
"I have the slightest idea, Albus. I was on my way here, and I ran into all of them. They only told me they needed to see you immediately," Professor McGonagall said.
"Naturally" said Dumbledore, helping Umbridge into a seat.
"M-My goodness! What has happened to her Albus?" Fudge said, his face growing red.
"I am not sure, Cornelius. She seems to be in a state of shock," Dumbledore said, examining her. He then turned to the others. "How is it you three arrived back safely?" he said, addressing Ginny and Colin.
"Its kind of hard to explain, Professor" said Ginny. "We've been in Hogsmeade for over a week, making sure no death eaters followed us, when the three of us escaped from Vold-You-Know-Who. It was hard because we had Professor Umbridge with us. We met a wizard family along the way back, and used their fire to get to the shrieking shack."
Dumbledore looked very surprised.
"What are we going to do about her, Albus? Surely there must be a way to-to cure her condition" Mr. Weasley said, staring at Umbridge.
"Minerva, would you kindly fetch Professor Snape, and ask him to please bring up a bottle of his strongest Calming Remedy" Dumbledore asked, calmly.
"Sure" McGonagall left the room.
"Albus, maybe they can tell us who kidnapped them," said Fudge.
Mr. Weasley looked at Fudge as though he were mad and dangerous. "Cornelius, I thought you might have figured that out by now-"
"No, No. I mean, who it was that came to the castle and abducted them" Fudge cut in.
"Oh. It was Kevin Davidson"
"The child that was expelled back in October Albus? Wasn't he killed by you- know-who?" Fudge asked.
"Yes"
"He's not dead," said Colin. "He's still alive"
"How? The Aurors found his body-"
"That wasn't him. It was You-know-who's death eater, Avery. You-Know-Who used the Polyjuice Potion to fool the death eaters, when he killed Avery"
Dumbledore did not look surprised. It was as though he had expected something like this to happen. The door opened once more, and Professor McGonagall entered followed closely by Snape. Snape was carrying a bottle of sea-foam green liquid. He looked completely taken aback when he saw Colin, Ginny and Professor Umbridge slumped in the chair. However, he payed no attention to two of his own students, and since he had completely hated Umbridge last year, he acted as though they never existed.
"You called, Headmaster?" Snape said, entering the room, and walking straight past Colin, Ginny and Umbridge.
"Yes. Have you got the potion Serverus?"
"Yes" said Snape, handing the bottle over to Dumbledore.
"Albus, do you think it is wise for the students to still be here?"
"I must keep Ms. Weasley and Mr. Creevy. Professor McGonagall, would you kindly escort the other students' back to their common rooms. You all are to stay in your dorms. Dinner will be brought up to you shortly. Oh, and I also award Fifty points to each of you for your tremendous act of bravery" Dumbledore said, smiling.
"Come along," said Professor McGonagall, as she began to walk to the door. The other's followed. As they turned around to leave, Harry couldn't help but notice a small burst of flame and a golden feather drop from it. The flame disappeared. Harry knew that the flame had come from Fawkes, and that it was a warning. But if only Harry knew. The door closed behind them, as they headed back to their common rooms.
* * * * * *
The news of the return of Colin and Ginny spread so quickly, Harry thought a quickening charm had been placed around the school. By the first week of December, the Aurors and Security trolls left the castle. Fudge and Mr. Weasley returned to the Ministry. The school finally settled down by the end of the first week, and things were back to normal. Harry was still thinking about the warning that Fawkes had sent the night they left Dumbledore's office.
He and Sirius met again, this time in an empty room on the second floor. Harry told him everything he knew, except for the location of the orbs. He didn't want to let adults know he knew where they were. However, he was falling behind on his studies. He received a shock when he received a History of Magic exam back.
"Oh my-you didn't even get a grade Harry," Hermione said. She was reviewing the paper.
"What does "D" stand for again?" Ron asked as they walked to Transfiguration.
"Dreadful. He's grading us by O.W.L standards" Hermione answered, as they entered McGonagall's room and took their seats in front of the room. Today, they would be transfiguring animals into different objects.
"Well, that means's you've just got to apply yourself more" said Ron.
"Look who's talking. You didn't get any better than he did Ron!" Hermione hissed. "You only got an A"
Ron flushed red. Professor McGonagall swept into the room, looking stern as usual.
"Good Afternoon everyone. Now, today's lesson is quite difficult so we shall not waste any time" she said, taking a cage with a Parrot from atop her desk, opening it, and letting the parrot rest atop her desk. "Now, transfiguring animals into different objects is often the most difficult part of wizardry. It involves the mind to become relaxed and the movement of the wand to be exactly precise. I assume that you all have read chapter fourteen in your books"
The entire class nodded, and some muttered yes. They seemed eager to begin their transfiguration of animals.
"Now, the first step is to point your wand directly at the animal," she continued, demonstrating every movement. "The next step is to wave the wand twice while saying at the same time, and very clearly, Manis Trettius" and at that moment, a jet of blue light and the animal began to change shape and turned into a Candle.
The class was in direct amazement. Now, work amongst your partners and begin. Make sure you tell your partner what he or she is doing wrong. Mr. Finnagan, If you do that to that owl one more time, I shall put you in detention" Professor McGonagall said. Seamus flushed red. "You may begin"
The class began to speak, mostly in the incantation Professor McGonagall said before. Harry and Ron began speaking lowly, while practicing.
"You know something, You-Know-who's been a little quiet since Ginny, Colin and Umbridge returned" Ron said, nearly poking the Iguana in the eye.
"That's the way he works" Harry said. "He tried to stay hidden last-ouch!" he said. His scar had just seared with a sharp white-hot pain. He clutched his head but his eyes began to water. The scar was burning so badly, that Harry couldn't keep his balance. He could only see blurry shapes appearing in front of his face before he was launched onto the floor, and blacked out.
Harry found himself in the hospital wing a few hours after he had passed out. He was still fully dressed, and when he awoken, saw Ron and Hermione sitting next to each other on the side of his bed. Ginny, Luna and Neville sat on the other side. They were all silent. Harry opened his eyes a little wider.
"Harry!" said Ginny, who beamed at him. She seemed quite happy that he was all right.
"Are you alright Harry?" asked Hermione.
"Yes-no."
"What happened? You started clutching your head and then you fell off your chair" Ron said.
"I saw-I-" but Harry seemed unable to speak. It was as though a tight knot closed in over his throat. He had another vision in Professor McGonagall's class, and he didn't like what he saw. He had seen Voldemort torturing someone, and it looked as though it was someone of vital importance because Voldemort was yelling. Was he trying to get information about the orbs?
"What did you see?" Luna asked, dreamily.
"Nothing.it was just a bad headach-"
"Come on Harry. We all know you don't fair well when it comes to lying" Hermione said. "Was it something with Voldemort?"
Harry didn't want to say, but he nodded anyway. "Yeah. Voldemort was torturing someone.they were all bloody, and Voldemort was yelling at them. I couldn't hear what he was yelling, but it must have been something to do with the orbs"
"Did you see who the person was?" asked Neville, who was now white and shaking.
"No. Her face was too bloody."
"So, it was a woman?" asked Ginny.
"Yes" said Harry.
And another deep silence fell amongst the group. Harry was happy for the silence, because he really didn't feel like speaking, but he did feel like leaving the hospital wing. He was in luck. Madam Pomfrey swept into the room, looking agitated and flustered.
"Oh, of all the nerve! They'll wake the dead with all that racket!" she said, coming over to Harry. "Are you feeling better, Potter?"
"Yes"
"Good" and at that, there were voices shouting. "What are they thinking? They're going to wake the castle!"
"What's going on, Madam Pomfrey?" asked Hermione.
"Some has broken into the castle, again! And now the fat lady is missing again"